Buhhhh. This was a little somethin'-somethin' I put together when I was bored, and I actually started writing from the middle. XD; But I think the beginning and end came out okay, so I decided to post it. I'm a new writer, so R&R is lovely. :3 And, since I really don't have anything else to say...uh.
Onto the story? -headscratch- I need to get better at this introduction thing...
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IkexMarth; The One I Love
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"So, your name is Ike, huh?" an excited-sounding voice piped. It sounded too low in tone to be female, but a bit high-pitched for male. The owner could only be identified by the long, teal hair on his head blowing swiftly behind him in the dreadful snowstorm.
A grunt, perhaps a response to the earlier question from the taller of the two figures, was the only sound. However, it was soon followed by a soft sigh from the shorter.
"I know you didn't want to be bothered..." the high-pitched voice tried again, "but you looked so sad. I had to follow you--maybe I could find out what was wrong!" His voice lilted delicately as if he were nervous, or some previously hidden emotion was making itself clear through his tone. "I don't know... I don't like the idea of someone like you being upset while you're here, and it looks like that's all you've been feeling since you got here three days ago..." he trailed off slightly, recalling the night when all the veteran fighters of the past Smash tournament were gathered to be introduced to the newcomers. He at last stopped babbling, urging the other to say something through his silence. Prince Marth was not so fond of one-sided conversations.
To his surprise, the taller figure actually stopped walking through the snow, his cropped sapphire hair and tattered olive-green headband whipping behind him, even though he was at a standstill. This came as a relief to the Prince, who was sick of walking through a storm that seemed so set on screwing him over. He too stopped walking and stood expectantly a few feet behind Ike, patiently waiting for a reply.
The taller male made a surprisingly gentle about-face to lock eyes with the shorter one, and one of his eyebrows slowly arched upwards.
"Worried? About me?" His voice was musky and hollow from going without fresh air in so long, and he coughed to clear his throat. "Why? Why would you care what was wrong with me? It's got nothin' to do with this thing." he gestured blunty to the towering mansion behind them.
Marth shrugged nonchalantly, as if following some total stranger a few miles out from any kind of shelter in a fatal snowstorm was nothing new. "As I said. I was only worried because you seemed so...Oh, I don't know. You seemed terribly bothered by something. You were the only one out of both groups of comrades not celebrating the other night, so I'm coming to find out why." His words came out a tad harsher than he expected, his convulsive shivering cutting off his statements oddly. It so happened that even if they stood still, harsh blizzard-like winds still attacked them mercilessly, Marth in his usual garb, with only a scarf to protect him from the cold, and Ike, stipped of his armour in favor of a trechcoat-like flight jacket.
The mercenary turned away again, but lifted his head up towards the night sky.
"So you came all the way out to you-don't-even-know-where just to talk to me? Just because I seemed unhappy three days ago?" he questioned, still looking upwards and speaking very softly.
Marth nodded in response, but he then realized that without Ike facing him, he wouldn't see the gesture. So, despite his chattering teeth, he spoke up. "Y..Yes. I mean, it was more than just a little unhappy. Even when you smiled--which was rarely--your eyes weren't smiling, and that worried me." He might've caught how much his words hinted at him watching the taller man during the orientation if he wasn't so distracted by penetrating snow on his bare arms and face.
To his surprise, when Ike turned around again, he was smiling lightly, his eyebrows pulled up in a way that could've passed for apologetic.
"Well, you've succeeded in cheering me up." he chuckled softly. "I didn't know anyone was going to follow me all the way out here, especially not for that reason..." he trailed off, walking in the direction they had come, towards a soft golden glow peeping out from the mansion windows, and beckoned for Marth to follow. "You're...Prince Marth, right?" he asked when the little prince had caught up to him. This seemed to catch the shorter male by surprise, however, because he jumped a little bit upon hearing his name from someone he was sure wasn't paying any attention three nights ago. "Uh. Yes, I am." he stammered, turning his head a little bit to hide the faint blush on his cheeks. He was ordinarily not caught by surprise.
However, he was so preoccupied with his own stupidity that he didn't notice the taller male starting to run, full speed, towards the mansion. Without the wind whiping in their faces, Marth was sure he could fare an awful lot better running. He broke into a lithe sprint, catching up to Ike with ease. As the mercenary raised his eyebrows in askance, he only cracked a smile.
"I got your name before, Ike. So let's say we save actual introductions for another time?" he hinted, speeding up his pace just a tad to give the mercenary a clue. He caught on quickly, and his cautious expression melted away, a wide smirk taking its place. "Sure thing, Prince. But don't blame me if you get left in the dust!" he called as he raced away towards the gigantic building. Marth only laughed as the wind (and his speed) blew his luxurious hair behind his head at amazing speeds.
The two swordsmen raced all the way back to the Manor, occasionally laughing at either the other's or their own silliness for turning hazardous weather into a game.
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Once inside, as an immediate reaction, Marth shivered. A flush was on his cheeks all the way up to his ears; partly from running, and partly from the sudden change in temperature. But he was happier than he'd been in a while, because he was leaning against the inside Manor wall with Ike a few feet away. He was holding a cup of hot chocolate in his hands as if it was sacred, occasionally sipping from it to warm up his frozen bones.
Ike was only leaning, sans trenchcoat, sparking conversation with the little prince. He would talk about his old home, what he did as a mercenary, and a bunch of other things that were inconsequential to him. However, he reveled in full attention whenever Marth spoke up about his past. There were certainly no parallels, and learning about his life seemed vividly interesting.
They talked for what seemed like hours, until finally the prince interrupted his own statement.
"Oh! I have to go, Ike. I have a big match tomorrow and staying up this late won't be helping my performance." He tutted at himself for getting so distracted, before looking back up to his new friend. "It was nice meeting you, though." He flashed the mercenary a genuine winning smile before getting up and stretching mechanically. Ike followed his lead, although when they started walking, they found the other was no longer next to them. Both turned around simmultaneously.
Ike was the first to speak, scratching the back of his head. "Ahh. I guess we're on different sides of the house, huh?" He couldn't help sounding a bit disappointed. Marth sighed, sounding equally dissatisfied.
"Seems that way. Oh well, I guess we'll see each other around, right?" he asked hopefully. Ike responded with a chuckle and a nod, which Marth took to mean he was as excited as he was. However, just as they were about to part ways for the night, he recalled something he had meant to ask. "Ike!" he called, not entirely too loud, but loud enough for the mercenary to turn around with raised eyebrows.
"Where were you going earlier?" he asked innocently. He thought he saw Ike's face turn sardonic and hard for just a quick second before he forced a smile back again.
" 'S not that important. Don't worry about it." he smirked and wrapped one arm around the prince's shoulders in a comforting gesture. Marth flushed and stepped back just a step or two, the unexpected touch leading him to notice how warm Ike was. Huh.
He followed Ike's instructions, deciding it wasn't important enough for him to press. He started to walk in the direction of his room, waving gently. "Goodnight, Ike!" he called before he was out of sight around the corner.
The mercenary waited until he was gone before letting out a long sigh, which was followed by a wide smile. He said nothing, but started walking purposefully to his own room, whistling tunelessly.
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Author's sentiments:
There! Prologue is finite. 8D
Hope you guys like so far, I know there isn't much plot in it yet, but it's coming. uwu;;