One morning, Ike looks in the mirror and finds a gray hair. He doesn't give it too much thought until Soren notices it several hours later. He's quiet for the rest of the day, and finally Ike corners him and makes him talk.
"I know what this is about." They've only talked about it once, back when they were still in their twenties; after becoming so emotional over it Soren apologized and promised never to bring it up again. But they're heading into fifty now, Soren still looking young enough to be twenty-seven. So Ike supposes he can't blame Soren for thinking about it.
"Yes." Soren won't look at him. "But I promised we'd never talk about it again. We agreed, this is...part of life. It would happen sooner or later." But when Ike reaches for his hand Soren grips it tightly, and Ike hugs him, running a hand through his hair.
"I'm not going anywhere," he assures him. "I'm not even fifty years old yet, and there's still so much I want to do with my life. So many people I don't want to leave behind...come on, Rolf and Mist's kids are getting old enough to take up weapons! I promised I'd let them spar with their uncle Ike once they got the hang of it!" That gets a small laugh out of Soren, even as he grips the fabric of Ike's shirt.
"I know, Ike." A sigh. "I suppose it will always bother me, even if you'll probably live to be eighty."
"I'll sure try, anyway." Ike smiles, tilting Soren's head up for a quick kiss. "And I know I can't tell you not to think about it so much, telling you not to think is like telling Ilyana not to eat. But I want to be here as long as I can with you, Soren. Even when my hair turns totally gray and I'm leaning on a cane and you're having to help me up from chairs."
"Ike, if there's one person who will never need a cane, it's you." A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. "And sadly, I can picture you at seventy with a head full of spiky gray hair, all wrinkles, still challenging his grandchildren to a spar." The image is enough to make Ike laugh, and soon Soren is laughing, too.
They still have many years ahead of them, Soren more than Ike, but it's because of this that Ike vows to fill those years with as much joy as possible.