Disclaimer: The Fire Emblem series and the characters used in this story belong to Nintendo and IS, only the story here is mine (surprise, surprise!).

This takes place during Revelations because it wasn't until about halfway through writing that I remembered the two could even meet in Conquest, although there are absolutely no spoilers for either game. There are also a lot of references to Awakening too, though (in my opinion) no spoilers for that either.

The T rating is more for safety than anything else since there are some sexual references and the like; really if you've played the games, you know what to expect.

This was originally only a set of C-A supports but about halfway through the B I decided 'why not write an S and see how it turns out?'. It turned out pretty damned good. So, this fic can stand as a series of C-A supports much like any of the supports in the game and if you don't want to read an S support, you don't have to, it's not going to take away from the story if you don't. But, there is a gay S support to round everything off at the end of this for those who might be interested.

All that being said, it's probably obvious that this is all written already and I'll be updating it on a Saturday at some point for the next few weeks.

So, please enjoy! And if you do, like, review, follow, what have you; come follow me on Twitter too if you like (WritesWithQuill). Also, please check out my other stuff on my profile: there's a few other Fire Emblem fics I wrote a couple of years back and a handful of more recent Zelda ones that I loved writing.

Anyway, I've rambled long enough, enjoy!


A Ladies Man and Laslow

C-Support

A quick flick of the wrist and extension of the arm before carefully opening out a cupped hand like a blooming flower…

It seemed that, no matter how hard he tried, Laslow just couldn't perfect that one move.

Once again, he messed up; his movements jagged instead of elegant, his arm bent at the elbow instead of straight like an arrow. He could imagine a harsher teacher breaking his elbow to ensure it stayed straight. Instead, his mother had simply crouched behind the young boy and glided his arm into place, opening his hand out with hers until he got the hang of it and she let him go.

The difference between dancing with and without her then was much like the difference between riding a bike with and without stabilisers. Now it was like he had learnt to ride a bike and thought he was capable of managing a unicycle without her help.

Alone in a dark forest, long after the rest of the army had gone to their beds, Laslow sighed, straightened his back and started the dance again.

Many people – even some of the soldiers fighting for Corrin – would have been afraid to be out alone so late at night, and barely any of them would have dared entered the forest. So, Laslow had the whole place to himself and the handful of nocturnal animals who flitted by on occasion, seemingly bent on tripping the dancer up.

At the base of the great oak tree that sheltered the clearing he was dancing in, he'd stuck his sword in the soil, lighting a candle in front of it to reflect back the light. More than just a light source, it also provided him a point of reference to focus on. Taller than his mother's grave and shorter than her herself, the sword was a crude imitation of her at best and twice as lonely as dancing before her grave had been.

Once again he reached the point in his dance where he performed that move – several years ago he'd been so good at it – and once again his elbow stuck out just a little too much, his fingers not quite opening the way they used to.

"Dammit!" He muttered, moving back to his starting position again, rolling his shoulder in his socket and straightening out his arm just to prove that he could. Three wars had hardened his muscles and provided him with almost as much physical damage as psychological; his arm was nowhere near as flexible as it had been the first time he'd perfected the move.

It didn't help that the dance had been choreographed and performed for him by a woman. His mother's long and elegant arm shaped the move with no trouble; his on the other hand…

"Okay, this time… this is the one…" Laslow stood tall in his starting position again, eyes on his sword as he breathed deeply, steadying himself. "And a one, and a two…"

After just one full spin, Kaze approached on silent feet from opposite the tree, his arms full of fruits and vegetables from the nearby village. He watched Laslow perform for a few seconds, mesmerised by his movements.

Laslow had only joined Corrin's forces after the last battle, so Kaze hadn't had the proper opportunity to introduce himself nor get a good read on the mercenary. About all he knew of him from gossip around the Astral Realm was that the guy loved tea and women.

And that he clearly wasn't from Nohr.

That he hadn't heard from the rumours. No, as Kaze watched him continue to dance an incredibly intricate and graceful dance, his suspicions that Laslow wasn't from Nohr grew. The man danced as he fought – far too well for someone of his age and with a distinct not-from-here style. He danced and fought like a man who couldn't afford to make mistakes.

Then he stretched his arm out in what was obviously meant to be an incredibly graceful pause from all the spinning; one which looked as though he could be presenting a flower from within the palm of his hand to the audience. Instead it looked somewhat jagged as his elbow remained bent even after his arm was fully extended and his fingers had fluttered open.

"Gods!" Laslow yelled, bringing his arm back in. "Why can't I get this right?!"

"Perhaps holding something in your palm would help keep your arm straight?" Kaze suggested, offering him a plum from the pile of food in his arms.

Laslow turned to face him slowly before jumping back and letting out a surprisingly shrill scream. Shocked, Kaze let out a scream of his own that was far less shrill, dropping the food in his arms in surprise. Above them, a pair of owls flew angrily from the branches of the oak.

"Good Gods, man!" Laslow said as he rested a hand on his chest. "Don't creep up on a man dancing like that! … Oh Gods, how long were you watching me dance?"

"Only a moment-" Kaze started to say, recovering himself.

"Oh, this is just so embarrassing. I, I should go find a hole and-"

"I thought it was rather good." Kaze offered as he began to pick up the food.

"The fact that you thought it was good doesn't make it any less embarrassing." Replied Laslow, rubbing his shoulder.

"Have you sustained some sort of injury to your shoulder that might prevent you from achieving the effect you want with that last move?" Asked Kaze from his kneeling spot on the floor as he gathered up the dropped produce.

"That's what I'm beginning to suspect. When you've fought as much as I have, it's only natural to-" The dancer stopped himself short, looking down at the man before him. "No, wait, why are you asking me? Why are you even here?"

The ninja stood up with all the fruit and vegetables once again in his arms. "I was passing through on my way back to the Astral Realm."

"Really?" Laslow asked with suspicion. "Why are you coming through the forest to do that when it's far easier to get back to the Realm town side?"

"Ah," Kaze looked away, now the embarrassed one. "I was being followed by women. Coming into the forest was the best way to get away from them."

"You were… you were running away… from women…"

"Indeed." Kaze regarded Laslow carefully. He seemed to have recovered from his embarrassment at least, but now there was a new look in his eye.

"Did the lovely ladies give you all the fruit in your arms?" He asked, acknowledging the food Kaze was carrying for the first time.

"Indeed."

Laslow winked. "What did you give them that made them want chase after you for more?"

"Laslow..." Said Kaze seriously. "Your attempts to flatter the opposite sex are well known. As are your failures with them."

"Hey, that's not-"

"But your abilities as a dancer are kept as well hidden as your past."

"Wait, you've looked into my past?" Laslow pulled his sword from the soil.

"I look into everyone's past. It is a duty I perform to ensure that Lord Corrin isn't in any danger."

"You think I would harm Lord Corrin?" He asked incredulously.

"I think your skill with a blade is far better than it should be for someone of your age. Someone as skilled as you are is a valuable ally, and a fearsome foe." Kaze narrowed his gaze. "As a retainer of Lord Corrin, I simply wish to ensure that you are on our side."

"Well, I could have told you - as a retainer of Lord Xander - that my allegiance lies with him. I go wherever he takes me."

They stood together for a tense couple of moments, Laslow's blade low in his hand.

Finally, Kaze sighed. "I believe we have exhausted all line of conversation for tonight."

"Wait," Laslow called after him as he started to move away, his eyes on the fruit in Kaze's arms. "Was all that really a gift from a woman?"

"Several women."

"Teach me."

"What?" Kaze asked in surprise as he looked at the earnest man before him.

"Teach me how you're so good with women."

"There's nothing for me to teach, I do not know how I do it."

"How can you not know?" Laslow smiled at him. "C'mon, you must do something. Flash them a grin and ask them to tea?"

"This conversation is over, Laslow." Kaze started off in the direction of the Astral Gate again.

"Wait, Kaze!" The ninja disappeared into a non-existent haze right before Laslow's eyes. "Damn ninjas…"