WARNING: This story is a Sothe x Tormod fanfic. If you don't like the pairing or just simply don't like "yaoi" in general, I guess you shouldn't read? Plus, the time takes place during the new, upcoming Fire Emblem game…so there might be slight spoilers (not big since I'm not too knowledgeable on the whole storyline myself.) But because it takes place after Path of Radiance, Tormod and Sothe are 3 years older now…Just for your information (which is around 18 years old).
Okay, if you read my WARNING and you don't care about anything I just said, go on and enjoy the story.
Yes, the characters in this story are rightfully owned by Intelligent System/Nintendo!
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"How did we end up here," Tormod blurted out loud as he shuffled himself for some relief in comfort inside the stone cell. "Aw, by the goddess, it's so cold!"
No words left Sothe's mouth as he surveyed their surroundings like a hawk seeking its prey. The hall of the jail room was empty with no guards on patrol. It also seemed the two of them were the only who were caught and thrown into these cells.
"Neh, Sothe? Do you think we can find a way out," Tormod asked as his one voice echoed through the halls.
After a moment of silence, Sothe looked at Tormod and explained, "I can pick the door and get us out of here, but I'm not sure what we'll do after that…since there aren't any windows in sight."
Tormod relaxed his shoulders, letting out a big sigh. Small translucent clouds gently floated out from his mouth and then vanished within the air. "Why did we decide we didn't need help from everyone else on getting the book," Tormod whined.
"It was your idea for not wanting help from Micaiah," Sothe noted to the mage. "Else we would've been fine and wouldn't have gotten captured by these Begnion soldiers in ambush."
Cold silence followed Sothe's deep, toned voice. There were no other sounds than anonymous dripping water coming from the ceiling of the cell. Even Tormod didn't move a muscle.
"Sothe," the mage let out, breaking the cold silence. "I'm really cold right now… Nights in these mountains are known to be this cold at night, and if we don't do something, we both might pass out from the cold."
Without a word, Sothe motioned his hand to notify Tormod to come closer to him. Tormod quickly glanced up at Sothe's stern face. He was confused if the lone thief was really letting him come near him.
"Come on, Tormod. You want to catch a cold?"
Quickly shaking his head, he crawled to the side of the thief. Positioning himself in a very polite sitting stance, he avoided Sothe's golden eyes by looking down at his hands on his laps. He could feel Sothe's body heat against his side and a strange heat developing on his face. He cursed silently to himself because he knew his face was beginning to turn red.
"You know, if you're going to sit next to me to be warm, you don't have to sit like that," the thief spoke up. "You can…lean on my shoulders if you want."
Tormod's large red eyes widen in surprise. "R-really," he questioned.
All that came in as a reply was a nod from Sothe. With just that, Tormod eagerly scooted closer to Sothe's side until his hips had slightly touched the thief's arm. Slowly with caution, the mage rested his cheek on the thief's shoulder. Boy, could he feel the muscles Sothe had worked hard for over the three years they've been apart.
"Sothe…when will we do our escape," Tormod asked right after giving out a loud yawn.
"Soon, Tormod…I'll wake you up when it's time."
"Okay…then, I'll sleep."
Before the thief could even realize it, the mage was already fast asleep, snuggled against the teal muffler around his neck. It was amazing to Sothe that, for some reason, he and this mage were able to reunite once again after the war for the restoration of Crimea. Just today…they had reunited.
That day Sothe had left the Crimean army was days before Tormod had planned to leave himself. The reason he left early… He wasn't exactly sure the reason. It's been way too long for him to remember why, but he knew it had something to do with Tormod. But what could it be, exactly…?
A rush of warmth and slime made its way on Sothe's shoulder. He quickly glanced only to see Tormod slightly snoring and drooling a lot. Disgusted, he woke up the mage by almost shoving him to the other end of the cell.
Tormod flailed wildly after hitting the ice cold ground. "W-waah da…Watz da madda with chu!"
Sothe looked at Tormod's face. His eyes were half closed and slightly teary. There was a long string of clear drool that still hung onto the corners of his mouth.
"Ugh!"
"What," Tormod slightly moaned as he rolled onto his knees. "We, err, ready to do the escape plan?"
Thinking to himself about it, Sothe had realized that quite a long time had already gone by. It was time.
"They all should be sleeping by now," Sothe noted.
"The Begnion soldiers?"
"Yes…"
Sothe approached the bars of the cell, swiftly sliding his arm pass the gaps between two. A long piece of metal flung out from the area between his index and middle finger, and his fingers slickly grabbed hold of the metal. After placing the metal piece inside the key hole and cautiously moving it about for a few seconds, a soft click was heard. The cell was unlocked.
After placing the key between the cloth and leather that acted as a glove on his hand, Sothe quickly faced Tormod. "Let's get out of here."
"I'm right behind you," Tormod whispered rather loudly.
"Hush," Sothe warned him.
"Oops…sorry. Guess I was a little loud there."
Slowly, Sothe crept to the exit door of the room and gently pushed the door far enough to be able to get a glimpse at the other side. There weren't any guards in sight and any sounds of footsteps or breaths that Sothe detected. The area was safe travel for sure. Right when Sothe was about push the door open and step out of the room, Tormod tugged his muffler gently.
"Sothe, something's not right."
"I told you to hush," the thief informed him.
"No, but the air coming through the door..."
Sothe breathed in the air and observed its difference from the cell room they were kept in. However, there was a difference.
Sothe coughed a bit, and then looked through the door crack once again, telling himself out loud, "Dust? Why is there so much dust? … Don't tell me… It couldn't be…"
The place suddenly started to shake gently and then grew worse by seconds. Crumbs of pebbles fell out of place inside of the stone walls as dust particles started to become afloat.
"Dang, trying to take us down by taking down this little tower… They're that desperate to kill a member of the Dawn Group."
"There's no time, Sothe! Let's GO!"
"Right," Sothe said, instantly grabbing hold of Tormod's gloved wrist.
"What are you--"
"You're too slow so I'm going to give you a boost."
"You're going to wha--"
Before Tormod could adjust to what was actually happening, he was literally being pulled by Sothe as he could barely even land a single step onto the floor. The surroundings were dark, but he could hear and feel the trembles of the small tower falling apart.
"Sothe, we're not going to make it!"
"Yes, we are!"
With a quick glace up ahead, the mage spotted a small window that could barely fit the two of them together. The idea of jumping out that window gave him not relief but more worries. Sothe wasn't serious about what he's about to do, is he?
"Hold on tight, Tormod!"
He was serious.
"Ack, no! Don't!"
As Sothe jumped through the window, Tormod could've sworn the back of his head was just a millimeter away from the top window edge from being impacted into it. However, what was to follow…
"Ah, crap! Sothe! This isn't the first floor! It's the thir--"
And Tormod could feel his right shoulder digging deep into the layers of soft wet dirt. However, the impact had left the mage's right arm impaired. Unlike Tormod, Sothe was able to land on his two feet.
"Owww," Tormod screamed out
Sothe approached the mage's side and asked, "Tormod, are you okay?"
Tormod abruptly replied, "What do you think?"
No return of exchanged words. Sothe was already too busy examining their surroundings to say anything back to Tormod.
"Sothe!"
"…Not good."
"What?"
"Archers and catapults…They're aiming right at us from that fort!"
To be continued…
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Reviews are appreciated, but not expected!