A NOTE ABOUT PAIRINGS:

Friends, Romans, Countrymen. I do NOT ship IkexPit. I actually loathe this pairing. The only reason I even started writing this was A.) Because one of my friends is in love with it. And B.) To introduce a conflict. Sorry, IkexPit fans! Feel free to stick around for the first few chapters until you get your otp to get squashed, though. Or, if you're one of those people (Like me) who has to finish a story once they start reading it, you may want to just take your leave right now. IkexMarth fans...bear with me. I am one of those people, so I'll just have to bear with myself. You guys will get your time.

Despite this antipathism of IkexPit, I will try to be as judicial as I can while writing them. As much as I don't like it, it's something I'll have to learn to do, I suppose.

And now, hurr. Onto the story?

"Mmmn. Ikeeeeeeeee..." the high-pitched drawl ended in what sounded like a mewl as the petite angel turned in his lover's arms. The mercenary set his head on the angel's shoulder in the dark, cuddling Pit's neck. The two of them were laying next to each other on the double bed that took up about a quarter of the space in their room. Pit was snuggled into his lover's chest, and Ike's arms were absently wrapped around the angel's back.

"What is it, Pit?" Ike breathed calmly, rubbing the angel's back comfortingly.

The angel giggled. "I love you, Ike..." he trailed off, hugging back with more enthusiasm and nuzzling the mercenary's chin with his mess of light brown hair. This caused the swordsman to chuckle, but other than that he said nothing.

Pit tried again. "I'll never leave you." he said, giggling a little. "I'm all yours, Ike."

Again, Ike said nothing. He was still rubbing the angel's back in a reassuring rhythm, but he was staring over Pit's shoulder, apparently deep in thought.

Pit pulled away, staring unblinkingly into Ike's bright blue eyes. After a minute or so, Ike stopped petting the angel's back and returned the stare.

"Ike..." he began, staring down at the swordsman's chest. "D...Do you not feel the same way about me?" He sounded genuinely worried...and hurt. The mercenary's eyes widened, unaware that all of his thinking was leading Pit down the wrong path thought-wise.

"No, of course not! ...Pit?" he asked softly, for the angel had looked away. Ike grabbed Pit's chin with his thumb and forefinger, and pulled his face up for a quick kiss. "Pit, of course I do." Ike grinned and ruffled the angel's hair. He was stroking his love's brunette hair when Pit yawned and fell slowly to sleep. Ike kissed the top of his head and whispered a small goodnight, to which Pit responded with wrapping his limbs around Ike's body--keeping him right where he was.

"Goodnight Ike. I'll never leave you..." he murmured into the mercenary's chest. He was silent while he waited for a similar expression from his lover, but there was nothing but his warm hand on the angel's head. Pit giggled and snuggled closer, realizing that Ike had fallen asleep a while ago and had dozed off with his head resting half on the pillow, and half in Pit's forest of brown hair.

Eventually, Pit fell asleep as well.

It was probably the best sleep he'd had since he had arrived.