During my return to , I realized that although I was invited to join the Starcrossed Lovers Community, I had never wrote a Ike x Lethe fic. So, I'm going to attempt to remedy that now. This is set after the end of Radiant Dawn.
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Ike felt the weight of the three blades strapped to his back as he turned back to look at Toha. He would be leaving Tellius, and chances were, he would never return.
"All the supplies are loaded." Soren said, walking up the ramp to stand beside Ike.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Zihark asked, resting his hand on the Vague Katti.
"Yeah. There's nothing left for me here." Ike said, looking up at the sky. "There's no place for a mercenary in Tellius now."
"Agreed, Boss." Mia said, her Wo Dao hanging loosely at her side.
"Commander, we're ready to set out." Nephenee said, pulling her helmet lower on her head.
"It's Ike, Nephenee. I'm not a commander anymore." Ike said, turning to her.
"I understand Soren, and Mia's reasons. But Zihark, you and Nephenee… why are you coming?" He asked.
Nephenee smiled slightly.
"My farm was burnt down in the last war. It was my fathers. I couldn't even dream of rebuilding…" She looked away.
"No place left fer me either, I suppose."
Zihark shrugged.
"Soldiers are in the same boat as the mercs." Zihark said, shrugging.
"Sorry we're late brother!" Mist yelled, urging her horse onward. Rolf hung on with one arm, and waved with the other.
"It's my fault, Ike! I bought extra fletching." Rolf said, dismounting once the reached the boat.
"Mist, you don't have to come with me." Ike said, rubbing the back of his neck.
It was just supposed to be me leaving… but all of them want to go with me? Why?
"Where you go, I go." Mist said, smiling.
"And I go where Mist goes." Rolf said, shouldering his Double Bow. "After all, you might need my eyes." Rolf then held out his hand, which Ike shook.
"All set, Ike." Nasir called.
"Right. Zihark, Nephenee, weight anchor! Rolf, crow's nest! Mist, galley! Soren, run a check on supplies and provision! Mia, take Ragnell and Alondite to Nasir's quarters." Ike said, handing the blades over. Mia nodded, and they all scrambled to follow orders. Old habits die hard. Ike walked over to the side of the ship, and looked out at Toha. The ship began to slowly pull out of port. A dark shape caught Ike's eye as it ran through the streets of Toha.
"Who is…" Ike trailed off as he watched the shape get rapidly closer. The shape reached the dock moving at top speed, and leapt off the dock, aiming for the boat. Ike reached out his hand instinctively, but the shape fell downwards and struck the ship, barely above water level. The shape then dug it's claws into the side of the ship, and climbed up until it could take Ike's still outstretched hand. The orange cat lay gasping for air on the deck, as Ike looked down at it in shock.
"L-Lethe?" He asked incredulously.
"Ike…" She panted out, trying to stand. She had almost made it upright, only to fall to her side again, breathing heavily.
"Just take it slowly." Ike said, leaning down. He had been thinking about her all day, and now here she was? Ike hadn't been able to say goodbye to her, so he had simply said nothing, hoping she would just continue on living.
"I…I made it." Lethe muttered, glancing up at Ike with her catlike eyes. She then shifted back into
human form, and stared at him.
"What are you doing here?" He asked. "What about your platoon, your sister?" Lethe took a deep breath, and punched Ike as hard as she could. Ike fell back, and she stood over him.
"You think just because I'm a Laguz I don't have feelings? I'm still a girl, Ike!" She hissed. "You weren't even going to say goodbye?" Ike was surprised to see tears brimming her eyes.
"I thought we were friends! I thought we were…" Lethe looked away. Ike closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry. It's just that… I couldn't…say goodbye." Ike muttered, knowing her sensitive ears would hear him. Lethe's eyes softened somewhat, and she looked away.
"We need to turn around. You have a platoon to look after, and Lyre." Ike said, as Lethe helped him up.
"I'm staying with you." She said simply. Ike looked her in the eye. One of the things he loved about her was her stubbornness. He shook his head.
"You never were easy to reason with."
Ike shrugged.
Maybe it's better this way. Away from all the prejudice…
Ike glanced back at Lethe, who stood proud as ever, even if she couldn't think of what to say.
"I won't let you leave me again." Lethe said, her ears twitching. "You left me behind once, when you disappeared in between the wars." Ike winced.
"So you haven't forgotten about that yet…" Ike placed a hand behind his head, and smiled.
"Nothing for it then. When the first session?" He asked. Lethe, despite herself, smiled.
"Tomorrow morning. Dawn." Ike nodded.
"Sorry if we're interrupting." Came a voice from the stairway to the galley. Ike and Lethe turned, to see Ranaulf and Volke.
"Couldn't let you go out and die somewhere." Ranaulf said, grinning. Ike shook his hand gratefully. Volke nodded to them.
"No more corruption, no more work for an Assassin." He said simply.
"Well then, welcome aboard." Ike stated. He then turned to look at Crimea.
"Time to find a new place… for all of us."
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Author's Notes: Well, that's chapter one. Hope you guys enjoy it.
-Raptor ,out.