AN: I got inspired by reading DarkEclipse's fics to do this. That, and the combination of my mom's cookies and a review on my other fic, both of which send me blitzing, bouncing off walls, and getting carpal tunnel from writing. Enjoy!
Summary: Erk, in his younger days. Based off of the Erk & Nino A support and Erk & Louise B support. One-shot.
Dedicated to my mother, the chocolate-chip-cookie-maker extraordinaire. Much love.
Louise rested her eyes on the adorable mage-in-training. He'd been unconscious for more than a few hours now, and who knew when he'd dozed off to begin with, head resting on the opened book. "Pent?" she asked, rising from her seat to find him, lest he not respond to her call. Not a minute later, the mage-general strode in, immediately checking the boy's pulse and sighing.
"Thank you, Louise," he said under his breath, rising to draw her into his arms. "If I'd returned from the trip any later…"
"He'd be fine," Louise assured him with a smile. "Knowing how similar you two are…"
His embrace grew tighter. "Should I be jealous?" he whispered in her ear, bringing a blush to her cheeks.
"I love you."
"Mmm," Pent mused, releasing her. "We should walk together sometime… Erk needs to start communing with spirits, anyhow. Is that appealing to you?"
"Very," Louise answered, kissing his cheek. She glanced at the sleeping Erk. "Remember when I hid the key to the library? Should I do so again…?"
The corners of her husband's mouth turned upwards in a tentative smile. "I don't think I deserve that, but if you wish, I shan't stop you."
"You'll keep an eye on Erk?"
"He won't leave my sight," Pent promised, mock-bowing to her. As she left, the purple-haired mage stirred, and Pent pulled a chair over to the bedside.
"M-master…?" Erk's voice wavered, half-hopeful, half-fearful. Pent laid a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Just relax for now. Louise left some tea; would you like any?" At the boy's nod, he brought the glass to his student's hand. "Best take it easy for the rest of the day."
"B-but… my studies…" Erk insisted weakly.
Pent shook his head, still smiling at the boy. Was I really this bad, Louise? He wondered idly. "You've already done more than enough. What you need is to actually go out and communicate with the spirits- no amount of reading can be exchanged for that. Then your training will truly begin." He watched the youth sip from the glass, and gently took it as it left the boy's lips, setting back on the table.
"Thank you… for everything…"
Shaking his head, the mage general drew up the covers around his student. "You're a fine young man, Erk. Don't push yourself so hard…" And with that he left the mage to sleep, in search of a certain picture book the boy would always keep.
Disclaimer: GSFEfan owns nothing from FE. If I did, everyone would have purple hair.