The second time it happened, Zelgius had been asked to do a formal inspection of the Crimean army. The Apostle wanted to know if it was possible to start lessening their presence in Crimea, much to the senate's expected objections. Once again, his master stepped in, and together with the Apostle they managed to silence most of the senators' protests.

However, he still wondered why he, a general under Duke Persis's command, was chosen out of the many diplomats they had, including Master Sephiran himself. When he inquired about it, Sephiran only gave him a calm smile.

"Because you're the only one we can count on giving an accurate and unbiased report, General," he said, getting a nod from Sanaki.

Zelgius knew there was a lot more to it than that, but only nodded. He was in no position to question the request, despite the circumstances. If his master told him to go there, he would do so with no objections.

So as he finished his preparations and set out towards Melior, he couldn't help but think of the altercation he had found himself in with Ike. There had been no romantic feelings or anything like that, but pure physical attraction—that was it. That was what he told himself, and thinking back on that moment made it easier to deal with.

It was funny how nearly a year could change his perspective on things.


Melior was looking a lot better than the last time he was there. Most of the places that had been damaged previously were completely fixed up, leaving no sign of earlier destruction. The citizens seemed to be of good cheer, and it didn't feel quite as subdued as it was before.

The meeting with Queen Elincia, however, had been rather telling of how court politics were going. She certainly looked more regal and composed than she had a year ago, but for a brief moment, he thought he could see a look of inexplicable sadness on her face, one that was gone just as quickly as he saw it.

While he wanted to get started right away—the less time he spent in Melior, the better—the queen had informed him that some parts of the cavalry were out training, and the next day would be a better day for a full assessment. Hiding his disappointment, he allowed the queen's servants to show him his quarters for his stay, following them through the corridors.

However, he couldn't help but feel anxious being cooped up in such a room, the solitude of it leaving his thoughts to wander dangerously. Deciding that he really needed to get out, he left the dignitaries that came with him behind and walked back out to the training fields, taking in the fresh air. It felt like he was here just yesterday, despite knowing that he hadn't been here for quite a while. It seemed nothing had changed, apart from a few new buildings here and there, and training dummies scattered all over, but other than that...

"Ha!"

A sudden cry shook him out of his reverie, causing him to look over into the distance. It had sounded familiar, but at the same time, it was somewhat different. "Is that...?" he muttered, already walking that way before he could stop himself. The sound of a sword hitting something was heard in the air, and Zelgius knew who it was before he even got there. He should have just turned around and left right then and there, but he just couldn't. He had to see for his own eyes.

He stopped a ways away from the blue-haired figure as the man stopped, holding his blade in an all too familiar position before lowering it, breathing heavily. The man then turned around, pausing to blink in surprise when he saw who was watching him.

"General Zelgius," he greeted, nodding at him.

Zelgius didn't say anything for a moment, just looking at the man who was before him. He had grown so much in merely a year...he had gotten taller and muscles covered his frame, and his face looked a lot older than he remembered, still looking like him but also looking like-

"General Ike," Zelgius greeted back, returning the nod. "It's a pleasure to meet you once more."

Because although Zelgius knew that it was Ike staring at him, he couldn't help but see a little bit of Gawain in him.

Perfect.

"The same to you, Zelgius," Ike responded, and the Begnion general could see that the man was keeping a carefully neutral expression on his face. It seemed that he hadn't totally forgotten about the last time either. "What brings you here this time? More diplomatic efforts?"

"Nothing as complicated as that, thankfully," Zelgius said lightly. "I'm just here to inspect the Crimean army. The Apostle is eager to start bringing our soldiers home."

"Ah, so you've come to inspect how I've been handling it, have you?" Ike asked with a slight trace of humor. Zelgius could see that he had adjusted to his position in the year he had been away, not seeing the depression or resentment that had obviously burdened the other man last year. "Well, I can't say things have gone smoothly, but they've been getting by well enough."

"I trust they have been if you're putting it like that," Zelgius replied with a slight smile on his face. "You seem a lot calmer than you were when we last met."

Ike frowned at that remark, and Zelgius was wondering if he had said the wrong thing. "Yeah. I just realized a lot of things after you left, that's all," he said calmly, smiling.

What those things were eluded Zelgius, but he supposed that it didn't matter at the moment. "Well, I suppose it's good that you're doing better. Perhaps you found something that worked for you," he sighed. "Crimea is safe as long as you're their general."

That remark seemed to have make Ike think of something, because he suddenly frowned. "Maybe, but I'm just a simple mercenary. I can't do it alone," he shrugged.

"At least you realize that."

"I've always known it," Ike corrected. "Can anyone truly do anything alone?" he asked, looking at the sky as he sighed.

"Mm..." Zelgius couldn't really find something to say to that. "You've grown," he finally remarked, berating himself afterward for how obvious that was.

Ike actually chuckled at that, grinning slightly. "Oh, I've grown in a number of ways, General," he said, brandishing his sword. "Want to see one of them?"

It was a tempting offer, Zelgius found. The last time, Ike had improved significantly, and right now was a chance to see how much more powerful he was. On the other hand, the last time they sparred led to something Zelgius still found himself regretting. He wondered how Ike was dealing with it, but he couldn't tell with his current behavior.

Are you seriously going to pass up a chance to see how skilled he is? he found himself yelling in his head, and with a small smile, he nodded.

"Very well. If you're so confident, I can't help but accept," Zelgius said, drawing his own sword. This time, he'd fight using his preferred weapon, but he would remain careful. "At your ready, General Ike."

Ike's grin widened. "That's more like it. Prepare yourself, General Zelgius!"

With that said, they leaped at each other, ready to begin combat.


Yet again, he had been surprised.

As he parried another blow, stepping out of the way and attempting to hit Ike's side—only to be blocked—he found that Ike had improved greatly. There was a precision that wasn't there before, and Zelgius actually found himself on the defensive again. Unlike the last time, Ike's movements were not hampered by his emotional state, and that made him a very powerful opponent.

However, it was also a good thing that Zelgius was far better with a sword than a spear.

Blocking another strike, he couldn't help but smirk at the satisfied look on the younger general's face. "You're enjoying this a lot, aren't you?" he drawled as he spun around, attempting to hit Ike's back. Ike anticipated it and dodged at the last second, grinning.

"Not too often when I have skilled opponents. It must be the same for you, right?" the younger general retorted. "But I do wish you would stop holding back. There's no point to sparring if you're not giving it your all!"

That was another surprise, but Zelgius took it in stride. "I'd only say that if you intend on going full out as well," he retorted smoothly, watching Ike's eyes widen. "As it is, I'd like to keep my family's style a secret until I face a real enemy." To him, it was a poor excuse, especially if Ike had seen anything in their spar, but the other man merely shrugged.

"A family style, huh? Well, if you don't want to show it, you have your reasons..." Ike muttered. "Well, as long as you can still fight, it probably doesn't matter."

Zelgius released a sigh of relief he didn't know he had been holding. At least now he wouldn't ask how he fought so differently. "Indeed. Now, show me how much you've improved," he stated, coming out more like an order.

In any case, Ike continued the fight by leaping at him. Zelgius could already tell that he was still holding back; several maneuvers and techniques he used when he fought against the Black Knight were not being used, and he could actually tell when Ike was stopping himself from continuing an attack. Perhaps he was trying to keep himself from injuring him, but that would be his mistake. No, it wouldn't do at all.

Ike was in for a rude surprise as Zelgius not only parried his attack, but got inside his defenses and landed a hit to his arm. He hissed as he stepped back, only to be set upon by the older man, blade already high in the air. "Whoa!" he exclaimed, quickly bringing his own blade up and deflecting the blow, taking a step back. He looked up to see Zelgius's amused expression, the barest trace of a smirk on his face. "Okay, okay, you got me."

Shaking his head, the Begnion general sheathed his sword. "I suppose that's enough for now. You've underestimated me today, it seems," he said with some humor. "But still, how you've improved...it's astounding."

Ike put away his own sword, rotating his arm. "Really? I don't think I've been improving much at all."

"No, I mean it. You've gotten a lot stronger over the past year..." Zelgius said, nodding. "But I'm curious...why do you think that you haven't been improving?"

Ike paused for a moment in thought before shrugging. "It just never occurred to me. I've always been training to get better but...it somehow seems that it's not enough," he muttered. "Everyone keeps saying that I've gotten stronger. I just really can't believe it, though."

Just the way Ike said it struck a cord within him. Zelgius took a deep breath, blinking rapidly as it brought back another memory of his from so many years ago.

"You've gotten so much better, Sir Zelgius! Magnificent!"

"...does it really seem that way?"

"Of course. I can't believe you're so powerful now! I mean, everyone thought you just one of those braggart squires when you first came here, but now..."

"...I see."

"Do you think they're empty compliments?" Zelgius found himself asking, the memory fading. "You've truly gotten stronger, yet..."

"Empty? I don't know. Maybe it's because my goal is higher than most." Ike joked, chuckling. "I'm nowhere near my father's level. Every day, I keep wondering how much more I have to go to get to even match him..."

Zelgius chose this time to look away, biting his tongue. The worst part was that he sympathized with Ike, because he knew exactly how he felt. Too well, in fact.

"You shouldn't think too hard on it. Doing so will not help you at all," he finally said, closing his eyes. If only he could take his own advice, he thought to himself.

"Perhaps..." Ike sighed. "...I suppose that's enough about my own worries, huh? I feel bad making you listen to me."

"It is no trouble at all, Ike. Everyone needs to vent at some point," Zelgius said pointedly.

Ike smiled, but then looked curious. "So, who do you vent to? With all those nobles you have to deal with, you probably have a lot of things to get off your chest at times."

"Ha ha...I will admit to that. But no, I merely work my aggression off through training, nothing more. That's all I need to do," Zelgius said carefully. Ike was treading onto ground he would rather not speak of, but he really couldn't stop him without being suspicious.

"Huh, imagine that," Ike murmured in surprise. "You're really calm, you know that? If only I had some of your patience...you're the one I always end up talking with, oddly enough."

"And what of your mercenaries?" Zelgius asked after a moment's pause, watching Ike's face. The younger general seemed to have a sad smile as he shook his head.

"I do talk with them regularly. Every few days, in fact. It's just..." He sighed again, looking off into the distance. "I don't know how to put it. It's like there's only some things another person in my position can understand. I know that's not the case, but still..."

Zelgius understood his feelings, but not for the reasons given. He understood being isolated from what was familiar, trapped and wanting to get out and wanting to return, only to find it impossible...the frustration and anger of solitude...the very same things he himself had suffered under for so long before he met him.

"As long as you can relieve your stress somehow, it shouldn't be a problem," he said finally, turning away. "Shall we return now? I think I've gone over what I needed to today."

"Yeah, that's probably best at the moment," Ike conceded, starting to walk back towards the castle. As they made their way into the corridors, Ike smiled again. "Your swordsmanship...even if you don't show me your family's style, it's really impressive. I don't think I've faced someone as skilled as you in quite a while."

"Oh?" Zelgius queried, looking surprised. "That's quite the compliment, General. But there must be people around here that are just as skilled."

"I do spar with Lucia and Geoffrey sometimes, true," the Crimean general said, fingering the hilt of his blade. "But no one will be like that opponent."

"Who do you mean?"

Ike looked away. "It's not important. He's already dead, in any case."

Zelgius thought it best not to continue the conversation further.


It was strange to realize that the only thing Zelgius looked forward to during his visits to Crimea were his sparring sessions with Ike. That wasn't to say he faltered in his duties, which he still performed to his utmost. But the only thing he waited for was the clashing of weapons with the younger general, as he was eager to see his progress.

How far had he come? How much had he grown? Those questions were always in his head during their sessions, and it did indeed seem that Ike would truly take Gawain's place in the days to come, and he had to keep himself from shivering in delight. The time was almost upon him that he'd be able to face his teacher once more! However, Ike would need some sort of opponent to make him get better as fast as possible...but it was far too early for the Black Knight to make his reappearance.

No, the most appropriate action would be to keep up the ruse of sparring with the Crimean general, making sure to set him down the path that would increase his skills. He'd have to make him stop holding back, but as long as he revealed some of his own skills without delving into Gawain's style, he would be alright.

If it were only that simple. At times, he actually found himself enjoying the small fights they had, for they did more than just feed his anticipation of his future fight. For the first time in a long while, it actually felt he had some sort of purpose—something besides training, something besides following his master's orders. This was something he wanted, and he could say that without hesitation, even if his reasons were dubious.

Zelgius couldn't see him in the morning, mostly because both he and Ike had their own duties to attend to. The army was a lot larger than before, though some companies were shorter than the others. It seemed the Royal Knights were still training cavalry and other knights to make up for the poor numbers.

All in all, the army was adequate, but not enough for him to warrant Begnion's withdrawal of forces. Both Queen Elincia and Ike had nodded when he addressed them, the former looking like she was expecting that. It would explain why she looked so solemn when he had mentioned it the previous day.

That afternoon, when he asked Ike about it during their sparring session, Ike looked troubled by his remarks. "It's because many of the new recruits are being swayed to work for some noble houses instead of the queen," he explained, frowning thoughtfully as he assumed a ready position. "They've pledged loyalty to her, of course, but it remains troubling that they don't actually serve in her ranks."

Zelgius frowned. "You think they want to siphon power from the queen?" he asked. While noble houses would have their own armies in a given territory, they still had to take commands from the overall authority, which would be Queen Elincia. It was somewhat like how they did it in Begnion, where Zelgius himself not only headed Sephiran's troops, but was the military commander of the Central Army. Still, to think he had to take orders from those wretched nobles...

"I don't think it's that...I just think they're being petty and selfish. A country can't come together if they're bickering like this, right?" Ike asked, giving a frustrated sigh before reassuming his posture. "I suppose I can worry about that later, though. Come on, let's keep going."

"Right," Zelgius said with a nod, finding himself being attacked mere moments later. It was a nice little bonus when sparring with the younger man, as he tended to tell him of the situations and issues that both he and the queen were dealing with. Not only did it make his own job easier, but...some part of him just connected with Ike, because everything about Ike's current situation resonated somehow with him. Struggling and adapting to situations...that's how a true soldier worked.

Like how he had to, once.

"You're open!" Ike suddenly shouted, and Zelgius shook himself out of his thoughts just in time to see Ike's sword mere inches away from him, and he quickly brought his sword up to block, chastising himself for letting his attention wander. "What's wrong, Zelgius? You're not concentrating!" Ike yelled, frowning.

Zelgius drew back, reassuming his position. "My apologies. My mind wandered," he said in a clipped tone, bringing his sword up. "It won't happen again."

Ike seemed concerned for a moment before nodding. "If you say so..." he muttered before charging again, this time satisfied as Zelgius met him with equal fervor, an unreadable look on his face. If Ike wondered why he looked that way, he didn't say anything as he continued pressing his attack, seeing if he could get into Zelgius's defenses.

Zelgius frowned, parrying the strike. "You'll have to do better than that," he muttered loud enough for the other man to hear before redirecting Ike's blade and maneuvering himself near Ike, catching him in the chest with the broad side of his sword. Ike's eyes widened as he stumbled, catching himself only as he back flipped away to stare at Zelgius in shock.

"That was..." he breathed, lowering his sword. Zelgius didn't know what Ike was so shocked about before he realized it himself.

Damn you Zelgius, you stupid imbecile! You just used one of your moves! he growled in his mind. Had his focus been so bad that he used one of those techniques? "That was...what?" he asked in confusion, hoping that Ike did not catch on.

Ike shook his head slowly, as if he were trying to make sense of it. "What you just did. Where did you learn that?" he asked sharply, staring at the Begnion general. "The ones that have used that maneuver are very few and far between."

Zelgius quickly racked his mind for a plausible lie, outwardly showing no expression. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You used it once last year. I don't know if you remember, but I found it rather powerful and practical, so I mastered it in our time away from each other," he explained as calmly as he could, trying to gauge Ike's reaction so he could change his story if he needed to. "I didn't wish to show you, so..."

Ike stared blankly at him, as if he were trying to see if that worked. "It might be true I used it in one of our spars..." he murmured finally, frowning. "And if you decided to emulate that...hm. How odd." He then chuckled, much to Zelgius's disbelief. "How ironic. I do it to him, and now you do it to me. How very strange."

Although he was relieved that Ike seemed to buy his hastily constructed lie, he couldn't help but be curious. "What do you mean?" he asked, sheathing his own sword. It seemed that they wouldn't be sparring again today, from the way Ike was looking at him.

"Him. The Black Knight. I keep reliving that fight in my mind..." Ike said, looking at the sky. Zelgius said nothing, instantly understanding. "I can't help it. Every night, I wonder about that battle. His moves, his techniques...they were so powerful. I've been practicing them, trying to learn them and make them my own. I've been doing the same thing you're doing, Zelgius."

Inwardly, Zelgius was smirking. Ike was indeed going to be his final challenge, especially if he picked up so many new techniques from just that battle alone. Their next real clash would prove to be quite interesting, and he wasn't sure exactly who would be the one to come out on top. "I think it's natural to use things that not only will make you more powerful, but help you survive," he said, keeping a calm look on his face. "Despite how dishonorable it seems, that's how warriors such as us work. We don't have the luxury of picking and choosing what we take. Whatever it takes to survive, we must use."

"Mm. Someone who used to train with me said the same thing. I've never forgotten it," Ike sighed, somewhat wistful. "In any case, I guess I'm not angry about it. I don't think it's something you'll probably use much, huh?"

If only you knew, Zelgius thought before shaking his head. "Mm. I might end up your enemy one day, though. Would you be fine with that?" he asked, surprising himself.

Ike only chuckled and smiled. "I know. If you're the one who would be my enemy, I guess I wouldn't mind. You're not the kind of person who would misuse your skills, from what I've seen."

"I happy to hear that you have such faith in me," Zelgius said, pushing back the empty feeling in his chest. Things always have to turn out like this, don't they?

As Ike smiled at him, he mentally sighed. If only he knew the trouble he would be in for.


The next day found himself once again facing his own troops, reassuring them that they would be brought home before the year ended. He could tell that some of them were getting complacent in their duties, having been stuck in the country for some time. They were reassured by Zelgius's promises, and the Begnion general knew that they would be able to stick it out a little longer.

However, something else had been weighing on his mind since the previous night. He really wasn't one to let his attention slip, but after he found himself cursing his inattentiveness for the second time that day, he remembered what Ike had told him last night.

"If you're the one who would be my enemy, I guess I wouldn't mind. You're not the kind of person who would misuse your skills..."

"By the goddess, he just had to say that," he groaned. Zelgius knew that he was doing everything here just for his own ambition. He sparred with Ike only to see how far he progressed, how much further he had until he was an equal to Gawain. He only fought with him and gave him advice because it would serve for his own benefit in the end. He'd have his fight, triumph, and prove to Gawain that he had overcome him.

The only problem—one he had never anticipated—was getting attached.

He had resisted, of course. Ike, however, said and did things that reminded him too much of himself, things that he had thought he left behind long ago. Even though they hadn't known each other long or fought together, Ike seemed to trust him. More than that, he looked at Zelgius with such respect that it actually made him pause. Sure, he got respect from everyone else in the army, but it just felt different coming from the younger man.

No one ever looks at me that way, he thought suddenly, stopping to look at the ground. And yet, I know it won't last. He'll know who I am soon enough.

Taking a deep breath, he resumed his pace back towards the castle, a grimace on his face. Calm yourself, Zelgius. You are Begnion's commander in chief. You are the Black Knight, and the first apprentice of Gawain. This stuff should not get to you.

He already had one person that he bound himself to as his servant. That person entrusted to him all of his plans and sorrows, along with his regret. The world would end within the next two years, and they were the only ones who knew that. It was what his master was trying so hard to achieve.

But whenever he talked with Ike, he found his resolve faltering. It was almost surreal with how it reminded him of his own moments with Gawain so very long ago, when he still served in Daein's ranks. Back then, even though he suffered from isolation and lived in fear of discovery, he was actually happy. Gawain had trained and treated him like a father would a son...which turned into the ultimate irony when he struck him down in Gallia that night. With every day, with every sparring session he shared with Ike, it felt like he was becoming more of a mentor than anything to the younger general.

Did all life deserve to be completely annihilated? Zelgius never knew, and he would never know for the life of him.

He snorted. "Since when have my thoughts ever mattered? There's no turning back," he muttered bitterly, hastening his stride.

He was troubled to find himself conflicted.


That night, he couldn't sleep. While this wasn't an uncommon occurrence, he just couldn't seem to get over it. Sighing, he got out of his bed and put on some light clothes, frowning. "What am I doing?" he asked himself, quietly exiting the guest room. At this time of night, the only ones patrolling the corridors were the night sentries, who merely nodded at him as he made his way down to the training grounds. It was quiet, which was to be expected, with only the dimming embers of the torches lighting the way.

The night air felt refreshing against his skin, but it offered Zelgius no comfort. Right now, he was questioning if everything he had been doing up to this point was right. Had it been worthwhile, sparring with Ike and spurring him on? Was it because of that one decision that he was now being reminded of his younger years? He really didn't know, and now he had to sort them all out.

However, there was one question on his mind that was more pressing than anything.

Do you regret it?

To what that question referred to, he didn't know. He regretted a lot of things during his life, but at least then he knew exactly what his choices had been. But now...he was unclear on his own feelings. What exactly was up with him?

"Damn...was this a bad idea after all? Maybe it would have been better had I not done this..." he muttered, looking up at the night sky. But how else would I have made sure?

"...Zelgius?"

Holding back a gasp of surprise, the Begnion general whirled around to see Ike standing a few feet away from him, clad in a loose shirt and pants. "General Ike...you're out rather late," he managed to let out. He cursed at his luck; why did it seem like Ike was following him everywhere?

"I could say the same to you," Ike retorted, walking up beside him. "Not many come down here at this time of the night."

"...which would explain why you're here," Zelgius concluded, getting a snort from the younger man.

"Maybe. I'm surprised to see you're here, though. Something on your mind?" Ike inquired, turning his gaze to the sky as well.

There were quite a lot of things on Zelgius's mind, none of which he could actually tell the other man. "You could say that. It just concerns a lot of things," he shrugged off, making it a point not to make eye contact with Ike.

The younger man turned to stare at him, frowning slightly. "A lot of things? Like what?"

"Just issues that have been weighing on my mind. Nothing more," Zelgius dismissed. He really didn't have the patience to deal with Ike at the moment, but before he managed to turn and walk away, Ike spoke up once again.

"Issues?" Ike questioned before getting a serious look on his face. "Does it concern with what we did a year ago?"

Zelgius visibly stiffened. It was apparent to Ike that it was a subject that he didn't want to think about. "So, you're done ignoring it then?" he asked, still not making eye contact.

Ike shrugged himself. "Like you have been?" he asked, not bothering to look at the older man. "You know, I was asking myself after that night if I actually felt anything for you."

Zelgius snorted. "You thought you loved me?" he asked skeptically, rolling his eyes at the mere thought of it. Ike only grunted in response.

"I wasn't sure at the time. Could you blame me? We had only known each other for a few days, and yet..." Ike then sighed, turning so he was facing Zelgius's back. "I know now it wasn't love or anything. I just got caught up in the heat of the moment. The same happened to you, didn't it?"

When Zelgius didn't answer, Ike scowled. "Look. I know what happened last year wasn't the best of circumstances or anything. I was pissed, you got pissed, and then we somehow ended up in bed. I can see why you would want to forget about that. But I don't believe you're the type of person to just pretend it never happened!"

"And then what would you have me do?" Zelgius snapped, glaring back at the younger man. "You would have me be okay with it? Pretend it's normal? Do not be so foolish, Ike! You know very well what we did was-"

"I know what we did," Ike interrupted, returning the glare. "I'm not denying it. I know it's not normal, and if anyone ever found out, our countries would hunt us down. I know the consequences just as well as you do, General. What I can't be sure of are your own feelings on it."

"Hmph. My own feelings..." Zelgius muttered, closing his eyes. The whole day had been about sorting out his own feelings, and now it was like he was being forced to answer. "...they're irrelevant. As long as you realized it was not right, then there is nothing more to say."

"Dammit, Zelgius, listen to yourself!" Ike snapped, and before he knew it, Zelgius found himself backed into the same wall Ike had been backed into during their spar a year ago. "Why are you saying it doesn't matter? Are you just saying that so you won't have to actually come to terms with your own issues? I haven't heard anything about what you might think of it, and don't give me that tripe you were saying before. You're a far better man than that, Zelgius...I know that."

Zelgius remained silent, eyes wide. Such words from Ike...they were very unsettling.

After a few moments of silence, Ike sighed. "Just tell me. If you truly regret that night, if you truly don't want to acknowledge it, I'll just walk away right now and pretend it never happened. We'll just acknowledge that we never did such a thing, and never will. Tell me if you really regret that night."

"I..." Zelgius started, still at a loss for words. Why did this have to come up now, when he was just wondering about this?

The person in front of him, the one almost pinning him to the wall and looking at him with such an expression—this was supposed to be his enemy! This was Gawain's son! This was...the person he had bedded that night. Dammit...

"...don't regret it," he finally let out. In reality, he had never regretted it; he only fooled himself into thinking that he did, because everything about it was so wrong...

...but when it came to Ike, it seemed that everything was turned on its head. "I never have."

Ike nodded. "I see..." he murmured, sighing softly. "I was hoping to hear that."

"Why?" Zelgius asked lowly, taking a deep breath. He knew that that situation, that this situation was completely wrong; he knew what it was leading to, and yet...

The younger man shook his head. "I haven't regretted it either. To be honest..." Zelgius then felt him lean up against him, their faces unnervingly close. "It actually felt nice, you know? Even if it was wrong for us to do it, it just felt so...natural back then, for some reason. Did you feel that way too?"

"Somewhat..." Zelgius gulped. He couldn't exactly say he was uncomfortable with this situation, but did he want to commit to the same thing he had done previously?

"...yes. I did feel that way."

"That's all I need to know then."

The next thing Zelgius felt was Ike's mouth on his, kissing him, and he felt himself kissing back despite himself. It was almost like how it happened last time, but instead of the fierce and sloppy kisses of that night, it was slower and...dare he say it?—passionate. He felt himself leaning against the wall as Ike claimed his mouth, the younger man throwing his arms over his shoulders and keeping him close. Despite how he knew that he shouldn't be doing it, he couldn't help but feel a sense of thrill doing this.

As Ike pulled away, Zelgius let loose a breath he didn't know he had been holding. "Ike, we can't-" he started, swallowing. "You know what this means, don't you?"

"I know very well what it means," Ike retorted. "And I'm doing it anyway. What say you, General?"

No romantic attachments, no love between them...just pure physical attraction. Perhaps Ike did understand that. "Just as long as we're careful," he conceded, feeling Ike's breath against his face, kissing him slowly.

"Alright...come on, we can make it up to my quarters since the night sentries are forbidden around there. Follow me." Ike whispered, and once again, Zelgius found himself following the younger general to his room, about to recommit what happened the last time.

And goddess help him, he couldn't help but feel excited right now.


He never knew how they made it up to his room without anyone seeing them, but apparently a few months ago, one of the more petty aristocrats paid off some soldiers to snoop around General Ike's room in an attempt to get something on him. They were found out rather quickly and were jailed, and the noble was expelled from the palace court soon after. The Queen had then forbidden any sort of watch over Ike's quarters, furious at the nobles' attempt to undermine her authority.

It worked in their favor, however, as they quickly stepped inside. As soon as the door was closed, Ike's lips were on his again, and the only thing he cared about at the moment was the younger man currently snaking his tongue into his mouth. He leaned against the door, Ike pressing into him as his hands wandered underneath his shirt, and he groaned softly. "Eager, aren't you?" he rasped as Ike broke away, Ike's hands lightly dragging across his stomach.

"Can you blame me?" Ike replied huskily, lips moving to Zelgius's neck. Lightly groaning, the older man idly wondered how this mess started in the first place, but his musings were forgotten as Ike lightly bit him, making him groan.

"No, I suppose I can't," Zelgius muttered. "But you know we must be quick about this." It was just like that last time; anyone could come to check at any sudden noise, even if there weren't sentries posted around there.

Ike nodded. "I know. Just be as quiet as you can." he murmured, and Zelgius then found himself being pulled to the bed. Ike apparently couldn't wait, because he was grinding against him again, and even though their clothes were in the way, the friction of it sent shivers down his spine, arching into that sensation. The younger man was certainly being aggressive tonight, if the way he pulled at his shirt was indicative of anything. Once Ike pulled his shirt off, one hand dropped down to immediately start unfastening his pants, and as they dropped, Zelgius couldn't help but feel somewhat aroused by how Ike was taking charge.

"You're overdressed," he complained, a slight grumble in his tone as he grabbed Ike's shirt. The younger man grinned as he allowed it to be pulled off, and Zelgius immediately shucked it somewhere out of sight. Under all the clothes and armor, Ike's physique had built up even more, as muscled abs and a built chest met his sight. He absentmindedly licked his lips as Ike got rid of his own pants, leaving them in equal states of undress. "Well, you certainly have grown. I guess it wasn't just you bragging after all," he commented wryly, looking over Ike's chest.

Ike chuckled. "Like what you see, General?" he asked in amusement, pressing himself closer to the older man. Zelgius shuddered at the warmth of Ike's body in close proximity, unused to anyone ever being as close as they were. "But I'm pretty sure we're not just here because you want to admire my body." Before Zelgius knew it, Ike pushed him onto the bed, following him a moment later.

Zelgius blinked as he felt Ike lay on top of him, staring down at him. "You're..." he muttered, feeling the younger man's full weight on him.

Ike smiled softly, his hand wandering down to the older man's chest. "I know, I know...you were my first and all, but I can't help but wonder what it would feel like if I were in your place," he murmured. His fingers had apparently found Zelgius's nipples and were now playing with them, and Ike chuckled when he heard Zelgius groan softly. "Will you allow me to do this?"

Zelgius looked conflicted for a moment before nodding. Ike smiled again before his head descended, and the older man felt Ike's tongue lap at his neck, the wet organ meeting his overheated skin. He groaned as he felt those hands roll the nubs on his chest between two fingers, lightly pinching them. Why am I letting him do this...? he wondered as Ike started to lap at his chest, tongue hesitantly playing with one of his nipples before starting to tease it mercilessly, getting another groan from him. I've never had anyone this close to me, so why?

He never could remember who his own first was. Did it happen when he was just a squire in Daein, when several nights of building tension left him in the hands of an older recruit? Or was it sometime after that, before meeting Gawain? In any event, he had just been looking for an outlet for his frustration and loneliness and found himself in bed with someone, lying beneath them as they pounded into him. Obviously it never really meant anything, for he couldn't remember the person's face, and he was sure the person had later died during one of the many conflicts that Daein was mired in.

But now, he didn't know. Did this time actually mean anything to him?

He was shocked out of his thoughts when Ike's hand wandered to his back and brushed over a certain place below his left shoulder. Zelgius visibly tensed and gasped, eyes wide as he arched into Ike. The younger general was surprised by the reaction, momentarily stopping as he stared at the person under him. "What was that...?" he managed to ask, his hand trailing over that same place. Looking at the surprised expression on Zelgius's face, he smirked. "Oh, I get it. It's a sensitive place, huh? Well then, I know what to do with those..."

Zelgius had to bite his lip to stop himself from actually moaning. Ike's hand was rubbing a lazy circle over his Mark—a place no one had ever touched before, not even his master. The feeling of something pressing against it always sent a shiver through him, but he never expected the actual feeling of someone touching it to be so intense. To top it all off, he felt the blood start rushing down to the lower part of his body, making him even harder than he ever thought possible.

The thought of actually stopping now seemed quite foolish to him.

Ike lightly moaned as he felt Zelgius arch up and grind against him, his bare erection rubbing against his and sending a jolt up his spine. Whatever he just did, it seemed Zelgius wanted more, if the Begnion general's breathless expression said anything about it. He teased that spot a number of ways, from ghosting his fingers over it to actually pressing it. Each time, Zelgius would react somehow, either by groaning loudly or bucking his hips, causing Ike to pause and moan himself. It seemed that spot on his back was quite sensitive, and Ike didn't doubt that he could get Zelgius off on just that alone.

But that wouldn't be very fun or rewarding, he thought. Withdrawing his hand, he saw the look of absolute relief on Zelgius's face and chuckled. "Didn't think you had a place like that on you, Zelgius. I guess it's true that everyone has a weak spot somewhere." he mused, shifting himself down as his head lowered. "But don't think it's over yet."

Dazed, Zelgius was going to ask what he meant when he felt a new kind of pleasure wash over him, watching as Ike took his arousal into his mouth. It was one thing to have felt himself buried into Ike's body the year before, but it was quite another to feel Ike's mouth around him, a veritable hot and wet cavern around him. He groaned as he threw his head back, the younger man bobbing his head slowly and licking what he could of him. If Ike was being awkward from inexperience, Zelgius wouldn't know because damn, it felt so good.

Ike continued taking Zelgius's hard erection into his mouth, taking in slightly more each time he bobbed his head. From the way Zelgius was gripping his hair, he knew he was doing something right, running his tongue up the skin of the organ. From the way the older man was twitching, he was trying to keep from just thrusting into his mouth, and Ike was grateful for that. He knew he wouldn't be able to take all of him, so he just sucked gently and licked the underside of the head, getting these delicious panting sounds from the other man.

Eventually, Ike tried to take in too much and gagged, immediately pulling himself off as he coughed. Zelgius looked up in a mixture of concern and disappointment, a flushed look on his face. "Sorry, didn't think you were so...well, big," Ike tried to say with some humor, pointedly glancing at the older man's arousal, covered in his saliva. He gripped it lightly, giving it a pump as Zelgius groaned again. "I'd like to do more, but..."

"Ugh, you damned tease..." Zelgius breathed, giving Ike a half-lidded stare. "Just hurry up already." He never thought he could be so impatient, but he was impossibly hard and incredibly turned on at the moment.

Ike blushed. "Well, about that..." he said, scratching the back of his head. He had already positioned himself in between Zelgius's legs, remembering what happened last time. But after that... "It's the first time I'm doing this, and I don't want to mess it up or anything."

Zelgius caught onto what Ike was saying and sighed. He could afford to wait for a few minutes. "Where's the oil?" he asked lowly, still not trusting his voice. He was afraid he had been too loud already, but it had seemed to spur Ike on. When the younger man pointed at the stand beside the bed, Zelgius quickly grabbed the flask and uncapped it, noticing it was the same kind of oil from last time. "Keeping it just for this moment, huh?" he commented wryly, making Ike blush a bit harder.

"It's just more of it. I've already used the old stuff up," Ike quickly retorted. "Anyway, what do I-"

"Hold out your hands," Zelgius interrupted. Ike did so as he poured a generous amount of the stuff into them, watching as Ike slicked them up. "Now just do what I did last time. You surely remember that."

Ike nodded, glancing down at the hole. Almost hesitantly, he trailed a slick finger down there, slowly inching it forward before he slid it in, mesmerized as the hole seemed to swallow it up. He heard Zelgius's breath hitch as he paused, remembering the slight discomfort he felt when the older man had done it to him. After waiting a few moments, he moved his finger around, not knowing what exactly to do.

"You have to use more than one. You have to make sure you'll be able to fit inside me," Zelgius instructed. Ike must have thought he was getting impatient—which he was, but he'd never say that to Ike—because he hurriedly nodded and slowly inserted a second finger, making Zelgius groan. Just the feeling of something up there made him tremble from both pain and some sort of excitement. He didn't know why he felt that way, but he didn't care at the moment. All he wanted was to get himself off.

Ike seemed to get more comfortable, slowly scissoring his fingers as Zelgius told him to. The soft grunts and groans from the man meant he was doing it right, and he kept doing it until he couldn't ignore his own need. "I think that should be fine," he muttered, pulling his fingers out. Zelgius seemed to relax some, head falling upon the pillow as panted. "Now...um..."

Zelgius really couldn't wait anymore as he grabbed the flask again, this time pouring some of it into his hands and slicking them up. "Come here," he ordered. Ike, confused, edged himself closer to the man before gasping and jerking in surprise. Zelgius's hand had shot down and grabbed his erection, stroking quickly to slick it up.

"Z-Zelgius? What are you doing?" he exclaimed in a hushed tone, trying to keep himself steady. The Begnion general's hand on his arousal was tight, and the movement of it was enough to make his hips jerk in time with it.

The other man said nothing as he let go, getting a groan of disappointment from Ike. "Just preparing you, since you're taking too long," Zelgius muttered, getting an apologetic glance from Ike. He really didn't mean for it to sound so accusatory, but he was done with waiting. "Now, you know what comes next," he said, silently trying to relax himself. Ike nodded as he moved back down, settling in between the larger man's legs. After a few moments of tense silence, Zelgius felt Ike's head right at the entrance before it pushed its way past the ring of muscle, and then he knew pain.

Ike was startled as he saw the pained expression on Zelgius's face, fighting off the incredible feeling of heat surrounding his cock. "Are you okay?" he whispered, placing his hands on Zelgius's inner thighs and lightly running his fingers down the skin. The action seemed to be of some comfort to the older man, his face slowly relaxing.

Even though he had already been taken several years ago, it still didn't keep it from hurting when Ike eased into him. "I'm fine," he managed to say after several long moments, trying to control his breathing. "Just...give me a moment."

Ike made himself completely still, taking in some air. It was hard remaining like this, with the warmth and the tightness around his arousal being almost enough to make him lose control. He wanted to just let go and start pounding into the older man, but he wouldn't. Zelgius did not do that to him the last time, and he would have to show him the same consideration. He slowly smiled as Zelgius showed visible signs of relaxing, the man sighing when he finally felt the pain subside.

Zelgius felt his breathing even out, his eyes closing. It still hurt, but it wasn't as crippling as it was before. "I'm ready," he said, and to Ike, it was merely a command to finally let go. The younger man started moving, and Zelgius recalled the sensation of just being full like this, Ike pressing into him and slowly pulling out, only to do it again a bit more forcefully. He spread his legs further out in an attempt to make Ike go deeper, and Ike acknowledged this by grabbing them, using them as leverage to plow himself deeper.

It was only when Ike rubbed against that spot inside him that the silence was broken between the two with a sharp gasp, and he groaned loudly as he threw his head back again. "By the goddess..." he moaned, closing his eyes to clear the white spots in his vision.

Elated by the reaction he got, Ike tentatively repeated the same motion again, this time thrusting in with more force. Zelgius groaned again and bucked his hips down, trying to push Ike in even deeper. Ike moaned himself, careful to keep quiet. It felt so much better than last time, and he had to exhibit that much more caution because of it.

Just like the last time, Zelgius found himself lost in the moment, not caring about anything except what was happening right now. All he knew was that he was sprawled out on the bed with Ike between his legs, who was starting to increase the speed of his thrusts, each one starting to make the bed shake. He felt himself thrusting back as well, trying to drive himself onto Ike's arousal so he could finally achieve his release.

"Is this to your liking, General?" Ike asked huskily as he continued thrusting into Zelgius, low moans coming out of his mouth. He never thought something like this could feel so good, and he had done this last year with the same person! If he had wondered why Zelgius seemed to enjoy his power over him that night, all of his questions were answered as he took in Zelgius's breathless state. The older man was clenching around him, making everything so impossibly tight, and he didn't know how much longer he was going to hold out for.

Zelgius muttered a curse underneath his breath, trying very hard not to moan loudly. "More than you can imagine," he managed to retort. Everything just felt so hot to him, his erection was throbbing...it was hard to think straight.

Ike continued to pound into him, a grimace on his face. He was nearing his own limit, and it wouldn't be long until he hit his climax. However, Zelgius seemed right on the edge himself. What could he do to bring him to that point...?

A sudden idea hit Ike as he remembered what got Zelgius going earlier, and he started to let his hand drift back up the other man's body, a smirk on his face.

Timing his thrusts so he'd be fully inside Zelgius the moment he did it, he let his hand hover over the spot for a few moments. One thrust, two thrusts, and then...

Zelgius's eyes widened as he felt Ike's hand press his Mark just as he pounded right into him. "Guh...Ike!" he groaned, his climax hitting him as he came all over their bodies. The combined feeling of Ike touching that place and thrusting into him sent him reeling, and he was completely dazed as soon as the euphoria wore down.

Ike grit his teeth when he felt Zelgius tighten around him, and thrust in a few more times before he couldn't hold back any longer, groaning as he spilled into Zelgius, heavily breathing as he slumped onto the older man's chest.

Neither of them could muster the energy to move their heads, much less move away. The only sound in the room was their irregular breathing as they both fought to regain their breath.

The first one to recover was Ike, who groaned as he slowly pulled out of Zelgius, paying no attention to the mess that splattered onto his sheets as he did so. "I can't believe it..." he muttered, slowly flopping onto his back as he stared at the ceiling. "That was incredible."

Zelgius slowly blinked, some of his wits now starting to come back to him. "What was?" he asked slowly, a soft groan coming out of him as he did so. He knew he was going to be hurting in the morning, but right now it felt like he couldn't even move anything.

"What we just did. It felt so much better than last time," Ike remarked as he sat up, idly looking down at the mess that was on his stomach. "But then again..."

"Then again?" Zelgius repeated before the memories of what happened after their first time returned. "...oh," he muttered, looking away. He had panicked and fled the room as quickly as possible, not wanting to see Ike's face or be reminded of what they had done then.

But where did that leave him now?

With a sigh, Ike hefted himself off the bed, grabbing his clothes. "I think we might have made a little bit too much noise," he commented with a frown, suddenly worried. "I'm going to rinse myself off in the baths and go take a look around. I'll deal with anyone who might have heard us," he muttered, giving Zelgius a nod before making his way towards the bath in his quarters.


Zelgius watched as Ike entered a door at the far end of the room, the audible sound of a lock clicking signaling it was the bathing room. Leaning his head against the pillow once again, he looked down at his stomach, covered with his fluids. There was no denying it was an incredible experience, that was for sure. He just laid there for several minutes, the afterglow starting to fade away.

As he regained his composure, he had to wonder...where did this leave him? This was the second time he had sex with Ike, and this time, he couldn't even feel any regret or self-disgust. Did this mean he truly liked what they just did? That he was okay with being in bed with the person who would be his enemy in the end? What had happened to him regretting it?

No, I don't regret this. How could I? he thought. He still had his own feelings, as much as he tried to hide them. That fear from his youth of being alone and hated still plagued him constantly—a fear that stemmed from the origin of his Mark. He didn't dare get close to anyone because of that, even if that meant suffering in solitude. Master Sephiran had been the first one to see both the Mark and his pain, and offered him companionship, reaching out to him when he needed someone the most. For that, he'd have Zelgius's undying loyalty.

But not even that could stop what his body wanted. Just being with someone, just touching and feeling and being close—that was different than simple companionship. And despite whatever he did, whatever he felt, he couldn't escape one of the truths that was now clear to him: being with Ike, just doing this...

For the first time, he didn't feel alone.

That bothered him. He was never supposed to get this close to the younger man, despite the connection they had to each other. All Ike was supposed to be was the person to carry on Gawain's skills, and the person he'd eventually challenge to see if he truly surpassed Gawain. But with his decision to start preparing Ike for that day, it eventually led to this...and for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why he didn't regret it.

It really didn't make sense to him. He certainly didn't feel any sort of love for Ike, especially considering how he viewed him. But at the same time, there was just some sort of inexplicable feeling that arose whenever it came to the younger man. There was just something about Ike and his troubles that Zelgius just...understood, and before he knew it, he'd become attached. Even if they only interacted for a scarce few days, what they just did defied what hold time had on them.

It was not just physical attraction that drove both of them to this, he realized, but it was something else entirely.

His musings were broken when Ike stepped out of the bathing room, already clothed. The younger man raised an eyebrow in amusement as he looked at him, the barest hint of a smile on his face. "How long are you going to stay like that, General? Or are you too comfortable to move?" he asked wryly, obviously entertained by what he was seeing.

It was then that Zelgius realized that he was still laying on the bed, naked. "Well, what else was I supposed to do?" he bit back, finally mustering the strength to sit up. He almost regretted moving with the dull ache from down there, but he managed to ignore it.

Ike shrugged. "In any case, I'm going to go look around. Clean yourself up and be ready to leave the moment I come back, because I don't know if there are any snoops around." He didn't even wait for the older man to get up before he was already at the doorway, cautiously checking the outside corridors through the crack of his door.

"Mm. My thanks, Ike," Zelgius murmured, not even watching Ike leave as he picked up his own clothes and headed into the room. As he started to rinse the mess off his body, he sighed.

Even though he was the Black Knight, perhaps the coming battle wouldn't be completely for his own sake. Perhaps it would also serve to sever the ties the two now held, to see if they could put aside what they had done.

"Are you laughing at me, Gawain?" he suddenly found himself asking, quickly scrubbing himself down. "You're probably getting a kick out of knowing that I was laying in bed, letting your son take me. Perhaps this is irony coming back to bite me."

He didn't feel the need to mention that he had liked it, even though there were so many things wrong with it.

But then again, everything was completely wrong when it came to him and Ike.


When Zelgius finally exited the bathing room, washed and clothed, he saw Ike sitting on the bed, holding something. "Did you see anyone?" he asked, frowning at the expression on Ike's face.

The Crimean general shook his head. "No, but I'm still going to remain cautious. You never know what could happen at this time of night."

"Very wise. However, that leaves me with going through the corridors alone," Zelgius said thoughtfully, scratching his chin. "Even if I am a visiting dignitary, they will find it suspicious regardless of my position."

Ike said nothing, merely tossing him a sword sheathed in its scabbard. At his inquisitive look, the younger man decided to elaborate. "It's one of my swords, but take it with you. Just say that I took one of your swords during a spar and you came to retrieve it. If they ask any further than that, well...I have confidence you'll be able to handle it from there."

Zelgius couldn't help but snort. "Another sword? How gracious of you," he said dryly, getting a chuckle from Ike.

"Bah. I can't ever satisfy you Begnion generals, can I?" Ike asked, faking a yawn. "Anyway, get going. The less time spent around here, the better."

"I see. Very well, I'll be off then," Zelgius said with a nod as he made his way towards the exit. However, just like last time, he paused to turn around and look at Ike's face. "...thank you for tonight. I'll remember it," he said softly.

"As will I, Zelgius," Ike responded. With that, the Begnion general left for his own room, thankfully meeting no one along the way.

The next day, Zelgius finished his assessment of the forces and set off immediately. However, the only difference this time was that Ike saw him off at the gate, a gesture that he knew had another meaning.

I'll see you the next time... he thought, sighing. He wondered when the whole situation became so complicated, only to remind himself moments later that he was the one that had set the whole thing in motion.

And he couldn't help but be grateful for it.