Well here is the second chapter for you all so yay! And sorry bout what I did to Soren, he is my favorite character in the games, I've only played path of radiance and radiant dawn, but good games and favorite was always Soren and Rhys, Soren kills everyone when he is hit, not that he normally is anyway but still, and Rhys is a healer, who doesn't love healers? But anyway unfortunately there is a lot more in store, I have some big plans for this story so thank you for the support! Keep it up!


================================================================CHAPTER 2: MEMORIES

Moving a chair next to the bed he took Soren's small pale hand in his bigger one and marveled once again at how well their hands fit together. It had been 3 years since the Mad Kings war ended and 2 and a half since he and Soren got together. They had left in the boat after the war as planned but found nothing but open water and landed on familiar land, so they decided that it would be best to go back to the fort and see where the others were, shortly after their return Ike finally told the sage how he felt about him, which seemed to make him happy, but confused and nervous as well. He smiled as the memory came back to him:

Ike walked the halls of the fort stopping for a few moments to talk with the other mercenaries he passed. Mist had become pregnant and was due in a few months and Boyd couldn't have been happier, Rolf hadn't changed much, still followed Shinon around and clung to his words, and unlike before, the red haired sniper had become a little more open about his affection for the sniper to be. Saying goodbye to another conversation he found the room he was looking for and knocked, when he go the familiar muted answer he opened the door to the sight of Soren at his desk indulged in some form of paperwork.

"Is there something you needed Ike?" he asked without looking up. No words were needed for him to know who it was.

"Not really, just was hoping we could talk…" he answered nervously, Soren, noticing Ike's nervousness turned around to give Ike his full attention

"About what?" Growing even more nervous now that he had the sage's full attention he stuttered nervously

"Um..well…you see, I was just, um…"

"Ike please, we have been away for about a year and a half amazingly enough, and everything has practically gone haywire since then so I am busy, if you have something to say then take a chance and be blunt and quick about it, I don't like sounding this rude towards you but there is a lot to do." he said quickly indicating to the desk with all the papers, folders, and open and closed books that littered and cluttered the desk.

"Alright, I'll try it your way then" he said taking a deep breath he held it then let it out in a rushed sentence "IthinkiminlovewithyouSoren,Ihavebeenforawhilenow,." the sentence was almost unintelligible and left Soren puzzled

"Well, im uh, gonna be going now, ill talk to you later I guess…"Ike said nervously as he backed up, before he had closed the door a quiet almost unintelligible word was heard. "wait" pausing in the doorway he looked back at Soren who was looking at the floor, "what was that?" sighing Ike came back into the room and taking another breath let it out slower before saying

"I…I said I love you Soren…I have been for…for a while now…"

"You, love me? But…why? I'm not sure, that I, that I understand Ike. I'm hardly worth anything as it is-that's not true and you know it!" Ike interrupted his voice once again strong and confident instead of quiet and nervous.

"But why me? Of all the people on this world, of all the people you know, why me?" He cried as wine red eyes became glassy with tears.

"Well, why not you? Girls hold no interest for me, and no one else is like you, your smart, your humor may be a little darker than most, but it can be funny, your reliable, trustworthy, honest, and though few know about it you can be kind, loving, caring. I can't point exactly what made me fall in love with you, but everything you do, everything you

say, and everything you are just makes you you, and that's what I fell in love with. I fell in love with you." he said as the younger mans shoulders started to shake despite his best efforts.

"But that shouldn't matter, you shouldn't, you can't, or have you forgotten im branded! We are not supposed to have anything, not supposed to feel anything, we shouldn't even exist let alone fall in love! All of those things you mentioned doesn't make a difference, you say you love all of it, it makes me who I am, you always say that, but I am Branded! that's who I am, that's who ill always be! Nothing more than Branded so why damn it?" at this point his voice broke as tears fell down his cheeks. He flinched back as Ike's hand stretched towards him.

"Soren, don't cry, who cares about your brand? We have been over this before, I don't care and I love you, why cant you accept that fact?"

"I do accept that fact, but, ugh, Curse You! Why cant you let me be damn it?" he said reminding Ike of the first time that Soren had told Ike about his blood. Ike walked up to the crying sage and without warning pulled him close in an embrace, drawing a startled gasp from the arch sage.

"Why cant I love you Soren? I see no reason, there's no one else that I want, and damn your blood, it doesn't affect who you are, it just puts a mark on your forehead that just fits you well enough to look natural, and besides, like I said before, I don't give two figs who your parents are, it changes nothing. Not who you were, not who you are, and not who your going to be, your Soren, nothing more, nothing less." he said quietly

"But, I just…I don't…-Soren, answer a question, do you feel the same for me?" Ike asked once again interrupting the sage who after a moment of silence spoke quietly

"I do…I have since….a time before…the war…."

"Ok, then, what's the problem?" Ike asked as Soren pulled out of the hug to give him a small exasperated look.

"Some things never change…Ike, its not that simple." he mumbled.

"How is it not simple? I like you and you like me back. That's all that matters." he said as Soren sighed again.

"Ike…" Soren never got to continue as Ike had bent down and captured Soren's lips in a hesitant sweet kiss. Soren's mind froze, but his body seemed to move on its own, for his arms were wrapping around Ike as the kiss started to deepen. Ike pulled away and smiled at Soren, who returned it with a small smile of his own. Small and hesitant, but accepting.

About a week later Ike, much to Soren's dismay, told the other mercenaries about their newfound relationship. A few were disappointed that he wasn't into girls, and a few were confused as to why he would choose Soren of all people, but most were either expecting it and were unsurprised, or after the initial shock wore off were happy for the two. Thankfully enough nothing changed, Aimee still clung and chased after Ike, swearing that she would make him see her better than the little grump as she liked to call Soren, and the overall attitude of the entire group didn't change either. Ike was still great, and Soren was still not a fun person to be around, though he was trying to work on his pleasantries and would attempt some meaningless small talk, but anyone could tell that it was an overall difficult challenge, and weird coming from the stoic sage, but a welcome relief that he was acting mildly more human. The clients didn't leave either, they still asked for help, they either didn't know, or just didn't care.

-Ike still got scared when he or Soren got into a close call, but nothing ever happened, and it always turned out to be meaningless.

"Hang in there Soren…please…" he said softly as he hung his head still clinging to Soren's pale hand.

'Please hurry Rhys, and don't get into any trouble.' he thought looking towards the tent entrance.


ok, not the best thing ever, but it came to mind and i thought it kinda fit and explained a few things. again i must apologize, not for soren, but to you, the reader. i moved recently and lost my internet access for the longest time. killer on me and im sure killer on you. ive gotten alot of good reviews and ive gotten some bad reviews, all very helpful to me so keep it up plz. anyway to make it up to you i bring you alot more stories which i will upload tomorrow cause it is so late and im tired but here. *Holds out cookies and pie* i have had ppl tell me yay cookies and others say pie lol. so there. happy for everyone lol. ok 3rd chapter in the making. no review limits on this, just a time limit for me. ill have it as soon as i can. promise.