Note: Modern!AU

Request from: Yoyomomo

Marth hated the bullies at his new school. If he had the guts, he would have told them off a long time ago...

But he didn't.

And one can only bear something so heavy for so long before they break.

This afternoon, Marth was carrying all of his books and binders and such from his locker home, completely clearing it out. Less trouble for others.

It was on the way home that he saw the usual gang of bullies again, swaggering at his direction. His pace quickened, not wanting to participate in their cruel games yet again, but to no avail.

"Hello, Cousin," the leader started. Chrom Lowell. He was his dreaded younger cousin, and it always puzzled Marth how much power he had over him. He flinched and kept on walking. Perhaps if he ignored them... but since when did that ever happen? "Looks like a lot on you, Cousin. Maybe I should help you with it!" One hit was all it took to have the things in his arms fly off onto the ground, creating a mess that would surely take a very long time to clean up.

Having enough, Marth whipped around, about to retort, only for another voice to add in: "So weak! Makes me wonder how you're even related to Chrom at all!" Ike Greil. Blunt, insensitive, and not afraid to use force to get his message through.

"Rather a waste that he's around, huh?" Roy said. Ironically, he was short and scrawny, but he throws hurtful words like nobody's business. "You think you're so smart, huh? Smartness can't defend against this!"

Ike threw a hooker at Marth as he braced for the pain.

There was none. In fact, Ike was the one who cried out in pain.

Marth looked up and saw a girl his age gazing at the oppressors with a furious glare. "Leave him alone," she said lowly and firmly.

"Who the hell are you?" Chrom asked, stepping towards her threateningly. Marth began to panic. Who was he to involve another person here? Now she was going to get hu—

"Should it matter? Go away. You're not wanted here."

"It's not your business, nobody, so go and walk away before we hurt you," Roy said, glowering at this newcomer

"The only person who can actually hurt me is right there on the floor mewling in pain," she replied curtly, pointing at Ike, who was essentially doing what she had stated.

Both Roy and Chrom scowled at her, hiding their embarrassment of being called out like that. "You—"

"Should better leave now before I call your parents. How nice I have all of their numbers."

"And how?!"

"Pay attention to who your parents hang out with. That might help." She even took out her phone and started going through her contacts, calling a number as Ike started to get up. "Mr. Eliwood? Did you ever raise your son to bully, tease, and make fun of those weaker than him?"

A tense silence followed as everyone froze. The girl blinked several times, then hung up and smiled sickeningly sweet at Roy. "Have fun at home."

The fled as fast as possible, and soon, it was just Marth... and the girl.

She turned towards him as asked, "Hey, are you okay?"

He nodded at her. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks..."

She smiled at him. Its brightness rivaled the sun. "You're welcome. Those guys are really mean, huh? Need help?" She began to pick up the books and papers and carried them in her arms. He saw some ear buds poking haphazardly out of her pocket. She had long dark blue hair tied messily up enough so that it was out of her face. Her eyes were piercing yet gentle. Nothing was special about her clothes, a t-shirt and running shorts that seemed a bit too long.

"Um... thanks... but why did you help me?" Determined not to leave her doing all the work, he picked off the rest of his items, which were not a lot, and carried them as well, leading her to his home.

"What Chrom and his idiot entourage did there... it wasn't right. You're just on the way to home and they pick on you? What's their problem with you carrying your stuff? By the way, this is an awful lot. Do you do this every weekend?" She joked, trying to light up the mood.

"No. It's... just for this time."

"Okay. I can help on Monday, if you want me to. By the way, I'm Kris, short for Kris."

Marth couldn't believe it. Why? How? How was he even talking with such a pretty girl who cared this much about him? They've never even met before... "I'm Marth."

She looked over at him, smiled, and nodded. "It's great meeting you Marth. By the way, it is okay to come over, right? How did you even get this much stuff out of your locker? You must be a lot stronger than you seem."

Marth couldn't help but smile back, doing his best to hold back the tears. "Yeah... that would be awesome."


The entire auditorium was packed with students and fans alike. Meanwhile, Kris herself hung back at a corner, invisible to the rest of the world. Not that she minded. As long as Marth remained in the light, she didn't mind hanging back in his shadow.

A few years ago, everyone would have laughed at Marth if they were told that he would enter the Olympics, if they were told that he would receive fencing scholarships and have colleges being all grabby-grabby for his impressive GPA and be popular all at the same time.

Nobody was laughing in such a fashion any more.

"Alright! Everyone! Settle down!" Their principal, Mr. Kaga, ordered through the microphone. Everyone managed into some semblance of order. Kris remained where she was.

"And here, we welcome our most favored student, who will be entering the Olympics this summer in the fencing division as a representative of the United States, Marth Lowell!" He waved his hand at said person as everyone cheered and whistled for him. Giving everyone a cute sheepish smile that was bound to see some of the ladies swoon, he stepped up on stage and grabbed the mic.

He breathed in deeply, and began.

"Good afternoon, fellow students at Emblem High School, their parents, and or anyone else visiting, where we blaze with a passionate fire! I am Marth Lowell, and I would like to say a few things as of now about this particular situation.

"Am I excited? Of course I am. Elated? Why would I not be? Anxious? Nervous? Yes. Who wouldn't be? But, more than all of the above, I feel extreme gratitude towards all those who have supported me along this life journey.

"First, my late parents, for the father who did well in disciplining me—" Laughter rung out. "—and made a man out of me, as well as my mother, who coaxed me into the world and encouraged me to do as I would wish. I would also love to thank my older sister, Elice, for supporting me through and through, through our worst and our best, for being the best older sister than I can ever hope and dream for. I thank you, my family, for bringing me this far.

"For my friends and guardians, Jagen, Cain, Merric, Seliph, Abel, Gordin, Draug, Frey, so many others I can't ever hope to mention in such a short time or else we would be here for hours into the night and then we'd find ourselves sleeping on our feet—" Cue more laughing. "—I really appreciate all of your support and friendship. Honestly, I would not be here without all of you. But I would like to dedicate the majority of my speech to a special someone with a story of an older slice of my life. Specifically, when I was the noob-ish kid that nobody liked, when all I felt was despair every single second in my waking hours, the lowest point in my entire life."

The entire room fell silent. Marth? Unlikeable? Bullied? Depressed? Impossible, many of them thought. Even Caeda, his ex-girlfriend, widened her eyes in surprise.

Kris's eyes softened. She remembered that point. It took time. Time and patience.

"On my thighs, there are scars. Deep or shallow, there are still scars. Clean-cut, human made, self-inflicted scars." Murmuring erupted as looks of confusion and horror spread. Kris was no exception, starting to stand up a bit straighter. Marth... had cut himself before "The bullies... they were that bad. I wish I was kidding, but they got that hard to me." Kris looked over at Roy, Chrom, and Ike, along with a few others, looking down, literally or not, in shame, regret, guilt, whatever. She shook her head at the memories. At least they reconciled at the very end. "I'm not naming any names, but for those who know what you are... all is forgiven. What's in the past... stays in the past. Except for these comforting memories." Marth smiled as his eyes searched the crowd. His face fell a bit when it seemed like he wasn't able to find who he was searching for.

Can he smile again? Kris wished. She liked it better when he smiled.

"It could have been worse. One day, I decided enough was enough. My parents died a few years before, leaving my sister and I in Mr. Jagen's care, and I knew it was hard for him, being retired and not able to make substantial amount of money for all three of us. My sister had to work at a part-time job all the time, and I was too young to help in any way possible. I saw myself as a burden, a liability. The bullies words of my mediocrity, my weakness, my meekness, my imperfection, the fact that I always did, am, and will look a bit too feminine only mad matters worse. I guess you could I say I had snapped."

Kris knew that his parents died when he was young, but... such a situation? And with such thoughts, so young? She knew how depressed he always felt back in those times, but now she felt utterly horrible, guilt seeping in of not ever realizing of Marth's past pain. In her own little corner, she fought back her tears.

"It was a Friday afternoon. A few days before, I used what money I had to buy some rope. I cleared out my locker and set off for home. My locker was empty, and I wanted it to remain empty. The stuff I was taking back home, they would stay at home. Forever."

He breathed in deeply, and softly, shakily said, "I planned to suicide that day."

He let time for everyone to respond as they wished, visibly breathing deeply in and out, trying to keep his composure. Kris couldn't find herself to react to it. She was simply in... she didn't know.

"I was walking back home when the bullies began. What few words they said, it stung more than ever. But that was all it was—a sting."

Kris widened her eyes and looked directly at Marth. Was this where...?

Maeth looked out at the crowd again, and when he saw Kris, his face immediately lightened. "A savior came in. So suddenly, so unexpected. I didn't even know where she came in. In hindsight, she's the most ordinary and obscure girl you can come across with. She didn't look spectacular to most, and she never really acted in any huge, flashy, or noticeable ways. I had never known her before. She had never known me before. And yet, there she was, telling them off, even going as far as to call on of their fathers about the situation. I can imagine he wasn't too pleased." Chuckles followed. "Once they ran away, she turned towards me and spoke and did nothing but kindness towards me. She offered to help carry my things and do so again on Monday. We became quick friends after that.

"When I came home that day, I held the rope in my hands. I still wanted to hang myself, but overriding that despair was a longing to know this kind mysterious girl who, out of the blue, who went out of her way to help me when she never needed to. I threw away the rope.

"It was this single act of kindness that saved my life. I owe her for that. I owe her for so much. I know she would jump at me if I ever mention who she is, but you know who you are, so know that from the very depths of my heart... I thank you. I thank you so very much."

The auditorium fell into a stunned silence, and one by one, everyone started clapping. How many of them that were affected by his words, Kris wasn't sure. She smiled to herself. To know that she had done so much... it warmed her heart.


Sometimes later, Marth decided to hang around Kris' house for the night, not that she minded. It was quiet between them before Marth decided to break the silence. "Sorry if that was uncomfortable."

"Your flowery monologue?"

Marth gave a wry smile. "Yeah."

"... Thanks. For respecting my universal wish."

"You're welcome." He sat up properly on the couch. "I really meant it though. You really saved my life back there, and... I would be very, very lost without you. So, again, thanks."

It was silent again before she walked over and embraced him. He felt good in it, warm and fuzzy, like he always did, which reminded him. He blushed at the thought of what he was about to do.

"This might be a bit sudden, but...do you want to be my girlfriend?"


NotSoGreatGamerGirl: Thanks! ^_^

Overlord Valkyrie: THAT MAKES TWO OF US RVMRVMRVMRVMRVM

Acque Sole: Thanks! ^_^

Darkie Ducessa: Girl, there's a whole lot of us that ships this. We're just nervous to say about it because we're scared that it'd make us sound like the Robin/Chrom shippers trying to be cool and schtuff. *sweatdrops*

Ren-kyun: Oh heck yeah, I'm gonna write more.


A/N:

It's 1 in the morning and inspired by some Tumblr post a while back. I am still accepting requests, of course, and am open to any constructive criticism. Have a nice day/night.

*Time skip to 9 hours later*

Eh, not my best, but it'll work, I tried to make this more emotional but it didn't exactly work out like I wanted it to be, but it's just a dumb OTP drabble, so I don't think it's all that important.

I'm actually contemplating to write the next one in Chinese seeing that I need to polish up on my mother language. If any of you are REALLY good with Chinese (meaning your Chinese wording, phrasing, and grammar is near-perfect), I'd really appreciate your help. :3