Sorry again for that wait between chapters. Been busy with things.
-A Support-
Corrin stared out to the starlit sky; she watched the twinkle of their distant light. The soft radiance barely lit up the ground and mountains around her, overpowered by the full moon of this cool night. The moon gave off a bluish hue to Corrin's surroundings, the pinkish pedals of a sakura tree next to her softly glowed blue. She sighed, the steep cliffside she stood on sat just in front of a massive valley at the base. There were rivers and forests in the valley, the tree line danced along the river's edge, before both disappeared behind a nearby mountain range.
Corrin heard the grass behind her rustle slightly, but she didn't look to see who was approaching.
"Having trouble sleeping, Corrin?" The familiar mercenary approached from behind her, stopping just next to her before crossing his arms.
"I guess you can say that." Corrin replied.
"Anything on your mind?" Ike asked.
Corrin sighed, "No, I'm okay, Ike." She heard the mercenary chuckle to himself. "What…"
Ike shook his head, "Oh nothing, I just find it a little amusing just how stubborn you and I can be when it comes to seeking help, even after all this time we've known each other.."
Corrin smiled before shrugging. "Well, I'm sure we'll learn eventually. Though, I was in all honesty just out to gaze at stars."
Ike nodded, "It's a beautiful night." He glanced up to the blanket of stars.
"What about you, don't mercenaries need their beauty sleep from time to time?" she jested.
Ike laughed. "I was out training as I usually do." He sighed. "Besides, sleep doesn't come easy for me anymore."
"I would ask why, but I think the longer this war carries on, the more I start to understand why." Corrin looked over to Ike.
"Has that been an issue as of late?" Ike asked.
"A little, but I try not to let it keep me down." She replied.
Ike nodded. "You really have become a leader, huh?"
Corrin chuckled slightly. "If that's all it takes, then I guess I've been long past that point for a long time."
Ike watched as Corrin looked down to the valley below. "Corrin…" she looked over to him, "You've done an amazing job, I hope you know that."
Corrin smiled, "Well, I was blessed to have all my friends and family here to guide my hand… You especially."
"Oh…" Ike raised an eyebrow.
Corrin blushed slightly from Ike's glare. "W-well yeah, you've always been sure to give me honest advice whenever I needed it, not to mention all the training we've been through here. I don't know where I'd be if you never walked into my life."
"I'm sure you'd find a way. As you said, you do have all your siblings to help guide you." Ike looked out to the valley.
"I-I suppose… but my relationship with you feels different from all the others." Corrin crossed her arms.
"What do you mean?" Ike asked.
Corrin looked over to him, trying to form the word she wanted to say before giving up. "I don't know…"
Ike sighed, placing a hand on Corrin's shoulder. "Corrin, there's clearly something on your mind."
Corrin remained silent for a few moments before sighing to herself. She looked over to the mercenary. "I-Ike…" she nervously bit her lip before continuing. "After the war is over… after peace has finally returned to the land… I was wondering, what was it you were going to do?"
Ike pondered for a minute. "Well, I suppose I'd go back to doing what I do best."
"Does that mean you'd leave?" Corrin asked.
"If peace truly is returned to the land, it would be hard for a mercenary to find work, so I suppose I'd have to at some point."
Corrin looked away from the blue haired swordsman. "I see…"
Ike frowned upon Corrin's change in demeanor. "I'm… sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear."
"I understand why, it's just…" Corrin shook her head. "I really don't want to see you go."
"I don't want to say goodbye."
"Then why leave, there's nothing stopping you from staying here?" Corrin asked.
Ike sighed. "I don't know. I've never been able to know peace. There's something… something I must do. My mind may be weary from war, but my heart knows there is something I still must do."
Corrin pondered for a moment. "I-I could come with you." Ike chuckled at this statement. "What, I could…"
"Corrin…" Ike placed a hand on her back, looking at her with a soft smile, "Your place is here, this is where your family is. After all you've done to make peace, you deserve to be with them when all is said and done. Don't make the same mistake I did."
"Ike, I just…" she paused. "You're my friend."
"I know, Corrin, and whether we're right next to each other or entire worlds apart, you'll always be in my heart."
Corrin smiled, she stepped closer to Ike, placing a hand on his back. "As will you, Ike. I really don't want to see you go, but you'll always be with me. I could never forget the Radiant Hero who came to my aid in my time of need."
Ike shook his head. "Radiant Hero…" he stared out past the cliffside, "What kind of hero runs from peace?" he sighed, "Some legendary hero, huh…" he looked over to the young princess. "You must be pretty disappointed?"
Corrin smiled, rubbing Ike's back "No, I'm not. You may be known as a legendary hero to everyone else, and that title may follow you to the grave, but you're more than a legendary hero to me…" Ike raised an eyebrow, Corrin stepped slightly closer. "You're Ike Greil, my most special friend."
They both stared into each other's gazes for several moments, the princesses crimson eyes peering into the ocean blue gaze of the mercenary. Corrin was the first to break this gaze; she smiled nervously as she peered down to her feet. Ike looked to his side, grinning very slightly.
"Well…" Corrin looked around to the night sky, "I suppose I should head off to bed… I have an army to lead tomorrow."
Ike nodded. "I agree, they'll need their great leader."
Corrin giggled. "Well in any case, don't stay up to late, okay Ike." He nodded. "Uh… do you think you can lean down a little?"
"Um, sure…" Ike complied.
"Thank you." She whispered softly to the mercenary. The platinum haired princess stepped closer to Ike; she stood up on her tip toes as she wrapped her arms around Ike's shoulders. Ike was slightly confused by the princess's sudden close proximity, her face was quite close to his. Before he could ponder any longer, he felt the soft embrace of Corrin's lips touch his cheek.
'Chu…'
Corrin softly kissed Ike on the cheek. The mercenary was more than flustered; his face must have been as red as strawberries, having been completely taken by surprise by Corrin's rather, forward gesture.
When Corrin broke away, she had a faint blush, but a bright smile. "Goodnight, Ike… and thank you, for everything."
With that, the princess wandered away, waving to the mercenary as she headed back to her tent. Ike watched her walk away until she was out of sight. Ike's mouth was agape the whole time; he placed a hand on the area Corrin had kissed. He looked out past the cliffside, his hand falling to his side. The pink pedals of the nearby sakura tree danced around his feet, the cool radiance from the moonlight lit up the land beyond his reach. Ike pondered over many thoughts racing through his mind, a strange churning feeling tickling his stomach. After a few moments, the mercenary let out a large warm grin.
-Ike and Corrin Achieved A Support-
I may come back in the future to reform some parts of this support conversation like I did for the B Support, but if I do, I'll be sure to let ya'll know before hand.
As always, the support thus far has been appreciated, R&R if you want, and I hope if you've made it this far, you've enjoyed the story thus far. :)
