-Pancakes-

Lucina Lucan, older sister of Benton Lucan, was worried beyond reason. Her younger brother refused to speak to any of his immediate family, only talking little with his co-workers.

She heard from Travis and Garret what happened, of course, and all of them had waited outside of the operation room for what felt like hours. She was about to visit him once again, when she saw that Artoria was in his room, and they were talking. Rather intimately. Choosing to sit down and wait for the mysterious blonde to leave, Lucina tried to calm herself.

She was ripe with a plethora of negative emotions, but most of all with guilt, anger and jealousy.

Ever since her little brother started hanging out with Artoria and her friends (at first, she thought they were a clique, but were actually not) he had changed considerably. He became much more reserved, bottling up all his anger and sadness, never lashing out but acting in cold fury, unlike in their younger years. He also suddenly became much more responsible, respecting their parent more, and oftentimes acting as the voice of reason. He became an overall much more compassionate and friendly person, but there was some ancient wisdom hidden behind his eyes she never understood.

And while he turned into that new, friendly self, he became much more secretive. His old gang of friends he left completely, mostly spending time at the cafe, even off-shift. He never answered her questions regarding his new fondness directly, always skirting around the issue.

The worst of all was that she – who at one point in their lives could read him like an open book, and who was almost glued to him – suddenly lost that familiarity.

The co-workers of the cafe probably knew him better than she did, and it irked her to no end.

The cafe was another sore point. Whenever he would talk about it, his face lighted up and she was suddenly aware that somehow, it had wormed its way into their lives and integrated itself as one of the most important things in his.

They were nice, all of them – excessively so – and incredibly polite. It was hard being on wrong terms with them, and she should be happy he wasn't friends with delinquents, but it was ...strange.

All of them had a weight around them that was hard to describe – whenever Lucina was alone in a room with any one of them, they radiated, as in, it came off of them in waves, this sheer pressure of rigidness and alertness; they were hunters, ready to leap at a moments notice to attack or defend. Most reminded her of the knights they fashioned the cafe and their name tags after (another thing that she didn't understand – they called themselves Kay, Gawain or Lancelot, and seemed to respond to those aliases better than to their own names. Even her brother started doing it). Alert, ready, authoritative and chivalrous to an unfathomable extent. She felt as if the Code of Chivalry still lived within them; as if they still fought with swords and bows, or rescued damsels in distress.

But if the likes of Keith and Garret excluded an aura of knight-ship, then Artoria and Ginevra were Royalty with the capital 'R'. The sheer presence of either one, if they forgot themselves, in any room had people turn heads and bow. And while Gwen radiated a comfortable calmness, everything paled before Artoria. That woman felt like the King to Gwen's Queen and the others' Knight.

Lucina could barely stand in the same room when Artoria was angered. The incredible effect her aura had on other people could be best seen by the hospital staff – they were constantly nervous and skittish – like maids or peasants. If the pressure would have increased any more when the doctor talked about the operation Lucina was sure he would have let them off without payment.

And Benton was drawn to her presence – her natural charisma – like a little kid was to his birthday present. There came the jealousy. Artoria and the others seemed to be his Number 1 consultant about almost everything. Hell, he even talked more to them than to his own family during his hospital stay.

Lucina didn't know why, and it made her more nervous by the day – weren't they the family? Not the other way around? He even talked about moving into a living community with some of them – even though he never complained that they couldn't move out on their own due to money issues (the community was, in her opinion, way too close to the apartment Artoria and Ginevra shared in the same way – with the only difference that the apartment was the latter's family home, and thus had enough free rooms for said living community. Italian families were incredibly big, as she found out, so it would be no problem for them to take in her brother or some).

Lucina was, simply put, afraid that her brother would leave them. His family.

The door opened, and Artoria walked outside, eyes dim for a second with a faraway look. Noticing Lucina, she turned around, and the latter had to gulp at the intensity of the gaze before it visibly softened, and Artoria sat next to her.

"You should talk to him," it was said in the gentlest voice she had ever heard coming from the blonde, "it is hard for him as well – Benton does not like pity for what happened."

Lucina gulped, nodding, but silently gritting her teeth. Entering the room silently, and calling a soft "Lil Bro?" she decided that she had to finally talk to him about something she noticed – namely, how he and the other cafe workers were wrapped around Artoria's little finger like nothing.

Benton sat on the bed, a wistful smile on his face. He glanced at her though, and she felt safe to enter further, trying very hard not to glance at the not-hand of her little brother. How was he supposed to work in a bakery like that? Or how was he supposed to braid his hair, clothe himself, drive? How was he supposed to do any activity with that hand – helping with household chores, or simply enjoying himself?

There was an uncomfortable silence between them as she stared at his not-hand.

"Why are you here?" The voice was harsher than what she'd expected, and he moved his not-hand under the blanket. Lucina looked at him and noticed his steely gaze, and for the first time since ever, Artoria's words echoed back at her.

No pity. She was pitying him.

"What, can't I visit my little baby brother in the hospital after he refused to talk to his favorite older sister or mother for more than a week?"

He flinched, and she sighed in mock-exasperation. After the usual exchange of 'How was your day's, Lucina took a deep breath, steeling herself.

"I don't understand it. At all."

He was ready to answer with a question of his own, as she continued, unfazed, "you won't talk to us at all, and here you are basically sitting on your boss' lap, telling her whatever is bothering you while she strokes through your hair like I don't know –! Lovers or something! And it's bothering me beyond reason how you do everything she says like a little dog, and- your co-workers follow the same!"

Benton looked at her with an alarming widening of his eyes, a blush rising. "D-did it look like we were lovers?!" His voice was a coarse whisper as he continued, "We don't –"

Lucina interrupted him, "The whole cafe is at her beck and call – like little bitches. Ooh," her look darkened, "I bet she's fucking them – the girls as well, that little lesbian who–"

"Lucina!" Benton's angry shout interrupted her, and she stopped her rant, eyes widening at what she said. That had escalated. Badly.

Benton's voice was not only angry, his whole body – frozen rigid – screamed of barely restrained, utter loathing directed at his sister. Lucina took a step back as his good hand came into contact with her cheek. She had never been so afraid of her brother... no not her brother, this enraged knight. Never had she felt the pressure around him with such clarity as now. He had never raised his voice to such an extent.

Whimpering, Lucina cradled her stinging cheek, doing her best to not move – she was quite sure that if he wanted, he could probably hurt her in ways she never imagined herself.

"Don't," his voice was still low, "don't you ever say such a thing again – not even as a joke!"

"I-I'm sorr..."

He shook his head, "Why would you even suggest something as horrific as that? That you would accuse anyone, let alone my L- Artoria! One of the most wonderful people that exist. If you knew how much Artoria has sacrificed for us – this country. How much blood she has shed for the happiness of... if you knew..." his voice had grown silent, and Lucina gulped before she spoke up.

"There – that's what I meant. 'If you knew' – well, I don't! Explain to me then, why my deduction is wrong – because based on what I've seen-"

"You wouldn't understand anyhow," the tone was once again cold, "there are ties that bind us together; invisible ties. Our closeness is not something that can be described in words, but what you see is an unfathomable and scandalous 'affair' between the most of us, I guess?"

Lucina nodded, not daring to speak, only thinking about Artoria and Ginevra and Leandre – and Mildred and Gabriel as well, and her brother. What was it if not some sick form of love- she had read up on polyamory, even.

Benton scoffed, "These 'affairs' are love, sister – don't look at me like that, not the amorous kind, but the familiar kind. Storge, Philia, Agape – I don't expect you to really understand it."

His look once again glazed over, but just as fast his attention turned back to her. "I'll be moving out. Once I'm out of the hospital, and you won't stop me – you can probably guess where anyhow." He looked at her with cold, grey eyes, "I'll still be sending you my payment, so don't worry – you won't even need to pay anything for the therapy, so leave."

"B-benton?" Lucina had tears in her eyes. Did she estrange her brother with her constant inquiry and the accusation this strongly?

"Leave," his voice broke, and he turned away, "leave, Lucina."

She left without another word.

So, here we have an outsider's view! ...btw, I have no idea how it turned out to be this long, oh well. Lucy is the kind of person who wishes the best for those around her, but might take a tad of a wrong approach - also, angry Bedivere is scary as hell. It takes true skills to anger as calm a man as him. This chapter shows the negative consequences the 'awaking' has, which stands in contrast with Galahad's where I only mentioned the more positive ones.

Shout-out to Fire Emblem

Also, I do not support any of Lucy's claims.

Heh, Review time!

Fireminer: Merlin's parentage was planned, for added irony. Tristan is coming as well, just wait for him xD

Vhosek: Thank you for the compliment 3

Happy Baking Everyone!