Ike left before Zelda's next appointment could arrive, a smile on his lips that didn't quite reach his eyes. He was terrified of going back, how could he not be? As he walked he considered very briefly just running out the doors and not looking back, but the side of him still striving to impress his deceased father and estranged mother laughed that off. He would go, do whatever they said, and not think twice on what it did to him. He was a soldier and soldiers followed orders, no matter the cost. His mind flitted unwillingly to Zelda and he felt his heart drop. Would she wait? He and Samus had been dating for so long before he deployed and she couldn't... Ike shook his head, he couldn't worry about that right now. Now, as he took the stairs up to Marth's room, he had to put on a smile for his only living friend.

He froze outside Marth's door, noticing an older man dressed smartly, as if he just stepped off a business magazine cover, whispering with a doctor. "...seems fine, and they will send him for psych evaluations-" the doctor noticed him and the other man whirled.

"Petty Officer Ike Greil," Ike said as he stood at attention, "here to see Prince Marth if he's not otherwise occupied."

"What business have you with my son?" the man asked and Ike fought back the urge to let his jaw drop in shock.

"King Cornelius?" Ike asked lamely and the man nodded once. "I-I served with your son overseas, I was in the humvee when-"

"Ike?" Marth's voice called and he appeared in the doorway.

"Son! You must rest," his father came forward and Ike moved forward too, grabbing Marth around the waist and helping him back to his bed. "Thank you," his father said firmly and Ike nodded, eyes taking in Marth's already improved appearance.

"You alright kiddo?" he asked and Marth nodded carefully. "Anything you need?"

"To leave this room," Marth said and Ike grinned.

"I'll see what I can do my friend," for a moment Ike forgot he was in the presence of the present and future kind of Altea, the former of which cleared his throat.

"Oh Father," Marth said quickly, "this is Ike, he's my friend and is the person you must thank for pulling me out of a burning vehicle." Ike shrugged.

"I couldn't leave you behind kid," he said as he gave Marth a grin.

"Ah well then," the king held out a hand and Ike shook it, "thank you very much soldier. All of Altea thanks you."

"I don't know about all that," Ike said nervously. "I just couldn't leave my friends." He glanced at Marth who looked just as uncomfortable as him.

"Father, perhaps Ike and I can have a moment?" Marth asked and his father nodded.

"Of course," he said and quickly exited the room.

"Holy fucking shit man," Ike whispered fiercely. "That's your friggin' dad? Ah he's intimidating," Ike said and shivered. Marth chuckled and nodded.

"That's how he is when he likes you," Marth sighed and Ike scowled.

"Fuck I'd hate to be on his bad side..." he sat by Marth and let the prince lean on him a little. "You holding up alright?"

"Yeah," he said warily. "I'm not sure," he admitted and Ike wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"I uh..." Ike cleared his throat and started again. "I'm getting sent out tomorrow," he said quickly and Marth froze.

"They can't! You can't! You-"

"Orders," Ike shrugged, trying to put up a brave front like he did all those months overseas.

"Ike," Marth pleaded, "I just woke up, I need a friend, I need you."

"I'll be back kid," he said reassuringly.

"When?"

"I... dunno," Ike admitted and Marth sighed.

"You can't re-enlist, I won't allow that," Marth said and Ike laughed.

"Alright Mom," he laughed and shoved Marth. "I can do what I want."

"What if I want my best friend to be my royal advisor, to help my run Altea?" Ike's eyes widened and he laughed nervously.

"You had me going there for a minute Little Prince-"

"Ike," Marth said firmly, all humor gone, "I mean it." Ike felt his throat dry out, his words failing him as his jaw opened uselessly. "Maybe not advisor, perhaps leader of my security, after all you've proven that I can trust you with my life."

XxX

Zelda tapped her nails impatiently against her desk as she listened to the phone ring. "It's your rupee," Link said happily as he finally picked up.

"Link, you can't come over tonight, Ike is going to be there and he's shipping out in the morning and-"

"Chill out," Link said quickly with a laugh, "it's all good, I have my own place y'know. I have other friends too," he said casually. Zelda sighed in relief, happy he understood. They had been friends since they were kids, rarely were they apart for longer than work made them be.

"Thank you Link," she sighed after a moment.

"Mmhmm," he said and she could already hear the teasing she was in for.

XxX

Ike tried to stay calm as he waited outside Zelda's office for her to finish with her last patient. He flipped through his file, the classified document enclosed literally just stating what the general had said, nothing more. Apparently he wasn't to know anything until tomorrow. He stood up quickly as the patient left, being escorted by two MPs that Ike just gave a little nod to. As they left he dashed into her office, whistling as she bent over to pick up some spilled papers. She shot him a look and he grinned. "Man can enjoy the view," he said as he walked forward, mind already on what they could and would do in a little while.

"Are you ready to go?" she asked as she straightened up and he nodded.

"I am," he grinned and held out his arms. She stepped into them with a smile and he kissed her greedily.

"Ike!" she smiled against his chest as she pulled her face away. "Let's get out of here first."

XxX

Author note: thanks for reading and sorry this update took a little while. I'm a Zike fan girl and I have another one I'm working on simultaneously (plus another I have yet to post...) and about a few hundred other ideas floating around my odd brain(not just relating to SSB, but Zelda, DOA, etc.). So as always thank you for reading and a big hug to concisponci for reviewing all the time. You're awesome concisponci!