A/N: Keepin' the grind train a-goin'! Sorry if the last chapter hit a little bit close to home, but I apologize doubly so if you guys feel that this chapter uses too many McGuffins to tie things up. Also sorry if the talk around the middle gets a little bit too...modern, for your taste. But I'm only on spring break for another 4 3 days, and I want to use this type to push out as many works as possible, especially since final exams are coming up.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem Fates or any of its characters.

"Dammit!" Corrin shouted, running to where Gunter had been standing before he fell.

As he looked down, he was afraid he was going to see Gunter's broken form on the floor, or even worse, a patch of blood, but to his surprise, Gunter's frame was floating amicably down to the ground. It was only then that Corrin remembered what he said to Leo prior meeting with Gunter.

"Uh, should we, you know, set some mattresses or beds outside, under your study's balcony in case things goes south?"

Corrin stared at him. "W-what? No! As soon as you find those men, send them up to the door to my study and head outside and prepare to cast a spell in case he does jump. I don't plan on him doing so, but better safe than sorry."

"Safe than sorry, huh?" he muttered to himself.

He did not turn his head as he felt Azura's hands on his shoulder.

"Oh gods, Corrin," she breathed. "What have we done?"

Corrin opened his mouth to speak, closed it when no sound came out, opened it again, and closed it for the second time before shaking his head. His jaw set, and his face as hard as stone, he turned and walked way, through the study, ignoring the mess made by the wind, strode down the stairs, and through the castle until he was where Leo was gently levitating Gunter's frame down the floor. The six guards who accompanied him followed Corrin silently down the stairs.

Already, there was a crowd gathered around the old retainer, everyone pushing and shoving in order to catch a peel at the sight. Corrin signaled for the six guards accompanying him and Azura to spread out and prevent the crowd from getting too close.

"Keep everyone away," he ordered, his tone low. "We have to keep this under wraps, do you understand?"

"As you wish, milord."

As he approached Leo, Gunter turned his head to look at Corrin. "Why?" he rasped. "Why won't you let me die honorably?"

"Because you're not a Hoshidan and only Hoshidans can die with honor," Leo deadpanned. "Nohrians just die. No glamor, no nothing."

Corrin shot a withering glare at Leo that said really? Not now. Leo shrugged and stepped away as Corrin cradled Gunter's body.

"I cast a full body-binding hex on him," Leo explained. "It's going to be impossible for him to move. That way, you can talk to him without fear of him hurting himself…or you."

"Thank you, Leo," Corrin said, not looking away from the older man whose head he cradled in his arms.

"Why, Gunter?" he whispered. "Why are you so ashamed of yourself that you would rather prefer taking your own life rather than stay and face the consequences?"

"I can't," Gunter said simply. "Anankos took control of me once before. Who's—"

"Anankos is said!" Corrin interrupted. "Anankos is dead and I killed him! You don't need to worry about his influence anymore!"

"I'm not worried about his influence," Gunter growled. "I'm worried about the mark it left on me! I told you before, milord—Anankos would've never possessed me if I hadn't let him turn my drive to exact revenge on Garon into an obsession! I can't be trusted around you, or any royals for that matter, and I'm definitely not worth the time and effort needed to imprison me."

Corrin sighed as he bowed his head. "You're not well, Gunter," he said, shaking Gunter's shoulders and forcing him to his feet. "We're taking you some place safe so we can help you can get better."

"What's going on here?"

Corrin looked up as a pale old man managed to push his way through one of the six guards Corrin had ordered to keep the crowd back. Corrin raised an eyebrow as he realized that the man was the same man he had glimpsed during the ceremony, the one standing in front of the Vallites.

"Who are you?" Corrin asked, grimacing inwardly at how terribly forward that sounded.

The old man bowed. "Ah, please forgive me for interrupting," he apologized. "Otis Argyis at your service. I was Queen Azura's father's retainer, you see, and…" Otis shook his head. "Never mind that now. What's going on?"

Corrin pursed his lips as he signaled to Azura that she should distract Otis while he took care of Gunter. Azura nodded, understanding, and stepped forward to put herself between them and Otis.

"I'm so sorry, Otis," she said, "but unfortunately, we're having a bit of a crisis right now, so please understand if we have to hide anything from you and your people this soon into meeting Lord Corrin. He's a wonderful ruler, I'm sure, but—"

"Oh, I've heard the tales of Prince Corrin and Queen Azura already!" Otis said earnestly, waving a hand away. "I'm just here to tell you that what that old man floating in the air there is suffering from is an illness that us Vallites named 'Anankos' Curse.'"

Corrin froze. "What?"

"'Anankos' Curse,'" Otis repeated. "Haven't you heard of it?"

"I don't—"

Otis rubbed his chin. "Well, then again, Anankos has been keeping the knowledge of Valla away from the rest of the world, so I guess it's not that far off to guess that nobody's heard of the disease, much less Anankos and Valla. Anankos' Curse, as we have named because of the fact that only those possessed by Anankos himself, a disease that plagues those who were possessed by Anankos, either willingly or unwillingly—"

"You don't just let Anankos possess you," Gunter said bitterly. "You have a choice."

"That's not important right now!" Otis said, flapping his hands. "The point is, your friend, Lord Corrin, is suffering from Anankos' Curse. I can't explain how I know, but—"

"Perhaps," Leo interrupted, "we should take this conversation inside?"

He gave a pointed glance towards the crowd of people leaning in, desperate to hear the words being passed between the group.

Corrin nodded. "We should," he agreed.

Together, Corrin, Leo, Azura, and Otis helped Gunter into the main hall, with the guards slowly following them and attempting to push back the clamoring crowd of people.

"Captain, keep those people out of here," Leo ordered.

"Of course, sire."

As they walked through the hall, Elise ran up to them, her healing staff already In hand.

"Heya!" she chirped. "I heard you needed me, Corrin?"

Corrin glanced behind himself at where Leo was dragging Gunter. Elise followed his gaze and frowned at the sight of the older man being dragged.

"What's wrong with him?" she asked, kneeling down. "Is he hurt?"

Corrin grimaced. "Physically, no. Mentally though…"

Elise looked up in concern at Corrin and her eyes widened at the sight of his hand dripping blood onto the floor. "Oh my gods! Corrin, your hand!"

"Hm?" Corrin looked down at the offending hand, as if he just realized that there was still a knife sticking through it. "Oh, uh, I think that's why I called you here."

"You're going to catch an infection from that if you don't let me heal that!" Elise said, the staff in her hands already beginning to glow.

"Actually, can we wait for us to do this later?" Corrin asked. "I know it's serious, but there's something we need to do before—"

Elise planted her hands on her hips and glared up at Corrin, pouting. The stance was meant to be intimidating, but with Corrin, even as short as he is, standing a full two heads above her, the effect was lost on him as he tilted his head.

"Nuh-uh!" Elise said, waggling a finger in front of him. "I'm a healer, and I know my stuff, and my stuff is telling you that you need to have that wound looked at. Now."

Corrin sighed and gave a concerned glance over his shoulder at Azura and Gunter. "How long is it going to take?" he asked Elise.

Elise gently took Corrin's wounded hand and ran a critical eye over it. "How long ago did this happen?" she asked.

Corrin shrugged. "I'd reckon about three of four minutes ago. Gunter stabbed me in the hand with a letter opener, so—"

"Gunter did what?"

"Not important. Point is, it happened less than fifteen minutes ago," Corrin said. "How long is it going to take for you to heal me?"

Elise poked gingerly at a particularly sensitive spot on Corrin's hand, causing him to wince.

"Well, thankfully, the wound looks clean enough for me to address here, but it's always better safe than sorry, which means you'll have to come with me to the infirmary," she said. "Shouldn't take more than half an hour, since you did get stabbed in a place where there's a lot of muscles and stuff."

Corrin groaned and looked back at Leo and Azura. "Can we take Gunter to the infirmary with me, instead of…wherever we were going? Actually, where were we going in the first place."

"I thought you'd take him to your study," Leo said, confused.

Corrin and Azura both stared at him.

"Gunter jumped from the study, Leo," Azura reminded him. "Why would we take him somewhere where he could do the same thing again?"

Leo rubbed his chin. "I suppose you're right. A lack of foresight on my hand, I suppose. But how are we supposed to get Gunter to the infirmary in the first place? There's a literal horde of people outside, asking us what's going on. I doubt they'll just let us through without spreading some kind of rumor."

"That's a risk we'll have to take," Corrin said as Elise tugged him away. "I'd rather have rumors spread around us and have Gunter cured of this 'curse.'"

Leo sighed. "Alright then, but don't say I didn't warn you."

A few minutes later, the group, including Otis, all gathered around Corrin who was sitting in a chair as Elise tended to his hand. Gunter, still wrapped in the binding spell Leo cast on him, was laid gently on the cot next to Corrin, and was now watching all of them cautiously.

"Alright Otis," Corrin said. "Tell us about this 'curse.'"

The older man cleared his throat. "Well, this curse isn't actually a curse. There's no magic behind it, it's all mental."

"Explain," Leo said.

Otis rubbed his hands together as he pulled up another chair. "Well, I don't know too much about this curse. As I've already told you before, only people who have been directly possessed by Anankos but were released by him for some reason, but considering how…unlikely that was, the only reports we have of it came from rumors and whispers spread among us by the other prisons."

"How did you communicate with them?" Leo asked. "We found your group in a dungeon. There was no way you could've sneaked out to arrange a meeting with other Vallites from the other prisons."

Otis raised a finger. "Ah, but that's where you are mistaken, my young prince. No Hoshidan or Nohrian could've communicated with the other slaves, but us Vallites are…a special brand."

"What do you mean?" Corrin asked, sitting up.

Otis traced a random pattern on his wrist before answering. "Vallites…always had a special relationship with their god. Anankos, before he went mad, of course, gifted Vallites with the ability to utilize water in…many different ways."

Azura blinked. "Like being able to travel through them?" she asked, causing Corrin and Leo to look at her curiously.

Otis nodded earnestly and leaned forward. "Yes, yes!" he said. "Abilities like that! Vallites were able to transport themselves to any location they wished for, so long as they had enough water and knew enough of the place for them to know the name of. There were other abilities as well, such as being able to use water as a way of communicating with each other, as well as very subtle manipulation, you see. Of course, Anankos knew all of that, which was why he starved us of water, giving us just enough to survive, but…but whenever one of our own died, we were able to use their portion to talk with one of the other slaves before the guards came to collect the water."

"What did you talk about?" Leo asked.

Otis leaned back and rubbed his chin. "Nothing much," he admitted. "Just making sure the others were alright and such. But one day, one of the other slaves talked about how one of his friends was suffering from what we now call Anankos' Curse."

"What happened?"

Otis closed his eyes as he tried to remember. "He said that his friend was suffering in much the same way as your friend here," he said, gesturing to Gunter, who continued to look fastidiously away from Corrin. "Immense guilt, anxiety, tendency for self-harm. Attempting to take their own life."

Otis drew a sharp breath. "My friend told me that Anankos possessed his friend in order to learn more about some invaders who were intruding on his territory. You see, his friend was part of the Nohrian army and was visiting his mother in Valla when he came. That's why Anankos chose him. He wanted to learn more about Nohr, and once he learned all that he could, he…just left him." Otis snapped a finger. "Just like that."

"So this former Nohrian soldier was possessed by Anankos, but was released?" Corrin asked. "And he experienced the exact same symptoms as Gunter?"

Otis nodded. "Granted, there were a few differences here and there, but the two cases were mostly the same. Like I said, immense guilt, anxiety, self-harm, and attempts on their own life."

"What happened to him?" Azura asked quietly. "Did he—"

"According to my friend, he died shortly before they were rescued," Otis said regrettably. "But not because of the Curse, no. The Curse, while it can drive those afflicted by it to take their own lives, cannot physically kill its victims like a disease can. My friend's friend died simply because of starvation. Nothing else."

Azura pursed her lips. "I see," she said simply before reseating herself next to Corrin.

"Is there any way for us to treat it?" Corrin asked.

Otis shook his head. "Not that we know of. But then again, we were imprisoned in Valla for more than a decade. It's very possible Hoshido and Nohr could've developed treatment for the Curse while we were…indisposed."

"Elise?" Corrin asked questioningly.

The blonde looked up, her curls bouncing. "I'm sorry, big bro. I'm a healer, not a therapist. Gunter's condition sounds more mental than physical, so I'm afraid I won't be able to help. Sorry."

Corrin sighed. "Don't worry," he said tiredly. "We'll find a way."

Leo rubbed his chin, deep in thoughts. "Actually, there might be," he said.

Everyone looked at him. Even Gunter glanced at Leo before returning his gaze to the ceiling.

"And…what way is this?" Corrin asked. "What do we need? Is it a type of vulnerary, or—"

"No, no, nothing like that," Leo said, shaking his head. "There's no type of medicine that can treat mental illnesses, unless you count narcotics, but I doubt getting Gunter addicted to those is any better. As if he wanted to take them, anyways."

"Then what type of treatment are you talking about?" Azura asked.

Leo pointed towards Elise. "Remember what she said? She said she's a healer, not a therapist. So, why don't we get Gunter a therapist?" he said. "While Camilla, Elise, and I never had one before, Xander told us about how Garon forced him to take sessions with this one therapist for his depression—"

"Xander has depression?"

"Had depression, Corrin," Leo said. "We don't talk about it much, but yes. Xander did deal with some…very heavy thoughts before in the past. Maybe his therapist is the thing that can help Gunter."

Corrin tried to shoot to his feet before Elise laid a flat palm on his chest and forcefully pushed him back down with a surprising amount of strength and a sassy "Nuh-uh!"

"Where is this therapist?" Corrin asked. "And how fast can he get here?"

Leo rubbed his chin. "Well, last I heard, his business was based in Nohr, but if the situation is that bad—"

"Of course it's bad!" Corrin interrupted. "Gunter's suffering from an illness that nobody in this castle can cure! How far away is this therapist, and how fast can he get here?"

"If my memory serves me correctly, he lives in a village near the western border of Nohr," Leo said. "From there to here—or at least where you planned for New Gyges to be set—it should take about two to three months. Max."

"And the minimum?"

"A month and a half." Leo crossed his arms. "You know any sort of travel along The Bottomless Canyon can be dangerous, Corrin. Plus, we're talking about traveling across an entire country. It's not going to be instantaneous."

"Ask Xander for the name of this therapist and explain to him the situation," Corrin ordered. "I want that therapist here before the winter solstice, got it?"

"Er, just one question," Leo said, raising a finger. "We're…you know New Gyges doesn't actually exist yet in the other world yet, right? We're still stuck in the astral plans, you know that, don't you?"

"Of course I do," Corrin said, his impatience and wish to get back to work, now not because of getting it done for the sake of getting it done, but because Gunter's wellness now hung in the balance, making him sound more irritated than before. "Don't worry, Leo," he reassured. "Before the end of the week, I'll have all the paperwork done. I promise."

"Don't promise me," Leo scoffed. "Promise yourself. It's your retainer we're talking about here."

Corrin shot a glare at Leo before standing up (with Elise's permission, of course) and standing by Gunter's side.

"Do you hear that, Gunter?" he asked. "Less than two months. Less than two months before we can help you with this…Curse. Just hang in there, alright?"

"Why?" Gunter rasped. "Why do you keep trying to help me?"

"Because you're my friend, and you'll always be important to me," Corrin said gently.

"I tried to kill—"

"I know," Corrin said simply. "I know you tried to kill me, but you didn't. That's what's important. If you want to leave or distance yourself from me, fine. I won't fight against your wishes, but at least gift me the knowledge of knowing that you'll be safe and healthy without me, alright?"

"But—"

Corrin took Gunter's hand and squeezed. "Please?"

Gunter sighed. "You always were stubborn, milord," he said, but with the faintest hint of a smile on his scarred face. "Just…after all this, after you cure me of this damned illness…just leave me be, will you?"

"Gunter—"

"I'm making this request not as a retainer to a king, but as a friend to a friend." Gunter took Corrin's hand in his own, the gnarled, wrinkled hand a stark contrast to Corrin's own pale, slightly callused skin. "If this treatment does work…I think I'll need some time to myself, alright?"

Corrin pursed his lips. "Very well then," he said hesitatingly. "As you wish. Friend…to friend."

"Corrin?"

Azura gently rapped on the door to Corrin's study, the door already having been replaced with another. Unlike the first door, which was made of oak, this new door was made of birch, the lighter wood in stark contrast to the darker wood splinters scattered across the floor.

"Come in!"

Azura gently pushed the door open to see Corrin setting away the papers that had been blown away by the wind when Gunter pushed open the door leading to the balcony. Azura rose an eyebrow when she saw Jakob and Flora alongside Corrin, helping him pick up the scattered papers and maps.

"Oh, hello Queen Azura," Flora greeted as she set a stack of papers into a filing cabinet besides the bookcase. "We're almost done here, so you two will be able to be alone together soon."

Corrin's head peeked out from behind his desk. "Actually, I think most of my work is back where they were before," he said. "You two can go on ahead. Thanks for the help."

Jakob frowned as he precariously balanced a stack of empty coffee mugs in his arms—the results of Corrin's sleep deprivation. "Are you sure, milord?" he asked. "Surely, there must be something—"

"Thanks for the help," Corrin insisted. He stood up, wiping his hands clean on his trousers. "You two can go. That's an order. Go enjoy your night together or something."

"But—"

Corrin's eyes narrowed. "Good. Night. Jakob."

Jakob sighed. "Very well, then," he said before walking out of the room, Flora in tow.

Before the maid left the room, she paused at the doorway. "I've already organized all of your files by alphabetical order in the filing cabinet, milord," she said. "If there's any problems—"

Corrin waved a hand in a shooing motion. "Yeah, yeah," he said tiredly. "I got it."

Flora tucked her hands in front of her skirt and bowed before leaving, the click of her heels gently echoing down the stairs.

Once she was sure Flora and Jakob were out of earshot, Azura padded over the where Corrin was still crouched behind his desk, muttering to himself as he picked out random papers here and there, only to set them aside. Azura sat herself on Corrin's chair, marveling silently to herself at it's surprising hardness.

"How do you even sit in this thing?" she asked, getting back up. "It's like sitting on a rock, except the rock probably has more curves than your chair."

Corrin blew a strand of white hair out of his eyes as he looked up at Azura. "I don't," he replied. "It's to make sure I don't fall asleep again."

"'Again?'" Azura queried, an eyebrow raised. "Since I forced you to sleep, how many hours of sleep have you gotten so far?"

Corrin shook his head. "First off, is it really forced if, secretly, I wanted to do it? Especially when it involved you and your bed?"

Azura blushed and looked away, tossing a strand of her hair over her shoulder in mock indignation. "Well, excuse me for trying to make sure you actually fell asleep," she replied cheekily. "It's not my fault you can't sleep without a woman at my side."

In response, Corrin poked at her in the side, right where she was most ticklish. She yelped and flexed away, only to respond by lightly slapping Corrin on the top of his head. "Corrin!"

"Secondly, I have been going to a reasonable bedtime," Corrin said, rising up. His head easily surpassing hers. "I can sleep just fine on my own without having a beautiful woman by my side, thank you very much. Trust me, you don't need to worry about my sleep schedule."

Azura somehow managed to blush deeper as she sat down in a nearby armchair, the leather much more comfortable than Corrin's own chair. "'Beautiful?'" she repeated. "Please, Corrin. I admit that I can be many things, but I'm afraid 'beautiful' isn't one of them."

Corrin briskly walked over to her and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips. "Of course not," he replied.

Azura opened her mouth in shock and surprise, but was quickly silenced when Corrin planted another kiss on her lips.

"You're perfect," he whispered.

Azura shivered. "I don't think I'm perfect," she mumbled as Corrin pulled away.

"You don't think so, but I do," Corrin replied as he resumed his work. "Just because you feel that you're filled with flaws doesn't mean that it's true."

Azura shook her head as she pushed Corrin away with her foot. "Shush you," she said.

Corrin looked back and stuck his tongue out at her as he knelt down again by his desk. Azura smiled and rested a finger on her chin as she watched Corrin work. There was always something soothing about watching him work, but she didn't know why. It's not like he filed papers any different from herself, but it still soothed the same way it did whenever he smiled at her.

Or when he held her hand. Or complimented her. Or looked at her.

Azura shook her head. Get a hold of yourself, woman! He may be your lover, but you're still the future Queen-Consort of Valla!

"So…" she said.

"So what?" Corrin replied, not looking up from his work.

"How are you feeling?"

Instantly, the mood shifted. Corrin froze for a moment before he continued working.

"Feeling about what?" he asked, his voice as sharp and as clear as glass.

Azura mentally kicked herself. What was she thinking?

She sighed. Well, it's not like they could postpone this talk forever.

"I'm asking how you're feeling about Gunter," she said bluntly. "Especially since with, you know, his whole suicide attempt and—"

"Let's not use the word suicide," Corrin said. "He was…just trying out a desperate solution."

Azura nodded slowly. "If you say so," she said.

Corrin continued working in silence, with Azura watching equally as quiet. Finally, Corrin broke the silence by saying, "If you want to know, the answer is not good."

He stood up and turned to face her, leaning back against his desk as he tapped out a convoluted rhythm with his fingers. "He tried to kill himself, Azura," he said, leading forward. "How am I supposed to feel about one of my closest allies trying to end their own lives?"

"Corrin—"

"I mean, like, I get how he tried to kill us and all, but seeing Gunter act like that is…hard" Corrin continued. "Especially when you realize that literally the entire reason why I'm the person I am today is because of him!"

"Corrin—"

"And that whole thing about 'Anankos' Curse?' It sounded a lot like that thing you said I had back in Valla, when we were resting at the fort. What did you say it was called?"

"Survivor's guilt, but Corrin, listen to me—"

Corrin gestured wildly towards her. "Survivors guilt! That's the name! I had those same feelings of immense guilt after Scarlet was killed trying to protect me, but I never tried to end myself! So why is Gunter—"

"Corrin!"

Corrin flinched as he realized how Azura had to shout to get his attention, something that had only happened twice since they met by the lake, so long ago.

"S-sorry," he apologized. "I sort of got caught up, didn't I?"

Azura huffed. "You think?"

She stood up and walked over to him. Corrin looked away from her as she took his head in her hands and pressed him against her stomach. She gently stroked his cheek as she ran her other hand through Corrin's hair.

"Yes, you may have felt the same as Gunter during that day, but you also don't know what other feelings he may be experiencing," she murmured. "Just because the two of you experienced guilt for your past actions or inactions does not mean you two are feeling the exact same emotions. You felt guilt because Scarlet died trying to protect you, and you were unable to do anything. Gunter felt guilty because he realized that he set everything on the line for an old grudge, which meant he put you in danger. As your unofficial adoptive father, of course he would hate himself for that. No parent, adoptive or not, should have to watch their child suffer because of their past."

Corrin said something, his voice muffled by her stomach. Azura loosened her hold on Corrin's head enough for him to pull back.

"But why did he have to try and take his own life?" he asked. "Why couldn't we just have talked it out?"

"Oh, Corrin…"

Azura tightened her hold again on Corrin's head. He fought for a second before allowing himself to go limp, his head rested against Azura's stomach, which rose and fell with each breath she took.

"Sometimes…people just can't live with their feelings," she said slowly, carefully picking out each word. "I…if words could solve everything, there would be no war, but unfortunately, that's simply not the case. I know how we always cheered each other up by talking to each other about our problems, but Gunter is…different. He's seen too many things—done too many things—for him to simply 'talk it out' with a friend. I can't speak for him, but…but I guess he just thought that it would be easier to die than it would be to deal with the guilt and emotions that came with betraying you."

"If we can't help Gunter by talking, then how is that therapist going to help?" he asked, voice muffled. "How is what that therapist going to do any different than from how you helped me?"

"Because…I don't know," Azura admitted. "I…I never dealt with thoughts as strong as Gunter's, and I never saw a therapist besides the time Mikoto thought I wasn't eating because I was 'too skinny' when I was fourteen. Turns out I just had—and still have—a really fast metabolism."

"Ha…ha," Corrin said weakly. "So that's why you always eat so much. But how is that therapist going to help?"

Azura simply stroked Corrin's head again, marveling at the softness of his hair. "He's…going to talk to Gunter. Remind him of the things worth living for, all the good he's done before in the past and tell him of all the good he could do in the future. Besides that…I don't know. We'd just have to hope and see."

Corrin hummed deep in his chest, causing Azura to look down in surprise before resuming stroking his head. The hum, Azura learned, was Corrin's own unique, draconic way of telling her that though he accepted her words, there was still something bothering him.

"What's wrong?" she asked, pausing her petting for a moment.

"Nothing," came the reply.

Azura pinched the tip of Corrin's ears, but not too hard. Turns out the pointed ends of Corrin's ears were a lot more sensitive than a human's.

Corrin flinched and flexed away, rubbing the mark with a hand. "Hey!" he protested. "What was that for?"

Azura said nothing but crossed her arms and rose an eyebrow. She tapped a foot.

Corrin sighed. "Alright, alright," he said, caving under Azura's gaze. "I was just worried about…about the Vallites finding out about me and Lilith."

"Lilith?"

"Remember what Laslow, Odin, and Selena told us?" Corrin asked. "They said that Lilith was Anankos' right-hand woman, the one responsible for torturing the slaves. I doubt that they won't hold any grudges towards her, but not holding any grudges towards dragons as a whole? That's…"

"Impossible," Azura finished. "And I agree. I know that you're afraid the Vallites will reject you because of your draconic counterpart, but I'm afraid the only way to deal with that problem is by being earnest as a human."

"Earnest…?"

"Doing everything you can as a human to make yourself seem as helpful and kind as the rumors say," Azura said. "You are helpful and kind, but the way the rumors make you out to be makes you look like a saint."

Corrin's lips curl in distaste. While he was comfortable being looked at as a leader, he never wanted to be looked as a god. Gods know how many gods are also dragons.

"A saint?" he repeated.

Azura nodded. "If you act kind towards everyone, when the secret gets out, people will be less likely to denounce you as being a dangerous beast whose bloodlust knows no bounds—," Corrin cringed at her choice of words, "—and more likely to see you as somebody who sacrificed so much to help them."

"But what if what happened to Anankos happens to me?" he whispered, and in that moment, Azura could see the fear and uncertainty in his eyes.

The sight caused her heart to lurch. She had only seen that look once before, and it nearly broke her the first time.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean, didn't Anankos go mad because his people betrayed him?" Corrin asked. "What if the Vallites betray us? What if what happened to Anankos happens to me?"

Azura's heart lurched again. "Are…are you talking about the time…"

Corrin nodded. "Yes."

They both knew what Corrin was talking about. Azura's hand moved unconsciously to her neck and collarbone as the memory of a dragon appearing for the first time in centuries moved to the forefront of her mind. Mirroring Azura's own action, Corrin stuck a hand down his tunic to rub his dragonstone, feeling how the power contained within such a tiny stone pulsed and writhed, desperate for release.

Azura silently gritted her teeth to prevent a yelp of pain from escaping her lips as she felt a claw poke her back. She looked down and was concerned to see Corrin's blank, empty stare into nothing.

"Corrin," she said. "Corrin?"

Corrin blinked and shook his head. Behind her, a flash of light appeared as Corrin's hand transformed back into its human counterpart.

"Yes? What's wrong?"

Azura's hand went to her back, where the claw had touched her. To her concern, the cloth was torn, though there appeared to be no breach in her skin.

"You…you partially transformed again."

"Oh."

Corrin bowed his head, looking down at his feet. His hands nervously clasped around each other.

"I'm scared," he finally admitted after a moment's silence. "Scared that what happened to Anankos will happen to me. I mean, what if I go mad, like he did? You saw what he was capable of! The world can't handle another Anankos. Not again!"

"It won't happen again because you're not Anankos," Azura said. "You may be his son, but Anankos was never truly loved by his people. They were grateful to him for creating a home for them, but they didn't love him the same way the Vallites and I love you."

Corrin chuckled humorlessly. "Oh, please," he said dryly. "I haven't even talked with any of the Vallites yet except for Otis, and that was only so he could tell us what Gunter was suffering from."

"You talk to me," Azura deadpanned.

"That's different."

Corrin sighed again as pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sure, I may never become as evil as Anankos, but that doesn't mean I won't become as mad as him."

"You won't," Azura insisted. "You won't go mad because you'll always have my love and support for you to bring you back. That's what my song is for, isn't it?"

Corrin scowled. Ever since Anankos' death, he'd been uneasy about Azura's insistence on keeping her pendant.

"It's a reminder of your curse!" he had said. "Why would you ever want to keep something that would hurt you as much as it hurts me?"

"It's not supposed to hurt you," she replied dryly. "It's supposed to help you."

"Yes, but at what cost?"

"Corrin? Corrin, your hand transformed again."

Corrin blinked and hastily corrected his mistake. "Sorry," he apologized. "Just getting…caught up in some old memories."

Azura sighed. "Is it about my pendant?" she asked.

Corrin nodded.

Azura sighed again. "Corrin, I already told you, I don't keep it so I can hurt you, I keep it so—"

"I know what you keep it for," Corrin interrupted. "I just wished you didn't have to hurt yourself every time you sang that song."

"It hasn't been hurting me since Anankos' death," she said.

Corrin's eyes narrowed. "How do you know? Have you been singing it?"

"I used it to help wash a spoon," she said flatly, staring at Corrin in the eyes. "It didn't hurt me then, and it won't hurt me later. Plus, it's not as if I'm willing to use it. I only wear it so people don't doubt the fact that I'm royalty, not because I'm a masochist."

Corrin averted his eyes before returning his head to the position of Azura's stomach. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I just got…overprotective for a second there, I guess."

Azura smiled and resumed her stroking. "Yes, well, lucky for you, it's your over-protectiveness that I find so charming."

Corrin hummed again in his chest, though unlike the first type of hum, this one was more human, a sign that Corrin was content. At least for the time being.

"Thank you," he said, his voice husky and raspy. "Thank you so much. You have no idea what your words mean to me."

Azura simply smiled. "Of course, Corrin. We are, after all, two halves of a whole."

A/N: Next "chapter" (it's actually an interlude) is going to be a bit more lighthearted than this one. It's already in the works, so be prepared! Also, new profile on AO3. I already posted this work on there, but maybe some of you might want to check out my profile there as well. It's the same username, "Daxmvarg," and the work is the same as this one.