TITLE: The Importance of Being Sane
CHAPTER: Act 2 - Blue Eyes
AUTHOR: Sharyn (sxzha[at]yahoo.com)
SERIES: Fire Emblem 7 - Rekka no Ken
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: Fire Emblem 7 is copyright of Nintendo 2003, I make no claims to any of the characters, only to their interactions in this piece. If I actually owned FE7, I would be engaging in acts such as [censored for content] with [censored for implications]
WARNINGS: Language, shounen-ai, which if you have no idea means that there may be guys liking other guys and if this isn't your cup of tea or repulses you, hit the back button.
This act contains a snippet of graphic violence, nothing too big and can be skipped over. And also includings much hugging. MUCH hugging. But hugging nonetheless, nothing more.
PAIRINGS: This act contains very blatant, unacknowledged Raven/Lucius. Also implied Sain/Lucius, undertones of Kent/Sain, Kent/Lyn and slightest suggestion of Hector/Matthew. If you choose to look at it that way, of course .

A/N: Thank you to everyone who supported me and reviewed the first chapter. That is: Cathy Barton, Crystal Sundrop, Drake and Jang, Noroi, RianneHime, Sindy and a huge thank you to Drala-chan who provided me with much inspiration and suggestions. I will take the time to note here that I am rather sick and drifting off to sleep even as I type and upload this...so, any mistakes I may have committed and glossed over in my last minute haze of editing during my bout of sickness, please don't hesitate to let me know. If I accidently cut out a section or something, or did something else really stupid, feel free to yell at me when I'm better again. Till next time.....snooze

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The Importance of Being Sane
Act 2 - Blue Eyes

Rain slashed through the dark night devoid of mercy. Whiplashes of silver and white struck at the ground and the outline of a figure with a sword standing proudly next to him appeared for a moment. He merely stood as rain whipped at him, striking him with increasing ferocity. Lightning illuminated the setting around him, it showed a sickening sight, a massacre had taken place and bodies were piled up all around and even the skies seemed to be crying red tears. In a flash of bright light, the fighter's face was revealed. Dark red hair, ominous red eyes, a face with pain written clearly on it, a face bearing the various shades of blood. As if he was recognising his surroundings for the first time, he opened his mouth and a long howl speaking volumes of agony tore through the silent veil of midnight.

It was about an hour before sunrise when Raven awoke, or so his internal clock informed him. He had woken up with a sheen of sweat covering his forehead, the remnants of a nightmare that hadn't plagued him for quite some time lingering on his thoughts. Looking back, the last time he had that nightmare was when he and Lucius had been separated, over a year ago when the monk had first met Lady Lyndis.

It was as if Lucius was the light that kept his demons at bay, in the days that they were in Caelin's service as mercenaries, Lucius had always stayed in the same room as him and not once had his nightmares disturbed him. But after the previous day's exertions, combined with Lucius' absence, they had come back with full force, intent on terrifying and destroying him.

Raven looked outside at the still dark sky. It would be dawn soon and both he and Lucius had cultured the habit of awaking before it, him because he liked to do a few stretches to start his day off and Lucius because he liked to pray to the rising sun. He got out of bed and dressed quickly, deciding that the best course of action would be to find Lucius and maybe speak to his friend about his nightmares. Although Lucius fussed about him on occasion, he was usually a very good listener and the only one Raven would trust with anything.

Raven did his usual morning stretches and a few quick exercises before he walked to the room next to his and knocked. When he received no response, he assumed that Lucius may have not awoken yet, considering he looked very weary the day before, and entered the room intending to just sit at Lucius' bedside.

As soon as Raven entered the room, he knew something was wrong. He was so attuned to Lucius that he could sense the different atmosphere, it was like an absence of light. In a few brisk steps he approached the bed and hauled the sleeping figure out of it. He vaguely recognised the person to be one of Caelin's knights, but Raven was unable to place a name to the face.

"Wh-what?" the knight stuttered after experiencing a rude awakening.

"Who are you?" Raven said with a scowl, his hand still grasping the knight by his collar.

"I think I should be the one asking that…I'm Sain," Sain mumbled, a yawn cutting him off mid sentence.

"That's amusing, I was certain that this was Lucius' room," Raven said, his eyes narrowing betraying the light sarcastic tone in his voice.

"Could you let go?" Sain said, wriggling a bit, "Lucius is in my room."

Sain's nonchalant comment only served to tighten Raven's grasp on the collar of his nightshirt.

"Should I be asking why?" Raven said and threw Sain to one side and drew his sword out, the tip pointing straight at the cavalier sprawled out on the floor of the room.

"Woah, calm down!" Sain said looking at the tip of Raven's sword that hovered dangerously close to his nose.

Raven ignored Sain's protests and moved his sword down so that it pressed against his neck, the tip of it breaking the skin there. He stood, scowling at Sain in contempt, like an eagle hovering over its chosen prey. Although Raven was often considered an anti-social person, he was not, by nature, a violent one. After being exposed to the massacre of the whole of House Cornwell, the abundance of slaughter and excess violence made his skin crawl. However, even this did not deter him from his private worrying of Lucius' current wellbeing.

"Sir Sain!" a very familiar voice called out in concern from the open doorway.

Lucius entered the room with Kent trailing behind him, his azure eyes reflecting worry and what appeared to Raven to be disbelief. Before Raven could analyse it further, it was gone, replaced with the congenial expression Lucius always wore. Raven allowed himself a brief moment of relief and he retracted his sword without a word.

"Sain, is everything alright?" Kent asked, bending down to give his friend a hand up. Sain used it to help himself up but ignored Kent's question, instead he turned to Raven, a thunderous expression in place.

"What on earth was THAT?" Sain almost yelled the last part, "Who are you anyway?"

Raven was about to reply with a rude retort at the cavalier's question but Lucius came up to him and grasped his arm firmly before he could say anything.

"I'm very sorry, Sir Sain," Lucius was saying with an apologetic smile on his face, "This is all my fault."

Sain's anger seemed to have drained from his face as Lucius gently placed himself between Raven and Sain.

"This is Lord Raven, I have been traveling with him for many years now," Lucius said, "I usually pray with him in the mornings and I'm afraid I disrupted this schedule today. I am truly sorry for the misunderstanding."

Raven wanted to ask a few more questions regarding the sleeping situation of the two but a quick, almost pleading look from Lucius, left him resigned. He let Lucius soothe their way out of this situation, choosing not to bother with conversation. It wasn't like he enjoyed talking anyhow. The previous day only proved it when, in the middle of battle, an archer had approached him and started sprouting random greetings and thoughts to him.

"Hmph," Sain said, diverting his gaze to Raven and glared at him but Raven noticed his friend Kent elbow him, "I'm Sain, one of the knights in Caelin's service. Lucius collapsed yesterday and since my room was the most convenient at the time, I let him rest there."

Raven was unable to suppress the look of concern he shot Lucius and although he was definitely unhappy about the two knights witnessing the exchange, the smile Lucius practically beamed at him made him feel warm inside. Raven was enjoying his friend's presence when a strange look passed over Lucius' face.

"Sir Sain, you do know that I am male," Lucius made it a statement rather than a question.

Sain laughed, although to Raven, the action seemed a little forced. He noticed Kent staring intently at his friend, as if to gauge the integrity of his actions.

"Yeah, I had to check if you were injured," Sain said and shot Lucius a smile that could only have been described as rakish.

"And do you do that with all the ladies?" Lucius returned with an innocent expression before breaking out into a sly grin.

Sain however, did not look very happy with this comment and the lightheartedness of the grin faded from his face. Kent seemed to have noticed this and directed Sain towards the exit of the room, one hand placed on the small of his back.

"I think Sain should be getting back to his room. Lucius came up to me this morning asking for directions to where his room should be," Kent said, explaining a few things as he and Sain walked out of the room.

"Thank you Sir Kent," Lucius smiled. Raven gave the red cavalier a terse nod and closed the door of the bedroom as soon as the others were outside. With a quick move, Raven grabbed Lucius by his shoulders and slammed him against the wall. Raven didn't release him even when he saw the blond's small wince but he did caress the side of his face for a moment with a gentleness he wasn't aware he was capable of. He leaned in close and placed his face in the crook of Lucius' neck and took a few deep breaths, staying like that for a few moments to gather his wits. Lucius remained silent, waiting for Raven to give an explanation or to give any indication of his actions.

"I was worried," Raven said, a little hesitant, his words referring to many of his recent actions, "Can I just stay for a few moments?"

"It's alright," Lucius said soothingly and gently stroked his back and Raven could feel the tension in his body drain out.

"I'm sorry…" Raven whispered, barely audible but encompassing as much emotion as he ever dared to show to anyone. He released Lucius from his grasp and turned away, eyes closed and looking downcast. He couldn't pin point exactly why he was feeling so strongly to Lucius' earlier absence and current presence. And when he met Lucius' gaze again, he didn't bother hiding the fear or the worry he felt.

---

Lucius gasped at the intensity of emotion he saw reflected in Raven's eyes. He could count the times he had seen that amount of intensity in his longtime friend on one hand. He was still a little shaken from Raven's earlier, almost violent actions and were it not for the peculiarity of the situation, Lucius would have perceived Raven to be almost…adoring in the unusual caress.

"Lord Raymond?" Lucius said, approaching Raven slowly and was shocked to see his friend tremble a little with suppressed emotion.

"I thought you were gone too," Raven whispered, "You're all that I have left now and…I know I shouldn't have lost my temper yesterday and today but…it's just so rare that I feel so strongly about anything."

Lucius smiled wistfully at Raven and slid his arms around the other's waist, the movement slow and deliberate, gauging the reaction of the redheaded mercenary. Pressed close against Raven, Lucius could feel the small trembles that shook his friend's body and almost saw the waves of pain roll forth. He wasn't aware that Raven cared that much about him and seeing him worry so warmed Lucius inside and out.

"Let me explain what happened yesterday," Lucius murmured against Raven's back.

Raven nodded, barely perceptible and Lucius gave a thorough account of the previous day's happenings. He had originally thought to leave out some parts but when he met Raven's eyes, words seemed to just spill out of his mouth, like water from an opened dam.

"Lord Raymond?" Lucius said, after he had completed his explanation, "I…I wanted to tell you that I understand your concern. And that…I feel the same way for you too."

A slightly pink tinge stained his cheeks as he admitted what he felt for Raven. Actually, if he were to be honest with himself, he felt a lot more than that. It was as if Raven was his anchor to reality, the knowledge that if ever his illness came over him, there would be someone waiting for him to get better. Someone who would stay beside him until the body wracking shakes subside and be there to hand him that much needed glass of water at the exact moment.

"I don't think you understand what I feel for you," Raven said shortly causing Lucius' head to suddenly rivet towards the back of the mercenary's head.

"What do you mean, Lord Raymond?" Lucius asked, slightly perturbed.

"I…I'm not sure how to say it but," Raven said, shaking his head slowly as if to clear it and dislodged Lucius' arms around him, "You're the only thing that stands between me and revenge."

Lucius cocked his head in confusion, he didn't understand what Raven was trying to say because he was under the impression that revenge was the driving force in Raven's life. Raven seemed to have noted Lucius' confusion and continued, looking straight at him as he did so.

"You're the only thing that stops me from losing myself in my revenge."

It was then Raven's erratic behaviour all clicked together for Lucius, the explanation as to why Raven was so short tempered this morning with Sain. He had obviously had another nightmare, and Lucius knew from experience whenever they had lodged together that Raven's nightmares usually involved him losing himself in the bloodshed of a massacre that was justified by his desire for revenge. Whenever Lucius stayed with Raven, he tried to soothe Raven's worried mind by draining some of his concerns and replacing it with his own light. Of course then those concerns would be passed to the monk, but he had stopped caring about this aspect of his wellbeing long ago when he realised he could aid Raven mentally and emotionally.

"Was it bad?" Lucius asked and he knew that Raven understood exactly what he was asking.

"The usual," Raven said, although his nonchalance was betrayed by the slightly haunted expression he wore on his face, "Although I managed to wake up before the worst of it."

"Lord Raymond, I…"

"Don't," Raven said sharply, his hand coming up to stop Lucius approaching him any further, "I don't want your worry. Just stay with me, please?"

Lucius smiled and nodded, "Always, Lord Raymond, always."

Raven seemed to be truly relaxed for the first time that morning and he let a small smile slip, directed at Lucius. And to Lucius' utmost surprise, he found himself gathered into a pair of strong arms that fumbled in the unfamiliar gesture of a hug.

Before he could think anymore on it, Raven let go abruptly and left the room, saying on his way out, "I'll be around when you need me."

After Lucius was certain that Raven was not in the vicinity, did the smile on his face crumble. He stared at the open door and after a brief moment, a whisper that could have been a draught of wind passing through had the windows been open sounded.

"I love you too…Raymond."

---

"Oh blast this!" Sain muttered as he stomped back towards Lucius' room, realising that he had left his armour and weapons there when he was rudely awoken earlier.

That man…Raven was it? He had death in his eyes, Sain thought as he reflected back on the events earlier that left him with a newly forming scab on his neck that was prone to bleeding whenever he moved his head around too much.

His mind wandered back to the topic he had been ruminating on earlier. Lucius. The man seemed to be one puzzle after another, and seeing how he dealt with Raven earlier only furthered the mystery around the blond monk. It was apparent that the two were close, but the exact nature of their relationship Sain was unable to determine. It was nothing like the comradely relationship he had with Kent, although the absence of scolding from the red cavalier for Sain's actions came as a surprise who thought it was completely unlike the other knight to break tradition. It was more than a platonic brotherly relationship too, Sain noted as he recalled how Raven had calmed considerably as soon as Lucius entered the room. What else did that leave?

Lovers, a small voice in his mind whispered, they could very well be lovers.

Sain shoved the offending thought out of his mind, he refused to believe that the two were lovers although doubts expressed themselves to his rather troubled mind. The thought somehow disturbed him more than it ought to. Still, any other thoughts that may have arisen unbidden in his mind were cut short as he approached his destination. But only to arise up in full force when a bare whisper floated from the sole blond occupant of the room.

"I love you too…Raymond."

Raymond? Sain thought, Who's Raymond?

Sain knocked on the door quietly and Lucius jumped at his sudden presence.

"Sir Sain!" Lucius said, looking as if a faint flush threatened to spill over his pale complexion, "Can I help you?

"Er…I believe my armour is here," he said, making his way towards the pile of metal that stood, giving off a dull gleam where the morning sunlight fell upon them. "You don't mind if I just change here? It's a bit hard to lug all of this back."

"Ah, it's alright," Lucius said and politely averted his gaze as Sain began assembling his armour, "I don't believe I have thanked you properly for yesterday."

"It was nothing," Sain said pausing his dressing for a moment and allowing a sly grin creep up on his face, "Besides, I was still under the impression I was saving a very beautiful damsel in distress."

At this comment, the blush that had been threatening to bloom on Lucius' face finally won and he turned a quaint shade of scarlet.

"Uh…" Lucius spluttered for a moment while trying to obviously regain some form of composure.

Sain turned around, fully dressed and caught sight of Lucius' alarmingly red face and couldn't help but tease the monk.

"You look adorable when you do that."

"Sir Sain!" Lucius said, mildly affronted and Sain grinned. But he then noticed the upset look on Lucius' face and the grin dissolved immediately.

"I apologise for offending you," Sain said.

"It's…not you," Lucius mumbled after a moment, "It's me. I…"

"What is it?"

"Never mind," Lucius smiled faintly at Sain, "I had better be going, I wanted to see Lady Lyn since I did not get a chance yesterday."

Lucius almost ran out of the room, Sain noted as he watched the monk disappear along the corridors. However, implanted in his mind was the look on Lucius' face earlier that was half disappointment and half terror. The usually bright azure eyes turning to a dark shade of blue like clouds before the arrival of a thunderstorm. And for some reason, Sain had a feeling that the initial thunder had just begun to sound and the flashes of lightning were not even close yet.

Obviously there was a lot to look forward to.

---

Lyn was looking at possible routes to Dread Isle that she and Kent had come up with yesterday when a gentle knock sounded on her door. She turned around and was not completely surprised to see Lucius at the door. She smiled at the monk, her mind leafing through memories of their journeying together a year ago where she had, unbeknownst to most, spent many spare moments wondering why life was so full of injustice and why such delicate features had been gifted to this man.

Oh yes, she was jealous, definitely, but after a few conversations with him, she had realised that the monk was one of the sweetest people around. Just being around Lucius seemed to ease any tensions in mind or body.

"It's very good to see you again, Lady Lyn," Lucius said.

"Definitely, how have you been Lucius?" Lyn replied, "How was it that you joined us again? I apologise since I wasn't nearby at the time."

"I was working as a mercenary with a friend of mine, Raven, and we worked at Caelin as soldiers for a while. Raven was also the one who mentioned to me that you were fighting alongside Lords Hector and Eliwood, so," Lucius gave a nonchalant shrug.

"Either way, it's good to have you traveling with us again. I'm sure we can settle a good rate for both you and Raven."

Lucius nodded, "Um…Lady Lyn, would I be able to ask a favour of you?"

Lyn looked at Lucius for a moment trying to determine what the favour was before she agreed but nothing on the smiling face betrayed the owner's intentions.

"What is it?" she said, finally relenting.

"I know that you are possibly the one who is closest to the tactician with whom we travel. I…I would be so bold to make a request that Lord Raven may be with me during combat, if possible."

Lyn was speechless for a moment as she watched Lucius' blue eyes fixate on something fascinating that had appeared on the floor. This was peculiar, it was true that the tactician was closest to her and that her requests or suggestions would be taken into account above all others but this particular request was one she had not received before.

"I'll see what I can do, but before that, I must ask why."

"I wish to keep Lord Raven from foolish actions," Lucius replied simply and finally turned to meet her eyes. She could see no sign of perjury within the azure orbs and nodded her assent.

"I will pass on your request then, Lucius."

"Thank you for your time, Lady Lyn, I shall leave you to your work," Lucius said and with a bow, exited the room.

How strange Lyn thought as she turned back to the numerous maps before her, I must see what's so special about this 'Raven'.

---

Hector didn't make a habit out of eavesdropping, no, he may have been prone to immediate, childish actions but he did not eavesdrop on conversations. He had Matthew to do that for him. The spy had brought back some interesting snippets of conversation that were interesting, true, but did little to alleviate the feeling of ill boding that had fallen upon the Ostian lord ever since the siege of Castle Caelin. It was like a tingling on the back of his neck as if someone was constantly staring at him. Yet, most people within the small party didn't seem to sense any danger, so Hector had Matthew do a little looking around to see if he could gather any information.

Hector mulled over what information Matthew had gathered, all relating to some foolish actions by the Caelin knight Sain, the Green Lance who had apparently developed some sort of attraction towards the monk that just joined the party. According to Matthew, the monk was trustworthy, and the thief had traveled with him before. Yet there was something else nagging at him.

He looked back down at the notes and with a sigh of frustration exited the room, still trying to think. It annoyed Hector to no degree that the spy was faithful to him but preferred to deliver his reports with cryptic comments that often provided the basis for the young lord's frustration. What was it that Matthew had mentioned earlier regarding the monk again?

Something about a bird and looking good…Hector slapped a hand to his head and gave up. He would think about it tomorrow.

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Next Act: In which a bird is shot in an elaborate plot,
Where nefarious intentions lead to unpleasant confrontations.
Emotions run completely astray, and we all ask: Is Sain gay?

Look out for the third and final act of The Importance of Being Sane but before that, a small interlude to bring out the laughs featuring better than Pantene Pro-V hair, the beautiful green of envy, a certain uppity cleric and a horse.

Ok, that was strange. I know I'm sick to the point of being delirious when I start sprouting rhyming lines and incorporate the question "Is Sain gay?" I'm going to bed.