Protector
Fire Emblem and its characters are © Nintendo
---
Wil doesn't need him anymore, Rath realizes suddenly. He can protect himself now.
Wil doesn't need him to guard him from the enemies anymore. Not to say that Wil couldn't defend himself before, but Wil did have a tendency to let the enemy sneak up behind him, or to let his arrow slip at the very last second so that it went careening off in some other direct, or choose, usually at the most inopportune times, like when he was just about to shoot down a Pegasus Knight or such, the only arrow that had only two fletchings instead of three, so that it would do a flip in the air instead of hit his target.
Wil doesn't need Rath to come in at the last second, shoot the enemy down when it gets too close to him. He doesn't need Rath to trail right behind him, keeping an eye out for anyone who would dare try to hurt them. Or if the tactician makes him move away from Wil, and Rath hates it when that happens, although he never protests, he doesn't need Rath to watch from the corner of his eye, making sure no enemies get too near.
It's been a year, a whole year, but it feels like so much more. So much wandering around and doing nothing, switching from job to job, all of them the same, just with different people, never really remembering a name or face. He had left without so much as a goodbye, because although he won't admit it, saying goodbye would hurt too much. It would hurt to see any one of them feel sad, and especially Wil, because Wil should never be sad, never lose that perfect smile from his face. Rath was just lucky that he had chosen the easier job over the harder one, even though it paid less, because then Lady Lyn would have never had found him, and then he would have never seen Wil again, never been able to smile so truly again.
Wil is so much different from he last saw him after that long, long, year. He's more confident, pays more attention, and just overall better at archery. He's even become a sniper. Rath remembered how proud Wil was when he said that, like finally had a reason to be proud. Rath didn't understand why; he always thought being that happy, and that kind, and his ability to make almost anyone smile, if he wasn't annoying them, that is, was enough reason to be proud, but he never said anything; it wasn't his place to comment on such matters.
He remembers everything about when he had met Wil for the second time. Everything said, everything done, who Rath killed and who Wil killed, which enemies came too close and died and which fled, barely making it out with their own life. Rath has always had a good memory, and sometimes he really hates it.
"Look at me, Rath! I'm so good at archery now! I'm even a sniper. Can you believe it? It's so amazing. I won't need you to protect me now, Rath, I can defend myself now. You won't have to worry yourself with me, anymore. I can fight all by myself now…"
But Rath liked protecting him. Rath liked coming in at the last second, slaying the enemy that dared to try to hurt Wil, especially if it actually did. Sometimes Wil wouldn't notice it, before, when they were all traveling with Lady Lyn in command instead of Lord Eliwood, but that was all right, because when he did, he always gave Rath the most wonderful smile, like he was truly grateful, and that's all Rath ever needed. Because Wil has the most amazing smile, the kind that can make a bad day bad good and light up a whole room.
Rath still fights side-by-side with Wil, and he'll occasionally save Wil, but Wil doesn't need Rath to save him anymore. And that's the only thought that in his head, because he knows it's true, too true, and he hates it, because he has never been needed before, and the feeling's too precious to want forget, to leave behind as a thing of the past.
Wil doesn't need him anymore, Rath realizes suddenly. He can protect himself now.
Wil doesn't need his protector anymore.
---
...Yay repetition? There's more to be drabbles to be added, hopefully sometime this week. Well, R&R, kiddies, and concrit is very much wanted and appreciated. Also, if you must flame me, flame me because you don't like my story, not because it's a guy/guy pairing.