Author's note: Did anyone else notice how similar Soren and Zelgius are? Seriously...it's weird...

They were...similar.

Both Branded.

Both outcasts.

Hell, they were both from Daein.

They were both unconditionally loyal to the one person who had extended friendship to them. They would both die for that person. But, more importantly, they would live for that person. They had been alone. They had been found, taken in. They had experienced love and kindness in another's eyes, and that in and of itself had been enough to evoke a fierce loyalty and unconditional love.

They were disturbingly similar.

Soren contemplated these facts as he looked at Zelgius's body. The general was smiling, even as he lay there, dead on the ground. Soren resisted a fleeting urge to kick the corpse's foot. To shake him awake. Demand answers.

It didn't take much to figure out Zelgius's past. He had studied under Greil...no....Gawain, that meant he was from Daein. Soren could sense the brand. And he knew from the way Zelgius spoke and stood and the fire in his eyes that the general had a "special someone". Much like he had Ike.

This person. Zelgius's "master", they were going to be trouble later. The mage could feel it. They would be trouble for Ike. Yes, yes, Yune and the rest of the world as well, but what mattered was Ike. It didn't take much to figure that it would be Sephiran. Hadn't Sanaki commented on Zelgius's loyalty and friendship towards to Duke? Hadn't Sigrun praised it?

Soren looked down at the smiling body. I won't fail Ike the way you failed Sephiran. I'll do more than die and wait. I'll live. I will give Ike everything he wants and needs. And I will only die to help him, or because he's gone ahead and I can't keep him waiting. The mage scowled. Would he smile at his death? Would he know that his "master" was proud of him? Had loved him? He felt sick, defending himself to a corpse. What mattered most was that Ike was alive.

"Hey, Soren. Are you coming?", It was Ike's voice that pulled him from his thoughts. A welcoming warm arm around his tiny shoulders, "We need to hurry."
"I'm coming." The mage replied. Hoping his voice was its normal surly tone. It was, Ike didn't comment on it. "Are...*sigh* Are you alright?"
"Me?" Ike laughed, "Never better. I learned a lot, avenged my father's death, and am one step closer to our goal." Soren nodded. Ike gave him a smile, squeezing his shoulders a little tighter. "What's bothering you?"
"Nothing." Soren replied, walking a little bit faster, as if putting distance between himself and Zelgius's corpse would keep Ike from putting 2 and 2 together. Then again, it was Ike. He could put 2 and 2 together and get 7.
"Soren..." Ike said, his voice echoing a little bit of concern. Soren turned around and gave Ike one of his small half-smiles.
"I'm fine. I'm just glad you came out of that."
"Of course I did. I can't leave you alone again."

"Master?" Zelgius called out, he felt faint, weak. He was dead, he was sure of it. But something was holding him to Tellius, though it got weaker by the moment.
"I'm here Zelgius." Sephiran's gentle voice resounded around the general. Zelgius took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, lord Sage. I failed you."
"Ssh, no. Don't apologize. Zelgius, you have done nothing wrong. You were...are...the best man I have ever met. I loved you."
"Lord Sage..." Zelgius felt himself drifting away, "I don't want you to be alone again."
"Once I'm finished here, I won't be. I'll be there with you." Sephiran's voice shook a little, "soon, very soon."
"I...I will be waiting, Master."

"Soren..." Ike said, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
"Yes?" The sage turned around. Ike surveyed Soren's face, the crimson eyes, the bone white skin, the long silky black hair, the brand. All of these things that Ike loved, because together, they made up Soren. He took a step forward and reached out, pulling Soren into a hug.
"Don't...don't die Soren." The hero said, whispering into Soren's ebony hair.
"I won't." Soren said simply, his voice maintaining its edge. "But...why this all of a sudden?"
"Well." Ike bit his lip, pulling away, Soren could see the worry lines that had started to cross his face, "Zelgius had someone important to him. And now...that person is probably alone. I...I'd hate to be without you...I don't really no why, you two are so different but, he reminded me a little bit of you.

Great, Soren groused as he patted Ike comfortingly on the arm, The one time he manages to get 4.