Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem: Awakening/Kakusei

Author's Note: Last time where we left off, the operation takes a downward swerve, quite the opposite from what the operatives expected. Where is Zexus? What happened to Morgan? Anywho, thanks for keeping up with the story guys. I greatly appreciate you guys taking your time to read it. Leave a review or something! Helps me help you! Now, let me stop stealing your time. Here's the stuff you came for. Enjoy.

Much love,

~SAYONARA~

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Brady blew his breath into his cupped hands and rubbed them together. He tried to generate as much warmth possible but he couldn't stop shivering. Tonight was particularly cold. It was also due to the fact that he wore lightly. His clothes weren't meant to provide warmth. Instead, they offered great mobility, allowing him to swing his ax without much movement restrictions. Still shivering, he barely managed to hold his healing staff. He leaned it against a nearby rock and sat down.

"What are you doing out here by yourself?"

Brady glanced over his shaky shoulder and saw Tharja. He almost jumped out of his skin, seeing her standing so still in the dark. Despite the cold evening weather, she wore her usual skin-thin outfit. Briefly shaking his head, he faced her again.

"I could ask ya the same." Brady said, clearing his throat. "But I'm surprised ya actu'lly showed."

"I asked you first. Answer or I'm leaving."

"Wait don't go!." Brady said, amidst his nervous laughing. "I don't wanna be on watch alone."

"Huh. So that's why you're here..." Tharja said. "I thought we would have something in common..."

Brady raised his eyebrow. "Whaddya mean?"

"I can't stand being around people for long..." Tharja said, standing next to Brady. "It makes me... Uncomfortable..."

Brady shrugged. "Quite the opposite. I wanna be aroun' people but jus can't stand me."

"Do you want me to cast a curse and make everyone want to be around you?"

Brady felt his blood run cold. "I'd rather be curse-free thank ye very much."

Tharja giggled. All it did was make Brady feel colder than he already was.

He was still surprised Tharja showed up for the operation briefing. It was quite the last-minute planning, Brady was still swimming in his own head. Apparently the new guy, Zexus knew a brigand camp up north and suggested to Captain Chrom to dispatch them. So, two teams, a recon team and a strike team, were assembled for the operation. And Brady himself, of all people, was put into the strike team. He asked why of course and Captain Chrom gave a very brief answer.

"All the other healers are busy. You and Libra are the only ones free at this moment."

And tonight was his turn to do the equipment check.

And that was because Tharja didn't show up for her shift.

Brady sighed, thinking about all the equipment that was left untended in the storage tent. He quickly asked Gerome to fill in for him during his absense, much to Gerome's annoyance. Brady would have to make it up to him later...

He looked over Tharja who stared off into the dark of the evening. Her eyes seemed to be contemplating over something.

"Why'd ya come?" Brady asked, the words simply flowed from his mouth without much thought. The moment he finished his sentence, he realized how off-putting and rude his question sounded. He bit his lip.

Tharja looked at him indifferently. "I just needed something to do... To take my mind off of things for a time being."

Brady sat in silence for a moment.

"It's still bothering you, isn't it?"

"Huh?" She asked, perplexed.

Brady shook his head. "Don't play dumb with me. You've been actin' a bit odd ever since... Well,... Ever since Robin..."

"Stop."

Brady shrugged. "Look, I'm sorry but we're all worried about you. Hell, I'm worried about you."

"Why?..." Tharja asked. Brady could see her clutch to her tome tightly. "I-I'm a dark mage. I can handle myself."

Brady slapped his knee. "See? That's what we're worried about."

"Worried that I can take care of myself?"

"No. Worried that you still think you're fine. You clearly aren't."

Tharja glared at him. "What do you know? How would you know how I feel?"

Brady rubbed his head. "My dad's a dark mage. I picked up a thing or two from him."

"Henry? He taught you the arts?"

Shaking his head, Brady said, "Not much... But he taught me enough to be able to feel the aura off of a person."

Tharja didn't say anything.

"And I know, Tharja. Ever since Robin died, the hole in your heart only expanded. I can feel that empty presence even before I see you."

Tharja stared at him for a long time.

"You'd make a very good dark mage."

Brady was speechless as the blood drained from his face yet again. He wasn't sure whether he should have taken it as a compliment or not. He rarely received compliments... And Tharja barely ever gave out compliments to begin with.

"I think I'd rather be a war monk thanks..."

Tharja didn't respond. Instead, her attention lied elsewhere. Somewhere in the dark of the night. Brady raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, Tharja. Something catch your attention?"

She briefly looked at him. "Don't you smell it?"

"Smell what?"

"If you really are Henry's son, you'd be able to smell it from a mile away."

When he actually thought about, Brady did smell something different in the air other than the greenery around him. It had a metallic smell but it was faint. But as the time went by, the smell seemed to get closer and stronger. Then Brady recognized it.

"This is..."

Tharja nodded.

"It's blood."

The scent was coming from the front of him. And as he listened carefully, he could hear footsteps and the rustling of bushes. Whatever it was, it wasn't taking the dirt road. Rather, it seemed to be taking the shrubbery on the sides of the road as cover. And also-

"Is that you Brady?"

Brady froze. The deep voice came from his right. He turned and met eyes with the one who spoke. His jaw dropped.

A deep cut ran down his chest, his myrmidon armor cracked and shattered in several places. His cloth shirt was drenched with blood, nearly shredded to mere threads of fabric. His sword sheath was empty, his sword held one arm behind his back. He was breathing heavily.

"Lon'qu?!" Brady exclaimed. "What the hell happened?!"

Lon'qu shook his head. "What happened is trivial. You're a priest, right?"

"Er, a war monk actually... But yeah."

"Then I need your help."

"Okay." Brady said, nodding. He armed himself with his stave. "Ya better take off your armor first."

"No."

"Huh?! I thought you wanted me to-"

"Not me." Lon'qu said. He then pulled something out from his backside... Someone actually. He held her carefully his arms.

"You need to heal her."

Brady didn't ask questions. He simply nodded his head and started his work. He set his staff down and first undid her padded armor. Or at least tried to. Tharja had to help with unclipping most of the complicated portions. Soon, the armor came off. Brady winced at what he saw.

"Gods..."

There was a running cut from Cordelia's shoulder blade down to her abdomen. At initial glance, Brady concluded that the wound wasn't too deep but would be a incredibly severe issue if not treated immediately. He picked up his staff and immediately started to treat her. A dim green light radiated from the staff and Cordelia. Brady looked over at Tharja.

"Go get Libra." He said, urgency in his voice. "This isn't something I can handle on my own."

She nodded and ran off, her mage robes flapping in the breeze.

Brady focused all his energy into his healing. He could feel the strain in his arms but he knew he had to persist. He had to stop the bleeding but the cut was too big. He had to close up the wound a little bit at a time. Brady felt a trickle of sweat run from his forehead. He gritted his teeth. Cordelia's life force continued to beat but with each interval, it got slightly weaker and weaker.

Brady cursed under his breath. He was a healer but he was always a step or two behind everyone else. He could handle cuts and bruises but full on sword slashes were a bit of a stretch. These kind of wounds were something someone with Lissa's calibur could handle, not him. Still, that didn't mean he wasn't going to try. He was going to his damn very well best.

"I never should have made her hide there..."

Brady looked up at Lon'qu. He stood a several steps away from the two. He hung his head low, blood dripping from a gash in his face. From where he was, Brady thought that the blood fell like teardrops. Perhaps they were.

"I know it ain't' the right place to ask, but what the hell happened?" Brady asked, his eyes shifting back to his work. Cordelia's breathing had stabilized and much of the wound had closed. Cordelia's life was beyond the danger zone now. Her life wasn't in immediate danger but that didn't mean Brady should neglect healing. He exerted more power from his staff. His arms were becoming numb. Brady shook the feeling off and continued healing.

"Guards came out when we least expected it." Lon'qu said, clenching his jaw. "I made her hide in the shadow of a tent... But that was a mistake..."

Brady nodded. "But you saved her... If she were to sustain another wound like this, she wouldn't have made it... And that's all that matters at this point."

Lon'qu didn't say any more. He simply kept his eyes on his wife.

"What's going on here?"

Brady briefly turned around. Tharja had arrived with both Libra and Chrom.

"Oh thank the Gods." Brady muttered. "Libra, I need your help."

"Brady, I can't interfere with the healing magic. If we fuse two separate power sources, there might be detrimental side effects."

"Just shaddup and help me will ya?!"

Libra knelt down next to Brady and started his healing process. Brady felt the heavy weight he had oppressing on his arms suddenly disappear and saw the Cordelia's wound heal at a even faster rate. Brady glanced up and saw Lon'qu explain the situation to Chrom. Brady saw the ominous look that spread over the Captain's face. Then, a fire ignited in Chrom's eyes.

Chrom looked over at Tharja. "Go get everyone. It's time to move out."

Brady felt as if he heard something wrong. "Wait, what captain?"

"You saw what happened to Lon'qu and Cordelia." Chrom said. "We can't afford to waste any more time if we are to save everyone else."

"But the healing-"

"It's finished." Libra said, standing up and dusting his hands. "Cordelia will be better soon."

"Wha-?!"

"Good." Chrom said, nodding his head.

"I can fight as well." Lon'qu said, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists. Brady had never actually seen Lon'qu in such a blood-rage.

"Lon'qu, you are in no condition to fight!" Brady exclaimed, standing up. "If you fight in that state, you'll only get yourself killed!"

"I-I..." Lon'qu said, his eye twitched. It seemed as if the pain of his wounds started to kick in. His face contorted slightly due to the sheer pain but he composed himself. "I can fight."

Chrom shook his head. "I have to agree with Brady on this one. Lon'qu, think about it for a moment. In that state, you'll only slow the operation down. You have to sit this one out."

Brady held his breath. How would the enraged swordsman respond? The moment felt like an eternity. Lon'qu stared at Chrom.

"As you wish."

Brady let out a relieved sigh. That was one less person to heal for serious wounds.

Chrom looked over at Brady. "Heal Lon'qu and send him to camp with Cordelia. They've earned the rest."

Brady nodded. "Yessir."

"Be sure to join us after you are finished. We'll need every hand we can get without expending too much of our main force."

Brady picked up his staff and began to tend to Lon'qu's wounds. The green light shimmered in the darkness. He looked up and saw Chrom rallying the troops he had at hand and setting off. Soon, the strike force was out of sight.

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Brady had moved everyone to the campfire. Lon'qu limped his way there while Brady carried Cordelia on his back. He gently set her down on a cot left behind by Sir Frederick. She hadn't woken up for a while but her vitals were doing fine. Her heartbeat was regular and her breathing wasn't labored. She had made it through.

Lon'qu sat down on a charred stump and took off the remaining armor he wore on himself. There wasn't much left to take off.

Brady contiuned his healing, tending to all the cuts and gashes that lined Lon'qu's chest and back. There were too many to count.

"Do ya think everyone else is alright?" Brady asked, amidst his healing. "Everyone on the recon team, I mean."

Lon'qu glanced back at Brady. "Morgan is Robin's daughter. She'll handle herself just fine. Lucina too... She bested me after all."

Brady chuckled. "I heard from your Severa that Lucina beat you because your realized she was a woman and not a man."

Although he couldn't see it, Brady could tell Lon'qu was a bit embarassed by his quick turning around.

"How did you find out she was a woman at first glance?" Brady asked, curious. "I mean, with her short hair, mask, not to mention her nickname... She fits the appearance of guy quite well."

Lon'qu looked at Brady, his eyes bore in to his own. "I'll tell you... But you don't tell ANYONE this, understand?"

Brady gulped. He nodded.

"When Khan Basilio introduced me to Lucina, he ordered us to fight, trying to see who was the keener swordsman."

"Yeah, even Lucina told us that much."

"When I unsheathed my sword, I rushed her, seeing the gaping holes in her swordplay defense... That is, until I tripped."

Brady raised an eyebrow, his scar shifting along with his skin. "So... Yer tellin' me that once you hit the dirt you realize that Lucina was a guy?"

Lon'qu glared at him. "You're quite thick-headed, aren't you Brady?"

He shrugged. "Not the sharpest knife in the drawer they all say..."

"I can see that."

"Anyway, continue."

"As I was saying, I tripped over a stray root or maybe even a rock... And when I fell..."

"Uh-huh?"

"I landed on Lucina's chest."

"Now yer tellin' me that you face-planted yourself in Lucina's breasts... Right?"

Lon'qu nodded.

Brady sighed. "Must've hurt your nose... Kinda like running face-first into a board, huh?"

Lon'qu looked at him strangely. "What do you mean?"

"Well!" Brady said, his face turning a bit red. "Lucina is an alright gal... But when it comes to the bust department... She ain't got much..."

Lon'qu turned bright red. "C-Can we stop talking about small breasts...?"

"What about small breasts?"

Lon'qu and Brady, both alarmed, quickly looked around, trying to find the person who spoke.

"I'm right here..."

They both stared at the cot that lay near the fire. Cordelia was awake.

She didn't look amused.

"Oh! Heya Cordelia!" Brady exclaimed. "I was just talking to Lon'qu about his defeat against Lucina."

Brady could feel a stare of death coming from his side.

Cordelia looked at them, confused. "How do small breasts have anything to with his loss?"

Brady shrugged. "Eh... You could ask him yourself... How ya feeling though?"

"I've been better..." Cordelia said, rubbing her bandaged abdomen. "Wait! Where's my armor?!"

Brady shrugged. "It's shattered beyond pieces at this point. You've sustained a massive wound."

Cordelia's hands instinctively went to her chest, her arms wrapped around her breasts. She turned bright red. "Then you must have seen-"

"Relax..." Brady said, waving his hand. "It was too dark to see anything anyway..."

"That's not reassuring at all."

"I'm glad you have small breasts." Lon'qu blurted.

Cordelia and Brady stared at Lon'qu strangely. Cordelia seemed taken aback.

"Wha-what?!"

Lon'qu himself seemed surprised as to what he said. "I-I... Uh... You see... Um..."

"Well, I'm done healing." Brady said. "You should feel better soon Lon'qu."

He didn't say anything. He was still in shock at the words that left his mouth.

"The camp is a little ways north from here. Just follow the dirt path and you'll get there in no time. Rest a little and be on your way."

"Th-thanks Brady." Cordelia said, her eyes still on the shaky Lon'qu.

"Just carryin' my weight around here. I gotta get goin' anyway."

Brady picked up his things and left. Soon, it was just Lon'qu and Cordelia. There was an awkward silence only filled by the flickering fire and the fluttering leaves. Lon'qu sat motionlessly on the stump and stared blankly into space.

"Lon'qu."

Lon'qu slightly glanced over at Cordelia. He had just noticed how tightly the bandages were pressed against her chest.

"How about you come sit next to me for a moment?"

He obliged and went over to Cordelia. He sat down on the cot and refrained from looking at her.

Suddenly, Lon'qu felt himself being pushed down onto the cot as Cordelia placed herself on top of him. She then brought down her lips onto his own. Eyes widening, he looked at Cordelia and slowly pushed her off his face.

"Cordelia, what are you doing?!"

She had a rather strange look on her face. "I don't know. You tell me Lon'qu. I thought you liked small breasts."

"I-Uh..." Lon'qu said, at a loss of words. "W-We can't being doing this! We're in the middle of an operation!"

"Awwhh..." Cordelia said, her hand unraveling at the bandages on her chest. "That's just too bad then... Oh well."

There was a brief silence between the two. The sound of fluttering bandages were heard as the last band was stripped away.

"Actually, I change my mind."

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"Libra, I remember you mentioning side effects when it came to the fusing of two separate healing processes... How bad can they get?"

"The personality of the individual getting healed might get flipped for a duration of a several hours."

"Really? How bad?"

"From a fleeting coward, to a rather-ahem!- aroused person."

"Oh, that bad?"

"Indeed."

"Well... It's Cordelia we're talking about... How bad can it be?"

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(A/N): Major delay. Sorry. Finals for school are interfering with my writing schedule... This was my first chapter to ever delve into the depths of... You know... Anyway, thanks for reading. I don't have much time to I'll be uploading this from mobile. Hopefully, you enjoyed it. Stay tuned for more!

Until Next Time,

~SAYONARA~