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[just-here-to-fight]

pheraescourage

Though the culture, climate, and inhabitants of the nation differed immensely from Lupus, the political landscape of Felingard was largely similar to that of its neighbor. Just as Lupus held prejudice and hatred towards cats, Felingard regarded dogs with equal disdain. It was a ideology set by their respective kings, causing the nations to exercise extreme hostility toward one another, though none could truly provide a explanation for their resentment. Having grown in a small town located in the rural sector of Felingard, Eliwood hadn’t formed much of an opinion on dogs himself. He lived a quiet life out from the direct opposition of their leader, King Lioner, and spent his days fishing, farming, and practicing magic. It wasn’t until dog soldiers had infiltrated their village and captured him, that he ever considered his canine neighbors.

Having led such an average life up until this moment, Eliwood struggled to comprehend the reality of his situation. A small, childish part of him expected this to be nothing more than a dream, and he would wake in his bed at any moment. Though he was burdened with exhaustion, Eliwood lifted his head to drink in the sight of the dog standing protectively before him. He was certain he had never encountered this dog before, making them complete strangers, yet, he swore to aid him regardless. Cerulean eyes fell to the back of his neck and noticed a sight that made him feel shocked, comforted, and confused all at once. Just below his hairline, on his neck, was the same curious marking that Eliwood himself bore. Perhaps it was naive, stupid even, but seeing the marking alone was enough for the cat to place his trust in him.

“Fetch, soldiers! Let’s put him in the doghouse!” The captain ordered with a howl, sending his fleet forward to capture the meddling mutt. But to his surprise, none could best the civilian dog and rapidly, their numbers dwindled. Growling, the captain dug his nails into his palms, baring his canines in poorly concealed anger. It was becoming increasing clear that retreat was their only option, and they would be unable to retaliate any further.

“Fall back, you dingy mutts! We’ll come back even more pawerful, you can bark on it!” He swore, before scampering off with his soldiers.

With the forces retreated, Eliwood felt the warmth of relief flourish in his chest, but it was a moment that would not last long. He was exhausted, and now that he was not under the authority of such cruel captors, he became acutely aware how numb his legs had become. He dropped to his knees to rest, his hands still bound as he looked up to the dog that had saved him.

“You…rescued me. But…why?”

The idea that the inhabitants of Felingard were to be hated just because they looked different and valued magic instead of science never sat right with Hector. He never truly felt like he fit in with the people of Lupus because their ideology was wrong in many ways. He loved being able to learn about different types of weapons, spending most of his time upgrading and crafting his own axe, but that didn’t mean he didn’t understand why magic could be valuable as well. 

He was aware that the feud between the two places wasn’t something entirely new, but the fact that innocent people were getting hurt or harassed because of this warped ideology was something that Hector wasn’t going to just sit by and let happen. He knew that the person that had hauled into Lupus probably hadn’t done anything wrong and they just wanted to cause chaos and strife however they possibly could. He was grateful that he had been walking by and saw what the guards were doing. He didn’t know the person that they had with them, but that didn’t have any bearing for him stepping into action to help the other. 

He smirked and stood in front of the cat, his ears twitching slightly as his tail moved from side to side. He hadn’t gotten to have a proper fight with the soldiers in some time and he was excited to have an opponent to go up against instead of just his normal practice dummies. He was well aware that he was outnumbered, but he was confident that it wouldn’t be a problem for him. He knew that if he truly believed in the message of Lupus he could easily be one of the top officers, but fighting for an unjust king wasn’t something he ever aspired to do. 

“This will be fun. Let’s see if you’ll be able to catch this dog, bet you won’t be able to.” His tone was confident as he rushed forward, dodging each attack that was sent his way while also making sure that the other wasn’t hit in the fray. He watched as soldiers fell down around him, grateful that the rest seemed to have enough sense not to engage with him, knowing that they would be bested. He looked over at the captain, resting his axe casually against his shoulder as he just laughed while he bared his canines at him. 

“I’ll be waiting. I’m sure that your bark is much more powerful than your bite!” He called back after the retreating form of the troops and captain before looking back over at the other, rushing over to his side as he saw him drop down to his hands and knees. He quickly untied the binds around his wrists before giving him a confused look in response to his question that he had asked him. 

“Why did I rescue you? I wasn’t about to let those stupid guards drag you away for no barking reason. I haven’t seen you around here before...I assume that you weren’t here because you wanted to be.” He murmured out before moving back a little to give the other some space. “Are you alright? My house isn’t to far from here, you can rest there if you wish.”

[just-here-to-fight]

pheraescourage

Trapped in the crushing prison of relentless, torturous pain, Eliwood was overwhelmed in every sense of the word. Completely beset by suffering, the songbird hadn’t noticed exactly when Hector had taken his hand in his own, but became acutely aware of its gentle, comforting warmth. It was a warmth that slightly offset the terrible, inescapable burning that had nearly swallowed him whole, gifting him a small respite in an awful situation. With the little strength he had left, he squeezed Hector’s hand in acknowledgement. Though the pain obscured his ability to put thought into words, he appreciated the gesture with all his heart. Hector had always been his support, the person that gave his life meaning when he felt rejected by winged society, and he had always been the one to give him courage. He refused to succumb to he pain, not after they had been reunited in a nearly hopeless situation just days before.

Navy eyes as rich as depths of the ocean met his own, and the two shared a silent moment of observation. Though Hector hadn’t vocalized any discontent regarding his appearance, Eliwood was most certain he was an unpleasant sight. His body trembling. His chest heaving as though his breath was being choked out of him. His groans of pain so consistent it created ambiance. However, Hector did not fare much better. The man had been equally ravaged despite experiencing no physical pain of his own, his eyes red and cheeks stained from tears of frustration or perhaps fear–Eliwood couldn’t decipher which. Seeing the hawk display vulnerability was rare. Hector was not one to show fear, but here he was, shaken and concerned.

When Hector departed to fulfill his request, Eliwood bit his lip, and attempted to position his body more comfortably. In response, his body screamed in protest, and his face contorted into an ugly expression of pain. However, with some struggle, he managed to seat himself and released the breath he had been holding. Like a mantra, he reminded himself that the worst had already come to pass, and now Hector would support him every step of his recovery. Swift enough, Hector returned, offering him the drink he desperately needed. Greedily, Eliwood drank, lacking his usual prose. A narrow stream of water sneaked out from the corner of his lip and down his chin, but the songbird didn’t pay it any mind.

“Stay,” Eliwood instructed as he gripped Hector’s shoulder, his voice both firm and pleading, “tell me of your journey home.”

The sound of Eliwood’ screaming, of the way that his body twisted from the pain was etched into Hector’s mind. No matter how much he tried to push it out, it continued to play like a constant loop. He tried to shift his focus to the positive, to think about how the worst was over and that Eliwood now just have to heal, but that didn’t do anything to calm the worry and guilt that he felt. While he knew that his partner had been the one to ask him to break his wings in order for them to heal properly, the fact that he had to hurt him clung to him like a wet blanket. No matter what the reason was, Hector swore to only ever protect the man he loved, but he hadn’t managed to do that and on top of it all, had to add to the pain he was already feeling.

He normally had tighter control over his emotions, never allow himself to crumble in front of Eliwood because he didn’t want to seem weak. He always wanted to look strong, capable of being able to protect his partner no matter what. However, all of his defenses were failing him now that he had been faced with the real possibility of losing him. No matter how many times Eliwood told him that he needed him in his life, the truth was, at least to him, that he was the one who truly wouldn’t be able to live without Eliwood. He was the one who gave him a purpose in his life, evened him out and pushed him to be better than who he already was. He didn’t know what he would do if he suddenly lost the person that he considered to be the light of his life.

He watched as Eliwood greedily drank down the water, knowing that he would have chuckled at the situation if everything hadn’t been as dire as it was. He moved forward after Eliwood finished drinking, gently wiping away the small stream of water that was dribbling down from the corner of his mouth. He had been surprised that the other had wanted him to stay since he only was going to get him another cup of water, but he didn’t argue against his wishes and sat back down beside his bed. He continued to gingerly hold his hand, feeling almost as if it was a lifeline for him tethering him to Eliwood. He knew that the main focus was going to be on making sure that the other healed, that he was able to get his strength back, but he took some solace in knowing he was somewhat out of the woods.

He drew in a shaky breath as he looked over at the other, his eyes were slightly glassy as he tried to keep himself grounded. “I can do that. It wasn’t anything exciting, I was able to use the coat that you got me to keep myself warm. I was happy to get ahead of the frost because I wanted to get home to you. I found a small little isle that had a lot of different fruits and seemed inhabited. I thought that would be a nice place for me to fly us too. I figured you would be able to pick some new flowers and fruit. I’m just glad that I was able to make it home to you, that’s all that I ever think about whenever I’m gone or away from you.”

[just-here-to-fight]

pheraescourage

There was nothing unique to the content of the shark’s motivational words, but somehow, they instilled a comforting sense of hope and determination within the crimson merman. As a person that had been sheltered and protected for the majority of his life, Eliwood had come to accept the words of those who deemed him too fragile to undertake the responsibilities he had hoped to one day accomplish for himself. However, it was Hector that allowed him to finally doubt the validity of those words, to make an attempt regardless of the previous judgement that had been made regarding his constitution. To try again, a second, or even a third time…Eliwood was confident he could manage.

“Yes, you’re right,” He replied softly, his voice carrying a certain fondness, “perhaps learning from failure shall be the key to my success.” Holding those words close to his heart, and truly believing in them, Eliwood once again focused on the task at hand. As he made his approach, nervousness surged within him, leaving him with both sensitivity and restlessness. Every sound seemed to startle him, even the sound of his own heartbeat, but he continued to edge forward. His attention was so completely captivated by his intended prey that he hadn’t noticed Hector’s approach until his hands had suddenly arrived at his hips. Reflexively, Eliwood jerked, releasing a quiet yelp of surprise, and sending the fish before him scurrying.

His cheeks pink with embarrassment, he lifted his expression to meet Hector’s face, who swiftly offered a mumbling explanation for his action. However, before Eliwood could apologize for his reaction, the shark had already pointed out another target, and offered advice on the best method of approach. After listening intently to his words, the ginger-haired merman nodded in quiet understanding, and drew in a breath. Slowly and carefully, he made his approach, this time utilizing a crimson coral reef to mask his form. From his hiding place, his hands had begun to tremble in anticipation. Clenching them into tight fists, he willed the jitters away, slowly uncurling his fingers and fanning them outward in a calculated motion.

Finally, he lurched forward and extended his hand toward the creature…and was surprised to find a fish in his grasp.

While Hector struggled with understanding how Eliwood was feeling and what those feelings meant, that didn’t mean that he was unable to provide him with support. He knew what it was like to fail at trying to catch a meal and wanted to be able to encourage the other since that was something that he wished that he had when he was teaching himself how to catch fish. Even though he learned how to catch his own food when he was younger, that didn’t mean it was any easier the older someone was. Hector still got frustrated with himself when he was having a hard time catching food for one reason or another, even though it was something that he had been doing for years.

He made sure that he tucked himself behind some rocks that were nearby after he had released his hold on the other, hiding himself amongst the varying dark brown hues but also making sure that he was able to keep an eye on Eliwood. There were some fish that had poisonous barbs on them or were toxic when they were ingested, and he wanted to make sure that he didn’t try to go after any of them. He looked around the area, scanning the fish that had been nearby and relaxed a little when he was able to see that all of them were safe to eat. He wasn’t sure specifically if Eliwood had any fish that he wasn’t able to eat but the other hadn’t mentioned being allergic or disliking any particular type of fish before he went off to try hunting again.

He felt his lips turn up slightly as his tail swished back and forth in the water. He didn’t understand why, but he felt happy and proud watching the other try his hand again at catching his own food. He rarely had ever been happy enough for his tail to swish as violently and excitedly as it was, but he knew if he wasn’t able to settle himself down that he would startle the fish that were around. He drew in a breath, lowering himself further against the rocks and letting his body almost touch the sand in an attempt to ground himself physically but also mentally as well. He wasn’t even the one who was trying to get food, but he felt just as excited as if he were out there next to the other catching his own fish.  

He dug his nails into the sand beneath him as he watched Eliwood start to slowly make his way towards a fish. Hoping that this would be the one that he was able to catch. His form seemed to be right and he wasn’t making any noise as he started to come up on the fish. He felt his excitement mount as he watched the other lurch out and extend his hand towards the fish. From where he was hiding, it seemed as though he had caught it.

He let out one of his deep, boisterous laughs as he swam over to him, eager to see his first catch. “Did you catch it? From where I was at it looked like you did. You did really great, Eliwood! You picked up what I told you pretty easily.”

[just-here-to-fight]

pheraescourage

Though it was brief, those few hours of sleep served as a respite for the former prince after enduring an unexpected, stressful kidnapping. To be taken from his home, the only place he had ever known was traumatic enough, let alone being ensnared by the terrible king himself. While none were truly safe from his tyranny, having captured Hector’s attention and being named his consort was a dreadful misfortune. Eliwood slept a dreamless sleep, his body only occasionally rocking with the motions of the carriage. The comforting embrace of silence had all but enveloped him, that is, until an abrupt thud shattered the peace he had found.

Jerking awake, the ginger-haired man searched the cabin of the carriage blearily, visual confusion marring his features. It wasn’t until his cerulean eyes landed upon the terrible king himself that he remembered his unfortunate capture, and the relocation King Hector had intended for him. Though he swiftly managed to compose himself, the peace that had settled into his soft features had all but faded, replaced by an ugly, deep frown. Dread filled his stomach as he was the first to exit to the carriage, but he would not waste this opportunity buried in his own anxieties and woes. Instead, he immediately directed his attention to his surroundings, committing every inch of the courtyard’s layout to memory. Fleeing would be a great obstacle, but Eliwood intended to escape.

After observing the guards stationed at every conceivable exit and corner, Eliwood finally turned his attention to Castle Ostia directly, surprised by what lie before him. He had expected to see an ominous fortress, but instead, it was a beautiful castle, surrounded with immaculate gardens and statues. Of all its riches, his eyes fell to a rose garden, lingering for a moment too long before he turned away. He crossed his arms, refusing to meet Hector’s expression.

Had it not been for the others whose job it was to upkeep the castle, Hector knew that it would have fallen to ruin. After the death of his brother, there had been no reason for him to want to upkeep it or for it to even look inviting. He would have much preferred to let it fall to ruin, for the outside of the castle to reflect the internal conflict that he was feeling. He hated whenever they came up to the front and he was confronted with how the castle used to be. How his brother would be out in the courtyard, scolding him for running through the roses. Now the roses were simply a reminder of what he didn’t have anymore and would never have again. 

He knew that taking the other wasn’t right, but Hector hadn’t gotten the name that he did by being a benevolent ruler. He didn’t care that everyone always shuttered away from him in fear because he wanted them to know how empty he felt. All of the riches in the world wouldn’t give him his family back and seeing everyone going about their lives, coming home to a family instead of spending nights abandoned and alone allowed for envy and rage to fester. He was their king and if they were going to flaunt their happiness in front of him, Hector was going to remind them who truly held the power to create happiness in their lives. 

After getting out of the carriage after the other, he noticed that he was looking over at the rose garden. It was comedic to him how he kept attempting to refuse him and act defiant, but he would soon learn just who he was dealing with. There were no secrets in this kingdom and even if he wanted to continue with this game of keeping his identity from him, it was only going to last so long. He had people who worked for him that knew if they didn’t do as he asked, regardless of what it was, that it would be far worse for them  if they failed to do as he asked. 

He roughly grabbed the other’s arm, leading him towards the entrance of the castle. Looking over at the part of the garden that he hated the most instantly lit his temper and he wanted nothing more than to get away from the offending flowers as quick as he could. “Did I permit you to look at those flowers!? I don’t remember saying that you could!” He hissed out as he pulled the other towards the doors, watching as the guards hastily opened the doors for them as Hector stomped inside the castle with his unwilling consort. 

@just-here-to-fight

Seated on the edge of the familiar, aged wooden dock, Eliwood released a small sigh that had been buried within his chest. His gaze was fixed forward, staring out to the seemingly boundless sea, aimlessly observing as the waves languidly rolled and folded beneath one another. The salty sea breeze permeated his nostrils, feebly demanding his attention, but he paid it little mind. His thoughts were far too occupied by rapid, tumultuous notions that left him feeling dizzy. A mere month ago, Eliwood was the crown prince of the Kingdom of Pherae, studying to one day inherit his father’s position. Now, he was a commoner without a place. 

Shifting his eyes from the ocean, he looked to his hands, his expression conflicted. Power and wealth had never been among Eliwood’s priorities. He did not resent laboring just a commoner would to survive. However, he had lost the future he had dedicated his entire life preparing for, leaving him awash with a feeling of loss and confusion. The Kingdom of Ostia, led by the terrible King Hector, had conquered his home among many others. With power suddenly stripped from his family, his father was left scrambling to determine how they would survive in their new life. The uncertainty wore on Eliwood’s nerves, but he wore a brave face for his family, determined not to burden them with another layer to concern themselves over.

With the sun beginning to dip into the horizon, Eliwood rose to his feet, deciding it would be best to return home before darkness claimed the skies. Once he turned, his heart dropped into his stomach at the sight before him. On the opposite end of the dock, it was the terrible King Hector himself, with a retinue. Why had he returned? Swallowing, Eliwood swiftly drew his hood over himself, attempting to conceal to his identity. If he could slip by without being noticed...

[just-here-to-fight]

restoration-prince

Ephraim cracked open the beer and from that moment then, he wouldn’t leave Hector’s side. The two worked best together to get the whole house wound up, but they were also the two people that could calm everyone down. Ephraim had his beer in one hand and his other arm around Hector then. He was being led to outside for this inflatable course that he had mentioned.

Ephraim hadn’t cared much for his studies, he was mainly here for sports and to socialize. Eirika was still the one who was more interested in learning, like the nerd she was. He grinned and kept in step with Hector as he was led by the larger man.

“Yea, I know I was just kinda late. My apartment is getting work done on it so I had to stay with Eirika and sleeping on her couch in a pain in my ass. Her place is so out of the way from the campus too. Fuck man, I’m glad we’re having this celebration though. It’ll help me loosen up.” Ephraim raised her beer can and then took a gulp of it, effectively downing about half the can.

“Oh and I’m gonna kick that ass of yours too. Bet.” Ephriam grinned as he saw the inflatable course that Hector had mentioned. His smile was bright and he let out a loud laugh. It had looked like something they could have swiped from a five-year-old birthday party.

“Bro, where did you get this though? I want one for my own apartment.” He let go of Hector’s shoulders and approached the structure. Downing the rest of his can, he crunched the can and tossed it off to the side. He poked the side of the structure. It was still a bit baggy.

“I think they’re still blowing it up, ya wanna drink more until it’s done?”

The fact that Hector had even managed to end up in college had been a triumph in and of itself. He could buckle down when he needed to, make good marks in subjects that he enjoyed, but there wasn’t much in school that truly interested him outside of sports. If he didn’t have Eliwood in his life, he was sure that he wouldn’t have made it past high school. He slept through his classes more often than staying awake and barely passed his classes, even though he was expected to take over the family business when Uther stepped down. 

He couldn’t help but laugh when he heard about why Ephraim had been late to the party. He wasn’t a stranger to sleeping on couches, nights when he was feeling particularly lonely, he found himself waking up in strangers living rooms or bedrooms. “You know, you could have stayed with me. I have more than enough room at my apartment and you’d at least have a bed to sleep on instead of a couch.” The two of them had become fast friends and when either of them got to drunk, they often slept slept over each other’s apartments.  

"I always look forward to the weekend when were just able to let go and loosen up from the stress of the week. I was surprised when I saw that our frat got this inflatable course, but I can’t wait to kick your ass on it!” He had a playful smirk dancing on his lips as he took another swig of his drink and continued to walk outside with the other. 

“I can’t take the credit for all of this, I just pitched the idea to the frat and they decided it sounded like it would be fun. I thought that a bunch of us trying to out do one another and having to down shots or chug a beer if we lost sounded like a great ass time.” He finished up his drink, tossing his red solo cup into the garbage can when they passed it. 

“Oho, you read my mind. You know that I’m always down to have another drink. Let’s go see what they have.”

[just-here-to-fight]

pheraescourage

The stifling, merciless heat that crushed every spirit within him was unlike anything Eliwood had ever experienced. The sun, once a beloved playmate, was now a cruel overseer, burning him with a dry, oppressive heat. All the moisture in his throat had been long stolen away, leaving him to suffer with thirst that would not be quenched in the company of the wicked canine soldiers that had captured him. It had been weeks since he had last seen Felingard. The Lupus soldiers had mobilized seemingly out of nowhere, stealing him from his village and forcing him to march to their lands. From what he gathered, it had something to do with the unusual marking on the back of his head, but he still couldn’t make sense of the situation. He knew nothing of his whereabouts, nor how far he had traveled, and all he knew is that he was uncertain of how much farther he could travel before he would collapse.

Too fatigued to pay complete attention to his surroundings, Eliwood’s foot connected with a weed, becoming tangled in its roots, causing him to stumble. Though it had been without malicious intent, his clumsiness had upset his captors, and he had been roughly pulled to his feet and shoved forward. With his hands tied behind his back, he could only rely on his core for balance, and by a miracle, he managed to straightened. His ginger ears tilted downward, his face flushed from the heat and his breathing ragged. How much further would be forced to go?

A booming voice broke him from his thoughts and he turned in alarm, his ears flicking upward despite his exhaustion. It was a dark-furred dog, who had drawn a sword and challenged the soldiers that had kidnapped him. Before he could react, the dog had managed to tear through the soldiers and reach him, standing before him protectively. He opened his mouth to speak, but the captain of the soldiers spoke before he could form words.

“Stand down, civilian! You aren’t pawmitted to interfere. This cat has committed treason, and must be pawnished. If you don’t stand down, you are in fur a beating!” He declared, drawing his blade and ordering his soldiers to do the same.

The heat in Lupus was nothing like what the cats were used to in Felingard. Hector had never actually been there before, but he knew that the climate between the two areas was different. He didn’t mind the heat, but he had grown up in Lupus and was used to the heat. He glanced over at the cat that they had brought in as a prisoner, noting how tired the other seemed. He was sure that they didn’t allow him to take any breaks while they were walking him back here and the trek between the two lands wasn’t an easy one. It took days to get between the two places and he wasn’t sure how long they had been walking for, but from the state of things he figured that they had been on the go for a bit. 

A deep growl came from Hector’s chest when he realized how badly they had been treating the other. It was bad enough that they had taken him from his home, simply because he was a cat but to make matters worse, they were also not allowing him to rest and probably hadn’t given him any food or water. He watched as the other stumbled over a root and instead of yelling or making a comment, they physically shoved him forward, not even giving him a moment to recover. He didn’t understand how they were able to do this to someone that they didn’t even know, it didn’t make any sense to him. 

He was well versed in how to handle a sword, crafting his own and easily taking down the soldiers that were surrounding the cat. He snarled, barring his teeth at the captain as the soldiers who had thought about taking him down, thought twice about that once they realized that he wasn’t backing down. He would rather have intervened than idly stand by and watch this cat continue to be unjustly abused. 

“I will not stand down! I’m not going to let you do as you pawlease! How has this cat committed treason? If anyone is to be pawnished, it should be you and the rest of your soldiers! I’m not the one whose going to be in fur a beating, that’s going to be you if you don’t grrrrrit away from me.” He hissed out, grabbing his own sword and continuing to stand in front of the other and standing forward, ready to engage in a fight if the captain wasn’t going to walk away. 

[just-here-to-fight]

galateaswings

“Well, that makes two of us. I can’t say I have ever heard of the Ostian Brigade either,” Ingrid replied amused, a small chuckle escaping her, “but, I’m not surprised. This galaxy is enormous. We could be from opposite ends, and reputation only stretches so far.” Now that she was somewhat comfortable with the mercenary she encountered, she dropped her guard, but only slightly, and took a moment to wipe sweat from her brow using the back of her hand. Despite being under the cover of trees that offered them merciful shade, it was still far too humid for the heat to be remotely comfortable. With the heat in mind she straightened, shifting her gaze downward to the GPS located on her watch. The approximate location of her employer’s missing item was to the east, which was still a bit of a ways to travel.

“You know…since we’re both on a retrieval mission, we may as well stick together. This heat isn’t doing us any favors and if the items are in the same facility, it’ll be easier to search with cover,” Ingrid suggested, raising her hand to emphasize her offer, “and I don’t know about you, but the sooner we get out of this heat, the better. I feel like I’m melting…where I’m from, it could never get this warm. Ever.” With that, she raised her wrist upward, using her other than to twist its display, zooming the map outward.

“Look at this…I’ve got something on radar,” She tilted her watch toward Hector, allowing him to see the map she had been studying, “It looks like a pretty sizable facility…bigger than I thought, actually. This may not go as quickly as I hoped.” Withdrawing her hand, she took a few steps forward, lifting her foot to avoid a raised tree root that poked out of the earth. She walked three, four, then five steps before pausing, turning to look back at Hector.

“What do you say? Shall we team up?”

A light chuckle escaped from Hector’s lips as he nodded in agreement with what Ingrid had said. “I don’t think that anyone will ever find the end of the galaxy. What is your team like? Do you all come from the same planet?” He asked as they continued making their way through the dense forest. He was still a little uncertain about the other, since he didn’t know all that much about her but he didn’t feel like he wasn’t able to trust her. He wished that this planet was far cooler than it was, nothing made him more irritated then being in the heat for a long amount of time. He was used to a calmer climate since Ostia was mountainous and many areas surrounding the capital had snow regularly. 

He used his hand to wipe his brow, groaning when he felt more sweat bead his forehead only moments after he had wiped it. “I wouldn’t be opposed to having some company while walking through this hellscape.” He groused, looking down at his own GPS and noticing that their items were pretty close to one another in the facility. He wondered if they were employed by the same person and were looking for two different items from the same person. It wouldn’t be the first time that there was another person who was working for the same person he was just searching for something else. 

“I can’t wait to be out of this damn heat. Where I’m from we don’t get heat like this at all. I’d love nothing more than to be on a freezing, ice cold planet but instead my luck landed me here.” He rose an eyebrow, wondering if her climate was the same as his. His area wasn’t known for being bountiful in resources such as food because of how mountainous it was. “Glad to see that there is someone else who comes from a colder area. I’ve never felt heat like this before and I hope that the facility is at least cooler than it is outside.”

He looked over at Ingrid’s radar, noticing that the facility really was a lot bigger than he thought it was going to be. “I thought this was going to be an easy grab and go, but I guess that’s not going to be the case, is it now? I have no idea where what I’m looking for is even going to be located so having someone else there to help me look would be helpful.” He replied as he followed her lead, nodding as he looked up at the facility. 

“I guess that we’re a team now aren’t we?” 

[just-here-to-fight]

pheraescourage

Though Eliwood had attempted to mentally prepare himself for the suffering that was certain to come, the excruciating pain was far worse than he could have ever imagined. Seconds after his wings had been broken, he had practically drowned in searing, blinding agony that caused his body to involuntarily writhe. As if his flesh were being relentlessly stabbed, the stinging pain radiated throughout his body like a curse. Helpless to numb the pain, he silently begged for the Gods to help him, but he was met without a response. Instead, he fainted from the magnitude of the pain, but even his unconsciousness failed to relieve him from the burden. Tremors continued violently along his skin, paired with whimpers that ceaselessly poured from his lips.

A blinding white light returned him to consciousness and he released a small cry, his eyes immediately burning with tears. But the pain was exhausting, far too exhausting, and he was unable to form tears. Instead, he swallowed quickly, gasping as if he had held his breath. Despite the pain that crippled his consciousness, his thoughts immediately fixated upon Hector. Knowing that his partner was beside him, tending to him and supporting him, was all he needed to force himself not to succumb to the shock. Through blurred vision, Hector watched as Eliwood placed a cool cloth onto his forehead, providing a sensation other than pain. Greedily, he embraced it, hoping that somehow the cold would numb the burning of his pain.

Desperately, he reached for his lover’s arm, grasping it with the little strength he had left within him. It wasn’t his intention, but his nails dug into Hector’s skin, leaving behind small crescent moons in his forearm. Eliwood’s knuckles were white from the tension of his grip as he attempted to leverage his pain, never removed his cerulean eyes from Hector for as long as he was conscious. He sought to thank him, to express how deeply grateful he was for what he had done, but he found it difficult to articulate his words. Instead, he spoke a phrase that would have an unmistakable meaning.

“I love you,” He said feebly, his voice strained, “water…can you get me water?” He was exhausted, but still, he fought to still the trembling that wrecked his body.

Tears fell silently down Hector’s cheeks after he had finished breaking Eliwood’s wings. He still couldn’t believe that he had done that. He had purposely hurt the person that he loved and the one who he swore that he would always protect. Seeing Eliwood like this tore his heart up more than he could put into words, there was nothing that he could do to help him. He couldn’t take away the others pain, do anything to help him. The only thing that he could do was be there for him, remind him that he was there to help him and do whatever he was able to for Eliwood. 

He felt fear grip his heart when the screams finally subsided and there was only quiet. He figured that the pain was going to be too much for the other to bare but didn’t think that tremors would continue to wrack his body after he fell unconscious. He bolted up from his chair, unsure of what to do because he didn’t know what he was going on with Eliwood. “Eliwood! ELIWOOD! What’s going on?” He cried out, begging to the gods above that his partner would be able to pull through. He didn’t want to imagine what his life would be like without him because he was his entire world. Without him in it, his world would be completely without sunshine and without meaning. 

He continued moving around, trying to figure out anyway that he could get him to regain his consciousness. He looked up, tears staining his cheeks as he noticed Eliwood’s eyes open once more. Relief flooded him instantly when he realized that he was awake again, even though he was able to see the pain in his eyes. His hands were shaking lightly as he reached for his hand, gently interlacing their fingers together and squeezing lightly to let the other know that he was right there. 

“I’m still here, Eli. I know it hurts, I know, babe. I wish I could take it all away from you, I do, but you’re so strong. You’re the strongest person that I know.” He whispered out, his voice strained as he tried to fight back another round of tears from falling. He wiped his eyes with the back of his free hand and noticed the small relief in his eyes at the wash cloth on his forehead, glad that it seemed to be something he was able to use to escape the pain, even for a moment. 

He didn’t even wince when he felt Eliwood’s fingernails digging into his skin, knowing that the other wasn’t doing it on purpose. He couldn’t even imagine how much pain he was in at the moment and the small pinch he felt from him digging his nails into his arm. He looked into his eyes, not looking away for a moment before smiling a little, nodding as he tried to keep himself from crumbling. 

“Of course I can, Eli. I love you, too. I’ll be right back, I’m going to grab water for you, alright?” He replied gently before removing his hand from the other and pressing a kiss to his cheek as he made his way into the kitchen. He grabbed a glass and filled it about half way before walking back over to Eliwood, gently placing a hand behind his head and pressing the glass to his lips and allowing him to drink.

[just-here-to-fight]

pheraescourage

Remaining still, Eliwood released a breath and tried not to feel too disappointed in his lack of success. His gaze fell downward, looking to his webbed hands with an unreadable expression. Hunting was a skill that required a great deal of honing. It was foolish to assume that his first attempt would result in anything but failure. The act of capturing prey was a necessity to survive, but no one was born a hunter, nor was the task a simple endeavor. He logically knew all of this to be true, but still, he felt disheartened. Having fallen so many years behind the abilities of his peers, Eliwood began to doubt whether or not he would ever truly be able to become abreast with them. Clenching his fists, he shook those thoughts away, silently reminding himself not to fret. He had failed once, but he still had the opportunity to make another attempt.

The sound of shifting water coupled with Hector’s voice caused him to lift his expression, his hands falling to his sides as he met the shark’s gaze. Of all words to spill from his lips, he hadn’t expected the shark to offer him such sincere encouragement. Though he had quickly learned that Hector was not mean-spirited, he hadn’t been certain whether or not the shark would be able to understand how discouraged he was feeling due to his lack of emotional intelligence. As surprised as he was, he deeply appreciated Hector’s words and concern. Knowing that someone believed in him, cared for him, instilled a sense of hope within him.

“Yes, I think I will have another go. I admit, I do not have much confidence in my skill, but I am determined. Surely that must aid me in some form, no?” Eliwood replied, offering the shark a small smile before drawing in a shaky breath.

Returning his attention to his surroundings, he scanned the area to locate the next fish he would attempt to retrieve. To a seasoned hunter, it was clear that Eliwood lacked the proper form to capture a fish, nor did he have a full understanding of what he needed to do to accomplish his task. However, given a little polishing, the merman could become a competent hunter.

While Hector couldn’t put a name to what Eliwood was feeling, he was able to watch his body language and figure out that the other had been upset at his lack of ability when it came to fishing. The only reason that he was as adept at it as he was came from the fact that he was forced to be on his own at a young age. Learning how to fend for himself, acquire food, and provide a safe place for him to sleep had been essential in making sure that he survived. He hadn’t been as skilled as he was now when he was first starting, spending countless hours trying to catch a meal instead of being able to catch them almost immediately now. 

He had faith that Eliwood would be able to catch fish on his own. The other had the disadvantage of not being able to practice that skill when he was growing up because others believed that he was to weak for that task. He wasn’t sure why people had thought that about him because to him, he seemed quite strong and had a lot of different skills that he himself lacked. While physical strength was something that Hector was grateful that he had, he knew that other types of strength existed and the other merman had been adept at understanding him when many others that had come into contact with him couldn’t. 

A small, almost imperceivable smile found its way to his lips as Eliwood said that he was going to try again. “I think that you will be able to get a handle on it. You don’t have to beat yourself up at not getting it the first, second, or even third time. All that matters is that you are trying and not giving up.” He replied, nothing but sincerity and honesty in his tone as he watched Eliwood get in position to hunt. 

He cocked his head to the side as he realized that the other’s form was off. He swam over to him, not saying anything before placing his hands on his hips before correcting his stance. He ignored how his heart seemed to sped up when he felt the others skin underneath his finger tips and focused on making sure that he wasn’t going to hurt himself trying to go after the fish nearby.

“There you go. Your form was a little off and I didn’t want you to injure yourself going after the fish.” He mumbled, moving back behind him as he looked around to make sure no one else was nearby. “Okay, see that fish over there? Move slowly, try not to create any ripples in the water and stay behind rocks or take cover in the coral if you can until you’re close enough. Most fish can only see from the sides and not behind them. If you’re able to, try and rush at them from behind, it makes catching them easier.”

[just-here-to-fight]

pheraescourage

The terrible king’s cunning, vicious attempts to persuade him fell upon deaf ears. Though Eliwood would not express it explicitly in words, he was well-aware of what Hector hoped to accomplish. He was attempting to coax him into unquestioning obedience and admiration through the promise of luxury. He only spoke of fine silks and gems to flaunt his wealth under the assumption that such riches would entice him. However, Eliwood did not fall into the traps he had set for him, as he was not interested in material wealth. Gold at the expense of isolation held no value to him, nor would a castle in a foreign land ever replace his home. In addition to these tactics, the king was patronizing him, framing his kidnapping as though he were rescuing him from poverty. His frown deepened, etching onto his face as though it were the only expression he knew. He would not allow Hector to warp the reality of what he had done, nor would he ever consider him a valiant hero.

Once again, Hector verbalized his anger, but Eliwood did not tremble beneath his harsh, bellowing voice. Instead, he remained undeterred, meeting his eyes to wordlessly impress upon him that he did not acknowledge or respect his higher title. He would not allow himself to succumb, to become subservient to a man that was so clearly riddled with anger. He was selfish, demanding, and he had no respect for a man that lacked kindness. Eliwood only pitied him for his lack of regard for others. Hector had done nothing for him, so he owed him no respect. He owed him nothing. Growing exhausted by their argument, he made his answer short, with no intentions of continuing the conversation.

“I refuse.” Veering his eyes away from him, he drowned out the sound of Hector’s voice, instead focusing on the window beside him. He did not react to his demands, his commanding voice, nor his questions. After all, there was little point in attempting to rationalize with the irrational. His time was better spent awaiting his opportunity to escape.

Hours had passed since their ride had begun, and the carriage had yet to arrive in Ostia, where Eliwood had planned to attempt his escape. He was exhausted, drowsy by the rural landscape and the sun that was sinking into the horizon. There were several occasions he had caught himself drifting off, jerking himself to full attention and slapping his face. But the task of fighting his exhaustion became too demanding. Leaning his body against the side of the carriage, his temple pressed against the window, Eliwood unintentionally slipped into the world of dreams.

No one had ever stood up to Hector the way that Eliwood did. Everyone was to worried about what he would do to them and instead of speaking their mind against him, submitted to his wishes. He preferred it that way because if they didn’t fall in line with what he wanted, he didn’t mind having to use any force necessary to get what he wanted. He knew that he wasn’t ruling how his brother would have wanted him to, that Uther was probably shaking his head at him in the afterlife, disappointed with how he was handling Ostia, but at that point, he didn’t care. The land, his people, the riches and the castle didn’t mean a single thing because for him, it was all just a reminder of what he had lost. 

His entire family had lived and died within the walls of castle Ostia and instead of being a place that the king considered as a home, he only saw it as a place of dread. The whispers of the past haunted him there, taunting him with images of happier times, when his parents were still alive and his brother simply got to just be his brother, not his guardian. The paintings that still hung on the wall were all family portraits, some of his entire family and some of just him and Uther. Most of them had tears through them, damaged and ruined because the only way Hector knew how to deal with his grief was with anger. 

Since he had to take over as king the moment that his brother passed, there had barely been any time for him to even process what happened. The same illness that had taken his parents when he was younger had also taken his brother from him as well. He hadn’t been able to say goodbye to his parents, Uther wouldn’t let him see them in that state, taking on the task of making sure Hector was taken care of and also watching over their parents as well. When Uther passed, he hadn’t been able to see him either, he had been on a journey that the other had sent him on and returned back to the castle moments after the other had already died. 

Another low snarl slipped past his lips at the others response to what he said. He was about to counter back when he realized that the other had rested his head against the glass and drifted off to sleep. Part of him wanted to jostle the other, wake him up just to say his piece, but he held back, deciding that he would give him this moment of reprieve since he knew that he would be in a world of hell when they got back to the castle. 

He settled back against his seat, crossing his arms as he rested his head back and watched the scenery slowly go by. “Nothing is more mind numbing then having to watch the trees slowly roll by.” He muttered to himself, watching as the clouds slowly drifted across the sky as they made their way back to Ostia at what felt like a snails pace. 

When they finally arrived, hours later, Hector couldn’t wait to get out of the carriage and stretch his legs. He looked over at the other and kicked the seat next to him, hoping that the force would wake him up. “Hey, get up. We’re here.”

[just-here-to-fight]

It had not been much of a decision on Hector’s end on whether he was going to enroll in college or not. He had hated school ever since he was younger, often sleeping through classes that he was bored with and passing by the skin of his teeth. The only subject he really ever found joy in was gym and that’s because he didn’t really have to work all that hard at being good at sports. However, since his brother Uther had passed away, he was going to be in charge of his families finances and he couldn’t afford to blow that because he didn’t know what he was doing. 

He was grateful that he had been accepted into the same college as Eliwood, knowing that if he had been forced to be away from the other that it would make staying in college that much harder. He was excited for the party that they were having tonight, already hearing some of the members of his frat talking with one another as he finished getting ready. He ran a hand through his hair, smirking to himself when he finally got it to go the way he wanted before smoothing down his shirt. 

He decided to wear his tank top that had cuts down the side, showing off his well toned and chiseled stomach as well as the muscles in his arms. He paired that with a tight fitting pair of jeans before going downstairs, hoping that he’d be able to find out where Ephraim was at. He was close with all of the people that were in their frat, but Ephraim was the one he was closest with because he was always someone he could count on to get into trouble with him. They had a friendly rivalry with one another that always led them to having the craziest stories to tell everyone. 

He figured that the other would be in the kitchen with most of the other guys in their frat if he was there. He looked around and didn’t see him just yet, figuring that he was on his way there. He grabbed a red solo cup that was sitting on the counter before grabbing the bottle of cherry rum and a cherry coke. He poured a little of the cherry coke in first before adding a generous amount of the rum in and topping the rest of the drink off with the cherry coke again. He threw the can of pop in the trash can as he took a long gulp of the drink, relishing in the slight burn as it worked its way down. 

He almost dropped his drink when he felt someone slap his back before letting out a boisterous laugh and turning around to gently punch the other in the shoulder. “Hey, Ephraim! Took you long enough to get here. Glad you finally managed to make your appearance.” He teased, leaning back against the counter as he watched the other grab a beer from the counter. 

“I hope that you’re ready for some fun tonight. They’re just finishing up putting this crazy inflatable obstacle course that ends in the pool. I can’t wait to go up against you and wipe the floor clean with you.” There was a playful smirk dancing on his lips as he started to led the two of them outside where the rest of their frat was at. 

Frat Bros >Hector

@just-here-to-fight

Ephraim had been naturally picked to join a frat house. He was well gifted in sports and had just enough smarts to get him by in college. Thanks to a few of his friends, he was excelling quite well. There were no tests coming up, hopefully, that he knew of, and no upcoming homework. He had the weekend off so thus, to the frat house.

Showing up in shorts and a shirt with the sleeves torn off, he was prepared to get absolutely trashed on anything he could get his hands on. His frat house was full of his buddies that he had met throughout college, yet, one of them was particularly close to him. They had always challenged each other and constantly sought out who could outdo the other. Ephraim had always loved a challenge even with the closest of his friends. 

Knocking on the door, he was greeted with a semi-familiar face. High-fiving and giving a quick pat the other guys back, Ephraim was inside the home. Minimal decor scattered around the house, but what did adorn the home was several beer bottles, cans, kegs, you name it. Ephraim grinned, the drinking had already begun. There was probably a fight going on somewhere in the house. He made his way to the kitchen to see his favorite rival, Hector.

Ephraim ran up behind him and gave a slap to the man’s back and gave a loud laugh. “Hey Hec, how’s it been, brother? Getting into trouble without me?”

Ephraim had enjoyed that the larger man could keep up with him and his antics. It’s what made the time they spent together so enjoyable. Ephraim grinned, removing himself from his friend and leaning over the counter to grab a can of beer. 

“What’s on the agenda today?”

[just-here-to-fight]

Destined Duo | Hector & Eliwood (Cat Quest II AU)

@pheraescourage

The sun was beating down as it did every day in the sandy, desert area of Lupus. He sighed before scratching the back of his ear, the tips of them poking out slightly from his hair. They almost perfectly blended in except for the black hue that was mixed in with the blue that matched his hair. He rarely ever was around the others, preferring to be secluded in his house towards the outskirts of the city, almost bordering the desert that surrounded it. 

It wasn’t that he didn’t like talking to the other people, but he found that he just didn’t share a lot of the same values that they did. They were supposed to be at war with the cats, all because they were different then them and decided to use magic over science. He didn’t think that was really a good enough reason to go to war with the other species. He may not have understood magic or what was that great about it, but he didn’t think that it was any reason to unjustly hate people who used it and believed in it. 

To add to his seclusion, there was also a weird mark that he had in the back of his head. No one else in their region had anything like it and no one was able to explain what it was. Much to his knowledge there wasn’t anything special that his garnered from having this mark on the back on his head. He had only decided to venture to the market to pick something up that he needed, but was grateful that he had gotten there when he did. 

There were soldiers there, dragging a cat behind them. They were pushing the other along, forcing him to move if he stumbled even for a moment or wasn’t going fast enough for their liking. A low growl slipped past his lips when he realized how they were treating him just because he was a cat.

He did think as he ran over to them, snarling and barring his teeth as he yelled. “Get away from him! What has he done!” He demanded as he grabbed his sword and started pulling the soldiers away from the other as fast as he could. 

[just-here-to-fight]

A Day In The Life | Hector & Roy (Modern AU)

@blazing-lionheart

The early light of the morning filtered through the bedroom, filling it with brightness and warmth that would have been inviting for anyone except for Hector. He wasn’t a morning person in the slightest, but this morning was a special one, he was finally going to get to take Roy to work with him. It was the firehouses version of bring your kid to work day and he couldn’t wait to show his son what he did at work. The two of them didn’t get to spend as much time together as he would have liked because of how his shifts fell. Most of the time he was working 12 to 24 hour shifts depending and more often than not his shift started at night and ended early in the morning. 

He stretched, feeling the slight ache in his arms from the call that they had been on the day before. A building had collapsed from the fire and they were tasked with not only moving away all of the debris that they could, but scouring every part of the building to help anyone who might be trapped inside still. He was grateful that they managed to get everyone out in time, but having to move the building debris with their equipment still attached was less than ideal. 

He climbed out of bed, quickly pulling on his uniform which consisted of deep navy blue pants that he had his EMT shirt tucked into. He pulled on his boots and laced them up before grabbing his work bag and going to see if Roy needed help or if he was good to go. He slowly opened the door to his son’s room and smiled when he saw him there. 

“Hey buddy! Are you ready to go? We have an exciting day ahead of us!”

[just-here-to-fight]

just-here-to-fight​:

Intergalactic | Hector & Ingrid (StarFox AU)

galateaswings

Although Ingrid had placed herself at a serious disadvantage by revealing herself openly to a potential threat, she still deemed it more prudent then avoiding shots aimed in her direction. Merely walking on this planet was enough of a hassle, let alone dealing with the distinct sting of burn wounds created by a blaster. She hadn’t expected the stranger to merely trust her based on her word alone, but it seemed he was at the very least, willing to hear her further rather than respond with cautionary violence. If the man had trusted her after feeding him a few sentences of reassurance, she would have doubted his capability as a mercenary. This line of work was hardly safe, full of constant danger and little rules. Not all mercenaries operated with honor, nor was it a requirement.

With the barrel of a gun pointed at their face, most may have responded with anxiety or fear, a understandable nervousness in response to death being a mere trigger away. Ingrid, however, instead felt a tad of annoyance, confident that the stranger wouldn’t fire until she had at least answered his questions–or defiantly refused them.

“If I was going to make your job more challenging, don’t you think I would have attacked you already? It would be pointless to hold a conversation if I my only intention was to blast you out of existence.” Ingrid replied, shaking her head as if she were somewhat disappointed. Casting her glance downward, she unfastened a metal hexagon disc from her belt, and held it in the palm of her hand as she pressed the button located at its center. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it into the space between them. In response to the flight, the communicator hissed, and thrusters engaged to allow it to levitate in the air. It hummed for a moment as it processed its request, before projecting a holographic image into the immediate space above it. It was text for a retrieval mission. The outline included a large image of the planet they were currently standing upon, as well as a map that revealed Ingrid’s location.

“I’m just looking to collect a valuable for an employer,” She explained, retrieving her communicator once she was certain the man had seen the evidence, “judging by the gossip I’ve heard regarding this planet, I’ve heard its become a major operation for thieves all over. The climate here is harsh, so they must have some sort of indoor facilities…if several thieves are using this planet as their base, it’s not surprising that we may have several missions intersecting here.”

“You may call me Ingrid,” She finally introduced herself, returning her communicator to her belt with ease, “I am a member of the Blue Lions. What about you?”

Hector had been surprised for a moment when the other had revealed themselves to him because most others would just shoot at him before giving him any answers. He still didn’t trust them, but would much rather have listened to an explanation, if they were willing to give him one, instead of having a shoot out in the middle of a forest. He wasn’t familiar with the terrain or this planet and would have been extremely out of his element if he were to get into a shoot out with the other. He hoped that he hadn’t made a mistake by allowing the other to explain themselves instead of taking action. He had gotten a few scars because he had been far to trust of other people that claimed to be mercenaries and found himself in a sudden shoot out. 

He was going to keep his word, but he didn’t want to have his guard down just in case the other didn’t intend on it. He didn’t feel uneasy about pointing his blaster at them. He didn’t know who they were and until he felt comfortable around the two of them, he wasn’t going to holster his weapon. His hand was steady, no sign of anxiety or fear was visible because in that moment, he was more annoyed than anything. He had been hoping to make it back to his ship before it got to late, but this interaction had just added more time to his mission. 

"Who knows what your tactic is. No one person is the same. Maybe you wanted to make me trust you by appearing like you weren’t going to attack, but the moment I let my guard down is when you struck. I have no idea what your intentions are and I would rather save my ass and get back to my husband, no matter what the cost. I don’t intend on harming you, I am a man who keeps their word, but if you decide to try anything, I won’t hesitate to take action.” He watched as they pulled a metal disc from their belt and tossed it between the two of them. He had no idea what they were going to show him, but he was on his guard regardless, just in case the disc had been rigged.  

Once he realized that it was the map of the planet that the two of them were currently, he settled down a little. He chuckled to himself a little when he heard that the other was also on this planet trying to collect something valuable for their employer. “Seems like the two of us are on the same type of mission. I’m on this hell planet looking for something that was stolen by my employer.” He nodded in agreement with what they had said. It only made sense that the thieves had an indoor facility because even locals on this planet didn’t fancy staying out for to long because of the harsh conditions. 

“Names Hector, guess it’s nice to meet you Ingrid. I’m the leader of the Ostian Brigade, a crew known for their forceful fighting. Never heard of the Blue Lions before, can’t say I’ve encountered anyone from your crew before.”

[just-here-to-fight]

just-here-to-fight​:

Free Falling | Hector & Eliwood (WingedAU)

pheraescourage

A distinct pang of guilt welled within the walls of his heart the moment Hector expressed how inapposite it felt to be tasked with breaking his wings. Pursing his lips, Eliwood curled his fingers into loose fists. He was more than acquainted with just how much he was asking of his lover to do something so unthinkable, so utterly terrible. It was a request that would be difficult for even a stranger to do for him, let alone someone whom which he shared a loving relationship. Knowing this, there was a small voice in the corners of his mind that sought to concede defeat, to apologize to Hector for even considering putting him through such a trial and agreeing to allow his wings to remain mangled. However, there was also the overwhelming desire to correct his wings that he could not ignore. Quietly, he lowered his face, his eyes seemingly more blue than usual as they reflected empathy and sorrow.

“Forgive me for asking you to undertake something so arduous. I…have no right to demand such a thing from you, but yet…I must.” He whispered softly, tilting his head upward to meet Hector’s eyes. There was no need to further detail his reasoning–he had already made his case, and Hector had agreed to his request. All that remained was for the deed to be done, regardless of how injurious it would be for the both of them.

Once Hector placed his hands onto his wings, Eliwood drew in a trembling breath of anticipation. He was well-aware of what was to come: suffering. The breaking of his wings would come with unavoidable pain, a crippling sensation that would likely be difficult to endure in his current condition. The degree of pain may even rival that of the injuries he had sustained when he leapt from the cliff to avoid death by mauling. Clenching the the raised folds of the blanket beneath him, he reminded himself that he had already survived certain death. He could do this. He could do this. He reassured himself, preparing himself mentally for the worst. Releasing one last breath, his eyes were filled with resolve as he locked eyes with Hector. He could do this!

There was a resounding crack. Then, like a surge of lightning, pain ripped through his system as if his wings were being torn from his body. His blue eyes widened in shock, his mouth falling open in a silent plea before an excruciating shriek escaped his throat. His own scream sounded foreign to his ears, instead sounding like a wild, cornered animal lurking in the darkness. His body dropped to the bed almost immediately, tremors overwhelming him. He choked out another scream, breathing as though his throat was constricted. It was too much. It was too much. It was too much.

The pain too much to bear, Eliwood’s eyes rolled into the back of his head, and even in unconsciousness, his body continued to shake in pain.

When the two of them had started dating, Hector promised Eliwood that he was going to protect him. He wasn’t going to let any other winged people tell him that he wasn’t good enough and was going to be the support that he needed. He wanted him to know that he was still loved and cherished, even if his wings didn’t allow him to fly like everyone else. He knew that he had went through struggles that no other person had to go through as a child and that lead to his wings being unable to bare his weight. 

Having to break his wings was something that completely went against his principles. He never wanted to bring pain to Eliwood in anyway, only protect him from it, but he knew that he was going to suffer for the rest of his life if his wings weren’t able to be used for flight and looked deformed on top of it. He knew that Eliwood had asked for him to do this, but that hadn’t made it any easier for him to do. He had to bite down on the inside of his cheek as hard as he could when he finally put his hands on Eliwood’s wings and pushed down with all his strength, knowing that he was going to rebreak his wings and now have to actually set them in place in order for them to heal properly. 

The moment that he heard his wings crack, he had to fight himself from pulling his hands away immediately. Tears welled up in his eyes and all of the words that he wanted to say to comfort the other died on his tongue when he realized just how much pain that he was in. He knew that Eliwood had already gone through a lot and he felt like he was just adding to the pain he had already experienced. He watched in horror as shock and pain filled his partner’s eyes, wanting nothing more than to pull him in his arms and apologize for hurting him. 

The bone shattering scream that Eliwood let out made Hector’s skin crawl. He had never heard that type of sound come out from the other and was worried that he had actually caused more serious damage to his wings. When his body dropped back, fear instantly gripped his heart because he knew that if Eliwood’s body was going into shock, he wouldn’t be get any help for him because of the frost. He watched in horror as his body shook and he let out another scream, freezing for the moment because he didn’t know what exactly what to do in that moment. 

“Eliwood! ELI! I’m so sorry!” He cried out, tears starting to slip down his cheeks as Eliwood’s eyes rolled into the back of his head. He didn’t want to touch him, scared that he would hurt him again, but he knew that if he didn’t set his wings in that moment, all of this was going to be for naught. With shaking hands, he grabbed gauze and set his wings properly, wrapping them in order to make sure that they wouldn’t move out of place while healing. 

He watched Eliwood closely, monitoring his breathing as he grabbed a cold rag and  placed it on his forehead, mumbling apologies under his breath as he tended to him. Self-loathing and guilt flooded his mind as he looked down at his broken and battered love, reaching out to stroke his cheek gently before pulling his hand back, almost as he had been burned, scared that he would only inflict more pain. 

[just-here-to-fight]

pheraescourage

With his attention plastered on the schools of fish ducking within the safety of the seabed’s greenery, Eliwood hadn’t anticipated that Hector would grasp his his wrist so abruptly. A soft gasp escaped his lips in surprise, as well as a large bubble that slowly began its ascent towards the surface the moment it was freed. Though his reaction of surprise was relatively unrestrained, it was fortunately not enough to catch the attention of their pray. He ceased his swimming, turning to Hector with curious, azure eyes. His grip was kind, gentle and loose, leaving behind a warmth against his skin that made Eliwood blush. His expression shifted, taking on a sheepish form, as he felt somewhat embarrassed by his own actions. Had Hector not stopped him, he would have surely scared away their next meal.

But despite nearly giving away their position, Hector remained patient with him, choosing to instruct him rather than scold him for his actions. It was a such a small gesture, an average display of kindness, but Eliwood appreciated it beyond measure. Hunting was a basic tenant of survival and self-sufficiency. He couldn’t imagine that it was very entertaining to teach such skills to an adult that should already have known them. Yet, Hector did not treat him as a burden for his inadequacy. It reassured him; encouraged him in a way he had never experienced before. Taking in the instruction Hector had provided him, he nodded in understanding, his eyes conveying what his lips did not.

Returning his focus to their preys’ hiding place, Eliwood drew in a centering breath, attempting to calm his nerves. He repeated Hector’s instructions in his mind: When they aren’t paying attention, we go after them, swimming as fast as we can. In truth, he wasn’t confident that he would be able to match Hector’s speed, let alone acceleration, but he was determined to give it his best effort.

Once the bubbles settled in the distance, Eliwood propelled himself through the water, using his tail to launch himself towards one of the schools of fish. The slimy greenery parted in his presence and he locked onto his prey, attempting to determine which one would be the easiest to capture. Once he was within reach, he extended a hand outward, attempting to collect at least a couple in his grasp. Much to his surprise, he felt the jagged surface of the fish’s scales against his hand, only for it to manage to wrestle away from him. In response to the first failure, he swiftly thrust his hand toward another, but missed the fish wholly.

Though he had made his best effort, he was empty-handed. A small part of him felt ashamed, convinced that he should have been able to capture one, but he did not entertain that thought for long. Instead, Eliwood chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Next time…next time.” He murmured to himself, before turning to Hector.

“I was….close, but not quite.” He admitted to Hector, wondering if the shark had any success.

Even though the two of them were hunting in different areas, Hector found that he really enjoyed being able to hunt with someone else. He wasn’t exactly sure what it was about the other merman, but his presence was extremely comforting for him. He liked that he was able to have someone to talk to and didn’t have to depend on the small creatures that lived with him in the sunken ship for companionship any longer. He was able to actually talk with someone who would reply back and was able to feel the warmth of another person again, something he hadn’t felt since he was a child. 

He wanted to look over and see how Eliwood was doing, but he knew if he allowed himself to be distracted while he was hunting as well, that he wouldn’t catch any of the fish that were in front of him. He had many years of practice at hunting food, but he could relate to the frustration of going on a first hunt. Words made it sound easy, like fish would just happily swim in your hands to be eaten, but that wasn’t the case at all. They were slippery and hard to hold onto, even when he was able to catch them, when he was first learning how to hunt, many slipped away from his grasp. 

He settled himself behind a large rock, letting the natural landscape keep him hidden from the fish. His tail gently swished back and forth in the water as he kept his eyes locked onto his prey’s movements, making sure that they were never to far out of his line of sight. When the fish seemed to think that the threat of an enemy attack was gone, a used his long, muscular tail to propel himself forward through the water. Quickly and easily making his way towards where the fish were at and managing to capture a handful of each by their tails in his hands. Normally he wouldn’t bother waiting to eat, but he wanted to make sure that Eliwood got dinner as well if he had been unsuccessful in his own hunt.  

He swam back towards the other, cocking his head to the side when he watched him rub the back of his neck. He was still learning all of his different movements and what each of them meant. “It is hard when you hunt for the first time. Fish do not just fall in your hands. Words make it seem easy, but I still have trouble getting meals sometimes. I’ll catch the fish but they’ll slip through my hands. Don’t be discouraged, I think that you’re going to be great at hunting after doing it a few more times.” He wasn’t being patronizing, simply telling the other what he truly believed. He really did think that he was going to do great at fishing after doing it a few more times, especially given that he wasn’t one to give up.

He slowly raised up the fish that he had caught, not in a manner that would be off-putting, merely showing Eliwood what he had managed to catch. “Do you want to continue to try to catch a fish? I don’t want you to compare how many you get to how many I do. I’ve had to do this for much longer.”

Seabed Lullaby | Eliwood & Hector (Merman AU)

@just-here-to-fight

Crunch. The sound pierced Eliwood’s ears as he swam to the left, twisting within the water to propel himself to safety. When he didn’t sustain injury he turned, facing what was once his home. He gasped in horror at the sight of what the sharks had done: his home was nothing but a crumpled pile of rocks. A once beautiful coral reef, holding all of his precious possessions and his bed...gone in an instant. He maneuvered himself back, flicking his tail as the sharks drew closer to him, their eyes a-light with greed. 

The ginger colored merman was incredibly aware of what they desired...his scales. Scales of his color were a rare commodity. Most sharks in recent years had become poachers, feeling nothing as they murdered a merman or mermaid, before harvesting their scales for wealth and wealth alone. He looked about, his expression pale. All around him was open water, leaving him nowhere to hide. His pulse quickened and despite the disheartening circumstances, he refused to give in. He would not surrender so soon.

Though he thought himself at least somewhat prepared, a shark launched himself directly towards him. He attempted to maneuver out of its path, but he hadn’t reached enough momentum in time. He felt teeth sink into his shoulder and he shrieked, his cry echoing under the water. He ripped himself from his foe’s grip, helplessly descending to the seabed. His tail met sand and he looked up, attempting to ignore his blood rising in the water. His scent would attract more sharks. His heartbeat throbbed in his ears.

“Off with you! Stay back!”

[just-here-to-fight]

pheraescourage

Uncertain azure eyes shifted their attention from the terrible tyrant, instead choosing to gaze into the window pane beside him. Years of use had left a sepia-colored film between the layers of glass, preventing the window from being perfectly transparent. Some may have been irked by such a consequence of aging, but for Eliwood, it only served to his advantage. Outwardly, it appeared as though he were observing the changing scenery just outside his window when in reality, he was instead carefully watching the vague imprint of Hector’s reflection. Though he was certain his life was not in danger, the terrible king’s reputation for a short temper hadn’t escaped the forefront of his mind. His defiance had already worn down the little patience he possessed. Now that they were sharing a carriage together, he needed to watch Hector’s expression and mind his words as to not anger him so blatantly.

Despite his reflection, knowing that he needed to navigate careful borders, Hector’s words struck a nerve in him.

“Squalor?” Eliwood muttered, his voice quiet, yet beckoning question. The king knew nothing of him. How supercilious of him to assume that he lived in poverty, that he was dirty simply because he did not live in the riches of Ostia’s royal family. While it was true his family had been stripped of their royal prestige, that did not mean they fell to penury. His family worked honestly and diligently to live a comfortable life, himself included, and they were by no means poor, nor dirty. Had the situation not been so bleak, Eliwood may have found Hector’s arrogance amusing. Instead, he frowned, swallowing his anger and choosing his words carefully. Begrudgingly, Eliwood removed his hood from his face, though still choose not to meet his face.

“That is certainly a significant assumption to make of someone you know nothing of.” He replied somewhat shortly. Perhaps if he were someone different, he would be grateful for being chosen for such an prestigious, luxurious position. If Eliwood desires had sincerely lied in riches, then he would surely be playing into Hector’s hand. But he had no interest in wealth.

“I do not owe you name. Ignite your temper as you will, but you have yet to show me enough kindness to earn the pleasure of calling me by my name.”

Even though most saw Hector as a horribly cruel ruler, there were limits to his tyranny. There were boundaries that he wouldn’t cross, no matter how irate he got or how much his temper flared. He never used his strength to hurt someone that he loved and would never sanctify those who did. While he was sure that the other man sitting across from him was worried that he would strike out against him, he knew that telling him that would be pointless. There was already a preconceived image of how he was and trying to reassure the other man that he wasn’t going to physically harm him would just make it sound like he was lying to try and get him to lower his guard around him. 

“By the way that you are dressed right now, it seems to me like you didn’t live a life of luxury. The only thing that may be worth anything is that circlet that you adorn, but that is probably made of fools gold anyways. Just an accessory to allude others into thinking that you have wealth and status, when in reality, you don’t. You won’t have to worry about that any longer though, as the king’s consort you won’t have to want for anything ever again. All of the finest silk and most precious of gems will be at your disposal.” He watched as he removed the hood from his face, pleased that he seemed to obey at least some of what he said. 

He had no idea that Eliwood was actually nobility, that he was among the same ranking as Hector was in his country. He had stopped trying to figure out the names and faces of all the royality that he had taken over, finding it pointless to keep track since they all were ruled over him anyways, regardless of any status that they used to have. He stripped away all of the traditions and aspects of culture that they had before his reign of tyranny began. He didn’t care about the lives that he destroyed or what effects that this would have on his people. He wanted them to feel the same anger, sorrow, and hatred that he felt after having everything he ever loved ripped away from him. He didn’t care if they directed those feelings towards him, as long as they had to suffer the same way that he had to, that was good enough for him. 

He felt the back of his neck prickle with heat when the other openly denied him once more. He had never faced this kind of opposition before and wasn’t used to having to deal with someone who was bold enough to defy him. He drew in a breath, clenching his fist at his side as he heatedly glared at the other. “What does it matter if I show you any kindness! I demand that you tell me your name! If you do not, it won’t matter, there are people within my kingdom who will get that information for me. I wouldn’t suggest getting comfortable with speaking out against me. You can withhold information all you want, but you’ll learn that telling me yourself will be a lot easier for you in the end.” He hissed out, his tone anything but kind as he glared at the other.