Just a short angst one shot. Felt like it (•◡•)つ♥︎

Happy reading!~

~ ~ ~

With a clean, yet slight clumsy swing, Maverick had managed to roughen up the training dummy. With an excited smile, silver sword in hand, he glanced back at his father, who looked proud. "How was that one, Dad?" The boy asked, looking for approval. "Did I look as strong as you?"

His dad chuckled, "That was good, son." Patting Maverick's head, Ike walked over to the training dummy, examining its new condition. Gently touching the cut, his father pulled out a small bit of cotton, showing it off to his son. "See this? This is an indication that you did well."

Maverick pumped his fists into the air with excited grunts. Holding the silver sword in his hands, he smiled and laughed brightly at Ike. "Do you think I'll be like you one day, Dad?"

With a small smile, Ike knelt down to his son's level, gently holding onto Maverick's shoulder. "There is someone much better than me." He chuckled, "You don't want to be me, I'll tell you that."

The boy's face scrunched into a confused expression. "What's that supposed to mean?"

His father got off his knee, and stood straight. With a deep breath, Ike replied, "Come with me, Maverick. I wanna show you something." His son nodded, following behind his father as they began to walk away from the training grounds.

"Dad, where are we going?"

Ike let out a small sigh, then smiled weakly at his son. Patting Maverick's shoulder, he replied, "Somewhere that's important to me. And...to your other father."

The boy gasped as his dad kept walking faster, picking up the pace. Catching up to Ike's side, he looked around; no longer was he staring at cotton training dummies, wooden walls, an open ceiling, and candle-lit torches. Instead, Maverick saw pure nature; trees, fresh, green grass, and a faded stone pathway. Up ahead, along the pathway, was a small hill.

Following close behind his father, Maverick's eyes widened as they reached the top. A single, healthy cherry blossom tree swayed in the gentle wind. Right next to the trunk of the tree, two crossed swords had been stuck into the ground. One gold, the other silver.

Ike exhaled harshly as he reached for the tree, resting his palm onto the smooth, dark trunk. Walking over to his dad, Maverick stood next to him, following Ike's gaze at the slowly setting sun. "Dad...? What is this place?"

The mercenary chuckled, glancing up at the tree's blossoms, then towards the crossed swords. He looked at his son, sitting down on the grass. Maverick followed, taking a seat next to his father. The boy playfully rocked his feet from side to side as he looked at his dad.

"This...is where I proposed to your father."

~ ~ ~

"I decided that today was the day I would ask him the question. The setting, the mood, it was all perfect."

The navy bluenette tightly clutched the small, velvet box in his hand as he held it behind his back. Marth and Ike had made their way up to a plain hill with a view that was clear to see the upcoming sunset.

"Isn't it lovely?" Marth asked, staring off into the horizon, a warm smile worn upon his face. He glanced towards Ike, his hands clasped together, across his waist.

Reaching for the back of his neck, Ike nodded as he chuckled nervously. "Yeah, it's- it looks great." His hand fumbled with the box, trying his best to find the right moment to reveal it. Hesitating, the mercenary reached for Marth's shoulder, pulling him towards himself. "So...did you- you know, have fun?"

Leaning his head on the navy bluenette's shoulder, the prince sighed contently as he nodded, "Of course I did, Ike. I still don't understand why we did this, but...I'm not complaining."

"After your father told me that, I felt like the moment had arrived. Without a second thought, I told him..."

"Hey, Marth? I...want to...talk about something."

The prince smiled, lifting his head off the mercenary's shoulder, "What's the matter?"

"Well, let's say I ask you a tough question. Maybe...oh, I don't know...if I asked you out." Ike stuttered, his thumb struggling to secretly open the box from behind his back. With his free hand, he held onto the prince's hand, locking eyes. "What would you say?"

Marth giggled to himself, his other hand covering his curled lips. He shrugged, "I could never refuse a request such as that from you." Cradling Ike's hand in his own 2, the prince smiled, "I'll always say yes."

"With that answer, I had no more time to waste."

"Then, in that case..." Ike mumbled, finally flipping up the box's lid. With one deep breath, he knelt down on one knee, slowly revealing the open velvet box from his other hand. "Marth, will you..." The mercenary sighed, hanging his head low. With a desperate effort, he lifted his head back up, a determined expression worn upon his face. "Will you marry me?"

"Are you kidding me? Ike, of course I will!" Marth exclaimed, quickly pulling the navy bluenette up to his feet, wrapping his arms around the mercenary, laughing happily.

"One of the best moments of our lives. If not, the best of them all. Well..."

Cradling the newborn in his arms, Marth smiled and whispered softly, "Isn't he wonderful?" To which the mercenary nodded in agreement.

"You were also amazing, Maverick. But...happiness can't last forever."

"Marth, it's dangerous. What if you never come back?" Ike desperately protested, grabbing the prince's arm, preventing him from leaving out the door. "What if we never see you again?"

"Your father was sent on a mission...far from our home, and for a long time."

Pausing in his tracks, the prince held Ike's shoulder as he gently kissed his cheek. With a reassuring smile, the light bluenette firmly sheathed his sword. Glancing at the baby Maverick, he softly patted the boy's head. "I will never leave my family. In my heart, Ike, I promise to come back."

"Did Father come back?"

"...Yes. However..."

The door busted open, revealing a hunched over prince. Marth clutched his injured arm as blood began seeping through the gaps in between his fingers. Flooded with fear, Ike jumped out of his chair and rushed to the prince's side.

"When he came home...he was hurt. Badly...hurt... I did the best I could to treat him, but I could only do so much. I had no other choice but to ask for help from healers."

Eyes tightly shut, Marth's weak body lay on top of a soft mattress, his head resting on a small pillow. As healers were trying their best to mend the prince's wounds, he would groan in uncomfortable pain.

"What could I have done besides watch?"

Near the corner of the room, Ike stood nervously still as he kept a keen eye on his beloved. The sight of the prince being in so much pain had wounded his heart. The fear of losing the man he loved so much frightened the mercenary.

"Ahah... We were lucky enough that your father managed to survive 2 more years. He remained strong, even if simply walking had hurt him. Marth was...in terrible shape.

I knew his time had to come eventually... But everyday, I had hoped and prayed that I would see Marth open his eyes. And...one day, I knew he was on his deathbed."

Tears nearly forming in his dry eyes, Ike gripped the prince's weak hand in his own 2, desperately shivering. Marth coughed lightly as he struggled getting up off his back. "Ike..."

Wide eyed, in shock, the mercenary gazed intently at his lover. Taking a shaky breath, Marth continued, "Let's go to that hill." He smiled as his eyelids began quivering. "What do you say, love? At least...let us see the sunset together, one more time. It'll be like the day you proposed." The light bluenette chuckled, then coughed. "We can leave a mark."

"I couldn't say no. So...even with your father's arm around my neck, and his limping walk, I brought him to the top of the hill. We both held our swords, dragging them with us."

The couple, finally at the top, sighed with relief. Ike, bringing Ragnell to his side, stuck the tip of his sword into the grass, followed by Marth trying his best to do the same with his Falchion. After doing so, however, the prince's body had finally given out on him.

With quick reactions, Ike quickly sat the 2 of them down. Marth's weakened, slumped body lay against the mercenary's. Tears fell from the navy bluenette's eyes and rolled down his cheeks. He clutched the prince's waist towards his body, holding onto him for dear life.

"I love you...so much, Ike. Take care of Maverick... and yourself, alright? Promise me that."

With his voice nearly breaking, Ike rested his head on the dying prince's and shakily breathed deeply to himself. "I promise, Marth... Rest easy... I'm-" The mercenary broke down into sobs as he embraced the prince, feeling the light bluenette's shaky hands clutch his back in return. "I'm...right here with you."

"...And before I knew it, that was the end."

~ ~ ~

Maverick looked at his dad, who was in tears. With a sincere intention, he hugged Ike, doing whatever he could to make him feel—even if just a little—better. Wiping his tears, Ike immediately embraced his son back, cradling the boy's head in his palm. With a deep breath, they pulled away from each other as Ike smiled at Maverick.

"Your father would be proud of who you are now. Maverick... you've grown so much." Ike mumbled, pulling his son into another warm embrace.