Prince of Fire Emblem: Calm Before the Storm

[volleygenius]

The sunset that bounced light off the fire opal of Lissa's ring has long disappeared, overtaken by the melancholy night. A cool breeze prefaces the mass of storm clouds on the horizon, steadily rolling towards the castle and swallowing the stars. Bunta exhales into a gum bubble as he gazes at the moon from his recline against the roof of the Kuwahara inn. A lot happened today.

"Hey," he prompts his companion. "Today's meeting... What did you make of it?"

It's deliberately an open question. Jackal has always complemented him so well, strong where he was weak. Picking up the ball wherever Bunta happened to drop it. That meeting had a lot to unpack in it. For all that Bunta saw and responded to in it, there would be just as many things Jackal saw and reacted to, and with only partial overlap. It would be good to get his perspective of things.

Comments

[senselessness]

"I don't think I'll know what I need to do until it's time do it," he said honestly. "Or until I see what you do first."

[volleygenius]

"No need to wait that long. I'm right here," he jokes.

The air doesn't last. Remembering the promise he made, and what it meant, is bittersweet. It's a loss of its own flavor to displace Yukimura from his status as Bunta's Most Important Person, and that change is one he's still working through. Grief isn't regret, though, and his conviction that this is the right choice, true both to Yukimura's wishes and to his own values, keeps his expression steady and his voice confident.

Subconsciously, his fingertips gently curl against the firm muscle in Jackal's shoulder anyway.

"I'm gonna do this properly, Jackal. Being a fiancé."

[senselessness]

Jackal looks at him over the same shoulder, almost contemplative.

"Neither the princess nor the king deserve less," he said, still a little confused. "I mean, are you going to act like you're really in love with her? Does she know that?"

[volleygenius]

As expected of Jackal, he gets it.

"No, I don't think there's going to be any confusion about that. But..."

Awkwardness stops him from finishing that sentence. His smile relaxes, and becomes a little wistful.

"Well, in all likelihood it won't change anything. Yukimura-kun already looks out for her more than anyone. I'm just the failsafe, right?"

[senselessness]

"Yukimura has no weaknesses, and no need of failsafes," Jackal corrected. "If he gave you a task, it's because he had perfect faith in you."

[volleygenius]

Under normal circumstances, Marui would agree with that assessment of Yukimura 100%. Even now, to argue with it felt like a kind of heresy.

So he doesn't. He meets Jackal's eyes and lets his grin grow back to its usual wild confidence.

"As he should."