#tallmansions

The battle rages on every side and Yarne's senses are overwhelmed.

He knows they're for his protection: heightened smell, heightened hearing, heightened touch. An instinct constantly screaming for him to run as fast as his muscled legs will take him, to preserve his heritage like Mother did before him.

The Risen paladin thunders toward him, eyes glowing red on both horse and rider.

Run. Run!

Yarne feels the hair rise on his entire body, but he shoves the impulse down.

Mother fought, to give him life. Father fought to keep the future from happening, even if he didn't win and broke his promise to return.

Lucina fights: for her own parents, and for him and his, and for all her friends. For everything.

Yarne won't let her do it alone.

He transforms with a yell, instantly as large as the mounted enemy, and lunges for him. The pounce knocks the Risen off his horse. His sword flails, slashing once, twice--but Yarne won't stop, can't stop, until the corpse finally lies still. Yarne rolls off and transforms again, lying on his back, gasping for breath.

He should probably get up. There's more fighting to do. But the cuts across his chest and stomach feel like lines of fire.

"That stings," he groans.

"Yarne!"

Someone lifts him up and slings an arm around his shoulder. Yarne cries out in pain but soon they're walking, and the familiar scent from the sweaty black hair so close to his over-sensitive nose is comforting.

"Father, wait," he insists. "The battle isn't over."

"It is for you," said Lon'qu. His grip doesn't ease until they've made it to the back lines, where Brady runs for him. Lon'qu lets him go.

"In this time, I keep my promises. Heal up, Yarne."

The adrenaline evaporates. Yarne's head spins so badly he can't even say thank you.

"Lucina?" he asks weakly as Brady leads him under the tarp of the healer's tent.

"Fine, last I heard. Now shut up and let me work."

***

Brady's quick and efficient, but oddly gentle. Yarne had never really noticed. He'd never really been in the thick of things; never really put himself at risk. Never really needed a healing like this.

When his wounds are clean, bandages wrapped, and the glow fades from Brady's staff, Yarne dozes on the stiff cot he was given. He wakes up to a small, calloused hand taking his.

"Lucina!"

He tries to sit but she keeps him down with her other hand. Despite their height difference, she's always been much stronger.

"Rest," she insists. "I'll sit with you."

She lets go of his hand only long enough to pull up a camp stool, and then cradles his palm between both of hers. Her clothes are still stained from the battle, but Yarne holds on tight.

"I'm sorry."

They blurt it at the same time, and then look away, though they squeeze each other's hands.

"I saw you get hurt." Lucina speaks first. "I promised you that I would watch your back."

"I think you might've promised that to everyone. It's okay, Lucina. My father had me, this time."

Yarne gives her a big smile. Hers is smaller, but she does return it.

"I'm just sorry I worried you," he says. "All my flight instincts were going berserk. If I hadn't hesitated..."

"No," Lucina soothes, smoothing a thumb over his knuckles. "I saw you fight. It's all right if you're afraid: we are all afraid. But you fought all the same. I think it is the bravest I have ever seen you."

Yarne would shove the compliment aside, but Lucina's nothing if not sincere. Her pride and admiration are undeniable in her voice. He feels himself blush.

"I'm stronger now, thanks to you," he says. "I used to just worry about my own hide...maybe because of pride more than anything else. Dying is one thing, but going down in history as the last taguel? The one who failed an entire race?" He tries to laugh but it comes out too dry. "It was so important to me, to not be that person. But now there are more important things."

Lucina's head has cocked.

"You're more important," he elaborates, even though he feels himself turn redder, and the sensation stings his cheeks. This is probably something he should be saying on his feet, proud and strong, and instead he's lying injured on a cot.

"I wanted to run, Lucina. But for the first time, even more than that, I wanted to stay, too. I want to protect our parents. I want to protect what we have."

"I do not need protecting," Lucina says, but Yarne knows it's only habit. She hates letting other people sacrifice for her.

"But you said you'd be my girl."

And sometimes love means making sacrifices. Lucina laughs a little as he brings her hand to his lips to kiss.

She leans forward from where she's sitting and kisses his mouth. His breath catches, which hurts beneath his bandages, but he doesn't pull away. It's worth it.

"I don't know much about taguel families," he murmurs, feeling her breath warm his face. "But I know about you and me. It's not about bravery or strength, anymore. It's just instinct. You make me this way."

"You make me stronger, too." Lucina pauses, and then adds, looking a little surprised with herself, "And happy. You make me remember happiness."

Yarne ignores the strain or how Brady will chide if he sees him. He pushes himself onto an elbow and pulls Lucina into another soft kiss.