cain and abel fell for each other during some twisted scenarios.
they were definitely pining for each other during their training as knights, but neither of them realized how much they yearned for the other until the war.
cain realized his feelings as he watched his comrades die one by one during the fight against gra with the king. too much might have happened at once (bro had to deliver the king of fucking aritia's dying words to his son and then watch their king lose his breathe and life, how fucked up is that) but one of the strongest thoughts that dominated him on the moment he rode away, other than the overwhelming desire to go home and hug his mother forever, was how glad he was that he didn't have to watch his best friend abel die among his fellow knights.
abel realized his feelings when he saw cain almost bleed himself to death as he barely made it to their small escape party. there was a look of pure horror on abel's face as he watched cain struggle to ride on his horse and tell marth what happened until jagen urged them to hurry up and leave. when they lock eye contact, abel saw a ghost of a smile on cain's bloodied lips, but he coughed up and there was no more time for conversations after that.
abel did not leave cain's side as they tended his wounds. he also refused to leave cain in a room by himself once they escaped to talys and temporarily settled there. if it weren't for the war, cain would have teased abel for being unusually clingy. but he too wanted nothing more than to stay close with abel while he was still blessed to remain alive.
during their stay at the talys kingdom's guest room, cain woke up one morning and looked to his side to see abel sitting and fast asleep by the side of the bed, his head rested on his crossed arms, face tilted high enough for cain to make out the other's soft, tranquil expression. abel's brows weren't creased since they first escaped from their homeland, it's as if the war never happened.
if it weren't for his wounds, cain would reach out to fix abel's ruffled hair. he did not notice that he was staring at abel for the god knows how long until the other opened his eyes. neither of them moved and broke eye contact for another moment that felt timeless. for the first time since they left, cain smiled ever so slightly. "hi."
abel blinked blearily and smirked back, seemingly unfazed that cain had been staring at him in his sleep. abel +made a small wave with his fingers. "hi."
do they talk about out the horrors they have done through for the past days? neither of them were ready for that yet. but one thing they know that at the back of their heads, that they wished his small hopeful peaceful moment between them could last forever.
