Work Text:
Caeda is buried in Talys' royal cemetary. There was much that Marth was not able to do for her that she deserved from him, but he at least was able to send her home to rest with her family. Whenever he visits Talys - not as often as he'd like, he has many duties as ruler that take precedence over his personal feelings - he goes to pay his respects to her.
Today, someone is waiting for him.
"Hey, princey," Xane says, arms crossed behind their head. They seem as relaxed as ever, though Marth is never sure how much of it is a front. "I thought I'd run into you here."
Marth wasn't aware his visits were public knowledge, but Xane has a habit of knowing more than they should about everything. "Hello, Xane. Did you have need of me?"
"Not exactly. You're just a worrying kind of guy, so I figured I'd come check up on you while I was in the area."
Marth doesn't ask why Xane would happen to be in Talys at the same time as him. They go where they please. "I see. Well, you're welcome to pay respects with me, if you like."
Xane turns to look at Caeda's headstone, and is quiet for a few moments. When they speak again, it's with a thoughtful tone Marth rarely hears from them. "Caeda… was a remarkable human."
"She was," he agrees. "I've never met anyone like her."
"Do you come here because you want to see her again?" they ask. "Even though she's gone."
It sounds like a genuine question from someone far more used to loss than Marth will ever be. "…I don't know. I know she won't return, but I still speak to her as if she can hear me."
Xane tilts their head. "Do you want me to copy her for you?"
Oh.
Marth would be lying if he said he wasn't immediately tempted. Even knowing that it wasn't really her, to see her smile again, to hear her voice… To be able to apologize for failing to protect her. "I…"
But it wouldn't be her. It would be Xane, pretending to be someone Marth loved soley for his sake.
"…No. That wouldn't be fair to either of you." Marth closes his eyes. "But thank you, for being willing to do that for me."
Xane exhales softly. "I figured you'd say that. If you weren't that kind of human, you wouldn't be my favorite."