Hector/Eliwood

Hector/Eliwood is a yaoi pairing in the Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade fandom.
==Canon==
Hector and Eliwood are longtime best friends. As children, they met when they took a blood oath similar to the one their parents took with the other lords of Lycia. They became close, and at age twelve started a tradition of sparring with one another monthly.
The main story kicks off when Eliwood leaves in search of his missing father, and Hector goes off to help him despite his older brother's reservations. They soon find themselves embroiled in Lycia's internal struggles, a rebellion kicked off by Marquess Laus. This leads them to the Dragon's Gate along with Lyndis of Caelin, where they learn that not only was a mysterious group called the Black Fang behind the rebellion, but that a man named Nergal is using the Black Fang for his own ends.
If the player takes Hector's path, Hector's subplot expands more on his devotion to Eliwood. In particular, he accepts the power of the legendary axe Armads even after being warned he'll die an early death on the battlefield all so he can help Eliwood. Eliwood is also integral to Hector's character growth in accepting his brother's death.
If the main lord of his respective route is not A-supported to a potential bride at the end of the game, the default CG will show them arm in arm walking out of the Dragon's Gate. CG 45 - Best Friends Hector's solo ending also brings up how his bond of friendship with Eliwood remained eternally strong.
The final scene shows the two meeting again after fifteen years, still as close as ever.
==Fandom==
Hector/Eliwood is a very popular ship due to the close bond the two friends share, and their overall dynamic. Eliwood is calm and polite, but more openly emotional. Hector is brash and proactive, but struggles to express his own feelings. They tap into the "best friends to lovers" dynamic that's well-loved in Fire Emblem fandom, as well as the Red/Blue Ship Dynamic.
A lot of shippers see them as star-crossed lovers who remain best friends and even love their wives, but are always first in each other's hearts and continue to pine for each other. Others prefer to think of them as a deeper version of friends with benefits who gradually move away from the romantic/sexual side of the relationship but remain close even as their duties to their respective territories keep them from seeing each other as often.
The pairing's rivals are the two boys' canon ships, particularly Eliwood/Ninian. While in the past, Hector/Eliwood shippers would bash Ninian for being "in the way", this rarely happens these days. Fans are more content with Hector being Eliwood's second love after Ninian passes away.
Polyshipping is rare, but the most common is Hector/Eliwood/Lyn, due to the three being the main characters and sharing the most screen time together.
=== Common fanwork tropes ===
* Older Man Yaoi, them getting together after both have lost their wives in the future
* Childhood crushes
* Smut
* Hector being especially protective of Eliwood, who's openly vulnerable and whom Hector sees as fragile compared to him
* Sparring
* Hurt/comfort
* Pining and love confessions
* Genderbending or one of them being a trans man
==Fan Works==
===Fanfiction===
* Of Two Lycian Lords by araphen
* compatibility reading by moonlight_fairytale
* The Marriage That Life Told by Lordess Ananda Teenorag (French version)
* See Her Smile by Rethira
===Fanart===
* Short Story Comic 1 2 3 by RoyLover
* Hector x Eliwood yaoi by Autumn-Sacura
==Archives & Fannish Links==
* Hector/Eliwood tag on AO3
* Hector/Eliwood works on fanfiction.net
==References==
Category:Fire Emblem Relationships Category:Yaoi Pairings