Chapter Text
“It… It seems like the healers did a good job.”
Felix’s hand automatically brushes against his abdomen, where there was no more bunching under his tunic from bandages. “Yeah. They were awfully… Hospitable. But they did well. How’d the meeting turn out?”
Bernadetta scoots over from where she was leaning on a stone railing overlooking the courtyard, motioning with her head for Felix to take the spot next to her. “Uhh… We didn’t get much done.”
He scratches the back of his head, bracing himself against the railing with his other palm. “How so?”
Bernadetta snickered, “Oh, we had a surprise guest—Two guests. Caspar and his father couldn’t resist dropping by, maybe. Anyways—We were doing so well before Count Herving and Count Bergliez started arguing. And then Caspar and Linhardt were picking at each other… Let’s just say the Count offered to let us stay until morning for the trouble.”
Felix doesn’t seem surprised. “And I assume you didn’t exactly join in.”
Bernadetta's expression immediately turns more bashful, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, “I… Um, hid under the table until they realized I was missing.”
“Thought so—“ He begins in almost a teasing tone before Bernadetta elbows him lightly in the side. “Okay, sorry. Kidding.” He says, raising his hands in resignation.
Bernadetta pouts, the corners of her lips curling into a playful frown. “It’s called a tactical retreat, y’know!”
Felix huffs a laugh at Bernadetta's remark, leaning back against the stone railing and glancing out at the bustling courtyard below, various servants and workers beginning to climb the staircase and retire for the evening. "Tactical retreat,” He repeats, “Well, you do have a way of getting out of situations. And… Uh, getting me out of situations.” He taps where his injury once was.
“Hey, I thought we agreed we were even!” Bernadetta replies, “Besides, I owe you—Like, a ton. I know I can be… Well, classic Bernie, you know? I… I know that can be a lot to handle.”
His expression seems to become more solemn in response to her words, facing the courtyard once again. “Not really. You aren’t—” He clears his throat, “—You aren’t all bad. And I could say the same. I’m not exactly a joy to be around myself.”
“Well, you’re not so bad either,” She adds, before making a squeaking noise and averting her gaze. From the corner of her eye, she notices a leather-gloved hand slowly reaching out and hovering over her shoulder before trying to downplay the action, letting it rest at the railing.
“Felix?” She asks, gaze flicking over to him.
He seems to tense a little, “Yeah?”
There's a pause. “Thank you.”
“For what?” He rests his chin on his free hand, propping his elbow up on the railing and avoiding returning her gaze.
In a surge of boldness, she reaches out and rests a hand over his own. She inhales sharply at the action as if she hadn’t intended to do that (and maybe she didn’t), but she soon relaxes. “Everything.”
“Oh,” He mutters, finally turning to look at her, “I, uh… Don’t mention i—”
“Hey, I’m serious!” Bernadetta scoots a bit closer, “I never got to, like, properly thank you for everything. Not even the trip either, just everything, I guess. I mean, even back at the Academy, you always stuck out your neck for me and stuff. I never understood why everyone…” She pauses again, “Okay, all I wanna say is I appreciate you—It. I appreciate it.”
This time, she noticed a shift in his demeanor, his starkly vibrant eyes almost seeming to glow a little against their dark, lantern-lit surroundings. “Well, I… Trouble does follow you around… Someone has to.… Um.” He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, brushing his bangs out of his face for a second. “I appreciate it too.” He flips over his other hand so his palm faces upward, giving Bernadetta’s hand a small squeeze.
Bernadetta swears she can feel her heart rate speed up a little bit, partially at his words and his strangely intimate gesture, but partially about their sudden close proximity, noticing her shoulder brushing against his. She can't help but steal a quick glance at him, their eyes meeting for a moment before they both shyly look away, the tension in the air a little more palpable.
Her expression then softens as she smiles slightly. “You’re smiling again.”
He blinks a few times, scratching the back of his head with a free hand. It seemed like he was trying to relax his expression but failing to get rid of the soft smile that took its place. “Maybe I am. Do you always have to point it out?”
Bernadetta giggles, her voice filled with a mix of delight and relief. "I don’t mean anything by it! I just… Like seeing that I can point it out more often, that’s all.”
Felix rolls his eyes, but the smile on his face refuses to fade completely. "You're impossible, Bernadetta," he mutters, but his tone lacks its usual bite.
She nudges him slightly, “Call me Bernie.”
Felix hums with a curious tilt of his head, leaning a bit closer, “Bernie… Alright, if you say so.”
Bernadetta’s mind zipped with thoughts as their proximity seemed to close a bit more, wondering if the gesture was purposeful or not. She feels her face slowly flush red to the tips of her ears as a new idea enters her mind.
What if I kissed him?
Bernadetta’s eyes widen and her mouth forms a thin line, determined to not let her demeanor give away her internal thoughts. Inwardly, she chastised herself. There was no way she would, or could do that! It was a stupid idea , she tried to convince herself, just an impulsive thought! But she couldn’t deny the fact that maybe, just maybe, she… Kind of wanted to. Maybe. A little bit. Okay, maybe a lot, sue her!
Inhaling deeply, Bernadetta steels herself for what she was about to say next. “Felix, I think—“
“Hellooooo!!!” Exclaims a voice from behind them, a face popping out from between the two.
Bernadetta yelps and pulls back abruptly as she gazes up at a smiling face with spiked blue hair. “Caspar!… Hi.”
Caspar throws his arms around Felix and Bernadetta, using them as arm rests. “Hey, you two! Been a while, hasn’t it? I mean, not for us, Bernie, but I haven’t seen Felix in ages! Man, you’ve changed a little, huh? It’s cool though! I like the hair, did you cut it?”
Felix swats his hand away, rolling his eyes, “You haven’t changed a bit.”
“Heyyyy, what’s that supposed to mean?” He exclaims with a chuckle.
“Caspar, you really must learn to read the room,” Linhardt sighed as he approached, yawning sleepily, “Sorry about him, you two. He has a tendency to run amok.”
“Helps with my training,” Caspar replies simply, “You get it, right Fe?” He pats him on the back, accidentally using enough force to make him stumble forward slightly.
“Don’t call me that,” He replies, dusting off his vest and standing up straighter, “But after so long of either resting my injuries or being on a horse, I have missed out on swinging my sword.”
“Haha! That’s the spirit! I’ll go grab my gauntlets! Let’s duel!” Caspar says before dashing off again.
“You all have fun,” Linhardt said, yawning again, “It’s much too late for that. I’m going to bed.”
“No way! I need someone to cheer me on!” Caspar calls over his shoulder.
Bernadetta laughs softly as the three chatter amongst themselves, following along as the group makes their way through House Hevring’s lantern-lit hallways. Sure, it wasn’t exactly in her comfort zone, but she felt oddly at peace today. Maybe her situation was pretty desirable after all.