Chapter Text
Linhardt woke up to the dull grey walls of the infirmary and the sound of muffled sobs. If it were any other day he would nestle further into the sheets and pretend he was still asleep, but as soon as he opened his eyes, just a slither, and was met with the sight of Caspar crying into his hand, he knew he had to get up.
“C-caspar?” he coughed, feeling a roughness to his voice, throat raw from disuse.
Caspar froze, wiping his tears away as a goofy smile slowly overtook his face, “Linhardt! You're alive!”
“Of course I'm ali-" his voice was muffled when Caspar pounced forwards, pulling him into a firm hug. He could feel the way Caspar clung to him desperately, his nails digging into Linhardt's back, which was certainly painful, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care.
“I thought you'd left me, that you weren’t coming back, you idiot!” Caspar spoke, tears damp on Linhardt's neck. He then remembered what happened, how he saved Caspar, how he almost died, how he told him he loved him.
Hesitantly, he raised his arms despite the heavy feeling in them and wrapped them around Caspar. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, you should be!” Caspar nodded enthusiastically, tightening his grip around Linhardt like he’d leave him if he let go.
“You know,” Linhardt began, “you’re crushing me.” He finished lamely, thinking about what he wanted to say next.
“I don’t care, I’m just hugging someone I love.” Caspar could feel a smile gracing his own face. “Someone who loves me back.”
Linhardt’s cheeks flushed and his brow furrowed slightly, “Caspar, I-"
“No,” Caspar pulled back, looking into Linhardt's eyes, “you can’t take this one back.” He was serious and held Linhardt's palm, rubbing circles into his skin with his thumb. Only stopping when the door slammed open and Dorothea came running in with Bernadetta.
“Oh, Lin! I knew you'd make it!” Dorothea pulled him into a tight embrace, Bernadetta smiling as she stood above the bed.
“As tender as this moment is,” Edelgard smiled from the door, “I do think it would be best to let Linhardt rest a bit longer. Come Dorothea, Bernadetta, Caspar, let’s go fetch Manuella and let her know Linhardt is back.”
“Of course Edie.” Dorothea grinned, squeezing Linhardt one last time before leaving the room with Bernadetta in tow.
When it was just the two of them in the room again, Caspar spoke up, “I won’t let you take it back Linhardt, I heard what you said loud and clear.” He kissed the top of Linhardt's head and left the room.
Linhardt sighed falling back into the soft bedding. It looks like the war had come to an end. Perhaps now he could finally be honest with himself.
The war had officially ended and the Monastery was alive with celebrations and bright lights. Linhardt arrived at the top of the Goddess Tower, escaping the festivities which were tiring him to no end. He was as happy as everyone else, but he had more important business to attend to.
“Hey, Linhardt,” Caspar smiled softly, waving Linhardt over and motioning for his friend to join him. Linhardt did just that, laying his head on Caspar's lap and lazily grinning up at the other.
The sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, “It’s finally over, huh?” Caspar spoke, more to himself than Linhardt.
“It seems so.” Linhardt answered anyway, looking at how the moonlight reflected on Caspar's baby blue eyes. He pulled himself into an upright sitting position, taking Caspar's hand to help. He reached into his satchel, shaky palm grasping at a small box. He retrieved his hand, placing it over Caspar's own. “Do you remember,” he began, dismissing his nervous energy, “all those years ago, when you told me you loved me here.”
Caspar wrapped his hand around Linhardt's, intertwining them together and pulling the two of them up into a standing position. “How could I forget that rejection.” He chuckled.
“Please,” Linhardt yawned, “it was only a semi-rejection.” He reached into his pocket grasping the box into his unattended palm.
“Alright, alright.” Caspar smiled brightly, looking up at the stars. “What about it?”
“You made a promise, saying that you'd love me forever.” His hands were shaking as he scooted down onto one knee.
“Yeah, and I don’t plan on stopping any time soon,” he turned his gaze back to the other, seeing him poised on one knee with a dazzling emerald ring pushed near Caspar's own face, “Linhardt, you...”
“I've spent my whole life with you already, I’d want nothing more than to spend the rest of it with yo-" Linhardt couldn’t finish what he was saying as Caspar pressed their lips together, and unlike every other time, this kiss felt free, it felt right.
Separating only to take a breath, noses still touching, Caspar spoke, “I love you, Linhardt!”
“I love you too, Caspar.”