Chapter Text
When Ashe saw the new handsome cooking teacher carrying seven boxes alone, he couldn’t keep himself from offering help.
“Well hello there Dedue! Can I help you with these boxes?” Dedue only grunted in response.
“Are you sure? I’m not busy right now, I’d love to help!” Dedue stopped walking, and Ashe halted.
“You can take the one on the top.” Dedue said. Ashe hesitantly took it, and when he tried to take another, Dedue stopped him.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got the rest.” The boxes weren’t light by any means- either Dedue really pumped iron as much as Ashe thought he did, or he didn’t want Ashe to help. Perhaps a mix of both. Nevertheless, Ashe walked side-by-side to Dedue through the halls. Ashe considered saying something- a joke, or maybe asking what was in these boxes. But he stopped himself, wary that Dedue would freeze up. Finally they both stopped at the cooking room. Mercedes and Annette were standing outside the door, pleased as ever.
“Oh, hi Ashe! Thank you for helping Dedue with these boxes! Me and Mercie were busy going over her lesson plans!” Annette said. Annette worked as the student council advisor, but she spent most of her time in the cooking room with Mercedes.
“Oh, it’s no big deal. Dedue, where can I put this?” Dedue nodded towards a counter near the back. Ashe happily placed his box on the counter and looked back at Dedue. After Dedue placed all of his boxes on the floor, he said,
“Thank you for helping me.”
“It’s not a problem! Call me up whenever you need help with boxes again, Dedue. Speaking of, would you like to get coffee sometime?” Dedue looked startled. Ashe was an unwavering source of positivity since Dedue had first seen him, one week ago at the first staff meeting of the year. Even now, Ashe looked like he was positive Dedue would say yes to his invitation.
“Yes.” Dedue felt his heart throb as he looked at Ashe smiling, but he didn’t know what is was. Maybe he hadn’t drank enough water today. As Ashe chirped on about coffee plans and to what shop they should go to, Dedue nodded his head every once and awhile. When the plans were settled, Ashe and Dedue exchanged phone numbers, and then Ashe walked off. As Ashe walked away, Dedue stood. And stood. And stood. Dedue suddenly felt the world come into focus again. He has a date. Oh.
Three years since Dedue and Ashe’s first date, they’re still together. Dedue and Ashe were the first couple on staff, and now they are only one of four, and considering the blooming relationships still taking place, they will be one of many very soon. But there was one problem; Neither knew how to propose. They had had several talks on the subject, in varying places. In the kitchen, at school, late at night while wrapped in eachothers arms- but Ashe was waiting for Dedue, and Dedue was waiting for Ashe. This is how Sylvain brought up the topic to the Blue Lions staff.
“So?It’s not like we can do anything about it.” Ingrid said, placing her chopsticks to the side of her bowl. The teachers had gone for after school ramen a few blocks down, and everyone but Ashe and Dedue were there.
“But we could, Ingrid. They just need a little… y’know, push! And it’ll be fine!” Felix shook his head.
“We don’t need to intrude on their business. It seems like a waste of time with the choir holiday show coming up, anyway.”
“C’mon! They just need a little help! It’s for Ashe and Dedue, guys.” Annette said. Mercedes nodded, before grasping her girlfriend’s hand. Annette smiled brightly.
“Dimitri?” Sylvain pleaded at the man with his eyes. Dimitri chuckled softly and then averted his eyes.
“Sylvain, I don’t think we should meddle in their personal affairs-” Felix laughed.
“See! Even the boar thinks we shouldn’t bother.”
“As I was going to say, I don’t think we should meddle, but as Annette said, this is Ashe and Dedue. We should just… give them ideas.” Sylvain pumps his fist in the air, while Ingrid looks worried, and Felix, as usual, is pissed off.
“Perfect! So tomorrow, how about we test them both a little bit. Just a little. Dimitri, can you do Dedue? And Mercedes and Annette can do Ashe, right?” Everyone nodded in agreement. Felix said,
“Why aren’t you in on your own plan, Sylvain?” Sylvain laughed, then said,
“Oh, just you wait until later… That's when I’ll need you and Ingrid too.” Ingrid furrowed her brow.
“I never said I’d help you with this.” Just when Sylvain was about to say something, Annette took over.
“C’mon, for Ashe and Dedue, right guys!” Annette raised her glass for a toast. Everyone else brought up their glasses and said a big, ‘To Ashe and Dedue!’ Ingrid and Felix rolled their eyes, but still joined in. Maybe this will work, thought Sylvain, just maybe.
Ashe had just finished lunch with Dedue when Mercedes and Annette waved him over.
“Hello Ashe.” Ashe smiled easily, and then said,
“Hello Mercedes, Annette. How are both of you?” Annette perked up.
“Oh! Our relationship is going just great, Ashe! Speaking of, the Blue Lions house think you shou-” Annette abruptly cut off, and by the looks of it, it was Mercede’s foot pressing down on Annie’s. Ashe looked at them both with heavy confusion.
“What does the house think I should do? Should I plan a meeting with Dimitri?”
“No!” They both yelled in sync. Mercedes took a moment to collect herself, and then said,
“Pay that no mind. What the house was saying is that… we should all go shopping. This weekend.” Ashe’s smile returned, but he still seemed confused. Annette stood, looking as if she was trying to stay as silent as possible.
“For the winter ball? Dedue and I needed to get our suits anyways, so this sounds great! Is everyone else going?” Mercedes already knows that Ingrid and Felix are going to kill her, but…
“Yes. Annie and are already carpooling Ingrid, so you could join us if you want.” Ashe shook his head.
“Dedue and I have… odd habits in cars. But of course, we’ll meet you there! Oh! I’m so sorry, I have to run, I have fifth period to get to. English isn’t going to teach itself. Text me and Dedue later!” Ashe yelled behind himself while running to his next period. Mercedes and Annette had to get going too; They also have to let everyone else know the outing they just planned. Oh Seiros.
At another day of afterschool ramen, Mercedes had just told everyone what happened with Ashe,
“What did you do!” yelled Felix, only to be hit over the head by Ingrid.
“I planned an outing to the mall this Saturday. With mandatory attendance. I am sorry everyone, but this is what happened. I didn’t want to blow our cover.” Sylvain, having been silent since the beginning of lunch, starts to laugh.
“This is it! Mercedes, you’re a genius!” Everyone looked at Sylvain like he was crazy.
“What about what Mercedes did is a ‘genius’ move?” Felix asked, an edge to his voice. Mercedes frowned, gripping her hands under the table. Annette saw it and grabbed Mercedes’s hand to give it a squeeze.
“Well we do need to get our suits! But also! We can take Dedue or Ashe to a ring shop!” Dimitri gave a small hum, saying,
“I will talk with Dedue tomorrow, and then on Friday we can decide who to take to the jewelry store. We must also have a good alibi. Any suggestions?”
“I could get Annie a gift? Or Ingrid, your birthday is coming up, maybe we could get you a little something?” Ingrid shakes her head with a smile.
“You don’t have to get me anything for my birthday, Mercedes, just maybe some sweet buns?” Mercedes laughed, and then everybody started laughing. Once they quieted, Sylvain spoke again.
“Dimitri, you’ve meant to buy a gift for someone for a while now right?” Dimitri ears went a little red as he said,
“Sylvain, not right now.”
“They have their ears pierced, right? Or maybe a necklace?” Dimitri seemed to consider it, until he looked Sylvain right in the eyes and said,
“I think you have been meaning to say something that you have meant to say for many years now, Sylvain, how about with a gift?” As Dimitri and Sylvain sat the tension only grew. Felix rolled his eyes and thought, wow, another girl? Ingrid, Mercedes, and Annette sat around this very tense table with childlike confusion.
“Hey guys! Can I offer you the-” The waiter came up, saw the state of the table, and then turned around again. Mercedes, now embarrassed by her very difficult friends, cleared her throat, loud and clear.
“I will buy something for my brother. Emile has been wanting a new ring lately, I’m sure he would enjoy it.” With everyone in agreement, they asked for the bill and went on their merry way. Now if only Dimitri could talk to Dedue…