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“Stop.”
“I'm not doing anything.”
“Like hell you’re not. You keep squirming!” He stared at the ceiling. Lights from the street casted shadows against the slow moving ceiling fan. “Is it your heart again?”
“It’s fine.”
“It's not fucking fine. If it hurts, say something. I'm not a fucking mind reader, By.”
“It's…,” she paused. Felix wouldn't rush her, or couldn't. Byleth always did things at her own pace. “It always hurts, just a matter of how much.”
“I know.” Turning, Felix threw an arm over her and tucked Byleth close to his own. Wishing his heart could be enough for the both of them. “But still….”
It had only been a year. A year since Felix found his wife collapsed in their living room. Her breathing too short, her eyes unfocused. Despite all that fire in her soul, Byleth's heart was never strong enough.
He knew that of course. Jeralt warned him. A generic mutation that took Sitri before Byleth could even walk.
Yet there was no preparing him for the long nights in the ICU, the pitiful glanced from the nurses, the anger of having to be told the same damn thing by different doctors, nor the cold, paralyzing fear that he might have to bury his wife too soon.
“You stop.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“Like hell you’re not. You’re choking me!” Byleth wiggled and put space between them. Even though he still held on to her, Felix didn't like how far away she felt. “I hate it when you worry.”
“Well, get use to it. I’m going to drag you to a hundred if I have too. And if that means I worry too much, so be it.” Icy toes pinched his shin, “damn it, By! Don't do that!”
“You can't keep my heart beating with your fists.” Byleth shuffled back closer, “I don't want to die. I'm scared about leave you alone.”
Felix nuzzled his cheek against the top of her head. He was being selfish, but he couldn't help it. “You won’t.”
“Why are you so stubborn?”
“That's rich coming from you.”
“Whatever.” She went silent again. The moment stretched on forever, but Felix was patient. He had to be. “Can you get me my meds?”
Byleth never asked him to get her medicine. Always taking it in secret when she thought he wouldn’t notice and he'd pretend not to be bothered by it. A little dance they did to keep their lives moving forward. Felix didn't realize this simple request was what he needed from her.
‘”Yeah, hang on.”
Slipping out of bed, Felix padded over to her dresser and ruffled through the assortment of pill bottles. “The little diamond ones?”
“Yeah.”
Felix swiped the glass of water if the end table, and held it and the pile out for her. “Here.”
Byleth hummed her thanks and threw the medicine down with a swig of water.
He watched her for a moment, “better?”
“Yes.” She relaxed, rubbing her face against her pillow.
Crawling back into bed, Felix cuddling his wife. “Good, now go to sleep.”
Byleth snuggled close, her cold toes wedged under his legs for warm. “To a hundred?”
“To a hundred.”