Work Text:
Edelgard sat on the hard wooden bench across the Infirmary door, her armour still covered in blood. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the buckle of her breastplate, trying and failing to unbind the small metal piece. She pulled at it with a little more strength, letting out an exhausted sigh when the fastening finally loosened and she felt like she could breathe again. That feeling, however, didn’t last for long, and she clumsily stood up as Linhardt came out to the hallway. As soon as he saw her, the healer lifted his hand, leaving her with a question dying on her lips.
“Yes, he is going to be fine” he said, like he could read her mind “It will take a few moons before he can be back on the battlefield, but I expect him to make a full recovery”.
Suddenly, Edelgard felt all her energy leaving her body. Hubert is alive, she thought. After taking a hit meant for her in the heat of the battle and losing an insane amount of blood as she held him while waiting for help, Hubert had been rapidly evacuated to their base in Garreg Mach and taken to the Infirmary, where the healers had been working for the last few hours to try and save his life.
Linhardt rushed to her side when her legs almost gave out beneath her, struggling to keep up with the exhaustion that was washing over her. She fought the sensation and managed to keep her footing, dismissing the healer with a small gesture.
“I want to see him” Edelgard said, and then, almost pleading “I need to see him”
“He’s still unconscious from all the blood loss,” Linhardt replied, making a slightly disgusted face “But you can go in and keep an eye on him”.
She thanked her friend as she crossed the doorway, entering the room. The last lights of the day bathed the white walls of the Infirmary, glowing with warm tones as the cool air slipped through the open windows. Edelgard scanned the space until her eyes found Hubert lying in one of the clean beds. As she approached him with careful steps she started to take in his current state. White, neatly placed bandages covered most part of the Dark Bishop’s chest, the skin left uncovered still a reddish, inflamed colour that stood out in his fair complexion. His face seemed relaxed, the light accentuating the contrast between his pale skin and the sharpness of his cheekbones.
A loose strand of hair covered Hubert’s right eye, and without noticing, Edelgard reached forward to brush it away. Her hand stopped the moment she felt his skin, the warmth of it sending a shiver down her spine. And there, all at once, it hit her. She almost lost him. She almost lost Hubert. She almost lost the man that had been there for as long as she could remember, the man that remained at her side when she felt the loneliest, always by her during her darkest moments. Her trusted confidant. Her best friend. The man she…
“Edelgard?” a soft voice reached her ears. She looked down to find the greenest eyes she’d ever seen piercing through her. “I’m sorry” Hubert said, as he attempted to sit up. He tried to conceal a hiss that escaped his lips as sharp pain ran through his body.
“Don’t” she said, trying to maintain her composure. She sat down on the chair next to the bed, quickly removing the hand that was still resting on his cheek.
They remained quiet for a few moments, Hubert conceding and lying down again, still looking at her. He was surely expecting some kind of reprimand,already thinking the words to defend himself. But Edelgard knew better than to admonish him. It would be pointless, her saying he was an invaluable member of the Black Eagles Strike Force, and him claiming it was his duty to cut a bloody path for her to walk on. She was still looking for the right words to say when he spoke up.
“Are you hurt? All this blood…”
“It’s yours” Edelgard didn’t let him finish “I am not hurt. This blood is yours”.
Hubert’s eyes widened before he looked down, ashamed “My apologies. For tainting your armour”.
Of course he would do that. Thinking himself unworthy of being something even remotely close to her equal was one of the things Edelgard could resent him for. Because she wanted it. She wanted him to be.
“Don’t do that” she said, feeling tears filling up her eyes. She felt stupid. Stupid for realizing it so late. Stupid for letting it go so far. For not seeing it sooner.
She loved him.
“My Lady…” A rough, blackened hand found its way to her soft cheek, whipping away the tears that were starting to roll down her face. “What have I done?”
Edelgard found Hubert’s hand with hers and brought his palm closer to her lips, kissing it gently. She felt his body stiffen next to her at the intimate contact, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he looked at her with a slight blush creeping up his neck, his lips a tight line.
Feeling brave, Edelgard stood from her chair and kneeled down beside him, his hand still within hers. Mere inches separated their faces now and she could feel his laboured breath and the heat emanating from his body. Without a second thought, and guided only by her raw emotions, she closed the distance between them and pressed a soft kiss on Hubert’s dry lips. She felt his hand relax after a few seconds and he quickly reacted to the kiss, leaning a bit forward towards her. Edelgard pulled away moments after, her lips still lingering above Hubert’s.
“Never, ever, do that again Hubert. Do you understand?” she whispered, only for him to hear.
“Yes, my Lady” he answered, softly, bringing her closer to him in an awkward embrace “I understand”.