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Hapi knocked on Seteth’s study door but didn’t wait for a reply before letting herself inside. “There you are,” she said, shutting the door behind her and ignoring Seteth’s glare.
Standing before the desk was Byleth, her quarry. And her husband. Somehow he made that ridiculous Archbishop outfit work– looking regal and imposing rather than pompous and arrogant. A fact Hapi usually liked to point out in Seteth’s presence because it caused him to turn interesting colors.
But there was no time for that today, and Seteth already looked troubled enough having Hapi barge into his office. As if it was her fault he didn’t lock his door during meetings.
Byleth held out a hand to Hapi, pulling her closer when she took it. “What is it?” He asked. Seteth grumbled under his breath and shuffled a few papers, but Byleth ignored him.
“I’m leaving for Coco’s now instead of after lunch. This is your last chance to come with me.”
“Why the change?”
Hapi threaded their fingers together idly. “There’s a storm coming in from the east. If I leave now, I won’t get caught in it.” She cocked her head at him. “You sure you don’t wanna surprise her for her birthday? We could say it’s good for relations with the former Empire or some nonsense like that.
Byleth chuckled. “No, I should stay.” He lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss over her wedding ring. “Be careful on the road,” he said in a solemn voice.
Some folks complained that the new Archbishop was hard to read. Hapi, however, could read her husband perfectly. And right now he was already worried sick and wishing he wasn’t the new Archbishop.
“I will,” Hapi said. “Don’t let this place fall apart without me.” That got another smile from Byleth. Hapi drew him close and kissed his smile.
She expected him to pull away after a few heartbeats with a final reminder to keep safe. Instead, Byleth opened his mouth to her, squeezing her hand firmly. It broke her heart a little, this plain display of regret, and she wished the weather hadn’t changed. She wished he didn’t have to say behind. She wished that Constance could just come celebrate in Abyss with the rest of their friends.
Hapi sighed as Byleth’s tongue slipped into her mouth. It was only two weeks, she consoled herself as she cupped his cheek. She had waited five years for him. She could do two measly weeks. And so could he.
When they parted, they still stood close enough that their noses brushed together. Byleth tilted his head up to kiss her forehead. “I love you,” he murmured.
Hapi kissed his chin. “I love you too, Chatterbox.” She stepped away but held his hand and his gaze for a moment longer.
Then she finally spared Seteth a proper look.
Seteth had turned almost completely around in his seat, eyes fixed resolutely on the window behind his desk. Hapi snorted. “See yah, Setty.”
He never responded to his nickname so it was a mark of how flustered he had become that he waved a hand vaguely in her direction. Apparently Byleth had forgotten he was there entirely, for he whipped his head around to stare at Seteth with a red face. Hapi’s laugh was almost a cackle.
With a final squeeze of her husband’s hand, Hapi left the study, ready to face the long journey at last.