Work Text:
Swapping roles
Festivities were starting in the Varley's estate. It was a feast in honor of the knights, the soldiers and the mecernaries who fought against a huge organization of bandits two days ago. The combats had been hard, because a few black mages from old times tried to meddle in this affair.
Anyhow, Lady Varley and her companions showed enough courage and strengh to defeat them, and now was the time of celebrations.
"Lord Von Aegir, Lord Jose Gauthier, Sir Von Bergliez and Sir Duran all graced us with their presence Milady."
Bernadetta raised an eyebrow at her butler, unsure. She bit her lips while scanning the room for these famous guests. Her old classmates had come in numbers when she sent a message for help. A few of them already went back home, to their people, but these four stayed behind, at least for the party.
She caught sight of Sylvain right away. He was sitting near the buffet, eating, drinking and laughing loudly to the jokes of his knights. If his fiery red hair weren't enough to notice him, his imposing stature made him stand out anyway. As always, Ashe remained by his side, a little in the back. He was much more reserved, almost awkward in this loud crew. But he was smiling to the good jokes of his Lord, and Bernadetta did not miss how he was making sure Sylvain's plate didn't go empty. Their relationship was a mystery to her, and to most of their friends actually. She thought the red haired was in love with Ingrid or Dimitri or Felix, or maybe the three at once. Still, him and Ashe seemed happy, and that was what mattered to her.
Ferdinand watched over the party from the side. Whether in combat or during a ball, he appeared serious, determined. One and only one girl could make him lost all focus, but she had left as soon as the battle was over in search of a new mission. The best mercenary of Fodlan never took a break, and her lover had to deal with that on his own. Thankfully, he didn't look sad, simply calm. Bernadetta made a mental note to talk to him later.
"I don't see Caspar anywhere." she said, more to herself than her butler.
Poor guy had been waiting for her all this time.
"Go have some fun, I'll find him." the Lady decided.
It was unusual for Caspar Von Bergliez to miss a party. The feast, the music, the cheery and loud atmosphere, it was all he could ask for, wasn't it? Bernadetta walked along the corridor with the feeling of being a stranger in her own home.
Since his father was gone, she felt like ghosts were living with her in this shady castle. And yet, she couldn't find the courage to move away. Yuri made things easier usually, but the man was gone for a while now. One of these mission of his, which he didn't bother explain. Like always.
She arrived in front of Caspar's room. The door was closed, but she heard some noises inside. So he was hiding all this time? Weird.
"Hey" Bernadetta knocked. "I'm usually the one running away from people, are you alright?"
"Bernie?!"
Something fell. A few loud steps resonated in the room, and she could swear he almost banged into the door.
"Uh... Hi!" Caspar exhaled, but he didn't open. "I'm... I'm uh... a little busy."
This sounded suspicious. Bernadetta was the expert of lame excuses and such. She knew when someone was trying to remain locked in their room. She invented the concept.
"The celebrations already began." she told him. "C'mon, you're the best dancer of Fodlan, you need to be there."
The ball at the academy had been a revelation for everyone. The young man was a great warrior, a wonderful friend, a very big eater, but above all, he was a divine dancer. Having him dance at a party meant it was a success, so Lady Varley needed him.
"Uh... Sorry, I don't see that happening..." Caspar said.
It only arose Bernadetta's suspicion. The guy loved to dance!
"There's also food." she suggested.
His passion for a good feast was pretty well known, and she expected him to finally comes out for that. But fate decided otherwise, because he declined. Again.
"Nah, I'm not particulary hungry."
And that was a big fat lie, because he had always been, and would always be hungry. Hungry was his middle name.
"Okay, since you're so hung up about being me, I'm going to act like you too." warned Bernadetta.
And with these wise words, she broke the door down.
It hurt like hell, but she was in. Now, all she had to do was drag her friend to the party, right? But what she saw only added to her confusion. Caspar was facing her, clearly amazed by her impromptu entrée. He looked good, and clearly ready for the party.
He wore a nice robe, which hugged his belly's curve rather nicely. He had done his hair the best could, and even chose bracelets.
"So." Bernadetta smiled, feeling pretty confident. "You coming?"
Caspar blushed.
"N... no, sorry. Please, go away?"
This was really the world upside down. He sounded so like her, she wanted to hug him, laugh at him and punch him at the same time. She did nothing of the sort, obviously, and asked instead:
"Can you at least tell me what's wrong?"
He got redder, if that was possible, and put his hands behind his back, like a little kid. Even in his twenties, he managed to look cute!
"I just can't go out..." he mumbled. "People will laugh at me!"
Well, he never striked Bernadetta as the insecure type. He had always been so loud and flashy, particulary in the middle of the battle.
"Dude. You're handsome, trust me." she assured.
It was only the plain truth. Caspar might be very gay and very taken, she still had eyes. And she intended to use them when he would finally dance! Back when they were kid, he had had this whole cute short boy thing for him. Now, he was still cute, he was still short and he was still a boy and it just made him very appealing. The fact he got chumby only made it better, according to Bernadetta. That was a very hot man in front of her, and she wanted him at the party where all these knights and their brothers'd see him.
But Caspar didn't budge. In fact, he even moved further back into the room.
"You're making this very difficult." she grumbled. "But I'm not old lil' Bernie!"
She went straight for his ass. Which was a funny choice of word, considering what happened after.
In an attempt to escape her, the young man tried to back up while watching her. He was about to jump in his bed when he tripped on the rug, and fell face first onto the ground.
"Wh...AAAH"
And she saw it. A butt. Two perfectly round, plump cheeks. Saw it, as in, there was no fabric to hide this marvelous rear from her view. The robe had a big hole, for everyone to see. Bernadetta let out a laugh. Then she couldn't control it, she laughed and laughed. Caspar awkwardly stood up, and he pouted, which made the whole thing even more hilarious.
"That's... That's what you wanted to hide? How did this happen anyway?"
"Well, I'm taking magic lessons with Marianne, remember?" he explained. "And I've played with fire, literal fire. 'Cept I have no control over it apparently."
The fact Caspar Von Bergliez, the champion of fist fights, had been learning magic was a hot topic among their friends. Who would have thought? But their old professor had been adamant about it, and the blue haired boy had no choice but to comply.
"You know you can just wear something else?" Bernadetta told him.
"Duh! I have nothing but armors here!" Caspar whined. "It was a combat mission, not a damn party mission!"
Why was he separating them exactly? All battle missions ended up with celebrations, even he couldn't ignore that?
"I can lend you clothes."
the young woman said with patience.
A vertu she was losing with each passing second.
"But you weren't there! I'd to go all the way to the party butt naked to get you!"
Bernatta closed her eyes. Took a deep sigh. She decided to not argue over the fact he could have worn anything, ANYTHING else to find her, and ask for suitable clothes. Or the fact half the knights in the dining hall were actually in their armors.
"Just wait here, and I'll bring something 'kay?" she opted to said instead.
"Really?" Caspar smiled, full of hope. "Thank you so much!"
He was really one of kind.