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Inside of her tent, Shez was looking over all of the reports of what had happened when Epimenides had seized control over her body and attacked Byleth from the day prior. Reading through them made her feel embarrassed. Embarrassed that she wasn’t able to put up any kind of mental resistance against it. However, mulling over that now that the situation was over and done with would be pointless. The war deserved her undivided attention and since it was unlikely that something of that nature would happen again, she can hopefully move forward without a hitch.
It was then she heard someone approaching her tent. After turning around, she noticed that it was Felix. Her most common training partner had come to visit her, the merc whistle hanging from the necklace Felix had attached it to. It warmed her heart seeing him wear it like that. She’s grown quite fond of him over the course of fighting alongside each other. She’d love to stay by his side after the war, but she couldn’t tell if Felix reciprocated that sentiment. He’s not much for sentimentality in the grand scheme of things. She may have to just keep the wooden training sword he had given her as the sole keepsake from their time together.
“Shez, may I have a word with you?” His facial expression was as neutral as it usually is, but something about how he asked the question was slightly off. It was less matter of fact and somewhat softer than is to be expected from him.
“Sure thing, Felix.” Shez stood up from her desk chair and turned to face him. “What do you need?”
“I…um…can I close the tent flap? It’s a rather private matter I wish to discuss with you and I don’t need the boar, or Sylvain in the worst case, listening in.” He looked away from her for a moment as he scoped the people in the area. Currently, it was just soldiers who were organizing supplies in the broad daylight. Yet Felix seemed like he desired an answer quickly.
“Oh sure, go right ahead. Is everything alright though?” She was a little nervous at what topic would require privacy. Did she do something else while she was under Epimenides’s control that wasn’t in the reports? As Felix closed the tent flap, Shez couldn’t refrain from twiddling her fingers.
“It’s nothing urgent if that’s what you’re worried about.” That relieved Shez a little bit, but then she felt a little flustered being alone with Felix like this. There was enough light making its way through the closed flap and past its edges so they could still see each other. His face had gone from neutral to showing some concern.
“So…what is it that you need to-” Shez was cut off from speaking as Felix quickly enveloped her in an abrupt hug. His left arm wrapped around her waist while his right hand planted itself on the back of her head, their minimal height difference allowing her chin to rest over his shoulder.
“You idiot…don’t ever scare me like that again.” He said in a stern voice. Shez had no idea how to respond. She never thought Felix would show such affection for her. She liked it though. She really liked it. She eventually wrapped her own arms around him. She could figure why he had asked to close the tent flap now.
“I thought someone was going to have to kill you. Do you have any idea how…how…annoying it would have been to not have you around?” His embrace got slightly tighter, such an action betraying the indifference his words implied.
“Felix…I’m sorry…I really am.” Shez removed her chin from his shoulder and proceeded to bury her eyes in it instead.
“Tch, it’s not your fault…but swear to me it won’t happen again.” Shez felt warm from the way Felix held her. She felt safe. It gave her the confidence to confirm that she won’t disappear like that again.
“I swear, Felix. It won’t happen again.” She found herself clutching the back of his outfit. This tender feeling robbed her of tears that seeped into Felix’s clothing. She didn’t want to leave Felix, or anyone else in the army for that matter.
“Good.” He didn’t say any more and neither did she. They simply held onto each other for some time longer.
When their grips on each other loosened and the hug ended they took a moment to look at each other’s faces. Both of them blushing from the intimate moment.
“Well…I suppose I’ll see you on the training grounds.” Felix then turned to leave the tent as his blush slowly began to fade.
“Nuh uh, that is not how this works, Felix.” Luckily he had already turned to face her when she spoke. She quickly grabbed him by the collar with both hands, spun him around, and then shoved him backward to sit on her bed. His blush came rushing back.
“What are you do-” This time he was interrupted as she leaned down and captured his lips in a kiss. Her hands cupped his face as she did so. Felix was flabbergasted by her boldness, but quickly submitted to it. He wrapped his arms around her once more as he leaned back.
Never breaking the kiss, Shez was now essentially laying on top of him as they continued. Shez looked at him smugly once they finally separated.
“You don’t get to just walk away after confessing your undying love for me like that.” She said before giving him a quick peck on the lips.
“Don’t be a fool. That is not what happened.” He tried to deny it by looking away from her, but his rosy cheeks didn’t do him any favors.
“Whatever you say, Duke Fraldarius.” She turned his head back to face her and captured his lips in another kiss.
“If you don’t love me then why do you keep letting me kiss you?” She raised an eyebrow awaiting his defense.
“You forced them on me.” Shez kissed him again.
“Do you want me to stop?” He furled his eyebrows to appear mad, but Shez knew it was just for show.
“...no.” Another kiss.
“That’s what I thought.”
“Shut up.”
“Make me.”
This time, he’s the one who kissed her.