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“Thanks for taking time to meet with me Teach. I know how busy you must be.”
The comforting aroma of Almyran pine starts to surround them she finishes her sip before responding.
“No, thank you… These days, it’s rare to get such moments of peace...And you seem to have been quite busy yourself…“
Feeling her gaze linger at the bandages on his hands, he finishes his own sip before replying.
“Yes, being Duke unfortunately has its own hazards of papercuts, along with coups and assassinations, as you can see.”
A flit of a wry smile crosses her face before she takes one of the pastries, chewing it thoughtfully as he occupies himself with his tea to steady his nerves, internally cursing Hilda and the others for his current predicament.
The past few years, he’d held his cards close to his chest. Navigating politics and policies, alongside egos and clashing personalities, with strategies and schemes that sometimes even impressed himself; all while he’d kept the Alliance out of conflicts both internal and external. But despite all the practice and success he’d gathered during those years, he found himself fumbling his cards on more than one occasion recently, so badly so that even the most oblivious of his old classmates had picked up on it. And while nothing had been discussed overtly, they all knew, like he, that the catalyst ruining his hands was their favorite Professor coming back into his-their lives.
It had started simply enough. A miscall here or there in her presence, pauses a bit too long as he tried to recall the question he’d been asked or what was even being discussing. But the reality of her being back, of five years of hopes now answered with her return, had upped the ante on his ambitions in ways he hadn’t even fathomed. What had once seemed like far-off pipe dreams now seemed tangible, a possible future materializing from hazy thoughts to sharp actuality. And in each she is always standing by his side, giving him warmth and elation so desirable that he found himself daydreaming for the first time in years.
Which is how he ended up in what Hilda had called a friendly class reunion, and what any sane individual would call a blatant intervention, after one-to-many daydreaming sessions during meetings. Accusations and blame were thrown, but after names ceased being called a resolution was reached. He agreed to a casual tea time with Teach, where he would bring her a gift and confess his feelings, a claim that satisfied his classmates despite being a bluff on his part. In return, the others agreed to follow suit with their own tea times and gifts so that Teach wouldn’t be suspicious and suspect he was scheming something, creating the perfect exit strategy for his bluff to succeed. With all in agreement, they parted ways as Hilda went to schedule their tea times; setting his for a sunny Saturday afternoon that he found himself appreciating despite the arrangement not being exactly of his own choosing.
“…Claude?”
It’s the hint of concern in her tone that snaps him out of it.
“Sorry, what was that?”
He notices her brows furrow ever so slightly to match her tone, though her other features remain stoic as she seems to debate whether it’s worth repeating herself.
“Nothing…You…Seem distracted is all.”
A self-depreciating laugh is his initial deflection.
“Well can you blame me? You suddenly show up after years, same as you were the day you went missing. I’m surprised I’m not more distracted if anything.”
She seems to consider his words before reaching for another pastry.
“…Exactly like five years ago?”
“Yup. Same old Teach I remember. A bit more expressive maybe, but other than that you’ve not changed at all.”
“Expressive?”
Taken aback by his statement, he swears he sees her cheeks redden slightly, but can’t confirm it before the intensity of her gaze causes him to avert his eyes and busy himself with refilling their cups.
“Yeah. When we first met you didn’t show much emotion, or any really. You were such a mystery to me.”
“Were?…Am I no longer?”
He freezes for a moment, still avoiding her gaze as he carefully returns the teapot to the table in a bid for more time to form a response.
“No. Though we've known each other for a while, I'm still fascinated by you, probably always will be, if I’m honest.”
Sipping from her now filled cup as if she was contemplating his response, he took the small box from his pocket and slid it over the table towards her, hoping to distract from any consequences for his lapse into honesty.
Surprisingly she doesn’t question the gift, instead putting down her cup so she can properly remove the ribbon to reveal the contents inside.
“Oh..”
Striking plumes are tied round with colorful thread, alternating one vibrant shade with another. The pattern of bright hues continue, stopping at a sliver of silver that splits into two sharp and gleaming silver hooks. Her eyes take in every detail, fingers confirming each one with light prods and traces as if she’s afraid it will all disappear before her.
“This…Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
“You’re welcome Teach. I hope you like it.”
“I do…Where did you get it?”
“Sorry Teach, got to keep some air of mystery about me. But I’m glad you appreciate the effort it took.”
He reaches for one of the remaining pastries, instead finding the soft warmth of hands, her hands, as they enclose around his and bring them closer for her inspection.
Time itself seems to have stopped as she takes her time, investigating his hands as finely as she did the lure, and all he can do is hold his breath and fight the rising warmth he feels with each brush of her fingers.
It feels like an eternity before she speaks.
“I do…Appreciate the effort that is...I can see it took a great deal...Thank you.”
She releases his hands, while he releases a breath he wasn’t even aware he was holding, as she returns the gift gingerly to its box before placing something from her own pocket in front of him.
He knows the smell before she’s even placed it on the table. The aromatics unlock memories from what felt like a lifetime ago. When his dreams were of running away from the future, though time and distance had transformed the pain to that of homesickness instead of hopelessness.
“How?”
“You don’t smile, truly smile, often, but you did on that day…I could never forget that…And I’m glad to see it back, it suits you.”
The comment makes him realize the smile in question, and he takes his eyes from the sachet to see her with a smile mirroring his own.
“Teach… Now I’m speechless. Which we both know isn’t any easy feat. How did you even get this stuff?”
The wry smile returns, but this time with a glint in her eyes that he’d almost call mischievous.
“Sorry, Claude. I must keep some air of mystery about me in order to keep you fascinated…But I’m glad you appreciate the effort it took.”
The laugh that escapes him is an honest one. Not the kind reserved for pleasantries, but for true happiness he did not think would ever return to him.
“Thanks Teach. Truly, but you didn’t have to get me anything. It’s supposed to be us getting you the gifts, not the other way around.”
“We?”
Her quizzical look is quickly returned by one of his own.
“Your other Golden Deer. Don’t tell me they didn’t get you anything?”
“No?... Hilda said that you wanted to meet with me today, Valentine’s Day, as it was significant to what you wanted to discuss…Was she mistaken?”
He stood absolutely still, the realization that he’d been played a fool, his bluff called, and his hand forced dawning on him all at once. Quickly he considered his options, whether to blame it on a misunderstanding or coincidence, before realizing the implications of her words.
“…and you had no reservations about meeting me under such pretenses on such a day?”
The nonchalant shrug she gives him starkly contrasts the gravity of his situation.
“I’d been meaning to give you those spices…And I recall gift exchanges as being part of the tradition, so it seemed as good a time as any…Though I’ll be honest, I may be missing the finer details of the occasion given…”
She looks solemnly to the north, and he gives her the moments to revisit her grief while he takes stock of the choices in front of him.
She doesn’t know.
His feelings, the significance of the day; all massive oversights on his classmate’s part, but a massive opportunity for him. He could go with his original plan; leave their conversation and relationship as is and tell the others she didn’t reciprocate so they’d leave him be. Then he could simply wait until…What? Things were more certain? When he could confirm for certain that she felt the same, so he wouldn’t have to risk rejection and hurt emotions?
Or…
He picks up the spices again, remembering the elation when he’d purchased them from that merchant in the market all those years ago. How he he’d thought no one had seen him, as he’d let the aromas wash over him to try and replace the foreignness he’d felt in these new lands with the bittersweet memories and familiar otherness of home. How she must have been watching him, even back then, and how determined she must have been to try and bring back his happiness to find them for him. How much she must care…In what way he’s not certain, and though he’s usually not one to gamble…
“It’s a day meant for loved ones to spend time together and exchange gifts, and to confess how they truly feel for one another.”
Eyes snap to his, he lets out a breath and briefly considers running before remembering those dreams have been replaced with better ones worth staying for.
“I love you. With everything I am. I-“
He’s jerked forward by two hands fisted in his overcoat, lips capturing his own amidst shattering porcelain, as he grasps at her shoulders to close any remaining distance with fervor.
The moment seems to last forever yet not long enough as they part, red faced and breathing heavy.
“Sorry. I…Didn’t want our first, to be our last…The kiss, I mean…”
“No, don’t apologize. And it doesn’t have to be. Not if you don’t want it to be.”
“I don’t...Want it to be our last, I-“
It’s her turn to be cut off as he pulls her in for a second kiss, as passionate and breathtaking as the first.
“-love you too…”
Nervous laughter is shared as they break apart, trying and failing to catch the breath they’d stolen from each other.
“Happy Valentines Day Teach.”
“Happy valentines Day Claude…But please…call me Byleth.”
Smiling, he plants a third, but far from last kiss on her crown, and embraces her for the first time of many. Resting his chin where he’d kissed her as his dreams turned to reality before his very eyes, and his future-their future solidified at the worthy cost of ‘losing’ his attempted subterfuge. Though loss is the farthest thought from his mind as he finds her name rolling off his tongue as if it was as familiar as the backs of his unbandaged hands yet sounding as new as the glimmering dawn that laid ahead of them.
“Happy Valentines Day …Byleth.”