Chapter Text
Night after night, the renowned former Captain of the Knights of Seiros made his rounds after finishing up his reports. He would check the audience chamber, the council room, the infirmary, all but the library were usually empty by the end of the day. Back when he served his first term, the second floor would be a ghost town, only his hollow footsteps and watchful eye occupying the space. This term was different. Without fail, he would always spot warm light peeking through from underneath Seteth’s office doors. Most of the time, the door was closed, signaling that he did not want to be disturbed unless it was an absolute emergency. Jeralt recalls the first and only time he knocked on the archbishop’s advisor door after hours.
Followed by swift footsteps, the green haired man swung the door open in an obvious panic.
“What’s the matter? Did something happen?”
“No.” Tense shoulders began to sink but square up underneath intricate robes. “I was just-“
“Please refrain from knocking on my door at this time if not for an urgent matter.” With a furrowed brow, he slammed the door shut.
Jeralt vowed to never do that again. From that day on, he was sure to keep his distance but remain cordial. As long as Jeralt respected Rhea and Flayn, Seteth did not have an issue. He did, however, catch the advisor stealing glances every now and then. Jeralt would return the look with a small smirk, to which Seteth would frown a bit then look away. It was almost like he was trying to say something. They both left it alone.
On a new day a few moons after their encounter, one of the doors was cracked. The Captain hesitated before pushing the door open more, still haunted by his last after hours visit.
“Seteth?” The gruff voice came out smaller than it ever had. He hadn’t used that tone since…
“Yes, Captain?” Jeralt could not quite see Seteth yet, so he took a step inside. He saw the usually tense, uptight man more visibly relaxed than he’d ever seen him. He was seated at his desk with his writing table, his quill now sitting in his pot of ink. There was no annoyance, no urgency, maybe even sadness.
“Uh… are you alright in here?” The Captain hovered by the entryway, his rough fingers gripping the edge of the door.
“Yes.” He answers inquisitively before lowering his gaze to his parchment. The advisor takes a breath and Jeralt knows a lecture is coming. He always does this in meetings. “Actually, I have something I want to say to you.”
“What did I do?” Jeralt laughs humorlessly, his body becoming tense.
“Nothing. It is actually something I did. I…” Seteth struggles to find the words for a moment, his hands now clasping together in his lap. His gaze lifts to hold the Captain’s, his green eyes shimmering in the candlelight. This sight catches Jeralt off guard, his breath stilling. “Are you alright, Captain?”
With a rough exhale through his nose, Jeralt nods and motions for the advisor to continue.
“I want to apologize for the way I snapped at you before.” Jeralt perks up. “I know that you make a habit of patrolling the area after your shift, Rhea informed me of this shortly after our encounter.”
Was this remorse? Jeralt had never seen or heard what this was like from Seteth. He did not like it.
“It’s not a problem, don’t worry about it.”
“No, it is. I possibly created an unhealthy distance between us and I truly apologize.” His brows drew together as he continued. “This was around the same time that Flayn… I was just…”
“It’s fine, Seteth.” Jeralt finally smiled, the tension melting away from his body. “I appreciate your apology and forgive you. I didn’t know about your rule ahead of time.”
“I did not make it clear. I… I was hoping you’d stop by if I did not fully close the door. I suppose it worked.” The advisor began to smile but stopped himself, his lips pressing together firmly instead.
“It did and now I guess I’ll proceed with my protocol.” Jeralt did his best to sound official, this now earning him a slight grin. “Is there anything you need assistance with?”
“No, I am alright in here. Thank you.”
“What are you doing, anyway? You’re always here so late.” The Captain crossed his arms over his chest, his head cocking to the side out of curiosity. This causes Seteth to sit up a little straighter.
“Well, I am writing.”
“Paperwork? Scriptures?” Jeralt chuckles to himself, earning him a quick, harmless scowl from the opposing party.
“No. I do not have much free time during the day for creative writing so I…” The advisor turns his head slightly, as if he was embarrassed by what he was admitting. If the room hadn’t been so dim, Jeralt could have sworn he saw a blush spread across his cheeks.
“Creative writing, huh? What genre?” Jeralt takes a few more steps into the room, electing to sit on the corner of Seteth’s desk. This all felt so natural to the Captain. For Seteth, less so.
“I write fables. When Flayn was born, I was inspired to write stories for her and I guess I never really stopped.” Seteth admits with a bit of hesitation in his voice, hoping this response does not inspire further questioning. Of course he was wrong.
“You wrote stories for your sister? That’s pretty sweet of you.” Jeralt smirks, the light now catching his gaze. Seteth stiffly nods, his eyes widening a bit.
“Well, I… I can be. I suppose.”
“Will you read me one?”
“What?” Seteth could feel his face growing warmer, sure of the fact that Jeralt was setting him up.
“I wanna hear one. Please?” The Captain smiles innocently as the archbishop’s advisor narrows his gaze.
“Okay. This one is about a meddling fox and a worrisome squirrel…”
Time.
“Somehow I think you just made that up on the spot.” Jeralt furrows his brow as he adjusts his seated position. Seteth simply smirks.
“Did it resonate?”
“It did and I think I got the hint.” Jeralt lowers his gaze, to where Seteth finally stands and stretches his limbs.
“Good.” The green haired man stands to blow out the candles that were lit around the room, leaving the two men in the moonlight that peered through the large window. “I will take my leave.”
“I can walk you to your quarters.” Jeralt does not know what possesses him to even offer. Seteth does not know what possesses him to nod and lead them out the office then down the hall.
The two chat idly about the professor, Flayn’s progress under their guidance, and their plans for the following day. Once they reach the door to his quarters, Seteth turns to the Captain with an unusual look on his face.
“What did I do now?” Jeralt rolls his eyes and leans against the door, his lips resting in a sly grin. Seteth is still for a moment.
“There is something familiar about you.” The words catch both of them off guard.
“I don’t think we met before I got here.”
“We did not but still, you remind me of someone.”
“Funny,” Jeralt shifts to stand up straight, causing him to look down at Seteth. “I can say the same about you.”
“And who would that be?” The advisor was careful not to speak too loud, not wanting to awaken Flayn in the next room over. He notices Jeralt hesitate before saying the name aloud.
“Sitri. My wife.”
Seteth’s breath catches in his throat. He has seen that name before in his rummaging through documents Rhea hid from him. In Abyss…
“Is my presence sore for you?” The advisor recovers seamlessly, more concerned for the man with the sad eyes in front of him.
“No, quite the opposite. You know, Flayn sort of looks like her... and you act like her when you’re being nice.”
“Am I really so harsh at other times?” Seteth remarks humorlessly, causing Jeralt to laugh.
“You can be intimidating. I prefer this side of you, it’s almost like you’re a person.” This earns the Captain another scowl, which makes him laugh again. “Aww, stop that. You know I’m joking.”
“Right.” Seteth says this with a huff, something Jeralt was also accustomed to.
“Well in that case, I will take my leave for the night and let you get some rest.” Jeralt starts to back away to make an escape before he sees Seteth make a connection behind his eyes. He opens his mouth to speak but before he can, a door from next door swings open, startling both men.
“Brother, it is quite late and you’re usually-“ Flayn stops speaking when she notices Jeralt peering over Seteth’s shoulder, his hand raised in a polite greeting. “Oh! Well, hello Captain Jeralt! I will let you two finish your conversation.”
“Well actually Flayn,” before Seteth can finish his escape into her room, the door closes, leaving a disgruntled advisor and a beaming captain.
“Pardon my frankness, but you are the most easily flustered person I’ve ever met.” Jeralt says with a hearty laugh as Seteth fails to recover. He instinctively goes to tuck his hair behind his ear but stops halfway.
“I only react like this because I know Flayn. She will believe anything but the truth. Once, I was chatting with Manuela after one of her lectures and she started a rumor that we were seeing each other.” Seteth recalls this story with more annoyance than fondness, but the love is still there when he speaks of her. Jeralt admires this.
“C’mon, would it be so bad to be mixed into a rumor with me?” Jeralt leans against Seteth’s door again, blocking the only other escape.
“I’m more so concerned for your sake.”
“Nonsense, you’re a catch. Well maybe if you smiled more.” Jeralt says this only to get under the advisor’s skin- and of course it works.
“Maybe if certain people didn’t miss daily reports, I would.”
“That was one time, I got it done!”
“Three days later.”
The pair laugh at each other, almost like they’ve finally broken the ice and can now…
“I should be off. I have reports myself that must be completed before my lecture.” Seteth is cautious about his smile, not wanting to show off too much. He uses his hand before Jeralt ever so gently pulls it down, surprisingly to little resistance.
“You have nothing to hide, Ci-“
“Don’t. I am not him. Not right now.”
“I think you are more than ever but I won’t pry. Goodnight, Seteth.” Jeralt finally stands up straight, bows, then turns on his heel to complete the rest of his patrol.
The Captain of the Knights of Seiros was a dangerous one to keep around. He was smart, putting it together that the saints reside among students and staff alike. He was a part of their secret, after all. Seteth felt uneasy about this all the same, turned to open his door, stepped inside, and put his face in his hands. Perhaps one day, he could learn to live his truth. But not today.