Chapter Text
Here, flowers bloomed more easily than they did in Fhirdiad. Even from the balcony of the Capitol building where the Roundtable convened, Ashe could see the clay pots merchants and other commonfolk alike had set out beside their doors. His favorites, of course, were the sea lavenders.
“Enjoying the view?” cut in a familiar voice. Claude propped himself beside Ashe, his left hand brushing against Ashe’s right, all smiles and irresistible charm.
Ashe glanced over at Claude, smiling pointedly. He could see the way Claude’s dark eyes sparkled, and butterflies fluttered inside his stomach. “You could say that,” he replied.
The two of them locked eyes. Claude’s hair ruffled with a gentle waft of sea breeze. Their pinky fingers entwined, hands sliding closer on the stone banister. They leaned together, fingers now entangled.
Someone pushed open the balcony doors.
“There you two are!” exclaimed Sylvain.
Ashe and Claude leaped apart.
Sylvain shoved himself in the middle of them, grinning. “I’ve been looking all over for you! The Roundtable is about to meet, and you know how Lorenz is—”
ve
“Look at that ship! Wow!” Claude suddenly shouted, gesturing dramatically to the harbor.
Ashe jumped nearly a foot in the air and snapped his hand to the back of his neck so fast. He felt the heat in his face, making his pale skin blossom red. He knew that in his own roundabout way, Claude was trying to distract him so that he would feel less uncomfortable while regaining his senses. Yet, that didn’t stop the mortification from manifesting itself.
“What ship?” Sylvain asked.
“The ship,” Claude said with confidence.
“There are hundreds of ships.”
“Exactly.”
Ashe chuckled, despite himself.
Sylvain shook his head, stretching his back and stepping away. “You two are so strange,” he said. “Anyway, I’ll see you guys in a few. Don’t want to be yelled at.”
He raised his hand in a wave and left.
Ashe’s shoulders sagged. “That was close.”
Claude grinned, reaching for Ashe’s hand once more. “If you ask me, not close enough.”