#8 from the heartbreaking prompts “how many times has he told you he doesn’t love you?” for hudue (but you can have it be like. The line applies to a different unrequited ship if you want. Or not.)
Love any excuse to come back to these two.
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Dedue watched as Ignatz trod on Dimitri’s foot for a third time. With a wave of her hand, Dorothea signaled for the violinist to stop playing and moved forward to correct Ignatz’s position. Red bloomed on Ignatz’s cheeks but Dimitri seemed more amused than anything else. Under Dorothea’s instruction, the couple readjusted their arms, then the dancing began again. Dimitri leaned forward and murmured something to Ignatz that made them both smile.
“Too much work for a first dance if you ask me.” Felix had appeared at Dedue’s side, leaning back against the wall with disinterest-- though his eyes were trained on the king and his fiancé. “You’re off duty,” Felix continued.
“I merely came to check their progress,” Dedue said. There had been some improvement since yesterday but he was still glad Dorothea had stepped in to assist them.
Felix grunted. Crossing his arms, he said, in a low voice Dedue only barely heard above the violin, “How many times has he told you he doesn’t love you?”
Dedue looked at him. “Who?”
“The boar. You’ve been acting strange lately. I hope you’re not pining after him or something. Every woman in Fódlan is already doing that.”
“I am not pining for His Majesty.”
“Good.”
Dedue couldn’t help a small smile. “Are you worried for me, Felix?”
Felix scowled and uncrossed his arms. “Even lapdogs deserve to be happy. That’s all I’m saying.”
The music stopped again, and they both looked up to find Ignatz rubbing his shoulder and Dorothea lecturing a flushed Dimitri about holding on too tight. Dedue shook his head. “His Majesty knows how I feel about him. But I appreciate your concern.” Felix didn’t seem to think that was worth responding to, so Dedue merely nodded to him and left the room.
Castle Fhirdiad was growing busier by the day. The wedding was still a week away, but everyone had a part to play in getting things ready. Edelgard’s arrival seemed to have impressed upon the staff how close they were getting to the big day-- and Claude’s arrival in a few days would surely increase activity tenfold.
But Dedue had the evening off. So he made his way to his rooms without pause. Inside, he found quite the welcome sight.
Hubert sat on the couch before the roaring fire, holding a book in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, already dressed down for the night. When he saw Dedue, Hubert put down the coffee but kept reading the book.
Dedue began taking off his armor. “I believe Felix expressed sympathy towards me just now,” he said in greeting.
“We should speak to Mercedes about getting him looked over,” Hubert replied dryly. He turned a page. “What did he say?”
“He seems to think I am secretly in love with His Majesty and thus in pain over his engagement.”
“Hm.”
“He said I deserve to be happy.”
“On that we agree.”
Free from his armor, Dedue sat beside Hubert and lifted his arm in invitation. Hubert filled the spot without hesitation, fitting against Dedue’s side and letting out a sigh. “Perhaps it’s time we told everyone,” Hubert said, closing the book at last.
“Perhaps.” Dedue tucked his chin over Hubert’s head. The smell of coffee still lingered, a scent Dedue associated with Hubert so much that it never failed to set him at ease. “His Majesty and Emperor Edelgard took the news of our relationship well enough. But I would hate to distract from the wedding preparation.”
Hubert let out a snort of amusement. “You show your pride in the strangest ways sometimes. You truly believe news of us would distract an entire castle?”
“Not the entire castle, no. Our friends, maybe. Felix most definitely.”
“Well then. For Felix’s sake, let us hold off a little longer.”
Dedue hummed his agreement, wrapping an arm around Hubert. “Just a little longer,” he repeated.
He didn’t mind, really. As much as Dedue enjoyed the image of dancing with Hubert at the wedding the way other couples would be, there was something nice about keeping Hubert all to himself. It certainly made moments like this-- relaxing against one another after a trying day-- all the more special.
