claudebert "nurse me" bc I just know that between the two of them there has to be at least one or two times where they've ingested just a bit too much poison trying to build an immunity, and who better to care for you than the one who knows exactly what you're going through??
Okay but you are absolutely right??? Like who better to take care of you than the person who does the exact same thing (even if its for slightly different reasons)
i’m also. so sorry about how long this took to write sdklfjkldj you can carbon date how old this is
Leave a “Nurse Me” in my ask, and I’ll write a drabble about one character healing another.
Technically, Claude had absolutely nothing to do with this. He had only overheard about what happened from Teach. Although that was slightly inaccurate. It was more like Claude spotted an unconscious Hubert being carried off to the infirmary by Teach, and decided it would be in his best interests to follow.
Okay, maybe not “it was more like”, but instead, “that was what actually happened”.
So Claude followed Teach all the way to the infirmary, staying right outside the door and listening to Teach as they told Manuela that they’d found Hubert collapsed inside his room when they went to check on him after he never showed up to class.
It only took Manuela a couple minutes to declare that Hubert had been poisoned - and as soon as Manuela said that, Claude knew immediately what had happened. After all, Hubert wasn’t the only one in the monastery that dabbled with poisons. Claude would admit to poking his head into Hubert’s room every so often to see what the latter had been dabbling in as of late, and maybe get some ideas for his own projects. Not that Claude would ever fully step foot in Hubert’s room without double and triple checking every step he took; he knew a booby-trapped room when he saw one, and just knowing Hubert, there were probably several other traps set up.
All that aside, he ended up stepping out of the hallway, graciously offering to look after Hubert while Manuela looked for an antidote. Teach barely seemed phased to see him appear from the doorway, even as Manuela jumped in surprise. And after a long, long lecture about just watching Hubert long enough to prepare an antidote, and not doing anything else, she conceded in letting him watch over Hubert.
And now here he was, observing an unconscious Hubert as he rested on one of the infirmary’s cots. Not even five minutes into his watch, and Claude could see Hubert slowly waking up.
As soon as Hubert’s eyes were open, blearily glancing around the room before landing on Claude, he couldn’t help but tease him a little. “So, too big a dose, huh?"
The scowl on Hubert’s face, as well as his stubborn silence, told Claude loud and clear that he was definitely correct.
“C’mon Hubie, this isn’t your first go at doing things like this. I mean, the great Hubert von Vestra, accidentally poisoning himself because he wasn’t paying attention?” Claude kept his tone light and joking as he took the cloth that was on Hubert’s head, dipping it back in the basin and squeezing out the excess water before placing it back on Hubert’s head.
The look on Hubert’s face was stony. “Do not call me that.”
“Aww, but your classmates seem to be able to call you that!”
“Not by my choice.”
Claude chuckled a little, before letting out a little sigh. Hubert gave him a rather confused look.
“Seriously though, be careful. I mean, if something happens to you, who’s gonna be watching over Her Imperialness?” Claude meant for it to be teasing, but it ended up coming out a lot more concerned and worried than he intended. Something in Hubert’s expression seemed to soften at that, though it quickly smoothed over as he looked away.
“I don’t believe you have any right to be lecturing me about this. All that aside...I simply miscalculated. That’s all.” Hubert’s voice was quiet, though there was something just a little more...vulnerable, about it, than before.
Claude decided not to mention it. Hubert similarly stayed silent. They stayed in that comfortable silence for a few minutes, with Claude just sitting by Hubert’s bedside as Hubert lay there. Claude’s thoughts had begun to wander off - though not by much, as he still picked up on the mumbling Hubert had been doing.
"What was that? Sorry, could you repeat that? Didn't hear you."
He did, in fact, hear what Hubert said.
Hubert didn't seem to know this - or maybe he did - because he grimaced at that. His cheeks turned a little more red as well, which Claude suspected wasn't just because of the fever.
"I...simply said thank you." Hubert's voice was only marginally louder, but it was enough for Claude to smile.
(An almost genuine smile, something he didn't realize until later on.)
"No problem," Claude said easily, making a dismissive motion with his hand for emphasis. "Although, I do expect you to return the favor~"
He punctuated that last word with a wink, laughing a little internally when he saw how Hubert's face further reddened. Sure, he tried to hide it by turning his face away, but Claude still saw it before he could.
Honestly, Claude wasn't expecting a response. He would've been fine without one, either; he knew Hubert well enough to know he'd pretend this never happened, unless forced to by Edelgard (which basically meant having Hubert willing to owe you a favor was as likely reaching into the sky and grabbing moonlight with your bare hands).
So color him surprised when suddenly, Hubert spoke.
"Only because you helped me. I see no issue as long as your request is reasonable."
Claude stared, completely stunned into silence. After a moment of silence, Claude felt his expression shift into something alarmingly soft. Almost vulnerable.
"Yeah. I'll hold you to that."
(Not much later, when Claude has miscalculated a dose of his own and ended up bedridden, Hubert appeared to watch over him, claiming that this was him repaying the debt he owed. Even as Claude threw out the occasional flirt or tease from his bed, Hubert stayed.)
(Even if it didn't last, Hubert thought, it was...nice. To take care of someone he...he cared about. Like this.)
(He couldn't help but wish that he could be by Claude's side for more than just when he was ill.)
It's Claude's birthday today! So how about some Angsty pining towards Claude from Hubert's POV? 👀
And this is the second Claudebert request I had in my inbox! If its angsty pining you want, its angsty pining you'll get :D
Hubert couldn't and wouldn't be able to answer as to when exactly the Riegan heir had found a place in his heart. But he found one all the same, charming his way there with words and disarming smiles and surprising moments of vulnerability.
Hubert found himself often dreaming of things he never would have otherwise; dreaming of perhaps courting Claude, them being able to live their lives together, maybe even growing old together - the last of which often had him waking up with a start because Vestras were never meant to spend their lives with someone other than their liege. That had been what his father always taught.
Not that it mattered much. Soon enough, Lady Edelgard began her war, and any chance Hubert may have had of courting Claude shattered into pieces.
(Try as he might, the horror-stricken look on Claude's face when he warped in to Lady Edelgard's side....he may have done terrible things over the years, but that would haunt him to his end.)
And here he was now. Standing in Enbarr, uselessly musing over a life he could've led once upon a time. Maybe if things had gone differently, he could have been allowed to love the being known as Claude von Riegan. Maybe he would've been privy to the secrets Claude kept locked up tight within his mind, as Claude would be privy to his. Maybe on late nights, he would have been the one to usher the duke to bed if not the other way around.
Maybe Claude von Riegan could have loved him back.
He shook his head. He couldn't...stand here and pine anymore. He knew he was on the losing side of a war, and his deeds would never allow him to live on. His former classmates would never allow it. The most he could do was leave behind his findings on Shambala, helping them in the one way he knew how.
He forced a grin upon his face. He would keep his feelings for the duke under lock and key, and they would stay that way. Forever, it would seem.
Hubert knew he didn't deserve to love Claude von Riegan, and it seemed the world had known that as well.
(The moment Hubert's body fell to the ground, Claude felt his hands tremble. They never trembled before. Before he realized it, Failnaught had dropped to the ground, landing on the stone as he tried fruitlessly to stop the tears welling up in his eyes.
He had loved Hubert von Vestra. But he knew that there had been no other way.
Hubert and Claude: [start courting] Everyone else in Fodlan: "Oh Goddess help us they've teamed up"
In honor of Claude's birthday, I'm gonna try and knock out the Claudebert requests in my inbox! I've got one other to do....thats...angst...BUT THATS BESIDES THE POINT
Initially, when Hubert and Claude begin courting, there's a schoolwide outbreak of chills down spines and cold sweats. After all both had far from positive reputations, considering Claude's tendencies with poison and Hubert's general demeanor. Even those close to the two are more than a little wary. There's even doubt that the two are truly in love at all, with rumors spreading that the two only entered this courtship in order to try prying secrets from one another.
As time passes though, at least those close to them can see how the two do truly care for one another. Hilda is shocked to see an unconscious Claude being almost cradled in Hubert's arms one night, but before she can run to get help, Hubert shushes her and tells her that Claude has only now finally fallen asleep after more than one all nighter in a row, and he would like to keep it that way. That had certainly shut her up as she followed Hubert to his room (because Claude's was too cluttered supposedly), with a surprisingly gentle reverence as he tucked Claude into bed.
Once, Edwlgard had gone searching for Hubert, more than a little worried to see that her normal shadow wasn't present at all, only to find him in the infirmary, a tired Claude sitting at his bedside.
"Hubert here pushed himself too hard, so I did you a favor and made sure he got to the infirmary before he passed out. No need to thank me Princess!" Claude had said before Edelgard or Hubert could get a single word out. Though as soon as Edelgard turned to leave, a quick glance back told her that her oldest friend was in good hands - after all, if Claude was openly showing worry for someone else, he must truly care for them.
And even if most of the school isn't able to quite wrap their heads around their courtship (which at times doesn't even appear to be such - after all, they're hardly to type to do couple-y things often), those closest to them can tell that they truly do care for one another.
