Flayn not only loved to fish, and eat fish – it turned out that she also swam like a fish too. Myles was astonished by how long the tiny green-haired girl was able to stay underwater and the distance she could travel in a very short time. Unfortunately, her level of skill was proving to mean nothing but trouble for him. One minute he was lazily floating on his back, gazing up at the almost cloudless sky in peaceful contentment and then the next he was choking and spluttering as his personal nemesis dragged him under the water in an explosion of strength and energy that quite belied her size.
'Either your da or my da is gonna tan my hide if you keep this up.' Myles complained when the fourth or maybe the fifth assault he suffered cumulated in Flayn clinging tightly around his neck and refusing to let go.
'I hardly think so.' Flayn retorted smugly. 'Your father thoroughly approves of the idea of you courting me...' Myles choked a little at that. '... And my brother is far too busy making puppy-eyes at Byleth to even notice what we are getting up to!'
'We aren't getting up to anything...' Myles pointed out in exasperation. 'You are...' Her hands were beginning to wander across his chest... again.
'You are such a prude!' Flayn giggled letting go of him and launching herself backwards into the water to float happily on its surface.
Myles heaved a sigh of relief and glanced over covertly to where Seteth, Jeralt and Byleth were fishing – fully expecting Seteth to be thundering towards him with a faceful of murderous intent. Of course, as usual, Flayn turned out to be entirely correct in her observation. Seteth was sufficiently distracted, obviously deeply invested in his conversation with Byleth. The two of them were comfortably reclined a little way away from Jeralt who had also cast his line but appeared to be snoozing in the shade of the tree.
'See!' Flayn asserted. 'We could be getting up to anything, and Seteth wouldn't bat an eyelid...' There was definitely a demand in the undertone of her words.
'I wonder why Byleth hasn't come and joined us...' Myles mused -choosing to completely ignore Flayn's outrageous flirt.
Flayn sighed heavily at being denied but paddled to his side and looked out over to the others thoughtfully.
'Byleth told me that dipping in a river is an activity that's only meant for the purpose of washing oneself.' She replied seriously. 'I don't think she ever got the opportunity to to do many things with just the intention of having fun.'
'Huh. She said that?' Myles looked wistful. 'You are probably right, flower. There can't have been much time for good honest play while living on the road.'
Flayn slipped her hand into his consolingly. 'Maybe we could do something about that.' She suggested. '... Since you seem intent on wasting this opportunity for romping with me anyway!'
'It's your own fault, you know!' Myles suddenly grinned, staring down at her with a wicked glint in his eye.
'My fault? Well, excuse me, Mr Responsible, but I believe I have been almost shameful in my attempts to entice you!' Flayn sniffed.
'Mhmm. You sure have...' Myles' beam broadened. 'Trouble is, if I were to start manhandling you, then you would start with the girly squealing. Can hardly keep things on the low-down with your banshee wailing bringing attention...'
'I do not squeal! How very rude!' Flayn said crossly.
'Oh, no?' Myles' brow raised at her.
'No!' She said firmly.
Myles launched himself at her, grabbing for her legs to unbalance her and pull her down under the surface. Immediately Flayn erupted into loud and high-pitched giggles before they were drowned out by the water rushing over her head.
When the two of them came up for air, not only was Jeralt sitting up, fully awake with a shit-eating grin on his face, but Seteth was being physically restrained by Byleth, who was holding onto his arm and whispering something soothing into his ear.
'I am so very very dead...' Myles smirked at Flayn who was still wrapped around him tightly. 'Look's like you're going need to find yourself a new schmuck to torment, flower... Once Seteth has finished with me!'
'Oh, I don't know...' Flayn chirped merrily. 'Byleth appears to have him well in hand once again. A fine result all round to my mind!' She added in satisfaction, ruffling Myles' hair affectionately and then kicking at his shins to topple him again.
'You are an insatiable woman.' Myles groaned as he found himself being dunked for what had to be the umpteenth time.
.
'Not even a tiny bit of violence?' Seteth moaned miserably, finally managing to tear his gaze from his daughter and back to the beautiful pools of warm blue that were regarding him calmly.
'I've only just discovered my brother, Seteth... I'd appreciate having him around for just a little while longer.' Byleth smiled. 'Besides...' She added, moving closer to his ear conspiratorially 'I think you'll find that Flayn is absolutely the one to blame for their horseplay. She has been goading him the entire time that they have been in the water.'
'I don't doubt it in the slightest.' Seteth sighed and turned to check the stability of his fishing rod before settling himself back down into a marginally more relaxed stance.
'It should also be considered that as long as Flayn is distracted by Myles... she isn't being distracted by anyone less honourable...'
'True.' Seteth agreed. 'I'm afraid you must think me ridiculously possessive.' He sighed again.
'Oh, yes... You really are quite terrible!' She agreed with a chuckle. 'How awful it is, that you care so much for your daughter and her happiness...'
'And her safety...' Seteth mumbled.
'I do believe that Myles's affection is entirely genuine.' Byleth consoled him patiently. 'I know that he would die before he'd allow for any harm to come to your daughter.'
'I do appreciate that. I really do.' Seteth agreed, looking away into the distance blankly. 'I once felt the very much same way about the woman I married, and yet... here I sit alive and well, having failed to protect her when she needed me the most.'
Byleth exhaled a small hiss of dismay and reached out carefully to cover his hand with her own.
Seteth sat up sharply. 'My apologies Byleth...' He said quickly. 'Such thoughts should not be invading our conversation – especially not on your birthday of all days. Please... Forgive me! I fear that I find you rather too easy to talk to...'
Byleth didn't reply at once. She drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them defensively as she gazed out over the river.
'Byleth?' Seteth seemed perturbed by her lack of a response.
'Sothis is very distant right now.' Byleth turned her head to the side so that she could look directly at her companion. 'She sleeps deeply... and as far from the Monastery as we are, just hosting her is eating up at my emotions. Now that I am aware of it... I can almost feel it happening.'
'Is it a relief or...?'
'In a way, yes.' Byleth nodded. 'The distraction of the past week has been challenging. Yet I wish that I had her close right now so that I could maybe find the right thing to say to you.'
'You don't need to say anything Byleth... I spoke out of turn and...'
'Please!' Byleth held up a hand. 'I can't pretend that I have ever known the depth of care that you have given. My father is the singular most important person in my life, and yet it is only recently that I have enjoyed any true closeness to him. It is not his fault...' She smiled sadly in Jeralts direction. 'I had no feeling to give, not even concern for his wellbeing.'
'Your situation is completely unique, child.' Seteth murmured compassionately.
'Yes.' She nodded. 'Suddenly having to deal with new and unnamable emotions, worrying about whether I am capable of effectively teaching my students and keep them safe - even learning how very nice just being hugged is... has been... hard.
'I understand...'
'I know you do.' Byleth smiled softly at him. 'It would have been impossible for me to manage, to keep even a shred of my sanity if you had not given me a chance Seteth. I was lumbered on you, against your better judgement – and instead of rallying against that unfairness, you have given me your time and your kindness, without asking anything in return.'
Seteth cleared his throat as if to speak, but nothing came.
'Point is... I don't want us to keep on with this politely apologising to each other for things that simply don't matter.' Byleth said firmly. 'I know that I'm a pain in your arse... and I have little to offer you in terms of understanding or wisdom... but that doesn't mean I'm not willing to try.'
'I see.'
'My inclination right now is to apologise in case I have stepped over the line...' Byleth chuckled quietly.. 'I'm not going to though!' She added, staring at him belligerently.
'I'm glad to hear it.' Seteth reached towards her hesitantly to caress back a wisp of hair that had fallen across her brow, his fingers lingering on her cheek tenderly. 'Byleth... I find myself...'
'Whoop's sorry to interrupt!' Myles was suddenly roughly pushing his way between the two of them and scooping Byleth up in his arms. 'Byleth has a hot date with the river right about... err... now!' He exclaimed and took off at a fast run towards the water's edge.
'Don't you bloody dare!' Byleth demanded, beating at her brother's chest with her fists.
'Sorry sis... gotta be done!' Myles was grinning like a loon. 'You looked like you needed to cool off anyway...' He added evilly.
'Seriously? And after I prevented you from taking a beating too...' Byleth yelped as Myles took an enormous leap off the edge of the bank, and flew towards the water, not relinquishing his hold in the slightest.
'We are going to have some fun now!' Myles demanded - finally letting go of her once they'd resurfaced from his bomb.
'You think..?' Byleth was on him immediately wrestling with him hard, her tackles fierce. 'Prepare to hurt!' She laughed loudly.
'Myles is making an unexpectedly good showing of himself.' Seteth remarked to Jeralt as the siblings tussled for supremacy in the water. 'When I looked up his record, he did have excellent scores across the board in combat and weapon skills, but I didn't expect him to stand a chance against Byleth. Do you think she is pulling her punches?'
'She ain't.' Jeralt was looking thoughtful. 'Her own surprise at his skill is showing in her moves... look... she is far warier now...'
'Have they ever actually sparred before?'
'I don't reckon so...' Jeralt finally grinned. 'Chip of the old block that lad!' He smirked.
Flayn has wisely exited the water, moving away from the epic battle taking place but bouncing excitedly as the competition continued.
'I'll start on getting our fish cooked.' Seteth offered. 'We are already past noon... I am sure those two will be ravenous after expending all that energy.'
'Yeah. Reckon we should leave them to it. They'll wear themselves out soon enough.' Jeralt chuckled.
'I'm tempted to go and join them...' Flayn began, but Seteth put a hand firmly on her shoulder.
'Let them be. It's their first birthday together.' He insisted.
'Course one might end up killing the other... so it might also be their last birthday together!' Jeralt laughed.
.
It was the heavenly smell of cooking fish that finally tempted the twins from their play. They crawled out of the water, still beating on each other and arguing loudly despite being on land.
'Wow, you two look a mess!' Flayn laughed when they reached the firepit and collapsed on each other companionably. 'I'd better aim a few heals at you both or neither of you will be able to move in the morning...'
'She's vicious...' Myles complained as Flayn attended his bruises and various other hurts.
'Is that a bite mark on his arm Byleth?' Flayn raised her brow at the Professor who grinned back and shrugged.
'Reckon it's a good thing you two didn't grow up together. Not sure I could have managed the both of you at the same time...' Jeralt was so puffed up with pride he looked like he might burst.
'Talking of growing up, I'm gonna be dropping in on my foster-parents on our way back.' Myles told Byleth. 'Jeralts's coming too. Reckon you have time to pop in and meet them? They have been so curious about my twin sister and would really love to get to know you... especially after Amelia has been telling them that you are going to be marrying Prince Dimitri so that you can become a proper princess instead of a child-eating monster...' He smirked.
'Oh, dear...'
'You what?' Jeralt's jaw dropped comically.
'That is a really long story.' Byleth sighed. 'Would you mind dropping me off in the village?' She asked Seteth. 'You are my lift, after all.'
'Absolutely fine.' Seteth had portioned out the cooked fish onto plates and handed her one. 'Works well actually since I'm afraid we won't be able to stay out here all that much longer. I had to leave behind a total mess at the office. Bloody Western Church.' He grumbled.
'Ashe will be there with his siblings as well.' Myles added to his sister. 'All we have planned is a bit of birthday cake and a cup of tea. Nothing fancy... and certainly nothing that would ruin your supper with Jeritza this evening.' He leered at her.
Flayn nudged Myles in the ribs purposefully.
'Oh right...' Myles took a deep breath. 'Would you allow Flayn to attend with us too, sir?' He asked Seteth formally. 'If she would like to come along that is...' He added.
'Under the protection of the three Eisner bruisers?' Seteth pretended to think about it for a second, then he smiled. 'If you lot can't keep her safe then no-one can. Do you wish to go, Flayn?' He inquired.
Flayn didn't even reply, she just bounced enthusiastically and kissed Seteth soundly on the cheek.
'It's a plan then.' Jeralt smiled. 'And now we have just about enough time to catch a few more bites before we need to head back.' He burped loudly, having eaten his food with indelicate speed.
'Um... Jeralt... we should do presents first!' Flayn insisted.
'Pfft. Presents? Fishing is far more important!' Jeralt laughed.
