Flayn chapter.
I tried my best to get her personality and mannerisms right, and I think I did an alright job.
Enjoy.
"Professor!"
Byleth stopped in his tracks, turning around to face Flayn as she walked up to him, her brows furrowed as she stared up and into his usual plain gaze.
"Is something wrong, Flayn?"
The girl nodded. "Yes! There is something very, very wrong!" She crossed her arms, a slight pout on her face. "Why are you not letting me join you and your students in battle?!"
Byleth thought on how best to answer her question, not wishing to offend her by saying he didn't think she was fit for battle. He decided to go for the more safe answer.
"I do not want Seteh getting mad at me should any harm come to you." However, this answer only made the girl furrow her brow more. Uncrossing her arms and placing her hands on her hips as she continued to glare at the man.
"I will have you know Professor, I am more than capable of handling myself in battle. My fath-" She stopped herself. "...My Brother, has trained me well in the way of a pegasus knight. I believe I can be quite a boon for you and my classmates"
Byleth thought for a moment, he had been feeling bad about leaving Flayn out and was worried over what she was really thinking. But this confirmed it, he'd let Flayn join him in battle. Besides, if Seteh were to catch wind of this he would hound Byleth for days until he agreed to let Flayn join him and his class in battle. He sighed. "Very well, I will let you join us in the clean up battles. But I would ask that you remain by my side during them."
Flayn's demeanor quickly brightened up as she grinned, clapping her hands together. "Excellent! Oh! While we are on the subject, might I ask that you give me some tips with controlling a pegasus?"
Byleth raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say Seteh taught you how to be a pegasus knight?"
"He had only taught me the basics, but I simply wish to know more!"
"I see..."
If Flayn were to properly join him and his student's in battle she would need to have the proper skillset. He couldn't afford to watch over her while also fending for himself and giving out orders; although he doubted Flayn would prove to be much trouble it was still a risk he could not take. He nodded his head, Flayn's smile only growing wider in response.
"Fantastic! Than let us start training right now!"
"Wait, now?"
Byleth didn't get a chance to properly follow up with his surprise for Flayn had grabbed his hand and begun pulling him towards the pegasus stables, and although he easily could have resisted he did not wish to depress the ecstatic girl; her joyful demeanor causing a small smile to form on his usually unchanging face.
"Try not to go to high, Flayn."
"I understand, Professor."
Byleth and Flayn had gotten a pegasus from the pegasus stables and brought it out to a clearing in a forest nearby the Monastery. Byleth had Flayn do a few maneuvers close to the ground at first, and was now having her practice hovering in place and flying around. It was basic stuff, and Flayn had no doubt already had a decent grasp on controlling a pegasus, but Byleth figured it wouldn't hurt to go over the basics again.
A strong gust of wind creeped through the trees, causing Flayn's pegasus to get knocked back a bit; the animal beginning to become a little distressed.
"Keep it calm Flayn."
"Y-Yes..."
Flayn begun stroking its mane, the pegasus having calmed down a bit afterwards.
Byleth had Flayn fly around in circles for a bit, before instructing her to fly a certain distance than return to him. As time passed the gust of wind grew more stronger and frequent, and the flying horse grew more tired; Byleth decided it was best to end it here. After Flayn returned from her final lap she began to slowly descend towards the ground, when a sudden gust of wind erupted from beyond the trees, knocking the pegasus off its course and startling it; it reared back as the reins slipped out of Flayn's sweaty hands, the girl began sliding of the horse and beginning to plummet towards the ground.
"Flayn!"
Byleth took off in a sprint towards Flayn as she fell, the Professor making it in time right before the poor girl hit the ground, catching her in his arms.
"Flayn! Are you okay!?" Byleth almost never shouted, but then again he almost never panicked. Was this one of those "Heart-racing moments" he was always told about?
Flayn's eyes were wide and her whole was body shaking. She looked up at the Professor. "Y-Yes...I do believe I am..." Flayn looked at the Professor's chest, then his arms as they held her close to his body.
The pegasus landed close by and began grazing, the wind continuing to blow as Flayn remained cradled in the Professor's arms. The Professor began to set the girl down, but she started panicking and hung onto the Professor, who stopped and stood straight, continuing to hold Flayn in his arms.
"Are you sure you're okay Flayn?"
The girl stared up at the Professor. "I...I don't know...I feel so weird, being held by you."
Byleth wasn't sure how to respond. "Is it a good weird?"
"I suppose..."
Byleth stared at her. "I'm going to set you down now."
"N-No!" She clung to him desperately.
Byleth raised an eyebrow. "Flayn, you're sure nothing is wrong?"
Flayn nodded. "Y-Yes...I simply wish to be held by you for a bit longer."
"I see..."
Byleth remained still, holding Flayn in his arms as she awkwardly looked around, glancing at him, then his chest, then his arms, then the ground and repeating. All the while the wind was blowing through the trees and her hair.
They heard the distant ringing of the Monastery bells, at this time of the day that bell indicated dinner. Byleth looked back down to Flayn.
"I think we should return to the Monastery now."
Flayn nodded, letting the Professor set her down onto the ground. The girl's hand lingering on the Professor's chest for a few seconds longer before letting it fall to her side.
After that Flayn found herself acting...Odd. Every time she saw the Professor she suddenly found herself having trouble with breathing. Maybe she did hurt herself when she fell off the pegasus.
She sat through class in a daze, barely retaining any information she was taught. She was only snapped out her trance when the Professor put his hand on her shoulder to bring her back.
"Flayn?"
She jumped, whipping her head around to face the Professor. "Y-Yes Professor!?"
"Are you okay?" Byleth raised an eyebrow. Flayn nodded.
"Y-Yes, I was simply startled is all." She cleared her throat. "Will we be continuing our pegasus knight training later?
Byleth shook his head. "I'm afraid not, I need to attend a faculty meeting...After which I need to come back and grade everyone's exams."
Flayn nodded. "I see, I suppose it cannot be helped then." Byleth turned and begin walking out of the classroom as Flayn trailed behind him, waving goodbye to each other as they went their separate ways.
As Flayn made her way to her dorm room, something caught her eye. The door to the Professor's room was slightly ajar, she found this be very unusual as the Professor was not a forgetful man. Such an odd discrepancy prompted her to investigate, walking up the small flight of stairs and reaching for the door knob. Much to her surprise however, she did not close the door, but instead opened it and stepped inside. Flayn froze up the moment she realized she was doing, but made no move to leave
Instead, she looked around the Professor's room, everything was neatly put away. She walked by his desk and glanced at its contents, numerous books and papers ranging from basic battle strategies to old Fodlan history, sitting beside his desk was a large sack full of numerous items that look like they belonged to students.
Flayn glanced over at his bed, spotting one of his many spare coats on it. She approached it, delicately running her hands along the surface, feeling the fabric. That odd feeling from when he held onto her when he caught her returned, and her chest tightened, but she did not dislike it...
If anything, she wanted more of this feeling. It felt so wrong, yet there was something so right about it. She clutched the Professor's cloak and wrapped it around herself, it even had a faint trace of his smell, she brought it to her face and breathed in, shuddering as she did.
If she were caught doing this by anyone it would be terrible, Seteh would probably lock her up but Flayn did not care, at least not right now. She laid down on the Professor's bed, still wrapped up in his coat and sighing happily to herself.
"Flayn?"
The girl shot up from the bed, throwing the coat off of her and whipping around to face the door, the Professor standing in the frame; his eyes wide and full of surprise.
"P-Professor! W-What are you doing here!?" Flayn was at a loss for words, the Professor was the last person who needed to see that shameless display.
Byleth didn't say anything at first, continuing to stare at her. "I came here because I forgot some notes for the meeting." The Professor glanced away. "If you'd like me to leave then I can..."
"N-No! I-I mean this is your room s-so..." Flayn's heart was thumping quickly against her chest. How was she going to explain this properly to the Professor?
Byleth stared at her, approaching his desk and grabbing one of the many papers off of it before turning around and walking towards the door.
"W-Wait!" Flayn called out, Byleth stopped and turned to look at her. "W-Where are you going?"
Byleth glanced away out the door, then back to her. "The faculty meeting."
"W-Will you tell anyone about what you have just seen?"
Byleth raised an eyebrow. "What did I see?"
Flayn's blushed deepened. "N-Nothing! You did not see anything at all!" She walked towards the door and pushed past him. "I must leave now Professor. F-Forgive me for disturbing your privacy." And with that she bolted away.
Byleth watched her run away, before looking back and walking into his room, picking up the coat the girl was just sniffing; bringing it up to his nose and sniffing it himself.
"It doesn't stink does it?" He muttered to himself.
Sothis manifested next to him, leaning on his head as she floated in the air. "This is why you need to clean up your room."
Byleth nodded, setting the coat down on his bed again as Sothis sighed and disappeared. The Professor walked out of his room and closed his door, making sure to properly lock it this time.
Hopefully this was enjoyable. This idea started off with me essentially asking T.S. Atlas "Which girl should I have sniffing Byleth's clothes?" to which he replied with "Flayn"
I may or may not write more about Flayn in the future, we'll just have to see.
Until next time.
