Anna – A Gift

A/N - Hello, it has been a while, apologies for the delay. I like to take time with my uploads, but even still, been gone for a while, so, sorry. While I was gone, however, I got really into Valkyria Chronicles 4, so, have been working on a story for that and been updating it in time I have been absent. Looked at this story a little bit ago and saw I had so many new followers and favorites, really happy to see that. Where did you all come from? Regardless, seeing that did motivate me to want to get something new out. Been sitting on this idea, so, thought I might as well write it out. Without further ado, enjoy this special chapter, featuring a sorely underused character, Take care, and as always, reviews are appreciated.

"Hey, guys, you would not believe it!?"

"Believe what?"

"I just saw the professor!"

"…and?"

"Aaaaaaand, he was smiling!"

The rustle and bustle of the marketplace could be overwhelming at first, but in time, one grew used to it. All the sounds seemed to bleed together and fade away in the background of whatever business one tended to. With practice, even the ever flowing stream of people grew faceless and easy to traverse, they too simply becoming part of the background.

But, while this remained true for most, it wasn't applicable to all. After all, no merchant worth her salt would fade quietly into the environment. Ever present and eyes scouring for a catch, she'd cast a line into the stream and fish out a customer. Anna was good at her job, this much was clear. The way she'd reel in customers and make them think they were the ones who snagged a deal when really it was the other way around.

"Thank you for your patronage, sir!" she smiled and waved, her motions practiced and voice sing-song. Her customer could only smile back, happy with the deal struck before returning to the stream, becoming once more with the faceless masses who became one with the marketplace.

As her eyes began to wander, searching for a face, her mind too wandered. She couldn't help but think of the new professor, Byleth. He was an interesting sort. The man was as stoic as stone, but she quickly learned not to take his ever rigid exterior as him being ever serious. He was, at times, but at others he was aloof. At times he was kind and caring, at times he was methodical and calculative, and others even still she could tell he was happy. To say the man was hard to read would be an understatement, an enigma to be sure, but she prided herself in reading people.

That's not to say she didn't struggle at first, however. No, at first, she played her cards close to her chest, thinking him the kind to look down on her. He reminded Anna of Seteth. It was rare for her to ever interact with the Seiros Adherent, but on the off chance she did (or even when she saw someone else interact with the man for that matter), the way he looked seemed to always be analytically judgmental.

Yes, in truth, she mistook Byleth to be cut from the same cloth. What a surprise it was for her to find he wasn't a man of the cloth at all, in fact. A mercenary turned esteemed teacher. He partook of her wares regularly, and didn't bother with haggling, something that shocked her in a manner most joyous. But to find he spent what money he made for the sake of his students, the way he didn't bother with price tags moved her heart, in a way.

She quickly began to look forward to days he paid her modest shop a visit, and while it was only ever so often, they'd interact for far longer than was necessary for a sale. She learned quite a bit about the idiosyncratic man. Learned of his reputation, learned of how feared he was and how scary and dangerous he could be. But she also learned of his gentler side, of his love for the cats and dogs that roamed the monastery, and even of his enjoyment with fishing.

She couldn't help but to smile at the memory of them talking for a good hour about fishing. While Anna herself never partook, he pointed out how she was an excellent angler in her own right, a silly notion that she had laughed at but took great pride in all the same.

Her smile softened a bit as she came back to her senses, shaking herself out of it and coming back to the present. It wouldn't do to let her mind wander too much, she didn't want to miss a catch. Even still, even knowing that, however, she couldn't help but wonder where the professor was. It being the first weekend of a new month, she knew he had been paid recently. After all, he would do bulk shopping same time every month, from the general store and armory to her more specialized wares. But the order will always be the same. He'd come to her first. After all, her stock was limited.

And then, she saw him.

Her eyes widened as she picked out his face in the crowd. It seemed like their gazes met, and no sooner did he begin to make his way straight to her, cutting across the current.

As he approached, she relaxed, taking a much more comfortable stance, one that was genuine rather than practiced. She smiled at him, to which he returned one himself, albeit it was not as wide as hers but just as meaningful all the same

"Why hello there, professor," she began, "how is my favorite customer doing today?"

He simply waved her off. "I'm sure you call everyone that." Anna couldn't help but laugh at his monotonous response and rigid motions.

"Oh please, you really think I'd lie to you?"

He raised a brow to her, to which she exaggerated a gasp, playing hurt. This seemed to push him over the edge, Byleth letting loose a chuckle. She didn't take such minute actions of his too seriously. After all, this was just how the man was. And, she knew he was an honest man. If there was an issue, he was not one to be subtle. Such was the rapport betweenthe two; a comfortable understanding.

She bent down behind her modest stall, coming up with her merchandise, rare rings and bracelets and necklaces, all charmed or enchanted, guaranteed or your money back. "I just got this in," she started, "and let me tell you, I had you in mind when I first lay eyes on it."

He reached for the necklace she extended to him. Hung from it was a locket, the crest of Cethleann etched into its face. He could only respond curiously with another raised brow. "The locket," she explain, "has something pretty special within it. Apparently, it's meant to be the blood of a saint. Whether it really is or not, I don't know. The clasp has been melted, so, there no way to open it up to see inside."

"And what is it supposed to do," Byleth questioned, knowing all too well the quirks of her items.

"This item is meant to have healing properties to those who wear it. Might not be enough to fix up a mortal wound, but, enough to speed up recovery on cuts and bruises, as well as alleviate some pain. Speeds up stamina recovery as well."

He inspected it thoroughly, turning it over in his hand as he eyed it carefully. Usually, Anna would have to bite her tongue at such actions. After all, ordinarily, customers wouldn't be able to truly appraise such an item. She wasn't a specialty shop for nothing, so a layman's inspection never yielded results. They would take the insignificance if it's appearance at face value, not knowing what the item was truly worth. This always would lead to heavy haggling. And that is why her prices were so high, all so she could be 'talked down' to a more reasonable price. Reasonable for her, that it.

That all being said, however, Byleth was no ordinary man. Truthfully, he'd make a great appraiser, his eyes were as sharp as hers. Only, they were sharpened in a different fashion from his past as a mercenary. Where she learned to find subtleties, he learned to seek out openings. He was a warrior, not a merchant. But an appraiser…she could definitely see him taking to that trade, less interaction socially and more attention to a task and object seemed more to fit him.

As he looked over the object, she could see that he wasn't really inspecting it. Knowing him, he was probably thinking of how to use it and who to give it to. He never seemed to worry on the legitimacy of her items. She prided herself in the authenticity of them; never once had she sold a scam, but, that did little for others to believe the descriptions of her wares.

She could tell he had already made up his mind. She gave him the price, a much more reasonable one than she would normally ask. After all, he wasn't one to talk her down, so, there was no reason to go through the song and dance, not when he was willing to pay what she felt comfortable with letting it go for.

He returned it to her, catching her off guard. "I'll take it, just not now."

"Not now?"

"Need to pick up some other things, then, I'll get it on the way back."

"What other things?" she questioned. Byleth was not the kind of man to break routine. Something was going on. "Don't tell me you're cheating on me with another merchant, are ya?"

He chuckled, waving her off as she flashed a devilish smile to him. She knew there was no getting an answer from him, not when he didn't want to give one, but, that wouldn't stop her from teasing him.

"Nothing of the sort. Just have to pick up a special order, is all."

"Oh? A special order, huh? So you are cheating on me!"

"Please, Anna, like there's ever another merchant for me."

Whether inadvertent or not, his words struck her, a goofy smile on her lips as heat rose to her cheeks. She leaned over her counter. "And now you know just why you're my favorite customer," she purred.

"And here I thought it was from all the money I spent." Anna couldn't help but to bust out laughing, his dry delivery sending the joke home for her. He could only smile at her as she collected himself.

"Well, no worries," she spoke, "I'll be sure to hold onto it for you." Not that she would admit it, but, there were a few interested buyers that she decided against selling to. Holding onto it for him for a while longer would be no big deal.

He nodded in thanks. "I'll return soon enough," he stated.

"With your special order?" She teased.

"Yes, with my special order," he confirmed with a smile. And with that, he departed, giving her a wave before he left.

She returned it, even as he turned and could no longer see her.

Anna have a sigh, a content one. She shook her head, turning instead to look a few stalls over at a small group of students. From the color one of them wore, she took it they were part of the Golden Deer, the class that Byleth led. They had been at this particular stall for quite some time, she noted. Now with their professor departed, however, it seems they too were on the move. Only, rather than continue to follow him, they instead approached her stall.

The leader of the small group of students stepped forward, a handsome young man with olive skin. Anna put on her practiced smile. "Welcome! How may I help you?"

"Hey there," the youth smiled backed, "was hoping you could answer some questions about our teach, the guy you were just talking to?"

"Of course, I wouldn't mind!"

"Really? Huh, that was a lot easier than expect-"

"For a price, of course," Anna interjected, her smile not faltering in the slightest.

The pinkette to his side, smacked his arm. "You just had to open your mouth, didn't you, Claude."

The Golden Deer house leader laughed uncomfortably as he rubbed the back of his neck, his other hand at his hip. "Eh, you're really gonna make us pay? Come on, he's our teacher."

"That he is," Anna agreed, "which is interesting as to why you need to come to me to ask about him. Regardless, I clearly have something you want, it's only natural I charge you, don't you think?"

"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya," he conceded, although he didn't look all too displeased. Anna could see he had the eyes of a troublemaker. He smiled once more to her. "Alrighty then, how much."

"Oh, not so much for the Alliance's Riegan family to worry over." Her smile only widened as he began to chuckle nervously. She just reeled in a big one.

Some time had passed, enough for the stream of would be customers to slow to a trickle and the skies to burn a deep orange as daylight waned. Anna had already packed up for the day, save the necklace she held on to for Byleth. Usually by now, she'd be either on her way home or perhaps a local tavern to help unwind from the stresses of the day.

But, she decided to wait for him. Thankfully, however, she didn't need to wait all that long. The moment she saw him, she couldn't help but to smile. It just came naturally.

"You know how to keep a lady waiting," she teased as he approached.

"Sorry about that." She shook her head. "I have something that might make it up to you."

"Oh? Do tell."

He dug around in his pocket for a moment, fishing out a simple ring. "Here, this is for-"

"Yes!" she exclaimed, catching them both off guard. She coughed, clearing her throat. "I mean, if you'll have me."

Something amazing happened. Byleth seemed to panic. "No, I, uh…I'm sorry, that was not the impression I meant to, uh…I'm not asking to marry, I'm sorry."

Anna became as red as her hair. "No, I'm sorry, I, uh, got excited…"

Silence fell over the two. That is, until Byleth cleared his own throat. "I, uh…wanted to thank you. For all that you've done. I wanted to get you a gift, and, this is what I came up with."

He extended it once more to her. She reached out, tentatively, taking the ring while trying not to focus on the contract between her fingertips and his gloved hand. Inhaling deeply, she tried to calm herself. She looked over her gift, her merchant's nature getting the better of her as she looked over the jewelry. It seemed to be just a plain band, nothing remarkable or special in any way, even the metal used to make it seemed run of the mill.

And he said as much, confirming her assessments. "Truthfully, I didn't know what to get you. I couldn't think of anything special, but then I thought, if it was something special you probably already had it. So instead, I got you…this. It isn't anything special…meaning, even if you had to sell it, you wouldn't get much for it."

"Why would I ever sell it?"

"You never will. It has no value. You have no reason to ever sell it, so, you have every reason to keep it forever."

She could only smile at him. Sometimes, he could be so innocent with the things he would say. "You're wrong," was all she responded with.

"Excuse me?"

"You're wrong," Anna repeated.

"About what?"

"About the value of this ring." She put it on, smiling. "It's extremely valuable. After all, you got it just for me." She grinned up at him. "That said, the next ring you get me won't be as a thanks, but rather, for commitment. Do you understand?"

He could only smile. "Yes, I fully understand." He reached out to hold her hand.

A thought crossed her mind. "Wait, you special ordered this?" she asked, flashing the ring.

He looked away, almost ashamed. "No, that was an excuse...truthfully, I didn't know what to get…I spent the day looking for something for you until I came across that, is all."

She laughed. To think she would see this side of him as well, Byleth being adorable.

She couldn't wait to tell her sisters all about her catch.