Keiji allows guilt-ridden Flora to confide in him and is presented with a confession in return.

Confidant

You're unable to sleep with so many thoughts racing through your mind at once.

You've stared up at the ceiling of your tent for what feels like hours. Even after an evening of company and conversation from Felicia and Flora.

You'll soon set off to liberate the Ice Tribe Village, and a part of you relishes the task. Another smaller part however, can't help feeling uneasy. Sighing internally, you reach a hand in front of your face and scrunch it into a fist.

Scrunch. Release. Scrunch. Release.

You sigh aloud. Your usual stress-relief tactic isn't working.

"Dammit all," you curse at a whisper.

You don't fear leadership. What you fear is the lives of those placed in your care coming to risk should anything go amiss. For if you fail, people may die.

Linens rustle to the right of you. "You're still awake too, I see," Flora remarks in a low voice, clearly mindful of her sleeping sister laid to the left of you.

You turn over and face the blue-haired twin. Cuddled close to you, the heat of her breaths tickle your cheek.

"My mind is heavy with burdens," you explain. "And you?"

There it is again, that guilty expression on Flora's face. "Maria, I can't stop thinking about her."

Felicia mumbles behind you, "...I won't spill the tea again, promise..."

You and Flora take pause. Then you chuckle at Felicia's adorable sleep talking. Even in her dreams the maid is clumsy, it seems.

While the last thing you want is to wake her, her sister is obviously troubled.

A compromise is in order, so that Felicia might keep sleeping soundly.

"Shall we talk outside?" you suggest to Flora.

"I'd like that," the girl answers, her expression brightening a touch. Getting out of bed, she collects a brown fur-lined coat, which she brought earlier this afternoon from its place draped over the back of your desk chair. She puts it on over her nightclothes. Then she slips on her boots.

You get out of bed also. Grabbing your trousers, you eye the girl as though she's mad. "How you aren't shivering is beyond me," you say with absolute dismay. Gods, the draft from the tent flap alone is making you chilly.

Flora opens out her hand. A sphere of wispy frost magic comes to life within her palm. It dances and swirls within her grasp.

Her point proven without a word, you roll your eyes. "Child of the Ice Tribe, I get it."

Flora raises her other hand to her mouth and chuckles softly. Then she closes her palm and quashes her little magic trick.

Trousers on, you grab and throw on the thickest coat you can find. Tis a huge patchwork monstrosity of a thing lined some sort of animal skin, but you'd rather wear it than shiver in the bitter Nohrian air. You grab your boots next and put them on in a hurry. Nothing is worse to you than cold feet. At the very least now, you're dressed as best as you can be. Without making noise opening chests and dressers, that is.

Flora waits unflinchingly by the tent flap. "Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," you mutter, pulling the coat closer to your body.

Nodding, Flora opens the tent flap and steps out. You follow her while bracing against the cold.

Flora brings you far from camp - to a hillside overlooking the town of Macarath. Plenty of lights fill the windows of many larger multi-storey buildings, even in the morning's small hours. It's good an indicator as any that taverns and gambling dens are still full with patrons.

Overhead, the moon is full and large - a majestic guardian. Its pale white light soothes in ways you've never been able to express with words. A sea of yellowy-golden stars twinkle in wondrous accompaniment to its splendour, each a treat to behold in the cloudless expanse above.

Even better, the weather has warmed a little bit as well.

Flora sits, patting the spot beside her in invitation. You join her all too willingly.

"I come here whenever I'm worried about things," the maid reveals. Laying down on the ground, she folds her arms behind her head and looks up to the sky with a glassy smile. "Watching the night sky calms me beyond words. It's been that way since I was small."

The stars overhead are simply too impressive to ignore. You follow Flora's example and lay down too. "I can see why."

Together, the two of you stargaze for a long while in silence.

"Keiji, did I do the right thing today...?" Flora wonders with a weighty exhale.

"With Maria, you mean?"

"Umm-hmm."

You roll onto your side. The maid's eyes are trembling, and her expression is one of muted sadness. Regret too.

"Of course you did," you reassure her. "The girl was taking orders from our enemy, it's that simple."

Flora turns onto her side as well. "Maybe so. But then, why do I feel like it was all too easy...?"

You raise a brow; rendered a touch uneasy by the fearful tinge to the twin's tone "What are you implying?"

"I... I don't know exactly," Flora sighs frustratedly. "That something still doesn't feel right. And maybe that-" She looks away from you, her face reddening. "And that I'd rather you weren't the one to do this - to lead this vanguard - to put yourself at risk."

"And why not? You believe our spy is still at large?"

"Perhaps. Or maybe we suspected the wrong person."

You recall the earlier exchange on the way to the supply tent. "Well, Maria blamed you," you smirk, amused now by the Nohrian traitor's audacity.

"Of course she would blame me," says Flora shortly and sharply. "I found her darn letter."

"Where was it?" You've wondered since last night but forgotten to ask until now.

"Hidden between the pages of a book at her bedside."

"And you're still you're not convinced? Even after finding reasonable evidence...?"

"I don't know... Maybe." Groaning, Flora holds her palms to her face for the moment. "Gods this is hard to explain."

Flora..." You touch a hand to the girl's shoulder for support. "It might be best you stop overthinking this."

"Hear me out first, won't you?" she requests with a twinge of urgency, retracting her hands.

You'll do as much for her sake. ".Alright. Go on."

"I'm wondering if our spy aroused Kagero's suspicions with the letter on purpose. What if they knew the steps she would take?"

An overly complex idea, to say the least. "No mere recruit would outsmart Kagero," you state confidently. "She's sharp, far sharper than most."

"I know that, and so do you. Which means this person might be closer to the inner circle than we think," Flora assumes with an uneasy undertone to her voice.

This has gone on long enough.

"Flora... please calm yourself," you encourage assertively.

You've a good idea why the lassie is so flustered too.

"This is because of how Maria acted, isn't it? And what she said to you as they carried her off."

"It is," Flora admits, lifting her head again. "She swore blindly to her innocence, even as gnarled up with anger as she was."

"Because she was caught," you conclude flatly, seeing the traitor's act for what it is. An act. "And you've no place feeling responsible for that."

"Maybe not. Nevertheless... I'd still feel better if you weren't the one to go, just in case something were to go wrong."

Its best you be honest with Flora since she keeps pushing for your withdrawal. "...I cannot, trap or no."

"And why can't you?" she questions, her eyes narrowing with a hint of hostility.

"Because a part of me wants this, needs it, even."

"...You want this?" Flora blinks, stunned by your way of thinking. "To fight the Nohrians?"

"I do, more than anything. For what they've cost me," you conclude bitterly.

"B-But... putting yourself at risk over a grudge is foolish," Flora utters, her voice small and wilted.

"Perhaps it is. But at least I'll be known as more than the son of a nameless swordsman."

Flora's eyes widen fearfully. "Is that what you really want Keiji, fame?"

"Power," you correct her. "The means to change things for the better."

"And you'll pursue it even at risk to yourself...?"

"Gladly. I've no personal concern for my wellbeing in all of this."

Indeed, all that binds you to caution is your pledge to Corrin: the oath you made to return to her alive.

"But... what about what I want?" Flora asks; her words and expression both immensely pained.

You're lost as to what she means. "I don't follow."

There's a horribly venomous glint to the girl's eyes suddenly. "You still haven't figured it out, have you?" she asks with irritation.

"No I haven't... whatever it is you're referring to."

"Then I shall spell it out for you." Her face glowing redder than you've yet seen, Flora cups your cheeks between trembling fingers. Her gaze softening with warmth and affection, she leans close. So very, very close. "I'm attracted to you, Keiji. I care about you..."

The world around you screams to an abrupt halt. A dozen thoughts and just as many feelings surge through you all at once. You want so badly to answer Flora's confession. To say you feel foolish for not noticing her feelings when she's been in your company as of late is an understatement.

In the end, all you manage is to blink as though a deer walking into a cavalry charge.

"...Might I ask for how long?"

"Since we were little, when Felicia and I rescued you from the lake," Flora confesses nervously.

"That must've been fifteen years ago by now," you recount as best you can. Your memories of certain aspects are still hazy.

"It was. You were seven, and Felicia and I were five. But it goes beyond that. I remembered you right away when my sister and I came to Hoshido with Corrin, and you were always so kind to the both of us. You still are... Even if you've far more scars than the little boy I knew."

A part of you deep down wants to be honest and selfish. Gods willing, Flora is an attractive woman. You've always thought as much. Being honest with her however will cause harm to others whom you already care for a great deal.

Felicia flashes through your mind. She stands before you shyly, offering a hand.

"And what of your sister...?" you ask pensively. "I'm surprised you're telling me this when you know how she feels."

Flora's expression twists with guilt. "I am too. And I suppose it's partly because I'm jealous; of how Felicia follows her heart without regret."

You've no clue how to meet such a bleak admission.

"And don't think I haven't watched you, Keiji," Flora continues. "Plenty of women have entered your tent in recent weeks and months - before my sister ever did. Tavern girls from the villages we've passed through, and a merchant's daughter on the night we departed Cheve."

A surprised gasp leaves you unwillingly. "Someone has been keeping a rather close eye," you observe in a low and careful tone.

"Not particularly," Flora dismisses. "And it's not as though you went to any great efforts hiding it." She inches her face intoxicatingly close. "Which made me realize you're either a cad, or far more fragile concerning matters of the heart. And after all Sister told me, I feel it's the latter."

You're dismantled and disarmed. The beating core in the middle of your chest pulls tight.

"Which means I yet have a chance with you," Flora says with a sensual tinge, touching her nose to yours. "So Keiji, I want to know. Do you like me?"

What weathered restraint you have kicks in. "We really shouldn't-" Flora moves a hand from your cheek and presses a digit to your lips.

"I'm not asking if we should," she clarifies with an amorous breath. "I'm asking how you feel."

Your heartbeat is a drum in your ears, and your body burns so intensely that you don't feel the night air's bite anymore.

You know your answer. As improper as it is.

You move Flora's finger from your mouth. "You are rather attractive, I won't deny." You pause. "But we still shouldn't do this."

"But you want to, I know you do. I see it in your eyes, Keiji."

Your whole body aches with an immense thirst. It's as though a ravenous beast is clawing to get out from under your skin.

You push out a desperate, raspy breath. "What I want doesn't make this right."

"Because it's unbecoming of a Hoshidan..?" Flora questions with heat.

"...Yes," you reply weakly, the last of your restraint an overdrawn bowstring.

"But slipping your fingers beneath my sister's undergarments was okay...? And yes, Felicia told me about it."

A nervous second passes for you. You swallow the lump forming in your throat.

"Why deny a part of yourself?" Flora questions, smiling thinly and shamefully. "I can be jealous and selfish, I know I can. But I accept it." Her expression turns warmer and far more comforting. "We all have a darker side. Sometimes it's better to just... let it out for a time."

The bowstring snaps. "As you wish," you utter with allure. "But just a kiss. No more."

"No more," Flora agrees. Permission granted, she presses her mouth to yours.

You delve within her coat and slink your arms around her slim waist. The girl deepens the kiss in appreciation, and you pull her to your chest.

You can't deny that letting go feels so very, very good.

To be continued...

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