Disclaimer: I do not own fire emblem or the characters!

Oh, and here's some background: All of the Black Eagle boys have little sisters that are at least eight or nine... Hubert's sister is ten. He keeps it a bit of a secret that she even exists to make sure she doesn't get hurt. Also, Hubert is back and forth between his house (Vestras don't live with Royal Family... idk if they actually do, but yeah), and the castle with Edelgard. Nowadays he isn't "home" with his mother and sister very often.

WARNING: THERE IS ABUSE, MENTIONS OF SUICIDE, SELF HARM, AND A LOT OF VIOLENCE! PLEASE DO NOT READ IF THIS WILL TRIGGER YOU!

Thoughts, dreams, flashback

Year

Year 1170

"Dad, no! Please stop, you're hurting her! Mom, get up! Mom!"

"Hubert, get your baby sister and run! Go outside!"

"No! I can't leave you! I'm strong enough to fight him! Dad, get off of her!"

Marquis Vestra turns his terrifying gaze to his son. "You have no rights! You're only a servant!"

"I may be a servant, but I will kick your-"

"HUBERT!" The almost unconscious woman gasps. "Please run! Do it for me, do it for your sister!"

The young heir nearly let's tears fall down. "Mother... alright."

Hubert turns and runs down the hallway, dodging his father's fists and scooping up his wailing baby sister. "Hailey... it's okay... it's just me."

She immediately calms down as she sees her brother's face. Tugging at his hair, completely oblivious to the war in front of her.

"Hubert! Keep running!" He hears his mother pleading from inside the house. "Hubert!"

...

"Hubert! Wake up! Up late again I presume?"

The obnoxious positivity in that voice... "Ferdinand. How many times have a told you not to wake me up before that disgusting sun rises? I can get up myself, you know. As much as I never want to wake up again, I will. "

"Oh, Hubert. Ever the optimist." Ferdinand retorts sarcastically. "Anyway, - wait- 'Never want to wake up again'? Hubert...!"

"What?"

"Come now... ! Please don't be like that! Why wouldn't you want to wake up, feel the warmth of the sun, hear the birds chirping, feel the breeze-"

"The sun gives me sun burn and is obnoxiously bright, the birds carry disease and they're annoying, and the breeze makes me have to put my hair back where it belongs. In front of my horrid face. "

"Hubert!"

"Ferdinand."

A pause. "Your face is not horrid. If you'd just get some sleep, maybe-"

"No."

"You did not even let me finish-"

"I said no."

"Fine. Well, at least get up to get ready for classes." Ferdinand turns on his heel, leaving Hubert alone with his thoughts. I wonder how my mother is doing... and Hailey. I'm never there anymore...

A few hours pass and he still hasn't moved. Hubert, run outside! Do it for me, do it for your sister!

You're just a servant! You have no rights, Boy!

Hubert sighs out loud, forgetting where he's at and just focuses on the memory of that night. Why that night, of all the times Father went berserk, why that one? What was so different about that one?

The next sigh comes out as a growl. Not at anything particular, maybe his father, maybe other nobles, maybe even himself.

A few more hours later, he hears the bells going off for class. Cursing to himself, he rushes to pull his shoes on. Lady Edelgard got there without trouble, I hope. Most likely.

...

Hubert walks in the classroom right at the second bell, earning a confused look from Professor Lillie (Byleth and Lillie are twins in case you've never read my fanfics).

"Hubert, running a little late?"

"My apologies, Professor. I got a little sidetracked... I won't let it happen again."

Lillie nods and gets started on her lesson.

...

After class, Edelgard approaches Hubert slowly, maybe even with a bit of caution. "H-Hubert?"

"Yes, Lady Edelgard?"

"Are you feeling alright?"

"Pardon? Yes, I'm alright. May I ask... Do I look...not... alright?"

"You just look a little... out of it today... Is it anything I can help you with?"

"Lady Edelgard, I can't possibly trouble you with my problems. I am your servant, I can't have you doing anything for me."

"Hubert... we have talked about this before... You are not just a servant. We're friends. Remember?"

"If you say so- I mean- uh, yes, of course... Lady Edelgard."

"Ah, drop the act tough guy! I'm concerned about you! Please, let me help you."

"Tough guy? I- What? I mean- I can't. I'm sorry, Lady Edelgard... But I must excuse myself." Hubert walks away swiftly, feeling his face heat up. No, he's not interested in the princess romantically anymore. It's just the hesitation makes me look weak. No. I won't show that weakness in front of anyone. No matter how much I want to trust, I can't.

Edelgard watches him leave with a worried look. I hope he's feeling alright... he's acting so weird... She sighs and walks away, thinking of ways to help him, but nothing seems to come to mind.

...

Hubert runs into his room and slams the door shut. Pressing his back against the wall, he starts sliding down to the floor. He whimpers quietly, despite himself. Why am I like this? He never bothered me before, did he? Biting his lip, he starts to think about all of those years. The times his father would slam him against the wall, the broken pieces of wood from the door flying when his mother was thrown against it, and, worst of all, the wailing of his little sister, who didn't deserve to be near this horrible man.

Specifically, he remembers Hailey's fourth birthday. He made an excuse to finally go there for about two hours. What he saw, however, was not how a young girl's birthday should be. There was glass, blood, hair, and tears all over the floor.

Hubert closed his eyes, remembering the terrible day.

Year 1174

"Brother! Help! Please, help!" Hailey's cries can be heard throughout the whole house. Immediately, Hubert raced to find his little sister. When he turned the corner, he saw her. Covered in broken shards of glass, blood was pouring down her whole body, and her hair was knotted and twisted in every direction.

"Hailey!"

She looked up at him weakly. "Dad didn't like my piñata... " She mumbled, letting the tears flow like a waterfall.

"Screw him! Come on... let's get you cleaned up... I'm assuming he took Mom somewhere as well?" By now, he was nearly numb from how many times this has happened.

"Yes... "

He sighed. "What kind of father... what kind of man would hurt his children...? His own blood?"

The little girl hesitated. "...B...Brother... I love you.. "

"...I love you too, Hailey. More than you could ever imagine.. "

"... Bert... Hubert! HUBERT!"

He nearly screams as he wakes up. When did I fall asleep..? Somewhat still in a daze, he turns to see Ferdinand shaking him wildly, looking almost in tears. "Oh! You are awake! Thank goodness! I was worried sick!"

Ferdinand puts a shaky hand on his heart. "You had me thinking you were dead, lying on the ground like that! What happened? Are you alright?!"

It takes Hubert a while to answer, and even when he thinks of what to say, he hardly manages a little squeak of, "What...?"

"C-Can you hear me?"

The gears are turning. What's he saying? Wait, where am I right now? Oh, right, my dorm. What am I doing on the floor? I was thinking about something. Oh, hey, it's Ferdinand. What's he doing in here? His lips are moving. They look soft.

"Hubert! Can you hear me?!"

"Huh? What is it?"

"Do you understand anything I'm saying? How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Yes, I hear you. Three."

"Oh, thank goodness. You had me terrified for a minute there!"

"Why is that?"

"... I've been in here for half an hour trying to wake you up, then another half trying to get your attention."

"Oh."

They pause for a second before Ferdinand stands up, then Hubert follows soon after.

"My apologies," Hubert starts, "I remember going in here to think about something, I don't remember falling asleep.."

"Yes, Edelgard told me you practically ran to your room and slammed the door shut. After a few hours of not hearing anything from you she sent me to come check in, as you wouldn't talk to her. ... You fell asleep? On the floor?"

"... I don't really remember."

Ferdinand reaches forward to feel the taller man's forehead, who quickly flinches back upon seeing the hand to his face. "Woah! Warn me next time you pull something like that!" He suddenly yelps, then hesitates, clearing his throat. "I uh... I'm sorry... That outburst was completely unnecessary..."

"No no! That was my bad! I should have given you a bit more of a heads up! Here, let me feel your forehead... You don't seem to have a fever. Are you feeling dizzy?"

"No."

"Okay... Maybe you were just exhausted... I'll tell Edelgard you just need some rest. Will you be alright if I leave?"

"... Wait. Don't go yet."

"Hm?"

"I... need some advice-"

"Advice?! Of course! Anything you need, I, the great Ferdinand Von Aegir, will help you with any advising you may need or want!"

"... and suddenly I regret asking...-"

"No wait! I am sorry! I just got excited! Ahem, what did you need?"

They both sit down on the bed, and Hubert sighs. "My uh... Mother... She has... a friend who has a daughter. The friend's husband is abusive to their whole family. Do you know what she can do?"

"Hm... Are they a noble family? I feel like I could personally help-"

"N-no! They're uhm.. commoners.. "

"Ah. Who are they? I will have a word with that terrible man!"

"NoYouWon't!! He's... far too terrible. Please. Just advice for me to tell my mother."

Ferdinand seems taken aback. "Um... Well, I would suggest telling someone..."

"...We... She can't do that."

"Oh?"

"The uh... husband threatened to kill them if the secret went to authorities."

"... I see. Though that is the best bet, I would probably need the family's name. Maybe I could-"

"No!"

Ferdinand jumps as Hubert slams his hand down on the table.

"You can't get involved! The only reason I'm telling you is because this life has been utterly destroying me and I need fucking HELP! I am not hoisting this responsibility to you to do for me! I just want advice so nobody gets killed while I'm not home with them to keep them safe!!"

Hubert pants for air after the mini outburst, and poor Ferdinand is gripping his heart from the sudden change in the man he has known to be a quiet, reserved person. The shout from him had scared the living daylights out of him.

"Hubert... I... This isn't your mother's friend, is it...?"

He looks down angrily. "Damn it, now I've said way too much.. Leave. Get out. I need to be alone."

"But.. Hubert, I-"

"Get out! NOW!"

Ferdinand jumps and speeds out the door, nearly terrified for his life.

I feel bad for yelling. He only wanted to help. I'll have to apologize tomorrow.

Sighing, he flops back down on his bed, instantly falling asleep.