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

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

"Yes... " Margo starts, mixing the noodles, "Hubert is a bit... how to put it... stubborn."

"Oh, yes, we know." Edelgard jokes lightly. "He's quite a handful, but I get him back by also being a bit of a handful."

"A bit?" Caspar retorts. "He is by your side the second his name is called! Any sort o' danger, he's there! It's kinda..."

"Remarkable." Linhardt finishes for him.

"Yeah! That's the word I was looking for! Thanks Lin!"

As they were chatting, Hailey was trying her best to take care of her big brother, who had practically passed out on the couch.

Ferdinand decided he wanted to help. "Hi, Hailey. I'm sorry you had to meet me like that."

"Oh no! It was great! You're everything I ever dreamed you'd be! Just like Brother said! Also, I need to thank you..."

"Hm?"

"I... thank you for helping us... and taking Hubert somewhere safe. I don't know what I would have done if he had... if he had...d-d-died..."

"No, no, no...! Don't think about that... Hubert is far too strong to die from that, I say..! And," He puts his hands on her shoulders and looks her in the eye. "You are so brave, Hailey. Without you I'm sure he'd be so miserable. I know you hardly know me, but... and I speak for him too... I'm proud of you. He's proud of you. Every time he looks at you, there is nothing but pride shining in his eyes. For your age, it is amazing that you are able to handle this situation the way you are. Remember that, okay?"

"F... Ferdinand, thank you... thank you so much...!" She springs forward and pulls him in a tight hug.

They both look down as Hubert starts to stir, and they're by his side in an instant. "How are you feeling?" They both ask quickly.

Hubert, slightly surprised at the attention, replies, "I'm... Fine. Just a little tired I suppose. T-thanks."

Hailey smiles and hugs her brother lightly. "You're so right about Ferdinand! He is exactly like you told me, Brother! He's strong, brave, handsome, and quite amazing!"

"H-Hailey, I uh... " He laughs nervously. "He's right there... Keep it down...!"

"The pink is back! What is that anyway?"

"It just... it shows embarrassment... I guess."

"Ah! I see! So you're embarrassed that- oh. Sorry Brother." She giggles.

Ferdinand can't help but look at Hubert and smile at him. I'm just glad he's alright. He would have been killed. "Hey, Hubert...?"

"... Yeah?"

"I'm... I'm sorry for barging in... I just... I was..."

"... I know... and I'm sorry for being so... selfish."

"Selfish?"

"Yes, telling you all of that information and expecting you to not tell anyone, that was... incredibly selfish. I understand you were trying to help. So... Thank you."

Needless to say, Ferdinand was speechless. Is he acting like this so he looks better in front of his sister? No, he sounds so genuine... either he has a flawless act or... he actually means it... I guess I'll find out when we go back to the monastery. "... You... You're welcome... and I should thank you as well."

"What for?"

"You... made me realize what is truly noble. It doesn't matter where you were born, or how much money you have, nobility comes from the heart... not from social status... And, seeing you and Hailey... and Mrs. Vestra... it makes me feel... like a... like a bit of a hero." He laughs at his own childishness at referring to himself as a hero. "Well, not hero, I guess-"

"You are a hero!" Hailey suddenly interrupts. "Not all heroes wear capes you dingle dork! You're my hero, does that count? I have three heroes. My brother, mother, and you! I think a hero is someone who helps those in need! The people who really need it! And you... you nearly sacrificed your own life for our family! You are a hero!" She runs up and hugs Ferdinand as tight as she can. "Right, Brother?"

Hubert hesitates. He is... isn't he...? A hero... He... saved my life. And I've been terrible to him. That is what a hero is. "Yes. That's right."

Ferdinand gasps happily. "Y-you think so?! Truly?"

Hubert nods, then nearly squeaks as Ferdinand hugs him, Hailey squeezing herself beside them. None of them notice the rest of the people in the room staring at them.

"I.. I was under the impression that you hated me Hubert!"

"... Not particularly...?"

"Particularly?"

"... Look, let's just say that I owe you, okay? Leave it at that. Please."

"Oh... Uh, alright.."

At the table, Margo shows everyone baby pictures, despite Hubert desperately trying to get her to stop.

"And this one was when he said his first word! He started to make the m sound, so I thought he was going to say mom, but he said miasma! Isn't that hilarious?"

The Black Eagles, excluding Hubert, laugh and swoon over the picture and story. "Wait, so miasma was his first word?" Caspar asks.

"Yes it was!" Margo says happily.

"... That's adorable."

"It is not adorable!" Hubert exclaims. "Mother, please stop showing them pictures...! It's embarrassing..."

"Sorry Baby Bat! But I simply can't help myself!"

"Mother! Again with the nickname...!"

Suddenly, Linhardt interrupts them, "Mrs. Margo, when did you start calling him Baby Bat? Is there a story behind that too?"

Hubert groans. "Linhardt. I will let you take as many naps as you want, so please take that back...!"

"Too late~!" Margo chirps. "Yes, it was short after he learned to walk, he also learned how to climb. I was going to call him monkey, but then he got his leg caught in the curtains and wrapped himself up with it! So he started to yell for me to come get him, since he was hanging upside down! Oh, and his father was never home when he was a little baby, but it was after he turned 4 that it got... let's just say crazy. Yeah, so he got stuck and I had to get him down, and he was squeaking in fear, since he never really cried, so I thought he was like a bat! A Baby Bat!"

The Black Eagles stare at her in awe, then look at Hubert. "Awwwwwww!" Dorothea giggles. "That's so cute~"

"I am not... cute!" Hubert cries desperately. "It... it was fun to climb around, and it was actually terrifying when I felt my leg get stuck, I'll have you know!"

"You remember that?" Edelgard asks.

"Of course I do, Lady Edelgard. There are far too many bad memories, I try to hold on to the few good ones I have... and I guess that one would count as a good one, despite how terrified I was..."

"Fair enough..." Edelgard replies, giggling slightly.

"Anyway, uh, Ferdinand. May I... speak to you...? Alone..?" Hubert adds quietly, motioning outside.

Ferdinand quickly perks up. "Oh, o-of course!"

They both walk out quickly, leaving the room quiet.

"What is it-"

Ferdinand is interrupted as Hubert suddenly bows low to the ground.

"H-Hubert...! I uh...-"

"Thank you!"

"H-huh?"

"I-I said thank you! F-for uh... helping... and uh..." He clears his throat, thinking of what to say without sounding like a complete fool. "Y-you were incredibly brave, and... dare I say it, noble. S-so... I felt the need to thank you properly... T-that's all..."

"Aw, you do not have to thank me for doing the right thing, but you are very welcome. I'm just glad to help."

Hubert stays staring at the ground, blushing immensely. He won't dare look the other in the eye. I need to say it... now. I need to say it... how do I word it? No, I can't do this...! But I have to tell him! "F-Ferdinand... one more thing..."

"Yes?"

"Y-you're... you're uh... m-my... my... um... "

"Your...?"

"M-my h-h-hero! You're my hero, just like Hailey said! You also saved my life today, and... Y-you just are! I admire you, okay?!"

"R-really?? Wow, I-"

"Don't get the wrong idea or anything! I-it is only a little!"

"Hubert... m-may I-... "

"Huh?"

Ferdinand moves forward quickly, looking him in the eye. Cupping the taller man's face in his hands, he squeezes his eyes shut and slams his lips on Hubert's.

Hubert makes a surprised squeak and tries to process what's happening. N-no... this can't be real... it's a dream... a dream... it's not a dream. He's kissing me, he returns my feelings...! Overcome with happiness, he reassures Ferdinand with a few small kisses.

Ferdinand wraps his arms around the Vestra's neck and lifts one leg up, kissing him passionately.

Seemingly only lasting a few seconds, they hesitantly part for a breather, staring at each other in shock.

"You just... we just... "

"You... you let me kiss you?! You returned it?!"

"YOU JUST KISSED ME!"

"I JUST KISSED YOU!"

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST-... That was actually.. kind of nice.. "

"I'M SORRY I- Huh..?"

"... T-that was... really nice... my turn."

"Wha-"

Hubert scoops Ferdinand up and takes him to the side of the house (Warning you, gets pretty heated), pinning him against the cold wall. Ferdinand nearly yelps and pulls away, before getting ahold of himself and letting it happen.

Hubert does tiny kisses up the smaller's neck, then reaches his soft lips and bites on the lower part. Ferdinand takes the hint and opens his mouth, letting him in.

Unlike the last short and sweet one, the two are currently like fire, passionate and bright. The kiss is almost desperate for love from the other, making it even worse.

Ferdinand's eyes suddenly go wide as Hubert lightly bites his lower lip again. He feels the sly man smile, or smirk, into the kiss.

Slightly pouting, Ferdinand tries to break away to teach him a lesson, but Hubert opens his eyes and stares at him with his piercing gaze.

An eternity passes with their eyes locked, when Hubert suddenly pulls away and smirks. "Will you be mine?"

"W-w-what?!"

"You heard me."

"I-i mean, o-of course! Holy crap, what the hell just-"

"Let's go back inside."

"WHAT?!"

Hubert laughs and takes his hand gently. "Thank you. For everything."

So what'd y'all think? Like it? It took me a long time to finish... and I feel like it was worth it, no matter if anyone ever gets to read it. I realized that there aren't many people interested in these types of stories, so I hope if you're reading this right now, you'll like it. Hopefully even read more of my fics. You can request another type of story if you want in the reviews. I love reading them. Anyway, thanks so much for reading and sticking with me this far!