Disclaimer: I don't own fire emblem, or the characters. I'm just here to provide a dramatic story for the fellow fans. And no, Linhardt is not an only child in this. Enjoy!
"It's time to wake up, Caspar. Hurry before Linhardt wakes up."
Caspar opens his eyes to see Hubert shaking him. "Wha? What time is it...?"
"It is 5:30..! Hurry up! We wanted to get him something before he wakes up..!" Ferdinand whispers.
Caspar sits up, yawning. "Alright, alright. I'm up. What'd you wanna do?"
"We're going to get him a few gifts and such. Lady Edelgard and the rest of the girls are already waiting for us."
"... Even Bernadetta?"
"Yes. Even Bernadetta."
All three of them walk through the small crowd quickly. Hoping to get to the marketplace before 6.
"We were hoping to get a few little gifts, cards, and maybe even balloons. Does he like that sort of thing?" Ferdinand asks.
"Yeah, he does. It might surprise him at first, though. He's not used to stuff like that. Usually his birthdays would be his dad telling him to act more "his age" then I would take him to a fishing pond to escape. ... But that was years ago."
"That sounds oddly nice." Hubert says. "I am kind of curious though. Did he fight with his father a lot?"
"Ah... yeah... Around the time we were... eh... 10...ish... His father nagged him so much that he practically lived with me. His mother was never usually home back then. He was... " Caspar pauses, not wanting to give everything away.
"He was... what?" Ferdinand asks, now intrigued. Even Hubert seemed interested now.
"He was... very depressed at that age... there was even a time when he went missing and everyone thought he had..."
"Oh my...!" Ferdinand whispers. "What did you guys do?"
"Almost all of them gave up on him... everyone except me and his little sister. She was... Eh, too young to really understand. Two maybe. She was hardly able to speak. I went looking for him after about two days. Why I waited that long, I still don't know. I found him crying alone in the woods behind our hideout. That... was right in the center of our houses. He did the math and everything. Once he saw me, he ran over and we hugged for hours... we talked about it the next day... never spoken about it since."
"That is an interesting story." Hubert says, somewhat nicely. "I do wonder if he ever thinks about it... "
"Yeah... me too." Caspar whispers.
After shopping, the Black Eagles decide to make their own big card and have everyone sign it. Edelgard looks over it. "Umm... I don't know about this. I'm a little scared if someone puts a... weird message."
"Weird message? Edie, what do you mean?" Dorothea asks.
"You know... Like Claude for example."
"... Oh. Well, let's just trust him... Hopefully he'll understand the situation well enough to not do that."
Ferdinand laughs. "I'm sure it will just be light humor if he did decide to do something like that."
"Do... you think it's ready?" Bernadetta asks quietly.
"I am think... thinking it is ready to show him!" Petra says happily.
"I think so too." Edelgard laughs. "Caspar? What do you think?"
Everyone looks over at him. "Huh? Oh! Y-yeah.. I think he'll love it...!" He stutters.
"Alright. Everyone ready? Let's go."
All of the eagles file out of the classroom to ask for signatures. After that's all done, they head to the infirmary.
Edelgard peeks in the doorway. Seeing Mercedes talking to Linhardt, she smiles, looking back at her eagles. "He's awake. You guys ready?"
Everyone nods and they all walk in. Dorothea and Petra hold up the card, and they all say, "Surprise!"
Linhardt jumps slightly, as they all came into the room at the same time very quickly. "Oh! Wow! I... Wow...You guys went through all the trouble? "
"Oh, it was no problem at all! All of it was worth a smile quite like that! How are you feeling?" Ferdinand says happily.
"A lot better now, actually. Thanks." He laughs slightly, looking at all of the balloons and the card. "Wow... I never would have thought... You all came together for this... I really appreciate it.. "
"Awwww! Lin, are you gonna cry...?" Dorothea says, a little surprised.
"Heh... I might... This is just... Going from thinking I might die... to... this. I've never...I can't even find the right words.." Linhardt whispers, tearing up a little bit.
"Do not be embarrassed to cry." Hubert suddenly says. "Nobody will judge you."
As soon as those words leave his mouth, everyone looks at him in surprise. Except Ferdinand. "That's the way, Hubert!" He exclaims.
Linhardt pauses. "Oh. Well, in that case... " Tears suddenly flow down his eyes. "J-Just let me get these out then..."
"I think this calls for a not-too-tight-group-hug!" Edelgard calls, cuing everyone to gather around Linhardt in a loose hug. Even Hubert and Bernadetta join in.
This just makes Linhardt cry harder. Then he realizes Caspar hasn't said a word. He looks him in the eye and waits for him to notice. Once he does, he gives his blue-haired friend the best smile he can muster.
Everyone jumps back a bit as Caspar suddenly starts crying as well.
"Awww... Caspie~...!" Dorothea swoons.
Caspar hugs Linhardt with more feeling than he has in his life. "Linhardt... What would I ever do without you...?"
Linhardt doesn't answer. He just hugs Caspar back as much as he can without something hurting. He knows that Caspar will just keep talking. That's the way their friendship has always been.
"Lin, I don't think I could continue living without you...! If I you were gone... I... I'd... " Caspar starts to sob into his chest. "I... Could never go on without you here... If you...had died, then... then...If I lost you..."
"Caspar." Linhardt says sternly, holding his friend's head up to face him. "... You didn't lose me... I'm here.. "
The two stare at each other in silence, before Caspar begins to sob loudly again. "I... I know... b-but... "
"... But what, Caspar...?"
"I-if you died... then what would I do...?"
"... I... don't have an answer for that... The only thing I can think of is... Keep fighting... avenge me if you want even. But here's the thing... you don't have to worry about that. I won't let it come to that. If we die, then we can do it together. Whether it's during a fight or of old age. Alright?"
"A... alright... Thanks, Lin... "
There's a very short pause before Dorothea suddenly explodes. "AWWWWW!! THAT WAS THE SWEETEST-! Are you guys seeing this right now?! OH MY GOSHHHH!"
"Dorothea, please, get a hold of-" Edelgard starts, but is quickly interrupted.
"Noooo! Edie, how are you staying so calm?! That was so ADORABLE! LOOK AT-!" She runs over and squeezes both of their cheeks. "LOOK AT THESE TWO! I. AM. DYING!! " She squeals.
It's been a few days since all of that, now. Everyone is constantly following Linhardt around, making sure he's alright. It was reassuring at first, but...
(Claude) "Hey, Linhardt! Feeling okay?"
(Raphael) "How ya doin' Linhardt? Need help with carrying that book? I got it!"
(Leonie) "You look a little pale... Like, paler than usual. Maybe you should sit down."
(Sylvain) "Hey hey hey! Got up a little fast there. You good?"
(Ingrid) "Careful with that! Would be bad if you dropped all of those papers. Here, let me give you a hand."
(Ashe) "Hello, Linhardt! Do you need my help with anything? Anything at all?"
(Mercedes) "Oh! Are you in any pain? Need a little healing break?"
(Lorenz) "Hello, Linhardt. How are you faring? Do you need any assistance? I'd be happy to help."
It was easy to smile and thank them, but it seems like everyone knows. He's not used to this much attention. Even Hubert has been oddly nice. Speaking of him...
"Linhardt! I wish to speak with you."
Linhardt looks up from his book. "Hm? Yes, of course... "
"You sound exhausted. Maybe-"
"No, I assure you, I'm okay."
"Alright. In that case, Ferdinand and I were wondering if you and Caspar would like to head outside of the monastery and have a little friendly chat. We've noticed you could use a little time away from all of the... people. You seem a little overwhelmed by them."
"Oh! Do I make it that obvious?"
"So... you are then?"
"Yes... I'll admit... I'm definitely not used to this much attention... Especially from people I've hardly even spoken to.. "
"That is understandable. So is that a yes?"
"Yeah.. Have you asked Caspar?"
"I was actually wondering if you've seen him today."
"Huh? Uh... No, I haven't... "
"Oh.. Well.. Let's meet up with Ferdinand and see if we can all look together."
"Okay... "
They end up finding him in the Cathedral, sitting alone. "Caspar?" Linhardt calls.
"Oh! H-Hey, Lin. ...Hubert, Ferdinand." Caspar turns around quickly and greets.
"Hello!" Ferdinand says cheerfully. "We were wondering if you'd like to head outside the monastery for a chat, and maybe even a picnic of some sort!"
"Yeah... I'd be up for something like that..."
"Great! Let's get going, shall we?"
"Ferdinand, do you sneak food like this everywhere? How much do you have?" Hubert asks jokingly.
"I...I did not realize I packed so much!" Ferdinand replies, laughing. "And no, I do not carry food around all the time."
He starts to hand the food out. "Here, This... Oh! Hubert, I brought coffee just for you! Linhardt, I have heard that you like sweet food, so I brought you this...Caspar, this food is said to help you grow taller!"
All four of them laugh at the last one, then they start having friendly conversations for about twenty minutes before the rest of the Black Eagles show up. It ends up turning into an intense game of truth or dare.
"So...Hubert, truth or dare?" Edelgard challenges.
"Hm... it would be weak to pick truth... but I am afraid of the dare you would pick for me... I pick truth."
Edelgard giggles and turns to Dorothea, then back to Hubert. Scooting forward, she whispers something in his ear that makes him turn bright red. "H...How did you...? Do I make it that obvious?!"
Edelgard and Dorothea laugh. "Hubie!" Dorothea exclaims. "It was only a rumor! We didn't know if it was true, but you just clarified it for us!"
"What? What?!" Caspar asks impatiently.
"Oh, nothing...!" Edelgard teases.
Hubert buries his face in his hands. "...This is humiliating..." He mumbles.
Linhardt leans over to whisper to Dorothea. "What did she say?"
Dorothea giggles and whispers back, "We asked Hubie if he has a crush on-"
"Dorothea!" Hubert interrupts. "No more!"
"WeaskedhimifhehasacrushonFerdinand!" She whispers quickly, earning a slap from Hubert.
"Continuing with the game! Hubert, your turn!" Bernadetta squeaks nervously.
"...Right. Sorry.. Petra, truth or dare?"
"I still do not be understanding... I still do not understand the concept of this game... but I choose... dare." Petra says hesitantly.
"Alright. You chose dare, so you have to do my next request, does that make sense?" When Petra nods, he continues, "In that case... I dare you to...I'll make this an easy one... Sit down like a cat and meow."
"Um... okay." She does as she's told and adjusts her sitting position. "..M..meeoww?" She pauses. "L-like that..?"
"Exactly like that." Hubert says, chuckling slightly. "Now you ask someone truth or dare. If they pick dare, you tell...er.. dare them to do something. If they pick truth, you can ask them any question and they have to answer truthfully. Got it?"
"Yes... I understand. Uh, Bernadetta, truth or dare?"
"Um... T-truth..."
"Let's see... Do you have a crush on anybody?"
"Eek! uh...Maybe...?... yes. Yes I do."
"Oh, joy! Okay. Your turn."
"U-umm... Caspar, truth or dare?"
"Dare!" Caspar responds quickly, now in a better mood.
"I...I dare you to... uh... jump as high as you can and say "I'm Caspar and I like food" as loud as you can."
"Huh. Okay." He stands up and jumps about 4 feet. "I'M CASPAR AND I LIKE FOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!" He yells.
Everyone laughs and they continue to play until sunset.
Wellllllllllllp! that was fun. In the middle of the story, it just kinda deleted randomly... that's why it looks a little sloppy near the end... sorry about that.