Felix stood straight as he heard the distinctive clack of heeled boots against the stone, he expected the professor would be inside being wheeled around by her favorite nobles. He turned to face her with a casual smile
"Well, look who it is." He chided, as if he wouldn't recognize her distinctive gait
"What are you doing out here?" Byleth's voice surrounded him like a blanket of warmth and he couldn't help but relax his stance
"I needed some air, too many annoying nobles in one place." He shrugged, blasé toward his cold demeanor, "The real question is what are you doing out here? Tired of your adoring fans?"
"I was looking for you, actually." The smug sneer on his face flickered for a moment as he felt his heart thud painfully in his chest, and he clenched his fist as he attempted to regulate the organ once again
"You're joking. Hm." He thought for a moment, a nasty joke of his own arising in his mind
"Do you know the legend of the Goddess Tower, Professor?"
He watched her face closely, looking for any sign that their predicament might betray her feelings, feelings that he secretly hoped would lie with him. He would push that desire deep within himself when it would arise, and he did so again when she tucked a few strands of blue hair behind her ear
"If we make a promise together it's supposed to come true, and I know just what to wish for."
He paused a moment, his heart twisting in frustration as she remained impassive, no hitch in her breath or swell in her chest. "I vow to become strong enough to defeat you."
His conflicted heart was doused with soft affection as her blank expression contorted into a small pout
"Not what you were expecting? I'm not interested in romantic trysts, but I admit if someone were to see us they might think this was an amorous meeting. You'll have to settle for being mistaken for my lover." He wished he could bite back the words as her pout turned to a frown
"That's a rude thing to say, Felix. Not that it's anything new."
"I'll always be more comfortable holding a sword than a woman's hand." Even as he spoke his eyes lingered on her hands, so much smaller than his
"Well then, if you can't be civil I guess it's best we're off."
He looked out at the garden for a moment, his stomach twisting in painful knots of regret and repression. How could he save this? He didn't want to save it. Then why was he in such agony? Say something! Something nice!
"Be careful not to catch a cold out here. I'd hate to miss out on my favorite sparring partner." It was as if a gentle wave washed over her frustrated features, and the small flicker of confusion in her eyes, as if she could see right into his heart
"Good bye." He croaked quickly and urged himself away from the tower before more damage could be done