Request by ArchSageZelda

They had been piling up on her desk for days now and the very sight of the red envelopes made Felix's blood boil with rage. The professor had paid them no mind, sweeping them into a corner until the pile had become unstable

"Well, we'll just have to read them I guess." Annette giggled, helping Byleth gather the paper back onto her desk. The girls chatted animatedly for a moment, wondering aloud what tender words were held inside

"This is stupid." Felix grunted, wandering out of the room but lingered in the doorframe, looking back to spy Byleth in his periphery, her cheeks tinted shyly as she pulled back the red paper lip and slipped the paper free of it. He stomped out of the room and around the corner to the dormitories. He wanted to fight, his hand ached to cut down his foe to relieve the pressure in his heart, but he knew Sylvain would find him if he went to the training grounds

He made his way toward the lake, hoping some fresh air would soothe his soul but he would be mistaken

"The new professor? I haven't seen them yet." Felix's ear twitched as he noticed a group of novice students chatting below him

"She's so pretty!" One sighed happily, clasping his hands together

"R-really? Is she like Manuela?" The first student fidgeted slightly

"Nah, she's like Rhea, she's got this glow. But she's our age! I think? Or very young. And she might seem scary but when she smiles? Wow!"

Felix drifted for a moment, picturing her smiling face beaming up at him, causing his shoulders to untense subconsciously

"That's why I've been writing these!" Felix was snapped from his trance as the boy held up one of the accursed red envelopes. His shoulders flexed again as he strode down the wall way, approaching the unassuming boys and snatching the letter from his hands

"She doesn't like them, you're annoying her." His voice sliced the silence like a dagger, his eyes darting challengingly from boy to boy as he ripped the envelope in half. They descended upon him but we're no match, Felix catching one boys jaw with a fist, sending him flying back. The other boy's fist glanced off Felix's cheek and was rewarded with a knee to his gut for his efforts. He rose to his feet, running a thumb over his bruised cheek before he felt a familiar weight lean into him

"Jealousy doesn't suit you Felix." Sylvain sighed, shrugging with his free arm at the groaning boys

"I'm not jealous of these weaklings." His fist twisted reflexively but relaxed as he calmed himself

"Felix? What happened to you?" He jumped as Byleth called out to him from the other side of the room, crossing the distance quickly to inspect his face. Her fingers turned his jaw to inspect his bruise with an expression of adorable concern. Felix tried hard to suppress the blush burning under his skin as she tested her fingers against his skin

"You shouldn't pick fights at school." She scolded him, gently, like no other before as healing magic tingled through his skin

"He was defending your honor!" Sylvain chimed, grinning mischievously at his childhood friend. The blush was unleashed with full force, his cheeks turning a deep red that stretched up his ears

"Oh I see." Her voice was soft but he couldn't bring himself to look at her. "Well, thank you Felix. I know reputation means little to you, but it means a great deal to defend someone else's." She placed a kiss on the spot where his bruise had been moments before as he stood, stunned.

"It was nothing." He mumbled, his fingers touching the warm spot absent mindedly