Random Word Prompt Drabbles

A Fire Emblem Three Houses Fanfiction

By Hoenn Master

A.N. Not my usual style, but I have a lot of desire to write for this pairing, albeit I will go against the fandom preference most likely, if the volume of fanart is anything to go by. My plan is to have six or so chapters of three scenes each, and if I feel the need to extend the collection I will do so. Unless explicitly stated, none of these drabbles will be anything more than very loosely connected. Some will be before, some after the time skip, or even the events of the game.

1. Explosion

In the midst of the chaos of the assault on Garreg Mach, Mercedes worked tirelessly to keep as many of the wounded stable as she could, hands covered in blood and gore, some of it her own. Her uniform was soaked in sweat, tears, blood, and other, nastier substances. As she ran alongside a retreating wagon carrying wounded, she noticed the mint green of her professor's hair turn from leading the organized withdrawal, and disappear into the nearly panicked crowd. With a lurch, she nearly tailed after him, but before she could properly see where he was going, the cart lurched, and the wounded man she had been tending groaned in pain. Uncharacteristically, she hissed in frustration; she had hardly been able to see Byleth since they had shared their dance in the Goddess Tower due to the whirlwind of revelations, betrayals, preparations, and classes. Despite the relentless professionalism of Professor Byleth, she saw in him a tenderness and kindness that lurked behind the seemingly empty stare. She had every intention of giving him a letter on Graduation Day detailing her deep care for him, and, perhaps, the affection she was starting to harbor.

Alas, such was not to be. When the dragon dropped seemingly from nowhere and roared its challenge to the invading army, her stomach dropped.

When Mercedes saw Byleth sprinting into the fray where the beasts dueled with terrifying power, her eyes widened and she felt sick.

When the explosion of magic, blacker than the darkest pitch, more powerful than anything she'd ever felt, and more evil than she could comprehend detonated, all she could do was scream silently as Byleth, her once professor and had things turned out properly, potential lover, fell over the edge of the cliff.

The shrieks of Rhea were nothing compared to the quiet sobs Mercedes let out as the monastery fell, and she was forced to return to her 'family'.

2. Consider

Byleth hummed in thought as he paced around his room Garreg Mach. His clothes were impeccable, his hair properly groomed, face shaven, boots polished, Sword of the Creator safely hung on his hip and secure. He stopped pacing and chuckled to himself. If he'd known seven years ago that he would become a professor, help lead an army to topple the Adrestian Empire, be appointed Archbishop of the Central Church, and be getting married, he'd have probably cracked one of the few smiles he'd ever worn up until that point. Possibly even laughed. As it stood, he barely considered himself qualified enough to hold any of the titles he had been given. But, in all honesty, he was most concerned about the one he was about to take on of his own free will. That of husband.

It was no secret at this point that he and Mercedes would wed; after his disappearance and subsequent return, the two had been nearly inseparable in their admittedly sparse free time. Relief, joy, and sorrow for the time lost gave way to admiration, affection, and the serious consideration on his part of just how he managed to catch the eye of a woman so gentle, kind, and beautiful both within and without. He'd been told her family situation; indeed, he'd seen it for himself with her stepfather's attitude morphing from indifference to outright groveling in short order. It was safe to say there had been no love lost between his soon to be wife's family and himself when he stated in no uncertain terms that he opposed the despicable actions perpetrated by Mercedes' stepfather, and the complete lack of action on her mother's part to end the madness.

Byleth sighed lightly as the heat from the memory left him. He promised himself that he would always consider Mercedes' feelings before any decision regarding her or the family he hoped to raise with her. She deserved that much, after a life of no such control or care.

Uncharacteristically, he felt his lips lift into a soft smile as Dimitri opened the door to his chamber and entered, followed by Dedue and Felix. Regardless of circumstance, he knew that even if he had next to no family of his own, and hers was terrible at best, they both had their friends to fall back on. After all, are they not the family you choose?

The quartet left the chamber with hardly a word and set off towards the cathedral, and a bright future.

3. Lecture

Byleth idly wondered if he had missed a memo at some point as he winced lightly from the vulnerary-soaked cloth pressing into a gash he'd received during their latest, and quite successful, raid against a particularly stubborn set of Imperial forces in the southwestern end of the recently re-conquered kingdom. The reason for his idle wonder, however, lay in the person applying said healing salve.

Mercedes was red in the face, and not from any sort of bashfulness. No, she was nearly irate, though quietly so, as she scolded him once again for his foolishness. She had been prepared for the blow, and, indeed, had everything under control, but something in Byleth snapped as he watched the axe fall, and he'd gotten himself a nasty wound for his trouble.

At length, Mercedes sighed and put the salve aside. "Byleth Eisner. What am I to do with you? I appreciate your help, but my battalion was ready if anything should have happened."

Byleth sighed. "I know."

Mercedes simply shook her head, showing a rare display of her annoyance. "Really, Byleth. I know I may still call you 'professor' in public, but our Academy days are behind us. Besides that, I'm a grown woman who has fought in more battles than many soldiers."

Byleth's expression didn't waver. I hardly did, but even for him this was a display of determined stoicism. "I'm aware, Mercedes. I…" his expression softened considerably, for a brief moment showing the vulnerable side that Mercedes was reasonably certain only she had ever seen. "I can't bear the thought of you getting killed. I've lost enough people, Mercedes. Losing you in this war would be more than I could bear."

Mercedes sighed deeply and smiled, placing a hand on Byleth's cheek. If she noticed the mistiness of his eyes, she said nothing of it. "And the same is true for me as well. I suggest we take a page out of Felix's book and see about training one another, yes? It's a morbid thought, but that way, if either of us must die, then the other would surely follow. If we do it properly, though, neither of us would have to worry overmuch again. Still, such thoughts aren't healthy. Neither are the sweets we make for tea, I suppose, which is why indulging in either to excess is dangerous. Therefore, despite your attempt to divert me, I do believe I will have to cancel our next two tea breaks; as much as Dimitri has improved he still needs help sometimes when it comes to uniforms."

With that, she departed in a flurry of skirts. With a sigh, Byleth slumped his shoulders. Since when was he the scolded schoolboy and she the professor?

A.N.

Thank you for reading. I plan on an update every few days until my planned chapters are expended. Afterwards I'll slap the completed tag on. I may or may not add to the collection after that point, but I will lean towards no at present. All reviews are welcomed.