Clearing out bandits was a routine enough mission for the Blue Lions at this point. The professor often had her students spending weekends out in little skirmishes. They were low-risk fights that helped the class bond as allies and grow in their strength. Byleth was not only an incredible fighter, but she was a master tactician who had an eye for her students' talents. And as the Blue Lions took on the nest of bandits, their professor's plan worked just as expected.
Dimitri and Sylvain had made quick work of circling around and cutting off any escape routes. And with Felix, Dedue, and Ingrid pushing forward, they pulled off a most effective pincer attack.
Despite his protests, Felix made sure to keep Eve close. While he made quick work of his enemies, he watched her closely, trying his best to reroute any of her would-be attackers towards him. But as they fought Felix became very aware that his assistance was unneeded.
He watched as Eve cut through the bandits without a hint of emotion on her face. There was no remorse at taking a life, no disgust at the blood and gore. She was just as strong as her training would suggest, weaving her way between enemies without hesitation. And as Felix watched on, he noticed a glimmer in her eyes much like the one he had seen the first day when they sparred. It was what had drawn him to her, and now he could see it was more than just a glimmer—it was a flame. There was no better word to describe what he saw in Eve as she fought than bloodlust. And Felix realised that the reason he was so suspicious of her and her relationship with Dimitri was because her emotions never touched her eyes. But now, there was only emotion in her eyes. Fighting made her feel alive—much like it made Felix feel alive.
This revelation, however, only served to bring up more questions than it could have potentially answered. If all this was true, why was she with Dimitri? Did the boar prince know about that fire in Eve's eyes? What were Eve's motives in coming to the Officer's Academy? And why did he even care?
While questions buzzed around in his head, Felix found himself distracted. And it wasn't until he heard his name shouted over the sound of steel hitting steel that he realised he had messed up.
"Felix!" It was Eve who was calling out to him, panic in her eyes as she dove towards him.
She swiftly shoved him out of the way of an incoming blow, moving to block it with her own sword. But she had been too slow- more focused on Felix than his assailant- and the enemy's dagger found purchase, slicing across her left clavicle. Eve winced in pain as blood bloomed from her wound. Despite her injury she slashed at the bandit before her, nearly cutting him clean in half.
"Are you okay?" There was fear in her voice as Eve turned to face Felix. Her eyes flitted over him hastily and he saw relief wash over her as she noted he had not been injured.
"Worry about yourself you idiot!" Felix hissed in anger as she staggered slightly. Luckily the fighting seemed to have died down now and there were only a few stragglers left for the class to round up.
"You should," Eve touched her wound lightly, her hand coming away sticky with her own blood, "be more attentive."
With that, she collapsed forward into his arms. At first the wound she sustained didn't seem all that serious, but now that he was closer Felix could see just how deep it was. She was hurt—badly—and it was his fault. He had foolishly gotten distracted and Eve was the one accepting the consequences.
"Mercedes!" Felix called out, hoping someone could come to help Eve. "Professor!"
But it was Dimitri who came, riding over to where Felix held Eve.
"What happened?" Dimitri's face was pale as he dismounted and rushed over to them. "Felix, you were supposed to watch over her!"
"You think I don't know that?" Felix shot back, anger rising in the back of his throat. "Just get her to Mercedes, she's bleeding a lot."
Felix watched as Dimitri took Eve and hoisted her unconscious form onto his horse as gently as he could. And before he knew it the two of them were racing off to where Mercedes was, leaving Felix to stew in his own conflict.
Why did Eve take that blow for him? It wasn't like he had been particularly kind to her; he hadn't done anything that would encourage her to put her life on the line for him. And if the persona she showed in front of the Blue Lions was all fake, then why did she seem so genuinely scared when he was in harm's way?
"Dammit!" Felix cursed at his feet. Above all what bothered him most was that he had allowed Eve to distract him on the battlefield. It was unlike him for his focus to waver in a fight, so why had his thoughts been so easily diverted by this girl?
Eve awoke in her own room with a start. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain on her left made it impossible on her own.
"You're awake." It was Dimitri who spoke, standing from where he sat at her desk. "You lost a lot of blood, but Manuela patched you up. She said you'd be fine in a couple days as long as you keep it clean and use the salve she made when you redress it."
He motioned to a jar of mysterious goop that sat on Eve's bedside table as he came over to help her sit up. His eyes were troubled, clouded with worry. Eve wondered why Dimitri would harbour that kind of emotion for her. If she died, he was free. He wouldn't have to marry her anymore, wouldn't be trapped because of her actions.
"Why am I here?" Eve asked instead of voicing her true concern. "Shouldn't I be in the infirmary?"
"There was an accident at training with a spell gone awry." Dimitri explained. "Manuela needed the beds and said all you really needed now was some rest. So, I took you back here and have been keeping an eye on you."
"Thank you." Eve said slowly, still unsure why the prince would care so much about her injury.
But before she could consider asking Dimitri anything, a loud, persistent knocking was heard at the door. Dimitri cast a questioning glance towards Eve as if to ask if he should answer it. Neither of them had time to say anything, however, before Felix came bursting into the room, all but kicking her door down.
"Felix?" Dimitri's brow furrowed and he subconsciously stepped in front of Eve as if to protect her from this intruder.
"Why did you do that?" Felix pushed past Dimitri with ease to stand above Eve, anger raging in his eyes.
"Do what?" She strained. "Save your life?"
"I don't need someone to save me." Felix spat. His anger came as a surprise to Eve and she couldn't figure out why he was so mad. "I could have handled it on my own, but you went and got yourself needlessly injured."
"Felix, I-" Before Eve could answer, Felix cut her off.
"I almost would have commended you for how you carried yourself in batter." He crossed his arms, regarding her with a look she couldn't quite place. "But only an idiot throws themselves at a blade like that."
"Is that what you came here to do?" Eve asked softly, her tone surprising both Felix and Dimitri who had expected her to retort with similar venom. "I don't need your thanks, but I don't need whatever this is either. I'm tired, Felix, just let me rest. I don't know why you hate me, but can't it wait until after I've healed?"
"Hate you?" Felix recoiled, losing momentum in his anger. "What made you think I hate you?"
Once again, Felix found himself wondering why he cared. This interaction was going all wrong. He had wanted to make sure Eve was okay after being unable to find her in the infirmary. And he had wanted to ask her why she saved him. But all the confusion her actions caused morphed into anger as he tried to speak to her.
"I-I don't hate you." He said, looking away. "I just don't get you. If you think I hate you why would you save me like that, then?"
"I just did what was right." Eve said deliberately, exchanging a look with Dimitri.
"What was right?" Felix's brow furrowed. "Dying for someone you barely know—someone you think hates you—was right?"
"It was you." Eve spoke without thinking, letting her true reasoning come to light. "I'll always put my life on the line for you."
"Eve!" Dimitri's voice was panicked as he shot a pointed look at her.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Felix asked, more confused than he had been when he first arrived.
Rather than answer, Eve regarded Felix with soft eyes. There was something in that look that seemed to break past Felix's defences. With just that one glance, he felt as if he had been kicked in the gut. But just as quickly as that look had come, it was gone as she turned to look up at Dimitri with determination.
"I want to tell him."