sranks | locked to darkseal

[Linhardt's eyes are closed by the time he hears Hubert finally settling down, arms folding behind his head in a fashion that allows his head a nice place to rest.]

Good night, Hubert...just try to forget about your troubles for a bit, won't you?

[It's idly said while he starts to doze off, another, much larger yawn escaping from him. You just gotta empty your mind, Hubert!! It's so easy!!]

[Forget his troubles? How can he possibly forget what he was working on for Lady Edelgard? If he doesn't do this, it will fall to Lady Edelgard, and he would never dream of sticking her with something like this. It's tedious and time-consuming and more confusing than he'd care to admit, and if he's having difficulty with it, he certainly wouldn't want to stick Lady Edelgard with it—

...In short, he's not going to be able to shut his mind off and rest, even though he's found a (slightly) comfortable position for the time being. He rests on his back with his hands folded on his stomach, staring up at the clouds like that might help.

It's just surreal to try to sleep in the middle of the day...

He'll glance over at Linhardt after a moment, though he's expecting the other man to have already fallen asleep.]

[Hubert would actually be correct about that, if the steady rise and fall of Linhardt's breath is any indication. He looks at peace, really; he's done this a million times before, after all, and it certainly helps shut off his mind.

...Well, if he didn't turn in his sleep ever so often, which Hubert is likely to feel, at least somewhat. He's perfectly asleep while he does so, but his body moves involuntarily one way or another, and he even smiles a bit as he sleeps. Perhaps he's even dreaming already? Huh...there's even a light bit of snoring going on there. How the hell is this man so blissfully asleep already??

Either way, Linhardt doesn't seem to be much the wiser, honestly. He's just out like a fucking light.]

Edited (wording (also more snark)) 2019-08-10 04:16 (UTC)

[Ah, that's...

Weird. Yes. Very weird. How could he possibly fall asleep so easily? Doesn't he have plenty to think about as well? Surely he should be concerned with his research, or his tasks, or even his homework...

...

He does look very peaceful while he sleeps... It's almost—

Ugh, he's never going to rest at this rate, and Linhardt will never let him leave until he's slept... Hubert closes his eyes firmly and tries to push all thoughts from his mind.

Especially ones about Linhardt.]

[Hubert. You act like anything short of the goddess-damned apocalypse would separate him from his naps. You fool. You absolute buffoon.

Either way, though, he seems to settle a bit while he sleeps, and while Hubert at least tries to rest--he's blissfully unaware to the other man's troubles, and just seems more than content to sleep literally everything off.

...

And continue snoring. It's actually getting slightly louder, especially as he tosses and turns again. Hopefully that doesn't disturb Hubert's slumber too much?]

[Have a sense of duty, Linhardt!!!

The snoring is absolutely distracting; he's used to complete silence when he tries to sleep and Linhardt is not helping. He opens an eye after a moment, glancing at Linhardt before sighing. This is absolutely not working. Maybe he should just leave... Linhardt probably won't wake for at least an hour, right? That would give him some more time to work...

...But Linhardt will undoubtedly make good on his threat to tell Lady Edelgard...

The snoring is certainly not helping his concentration, so after a moment he reaches out to nudge Linhardt, hoping to get him to roll the other way or settle a bit or something so he can figure out the best way to handle this.]

[No!!! You can't make him, dammit!!

Either way, the shoving will at least get Linhardt's snoring to...well, abate, at least a little bit. He seems to finally find a comfortable position to sleep once that's all done, so that's good!

...

There's just one problem, however. On what perhaps seems like sheer instinct, Linhardt seems to grasp at Hubert's arm with one of his own, before just...kind of slowly dragging it over towards himself. If Hubert's not careful, Linhardt's going to just kind of nudge his way over and just. Bury his face there with perhaps the most contented look in the world.

I. I am so sorry?]

[...

Hubert von Vestra has made a horrible mistake.

Okay. The absolute last thing he needs to do is panic. For one, there's simply no reason to panic - ever, especially not something over so incredibly stupid - and two, this is an easy situation to resolve. He just needs to take his arm back and...

...

Linhardt, why is your grip so strong.

Okay, new plan. He'll just push Linhardt off—

...

???????????

No, he is refusing to give up. He is not going to let Linhardt cling to him like this regardless of how insignificant it seems. He is not the sort of person to back down from a challenge and he has entirely too much to do to spend his time here with Linhardt clinging to him.

If shoving the man won't work and pulling his arm out of that death grip isn't an option, then the correct solution is to punch him. It's not an eloquent solution, and it's not like Hubert is nearly as strong as high height would suggest, but it would at least get Linhardt to wake up and maybe give up on this foolish idea of looking after him. He doesn't need or want that, and it would be satisfying to punch him. It might even crush those pathetic feelings that are only getting even more riled up right now.

He shifts a bit so he can get into a position where he can properly punch Linhardt despite how utterly ridiculous it'll be.

...

.........

Instead, he drops his hand with a frustrated sigh. It certainly wouldn't look good on Lady Edelgard if Linhardt ever spoke of this incident. Punching another noble is beneath him. There simply has to be a better way to handle this situation.

...A way that doesn't involve murder.]

Linhardt.

[His voice is stern, louder than normal and a bit too tense for his liking. He tries to free his arm again, more forcefully than before.]

Wake up.

[Oh goddess above, what was going on now. Linhardt stirs a bit at the stern words, all too easily being reminded of those times when people would wake him up from a perfectly good nap. Really, he was having such a nice dream, too--he doesn't even know how long he napped for before being so rudely woken up, but he groggily opens his eyes and looks at Hubert with an unamused expression.]

Ugh, what on earth is it--

[...Wait.

Wait, wait, wait.

It takes a few seconds for Linhardt to realize just what the hell has happened, though his words stop suddenly when he realizes he's pressed up against something...well, surprisingly comfortable. It's actually kind of nice? Really, this is more comfortable than most of his stuffed animal collection, but when did he bring--

...

Well, congratulations, Hubert.

Linhardt usually isn't one for emoting, or at least, expressing himself in a manner that's more than the bare minimum. He's always been a little blase, even when happy, angry, sad, or...well, anything.

This, however? This sees his face going a rather stark shade of red as he unhinges himself from Hubert, practically jolting out of his dead sleep with wide eyes as he pushes himself up and croaks out--]

I'm--I'm sorry?

[Congratulations, Hubert, you may have gotten the most genuine emotion out of Linhardt that anything has ever gotten. It's not much of an achievement, but it's something? Honestly, he doesn't even know what to say, but uh.

Congrats, he's awake and un-koala'd from your arm now???]

[Success!! Hubert doesn't exactly relax (because when does he ever relax), but it's good to have his arm free and...

Honestly, it's kind of hilarious to see a genuine emotion from Linhardt. Even though he'd just been absolutely embarrassed by what was going on, he's now suddenly gifted with a wonderful opportunity to turn the tide of battle.

(Perhaps thinking of this like a tactics drill is not the way to go about it, but that's far easier than addressing what just happened.)]

I'm surprised you didn't notice. Were you truly that comfortable?

[The words are a bit sharp, pointed as he tries to turn this back on Linhardt, to make himself more comfortable.

Even now he's still more comfortable pushing people away.]

[Ohhhh, goddess damn it all, this is actually kind of distressing? This is actually kind of distressing. Linhardt kind of pointedly averts his damn gaze at that, trying to get some manner of under control--]

I...I knew not what I was doing until I woke up. It didn't even register to me that I was doing such a thing until...

[Well. You know. He's pretty sure he doesn't even need to say???

That isn't an answer to Hubert's question and Linhardt knows it, but he's hoping Hubert will back down or just walk away, at this point. Anything would be better than this? Is this the true goddess's curse? Because he hates it and he especially hates that sharp tone, this is about to be a bad time, isn't it.]

Edited 2019-08-10 05:25 (UTC)

[This? This is good. This is situation he can have control over. This is exactly how things should be, with no trace of those obnoxious feelings.]

And here I thought you were the most experienced in napping. To think you'd lose control of yourself in such an undignified display... How embarrassing.

[The words are more harsh now, not quite dripping in venom and not sharpened by anger but pointed and aimed like a dagger. If he's perfectly honest with himself, he doesn't know why he's lashing out in his own undignified display, but for a moment it makes him feel like he has control again, like things are as they should be.]

[He should have expected this--this is just how Hubert has always been, and it was stupid to think that this would all just magically fix itself after all was said and done. Honestly, it's causing those feelings of his to bubble and boil as he feels like he's being stabbed in the heart, and he hates it.]

I--I must have thought you were one of my stuffed--

[His words catch in his throat, dying and withering away, and he really can't deal with this anymore. But he can certainly run away from his problems--run as far away from them as humanly damn possible. And if Hubert's going to be a problem, then...

Well, Linhardt gets up, and he turns on his heel to walk away.]

Forget it. Go back to the library; I'm taking my leave of you.

[The words are harsh, forced out as Linhardt walks away in a manner that's faster than he's ever walked before. He's not sure if Hubert intends to pursue, but Linhardt doesn't care at this point.]

[Linhardt gets up and leaves, and Hubert's once again won. He's succeeded at being an absolute asshole and pushing someone else away, preventing Linhardt from ever hindering his work again. He probably won't see much of Linhardt after this, but does that really matter? It's not like he needs to socialize with anyone when he should be working for Lady Edelgard.

...

So why is there this sinking feeling in his chest, almost as if he's done something wrong? It isn't guilt - it certainly can't be guilt - but it's not a pleasant feeling and one that almost makes him want to give chase. Linhardt certainly can't be faster than him, he could catch up if he really wanted to.

He shakes his head as he moves to stand. Ridiculous.

Regrets, guilt - what need does he have for either of those? His duty is to Lady Edelgard and there is nothing in this world he could ever want more than assisting her. He has plenty of work to get back to, and he will not be interrupted again. Not by anything or anyone, and certainly not by feelings.

(He ends up making sure he doesn't overwork himself, and there isn't a repeat of the fainting incident. But that's just a coincidence.)]

[It's been at least a week since the incident with Hubert.

Linhardt's...well, to most, he hasn't been acting any different than usual; he's always been one to shirk his duties and fuck off to nap elsewhere without any regard for his duties, his classwork, or the like. But he's been remarkably more evasive, lately, than most are used to; he's practically putting Bernadetta to shame with the sheer level of dedication to which he doesn't want to be found. There's always new hiding places to be found around the monastery, and Linhardt has been making some use of them for sure.

Hell, even while he's been in class (which he seems to be avoiding more than even usual), he's been distant. Linhardt doesn't really know why he's been cutting himself off so bad, lately, but...the last thing he wants to do is be bothered by others. Especially by Edelgard or Hubert; he's pretty sure if he saw either of them, he'd be liable to snapping at them, and...well, as much as Hubert deserves the snapping in Linhardt's eyes, he isn't really in the mood to actively piss off the house leader or her beleaguered second in command. His heart feels...well, it's been feeling vaguely empty as of late.

He's at least trying to ignore it, though, despite how...weird and distant it's making him, but surely it's fine.

Either way, it'a another day if barely being in class and avoiding everything like the plague, and Linhardt's actually stepping towards his room--he's got a hot date with his bed and pillow that he's absolutely not going to miss for the world, because he's very here to sleep right about now. As he's walking in, though, he feels his feet crunch on something, causing his eyes to dart to the floor.

His room is usually a mess of the highest order, so he usually doesn't pay any mind to stray papers, but...this isn't familiar to him at all. He's not sure what it's doing here, but...well, he's feeling a little nosy today.

Let's see what this is.]

[It's been a week since his fight with Linhardt.

Okay, so perhaps that's not entirely accurate. It wasn't a fight so much as it was a slaughter, and a completely unnecessary one at that. Had anyone else treated Linhardt in such an uncouth fashion, he would have stepped in. So obviously the only thing to do is to try to make amends and set things right, so at the very least the man will stop running.

Linhardt hasn't been around at all and even when he isn't working for Lady Edelgard or in class he's had a hard time locating Linhardt. That usually doesn't happen. Hubert has a good idea of where everyone - important or pointless - is in the monastery at any given time. So this...

Well, it isn't good to let anyone slip away from his notice. It's for the best if he patches things up and finds a way to get Linhardt to settle. It's for Lady Edelgard's sake, not his own.

(But that doesn't explain why he's had a few sleepless nights thinking back to that, or the way his chest tightens when he thinks he catches a glimpse of Linhardt, or the strange feeling of embarrassment that comes with anyone else noticing Linhardt's even more evasive ways.

If he's perfectly honest with himself - which he isn't - he might have to admit that it isn't entirely for Lady Edelgard's sake.)

He had decided he would confront Linhardt about all of this only three days after the incident. It was enough time to prove that Linhardt's absence would only prove to be more troublesome than it was worth. Unfortunately, Hubert doesn't really have the slightest idea how to go about this, much less... actually apologizing.

It was thanks to many of the other students that he even has some sort of idea what to do now, although things didn't always go as smoothly as he would have liked.

When he'd initially heard that offering a gift would help with an apology, his first thought had gone to sweets. Linhardt likes them (he's fairly sure), and how hard could it be to bake something? It seemed relatively easy, but it wasn't long before looking over recipes in the library had him realize that there was simply no way he was up to the task. Who knew cooking was so difficult?

Lysithea had caught him there, and she'd been just as curious as anyone else would have been why he was reading a cookbook. He hadn't told her the truth, of course - just that he was curious about preparing something for Lady Edelgard, a much more acceptable reason - and while she had looked like she was trying not to laugh, she had directed him toward Annette and Mercedes.

Getting them to agree to fix something for him was actually surprisingly easy. He had been prepared to offer them money for it, but they'd just given each other a knowing look and agreed before he could even offer.

Hubert would be lying if he said he hadn't felt mildly embarrassed about that one, but when he'd returned to pick up the sweets, they were exactly as the book had described.

He had been prepared to offer just the sweets as a gift, but when Professor Byleth had unceremoniously shoved a stuffed bear in his hands earlier today, he figured it couldn't hurt to pass it along to Linhardt. Hadn't he said something about a stuffed animal? Well, more gifts certainly wouldn't hurt.

The final piece of the perfectly-constructed puzzle was the letter. It had taken him countless attempts and more wasted paper than he'd care to count, but eventually it had been written neatly (then copied over to a clean piece of paper to make it even neater) and was folded and sealed. He had even avoided using House Vestra's seal, just in case Linhardt would ignore it outright on sight.

With all the preparations in place, he had slipped the note under Linhardt's door and returned to his own room to wait. Everything would be fine.

(And it was a bit ridiculous he had to convince himself of that.)

The letter reads as follows:]

Linhardt,
It is my understanding that you have hardly been around recently. Your presence has been missed by those in your house. I wish to set things right. Meet me at my room tonight.
- Hubert von Vestra

[...No one ever said it was a good apology letter.]

[...

You know, Linhardt typically sucks with actual apologies that even attempt to not sound vaguely stilted and as if he's simply trying to imitate something genuine. But this? This makes him look emotionally competent, and that's saying something.

He knows very well that he could just crumble this letter up and throw it away--maybe send a message by tearing it apart and leaving it in front of Hubert's door, and never speaking to the man again. It'd be revenge for the humiliation he felt, but...an attempt at it, even a vague one, makes Linhardt feel vaguely sick to his stomach. He shouldn't feel like this. Not after what Hubert did, but the man went out of his way to send him this in the first place.

And...well, if this isn't some kind of trick, then Hubert did say he wished to set things right. And in some ways--a lot, actually--Linhardt wanted that to be true. He knew he was potentially opening himself up to getting messed with again. But if it would stop all of those thoughts that he missed Hubert, missed having him around to talk to, then...

Well, maybe it was a risk worth taking.

Linhardt's never been very prompt to anything that wasn't an appointment with a nap, but Hubert will actually hear a knock on the door in relatively prompt order by the time night rolls around.]

Are you there?

[Hubert isn't expecting Linhardt to be prompt. He figured that Linhardt would come late, probably only out of curiosity to see exactly how this would unfold, because let's face it, Hubert never apologizes for anything. He had hoped that the letter would be enough for Linhardt to show up at least out of curiosity alone, and apparently he was right.

Right, but not right about the timing, and as such he's not entirely prepared when Linhardt arrives at his door.

The treats are neatly arranged in a basket with the stuffed bear behind them, centered on his desk where they can easily be seen as soon as he opens the door. His room is spotless, as it always is, and he's already putting the book he was reading away and making sure the others he's been working his way through for Lady Edelgard are out of sight, just in case. Linhardt is clever - too clever - and the last thing he needs is for the man to catch on to them before Lady Edelgard has time to prepare her plan and strike.

In short, everything should be ready, and yet as he looks at the door there's a sinking feeling in his gut that he's completely forgotten something. His room is neat, his appearance is just as it should be, why does that even matter anyway, though...

No more hesitation. He opens the door.]

Good evening, Linhardt. Would you care to come in?

[He opens the door further and inclines his head to indicate that Linhardt should enter. He's not doing this out in the hallway, okay.]

[There goes his damned chest again. Hubert will actually find that Linhardt looks about as the same as ever, if slightly more put together in some ways but off in others; he's well kept, he's straightened up a bit by how less haphazard his uniform and general appearance looks, but he actually looks like he kind of inherited Hubert's bags under his eyes, despite all of his napping.

Hell, if Hubert's observant enough, he'll notice that Linhardt actually has the letter in his hand. Still, either way, he tips his head a bit in acknowledgement.]

Well, that is why you invited me here, is it not?

[His tone is the same as ever, but he will step inside when Hubert inclines his head. He rubs at his eyes a bit with his free hand, before taking a look around the room--his eyes set upon the basket first, tilting his head as he regards it, before dismissing it. No, that just has to be a gift he received, probably from Edelgard or something--]

I'm surprised you're bothering to go out of your way, at all.

[...Linhardt's never been good at not being blunt, but at the very least, while his tone is guarded, it's not biting at all.]

[He'll shut the door behind Linhardt, but he makes no move to lock it or otherwise block the doorway in case Linhardt wants to leave. He'll move toward the opposite wall from his bed, leaning against it and folding his arms.

Linhardt has seen the gifts, but then he just... kind of ignores them... um. Hmm. Well, he'll address the words first, at least.]

It wasn't as though I had to go far out of my way.

[Defensive. Mistake number one. He inhales slowly and tries again.]

...My behavior last week was unacceptable.

[Straightforward, though perhaps a bit too blunt. It isn't a proper apology by any means, but it's at least a start.]

I wanted to...

[apologize, why is that word so difficult to say—

It doesn't come, and the pause lasts for far too long, so instead he gestures to the gifts.]

For you. Take them, if you want them.

[It's all still a bit too blunt, too short, and without nearly enough explanation or clarification. He had this rehearsed, the speech he intended to give memorized, and yet now he can't find the words he needs to make things right.

Is there even a way to make things right?

His posture is closed-off and it might look as though he's just trying to get this over with as quickly as possible, but if Linhardt looks closely, it's obvious that Hubert's not trying to be so brusque and brush him off, he's legitimately just this awkward.]

[Linhardt stiffens a bit at the defensive words, but when Hubert changes his tone and...attempts something, though if Linhardt's confused expression is any indication, he's not sure what--yeah, his behavior was unacceptable, it was frankly cruel, and Linhardt was more than content not to think about it further, but the cut off words frustrate him a bit. The pause goes on long enough that Linhardt's about to say something, something he'll likely regret, but...

His look goes back to the basket when Hubert brings it up, and he's clearly startled when he realizes that all of this is for him.]

Wait...what? This is...

[There go those wild feelings in his chest again, and from the way he looks back and forth between Hubert and the basket, he...clearly isn't sure what to do with that. He winds up saying the first thing that comes to mind--]

No one's ever gone this far out of their way for me...

[He doesn't stop himself, the words coming unbidden as he winds up walking over to take a look at the basket. Those sweets are making his mouth water and any resolve he had for not forgiving Hubert is slowly going out the window as he takes the basket and goes back into place, looking at Hubert.

...He actually takes the stuffed bear and holds it close to himself in his free arm while he tries out one of the sweets, and oh gods they're delightful, give him a second--]

Is this an apology, then?

[...He's kind of getting that Hubert is just Like This, but Linhardt's words are no less. Kind of blunt, though it seems to be more unintentional than anything. Though Hubert can definitely observe Linhardt absolutely enjoying the sweets, clearly transfixed by them.]

[They should be pretty damn good, seeing as how Mercedes is apparently among the best at baking sweets. Annette wouldn't stop gushing about how good they were going to be.

Hubert's still stuck on Linhardt's words, however. No one's ever gone this far out of their way for me... It's not exactly hard to believe that, but at the same time something about it sticks with him, and he finds himself shifting a bit where he's leaning against the wall. It's somewhere between agitation and frustration; he doesn't know what it is about that admission that's bothering him so much, and he doesn't have time to analyze it right now.

(He doesn't want to analyze it.)

Instead, Linhardt accepts the gifts and puts it into words quickly and more efficiently than Hubert ever could have. He nods, curt.]

Yes. I... have a bit of difficulty expressing it.

[Obviously.]

It won't happen again.

[If the way he's rather ungracefully shoving them in his face is any indication, believe me, they're that and more. Dear goddess, who knew he could be so easy to win over???

...The bear is helping too, honestly, he's even going out of his way to make sure nothing lands on the bear and just...kind of has a surprisingly soft look when he looks at it, while he eats. It's...actually kind of nice, and even if it's making him look strange, probably, it's comforting. Even if Hubert's likely judging.

Not that he really looks up to see if Hubert is until he speaks up, and Linhardt turns that over in his head a bit.]

...I'd rather prefer it if you didn't let it happen again. Though, I suppose I wasn't blameless in that situation, either.

[It's still kind of humiliating to think about.........]

But in any case, I...do believe I owe you an apology as well, Hubert.

[Yeah, he's kind of looking at Linhardt and the bear and judging, but he's at least trying to keep it off his face. Some people actually like things like that for some reason... And anyway, he doesn't need to make this any worse than it already is. He's trying, he's just bad at this.

At Linhardt's words, he shakes his head.]

It wasn't as though you could control what you were doing in your sleep. There's no reason for you to apologize.

[He's honestly not sure what Linhardt could have to apologize for...]

[thanks for not being an asshole for once, hubie........appreciated................

Still, Linhardt shakes his head and looks up at Hubert when he says that he has no reason to apologize--he does, actually. It's something that's ate at him for a bit, all things considered, and Linhardt actually looks rather guilty when he speaks up--]

No, it's not that. I do believe that before I stormed off, I implied you should go back to the library. I don't know how you took such a thing, but I do believe that I implied you should go back to overworking yourself, because I didn't...

[Care anymore is the first thing that he wants to say, but he stops himself short. He never really stopped caring, but he certainly did a good job of attempting to burn the bridge, didn't he.]

Because I was angry with you. And...I do believe that was entirely unfair of me to say such a thing; to say nothing of how callous it was...

[His look goes down when he says that.]

...You have been taking care of yourself, I hope.

Edited 2019-08-10 19:07 (UTC)

locked to darkseal

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