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[Truthfully speaking, this Ball was nothing more than a glorified dance class in Linhardt's mind. They were practically obligated to attend and partake, dancing with people and exchanging smiles and pleasantries; a ball like this was at least somewhat important to the nobility, Linhardt was sure, but as far as he was concerned? He had no business here, and the first chance he could get out, he took gladly.

He wasn't altogether sure about where to go, honestly; he could certainly just turn in for the night on his bed, or get back to his crest research, but there was another curiosity that he wanted to take a look at; the Goddess Tower. The details were a little fuzzy in Linhardt's mind, but he had heard some so-called rumors about what happened within the tower. Something interesting would happen if two people entered the tower...was it that they would be blessed by the Goddess if they shared a vow, or that they would be cursed for defiling her tower? Linhardt couldn't really recall off the top of his head, as it wasn't a topic that interested him too much, but...well, it was an interesting research opportunity and there was certainly a first time for everything.

But of course, he knew very well he wasn't exactly destined for much in the love department. As far as he was concerned, the Goddess Tower would be a once in a lifetime napping spot, and Linhardt intended to take the bait. It was surprisingly quiet, though he didn't doubt that there were people waiting to come in and try to find their 'true love', as they would likely call it. Linhardt finds his way to a nice spot within the tower, settling himself in for what's likely to be an interesting sleep, if nothing else.

Who knows, maybe he'll get to eavesdrop on some unlucky sap within the tower before he nods off, or perhaps even hear someone find the love of their life. The latter would certainly be a nice thought, for one of the others, perhaps. That would at least be interesting to hear...]

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[Maybe someday he'll get used to Linhardt being so forward, but it manages to catch him off-guard again now. He laughs, feeling himself flush a bit at that. It's not really something he can say he minds any.]

Of course I will. You don't need to ask.

[...Partially because Linhardt's tugging on his hand and partially because he wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now. He follows easily, to wherever Linhardt wishes to lead.]

The tea house should still be open, if you want some. I have no complaints with enjoying the scenery without tea, however.

[It's nice to see Linhardt practically light up on seeing the place, but honestly he's more interested in watching Linhardt than looking at the scenery.]

[Linhardt, of course, sees no problems with this. He seems pleased with the reaction, though...Hubert's honestly so precious when he's flushed, he can't help but love it...]

Perhaps in a while; I simply want to enjoy the view of this beautiful place for a time...

[He'll find a nice place to lay down, and gesture for Hubert to sit with him while he stretches out, practically sprawled right out on the ground. He doesn't expect Hubert to lay with him, but Linhardt is nothing if not dedicated to relaxation.]

Ah...this is simply paradise. Wonderful company, a beautiful view...what more could one ask for, truly?

[He'll join Linhardt on the ground, sweeping his cape out of the way so he doesn't sit on it and have to struggle when getting up. He is nothing if not determined to keep his dignity. So no, that means he won't be lying down. He'll lean back on his hands though, once again paying far more attention to Linhardt than to the scenery.]

Plenty of free time to nap, I'd imagine?

[It's light, of course.]

[Linhardt chuckles at that. Hubert's certainly not wrong, at any rate.

He finds himself missing holding onto Hubert's hand, though; when he finally gets comfortable, he lets them spread by his sides, silently hoping Hubert might grasp them again--]

I do suppose that is quite true, yes.

[Linhardt's tone is light when he says that, and his blue eyes look up at Hubert warmly.]

But I don't wish to nap quite yet. Taking in the wonderfully clean air is a blissful reward all it's own...as well as taking in such lovely sights...

[There isn't really any reason for him to take Linhardt's hand, but he finds himself considering it anyway, so who knows, maybe...]

The capital is a lovely place. I'm not surprised you find it so beautiful. I'm pleased I have the opportunity to show you around.

[And you know. To spend more time with Linhardt in general.]

If I didn't know any better, I'd say you wanted to do this all along...

[That's at least a tiny bit teasing, but Linhardt's tone is honestly very pleased with the outcome.]

Not that I mind, of course. I couldn't think of a better way to enjoy my time here.

[That earns a small laugh.]

It's good that you know better.

[That's teasing as well, of course.

He pauses for a moment before deciding that he might as well address the obvious changes.]

I hadn't realized you were growing your hair out. It looks nice.

["nice".............]

[Linhardt laughs a bit at the first remark, but the second...that actually gets him to close his eyes somewhat, in contentment.

...And totally not because that sort of praise is making his cheeks heat the slightest bit, you're imagining that--]

Ah...thank you. I must admit, I'm not used to that sort of praise...I have wanted to grow it out for quite some time now, but I could never find the right way to style it. I still don't think I have...

[Now he wishes he styled it some more, ugh!!]

[Hubert shifts a little, moving so he's looking down at Linhardt. In all honesty, he's tempted to reach out and run a hand through Linhardt's hair, but instead he focuses on Linhardt's words.]

I like it. It looks...

[He trails off there, because he's honestly not sure how to end that. "Attractive" is the first word that comes to mind, which is absolutely not what he wants to say. He hesitates for longer than is really proper or needed before finally coming up with something.]

Professional. You really do look like a scholar now.

[...]

Not that your hairstyle before was bad, however.

[hubert von vestra is fuckin smooth]

[Oh gods, what are these compliments doing to him? Is he getting...flustered? Linhardt's eyes are still closed, but he does feel Hubert shift a bit, the flush on his face darkening.

...Well, it abates a little bit at that very last comment, but that's only because Linhardt chuckles a bit, openly and freely.]

Well, aren't we being entirely honest tonight? [It's teasing, but only lightly.] You can say it looked bad if you want to, though. I can take a bit of criticism.

[There's a pause, as if he's unsure of whether to address the first part of that, and his cheeks darken again.]

...I suppose I should thank you for the compliment, however. Though, now I worry people may expect too much of me from my looks...

[His smile is fond, expression softer than it ever is around anyone else and there's something comforting in the fact that Linhardt's keeping his eyes closed. He can't see just how weak he makes Hubert, and that's precisely how it should be.

Once again, he finds himself close enough to figuring it all out.]

Let them expect what they want. Their opinions don't matter. The only reason to ever worry about what they think is if you can use them to further Her Majesty's goals.

[The words are easy, calm despite the topic. It's so ingrained in his being that he even manages to be threatening in a gentle moment like this.]

I suppose six months was quite some time. I hope you weren't too busy.

[Linhardt doesn't look like he's been pushing himself too hard, at least. Hubert's once again tempted to touch him - but just like so many times before he stops himself. He stops himself from reaching out, and he stops himself from putting that last piece into place and figuring this all out.

He knows once he does that, everything will change, and he's quite fond of how things are now.]

[Linhardt sighs a little aggressively, and sounds almost mock whining when he speaks up again.]

As true as that is, all of that attention is such a hassle outside of such affairs. I've always prided myself in being just plain enough to avoid such overt attentions...

[...That doesn't feel right to say, and he winds up opening his eyes and looking up at Hubert from below.]

...Perhaps I could get used to it, in the future. But for now, I'll simply take the negotiations and teachings to take Father's position; that's what I've been busy with.

[Linhardt winds up staring at Hubert's face with a weird expression--not quite that unreadable expression, but...]

...Hubert, could I ask something of you?

[He winds up rolling over a bit so he can stare up at Hubert from the ground, without cricking his neck from a weird angle.]

[Plain? Linhardt has always been anything but plain. He's about to say as much when Linhardt moves. He doesn't shift from his spot, though he does tip his head a bit to the side.]

Of course. What is it?

Will you hold still, for about a minute or so?

[...]

And perhaps trust me. If you're so inclined.

[...There's a bit of determination in Linhardt's tone.]

I'm sure you know by now that I do.

[Well, as much as he can trust anyone. So he'll do just that! He has no idea what exactly Linhardt wants to do, but... well...

His heart's definitely beating faster and it feels like it'll beat straight out his chest at this rate. Hopefully Linhardt can't tell.]

Then this will go quite smoothly.

[Linhardt isn't quite so nervous, by comparison. He's been curious about something for a while, and it hasn't quite hit him yet that this is highly forward, that this could be mistaken for something deeply intimate, and yet, like an idiot, Linhardt goes for it.

Linhardt's hand goes toward the side of Hubert's face, almost cupping it and seeming to go up slowly while Lin takes a close look--grazing along his face if Hubert let's him, going under his bangs and bringing them up so he can look Hubert in both of his eyes...

...

Huh.]

...How fascinating...

[He speaks as if he's finally figured something out, at any rate.]

I've always been curious about why you've hidden one of your eyes from the view of others, so I had wanted to see what you would look like without it there.

[Beat.]

It's just as charming as you normally look.

[lin says, with no regard for tact whatsoever]

[He doesn't flinch when Linhardt touches him, though it's a struggle not to. Though his expression remains exactly the same as always, internally it feels like he's on fire and nothing will ever quench the flames. He doesn't move, and he doesn't lean into Linhardt's hand, but it is only sheer willpower that keeps him from doing either.

Then Linhardt's hand moves to push his bangs aside and Hubert quickly realizes this isn't going exactly the way he thought it was. There's a moment where he just sort of stares, blinking as he attempts to process how things ended up like this.

And then suddenly he's laughing, and he's not sure when he let himself do that, but nothing has made him laugh this hard in... well, ever, probably. He raises a hand to cover the lower half of his face as he glances away; he's flushed, but he looks genuinely amused in a way that's different. It isn't tempered, it's open for once.

Of course, he's trying to get it under control, but what else would you expect.]

You could have just asked, you know.

[...Is Linhardt pulling back or is he going to remain this close...]

[There's a flutter in his heart as Hubert laughs, as he laughs openly for what feels like the first time, and Linhardt goes wide-eyed as he realizes that this laugh is just for him.

It's doing something to him, making him go wide-eyed and slack jawed like he just got sucker punched in his weirdly functioning feelings, and he realizes that maybe, just maybe, he just bit off a bit more than he could chew.

And he's...not sure he minds.]

I wasn't altogether certain that you would allow such a thing. But really, I've wanted to see it for a while...

[He's slowly realizing he's wanted to do that for a while.

Linhardt isn't pulling back at all, though. He's kind of a little too transfixed by what he's seeing before him.]

[He drops his hand once he's done laughing, though he's still flushed and his smile is a little more open than it usually is. It's still a tempered expression, but years of doing that makes it second nature.]

If I was missing an eye, this could have gone much worse, you know.

[But he doesn't mind, obviously.

He should pull back, away from Linhardt's touch so they can settle back into the usual comfort of being together without being this close. This is the sort of thing that people would talk about, were they around to see it. Not that he cares if people talk, but they're important figures now, and talking could reflect badly on Her Majesty. He should pull back, resettle, and allow this moment to pass by like so many others have.

But if he does, there's no telling if he'll ever be this close to Linhardt again. They're so painfully, agonizingly close. He's never this close with anyone. Linhardt has let him in and trusts him, easily as much as Her Majesty does. And he trusts Linhardt, perhaps not as much as he should, but enough to start to let his guard down around him.

He's already let his guard down once today. Once more couldn't hurt, could it? They're in the Imperial capital, they're far from the battlefield and the risks that come with it. It wouldn't hurt to act rashly for once in his life, to take a risk without the calculations and careful planning that always go with it.

And so, Hubert lifts a hand to trace the side of Linhardt's face gently. Before he can lose his resolve - before he can stop and really think about what he's doing - he leans forward and kisses his dear friend.]

W-well...I...

[Wasn't thinking about that. is what Linhardt wants to say, but his tongue is so utterly tied when he looks into Hubert's eyes. They're lovely, oh so lovely, and seeing them both staring at him like that is making his entire mind scratch to a halt. It brings back memories of that dance, how close they were then and how he wanted nothing more than to lean into Hubert and slow dance like those nobles he saw--the ones without shame, the ones who had someone, the ones he couldn't understand why he didn't feel that same warmth as when he danced with others because he assumed that was just how they all felt, and he was worried he was missing something...

It reminds him deeply of how that hex has always reacted. It made him feel empty when Hubert wasn't there. It made his heart race when Hubert was, when the man was warm with him, kind to him in a way he wasn't with others, always went out of his way in those little ways that Linhardt loves, and he loved every moment of it, he loves that they became so close, he loves--

It's as if the final puzzle piece finally fits itself in Linhardt's head all at once.

Love. He loves Hubert.

Linhardt doesn't even know what to say, or what to do to stop the dumbfounded look on his face as the realization hits him in his malfunctioning feelings all at once, like a wyvern smacking into him at full force, and he wants to tell Hubert, perhaps, that there's something more to this. But then Hubert's hand is on the side of his face, and before he knows it, Hubert's closed the gap between them and his lips are pressed against Linhardt's and oh.

Oh.

Oh, that's doing things to him that he didn't think were possible--Linhardt is genuinely shocked at first, kind of trying to process that this is what's going on now. This is happening all at once and yet Linhardt doesn't make any sort of move until a few seconds in, and it feels like he's giving in to every single teenage hormone all at once as he kisses Hubert back with enthusiasm that would only normally be reserved for crest research. It's embarrassing, he's going to be embarrassed later, but even so, this is new territory to research, and new things to find about Hubert as Linhardt's fingers thread their way through Hubert's hair with one hand and rest on his side with the other as Linhardt leans in.

Linhardt has absolutely no experience with this what-so-ever, but boy does he have spirit and curiosity. He winds up groaning into the kiss a bit, his face likely red as all hell as he shamelessly kisses the man he's wanted to do this to for so damn long. There's no shame in him at this point.]

[To be perfectly honest, Linhardt's managed to figure it out before Hubert. Sure, he was very much aware he wanted to kiss Linhardt and decided he was going to go for it, but feelings?? Nah. That's difficult, who wants to deal with that.

So he's going to ignore the way his heart pounds in his chest as Linhardt returns the kiss. He's going to ignore how thrilling the feelings of Linhardt's hand in his hair and at his side are. He's certainly going to ignore his own hands - one gentle, still remaining on the side of Linhardt's face like he's not even sure it's proper for him to touch while the other moves to encircle Linhardt, to pull him forward and keep him there, so nothing can ever separate them again - and the less thought he puts into all of this, the better.

In truth, he's no more experienced in this than Linhardt is, but he's equally as passionate. If he were to be honest with himself, he's wanted to kiss Linhardt for entirely too long now and never had the courage for it, but acknowledging any of that right now is completely pointless. He couldn't care less about how improper this is, or who could come across them, or any of the thousands of other worries that usually plague him because right now, the only thing that matters in the world is Linhardt.

His grip on Linhardt is tight - not enough to bruise, but certainly enough to be felt - and after a moment he pulls him closer, as though there's any space left between them as is. Perhaps it's desperation, or perhaps it's the knowledge that when this ends, he'll have to face the enormity of what he's done, but for now nothing else matters.]

[This is completely on brand, but also: jesus christ Hubie.

Linhardt's high on that euphoric realization of love, that he's been in love all along, just like something out of an opera or a novel; and much like that, the feelings are overwhelming. Dizzying, even. It's like a cacophony going on in his head, making him simply want this kiss to never end, because if it ends he's going to have to think and he doesn't want that at all. He wants this to be thoughtless, to be mindless, to simply go for it.

Hubert's got his arm around him and his hand still on his face, and his nerves are on fire as the hand on Hubert's side snakes around him fully, pulling them closer together despite the tight grip Hubert has on him. Linhardt doesn't even care how improper this is, at this point, as he tightens his own hold and they've practically fused into one another with how tightly they're holding on for dear life.

Linhardt can barely breathe, only breathing through his nose and wanting nothing more than to explore this new world with Hubert. Linhardt winds up tilting his head a bit in the kiss--likely bumping noses with Hubert in the process, and he's not sure he even cares--parting his lips just the slightest bit as the hand in Hubert's hair goes deeper in, fingers practically running through the man's scalp. It's an invitation, though a tentative one, as Linhardt's eyes close in contentment as he kisses the man he's loved all along.

He never wants to forget this moment for as long as he lives.]

Edited (minor wording thing) 2019-08-16 04:11 (UTC)

[It's an invitation he'll take gladly, deepening the kiss eagerly. He's certainly not practiced, but he's enthusiastic and he's read some of Lady Edelgard's romance novellas so you know what, this is probably fine. (He read them to make sure they weren't going to have a negative impact on the future Empress, but that's not important, shut up.)

The hand at the side of Linhardt's face moves up and back, toward his hair as well. Hubert's very gentle about it, but he's going to run that hand through Linhardt's long hair, just as he wanted to earlier, when he still wasn't entirely sure why.

(Not that he's stopping to think about why now either, but that's also not important.)

As much as he wants this to never end, he does eventually have to pull back - just a bit - to catch his breath. His grip on Linhardt's waist is still tight and his hand's still in the other man's hair and it's only just now starting to sink in that that actually just happened.]

[The fact that Hubert likely tastes like coffee isn't something that Linhardt expected to occur to him, but it's absolutely delightful. The hand playing with his hair is delightful as well, and Linhardt's dizzy with all of the new sensations that fill him as he kisses Hubert, only wishing that the human body didn't have limitations so it could go on forever.

Eventually Linhardt has to pull back as well, breathless from the kiss and utterly dizzy from the fact that he just gained a thousand new notes to research and scrutinize deeply later, but he isn't thinking about anything right now. His mind is practically blank as he pulls away a little bit from Hubert in order to catch his breath.

It hasn't quite caught up to him yet that all of this happened, but surely that's fine. Surely this won't end stupidly.]

[Well, about that.

It doesn't take long for Hubert to catch his breath, and it takes even less time for him to realize exactly what he's done. He's kissed his best friend. He's kissed Linhardt von Hevring, one of the most influential people in the Empire and a trusted adviser to Her Majesty and not once did he stop himself to think "this might be inappropriate given our positions". Not once did he stop to consider that maybe doing something so rash and reckless and stupid would absolutely change everything. Forever.

Hubert goes pale, and suddenly the hands that were clinging so tightly to Linhardt move as if he's on fire. He pulls back, expression completely open for a moment and displaying confusion, worry, fear—

And he tempers it. He forces it down. Rash, reckless behavior and his emotions running wild got him into this mess, and he's certainly not going to rely on them to get him out.]

Linhardt, I...

[He should apologize. He shouldn't have done that, he should have stopped, he should have realized... It doesn't matter, the apology doesn't come. He tries again.]

I should... Ah...

[It won't happen. Just like before. A stuffed animal and sweets won't solve this. They'd just make it worse.

He glances anywhere but at Linhardt as he tries to find something, anything to say to fix this. There isn't anything that can fix this, he knows that, he's so painfully aware of that. In one stupid, thoughtless moment, he's ruined everything. Why did he ever think acting without putting any thought into it would be a good idea? If word of this gets back to Her Majesty...

Her Majesty. That's the solution, and he quickly moves to stand, straightening his clothes and cape and positively fidgeting.]

I need to return to Her Majesty's side. I've been out entirely too long.

[There should be something else there. "I'll see you later"? No. That goes without saying. It's not as though they can simply avoid one another. Right? But no other words come to mind and his embarrassment and fear override everything else.

So instead, he turns to leave, just like that. Without even remembering that Linhardt doesn't really know his way around the capital.]

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