amewsbox | If I could turn back time...

[Felix expected a reaffirmation of their words, and perhaps a promise along those lines to hold on to their affections despite the trials and responsibilities that may come their way. It's why he decided to bring a dagger as a gift, so Dimitri may be able carve his own path amidst everything that is yet to come.

But this... Felix stares at the ring pressed against his palm, wide-eyed as his jaw drops in amazement. While he does not know much about jewelry, something about this piece looks older than the ones he's familiar with, bringing to mind a heirloom more than something that was commissioned on short notice...

Which next begs the question of why Dimitri is giving this to him, but Felix already knows the answer to that. The weight of it rests upon his palm, one that he gently grasps with his fingers as tears swim across his vision.]

As is mine.

[Felix leans in, closing that small distance between them with a soft kiss, clutching the ring the whole while. He probably should have worn it first, but when he's bursting with affection like this, holding back isn't exactly easy as it sounds.]

[Dimitri's eyes mist up a bit as well as he laughs softly into the sweet kiss, simply... happy. Not wanting to let himself get too swept up here and end up caught with his hand down Felix's pants, he keeps the kiss brief. He pulls back, smiling so brightly that his cheeks hurt.]

May I? [he asks, picking up the chain dangling out of Felix's tightly balled fist.]

[With Dimitri's touch and happiness so close at hand, it's easy to forget. About what looms ahead and so soon, especially when he blindsides Felix with touching gestures such as this. Part of him does wonder at times if he deserves to consider such notions, but when Dimitri is smiling so brightly like that, how could he not?

Swallowing, Felix grins faintly as he unfurls his fist, letting Dimitri take the chain as he nods shyly.]

[Ah, he's so cute like that...! It's a face Dimitri thought less than a month ago he'd never see Felix make for him again. He takes the ring and the chain, stepping behind Felix to securely fasten it around his neck. Dimitri smooths the chain out, leaning down to press a kiss where it's fastened.]

I love you, [he whispers in his ear, wrapping his arms around him from behind and pulling him back against his chest. It's not quite the same as if he got to say it for the first time now, but he doesn't have any regrets.]

[The ring hangs loosely against his chest, surprisingly light despite the weight of the emotions that come with it. Another time, it's something that Felix would likely see as a blessing and a burden at the same time, but for now, all he sees is an honor so freely given, the symbol of which twinkles under the starlight as he remains pressed against the warm chest of its giver.

There's things that remain impossible in this world, but what remains possible, Felix is glad to seize. Letting one arm drape over Dimitri's loosely, he turns his head back, tilting it upwards slightly. He lifts his hand to gently pull Dimitri close for a kiss, letting that gesture affirm Dimitri's statement more than words ever would. As with the earlier touch, Felix keeps it brief before things get too heated, pulling back and taking a small breath before lowering his head and arm sheepishly.]

I... have something for you too.

[No matter how much he indulges in this closeness with Felix, it never seems to be enough. He sighs sweetly into the kiss, and though he's tempted to lengthen it, he lets Felix pull back.]

Oh... for me?

[Though it probably shouldn't be, it comes as a surprise anyway. Dimitri looks at Felix curiously, wondering what it might be. Felix tends toward practical gifts — granted, that is Dimitri's preference in literally any other circumstance. And even now, that he thought to bring anything at all is impossibly endearing.]

[Felix takes that as his cue to unclasp the dagger from his sword belt, thankfully easy enough even when he's wrapped in Dimitri's embrace like this. He grasps it by the sheath and hilt, holding it close to where Dimitri's arms are wrapped around him.]

I-it's nothing fancy, [Felix says, ears burning pink as he chews on the inside of his lower lip at the moment. It is a Zoltan-crafted blade, the envy of many a weapon collector, but compared to what Dimitri just gave him, it feels lacking in retrospect.] Just... something to remember us by.

[How can Dimitri resist actually taking a look? He's a big of a weapons nerd as Felix is. So even though it means he has to let go of Felix for a moment, he takes the dagger in both hands and briefly removes it from the sheath.]

Nothing fancy? Come now, Felix, you know that is not true.

[He sheaths it again, pulling Felix back into a hug and pressing a kiss to his cheek.]

It's beautiful. Thank you.

Well...

[Felix shivers at the kiss, hugging himself briefly before he leans back against Dimitri, quite comfy where he is.]

It's not a ring. But I'm glad you like it.

And I am glad you like the ring. I was worried you would not since it is a woman's ring... it is the ring mother wore. I am just relieved that I had it. I brought some of her things since uncle surely cannot be trusted with them.

[Well, his stepmother anyway, but does that really matter? She's the only mother he ever knew. Perhaps he'll talk about it with Felix someday, but for now, he just wants to live in this moment.

Dimitri tucks the dagger in his own belt, nuzzling his face into Felix's neck.]

I will cut a path for us, Felix.

[Felix clasps Dimitri's hands, smiling as he burrows into the crook of his neck. Honestly, Dimitri could have given him something as trite as flowers and he would have been happy with it. As it stands, Dimitri gave him something beyond anything he had ever expected, followed by a promise that surely, truly makes him want to believe in this second chance and do what he can to set things right.]

I'll do my part too.

[Dimitri practically giggles as Felix clasps his hands, giving in to the urge to kiss the elegant curve of his neck perhaps a little more ardently than he should. How can he not? He wants to be close to Felix now more than ever.]

Mmm... perhaps we should leave the tower to other couples now?

[Couples. Felix thinks he should not be getting this giddy over such a simple word, but here he is, still red in the ears and smiling as if the world would end if he stopped doing so. Their relationship may never be realized in the light, but under the cover of night, anything and everything is possible.

And for Felix and all his lost opportunities, that's more than enough.]

Sure. Shall we head to your room, then?

Yes. I wish that there were a spot we could hear the music without anyone coming to interrupt, but I did not find one...

[Dimitri steps away, though he does take Felix's hand, lacing their fingers together.]

I may not like dancing that much, but I still wanted to dance with you.

[Well, that's quite the sentiment there. And despite the embarrassing memory it brings to mind, that of stepped on toes and clumsy and childish movements, Felix still places his hand on Dimitri's shoulder, gaze slightly off to the side as he squeezes Dimitri's hand.]

I guess if you don't mind having your foot stepped on...

[He's far from the less nimble dancer he was when he was a child and took it upon himself to help Dimitri with dance practice, but it's been a while since he had to play the lady's part in a dance. Who knew all that practice with Glenn would eventually come handy for this, though.]

I highly doubt you will do that. You are quite graceful... it even looks like dancing when you fight. If we were in the same class still and you had not been injured, I think you would have been a good candidate for the cup. Ah, not that Sylvain did poorly. Going up against Dorothea would be difficult for anyone.

[Wait, is Felix positioning himself to dance now? Dimitri looks a little puzzled, then he laughs.]

You do not think it would be odd without any music?

[Little does Dimitri know how true that is, considering who won the cup the first time round. Felix colors at the reminder, still keeping his gaze away from Dimitri.]

It's going to be cramped back in the dormitories. We'll manage somehow.

[They wouldn't be able to hear the music there, either. But Dimitri can't help but be charmed by the idea, so with a shy nod he shifts to hold Felix properly... if a bit closer than is traditional. He can feel his heart pounding between their joined hands, so after taking a moment to adjust, he uses that as a guide and starts to lead.]

[Muscle memory is quite the blessing on Felix's end, allowing him to follow Dimitri's lead without things turning into a disaster. Dimitri has improved by a large margin himself, though that really should not have been a surprise to experience given what he's seen during the ball. It's not at all Felix's choice of activity, but with Dimitri, it feels like the most precious thing, exhilarating in a different manner as battle. There's a thrill to simply trusting where Dimitri takes him and going along with their imagined beat, nothing at all like the initiative Felix has to take when he's on the battlefield. Times like this are when it feels like he's truly born for Dimitri, further reinforced by the way they make love that night, completing each other in a manner Felix could not imagine with someone else.

Dimitri is his world, his life, his whole being. That's all that matters and everything else seems insignificant next to it, including one worry whose particulars evade him that moment, far too tucked away in the deepest recesses of his mind.

Eventually, the morning comes, and after freshening up a bit in his room, Felix thinks nothing of it when he and Dimitri go down to breakfast together as they sometimes do. With their trays of cheese gratin and chamomile tea, they make their way to their usual table by a corner of the hall, where Ingrid and Sylvain already are starting on their food.]

[Dimitri savors every second of the night, keenly aware that another like it is unlikely to occur. They can never have a proper wedding, and once he takes the crown, he will be unable to devote every fiber of his being to Felix like this. So he seizes the moments they have, pouring his feelings into every touch and soaking up as much of Felix's presence as he can. As they entwine their bodies, he forgets everything else and lets himself blissfully melt.

Despite the fact that they only get half the sleep they should, Dimitri feels wonderful in the morning. He's all smiles as he approaches the table with Felix, shining bright in a way he hasn't since childhood.]

Good morning, Ingrid, Sylvain.

[At least they're happy. It still stings a bit (for reasons he will not let himself dwell on), but at this point, Sylvain is just amused by the passion of their puppy love.]

Morning, you two. Surprised you're up this early, considering.

[Let him have this. He needs to make fun of them a little!]

[Ingrid throws Sylvain a suspicious glance, but does no more than that after one spoonful of gratin, smiling politely at Felix and Dimitri.

"Good morning, Your Highness, Felix. You both look well."

Felix huffs in response, nodding as he lays his tray down and takes the seat next to Dimitri.]

What is it to you?

[Felix then asks Sylvain, mirroring Ingrid's guardedness as he spoons some of that gratin.]

I'm in the room right next to you guys. It's something to me whether I want it to be or not. But more importantly...

[He shoots a sly look to Dimitri, grinning from ear to ear.]

I take it things went well?

[Were they even that loud last night?! Well, maybe a few times there... Dimitri blushes into his teacup, using it to hide half his face as he takes a slow sip.]

Oh, ah... yes, thank you.

[Sheepishly, he lowers the cup back to the saucer.]

I needed Sylvain's assistance to find a proper chain. I do not know much about jewelry, after all.

["Going well" and talks about jewelry... it does sound like something is up, and Ingrid here wasn't born yesterday, so it doesn't take too long for her to put two and two together especially when Sylvain is in this kind of teasing mood. But she doesn't intervene, choosing to take another spoonful for now.]

I... see.

[In the meantime, there's the matter of Felix, who is starting to color at Sylvain's insinuations. Of all the... has Dimitri been asking Sylvain for advice on things all this while too? If so, no wonder Sylvain is so damn smug this morning, considering what kind of things Felix has asked him about.]

It's... practical.

[Light and unobtrusive, as if chosen with him in mind. Now, if only Sylvain will leave it at that...]

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