amewsbox | If I could turn back time...

[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...]

I'll tell you about it later, [he says to Ingrid. It's not really something they can openly talk about in the dining hall, after all.]

For now, though... lean over and give us a peek, come on.

[Alas, that seems too much to expect, just as much as Sylvain's next jab.]

What--

[Then it clicks, and wide-eyed surprise crosses his expression before it morphs into a glare.]

Are you crazy?!

[In the dining hall, with everyone throwing glances their--Dimitri's--way every so often? Or ever, really, considering Felix's own tendency towards privacy.]

Sylvain...

[Dimitri clears his throat.]

I apologize if your rest was disturbed, but certain things should really not be discussed in the dining hall. Thank you again for your assistance, but if you must continue with this, perhaps another time would be better.

[Read: tease us in private, have some mercy!!]

[Fine, fine, he'll have mercy. But only after making them endure Ingrid's reaction. It's only fair! Sylvain leans over and whispers "he gave Felix his mother's ring" very softly, straightening up to eat again with a satisfied expression.]

[Dimitri's smile from earlier has competition in the form of the warm one Ingrid wears as she gazes upon the two of them. Touching as it is, it makes Felix want to call for a strategic retreat back to his room, quite certain of what Sylvain just whispered into Ingrid's ear. Of course, he doesn't really have any plans of keeping anything secret from her considering what she does know of his relationship with Dimitri, but still! It's quite embarrassing to have that out in the open.

With Sylvain back on his meal, Felix concentrates on his own as well, hoping that's the end of that.]

[And for the moment, it seems to be. Breakfast passes peacefully until it's about time to clear out, at which point the professor can be spotted amongst the diners quietly redirecting the Black Eagles to prepare for battle. He approaches Felix last, hoping that Dimitri will leave before he gets to him — not that he dislikes Dimitri, but somehow, the thought of him coming along makes him uneasy... at the same time, there's no denying his strength would be a boon, and he knows that Sylvain is skilled as well. Considering the prowess of everyone else in that group, he imagines Ingrid must be talented too, but he could tell from the start there would be no swaying her from her prince's side and hasn't put much effort into getting to know her. Cold, perhaps, but he always is.]

Felix, [he says quietly once he gets close, though he doesn't bother bending down to whisper. That would only make his friends more likely to follow.]

We're moving out.

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