Title: tea with Hilda
Rating: T
Fandom: Fire Emblem Three Houses
Relationship: Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd/Claude von Riegan, hinted Marianne von Edmund/Hilda Valentine Goneril
Wordcount: 612
Short summary: Claude gets a chance to see Hilda at the delayed Millenium festival, and she notices something different about him.
Claude was excited to see Hilda after months of just exchanging letters. She was truly his best friend and had been the first one to really understand him, even when he hadn’t revealed his secrets. With everyone joined up at Garreg Mach Monastery for the delayed Millenium festival, it wasn’t as if Claude could spend that much time with her, but Hilda was very good at getting what she wanted and Claude was glad she used that to his advantage.
They were sharing some tea when Hilda brought up something that took Claude completely by surprise. “You know, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen your neck.”
“Huh? That’s a strange thing to say.” Claude went to scratch his neck which he did so underneath his blue scarf.
“Well, you always keep it covered up in scarves. This whole week I haven’t seen you without one. I know you aren’t feeling cold anymore, now that you are most used to the weather here, so what gives?”
“Well, you know…” Claude waved his hands, hoping Hilda would drop the topic but he knew she wouldn’t, especially when that gleam got into her eye.
“Ah, Dimitri likes leaving hickies there.”
“Yeah…” Ever since Claude had confessed his feelings to Dimitri, which Dimitri returned thankfully, Dimitri had taken Claude’s words of “you can do whatever you want to me, I’m all yours” pretty much literally. Claude really didn’t mind, except it wasn’t anyone else’s business how much pleasure Dimitri and Claude experienced when Dimitri would sink his teeth into his neck and bite and suck marks. Claude realized belatedly that he liked a little pain if it was inflicted by his lover, and Dimitri realized belatedly that he was very into seeing his marks all over Claude’s skin. The first time Dimitri had been very apologetic when he realized just how many hickies he had left on Claude and Claude had joked then that Dimitri might as well mark his entire neck since he’d have to wear a scarf around it anyway. And that was all the encouragement that Dimitri needed to do just that and more. That first night had been very memorable, for many good reasons…
“Earth to Claude? Does Dimitri suck out your brain when he sucks on your neck?” Hilda joked.
Claude laughed. “Oh Hilda, you just need to be in love to understand.” He grinned. “Maybe if you ask Marianne…”
Hilda blushed. “We…we’re not like that!” she stammered.
“Yeah, because you haven’t asked her yet,” Claude teased.
Hilda huffed. “Considering how long it took you to confess, and how many times you needed me to prod you about it…”
“Well, that just means I need to prod you until you confess.” Claude winked. “I might as well get started now.”
“Claude!” Despite Hilda’s exclamation, she smiled and poured herself another cup of tea. Claude and Hilda chatted the rest of the afternoon, sharing all types of news and gossip, and when Dimitri stopped by later to “retrieve” Claude, they parted with a hug and a promise to meet up again soon.
“Phew, I’m tired,” Claude said with an exaggerated yawn, leaning into Dimitri’s chest as they slowly walked back together to town. “Hilda sure knows how to talk.”
Dimitri’s hand tightened slightly on Claude’s waist as he laughed. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. I too had fun this afternoon catching up with Marianne and…”
“Wait, Marianne?” Claude paused. “Speaking of Marianne…”
Claude didn’t mind that Dimitri’s response was only to hum wordlessly while Claude prattled on about various ways he could get Hilda and Marianne closer together, because Dimitri was walking by his side, right now and hopefully forevermore.