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The time you saw him cry (and the time you think you didn't)

Summary:

You saw him cry once, when you were both children and Edelgard had been taken. He really tried to hold back the tears, after he was taken to your home. You used the little knowledge you had about white magic to heal his scratches and bruises. He denied it at first, but you insisted. It is just after you finish that you notice the tears. You soften and make a move to hug him, but he flinches, wiping away the tears like it was nothing.

Notes:

Hi! This fic is heavily inspired and supposed to be in the same set of the fanfic Marigold written by SongsofAdelaide. I tried to give context but if you can I beg of you to go read it! It's one of the best Hubert's fic I've read and it's been on my mind rent free for the past two years or so 😭.
Anyways, you know the drill: english is not my first language, I hope you like it and that its not ooc ^^

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

You saw him cry once, when you were both children and Edelgard had been taken. He really tried to hold back the tears, after he was taken to your home. You used the little knowledge you had about white magic to heal his scratches and bruises. He denied it at first, but you insisted. It is just after you finish that you notice the tears. You soften and make a move to hug him, but he flinches, wiping away the tears like it was nothing.

"I won't look... I promise" you turn away, covering your eyes.

"You'll hear", he hisses. Angry at himself, because now that the tears have started, it simply won't stop

You then move your hand to your ears, covering them, while your eyes are still closed.

"Please... I swear I won't tell anyone" you were getting emotional yourself. "Please let me help you..."

He hates it but he obliges. He lets it go, sobbing like a child. His father would scoff at this... he himself would scoff at this. But he's just so tired. He doesn't care at this moment. You, however, broke your promise. You turn around and hug him tightly. You were always the sentimental one... and even trying not to you could hear his sobs. You couldn't take it anymore, so you hugged him tightly. Surprisingly, he wraps his arms around you, clinging to your clothes. He sobs on your shoulder.

You both never spoke about this, even after becoming adults. It's safe to say, however, how that event really brought you both closer. During the years Edelgard was absent, he was also away from the imperial palace, at your home. It was weird at first, especially considering the fact that you'd both be married in a few years (and how your father was a big friend of his father, which made Hubert immediately suspicious and almost hateful towards him). Those things, however, never stopped the strong friendship that blossomed between you.

Yet, you'd never be Edelgard. That was a fact your mother would hammer into your head every day. "He'd never cry for you like he cried for her..." but that's a lie.

You actually saw him cry twice. But the second time you swore it was a dream, as you were feverish. It was in the last year he stayed at your house, and there was a small plague running through the village nearby, where you liked to go (despite your father being strongly against it). You caught it, along with a few servants. And it was quite deadly. If it weren't for the fact that you belonged to a noble house that could afford good physicians, you would have perished.

You don't remember much of that time, only flashes of images. Your mother crying and praying by your bedside, the physicians and maids taking care of you, your cat sleeping curled against you... And Hubert, kneeled at your bedside, always at night. Before you were extremely feverish you remember him trying to see you, but was not allowed due to the contamination. And yet, you do remember him in your room every night. He kept his distance (although you could feel him holding your hand that one time), and was always either sitting on the ground reading something or just kneeling down and looking at you. But one of these nights, you're SURE it was a dream. Because you couldn't fathom Hubert in that position, especially regarding you.

He had his hands together and his head hanging low. Just like your mother when she prays. But that doesn't make any sense. You've never seen Hubert praying before, or caring about the goddess or the saints. In fact, he seemed to hold a certain disdain towards it. He was extremely cynical. And that's why you're sure it was a dream. Because not only was he praying, but he was... crying! For you! What a sick joke is this? You were sure Hubert von Vestra would never EVER pray for even Edelgard, let alone you.

And that was... not entirely true

He was not doing a conventional prayer that night. Actually, could threatening the goddess and the saints ever be considered a prayer? That's unlikely. Swearing that you'll take revenge on divine beings for taking the one thing that is keeping you alive at this point, would be frowned upon if ever done out loud in a church for example. But still, one could argue that he did indeed pray for you that night. Not like you'll ever know, because you never questioned him about it. You're so sure that he'd never do those things that you fully believe the only logical explanation is that you were either hallucinating or just dreaming.

Notes:

I always think I wrote something big and then when I see it it's just 700 words long lmao guess I'll stick to short one shots for a loooong time