#claude fluff

A ctivities - What do they like to do with their s/o? How do they spend their free time with them?

between trying to keep the alliance together and later ruling over almyra, to say that claude is busy would be a vast understatement. there’s always something that needs his attention, and because of that, he sneaks in time with you whenever he can. he likes taking you on wyvern flights the most - there’s something about sweeping you away from your duties and his responsibilities and flying high that makes him feel… free. otherwise, sparring is always fun. be careful, though - when the winner gets a kiss, claude can’t help but resort to his usual tricks.

B eauty - What do they admire about their s/o? What do they think is beautiful about them?

he wants to say everything, but you’d say he’s exaggerating. if he had to choose one thing, though, it’d be your wit. watching you shoot a snarky comment at a noble at the round table makes him struggle to hold back his laughter, and the fire in your eyes… well, he’d be lying if he said he didn’t feel like he was falling in love with you all over again.

well, claude is pretty fond of his beard. is it because you like it? maybe so. there’s something about the way you stroke his cheek, your thumb brushing against the soft fuzz, that drives him crazy.

C omfort - How would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?

claude is, sadly, no stranger to such things. between feeling like he didn’t fit in whether in almyra or fodlan, and assassins coming for him in the night, feeling down or having a panic attack is as familiar to him as his weapon of choice. but for you to go through that… claude can’t stand it.

he’s there for you in an instant the moment he senses something is off - gently calling your name, reaching out to you, hugging you if you want someone to hold onto to ground yourself. if you don’t then he’ll just sit with you, keeping you company. he won’t leave you alone - that’s a promise.

D reams - How do they picture their future with their s/o?

promise that you’ll be there with him no matter where life takes him and he might just propose to you on the spot. claude knows his future will take him far away, whether to almyra or beyond, but he wants you there at his side. that’s the one thing he’s certain of, and if you want to be with him then that’s all he needs.

E qual - Are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?

claude is dominant in that he won’t let a day go by without doing some sort of gesture for you. whether it be leaving you a flower where he’s sure you’ll find it, or getting some of your work done before you can think to tackle it, claude will admit that he hopes you can spend some of this newfound free time with him.

F ight - Would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?

claude’s not the type to hold onto grudges. He apologizes quickly, once things have cooled down. if it festered and developed into resentment, that could fuck up future plans and he can’t have that. he’s very much a ‘forgive and forget’ kind of person.

G ratitude - How grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?

he’s absolutely aware - as observant and perceptive as he is, it’d be impossible for him not to notice. he’s very grateful - he has a lot on his plate, and just sticking by his side is enough to warrant his gratitude as far as he’s concerned.

H onesty - Do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? Or do they share everything?

claude has secrets because that’s just the kind of man he is. however, with you… he’s slowly getting used to the fact that he can tell you everything. give him time, he’s used to holding all his cards close to his chest. when he feels ready he’ll share everything with you, the person who he knows he can trust no matter what.

I nspiration - Did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?

it wouldn’t be unreasonable to say that you broke down claude’s walls. he was so used to being the only one he could rely on, hence his need for schemes. but then you walked in - you showed him that it was okay to trust others. his friends may have paved the way, but you truly broke down that barrier and he will always be grateful.

J ealousy - Do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?

claude? jealous? yeeeeah, it definitely happens. he tries not to let it because his first instinct is a nice dose of a mild poison for the person in question, but the heart wants what it wants. and right now, it wants that nobleman’s hand off your shoulder right this second. lorenz quietly but sharply reminds him not to lose his head, while hilda takes the initiative to get you away from the noble in question (claude already knows he owes her).

K iss - Are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?

claude’s a pretty damn good kisser, if he says so himself. something about the way he kisses you takes your breath away every time, and the first kiss was no exception. it was after a battle, you were exhausted but waiting for him. when you saw his wyvern in the sky, you ran to meet him but he was faster, landing his mount and jumping down to the ground before picking you up in a hug so enthusiastic that he wound up spinning you around. when claude finally set you down it was only to take your breath another way by kissing you suddenly. it was short but full of passion, both of you fueled by adrenaline.

“sorry…” he murmured when he pulled away just enough to speak, your foreheads still touching. “i didn’t really think…”

your answer of pulling claude by his shirt for another kiss told him everything he needed to know.

L ove Confession - How would they confess to their s/o?

claude confesses during a high stakes moment because that’s when it truly hits him - how he can’t lose you. he fires a shot at an enemy before they can attack you, then yells to you:

“hey! you know i love you, right?!”

this really isn’t the time to be confessing because it seriously distracts you, but you know he has the best of intentions. you give your answer once the battle is over and claude feels like he’s flying even on the ground.

M arriage - Do they want to get married? How do they propose? What would the marriage be like?

i imagine he’d always considered it but it was more of a future potential than anything else. i doubt he had plans to get married for a while, but then you came along. he isn’t complaining, of course - the idea of spending the rest of your lives together makes him happy just thinking about it.

i think he’d ask during a quiet moment when the two of you finally get some time to yourselves. he picked out a ring during a recent rare day in a major city that wasn’t ravaged by war, and now he presents it to you.

“when all this is over, and the war is won… will you marry me?”

married life with claude depends on where you two are. In almyra, he’s khalid and the two of you live in the palace. he’s busy as king but don’t think for a moment that he doesn’t have time for you. he’ll take days off (thankfully his parents are happy to cover) and just spend them flying with you, showing you the country of his birth and all it has to offer. in fodlan, he’s usually found checking in with the deer and the church. he may no longer lead the alliance but the responsibility never quite leaves his shoulders. still, time with you there is well-spent. in general, being married to claude is fun - you never know where his travels will take him, and you, next. you knew when you fell for him that he’s the human equivalent of a whirlwind so just hang on tight to him and enjoy the ride.

N icknames - What do they call their s/o?

he’s got a ton of nicknames. “dear” and “sweetheart” are his most common but you’ll hear “love” thrown in fairly regularly. his nicknames tend to come from almyra since that’s what he heard most growing up so get to ready to pick up on those.

O n Cloud Nine - What are they like when they are in love? Is it obvious for others? How do they express their feelings?

when he’s in love, claude’s focused. but for once, not on his strategies or schemes. instead, he’s focused on you. he wants to take in every detail, to memorize you - what you like, how you do things, little things like that.

he’s usually pretty good about not wearing his heart on his sleeve. most people wouldn’t know he’s in love just by looking at him. take a look at his strategies, though, and one thing becomes clear - all of his plans put you in the least amount of danger possible. riskier maneuvers that he might normally try are avoided if they mean risking you.

he’s protective, in a word - he keeps you out of the thick of battles and when he can help it, out of the reach of the nobility, who might try to snatch you up. he couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.

P DA - Are they upfront about their relationship? Do they brag with their s/o in front of others? Or are they rather shy to kiss etc. when others are watching?

if he could (and technically he could but it would be in poor taste), he’d shout it from the rooftops. still, claude knows better. he’ll brag to the golden deer but that’s about it. nothing more than a kiss on the cheek in public whether in almyra or fodlan due to social standing. he really wishes sometimes that he could kiss you with others around without a care in the world.

Q uirk - Some random ability they have that's beneficial in a relationship.

since claude’s pretty good at reading people, it’s easy for him to tell if you’re upset about something even when you haven’t mentioned it to him yet. sometimes you swear he can read your mind when he comes up to you, flower in hand or some small gift in hand just to make your day a bit brighter.

R omance - How romantic are they? What would they do to make their s/o happy? Cliché or rather creative?

claude’s a really romantic guy - he grew up with a mother who ran away to another country to be with the man she loved, after all. whether he’s cliche or creative depends on his mood. sometimes, he’ll sweep you off your feet with a bouquet of red roses; other times, he’ll leave you a note in a book or whisk you away for a flight where he tells you that he loves you with only the clouds as your witnesses.

S upport - Are they helping their s/o achieve their goals? Do they believe in them?

absolutely, 100%. you’ve supported him with his dream for so long - to not support in return would be unthinkable to him. it doesn’t matter how big or small, or how long your dream might take. it’s yours, and that’s what important to him. he believes in you wholeheartedly, always taking the time to remind you and encourage you. claude’s left you so many little notes with affirmations on them that you joke that you could practically make a book out of them.

T hrill - Do they need to try out new things to spice out your relationship? Or do they prefer a certain routine?

claude’s had enough thrill for a lifetime, i think. with everything he’s been through, i imagine he values a calm, steady routine more than most people realize. when all’s said and done, he wants a quiet, peaceful life with you. the path you take to get there might be chaotic, but that dream of a sleepy, quiet life together fuels him. besides, he’s got almyra to look after - that’s enough thrill for a lifetime.

U nderstanding - How good do they know their partner? Are they empathetic?

if he wasn’t empathetic before, he strives to be now. it’s part of his dream to reach out to other people, after all. to not extend that courtesy to his own partner would be unlike him. claude can read your moods, he knows your habits, and he can pretty well guess what might be bothering you based on your expressions.

V alue - How important is the relationship to them? What is it’s worth in comparison to other things in their life?

having you by his side means the world to him. claude isn’t sure he’d be able to do most of what he does without you there. it’s more than that - you’ve become a part of his dream, now. comparing you to the rest of the world just doesn’t make sense because to him, you are his world.

W ild Card - A random Fluff Headcanon.

considering how he loves feasts, it shouldn’t be surprising that he’s a pretty decent cook! there’s more to it, though, he admits to you one morning when he brings you your breakfast. he made it himself - and he always has. in truth, it’s not just a romantic gesture. he’s protecting you, by ensuring that nobody else can tamper with the food by making it himself. if you let him, he’ll even start to dose the food with a small amount of poison, to help you start building up immunity. it means a lot to him that you’d trust him with that - and he’ll only do it if you’re okay with it.

X OXO - Are they very affectionate? Do they love to kiss and cuddle?

claude. loves. cuddling. you swear, this man would wrap you up in his arms and never let you go if he thought he could get away with it. he’s so affectionate in private due to the contrast of how he has to be in public. it’s like he can’t get enough of showering you in affection now that he has the chance!

Y earning - How will they cope when they're missing their partner?

claude tends to try and distract himself with scheming when you’re gone but it… doesn’t always work. he tries his best, he swears! he just can’t help but get pouty when you’re not around. hilda teases him a little but she knows it’s just because he loves you so much.

Z eal - Are they willing to go to great lenghts for the relationship? If so, what kind of?

“Claude!!!” Your face felt like it was on fire as you cried and jump off from his chest. But the sudden movement make your wound hurt excruciatingly and fall back on him. His smug grin gone instantly, face taut with concern and worry when he see your pained face. As gently as he could he moves you to sit in front of him.

“Hey, are you okay, (Y/N)?” His voice changes into a quiet, serious one as his emerald green eyes look at you. After a moment of silence, you shake your head and say to him slowly. “Nothing gets past you, Claude. To be honest, I wasn’t feeling quite well this morning, but I thought, it was nothing to cancel the mission over for”, you told Claude with a wrinkled face. “And now... I think I got poisoned from those bandits’ attack.”

“Damn it, you could have died! We can't have you putting on a brave face only to fall in battle.” Raking his finger through brown dishevelled hair, Claude let out an exasperated sigh. “And to think that you even exerting yourself to heal me in this condition... Please show me your injury, let’s see what I can do about it.”

Wincing in pain, you look at him reluctantly and showing your wound. He examines it silently for a minute and producing some small vials and powder from his inner pocket. “This will make it better in no time,” he said as he mix and gives it to you. The vial is filled with light green liquid with sticky, gooey texture and feel cold to the touch.

“It’s an antidote. 100% safe, I promise.” The mask he usually wore had been long forgotten, so you clearly saw the hurt flash across his face.

“Of course. I will never doubt you, Claude. Don’t get me wrong. I just think... that you are quick-witted and reliable. You make me feel safe,” you said softly as you smear the salve.

Claude is surprised at your words, unable to make any answer. It was very brief but you are sure that you saw a faint blush across his face. You couldn’t see it clearly because he gaze away in instant when you rub your sore upper thigh. He sure tease and flirts with you a lot, but he is a true gentleman in his heart.

“Rest assured. I won’t do anything funny to you. Lorenz will cut my head off. He almost did the last moon.”

“That’s because you  smeared his comb with thick soot. And you had the nerve to ask me to be your accomplice.” You roll your eyes at him with a deadpan look. “Don’t make me start on that horrendous, stinky THING that you put inside Lorenz’ boots. Even Marianne can’t stop praying for Goddess forgiveness for your heinous act! To put Dorte’s... a horse’s...”

“At least his grape hair looks better with some black streaks. His boots SMELL better that way! And that priceless look when Lorenz’ hands turned black with ink all over his fingers because I poked a hole in the side of his writing quill? I should have asked Ignatz to draw a picture of it.” A smug grin spreads across his lips. You can’t help but to laugh at his handsome roguish face.

“And you had my life at stake when you poisoned his cake, Claude! I have to spend a whole day at the infirmary because of your shenanigans.” You punch his chest playfully. “That stomach-ache was the worst in my whole life.”

“That’s an accident, I swear! I never knew that he would give that cake to you when he asked you for a tea time. Dimitri and Professor Byleth gave me an earful, thanks to it. Sorry, (Y/N),” Claude said apologetically as he draped his yellow cape over your shoulder. Barely had any strength left, you lean on his shoulder for support.

“You should get some rest, (Y/N).”

That sounds like a great idea. Who would know that getting poisoned, healing Claude’s injuries and sprained ankle will drain your stamina this much. “Mmh... your warmth feels nice... Claude.....”

“Hey! At least you should lay on the be—"

Claude is surprised when he hears your soft breath. He waited a few moments for your reply before shifting to look down on your face, only to find you quietly snoozing on his chest. With an amused smile, he tries to lift you up and lay you on the bed. Unfortunately, even a simple task like that is challenging for him in this state. His sprained ankle makes it difficult for him to stand up, let alone lift or drag you around. The flirty tactician sighs as he drops your head back down on his lap, tucking his cape carefully around your body to protect you from the night’s cold air.

“Everything will be alright, (Y/N). I promise.” He murmurs softly as he wrap his arm around you and snuggle close to keep you warm. Sleepiness engulfing him in a mere moment when he close his eyes.

---

You can feel someone stroking your back and it feels surprisingly good. The hand is warm and nice to the touch. A soft purr escapes from your lips as you let your body sink to that velvety touch.

“I’m glad you have recovered from your fever last night. The wound look way much better now. And.... You look like you are enjoying yourself.” Claude smirks at your curled-up form, looking oh so comfortable on his lap. A long moment of silence passes as he is waiting for you to squirm or turn red or... something. But the moment passed, and you remain curled up on his lap, none the wiser of his company.

"Wait... Are you actually asleep?" Claude finally asks, and you sighing softly as you rolled over, not acknowledging him in the least was the only answer he needed. "I'll give you five seconds to run. If you don't, I get to tease you." The smart tactician impishly states. You continued to snooze for the duration of Claude’s countdown. Finally, he sighed and gave up.

"Well, I guess it would be rude to move you," he mused, "and you do look so cute on my lap.” Claude sighs as he runs his fingers through your hair gently. “Mewling underneath me, a sight to behold for sure. Not that I’m complaining.” Letting out a small moan, you smile and move closer to him. Your forehead landed on something soft and comfortable. You bury and snuggle your face in it as if it were a cloud you wanted to dive into.

“U-Uhm... (Y/N), you shouldn’t do this to a man in the early hours of the morning. It might wake... uh... T-That’s my—”

His words made you bewildered. What does he mean? Mustered your strength, you tried to open your eyes and greet him.

“Good morning, Cla...”

!!!

You are utterly shocked when you opened your eyes right in front of.... between Claude’s legs. You can see a prominent bulge something behind his cape that draped around that part!!!

“I’msorryimsorryimsorryimsososososososorry, Claude!!!!”

You jump in panic and nearly tripped yourself. The class leader of Golden Deer laughs in mirth as he sees your cherry red face. You pressed your hands to your cheeks, as if you could bring down the colour. Claude’s annoying hearty laugh can be heard from behind of your back. Ugh, that tease! But unbeknownst to him, his usual facade does falter a bit. Even his poker face could not hide the heat and red shade that creeps on his cheeks.

It is strange and alien that you fell asleep to the rumbling of a thunderstorm and the rustling of trees in the middle of nowhere in a forest. And to wake up in the company of someone else in such an awkward and embarrassing manner!!!

“I won’t be able to marry anyone this way, (Y/N). But you can always take responsibility for it! I don’t mind. Besides, I got to see your cute sleeping face. So it’s a win-win solution for us, isn’t it?” Claude can’t stop laughing unceremoniously at your flustered face. He will never let you hear the end of this. But his banter stopped... when his stomach let out a loud rumble.

“Uh... Do you have something t— Oomph!”

His words died down when you shoved a bun that you took from your small bag to his mouth. “Let’s not speak of this incident. I was so embarrassed that I longed for death,” you said as you eat another bun resentfully.

“A single bun is not enough to bribe me. You can do better than thi—Ooouch!!” The silly man yelped in pain when you pull his braid forcefully. Serves him right.

BANG!!!

Your bickering has stopped abruptly when a huge axe found its way on the door. The blade glistening menacingly when the sun shines upon it. Is it those bandits!? Claude’s playfulness is gone in an instant when he sees the broken door.

“Calm down. Stay behind me”. Claude took a few steps in front of you as he reached for his bow cautiously.

“Geez. What a rude way to greet a delicate flower like me, Claude!” Hilda said as she breaks down the oak door in a not-so-delicate manner. “We came to save you two! Glad to see that you remain unscathed! Did we... miss something?” The pink-haired girl smirks devilishly at your hand that tugs on his cape tightly.

Professor Byleth, Lysithea, and Lorenz come inside and take a look at Claude’s swollen foot. After they are done healing it, Ignatz and Leonie help to load him onto Raphael’s back. Being so observant, Lorenz notices your injury and give you some vulneraries.

“It is a noble’s duty to look after injured people. You have been running yourself absolutely ragged and it wouldn’t be wise to make it worse. Would you please let me, Lorenz Hellman Gloucester to help you back to the Monastery, (Y/N)?”

“Thank you, Lorenz. But I can walk just fine. Thanks to Claude’s help, the fever is gone now. You guys should help him instead.”

Lorenz opens his mouth but closes it instead to prevent himself from arguing with you. He runs over to Claude and help him to carry his bow.

Unlike the previous night, this forest offers the charms of a good view in the morning. Moss sticks to all corners of the forest including rocks and soil. Taking a farther route due to the landslide yesterday, you pass along path-ways where flowers of every colour are blooming. There is a small lake surrounded by smaller trees in the middle of it. It was a leisure, pleasant walk back to the Monastery with The Golden Deer. They feel like a second family to you.

---

“Been forever since we saw you, (Y/N). Are you feeling better now? You may have missed some of Professor Byleth’s lecture on battalions and combat skills.” Dimitri greets you politely when you sit at your seat. “I...N-No..We... The B-Blue Lions missed you. A lot.” He adds, his voice is barely audible as he look at you sheepishly. You smile brightly at his words, turning the young prince into a blushing mess.

“Don’t worry, you can use my notes!” Annette chirped as she gives you her book. Mercedes smiles warmly as she offers you a bag of cookies that she made this morning. In a few minutes, all of The Blue Lions gather around you. They are so happy to have you back after you have been gone for so long. Sylvain even suggests you to sit on his lap instead of your... desk. And that’s how Sylvain got punched by Ingrid.  A month is like forever! It’s nice to be back!

After you are back for a few days, you are doing your best (with Felix and Ingrid’s help) to catch up on the training that you have missed. It was an intense match that ended just before dusk. After parting ways with them, you decided to take a short stroll around the Monastery before going back to your quarters.

You walked to the pier to observe the beautiful dusk. All the shades of reds mixed with the blues and yellows in a mesmerizing way. The sun is setting in a burnt orange sky as they washed the buildings and trees with a gentle, golden glow. Birds are chirping, and you hear the sound of a gentle breeze blowing through trees. Dipping your bare foot in the cool lake, you begin to ponder about your decisions regarding your future. Returning to Blue Lions is really nice and warm, but you can’t help but feel like you’re missing something. Last month... was pleasurable for you.

“Ah... It is the beautiful maiden who saved me with her bravery and helpful healing last month. I have called your name several times already but you didn’t seem to hear a word that I said. Lost in thought?” The Golden Deer leader grins playfully as he sit beside you.

Great. Perfect timing. Two minds make the work faster, and being a great schemer, Claude might be able to help you to find what you missed.

“How are you? What an intense stare. Is there something on my face? Did you miss this handsome face?” He winks at you playfully. It took all of your best effort to not roll your eyes at his flirting.

“...My future. I think I’m lost, Claude.”

“Please elaborate.”

“The Blue Lions are very nice to me but... I can’t help but feel like something is missing. I don’t know why but I can’t shake this feeling. Being with The Golden Deer made me....” your words trail off as you pull out your feet from the lake, then rub them softly to provide some warmth. The wind gets colder as the sky turns dark and the stars shine.

“.....feels like home,” you smiled as you tug his hand gingerly.

He smiles at your words. A sincere one, rare smile that reaches his eyes. “It broke my heart to have to let you go. You are such a capable healer. Smart and brave. Everyone will be extra happy to have you here. I know it is an important decision for you to make, but I think you would be happier with us.” He looks at your eyes intently. It almost feels like he is staring into your soul so deep that he is trying to steal it.

“What can I do to make you the newest and most beautiful member of The Golden Deer? Would you join us? Please? For me?” Claude said in his sultry, dulcet voice as he takes your hand and kisses it sweetly.

Now it is for you to choose, my dear Reader-chan, will you:

Remain with the Blue Lions: Dimitri is cute, kind, and you secretly have a crush on him. Everyone is kind and warm towards you and your loyalty remains with them.