Reader x Lukas (FEH)
A fluffy little piece for the Cupid's Arrow event, as hosted by @imaginesforfe and @fire-emblem-drabbles. This was written for @thisway-imagines, who I get the feeling really likes Lukas. I did my best, and I really hope you enjoy. Happy Valentine's Day!
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Lukas
It is no secret to the Order of Heroes (or to anybody with eyes in their head, really), that you are quite fond of Lukas. And really, why should you not be? He is not only an unbreachable defensive wall, but a cool-headed and analytical man. Indeed, your most trusted advisor in these terrible times.
You know what some say about him. He’s cold and unfeeling. Rumor has it he has no emotions at all. A reptile.
But you lend them no credence. You know him better than that. A shoulder to lean on, a level head to restrain your own temper, and a confidant with whom to share your insecurities. He always listens calmly. He never judges, merely offers suggestions and support in that smooth voice of his. It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes, either.
And if you wanted more than just friendship with him, well… was that really such a bad thing?
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It was bound to happen, you can’t help but muse, as you sit in the library next to him, a book in front of each on you. The two of you seem to go everywhere together. Whether it’s the tactics room, a stroll through the castle grounds, or a good book to relax in the library, you seem glued at the shoulder. How could you not fall for him, really?
You realize you’ve been staring at him for over a full minute now. You tear your gaze from him and fix it back onto your book before he can notice, and silently curse the heat creeping up your cheeks. Much more than this, and it might begin to affect your work.
But surprisingly, it’s Lukas who breaks the silence, as he closes his book gently with a quiet sigh. He can’t seem to look at you, instead finding his gaze occupied by the bookshelves in front of the two of you as he begins to speak.
“I’ve… been thinking recently, (y/n),” he says softly, almost tentatively. You close your own book, worries about yourself set aside for now. This seems important to him. “I know what others think of me. And they’re not wrong. I can be… detached. Dispassionate. Emotionally flat, I believe were the words Canas used. I know I am these things. Clive has told me before that they are admirable qualities, but if I’m being honest, they worried me for a long time.”
It’s a testament to the truth of his words that his voice doesn’t wobble, doesn’t shift. He’s not nervous, merely telling you the facts as he sees them. He seems almost clinical about this. You can’t help but wonder what this all is leading to.
Lukas glances at you and a soft smile appears on his lips. He seems to draw some mirth from your anticipation.
“To tell you the truth, (y/n), back in Zofia, there was a woman. I was involved with her,” he says. You can feel your heart stop in your chest, and the blush in your cheeks recede as the blood flees from your face.
“This emotional detachment worried me. For the longest time, I didn’t know if I loved her or not.” Oh. Oh no. “But now, having been here this long, I finally know for sure.”
Oh. So this is what heartbreak feels like. Nobody told you it would hurt quite like this. Like a dagger made of ice slipped between your ribs. Like something is stuck in your throat, and keeps you from breathing.
Your eyes fall away from Lukas’s face and onto the book on the table. You can’t even read the title. Your vision seems a little blurry for some reason. Maybe this is a sign you’ve been poisoned. Yes. That must be it. You must go find Elise or Maria or Lucius and have them check you. As quickly as possible. You’ll start looking for them in your room. Under the covers. Where nobody can hear sobbing.
But just as you contemplate leaving, a hand, warm and gentle grasps your own and snaps you out of the spiral you were falling into. The hand, Lukas’s hand, squeezes your own reassuringly, and you look back up at him. The ice dagger in your chest melts when you see the way his eyes look at you, when you see the way he smiles, ever so slightly more soft around his mouth than in other times. The dagger is gone, but a new problem arises. Somehow butterflies have made their way into your stomach. Big ones.
“I know for sure now that I do not love her. I never did. I know this because with her I never felt this way. I never felt the way I do when I’m with you.”
“I… I love you, (y/n),” he says, almost hesitant to let the words out, and you feel yourself melt. But when the last one is out, his eyes widen a little. “I love you,” he repeats, almost to himself, and you can see the way he’s tasting the words on his tongue, marveling at such a simple phrase with so much meaning. With so much emotion.
You realize now that he’s actually a little flushed, a dusting of red over his cheeks that you’ve never seen on him before. And his smile has widened every time he has said those three magical little words. It is wider, and softer, and much more genuine, much more alive, than his usual subdued one. He looks undeniably, unquestionably happy.
You say nothing, but simply scooch a little closer to him, and lean your head on his shoulder, letting your eyes drift shut as you hear him chuckling to himself. You squeeze his hand in yours, and his head comes to rest on your own.
This may not be a passionate declaration of love. There are no roses. No loud, showy gestures to make sure everybody knows how he feels.
But this confession is coming from Lukas.
So it’s already much better than any showy display of passion could ever hope to be.
