` Felix…I would ask you to please lower your voice whilst in the monastery. You are terrifying Flayn. `

                                                𝐮𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝.                                                                                                                           ﹤ always accepting.﹥ 

The moment their palm met his, the curls of his lip acted on their own accord. His eyes moved before his head could, eyeing at the back of Felix’s head as he turned away from him, fingers still firmly clasping the wedges between his own.   `  Awe, c’mon. At least look at me if you’re gonna decide to be this cute.     ’ 

              ❛     the wolf     ———     that is to say,     death,     is it not   ?     ❜     his voice remains solemn amidst the grin offered.     melancholy’s wrath became apparent at the growing chances of running into old friend once more,     camaraderie forged between them a thing of the past,     no longer sacred beyond empire’s rise     (   time shall mercilessly strike down the worth of any cherished bonds from the past   ),     their paths diverged    &    now they’re chained by loyalty to their nations,     but so is life’s path.     their previous sparring sessions has led up to the real thing,     a true battle of their skill put to the test,     a battle where one’s might will prevail    &    the chorus of war shall swallow the last one’s swan song as death’s icy grip becomes frigid with every passing second,     succumbing to unfamiliar darkness that guides soul to audience of war’s performance.     but that’s all there is to it.     this was a battle he knew was coming.     it’s only fair he,     for once,     makes it a fair fight,     per his standards.

              ❛     hey,     fall back.     leave this to me.    ❜     calls off his battalions,     confidence creeping onto his grin before it curves into a familiar smirk,     slowly dismounting from his wyvern    &    holding his axe in hand.     he gives a few hops     (   one,     two,     three   ),     cranes his neck from side to side,     then finally placing a singular step forward,     swinging axe up    &    propping its haft on his shoulder,     far too tranquil for the tide of battle.     were it someone else,     perhaps it’d be unsettling,     albeit since it’s no one but claude to become coolness itself,     the atmosphere became reminiscent of those golden days where youth was at its prime.     ❛     then let’s see if that wolf really can catch me now,     then.     once    &    for all.     it’s either this lone wolf’s final breath or mine.     i’m not gonna hold back.     ❜

     “...If you were to blame me, Felix ---- I would not put it past you.”

The pain of loss is still ever so fresh; Dimitri’s heart always seems to continue bleeding for those no longer with them. But, his pain cannot possibly compare to Felix’s own. Dimitri wouldn’t dare do that to him, especially after having suffered through it himself: the pain of a lost parent who leaves their confused child wondering why they left so soon. It’s why both he and Felix stand before Rodrigue’s grave even now -- mourning Dimitri’s treasured friend, and for Felix’s father. The print of his name is still freshly chiseled on both the stone and their hearts. It’s why Dimitri weeps in silence -- the rain caressing his skin to guise those tears. 

                        𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 ‘𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’   /  NOT ACCEPTING  .         

The roar of the beast echoed in his ear still ———— it bounced off the walls in his head , resounding , vibrating , ceaseless. Soon it became all he heard , and soon it became unintelligible noise that he couldn’t discern (even though he knew what it was). It was loud , but silent , there , but gone. Their stain was hot and humid and poured out of his right shoulder , into Felix’s palm , and he could still feel their teeth gnawed into his flesh and their saliva dripping from his wound. Black steel was crunched so effortlessly , torn off , ate away and left his flesh bare to the air. The hollow punctures in his flesh was quickly filled with crimson and a sick twisted curl of self-satisfaction. 

Through the wince of his eyes and the furrowed brows that tightened his vision he saw a sight he was grateful to see. Him ———— alive ; and through a weak smile he coughs out his relief , it spread to his eyes and he held their hand that clutched him desperately. 

` ‘s good to see you still standing. ’   The beast had long fallen to his heroic intervene. There lays no worry of attack , so he drawls his speech , careful breaths , calculated living.  ` Don’t worry. I didn’t forget our promise. You won’t be losing me anytime soon. ’  Confidence spoke with too much pride for an act of selfless suicide. His voice was tight , and the shakes of his breathing took course throughout him.  ` Lest you decide to fall with me. ’  Sylvain tries a hand at a joke to slice through the heavy airs with a swift cut of humor ; but even his laugh his short lived.