#When u write things about botany you can be assured they will be read by weirdos for centuries to come

[drumlincountry]

If your life is horrible and you need a new source of meaning and direction.... Do NOT find religion. Learn to identify plants.

[fe3h-incorrectquotes]

.... Sincerely pls. Ashe/Hubert headcannons maybe? 🥺 HUBERT literally has no supports with anyone outside his house like he doesn't even awknowlage them being there but.... I really .... I crave him maybe being fierce to him at first and then softening as he realizes Ashe's loyalty is very real. Maybe even talking about them defending each other in battle?? Can u tell I have ideas but no direction- 💙💙💙

OKAY I FINALLY DID IT, I FINISHED THIS, SOMEONE BE PROUD OF ME

ALSO BE PROUD OF THE TWO ANONS AND @shortbread-otaku​ WHO HELPED ME OUT

First off, the headcanons that weren’t mine:

Hubert reads tales to Ashe, and they're both in a warm blanket and are cuddled up together. Ashe often falls asleep on Hubert, but Hubert doesn't mind. In the morning, Ashe makes Hubert's favorite breakfast and coffee, every single morning. And before Hubert leaves to do work, Ashe always wishes him a nice day with a smooch on the cheek. (Anon 1)

I think Ashe stands out as one of those ambitious characters who try their best to improve, in just about every aspect of life. Seeing as Hubert is constantly monitoring everyone else, Ashe could easily be on his radar. (Anon 2)

And I know that it is definitely a point of debate how much people like Edelgard and Hubert had to do with Lonato's rebellion against the church, it is also a point of connection between the two characters. (Anon 2)

When Ashe is sad Hubert will use warp magic to surround Ashe with cats and other cuddly things. (@shortbread-otaku)

They'd be kinda like Robin Hood? As Ashe has the lock pick skill and Hubert definitely knows how to break into things, They'd steal from the rich and give to the poor. Ashe despises stealing, so Hubert always gives him a file of information he gathered to assure him the person they're robbing is evil. (@shortbread-otaku​)

Hubert read old tales of Knights because Ashe would also ramble on about them and get embarrassed when Hubert stared at him blankly. (@shortbread-otaku​)

And now for my own, which became very ramble-y but honestly I’m kind of proud of how they turned out:

Going off of the point of Hubert being connected in a way to Ashe through Lonato's rebellion, Hubert would probably want to check up on Ashe after, but very subtly. He's not like Byleth who openly comforts him or Catherine who encourages him to find answers, but he keeps an eye on him. Of course, this has benefits to him, too - if Ashe openly shows disdain toward the church after that point, he could be of use in Edelgard's plans, something Hubert would be very aware of.

Though eventually Ashe would notice Hubert - he slips up and doesn't hide as well as usual, and Ashe approaches him. Hubert, being the introverted goth he is, would try to flee as casually as possible. Ashe isn't super confrontational, so he'd let it go until Hubert slips up again. And that's when a conversation actually happens, likely in the greenhouse. Hubert isn't super interested in plants, but he knows something about which ones are poisonous. It isn't Ashe's favourite conversation topic, but he knows something of poisonous plants as well, thanks to Lonato.

Hubert waits for Ashe to mention Lonato - and doesn't have to wait long, Ashe brings up his adoptive father fairly often, even just quickly mentioning him when Hubert asks who taught him what he knows of botany. Hubert offers his condolences (which sounds something along the lines of what he said to Byleth, though a little softer because Ashe is not their emotionless teacher) and asks him what he knew of Lonato. Ashe recounts some personal stories, to which Hubert asks him what he really knew. His goals, his plans, his hopes and dreams. Who was Lonato as a person, and what was he aiming to gain from his rebellion? And Ashe realizes that he learned the most of his adoptive father in his dying moments - the moments where he fought against him and saw him die, but for what? For his son? To make a statement?

Needless to say, his first actual conversation with the Black Eagles' resident vampire leaves him with more questions than before. Questions that eventually lead him to seek out Hubert, realizing that Hubert seemed to know more than he was letting on (it seems that way because he absolutely does). I'd like to think that his search for answers is what eventually drives him to join the Black Eagles, realizing that Edelgard's ambitions, once revealed, seem to align with Lonato's. And maaaaybe because he's come to enjoy Hubert's presence, despite him acting like a cryptid half the time.

Ashe's ambition, as one of the anons said, is something that Hubert would definitely pick up on. Something that he admires, maybe, or comes to find comforting. A steady constant within the change that war brings. So even if it means reading through half-true books of the knights of old approved by the church, because that's all that can be found in the monastery's library, he'll help Ashe to grow as a person and a fighter. And maybe point out where the books fabricate a thing or two. But maybe not, if it means Ashe looks at him like a hurt puppy, realizing that what he's aiming to be is a distant fantasy.

But... maybe Hubert doesn't have to crush his dreams of being a knight like the ones in his stories. Obviously because more knights would benefit Edelgard, from a purely logical standpoint, because he does not feel anything personal toward Ashe. He is grateful for his service to Lady Edelgard, and glad that he joined the Eagles, but nothing more. And he only smiles when given some of the food Ashe has cooked to be polite. And only checks up on him in the training grounds because Ashe is so nice, he'd accept gifts without a second thought, and they could easily be poisoned. And it wouldn't be of any personal concern to him if Ashe were in the infirmary, but losing a knight (especially one as dedicated as Ashe) even for just a couple weeks would be awful, so he keeps an eye out. For logical reasons.

Goddamnit, Hubert, your reasons aren't logical anymore, they're personal.

Ashe is, putting it bluntly, a little oblivious. Sure, he notices Hubert hanging around him more, but it must be because he wants to see his growth as a knight and make sure he's training often enough and such. And Hubert just appreciates the time and effort he puts into cooking (and that it's not Dorothea who cooked it), that's why he smiles. But he doesn't do that for anyone else ever... so Ashe must be overthinking things. Right?

Not right, Ashe, he likes you.

So, with Ashe being oblivious and Hubert ignoring his feelings, they'd need some sort of push. Something like, say, getting stuck cooking together, thanks to Dorothea suggesting it to Byleth. And as Ashe makes little suggestions on where Hubert can improve and tells stories of cooking with his family, Hubert just ends up blurting it out. Not intentionally, of course - he'd planned to either wait until the war's end or until discussing it with Edelgard, but some instinct takes over, and instead of waiting and thinking it over and rehearsing some big speech, he just comes out and says how he feels for Ashe.

Of course, Ashe reciprocates - and has a much easier time saying so. No overthinking his affections, no discussion with anyone else. Ashe is honest and to the point, both things Hubert likes about him,  but he's also incredibly genuine. His affection for people, whether platonic, romantic, familial, or otherwise, shines through in everything he says and does, especially his confession.

Anyway yeah I got off track at some point but I really like this ship now and am considering writing supports for them so uh yeah :)

(Also I’d usually run this through Grammarly first but I don’t feel like fighting with a computer right now so I apologize for any mistakes but hope you liked the headcanons!)