#ashe waiting to see thunderbrand cutting though the fog towards him

[ashes-of-ailell]

on foggy days, Ashe is quieter than usual. he stays inside and will avoid the greenhouse and training grounds. he seems jumpier, like he's expecting something to happen to him, something like what happened to them.

he can usually be found in his room, the door locked and himself curled up on the bed unmoving, or sometimes he will be sat in one of the darker corners of the cathedral reading a book or just. zoned out, like nobody is home, eyes unfocused and staring blankly ahead. Sometimes others have overheard him mumbling to himself, but he's not praying. It's like he's having a full conversation with someone who isn't there. Some students, who don't know him as well, started a rumour that Ashe is possessed, or just straight up a ghost himself, and the fog makes it harder for him to hide it. In the end it's Dimitri who tells others not to disturb him while he's like that and to stop with absurd rumours. There's a weird look in the prince's eyes when he says it.

in class, his notes are messier than usual, some details missing like he just didn't hear them being said. he won't volunteer to answer questions, and he doesn't give anyone a usual cheerful greeting before class commences, coming in late and only barely managing to give the Professor and his table partner, Dedue, a very small smile that doesn't reach his eyes with a quiet, murmured apology. He looks paler.

He keeps his hood up on those days, regardless of where he is. It's like his own shield against the outside world. Nobody calls him out on it, anyone who tries gets a very stern glare from the Professor or the closest Lion.

Byleth tells him, on the next foggy day, not to come to class if he doesn't feel up to it. Not directly, mind you, but he finds a stack of notes containing everything that would have been covered in the lecture in front of his door that morning. He's unsure how to feel about it, but he doesn't end up making an appearance in class.

They overheard him talking to someone when they walked past his room later on. They recognise the voice that replies to him, gentler than they've ever heard it, and inwardly sigh a little in relief. They're glad that at least someone is able to look out for him properly like this.

Catherine has learnt to make herself scarce when the fog rolls in, either by locking herself in the training grounds or taking a mission away from the monastery. If Ashe sees her, there's a 50/50 chance he'll either quickly run off in fear, or she'll feel green eyes staring daggers through her, like he's trying to look into her very soul. For some reason, she feels like he actually can.

Luckily, foggy days at the monastery are surprisingly rare. The days after, Ashe acts as though nothing happened, back to his cheerful, outgoing, dedicated self. Nobody calls him on that either, as much as they may want to.

He's glad they dont. He doesn't want them to.