#ferdibert fanfic

[boyyboss]

hey guys i just posted my first ever fic!!! very excited and you should maybe check it out… please

[lemon-grey]

As much as I love angst and just generally roll around in “lovers but one of them died too soon” stories and ferdibert is perfect for this

Sometimes I like to think what if Ferdie survived Myrddin, and then you get that beautiful kind of gut wrenching moment where like

Scouring the battlefield for survivors, Hubert comes across Ferdinand, alive but struggling

And Ferdinand weakly cracks a joke to try to prove that he’s okay

And as soon as he confirms that Ferdinand is breathing and not in immediate crisis, Hubert just throws himself into a huge hug, just clinging to Ferdinand because oh he thought Ferdie was dead

Yeah….. those are good angsts too 🥲

[nephililium]

To See The Sun Smile (1753 words) by nephililium

Chapters: 1/1

Fandom: Fire Emblem: Fuukasetsugetsu | Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Relationships: Ferdinand von Aegir/Hubert von Vestra

Characters: Ferdinand von Aegir, Hubert von Vestra, Edelgard von Hresvelg

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Gender Changes, Established Relationship, Hubert von Vestra is Soft for Ferdinand von Aegir, Soft Ferdinand von Aegir, Fluff, no beta we die like Glenn

Summary:

While on a shopping trip, Helena finds a dress that would be absolutely perfect on her wife Fernanda.

[rhapeseuhans]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Fire Emblem: Fuukasetsugetsu | Fire Emblem: Three Houses Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Ferdinand von Aegir/Hubert von Vestra Characters: Ferdinand von Aegir, Hubert von Vestra, Edelgard von Hresvelg, Black Eagles Students (Fire Emblem), Ludwig von Aegir | Ferdinand von Aegir's Father mentioned Additional Tags: Fluff and Humor, Mild Angst, Developing Relationship, Awkward Flirting, Flirting, Getting Together, Pre-Timeskip | Academy Phase (Fire Emblem: Three Houses), Crimson Flower | Black Eagles Route (Fire Emblem: Three Houses), Hubert von Vestra is Soft for Ferdinand von Aegir, Villainsexual Ferdinand von Aegir, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, courting

Summary: Hubert has a little crush on Ferdinand, but he thinks he's just wasting time and should forget about him..., until he realizes Ferdinand is quite receptive and doesn't object to his advances.

AKA. Hubert realizes their attraction is mutual and decides to aggressively flirt.

[cookie-gamer-art]

Very happy to announce that my fic for the #FerdibertBdayBash24 is at last complete!

[kumeko]

A/N: My pinch hit for the Our Town Zine! Much love to the writer mod for the zine, my first attempt at this fic left much to be desired but the second round worked out so much better. Thanks for helping me figure out the right way to go about it. I have much to learn about the realm of cute and fluff.

…

…

…

…

Hubert was acting suspiciously.

Ferdinand frowned as he studied his paramour of several years. As usual, the meticulous Hubert was dressed flawlessly, from his black woolen double-breasted overcoat trimmed with fox fur, to the matching top hat and velvet gloves. Not a hair was out of place. As Dorothea liked to put it, he was packaged perfection.

Even with his work as Edelgard’s campaign manager, Hubert used the same degree of care and attention. She had only announced she was running for mayor a few weeks ago and already Hubert had set up her campaign office, organized volunteers, and created her official slogan. There was a thick binder in his study with a plan for the next year, marked clearly for each month, week, and day.

It was something Ferdinand had come to love about Hubert. It had put him off at first; Hubert was sometimes so organized that he came off as cold, but over time Ferdinand had come to see that these acts of service were how he showed affection.

Which was why Ferdinand knew that Hubert was acting suspicious today. It was late November, with half a year left before the election cycle properly began. While everyone knew that Claude would be running as well, he hadn’t yet formally announced his campaign. In their small town, the event venues were few but their usages were fewer still.

It was far too early to look into booking.

No matter how detail-oriented Hubert was, this didn’t make sense.

Ferdinand’s frown deepened as his lover stood in the middle of the rose garden, his arms crossed as he gazed out at the rows of tables. Hubert appeared to seriously be considering how to best use the space.

“I did not expect the garden to look good now,” Hubert said. He wasn’t one for idle flattery, so anything he said always had an honest ring about it.

“It is the last bloom of the year. We also spent the summer replacing the old roses with new ones.” Ferdinand smiled proudly, gesturing at the still blooming roses. This late in the year, most of the plants had died off or lost their leaves, preparing for the hard winter ahead. The roses, however, managed to keep their flowers. They probably would keep them until the winter properly set in, the snow burying the plants until they spent all their energy just surviving.

“You did good work,” Hubert replied, as though he hadn’t witnessed Ferdinand’s efforts all summer, as though he hadn’t heard Ferdinand stress over importing new varieties and where to place them.

It was suspicious. Ferdinand fought down his smile now. This wasn’t the time to get distracted. “Why are we looking at this venue again?”

“Edelgard is hoping to have a small, intimate affair with her top supporters,” Hubert explained, approaching Ferdinand. His dark eyes revealed no secrets, his impassive expression as readable as a blank sheet. “This seems like the ideal venue for it. You said you can guarantee privacy.”

And this was also strange. Hubert was talking as though he had never been here before. Ferdinand raised a brow. “As you should well know. We have had multiple dates here.”

The hedges surrounding this courtyard separated it from other, similar courtyards. The rose garden was carefully maintained so that there could be multiple private parties without different groups accidentally meeting one another. Ferdinand pointed at a hedge to their left, “Our first date was right over there, in fact.”

“I remember you asked me here.” Hubert’s lips lifted slightly, his eyes softening. He reached down and clasped Ferdinand’s hand, an oddly mollifying move that removed most of his ire.

He was not supposed to be such a simple man.

Hubert’s grip was gentle and Ferdinand sighed internally. Just this once, he’d let him get away with it. As the bigger man. Clearing his throat, he replied, “Well, one of us had to make the first move, and you moved at the pace of a turtle.”

“I did not realize you were so eager,” Hubert replied with a teasing lilt.

Yes. “Not at all,” Ferdinand retorted, scrunching his nose in disdain. “If anything, you were too hesitant and clearly needed a hand.”

“A helping hand that involves a place that only serves tea?” Hubert questioned, raising a brow. It was terribly charming. “How were you hoping this date would fare?”

That had been an accident. Ferdinand had realized the second they’d both looked at the daily tea offerings that this was perhaps the worst place for a date with a coffee fanatic. It was a miracle Hubert hadn’t taken it the wrong way.

“Despite your complaints, you had two cups,” Ferdinand pointed out, smirking as he leaned forward, his hair falling off his shoulders as he looked up at Hubert playfully. “Are you certain I was the eager one?”

In response, Hubert raised their clasped hands and pressed a kiss on Ferdinand’s knuckles. “Desperate, perhaps.” He smiled against Ferdinand’s skin. “Though I am not the one who is personally stocking coffee here.”

Ferdinand flushed. “How did you—when did you find out?”

“I’m the only one provided coffee,” Hubert replied smugly, pulling back but keeping their hands joined. “And almost immediately.”

-x-

Love was quite the drug, Ferdinand reflected as the pair stood now in front of the town square. Holding hands with Hubert and reminiscing on their first date had given him an almost euphoric high. And now it was all crashing down as they stood in the empty field. A cold wind blew, reminding them of exactly why everyone else was snuggly indoors instead of visiting the town’s scenic highlights.

“What are we doing here?” Ferdinand asked, his hands stuffed in his pockets. He kept his back ramrod straight, refusing to hunch over no matter how much his body wanted to curl up for warmth.

“Edelgard’s election opening,” Hubert replied bluntly, not responding to the slight hostility. He took off his muffler, carefully wrapping it around Ferdinand’s neck. “Better?”

He touched the woolen scarf and pulled it up. “A bit.”

“You get cold too easily,” Hubert stated matter-of-factly before returning to the matter at hand. “How many people did you say this space could hold?”

“Fifty, seated with high dining,” Ferdinand replied automatically. He wasn’t the town’s event planner for nothing; he knew the capacities, costs, and offerings for each of the town’s venues, no matter how large or small. “The election is next year.”

“Indeed it is,” Hubert agreed, strolling toward the gazebo. “It does not hurt to prepare beforehand.”

“It is at least four months too early for that, if not more,” Ferdinand argued, trailing after him reluctantly. It was strange coming here in November. The place looked forlorn and desolate, a far cry from the summer where families and couples swarmed the grass. “You cannot even book this early.”

“I still need to be prepared. Claude is a sly opponent,” Hubert explained as he climbed the creaky stairs into the gazebo proper. “Surely you haven’t forgotten our school days?”

“Of course not.” Ferdinand scowled, shuddering in distaste as he remembered Claude’s pranks during their high school years. “I swear, not a week went by without some scheme or the other.” He rested a hand on his hip as he stayed firmly on the ground. “Yet, that doesn’t explain this at all.”

“Oh?” Hubert asked, leaning against the wooden railings, his hands clasped as he peered down at Ferdinand.

“Even Claude would not be able to set anything up this early. He wouldn’t be able to book, wouldn’t be able to make arrangements, and most importantly…” Ferdinand tapped his chest. “Have you forgotten who the town’s event planner is? He hasn’t once approached my front door.”

“That only means he hasn’t started yet.” Hubert rebutted half-heartedly. There was something lazy about his demeanor, as though he was just arguing for the sake of arguing. It reminded Ferdinand of their coffee and tea arguments, a weekly debate that was at this point just tradition.

“What are you up to?” Ferdinand repeated, squinting as he studied his paramour. This couldn’t be about Edelgard’s election, not really.

“Work. Which is what you are doing right now, too.” Hubert gestured at him to come up and join him. “A band can fit up here, correct?”

At least one thing hadn’t changed over the years: Hubert was a terrible liar. However, he was also exceptional at keeping secrets. There would be no prying this out of him until he wanted to give the ghost up. It was better to just play along and see the end of this charade.

Ferdinand sighed before joining his partner. “A quartet, a quintet at most.”

“This place seems a little small for five musicians,” Hubert replied, tapping his chin as he considered it. “There was a quartet at the harvest festival.”

“A string one.”

Hubert glanced at him from the corner of his eye, as though assessing the situation. And he called Claude a sly one—the scheme was clear in his eyes, even if Ferdinand still had no idea what it was. “You were rather busy during the party.”

“Between the storm destroying all the decorations and the catering problems, I had my hands full.” Ferdinand retorted, grimacing at the memory. It had only been two months and he still had nightmares about everything that had gone wrong that day. “You’re lucky we even had a festival.”

“I wasn’t lucky,” Hubert disagreed, pushing off the column. “I didn’t see you once.”

“I was busy,” he repeated, rubbing his forehead. Ferdinand could feel a ghost of the headache of that night. It had taken a week to recover from the fatigue. He almost swore off event planning entirely. “You said you understood.”

“I did, however…” he held out a hand. “You still owe me a dance.”

Caught off guard, Ferdinand could only stare at the offered palm. He wet his lips, following the arm up to Hubert’s face. “That’s oddly romantic of you.”

“Sometimes, even I feel romantic,” he replied sincerely, his hand still outstretched. “Or do you think nothing’s changed since our first date?”

Ferdinand softened, accepting the dance. He slipped his hand in Hubert’s, letting his partner draw him in close. “Old age must be getting to you. I found a white hair the other day.”

“Premature greying,” Hubert said blithely. A hand settled on Ferdinand’s waist, his grip firm. “I’m surprised I haven’t found any on you yet. I find your job more stressful.”

“And yet, I still look as young as ever.” Ferdinand grinned as Hubert started to waltz. “You are aware there’s no music, right?”

“Is that enough to stop you?” Hubert challenged.

“No,” Ferdinand chuckled, matching his lover’s steps. “I suppose not.”

-x-

Perhaps he was also getting soft with old age. It was the only explanation Ferdinand had for how he allowed Hubert to con him into going to not one, not two, but three outdoor venues in the chilly late fall weather.

Three.

Maybe he should see a doctor about this. Ferdinand crossed his arms and glowered as he stared at the farm in front of him. ‘Old Gilbert’s farm’ was what most people called it, even though Gilbert hadn’t lived in it for years and the place had once been all but abandoned. It had a derelict barn with holes in the roof and broken doors. The tiny house that accompanied it had seen far better days.

At least, that was before Lorenz and Ferdinand had gotten their hands on it.

Hubert stood beside him, an arm wrapped around Ferdinand’s shoulders as though he wasn’t aware of just how much his partner was glaring at him. He nodded approvingly as he studied the barn. “I must admit, I did not think it would look like this.”

“It took three years,” Ferdinand bit out, trying and failing to keep the pride from his voice. “I thought Lorenz was crazy when he proposed turning it into a great hall, but he was right.”

“He is occasionally and that is what makes him insufferable.” Hubert crinkled his nose. It was more than a little funny how much Hubert disliked Lorenz. Ferdinand had a suspicion there was a little jealousy behind it, especially about how close Lorenz and Ferdinand were.

“He’s not that bad,” said Ferdinand, defending his friend. “He can be fun when you get to know him. We’re actually quite similar.”

 “I doubt it,” Hubert scoffed. Changing the subject, he pointed at the barn’s wall. “New paint job?”

“After all the repairs, it needed one. You should see the inside. You wouldn’t even think this was once a barn.” Ferdinand kept his posture stiff, resisting the urge to lean against Hubert. In the cold, it was especially tempting, but it was time his paramour realized that this game couldn’t go on any longer.

There was absolutely no way in hell he was going to go to a fourth place.

Clearing his throat, Ferdinand asked, “So, why are we here?”

“As I said—”

“The truth.” Ferdinand glared at Hubert, removing his arm from his shoulder and pulling away. “Even if this really was for Edelgard’s election, you have already been to all of these places. You already know their capacities, menus, and more from other events Edelgard has held. You even know it from the times I’ve asked you to help out.”

“You haven’t held any event here,” Hubert said, his hands in his pockets now.

He scowled. “We did just last month—Byleth’s wedding. You were there.”

“True.” Hubert half-smiled. “I doubt you’ll buy that I just wanted to spend more time with you?”

“No.” Ferdinand deepened his frown, his hands fisting. “You’re a meticulous, practical man. You don’t like wasting time.”

“I don’t, but it’s not a waste with you,” Hubert corrected. “Though you are right. I did have something else in mind.”

“I knew it, you are a terrible li—”

Anything else Ferdinand was about to say flew out of his mind as Hubert swiftly kneeled in front of him. In his hand was a small velvet case, an orange sapphire ring glittering in the light. Time stopped, everything fading away except for this one moment, this one scene.

A ring.

A proposal.

That’s what all of this was about. Ferdinand swallowed, stepping back slightly, his throat thick with emotions. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe, could only watch as Hubert reached forward and took one of his hands.

“Like I said, none of this was a waste of time,” Hubert said slowly, interlacing their fingers. His eyes were impossibly soft. “Though, that depends on your answer.”

Ferdinand blinked rapidly, trying and failing not to tear up. He let out a watery chuckle as he squeezed Hubert’s hand. “You didn’t even ask a question.”

Hubert’s lips quirked, but he obliged. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes, a thousand times yes!”

Even before Ferdinand answered, Hubert was already pulling him into his arms. Their teeth bumped as they eagerly kissed, Hubert’s top-hat falling forgotten to the ground. Ferdinand roughly tugged his short, black hair, earning a groan as the kiss deepened. Despite the chill, he was hot, his skin burning as he tried to pull his lover closer and closer.

No, not his lover.

His fiancé.

Sothis, he could get used to that.

Finally, they broke apart. Panting slightly, Hubert didn’t loosen his grip on Ferdinand’s waist. “What do you think of holding the wedding here?”

Ferdinand blinked. Their first date at the rose garden, their most recent one at the gazebo, and now a wedding at the barn. A play by play of their relationship. He broke into laughter.

Hubert certainly was a meticulous man.

“How long did you have this planned?” he asked, pressing his forehead against Hubert’s chest.

“Months.” A quick, succinct reply.

He laughed again. “And our wedding?”

“Years.” Even quicker this time.

Of course he had. There was probably a binder out there with their relationship in it. Other people thought Hubert wasn’t a romantic, but that was clearly because they didn’t know how he spelled love. Ferdinand pulled back slightly. “As long as its in the summer. I refuse to come out here past September again.”

Hubert chuckled wryly. “Noted.”

[nimbuskibblebites]

Oh. That's gore. Gore of my comfort character...

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Category: M/M

Relationship: Ferdinand von Aegir/Hubert von Vestra

Notable Tags: Gore, Hurt/Comfort, Established Relationship

Words: 4,587

Summary:

Years after the war, Hubert lives is luxury with his husband and their son. But Hubert can't relax. After spending his entire life as the monster in the dark, he has plenty of enemies that are probably doing everything they can to get revenge. And it only gets worse when his worries manifest into horrific nightmares- because now he's waking up Ferdinand in the middle of the night.

~~~

Yeah so I watched a playthrough of Mouthwashing and after several hours of letting it marinate in my brain I cranked this out. Take that as you will.

[beagles-drop-the-e]

After proclaiming to Edelgard that the challenge of love was no match for him, Ferdinand sets out to somehow win Hubert’s affections, and confess his own feelings to him while he’s at it. Shenanigans ensue.

Ferdibert fluff <3

[haveyoureadthisfanfic]

Summary: Changelings don't exist, but Ferdinand is a changeling. Fairies don't exist, but Hubert may be trying to steal his name. Ferdinand has felt distant from his peers ever since he was little. One day, he reads about difficult children and what it means when a child is difficult in just the same way he's difficult. He carries the heavy knowledge of what he is through the Academy and the War before finally confessing to Hubert.

Author: She5los

Note from submitter: Without spoiling the content, I will only say that what Hubert says towards the end of the fic is something I think everyone could stand to hear. I certainly needed to hear it and I didn't know I needed to.

[mikaharuka]

Desiderium - Official Post

This one is... special. For those of you who don't already know, Fire Emblem Three Houses was the fandom I started out in, almost 4 years ago - with Hubert/Ferdinand (Ferdibert), to be exact. Real life got busy and I stopped writing 3 years ago. Of course, I picked up my gay Twilight/LnD rewrite and world, and started posting last year.

Two weeks ago, I was cleaning out my Google Drive and noticed a huge folder of all these Ferdibert (+Edelthea) ideas that I'd outlined, and I thought that I might finish those if the inspiration struck.

So here I am. Having returned to Ferdibert with this new mini-series "Another World". It'll have six fics to it by the end - a trio each for Hubert/Ferdinand and Edelgard/Dorothea alike, 900 words per fic.

Title: Desiderium (Part 1 of 6, Another World - Ferdibert 1 of 3)

Author: Mizuka

Rating: Mature (no smut in this entry)

Category: M/M

Word Count: 900 words

Summary: A complicated thread of fate binds Hubert and Ferdinand, leaving them with thoughts of another future.

Notes: This contains canonical MCD, as this fic is canon-compliant and follows Claude's route... however, it isn't quite traditional. Reincarnation is a major component of this series (hence the series name "Another World"). As such, while the fic has real MCD and a sad ending, it also has a notably bittersweet and hopeful tone. The overall series does have an unambiguously happy ending.

(Tagging because you might be interested? Not sure tbh, since this is new, so let me know if I missed you! @mrsmungus, @udaberriwrites, @magma-saarebas19, @aislinnstanaka, @writingpotato07, @lena-hills, @hylianjo, @bees-and-sunshine, @tsunderewatermelon, @bleepbloopbotz @axolotlsupremacyowo, @kayedium-writes, @sliebman10 @danceswithdarkspawn @precambrian-sea-pancake)

[boyyboss]

would anyone be interested in discussing some writing ideas with me? i’ve been wanting to write some ferdibert for a while but unfortunately none of my writer friends are interested in femblem

[lemon-grey]

Modern tattoo shop AU ferdibert anyone?

[rhapeseuhans]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Fire Emblem: Fuukasetsugetsu | Fire Emblem: Three Houses Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Ferdinand von Aegir/Hubert von Vestra Characters: Ferdinand von Aegir, Hubert von Vestra, Original Child(ren) of Ferdinand von Aegir and Hubert von Vestra Additional Tags: Domestic Fluff, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Non-Traditional Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Omega Hubert von Vestra, Alpha Ferdinand von Aegir, Pregnancy, Light Angst, Baby ferdibert, Married Ferdinand von Aegir/Hubert von Vestra, Established Relationship, Self-Worth Issues

Summary: Despite the long months of gestation and the physical evidence, Hubert still found it incredible that he had been able to create life.

[mistresseast]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Fire Emblem: Fuukasetsugetsu | Fire Emblem: Three Houses Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Ferdinand von Aegir/Hubert von Vestra Characters: Hubert von Vestra, Ferdinand von Aegir, Edelgard von Hresvelg, Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd Additional Tags: Rumors, Hubert being sneaky, Attempted Sexual Assault, not between ferdibert, Canon-Typical Violence, Blood and Injury, that makes it sound so much more serious than it is, i'm making up the garreg mach layout as i go, Jealousy, Getting Together, Hubert von Vestra is Soft for Ferdinand von Aegir, kind of, he gets around to it Summary:

Ferdinand's name keeps cropping up in the rumor mill. In unrelated news, Hubert has been finding himself more and more distracted.

[kumeko]

A/N: My rejected piece for the Our Town Zine! I wanted to do a little bit of a “Hubert is wily about his date” and then the wily took over the date part. XD I ended up rewriting the whole thing, but it felt like a shame to just toss this out when it is still a whole story.

Though I suppose that serves as a reminder I really need to improve my skills in writing fluff pieces.

…

…

…

…

Hubert was a meticulous man. It was one of his more attractive traits, in Ferdinand’s humble opinion. Their outings were planned to the last detail, his gifts were thoughtful and practical, and Hubert remembered every stray comment from their conversations. It was everything one could want in a lover and sometimes-business partner.

Usually.

Today, Ferdinand wasn’t sure of what to make of the man standing beside him. He was dressed like Hubert, a dark suit lined with silver embroidery that only made him look taller and slimmer. He sounded like Hubert, his voice low and smooth as he inquired about the property in front of them. He even smelled like Hubert, that dark, musky cologne that Ferdinand had bought as an anniversary gift that his partner only took out on nice occasions.

Yet, today was the exact opposite of a ‘nice’ occasion.

Today, under a dark, gloomy sky, the two of them were examining the town’s gazebo. Hubert eyed the wooden structure as though to appraise it, his expression thoughtful as he slowly scanned the lattice work and rose carvings decorating the columns. His left hand rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his coat sleeve falling down just enough to expose his ruby cufflinks. For all the world, it looked like this was the first time Hubert had seen it.

If this had been anyone else, Ferdinand could believe it. If this had been anywhere else, Ferdinand could believe Hubert was actually studying it.

However, this was Hubert and this was the town’s gazebo and they had both attended enough functions here to know its properties by heart.

“What is the capacity?” Hubert asked, turning to Ferdinand as though he hadn’t asked the same question the last time Edelgard held an event. Perhaps running her political campaign was frying his brain. It was a rational explanation for why the man was planning for a campaign that wouldn’t happen for yet another year in their small, sleepy town.

“You know very well what the answer is,” Ferdinand replied, giving Hubert a distrusting look.

Hubert shrugged, his lips quirking. His thumb brushed the back of Ferdinand’s hand, sending sparks up his arm. “I forgot.”

You? Forget? Ferdinand snorted. It was an obvious, blatant lie, so much that it was almost insulting to ask. As oddly as Hubert was acting, the intention wasn’t malicious. At worst, the whole exercise would be a time-waster that Ferdinand could hold over his partner’s head for months.

He might as well play along for now. Gesturing at the gazebo, he answered, “If you want to put a band up there, we can fit up to seven musicians comfortably, though most prefer a quintet. As for the field around, you can have up to fifty guests.”

Hubert hummed softly and then asked, “Seated or standing?”

Despite himself, his brow twitched. Tersely, he replied, “Seated. As you very well know.”

“And standing?” Hubert asked, ignoring the barbed tone. His thumb was still stroking the back of Ferdinand’s hand in a lazy manner. It was distracting and frustratingly mollifying.  

Ferdniand took a deep breath and forced his shoulders to relax. “Less than a hundred.”

“Hmm,” was his lover’s noncommittal reply, a sound that held absolutely no information.

Still holding his hand, Hubert strolled forward at a leisurely pace. They circled the gazebo, their shoulders touching, the space between them utterly improper. Not that it mattered. No one was here in the late fall, the cool weather far better suited for indoor activities. It was almost like a date, except this was work.

Ferdinand was not supposed to be this easily pleased over mere hand holding.

Perhaps he wasn’t giving Hubert a hard enough time. As the one being courted—and mark his words, he was the one being courted, Hubert had to chase him for approval, not the other way around—it was his duty to make sure the bar was rightfully high. Anything less was disrespectful to both of them.

Hubert lightly squeezed their clasped hands and Ferdinand fought down a smile. Again, he refused to be appeased by this. Especially since they were now walking across the gazebo as though Hubert didn’t know exactly how many steps it took to cross the space.

“Which would you suggest, a quintet or quartet?” Hubert asked, breaking the silence.

“Quintet,” Ferdinand replied. Maybe they should go see a doctor. Hubert should have known the answer to that already. “You might as well go for the richer sound.”

“As for catering?” Hubert asked, leading them to the railing. He leaned against the rail, looking out over the venue.

Finally, a proper question. While Hubert intimately knew the options, he certainly wouldn’t have memorized the prices or menus. Ferdinand didn’t fight down the grin this time as he cleared his throat. “If you are going for a seated dinner, Christophe’s is the better option. For cocktails and smaller snacks, I recommend Boulder’s Inn; they’re cheaper if you’re looking at standing capacity. The Mockingbird can provide a bar, though their prices have risen in the past year.”

Hubert closed his eyes and nodded. He didn’t take any notes, but then again, he didn’t have to. Ferdinand knew firsthand just how precise his lover’s memory was. There were far too many embarrassing memories locked away in that mind of his and sometimes Ferdinand feared he would never live down his misguided youth, where he spent his school days challenging Hubert and Edelgard to one match or another.

“I can send over their meal options and prices, if you have an estimated budget and capacity,” Ferdinand continued.

“I can come pick that up later.” Hubert opened his eyes and straightened. “I want to see the rose garden next.”

Ferdinand stared. “The rose garden,” he repeated slowly. When Hubert merely affirmed with a nod, he bit his lip. They had dates there often. Maybe he should be worried.

-x-

The rose garden was a series of small courtyards enclosed by walls of hedges. Despite how expansive the site was, each area within felt quiet and private due to the overbearing shrubbery. Multiple formal events could be held here separately, their guests unaware of each other. It was a well-sought location for private meetings, business or otherwise.

“It is a smaller venue,” Hubert commented as though he wasn’t well aware of that in the first place.

“It’s not like you to point out the obvious,” Ferdinand replied, discreetly trying to pull away. When Hubert tightened his grip on Ferdinand’s hand, he bit back a sigh. He’d just have to keep his wits about him and not get distracted this time.

Something far easier said than done.

“The occupation size is?” Hubert asked, taking the lead again as they walked through the paths in one of the courtyards. While most plants had withered and died at this time of year, the roses remained at full-bloom. They’d last until the first snowfall, if not longer.

“If you rent the largest garden, we can fit a maximum of 25 guests. Seated.” Ferdinand shot his lover a smug smirk, knowing his next words were a point of contention between them. “Only tea is served.”

Hubert frowned, just as Ferdinand had expected. His brow furrowed. “Coffee—”

“Is not an option for events here,” Ferdinand interrupted, his smirk growing bigger. On occasion, there was an obvious ‘win’ between them, and the coffee versus tea debate had been going on since they were children. He could never understand why Hubert loved the dark, disgusting drink; it was so strong that all other flavours were drowned by the bitterness of it.

Tea, with all of its subtle flavours, with all of its variety, was a far better drink. By the time they were married, he would show Hubert the light.

“Coffee is far too uncouth for a rose garden,” Ferdinand added, unable to resist adding a last, biting comment.

“Is that so?” Hubert snorted dismissively.

Ferdinand nodded as they took a right at a fork, going from paved cobblestone pathways to more roughly hewn rocks. “Yes, it is.”

“Perhaps you should consider extending your services,” Hubert replied evenly. It was only the little signs that indicated he was bothered by this turn of events: the small twitch of his eye, the clenching of his jaw, the uneven sound of his steps. “You could lose customers.”

“I would be elevating their tastes,” Ferdinand replied, enjoying this far more than he should.

“And my coffee?” Hubert asked, raising a brow.

Ferdinand flushed, his ears and neck warm. Perhaps he should have expected that; Ferdinand had personally ensured a pot of coffee was available whenever they met here. Clearing his throat, he explained, “It is a personal service. One that will not be repeated for others.”

“I’m honoured.” Judging by the slight relaxing of his shoulders, Hubert was sincere. Or at least as sincere as he allowed himself to be. He stepped forward to a red rose bush. It was in full bloom, with several large flowers bursting with colour and volume. Running a finger along a stem, he stopped at the junction of two stems, where there were no thorns, and snapped off a bloom. Pivoting on his heel, he held the flower out. “Careful.”

Just when had they stopped holding hands? Ferdinand accepted the gift, making sure to avoid the big thorns as he wrapped his fingers around the thin stem. He hid his smile behind the bloom as he breathed in the delicate floral scent. “You shouldn’t take flowers without permission.”

“Just this once, then,” Hubert replied, using his own words against him. “As a special, personal service.”

Give the man an inch and he’d run a mile. Hubert had always been cunning. Still, the rose was for Ferdinand. “Just this once,” he agreed.

Hubert’s lips twitched and he once more interlaced their free hands, sending a rush of warmth up Ferdinand’s arm. “I would like to see the farm next.”

Ferdinand shouldn’t have given him that inch.

-x-

Located just at the outskirts of town, the old man Gilbert’s farm had long been abandoned before Lorenz came up with the brilliant idea of using it for the town’s dances and other festivities. With Ferdinand’s help, the two of them had renovated the barn so not so much as a draft blew through the building. The field around it had been painstakingly groomed to showcase wildflowers while not allowing the place to run wild.

It was a successful experiment. At least, in the summer. Now in the fall, on a chilly day like today, the site looked dreary and unappealing. The barn could stand another coat of paint; Ferdinand could see a few points with peeling and scratches. With lack of use, the grass had grown wild and tall. If he were honest, it was a little embarrassing to show this to Hubert after praising it all summer.

Judging by how Hubert’s lips twitched, he knew just how Ferdinand felt.

He wasn’t going to hear the end of it later.

“Impressive,” Hubert said politely. Perhaps that was why they were still holding hands, so that he could survive this conversation.

“Don’t start,” Ferdinand replied curtly. He rubbed his forehead. “Maintenance will occur in the spring, before it is ready for use.”

“If you say so.” As usual, Hubert’s words were caustic and cutting. “Is it waterproof?”

The question was an insult. Ferdinand wrinkled his nose. “The barn is properly sealed and the floor has been evened and paved over for use.”

“Well done.” Hubert rubbed his chin and nodded. He took a step forward but Ferdinand stayed still, tugging him back with their linked hands. Raising a brow, Hubert asked, “Ferdinand?”

He had played along long enough. Ferdinand tugged Hubert closer and gripped his arm with his free hand, locking the man in place. This time, he couldn’t wiggle out of a proper explanation. “Why are we doing this?”

Hubert cocked his head slightly, unruffled as ever. “As I said before, preparations for Edelgard’s campaign.”

“The election is next year. For a town of our size, you have no need to start this early,” he refuted. If Hubert had anyone to blame, it was himself—the only reason Ferdinand knew so much about their election cycles was because Hubert always brought his work home with him.

“It is better to book early in case of a conflict,” Hubert replied, his expression painfully calm.

“No one but Claude will book early and even he wouldn’t start now,” Ferdinand countered. It was a little boorish but he dug his nails into Hubert’s arm.

If Hubert felt any pain, he didn’t show it. He said, “It is better to deal with this now, instead of later when I will be busy.”

“You have Monica to assist you. Even if you were booking early, you wouldn’t need to do all this. You already know everything I am telling you. You don’t need to see the properties. This is hardly efficient.”

“Perhaps.” Hubert raised Ferdinand’s hand, holding it with both of his as he massaged it lightly. His pale green eyes met Ferdinand’s. “Yet, this inefficiency means I can spend time with you while working.”

Ferdinand flushed. So that’s what this was about. Struggling to keep his composure, he cleared his throat and looked away. “Then this is a date.”

“Obviously,” Hubert replied, smirking.

“You should have mentioned that from the start,” Ferdinand bit out, embarrassed, pleased, and irritated all at once. It was just like Hubert to ‘forget’ to say something. “I could have enjoyed it more.”

“What else did I need to say?” Hubert asked, looking like a cat that caught the canary. “We held hands, I gave you a flower—do you think I do this in all my business meetings?”

“Well, no.” Ferdinand’s flush grew deeper, his ears hot. “It’s just—well, we are lovers, so I assumed it was just…since we were alone together…” He cleared his throat again. “Regardless, inform me ahead next time.”

Hubert patted his hand. “Next time, I will.”

“Good.” Ferdinand wet his lips and turned to the barn. “So. Then. Shall we cover this place properly? I know a few hidden alcoves that might be useful for your purposes.”

While he wasn’t one to mix business and pleasure, today he would make an exception.

[thedarkivistwrites]

Fanwork creators self rec! When you get this, reply with your five favorite fics/art/podfics/etc. that you've made, then pass on to others. Let’s spread the self-love 🌼

Thank you for the ask, @ester-gal <3

It's a bit hard to choose, but here are five from different fandoms that I enjoyed writing and that I think are fun:

I Will Live When We're Together Again (The Magnus Archives, crack)

Set between S3/S4. Martin has had enough of losing and so he tries to get Jon back. If it takes a Leitner, so be it.

Date Night (The Magnus Archives, fairy tale horror domain fic)

Jon and Martin come across a surprisingly hospitable domain and take a break. Jon distracts Martin with a fairy tale. (Here's a little snippet of it being read in the fanfic stream. Hearing it read just the way I envisioned was the highlight of my month.)

Alone in the Spotlight (Boku No Hero Academia, crack)

Being an underground hero while making appearances on TV presents some unique challenges, as Aizawa finds out. (An absolutely ancient one, but why not?)

Too Close to Home (Detroit: Become Human, murder mystery with a dash of convin yearning)

Connor and Gavin are stranded in the middle of nowhere. It's cold. It's getting dark. And it seems they're dealing with a murderer. Can they untangle this mystery? And more importantly - can they do it together?

Someone Else's Story (Fire Emblem - Three Houses, humour/romance, ferdibert)

After the prime minister Aegir breaks up with his mistress, she leaves and vanishes without a trace. The problem is, she left behind their daughter - and took the legitimate heir of the Aegir family. (Of course, I had to mention this one. I'm still proud of it.)