Race Against Time

Out of Time

Byleth awoke to a cold day with nausea and a pounding headache.

While the symptoms were no different than usual, something was different today. Byleth's chest, while normally aching with pain, felt constricted in a different sort of way. She had to struggle for each breath.

That was when Byleth knew.

Today...today was the day...

"C...Claude," Byleth struggled just to say his name as she tried to sit up. He was instantly awake as he hovered over her, his forehead creased and his hand cradling her head in his arms.

"Are you alright?"

"I...I think that..." Byleth paused as she was engulfed by a sudden coughing fit. After she moved her elbow away from her mouth, she could only stare. Blood was splattered all over her elbow. "...I think that we're...out of time."

"A-Already?" He whispered despairingly as he stared at the blood on her. The contrast of red against her skin was stark because of her sickly pallid skin. Claude clutched at her hand tightly. "This...This.." his voice broke, "it's my fault-"

"No, don't...you dare say that," Byleth immediately scolded. She could see the tears welling up in his eyes, and the reality of everything began to sink in. I am going to die. I am going to die... She was scared, of course...but strangely, she felt some sort of contentment. She wouldn't like to die any other way. "This is what I...want, Claude. I don't regret anything."

"But you could have your entire life ahead of you. You don't need me to be happy..."

Byleth couldn't help but chuckle, "yes...yes I do. It's selfish..but I do. Nothing can change that fact."

"Teach...it might not be too late. I could leave, I could save you-"

"Claude, please...just listen to what I'm saying," Byleth said as she gently squeezed his hand. He was holding onto her with a vice like grip, sorrow displayed over his entire face as he struggled to blink back tears. "This is what I want. Nothing...is going to change that. You...you said you agreed..."

"I don't agree," Claude said, his voice growing choked and barely audible, "but I'm going with this because this is what you want. I just..."

His voice broke mid sentence, and he struggled to carry onward. Byleth gently pressed a finger to his lips.

"I know, Claude. I...appreciate it more than anything...and I...love you so much for it."

He kept his eyes to the bedsheets, and Byleth gently moved her hand to his chin, directing his gaze toward her.

"Claude..."

"I know," he couldn't maintain eye contact with her as he suddenly began to sob, "it's because I love you that I'm allowing you to...to...to kill yourself...!"

"Claude, Claude..."

"I love you. This isn't fair! I don't-I don't want you to go," Claude embraced her in a hug, his entire body shaking as he sobbed. "Please. Just one more day. Just..."

Byleth didn't know wasn't to say, so she remained quiet. These were her final moments, weren't they? Byleth should have wanted to say so much. But honestly...she was content just to lay here with Claude by her side. She smiled.

"Can you call...my dad?" Byleth requested, and after a moment, Claude sniffled, wiped the tears from his face, and nodded.

He called Jeralt over, informing him on the new dire situation, and of course, Jeralt immediately was on his way over. Claude placed the phone on the nightstand, at a loss of what to do. After another coughing fit, Byleth pulled him toward her so they were both lying. His arms were wrapped around her protectively as if he could shield her from her disease.

"Please don't go," he whispered, fear etched into his voice. He had that look in his eyes from when Byleth had first figured out his singing secret, the look that reminded her of a deer in the headlights, although this time, tears free-flew down his cheeks, dripping onto the bed and her hands. "Please, my friend, I...I need you..."

"I would stay here forever if I could. If only..." Byleth coughed, "if only the world...would let us..."

"I would sacrifice whatever it took if I could be with you forever. Another world, another reality, I don't care, I just...I just want you to live with me! Please, please, please..."

"I know. I wish that...was possible," Byleth shut her eyes as she placed a hand on her throbbing chest. Breathing was getting harder and harder, but she still wanted to talk to him... "But Claude...this is r...reality, and I...just want you to know...how much I love you..."

"I love you too," another sob racked through Claude's entire body, his tears soaking her face as they fell. She pulled his face to hers as the two embraced in a soft and desperate kiss. His hands cupped her cheeks as he sobbed, and for the first time today, Byleth began to cry.

She was going to have to leave Claude, her father, Sothis here...

Bustling from downstairs broke their embrace, and Jeralt soon rushed in. His hair was disheveled, his coat not even on properly as he rushed over and ran to Byleth's other side.

"No, kid, please tell me this isn't real," Jeralt shook his head, "no, not today..."

"I-I'm sorry," Byleth apologized. "I..."

"Don't be sorry for dying, kid, this isn't your fault..."

"...Jeralt, I..." Claude swallowed that lump in his throat. Quickly, Byleth shot him a pleading gaze, begging him not to tell her father. Claude sighed. "I wish...this didn't have to end this way..."

"This...this can't be real...first your mother, now you...?" Jeralt clenched his fists tightly, "a father should never outlive their daughter..."

"H-Hey...it's...okay," Byleth placed both hands on both men, "you both...made life worth living...I hope you both...know that. I love you...I love you both...so much...!" Byleth's breath caught in her throat as she struggled to breathe. "T...Thank..." A sob racked through her body. All three of them were crying. "You..."

"Please, Byleth," Claude begged once more, his voice barely above a whisper. "Don't go. Don't go."

"I...l-love you, C-Claude," Byleth choked back another sob. She could feel her words getting trapped in her throat. Soon enough, speaking would be impossible. Using the last of her strength, Byleth made her final request. "C-Claude...can you...s-sing for me...?"

"Sing...?"

"F-For me?" Byleth's face furrowed in pain, "p-please..."

"...I..." Claude sniffled before he nodded. "Okay...if that's what you want."

Solemnly, he began to sing, his melodious voice filling the room as Jeralt and Byleth listened in silence. His tone broke every now and then, a sob mixed between lyrics, but his voice was a blessing to Byleth's ears. The pain almost felt cleansed from her body as she forgot about her travails, just so she could focus on the beautiful melody.

Cuz I,

I place all of my trust in you

No matter what we do

Because I

Didn't realize it till now!

But I, I .... I love you

Byleth squeezed their hands one last time as the song began to end, Claude desperately singing as he cried. He had found his passion...and Byleth was so happy he had, even if this ended how everything did. Had Byleth found her passion...? Yes, in a way. She had found love, passion for someone else...and that was the best way of life she could have ever imagined.

Byleth smiled.

Yes, that was the best way of life she could have ever imagined...

She saw her father's despair and Claude's beautiful, tear-filled green eyes one last time...

Then there was nothing but darkness.