Heartbeats

"My teacher, please come back to me..."

Byleth awoke to desperate murmurings and a hand on hers. She felt cold water fall down onto her face continuously, confusing Byleth as to where exactly she was.

She slowly opened her eyes, and Byleth heard someone gasp in shock. Edelgard was standing over her, tears streaming down her cheeks and onto Byleth's face. She squeezed Byleth's hand tightly, a joyous look on her face.

"You're alive," Edelgard wept, leaning forward to embrace her teacher in a tight hug. Byleth was incredibly confused until she remembered collapsing. "Thank goodness..."

"You thought I'd die so easily...?" Byleth weakly joked, enjoying the warmth that flooded through her body. Somehow, Edelgard's presence made her feel sixty times better.

"Y-Your heart wasn't beating," Edelgard explained, wiping the tears from her eyes. She held onto Byleth closer, not wanting to let go. "Even so, I tried to get Linhardt to heal you...But it just..."

"...My heart has never beat," Byleth told her softly. "I have no heartbeat...Perhaps that's why I feel so sickly all of a sudden. I don't know how or why I'm alive..."

"...My teacher...is your time running out..?"

"I don't know," Byleth winced, a solemn look on her face. Here she was, finally reunited with Edelgard, and she was possibly dying.

No.

If Byleth was going to die soon, she was going to make her time remaining on Fódlan worth it.

"Edelgard, if I am truly...dying..." Byleth said the word slowly, and Edelgard squeezed her hand tighter. "I must tell you how I truly feel."

"How you truly feel..?"

"Yes. Edelgard...no...El," Byleth corrected herself, smiling softly at the nickname. "I may not have a normal heartbeat, but when I am with you...I know that something changes. Weirdly enough, I can feel...something. It may not be a heartbeat, but it's something."

"...My teacher, I'm afraid I'm...I'm not truly understanding," Edelgard pulled away from the hug, watching Byleth with a confused expression. "What are you trying to say?"

"...When I'm with you, I feel like I'm finally alive," Byleth whispered quietly. "Like I finally have a purpose, besides a living corpse."

"I feel the same way," Edelgard agreed, a soft look on her face. It was weird to see the determined girl so emotional. Byleth took a deep breath, and then she simply blurted it out.

"El...I love you."

"I agree-w-wait...Y-Y-You love me?" Edelgard's lavender eyes were wide, and her face began to turn extremely scarlet red. She was speechless, only managing to stammer. "W-What do y-you-"

"I mean that I love you," Byleth repeated again, hoping-praying- that she wouldn't face rejection. Then again, she knew she had nothing to lose. If she truly was dying, then... "You don't have to say yes just because I might be dying."

"That's not the problem," She bit her lip nervously. "I'm just anxious because...well...My teacher...I...I actually love you too. I have been waiting five years to tell you that. I told myself that I would not confess until the war was over, but if you...if you don't...make it...I want to make the most of our time."

"Me too," Byleth nodded, and she gently pulled on Edelgard's arm. Slowly, Edelgard got the hint and came in closer. Byleth closed her eyes as Edelgard leaned in slowly...

Byleth felt a fire rush through her as Edelgard slowly pressed her lips against her own. A fluttery feeling flew through her body, electrifying her as Edelgard continued the embrace. Byleth clung onto the emperor's cape, pulling her closer to Edelgard as they kissed.

The moment filled her with delirium, and Byleth couldn't get enough. She molded into the kiss, gently enjoying the way Edelgard's lips caressed her own. It was a soft and precious kiss, lacking intensity, but that was exactly what Byleth desired.

After a long moment, Edelgard finally pulled away. She had a blissful and excited look on her face, like a kid who had learned how to wield a sword for the first time. Byleth was sure she had a similar look on her own face.

"That was..."

"Delightful," Edelgard finished the sentence with a smile. "My teacher...I promise that I will remain with you, always. I love you."

"I love you too," Byleth said softly. "...If this truly is the last moment I have before I pass...I'm glad I spent it with you."

"...We will find a cure," Edelgard responded, a determined look on her face. "I promise. I won't stop until I can find a way to save you."

Byleth let a small smile slide onto her face. While Edelgard had meant every word, Byleth would pass away tonight if she was destined to go. As much as they hated to say it, they both knew the only cure was whether or not fate was kind to them. Still, Byleth accepted the answer, and held her hand tightly.

"Okay. I trust you."