"You're...really dying..?"

Byleth cursed herself upon hearing his shocked and dismayed reaction. She hadn't meant to say that! It had really just come out of her mouth before she could stop it. Her mind hadn't even been able to process her words...they had just escaped her.

Byleth hated herself.

Why couldn't she stop herself better...?

"Forget it! I didn't mean it," Byleth tried to play it off. She stood, pacing back and forth without even realizing it. "It was a joke! Just a joke."

"Teach...you don't have to lie," Claude gripped at his brunette locks, a stunned and dismayed look on his face. "I was hoping you were exaggerating about your final moments, but..."

"Fine! You want the truth?" Byleth knew the cat was out of the bag now. There was no turning back; Claude knew. She might as well commit now. "I'm going to die! The doctors told me I have about a year!"

It hurt to say it out loud. It hurt to see his shocked and dejected reaction. It hurt to see his lips part and then close once more as he couldn't make words leave his mouth.

It hurt to know that this was the last she'd see of him before he left her life forever.

"What...What do you have?" Claude managed to choke out, his voice heavy with sadness and dejection. Her heart hurt as they spoke.

"No one knows," Byleth kept her eyes on the ground. To say the harsh truth out loud really made her condition so much more daunting, and she hated it. There was no running from the truth now. "There's something wrong with my heart. There's no known cure for my illness! There's no guarantee with anything! Here's the honest truth; no one knows if I'm going to make it out alive!"

Byleth panted slightly after making her little speech. It was the truth that had finally
been spoken. No one knows if I'm going to make it out alive...Byleth's heart beat with pain at that sentence. She didn't want to die...

Claude still hadn't said or done anything, but she knew what was coming next. This was the part where he walked out the door, where he apologized for his actions, but he would explain that he had to do it. She was prepared for it, as much as it hurt. Her reason to smile would be gone, but she wasn't even mad at him for it. Who would blame him, anyway? It was fun while it lasted...Byleth squeezed her eyes shut, ready to hear his brutal departure.

Instead, she felt herself being pulled forward by the hand. As she opened her eyes, Claude pulled her into a tight hug. Byleth's mouth just hung open from shock. Did he forget where the door was, or did he mistake her for the door? He still wasn't gone, even after Byleth blinked. What?

"No," Claude responded, a determined tone in his smooth voice. Byleth just blinked again, confused and stunned. "You're wrong. I know you're going to make it out of this. We're going to find a cure, dammit! I'm not letting you die like this."

"Y-You're still here?" Byleth just asked, completely ignoring his statement. She couldn't process what he had said because of how much shock she was in. Claude...really hadn't left. Her father had been right...? "Y-You're not going to leave?"

"No, no...I'm never going to leave you," Claude held her tighter in his warm embrace, and Byleth thought her legs might give out underneath her. They felt like goo in his embrace... "Teach...I told you. I've never trusted anyone as much as I've trusted you..."

"All the more reason for you to leave before you get hurt..." Byleth mumbled, mostly out of shock. As selfish and glad as she was to hear him say it, she still...needed to make sure he was completely understanding her. "I don't think you understand. There's no cure. The chance of me dying are..." Byleth's chest felt tight as she said the brutal truth. "Extremely high."

"No. I won't let you go," Claude said fiercely, holding tighter into her. Byleth could feel her heart pounding in her chest. "We're going to find a cure, I don't care what we have to do. I'm not going to let you die. I swear, I will help you!"

"C-Claude," Byleth could feel her throat drying up as something foreign began to form in her eyes. She cleared her throat. "That's not going to work. I...I don't know what to do!" Her voice cracked. "I've been looking for a cure too, but nothing is working."

"We'll find something," His tone had a hint of desperation inside of it. "I'm not letting you die, Teach...I mean it when I say I need you."

"Claude-"

"I'm not going to let you die! I..." He looked defeated, almost. "I need you, Teach. I'll do whatever it takes to find a cure."

"But how can you say that when even the doctors are dumbfounded...?"

A pause, and then Claude replied back in a soft tone;

"...Because I can't afford to have you leave my life, Teach."

Byleth looked up at him before whispering her quiet reply.

"I can't either."

Claude gazed into her eyes intently, and Byleth could feel his warmth radiating off of him. It was such a stark contrast from her usual coldness...She liked it. His words had a fiery passion behind them. His body radiated heat as he held her closer, as if he was afraid she would disappear just now. Not that she was complaining. She could stay in Claude's embrace forever...

"He looks at you the same way I used to look at your mother..."

Could it be...?

Was that what was glimmering inside of his glowing, emerald eyes...?

"Teach...don't cry...Please, don't cry..."

Don't cry?

She was crying?

Byleth reached one of her hands up to feel water coming from her eyes. So that's what that weird feeling had been...Byleth had never cried before. She glanced upward once more, toward his face. His eyes were watery, too, but he was trying to stay strong for her.

It didn't work.

A small tear was running down his cheek. The rest he managed to keep in check, but the sight of him crying was enough to make Byleth sob harder. The reality of her impending death was hitting her harder now...

"Teach...Everything is going to be okay. I promise," Claude whispered, wiping the tears from her face with a gentle stroke from his thumb. "You're going to be okay, we're going to find a cure..."

"B-But what if we don't...?" Byleth had to be real and cynical. As much as she wanted him around, she couldn't have him stay if it would just hurt him in the long run. She needed to know that he was aware of the consequences. Claude grimaced before answering.

"Then I'll stay by your side till the very end," Claude's voice broke at the end of his sentence. He reached his hand out for hers, and Byleth intertwined her fingers with his. "Okay, Teach...?"

"Why would you want...to do that? When you might only get hurt?" Byleth sighed. "Why take the chance?"

"I told you already. I need you," Claude said softly. "You can't live your life in fear...or else you'll never get anything done. If I can reach out and help, maybe I'll be able to save you..."

"I hope...I hope you'll be able to help us," Byleth responded quietly. Her eyes suddenly widened as Claude brought her into another tight hug. After a moment, she melted into his warm embrace. "...Claude..."

"I'm going to save you, Teach," Claude repeated. He looked so determined, even though his eyes were watery. He looked so honest, Byleth wanted to believe him...maybe there was even more hope than before. Why had she even scared about him leaving, he was perfectly fine... But still, now he had to endure the heartache. She wished he didn't have to bear the harsh reality, but...he seemed so honest about saving her, Byleth just leaned in and enjoyed in his company. "I won't stop until I do. I love you."

I love you...

...That was what Byleth wished he'd say. She didn't realize that until now, but...as she scooted closer to his warm embrace, Byleth realized that it was true. She...she did love him. That was why her addiction with him was so high. It was why she wanted to protect him from her illness, it was why she had been selfish about not telling him. She loved him, and she wanted him by her side...

Of course, this was just a fantasy...he was probably taken. He didn't like her, anyway...The cleric at the store had pretty much confirmed that. Regardless, Byleth still needed him around...because she still would always love him. Just having him around was enough...She nodded, burying her face into his chest. He placed his free hand on her head, gently running his fingers through her soft hair.

"I promise I'll save you, Teach."

You already saved me from my life before you came...

Pleasant shudders ran down her spine as Claude rah his fingers through her hair. His touch was so soothing, his tone so comforting...She wanted to believe him so badly.

"T-That's a heavy promise," Byleth managed to choke out warily. "For something impossible..."

"...I'm willing to take on the challenge for you, Teach," Claude replied gently, his fingertips lightly brushing against her head. "...Okay?"

He cares about me...

Even if it wasn't in the way Byleth really wanted him to, she was just happy enough to have him around. She nodded, closing her eyes.

"...Okay."