Chapter Text
Ferdinand shot a displeased frown in Hubert’s direction. After a moment of contemplation, he elbowed the man. This enforcement of personal boundaries- a perfectly reasonable action, in Ferdinand’s opinion- was met with a raised eyebrow and an incredulous chuff.
Ferdinand’s frown turned into a full blown scowl. There wasn’t any need for them to be standing on top of one another, and Ferdinand had reached the professor’s desk first. It would be expected for a nobleman to have a better sense of propriety, but it seemed Hubert held not one thought of decent conduct.
He spared one last look of disdain for Edelgard’s favorite lapdog. Then, Ferdinand schooled his face into a practiced smile, and turned to face the person who he really wanted to talk to.
Professor Ayleth stared unblinkingly back at him. The image of a goldfish intruded in Ferdinand’s mind, and he nearly let out a peal of shrill laughter at the comparison.
Unnerving was probably the word Ferdinand would use to describe the woman. He could only hope unreasonable was not also an accurate descriptor.
“Professor, surely you must be mistaken with these assignments. Hubert and I, on stable duty? And again next week, sorting books in the library?” Ferdinand shook his head. Despite his best efforts, he felt his smile beginning to strain. “That cannot be correct.”
The professor blinked. Ferdinand felt his lip twitch, and his gaze darted to Hubert involuntarily. His expression was insolent and murderous, utterly inappropriate to address the esteemed professor. Ferdinand settled his eyes back on the professor with his confidence renewed. Surely, she had to see what sort of distasteful situation she was sending him into.
Ferdinand opened his mouth to speak again. Perhaps she didn’t understand the depths of the heir Vestra’s depravity, and an explanation would help- but he cut him off with a tone thrumming with hostility.
“As much as I’m loath to agree with the resident fool of the Black Eagle house, I do find it quite… odd .” Hubert spat the last word so bitterly it sounded like a curse.
Fury surged in Ferdinand’s gut like a lick of fire. He rounded on Vestra, hands flying to his hips. His voice cut the air in a sound as sharp as any blade, echoing uncomfortably loud in the classroom. “Resident fool- ? Oh, honestly . At least no one has ever worried about the possibility of me poisoning them in their sleep.”
Hubert smiled. It made him look like a grinning skull. “Indeed, no one worries about you at all, given the bumbling idiocy you-“
“Enough.” It was Edelgard that spoke. Ferdinand startled at the sound of her voice- when had she come up behind them? Had she not left with the rest of the class?
The professor had since lost interest and gone back to grading papers, paying no attention as the pair turned to their future liege.
Edelgard rubbed her temples. “You two- I’m the one who asked the professor to do this.”
A moment passed with nothing more than the scratch of Professor Ayleth’s quill furiously doling out judgment on the latest term paper.
Ferdinand wondered if Hubert’s scent soured the air. He controlled his expression fairly well, sardonic smirk only interrupted by the slightest twitch of his eyebrow. “Lady Edelgard, perhaps I am -“
Edelgard interrupted him. From anyone else, it would have been hideously rude. Since it was Edelgard, it was pure social grace.
“You two need to learn to get along. The way you two fight is like watching children bicker.” The future emperor held her chin high as Ferdinand flushed a deep scarlet and Hubert’s jaw popped open in a small oh . “Until the two of you develop a mutual respect for each other, plan on spending your Friday evenings doing the Black Eagles’ chores. Together .”
Edelgard turned on her heel and walked away before either of the noblemen could formulate a response.
Ferdinand stared at Edelgard’s retreating form, huffing to himself. Hubert exhaled in a slow hiss. By chance, they looked at each other at the same time, sharing a mutual look of dislike.
“Could you two leave?” A monotone voice cut through the tense atmosphere. Ferdinand’s eyes darted to Professor Ayleth. Her face was blank. “My brother is coming.”
Ferdinand glanced at Hubert one more time, one visible eye returning his gaze with obvious spite in its depths. He ground his teeth and smiled, offering a small bow. “Of course, professor. I will take my leave.”
Ferdinand turned on his heel, one thought seeming to bounce in his skull.
This is going to be dreadful.
It was the culmination of years of etiquette training that kept Ferdinand from stomping away.
He truly could not begin to fathom what Edelgard was getting at. He and Hubert got along fine. It was true that they despised each other, but how could they not? Hubert was devious, working in shadows and enacting despicable machinations to achieve his nefarious ends. Ferdinand prided himself on being quite the opposite.
Besides- ever since Vestra had presented as an alpha, he’d been extra insufferable. One of his favorite insults for Ferdinand lately was to imply how juvenile Ferdinand was, being unpresented and scentless.
Ferdinand sighed.
This was going to be dreadful.
That Friday found Ferdinand and Hubert in the stables, regarding each other with unhappy stares. Ferdinand was still not clear why Edelgard had insisted upon this- it wasn’t as if their rivalry had caused any sort of issue.
Well, except for that one time when Hubert goaded him into taking a dangerous position in battle, resulting in Professor Ayleth having to rescue them both.
And yes, there was another time when they had been assigned to cooking duty together, and their arguing had led them to burn the evening meal.
And while it was true they also had traumatized a poor trainee archer on the training grounds by-
…
Ah.
Maybe Edelgard was not entirely incorrect after all, loathsome as it was to admit.
Ferdinand huffed- at least, he could make his displeasure known. “Let us get on with it.”
Hubert made a noncommittal noise and moved to retrieve the grooming tools. Ferdinand felt his smile grow tight. Ah, so the lovely task of mucking would fall on his shoulders.
How kind of Hubert.
Well, it wasn’t in Ferdinand’s nature to complain about the prospect of hard work. With a quiet sigh, he grabbed the rusting pitchfork from its position hanging on the wall and set to it. It was menial and disgusting- quite demeaning actually - but Ferdinand performed as admirably as anyone could.
Hubert encountered more trouble with his task.
“Calm, you beast.” Ferdinand heard Hubert hissing at Sunny, a sweet mare who seemed to have little patience for the imperial retainer, if her snorting and stomping was anything to go by.
“Of all the-” Another hiss sounded, and a louder snort answered. “Dumb, foolish creature.”
Ferdinand ground his teeth. Sunny was a lovely, intelligent horse, and that boorish-
“You think I want to be here, you dumb beast?”
Ferdinand exhaled through his teeth, unable to bear it any longer. He turned to glare at Hubert, who was trying and failing to maneuver the stubborn chestnut into a better position.
“Oh for the sake of the- gentle, gentle !” Ferdinand let the pitchfork fall to the ground with a clatter as he rushed to Sunny’s side, slapping Hubert’s gloved hand away. “Sunny is sensitive, you know- here, let me show you.”
“The horse needs to be groomed.” Hubert replied tersely, not yielding the brush. “It will be done, whether the creature is sensitive or not.”
“Oh, for Sothis’ sake.” Ferdinand shook his head, snatching . “At least brush with her coat, not against it!”
“There are knots in her mane.” Hubert replied tightly.
“Be gentle, then! She’s a sweet girl, she doesn’t like alphas to begin with and she can’t stand your- well, you know.”
Hubert laughed, the sound devoid of amusement. “Just go back to mucking the stables, Aegir. You seem to be well suited to the task.”
Ferdinand recoiled as if slapped, cheeks blotchy with anger. He gave Sunny a conflicted glance before returning to his own task.
Hubert made sure the pompous heir was distracted before following his advice.
Not even the report they presented to Ayleth went smoothly, with Hubert quickly commenting how much more effective he would have been with someone competent - like Edelgard.
“Oh please, at least I do not kiss the ground she walks on.” Ferdinand sniffed. “Do you have any critical thinking skills at all, I wonder? Have you ever made a decision for yourself?”
Hubert pressed his lips into a thin line. Ayleth watched them both, expression as blank as ever.
“Everything I do is in service to Edelgard’s vision for Fodlan. That is my decision.”
Ferdinand rolled his eyes. “As you say.”
As he’d thought, there was no hope for him and Hubert to be anything more than barely polite acquaintances - even managing cordiality would be a herculean task. Ferdinand sighed.
It was going to be a long semester.