"Where are we going?"

"Just to Claude's room. You remember Claude, right? We sit by him sometimes in class."

"Oh. He has cool earrings."

You only nodded, laughing a bit at the boy. It had been two weeks since you had taken in August and he'd gotten more and more comfortable with you each day. He finally started talking more and showing his true personality- a sweetheart. August was still rather quiet and only spoke unless spoken to, but you weren't going to push anything. The poor boy did lose his entire family after all, he was probably at least a little traumatized.

You knocked on Claude's door, ready to hand the boy off for a few minutes while you showered. August stayed behind you, looking out of the windows in the hallway. You heard a bit of fumbling before the door opened a crack, Claude sticking only his head out.

"May I help you?"

"What are you hiding?"

"Wow, nosy aren't you?" Claude laughed dryly. "And here I thought you were actually visiting me instead of just bringing me a child for an hour. But if you'd like to know, I also just recently got out of the shower. I've had to alter my schedule to fit yours so you can leave him here. It's bullshit, really." Claude opened the door more to reveal his entire self.

You practically covered your face. He was shirtless, his winter night-pants hanging low on his hips as his hair was still mussed up from the shower. "First, language. Second, put on some damn clothes!"

Claude laughed, turning around to go to his closet. "Bring yourself and the boy in for a minute while I do just that. I can't leave him 'unoccupied', which is what I would be doing if I changed."

You rolled your eyes and motioned for August to enter first. He did, immediately going to Claude's desk and grabbing a bouncy ball that Sylvain had given him for no apparent reason one day. As you watched him bounce it around, you noticed that his shoe was untied and called him over. August sat in front of you, putting his foot up and grabbing the laces. He tied them in the first knot and looked at you expectantly.

You kneeled down in front of him, gently saying, "Make the bunny ears... yep... Wrap them around... and pull. Good job, Auggie. You'll get it down in no time. I'll get you two cookies from the dinner line if you do."

Claude watched the two of you as he pulled on a cotton nightshirt. He watched your eyes light up as August stood up and cheered, hugging you as a thanks before returning to play with the ball. He shook his head, making a mental note of what to do once you left.

You eventually did leave soon after, running your hands through your hair as you prayed that Claude didn't corrupt the poor kid. You had realized your mistake soon after volunteering Claude to be your helper- he could easily turn the kid against you. And you couldn't leave him in anyone else's care, since you had specifically asked for Claude. If Seteth found out, August would definitely be taken from you.

You shouldn't be this stressed about a kid since you were only a teenager yourself, but August reminded you too much of your shy, quiet little brother back home. He was older than August, but you could see the similarities. You were just like his big sister, and Claude was his big brother. You didn't have to be parents. Just good influences. And providers. And teachers.

God, you really were parenting, weren't you?

You shook your head, walking into the girl's showers and stepping into one of the stalls. You let the warm water roll over you, soothing your aching muscles from today's training sessions. You were basically in heaven and you sure as hell didn't want to leave and talk to Claude anytime soon.

"Y/N?" Hilda's voice rang out from the stall beside you.

Thank God, an excuse to stay longer.

"Yeah?"

"I just wanted to say that I think it's cool that you're helping August. He deserves it. I'm just sorry you have to deal with Claude. I know he can be a nuisance to you."

You groaned. "Nuisance is too nice of a word. He's done nothing but go against what I ask. He won't even stop cursing when August is around. That's all I ask of him anymore and he won't do it. I dropped off the kid at his dorm earlier and he was half naked. Walking around with his dick almost out like Sylvain. Not something me nor Auggie wanted to see."

"Hmm," Hilda thought for a moment. She didn't answer for a while. You listened to try and hear what she was up to with no avail. The water beside you turned off and she continued to hum a bit as she opened up her curtain. Suddenly, your shower curtain was yanked open, revealing the pink-haired girl as she nonchalantly stepped into the shower will you.

"Hilda, what the fuck!" You practically screeched, trying to cover up.

"I'm trying to have a serious, girl's talk, heart to heart with you but I can't do that if you don't shut the fuck up." She rolled her eyes, grabbing the soap and beginning to wash her legs. "Now let me talk. You'll want to hear this."

You shook your head in disbelief. "Okay, what?"

"Claude can be a bother sometimes but he's never been that big of an ass to anyone but you. Did you do something to piss him off?"

"What? Not that I know of..."

Hilda hummed again, turning to look at you dead in the eyes. Honestly, you were still unnerved at the girl walking into your shower like she owned the damn place, but her staring at you was about to be the last straw. She snapped her fingers. You had no clue what kind of revelation she could have come to, but nothing was apparently impossible.

"I think he likes your reactions."

"Elaborate."

"He always says shit to upset you- hence the daddy shit and him cursing while August is around. He's constantly making remarks to make you angry or flustered with no real reason behind it. Think about it, Y/N. Maybe he likes you?" She looked up at the shower head in thought.

"You had me in the first half, Hilda. Maybe he is just trying to rile me up, but that doesn't equate to him having feelings for me." You sighed, turning the water off. "Let's go before someone thinks somethin's up with us two in here."

Hilda shrugged. "Doesn't bother me. You just don't want it getting back to your child's father that you were showering with another woman. He'd be awfully jealous."

"He's NOT interested, Hilda." You laughed. The two of you stepped out of the showers with towels wrapped around you, not noticing Dorothea. She looked at you two in a bit of horror before shaking her head and taking a shower of her own.

"If he isn't, then he will be soon." She teased, getting dressed and saying goodbye.

You shook your head and got dressed yourself, taking your time. There was no way Claude would ever like you- you'd practically forced him to take care of a child that he didn't want. It was a little disappointing, but you understood- wait. Disappointing? You hated the dude just as much as he hated you, right? He was an annoying asshole and he thought the same about you. There was nothing more about it. You were going to get August from him, argue for a few minutes, and then leave. Yeah. Perfect.

You wouldn't look into his eyes. Those gorgeous, green eyes. And you wouldn't listen to his incredibly soothing voice as he spewed insults towards you. You sure as hell wouldn't stare at his lips either while he was talking, calling you a bitch while you longed to know what they felt like.

Nope. You wouldn't do that.

Your knuckles rapped against Claude's door as you crossed your arms, waiting for him to open it.

"Yes?" Claude opened the door, smirking.

"Can I have the kid back?"

"Not yet. He's working on something." Claude covered your view of the inside of his door.

"What? Are you making him do your homework?" You pushed him aside, maneuvering under his arm and going inside the room. August sat there with one shoe on, the other out in front of him. "Oh, so you're just not helping him."

Claude rolled his eyes at your remark and crouched beside August. "Alright bud, show her what you can do."

You watched confusedly as August put the shoe on his feet, cautiously grabbing the two laces. He concentrated and wrapped the two ends into a knot, looking at Claude for reassurance. Claude only nodded. August looked back down and fumbled a little more with the strings, eventually mumbling, "Make the bunny ears...wrap him around... and pull". 

Claude stood up, a triumphant smirk on his face. "See? I did help him. More than you have."

You reeled back. You were going to thank him, but not anymore. "More than I have? August and I have been working nonstop on his shoes and reading. He can spell his name perfectly now because of me. If you wanna help him more than me, spend time with him other than when you just have to. Be a good role model for him, not an ass- a butthole towards us. Goodnight."

Claude leaned against the doorframe as you led August out of his room. "Goodnight, princess. Goodnight, Auggie."

August turned around and waved. "Goodnight, daddy!"

"CLAUDE VON RIEGAN, YOU DID NOT."