Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem Three Houses, all rights to the owners.

So, I mentioned before that I might make a story about Mercedes as a succubus instead of Marianne, so… uh… here it is? I'm writing this A/N before I try writing the story, and I'm expecting for it to be difficult to strike the right tone. We'll see in the endnote if that was the case. Then again I'm not quite sure what the tone for this story is going to be. Is it going to be like OEUI? Maybe a bit more intimate due to dealing with a succubus as the main topic? I dunno.

Hmm… which character is going to be the POV…? Byleth maybe? No, that'll result in an entirely different story than what I'm going for. Ashe then? Use the smallish precious boy? Yeah, sure, I'm used to writing that sort of character.

Be warned, for this chapter contains... physical contact! I know, terrifying.

At first Ashe thought it was a deception that no one noticed. Students would walk up to a girl in his class, a soft-faced peach-haired girl called Mercedes who was just about the nicest person Ashe had ever seen, and mention something about having an "appointment", and Mercedes and that person would disappear for a bit. Sometimes half an hour, sometimes four. When Ashe sees that person again they'll be stumbling and barely coherent, and Mercedes will be smiling happily and humming to herself.

So Ashe assumed the logical thing: that Mercedes was secretly evil, and using her womanly charms and magic to manipulate the men… and women…? Of the student body for her own nefarious ends! Maybe she was a witch, or a demon! A demon with the face of an angel, but the soul of a politician! Evil to her core!

The only thing Ashe couldn't figure out was her plan, and exactly what she was doing to the people she had "appointments" with. His books of knights and chivalry tell him of evil witches that siphon the youth away from others… but Mercedes already has the face and body of a goddess, and why would she need to do it so frequently? That doesn't quite seem right.

So Ashe finds a different idea, one that makes much more sense for her actions: she's mind controlling everyone! She encourages people to make "appointments" with her by bribing them with… something… (maybe sweets? Supposedly she makes great sweets) and when they're alone she casts her wicked spell!

That has to be it. Right? Sure, he doesn't know why she'd be controlling everyone, and maybe old knightly tales aren't the most reflective of real life, and Mercedes has never shown any other signs of being mean or dangerous, but she's still so suspicious! Besides her evil appointments she's also too friendly. She's too… touchy. She's always putting a hand on someone's shoulder, or their arm, or leaning against them, and stuff like that.

(Sometimes Ashe worries that she's getting attention from the wrong people. He's seen Sylvain very obviously eyeing her and trying to get her attention, as well as some other people...)

Ashe is very suspicious… but he's also very busy. Extremely busy. The Officer's Academy is difficult. He's surprised a commoner like him is even keeping up as is. The magic classes are particularly difficult. He can't keep an eye on Mercedes all the time.

(Besides, Sylvain and some of the other Lions have noticed his constant staring, and are starting to poke fun at him. Ashe does not like Mercedes… well okay, she is nice to him, and beyond being suspicious he doesn't have any proof that she's actually evil yet, and she is attractive… but he's just watching her out of knightly suspicion!)

Ashe is struggling to keep up with his work because his magic theory classes are so difficult. Unfortunately as a first year student he is required to take a little bit of everything so he can't simply drop his magic theory classes. He struggles long nights trying to memorize spell circles and formulas. So late in fact that he starts to be tired even in the morning, and it affects his ability to function and begins a vicious cycle of staying up even later to compensate for what he's missing by being so tired only for that to affect his attention even more the next day and it's just terrible.

And then the worst thing possible happens… Mercedes notices…

"Ashe!" The older girl greets politely, holding a tray of food. "Do you mind if I sit here?"

"Uh, no…" Ashe shifts to the side to allow her to sit next to him. It strikes him as odd, after all the other side of the table is totally empty, and there are other tables with people she's closer to she could be sitting at.

Still, she puts down her tray of food next to his, sitting much closer than he expected. Ashe considers moving further away, but it would be obvious he's trying to keep his distance if he does that, so instead he stays in place.

They eat their food in relative silence for a few minutes. Ashe continues to shoot glances at the girl next to him, wondering why she wanted to sit here in the first place.

Eventually, after most of their food is done, Mercedes speaks. "I've noticed that you seem a bit tired lately." She hums, and turns to look at him. "Are you staying up late Ashe?"

Ashe's shoulders hunch sheepishly. "A little bit."

"You know that's not healthy for you." She scolds lightly. "You need to go to sleep at a proper time."

Ashe sighs. "I can't…"

"Oh?"

"I have to keep up with my classes, and that means staying up late." Ashe mumbles. He sits up straight and tenses when Mercedes puts a hand on his back.

"Do you need help?" She asks in concern. "Which classes are troubling you? Are you stressed?"

Ashe isn't sure he should be confiding in her, but… "The magic classes are hard."

"And are you stressed?" Mercedes repeats.

"A little…" And by that he means a lot.

"I can help." Mercedes offers kindly. "Both with the classes and with your stress. I don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but I am rather skilled with magic. I can tutor you."

That sounds almost too good to be true, but Ashe really isn't in a position to decline. "That would be great. Thanks."

"And for your stress I can use my natural abilities to help." She offers.

Ashe blinks. "Uh…"

"Oh, did you not know?" She sounds surprised. "I thought you would have heard about it from someone! Oh dear, I did not mean to seem like I was coming on to you!" She brings a hand up to her chest where a necklace sits. "I'm not human. I'm what's known as a succubus."

Ashe blinks rapidly, surprised. "Like… the…"

"The sex demon, yes." Mercedes nods, not at all embarrassed. She's probably had to explain this before. "I have potent charm powers. The only reason you're not charmed right now is this necklace which holds back my powers. My charm powers can be very soothing though. In exchange for feeding on you, I can help you with your stress."

"Feeding?" Ashe squeaks. D-Does that mean…?

"Well there are several ways a succubus can feed." Mercedes smiles. "They way I do it is rather inoffensive. A hug. Now, that hug needs to last for… hmm… maybe a few hours? I haven't had many appointments lately, so I'm a bit peckish."

"H-Hours?" Ashe squeaks. She'd be holding on to him for hours?

"Yes." Mercedes smiles, like that isn't unusual and embarrassing. Then again, that must be normal for her. "Don't worry! You'll still get all your work done. I'm a very good tutor!"

Ashe smiles nervous. "Ah-uh- thanks?"

Oh goddess his heart is racing. What has he just agreed to?

###

"This is a terrible idea." That's what Ashe thinks as he stops in front of Mercedes' room. Yet he still raises his hand and knocks on her door.

The door opens only a few seconds later. Mercedes must have been waiting for him. She smiles gently and opens the door wider to let him in.

Ashe wasn't expecting to see a platter of sweets on a table in the middle of the room. Mercedes sits him down at the table and pushes the plate towards him. "Have some, then we'll get to the tutoring."

"Oh." Ashe was expecting the other thing. Mercedes seems to know this, because she giggles with a knowing look.

"You can't very well study if you're charmed up to your ears, can you?" She teases. "You brought your books, didn't you?"

"Uh, yes!" He squeaks. He scrambles around in his bag to pull out the books. Mercedes has an even wider smile on her face when he glances at her face again, making him fairly sure she knows he's embarrassed and finds it amusing.

"Well then, show me what you've gotten so far." She instructs.

(She also pushes more cookies at him after noticing he's finished the one he was eating before, and he sheepishly accepts)

Mercedes' tutoring is dozens of times more efficient than trying to figure out magical theory on his own. What would have taken him several hours instead takes one and a half. Ashe really wishes he had asked for help before now.

"Well, this is wonderful!" Mercedes smiles and claps her hands. "All done!"

"Yeah." Ashe nods in relief. He feels like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. "Thanks Mercedes. I wish all my work could be this easy."

"I'd be more than happy to help you with your magic courses in the future!" Mercedes says cheerfully.

"Really?" Ashe says in relief. "Thanks. I really do appreciate it."

"Of course!" She smiles. "But not for free."

Ashe tenses. "What do you want?"

"Well… as much as I make appointments, there are times when I'm too busy to have time to be able to feed on so many people." Mercedes explains. "And Annie helps me when that happens, but I can't feed on her all the time considering how often I need to feed, and I don't want to ask random students because… well… I'm not unaware that some of them might take that the wrong way."

"Why me though?"

"I feeI can trust you." Mercedes says with a smile. "Am I wrong?"

"I- uh- no! You can trust me." Ashe nods rapidly.

Her face brightens even more, and Ashe's heart skips a beat. "Oh thank you Ashe! Speaking of feeding, we should get on to that shouldn't we? Are you hungry first? It will take a while, you may be peckish if you haven't eaten enough!"

"I'm fine." Ashe says. The butterflies in his stomach are growing, and his pulse is starting to pound.

"Well, if you're sure…" Mercedes murmurs. She stands up and motions for him to do the same. She then sits down on her bed and pats her lap. "Alright, sit down and we'll start."

Ashe didn't realize he'd be sitting in her lap. Still, he agreed to this, and Mercedes has been nothing but kind. He takes a breath, turns around, and sits in her lap.

"Are you sure you want to sit like this?" Mercedes giggles behind him. "Most people prefer to face me."

Ashe blushes and looks away. "I didn't think I should."

"You can." She says sweetly. "If you want to."

Ashe does indeed turn around. It's so much more embarrassing to sit down in her lap while facing her than while facing away though. They're almost nose to nose… or more accurately nose to bust. Ashe hates how short he is sometimes.

"Alright, just let me…" Mercedes murmurs and removes her shawl, leaving her arms bare. "Feeding works through physical contact, skin to skin. So I'm going to put my arms up your sleeves, alright?"

"Okay." Ashe says hoarsely.

"Alright then." The older girl murmurs. She grabs her necklace and slowly removes it. "Just relax, I'll take care of you."

Ashe isn't sure if it's her words or the sudden flush of charm magic from her removing her necklace that sends a shiver down his spine. Either way, when her hands touch his arms, he can feel the weakness shoot through his body. He couldn't stop himself from falling against her if he tried.

He can feel heat on his cheeks as Mercedes hums and properly threads her arms into his sleeves and her hands onto his back. Her skin is warm on his, and it seems to sap his energy wherever she touches. Ashe tries not to shudder at the feeling.

"There we go. Comfortable?" Mercedes coos. She snuggles into him, readjusting how they are sitting and pulling him more tightly against her body. Ashe is trying not to think about how his face is being pressed into her breasts right now. That would be impolite of him to think.

Then Mercedes settles down, apparently content with her seat, and Ashe all of a sudden realizes the full extent of his situation. He's going to be stuck like this for hours. His body already feels warm and heavy and just… pleasant. His mind isn't working correctly either. It's actually a bit difficult to think at the moment because he feels wonderfully content and lazy.

Perhaps worse still (or better, depending on how he wants to see it) Mercedes is not motionless. Her hands caress his back, and she occasionally hums a song under her breath that vibrates to his head though her chest.

Ashe tries to readjust himself, but finds his body isn't responding. The only thing he can do is blink his eyes and occasionally twitch his fingers. Mercedes never mentioned paralysis. Or is that just normal for charm magic?

Time creeps by slowly for Ashe, really allowing him to experience what it's like to be in Mercedes' grasp. It's comfortable, almost scarily so. Ashe feels like he could fall asleep like this, using the older girl as a pillow, but he doesn't feel like he should.

Ashe has to remind himself that he's dealing with a succubus, and that he shouldn't get too comfortable. Not only is it impolite, it's dangerous.

"You're still fidgeting so much." Mercedes notes quietly. "You're fine Ashe, you can relax. Sleep if you want to. Others have. You don't have to be nervous, I'll take care of you."

Ashe swallows thickly, but nods. Or, more accurately, he tries to nod but can't. Still, he makes an effort to relax. Mercedes has not hurt anyone else, and she's even had appointments with people like Sylvain, so anything he does or thinks or says under the influence of charm magic shouldn't be offensive to Mercedes.

So Ashe takes a deep breath, and just allows himself to enjoy his position. He allows himself to lose focus and submit to Mercedes' embrace and the massage she seems to be giving his back. He stops paying so much attention to the time, and doesn't fight against the charm magic seeping into his body and brain.

###

"I think that should be enough." Mercedes murmurs. Ashe is so charmed that he doesn't really process what she says, not that Mercedes really expects him to. Even though she's putting on her necklace it will still take ten minutes for the paralysis to wear off, and an hour for the charm to fully wear out.

As expected, Ashe is in no position to react when she removes her hands from around his back. She can't very well just leave him paralyzed on the spot though, even if she is done feeding. She moves him so that his head is lying in her lap, puts her shawl back on, and patiently waits for the paralysis to wear off.

Ashe was… not quite as tasty as she expected, though in hindsight that's probably because of how late he was staying up all the time, impacting his health, and the taste of an individual directly relates to their health. At the very least it was nice to see him finally relax rather than be so clearly tired with bags under his occasionally bloodshot eyes.

Besides, Mercedes has tasted much worse than Ashe in the past, and she hopes with their deal his taste will improve. Not that she made the deal just to feed on him, of course not! She genuinely wants to help. She simply doubts he would have accepted free help, so she made it a deal instead.

The ten minute go by and Ashe starts to twitch. He's still drugged to high heaven on charm magic, so he's nowhere near in his right mind, but she probably won't have to monitor him now.

Ashe loopily tries to get up, and nearly falls face-first into the table.

Okay, maybe she will have to watch him… or she could just put him to sleep until tomorrow. Yes, that sounds like a good idea.

###

Ashe wakes up the next morning feeling very relaxed. In fact, he feels better than he has in several weeks. It's been too long since he got a good night's sleep.

…

Oh, right. That's why he got a good night's sleep. How on earth is he going to face Mercedes today? He spent half of yesterday basically being babied by her. There's no way he's going to be able to face her without a stammer or a blush.

Then again, she's probably used to this sort of reaction, and he's just overthinking it. Now that he considers it, that must be kind of a pain to have to deal with people being awkward around you just because you have to do something completely normal to your species.

He also feels embarrassed that he ever thought she was evil. Maybe he should take his knightly tales a bit less seriously.

This was a weird one-shot. It's very different in tone than Marianne's chapter in OEUI, though I think it touches on the same ideas of "charm magic is kinda scary", "being food for someone is a bit disturbing", and "it's even more unnerving if it feels really pleasant while you're being eaten". Also the whole paralysis thing, as well as intimacy which people are generally uncomfortable with. The tone ended up being a bit more… steamy(?) than expected? Maybe that's the wrong term, but I hope I captured the painfully awkward intimacy that is the norm for someone not used to being food.

Also, Mercedes doesn't have Marianne's crippling self-worth issues, so she's mostly fine with feeding on people. Also, this is the main reason I chose to make Marianne the succubus in OEUI rather than Mercedes. Way more interesting for Marianne than Mercedes, but I think Mercedes being a succubus is still fun in its own way because you can write her as being perfectly calm about strange things without it seeming out of character.