sorry I hadn't realized that 36 didn't get posted so I give you 37 the same day i released it on archive. Twitter is Lunafox90 i do post the links for there since this site really doesn't like linking them
-37-
When Dimitri's party reached Faergus's territory, there was a part of him relieved at seeing the familiar scenery. He could see what Rodrigue had meant about the rebuilds going well. They could not do anything about the trampled land, but at least the ones that owned it didn't need to worry about getting attacked any longer. Guren stayed close when they started to reach more villages and towns. The people had come out to wave and bow as they passed. Dimitri tried to keep in mind which ones would need more immediate aid and supplies.
The moment he crossed into Fhirdiad, the roar that surrounded him brought him back to the day on the balcony again. The citizens kept the road clear, but like at the cathedral before his coronation, they crowded the sides just to get a glimpse of him. Everywhere he looked, there were smiles and bows. The roar of the crowd was overwhelming. Dimitri had waved, nodded, and kept his head held high.
When they crossed the castle gates, he deflated. The stress of having to keep himself impeccable before the people crashing down on him. Rodrigue clapped him on the back and told him to relax, but Dimitri couldn't shake the feeling. He had wanted to start on things immediately. With his mounting headache and fatigue from the long ride, he asked if they could take a moment to rest before things began.
Dimitri stopped by his old room first to gather his things from his hiding place. He had decided on what to do with the charm. Patricia had been Edelgard's mother too, and he doubted that El had anything of hers. He planned on giving it to Edelgard the next time he saw her. He cradled the heirloom he had given to Byleth in his hand. He still remembered how beautiful she had looked in it. The money he would save for personal matters. That way he wasn't using kingdom funds for it.
Rodrigue had come into the room since this would be his when he was staying here at the castle. When Rodrigue caught sight of the metal roses he smiled. He recognized it well. It had been a wedding present for Lambert's first wife. No one knew what happened to the jewelry piece, so it was good to see that Dimitri still had it. Rodrigue didn't question him as Dimitri left to head to the royal suite. Rodrigue knew that this would probably be the first time entering his father's old room with the intent of making it his own. Dimitri would have enough to deal with in his mind without him butting in.
Guren lifted his head off of the pillow he was resting on as Dimitri approached. It had been a long journey for him too. Dedue had already given him some water and food when they arrived. Guren had taken notice of Dimitri's demeanor when they reached the castle, and he could see precisely what Byleth had been worried about. For all his strength on the battlefield, Dimitri left himself vulnerable to his mind. Dimitri stared at the door a moment before Guren got up and brushed his leg.
Dimitri was broken from his dark thoughts when he felt the wolf at his side. He reached a tentative hand out to the door handle. This room had belonged to a lot of people in the past. It was hard to imagine that he had the right to claim it as his own. He swallowed before he opened it, not sure what he would find inside. Cornelia had stolen this room during the time she was here. Then Rodrigue had taken it for himself while he was acting as Dimitri's regent. Before that had been Rufus, and then his own father.
The room had been stripped bare of all but the necessities. Dimitri relaxed a little. He was never one for opulence, even with his background as royalty. Either Rodrigue had done it because he was uncomfortable around it, or they had done this for him so he could choose his own objects. He recognized the furniture as the same ones that had been here for years. Even the large four-poster bed was familiar. It had been several years since Dimitri had stepped in here. He and his uncle had never gotten along well.
Dimitri put the items that were in his hand on the desk. He grabbed the painting from on top of his bags that Dedue must have brought in for him. Guren jumped on top of the bed. Dimitri set the canvas against the desk he'll be working at for most of his future. The room that he and Byleth had shared paperwork in will still be used, but this would be where he would draft anything of a personal nature.
"Something is wrong with you still. Why the heavy heart?" Guren asked.
"I still don't feel like I deserve this. If it hadn't been for what Byleth did, all of the sacrifices made, I would still be lost in the darkness. I am still the same person that I was then, I've just.. I've learned the lessons that I needed to," Dimitri said.
Guren looked up at him. "Ashen mentioned something about moving through time. They talk about the five years she was gone."
Dimitri sat down beside him. "No, her body took five years to recover from her fall. When I found her… she was dead. When she woke up, I was caught in doing what I could to fulfill the debt I felt I owed the dead. Any imperial soldier that served Edelgard I cut down without hesitation. I wouldn't let any of her soldiers step foot further into the kingdom territory. They called me the one-eyed demon. No matter how many corpses I piled the dead only asked for more."
"Is that why you have so many nightmares?" Guren asked.
"Part of them come from that, but the other…" Dimitri took a breath.
Guren put his paw on Dimitri's hand. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I heard about the Duscur incident when I was still bound to Darren. Whatever the reasons, you know that Ashen and I won't let you be alone when you wake. Leave the nightmares in the dream realm where they belong."
Dimitri nodded. "Thank you… I hope you don't mind me touching you like this. It's still odd knowing you are as aware as you are."
"I don't mind it at all. Feels nice. I miss having hands, but I wouldn't go back to it if I could. You can thank Rodrigue for the desensitization. Please, for his birthday, get him a dog or something. The man is touch starved worse than you."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Dimitri asked.
Guren huffed. "Take it how you want to. You at least have Byleth now, but even his own son doesn't want anything to do with him. He would often talk to me when he wasn't working. Do everyone a favor, when you can, this whole death before dishonor mentality needs to go. You can be a nice and good person without the fear of disappointing someone all the time. The stress eats at everyone."
Dimitri nodded. "I'll do the best I can to change things for the better."
He laid down a moment and let his own stress start to fade away. He somewhat understood what Guren meant. Gilbert had abandoned his family because of it. Felix had lost a brother and blamed his father for the mentality Rodrigue held. Even Ingrid was a victim to the ideal of knighthood that was preached so fervently. How many times had he held himself to standards that were so high that they were unrealistic, and yet he would punish himself for failing to rise to them? They would need to find a balance, and he would agree that the crest system was part of the taint on the people.
Guren had laid down next to him, and while he did miss being able to talk to and ask Byleth about his questions, he was at least grateful for having someone at his side for an anchor. The wolf would be a welcome comfort for these next few months, and he hoped that Byleth would be able to find something similar in having Sothis around.
Dimitri didn't realize he had fallen asleep after he laid down to clear his head. It was odd for him after not being able to sleep. What shouldn't have surprised him was Guren sleeping beside him. Dimitri ran his hand through Guren's fur. It was soothing in a way. Dimitri stood and looked out at the grounds through his window. He hadn't slept long based on where the sun's position was. When he went downstairs, he found Ingrid, Sylvain, Dedue, Ashe, and Hapi in the dining room with Rodrigue and Gilbert.
"I'm sorry. I hope I didn't keep you waiting long," Dimitri said.
Ingrid shook her head. "We weren't expecting you for a while, so no apologies necessary."
Dedue fixed him a plate of what the rest were eating and gave it to him. Dimitri thanked him and sat down.
"I don't know what came over me honestly," Dimitri said.
"With how sleep normally evades you, I think you could spare a few moments for it," Rodrigue said.
"It was a long journey too," Ashe said.
Dimitri nodded. Perhaps his mind was just overwhelmed. He had been sleeping at a more constant rate when Byleth was beside him. He was worried about relapsing in the next few months, but he knew it was more than just her that had been responsible for that change. He had started to take responsibility for his own mindset.
He heard Guren's claws clicking on the floor before he felt him brush against him. As he pet Guren's fur and felt his mind calm so he could focus on the tasks at hand. He knew he'd be able to do what had to be done without losing himself to the work. The first thing on the list was knight Ingrid and put Rodrigue and Gilbert as part of his council.
Then they needed to find a place for the establishment that Dedue and Ashe had created an interest in. Once the tavern was in working order, they could use it to provide a place to eat and rest for those that were helping with renovations or had lost their homes.
It was as Byleth had said, the more work they could do separately, the easier it would be when they were finally able to get together for it. He would do his best with what he could.
"I'm glad that Constance was able to get rid of those side effects. No one knows you here, so maybe you can finally get rid of that stigma you had at the monastery." Ingrid said.
Dimitri looked up to see Ingrid talking to Hapi. They hadn't told him that her monster problem had been solved.
Hapi swallowed her food. "Yeah, Coco found out lots of stuff from all of those books the creeps used. I'm happy about it too. Ashe, are you sure you don't want to do the knight thing anymore? I hope it's not because of what I said."
Ashe shook his head. "No, I'm sure. To be a knight means you have to fight. If something happens, he can always count on me, but my desire to be a knight originally came from wanting to help people. The plan we have will be able to do that, and I still get to do something I love with friends I care for."
Dedue nodded. "I will do what I can to help in between my duties here."
Dimitri pat Guren. "Your people are cleared of their crime, and the dream we all worked so hard to achieve is within reach. I would hope, Dedue, that you start to live for yourself. You have been a wonderful friend throughout all these years. If you wish to join them, then I encourage it."
Dedue gave him a nod. "I thank you for the sentiment."
Dimitri shook his head. In Dedue terms, that meant he'll think about it. Dimitri began to eat. He didn't want anyone chained to him, especially with what happened at the Goddess Tower. How many individuals lusted over having immortality? He had never asked for it, and yet he had it. Everyone in this room… he needed to get off that train of thought. Live for now. Let the future bring what it may.
Ingrid's knighting ceremony was small. Ashe stood on the sidelines with a broad grin on his face. He had been excited to be invited, to see the history happen for himself. Sylvain and Rodrigue had also attended as witnesses as she took her oaths. Ashe had tilted his head at Dimitri's wording. He had made an out clause for her if she wanted it later.
Ashe was still happy about his decision. He had dreamed of being a knight, but most of those dreams were based on fairytales that had glorified the deeds and left out the reality. After going through the war and surviving, he didn't want to have to pick up his bow anytime soon. He was happy for Ingrid though, and he hoped that it would be everything that she imagined it to be.
Dedue and Ashe had already been out to scout for a place that would benefit their plans. They found what they were looking for not too far from the castle itself. If Dedue stayed as Dimitri's vassal, then he wouldn't need to go that far for a good meal. He was excited to get started. As soon as Ingrid was fitted for her armor, she and Sylvain would head to Sreng. Hapi was going to help him set up whatever he needed for the tavern to work.
Dimitri had surprised him as well, but after what he had seen at the monastery, he shouldn't be so shocked at how well he had taken to helping rebuild Fhirdiad. When he assigned Rodrigue and Gilbert to his council, the two of them had worked with more of the paperwork as Dimitri stayed out in the city itself to lend a hand with renovations. A few rouges had tried to attack him since he didn't have armor one day. They had a nasty shock when his wolf had acted as his shield before Dimitri wrangled them up.
The wolf had been a constant companion at Dimitri's side, and he would often be seen just placing a hand through the thick fur at its neck. During meals, it would be sitting calmly at his feet. It would keep an eye out when Dimitri was in the city. Ashe noticed sometimes it seemed like they were conversing with each other. If Ashe hadn't met the wolf when he was still trapped inside of Darren he would have been a bit more skeptical of the wolf's intelligence.
The two seemed inseparable, and Ashe was happy for it. He had been afraid of what being away from Byleth would do to him. Whenever someone brought her up Ashe could see a sad longing in his expression. Dimitri would just say that it's only for a little while and find something else to talk about.
The people adored their king, and Ashe knew the sentiment. Everyone tried to give him gifts or try to win his attention, but Dimitri had ignored all that and just continued doing what he thought was best. It didn't matter what status you were, he would be polite and listen for a little while unless his tasks took him away. It reminded Ashe of the academy days, but on a larger scale.
The tavern had been easy to fix up and until they turned it into a business. Dimitri was covering for the funding and ingredients. For now, they would feed those working for the city or waiting for their homes to be restored. It was nice to be cooking with Dedue every day. Even Hapi had gotten into the spirit of things when she met with a few people that reminded her of ones she knew in Abyss.
What wasn't general knowledge was that when the king returned to bed, he was usually exhausted and would talk to Guren until he'd finally fall asleep. The next morning he'd repeat the process, but not before he sent an owl out to the monastery with a gift or letter for the Archbishop. Some days his days were filled with mounds of paperwork or meetings, but he was out in the city when he could be. He counted down the days until Horsebow moon, after all, he had an important date to keep.
When Byleth woke up, her head was throbbing. There was a quiet knock on the door. When she replied for whoever it was to enter, she found Mercedes opening the door to greet her. Mercedes had brought tea and an elixir, knowing full well the state that Byleth would be in. It only took Byleth a moment to realize that she was undressed under the cloak, but she couldn't seem to bring herself to care.
"He already left, didn't he?" Byleth asked.
Mercedes nodded and grabbed some casual wear from the closet for Byleth to slip on while she prepped the tea. Byleth sighed. She knew it was how it had to be, but she didn't expect it to hurt so much so soon. She'd be waking up in an empty bed. That reality didn't sit well with her already throbbing head. She knew that she didn't require him to fall asleep, but his company, his warmth, had become a welcome security blanket when she slept. The nights were going to be colder without her personal furnace at her side.
Once she had the clothes slipped on, she sat up and draped his cloak around her. She was happy he had left it here with her. Mercedes gave her the elixir first. Byleth couldn't help but cringe and cough at the foul taste. Mercedes gave her an apologetic smile before handing her the herb-filled tea. Byleth drank that down too before handing her back the cup. When Mercedes handed her a cookie and refilled the cup, she felt like she could bless Mercedes for being so wonderful.
"I'm sure he'll write. It might be tough, but you'll both get through it. It will all be a distant memory once you're back together again," Mercedes said.
Byleth nodded. "I know. It's just weird to think about when he was such a constant before. I know that he'll be holding up his end of the bargain, so I'll need to do my best on my end."
"That's the spirit. You know I'll be here to help however I can," Mercedes said.
"Thank you, Merci," Byleth said.
"You're welcome. I'm actually quite curious as to what it's like being with him. You always hear stories about loving couples, and even if you're tired, you always seem happy afterward," Mercedes replied.
And that's how Byleth's relationship with him became the primary talk during their tea times, especially when Dorothea came to join them. Byleth was always happy to share, they did have such wonderful ideas after all.
Seteth stepped back into his office now that he had the work he had been assigned. He reached for his quill and found that it was missing from its usual place. He opened his drawer, and even his replacement quills were gone. He slammed the drawer shut.
"Mother!" Seteth's voice snapped at the empty air.
Throughout the upper halls of Garrag Mach a female's laughter echoed. Byleth looked at the large mass of quills on the table near her in the cardinal room. Sothis was at it again. Byleth rubbed her temples at the headache that was forming. She had an assortment of papers to deal with in front of her.
Sothis's giggling got louder as she floated her way to Byleth. Seteth's angry footsteps followed her down the hall before he came into the room with them. Looking extremely annoyed, he snatched the quills from the table and stomped back to his office. Sothis burst out cackling. Byleth shook her head. She couldn't help but feel that Dimitri got a better bargain with the companions at his side.
"Come on, you're working too much again!" Sothis chided.
Byleth glared at her. "When the bell rings, I'll go eat and socialize. Until then, I am going to get what work I can finished. Go find Flayn if you need to be entertained."
Sothis humped and floated off.
Byleth had her hands full trying to do the reformations that she could. Rhea had been keeping everything stagnant for centuries. She would have to go visit the western church at some point. After that divine punishment, as Rhea liked to call it, they wouldn't be as cooperative.
She had no idea how many Argathans had infiltrated the church intending to dismantle it from the inside. Then there was the damage Edelgard had done to the Empire territory. Almost every church building had been destroyed and abandoned. The fires of her war had hurt the ones that would shelter the innocent ones the most.
It had been a couple of weeks since Dimitri had left. She was always happy to see the owls in the evenings. Dimitri used them to keep her up to date with what was happening. He would sometimes send a flower or other little trinket, but she enjoyed reading those letters before she went to bed that night. Like what Guren had done, Sothis had taken his place to sleep beside her so she wouldn't have to be alone. It was comforting in a way, but it didn't replace the feeling of their warmth.
When the bell tolled for lunch, she put her own quill down. She made her way to the dining hall and was happy to see Mercedes and Jeritza enjoying a meal together. She would be sparring with him and Felix later that day, but it was nice to see his demeanor had become less bloodthirsty as time went on.
She sat down with Annette and started chatting about how her training as a professor with Manuela was going. Hanneman had gone with Linhardt and Constance to the new magic research facility, so they were short for the upcoming academic year. Byleth would have her hands full as Archbishop, so she would offer help, but she couldn't teach herself. They were planning on having more students than when she taught, so they would need more professors to accommodate that number. Once she had some training here, she planned on applying for a position at the magic school in Faerghus.
After the meal, Byleth went to check on things around the monastery. They had gotten almost all of the repairs finished when Dimitri had been here with her. Ignatz had stayed behind to restore and make some of the artwork for the monastery. After their wedding, he was planning on asking if he could join Leonie to be able to travel throughout Fodlan with a group. He had finished with the coronation piece that would get sent to Dimitri. He was currently working on an artwork with Byleth and Sothis that would stay in the monastery.
Byleth stepped into the room she had given him for his art projects. He was busy working on something on his drafting table. Byleth didn't want to startle him, so she started going through his canvases of finished paintings along the wall until he noticed her. Sothis would come in to watch him work often. So she shouldn't scare him too badly. When he did notice her, he did a double-take and fiddled with his glasses.
"Your Grace, I'm sorry I didn't see you come in," Ignatz said.
Byleth smiled. "It's alright. I didn't want to interrupt you. They told me that the coronation piece was done. I wanted to come to see it before you sent it off."
Ignatz nodded. "Yes. That's over here. I was hoping to get your opinion on it, actually."
Knowing Ignatz's work, she had no doubts that it would be fantastic. He had a knack for capturing expressions, or if it was a landscape, choosing the right colors to invoke emotions when you looked at it. He turned around one of the paintings he had near his drafting table. Byleth found herself unable to breathe.
It was right at the moment she had held the crown out to place it on Dimitri's head. His head was bowed, and the sunlight catching on his hair and the stones on the crown. She smiled when she noticed that Ignatz had even painted in the daggers at each of their belts. The sunlight on her made her look ethereal. Her expression had a slight smile as did he, and it made her smile now.
She felt herself starting to tear up. "Ignatz, it's beautiful."
Ignatz blushed. "Oh, um, thank you. I wasn't expecting that kind of reaction, are you all right?"
Byleth nodded. "Yes, it's… I miss him, and you captured this so well. I look forward to the wedding painting. If it's anything like this, I know it will make us both very happy."
Ignatz smiled. "I'm glad that I can do that for you. Thank you, Professor, for encouraging me down this path. I have something else for you."
He dug out some parchment that had a few sketched of Dimitri with different expressions, one of which she recognized was when he was looking up at her during the coronation. Ignatz had captured the look of adoration in his gaze, and Byleth found herself smiling again.
She embraced Ignatz into a hug. "Thank you for this."
Ignatz pat her back before stepping back awkwardly and rubbing the back of his neck. "I've got one for him to of you, so it's only fair."
He let her see the sketches. She could guess already which one was going to be his favorite. Ignatz had captured her smile when he had come in with Kyle and the other children to get them a seat. It was the one thing he had told her many times was that he loved her smile. She took her sketches back up to her room and placed them up on her mirror so she could see them when she brushed her hair.
She had debated on getting back to work but found herself in too good a mood to foul it up with paperwork. She went back out into the monastery. She went to the lower level near the chapel where the children would be getting ready to take their usual lessons with Mercedes.
Kyle was the first one to greet her when he noticed her. After the coronation, he would follow her and asked if there was ever anything he could help her with. He was still young to handle most of the tasks, but she would usually find something small for him to do most days. Whenever she sat down to tell the children more stories, Kyle was often the one that would sit closest to her.
It was still early for Mercede's lesson, but Byleth found it odd when she heard music filtering from the stairs. She peeked over the edge to find Darren playing his guitar, but what surprised her more was hearing Yuri and Dorothea singing together for the children that surrounded them. Yuri had always hated it when she tried to bring him to choir practice. He abhorred the thought of singing in front of people, but she understood now why he was nicknamed the mockingbird.
Smiling when they were done, she didn't let them know they had an audience as she slipped away to keep her appointment with Felix and Jeritza. It was part of their daily routines now to spar. It was one of the things that kept her sane from the boredom. She also missed sparring with Dimitri. When they could be together again, she was going to be in shape so she could stay a good partner.
It was also the only way to get these two to quit snarling at everything that moved. Besides Annette, Felix would claim everything was a waste of time. She did catch him making comments about missing Sylvain or Dimitri. She knew better than to question or point out that she had heard him say that. It made her all the more grateful that he had decided to stay the year until she would join Dimitri in Fhirdiad.
Jeritza was getting back to what she had been used to in the academy. Seteth still watched him like a hawk, and Flayn wouldn't go near him. It was actually odd to see him interact with Manuela's pestering since she was still angry about the stab wound. When she had heard something to the effect of 'do you expect me to kiss it to make it feel better,' Byleth had left the area in a hurry. Mercedes was the only one that sought out his company. He would usually hang around the training grounds otherwise. That might be the only reason he got along with Felix was they spent a lot of time sparring together.
To take some of the burdens off of herself and what would be Seteth when she stepped down Byleth had formed a church council. They would help make sure who needed help was able to get it and that no one was abusing power or funding given to them. All donations went to supplies, staff payments, maintenance, and help with getting the smaller establishments working so they could help those that had been affected by the war.
When everything calmed down, she planned on making sure that they were equipped with reading and writing materials. Her father had taught her. With as expensive as the tuition at Garrag Mach had been complained about, she wanted to make at least the basics accessible to people. When Mercedes would go back to Fhirdiad as well, she planned on opening a school next to the tavern that Ashe had opened. If Dedue would allow Mercedes to, she wanted to include some lessons about his culture that he had taught her.
Byleth and Mercedes would talk most days over afternoon tea over varying subjects. Sothis would join them to listen when she wasn't busy with her pranks. The one thing Byleth could count on was that when she was ready to sleep, Sothis would be there beside her. The only time that she hadn't been was the week she had gone to visit Rhea. When Sothis came back Byleth had received a letter from Rhea with a lengthy apology and well wishes.
Byleth had stayed in contact with Ferdinand. Things seemed to be going along well with Edelgard. He had noticed a change in her after they had caught her sneaking out one night. She had found herself surrounded in a tavern with people arguing over her actions and talking at length with everything she had done wrong. When she had tried to stand up for herself and the reasons she did what she did, they had turned on her.
They never found out who she was, but it had been a reality check for her. They had called her a spoiled little princess who didn't know how the world worked. They had criticized her for a useless war. Hubert had been the one to find her. She had just wanted to get out of the house arrest for a while, but she hadn't thought of the consequences. She hadn't left the Varley Mansion since that incident. Byleth was never really sure what to write back when she got news like that, but she hoped that it at least meant that Edelgard wouldn't cause any more trouble.
She had gotten another owl that day from Dimitri telling her that he was on his way and the next time she heard from him should be on her birthday. He had told her about training with Dedue and Ashe on how to cook. He planned on preparing a meal for her so save her appetite. She would be looking forward to that.
Dimitri was relieved that he had arrived on time. Dedue had wanted to accompany him when he found that no one else would be escorting him, but Dimitri had declined unless his intention was to see Mercedes. Ashe would be able to handle the load of cooking for the tavern. The number of people they needed to feed had gone down as repairs had been made. Sylvain and Ingrid were still in Sreng. Hapi had offered, but ultimately Dimitri had chosen to go with just Guren and his lance. He wasn't wearing anything that would indicate who he was and he also wanted to check the countryside along the way for signs of trouble. He had swapped out Guren's collar for a less ornate one. They'd be able to handle themselves if they were attacked.
Guren had come back to his side with an Oghma Wolverine on his back. There was a single kill bite in its neck, and Guren himself seemed unharmed. Guren had planned on helping by capturing the meat for the meal. He was determined that would be his contribution to her birthday since he couldn't do much else.
They left it with the kitchen staff to get it prepped for cooking. The fur would be given to Mercedes to make something with it later, but it was perfect for what they had planned for Byleth. Dimitri knew he could have bought her any manner of things. She would have appreciated it, but he'd missed sharing meals with her. He planned on pampering her after they were both sated tonight.
Dimitri was disappointed when he didn't find her in her room. What he did find was his eyepatch with a note saying she'd like him to wear it for her tonight. He smiled, knowing how much faith she had in that he'd be here today for her. He did remember telling her that he'd comply with wearing it on one of their rougher nights. He placed his bag down and found comfort just with the smell of the room. She had been continuing using the lavender and chamomile scents. He took the patch in his hands and sat down on the edge of the bed.
The patch had been a visible manifestation of not only his blind vengeance but of his scars. He had never been self-conscious of the look. He knew it had been necessary. Those that had met his eyes would freeze uncomfortably, but that hadn't bothered him either. There had hardly been any sight left out of it, and it had brought a haze to his vision. It become a hindrance, so he found a way to cope. It had nothing to do with vanity.
When they had found themselves back at the Goddess Tower, and Sothis's magic had healed his eye, he had also seen it as a second chance. His mind went back to the conversation they had when she had first asked him to not hold back with her. Of how she said just his tone had been enough to bring up the thought of what she'd like him to do with her.
He knew of the fantasies in his head, but he wanted to make sure she enjoyed it too. He put it on and took a deep breath before opening his eyes again. He had forgotten what it felt like having that blind spot. It hadn't escaped his notice how Byleth had always put herself there to cover for him. It was one of the things that had endeared her toward him even more.
"That's an interesting look. Very roguish," Guren commented.
Dimitri had forgotten the wolf was in the room with him. Guren hopped onto the bed beside him. Dimitri ran his hands through his fur, and he collected the wording he wanted.
"That's right. We had met you after the rewind. You wouldn't have known me back when I had to wear it before," he said.
"Ah yes, you had mentioned something about a one-eyed demon nickname. So why are you wearing that when you don't need it anymore?" Guren asked.
Dimitri's blush went all the way to his ears. "It's something Byleth asked for."
Guren started chuckling beside him, and Dimitri decided then that it was a very ominous sound. Dimitri took it off and put the patch down, leaving it on the bedside table. For now, he needed to grab the ingredients for his gift to her. Guren padded beside him until they got to the kitchen.
Dedue and Ashe had given him a list of ingredients to use and directions on how to cook everything. The kitchen staff were happy to show him what they had and were regretful to inform him of the items they didn't have. He should have brought some from the kingdom, but Ashe had told him not to worry and that the monastery should have everything he needed.
Dimitri went down towards Abyss. If anyone would know what Dimitri could use instead, it was Yuri. He didn't expect to see Dorothea down there. She lit up when she saw him. Dimitri tensed, wondering what about him would make her so excited.
Byleth had mentioned in her letters that Mercedes and Dorothea had been asking her questions. Questions about them that he would probably blush if he had heard them for himself. She kept no secrets, and they had been very insightful to things that they could do together. He wasn't sure he wanted to know whatever those subjects were.
"Oh, Dimitri! Perfect timing. I was just about to come fetch you." Dorothea said.
Dimitri tried to smile. Yes, that tone never went well for him. "Dorothea, good to see you well."
She grabbed his hand and started pulling his wrist as she led him down a few corridors. "I wanted to get something for the both of you since I know I won't be there for your birthday, so I need your opinion on a few things."
When they reached a black merchant tent that was fully shut, he should have been more worried, but he followed her in. The woman behind the counter must have been in her thirties.
She squealed when she saw Dorothea. "Oh my dear, do I need to tell Yuri that you're two-timing him? This one is handsome, I'll give him that, but still, I expected better from you."
Dorothea chuckled. "No, he's too shy to come into a place like this himself so I'm just here to make sure he doesn't just pick out the first thing and run. Do you remember that babydoll top we got for a friend? This is her fiancé."
Dimitri was still stunned in place as his eyes traveled around. Sylvain had told him about places like this. To have actually stepped inside one, he felt like he was about to overheat. The woman had come from the other side of the counter and was evaluating him.
"Hmm, broad shoulders, slim waist… what were you thinking for him, Dorothea?" She asked.
Dimitri balked at the idea. "I don't even know why she brought me in here, but I can assure you it's not for me."
She gave him one last look. "Suit yourself. I'm going to put the sign up so no one random will come in while you browse."
Dorothea was trying not to laugh at him. "You should see your face right now. Byleth was right, even your ears get red."
Dimitri tried to compose himself. Everywhere he looked to avoid her was some object he had no idea what it was used for. Garments that weren't meant for anywhere else than possibly a bedroom. If anyone found out he was here he could imagine Sylvain dying from laughter before rising from his grave just to take him into one to torment Dimitri himself.
Dorthea was shifting around and grabbing a few things and laying them on the counter. "Alright, I've been talking to Byleth and, while she is extremely pleased with your performance, I think you two might benefit from taking it up a notch. I know tonight neither of you will be getting any sleep tonight, so might as well make it pleasant. I also get the honor of choosing what is going under her dress for the wedding. I wanted your take on preferences."
The store owner patted his arm. "Ah, so I have royalty in my tent then. Good choice, your majesty, even if it's custom, I'd be happy to be the one to provide you and Byleth everything you need. No need to be shy, we all know you love her dearly. Nothing is embarrassing in wanting to explore new things with someone you trust."
Dimitri wasn't sure how to respond to that, but he did feel a degree calmer. "I appreciate that. What did you have in mind to ask me, Dorothea?"
"So she told me that you liked that top we got her. What exactly did you like about it?" Dorothea asked.
Dimitri nodded, remembering the night she wore it for him. "Yes. What wasn't there to like? I um.."
The store owner smiled at his pause. "It's alright. Trust me, you're probably tamer than half my clientele. There isn't anything that will come out of your mouth that will color our view of you."
Dimitri swallowed. "The fabric felt really nice, and I liked how I could still see her with it on. The ribbon in the back was a nice touch. I tend to destroy things with clasps or buttons."
Dorothea smiled. "See, nothing to be embarrassed about. She might actually appreciate it if you rip something off of her in a hurry to get to her. That shouldn't be with expensive stuff like this. These are meant to enhance the experience. Aimee, that one was silk and mesh, right?"
Aimee nodded. "Yes, has she worn anything else that you like?"
"She's beautiful in anything. The leggings are something she's always had and look good on her," Dimitri said, rubbing the back of his head.
Aimee gave him a dreamy look as Dorothea started going through some of the racks. Dimitri still hadn't moved from the spot he had been dragged to, but his eyes did begin to wander. There were so many things in here that he hadn't experienced before, fabrics of different colors and a variety of shapes. He avoided looking behind him, where replicas were kept. He had noticed them when he first came in and had no interest in inspecting those further.
Something did catch his eye up on the wall. It was made of black lace for the fingerless elbow-length gloves and thigh high stockings. Black ribbons tied off the ends. The garment that would hold up the bust was also crisscrossed with ribbons and lace. The set-piece was also black lace and mesh, but it was open at the bottom. The one wearing could still be taken with the garment still on.
Aimee gave a knowing smile to Dorothea. They had planned this, after all. Dorothea went over to get it down and found that she couldn't reach it. That was all it took for Dimitri to move in to help. He was able to reach the hook it was displayed on easily. The fabric slid in his hands, and he found himself transfixed a moment. Byleth in something like this… she would look stunning in such a piece.
Dorothea caught his eyes with a smile. "Found something you like then?"
Dimitri's face flushed again as he realized the implications of such a statement. "Would this even fit her?"
Dorothea nodded. "Yes, I think it would be an excellent choice for her, and knowing what type of garment you prefer, I think we can design the perfect wedding attire for her."
Dimitri took it up to the counter and laid it down.
Aimee started taking it off of the hanger. "Not sure if you noticed but there are also openings on the breast piece too. You should be able to do anything you want to her while she still has it on."
Dorothea couldn't help laughing this time at how red his face turned. She was going to have to do something to make this up to Byleth. She did promise her that she wasn't going to tease him too harshly. She would tell him about the uses of the lubricant later. She was afraid if she mentioned anything more to him now that he'd faint. Aimee had put the set into a beautiful black box with a red ribbon. The lubricant, massage oil, and blindfold Dorothea put on the counter went into a small bag.
"You had mentioned that you two were going to work on her garments for the wedding, correct?" Dimitri asked hesitantly.
Aimee nodded, and Dimitri fished out his pouch that held his savings. He really had no idea what these kinds of things cost. Dorothea shook her head when he held it out, giggling a bit with how clueless he seemed. It looked like he wanted to ask, but he was too embarrassed to do so. Dorothea took the pouch from him and set it on the counter, setting aside what she estimated they would need for the cost of the fabric and the labor.
She had planned on purchasing the items he was taking today, but he refused to let her. He finally relented and let her pay for the things she grabbed, but he insisted on paying for the garments. Dorothea shook her head, but took it out of the pouch as well. She did envy Byleth a little, but not because of the money he had, but for the way that he was adamant about providing for her. As embarrassed as he was to be in here in the first place, he would do again if Byleth asked him too. There wasn't anything Dorothea could think of that he wouldn't do for her.
Aimee took the gold and thanked them both for their business. Dorothea went out first to make sure the coast was clear before waving him out. The tension in his shoulders melted as soon as he exited the tent. Dorothea would have to make sure he didn't crush the box before he was able to get it to her.
"So, what were you coming down to Abyss for before I abducted you?" Dorothea asked.
"I'm making Byleth dinner, but I needed to ask Yuri what I can use for ingredients we don't have," Dimitri answered.
Dorothea smiled. "He should be making his rounds. Follow me, we'll find him in no time."
They had found Yuri, and he was happy to help. He had given a knowing smile to the box Dimitri held. Dorothea had asked to not tease Dimitri when she had pecked his cheek with a kiss. He frowned at the missed opportunity, but he understood well enough. He was surprised Dorothea had managed to get him to go in the first place. She and Aimee had spent a long time together making that for Byleth. They had even had the idea of putting it up higher because it would be within his line of vision. Dimitri would think it was entirely his choice without the embarrassment that they had already figured out the look he seemed to like.
When they went back up to the surface, he showed Dimitri the ingredients he could use as replacements as well as the quantity if he needed to add more or less.
Dimitri had put the box and bag up in her room. He wondered briefly if he should hide it, but decided against it. He wondered where Byleth was, he hadn't seen her today. It was probably for the best. The moment he got her in her room, he wanted to make up for the time they hadn't been able to sleep together. He could almost curse Dorothea. He couldn't get the image of what Byleth might look like in that gift out of his head. She had told him to give it to her and save it to wear for his birthday, but he wondered if he could wait that long. It had been a long time since he had ever felt excited about something. It was such a foreign feeling.
He followed the cooking directions Dedue and Ashe had made for him to the letter, and he prayed he didn't mess this up. Mercedes and Annette were working on finishing a cake for her, so he could at least ask questions if he needed to. They were both humming something, and it did help his nerves a little. When he was just about done Guren went to go find Byleth for him. He put one of the steaks aside for Guren before adding the extra ingredients to the ones still in the pan.
He had already measured out the spices beforehand so he wouldn't have to worry about shaking something and it exploding in his grip. He learned already from training with Ashe that he shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the glass seasoning shakers. Thankfully he had only cracked it so there wouldn't be any shards in the food, but he still felt terrible for doing it.
Arms around his waist almost made him jump, he wasn't aware that he had been concentrating that hard to miss her coming so close.
"Smells good," Byleth said.
"It's almost ready for you," Dimitri replied.
"You'd better be making enough for two. I want you there to eat it with me," Byleth said.
He smirked. "There should be plenty. Happy birthday, Beloved."
She tightened her grip on him and buried her nose into his shirt. She had missed him so much. She stayed there against him as he went back to the meal. The food did smell wonderful, but not as good as he did to her. He smelled of pine… and perfume.
She pulled back, confused. "Why do you smell like Dorothea's perfume?"
"When I went down to Abyss she caught me to buy something for you. She did rub my back, saying she was worried that if I didn't breathe, I'd faint. Might have been then if you smell her on me," Dimitri said.
Dorothea did usually spritz her wrist, so that made sense. If she had taken him down to Abyss then that means the surprise she had told Byleth about was ready. She was still curious to know what Dorothea had been hiding all this time, but she'd trust Dimitri. She was a little aggravated that he had another woman's scent on him.
"What had taken your breath away?" Byleth asked.
She noticed his face go red. "I'd rather tell you that in private," he said.
Now that had her curious, but she wouldn't press. She noticed the steak that had been set aside.
When she asked Dimitri about it, he responded with, "since Guren was the one that hunted, I thought he deserved a part of the meal."
She turned her attention to the wolf and thanked him for going out to hunt for them. He seemed to appreciate the praise as his tongue lolled out to one side, before he composed himself with a shake. She gave him one more pat before the girls got her attention to the cake. Byleth smiled before they came to give her a hug. They both wished her a happy birthday and the gifts they gave her were small. Mercedes gave her a small portable make-up kit. Annette and Felix had pitched together to get her some new fish hooks.
They left to go get the table decorated for them as Dimitri had mentioned, and he was grateful for it. They had come back when they were done and dragged Byleth away as he got the plates ready. Mercedes was kind enough to grab the drinks for them. Annette took Guren's plate. Sothis had wandered in at some point to complain that she couldn't eat and that it wasn't fair.
Guren had scarfed down his portion and laid content at Byleth's feet. Mercedes had brought the cake to the table next to them, but they had left the two of them alone to enjoy their meal. They talked a bit about things that weren't included in the letters. Byleth praised the food, and that was probably the highlight of his night. When he bit into it, he thought that it tasted good as well.
It wasn't as good as when Ashe and Dedue had made a practice one for him. He wondered what he did wrong, but based on the smile on her face, he didn't need to worry much. Those two had been cooking for years after all. For Dimitri's first attempt cooking on his own after he got his sense of taste back, he should call this a win. When they cut into the cake, he was happy to see how much she enjoyed that as well.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed some movement by the hedges. Turning, he saw Kyle peeking in on them.
"Kyle, you're more than welcome to join us," Dimitri called.
Byleth looked up and smiled. Nodding in agreement.
Kyle came up to them, his eyes wide. "You remembered my name?"
Dimitri nodded. "We've met a few times now. Is your sister nearby?"
Kyle shook his head. "She didn't want to get in trouble. She's covering for me with the clergy. When I found out you were here again… I wanted to come see you."
Byleth chuckled. "He asks me questions about you when I come to tell stories to them."
Dimitri smiled. "Good things, I hope."
She took a sip of her drink. "Oh, and what isn't good that I'd tell him that you'd be worried about?"
He knew that smirk well enough to know she was teasing him. "Have to make sure my name isn't sullied. You understand, don't you?"
"There's no way you'd do something bad!" Kyle exclaimed.
Dimitri put his hand on Kyle's head. "There is always something that people can do that might be bad in someone else's perception. No one is immune to that. I am only human, we all make mistakes. Do not uphold yourself to thinking that every move has to be perfect."
"You're turning into a wise king. I hope you follow your own advice," Byleth mused.
Dimitri stopped for a moment. She was right. He hadn't realized that he had admitted that until it was out of his mouth. That was what Guren had told him earlier. He crumbled under that pressure more than most. Mostly because perfection was a perspective that many held in high esteem as being an important trait to uphold. He had been doing better with knowing the difference between what could and couldn't be accomplished.
He turned to the cake that had been sliced into and cut another piece to offer Kyle. His eyes glittered as he sat next to Guren and ate away, chatting about when he grew up, he wanted to be just like Dimitri and help the common people.
Byleth had ruffled up his hair. He reminded her a lot of Ashe. When she retired from Archbishop she had wanted to ask Dimitri if he thought there would be a place in the kingdom for him and his sister.
When Dimitri started to clear up the plates, Kyle had intervened and asked to do it for them. Dimitri agreed and told him to share the rest of the cake with the others. Byleth had grabbed Dimitri's hand and leaned in to hug him.
"Meet me in my room, and wear the patch for me. I'll be up shortly, my heart," she whispered.
He nodded and kissed her cheek before heading up to their room. Guren stayed with Byleth as she took the cake and followed Kyle as he carried everything else. He had wanted to stay with her, but he knew she wouldn't make him wait long.
He put the eyepatch on, happy that he had faced his demons earlier while she was gone. It was an accessory now, nothing more. He knew the tone she wanted him to use, and he would do his best to fulfill her request. He looked once again at the box. He could ask her to put it on now, but then again, he was too eager for her now to wait.
He began to take off his clothing, starting with the boots and jacket. He wondered how much she would want off, would she want to do it after being apart for so long, or would she prefer they be able to start immediately? He went for the latter, he didn't think he had the patience to not just tear everything off of him when he could get his hands on her.
She had also seemed agitated when she had asked him about Dorothea's perfume. He took the offending garment off, the last thing he wanted either of them thinking about was someone else. His attention went to the bag. Dorothea had told him that he could use some of the things tonight.
The blindfold he might have them use another time. The massage oil would be nice for afterward. The other bottle she had told him was to use for less resistance so he wouldn't hurt her. He knew what it was since Sylvain had given it to him as a prank gift during the academy. Sylvain was teasing him one of the mornings after he heard Dimitri moaning out her title the night before. It really did irk him sometimes how much of his knowledge came from what information Sylvain had given him at one point or another.
He took both bottles over to the bed and put them on the bedside table. Taking off his pants and smallclothes, he got onto the bed to wait for her. He stroked himself lazily, just enough to keep himself hard for her so they could begin the moment she walked through the door. He let her scent settle around him that clung to her pillow. He heard the slow creek of the door as she told Guren that she'd let him in later before she backed inside.
When she turned around, she bit her lip. "Seems I'm overdressed."
She started with her headpiece, and he watched as her hair color change. She unzipped and kicked her boots to the side. She unclasped her bra from the front and let it drop to the floor. She took the belt and dagger off and laid it on her desk. She took off the cloak and let it land on the chair as she came around the bed to him.
"You have plenty of those dresses, don't you?" Dimitri asked.
She nodded with a smirk. "I do."
He remembered what Dorothea had said about how she might appreciate him ripping something on purpose to get to her. With the eye patch, she had told him what tone she wanted tonight. He had missed her, and he intended for both of them to enjoy themselves. So he raised himself from the bed and took her in his arms.
He held her chin as he kissed her roughly, forcing his tongue inside. He appreciated the moan she gave him as she clung to him. He slid his hands until he could get a firm hold on the fabric before he pulled. The sound of the ripping fabric seemed to take her by surprise, but he felt the smile on her lips as she curled her fingers into his hair before she pressed herself closer. He found he liked the sound too. Usually, it would make him apprehensive that he had broken or tore something, but in this situation, he could take pride in how it made her react.
The dress fell from her shoulders and bared her breasts to him. He palmed them a moment before he tore the rest of the dress from her. Her pulse was rapid under his tongue as he teased the flesh there. He hooked his hand into her underwear and tore apart the only other piece of clothing that blocked her from him. He lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
He turned and shoved her onto the bed, his kiss pressing her into the mattress as he held her wrists. She bucked herself against his cock, trying to take him in as he kneeled over her. He was delighted in how wet she already was, but he wasn't done playing with her yet.
Letting go of her wrists he smirked. "So eager, and we've barely begun."
He grabbed her hips and stroked himself along her while he watched her writhe. He leaned down to capture one of her nipples in his mouth.
"Please, Dimitri, I've missed you." Her voice tore through him, and he let them both have what they wanted.
He bit into her shoulder at the same moment he thrust himself inside. She clung to him, her moan sending a shiver through him. He had missed her too. Missed how she fit around him so well, missed the sounds she made, and missed just feeling her. He kept a steady and strong pace, pulling out as far as her legs around him would allow before he slammed himself back in.
He loved how she chanted his name in between the moans. Her head was thrown back. He would lean down to lick, bite, and mark every time his name left her lips. He could tell he was getting close to coming undone so he pulled back and started to roll her clit with his thumb as he gave her some shallow strokes.
When she came for him, he sheathed himself completely to feel her pulse around him. He kissed her before he started to thrust again to chase his pleasure. Then he buried his head into the crook of her neck. When he came, he held her close and bit down, suckling on the skin to make sure he marked her. When he pulled back, she was dazed and smiling softly at him.
He put an arm around her to hold her as he cradled the back of her head with the other. He was working on getting his breathing back under control. He was already semi-hard again. He stepped back off of the bed and dragged her with him. He brought her to the bathroom, and he was glad he had remembered correctly. He grabbed a towel and laid it on the cold counter before sitting her down onto it. It would be just the right height for what he planned.
He ran his hands through her hair. "With as long as you made me wait, do you really think I'm done with you for as long as you've been haunting me?"
He brought his attention to her breasts first, taking them into his hands before he leaned down to capture one with his mouth. She stared down at him before she ran her hands through his hair. Then he bit down lightly, and she closed her eyes. A moan escaped her lips. He swirled his tongue around her nipple before turning his attention to the other breast. He pinched at the one he just left, and she jerked. The sound she made echoed in the room.
Dimitri smirked, oh now that he could enjoy. He did love hearing her. He tilted her back and started to use his fingers on her as he began to bite down in more places. He was hard again, and he rubbed himself against her leg. She shivered. When he could feel she was starting to get close again, he retreated his hand. The whimper she gave made him bite his lip.
He took her chin in his hand. "I'm not done with you yet."
He pulled her off and flipped her around. Her breasts squished against the counter as he pushed his cock back into her warm heat once more.
Byleth looked up into the mirror in front of her. She could see Dimitri behind her, and it made her swallow thickly. The angle let him have full access to her. She could see the marks he left on her skin. The sound from his thrusts echoed around her. He had one hand on her ass, and she could see the red crescents from his grip. His other hand was near her shoulder to keep her from getting jostled too much.
He would lean down to bite into her back, making sure he caught her eye through the mirror before he did so. He was relentless on his thrusts this time, and she felt the buildup several times before he would smirk and pull out until she begged him to continue. The third time she felt herself getting close, he tightened his hand into her hair and pulled before leaning in to bite her once more as they released together. When they were done, they were both panting and met the other's gaze in the mirror.
When he pulled back and let her go, she turned around and took the patch off of him before leaning in and kissing him between breaths. She smiled and stroked his cheeks as her body shivered in aftershocks. He turned around to turn on the water for the bath before his attention was back to her.
He made the same motion of stroking her cheeks as she had. "I'll let you rest a moment, but was that enough, or did you want rougher treatment? I want to make sure you are enjoying yourself too."
She smiled up at him before nodding. "It was wonderful. You were wonderful love. The mirror was a nice touch."
"I just knew the counter was the right height. I had forgotten about the mirror actually," he admitted.
She giggled and leaned herself against him. "Well, I enjoyed it and the meal. I'm glad you could make it."
He kissed the top of her head. "I'll always make time for you."
She leaned back to kiss his jaw. "I'll hold you to that, you know."
"Some things might be out of my control, but if I can, you know you're my top priority," he said.
She hugged him and snuggled against his chest while they waited for the water to fill. He traced some of his marks with his fingers, enjoying the sight of her against him in the mirror. He would definitely be cataloging that for later. When the water was ready, he got in as she grabbed her lavender oil to scent it with. Then she settled on his chest as he traced small circles over her back. He took a relaxing breath as he held her close.
He had washed her with the cloth before he handed it to her. They kissed before she mounted on him again. The pace they took was slow and intimate. They stayed there for a while until the water started to chill. She protested that she was comfy, but he lifted her out and started patting her down with a towel.
When he brought her back to the bed, he grabbed the bottle for the massage oil. He started to knead into her back, kissing where he bit before rubbing at the spots. She melted underneath his hands as he continued along the rest of her body. He was able to work out several of the kinks he had felt, especially around her neck and shoulders. He brought her into his lap to take care of her front, palming her breasts and kissing her shoulders.
She twisted herself around to face him and kiss him before dragging him back down with her for another intimate round. At this rate, neither of them were going to get much sleep. They didn't seem to put that as one of their main concerns. She had given him a massage afterward, dismayed at how many kinks she found around his neck.
The fact that he had to lean his head down to meet her lips probably didn't help the number of knots. Once all the kinks were gone she was happy to see that he had dozed off a little. That was one thing that she did love about their relationship was the amount of trust they shared with each other. They felt safe around the other. She lay against him and kissed his neck. She got him lucid enough to get under the covers with her. She was soon captured by his arm around her as he nuzzled into her. She pet his hair as she smiled.
"Guren, you're going to have to let yourself in," she called.
She pulled the covers over herself and got comfortable in an embrace around him. She heard the door open and shut briefly before she felt the dip in the bed as Guren got on and laid himself behind her. He breathed deep, and she saw his tail wag out of the corner of her eye before he settled down to sleep as well. Wrapped in warmth, and feeling more content than she had in months, it didn't take Byleth long to fall asleep as well.
Sothis glared down at the three of them all comfortable and sleeping soundly. Did they even think of inviting her to this comfortable situation? The wolf was even sleeping in her usual spot. Well, there was at least enough room next to the wolf she mused and floated down to lay herself onto the bed. Guren lifted his head up, sensing her, but laid it down when he realized what it was. Sothis snuggled up to Guren's side, and soon all four of them were dreaming away, content around the other's presence.
When the morning came, Byleth was warmer than she had been in months, but she wouldn't have it any other way. It was nice to not shiver and want to burrow further under the blankets. It was even better to be able to open her eyes and see him there in front of her. She snuggled closer into him, kissing his neck and jaw to rouse him awake. He grunted before opening his eyes. He smiled when he saw her and pulled her in for a long kiss.
Guren lifted his head up and rolled his eyes, but it was to be expected. If Byleth wasn't taking those herbs, they would have already had a child with as much as they went at it. He nuzzled Sothis, who groaned and rolled over onto him. He shifted, so Sothis was on his back before he hopped down to let them out before they got more heated. When he was outside, he shut the door behind him and laid down on his pillow with Sothis hanging over him. He was just thankful the goddess didn't drool.
Dimitri woke up to a wonderful feeling that he had missed. He was still tired after all they had done last night, but he was eager to return her affections once he was awake and aware. He barely registered that the door opened and closed as Guren let himself out. She continued to kiss him before she put him down onto his back and mounted him. This time she was the one to lick, bite, and mark. He was more than happy to let her.
When they were done, they stayed in bed together for a little longer before they had to get up to take care of necessities. He found her brushing her hair in front of her mirror and caught sight of the sketches of him. Like the ones Igntaz had given him of her, these were well detailed. He had framed his and put them on the other office desk.
He pulled her hair aside to kiss the back of her neck as he hugged her. She looked so peaceful when she smiled and closed her eyes. He continued to kiss around to her cheek before he laid his cheek against hers. She opened her eyes, and her smile got wider in the mirror. They shared I love yous before she reached up and tilted her head to kiss his cheek.
Byleth brought her gaze over to the box that had caught her attention last night. "So do I get to find out what Dorothea snuck you off to go get?"
When he started to turn red, she giggled. So it was that type of gift. She should have known. Dorothea had mentioned something to her about more outfits to spice up their nights together. She got up to open it, and he was still stammering to explain himself. It was so cute that he could do so well at it, but talking about it still flustered him. So he had met Aimee and went into her shop. No wonder he was so flustered. The first time Dorothea had brought her into the tent to get her measurements, it had shocked her too.
She pulled back the ribbon and opened the box. There were several pieces to it was the first thing she noticed. She noticed the gloves first and then the lace stockings that matched. When she pulled out the other pieces, she noticed that parts of them were missing. Oh, so that's what Dorothea meant by design for function. She could even poke her finger through where her nipple was supposed to go. When she turned around, Dimitri wasn't looking at her. The red of his blush went all the way up to the tips of his ears.
"Did you have anything special planned for this?" Byleth asked.
He looked at her, confused. He must have thought she was going to chastise or criticize the choice. "Dorothea mentioned that you should wear it for my birthday when you visit, but other than that no… I… do you like it? When I picked it out I knew that it might be a little bold, but the thought of you in it… I couldn't help myself."
The hesitation in his voice as he spoke made her smile. So Dorothea hadn't let on that they had made it with him in mind. She bit her lip. Wearing it for his birthday did sound nice. She came up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"I do like your choice. I think it'll be fun to wear. May I make a request of you since you don't have any plans?" Byleth asked.
He nodded. "Go on."
She bit her lip before she pulled him down to put her cheek against his as she spoke. "If I am to be your gift, then I will be there in that for your pleasure. Use me and play with me as you wish. I'll be yours for the entire night."
She heard his breathing hitch before he swallowed. "What exactly does that entail?"
She moved her head to kiss him before she stroked his cheek. "It means I'm at your mercy for anything you'd like to do for me that night. You have three months, so there is plenty of time to think about it."
He nodded, but he still seemed uncertain.
She put on her circlet as he thought about it. "Would you like to spar with me before Felix and Jeritza find their way there?"
He kissed the top of her head and put his arm around her shoulders. "Yes, please, I've missed our morning routine. I look forward to when you don't have to wear that anymore. You look good with the green, but I will be glad that you won't have to hide anymore."
"What will you do once you leave?" Byleth asked.
"I plan on seeing how El is doing. That charm Patricia had made, I plan on giving it to her, so she has something of her mother's." Dimitri said.
She smiled. "I think she'll appreciate that. Remind me to show you the letter that Ferdinand sent me about her before you go. There's something you should know before you see her."
He nodded and she opened the door. Guren and Sothis were both asleep. She'd let them rest a little longer. For now, she prayed that the training grounds wouldn't have any other early risers. Perhaps some hand to hand sparring might be fun to practice.
Notes: So yeah I did not mean for this to take so long but the chapter also got way out of hand- good news chapter 38 is already almost done. I always appreciate the comments you give, and I'll be changing the chapter number. I'm thinking based on what happened here it'll be 45, but if I need more it shouldn't exceed past 50. Twitter is Lunafox90. So besides kink fills (which tempest seduction should have next chapter out soon), I have this one- shield of ashes- I'm also working on a pirate!dimitri mermaid!byleth which I hope should be ready to release soon. The other one is a dragongirl byleth au but there is still alot to flesh out with that one. So there is more content to come. I'm sorry for my scattered brain :3 I hope this was worth the wait. Love you guys - Coming up next baby wyverns a very nice long birthday smut scene for his- and a nice scene with El and how she's fairing now that her stubborness can start taking a backseat to her reality.