Summary:
Byleth and Dimitri discuss a few things on their mind. Byleth wants to do some more recreational activities, but Dimitri has a nagging sense that something is still wrong.
Notes:
I know that they officially named Byleth's mother, but I gave her this name before the DLC dropped.
Normality
05/10
Dimitri explained a lot of what happened in the week that Byleth was unconscious. Not very many other people were in the cafeteria – the professor woke at an odd hour. That dream from before passed from Byleth's memory as he listened to the prince talk. "After the demonic beast destroyed part of the tower, Seteth scoped out the landscape. He found a bucket attached to a tripwire. Turns out if we went in that narrow space, a trap would have sprung with cold water, drenching us."
"Hypothermia." Byleth said.
"Yes. in your condition, I would be surprised if it didn't take effect immediately. I am glad we followed your strategy, profes . . ." Dimitri stopped himself. "Is it alright to call you Byleth?"
"Call me whichever you like."
"Which do you prefer?"
"I don't know. I haven't heard 'Byleth' spoken in a long time, but I am a bit attached to 'professor'. I imagine if you did decide to call me Byleth, you'll slip and fall into an old pattern. It's fine, either one."
"Byleth. It's – that name suits you, I think. Anyway, the enemies possessed weaponry close to that of the same ilk who murdered your father and the ones likely behind Duscar."
Byleth recalled that dagger driving into his flesh – a wound that only existed in the memory of time. He became curious to what Dimitri evoked while Byleth slept. "Dimitri. Do you remember the undone past?"
". . . If you're talking about those vague moments where I have knowledge of things I shouldn't, then I would have to say it only comes to me in my dreams or in a strange déjà vu experience. It's a bit nice not having those nightmares where my dead loved ones are haunting me. But I do see you dying now that it's happened; and it scares me even more than my normal ones. Although . . ." Dimitri wondered if he should bring up that dream he had, sitting in the professor's room. There was a vague remembrance of talking with Byleth and someone else. Someone that should not belong.
"Are you sleeping better, though?" Byleth asked. His concern for Dimitri's wellbeing was as touching as always.
"No. I've been too restless. You waking up will help it, though. I'm sure of it."
"I wonder how likely we can substitute one of our beds for a bigger one." Byleth said. He changed the topic, though, to something more serious. "Are there any traces of intruders left? I don't really plan on having a repeat of last night."
"Byleth. That happened a week ago."
"Oh. Same difference to me." Byleth finished his breakfast and felt much, much better. His strength returned to him, little by little; at this rate, though, he should really consider avoiding magic of any kind. That seemed to have an adverse effect on his health.
Dimitri said. "At least that sleep was warranted – I didn't panic too much this time."
"This time?" Byleth asked.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about." Dimitri responded, "And . . . I remember what I promised you. I won't do it again, no matter what circumstances fall me."
"Thank you. That wasn't an easy night for any of us. I think we need to plan a system where no one is alone. Some of us here will be upset with this, but I don't want it to happen again. To anyone."
"You need to be more forthcoming with your injuries, professor. The way you acted before it happened, I would have assumed you were fit for battle. It seems that I was mistaken." Dimitri stated in a return reprimand of his own.
"Yes. That's fair. Dimitri, about that possible infiltration to the soldier's ranks: I think we need to propose a plan. Not here, though. We can pitch it tomorrow at the next council. I have an idea. . ."
"Oh?" Dimitri folded his arms. "This should be good. Shall we discuss it somewhere more private?"
"Sure. Private is good. I have just the place in mind."
"War Room?"
"No. You're thinking too small." Byleth leaned forward and whispered, "We should clear out the bathhouse. Just you and me."
"Professor!" Dimitri felt a twinge, and he focused more on the embarrassment from that proposal. Those minty eyes told him that Byleth meant what he said, but Dimitri could not abide it. "There are better places to discuss strategy!"
"I need a bath. My hair is sticking to my face. And you said you weren't leaving my side, right? Oh. We should probably discuss that misunderstanding, while we're at it."
"You have to be joking."
"I am not. Let's reserve a time and we can, uh, discuss our situation."
Dimitri gave him a sideways glance, "Our situation? Meaning what?"
"After this war is over. While the war is continuing. What happened last nigh – week. And how often do you think we'll have the chance to meet up, just the two of us?"
"That – That's hardly a topic worth discussing when there's so much to do! We can't possible afford to – to fornicate!"
"A daily fornication isn't a bad thing."
"Daily? That's ambition."
"Multiple times a day?"
"I think you need to slow down, Byleth. We only just started this back up . . ." Dimitri played the practical role suddenly. When one falls off the wagon, the other must pick him up.
"Who was it that aggressively kissed who in the middle of a battle? I distinctly remember someone doing something like that." Byleth chuckled, "Honestly, I've been thinking about it since I woke up."
Dimitri let out a soft groan and apologized, "My emotions were . . . untamed at that point. That was not an appropriate thing to do."
"Probably not. Doesn't change the fact that I've been thinking about it all morning."
"Wait a minute! You're condoning that!?" Dimitri yelled louder than he intended to.
"I probably shouldn't . . . doesn't mean I haven't been thinking about it –"
"Okay, yes, you're thinking in less sensible terms today. That's fine, you're recovering. But that's not something that should happen again." Dimitri could only imagine how his friends would react to that.
"I shouldn't ever think in sensible terms again?" Now Byleth was having fun with his poor Dimitri.
"That's not what I meant. . ."
Byleth nodded, "I know. We'll be back to business as usual soon enough. Let me have my moment of normality."
"Business as usual is our normal, Byleth."
"Not as I see it. Before this war is my version of what should be normal. I want to go back to that, though it will never be the same, I think we can get pretty close."
Dimitri never heard the professor talk about his goals and desires before. Before, Byleth had no true answer, by his admission, but now it seemed that maybe he changed his mind. "What are your dreams, professor?"
"My dreams?" He repeated.
"Your ideal future?"
"Hmm. I want this war to end but I won't run from it. I want everyone to be carefree like before. I suppose if there's one thing I truly want, it is to stay in Fodlan as a professor. I like my role here. Of course, I don't think I'll ever have a class like this one again."
"Then . . . Then you are no longer planning on leaving it all behind?" Dimitri asked, feeling hopeful.
"I was never planning on leaving in the first place, Dimitri. My father's distrust of Rhea made that plan operational."
"Ah. So, I see. I overreacted. I'm sorry, Byleth, I – wait. His distrust of Lady Rhea?" Dimitri repeated in shock.
"Oh. . . I didn't mean to say that much." Byleth blamed his exhaustion and closed his eyes. He wondered if that was enough to set Dimitri in another mood, but the prince stayed agreeable. Probably practicing staying calm in the face of distasteful discussions.
"Captain Jeralt had misgivings about the Lady Rhea?" Dimitri asked again, more curious than enraged.
"I still don't fully understand the whole situation myself, but it has to do with my mother's death. Or, I guess you could say, it has to do with Lady Rhea being the only one present at my . . . birth."
"You're saying that Lady Rhea delivered you? Oh. Wait. I think Seteth said you were related to the Archbishop. That's probably why."
"Am I now? Seteth really didn't tell me outright one way or another. He said I was kin to him and Flayn. By what you said, I then can surmise that Seteth and Flayn, Lady Rhea, and I must all share a common bloodline? I still don't know how we all connect, though."
"Interesting. I knew something about you that you didn't?"
"And this is why it is so confusing to bring up. My head hurts." Byleth said honestly. This conversation was giving him a migraine.
"You weren't trying to avoid answering the question before. I realize that now . . . The answer is just a complicated web."
"A complicated web of lies. And I have to untangle it if I really want to know just who I am. Then again, Byleth, son of Jeralt and Araleth Eisner might just be enough for me."
"Is it?"
"For the most part, yes. I think it might be time to purge my death certificate, though. That lie, at least, has ran its course."
Dimitri laughed. "Ah. What an odd statement. That takes the lead of sentences I could not have ever fathom hearing."
"Well, now that we've breached a sensitive topic like that out in the open, I propose we reserve the bathhouse to continue our conversation and avoid eavesdroppers."
"You are not letting up on that." Dimitri frowned.
"No. I want to feel clean and maybe continue where we left off."
"In our conversation, of course." Dimitri said, now acting averse toward their mutual attraction. It wasn't that he was suddenly bashful over it – the more he thought on it, the more he wanted to cave into those desires. The problem, however, was the danger he continued to sense.
"Among other things." Byleth stood up. His legs wobbled under him but kept him upright. Dimitri eyed the lean figure before him.
"Byleth, it's been a while since you and I engaged like that . . ."
"Yes. I know. We should do something about that." As far as statements went, that one made Dimitri's body practically ready for Byleth to have his way. He also had reservations.
"You're not well yet. I don't want to hurt you." Dimitri admitted to that deep-seated fear of accidently bending Byleth wrong and snapping his bones, or otherwise maiming him in ways he hadn't intrusively envisioned. He would not live with himself if he, even by simple accident, left Byleth bedridden.
"I'm not going to break." Byleth said. He had said it before.
"Professor, I'm stronger than I was five years ago. And you're – you're . . ."
"A delicate little flower that's wilting? Dimitri, I am fine."
A wilting flower? An image of white lilies came to Dimitri's mind, though he wasn't sure why. Another memory from the timeline they erased? What would it have to do with flowers, though? "Byleth . . ."
"Oh, alright. You win. I still want a bath, though." Byleth frowned. Sulked, even. And if it was a tactic for Dimitri to lower his guard, take pity, and concede to Byleth, it worked. Dimitri knew he had to make his feelings secondary to the potential dangers they face, but by the Goddess that face Byleth made was doing it for him.
"Let's just go get your bath in." Dimitri sighed.
Notes:
As I might have mentioned before, in my part 1 I fully intend Dimitri and Byleth's first sexual encounter to be around the Heron Ball, Goddess Tower, and Dimitri's B-day. I just write my stories in parallel so it's hard to get to that chapter. I might just have to write it as a separate entry, since I'm taking my time with Part 1. (I'm almost in month 5 in part 1). So the stories actually are in the same month just five years apart.
I also have to do some planning and direction. I changed my mind on the pacing of this story to fit a more active one so I have to mentally correct a few things.