Dimitri stepped out into the summer sun, squinting his eyes to reduce the glare as he scanned the common grounds in search of Dedue. While not normally a difficult man for the prince to find, today it was seemingly impossible to locate him
He eyes down a group of familiar faces making quick work of the distance in his gait
"Claude! You haven't by any chance seen Dedue have you?"
"What's wrong, lose your shadow?" Claude chuckled, shrugging his shoulders and tossing his head from side to side
Dimitri frowned softly at the teasing, normally he would pay Claude's jokes no mind but he was getting worried. "Can you think of anyone who would have?" He asked softly, seriously
Claude frowned for a moment, thinking back on any suspicious activity he might have witnessed. He checked the time casually, leaning just beyond Dimitri to read the clock tower, confirming to himself that it was about the time for the tall man to be tending to his tremendous Duscar bloom in the greenhouse
No need to let him in on that though, Claude decided to himself instead deciding to loosen the fellow prince up a bit
"Have you tried asking Teach? She's a font of wisdom." He winked playfully at the blond across from him, gesturing over his shoulder to the obvious object of Dimitri's desires
He could not have expected Dimitri to rush past him, calling out to young Byleth. Her curious expression came into view as she turned from her report, however the heel of her boot caught between the cobbled stones and she was sent tumbling into his hurriedly outstretched arms
"Oh Dimitri! You were a real life saver there!" She gave him a sheepish smile, embarrassed at her public misstep and her shame shine brightly along the bridge of her nose
He felt his own face shift from white in pure sock to pure red as his adrenaline subsided. She was smiling up as him, her wide eyes softening in a way he hadn't noticed before. Had she always been like this? So cute?
"Dimitri?"
His eyes flitted from her glossy lips to her soft eyes tinged with concern and he admonished himself silently for his scandalous behaviour. He moved from his half crouched position to stand, hoisting the professor up with him
"I said you really saved me back there." Byleth repeated shyly, removing her palms from his forearms as she stood. With a loud snap she felt her heel crack and she was suddenly flung into his chest for support
"W-whats wrong with me today?" She tried to laugh, avoiding looking in his direction
"Stay still." The command was so soft she almost didn't hear it, but she felt it as solidly as if they were true orders
Dimitri knelt slowly, placing the professors hand on his shoulder to steady herself, and as he reached her ankle he began unlacing her boots. When he was finished he rose back to his full height. She wouldn't look at him, her timid gaze refusing to meet his at each turn
He was overcome, a greed he didn't know he houses within him demanded that his gaze be met. He placed a hand on each side of her waist and lifted her from her damaged boots, setting her gently on the ground. His tenacity was washed away suddenly as he beheld his Professor, now seeming much shorter than before
"Cute…" he mumbled carelessly, earning him a murderous glare and stumbling to correct himself, "I-I mean you look like you could be a student here! How old are you Professor?"
"I'm not certain I'm afraid," Byleth shrugged "but I doubt I'd be much older than the students here." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a pout still evident on her features
"How interesting." He smiled, an active flare of the imagination placing a crown on her head. "I-I'll walk you to your quarters."