believe in love : byleth

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    ❝ YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN ❞ Dimitri was feeling vengeful. Though the feelings were rather subdued and kept hidden, it was still strong enough to know it was there within him. He loathed what had happened to his kingdom, his people, his family and friends. It shouldn't have happened. But with the return of Ashe, and with Byleth at his side, he had to wonder if more of them were still alive. He missed his parents, longed to see them again, but they were long gone from what he knew. There was a pang in his chest, one of pain and agony. A sigh breathed through his nose as he thought to himself, his eyes trained to the ground rather than the horizon before him. He wasn't concerned with learning the territory; he was merely caught in a battle with himself.


    The brooding male was quiet as he walked to a designated area, one where he was meeting Byleth for some training. He liked her, trusted her. It was hard to find someone like that, especially after what had happened to Faerghus. He was glad that both she and Ashe were here in the Solaris Kingdom, but that happiness only went so far. With another sigh, Dimitri halted at the lone tree within the desert, his form beneath the shade of it so that the sun's harsh rays did not irritate him. He figured, for a moment, that he would be waiting for a while, so he sat back on his haunches. He curled his tail around his paws, and allowed his icy blue optics to scan the territory that lay before him. This place was vastly different. While both deserts, this one was especially hot. Dimitri wasn't sure he liked it.


    byleth. sorry if its bad ksgndkjd

    Byleth had gone... the scenic route, to put it nicely. Knowing the territory was imperative if she was caught in a battle. She had paused, blue eyes scanning the areas a bit. She knew it would take multiple trips in order to fully memorize this, but it was start.


    Byleth, the spirit chides, appearing in front of her. The green cat was floating, crossing her paws and looking smug. It's as if she had a reason for grinning, and she snickers, putting a paw against her mouth.


    What is so funny? Byleth's head snaps towards the ethereal creature, and she doesn't even blink. She just moves her paw to emphasize this question. She shakes her teal fur out, almost like a dog, as she awaits an answer.


    Sudddenly, Sothis starts laughing, which causes fictitious eyebrows to be raised. Even thought it wasn't shown, annoyance was bubbling underneath the surface, as was the usual case with the motherly being and the blue cat. She stomps a paw down, trying to communicate non verbally. She really didn't want to get chastised by Sothis yet again. Do you not have a training session with Dimitri?


    That's when she shows some emotions, blue and green eyes widening and her jaw feels like it will drop. She left him waiting! While she was on her sightseeing tour, he was already there. She jumps up, fur sticking out, and she begins to bolt. Meanwhile, Sothis laughs before departing.


    Blue paws slam into the sand of the desert, the heat getting to her slightly - but what was important was to not leave him hanging. She was his damn professor, and now what? He was the one who would be early and bored, waiting for her. Plus, it was not good for him to be left alone with his thoughts.


    She skids to a stop, when she can manage to pick out icy blue eyes and cream tabby fur, and calms her breathing. She'd run quite a ways, after all. She regains what appears to be composure, stoic eyes focusing on the prince. Then, she bows, with a paw on her chest. "Your Highness, I offer my sincerest apologies for my tardiness," she says formally. "Is there anything specific you wish to work on, sir?" She asks after she raises from her bow.


    ♚ ･ﾟ: I’LL NEVER WEAR YOUR BROKEN CROWN — TAGS

    ❝ YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN ❞ With a quiet huff, the prince flicked an ear, listening attentively to his surroundings. She wasn't normally late, so this was odd behavior on her part. He wasn't annoyed though, nor was he angry with her. Part of him didn't even want to train. He wanted to talk, though he wondered how she would respond to something like that. Byleth had always been a rather quiet, stoic individual, but she was a good enough listener. When she finally did show, skidding to a halt, Dimi turned to face her, his icy blue optics observing her form. It was when she addressed him as 'Your Highness' that he couldn't help but roll his eyes and scoff. There was no longer a kingdom for him which meant he was really no longer a prince of anything. It hurt to know, but even he knew better.


    "I wish you would stop addressing me like that," Dimitri murmured to her, giving a dismissive wave of his paw. The 'sir' made him feel old, so he shot her a taunting glance before breathing a soft sigh. "I actually wanted to do something a bit different..." He admitted in a quiet voice, his tone different than what it usually was. With a flick of his tail, he pursed his lips and peered at her once more, unsure of what to say exactly. "I feel... lost," Dimitri informed her, his voice almost sounding defeated as he looked to her, eyes wide and eager for a response. It was hard admitting something so pitiful, even to her, someone he trusted deeply. Part of him, however, felt as though he couldn't contain his feelings anymore. He wanted them out so that he could feel as though like he could finally breathe again. His chest always felt clenched and tight, as if his lungs weren't working properly. Pain coursed through him as he thought of it, a wince appearing on his features. The feeling, however, soon passed as he reopened his eyes to look at Byleth, frown still on his lips.

    There was a tad of surprise that Byleth felt - after all, she figured the boar prince would be angry. When he was wasn't, she feigns her usual cold and distant look. Something was off, though. Something made her feel off, a bit different. Was something wrong with Dimitri?


    Hm... is he okay? Does he not want to train? Sothis asks and Byleth nods in agreement. It was very likely. The whole world was not training and getting ready for battle, nor was the actual battling. How odd, though, he usually loved to train. She does her best, not looking worried and chatting along with Sothis telepathically - until his voice breaks her from the thoughts.


    I wish you would stop calling me that. A gentle chuckle escaped Byleth, a paw against her mouth to hide it. "You are currently 'His Highness,' a prince after all. There are some survivors of the Kingdom - you still have subjects." She points out, flicking her tail and pointing at him. She doesn't seem to say anything at the taunting glare, though she does notice it, so she shoots one back at him.


    That voice... that wasn't the chivalrous, yet happy voice she learned to associate with him. It was quiet, it wasn't confident. A bit different - she could live with that, but what he said next. "Lost?" She replies, tilting her head, heterochromatic eyes focused on the kind prince. Then, she decides to joke - perhaps to make a smile appear, give him some happiness back. "But we are in a desert! It would be hard to get lost, Your Highness!" She adds on, her tone very obviously teasing and joking.


    Her look returns to the cold, stoic gaze she once had. "What is the matter, though? Is there something in specific you feel lost about?"


    ♚ ･ﾟ: I’LL NEVER WEAR YOUR BROKEN CROWN — TAGS

    ❝ YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN ❞ Though she was right, part of him didn't feel as such. Ashe was alive, as well as Byleth, but no longer was his kingdom, and no longer were his people. It caused an ache to ring in his chest as he thought of it. His gaze cast aside for a moment as he thought of Faerghus, of his parents. He shut his eyes and shook his head before returning his icy optics to Byleth. She was so stoic, so calm. He wondered briefly how she did it, how she was able to see the world so plainly and so differently than himself. With grit teeth, he listened to her before rolling his eyes, more so in a playful manner than a harsh, rude one.


    When she began to joke, he felt belittled for having such feelings. His teeth seemed to grit even further than they had been as she teased him for saying what he had. Dimi said nothing to her taunting, instead choosing to ignore it to the best of his ability. Now was not the time for joking and lighthearted behavior. He was being as serious as he could, as icy and stone cold as Byleth could be. A sigh parted from his maw as he looked to her when she finally regained her stoic expression and posture. This was the person he needed right now. Though he appreciated her trying to keep the atmosphere light, he couldn't. Not right now.


    "My kingdom. It's gone. All of what I had learned as a prince is wasted. I feel as though I have no true purpose anymore. I'm not a prince, not a future king. What am I to do now, Byleth?" There was raw emotion in his voice as he spoke to her, distress and agony laced in his tone. His question was especially hard to speak, and as he said it to her he couldn't help but react physically as well. His heart was beating so quickly in his chest that it felt like it would burst. Dimitri held a paw to his chest, claws digging into his fur, his skin. Pain appeared on his features, tail lashing and ears pinned back to his skull.

    Byleth listens intently, and has to think. He was a prince, but the subjects of his were scattered among the lands of Agrelos. Faerghus was no more. She waits for a reply from Sothis, closing her eyes and sighing. Some snarky comment about how she could marry into royalty or something.


    Nothing. Why was that? She supposed Sothis would be back in time. Perhaps the green spirit was giving them time alone - even mothers needed to let their children grow up. She opens her eyes, calm and distant. Even if she did not see it, she knew that his gaze was serious. It did not seem like his rage, his anger - his vengeance were the main emotions this time. No, not at all. It felt more like... sad, sorrowful, a cry for help.


    When he speaks, it is a mere confirmation of what she had been thinking. Yes. Her gaze snaps towards him, and as much as she tries to force sympathy in her expression, there is none. She felt it, she wanted nothing more to pull him into a hug and tell that it was okay. Things would be fine. Alas, she cannot will herself too. "Your Highness, I thi-" She cuts off as she sees a paw rise to his chest. Eyes go wide, and now she can show some emotion. She rushes, bolting to his side, holding a paw against his shoulder. What the hell was he doing?


    "Your Highness, let go! Let go, stop!" She yells, some semblance of worry in her voice. "Sothis, help me! Help him!" Her voice rings out.


    Suddenly, the being appears, worry on her face. Slight fear was on it. What happened to the heir of the Kingdom of Faerghus? Balam, I can't do anything, you have to- She begins.


    Her face turned towards Sothis. "What do you mean, 'Balam, I can't do anything'? You don't have any healing powers or anything? You're Sothis!" When the spirit shakes her head, she tries to pry his paw away from his chest. "Your Highness, it's gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay."


    ♚ ･ﾟ: I’LL NEVER WEAR YOUR BROKEN CROWN — TAGS

    ❝ YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN ❞ It all seemed to happen so hastily. Blood began to blood at the pricks he had made with his claws. Though the agony had not faded from the skin of his chest, he still clung to it, almost blindly, as if he was completely.. gone. He almost didn't hear Byleth. She sounded so far away, even with her coming closer to where he stood. His heart still beat hard in his chest, pounding and aching in his chest. Why wouldn't it slow down? Mellow out? Thinking so much of his family, his past had caused him to almost shut down.


    As Byleth spoke, her words almost sounded garbled, distant and muffled. He heard the name 'Sothis' amongst the words that she said, and felt a bit confused, but not enough to break him out of his trance. Instead, he dug his claws further into his skin, focusing the pain away from his heart and to the puncture wounds breaking through on his chest. 'Balam' was another name that came to the surface, causing him to twitch slightly in response. Who were these people she was mentioning? Dimi's eyes were blank as he simply stared at the horizon, not entirely focused on anything in particular. When she touched him again, though, his eyes locked onto her form, observing her features and expression. She appeared so worried, which was odd for her to say the least. Her careful tug allowed him to release the grip on his chest and eventually lower his paw to the ground.


    "Byleth, I.. What's wrong?" Dimitri asked of her, puzzled for the moment until the realization of the pain coming from his chest was brought to his consciousness. He glanced down at his chest to notice the blood seeping from his usually pristine, cream fur. His ears flicked back against his skull as he brought his gaze to Byleth again, a look of fear passing through his eyes.


    What was wrong with him? What had happened?

    She has to remind herself, speak about it to herself mentally that she needed to stay calm. For Dimitri. For him, for him, for him. She reminds herself, forcing that usually calm look upon her face. She needed to be the professor that Dimitri knew, not some jokester or someone who couldn't even keep her own head.


    She desperately wanted control, like she always had- she knew the situations, and she could adapt to them easily. Even if panic bubbled underneath the surface, anxiety caused her legs to become numb, her look always held that sense of... nothingness. Not that she wasn't focused on anything, like His Highness was, but just she appeared to have no emotions whatsoever.


    What changed? What was up with her? No, no- this wasn't the time for this! The person who needed help right now was the crown prince. She lets go of him, relief flooding her gaze upon seeing his eyes. They were not milky or glazed over, and he appeared to be paying attention now.


    It was as if he broken cries for help, the ones that the being heard, all faded. She seemed... happy, that Dimitri was back. The tingling sensation in her paws went away, slowly, like static on a TV slowly being changed to an actual channel one could watch. She sees the crimson liquid flowing out of his chest and shuffles in her sword scabbard, sheath, whatever- for something. She pulls out some bandages, gently wrapping around his chest wound. When she looks up, she notices the embodiment of fear. The way sky blue optics were widened, ears against the skull...


    "I think you had a panic attack, Your Highness. Don't worry, all will be okay," she meows. Her voice is a tad shaky itself, but she is trying her best to sound comforting. Gentle. More like... Sothis.


    ♚ ･ﾟ: I’LL NEVER WEAR YOUR BROKEN CROWN — TAGS