Fire Emblem Pride Week

It was the 27th day of the Pegasus Moon, which meant that it was Araial’s 24th birthday - the first birthday he would celebrate after his marriage to King Dimitri of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. As the new prince consort, he had been working hard, studying everything he could to be able to be of more help to Dimitri. Today, he planned on doing the same, not knowing what surprises that Dimitri had come up with.

Araial headed to the castle library, his mind already occupied with his intended subjects of study. When he entered the library, though, he noticed that the books he had set aside were not where he had left them. He looked around, thinking that they had mistakenly been re-shelved, but ended up finding them on top of one of the taller shelves. He tried to reach them, but was startled when Dimitri suddenly came into view.

“Oh no you don’t,” Dimitri said teasingly. “You’re not allowed to work today. I’m not letting you.”

Araial looked at his books, and then back at his husband.

“Dima… Did you put those books up there?” he asked. “You’re one of the few people who could reach up there, and I doubt Dedue did that.”

Dimitri chuckled. “I did,” he replied. “I knew you’d be going to get them, so I put them in a place where you wouldn’t be able to. I have better plans. First, let’s go to the garden. I have a surprise for you there.”

Araial knew that there had been construction going on near the garden for months. He now wondered if it had anything to do with the surprise. He followed Dimitri closely, his curiosity piqued.

Once they reached the garden, Dimitri led Araial to the edge of the garden. There stood a large greenhouse - a place where things could be grown without being affected by Faerghus’s frigid weather. Araial stared at the greenhouse, his eyes wide.

“This… it’s for me…?” he asked incredulously. At Dimitri’s nod, Araial broke out into a bright smile.

“I know you really love flowers, but I also know that they’re difficult to grow here,” Dimitri explained. “I wanted to give you a place where you could grow many flowers, where you could go when you need a rest.”

“Thank you, Dima,” Araial replied, his voice strained with emotion. “I’ve only ever gotten one birthday gift before now…”

Dimitri turned to Araial. “Tell me about that gift,” he said softly.

Araial’s expression grew wistful. “It was a gift from my father for my tenth birthday,” he began. “He had seen me drawing in the dirt with a stick, only to get frustrated when the wind would ruin my drawings. He saved up to buy me my first sketchbook and pencil. That’s when I began putting effort into my art.

“Your father was a good man, Araial,” Dimitri murmurs. “I can see how you turned out so wonderfully. Happy birthday, my love. Here’s to many more.”

Araial’s heart was still racing. He couldn’t believe that Dimitri had not only confessed his love to him but had also proposed to him on the same day. He and Dimitri were now sitting with their allies, ready to deliver the news.

“You both seem excited about something,” Sylvain said. “Come on, spill the beans!”

Dimitri laughed. “All right, all right,” he said. “You’re so impatient. So anyway… the news is… I’ve made my choice of consort.”

“Ooh! Who is it?” Annette asked, bouncing excitedly.

“I’ve chosen Araial to be my husband,” Dimitri replied. “We have loved one another for years without me knowing that he felt the same. There’s no time like the present, so I proposed.”

Felix huffed. “I should’ve known. I knew you couldn’t stay oblivious forever, Boar.”

“You two were very obvious, especially Araial,” Ingrid agreed.

Araial blushed. “So… you all knew this whole time? I thought only Felix knew…”

Everyone laughed, although not in derision - rather, it was a fond laugh.

“At first, I wondered why Araial was so desperate to learn noble manners,” Ferdinand said. “But it soon became very apparent that he held a torch for Dimitri.”

Araial found his blush growing deeper. Dimitri patted his back reassuringly.

“It seems that His Highness was the only one who didn’t know,” Dedue added, crossing his arms. “But nevertheless, I know that Araial will make him happy. He is a man with a kind and gentle heart.”

Ashe beamed broadly. “I agree. And His Highness is a good man as well. They’re a great match.”

“I’ll make the wedding cake!” Mercedes announced. She was met with cheers - her talents in baking were well-known.

Meanwhile, Byleth observed the whole scene, feeling proud of himself. He had also seen how Araial looked at Dimitri, and so he had purposefully paired them for activities and missions to try to bring them closer together. Now, he sees that his efforts were probably helpful.

“Congratulations, both of you,” Byleth says. “I’m happy for you. I’m also happy to see how supportive your friends are. You have made many wonderful connections over the years.”

Dimitri stands before Zach's dorm room with his hands clasped behind his back and his head held high.

The pinkness creeping up his neck and ears betrays how nervous he actually is.

It wasn't a big deal. It really wasn't. Zach had asked him to help administer his testosterone, as his cousin Raphael was away on a mission. But the situation felt intimate nonetheless.

Zach was *trusting* him. Allowing the prince into his room when he was at his most vulnerable. It spoke volumes of the trust between them. Of how close they've grown in so little time.

With a deep breath Dimitri opens the door and steps inside.

Zach's room was an absolute disaster, nothing like his own neat and tidy space. Half finished projects were strewn across a blacksmith's workbench that most definitely *wasn't* supposed to be there.

Materials were stacked along the walls, trinkets and tools lining the shelves above them.

And the bed. The bed was piled high with blankets and plush animals, like a child's dream come true. It was so painfully *Zach*. Unapologetic in it's comfort.

Nestled between the sheets with a small smile is the man himself. Zach's eyes shine like the sun as his grin stretches awkwardly across his face.

He's showing too many teeth.

It's the most beautiful thing Dimitri has ever seen.

"Hey." Zach calls out, cheeks just as pink as Dimitri's.

"Are you sure you want to do this? I could probably harass Ignatz into helping instead."

Dimitri shakes his head.

"No, no. I... I want to. Do this, that is."

He feels like an idiot as he stands there, heart hammering in his chest.

Zach's in nothing but his boxers, pale scars ghosting his body as a reminder of his insecurities. Dimitri didn't care. He was no less of a man because of his appearance.

Zach laughs softly.

"Don't sound so egar, Mitri."

The endearment is second nature by now, but never fails to cause a warmth to fill Dimitri's heart. What did he do to deserve someone who loved him so deeply? Not as a prince, but as *Dimitri*.

Zach continues, flipping onto his stomach and reaching out to grab a sterile needle.

"Okay, so... All you need to do is pinch the skin together and press the needle in. Keep it pinched until you're done."

Dimitri's hands shake as he shuffles closer, taking the prepped needle with extra care. The last thing he needed was to hurt Zach with his enhanced strength. He nods along.

"Where do I inject it?"

Dimitri looks down at Zach, who is suddenly blushing harder.

"Uhhh. S- so this is the weird part. It goes right in the middle of my ass cheek."

Zach laughs at his own words. He's hiding how uneasy he is behind humor, actually terrified of scaring his partner off.

"...Oh. I see... And you trust me to do this? Are you certain?"

He doesn't mean to sound doubtful, but his hands are still shaking. What if he messes this up? Would Zach hate him?

"....I am. I trust you."

Zach interrupts his doubts plainly. Truthfully. He really does trust Dimitri with this.

"So... Whenever you're ready."

Dimitri nods slowly as he clears his throat. His face burns as he gently pinches Zach's soft and pale skin between his fingers.

"Do I you want me to count down? Sh- should I go fast or slow? Do you thi-"

Zach cuts him off with a grunt.

"Dimitri, just give me the damn shot."

Dimitri swallows as he steels himself, poking the syringe into the skin and injecting the hormones.

Then he pulls it out before handing it back to Zach for disposal.

"That's was... Far easier then I thought it would be."

Zach just laughs.

"Haha, yeah? That's... That's good. Thank you. Really."

A moment of peace settles between them as Zach slowly rolls over after cleaning the needle and bandaging his behind.

"...hold me?"

Zach tilts his head and reaches out, offering himself to Dimitri. Whatever tension was still in the air disappears completely as Dimitri nods and slowly lays down beside Zach in the blankets.

"...you realize I hang out with you because I WANT to, right? Not just because you're Dimitri's retainer."

Zach kicks his feet as he sits beside Dedue after a bit of sparring. His wild brown hair is fluffed up from running around, and he's panting softly.

"Like... Sometimes I wonder if you consider us friends. I know I do."

He says it plainly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Dedue wasn't just his ally. He was kind and strong, and they both cared deeply for the same person.

Dedue simply frowns, looking at his axe as he sharpens the blade. He remains silent for a moment longer before responding.

"You should be careful to call a man of Duscur your friend. Rumors spre–"

Zach interrupts him with a hiss, his fists gripping onto the bench hard enough to scratch the wood. He had a feeling Dedue would go there right away.

It always pissed him off when others would whisper and glare at Dedue as if he was some personification of evil. Because he wasn't.

"I don't care about what other people say! That's dumb! And I'm not even from Faerghus, I'm a blacksmith from Leicester. YOU are the kindest most gentle man I've ever met, you have a heart of gold and a body of steel. Beautiful and strong."

Dedue is taken aback for a moment by the anger on his behalf. But Zach isn't done, and throws his hands up to articulate further. Zach's voice raises in pitch as he wiggles in his seat.

"Like, also, the people of Duscur are completely innocent. I know that, you know that, and Dimitri knows that. Anyone who believes otherwise is fucking STUPID."

The moment stretches on after that, Zach's hands falling to his knees as he sighs. He doesn't look at Dedue as a soft pink blush covers his cheeks.

He didn't mean to lash out like that, he just wanted to communicate how much he appreciated Dedue.

"I- I'm sorry for yelling. It's just... You're one of the few people who look past my appearance and see me as myself. As Zach. I can't... I don't..."

Zach trails off again, curling up slightly. The sun sets over Garreg Mach monastery, casting the two in a beautiful golden glow. Then suddenly there is a hand in Zach's hair, ruffling it.

Dedue's lips curl into the ghost of a smile as he looks down and nods.

"Yes. I suppose I would consider you my friend as well. You too are kind, if not a bit blunt."

Zach's eyes sparkle as he perks right back up, his smile beaming brighter then the sun behind him. With a soft laugh he nudges Dedue with his elbow.

"Glad to hear it, big guy. Now enough talking, I'm hungry. You wanna go meet up with Mitri and the rest of the lions? I'm sure Claude wouldn't mind if I skipped out on golden deer's chaos for one night."

FE Pride Week June 28 - July 4th

FE Pride Week June 28 - July 4th

FE Pride Week June 28 - July 4th

FE Pride Week June 28 - July 4th