he only bears more regret knowing byleth feels worried. the guilt is immense, a constant drumming on his chest, a thorn to his side. it’s one pain after another, different, but still unbearable. he can’t help but hiss, not annoyed at byleth, per say, but at the situations that unfold, something that remains uncontrollable. “don’t be,” dimitri answers simply. “there is no need for concern.” the bags under his eyes would beg to differ ; his lips still chapped. “i didn’t think i needed to attend … i want to be here.” where the rain falls and he’s able to easily drown out everything else. he’s used to the cold. unlike byleth, he assumes. he tosses a sidelong glance, lips pursed tightly. and then, with a sigh : “unlike me, however, you shouldn’t be out here. you’ll catch a cold.” underneath the threatening rumble is something soft and concerned. his gentleness nestles ; he’s still himself, if only barely. 

                NOTHING  FEELS  COLDER  THAN  WATCHING  HIM  CRUMBLE.     like the pinch of winter , the breath of despair    --   she is a teacher.  he is her student.     (   she is meant to guide.   yet he is still lost.  )      the past five years have not been kind to him ;                                    neither has he been kind to himself.   she knew why ,   that brimming , hellish flame of hatred is all that fuels him now.   if only she had stayed.              be  with  him  to  calm  the  flame  before  it  became  wildfire. 

            byleth keeps herself in silence as she watches him huddle himself in the rain.  she ignores his words    --    stepping forward in the tears of the goddess. she feels the cold touch hit her skin , but it doesn’t make her falter.    she stands there now.     closer  to  his  side. 

                      “ oh , uh …   thank you , flayn.   these look lovely.   what sorts of flowers are these ?   i’ve never seen them before …  my knowledge is quite limited when it comes to florals. ”

                      SHOULD  IT  NOT  BE  THE  OPPOSITE  ?           quietly , she leans her head down so that he may better reach her.   it was strange for a boy ,   seemingly younger than she   ,    such as himself to be the one giving her a pat on the head.  but , no retort comes forward.   only silence.      (   she  did  not  hate  it  really.   )     affection was not her strongest suit , but a part of her believes that she may learn how to understand it better with this one         –       under his teachings , she may learn.    

❛  don’t worry ‘bout it teach, i can ha— woah ! ❜  upon losing his balance he is quick to lean to the right, hugging the tree in order to regain his balance. ❛  perhaps you are right. hold on let me get down. ❜  unlike the climb up, it’s much easier for him to get down. with his boots touching the ground again, he lets out a sigh and rubs the back of his head. that could have gone a lot better. 

                a sigh is granted.     ‘  how young.     with such energy and spirit , byleth almost feels out of place around THIS one.  she treads over to him while watching him climb down from his original spot    –    a hand reaches out to pluck a leaf stuck amidst the tresses of his hair.

Their new professor did seem quite the stoic woman. The never-changing expression of hers was making Dorothea question what was happening inside that head f hers. Usually, she was good at reading people, but with Byleht it wasn’t like that. No, it felt like the other was reading her like an open book and it was making her incredibly uncomfortable in some ways. The fact that she could be called out for her doings would not be the most pleasant thing to do. After all, Byleth did seem like someone who would care about her students’ happiness, but that would prove the fact that she might get into her business. Thus, Arnault wanted to see who this woman was for herself. 

“Yes, I was wondering about several things. Are you… free right now, Professor? Perhaps, would you like to join me for a cup of tea?”  The songstress tilted her head to the side, inquiring the other about spending a bit more time together. It would be better if they could speak privately without any prying eyes. 

                      hm . . .       a tilt of her head is offered at the start.  silence taming her tongue as usual.       (   an invitation for tea.   )       she was not the first to offer her , and yet it still surprises her every time. as a mercenary , she never had the luxury to simply sit still and                     relax ! with another.    especially so freely.  as difficult as it was , she must grow accustomed.  she is a professor now ;     A  TEACHER  TO  THESE  YOUNG  STUDENTS  AND  MINDS.    and of course , the best way to work with them is only when they are comfortable with each other. 

               byleth sets down her paperwork , standing up from her seat. she quirks the end of her lips up , smiling faintly. 

                         ‘   this was nostalgic.   ’         she thinks.       she remembered a few times before during those hazy days of CHILDHOOD when her father would read to her before bed.  quiet , violet - blue irises watch the other as his lips pour out the contents of the novel he holds.   every detail , plot points , characters.   transferred through his voice , it all draws out the imagination of it all.  stories have never piqued much of an interest to her                             until the presence of her students.   truly , they have changed her so.  to the point that literature has now found its way into her heart ;      a fondness for it now existing. 

                  her entire body eases and relaxes as she listens , a small smile obliviously finding itself onto the once , blank canvas of her expression. 

                          ‘  … thank you for reading to me.  i enjoyed that story very much.  ’

      BYLETH  HAS  APPEARED  !  WHAT  TO  DO ?

kick

awkward hug

bang

                ❛         i  spent             years           training  to  get  to  the  point  i  am  now               .               i  could             be  better               .          ❜

   ‘‘   oh,  professor  !  𝗂  𝗐𝖺𝗌  𝖺𝗍  𝗍𝗁𝖾  𝗂𝗇𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗒  𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍  𝗇𝗈𝗐,  did  manuela  not  tell  you  ?  huh,  𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥  .  .  .  but  yes,  everything  is  alright  now.  i  felt  a  little  dizzy,  that’s  all———  you  wouldn’t  make  me  train  while  i’m  still  vulnerable,  would  you  ?   ’’

                     ah , claude warned her about this.       she could see it plain as day.  she grew up as a mercenary , and searching for any hints of lies is what she practically ( trained ! ) herself to do.      ‘  she  earns  a  sigh.     dark irises look up and down in search of any more hints for her so - called                       vulnerable condition.