#dimleth

Requests are open!

AN: I had a few requests for this one! I hope this was okay for you all. I tried to make it as in character as possible, but I don’t know if I managed it. Either way, thank you for your requests!

Is Dad a Pirate? (Dimitri x Female Byleth)

The prospect of being a father hadn’t occurred to Dimitri before. Sex and being married had been pushed aside as a teen at the academy. It was just another duty, and being married to a stuffy noble and forced to have an heir had been brushed aside as nothing more than that. He’d never thought he’d have been so broken that the idea had repulsed him. Now it was different. The voices came and went, lingering sometimes in night terrors and other times whispering to him in meetings. He’d learned to cope. Byleth’s soft touch soothed his nightmares in the middle of the night, and a warm hand in his own in the meetings often pushed aside the voices.

Dimitri had finally learned to rely on someone again. 

She had become the Mother to his children. 

Dimitri had refused to hold their first born, hands shaking and teeth gritted as he stood at a distance, looking at the fragile creature. Much like his mother, he didn’t cry, his eyes closed as he blissfully slept away the hours. 

He’d sobbed into his hands by the bed that night, looking in the cradle at the soft blond hair wrapped in blankets. A winter child. Their baby would need many layers to survive the bitter winter of Faerghus. Tears wet his own hands before he wiped his palms on his soft cotton bottoms and stood over their child. He scooped the baby into his arms and cried again, whispering softly before the child stirred and whined once, burping softly before a small hand clutched at his nose, groping blindly, wide green eyes looking at his father’s face.

“I love you, little one. I will never be parted from you or your mother...not ever again.” 

Their firstborn was named after Byleth’s father, the boy quite mild until he was let out into the castle grounds. Their second son was much softer, green hair reminiscence of his mother yet his bright blue eyes the mirror image of Dimitri’s and named Vladimir. It was Dimitri’s choice and the boy was often tucked under his father’s cloak, sticking his tongue out at his elder brother, a book of tactic’s clutched to his chest.

“Jeralt!” Dimitri’s voice boomed down the stables, his hair pulled back in a leather tie, Vladimir tucked into his side, under his cloak as usual. It was a bitter cold day, snow flaking to the ground, “Leave the mares be!” His gaze softened as Jeralt faltered, eyes lowering to the ground, hands leaving the mare’s flank. She whinnied before kicking the stall, jolting Jeralt out of his stupor. 

“Papa!” Jeralt dashed from the horse, hair flopping into his face as he too slid into Dimitri’s great cloak. Vladimir looked at the horse, nose red as he rubbed it, before smiling and reaching for the war horse’s nose. Rose clamed softly, letting Vladimir pet her. She was young, barely two years old and not broken in. Vladimir laughed at her, petting her nose softly.

“You need to leave them be, Jeralt.” Dimitri grumbled before hefting the nine year old up onto his hip. He stooped to scoop his younger son up, Vladimir poking Jeralt’s shoulder before gently pulling his elder brother’s hand towards the mare. She reluctantly let him stroke the length of her nose.

“You just need to be nice to her, Jeralt.” Vladimir smiled and patted the end of Rose’s nose.

“I am!” Jeralt insisted as Dimitri laughed. The eldest flushed with embarrassment before leaning over to hug Rose’s face. 

“Now now. Stop it, both of you. No arguing. Rose is not your horse, Jeralt, she is Vladimir’s, and you would do well to remember it. Elk is your steed for now.” He let his sons down out of his arms before he pressed a kiss to each of their hair’s. “Go and collect your tack, Jeralt. I’ll help you get Elk ready. Vladimir can ride with me...I’m afraid you’re not old enough to be riding Rose yet.” The younger son nodded and padded after his brother, shuddering as he went. He wasn’t accustomed to the cold, always by Dimitri’s side, tucked into the King’s warmth. 

A rich laugh sounded behind him and Dimitri felt his heart swell, “Byleth.” His mint haired wife moved into the stable and pressed a kiss to Dimitr’s cheek before swooping past him, helping Vladimir reach the top shelf of tack before laughing at Jeralt.

She returned with warmth etched into her features, “They want to know if you were once a pirate, my love.”

Dimitri’s face twisted in confusion, “A pirate? What gave you both that idea?” He shook his head, kneeling down to look at his two sons, his armour clanking softly.

“The eye patch.” Byleth patted the black leather with a laugh, taking Elk’s saddle before strapping the soft tack around the small practice horses’ stomach. The Gelding continued to chew hay as Dimitri sighed.

“It’s true. I did once meet a band of pirates. They gave me this for helping them find their lost treasure.” Dimitri watched his son’s eyes go wide with delight.

“Woah! Papa, that’s so cool!” Jeralt grinned and hugged his brother tight, Vladimir frowning and poking his bottom lip.

“Are you sure? I thought pirates were criminals?” Vladimir grumbled, fidgeting before he tucked himself back into the thick fur of Dimitr’s cloak, Jeralt following. 

Dimitri laughed when he heard Byleth chuckling from behind Elk.

“I’m sorry for lying to you both...No. I got this eyepatch to protect my eye. Its injured you see.” Dimitri stroked his son’s hair as Byleth led Jeralt’s bay horse out of his stall. She quickly placed her son on his horse, watching their stable boys rush to prep the King’s great black war horse.

Byleth kissed each of them on the cheek before waving gently, “Look after each other boys. I have mass to attend...I love you all.” She pressed her fingers to her heart before gesturing the fingers towards Dimitri. He returned the gesture with a warm heart, taking Vladimir to his own horse.