[ Dimitri listens, because he doesn't want to interrupt— doesn't want to miss a moment of the rare time Byleth does speak. He watches him, quiet and firm, absorbing what becomes more and more strange information—
He always knew something was different about Byleth, but with all that had occurred— so fast and one after the other, there really was no time to linger on it all. Especially when they found out the identity of the Flame Emperor so soon after it... and there was so little time to actually sit and talk.
However, as Byleth moves his hand to his chest, Dimitri does tense, if only in the realization that he somehow never noticed this when he held Byleth. And he's held him enough times since coming here, which makes his mouth part in surprise and his single eye widen in shock as he looks over at him.
He composes himself moments after, but it takes him some time to process it. His expression softens, but also grows troubled as he shifts his hand to slide up the side of Byleth's neck, looking sharply into his eyes.
His words are laced with guilt— and perhaps a hint of hurt. ]
Why did it take you so long to tell me?
[ He'd had such troubling thoughts about why Byleth had suddenly grown distant, each one worrying that he'd been the cause, when— he hadn't even mattered. Byleth was suffering alone, wearing this burden, and he didn't seek to tell him? ]
After I asked you to— that no matter what the problem, we'd get through it together...
[ His other hand lifts to cup the other side of Byleth's face. ]
Why would you suffer alone when you didn't have to?
[ Unless he did tell someone else— someone far more trustworthy to him. He wouldn't blame him, but what good is he if he can't even bear the burden of his beloved's pain together with him? ]
no subject
He always knew something was different about Byleth, but with all that had occurred— so fast and one after the other, there really was no time to linger on it all. Especially when they found out the identity of the Flame Emperor so soon after it... and there was so little time to actually sit and talk.
However, as Byleth moves his hand to his chest, Dimitri does tense, if only in the realization that he somehow never noticed this when he held Byleth. And he's held him enough times since coming here, which makes his mouth part in surprise and his single eye widen in shock as he looks over at him.
He composes himself moments after, but it takes him some time to process it. His expression softens, but also grows troubled as he shifts his hand to slide up the side of Byleth's neck, looking sharply into his eyes.
His words are laced with guilt— and perhaps a hint of hurt. ]
Why did it take you so long to tell me?
[ He'd had such troubling thoughts about why Byleth had suddenly grown distant, each one worrying that he'd been the cause, when— he hadn't even mattered. Byleth was suffering alone, wearing this burden, and he didn't seek to tell him? ]
After I asked you to— that no matter what the problem, we'd get through it together...
[ His other hand lifts to cup the other side of Byleth's face. ]
Why would you suffer alone when you didn't have to?
[ Unless he did tell someone else— someone far more trustworthy to him. He wouldn't blame him, but what good is he if he can't even bear the burden of his beloved's pain together with him? ]