a lion among ladies

[backstreetbard]

[ Dorothea doesn't exactly love spending time in the cathedral of Garreg Mach's campus, as stunning as the stained glass windows and flying buttresses are to behold. She hasn't put stock in the Seirosi faith since she was six years old.

In spite of that, she can still be seen there often in the days following the mission to quell the Western Church's rebellion in Gaspard territory, her hand rubbing circles in Ashe's back. She understands what it feels like to lose a parent, though she doesn't speak of it; instead, she only listens as he very gradually works his way through the shock and pain. Sometimes the only comfort is commiseration.

It's draining, though. She has to step back eventually, to try and shake off the old familiar feelings that watching another orphan in mourning dredges up in her.

Standing on the bridge that leads to the cathedral, she inhales the fresh mountain air and releases a sigh as she looks out over the scenery. A flash of blue in her peripheral vision catches her attention, though, and she's back on stage, turning to face her new house leader. ]

On your way to pray?

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[backstreetbard]

She dozes for a while before waking them both before the sun even starts to turn the sky a pre-dawn pink. They both have to wash up, and she swaps out her sheets before heading to the infirmary.

She's there on time when class starts, though there's a pinched affect in her smile. She doesn't complain, just slides into the seat next to his with a posture that dares anyone to tell her she doesn't belong there.

And so the month passes: Dimitri joins Dorothea in her bed more and more often, learning each other'sbodies in more and more intimate ways, and every morning she drinks a tea to prevent them from continuing the Blaiddyd bloodline just yet. Her birthday comes and goes, and even though Byleth invites her to a quiet tea time, she doesn't tell anyone else--it seems gauche to celebrate when Flayn is still missing.

The fight in the catacombs below the monastery is an especially vicious one. Dorothea knows her limits, but she would kill Jeritza for laying hands on Manuela if she could. Flayn is recovered alive, much to most everyone's pleased surprise, along with another student Dorothea had never seen before. It seemed she'd been a student who was believed to have run away the previous year.

The arrival of the Wyvern Moon is celebrated with a fishing tournament to help cheer Flayn up after her ordeal, but Dorothea doesn't partake--she actually hates fish, she informs Dimitri as they stand at the far end of the pond, close to the greenhouse.

Of course, the highlight of the month is the Battle of the Eagle and Lion, won handily by the Blue Lion class with Byleth leading the way. Dorothea manages to pull Dimitri away for a private celebration of their own once all their classmates are busy enough with food and drinks that they might not be terribly missed.

The peace doesn't last long, unfortunately.

With the Red Wolf Moon comes disaster--rumors of illness in Remire Village, or even dark magic causing the people to run amok. It's a disturbing scene of smoke and fire and bloodshed, made that much worse when Dorothea sees the look in Dimitri's eyes as he takes in the scene. She grabs his wrist and squeezes tight.

"Stay with me, Dima."

[hauntedking]

Dimitri loses himself with Dorothea over the next few months. It's intense and intimate everything he wants. He lovers her, dearly, and despite the guilt that still tugs at him for indulging as he does, he cannot find it in himself to think that this is wrong. Not when it makes him - and her - so very happy. And especially when it provides a distraction from everything else. Even when his ghosts begin to whisper again and there's more fighting. More blood. Things start to get out of control and he can feel himself slipping, bit by bit, as everything starts to fall apart.

But she's there. They have one another.

Remire Village awakens something dark in him; something he'd buried from Duscur. He can feel anger starting to bubble up. Horror. A desire to do something to stop this, to punish the people responsible. He's not even aware that he's clenching his jaw. Then Dorothea touches his wrist and he turns on her with a low noise - something angry.

"This cannot be allowed to continue-!"

[backstreetbard]

"No, it can't," she agrees, shrinking back just a step when he rounds on her, "but you won't be able to help anyone if you lose control of yourself."

She can't deny that he's frightening her a little with that dark look in his eyes. She knows he's been struggling, and she's done her best to comfort him, but she's never seen him look as haunted as he does now.

There isn't time to talk more, though--Captain Jeralt starts barking out orders and the Professor leaps into action, dividing the class into groups to best tackle the chaos around them: cavaliers and lancers in the front to cut through the infected individuals in the hopes of reaching those still left to be saved, mages and healers in the back, and armored units to guard them from harm. It's a rescue mission, ultimately, but in the midst of the fighting appears the... librarian?

Except he isn't the librarian at all. Just what on earth is going on here?

[hauntedking]

Everything starts to happen quickly. He doesn't respond to her, lost in his own brooding and his own dark thoughts. The struggle is still there, even as he tries to remind himself that Dorothea is just trying to help him. He can do more. Should do more. But there's a battle to be fought and his role takes him to the front of the formation.

Which he wants, in all honesty. His blood feels like it's boiling.

Then the confrontation starts. The librarian is someone else entirely and Dimitri hurls himself into the fray without a second thought when Byleth gives the command. He's going to kill every last one of them. They're going to pay for this.

All of them.

And for a time, Dimitri is lost in his own rage as he crosses the battlefield like a storm.

[backstreetbard]

Watching Dimitri now, he moves less like a man and more like a force of nature--some brutal tidal wave washing over their enemies. It makes her afraid, not just for herself but for him as well. What can she possibly do in a situation like this except fight? Fight for her life, for his, for the lives of the villagers who've escaped death this long.

Using her magic to keep the maddened villagers at bay, Dorothea ushers the survivors past the remains of the smoldering village gates. Annette works in tandem with her, while Mercedes does her best to heal the worst of their injuries. The Death Knight's arrival presents one more challenge, but he seems to fixate on the Professor, at least, rather than chasing down the villagers or the students.

The attack is over almost as quickly as it began, with the Death Knight's speedy retreat and Solon warping away to continue his plots in the shadows. Dorothea can still feel her body buzzing with adrenaline, even as everyone struggles to regroup and hunt out any remaining stragglers. The whole village stinks like burned hair and flesh and scorched wood. One only needs to take a look at the gathered refugees to know it's going to be a long walk back to Garreg Mach.

Though she means to seek out Dimitri, Dorothea finds herself saddled with a pair of siblings who can't be older than five or six. Their parents are nowhere to be found, so it can only be assumed that they'll become wardens of the church. It's only after their weary party has arrived back within the monastery walls that she's able to catch him.

"Dima," she calls for him, jogging to reach him before he has the chance to disappear. "Don't go off alone, darling. Why don't we wash up and get some food? Not that I have much of an appetite right now, but we need to keep up our strength. It's been a hard day." She takes his hand in hers gently, squeezing once and lowering her voice. "I don't think either of us should be alone tonight. Let me take care of you."

[hauntedking]

When it's all over, Dimitri is exhausted worn ragged. He can barely remember some of the fighting and he returns to the monastery in a daze. He seems to look off into the distance before Dorothea calls his name and he sways, glancing at her with hollow, distant eyes.

"Oh. Dorothea..."

The rage has drained out of him by now, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion, hidden behind his normally calm exterior.

"I... couldn't ask that of you. You're probably just as tired as I am. But - but I would welcome your company, all the same."

She's right, honestly. Being alone with his thoughts is absolutely not what he needs right now.

[backstreetbard]

She knows she's right, and she still has enough energy to be pushy about it if she has to.

"Being tired isn't going to stop me from taking care of you," she replies, lacing her fingers through his. "Bathe first, then dinner, then bed. Your room or mine--I can't imagine anyone else caring what we do tonight, and they won't be holding class tomorrow after a day like the one we've had."

She guides him to the bath house, but doesn't dare linger beyond how long it takes to wash the dust of the road and the grime of battle out of her hair and off her skin, lest she doze off in the relaxing heat. Her mood improves drastically once she's clean, and when the both of them are dressed, she leads him again to the dining hall.

For once, Dorothea doesn't even bother trying to seem polite as she scarfs down a well-earned meal. And then? Well. She still makes sure to keep an eye on their surroundings when she sneaks Dimitri into her room, but it's as she suspected--everyone is too tired or preoccupied to care about what the two of them are doing. It's just as well; she kisses him the moment the door is closed and locked.

[hauntedking]

Dimitri manages a smile - more for her than for himself.

"Alright," he replies, "I'll see you afterwards, then."

He spends too much time in the bath. He has to convince himself to get out and get up and go to dinner, because he doesn't have appetite and the prospect of another tasteless meal doesn't do much to motivate him. He arrives a little late and eats a touch woodenly, but he does eat, so it's not as if he's starving himself. It's only when he and Dorothea have some time by themselves that some of that exhaustion falls a way. Bit by bit.

The door is shut and they're close again. For a little while he can feel alive. There's just Dorothea and the rest of the world is chased away from his thoughts. That will have to do, won't it?

So Dimitri kisses her in return, squeezing her tight to his chest, mouth already open as he deepens it, his breath escaping in a sigh.

"I need you..." He murmurs, "Now more than ever."

[backstreetbard]

Oh! All right, then. Dorothea initially hadn't been sure that Dimitri would be in the mood to reciprocate, and she'd been ready simply to hold him in her arms all night long if that's what he wanted. He wants her, though--no, needs her. This is something only she can accomplish.

"You have me, darling. Now and forever."

She guides him back, sitting him down on the edge of her bed and unclasping the gold buttons of her uniform. Her garments fall away, tossed aside haphazardly and kicked to the side. When she's fully nude, she begins to disrobe him next, taking over if he's already begun.

"Let me take care of you tonight, Dima."

[hauntedking]

"Thank you..."

Being close to her helped; losing himself with her helped even more - at least for the moment. It chased away other, darker thoughts, let him concentrate on something that wasn't his own morose thoughts, the misery of the day. Instead there was her and him and that was all he needed. As she starts to strip, he follows suit and by the time she's nude, he's trying to get his trousers off.

"I - I don't want you to have to take care of me all the time," he murmurs, face flushed, "...but I may not mind for tonight."

[backstreetbard]

She urges him to lie back so she can get those trousers off of him, adding them to the growing pile.

"We take care of each other, then, but I want you to feel special tonight. Extra loved. Because there's no one in the world I love more than I love you."

Once his pants are no longer a barrier, the strain on his smallclothes. She pulls those down as well and tosses them behind her, only checking to make sure they didn't land on her lantern before she begins stroking his cock.

There's a deepening familiarity now with all aspects of his body that hadn't existed a few short weeks ago, but it does nothing to replace the awe she always feels when they so much as touch their fingers together. Leaning down, her tongue swirls around the head of his cock, flicking under the tip before she takes him in her mouth.

[hauntedking]

"Dorothea..." Dimitri murmurs in response. He's not sure he has the words for anything else. The rest of his life has become so overwhelming that she is a single shining bright point. A relief. Even with arousal and heat coursing through his veins. He leans back with a low sigh and watches her, eyelids fluttering as his cock umps under her touch and pleasure dances up his spine.

"You're so beautiful..."

[backstreetbard]

A pleased hum is her response to his praise, and though she does glance up at him, her mouth is occupied in ways that preclude talking. She's taking things slowly for now, her head bobbing as she strokes his cock with one hand and runs the other up and down his thigh, over the muscles of his abdomen, gently caressing as much of him as she can reach.

When she eventually releases him, it's only to begin planting a trail of kisses from his hipbone and up his stomach, gently nipping every now and then to keep him on his toes. "I adore you," she murmurs against his skin, nuzzling into the divot between his pecs when she reaches it. "I would do anything for you, I love you so much. You're the world to me."

[hauntedking]

Her touch is gently and enticing and it makes his body sing. He shivers and closes his eyes as he tries to hold himself in check - he doesn't want to let himself go too early, after all - and he takes a long, slow deep breath as she starts kissing against his hip and stomach. He reaches down, hands carding into her hair and over her neck and shoulders with a low, soft sigh.

"And I love you. I love you so much. Beyond words."

He urges her up, wants to kiss her.

"Thank you for being here with me."

[backstreetbard]

"There's no place I'd rather be than here with you," Dorothea says, scooting up and in to kiss him deeply. She takes her time, their lips still joined as she moves to straddle his hips. The kiss is hungry, possessive, as is the way she touches him, but she doesn't want to tease him too much more or he won't last long, and she isn't close to being done.

Instead, she aligns their bodies and holds his cock in place just long enough for her to sink down onto his erection. Dorothea sighs and nuzzles his face, waiting a moment to let her body adjust before she begins to roll her hips.

[hauntedking]

"Good," he murmurs. The pain of the day fades a little as he draws her closer and the two of them kiss. Heat and arousal burn through everything else and for a little while he can forget. He kisses her in turn, just as hungry - if not more so - and then he shudders and gasps as she sinks down onto him. Worrying about whether they're going to be heard is a secondary concern to him for now. His hips rock up to meet her and he makes a muted noise against her lips, his hands grasping at her hip and at her breast, his desperation bleeding into his motions.

[backstreetbard]

Maybe it's selfish to be this gratified by how much he wants her, needs her, but she doesn't care. Maybe she needs to be needed this much--it means she's indispensable, irreplaceable, and the way Dimitri holds her makes her certain of that fact.

She sighs and moans into his mouth as each movement sends electric charges shivering up her spine. The size of him and the way her body has to stretch to take him all in is viscerally gratifying, even if it means she has to take things slow at first to avoid hurting herself. Dorothea sets a very deliberate pace, gradually increasing the speed until the bed creaks with their rhythmic motion.

To make things even better, she tugs at the hand on her hip, adjusting its position until Dimitri's thumb is over her clit. The added pressure and friction makes her lightheaded, and she whines softly as makes her whole body shiver.

[hauntedking]

He does still need a bit of guiding from time to time - but he learns quickly and he's just happy to please her. Eager to do it, really. So his thumb circles and drags against her clit in a light little touch as she rides him and his own hips rise to meet her. HE can let the rest of the world fade away and fall into their own mutual pleasure. He can just focus his thoughts on her instead of worrying about anything else. It's just the two of them and that building, enticing heat.

His lips trail from hers to leave a little love-bite against her throat and then the hollow of her shoulder. His breath rolls out in short, sharp pants against her skin and her name is on his lips with every movement he makes.

[backstreetbard]

In the ecstasy of the moment, it doesn't even occur to Dorothea to worry about the fact that she won't be able to cover the mark that the bite on her neck is certain to leave. All she cares about is him, and the places where their bodies meet. His big, strong hands on her and the way he feels inside her have her skin flushed and beaded with sweat. The room feels almost too hot to bear, but really it's just the two of them.

She whimpers aloud and quickly covers her mouth, her movements becoming more jumpy and erratic. Climax hits her like a bolt of lightning and her entire body goes tense, grinding down against him even as she clenches around him.

[hauntedking]

He isn't quite there yet - even with her body clenching tight around him and making him feel as if her body wants to milk him dry. His thrusts and the rolls of his hips are erratic; hard. He hitches his hips again and then again, fingers gripping at her with almost bruising force as he forgets his own strength for a few heartbeats. And as she shudders over him, he finally comes apart as well with a muffled noise of pleasure, his cock pulsing and twitching as he buries himself as deep as he can.

He has long ago stopped worrying about safety.

[backstreetbard]

There will definitely be bruises on her body in the morning, there's no doubt about that. She slumps, curling up on Dimitri's chest like a tired cat, nuzzling at his face and throat as she catches her breath.

"You're amazing," she murmurs, reaching to pull the covers over them. It's been an excruciatingly long day, and in the warm post-coital haze, Dorothea finds she can barely keep her eyes open.

Which is probably why she sleeps like a rock through the night once she falls asleep cuddled up in Dimitri's arms. The morning light in her eyes is what wakes her, and while she'd been glad to throw caution to the wind last night, it only makes things that much more urgent now.

"Dima, wake up," she whispers urgently, bolting upright and hopping out of bed. "We overslept!" And even though they don't have class today, it isn't as if they can spend the whole day locked up in her room without anyone taking notice. Her skin still feels sticky with dried sweat and... other bodily fluids, but she begins to get dressed, picking each garment up off the floor and shaking it out before hurriedly tugging them on.

[hauntedking]

Dimitri is in much the same boat; he just wants to curl up with her and be done with the world for a little bit. So he does - and promptly falls asleep curled up with her and for once he sleeps like the dead. And much like her, it's the morning light that wakes up. Once he realizes what's going on, a jolt of adrenaline gets him awake and he pops to his feet with a muttered oath. Like her, he hurries to get dressed.

If nothing else, he needs to go have a bath.

"If we hurry, maybe we can beat everyone else. They're probably still asleep..." He grimaces, "I'm sorry, Dorothea - I didn't mean for this to happen..."

[backstreetbard]

After last night, the both of them could use a bath.

"Don't blame yourself," she says, shimmying into her skirt and starting on the buttons of her jacket. "We obviously needed the sleep, and it's still early. The bells haven't even rung for breakfast yet." Once she's fully dressed, she nods and goes to the door, looking back at him as she grasps the handle. "All right, I'm going to check and make sure the coast is clear."

Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly to calm herself, Dorothea opens her door to peek out into the courtyard and--

Yelps in alarm, jumping back with her hands flying up into an instinctively defensive position for a moment, which allows the door to swing farther open than she'd intended. Gilbert is standing at the threshold, fist raised in preparation to rap on the door. Though someone who knows that Dorothea grew up being beaten by old noblemen could understand her fearful reaction, Gilbert just looks surprised, as does Seteth, standing a few paces behind him. Manuela is there as well, looking more concerned than anything.

Recovering quickly, Dorothea rushes to grab the door again, closing it until the opening is only wide enough to show her face, as she had originally intended.

"How can I help you all this lovely morning?" she asks, completely nonchalant. Gilbert crosses his arms, looking entirely unamused.

"I came to inquire as to his Highness' whereabouts. We have urgent business with him."

"Oh? Well, I'll be sure to tell him the--"

"Do not waste my time, young lady," Gilbert interrupts, his expression darkening. "This is the last place on the monastery grounds we thought to check, so certain were we that his Highness would not debase himself by--"

"Miss Dorothea," Seteth steps in, sensing that Gilbert's words are only going to become angrier going forward, "we saw Prince Dimitri in the room behind you when the door swung open."

[hauntedking]

Oops. Dimitri's eyes are frozen wide, staring at the group of older adults just outside the door as they try to sneak out. His lips work for a long moment, his cheeks starting to color, the blush starting to spread to his entire face as the enormity of what they've run into starts to come crashing down on him - although it's not all embarrassment. There's a flash of anger at Gilbert's mention of debasement. It shakes him free of himself and he nods, reaching forward to tug the door open a little wider to show himself. He's... a bit rumpled, to say the least, but he tries to maintain some dignity. Even if he is red as a tomato.

"I'm here. You don't need to keep looking any longer," he comments with a slow intake of breath, lips pressed together, "I - I was most certainly not debasing myself in any way-"

That's said with a meaningful glance at Gilbert, anger flashing behind his eyes.

"...I was spending time with my fiance after the arduous day we had yesterday. I - we - lost track of time and were so exhausted that we simply fell asleep on top of the bedclothes together and didn't wake up until this morning. You needn't cast aspersions on a woman who is very dear to me."

It's a terrible lie, but one that will hopefully help everyone save face. Even with the fiance bombshell thrown in for good measure.

[backstreetbard]

They've practically been caught in the act; Dorothea's heart is about to hammer its way out of her chest, but Dimitri pulls open the door with an air of authority--like a prince. Like a king. The way he stands up for her brings a fresh wash of color to her face, especially when his eyes cut to Gilbert, and she can feel her fear subsiding. He loves her, and he won't back down, even when the Knights of Seiros come to call.

The next bit is significantly more surprising, however. It's lucky for them that she's a consummate actress, able to keep her expression even. His fiancée? Yes, of course this isn't the first she's heard of it, thank you kindly. The reactions of the gathered faculty and staff vary, however, from Manuela's delighted shock to Seteth's neutral surprise to Gilbert's thinly-veiled anger.

"You intend to marry this girl, Your Highness? A commoner with no crest?" It seems that he's forgotten their indiscretion for the moment, for which she's thankful. "Does Rodrigue know of this? Have you discussed it with anyone? Do you have any idea how this will affect the Kingdom?"

"Now you just hold your horses a minute," Manuela interjects heatedly, hands planted on her hips. "Don't you act so high and mighty about this. What exactly are you trying to say, here? Dorothea is an amazing young woman! You think you're too good to have someone like her as your queen? And besides, I thought you gave up your connection to the Kingdom ages ago? Why make such a fuss about it now?"

"Please, everyone, restrain yourselves! This is getting well out of hand," Seteth says, finally deciding to bring order to the growing chaos at Dorothea's door. "Prince Dimitri, Dorothea--I trust you are both aware that this sort of fraternization is strictly prohibited, even if the two of you are engaged to be married. That is an issue that we can revisit at a later time, however; the reason we were trying to find Prince Dimitri remains of far greater urgency."

Gilbert crosses his arms, clearly not satisfied at being unable to answer Manuela's rebukes, but he nods once.

"Your Highness, this matter is best not discussed in... such a venue. Make yourself presentable and meet us in the Archbishop's audience chamber. Her attendance is not required," he adds, gesturing to Dorothea.

"Hey! Where he goes, I go," she counters. "If it's important to him, it's important to me."

Seteth pinches the bridge of his nose but doesn't seem prepared to press the issue.

"Both of you should present yourselves. See that you do not keep Her Holiness waiting."