Chapter Text
"Ah ah ah." I grimaced when he grabbed my arm, putting on an innocent look before looking back at him.
"Don't give me that look. Come on. Off." He commanded lightly.
I glared at him for a moment when he turned away, but I slid my shirt off anyway, pausing for a second and running my fingers a cross the too-tight cloth that held my chest in.
I looked up at Alexios.
Alexios's pov
When he looked up at me I saw a flash of desperation cross his features, like he was begging me to let it go, just this once.
I felt a pang in my heart and my stomach churned a little.
I hated doing this to him, but it would be worse for him if he didn't take it off.
"You're already in hot water for fighting in it. Off." I comanded again, softening my tone after scolding him, hoping he'd understand that I was only concerned for his well-being.
Reader's pov
I looked back down, again, tracing my fingers over it, savoring these last few moments of the comfort that came from the tightness around my chest.
I wasn't sure if I'd be okay tonight. Not that that's anything new but... I still didn't want to deal with it.
I looked up as a rough hand reached out and took mine carefully. I followed the path up, then met Alexios's eyes as he placed a small kiss to my knuckles.
"It'll be alright, love. I'm right here. You can sleep in one of my shirts, if it'll make you feel better," he offered.
I let out a small laugh as he let go of my hand, then looked down, and back up.
"Promise?" I half-joked.
My part of that exchange sounded much drier than I meant it to, and I could feel the desperation in my own features.
Instead of answering he kissed my forehead, then grabbed a spare shirt.
I took a breath and quickly took off the make-shift binder, grabbing the shirt Alexios was offering and pulling it over my head before I had another second to think about it.
The sudden weight and heat of my chest made my head spin. It was awful. Tears began hurning my eyes and I crossed my arms, pushing my cheesy up a little, off the skin underneath.
Alexios carefully took me in his arms and led me to bed, laying me down, kissing my forehead again.
"Why are you even with me? You could be with a real man you know?" I asked weakly, looking at him. I didn't have the energy to look anywhere else.
He looked back at me for a moment, then shook his head, walking over and moving the blankets back, then crawling in bed with me, pulling them back up.
He put an arm around me and pulled me close so I was pressed against him.
"You may not have been born with the body of a man, but you're a better man, more of a man, than most of those I fight." He said simply.
I smiled a little, letting my arm snake around him.
Diff pov
That was all it took.
That one little movement and he knew he would be alright.