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Dimitri had not yet noticed he was being watched, but that was just part of his charm. Claude himself could enter a state of focus so strong that nothing barring divine intervention could move his attention. But such states were often confined to the office; Dimitri tended to give his utmost in everything he did, be it watching a boiling pot to threading a needle to picking produce at the store. Still, Dimitri was only buttoning his shirt and redoing his cufflinks, which had been carefully placed on the table last night - Claude’s own clothes were a lost cause; he’d probably be finding his underwear across the room - which usually did not require rapt concentration.
So he was thinking about something else completely unrelated to getting dressed. Claude could venture a guess to what it could be: perhaps a pending merger, or a delayed project, or the onboarding of the new slew of graduates that entered every year. A CEO’s son, positioned to inherit the family corporation, would have no shortage of responsibilities vying for priority. Of course, knowing Dimitri, it could be something else completely. He could be mapping out his route to the office, stopping at his penthouse apartment to grab a few files and his bag. Maybe those two hotheads, childhood friends who had risen up through college and the working world with him, had gotten into another argument he needed to mediate. His father might have requested his presence at dinner with his stepmother, whom Dimitri had never quite fully managed to charm. Or else - Dimitri was thinking of Claude, despite having spent the previous evening and entire night with.
That was a dangerous line of thought, so Claude broke the silence. “Up so early? I guess early to rise really does make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
If Dimitri was startled, he hid it well. “I’m sorry for waking you.”
“You didn’t.” He stared Dimitri down, letting a smug grin settle on his face despite being completely undressed underneath the twist of sheets. At Claude’s place, he was king of the domain, his bed his throne. But Dimitri was fidgeting, so he relented. “You’re worried about something. Do you have a call soon?”
“No, not that.” At Claude’s beckon, he came and sat on the edge of the mattress. “I feel...bad. No, guilty. I’m always leaving in the morning, and it’s making me feel like I’m...er, hitting it and quitting it.”
Claude let out a bark of laughter. That had to be a phrase Sylvain taught him. “If you left last night, maybe I’d accuse you of that. You know we can’t be at your place, since your father loves to visit. It’s no big deal. We’re busy men with busy schedules.” When Dimitri’s shoulder stayed slumped, Claude tried teasing. “Oh, but little ol’ me will stave off the loneliness with the knowledge that you’re thinking of me. It’ll tide me over until I can see you again.”
Dimitri’s hand somehow found Claude’s, gently rubbing his thumb over Claude’s fingers. “And you will see me again, I can promise that.”
Biting down a response, Claude pulled his hand away. “Alright, that’s enough cheese from you this morning. You better go before you go off schedule; that secretary of yours will be nervously waiting for you.”
Dimitri moved, then paused, then started again, and then paused again. This elaborate dance felt even more conspicuous in private. It would be so easy to lie back down again, to completely pull away and remove the opportunity. Instead, Claude remained upright, only falling to let his pillows catch his head once Dimitri had finally summoned up the courage to kiss him - on his head, between his brows. Claude hated the feeling of disappointment that dissolved as he stared up at the ceiling.
“I’ll call you,” Dimitri promised, and then he was out of the room. The door to the apartment opened and closed a moment later.
“I’m fucked, aren’t I?” Claude asked aloud. There was the off-chance that his grandfather had bugged his apartment, although it was improbable; surely the old man would have said something by now, hearing his grandson’s infrequent-to-frequent trysts with the rising head of one of their competitors. He was still under scrutiny, and would probably never leave it after his mother had doomed her lineage for daring to pursue another life outside of the Riegan conglomerate. Entering the pipeline had not really been an aspiration, but a challenge that interested Claude more than his other career prospects. In any case, his grandfather might respect his attempt at business politicking by seducing the Blaiddyd heir of Faerghus and ruining him, but would definitely draw the line over being privy about the details.
Except, the scenario that Claude hadn’t even bothered to consider since it seemed too preposterous was coming true. He had mapped out exit strategies in case the scheme went belly up - they were discovered by someone, he leaked something that could only have one source, Dimitri had suspected something. Dimitri, while initially very mum over any pillow talk that involved work, eventually could be coaxed to talk about why he was stressed and subsequently released this stress by fucking Claude right into the bed. So Claude was confident that he had come up with a plan that ensured only his success and then he caught feelings.
Of course, his feelings weren’t the type to make him confess or call it all off and abandon his position. Separate, they were capable leaders who genuinely cared for the future of their companies. In private, while Claude pushed for activities besides sex to make the illusion of a relationship seem more real, he’d found himself starting to feel butterflies in his stomach whenever Dimitri stammered out sweet nothings and they were going on more dates that did not involve physical intimacy. Claude was confident that Dimitri had completely fallen for him, now boldly stealing kisses when no one was looking and prioritizing him over getting drinks with his friends or spending time alone. They had not put labels on their situation, even between themselves, because it had felt like too large of a step for two alleged business rivals. The problem was, it seemed that something serious was really the only next step and his heart of hearts actually wanted it. This completely contradicted his original motivations of gathering intel for the purpose of Faerghus’s downfall (and if it happened to also take down Adrestia, then all the better).
It seemed the only recourse was to break it off. Sure, it might break Dimitri’s heart, even if they had never exchanged declarations of love. If Claude was feeling particularly cowardly, he might chalk it up to reasons that dogged all upper management’s relationships: he was too busy and couldn’t give his full attention, he was worried about staying professional. But while whatever they had was straddling the line between casual and serious, it was still technically casual, so either of them had the right to call it quits without consequence. They were rivals, but Dimitri was genuine and good-hearted; it was for his own good that Claude ought to end it now.
If it also helped Claude protect himself, well, then the right thing to do was quite obvious.
Dedue was used to Dimitri’s occasional bouts of moodiness. Dimitri, while determined and sometimes ruthless in his management style, was a sensitive soul. He could be moved by sob stories and cries for help. Dimitri coming to work with a troubled look was nothing new. Dedue had a feeling he knew the reason; Dimitri was looking especially polished this morning. While the rising future leader of Faerghus was never seen in public looking anything but his best, a meticulous attempt to remove every single wrinkle or speck of dust only meant he had something to hide.
“Good morning,” Dedue said. He read off Dimitri’s schedule for the day, giving pauses for corrections or notes. There were none. As Dimitri entered his personal office, Ashe was there at Dedue’s side with a hot cup of coffee. They exchanged looks; those who had been at Dimitri’s side the longest since he began his upward ascent in the company were keenly aware of his mood based on how straight his back was.
“I hate to overstep my boundaries,” Dedue began, setting the cup of coffee in front of Dimitri. Dimitri was booting up his computer and looking over the files on his desk but he was tapping his fingers, a sign that his mind was wandering. “But...I have to ask. Is something heavy on your mind?”
Dimitri had the sense to wait a beat before groaning. “Dedue...it’s something personal.”
“Your secrets are my secrets, sir.”
Dimitri buried his face in his hands. “I can’t help but want to know what Claude thinks of me. He lets me hold his hand and accompany him on holidays, but I can’t help thinking my feelings aren’t getting across. I’m always leaving early or canceling plans because of work. What if he thinks work is more important than he is to me? Obviously, we’re important people to our companies, and we have our duties, but...what if he thinks it’s just a fling?”
Dedue’s face was fixed to neutral. “Has he said anything about what he feels?”
“You know how he is. He’s always so flirty. One moment I think he likes me, the next moment I realize he hasn’t really said anything of substance about us. I...care about him so much, it bothers me that he might mistake my balancing of work and personal life as indifference.” Dimitri was too well-mannered to groan again, but Dedue could practically see the smoke coming out of his ears.
“Well...it’s not my place to say anything, but…”
The door to the office burst open without warning. Claude stormed in, with Ashe frantically chasing after him. “Dimitri,” Claude announced. “Go steady with me. Be my boyfriend.”
Dimitri’s mouth dropped open. “Claude?” he said, disbelievingly.
“I thought about this long and hard, and I just don’t think any other arrangement would suit what I want and need, and frankly, I don’t think anything else would suit what you’re looking for either. We don’t need to make any announcement and we can bide our time until a strategic alliance might benefit the both of us. I just - I’m letting myself be selfish a little.” Claude glanced at the others in the room, Dedue standing next to the desk and Ashe coming up next to him with concern. “Obviously, whatever is said in this room is in complete confidence.”
Dedue closed his eyes. “It need not be said.”
Claude drew himself up to his full height. He was slightly shorter than Dimitri, but with Dimitri seated, he struck an imposing figure. “Well? You don’t have to answer right away, but I suspect you have one already.”
“Yes.” Dimitri sounded stunned, but the color was coming back to his cheeks. “Of course. I’ve wanted...if you’d have me. I’m yours.”
They had the propriety of not embracing or touching, but the air was still light and sweet. “What’s going on?” Ashe asked, whispering. Dedue was sure that neither Claude nor Dimitri was really aware that there was an audience anymore. Swallowing a sigh - Dimitri knew best, most of the time - Dedue gently guided Ashe out of the office. It would be less painful for all parties involved if the two company successors were let alone. He would slightly adjust Dimitri’s schedule to account for the sudden meeting, but the day marched on.