Work Text:
Claude had approached this meeting with a surplus of backup plans and backup plans for those backup plans. Even if he is on friendly terms with the King of Faerghus (for now– no, stop that), there’s a million and one different ways this could all go south if he isn’t careful, and who is he if not one to prepare for the worst of any possible situation? Yet as he explains the details of his plan—ideas of how to solve Faerghus food problem—that earnest expression and that kind blue eye make him internally question just how deep he’s in here. Much to his own surprise - and slight horror - he’s finding himself to be less terrified for the next stage of his plan. And though Claude is still terrified of letting anyone in to who he really is, he knows he needs a strong ally. After meticulously going over every option over and over and over, Dimitri had seemed like the best bet: He’s the king of Faerghus, so if he wins his loyalty he has the Holy Kingdom on his side, they’ve already built a rapport on their own (one that leaves Claude wondering if maybe something is there, though that is a thought for another day). And hey, Dimitri’s the strongest guy he knows! He’s gone over it in his head a thousand times by now, justified this plan over and over again in his head for days until the day of their meeting had arrived. He needs this alliance, and that means just this once, he has to come clean. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s had to push aside his own comfort for the greater good.
He’s only just finished with the story of where he’s from and how his birth name is actually Khalid, voice calm and steady unlike his pounding heart, when he feels those big, achingly strong muscles wrapping around him. Claude stiffens at first; he’s unused to this kind of contact, far more familiar with hands that hurt than hands that hold. He’s stunned, then unsure how to proceed, but eventually settles on weakly hugging back as he hides his face in his friend’s shoulder. A good thing, too, as the warmth on his face tells him that he is dangerously close to blushing—less so from the physical contact, and more so from how inexplicably sincere this man is! Claude had prepared himself for countless outcomes to their talk, and yet somehow he failed to take into account how ridiculously sweet and honest Dimitri can be.
Then, a simple whisper in his ear as their hug draws to a close— “Thank you for telling me, Khalid.”
And somehow hearing his real name had never felt so good.