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Dimitri could hardly believe his eyes.
The professor was sitting cross-legged on the ground near the stables, a basket full of fish by her side and a veritable flock of cats all around her. She chuckled softly while scratching a grey-and-white cat behind the ears. Then she took a fish out of her basket and laid it on the ground in front of the cat. It made a small sound and sunk its teeth into the fish. The professor repeated the process for the next cat.
Dimitri had heard rumours about the professor tending to the monastery’s various cats and dogs, but the thought of his stoic teacher fussing over those soft little furballs had struck him as odd at best. The woman he admired for her fighting prowess and teaching skills somehow didn’t seem the type to coo over kittens in her free time.
And yet here she was, barely visible among all the cats, who were happily meowing, purring or climbing the professor’s back and arms.
‘You could help me, you know,’ she said quietly, without warning or turning her head. ‘Those little ones would be happy to have another human to play with. And to feed them.’ She still didn’t turn around, but laid another fish in front of the next cat instead.
Dimitri emerged from his hiding place behind the stable door. ‘Umm, sorry Professor,’ he stammered. ‘I – I didn’t mean… to spy on you…’ Oh perfect. He must seem like a complete flustered mess. That was not the way you should behave as a house leader at Garreg Mach. Let alone as future king of Faerghus.
‘I know,’ the professor said. ‘Would be rather foolish of you to try.’ Now she did turn around, facing him with a glint in her eyes while the rest of her face remained expressionless. For a moment he had trouble breathing. He had never felt so exposed only from someone looking at him.
The professor tilted her head in the direction of the cats and raised her eyebrows. How could he refuse to assist her in her noble quest to feed the animals at her feet? Very carefully, so as not to disturb or scare the cats, he approached them and sat down next to the professor. Immediately an orange striped cat bumped its nose into his knee.
‘Hmmm. I think it likes you,’ the professor said. Her voice had a slightly different tone to it than what Dimitri was used to, although he couldn’t pinpoint it more exactly. He reached out a hand towards the cat and very lightly ran a finger over its little head.
‘This cat is very soft,’ he said, and continued to caress the cat. It started purring and pressed its head into his hand. Suddenly he understood why the professor seemed to like looking after the cats when not teaching. The feeling of touching this soft fur and being purred at was utterly unlike anything else Dimitri had ever experienced. But he had the feeling that this wasn’t the last time he was to experience it, if he had any say in the matter.
‘Oh, aren’t you a cute one?’ he said to the cat. And immediately froze. Frankly, he was appalled by the words he had suddenly uttered, and also by the kind of voice he had uttered them in.
The professor made a sound that he would have described as chuckling, had it been any other person. Except Edelgard’s retainer Hubert maybe. He didn’t seem the chuckling type either.
Dimitri whipped his head around just in time to see the professor laughing and then falling silent again, a faint smile still on her lips.
For a moment he didn’t say anything. ‘Professor,’ he started, took a deep breath and then continued, ‘You’re smiling!’
Her eyes widened almost imperceptibly, but the smile stayed in place. She slowly raised her hand towards her face and cautiously touched her cheeks. ‘Oh,’ she said and prodded her cheeks some more. ‘Huh.’
Dimitri couldn’t help but smile at the professor too. ‘It’s – it’s very charming,’ he said. The professor didn’t say anything. She just looked at him, smile and all.
A black cat meowed from atop the professor’s head. She chuckled again. ‘Right, you’re hungry. Sorry for ignoring you.’
She handed Dimitri the fish basket. ‘You should feed them. So they can get used to you.’
‘You mean….’ He gave the first fish to the orange striped cat who had curled itself up in his lap in the meantime. It dug in eagerly and gave a few meows. The next fish went to the black cat still on the professor’s head. It managed to inhale the fish without getting anything onto the professor. Something happy bubbled in his stomach upon watching the cats.
‘I’m counting on you to help me feed the cats from now on,’ the professor said. ‘Unless you don’t want to…’ The glint in her eyes had returned. Along with her smile it gave Dimitri a sort of restless feeling, albeit in a nice way. He had no idea what to make of it. He felt his face heat up and turned away from her face to look at the happy cats.
‘No,’ he said. ‘I’d very much like to take care of them with you.’
‘There you are! I’ve been looking for you!’ Byleth came running from the direction of the stables, fish basket in her arms.
‘Sorry for being late,’ Dimitri said. ‘I was training with Felix, and you know what he’s like.’
Byleth skidded to a halt in front of him, turned around and fell into stride next to him on the way back to the stables. ‘I’m surprised he let you leave before nightfall to be honest,’ she said.
Ever since Dimitri had started feeding the cats with the professor, she had become a lot more open and lively and a lot less stoic. She had even asked him to call her by her first name when they weren’t in class. After he had got over the initial awkwardness that befell him whenever he addressed her as Byleth it now felt weirdly nice to have this closeness with her.
When they arrived at their usual spot near the stables, the area was already bustling with cats. They sat down and started distributing the fish and almost everything seemed the way it should be, except for one important detail.
Byleth was the first to voice it. ‘Where’s your favourite?’ she asked.
‘I don’t have a favourite. I love all cats equally.’ Dimitri tried to be as diplomatic as possible. He didn’t want the cats to be sad.
Byleth raised her eyebrows. ‘Are you sure? I seem to recall a certain orange cat who never leaves your side whenever we feed the cats.’
‘Alright, I give up. No use in trying to fool you. I do like him quite a lot.’ He cast a glance around them. ‘Normally he’s the first one to arrive. This doesn’t feel right.’
Byleth touched his forearm and gave it a light squeeze. ‘If you want to look for him, I can handle the others by myself for a while.’
Dimitri nodded. ‘I’ll see if I can find him. Thank you.’
Byleth sent him off with a warm smile. ‘Come back soon,’ she said. ‘Both of you.’
Dimitri began his search in the direction of the marketplace and went on towards the fishing lake. Maybe the cat couldn’t wait for the fish they brought them and tried to take matters into his own paws.
‘Heey little one, where are you?’ He tried calling for the cat, but it would probably have been easier if he knew what name to call him. So he opted for making the kind of cooing noises he had heard Byleth making at the cats a few times before.
Approaching the bulletin board near the fishing lake he suddenly heard a faint noise. ‘Little one, is that you?’ he called. The noise became a little louder. He circled the area to find the source. Finally behind a large crate in the corner between two walls he found what he was looking for: the orange cat was sitting there curled up into a tight ball and looked at him with big round eyes.
‘Don’t you want to come out of there?’ he asked.
The cat meowed. Otherwise he didn’t move.
Dimitri extended his hand towards the cat. He stood up with shaking legs, only putting his weight on three of them while holding his left front leg in an awkward angle from his body.
‘Oh no, you’re hurt, aren’t you? That’s why you’ve been hiding in here.’ The cat meowed again. Extremely carefully so as not to touch the injured leg Dimitri scooped up the cat and carried it to Byleth. On the way to the stables the cat made a few very low sounds and nuzzled his nose into Dimitri’s chest.
All the cats were already fed and happily circling Byleth when Dimitri and the orange cat got back. He had to smile involuntarily at the sight of Byleth among the cats, her posture as relaxed as she only ever got among the animals and a contented look on her face.
‘I see you’ve found your little friend,’ she said as soon as he came into earshot.
Dimitri made an affirmative noise.
In a fraction of a second Byleth was on her feet. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘It’s his paw,’ Dimitri said, turning so that Byleth could have a better look. ‘I think he’s hurt it somehow.’
‘Oh no, my poor little one,’ Byleth said and nudged the cat with her nose. ‘Let’s get you to a doctor!’
‘But who – ?’
‘Let’s ask Mercedes. She’s an excellent healer and sure knows what to do.’
The three of them knocked on Mercedes’s door. To be more precise, Byleth knocked on Mercedes’s door, while Dimitri and the cat hovered next to her. A few moments later Mercedes opened and assessed the situation with one look.
‘You don’t need to explain any further,’ she said before anyone could actually start explaining anything. ‘Come in with your little patient and we’ll see that we can make him feel better in no time.’
Byleth and Dimitri exchanged a look and then followed Mercedes into her room.
Mercedes quickly laid out a fluffy blanket on her desk and motioned Dimitri to lay the cat down onto it. He made a wailing sound when Dimitri pulled his hands away and he sat alone on the desk.
‘Don’t worry little one,’ Dimitri said. ‘You’re in good hands with Mercedes. And we won’t be far away.’ He squeezed himself into a corner, while Mercedes worked her magic, and caressed the cat’s head with his forefinger. Byleth came to stand next to him and had to squeeze into the same corner to leave enough space for Mercedes. She was so close to Dimitri that he could feel her body heat through her clothes and her breath on his neck. Suddenly it became very difficult to concentrate on the orange cat.
‘Don’t worry,’ Byleth whispered into his ear. ‘He’ll be fine.’
Dimitri only nodded. He could hardly tell her that his uneasiness had an entirely different reason.
To make matters even worse Byleth sneaked her hand into his and squeezed lightly. Then she intertwined their fingers. He was dimly aware of the magic emanating from Mercedes’s hands, but almost all of his mind was occupied by the feeling of Byleth’s hand in his. He chanced a look at her. She slowly blinked at him and then proceeded to stare right into his soul. His face felt as if someone had lit a fire on it.
A meow pierced his thoughts. It sounded a lot livelier than the other meows he had heard from the orange cat today. Byleth surreptitiously slid her hand out of Dimitri’s.
‘All done!’ Mercedes was standing in front of her desk with a wide grin on her face. ‘Our patient is as good as new!’
Dimitri shot towards the cat and scooped it into his hands. It began purring and blinked once at him before burying his face into Dimitri’s chest and nudging him with his nose from time to time. A grin as wide as Mercedes’s settled itself onto his face.
‘Thank you Mercedes!’ Byleth said with audible relief in her voice. ‘You’re fantastic!’ Mercedes waved the praise away with her hands.
‘It’s what any healer would have done.’
‘No, the professor is right, Mercedes,’ Dimitri said. ‘You’re fantastic! You didn’t even ask what was wrong with him, you just healed him and now he’s all healthy and happy again. Look at him! Isn’t he just the cutest and softest cat you’ve ever seen?’
Mercedes nodded solemnly. Byleth chuckled. Dimitri realised what he had just said.
‘Oh,’ he said. ‘I should probably shut up now, before I embarrass myself any further.’
‘Don’t,’ Byleth said. ‘It’s cute.’ Then she slapped her hand over her mouth and her cheeks assumed a dark pink colour.
Mercedes shook her head. ‘I think you two should leave now. I’m sure you’ve got a lot to do … With the cat I mean.’
Dimitri nodded and followed a shocked Byleth out of Mercedes’s room.
‘Should we head back to the stables?’ he asked. ‘Maybe the cat wants to get back to the others.’
‘I think he’s quite happy to be with you at the moment,’ Byleth said. ‘Would you like to take a walk around the monastery before going back to the stables?’
‘Yes!’ That may have come out a little too intensely. ‘I mean, I would like to take a walk with you.’ That was hardly any better. He had a simultaneously brilliant and stupid idea. He shifted the cat in his arms so that his hand that was nearest to Byleth was free, took a deep breath and said, ‘I wouldn’t be opposed to, you know, holding your hand again while we walk.’
He couldn’t believe what came out of his mouth today.
Apparently Byleth couldn’t either.
She whipped her head around and stared at him with wide eyes. He almost wished he could take back what he’d just said. But then her expression changed into something extremely soft and one of her tentative smiles. Without saying anything she took his hand, intertwined their fingers again and started walking across the grounds.
For the whole duration of their walk Dimitri was too nervous to say anything. He only marvelled at the feeling of Byleth’s hand in his and having her close to him in general. At least Byleth seemed to feel similarly, since she didn’t talk either.
Arriving at the gardens they settled down in the shade beside a hedge. The orange cat curled himself up in Dimitri’s lap.
‘I think you should give him a name,’ Byleth said. ‘Would make it easier for you to call him. And I’m sure it would make him very happy.’
Dimitri nodded. ‘I’ll think of a good name for him.’
‘It’s your special homework,’ Byleth laughed. ‘The next time you see him you need to have a name ready for him.’
Dimitri felt a lump in his chest upon being reminded of Byleth’s role as his teacher. ‘Byleth…’ he started. ‘There’s something I need to tell you.’ He wasn’t sure if he actually had the courage to go through with it. Byleth squeezed his hand. Only then did he realise that she had never let go of his hand from the moment she had taken it in front of Mercedes’s room. ‘I know you’re my teacher, but…’ He closed his eyes and counted to three. Now was his chance to say it. He sent a quick prayer to Sothis that he wouldn’t mess this up.
‘I may have feelings for you!’ he finally blurted out. He couldn’t look at Byleth to see her reaction.
For a moment there was silence. Then Byleth said, ‘I sure hope you do.’
Now was his time to stare at her incredulously.
‘Well, the thing is,’ Byleth began, awkwardly tracing patterns on the ground with her foot, ‘The thing is … I’ve fallen in love with you.’ Dimitri’s heart beat out of his chest. ‘I don’t care if you’re my student and I’m your teacher,’ Byleth went on. ‘We’re both adults after all and … and if you felt the same, that would make me very, very happy.’ She averted her gaze and worried her lower lip between her teeth. She still hadn’t let go of Dimitri’s hand, though.
Seeing her display her feelings so unguarded set off something bubbly inside Dimitri’s stomach. ‘I do,’ he said. ‘Feel the same, I mean.’ He couldn’t even utter a complete sentence. Time to try again and not make a fool of himself. He took a moment to collect himself and then said, ‘I’m in love with you, Byleth.’ And then, because today was obviously I-can’t-believe-what-I’m-saying-day, and because Byleth was looking up at him with such a soft and vulnerable expression that his heart ached, he said, ‘Can I … can I kiss you?’
Byleth nodded. ‘Oh, please do that.’
With his heart beating faster than it had ever beaten before in his life he cupped her cheek, leant down and captured her lips in a kiss. Byleth made a soft little sigh and Dimitri thought he might go insane. He inhaled her scent and stroked his thumb over her cheekbone. Nothing else could ever be better than this moment.
When they broke apart, they stayed with their faces only inches apart from each other. Byleth caressed the back of his hand with her thumb. ‘I would love to do that again,’ she said. ‘A lot of times actually.’ She grinned at him and made his heart jump.
‘You can kiss me as many times as you want,’ was all he managed to say.
‘In that case…’ Byleth nudged his nose with hers. ‘We’d better start right now. We’ve got a whole lot of kisses to fit into one life.’