Chapter Text
“Not today. Please. Not now…let me have a moment of peace.” Dimitri twitched softly, looking at the mound of rubble that had once been the goddess statue. The altar was gone, destroyed beneath the landslide of rocks from the ceiling years before. The rest of the chapel was being restored, slowly but surely, under the guidance of religious masons. Dimitri looked at the rubble, fingertips twitching, the metal of his gauntlets clacking as he tapped them in a rhythm.
One. Two. Three. Four. Start again. One. Two.
A noise.
He took in a sharp breath, eye widening, the crust of blood on his face flaking away as he turned around sharply, his heavy fur cloak slapping against itself. How had he not noticed? No one snuck up on him and lived to tell the tale. His shoulder relaxed as he took in the sight of her. Soft bright green hair and eyes that held history of the future and past.
Once his professor and now his most trusted ally.
“Professor…” He reached out a blood covered gauntlet and watched your face crumple with worry. Rough mercenary hands gently took the black armoured hands from him, looking at the blood and bodily fluids crusted into the hinges.
Something whispered in the back of his mind.
“You don’t need her. You only need to give us peace.”
His hands twitched. He’d lost control in the last skirmish. It had only been bandits. They were terrorizing a town on the outskirts of his empire, slaughtering innocents like cattle for their own gains. Dimitri could still taste the blood in his mouth from the punch he’d taken to the jaw before laughing and slicing the man’s mouth open wide. It had tasted good, the blood of monsters. The battle had been over as soon as they’d started screaming. The one-eyed monster. He was glad for their screams. He’d enjoyed every last one.
“Dimitri, lets get you cleaned up okay?” Your hands gently led him from the Monastery, watching his blue eye crease with anger before he reluctantly followed, cloak flapping before he gritted his teeth and walked along side you, the faith’s followers parting everywhere to let the two of you move unhindered.
They were scared of him. He was no fool. He could sense the fear all around him. Some had seen him spear wyvern out of the sky, others watch him wrangle great monsterous creatures.
The bath house was steamy, the water hot and soothing, yet Dimitri froze when faced with the clouds of steam and hot water. Removing his armour would leave him exposed to any blade.
“No one is going to hurt you Dimitri. Come on. You smell like blood.” You smiled softly, gently easing his cloak free from the clasps under his shoulder plates. His shoulders eased a little as he robotically reached for his gauntlets. The straps came loose and he eyed the plating as he slid his hand free. The hinges would rust without attention, the blood crusted deep in the metal.
“I need to clean my armour.” Dimitri muttered, eye glancing over the black metal as he placed the plates aside one by one, your hands unnoticed as you gently eased his chest plate free as well.
“Later, my love. You need tending to first.” You brushed your fingers gently over his clothing and removed the last buckle for his greaves. Dimitri sighed shakily, hand grasping for your own, squeezing gently before he turned to the task of taking off his under clothes, the tunic and soft leather trousers also caked in blood. You smiled before taking off your own clothes, leaving the soft underclothes in a pile before taking his cold hands in your own, feeling the roughness of his palms as you guided him gently to the water’s edge.
Dimitri looked into the scented water, noting the heavy use of lavender oil. You wanted him to heal. A hand poked at his shoulder, the wound tight and sore, his muscles strained from a maneuver with his lance.
“Lavender. Now I know you’re coddling me.” A rare smile curled the edges of his lips upwards. It was then he ran a hand through his filthy blond hair, catching the leather strap of his eye patch. Dimitri swallowed, anxiety curling in his gut again before he took a stabilizing breath and stepped into the water, the heat and oil cleansing his wounds from the battle.
“Would you rather me throw you in?” You teased, pushing your hair away from your face as you sat on the edge of the pool. Dimitri flushed, looking at the exposed skin of your body as he laid his palms against your thighs, sighing when your hands combed his hair. You filled a pot jug with water before pouring it over his head, the water trickling down Dimitri’s muscled chest and stomach.
“Mmm.” He grumbled as you lathered rosemary scented soap into his hair, undoing his eye patch before continuing. Dimitri shook as you placed it aside. His eye was ruined. Lost to a sword years ago. It was white and cloudy, the scar over it pinkish and tough. He smiled as a soft kiss was pressed to it, “Thank you, my love.” He rumbled and kissed your shoulder, hands cupping your waist as he felt you pour more water over his head, soap gushing down his face and body. He was quick to close his eyes with a grumble.
“Hush you big baby. Anyone would think you were Sylvain’s horse! Sothis knows that horse despises water!”
“I enjoy them with your here.” He confessed, red flushing on his cheeks, his wet blond hair hiding his ruined eye as his thumb stroked your hips.
“Baths are more fun with loved ones.” You whispered, combing his hair back with a brief kiss to his forehead. You smiled and cupped his cheeks, “Nothing can hurt you here, my love. We are safe together.”
“I love you.” He whispered, kissing a palm before nuzzling your skin with a hum.
“I love you too my great lion king.”