004 » i feel like i can't break through

[bladehand]

fanart by Living201882687.
for "alexandre" at antileon.

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[bladehand]

[ Byleth has never really been Alex's father so much as just his legal guardian; the monastery raised him more than Byleth himself ever did. But they did sit this closely, this intimately, once or twice when Alex was younger and smaller.

Byleth had felt such an intense desire to protect him, then. As if he could use this as a second chance of sorts, an opportunity to make things right, as he so often did, turning back the hands of time with the Goddess's power —

Now Alex is much too tall to be snuggled up underneath Byleth's arm like this, but the archbishop finds himself unable to refuse his ward as he parts his lips and finds a bit of cake pressed against the tip of his tongue. He wants to dislike it. He wants very much to dislike it. Unfortunately, food has always been one of Byleth's weaknesses, and he finds his heart softening as the sweet sugar melts on his tongue and he chews through that exquisitely soft cake.

So sweet. All too sweet for a broken man like him. He shouldn't — he shouldn't be enjoying this — ]

I should be the one tending to you...

[ Unfortunately, he can't finish his thoughts without Alex pressing more fingerling cake against his lips. Byleth tries to frown, but finds himself merely fluttering his lashes and opening his mouth again. And when he does, he's rewarded with sweetness, softness — the unrelenting, unyielding attention of the young man by his side...

...This is so embarrassing! He's not a child, or some sort of baby bird...! ]

Alex, I can feed myself. You should have some for y — for yourself —