Watching Over Me

This Innocence

Dimitri awoke to the feel of somebody shaking his shoulder. With grunt he sat up, rubbing his stiff neck. "I guess I fell asleep."he thought. He looked over to see the smiling faces of his best friend, Dedue and Ashe. With a yawn he offered them a smile in greeting. "Morning M'Lord."greeted Dedue. 

"Morning Dedue and Ashe. How did you know where I was?"asked Dimitri still not fully awake yet. He looked over at the vial on the nightstand with the rolled up note with the wax seal that bore Rhea's mark on it. Carefully freeing his hand from the sleeping professor's grip he took it and opened it as he began to read it over. 

"Seteth told us after neither Dedue and Ingrid could find you at your usual spots."piped upped Ashe, swiftly mentally slapping himself at how loud his voice was. It hadn't taken him long to notice their still slumbering, ailing teacher. What a stupid move it was cause clearly both Dimitri and Dedue were glaring for his lack of subtly for the situation. "Oh, um, s-sorry. I'll keep it down."

"How's the professor doing?"Dedue asked softly, glancing over at the greenette's slumbering face. Closer look he had the opportunity to have now show the reason his prince and miss Mercedes had been so distressed. Professor Eisner looked unnaturally pale, flushed with a terrible fever the was wrecking havoc on her body. She had never cared about Dedue's heritage, treating him the same she had her other students in the Blue Lions. To be honest, like his prince and everyone he had grown fond of her, seeing her as more then a teacher. Byleth was an  invaluable ally on the battle field and an irreplaceable friend off it. To him he couldn't see much improvement, but Dedue was no doctor or white mage. 

"It's bouncing up and down. But Lady Rhea assured me she's getting better. She just needs rest, that's all."Dimitri informed as his eyes skimmed through the important instructions left for him.

"If you like we can bring by your text books later after morning classes?"offered Ashe.

"I'd appreciate that very much, thank you."Dimitri grinned in gratitude at his two classmates. They were always such a big help.

"We'll leave you be for now."

"Let us know if you or the professor need anything."

Dimitri nodded as he watched his two friends leave, closing the door behind them. His attention was torn at hearing something akin between a cough and a painful whine. His gaze turned to Byleth, curled up against the wall as she gripping her throat as if choking as her fits grew worse. "Byleth, breath you need to breath."he urged swiftly propping her up against him, desperately trying to calm her down.

Byleth wasn't sure what brought it on that sharp pain that had so rudely woken her up. Snatching her away from the little bit of relief she had. She just knew the burning, painful sensation had decided to graduate to her chest. And this agony was like nothing before causing this panic attack she had never experience before. She felt scared, terrified like she was back in that dark void of emptiness. But slowly she was brought back by the firm arms that held her tight and still. She knew these arms and callused hands that were so firm but so gentle. "D-Didi..."she wheezed.

"Shh, don't force yourself. Just focus on me, just focus and breath."he urged and so she did. Slowly she got her breath back, calming down. However the pain had not and neither had her fever. She felt like she was on fire still as she rested her head on his shoulder already drained. Dammit if she could she'd smack Sothis silly for not warning her this might happen. A temporary price to pay for her little power boost. But nope, just crickets chirping upstairs like Sothis promised. It felt a bit lonely not hearing the deity's quips and private mental conversations with her. "Wait if I'm in pain, isn't she as well?"she thought bitterly.