⚘ two giant handsome men

[deduety]

[The greenhouse is one of the few spots that Dedue feels comfortable enough in. He's given plenty of space usually by other students and staff, so he has little to be concerned for as he tends to the plants. That being said, he's also quite used to people hovering, whether being wary of him or being curious. Neither really matters as Dedue minds his business and continues to work.

It's not often that Balthus is out of Abyss, though.

For several minutes, he is quiet, disposing of weeds into a basket before he's watering some of the plants. Some are left alone as they don't need as much attention.

Eventually, he finally addresses Balthus.]

What is it?

Comments

[deduety]

A far cry from it, but Abyss has been good to me. ...You have been good to me.

[It makes it easy to put in the effort to want to help, to look after those that the rest of Fodlan has forgotten.]

Oh? [Dedue arches a brow. The hide can be cleaned off and dealt with later.] I did not expect that. Is this not something you don't typically enjoy?

[ashenputtel]

I don't, but that's because most of the time I'm the one with the knife in my hand. Watching you, on the other hand...

[Quite literally, the other hand. He shrugs.]

What, I need an excuse to want to sit around making eyes at you?

[deduety]

I suppose that is fair. The idea of you having a knife is terrible indeed.

[The flirting makes him smile a little. It's a strange feeling of being endeared and almost bashful, if only because he knows how honest Balthus is. A pass from Sylvain is not something he takes seriously, but this is different.]

No. You don't. I didn't suspect that me handling raw meat would be that seductive, though.

[ashenputtel]

Aw, c'mon. Just because I'm not an assassin like Yuri doesn't mean I'm a complete loss with a blade.

[That's right, Balthus, there are plenty of other reasons why you're a complete loss with a blade and they have nothing to do with you being an assassin.]

Anyway, it's not that. It's just...you. It's like something comes over you when you cook. You get all happy.

[deduety]

If you say so.

[For a moment, he's quiet as he's breaking down the meat that he can get to. Most of it will go quickly with how many people live in Abyss, but it's fine. He can make something for these people to show his gratitude.

Eventually, he shares again.]

I would cook often with my mother and sister. I remember what I would learn from them.

...When I am cooking, it is like I am close to them again. Just for awhile.

[ashenputtel]

You did, huh...? That must've been real nice. They taught you?

[Dedue already said as much, so that's mostly a rhetorical question, but still.]

Hey. Duscur's got its own language, right? That's what you would've spoken when you were a kid? And then you had to learn the Fodlan tongue later?

[deduety]

My mother did, yes. My sister and I learned from her.

[There's a pause, then he stops so he can turn and look at Balthus. Not in offense, but because this is a bit harder.]

I knew a few phrases and words in Fodlan before the Tragedy. Afterward... I learned to speak more from His Highness. He taught me to read and write as well.