[Author's Notes: I'm sorry for taking forever. Got a lot of stories to do and now the Coronavirus keeping me busy at work.]

Comfort

Two weeks After First Mission

Dorothea was sitting in the greenhouse waiting for the professor for their now monthly 'real self' talk. But as she was waiting, she started thinking about how their first real battle they had at the end of last month went. When she first heard from Byleth that they were going to fight bandits; she was shocked. Yeah, she knew that they were going to learn about combat; but she wasn't expecting that the church would actually send them to experience real battles. She thought that they were going to train throughout the year and then see how much they learned at 'The Battle of Eagles and Lions.' just to prepare them just in case.

"Weren't that what the church's knights were supposed to do? Fight any of those who threaten the church. So why were they the ones who had to fight? At least in this month's mission, we're only providing backup..." She thinks to herself.

But that wasn't the only thing that she thought about and that was that she had actually killed someone. She still remembered before she even went into battle; she couldn't stop shaking even though she told Bernie that they were just bandits, it was help calm her down but also to calm herself down. But she was thankful of Byleth's training her with the sword and her own ability to use magic that she was able to down the bandit without any trouble. But what made it even worst, was hearing him beg her to let him live. It was hard to hear it but she knew that she couldn't and when she did strike him down; there was blood everywhere while he started screaming in pain and when he did die, his eyes were still open but lifeless. That imagine had stayed in her mind these last two week especially when she tried to sleep. So, like she usually did, she just kept it off her mind by flirting with men and going on dates with them. But when that didn't help, she decided to talk to the one person she could easily talk to and had experience dealing with battles. Which is why she was currently sitting in the Greenhouse waiting for Byleth.

"Hello, Dorothea. My apologies for making you wait."

She smiles when he hears Byleth and looks up; "Even though I do love your courtesy, Byleth. I wasn't waiting long so there's no need to apologize."

He nods, "Alright then." He then sits next to her, "I have a feeling that something is bothering you?"

"What makes you say that?" She says chuckling, "What if I just wanted to talk to the handsome professor?" She teases.

"Usually I would believe that but I noticed that you've been sighing a lot and yawning as well. Have you not been sleeping because of the mission?"

She sighs looking down, "I sometimes hate that you can see right through me so easily...But yes; I haven't been sleeping much because of what I had to do during our mission...Just seeing a dead body that I was the cause of had affected me and not only that; he was begging for his life and when I did do it; he was screaming in pain and there was blood everywhere..."

"I figured as much. The first kill is always the hardest...even if they were bandits. And it's understandable that its affecting you this much."

She hated how he said that it was her first kill meaning that there was going to be more times, "Yes...When I came here, I didn't think we would actually go into a real battle."

"I thought the same thing. When Archbishop Rhea and Seleth said that those affiliated with Garreg Mach Monastery have a moral obligation to help those in need, regardless of social standing. Students are no exception. I was surprised to hear that. Of course, I may have been in battle since I was young but that was because I had no other choice."

She looks down, "I see...But how do you cope with that? Have you done it so much that it doesn't affect you anymore?"

He nods, "Yeah but not because I'm heartless, figuratively speaking. I rather solve things peacefully but there are times where that isn't an option."

She looks at him confused, "What do you mean?"

"Like with the bandits; if you had let them go. What's stopping them from continuing their crimes? Now innocent lives that he destroys or ends will be on your hands."

She looks back down because there was truth in that no matter how horrible it was, "I guess that makes sense...But what if it was someone who was like you and forced into battle? What if a poor person had to fight in order to make ends meet or even steal?"

He looks forward, "I don't think about those things. I haven't fought those kinds of battles. We just went after bandits and ruffians. But I have seen people steal food and I don't do anything about it everyone needs to eat."

She smiles at him, "I'm glad you think that." She looks forward, "I guess I can try thinking about bandits that way. I just hope we don't fight anything involving things other than bandits..."

"I hope so too." After he says that; they sit there in silence for a bit till Byleth hears Solieth's voice

"Geez! Why are you just sitting there!? Obviously, she needs something to take her mind off of these missions. Ask her about herself or something!"

Byleth nods knowing that she was right but he also did want to know more about her, "In our last talk. You mentioned that you were a Diva. How did that come to be?"

She looks at him shocked at first but then smiles, "You're actually interested in my past?"

"Of course. I would be glad to hear more about you."

She couldn't believe it but she was beyond happy that he did; "Handsome, intelligent, strong and wants to know more about me? It's getting harder not to take you to my room and teach you some of my own lessons." She teases, "Anyway, I guess I should start from the beginning...I was born from a lady-in-waiting by one of the Imperial Nobles from the Adrestian Empire...But since I didn't manifest a crest, we were kicked out of the household and we had to live on the streets...But soon my mother died while I was still young and I lived as a street urchin since then..."

He nods internally feeling bad for her, "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Thank you...But one day, I just decided sing and by some miracle, a songstress overheard me and that's when my life turned to the better and I had become a Diva in three years. I was so popular that I was nicknamed the 'Mystical Songstress' because my voice was so mystical. So that's my story, I hope it wasn't too sad."

He shakes his head, "It was at first but I'm glad that things were able to turn out great for you."

She smiles, "Why thank you but it wasn't always great though. I had to survive kidnappings, attempted murders; all kinds of things. It was a good thing that I taught myself how to defend myself while living on the streets because I gave them gifts for what they tried to do; broken arms."

"I never would have expected you to have to go through that. But I guess that it would happen since you were popular. But I am glad that you got out of it safe."

She looks at him smiling, "You know, if you want. I wouldn't mind singing for you. Consider it a free gift for wanting to know about my past and talking to me about my troubles."

"I would like nothing more but to hear you sing." But unbeknownst to him, he was giving her a half-smile making Dorothea's heart skip a beat.

"You're actually smiling! Even if it is a half one!" "He's even more handsome when he smiles..." She may be overreacting but it was the first time that he had ever shown emotion even in battle.

"I am?" Dorothea nods and brings out a small mirror which he looks at, "Oh wow...I really am. I was wondering why my cheek felt raised."

She smiles, "So does that mean that I'm opening your heart more?"

"I think so? Maybe it's because I enjoy talking to you the most and our private training sessions are fun. I guess that means that I'm starting to feel a little bit happier because of you."

She smiles big, "You really know how to make a girl feel special. I really do mean that."

"And I'm glad that I'm the one to do that."

Dorothea's Dorm

After saying goodbye to Byleth, she went back to her dorm to get ready for bed but she started thinking about her talk with him. At first, it started out with her trying to make her forget about what she had to do but it somehow ended up with her talking about her past which she didn't mind at all, it was just out of nowhere. But even though she was nervous at first because she was always afraid that people would look down at her because of where she came from. In fact; he didn't mind when she told him where she had come from. Not only that; he actually felt sorry for her and was glad things went well for her. Usually she would've doubt men who say that but after seeing his half-smile, she knew it was from the heart even if he didn't have one.

She sighs, "He's everything I want in a man. Handsome, intelligent, strong and actually wants to know about me. Could he actually be the one...?" She shakes her head, "No...No matter how much I would want to go on a date with him...He's a professor and if people find out that I'm with him. They're just going to say that I only graduated because I slept with the professor instead of working hard myself..." She lays down; "Of course…I find the perfect man and I cant even be with him. I know! I'll just try not to think of him as a potential lover that's all; it will be easy."

But unfortunately for her; it wasn't going to be easy or even possible.

Reviews:

Guest: That he do, that he do haha

PokemoneFreak90: Glad to hear that. As you can see; I feel the same way about the pairing haha. Thanks for that; hopefully I can keep it up.