[Byleth had expected Claude to do one of his sneaky verbal sidesteps and derail the conversation into another topic, not actually reply honestly. He blinked, visibly caught off-guard.]
...
[And... Claude was right, of course. Jeralt himself had even told him that no man was an island, no matter how much they may wish it, and in theory, Byleth agreed. Even a roaming mercenary had to rely on others from time to time - their clients to pay them, the shopkeepers to sell to them, their fellow mercenaries watching their backs in combat, even if their alliance was temporarily bought by coin. Byleth wasn't exempt from this. He relied on people to survive as well.
But applying that thinking to emotional vulnerability made Byleth want to curl up under the table with Clauddles. It was the same, yet not. Frustratingly, he had no words.]
I know. [He actually sounded tired when he murmured this.] I know that.
[...]
Claude. The truth is, I don't know what my feelings are. I don't know where to begin in... understanding them, and I won't ask you to teach me either. You have heavy enough burdens to carry.
no subject
...
[And... Claude was right, of course. Jeralt himself had even told him that no man was an island, no matter how much they may wish it, and in theory, Byleth agreed. Even a roaming mercenary had to rely on others from time to time - their clients to pay them, the shopkeepers to sell to them, their fellow mercenaries watching their backs in combat, even if their alliance was temporarily bought by coin. Byleth wasn't exempt from this. He relied on people to survive as well.
But applying that thinking to emotional vulnerability made Byleth want to curl up under the table with Clauddles. It was the same, yet not. Frustratingly, he had no words.]
I know. [He actually sounded tired when he murmured this.] I know that.
[...]
Claude. The truth is, I don't know what my feelings are. I don't know where to begin in... understanding them, and I won't ask you to teach me either. You have heavy enough burdens to carry.