Likewise, Byleth adores the idea of being someone who can bring Dedue comfort. How hard it must be to be a man so reserved, so physically strong, and so seldom understood by those around him in his life outside of the select few. All of those things amount to the perception that he would not need to be help and comforted, to be spoken to in soft tones and have a hand sooth his back.

He hopes he can provide such comfort, because undoubtedly, Dedue does bring him joy. What he has come to identify as joy. In his weird and quiet little way, Byleth is bursting with it.

He returns the kiss pressed to his temple to Dedue's lips again before settling down to watch the stars with him, and enjoy the warmth of their hands pressed together.