This Dimitri is not the one he last saw. He can very distinctly remember the wild eyes, blonde hair matted with blood, the bruises, the raving about how That Woman did this, how he must repay the dead by spilling her blood, hanging her head from the gates of Enbarr...
This is not that Dimitri. But even so, when His Highness touches his shoulder, Dedue knows the reason why and he knows right away that this is just as much Dimitri as the one he was willing to die for.
“I am here,” he confirms.
He doesn’t know how to answer Dimitri’s question about his injuries. He can guess the kind of guilt spiral that would happen if he told the truth. “It is of no concern. Erin helped me.” Which he knows most likely isn’t going to fly as a response but he really hopes will end that line of questioning.
(Tw for violence and mental illness stuff)
This is not that Dimitri. But even so, when His Highness touches his shoulder, Dedue knows the reason why and he knows right away that this is just as much Dimitri as the one he was willing to die for.
“I am here,” he confirms.
He doesn’t know how to answer Dimitri’s question about his injuries. He can guess the kind of guilt spiral that would happen if he told the truth. “It is of no concern. Erin helped me.” Which he knows most likely isn’t going to fly as a response but he really hopes will end that line of questioning.