[Byleth turned his head slightly when Claude leaned back, watching him in his periphery in the same way a wary horse would eyeball something approaching its flank. Though the touch was expected, he still twitched slightly when Claude's (thankfully warm) fingers pressed against his back and began to gently massage the tender scar tissue, easing any knotted tension that had instinctively bunched up there.
He wasn't sure what to make of it, initially. When people touched him, it was always very brief or very business-like, either to nudge him aside or to treat whatever injuries he may've accrued during battle. This gentle, lingering touch on such a vulnerable spot had him... unsure. Not in a bad way exactly but- just unsure.]
...it feels a little strange, but it doesn't hurt.
[It actually didn't. If anything it felt nice. Byleth hadn't realised how stiff his lower back muscles had actually been, braced around the injury, until Claude started prodding at it. Slowly, the lingering tension in Byleth's frame melted away, and he turned his head so he couldn't see Claude at all: a sign of complete trust.]
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He wasn't sure what to make of it, initially. When people touched him, it was always very brief or very business-like, either to nudge him aside or to treat whatever injuries he may've accrued during battle. This gentle, lingering touch on such a vulnerable spot had him... unsure. Not in a bad way exactly but- just unsure.]
...it feels a little strange, but it doesn't hurt.
[It actually didn't. If anything it felt nice. Byleth hadn't realised how stiff his lower back muscles had actually been, braced around the injury, until Claude started prodding at it. Slowly, the lingering tension in Byleth's frame melted away, and he turned his head so he couldn't see Claude at all: a sign of complete trust.]