Ahh. There then, the permission he desires. He moves in, pressing them flush, sucking in a sharp breath and the contact. Deep down, Byleth is still a creature of sentiment, despite what many might say of him. Outwardly, he expresses very little, but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel things in his own way.

So instead of simply getting to business, he first pushes up on his toes to draw Lahabrea into an easy, inviting kiss. Claws graze down, tracing the lines where his bones can be felt beneath the skin, where muscle is more defined.

This... this certainly evokes a memory. One he pushes from his mind as soon as it arises. No, this is different.