Like the earlier poster inn new to this site and only came across it through Google on my phone. Wanted to post though.
OP I get your fear of being attacked, in some places on the internet in this particular fandom expressing your ships is met with extreme vitriol and hatred. I've experienced it because I ship a lot of pairings that are deemed "gross" especially in the US. My favorite player support in Awakening was a tie between Nowi and Severa. In Fates it was Elise. In 3H I like Sothis and Lysithea the most. They associate a fictional game with real life so Nowi look young therefore it bad. Flayn look young therefore it bad. We need to remember its just a game. It is not real life and the people who ship these types of pairings are possibly completely normal everyday people. In life I'm married to a 24 year old who is extremely innocent because she lived a sheltered life and she's the sweetest kindest person I know. Because I've airways gravitated towards personalities over looks I find myself pesonally more intrested in characters with that type of personality in games. Those characters are usually the younger type characters. So we should try to understand that this is simply a game. Its not real life. Go after whoever you like and don't listen to the haters.
That said OP I gotta say you asked a question you had to expect an answer. The posters here were extremely respectful and polite in their answers for the most part while trying to give you the answer to your question. You can't be so defensive of your pairing when your presumably asking a question looking for answers. The answer is simple Flayn is child like even if she's not a child. The culture we were raised in makes that a bad thing. My wife has anxiety in public but holding this little bear in public makes her feel safe. I can't tell you the looks and words hurled at both of us for that.
I romance every character in every game. Haven't done Flayn yet so I can't give you my overall impression but know this OP others support the same pairings or similar ones. Your not alone. Just don't get so defensive okay.
