Archive of Our Own

It's still a surprise to people when confirming that it was Ashe who started this little get together they have going on.

"I hadn't seen him in years," Ashe will shrug. "I wanted to see how he was doing." It will go unmentioned that they hadn't been close as children. That their bond only existed in the recognition as adopted sons, with only an inkling of sharing similar roots. It's not something people care to ask.

Yuri agreeing to it though seems to be of more interest. "Why, it would have been rude to have refused," a flutter of lashes, and Yuri will smile ever so sharply, "It's always nice to catch up with old friends." His many rejections do, in fact, get brought up, but always dismissed in a similar notion. Ashe was someone that he was interested to talk to, while most others were not, along with some more complicated details they had no business knowing.

It's not like they could have predicted how often these would occur, anyway. It was just an invitation for tea.

It's not often Yuri is followed in Abyss. Even when under Aelfric's thumb he didn't keep actual tabs on him. The people under Garreg Mach respect him, now more then ever, and they wouldn't stalk him outside the town's so called limits. Clearly an outsider hasn't got the message, or thinks they can take out the Savage Mockingbird. 

Foolish. But all the better for Yuri, easier to trick and easier to kill. A few more steps and he's nested himself in the shadows of the corridor they're in, the torchlights unsteady and dying out. The footsteps behind him stop. He readies a knife.

"Yuri? Are you he-woah!"

The knife is already free from Yuri's hand by the time he recognises Ashe's voice. When he actually registers where Ashe is the blade is inches from his face, leaving Yuri no chance to swap their positions so he can dodge it instead. The relief he feels when Ashe cleanly sidesteps the knife is heartfelt.

The confusion and surprise at Ashe being in Abyss, more so.

"Is that how you greet everyone in Abyss, or...?" Ashe asks, eyes scanning Yuri for a moment. He can't actually blame him, considering their first reunion. Apologies only go so far, Yuri supposes. Especially after threats of losing limbs and lives. Can't forget the fake but half genuine betrayal either... Hmm. Why is Ashe here?

"Sorry about that friend. Never know who's trying to get the first hit in." A casual saunter, before he stares down at his 'guest'. "To what do I owe the pleasure? Trying to get me alone?" The blush on Ashe's face is delightful. 

"That's not why I'm here, I-"

"-followed me all the way down to Abyss, even outside the spot you all consider safe. Just you, me, and nothing else. Come now, it's a pretty fair assumption. You wouldn't be the first after my beauty, and you won't be the last."

His companion gives an aggravated sigh. "I was trying to find you after the lecture with the Professor, but you were gone by the time I finished my request with her."

"Request?"

"Yeah, I'm thinking of being a wyvern rider - and that's off the subject. I found a letter that belongs to you. I recognised the handwriting,  but I haven't read it." Ashe pulls out a book from a carry sack he's brought with him and opens it, the letter folded and preserved within the pages. Gently he takes it out and offers it to Yuri. Yuri can't stop the faint shaking when it snatches it back.

He opens it, reads the first 'My dear Regulus' before spitting out, "Where did you get this?"

"It was near the things that Lady Rhea and the church had taken from you, when you were being questioned after, well, everything. I saw it and remembered I'd seen that handwriting before, so..." he coughs at this point, dying blush coming back in splotches. "It didn't really seem fair to have that taken from you. So I took it back.”

“You took it back.”

“Yes.”

“And the Church just let you.”

“I wouldn’t... I wouldn’t put it that way.” Ashe is such a bad liar. How he survived on the streets is a mystery to Yuri.

“Wow, looks like the rumours I’ve heard are true. We’ve got a little magpie here wanting to become a knight,” Yuri mocks. Ashe becomes the embodiment of indignant at that.

“I’ve put my past behind me Yuri. I’m not proud of what I’ve done, but the only way is forward.” His face all stern and actually angry is a sight to behold. Pulling that expression when confronted with some dishonest strangers would have definitely warded them off, child or not. Guess there really is an answer for everything. And answers are exactly what Yuri needs.

“Fine, no need to get yourself so worked up, magpie. Ignoring for now why you bothered to steal from the church, how did you recognise the handwriting?” Yuri’s eyes narrow. A possible spy from Rowe, trying to get information on his ‘precious son’? He’s never had a problem with hiring children before. Or plain using them. Ashe stares back, defiant.

“A letter was sent to Lonato a few years back when you first disappeared. It was how I even knew you had gone missing in the first place. Lonato was still grieving what had happened to Christophe. He was finding it difficult to concentrate enough to read, back then.”

“So you read the letters for him.” Everyone responds to grief differently. Yuri doesn’t think he’s heard of grief making someone unable to read, but maybe headaches and general exhaustion... no, it still needs to be looked at further.

“I did. I had to read them out loud, and since it was private we couldn’t have other staff around, but I remember reading the letter from someone asking for information on their son Yuri.” Ashe takes the time to look bashful, before continuing, “I know we weren’t close, and you’ll think it’s silly, but I was really upset that you had disappeared. So the letter stuck in my mind.”

A letter from his mother asking about her son, Yuri. His mother was aware of this alias, and that he was going to be an adopted son of a noble, so still possible. The letter would’ve needed to have been sent early on when he was stuck in Abyss without being able to send her word. Did such a time period exist? And more importantly-

“Why think it was the same person, when it uses two different names?” Ashe is beginning to look bewildered.

“Yuri, is this some sort of interrogation?”

“Answer the question Ashe.” The boy in question just sighs.

“No.” No?

“Something to hide, magpie?” Yuri is getting outright aggressive now. It would be one thing if this was a threat to himself, but knowing his real name, and recognising his mother’s handwriting, well, that’s a far greater issue that needs to be dealt with immediately. Ashe should know better then to play games. He saw what happened to Aelfric, after all.

“I’m not hiding anything. But I’ve been trying to be nice and reach out, but already you’re pushing me away. I need to head back up to work on the assignments we got today, plus the ones that Professor Byleth has already covered that Professor Hanneman hadn’t discussed yet.” Unusual in his frustration, Ashe starts to walk back. “If you really want to talk about it, let’s just have some tea later, okay? After the lectures finish tomorrow. We can go to one of the quieter corners if that’s easier.” And with that, Ashe turns his back to him.

He’s speaking to Yuri as if he’s still as naive as when they first met, and he didn’t see the bloody deeds and backstabbing Yuri’s capable of. “Your back’s an open target right now,” he says, starting to walk back to Abyss as well. He can get a few of his rogues to cover the general maintenance of the outer perimeter. “It would be absolutely nothing to throw another knife at you.” Ashe turns around.

“Will you?” He challenges. Yuri glares back, before sighing. Kid’s got spine, he’ll give him that.

“You’ve never been out this far, right? I’ll walk you back.” Ashe smiles at that.

“That would be great, thank you.”

Yuri does in fact go to that tea party the next day. Bizarrely Ashe looks both surprised and delighted at this development, despite this being his idea, which puts Yuri off. Seeing Ashe physically cringe when Sylvain hits on Yuri with one of the worst pick up lines he’s ever heard, then chase Sylvain off, well, that does put Yuri in a better mood.

One and one teatimes are awkward in the best of circumstances, and despite Yuri’s talents and experience, the subject matter and who he is speaking with means that no social lubricant is going to make it an easy conversation. Further questions does at least confirm that Ashe is not a spy for Rowe. Ashe seems more genuinely concerned in Yuri’s health, and pleased that despite everything Yuri is doing well for himself.

They go their separate ways, and that will be that. They may get assigned as partners in class, or do general group exercises, but their paths will otherwise remain uncrossed, yet again.

So of course the Professor has to go out of her way to change that.

Ashe has to admit, he didn’t expect to be sitting at the garden waiting for his companion to arrive. He’d gone straight to the small little alcove as soon as their lunch break started to make sure he got a seat before it was taken, popular as they are, and set about the waiting game. He did his best to ignore the looks that were sent his way, seated by himself. There was probably some sort of nobility etiquette he was missing, guessing how everyone else here was in pairs at least...

He shook his head, trying to ignore the burning of his cheeks. He was waiting for someone, and they would show up. He took out the assignment they had just been passed on strategy to pass the time while waiting. He would show up, right?

10 minutes later, and he is really wondering if this has been some ill thought out joke.

“Sorry for the wait, magpie.” Ashe turns to see Yuri gliding over, elaborate tray filled with his favourite sweets and what smells like... is that mint tea? “Mind making a little space? I don’t want to be holding this the entire time, if that’s not a problem.” Jumping a little, Ashe sets to moving his papers. The chit chat from the tables around them has stopped, before he could hear the whispers among themselves.

It doesn’t take long to guess what they’re thinking. Who is this handsome guy, and why is his uniform different? Gossip spreading like wildfire, and Ashe is certain he heard someone ask their friend if they knew if Yuri was single or not. It doesn’t take a genius to know what they’re not saying, but all thinking. Why is someone so fair and pretty hanging around the pretty unobtrusive Ashe?

Honestly, he’d like to know himself.

Table free, Yuri sets the tray down, glances over to the people watching them at this point, and gives a winning smile. Being caught seems to remind them of general manners, and all seem really eager to ignore the two of them and get back to whatever conversation they were just having. It sounds like a lot of meaningless babble, but Ashe supposes being stared at by Yuri like that would make anybody go weak.

“It took a while to get everything, magpie. I heard from a little friend of yours these are your favourites.” Annette then. But why go to this trouble? He’s pretty sure he’s confirmed his silence multiple times already about his real name at this point, and Yuri has made an effort to ignore him afterwards. It doesn’t feel great being sidelined like that, but Yuri is like that to most topsiders. It’s better to not get hurt over it.

“Thank you Yuri, it smells great.” Etiquette or not, Ashe is not going to let Yuri do all the work. He picks up the teapot and starts pouring into their teacups, making sure to attend to Yuri first. Yuri slightly frowns. He hopes this isn’t going to be some passive aggressive lunch of one ups. That might actually be more awkward then the first teatime.

The conversation continues from there. Mainly small talk about the rumours at school, how Abyss has been doing, straying incredibly clear of any of the nastier business they’ve had to deal with during the year. Ashe mentions getting a pretty good deal from Anna, which seems to actually get Yuri’s genuine interest, which makes sense. Fellow street rats do love a good bargain. He also holds some actual interest when talking about Ashe’s siblings, enough to bother to get their names. It’s nice.

It has to come to an end, eventually. Ashe sighs.

“Yuri,” he starts. Yuri’s demeanour changes, more professional, eyeing him up. “What was it you really wanted to talk about?”

“Getting bored of my company already magpie? Honestly, I’m hurt,” Yuri pouts, all exaggerated motions. Ashe tries to focus on that first and foremost, and not on the allure of his hooded eyes, the pop of purple eyeshadow demanding attention. That is dangerous territory.

“Yuri...”

“Fine, fine, you win.” Yuri actually slouches in his chair. It reminds Ashe of the boy he met, many moons ago. “The professor has decided that I’ll be represent the Black Eagles in the Heron Cup,” he says, annoyance incredibly clear. Ashe is feeling more baffled, then anything.

“The Heron Cup? I thought she was going to suggest Dorothea.”

“I tried to mention that too, but Professor Byleth was adamant that I do it. Something about how the swordplay element would benefit me more, and then walking off to her fifth meal of the day.” Ashe can’t help but laugh.

“That really does sound like her. If she’s so set on it, I don’t think you’ll be able to convince her otherwise.” A raised eyebrow. “Why bring this up to me, then?” Gone is the professionalism in Yuri’s face, only a grim line as if he’s having to fight against Saint Seiros himself. Ashe can’t help but sit taller, anticipation building.

“I would like you-” Yuri begins, taking a second to steel himself, “-to be my dance partner.”

...

What now?

“Your... dance partner? I thought we only had one representative per class.” Ashe feels deflated and more confused them ever. Yuri groans.

“We’re having to dance a waltz during the competition. It would look pretty silly to have to do the steps by yourself. The whole reward for the Heron cup anyway is being able to dance alone. How that actually can invigorate someone on the battlefield is beyond me.” A sly smirk. “Although I’m sure I’d be able to figure it out. You’d even be welcome to see it in action.”

“Yuri...!” Ashe burrows his head in his hands, face red. Yuri’s little laugh does nothing to calm the beating of his heart. “It’s not a very good bribe if you get my favourite treats and then give me a heart attack from embarrassment.”

“Sorry magpie. You just look so cute with that blush on your cheeks. Your freckles really stand out.” Ashe can never look at his freckles again. “Still, if I’m going to do this, I’m doing it right. I’ve no problem taking the lead or being the partner, but I need to make sure who I’m dancing with is actually going to help me. Ferdinand would somehow make it about himself; Bernadetta would freeze in the open with everyone staring; Constance would be like Ferdinand but worse; Caspar would end up screaming his lungs out... You see where I’m going with this.”

“Why not ask Dorothea for help though?” Being the last choice isn’t great, but it’s not like it isn’t something Ashe is used to. “Her experience in the opera means that even if she isn’t the star she’ll be able to help out.” There’s a moment of vulnerability that flashes in Yuri’s eyes. It vanishes before Ashe can ask him about it.

“Just trust me, it wouldn’t work out.” A head tilt. Yuri’s adopted a casual stance, when Ashe already knows it’s anything but. “Will you help me, Ashe?” He sounds like he’s dying inside asking for support. Ashe would have thought his answer is obvious.

“Of course I’ll help Yuri. But you know you don’t need to get me all this tea if you want my help, right? We’re friends.” Maybe they are, maybe they’re not. But Ashe would like to be. “I do need to warn you I have two left feet.” Yuri blinks a couple of times. It seems he has a talent in throwing Yuri off guard. That’ll be one for the history books.

“I’ll lead then. And I don’t like owing favours, so I’ll be paying you back. That is non-negotiable.”

“Whatever you say Yuri,” Ashe sing songs, starting to collect his things. “I’ll take this back to the dinning hall, as thanks for the treat.” He grabs the tray before Yuri can assert otherwise and begins to walk off. Their lunch hour is nearly done. The last thing Ashe wants to be is late to class.

He hears Yuri sigh in the background, before following behind him. Funny what things repeat. “I actually borrowed it from someone who owes me a favour. We can take it back to the kitchen staff, and I’ll make sure it gets picked up.” Silence reigns, before Yuri eventually adds: “And thanks.”

Ashe can’t stop the smile that takes over his face.

The dancing lessons are a chaotic mess to start with. Ashe has little to no background in dancing, and Yuri is too used to being generally talented that the slower learning pace Ashe has is really throwing him off. Eventually the Professor catches wind of their exercise and helps instruct them, oblivious to the glowing red blush on Edelgard’s face when twirling her around in an example.

The dancing improves from there, and soon they’re near professional, despite the limited time. Yuri is talking a lot more too, not only jokes and innocuous flirting, but reminiscing with Ashe about life on the streets of Western Faerghus, small things like similar foods they grew up on. It’s nothing big, and hardly uncovers the mystery that he knows is behind his mask, nothing that tells Ashe really of Regulus. But it’s nice to feel trusted with it, nevertheless.

Their dance is flawless during the Heron Cup itself. The praise is heaped on to Yuri, who soaks it in like it was something he expected. He probably did. Yuri turning towards Ashe though, and saying with some genuine sincerity “Thank you, friend,” and that. Well.

It’s nice being thanked and remembered. Even if just for a moment.

“I didn’t think the third time we had tea it would be... quite like this.”

Yuri gives a vague noise of agreement. They’re waiting in a hastily assembled shack, trying to drink inadequate tea and some hardened biscuits. Outside they can hear the movement of soldiers, commands to help bring units under heel, demands to help fix up and sharpen weapons. Outside is the sound of war.

Beside him sits Ashe, dressed in his gear already as a sniper. Fighting in the uniform of the Officer’s Academy when they’re going to face the Church head on felt disrespectful, apparently. Tugging at his own unique dancer’s regalia, Yuri can’t say he agrees.

“Yuri.” Ashe asks. His voice quavers, as if afraid to hear the answer to his own question. “Why did you join Edelgard?” I know you’re faithful to the Church of Seiros, his eyes say. I know you worked as a spy on Rhea’s behalf, even if it was with hands tied, the twitch of his lips say. I know that you try to avoid Abyss getting impacted by the world above, the heart on his sleeve says.

Yuri can’t help but wonder when they got close enough that Ashe can know these things about him without him having to bring it up. He wonders when he got close enough that he knows what Ashe is thinking about at this very moment.

“I can’t say this is where I would like to be,” he admits. He takes another bite of the sweet, ignoring the strange aftertaste it has. War sweets are still war rations, and will never be the tastiest thing in all of Fódlan. He’s had worse. “But I have to think of my people above all else. With the whole might of Adrestia behind her, it’s pretty clear that Edelgard’s in charge of the winning side.” A moment. “Guess I’ll have to start calling her Emperor Edelgard when speaking to her face to face.”

Ashe nods, then takes a slow sip of his drink. Yuri’s pretty sure it’s cold enough to be called flavoured water at this point.

“What about you? Becoming a Knight of Faerghus is pretty impossible when you’re fighting against their closest ally.” The fact that Ashe has held on to that dream for so long is still a surprise to Yuri. With all the misfortune that he’s gone up against, Yuri can’t stop the curiosity at what exactly was the final straw.

“I’m tired of being lied to,” Ashe replies. Yuri waits a beat. There’s more to this. “If I could understand their reasoning, maybe I’d be able to get why Lonato had to die, or why he felt so wronged by the Church. I wanted answers more then anything. But Lady Rhea wouldn’t talk to me, and Seteth would force me out of the floor before I could try to ask questions. I had to force myself along on that mission to subjugate the Western Church. Catherine was insistent that I didn’t join. It’s only because of the Professor I got to go at all.”

Yuri remembers. It had been another bloody battle, surrounded in that cursed fog. Ashe had made sure he was holding one of their torches before tearing off into the fray, with Yuri along with some others being forced to follow him. The sheer venom in Ashe’s voice when speaking to the Western Bishop, accusing of using and throwing Lonato away, is not something he’ll forget anytime soon.

“Where was the lie, though?”

“Because if I hadn’t gone, I wouldn’t have found the truth of why my brother was actually executed.” Ashe’s distant expression turns into a storm. “They lied and said he was involved in the Tragedy of Duscur, but it was actually a plot to assassinate the Archbishop.”

“An assassination attempt?” It’s not exactly better then being involved in the murder of your King, but a lie is still a lie. This one was probably more to save the Church’s face more then anything else. “He would have still been executed, you know that Ashe.”

“I do. But Catherine was the one who turned him in, despite being his friend. I knew my brother, Yuri. Like Lonato, if he thought it was for the right thing, if it was for justice, he could be convinced to go against even the Church itself.” The biscuit in Ashe’s hand snaps, crunched up into small little crumbs, rolling onto the ground. “Catherine called him too trusting. She was right. Even I could see it back then. Knowing that, why didn’t the Church question it more? Who convinced him, and why?”

Yuri frowns. “Then it happened again, with Lord Lonato, near beat for beat,” he remarks. “And instead of doing anything about it, they had the Knights and us students join the fight instead.”

“I couldn’t... I couldn’t convince him to stop. To listen.” Ashe furiously rubs at his eyes. Yuri pretends not to consider why. “Then when the fight was done, Catherine killed him. And like that, it was over.”

“The Church has helped a lot of people, but they’ve hurt just as many,” Yuri concedes. He remembers Hapi being near enough thrown into Abyss, the knights hissing at her to not make any noise. The disgraced members of the clergy slinking towards sanctuary underground, after some minor mistake on their part. “And they like to cover it all up.”

The noise outside picks up. It’s probably time for them to rejoin, their break long over. Trickster or not though, he doesn’t want to leave it like this. He doesn’t want Ashe to make the same mistakes.

“If you want to fight for the Empire against the Church, if that’s where your heart lies, then do it. But remember,” he grips Ashe by the back of his head at this point, making sure they’re staring eye to eye. “Edelgard spent a whole year undermining the monastery. She was prepared to kill us if we got in the way in the Holy Tomb. There are more things lurking beneath the surface then we’re being told.”

They will lie to us again. There are secrets buried deep that are more then just political machinations. Edelgard may be a genuinely earnest person, but her actions and schemes are not.

“Don’t become a faceless pawn in whatever game they’re playing, magpie. You’re worth more then that.” Ashe’s eyes widen, mouth agape. Yuri can’t help how his eyes flicker to his lips, chapped as they are. They’re a lot closer then he thought. It would be nothing to close the dist-

SLAM!

The door swings open, Balthus casually calling for them to get ready. Ashe rips himself away from Yuri and attempts a very bad casual sip of the flavoured water, ending up coughing and looking even more embarrassed. Balthus’ grin turns into a leer. Mediation is required, post-haste.

“We’re coming, no need to make a bigger deal then it is. Have you got the gold you owe me, by the way?” Balthus finds an excuse quickly after that. Ashe wipes off the spit from his chin from the choking attempt, and hurriedly walks out the door, before pausing under the door frame.

“Promise me,” he says, turning to look Yuri in the eye, honest and pure, “promise me you’ll make it through this, and we’ll meet up again.”

He wants to diffuse the tension, get away from all this sincerity that is so beyond the games of shadows he deals with. Ashe is more of an idealist then he thought possible, and getting attached to someone like that can only end badly for him.

“I promise,” Yuri replies instead. “Just make sure you come out alive as well.”

With that, they leave to start the long, long march to Garreg Mach. A new era of Fódlan has begun.

The battle is long and arduous. Yuri would prefer being the vanguard, seeing the battle first hand and helping to sway the momentum, but it’s been made clear he’s to help refresh other soldiers so they fight instead. There’s no time to actually make the dance look good, just enough movement to help generate the magic required to give people a burst of strength, then relying on his relic to give him a boost to get out of danger in time.

He worries about the Professor, charging in the front lines to attack Rhea herself. He worries about Constance flying about in the air with all these archers aimed at her. He worries about Balthus taking too many chances and getting himself killed. He worries Hapi will be targeted by any fiends on the field when by herself. He worries Bernadetta will freeze up at the wrong moment in combat. He worries that Dorothea will lose her courage to fight amidst all the bloodshed.

He worries that Ashe will get himself killed in the name of someone long past, for a grudge that was never meant to be his to bear.

When the battle is over, most of his fears are laid to rest. His wolves are triumphant in their victory, bruised and battered, but alive. Bernadetta was wounded and had to flee the battle, but she’ll live, and despite everything there seems to be some sort of resolve in her eyes. The sadness and grief at the conflict is obvious on Dorothea’s face, but she still smiles and prepares for the next step in Edelgard’s plan.

The professor has gone missing. Logic attempts to snuff out the possibility of her surviving, despite the miracles she’s previously done, but Yuri can’t stop the small bit of hope.

Ashe is the last person he finds. Manuela is treating him in the healer’s tent, tending to a wound on his arm that is bright and deep. The mark clearly resembles Thunderbrand. He’d been isolated after a surprise ambush, and with everything going on there had been no one to help. Catherine had seen it her duty to finish the job she’d already started with his family.

“It’ll scar,” Ashe admits, while Yuri looks on. “But I’ll still be able to use a bow. Maybe I can convince the army to let my ride a wyvern like I was training to do, so after taking aim I can dive out of there. It would make it easier when fighting alone.”

Yuri vows to make sure Ashe will never be abandoned again.

The war across Fódlan rages on, a burning inferno that threatens to consume the land itself. At several points there are breakthroughs, such as when several Lords of the Kingdom pledge allegiance to the Empire, granting them access to several strategic footholds like the Silver Maiden, and further routes into enemy lines. Others are just tense agreements, crossing the Great Bridge of Myrddin back and forth to help keep Garreg Mach under Adrestia’s rule, careful of the Lords of Leicester, and Claude’s possible schemes.

Three years in, it feels like things have come to a standstill.

“It’s never as easy as the books make it look like, magpie. War costs a lot, and with all the fighting, trade is disrupted and inflation makes things more difficult for the army and commoners alike.” Yuri raises his hands far above his head, bones cracking from being in the same position this whole time. “It was never going to be one grand battle and then that’s it, over.”

Ashe frowns, curled over his letter back to his siblings. He’s doing his best to keep his quill well away from the page before he knows what to write, but he can’t stop the couple of splotches of ink from dripping down. Trying to confirm a next time he’ll be able to visit is hard.

Due to his familiarity with the west of Faerghus, Ashe tends to get stationed here a lot, working with the men of Count Rowe, Castle Gaspard, and even Baron Dominic on a regular basis. Being more talented in espionage along with his more, loose, shall we say, arrangement means Yuri tends to travel the continent much more often, getting details about enemy lines and shipments, to finding traitors in their own ranks. Whenever he gets a chance though, he visits Ashe, checks up on him, shares stories that letters can’t relay.

(“Don’t think too much on it,” Yuri had said at the time. “I had already delivered your letters to Devan and Ceilidh, I may as well visit you too.” He didn’t bring up that Ashe was currently stationed near Count Rowe’s castle, that the area brought up bad memories that he’d soon forget. He doesn’t have to. Ashe already knows. Yuri being here despite all that tells him all he needs to know.)

It’s pretty much their new teatime routine. Meet and greet, grab a bite, remember what is was like to be human and have wants and dreams outside of bloodshed. Ashe puts the quill down, and faces where Yuri has sprawled himself on his bed. His hair is longer, and his outfit is more of a light pale violet. He hasn’t grown at all in height, but even without his boots his legs look long and lean. The muscle on him is clear too, despite Yuri’s own grumblings with it, how it goes against the figure he’s been trying to keep. Yuri’s face has matured, yet still soft and handsome. His lips are as plush as ever.

Armed with the knowledge of who Yuri is, the kind centre he hides to help with his work as Lord of the Underground, the way he always makes sure to give food to any of the street kids he sees... The way he actually cares enough about Ashe to remember details about him... Well. All that combined, and it’s no wonder that his heart beats for Yuri like it does.

“See something you like, magpie?”

Ashe startles, allowing his eyes to refocus. Yuri is staring right back, crooning back at him. He’s played this game so many times at this point that Ashe knows the way he’s sticking his chest out is deliberate. Yuri always picks the bed to get the best response out of him, knowing how bright red he gets and flustered, even after all this time.

He’s been doing it for years, actually. Not once has he stopped. If anything, he’s got more persistent, more close, letting his hands linger where with everyone else he backs off after some minor teasing.

Maybe Ashe has been focusing so much on the war he’s been missing what’s in front of him.

“Ashe?” Ah. Yuri actually sounds concerned, and sits up on the bed like a proper human being, and not like temptation and lust in mortal form. It makes it easier to look into his purple eyes. Considering how many people he’s lost because he didn’t read them well enough, it’s actually upsetting that it’s taken Ashe this long to see it, or even believe it could be real.

He leaves his writing desk slowly, thoughtful, before sitting beside Yuri. Yuri stares back, cautious. Is he worried that he’s gone too far? “Yuri...” Ashe starts, then stops. He’s never flirted before. Never really tried to learn it, and copying the words from his romance novels seems like a recipe for disaster. He’ll have to go for honesty then.

Softly Ashe takes Yuri’s right hand, skin hardened by gripping a blade no matter Yuri’s care routine, and places it against his own chest, against his beating heart. Yuri’s hand twitch, pinching him, and there’s is no doubt in Ashe’s mind this time that he felt how Ashe’s heart sped up at that.

“I’ve been really blind, haven’t I?” he laughs, gentle and shy all at once. It seems to trigger something in Yuri, bring a hope to his eyes, before he places his other hand gently on Ashe’s face. “All these years, and it took a random day to realise that you feel the same as I do.”

“The same?” Yuri’s breathless, bringing Ashe closer and closer towards him, carefully, as if one wrong move and Ashe will depart again and leave this in the air. Ashe is tired of running.

“Yes, Yuri. I love you.” Yuri makes some sort of distressed noise, brings Ashe closer so their noses are against each other.

“Say that again. Please”.

“I love you.”

“Again.”

“I love you.”

“Ashe.”

“I love yo-”

He’s interrupted with a kiss, slow and steady. Ashe keeps his eyes open a moment, committing to memory how Yuri is looking, kissing him, before closing them and losing himself to the sensation. He’s never kissed anyone before, and Yuri must be able to tell, because he helps adjust Ashe’s face and take the lead, trusting Ashe to follow him. A sudden memory strikes him and Ashe has to break away to giggle, despite himself.

“Normally when I kiss people, magpie, I don’t leave them laughing.” Any attempt of annoyance in his tone is completely lost when Ashe sees how pink and wet Yuri’s lips are, his makeup smudged in their enthusiasm. There’s a fire in his eyes that sends an indescribable feeling down Ashe’s spine.

“It reminded me of the Heron Cup,” he admits, leaning in close again.

“Really?”

“Yeah. When we were doing the waltz, you taking the lead, moving as one...”

“Well, this isn’t a show I’d be wanting to show in public,” Yuri snarks, smirking at how bright red Ashe becomes at that. He doesn’t think he’ll ever be immune to Yuri’s charm. He doesn’t want to be. “But let’s take this slow, okay?” Yuri pushes some hair out of Ashe’s face, care in every gesture. “I’m pretty sure this is your first relationship, and it’s... well, it’s my first real relationship as well.”

“I can wait,” Ashe replies, leaning into Yuri’s hand. He tries hooding his eyes as he’s seen Yuri do a hundred times, and bites his lip. The intake of breath from Yuri is very much real. “So long as it’s with you, I don’t mind.”

“Next time then, I’ll take you on a date,” Yuri promises. “But first, how about another dance?”

Ashe closes his eyes. He can feel a matching grin on Yuri’s face when they kiss again.

It’s 6 months before they get to meet up again for that date. In the interim Ashe has suddenly awoken to a lot of emotions and feelings he didn’t know possible, and yearns for Yuri to return soon. The letters he send are sore replacements for him, and the new red lipstick kisses he leaves on them when he signs his name makes Ashe squirm in his chair in a way he doesn’t recall ever doing before.

For Yuri though, every long mission is just one more day before he gets to return. He’s planning idea after idea of what they can do, maybe a tour across a city, or visiting the countryside for a picnic. They end up going to one of the local restaurants among the lower class and mingle with the common folk, as Ashe so clearly misses doing. It’s a night of laughter and fun, of drunken revelry from the crowd, though Ashe and Yuri don’t partake in the drink.

Returning to Ashe’s room this time feels different, more charged. Despite now being taller Ashe looks abashed when looking down to him, asking if he wants to come inside. There’s a lust there alongside the love that Yuri’s never seen before, and he can’t stop the bubbling feeling of pride, knowing that he did that, he brought that side out of Ashe.

Before they know it they’re both on the bed, teapot and cups ignored as they remove their shirts between a heated kiss. Yuri presses Ashe onto the bed, and he follows so willingly, listening ever so intently to Yuri’s soft commands.

Yuri kisses the jagged scar on Ashe’s arm, soft and gentle, prodding ever so slightly with his tongue at the edges with Ashe whining beneath him, before slamming Ashe’s arms over his head and letting his mouth litter his chest and torso with kisses and bruises. Ashe can’t stop his cries and gasping of Yuri’s name over and over, and at that point any attempt at taking things slow disappears.

In the morning Yuri wakes up to Ashe staring right back at him, his face brighter then he’s ever seen, full of such adoration and love. “Good morning, starling,” he’ll say, all coy and pleased with himself at their own little secret. Looking like that, all in his naked glory with not even a hint of shyness... Yuri can’t be blamed for taking him again first thing in the morning, all wanton and begging. Regardless of Ashe’s minor grumbles afterwards about the pain in his hips.

His long kiss goodbye before Yuri has to go tells him all he needs to know.

Two years later and the stalemate is finally coming to an end. Professor Byleth has returned, and with it she has renewed the morale of the Adrestian Army, and of Emperor Edelgard herself. Ashe had been summoned to join as a general under their new strike force, familiar still with her tactics. And Yuri, well, he’d been visiting Abyss at the time of the reunion, and simply made a point to not leave. Hubert certainly pushed for it, but Yuri was sticking close under the reasoning of keeping a better eye out on people’s safety.

The fact it meant he could be with his partner on a more regular basis, oh that’s surely a coincidence, nothing to worry about.

His failure then to realise the planned assault on Garreg Mach, is a hit to his own pride, along with fear of the citizens inside getting hurt, those below and above the ground.

“We all made it through Yuri. You’ve confirmed it yourself, they didn’t get into Abyss,” Ashe assures, his hand clasped in Yuri’s, where he rubs his thumb against Yuri’s knuckles. His voice echoes slightly, as everything does in Abyss. It’s useful for hearing trouble, normally a fight or some minor scrap. Right now Yuri can only hear some children playing around with a lock and lockpick, each attempting to show off the new trick Ashe has taught them. “Have some tea, it’ll help your nerves.” It’s an Albinean berry blend, one of his favourites, known best for its relaxing scent. Also, last he checked, the Professor was the only one with current access to it.

“Did you convince the Professor to let you brew this?”

“She’s not going to notice if a bit of her stock is missing, not after the last battle,” Ashe deflects. “It’s for a good cause, and I’m going to make sure to pay her back before the month is over.” Yuri can’t help but laugh.

“Oh little magpie, look how I’ve corrupted you so.” He brings himself closer to kiss the corner of his partner’s eye, enjoying the little giggle he gets out of Ashe for doing so. Actual romance makes the actions feel so different. “Maybe in this new world of Edelgard’s I can convince you to follow me and travel the world over.” He takes a drink, while Ashe gives a forlorn sigh.

“To travel the world over would be a dream. Knowing us I bet we would probably end up getting involved in trying to help people who have no one to support them, but we’d also be able to see things people in Fódlan hardly know about...” Ashe picks a stale cookie to bite into, lost in thought. “Devan has his heart set on becoming a scholar, after getting that history collection you sent him, and Ceilidh is pretty much begging to meet Dorothea and Professor Manuela so she can get advice on how to enter a dancing troupe. If I go there would be no one to help rule over Gaspard while Edelgard implements her changes.”

Yuri can’t stop the frown on his face. “That shouldn’t stop you from following your dreams though.”

“They supported me in my dreams of knighthood, and when we took the Empire’s side. As their older brother I owe it to them to let them follow their dreams as well.” Ashe lifts his chair ever so slightly to sit beside Yuri rather then across, never letting go of his hand, so he can splay his head on Yuri’s shoulder, closing his eyes. “It’s hard to even imagine what will happen once this is all over.”

Yuri hums, releasing his cup in favour of running his hands in Ashe’s hair. He’s been growing it out, neat and tidy like Christophe apparently used to have his hair. Briefly he wonders about convincing Ashe to grow it longer, enough for a small ponytail, all the better to grip. It would be only fair. Ashe has already convinced Yuri to wear black nowadays with the puffed up sleeves that match so many of the older stories Ashe read that insisted that this was the outfit that prince’s wore, and the amount of times he’s put Yuri’s hair in a ponytail only to then pounce him is verging on ridiculous. Yuri’s not complaining of course, but considering the only advice he’s given Ashe is to stop attempting to grow a beard, a small question is long overdue.

Oblivious to Yuri’s train of thoughts, Ashe nuzzles further into his neck. If he were a cat he’d be damn well purring under Yuri’s ministrations. For a moment the world is tranquil. No war, no pain, nothing but peace and quiet.

It doesn’t last, but at least it’s only because of the squabbling of children over who is Ashe’s favourite. It leads his partner to remove himself though, and to bend down to talk with them, easing concerns with reassurances and promises of more times to play. Ashe would be such a good dad, pretty much has the experience of one, having raised his own much younger siblings alone for the majority of their lives.

Goddess does Yuri love him.

Yuri freezes at that. Despite how long they’ve been together, how much they know the other feels for each other... He’s never actually been able to say it out loud. He remembers too clearly the false whispers of older, sickening men and women alike, too deluded and drunk on power to really be true to their claims. The times he’s swindled information out of marks with similar sweet nothings, before leaving them with near nothing. No, it’s not something he can say, even if the truth is clear in the drum of his heartbeat.

Ashe says it all the time though. He says it when Yuri brings him his favourite meal, or gifts him a bouquet of violets. He says it when they’re drunk on wine and have been laughing so hard that Ashe has near enough been sick, still smiling at him like a dope. He’s said it during more intimate moments, always clawing at Yuri’s shoulders when his hands are free to do so and always when he’s so close. He says it with the simplicity and factualness of saying ‘the grass is green, the sky is blue, birds will preen, and I love you’.

He’s never questioned Yuri’s loyalty, despite having what must be hundreds of reason to do so. He’s remained resolute in his belief that Yuri loves him back, and will return to him whenever he leaves, and been rewarded for this every time Yuri is back in his arms. It cannot be something that bothers him, when he can see the love in Yuri’s heart so clearly.

It bothers Yuri though.

“Ashe,” he calls. His throat catches, and Ashe must be able to tell that something is wrong as he gently persuades the kids away to their caretakers. He turns, and his brilliant green eyes, so unique with how the iris seems to merge with the pupil, look him straight in the eye.

“Everything okay, Yuri?”

“Ashe. Ashe I, I...” Three small words. It’s only three small words. “Ashe, I luh, luh-” he snaps his mouth shut, face dropping in shame. Even now, he can’t say it. The pain about being caught unawares by the attack is quickly forgotten in the excruciating misery he’s swimming in now.

He feels Ashe slide back into the seat beside him more then hears him. He turns he head to face him when Ashe applies a little pressure on his cheek. “I know starling,” he breathes. His eyes glisten with such untold pride and joy that Yuri even attempted it.

Yuri wonders what it would be like to be able to say those words out loud, and for Ashe to call him Regulus in his response.

In the morning, after an early night of just sleeping to rest their bodies and minds after a gruelling day, Yuri wakes up first before Ashe, and draws him close to his chest. He can feel Ashe wake up when the morning breath changes pattern from where it was hitting his chest. He’ll be getting up soon to feed his wyvern, make sure she’s feeling lively and strong for the next battle, and trying once again to convince her to warm up to Yuri.

“Good morning starling,” he’ll say, barely awake as he wiggles his way up in Yuri’s arms so he can lay a kiss on his cheek, careful of any bruises and scrapes that constantly cover their bodies. Yuri will not let go. “Yuri?”

“When we’re alone,” Yuri will swallow. “When we’re alone, I’d like you to call me Regulus.” He’ll look to Ashe, shy and scared, and so very, very hopeful. If he wants to be able to say it, he’ll need to be true, too. “If you’re okay with that.”

His response will be a sharp inhale, before Ashe absolutely beams, lights sparkling in his eyes. Yuri will shortly be attacked in an onslaught of butterfly kisses all over his face.

“Of-”-kiss-“-course-”-kiss-“-I-”-kiss-“will”-kiss, kiss, kiss kiss kiss kisskisskisskiss-“-Regulus. Goddess I love you so much.”

It’s easy to deal with morning breath if this is what comes with it.

Ashe arrives at their next supposed teatime half a day late. He barges into Yuri’s room, protocol of reporting in be damned, because he needs to see that he’s okay, that he made it out of that hellscape, a horror that almost feels like the Goddess brought the burning eternal flame from the afterlife into reality for fighting against her true followers. If only it were that simple.

“Yuri, are you here?” he shouts, breathless from the running he’s been doing, already difficult enough when he’s been flying near about non stop for the whole day. “Yuri, please tell me you’re here-”

“Ashe?”

Ashe swivels around. Behind him Yuri stands, hardly a scratch on him, still in the dancer gear that Ashe knows he hates so much. Changing out of it is the first thing he does, always. Why hasn’t he changed? His purple hair is a mess too, like he’s been running his hands through and pulling at it in some distress. Are those... are those tear tracks under his eyes? “Starling are you okay? Are you hurt?!” There are eyes and ears everywhere.

“Am I- By the Goddess Ashe, I thought you were dead!” Wasting no time Yuri captures Ashe in a gripping hug. Unconsciously he must summon his crest, because Ashe feels paralysed and unable to properly hug back for a moment. “I’m fine, but you’re an absolute mess. Are you okay?” He shoves Ashe into his room, nearer the candlelight so he can get a better look at him. The clean white and purple of Yuri’s robes are marred by browns and blacks, the smell of sizzling smoke streaming from it, after just one hug.

Ashe takes the first proper look at himself in a long while. His long blue overcoat is covered in ashes, with some parts outright burnt. The sleeve from the left side is gone completely from just a bit after his shoulder, his old scar from years ago looking like it has been reopened from heat before being cauterised just as fast. He doesn’t want to imagine what would have happened if he’d been wearing the standard metal armour expected of a wyvern lord. He raises a hand to his face, relieved that there doesn’t appear to be blood there. 

The relief is short lived, remembering what happened to get him like this.

“No.” His hands begin to shake. “No, I’m not fine at all.” He closes his eyes.

The next time he opens them he awakes in the infirmary. There’s an ache in his body that he knows from experience is the result of having a lot of white magic pumped into you to help kickstart the self healing process, but the amount feels excessive. It’s a shame there’s nothing they can do to ease the pain, if only for a little bit.

Seeing Yuri sitting beside him brings a warmth to Ashe’s heart. The awkward angle he’s sitting at, neck all bent, and the fact he’s still in that blasted outfit, less so. He reaches out with his right hand to nudge Yuri awake. Slowly but surely he does, before snapping to attention at seeing Ashe awake.

“Hey starling,” Ashe croaks. It leads to a coughing fit, with Yuri hurrying to fetch him a cup of water to ease his throat. “Looks like no angelica tea for me today.”

“Enough of the levity,” Yuri hushes. He’ll get the frown lines he keeps trying to avoid if he keeps this up. “Ashe, you almost died. You’re literally getting blood into you left arm right now to keep you going.” Blood? Ashe slowly turns his gaze to the opposite side. There’s a needle in his arm, a barely there pinprick amidst the fatigue and aches that plague his body. Attached to it a small bag, with a very minor blizzard spell attached to keep it cool. It’s the sort of thing that Ashe thought only happened at the Royal School of Sorcery.

“...we don’t just have blood lying around though,” Ashe replies. His brain still feels a bit sluggish from waking up, before looking over to Yuri. Yuri, who looks around awkwardly, as if afraid of what happens next as much as what’s just happened. “Did you... share your blood with me?”

“I’m sorry, Ashe,” he says, voice low and grave. “It’s not something we’ve ever talked about. Despite living during one of the most turbulent times in Fódlan in the last 1000 years, I guess we never wanted to think about it.” Yuri burrows his face in his hands, takes a deep breath. The tea beside him is long cold. “When I thought you were going to die, I was... I was selfish. I gave you some of my crest blood.” He holds Ashe’s right hand as if it’s something sacred, sliding on to the ground on his knees, looking for atonement. “Please forgive me. I don’t want to lose you.”

Ashe stares, and fights the urge to return to a dreamless slumber. Instead he tries to sit up, slow and steady, careful not to bring to life another bruise, or to dislodge the needle. He clasps at Yuri’s hand right back, grip far more feeble as he currently is.

“You’re right. It’s not something we talked about. And for that, I share the blame as well. If I were in your position, seeing you on a bed like this...” The image flashes in his mind uncalled for, but instead Yuri is burning, burning, burning. “If my blood was the only thing that would save you, I’d give you it without a second thought, even if you hated me for the rest of our days.”

“Do you?” Do you hate me? Do you hate the blood I’ve cursed you with, in a world where the dominating power is trying to remove crests once and for all? Do you hate I never gave you a choice in this?

“I love you, Regulus. Thank you for saving my life.” The memory haunts him, the sudden change and the way the air hurt to breathe. “I’m so relieved you weren’t anywhere near Arianrhod when... when that happened.”

The atmosphere shifts at that. Yuri sits up, attempts to return to his seat, but Ashe’s grip tightens as much as he can in his state. Yuri stares at wild green eyes. Ashe whispers, “Please.” Please don’t leave me. Please don’t let go. Please stay.

Carefully, Yuri gets into the bed. It’s a tight fit, but nothing they haven’t dealt with before. If anything Ashe gives out a sigh of relief at the contact of skin on skin.

“What exactly did you see out there?” he asks. He’s heard the reports of what the Church did, but it doesn’t sit right with him. And frankly, the detail was so little that he has to ask to understand what it was that Ashe bore witness to.

“...after the surprise attack against Cordelia, I was one of the scouts sent to fly over to make sure there were no stragglers nearby. It was straight after, so I didn’t have time for a break, but it was only going to be a couple of hours or so.” Ashe swallows, eyes turned up to the ceiling, looking at something no longer there. “I was about to return to the base camp to confirm my findings and head back to Garreg Mach when... when I heard it.

“I turned back, and before my eyes I could see some... some javelin shooting down from the sky, screeching some unholy noise as it ripped through the clouds. I didn’t even have time to warn anyone before it struck the fort. It erupted into a huge explosion, dust and debris flying everywhere. I heard screams, and then it felt like I couldn’t hear anything at all.” His left arm twitches against his will. “If I’d been any closer I think I would have been killed outright. As it was, whatever that blast did repelled everything in the sky, my wyvern and I included.

“The world was spinning for a bit, but I don’t really remember the landing. I’m lucky my girl didn’t break a wing, else we’d be walking it back. I saw some people in the distance, but there was something off about them, so I made sure to keep away.

“I could remember we were supposed to meet up, but with everything that happened, I couldn’t remember if we were to meet at Garreg Mach or at Arianrhod. When I saw the crater that was left, I guess the adrenaline kept me flying all the way back to make sure you were alive.”

Ashe’s voice is dry and raspy at the end, sounding like he’s been eating stained glass. Yuri grabs the water and slowly brings it to Ashe’s lips, carefully tilting it so Ashe doesn’t choke. He lets them stew in silence, to let Ashe try to get his breathing under control. With every tear that falls from his eyes, Yuri just wipes them away, feather light in his touch. Ashe is so grateful.

“Edelgard and Hubert said this was the Church’s doing,” Yuri says. Better to let Ashe know what the official story is, before he leaves and has to interact with the army.

“I guess you were right all those years ago then,” he remarks, bitterly. “Everybody lies.”

“Ashe?”

“The Church of Seiros has done a lot of wrong, but I’m certain this wasn’t their doing. There were rings of magic guiding the javelin to Arianrhod. Dark magic.” He turns to face Yuri, the first time since retelling this story. “When I was grounded, I know I saw some of those hooded figures that fought alongside us during the assault on Garreg Mach five years ago. I recognise that clothing as some of them would go through Gaspard territory, and taught some of the mages in the castle their magic.”

“You’re saying it was our supposed allies who did this?” Yuri is considering the words carefully. Ashe knows he sounds a little crazy right now. He’s still a little out of it, and most people can write off what he’s saying as shock. “Honestly magpie... it sounds pretty much what I’ve been considering.” Huh. That was easy.

“Should we tell Professor Byleth?” he asks. He’s starting to feel drowsy from being awake this long.

“Honestly, she probably already knows. It’s best to keep this to ourselves.”

“But... the truth that I wanted...” Ashe doesn’t get a chance to finish the thought, let alone the sentence, before sleep consumes him, warm in Yuri’s arms.

He only dreams of darkness.

Ashe wakes up again, but doesn’t have the strength to open his eyes. He can feel Yuri close by, almost as if he’s covering Ashe with his whole body.

“You keep us out of whatever shadow war you and the Emperor are waging, and I’ll make sure whatever Ashe saw doesn’t get out. And when I mean us, I mean our families as well. You do that, and we’re golden.” From voice alone, Ashe doesn’t think he’s heard Yuri sound so dangerous, not even in their first reunion in Abyss all those years ago.

A dark chuckle. “Very well then. So long as you think you can keep him quiet about this, then I suppose I’ll let it go. I’ll be watching though, Savage Mockingbird. Lady Edelgard has been working for years to achieve unity of Fódlan and usher in a new age. Dealing with those who slither in the dark will come, but only when the moment is right, and not a second sooner. I will not hesitate to take care of any threats to Her Majesty.”

“I swear Hubert, if a single strand of hair is moved from any of their heads-”

“You keep to your word, and I’ll keep mine.” Footsteps, like whoever has intruded has decided to leave, before stopping. “Truly, I understand caring this much about your mother, but from all the stories about you that I’d heard before our meeting, I must admit it’s disappointing to see how dedicated you are to someone who cannot match you in mind.” Ashe doesn’t get time to wallow in pity over that common accusation he’s seen many times in people’s eyes before Yuri is snapping back.

“I’m not lowering myself to any level, nor am I bringing Ashe up to mine. You keep your twisted ideals of loyalty and dedication to yourself. This isn’t a happiness one so trapped in servitude, even when trying to overthrow the current order, could understand.”

“Your feelings are immature compared to mine for Her Majesty.”

“Perhaps,” Yuri remarks, “but I assure you, our mutual feelings will burn for much, much longer.”

Silence stretches on, verging onto eternity, which is more then Ashe is comfortable to deal with. He wants to say something, but just breathing right now is difficult. Finally, the footsteps continue onwards and fade away. They’re left alone once again.

“It’s okay magpie,” Yuri croons into his ear. Of course Yuri knew he was awake. “I know it goes against your way of the world, but sometimes we have to do these things to keep our people safe.” Ashe knows. Christophe and Lonato had fought for what they considered justice, and died for it as a result.

With what little strength he has, he nods his ascent into the pillow. Yuri will understand.

Three months after the war has finished, after that dreaded battle in Fhirdiad, Yuri and Ashe are travelling the united Fódlan, free of the army uniforms and responsibilities. It’s more symbolic then anything, considering any army regalia Ashe really had was destroyed during the strike on Arianrhod, and Yuri had already torn the dancer’s toga he’d had to wear into finely little cut pieces once the final battle was done, not wanting to salvage something that annoyed him so much.

Ashe had been able to keep his wyvern at least, with Emperor Edelgard’s blessing, no doubt convinced by Byleth herself. It certainly made travel easier, and Yuri would be lying that he’s relieved it’s an animal that doesn’t trigger his allergies that they have on hand.

If only he was any good at flying.

“Regulus, I know you want this to be a surprise,” Ashe calls from behind him, arms around his chest. “But are you certain you don’t want me to at least lead us there when we’re in the sky?”

“Oh no magpie, everything is just fine.” It wasn’t, but fake it till you make it has never hurt Yuri’s chances before. “And you better be keeping that blindfold on as well.” Ashe tightens his arms around his chest, burrowing his head into his shoulder. Yuri can feel the pout against him.

“Have to admit, not what I was expecting when you mentioned a blindfold...”

“I don’t know what was a worse influence for you, me or those romance novels you’d share with Hapi and Bernadetta. Who would have thought the cute little cherub I met at Count Rowe’s would end up with such a dirty mind?” he laughs.

He can hear Ashe gearing up for an indignant response, but he finally sees the spot he’s been trying to aim for, and sets the wyvern for a dive. Ashe gives a sudden squeak at the change of velocity, unable to see what’s happening and connected mainly by touch to the world when in the sky. The landing is a little bumpy, but their wyvern is made of sterner stuff, running aground a little before slowing to a stop.

Yuri disentangles Ashe’s arms from his chest and jumps off the beast’s back, eager to be back on solid ground. A lack of allergy does not make it anymore comfortable to travel. Efficiently he helps Ashe onto the ground, careful to keep him steady as he stumbles around blind. “I’m taking the blindfold off now.”

“Finally. What was it you were so excited for me to... see...” Before their eyes lies a valley of verdure, with large fields of violets growing everywhere. An isolated clear water lake is nearby, deep enough for a swim, with an ancient looming oaktree providing an ideal place for shade if the sun’s rays get too much. Yuri waits in anticipation. “Goddess, Regulus... it’s beautiful.”

So far, so good.

“I’d hoped you’d like it.” Yuri makes quick work of getting the picnic basket off the attachment bag on the wyvern’s right leg, careful not to upset her. He’s still a while away before she fully likes him just yet. “Here, follow me, we’ll set up the blanket near the tree.”

Ashe follows along, eyes still looking over the place, roaming the landscape. “I didn’t think there was a place the war hadn’t touched.”

“Some places were luckier then others. I for one am glad to see some places got out unscathed.” He spreads the blanket across the grass, the dark blue a clear contrast to the vibrant green. He makes do to get all the necessities for a teatime out; teapot and cups, tea leaves, and some long lasting biscuits. Of all the strides in magic Constance has made, the one that applies gravity onto the components inside something small like a box or a basket has to be Yuri’s favourite.

His hand lingers on a final item, the weight of it heavier then it should be, before placing it back in the basket. Patience. He needs to make sure it’s perfect.

“I hope you remembered how to do a fire spell, otherwise we really will just have flavoured water,” Ashe jokes, picking up a container and setting off to the lake. “It looks like spring water, but it’s probably best to boil it first to be safe.”

Eventually they end up all prepared, tea boiled and ready, with their biscuits and sweets splayed out before them. Between all the loose ends they’ve been having to do, Yuri helping to set up a new leader of Abyss, and Ashe helping Gaspard get back under their feet under a new lord, along with helping to set his siblings off on their desired paths, they’ve not had time to enjoy even a fraction of the peace.

It helps, to catch up, to talk about the things they’ve missed, the people they’ve visited. Ashe relaxes more and more, and the delight on his face when Yuri makes him a flowercrown of violets is one Yuri would commission an artist to paint, if he was willing to share such secret joys with the rest of the world. That’s something Yuri is keeping to himself.

As the conversation lulls, Ashe, looking like a creature of myth, with his purple crown and iridescent green eyes, stands up to drink in the view once more.

“I have to ask, though, starling... Is there a reason for all this?” A bashful laugh. “I hope I’m not forgetting any anniversaries. I know it’s not your birthday, although that is soon.”

Okay. It’s okay, Yuri can do this. For Ashe, he can do this.

He reaches into the basket, and takes out the final object, before rearranging himself onto one knee.

“Regulus?”

Yuri... no. Regulus takes a deep breath.

“Ashe Ubert,” Regulus begins, taking in the way Ashe is looking down at him, eyes wide, violets a halo around his head. He truly is a vision to behold, like a galaxy plucked from the sky, his freckles the stars themselves. “Years ago, we met as children, two street orphans adopted into a world beyond us. Looking back at it now, I think it was destiny that we were to meet. There had always been a connection between us, even when I didn’t want to acknowledge it. But despite all that, you reached a hand out to me, an underground vagrant. You wanted me in your life. It took me longer to realise that I wanted you to be in my life as well.

“Since then, no matter what we’ve gone through, the ups and downs, we’ve gone through it together. And my new dream, of dreaming bigger then just Abyss and protecting only one person, it’s grown. Edelgard is changing the world, but I want to take it further. I want to make sure no one has to know what poverty feels like again, and for people to know joy in their lives like we do. When thinking of the future like this, and trying to imagine what will happen, I have one constant, my pillar of strength and justice. I can’t imagine living this life without you. Or any life without you, for that matter.” Regulus pauses, and while remaining on one knee, pulls out the silver ring, with the emerald gemstone cut. Ashe looks like he’s going to cry.

“Ashe Ubert. I love you. I love you with all my heart.

“Will you marry me?”

Ashe bursts into tears.

“Ashe...?”

“Am I dreaming?” Ashe wonders aloud, actually pinching his own cheek. “I can’t, I can’t believe this.” Before Regulus can stand up Ashe collapses to the ground beside him. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you, yes, a thousand times, yes!

“Sorry, I’m kind of giddy. To go from a life of stealing on the streets, to being able to meet you, someone who understands what it was like, and wants to help change it, all while wanting to marry me... Saying that you love me...” Ashe rubs at his eyes, slowing the tears down as much as he can. “It’s hard to believe I can be this happy.” Vibrating, Ashe presents his left hand, uncaring of the scar running down his arm. Regulus can’t stop the smile from his own face as he slowly slips the ring onto his finger.

“Then let this be the start of our own new dawn, as we walk towards a brighter future.”

In the privacy and peace of their own world, Ashe leans forward and kisses Regulus.

This may be their most memorable teatime. But it’ll be far from their last. There’s a whole lifetime of adventures that awaits.