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There weren't many good things in Yuri's life, and he'd learned long ago that if something is too good to be true, it probably is. Even people he liked were, at best, useful for the time being. This wasn't to say Yuri didn't care about the people whom he allowed to think were close to him. He did care, immensely, even after the many years of teaching himself to suppress those feelings. But his life was not a bed of roses, and the fonder he was of someone, the keener Yuri was to spare them from the thorns.
So when the Professor from the Officer's Academy discovered Abyss, Yuri delegated the man by the same standard as usual. Not too unpleasant to be around, and useful in keeping Abyss safe. Once Aelfric had been taken care of, that was supposed to be the end of Yuri and the Professor's paths crossing.
But then, two unexpected things happened.
One, the man they'd called Professor wasn't actually the Byleth they'd heard so many rumours about, but rather the real Professor's twin brother with the same name. You could confuse a man with less.
Two, in order to save Abyss from closure, this Byleth was now designated as the professor heading the unofficial fourth house of the Officers Academy.
So much for their paths never crossing again. Usually, Yuri hated unknowns like this, but... seeing how passionately Byleth had defended Abyss in front of the Arch Bishop, perhaps this wasn't the worst development.
Especially when Yuri discovered that he and Byleth shared a very similar outlook on life.
- You know, you weren't very receptive to me... “asking you out”, Yuri said one day. - Not that my ego is as small as to need everyone swooning over me, but I was just a little bit curious about that.
Byleth, who had been in the midst of some repairs, grunted as he straightened his posture before giving Yuri a look that Yuri would later come to know as Byleth's best attempt at a smile.
- A man like you should know, Byleth said simply. - When something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
And with that, he'd gone back to his task, leaving Yuri somewhere between bewilderment and amusement. Having now gotten to know the real Professor, Yuri could only wonder how the twins had grown up to be such different people, but really, Yuri wasn't complaining. He preferred a realist over an optimist, anyhow.
As far as teaching went, Byleth mostly left that to the actual Professor, Hanneman, and Manuela. Yuri might have poked fun at Byleth for how much the “Assistant Professor” title was just for show, were it not for Byleth using all his free time on helping out Abyss instead. During the time Yuri had shown him the ropes, Yuri had gotten a pretty good understanding of how their little assistant professor ticked. Byleth may have been gruff and initially unapproachable, but he had his ways of showing he cares. Like telling a crying boy that he's brave for letting his emotions show, and that if someone makes fun of him for it, Byleth will give them something to cry about. Or when Byleth went all in on the brewery project to create employment opportunities and a sense of accomplishment in Abyss. Or how surprisingly suave Byleth is when he eventually did start responding to Yuri's flirting. Or how Byleth remembers everyone's birthdays and puts in the effort to come up with appropriate gifts and ---
And before he knew it, Yuri had developed a soft spot for the person he not too long ago had thought would be nothing more than a means to an end.
But as time went on, Yuri could tell that something was up with Byleth. At times he seemed particularly broody, like something was driving him around the bend. But when Yuri tried to ask, Byleth's response was as blunt as it got.
- You have your secrets, and I have mine.
Byleth walking away had signalled the end to that matter, but Yuri wasn't exactly known for being the obedient child. A secret that Yuri doesn't know? Now this wouldn't do at all.
Yuri did what he could to look into Byleth's past on his own, but for once his brilliant reconnaissance skills yielded him nothing, save for a strong urge to punch Jeralt. In the end, Byleth coming clean remained Yuri's only option, and Byleth made it very clear he had no interest in discussing this further.
But Yuri's patient. He could wait for the right opportunity.
The right opportunity presented itself two years after Edelgard's war had begun. Byleth was familiarly groaning in frustration, and Yuri sensed a bit more urgency in those sounds. Like restraint was being loosened.
- So tell me, Sunshine, Yuri said, chuckling at the way Byleth huffed at his co-opting of Hapi's nickname for him. Though Yuri did note that Byleth didn't seem nearly as annoyed when it was Yuri saying it. - Come now. We're friends, right? Partners, even. I think you can trust me enough to share what is weighing you down.
Byleth looked at him, and for a moment it looked he'd just shut down like always. And then, a sigh. Yuri has known Byleth for long enough to know what this sigh meant, and internally, he was rejoicing. Finally, Yuri's got him!
- Try and put yourself in my shoes, will you? Byleth said, looking at Yuri with an expression that Yuri, to his great shock, couldn't place. - I'm taken out of my life and thrust into looking after a bunch of Abyssians because if Rhea can't be assed to care, someone's gotta. Not the direction I imagined my life going but I've come to care a little so it's not like I can just quit now.
- I'd say you care more than just a bit, Yuri replied. - I swear I'll have to keep an eye on you so you don't try carrying everything on your shoulders. A bit odd to see our roles reversed, now.
- The point is, things keep getting better, and we actually manage to do something here, build a community despite everything up there, Byleth nodded at the ceiling, to the outside world where he war raged on as they spoke. - And I should be happy that I have this, and I am, but y'know what's the one thing still pissing me off?
Just one? Yuri was tempted to ask, considering the state of the world, but he held his tongue. He was too close to lose it all for the sake of a quip.
- I'm dying to know, Yuri said, and at this point, it was no hyperbole.
Byleth's gaze on him turned more intense, and Yuri suddenly realized he did know that look. There had been many a man and woman who had stared at Yuri with a similar intensity, but for some reason, Yuri had not been able, or perhaps willing, to acknowledge it coming from Byleth.
- It's the fact that all this time, I'm working alongside the sexiest man in the world, but because I'm technically the teacher here, I can't make a move on him, Byleth's gaze remained fixated on Yuri, with the slightest of smiles on Byleth's lips. - Tragic, isn't it?
Hearing Byleth put it into words was still enough to dumbfound Yuri. He'd heard countless compliments about his looks before, but few had made his heart race like Byleth's words just now. And Yuri wasn't so in denial that he didn't know why. But Yuri liked being in control. And admitting that he was starting to catch feelings was not an unknown he had been ready to face.
But Yuri also wasn't as foolish as to waste a golden opportunity when one presented itself. And so, Yuri chuckled delighted, smiling tenderly at the small sigh of relief slipping past Byleth's lips. It must have been so hard for Byleth to have been forced to hold this in for so long. But there was no time like the present to make up for it.
- Well, if it's any consolation... Besides the fact that the Arch Bishop isn't around, the way you've helped Abyss, you're definitely more of a friend than a teacher to us all, Yuri said, giving Byleth a meaningful look. - And I'm sure this “sexiest man in the world” of yours feels the same.
With a wink, Yuri turned around, well aware of the sultry look glazing Byleth's eyes. But Yuri didn't get far before a hand gently grabbed his, spinning him around and pulling him close until Yuri's found himself pressed against Byleth's admittedly very nice chest.
- When the bell strikes midnight, meet me out front of the Holy Mausoleum, Byleth whispered. - What say you?
Yuri laughed. He was nothing if not good at leaving an impression, he supposed.
- Why at such a late hour? Yuri asked with a teasing smile.
Then again, Byleth was no loser when it came to making an impression himself.
- It's the most romantic time of the evening of course! Byleth said, and by now he was smiling as well. - Or is the idea of a date with me not appealing to you?
- Oh, on the contrary, Yuri purred, leaning closer to Byleth's ear. - But let's make it at ten, alright? I want to take my time getting to know you without messing up my sleep schedule.
- I can't make promises. I've my ways of keeping a guy up at night, Byleth replied with a low rumble, and good heavens, it's like he knew exactly what Yuri wanted to hear. - But ten it is.
Grinning, Yuri pulled away, relishing in the way Byleth's eyes followed him as he walked out the room.
- Don't keep me waiting, Yuri called from the door, before giving Byleth a coy look. - Any more than you already have, that is.
The sharp inhale from Byleth didn't escape Yuri, but he'd have time to savour it later. Right now, he had a date to prepare for.
It was just before ten that Yuri rushed to the Holy Mausoleum. Once the stage for a most wretched scene, it had since become somewhat of a known lover's retreat for couples in Abyss looking for a bit alone time. But Yuri didn't have time to appreciate the irony as he spotted Byleth in the shadows, their eyes locking across the hall.
- Yuri! Byleth exclaimed, but he didn't get further than that when Yuri's arms were already around him, lips pressed against his.
They've had two years and more to talk, and many more to come. Right now, it was time to make up for all the touches that Rhea's decision to appoint Byleth as the Ashen Wolves professor and the strange power imbalance it created had robbed them of.