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Yuri wanted a bit of peace and quiet to unwind, but he could endure a noisy tavern if it meant sharing a drink with Ashe. His darling knight saved drinking for special occasions, but today had been a particularly rough day. Even Ashe could make exceptions every now and then.
"Good there or do you need another round?" Yuri asked.
Ashe finished his drink, and gently set the tankard down on the table. "I could probably use another," he replied as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "And you?"
"I'll keep going until you call it," Yuri said, shrugging. "I'm not looking to get drunk, I just enjoy drinking with you."
"I'm here to get comfortable, not drunk. You can hold your drinks better than I can, so you might not get much out this," Ashe laughed.
Yuri called a nearby barkeep for another round of drinks, and two new tankards were placed on the table. "I think all these drinks have finally gotten to you. You're normally such a good listener," Yuri teased. "I said I like drinking with you."
After taking a small sip of his ale, Ashe chuckled quietly. "I know you have better pick-up lines than that."
There was something about his laughter that Yuri found appealing and heartwarming, but the giggles and laughs he let out after a few drinks were different. Anyone who knew Ashe called him a man who wore his heart on his sleeve. However, those who understood him realized that Ashe had his own walls around his heart just like anyone else. Rarely did he tear them down completely for anyone, even Yuri. As kind as he was, fending for yourself and family as a child scarred a man.
Still, it was better to be guarded than open. It was a cruel world, and Yuri could endure some distance if it guaranteed Ashe's safety. Besides, he was well aware trust came with time. And if he was being honest with himself, Ashe would need plenty of it given the sort of life Yuri had been living all this time.
For now, he was more than happy to wait until a night of drinks to see an unguarded Ashe. Also, as annoying as his chivalric knight persona was, Yuri found it charming.
"Poke." Ashe poked the back of Yuri's hand. "Still with us, Yuri?"
"Yeah, just thinking," Yuri said as he placed his hand over Ashe's. "You're a lot of fun with some alcohol in your system."
"I think you and I would be a lot more fun after a proper vacation," Ashe said, smiling. "Given the state of the land, this as close to one as we're going to get."
"Ashe!" Yuri exclaimed with feigned astonishment. He knew Ashe was only venting, but it was fun to mess with him, even if Ashe did see through it.
"Hey, I like what we do, but it would be nice to spend some time away from everything, you know? Just the two us."
"Doing what?"
"Maybe visiting other cities. Camping under the stars?" Ashe hummed quietly as he tried to think of more activities, but shrugged when nothing else came to mind. "I never really gave it much thought, sorry. Some time alone away from our duties seems so far away."
"You know, neither of us really owes anything to the crown. If this is something you really want, we can run away from all of this."
As expected, Ashe declined. "I don't hate what we do, Yuri. Besides, you and I are the only people close to the king who truly understand the common people. His Majesty depends on our insight."
"Buzzed enough to complain, but not enough to play along with the fantasy." Yuri rolled his eyes, amused with Ashe's answer. "Suppose we didn't come here to survey the town. What would you do?"
With his free hand, Ashe gestured to Yuri and the area around them. "This is more than enough."
"Come on, use that colorful imagination of yours. What do you really want to do more than anything if you had the time." Ashe pointed to Yuri. "Goddess, you're adorable," Yuri said, face burning as he squeezed his hand tighter. "After you finish that drink, we can head to our room at the inn if you want to follow through."
"I guess, but there's a meadow with pretty flowers near the town."
"Uh—"
"It would be easier to pick the flowers and braid your hair there rather than carry it all back our room, don't you think?"
Oh, that was what meant. That did sound a lot more like Ashe. Thinking back to when Ashe had pointed at him, he realized he held his hand higher than usual. He had been pointing at his head. He wanted to do his hair.
"Cute, but you can do that anywhere. Come on, what's something you and I can do away from Gaspard, Abyss, and Fhirdiad?"
"Nothing really comes to mind, sorry. Like I said, this is more than enough for me." Ashe lifted their locked hands, and brought them to his lips. "If you have something in mind, tell me." He kissed the back of Yuri's hand before pulling his own away. "I'm more than happy to give you what you want."
Yuri pulled his hand into his lap, and stroked it with the other. As he looked down at his hands, thought about his own question. When nothing came to mind, he though back to what he said earlier.
I'm not looking to get drunk, I just enjoy drinking with you.
Then Ashe's words echoed in his head.
This is more than enough.
Yuri had encountered every flavor of romance while playing with the hearts of the noble class. While there were no true feelings, a few of them had been entertaining at the very least. When he found true love, he expected to fully enjoy them with his one and only, but was that really what he wanted? As fun as it would be to repeat his past with someone he actually cherished, he couldn't bring himself to actually try it.
From passionate affairs to fervent devotion, he had seen at all. However, there was one type of affection he never experienced with nobles who chased a pretty face—mundane love. Nothing flashy or passionate, just simply spending time together. Reading books in silence beside one another, a little kiss on the cheek for no reason, or striking up a random conversation simply because.
Even here at the tavern, he didn't expect anything out of Ashe. The drinks weren't meant to loosen either of them for someone's benefit. Ashe just wanted a drink after a long day, and Yuri enjoyed talking to him. It wasn't because he wanted to coerce Ashe into anything. No, Yuri just enjoyed speaking to an Ashe without a filter. He could talk about anything and everything.
"Well, since you said you would give me anything, how about you tell me how you learned to braid hair?"
"Oh, that? It's not that interesting, really. Just an older sibling thing."
Yuri smiled as he propped up his arm on the table, resting his cheek on his palm. "Sounds like a cute story. Come on, tell me."