The second Tales of Xillia 2 request from tumblr. This one is Jude/Ludger.

Declaimer: I do not own any of the Tales of series. I'm just a fan.
_

Jude took a deep breathe, his nerves getting to him. He looked out into the audience, shaking slightly. This was the biggest audience he ever had. He wasn't ready for this… He had an urge to run backstage and quickly look over his notes once more. His eyes darted anxiously across the rows of seats, where, where, where? Was he here? Did he decide not to come this time? He didn't think he could do this without him…

"Okay…calm down, Jude." He whispered quietly to himself, "Just think of them all as tomatoes…they're all just a big bunch of tomatoes…I'm in a tomato field…"

His voice rose slightly as he caught his breath, "A-Alright, h-hello, everyone. I-it's…" He took another breath, cursing himself as he caught sight of some snickers in the front row. Next to some kids laughing at him, were Leia and, "Ludger…" Jude breathed out in relief, suddenly feeling much, much calmer.

"My name is Jude Mathis, and I'm a spyrix researcher. The reason I am here today is to make a big announcement, I'm honored so many of you have come to hear my lecture. What I'm about to tell you today, may shock you, but the reason spyrix were previously killing spirits was because we were taking the mana that supported their very lives from them, rather than the mana they released. It all goes back to the fundamentals of Professor…"

"Wow, Jude, that was amazing!" Leia smacked him on the back, "I can't wait to start writing this article!"

"R-really?" Jude scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, "It didn't sound too forced or anything?"

"Not at all." Alvin jumped in, "You really need to stop doubting yourself like that. Although it was pretty boring when you started talking about theories and history."

Jude sighed, "I was worried that might be the case. To be honest, I thought you weren't going to show up, Alvin."

Alvin smiled, "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Liar! You didn't even get there until I was halfway done!" Jude scolded.

"Yeah, I guess you got me there." The fruits salesman sighed, "But if I hadn't let Ludger and Leia ride the wyvern you would have been a mess up there!"

"W-What, no I wouldn't have!" Jude denied, blushing.

"Yeah you would have! You should have seen the start of his speech, Alvin." Leia piped up, imitating Jude, "'h-h-h-he-llo e-e-e-everyone'."

Alvin turned to Leia, amused, "Oh really?" Alvin and Leia burst out into giggles.

"N-No! Besides," Jude turned to Leia, "I didn't stutter that much!"

"Ok, maybe I exaggerated a tiny bit, but" Leia smiled, "Ludger really did calm you down, didn't he?"

"W-well…" Jude blushed, his hands behind his back. Just then, the door opened, Ludger coming through it.

"I-It's not like that!" Jude waved his hands back and forth, at Ludger.

Ludger tilted his head quizzically, "Not like what?"

"N-Nothing." Jude blushed furiously as Leia and Alvin's laughter grew louder.

"L-Let's go already." Jude grabbed Ludger's hand before hurrying out the door.

Ludger followed, unquestioning, sending a loving gaze at the back of his head. Letting him pull him along with him, "Of course."

It was a few minutes after they were gone that Leia and Alvins' laughter finally settled down.

"Sometimes I feel like they're the only ones who don't realize how in love with each other they are." Alvin sighed.

Leia huffed a big pout of air, "I know, If Ludger doesn't make a move fast, I might just steal Jude from him."

Alvin chuckled, "I feel the same way. If they don't tell each other how they feel soon I might just steal both of them."

They laughed a bit more with each other, far more joking than serious.

_
Or were they…?