A/N: Oh dear, here I go again. Another pitiful attempt at trying to jump start a pairing that I like. I just discovered my love of these two a few days ago while playing the game. It just kinda jumped on me. Anyway, please be kind to me, this is really clichéd. R&R as always.

EDIT: Just fixed a few things I noticed. No big changes, just making things a bit clearer.

Eric dropped his glass on the bar table and sighed. The beer definitely wasn't helping. Now he was drunk and depressed, instead of just being depressed. He ran his fingers through his brown hair. Why did life have to be so complicated? He thought that things would be simple, living in Trampoli, running a farm. Simple. Somehow, Eric had found a way to complicate it. Falling for his best friend was just…

He called for another beer.

He couldn't think about that anymore. It was driving him insane. Eating at his every thought. He didn't know how much longer he could take it. He chugged his beer and rested his head on the table. He ignored the racket the rest of the bar was making and closed his eyes. He knew he probably should go home, but the thought of prying himself off the table seemed like a lot of work. He was tired. Tired, drunk and depressed. What a great combination, he thought. But despite all this, a moment later he paid his tab and pushed himself up from the table. Slowly, he stumbled out of the bar.

o0o

Lute stuck his head in the bar and swept his eyes over the occupants. No, he wasn't there. He tried to sneak out without being seen, but Raguna caught his eye and motioned for Lute to join his almost full table. With a sigh, Lute entered the bar.

When he sat down, Tuner asked him what he'd like. Lute told him he'd have water and, when asked, Raguna ordered an apple juice (Lute remembered that the young man didn't drink.)

"It's rare to see you around," Raguna said.

"Yes, I was actually just looking for someone," the painter replied.

"For whom?" Ganesha asked. Lute looked to the door.

"I'm looking for Eric. He wasn't at home, I'm leaving in the morning and I wanted to say goodbye." Lute leaned away from the table. He really didn't want to be here.

"He was here earlier," Rita broke in, "he had a few drinks then left."

"A few?" Turner broke in with a laugh. "He nearly drowned himself. Was barely able to walk out the door."

"And no one helped him home?" Lute said, his voice rising a bit. Everyone shook their head. He stood up and left. Apologies followed him, but he didn't want to hear it. He knew how Eric got when he was drunk. There was no way that the other man would be able to find his way home like that. He walked the road past Kross' house, checking the sides of the path, but he didn't see his friend. In fact, he didn't find Eric until he started back up to the Business district when he tripped over the other man's legs. Eric was sprawled out in the bushes, his clothes and hair in disarray. He was mumbling something, but Lute couldn't figure out what it was. He hoisted his best friend up off the ground and began to walk down to Eric's house.

"Lute?" Eric muttered, his breath heavy with the smell of alcohol.

"Yes, Eric. You know, you really shouldn't drink alone, you know how you get."

"M'sorry," Eric slurred. Lute chuckled.

"You're hopeless," he said. When they arrived at Eric's farm Lute fumbled with the door while trying to keep Eric standing. After a few frustrating moments, he succeeded and pushed through the door.

Eric's farmhouse was an organized mess, as always. Lute pushed past the crates of veggies (which was quite a task,) and took Eric to his room. They nearly tripped a few times, but managed to reach his bed. Lute laid Eric down in his bed and covered him with a blanket.

"Lute," Eric mumbled as he was tucked in. The man looked like he was about to fall asleep. "There's somthin' I wanna tell you."

"Hm?"

"I love you."

Lute smiled.

"And I love you," he responded.

"No," Eric whined, "I'm serious." Lute leaned down and pressed his lips to Eric's.

"As am I," he said softly. Eric seemed shocked. He went to say something, but the late night and the alcohol won out and he drifted to sleep before the words came. Lute smiled, and caressed his sleeping friend's face. He decided that he would stay one more day in Trampoli, just to make sure Eric remembered what happened in the morning.

Okay, so the ending sucks, but hey, not bad eh? Totally clichéd, but oh well. This is like, the only fanfic I've written that wasn't done at midnight or later. Haha, well I'm off. Ciao.