A/N: Sequel to previous chapter. Warnings for some strong language and mid-game and First Strike movie spoilers.

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"Flynn!"

Yuri sees the blond first, some distance away but still clearly him. He doesn't bother to hide the excitement in his voice, because he did miss the uptight knight while he was "dead." Even though it feels to him as if he's only been gone a few days, he knows it's been far longer, and Flynn was among those who must have thought him dead. He's certain Estelle has already told Flynn that Yuri is not, in fact, deceased, but Flynn still stiffens at his voice as if he's heard a ghost.

Flynn is most likely working, Yuri thinks, but he's pleased when the other man approaches regardless. There's an odd look on Flynn's face, a mixture of incredulity and anger and grief all at once, as Yuri draws him into an alley.

Yuri ignores the expression, grins wide and holds out his arms, inviting Flynn to hug him with the full knowledge that there's no way the blond ever would. "Did you miss me?" he teases, and to his surprise, Flynn steps forward as if he's going to accept the embrace.

That's when Flynn's fist connects with his head.

Yuri lands hard, hard enough that he's left dazed for a few seconds when the back of his head hits a wall. "Flynn, what the hell!?" he yells, too surprised by the sudden blow to return it. He wasn't actually expecting Flynn to hug him; he was not, however, expecting him to punch him. When Flynn falls to his knees in front of him, Yuri braces for another punch; this time, he'll fight back. That's when he realizes.

Flynn is crying.

Yuri doesn't even think the other man is aware of it. Flynn is still glaring at him like he's never been so furious in his life, hands curled into fists at his sides and his brows knit together in anger. But there are tears on his face, falling down his cheeks without being brushed away as if Flynn doesn't know they're there. Yuri isn't sure what to do about that. He's never been the best at comforting, and he thinks Flynn is likely to punch him again if he tries anything. But he can't just let Flynn kneel there in front of him and cry silently forever.

So he reaches out and pulls Flynn into his arms before the other man can snap at him again.

"Let go of me," Flynn growls, voice slightly muffled by Yuri's shoulder. "I'm still mad at you." His fists are pressed to Yuri's chest, and he smacks him half-heartedly, unable to muster any real strength behind the action.

"Sure you are." Yuri can feel the other man shaking. Flynn is still angry, clearly, but if he actually wanted to be let go, he could easily push Yuri away. The fact that he hasn't is telling enough.

"Screw you, Yuri."

"Yeah, yeah."

"No. You absolute bastard. You promised you wouldn't go off and die without me. I looked for you again and again and again and you weren't there. I thought you'd sunk to the bottom of the ocean. I thought I was left without even a body to bury again. You're so reckless. I thought you were fucking dead." A small hitch of breath, then quieter: "I thought you were dead, Yuri..."

"Yeah. I know." Yuri sighs and adjusts his position, resting his hand on the back of Flynn's head. He knew, but not to this extent. "I'm sorry. I'm alive. And I'm here now." Yuri feels Flynn stiffen at his words.

Then something in Flynn seems to break.

The next breath Flynn takes leaves as a shuddering sob, grief and relief alike bubbling up in his throat and spilling out from his lips. He presses his face against Yuri's shoulder, gives a choked "Yuri" into the fabric of his shirt. And when Flynn's arms finally wrap around Yuri and hold him so tightly he can barely breathe, he just holds Flynn back, lets him cry against him until his shirt is soaked with tears.

Yuri has never seen Flynn quite like this before, not even when Niren died, and hopes to never have to see it again. Flynn is strong—even like this. It's obvious that he has held back for so long, wouldn't let himself mourn Yuri because he had to stay strong. There's nothing shameful about his tears now; they only make Yuri want to hold him all the tighter. But it hurts to see them, hurts to hear the small whimpers that Flynn is trying so hard to hold back, hurts to know that he's the reason for them.

Yuri doesn't know how long they stay like that, just nestled in each other's embrace. But eventually Flynn's shaking stops, his tears dry up, and he leans back, unwilling to meet Yuri's eyes. His face is splotchy and red, his eyes are swollen, and his lower lip is still trembling slightly. And Yuri has never wanted to kiss him so badly in his life. So he does, and when Flynn's eyes squeeze shut, Yuri worries he's going to start crying again. But instead he pulls away from the kiss, opens them again, and fixes Yuri with a glare.

"If you die again, I'll kill you. I swear," he promises vehemently.

"Try saying that when you aren't crying over me," Yuri replies with a grin, and when Flynn huffs and stands up, Yuri knows he'll be okay.