A/N: Is that an update? Yes, yes we do think it is xD (Saenda: sorry guys, the excuse is the same. My semester's pretty rough since we have a usual of a four month semester condensed in two. Where's my life!? ;A; But on another note... we've got an apartment, woohoo~!)
Rose: yes, for those who are wondering, Saenda and I are best of friends in real life and are moving together this summer! Isn't that great? :D
Well, is it even necessary anymore to say that we don't own the characters except our own? Yes? Because seriously, if we did, Judith would be a better fangirl and would have already matched our two lovebirds in the game. Sheesh!
We won't hold you up any longer. See you at the end and have fun reading!
Chapter 8: Conspiracy
Weary eyes glanced at the man walking alone in the streets. The people gathered around avoided him like the plague, their gazes shining with repulse and fear at his presence. The man pretended not to see and continued to march forward, knowing very well that such reactions were only normal. And it should be that way. They should not get accustomed to his presence; rather they should hate him as much as he hated them. This peace was nothing but a big mistake, an illusion that was not to see the day. They were too different to even get along, they had nothing in common. They were heretics that believed in gods that did not exist, and their traditions went against the culture the Angels built so thoroughly. That was not the worst, however.
They only strived to steal their technology.
If this continued, the Demons would only take advantage of the Angels. They would use their scientists' knowledge to rebuild their own empire and would find a way to get their hands on the precious and rare blastia Paradis worked so hard to get. There was no way he could let such a scheme occur. There was no way he could let this peace stay for much longer!
"Oh, Councillor Garista. You are taking a stroll tonight as well?"
The long haired blonde almost started as he turned his eyes to the short white haired man coming his way. The latter was smiling ever so slightly at the council member, but his usual seriousness was present on his features, almost everlasting.
"Good evening, Commandant. I needed a bit of fresh air, though it seems I am making a few people flee from the streets. Maybe it would have been best to stay inside," he declared evenly.
He did believe he should have not gone out, but mostly because he could not stand the stench of Demons lurking about. It was nauseating.
"I'm sure they will get accustomed at some point, Councillor. It will only take a bit of time. We should not let it get to ourselves," Alexei objected as his interlocutor pushed his slipping glasses back on his nose.
Garista merely hummed a sound of acknowledgement, not wanting to start a conversation that would involve the peace.
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I think I will go back to my room. I am already feeling a bit tired."
And he was already sick of those disgusting and worthless humans. The commandant nodded at his assessment and he too went on his way, leaving the councilman alone. The blonde walked forward, his face twisting in hatred.
He would ruin this pathetic attempt of truce, no matter what.
The door gently slid open and feet wearing tabis softly slipped inside the small bedroom waiting for its visitor. Flynn closed it without a sound and heaved a little sigh as he made his way to the futon – he would never say bed, it was too uncomfortable compared to the real thing. He sat down crossed leg and rubbed the back of his neck, unable to believe how relaxed his muscles felt under his touch. He could not remember the last time when he felt so laid-back.
A smile graced his lips as previous events flashed in his mind and he leaned down on the thin mattress, arms behind his head. It had been a great day, despite it being too short. He got to spend it with Yuri, after all, and it made him incredibly happy.
As he reminisced, images of the Demon in a particular state invaded his eyes and he immediately groaned while his face turned a deep shade of crimson. Oh God, he could not believe he saw Yuri naked! The worst part was that it affected him deeply and he did not understand why. It was not as if the long haired man's body had parts Flynn had not, on the contrary.
Despite that, the Angel was flustered as his heart hammered violently in his chest. It only fueled the pictures that kept coming and the blonde groaned as he closed his eyes, slapping his hands above them, even if he knew it would not help at all. Why did he stare so much at his friend earlier? That was so stupid of him! And yet, he could not help it back then; Yuri's skin looked so soft and alluring, his muscles and chest so perfectly chiselled, his...
Whoa, whoa, whoa, what?! What the hell was he even thinking? It did not make any sense, it was stupid! How could he contemplate his friend in such a way? They were friends and, most of all, of the same sex. No, Flynn was just confused. He stared too much that afternoon because he was not used to see other men and he was a little curious to see how much his friend had grown, that was it.
And besides, the tattoo in Yuri's back caught his eye because of its newness and its sheer beauty. It fitted the Demon so much, after all. Yes, that was only it, a bit of curiosity. The Angel could relax and breathe now; there was no need to panic anymore. He would not ponder in such a way anymore.
Really, his heart could stop beating as if hell pursued him any minute now!
The captain sighed once more before he started removing the obi tying his kimono. Night clothes had been left next to his bed and he soon slipped in them. He wanted to go to sleep early since a long day awaited him. Not only would they return to the capital, but he would also need to form his troops for the emissary mission. He needed to think this through carefully, as he did not want to bring troublemakers with him. Knowing that he had Barbos' brigade as his own now, he knew there were bound to be knights against the treaty. He would find something else entirely for them to do.
A yawn stopped his train of thoughts. Rubbing his eyes, he slid under the covers, ruminating a little over the fact that he would spend another uncomfortable night because of those supposed bed the Demons slept in. He could not wait to be back home just for his cushy mattress that made him sleep like a log.
He managed to sleep for an hour or so, even though his sleep was very light, and he would have slept more if it was not for the very faint noise he heard from where the window stood. A little drowsily, yet with his reflexes already kicking in, he rose himself defensibly in the futon as he checked what was going on. He would not be surprised if a Demon came to kill him; the people from Jigoku were not particularly clement as of yet, and heretics could be found all over the world.
But when he looked up to the wall, he easily recognized his friend's form leaning against the windowsill, smirking at him. Flynn heaved a long sigh. He should have known that Yuri using the door last time was nothing but a fantasy that was not to occur again.
"Hmm... Yuri?" the Angel mumbled as he flopped back on the supposed bed, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
He just hoped this was not revenge for this morning and the way the captain woke up his friend despite knowing the latter would experience a horrible headache.
"What's wrong? Is everything all right?" he inquired.
It still was not Yuri's type to come during the night unless something was on his mind... or so Flynn thought. They did not have the opportunity to see each other much on a free basis, but now that they could, maybe the Demon enjoyed visiting people this late.
"Sorry, didn't think you'd already be asleep," the long haired man apologized, even if his tone did not sound so sorry.
He made his way near the futon and sat next to it, chuckling upon hearing the blonde groan annoyingly about the fact that he had to leave early the next morning and had duties. Yuri's smirk was still plastered on his face, but with a better look, Flynn noticed it was strained, not the usual trademark and cocky smile that graced the Demon's lips. As he guessed, something was wrong, and so he sat up, stifling a yawn.
"There's something on your mind."
It was not a question, but an affirmation, and the captain looked dead serious in his friend's eyes. His features still held their usual gentleness, however. He waited patiently for the Demon to open up while the latter's smirk melted away and he averted his gaze, his fist clutching on the floor. A nervous smile now replaced the previous smugness as he bit on his lower lip, nibbling on it.
He was obviously nervous about something, which meant it could only be important, because Yuri would never allow someone to see him in a nervous state such as this. Whatever it was, the dark haired man needed it out of his chest.
"Heh, you always knew me best," he trailed off in a soft voice, his irises still not in the blonde's direction.
His other hand moved to his arm, grabbing the fabric tightly before releasing it and rubbing his limb. Finally, he raised his eyes and they were met by deep sapphires encouraging him warmly. A surge of courage seemed to run through him as he took a deep breath before finally speaking up.
"Look, I... I need to apologize to you," he let out in the end, his cheeks flushing a little as he once more averted his gaze, obviously feeling ashamed.
The captain's eyes widened in shock, speechless for a little while, but then he prevented himself from chuckling, unable to understand why he earned an apology.
"Yuri Lowell, apologizing to me? Whoa, are there any paper and quill somewhere around here? I need to write this day down!" he teased with a grin.
His playful jab earned him a rather painful smack in the arm, to which he only laughed while rubbing the sore spot. Yuri was now glaring at his friend, not pleased with the turnout of events, yet there was still the twitch of a smile on the corner of his lips. He also seemed more at ease when Flynn looked up.
Once realising that the blonde was again gazing at him, the Demon pouted cutely, crossing his arms.
"Stop that, I'm trying to be serious, here!" he protested, to which the Angel could only chuckle more.
"I know, that's what makes it so funny," Flynn joked. "I mean, I'm not used to see you like this. Usually, you'd rather die than apologize to anyone."
The blonde finally calmed down, smiling widely at the cute expression his friend pulled. God he loved those. He wanted to see them again and again. Maybe he should make it his goal to make Yuri so adorable like this? Wait, huh? Was it even... right to think this way about his friend? That was dangerous territory, maybe he should switch back to the subject of the moment, namely the Demon's apology.
"So, why do I need to forgive you? I can't really think of anything you could have done lately."
The long haired man's face fell slightly as he turned serious once more.
"Because I've been a jerk who didn't take your feelings into account," he muttered, closing his eyes.
At those words, all humour on the Angel's face vanished and he furrowed his eyebrows in concern. He was not sure he understood where his friend was coming from, but he needed to. The Demon was truly feeling bad and there was no way the captain would let him swim in such dark feelings.
Slowly, he shifted in his futon, removing the covers, and approached Yuri, leaning down so he could look at the other's face from below. He then reached his hand to the raven haired male's cheek, first brushing it into a fleeting caress, then cupping it with care. Yuri started slightly as he snapped his eyes open, surprised to see his friend now so close.
"Yuri, I'm not sure I understand. What happened?" he prompted softly, his blue irises shining with worry.
The dark haired man bit his lower lip a second time, then sighed ever so softly, throwing a bitter smile at the blonde that was actually meant for the former.
"I'm talking about the time I insisted we use me as bait for the peace," he let on.
The captain's eyes widened, but he regained his seriousness quite quickly as he looked down for a brief moment. Oh, that.
"I talked with Judy earlier," Yuri continued. "She was really mad at me for not coming to see her any sooner."
He chuckled darkly, the guilt lacing his voice.
"She guessed herself what our plan was. When she did, she admonished me for my reckless actions. I've never seen her so serious. That made me realise how stupid it was of me to offer my sacrifice. If the mere idea was enough to make her worry greatly when it was already over, I can't possibly imagine how you must have felt hearing me say it. Now I understand why you were so insistent on finding something else. I'm sorry I suggested it. I'm even more sorry for making you go through with it. You must've been so anxious."
Onyxes shone with remorse while they stared at their counterparts. Flynn did not move a single muscle for a brief instant, but soon, his lips stretched in understanding and kindness. He straightened up and the arm on Yuri's cheek left it to grab the latter's shoulder, pulling him into the blonde's chest. The Demon gasped, but thankfully, he did not struggle or get away.
"Thank you, Yuri. I appreciate the apology," Flynn told, his voice a little wavering with the emotions now swirling in his chest.
He was recalling that particular night, and he could once more feel the fright he experienced when he learned Yuri wanted to be used as bait; the fright, the anger, the resignation, the anxiety. They only grew when he captured the Demon, and when the latter was tortured by Garista as well as by his father when they came back.
But now, they were slowly subsiding under the warm sensation tingling in his veins, provoked by the long haired man's words. He was truly happy and touched by the gesture. Besides, everything was fine now. Yuri was safe and the two countries were at truce. Even though the Angel hated the idea, maybe they would not have been able to achieve it without such a sacrifice.
The dark haired man shifted in his arms and the captain looked down to see him blushing vividly, which brought a smirk to the blonde's mouth.
"Yeah..." Yuri merely murmured, the shade of red only increasing, if possible.
Flynn decided that it was time he spared his friend any more embarrassment, and so he released him. Besides, he needed to get to bed soon, if he wanted to be able to spend his day without keeling over. While he sat back in his futon, he missed the Demon's disappointed expression at being released so soon. The blonde stretched and yawned.
"I'm sorry, Yuri, but if you don't have anything else, I think I'll go back to bed," he declared with an apologetic smile, to which the long haired man shook his head in understanding.
"No, it's all right. I understand you have a long day waiting for you tomorrow. Sorry I bothered you while you were sleeping," he replied as he stood up, making his way back to the window.
Flynn opened his mouth to tell him to use the door instead, but decided against it and only sighed in discouragement, earning him a cat-like grin.
"It's fine. You needed it out. I don't mind listening to you whenever you need it, Yuri. You're my best friend, after all."
The blush that finally managed to disappear on the Demon's cheeks returned full force and he looked away, stammering a light insult at the captain he did not mean. The latter chuckled and watched his friend disappear outside, silence now the only company he had left. Nostalgia filled his irises for a moment, as though he were feeling that something was missing at this very moment. But Flynn brushed it off and lied down on his futon, closing his eyes after pulling the covers over him.
Everything was perfect the way it was.
A grunt followed by a yelp echoed in the air as someone was thrown on the ground. Flynn, who was standing on the side, merely watched his friend sliding on his back in the dust to where the captain was. The blonde took a step back as Yuri's body stopped mere inches away, his hair splayed everywhere, including his face contorted in pure irritation as their eyes met. It only increased when the Demon realised that the Angel was grinning mockingly.
"Having difficulties?" the captain taunted, which earned him a murderous glare.
The long haired man muttered that he was fine, at the very same moment a burst of laughing resonated further away.
"Bwah ah ah! Ya'll have ta do better than that if ya want ta beat me, boy!" Don Whitehorse called out from the spot he just threw Yuri away, his sword leaning on his shoulders as he waited for his opponent, a cocky smile that looked so much like the Demon's usual one painting his lips.
Fierce determination fired in Yuri's grey irises while he grabbed his own sword, rushing back to his opponent, Flynn hearing him stating that there was no way he would lose. A mix of sympathy and amusement graced the Angel's lips as he watched his friend strike at the old man who eagerly responded with twice as much force.
They arrived in the village half an hour ago with their respective troops. They stopped in this particular place for two purposes: of course, Flynn's brigade was to bring the supplies necessary for the villagers. However, they also came here with the intent of asking for the townspeople's help. The blonde captain learned from his friend a while back that a few towns near the border on the Demons' side had been ravaged by monsters and that most of the buildings now needed reconstruction.
Of course, Flynn would put some of his soldiers on the case, but he judged it a good opportunity for the villages, which were so near each other, to start frequenting each other. Peace was installed now, but it would not be of any use if people stayed hidden in their own country without any communication. Pushing the citizens of each place would show them that their supposed enemies were more alike to them than they would have thought.
This was the reason behind Yuri and Flynn's heads as they discussed about it; Don Whitehorse's people could bring help in rebuilding, of course, but also with food, supplies, and moral support. Besides, maybe the Angels' knowledge would be profitable in constructing a better village. Different ideas merging together could bring stronger and more well-thought views.
After leaving the distribution of supplies to his men, Flynn and Yuri decided to go meet the Don to ask his opinion about their plan. As they travelled through the streets, the Angel told his friend about the headman, how strong a leader he was for his people. In his retelling, Flynn spoke of how he asked the white haired man to help him in their quest for peace and how he had to beat the man if he wanted his request to be answered. Not hiding a bit of pride, the Angel stated that he managed to beat the headman, even though the Don was immensely strong, maybe more so than a few captains. The Demon walking beside him whistled with impress, congratulating him.
When they arrived to the headman's house, the latter was already outside, tending to his sword. He greeted the two emissaries cheerfully upon their arrival, laughing out as he congratulated them both for what they managed to pull. Of course, he already felicitated Flynn before, but he wanted to do it for Yuri too, especially now that he could finally meet the Demon the young captain liked so much to talk about. Naturally, the blonde flushed a little, averting his gaze while his long haired friend smirked, jabbing him playfully in the ribs.
When Don Whitehorse inquired about their visit, Flynn explained the plan they conceived for Angels and Demons to already start meeting each other. The white haired man was pensive, caressing his chin as he contemplated the idea. He suddenly joked about wanting to accept only if he was beaten, of course teasing the blonde about their too many encounters they had in the past. The captain sighed discouragingly with an amused smile, shrugging as he was about to deny it nonchalantly, but Yuri quickly beat him to it.
"Oh, it's on!" he exclaimed with a wide grin splattered on his lips.
Every motion in his body told of how excited the prospect made him. Of course, Flynn purposefully forgot to tell his friend how many times he lost to the headman, which was why Yuri was accepting so quickly. He must be thinking that, if Flynn could win, then he could as well. Amusement took over the young Angel's features at the thought. The Demon was in for a big surprise.
The Don was pleasantly surprised, not expecting a real sparring. His eyes twinkled in that particular way the captain saw so many times; a sparkle that told he would definitely not go easy.
"Oh, eager, are we?" the white haired man grinned.
Flynn chuckled and sidestepped after wishing good luck to his long haired friend, knowing that he would need it. And indeed, the match had not even reached the first minute yet that Yuri was losing at a fast rate – even if he was too stubborn to want to admit defeat.
"He's so getting his ass kicked," a feminine voice came out beside Flynn, the latter recognizing it for Judith.
He turned his sparkling laughing eyes towards the blue haired Demon, seeing that hers reflected the very same entertainment. She swayed her hips as she walked, stopping next to the blonde, resting her elbow on his shoulder, her other hand on her hip. She observed the fight for a little while more, laughing at how their friend was at a disadvantage, until she spoke again.
"You definitely knew it would end up like that, didn't you?"
The mocking smile on the Angel's lips was enough of an answer and she chuckled.
"You're a sly one."
He shrugged indifferently.
"Well, the Don is a very strong man, after all. Besides..." he trailed off, stifling a laugh as he watched Yuri flailing his arms not to stagger on the ground as his adversary's weapon almost came too close. "I wasn't possibly going to tell him it took me three years to beat the man. Would be bad for my reputation," the captain finished with deviousness.
Judith returned the cat-like grin.
"It would be bad indeed."
She did not need to confirm that his secret would be safe with her, Flynn could see it clearly in her crimson eyes. The blonde was glad that she had accepted to join this mission; she was a nice addition because of her strength, but also because of the wisdom she graced Yuri and Flynn with. She might not look like it sometimes, being so playful and lacking seriousness, but she was very observant and sharp, noticing things that the two friends would not have. And most of all, she was a good friend.
Their smirks were exactly alike when they followed the dark haired Demon's flight back to the ground and his slide on the dust until he came just below them. His hair were becoming a mess as he wiped them from his face, his glare much more murderous than the last one as he saw how he was being mocked at.
"So, ready to admit defeat yet?" Judith questioned innocently.
Her words sparked fury inside the battling Demon and he quickly jumped back to his feet, already dashing for his sword which was lying a little further away.
"No way in hell!" he cried out frustratingly, earning bursts of laughter from his two friends.
In the end, Yuri lost the fight, just as predicted. Covered in bruises, he was literally sulking, arms crossed on his chest, as Don Whitehorse barked in laughter, obviously glad to have won, but mostly to have had a great and long-lasting fight. The older man slammed the Demon's back, who staggered and almost flailed again to keep his balance, before he sighed and shook his head, a smile now spreading on his own lips. The Don's humour was contagious.
That was too bad, though, because Flynn could not help but love that expression his friend pulled earlier. It was rare for him to see the long haired Demon sulk so openly and it was definitely adorable. The captain took a mental note of bringing the dark haired man more often, knowing that the latter was bound to lose more than once.
"That wasn't so bad, kid!" Whitehorse praised with his huge grin, now sheathing his sword while Yuri moved a little, his back now facing the blonde Angel and Judith still leaning on him.
Flynn stifled a chuckle, imagining the twitch in his friend's features at being called a 'kid'.
"That was some good fight, ya lasted quite a bit more than I would've thought! Much better than the boy over there and his first attempts."
Flynn's eyes widened as the white haired man motioned to the former with his head, and the captain shook his head and arms in front of him, trying to tell the other man to stop, not wanting his secret revealed so soon – or at all. But it was already too late, for Yuri was now glaring at him murderously, now understanding that he could have saved himself the embarrassment if he had known the other had lost so much to the Don at first.
"Took 'im three years ta beat me, hope ya can beat that record."
The blonde groaned as he smacked his forehead, hearing very well the snickering of mixed mockery and sympathy from the girl beside him. So much for his reputation. When he glimpsed up, the ebony haired Demon was smirking at him, as amused as their blue haired friend. This caused the captain's cheeks to flare up as he balled his fists.
"Hey, I was fifteen when I tried first. I had much less training than what you have today!" he exclaimed in outrage, now grumpy to be laughed at. "Besides, I've beaten him, it's all that counts. Let's see how much time it takes you," the captain finished in a grumble.
Twin glares were thrown at each other, an argument already sizzling in the air, but Judith intervened before it could fly off the handle.
"Boys, boys, I think it would be time to discuss with Don Whitehorse what we came here for, am I wrong?" she chastised softly.
A guilty look replaced Flynn's angered one as he nodded, turning to the headman, now completely serious. She was right; they needed to ask how much people would come to the Demons' villages. Of course, the blonde Angel was almost sure they would have a good number, because the Don was quite the influence to his people. He knew that, despite the constant fear the Angels bore for their old enemies, most were happy with the peace because their chief managed to convince them of its good founded.
Whitehorse did not need the captain to speak to know what it was about.
"I'll send volunteers. With the right words, I'm sure there'll be plenty that'll be convinced. Ya'll have men and a few women as well. They might be useful fer preparing meals and repairin' a few things. Some might even help with manual work. I'll see how many I can bring. When would we depart?" he asked as he moved forward, already going to look for the estimated volunteers they would manage to gather.
Flynn followed in suit, Yuri and Judith not too far.
"Tomorrow, at the very best. Demons' units will already be dispatched to start the work, but the more we are, the faster it will be. It would be nice for the villagers to have their homes back as fast as possible."
The white haired man nodded in understanding.
"Then I'll see what I can do."
Various blows from hammers echoed in the streets and footsteps ran from pillar to post while people busied themselves with the work at hand. However, the place was without bustling and happy chatters that usually accompanied such work; instead, an eerie discomfort took hold of the citizens and their visitors as they cooperated, some against their will.
As planned, Don Whitehorse managed to gather quite the crowd to help with the reparations of the ruins that once served as a beautiful Demon village. However, when they stepped inside the streets, the people already there all but stopped what they were doing, only to stare at the newcomers with mistrust and bitterness. Tensions were already palpable in the air, even if no side had made any move that could earn distrust.
The Angels were not out of faults either; despite the fact that they volunteered to help, knowing it was the best step to officialise the peace, they were still hesitant in approaching the village anymore than they already had. What if this was a trap? A lure to massacre them all? They knew they could trust their headman, but what if the Demons were to turn against them suddenly, without the Don's knowing? It was frightening, which was why no one talked – or barely – once they got to work.
Flynn and Yuri did their best to change such attitudes. As they moved around, transporting materials and stones for the buildings while making sure everyone was working and not picking any fights, they each went to see people of their neighbour's country.
It was not so bad for Yuri: the Angels had already seen him the day before and knew he was a good man, having already entered Whitehorse's favours. Most of them smiled to the long haired Demon, engaging a light conversation that ended quickly out of discomfort, but a few others merely acknowledged him with a nod of the head, not giving out a single word or smile.
It was harder on Flynn's side. The Demons were not only composed of the homeless villagers; soldiers also accompanied them, giving a hand in the reconstruction. It was a euphemism to say that they knew the captain very well; they either fought with him at one point or heard tales of his rampage on the battlefield. The blonde was bound to have killed one of their comrades at some point. As much as he would love to repent and prove he had not meant it, it was a rather difficult task. It was no wonder he was given the cold shoulder as well as glares, features hard and closed. The Angel was not welcomed among them.
And so he tried with the villagers. Needless to say that the success was almost as high-rated as with the warriors. They were obviously scared of such a high-ranking knight, wondering what sort of stunt he could pull to make them suffer. The fact that Flynn was the one to institute the peace meant nothing to them; he was an Angel and that was all that mattered. He was an enemy.
Despite that, the captain did not let himself be discouraged. He brought help to those who needed it even if it brought him harsh words. The blonde took consolation in the fact that they acknowledged him then. If he got a 'thank you', he revelled in it, withstanding the fact that it was spat at him. And as he helped around, he attempted conversation with the Demons around, glad when he received answers. It might not be much, but it was a small step that could lead someday to a good friendship. He would work hard for that day to come.
At some point, while the blonde went to grab stones on one of the piles set aside, voices arose loudly, curses and yells cutting through the air. Frowning, the captain made his way to the commotion where he spotted two men of each country arguing fervently, each having others of their own behind them, fueling the argument. Flynn immediately picked up his pace and placed himself between the two, a hand raised in front of each of them.
"What in the world is going on? Why are you yelling like that?" he demanded in a hard tone, imposing his authority to prevent the two from getting to fists, which the captain knew would happen at some point if he did not intervene.
He could sense the glares coming from everyone around and he sighed inwardly. He hoped it could be settled soon so that everyone could at least go back to work in some semblance of peace.
"I merely suggested him for ways to build his house more strongly because I thought it lacked strength when I saw the plans for it and the way the people worked on it, but I was snubbed the minute I did. It's not like I was doing anything bad!" the Angel explained with evident irritation and Flynn wondered if it was all there was to it.
If so, it had not taken much for the argument to fly off the handle, but he still needed to have both versions of facts.
"Shut up, you filthy bird! You clearly said that our way of working was unrefined and inefficient, which made us worthless incompetents! Nice way of helping! You Angels always think of yourselves as high and mighty, it's disgusting!" the Demon retorted with spite.
The arguments and insult were thrown in the air once more and Flynn had to yell at them to stop, his nose scrunching in irritation. This was puerile and it needed to be over soon.
He turned his head slightly to the Angel, his features hard and angry.
"Is this true?" he merely questioned, to which the other man gulped and averted his gaze in stubbornness, crossing his arms on his chest.
"I... might've said... too much," he admitted reluctantly in a mutter, rubbing the back of his head. "But I only said that because he wouldn't let me help! Said he didn't want anything to do with us filth! I couldn't possibly let that go!" he renewed his attack, not wanting to be the only one to be admonished for his actions.
Flynn sighed loudly, wanting very badly to rub the bridge of his nose. They were all childish! Could they not get along already? It would be so much easier! But he needed to show patience. He knew this was bound to happen. Being enemy was in everyone's roots. They were not to let go of such loath in one night.
"We came here to offer our help, because we want to be of use in your village. This is our way to show that we can be friends, not enemies. Why do you feel the need to reject such actions?" the blonde asked very softly to the seething Demon on his other side.
His tone did not alter the other's anger, far from it. It seemed to fuel it more instead.
"You. Are. Filth," the man's words left his mouth with aggression.
As he spoke, he shoved his fist in the half-finished wall next to him, near the place where a ladder and other tools were placed.
"You all think you are so pure when we are nothing but scum. Why would you want to dirty your hands with our lowly work? It smells fishy, if you ask me," he continued, his fists banging twice more.
The crowd around was getting bigger, curiosity bringing more people.
"Besides, I don't want my house looking like one of yours, or even if it doesn't, I refuse it uses techniques borrowed from yours!" the Demon exclaimed, his arm brushing the ladder enough to make it sway and bump into a makeshift suspended rack carrying stones.
Flynn noticed it, his eyes widening slightly as he hoped it would not fall. If it did...
"I refuse to live in a house made by my enemy! You'd have to be a fool to accept! You despicable birds should just go back and leave us alone! This peace is nothing but crap that no one ever wanted!"
This time, his fist collided strongly with the ladder instead of the wall and it fell on the rack with a worrying sound. The captain's heart skipped a beat as his eyes fell on two boys, not even in their teenaged years, who were below the rack. It was all it took for Flynn to act quickly. He ignored everyone else around him and immediately rushed to them, covering and shielding them with his body as the stones fell hardly upon them. Excruciating pain pierced the blonde's body, and with a rather strong and painful knock, the Angel blacked out.
Flynn vaguely heard his name being called. He also felt a hand stroking his hair and he moaned in a mix of delight and pain. It was dulled when he started to wake, but as he became more aware, it returned in full force, sending painful waves of suffering in his skull. What the heck happened? He could barely remember, and all he wanted to do was to go back to sleep. At least he would not feel pain anymore.
However, the voice became even more insistent and he found himself blinking his eyes open, now staring at a pair of familiar onyxes that were gleaming with worry. It made place for slight relief, however, when their owner realised the captain was finally awake.
"Thank goodness! Flynn, how are you feeling?"
But before the concerned one could even mutter any incoherent replies, a small figure he recognized vaguely popped up behind Yuri, staring at the Angel below. Upon observing him a little more, that's when Flynn finally remembered what happened: the argument, the ladder hitting the rack of stones and the two boys that would have been crushed if it was not for the captain's rash move.
The child now next to the long haired Demon was one of the two Flynn rescued, and the former seemed pretty worried for the blonde.
"Yuri, is he going to be okay?" he asked with concern lacing his tone, to which the raven haired male ruffled his hair with a goofy grin.
The brown haired boy protested vehemently, trying to smack away the intruding hand with not much success, until he was finally left alone.
"Heh, that man's made of tougher stuff than you'd think! Don't worry about it, I'm sure he's fine, Karol."
The child named Karol looked down once more at Flynn with anxiety, but it was less pronounced than before. Yuri also put his attention back on the Angel and his gentle hand ran through the blonde locks with care.
"Earth to Flynn. You haven't answered my question yet. How are you feeling?"
Another pained moan escaped the captain's lips as he closed his eyes, trying to ignore the excruciating pain running all over his body.
"As if I've been run through by a horse... or twenty. All in all, like crap," he admitted, not even wanting to attempt sitting up just yet.
Besides, the cold hand on his forehead was soothing his suffering ever so slightly; no need to rush and make it go away. It felt good enough that he could be lulled back to sleep in a matter of seconds. He just needed to close his eyes and...
"Yeah, well, that move was pretty reckless of you," Yuri admitted, shaking his friend's shoulder a little, startling him awake. "I never knew you could be such an idiot," the long haired man teased, but it was also evident in his voice that he had been worried for his friend and that he really thought his words.
The Angel huffed and laughed at the same time, a rather pathetic mix that gave out a strange sound.
"As if you could even talk," he retorted, mentioning all the things the dark haired Demon once did that could be labelled as foolhardy and worse. "Besides, I can't be the idiot if there's a permanent one snatching the job with such eagerness all the time," he teased in return, to which Yuri scoffed in mocked hurt.
The latter turned to Karol who was staring at them with a weird expression, as though he could not decide whether he should be amused or discouraged by their banters.
"See Karol? He's totally fine if he can insult me like that. We should leave the great and perfect Flynn Scifo be. Not as if he'd need our help after all!" Yuri taunted his blonde friend with a smirk, and the Angel rolled his eyes in discouragement.
He quickly closed his eyes and winced, however, because the mere motion sent a wave of hurt in his skull, making him miss the flash of concern in his friend's eyes.
"Thanks, Yuri. Glad to know you care so much," Flynn retorted sarcastically.
"You're welcome!" came the carefree reply, making the blonde sigh noisily through his nostrils.
Typical Yuri... The captain decided to ignore his friend from this point on and sat up slowly, judging it was time he stopped dawdling around. Besides, if he stayed in his laid down position any longer, he would fall back to sleep. He could already sense Morpheus' arms trying to snatch him away.
Flynn groaned groggily as pain shot through his neck and the back of his head, and he felt two hands steady his shoulders, helping him out. As he looked up, he saw that all traces of joking had left Yuri's features to be replaced by uneasiness at the Angel getting up so soon.
"Hey, take it easy. That was a strong blow," the Demon chastised softly, a light frown over his features.
It brought a smile to the blonde's lips, not used in seeing his friend so serious. He wanted to tease him about it – and, frankly, also get back on that last banter – but decided against it. It was time for work, not for fun.
"How long was I out?" he inquired, wincing as he attempted to turn his head to the left and to the right.
It would be sore for a couple of days. He just hoped it would not stop him from doing his work.
"Five minutes, at the longest," Yuri answered.
The captain expected more, but was granted with nothing but silence. Intrigued, he glanced up at his friend, only to see a woman approaching them, kneeling in front of Flynn. The latter blinked in surprise, especially when he realised that the person in question had jet black hair. He was not expecting any other Demon to approach him so soon.
"You should be careful, Scifo-san. With the blow you received, I wouldn't be surprised if you now had a concussion," the woman advised gently as she moved behind the captain and placed a moist cloth behind the captain's head, easing the hurt a little.
She examined the bruises and clicked her tongue before looking up at the young boy next to Yuri.
"Karol-kun, be a dear and go get some ice," she requested.
The young Demon was up immediately, going to fetch the demanded item. The Angel watched him run away as he thanked the newcomer, smiling as he asked her name.
"I'm Futabaki Miyo, this village's mayor's wife. I wanted to personally thank you from the bottom of my heart for your actions today. You saved two of our precious children without any hesitation, despite the fact that they were Demons. I think you proved today to a lot of us how much this peace means to you."
Miyo's features were soft and held all the gratefulness in the world.
"Children are children, madam, whether they come from Jigoku or Paradis. I don't see any of us as different people. I would save anyone who would need it with disregards of their origins," Flynn explained in all seriousness, making the woman's eyes sparkle with delight.
She was obviously pleased with his way of thinking.
He hissed, however, when he sensed her fingers feel the bruises, sending waves of pain. She pulled her hand away immediately.
"I'm very glad to hear that. It is refreshing and such a relief that people such as yourself finally exist in our world. Thank you," she declared gently. "I also wanted to apologize for my husband's behaviour earlier. He was being rash in his words and thoughts when all you came here to do was help us in our times of need. I admonished him for that and will make sure that this does not reproduce itself again," Miyo suddenly announced.
As she spoke, the captain caught movement from the corner of his eyes and, when he raised his head, saw that the Demon who was in the argument earlier was now leaving. Had he stayed in this spot all this time, waiting for Flynn to wake up and make sure the latter was alright? Even though the Angel could tell that the mayor would not welcome his enemies with arms wide open so soon, the former thought that he was at least starting to feel less threatened by their presence, which was a step in itself. Flynn was glad.
"Thank you, Miss Miyo," the blonde told, but he realised his mistake when he saw the surprised and slightly uncomfortable look from the woman.
Flynn felt the little squeeze on his shoulder as well, meaning that Yuri also wanted to make him understand it was the wrong thing to say.
"Oh, I'm sorry, that was rather impolite of me. I'm not in my country, thus I should use this place's polite phrases. Let me start over," the Angel quickly corrected himself. "Thank you, Futabaki-san. I hope that this friendship will extend to more than just the two of us."
The knight bowed slightly, though regretted quickly as a whine escaped his lips. Damn his stupid wounds.
"I do hope as well," Miyo replied at the very same moment Karol came running back with ice enveloped in a fluffy towel.
He immediately handed over the items to the mayor's wife, who took them with gratitude, then placed the cold cloth on the captain's neck after removing the previous one.
"It would be wise to take it easy for today, Scifo-san. With your current state, I doubt you would even be able to go back to work."
The blonde wanted to shake his head, but thought better of it.
"Thank you for your concern, Futabaki-san, but I can't afford to rest," he dismissed the advice politely and was about to stand, but a hand that should have been delicate strongly pushed him back and a threatening Miyo appeared in the captain's field of vision.
"I don't think I've made myself clear enough. I believe I said that you should take it easy, Scifo-san," the Demon woman repeated slowly, taking the time to pronounce each syllable, reproach evident in her tone.
But what was most frightening was the dangerous smile on her lips promising scary prospects if Flynn even dared speak of doing his job. The latter gulped as he stared round-eyed at the dark haired woman, unable to argue or go against her warnings.
"Yes ma'am," the Angel merely stated, cursing his weakness.
He was a captain, for God's sake. He was supposed to be the one with authority. He should not have to feel threatened by a citizen! And from the way Yuri was snickering next to him, it seemed they were two thinking the same way. Flynn glared at his friend, but it far from stopped the latter. After a few moments, the long haired man patted the blonde on the shoulder before he stood up.
"Don't worry; I'll go work with the Don. I'm sure he won't have any difficulties taking your place," the Demon declared with his trademark grin, to which the captain huffed in frustration.
If this was supposed to make him feel better, it did not in the least. Somehow, leaving the leading parts to someone else when he was supposed to be up and about irked him to no end. Not that he doubted the white haired man's commanding skills – who would, he was one powerful headman after all! – but being unable to do his job left a bitter taste in Flynn's mouth. He felt reduced to a laughing stock.
"Hey!" Yuri's voice snapped the Angel out of his dark thoughts and the latter looked up to see his friend smirking reassuringly, a hand on his hip. "That's what you get for being reckless. You're not a pro like me, so of course you would have to pay it off," the raven haired male jabbed.
The blonde's eyes only narrowed dangerously as he badly wanted to shout that this did not make him feel better, but it all vanished with Yuri's next words.
"It's going to be okay. You need to rest a little, you already work so hard for everybody. No one will hold it against you for taking it easy when you've been hurt by saving children, and if they did, I'd be sure to give them a good beating!" Yuri added, shaking his fist to prove his point. "Rely on me. I'll make sure everything goes smoothly around here, promise."
That speech was like a balm on Flynn's bitterness. His features softened immediately as warmth settled in his chest. He was unable to describe this soaring feeling he felt inside, but it made him incredibly happy. Yuri was not his best friend for nothing; the Demon always knew how to make him feel better. The Angel nodded.
"Right, of course."
Satisfied, the long haired man turned around and walked away, but the captain quickly called him out and the former stopped, looking questioningly at his friend.
"Thank you, Yuri. That means a lot," Flynn told with gratitude, to which the Demon gave him a thumb up with his usual grin.
"No problem, man. Hey, Karol, make sure this guy doesn't move a muscle. Who knows how long it would take him before he could twitch and run off to help."
The young boy now next to Flynn agreed immediately and the latter rolled his eyes while groaning inwardly. He was not a child who needed surveillance. He watched the raven haired male leave for good this time, before his attention was drawn on Miyo who stood as well.
"Well, if you're going to check on him Karol, make sure he doesn't fall asleep as well, alright?" the woman requested as she dusted her dress. "I'll be off, now. Take care, Scifo-san."
On those words, she also walked away after bowing to the Angel. Flynn sighed discouragingly. It would be a long day.
Scratching sounds echoed in the cosy room, Flynn's eyes fixated on the work below while his quill travelled quickly through the papers placed on his desk. This was some last minute work he needed to finish rapidly because his presence would soon be needed at the capital's entrance where visitors would be arriving very soon. To finally officialise the peace, King William invited the Demons to the castle so that everyone could have equally experienced their neighbour's country.
Flynn was thrilled by the prospect, wanting very badly to finally properly show Yuri around the place he could call home. But to do that, he needed to get rid of these paperwork he did not manage to clear the previous night for he just had too much. He usually would have worked all night if it took not to have anything to do in the morning, but knowing that he would see Yuri and knowing how the Demon could sap energy, the Angel decided he should sleep instead and finish the next day.
A knock behind had him start and the blonde raised his head to look in the window's direction. He was far from surprised to see the very form he was thinking about seconds ago and his features scrunched in discouragement at the wave and smirk that were thrown his way. With a sigh, the captain stood, dusted wrinkles on his outfit, and made his way to Yuri's makeshift door, opening it.
"Yo!" the long haired man exclaimed as he slipped inside, obviously amused by the displease he was causing his friend.
"Yuri, didn't I tell you you could use the door now? And why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be at the entrance with everyone else? It is kind of an official meeting, after all," the blonde chastised as he crossed his arms on his chest, looking disapprovingly at the Demon.
The latter waved it off with his hand and a roll of his eyes.
"Hey, where are your manners? What happened to 'Hello Yuri, how are you today?'" the raven haired male protested with a slight pout, to which Flynn shook his head discouragingly and turned around to go back to his work.
"You have no manners yourself by coming through the window. Why should I be obliged to have any with you?" the Angel retorted, a bit more amusingly this time.
He also heard his friend snort behind as he too joined the captain, sitting on the desk unceremoniously, and also uncaring about the sheet of papers under him. This irked the blonde, but as long as nothing was being torn apart or ink was not smudged, he would say nothing.
"Hey, at least I knocked!" he objected. "Besides, I already told you: doors are overrated. It's boring to use them, so I won't."
As much as this argument seemed interesting to pick, Flynn decided against it. He was not in the mood to do so and, besides, he needed to concentrate on the little paperwork he had left.
"You still haven't answered my question, though. Aren't you supposed to be with the others back at the entrance?"
And then, realisation hit the knight and he whirled to the clock in his room, checking for the hour, his heart pace already picking up with anxiety. If Yuri was here, did this mean he missed the rendezvous and was late? Oh God, if he was, this would be the worst possible outcome! What kind of emissary arrived late to the meetings so important for peace?!
A flick on the forehead had him turn to Yuri with a glare while he chased the attacking hand away.
"Relax, man, I'm early," the Demon reassured with a mocking smirk.
It did not quiet the other's irritation, but at least it eased his fright as a very subtle sigh escaped his lips.
"Wait, you can arrive early?" Flynn exclaimed with mocked shock.
"Ah ah!" Yuri replied with a roll of his eyes. "I pretended that you wanted to see me since we're both emissaries and working together, so I left earlier than everyone else. Saved me the trip with my father."
The last part was told with bitterness.
Flynn gave a sympathetic smile.
"Then I'm glad I was of service."
The Angel pursed his lips, however, when his friend picked up one of the papers on his pile, checking it out absent-mindedly.
"Now, do you mind? I need to finish this if we don't want to be late," the blonde stated with exasperation.
The Demon merely shrugged and threw the paper back on the pile with neglect as he stood from the desk, earning him and irritated growl from the other. The latter got back to work, ignoring the fact that Yuri was now rummaging through his things, certainly searching for 'dirty little secrets', even if it fueled the captain's annoyance.
"By the way, Karol says hi," the long haired man called out, to which the knight hummed in acknowledgement.
He was a bit surprised the child as much as left a message for him. That time when they got to know each other because Flynn was forced to be watched by the boy, their acquainting was a little awkward. The captain gave Karol a lecture about being careful around construction sites and making sure his environments were safe before stepping somewhere.
Of course, the knight tried his best to be gentle while still chastising, but in the end, the boy fidgeted and became ill-at-ease. Since that moment, he used formal speech around Flynn. It saddened the Angel a little, because he knew that the child was comfortable around Yuri.
But before the blonde could strive to make Karol at ease around him as well, and not make things more awkward between them, Sodia appeared in his field of vision, worrying over him, apparently just warned of his accident. The boy took that time to flee, thinking that someone else would be able to help the captain, to which the latter sighed. Oh well, better luck next time.
"Oh, and he also apologizes for running off. He thought that second-in-command of yours could take care of you. Miyo reprimanded him real good," the Demon added with laughter.
Surprisingly, except that message, Yuri was silent the whole time Flynn finished his work. Not that the captain took very long, but it was still a bit suspicious that the Demon did not utter a single word more. Unless he understood it was important Flynn finished his work so that they would not be late for the meeting. Even though Yuri was a brat most of the time, he still understood such things and the Angel was glad for it.
"Well, I'm finished. Let me just get my armor, then we're off," the knight declared as he stood from his chair and walked to his wardrobe.
He quickly put on his attire while the raven haired male joined his side and, when the former was done, they left the room.
As they took a turn in one of the hallways, someone called out to the captain.
"Oh, Flynn, you're still here! Shall we go together th –"
The two friends halted in their track and turned to the female voice that now just stopped dead. They immediately were met by the sight of a pink haired lady staring agape at the two, her turquoise eyes wide and twinkling with surprise and excitement, her hands clasped together in front of her mouth. Flynn chuckled, knowing perfectly well the reason behind the princess's behaviour, but he knew that the man beside him was puzzled beyond belief.
"Oh. My. God! You're Yuri Lowell, aren't you?" she squealed as she ran to the dark haired man, taking his hands into hers as she stared at him with delight.
Taken aback, the Demon took a step back, glancing at his friend who only watched with amusement, not about to help in any way.
"Of course you are," Estellise continued her rant, grinning widely. "Flynn talked so much about you! I couldn't wait to meet you! And now you're here! I'm so happy I finally get to meet Flynn's friend!" Yuri chuckled nervously, throwing another insistent glance at the blonde beside him, wondering just who the heck this girl was.
Flynn merely chuckled, earning him a glare.
She seemed to notice to exchange because she suddenly released the Demon's hands with a startled sound and immediately bowed.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, where are my manners? I am Estellise Sidos Heurassein, daughter of King William. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Lowell."
Yuri immediately pulled a face at the way she addressed him, before he rolled his eyes with a sigh, one hand landing on his hip.
"You're lucky I'm really Yuri Lowell, otherwise it would have been a little awkward if you got the wrong person," the long haired man teased with a smirk.
But instead of flushing and being baffled, the young princess merely giggled, shaking her head.
"I was pretty certain I did not get the wrong person. The way you two stand around each other makes it easy to see how important you are to the other. And since you're unmistakably a Demon, this can only mean you are Yuri Lowell," she asserted with pride, giggling once more.
The other two fidgeted at her words, staring at her with round eyes and flushed cheeks. What the heck? Were they... that obvious? And what did it really mean? Why did Flynn's heart suddenly beat more quickly? It could only mean he was embarrassed that Yuri found out how much the blonde talked about his friend. Yeah, that was the reason...
The raven haired Demon eased up beside the captain.
"Heh, you're definitely one interesting perky little princess, Estelle. It's nice to meet you," he finally replied with a sleazy smile, to which the pink haired woman brightened up.
"I'm... huh?"
She finally seemed to realise the nickname that was bestowed upon her and she tilted her head to the side in incomprehension while Flynn glared at his friend. The blonde could not believe Yuri was being so disrespectful! He was speaking to the princess, for goodness' sake! Could he not watch his tongue at least in front of her?
"Yuri, you're talking to Lady Estellise!" he exclaimed, making sure to accentuate the princess' full name. "Be polite for once and show respect!"
The long haired man turned his head away from his friend with mild annoyance, his pinky finger rubbing the inside of his ear in a motion that told Flynn he was not listening in the least. The captain fumed with outrage and he straightened his back, wanting to make sure that the other understood it was not a choice.
But before he could shout anything more, muttering got hold of their attention.
"Es... telle... Estelle... Estelle! Oh, I'll have to tell father, mother and Ioder to start calling me that! Thank you so much, Yuri!" she exclaimed with glee as the knight's mouth almost dropped in shock.
But really, he should have known that she would love it, it was just her type. What he could not tolerate, however, was the smug look on Yuri's face, who was thrilled to have won this fight.
"And of course, you too, Flynn!" Estellise added, ever so serious about it.
Startled slightly, the captain shook his head as well as a hand to politely show that it was out of the question.
"I'm sorry, Lady Estellise, but I cannot do that," he refuted with an apologetic smile.
She pouted at that, hands on her hips, but it was not her who spoke up first.
"Oh, come on. You need to chill! She's your friend, isn't she?" Flynn glared at Yuri while the pink haired lady nodded in assessment.
The former sighed in frustration, already feeling the headache growing. The Demon was far from helping; not that he should have expected any less from him.
"I'm afraid I am still a subject and a knight serving her first and foremost. She deserves nothing more than respect out of me. And so, I must apologize princess, but I will continue addressing you with your entire name," the blonde affirmed before grabbing the long haired man's arm tightly. "As should this man do as well," he added, making sure to pronounce every word carefully.
However, Yuri ignored the squeezing and waved his hand in a dismissal gesture with a bored expression on his face, clearly stating that he could not care less. But really, had Flynn expected his friend to listen to him for once? Was this not a lost case since it started? A little frustrated, the Angel captain released the other's arm and turned on his heels rather abruptly.
"Come now. We should get going if we don't want to be late," he told harshly, not waiting for the other two as he walked in strides.
He missed the sight behind him; the princess watching him leave with the mix of a surprised and guilty expression, but startled by an elbow gently tapping her own arm.
"Don't worry, he's just being broody!" Yuri told loudly, wanting to reassure Estellise, but also making sure to be heard full well by his friend.
Flynn clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth, but refused to turn around as he yelled back:
"I am not brooding!"
Which was immediately followed by laughter and steps rapidly echoing behind.
Flynn entered his room with a relieved sigh, leaning against the door behind him just to take the time to breathe a little. He spent the last three days back at the archeologist site and he was now exhausted. He was supposed to stay for a day at most, because he had a lot to do with his emissary's duties, and show Captain Duke around to make sure that everything would be fine once the white haired man's brigade took over the task of taking care of the place.
However, while they were out there, hordes of monsters attacked and rampaged the place without mercy, leaving the knights present no choice but to fight back and protect the scientists. They were not much of a troop of warriors; Duke, ten of his men, as well as the youngest captain was what their power force was consisted of, so even if the blonde would want to leave, he could not, for they were barely enough to fight back the threat. Not that Flynn would have left in any case. He was not one to leave people in need without help.
Strangely enough, the hordes kept coming for two days straight. It seemed another nest was made somewhere in the area, so the blonde captain decided to ask for his young friend's assistance, just as he did more than a year prior. Rita accepted quickly, of course, wanting to rid her researches of this nuisance. Flynn and she set for the place those monsters could be lurking about, using the little clues they could gather as they went.
When they finally found the place, they had to go back and gather some of their men while the others stayed with Duke just in case. And just like the last time, they got rid of the monsters thanks to that gas thing the young brunette invented. Except that, this time, she gave Flynn a mask so that he could stay with her, avoiding the former to inhale any of the poisonous air while he protected her. Because there was no way he was leaving her alone after their previous experience.
Needless to say that they managed to finally get rid of the monsters and the blonde was able to get back to the castle, though fatigued out of his mind. He also felt guilty for all the work he neglected and hoped that Yuri was not too mad at him for staying away so long. If everything went well, the Demon should have been warned of his delayed stay because a messenger was sent to them after the second day, wondering what was the reason of their prolonged departure. As he explained, Flynn also asked the messenger to warn his second-in-command to leave the message to the Demons' emissary. Now, if the message had reached its receiver was the question. The captain guessed he would know soon enough anyway.
He walked to his bed, wanting to plop down very badly, but knowing he did not have the time, merely sat to rub his face and rid himself of the tiredness. Preparing himself mentally for the work that was to come, he stood once more, but before he could do anything, a knock on the door interpellated him. Intrigued, he opened the door and was met by the sight of Ioder smiling gently at him.
"Good afternoon, Flynn!" he greeted and the captain bowed his head before motioning for the prince to enter his room.
"Good afternoon, master Ioder. To what pleasure do I owe your visit?" Flynn questioned, striding to his desk where he pulled the chair for the smaller blonde to sit on.
However, he saw the other's hand standing up and his head shake discreetly, stopping the knight in his track.
"Well, I wanted to inquire on the situation of the archeologist site, but that's not the sole reason I'm here," he admitted, gazing at the room distractingly. "I also wanted to know if you have received any news from our neighbours about the meeting that is to be held tomorrow. I doubt so, because you were away longer than expected, but with your friend, we never know. We have not heard a single sound from the Demons, so it's a bit worrisome."
The prince's words immediately made Flynn frown in incomprehension and uneasiness.
"Meeting...?" he repeated, not knowing whatsoever what the smaller blonde was speaking of. "I have not heard of any meetings..." he admitted, a sinking feeling growing inside.
Somehow, he smelled a plot behind all this, especially if the Demons had not sent any news about it.
Ioder's eyes widened before he paced a little in the room, a hand to his chin in a thoughtful gesture.
"Oh no, I feared this!" he exclaimed. "Councillor Garista must not have had the time to warn you before your departure and, since it took you longer than expected, he could not warn you."
At the mention of the council member, Flynn's brows furrowed and he pursed his lips in displease. Of course! If that man was involved, he could not be shocked that things were not going well. It was obvious that this had been deliberate forgetfulness and the captain would not be surprised to learn that the fact no news were heard was because of the man as well. Unfortunately, he had no proof, so he could not possibly speak of his suspicions to Ioder or go to the councilmen with accusations.
Thinking fast, the older blonde pondered on the possibilities and what he could do to arrange this mess. Either the Demons sent a reply and Garista intercepted it, or the Demons never received any news of the meeting. He did not know which one the councillor used, but Flynn could not take the chance, so he turned to the prince still pacing.
"Master Ioder, I have a favour to ask. Do you have access to your father's seal?"
The younger blonde halted and stared at the knight with a puzzled expression before nodding.
"Yes, it's in his study and he gave me permission to it. Why do you ask?"
But then, his eyes lit up in understanding and twinkled as they revelled in the idea.
"We're going to make another letter that you're going to send personally, aren't you?" he spoke up his guess, to which the captain nodded with satisfaction before making his way to the door.
"Indeed we are."
They exited his bedroom and walked to the king's study, Flynn hoping very much that the ruler was not present. The knight knew that the man was kind and understanding, but it still could be bad if this fell upon any other ears than Ioder's and Flynn's. Usually, though, this was a time of day the sovereign spent in the throne room, taking a few requests of audience made by his citizens.
And indeed, when they entered the small room filled with books and papers, it was empty of any life except one of the rare plants still alive in this world lying on the windowsill, bathing in the few rays of sunlight they could get.
The prince immediately sat on the desk and grabbed a blank parchment lying around that looked official enough. He then took the quill sticking out proudly and dipped it into the ink, looking up at Flynn.
"I have seen my father write a few official letters, but I'm afraid this is the first time writing such a request," he admitted and the captain smiled at him reassuringly.
"Don't worry. With both our heads and knowledge, I'm sure we can pull something out," he assessed and leaned down a little next to Ioder, hands resting on the desk.
It took him a little time to collect his ideas, then words poured out of his lips as Flynn dictated to the young prince what to write on the paper. From time to time, the smaller blonde would add certain things, asking the captain beforehand, and would also refute some of the eldest blonde's words with the little knowledge he had about those letters.
In the end, Ioder had to start over on another parchment, but when he did and finished it, they deemed the letter presentable. Pleased by the outcome, the prince folded the manuscript into an envelope and sealed it with his father's insignia. He then handed it out to the captain who sighed discreetly. That was at least one step done. Now, he needed to find an excuse to give this letter late.
Surely he could ask Yuri for help. But... where could he find the man? He could either be at the capital or in the villages near the border, helping around with the reconstructions.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, Flynn realised that it was still early in the afternoon. If he rode his horse very fast and with little to no rest, he could arrive to the Demons' capital at the beginning of evening. He could always pass through the villages first to make sure that his friend was not staying later than usual. Thankfully, that would not be a detour.
Satisfied with this plan, he thanked the prince for his work and his help. The latter, in return, told that he would investigate with Garista, but the captain warned Ioder to be careful around the man. He did not want the councillor to have more occasions to fuel anger between the two countries.
Flynn then quickly left, picking up his horse in a hurry and dashing out of the capital. He rode with just one short break on the way, to let his poor mount drink and regain its breath, before making his way straight to the villages. He arrived at sundown and, as he made his way through the streets, learned that Yuri was not around anymore, but back at the capital.
At least, the Angel did not have much distance left and, when he arrived to his destination, the stars just started to shine brightly in the sky. It meant that it was still early, since winter had not yet left to be replaced by spring.
Weird looks were shot his way, which was to be expected because of his features, but fortunately, no one came to stop him as he galloped through the city. He arrived in front of General Lowell's mansion, two guards standing in wait before the gate. Flynn hopped down of his horse and immediately asked to see Yuri. However, when none of them even moved, pretending not to have heard, the captain got frustrated and insisted over and over until they would let him through.
In the end, the servant working for the general was the one to come out of the mansion, wondering what the commotion could be. Upon realising what the guards were doing, she reprimanded them severely before allowing the Angel passage. The latter thanked the old lady with gratitude written all over his features.
Apparently, Yuri had also been attracted by the sound, because he was now standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame as he watched the two men at the gate with displease, his nose scrunched in annoyance. But when his onyx eyes fell on his friend's blue orbs, a smile lighted the former's face and he ushered the other inside.
At that moment, Flynn could not stop his thoughts from thinking how good his friend looked in his dark kimono. He mentally slapped himself at that and immediately concentrated back on the matter at hand.
They made their way to the living room.
"Something must be up if you were shouting at the guards like that," the long haired Demon suddenly teased as they walked in the hallway.
He did not joke long, not when he saw the very serious look on Flynn's face.
"What happened? Did something come up while you were away?" Yuri inquired as they entered the living room.
Flynn nodded.
"Yes, and I'll definitely need your help. Is your father home?"
The raven haired male raised an eyebrow questioningly before confirming that the general was not present.
"Good. Now, if I'm saying that there's a meeting tomorrow at the castle back in Paradis, do you know what I'm talking about?" the captain asked as they kneeled on the cushions near the low table.
"W-what?" Yuri exclaimed in stupefaction while Yumie entered a room with a platter containing two cups of tea.
She gently set it on the table before exiting, leaving time for Flynn to ponder on Garista.
"So he decided to leave everyone in the dark," the captain concluded in a mutter before looking up at the long haired man, only speaking up when the servant was gone. "I had the same reaction today when Master Ioder announced this to me. It seems that Councillor Garista was supposed to be the one informing me before my departure, but must have forgotten and never gotten the chance to tell because I was away longer than planned," the blonde explained.
It was not hard for Yuri to understand that this had been done on purpose.
"A letter was sent to your father, but obviously never reached its destination. I believe Garista is the one at fault for everything. Unfortunately, I don't have any proofs against him. But that's beside the point at the moment."
Flynn took out the envelope from his pocket and placed it on the low table.
Yuri gazed at it with curiosity, obviously wondering if the captain found the letter in question.
"I asked Master Ioder to write another letter, with my help, and we used the king's seal to make everything look official. No one knows except him, me, and now you. The only thing left to do, now, is to present this letter to your father. Of course, that's where I need your help. I need to find a way to give it to him officially that would not jeopardize our already fragile relations. If he were to learn that the letter was lost because of us, I'm sure it could be enough to start the accusations."
Yuri nodded in agreement, silently pondering on a solution. Flynn also continued to review his options in his mind, but still took the time to sip on the tea Yumie brought them.
Suddenly, the Demon's head shot up, an idea already forged in his mind.
"Okay, I know how to do this. Come with me. My father went to Schwann's place, tonight, so we should find him there," he exclaimed as he stood abruptly, leaving Flynn completely confused.
He also rose to his feet, grabbing his friend's wrist to stop him from downright leaving the room already.
"W-wait, Yuri! What's going on? What's your plan? At least tell me before we go!" he protested, but the raven haired male merely grinned at him in response.
"You'll know when we get there. Just come with me and, when we'll be there, follow my lead," he gave as mere indication.
This did not reassure Flynn, but he was suddenly pulled to follow the Demon.
"Oh, and make sure not to protest or look surprised or anything. Be a good actor for once," Yuri teased as they walked to the door while the long haired male apologized to his servant for the untouched tea.
Okay, so now the captain's mind was far from being at ease. What was it that his friend wanted to pull, for God's sake? He just hoped this was not going to be rash, or stupid, or foolish.
Who was he kidding...?
They strode through the streets and soon arrived in front of another rich residence, slightly less imposing than the general's. It was one that Flynn spotted the last time Captain Schwann served as their guide throughout the capital, one that was definitely befitting of the latter's title.
As they crossed the gates, the guards letting them pass without another thought, Yuri quickly reached for the door to knock. A servant quickly came to greet them, bowing in front of the two as she told she would announce them to the household's master. When she came back, Schwann was following her urgently, Ryuku not too far behind.
The former looked inquiring, obviously wondering if something was wrong, while the other was displeased, annoyed to be bothered during his evening with his friend. Both looked surprised, however, when they spotted Flynn next to Yuri, even though the general did his best to hide it under his irritation and murderous glare.
"Yuri? Is something the matter?" Schwann inquired, looking from his second lieutenant to the Angel back and forth.
If the Angel's ambassador of peace was here in person, then surely it could only mean that something of importance was going on?
The long haired Demon smiled nonchalantly.
"Something like that, though I don't think it would be a conversation that should be held in the middle of the entrance," he replied with amusement lacing his tone.
He did not seem to care how threatening his father looked at the moment, and it worried Flynn. He still could not guess what it was that his friend was planning and it unnerved him to no end.
"Yuri, don't be rude like that," the blonde chastised the other softly, discreetly shoving his elbow into the young Demon's ribs. "Good evening, Olterain-taii, Lowell-taishou" the captain greeted, trying his best to use the Demons' etiquette.
He just hoped he remembered the words right and had not mixed them up, having only heard them once or twice.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion so late, but upon hearing that the general was here, it was of upmost importance I came to you."
The dark haired captain seemed impressed with the formalities while Ryuku merely scoffed, crossing his arms on his chest. Okay, so at least, Flynn got that part right.
Schwann smiled softly, motioning for the two newcomers to follow.
"Yuri is right, though, I should not let you linger here longer than necessary. Come, we will discuss what is so important in the living room. Oh, and please, call me Schwann."
Flynn nodded with a light smile as they made their way to the large room where empty cups of tea already lingered on the low table told of the two high officials' presence earlier. As they kneeled on the cushions, the servant who had greeted them arrived with a plate with four full cups and retrieved the used ones. Schwann thanked her and, as Flynn watched her leave, made himself a mental note to at least finish the tea here.
"So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?" Ryuku suddenly asked without any care in his tone.
It was not hard for the Angel to feel that his presence was not wanted and that he should leave very fast. With a mental sigh, he produced the letter from his pocket and placed it on the low table near the general, who immediately took it.
"I present to you an official request from King William for a meeting that is to be held at the castle," he started slowly, not already wanting to tell that it was the next day.
At least, not until Yuri gave him some clues as to what he had in mind.
"And you needed to bother me tonight with this yourself why exactly?" Ryuku spat ruthlessly, mad that this was not as much of importance as they all thought. "A messenger could easily have come to my household and leave it there. I don't believe I need to reply tonight, at the immediate moment!"
"It's tomorrow."
All gazes turned to Yuri, who scratched the back of his head nonchalantly. His father's glare hardened as it turned towards the blonde once more.
"And why have I not been informed of this any sooner?" he growled dangerously, already on the verge of striking something.
Flynn could clearly see it in the other's onyx eyes that were so much, and yet not at all, like his friend's.
"Could you not send someone sooner? Is it a custom of the Angels' to do things at the last minute?" he accused.
Flynn pursed his lips, lowering his head, trying to think of something to answer in the immediate moment. But Yuri quickly beat him to it.
"It's my fault. I lost the first letter."
A shocked and subtle gasp escaped the Angel's lips as the two highest officials stared wide-eyed at the youngest Demon. Yuri did not just dare do that, did he? He did not just sacrifice himself again, did he? Oh, Flynn knew that his friend would think of something stupid! Why did the Angel captain not stop him and demand what his friend had in mind before allowing him to go? Did the long haired Demon not understand the lesson about not hurting Flynn's feelings when he came to apologize a few weeks prior? Damn that idiot!
"You what?" Ryuku demanded evenly, but the rest were no fools; they knew it was even more dangerous to hear him speak as such.
The blonde knight raised his head towards his friend as well, his features neutral, but his blue orbs holding anger and outrage. The long haired male was looking boringly away, as if he did not care the way his father was so furious. But when his onyx eyes fell on Flynn's, they shone discreetly with something more: insistence. He was sticking to this plan no matter what, and the Angel had no choice but to follow.
"Yeah, sorry about that," he apologized while rubbing his little finger in his ear in a dismissal gesture. "Don't really know what happened with it. I was on my way to getting it to you at the palace, but then you were too busy to see me. So when I decided to wait for you, I placed it somewhere and, before I knew it, it disappeared when I took my eyes off it for a minute."
If it was possible, the general's eyes narrowed even more.
"That was why you asked for me back then? Why did you not wait for my return? Why did you not utter a single word about this?" he retorted, his voice full of reproach and loathing.
His son merely shrugged with nonchalance, but Flynn knew that he was hiding anger, annoyance and, frankly, a bit of pain at the tone. No father should talk that way to his own flesh and blood, and it only served in making the Angel hate Ryuku all the more.
"I thought I would ask for another letter to Flynn first, try to avoid unnecessary conflict. But then, Flynn came back from his other job later than expected and I could not ask for it until today," he explained and his father groaned in exasperation as he turned towards the blonde captain.
"I'm sorry for my son's incompetence, Captain Scifo. I hope such idiocy will not be held against us," he spat, throwing another glare that promised punishment to Yuri, who only avoided it stubbornly.
Suddenly scared for his friend, Flynn intervened quickly, not wanting the long haired Demon to be hurt again.
"Pardon my rudeness, Lowell-taishou, but I don't believe this was idiocy, nor was it incompetence and I think you should not hold it against your son, just as we won't. Mistakes can happen. Only King William and we know of what happened. This will not be a matter that will be told, even to the councillors. The King is an understanding man, so he will not hold it against anyone."
Okay, so that was a lie since the Angels' ruler had no idea whatsoever. Flynn would have to make sure that the two Demons were never alone with the sovereign during the meeting the next day.
"Besides, it is also somewhat our fault, for not making sure that the messenger hands you the letter personally. This will not happen again, I will make sure of it."
The general humphed in annoyance, ripping the envelope's flap to finally read the letter's content. It seemed that he would be heeding the Angel's words, which reassured him greatly. He did not want Yuri to get hurt like the last time for something he did not do. This would just kill Flynn.
Ryuku's eyes scanned the content before putting the parchment back on the low table, his features back with the annoyed expression that told he wanted to be left alone with Schwann.
"Very well, we will come. I trust that you will pass on the message to your ruler?"
The Angel nodded and bowed with respect.
"Yes, of course. Thank you very much. We will not bother you any longer and will take our leave."
He stood, Yuri quickly copying his movements.
"Have a good evening, Lowell-taishou, Schwann-taii."
Well, so much for drinking the tea, but Flynn completely forgot about it with the events occurring. He was still engrossed in the fact that his long haired friend put the whole blame on himself alone. Damn that idiot.
They left the household in silence, the Angel not uttering a single word. He was feeling the anger bubbling inside, growing with each passing minute. He knew the reasons Yuri did that, knew perfectly why. But it still did not change the fact that it could have ended up with him being hurt again. God, when would he understand?
When they were a few streets away and well on their way to the Demon's mansion, the latter grinned as he put his arms behind his head.
"Phew, that was definitely a close one!" he called out amusingly.
That was the last straw and Flynn whirled around, knocking his friend on the head. The other yelped in pain, immediately reaching for the sore spot as he crouched slightly.
"Ow! What was that for?!" he complained loudly, irritation now clear on his features.
It did not quell his friend's outrage, the latter now glaring at Yuri, his hands balled into fists at each of his sides.
"When will you learn, you idiot?!" the captain cried out, gritting his teeth.
Not that he wanted to make a scene on the street, but he really could not take it anymore.
"I thought you understood the last time you came to me to apologize, but it seems I was wrong! Do you realise that you could've been punished again?" the long haired man pouted annoyingly, looking everywhere but at Flynn at that moment.
"Relax already! You managed to pull me out of it, so it's fine," he reminded, but in the end, it only made the Angel see more red.
"I will certainly not relax when you pull these kinds of stunts all the time! You don't even really realise how this makes me feel, do you? To watch you take all the burdens, to watch you be the bad guy, or be the one who suffers all the time! I don't want that! I want the burden to be shared, I want you to be happy in all of this as well!"
This time, Flynn's furious face melted into sorrow, startling Yuri.
"Why can't you see that much? Why do you degrade yourself so? I care about you, Yuri. So much. I hate to see you do such things."
The Demon's face grew red as he stared in shock at his friend, not believing his ears. He looked away, scratching the back of his head, pursing his lips together as he searched for the right thing to answer.
"Look, I'm sorry, I..." Yuri trailed off, almost stammering. "I know you don't like that, but that's always the only way I can think about to be of help to you. I don't want anything happening to you either, you have to understand. And if it means sacrificing myself, then I feel it's not important, not with the results I can get from it."
Flynn sighed heavily, now sensing the frustration seeping away. It was exactly talk like that he hated, but the way his friend looked miserable while saying it did not allow him to stay mad. Yuri was just... awkward with this, not knowing how he could open up to someone. He thought he could take the burden for everyone's happiness. He was just so selfless. In a way, it was not his fault; it was the way he learned how to live.
The Angel would just have to show him that there were other methods. He would have to teach his friend to depend and trust others, such as Flynn.
"Then you should've talked to me before we left, told me what your plan was. We could've found something else together. You don't need to shoulder everything by yourself, Yuri. I'm there to share the burden. We can do everything together."
This time, a gentle smile was gracing the captain's lips, though it was mixed with amusement upon seeing his friend's flustered state and reddened cheeks. This was definitely the cutest sight in the world and Flynn wanted to see it over and over again.
"Yeah. I'll try..." the Demon mumbled, fighting against the blushing.
To do so more efficiently, he started walking towards his home.
"I can't promise I'll change that overnight, but I'll at least try."
The captain followed behind, now satisfied.
"That's good enough for me. You know my door is always opened for you. You can talk to me anytime," he assured as they saw the mansion coming into view.
Soon, they were inside the gates, going for the doors.
"Your window."
"Huh?" Flynn asked, taken aback, not understanding what his friend was saying.
"I don't use doors. So your window is always opened," Yuri explained with a smirk.
Flynn growled in disbelief, shaking his head, almost smacking his forehead.
"Idiot."
And yet, he could not hide the amusement and fondness in his voice.
After that event, Flynn made sure to talk to Ioder about the peace's matters. He urged the prince to be careful around the councillors, not really stating Garista because of his lack of proofs. The younger blonde agreed, telling that he would make sure that everything was also checked by him when the councillors worked with his father. It would not seem suspicious, because he was more and more interested by politics each passing day. It would just seem as though he were taking his role seriously and attempting to get the hand on things.
Satisfied, Flynn believed that it would be harder for Garista to pull his stunts, but when Yuri came one day, asking him if they received a letter for a meeting invitation, the captain knew that the councilman struck again. It was irritating, mostly because he did not see a thing go, learning it only at the last minute. This needed to stop and soon, but for that, he would need proofs.
For now, however, he had the meeting matter at hand.
"He must've intercepted that letter when the messenger arrived to the castle. Maybe he even asked the guards to redirect any Demon to him."
These were all speculations without proofs, however, and it frustrated Flynn to no end. God, the man was stubborn!
"Must have," Yuri answered, shrugging nonchalantly, and it irked the captain to see his friend being so calm about the situation.
He snapped at his friend, telling the latter to either be helpful and start being serious about the matter, or go away and leave him be. Annoyance also appeared on the Demon's features, but if Flynn had looked closely at that moment, he would have been able to see a flicker of hurt passing quickly in the long haired man's eyes.
"Chill!" the second lieutenant exclaimed. "There's no need to talk like that! What's the point in getting all worked up anyway? If we got no proofs, then we don't have any, that's the end of that. We'll just have to search for some, but you don't have to be all snappy about it!"
The words were like receiving a cold shower and the captain's features fell immediately, falling into guilt as he shoved his face into his hands, rubbing his eyes of their tiredness.
"You're right, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that," he instantly apologized. "I just... kind of feel at a loss. I just wish everything would go well, but someone has to play behind our backs to try and ruin everything. It's so unnerving."
A hand on his shoulder had Flynn look up and saw sympathy shining in Yuri's eyes.
"It's okay, I get it. But we'll work this out eventually. For now, though, it'll be alright, since I already have a plan!"
The captain shot his friend a look that told long about what he thought this could mean. The latter straightened up with unease, before pouting with annoyance.
"Hey, don't look at me like that! I swear it doesn't involve me shouldering everything. Besides, I was going to tell you what it is."
This time, a smirk stretched the Demon's lips as his hand flew to his hip.
"It's super easy, you'll see! That Garista guy didn't think things through when he made a Demon letter disappear!"
Indeed he had not. When Flynn heard the plan, he was greatly satisfied by it, and even laughed at how simple it was. If the councillor believed he would ruin everything by stealing that letter, he was in for a very big surprise.
And so that very afternoon, they requested an audience with the king and some of his highest officials, including military ones. The request was granted and it was with curiosity from the king and contempt from the council members that everyone was now staring at Yuri standing in the middle of the throne room, Flynn not too far behind. Of course, Garista was amongst them and, when the Demon announced the object of his visit, the councillor immediately retaliated, not about to let himself be impressed.
"You mean to tell us that you came here to ask of our presence when we are already extremely busy, especially our king, but that you could merely have sent a letter for such a request? We are speaking of a meeting. General Ryuku could have very well written to us and we would have gladly replied without delay! It would have saved us all this trouble!" the councilman almost but spat, irritated to have been torn from his work.
Or so everyone except Yuri and Flynn thought. The latter two knew better.
The king sitting on his throne did not look particularly bothered by the inconvenience, but he had not said a word either since entering. Not just yet.
"I apologize. I understand you have your work and that it may have been easier with a message. However, I was sent today because we believed it would be safer. This treaty is still fairly new, and so many people are still against it. We believe that, for now, we should make sure that the messages are truly delivered, in case anyone – may they be Demon or Angel – took the messages we sent and made sure it never reached its destination," Yuri explained matter-of-factly.
Most of the room seemed satisfied with this justification; of course, except Garista, who was merely glaring at the Demon as well as Flynn still standing behind.
"It is indeed very good precaution. You have my thanks for taking such measures, my boy," the sovereign replied with a pleased smile.
Yuri glanced back at his friend behind and, for a second, they both could not help but feel as though King William knew it was their doing and not the Demons. But that was just impossible, otherwise he would know about Garista, or at least that someone in his entourage was betraying him. And yet, there was that twinkle in the ruler's irises that was just so confusing...
"Pass on the message to your father that we will be there."
The long haired Demon quickly agreed to the request, bowing shortly.
Once the meeting was done, everyone left back to their work, but the long blond haired councillor did so faster, storming out of the throne room. He was obviously furious that his stunt was thrown right back at his face. He must have also realised that he could not do much with the two emissaries checking on things rather intently, keeping a close eye on his actions. Flynn just wished dearly that it would stop Garista completely, but he knew better than to get his hopes up as such.
"You must be starved after this long trip, so a meal has been prepared for everyone. We will eat before we start anything. Come with me, I hope you will enjoy our food," Schwann declared to the three Angels standing before him.
They were currently at the imperial palace's gate, having just arrived from Paradis, servants having barely taken away their horses. Alexei nodded curtly, but courteously at the Demon before him, the ghost of a polite smile gracing his ever serious and professional face.
"This is a thoughtful gesture, you have our thanks," the commandant replied, followed by nods of his two subordinates.
They followed the dark haired captain inside the palace, Flynn taking in his surroundings. Despite the fact he already entered the place a couple of times already, he still sometimes found himself thinking how impossible it should have been and how lucky they were to be able to step foot inside such a sacred building protected dearly by their neighbours.
And yet, here they were, entering as though they were accepted because a meeting would be held between the highest military officials and emissaries of both countries. They needed to discuss military matters, about the progress they made with the treaty and how well things were going.
They soon arrived in the dining room where General Ryuku and his two other captains already waited. The blonde Angel also spotted Yuri at the end of the long table, grinning at his friend. Flynn threw him back a quick smile before putting his whole attention on the general who was now speaking to them.
"I believe Schwann has already told you about the meal. The servants will arrive in a matter of minutes. Make yourselves comfortable. I believe you have earned it after such a long trip."
The words could have seemed kind, but Ryuku's expression was closed and icy, almost disgusted by the prospect of having to eat next to his most hated visitors. None mentioned it, however, knowing the loath the brown haired Demon held for his neighbours. As long as he was not doing anything against peace, they could ignore his uptight behaviour.
"Thank you, it is kind of you," Alexei thanked once more as everyone sat around the table.
Flynn knew he would have sleeping legs, rather soon at that, only by looking at the cushions waiting to be kneeled on. However, that was a small price to pay for what they were achieving, and so he would not complain whatsoever.
He saw Yuri motioning him to come and the blonde smiled, making his way and kneeling beside his friend.
"The trip wasn't too rough?" the Demon asked in a whisper, making sure not to attract attention on themselves.
It may have been logic that they got along after spending some time together as emissaries, but they could not really act as long-lasting friends in front of the Demons, at the risk of being suspicious.
"No, I'm used to it by now. But I'm still starving!" the youngest captain replied with a smile, to which Yuri answered.
"Then you should love the food. Since my father's with us, the servants are extremely careful and usually cook only the finest meals. It's surprising how my old man can be useful for something," the long haired man snickered while Flynn merely chuckled amusingly, but discreetly as he scanned the room, making sure that no one was turning their attention on the two.
As if on cue, servants already entered the dining room, laying fuming plates in front of everyone, various colourful food displayed artistically. Drafts of delicious aromas, sweetness mixing to saltiness and spiciness, tickled their nostrils delightfully, almost making the blonde Angel salivate. He was really famished, and was also practically certain everyone could hear his stomach growling loudly.
"It indeed looks tasty! I can't wait to eat," Flynn agreed in a murmur to his friend, leaning down slightly to be heard.
But then, his eyes fell on the chopsticks next to the few plates that had been laid down in front of them, and he paled.
He should have known. He should have known they would use chopsticks. It was the utensils Demons used, and nothing else. Despite that, Flynn felt horrified. How would he eat?! Because he was in no way capable of using these!
The first time he did, a servant tried to teach him how exactly he was supposed to hold them. Thankfully, she was patient as she instructed him his fingers' every position and showing him just how much weight he should put on which. Despite all her efforts, however, Flynn's grip remained sloppy and he was unable to catch a single bite of his food, and even less keep it between the utensils. It got the blonde rather frustrated, to the point where he merely shoved one of his stick into the bite, knowing it would be far easier that way.
It was only once he heard a horrified gasp and, when he looked up, saw widened eyes and an appalled expression did Flynn realise it might not have been the brightest idea. But really, how was he to know that sticking chopsticks in food reminded of the chopsticks stuck in bowls of rice used in this country's funerals, and was thus very bad manners?
A frown appeared on Yuri's forehead as he worriedly stared at his friend's sudden uneasy state.
"Is something wrong?" he whispered gently, putting a hand on the Angel's shoulder.
This snapped Flynn out of his daze and the latter shook his head, smiling as convincingly as possible. He knew it would not be enough to fool the long haired Demon, but he could not possible state that he was unable to eat with what was provided! He would be a laughing stock!
As everyone grabbed their chopsticks, the blonde shakily imitated them, discreetly observing how they did and also remembering how he learned. But just as the last time, his grip was too light and he could not, for the love of him, grab those delicious bites that now nagged him fervently. The more he attempted, the more they slipped and crumbled, making it even harder to grab.
What irritated the youngest captain the most was that his superior and colleague did not have difficulties in the least. They were eating with as much ease as the Demons. If this kept up, Flynn would definitely throw the utensils away in frustration.
Yuri, of course, was observing from the start, and the blonde knew his friend found it more than amusing. Or so he thought, which was why he was surprised to see a sympathetic and concerned smile thrown his way when the long haired man tapped his shoulder. The latter showed him his hand holding the choptsicks, trying to discreetly teach his friend at everyone's unbeknownst not to embarrass Flynn. The Angel was grateful, but they both did not count on the fact that they were being observed by a third party – a smirking one at that.
"Oh, this is surprising."
The two started and turned to the voice, now realising that Ryuku was watching them. Instead of his usual scrunched expression, he seemed more relaxed and definitely mocking.
"I have heard of great tales about you, Flynn Scifo, about how you climbed to the top because you could do anything. And yet, here we are, and it doesn't seem like you can hold a mere pair of chopsticks correctly. You'll have to forgive me, but I cannot help but find the sight quite amusing!"
Flynn forced a smile on his lips while Yuri tsked with outrage, glaring at his father. They both knew very well that, behind his sugar-coated words, the general was ridiculing the Angel emissary.
"No one is perfect. Some things are more difficult for some than for others," Duke intervened calmly, barely taking his eyes off the bite he gently slid into his mouth.
Ryuku observed the latter briefly, before turning his attention back on the blonde. It seemed he would not stop at that, finding it suddenly fun to laugh at the instigator of the treaty he hated so much.
"You may be right, but I still find it hard to believe that he could be so bad at it when you and your commandant are doing a remarkable job at using them. He should have learned by now, don't you think? It isn't as though I have not sent servants to help you understand the hang of it," the general added. "Even children learn quickly how to use them, why not him?"
Flynn's smile was turning icier and all the more fake, wishing he could just let it falter and he could leave the room immediately.
He suddenly felt a quick squeeze on his hand lying on his lap and it took him everything not to look at Yuri. The blonde knew that his friend was encouraging him and that already gone squeeze would be enough for now to help him support such mockery thrown wantonly at him.
"At this rhythm, he'll go hungry and everyone will have finished eating," the general snickered, an evil gleam in his grey irises.
Flynn could see it: the man was daring him to use another way to eat with the chopsticks. But using another way meant going against etiquette, and Flynn would not do that. It would give reasons to Ryuku to complain about them. There was no way the Angel emissary would let the other win!
Despite still being hungry, the youngest captain laid his chopsticks on the table, clearly mentioning that he would not eat anymore – or at all, considering he was not able to eat a single bite. The general raised an eyebrow at the gesture.
"I am not feeling too well and I am not very hungry, I apologize," Flynn stated and saw the quick glances Alexei and Duke threw his way, both unsure if he was doing the right thing.
"Oh? You would rather let this food go untouched when the cooks went to a lot of trouble to cook the finest meals for our honoured guests?" Ryuku attacked immediately, already feeling victorious in this exchange.
It was obvious in his traits.
Flynn shook his head calmly.
"It would be even more disrespectful of the work they put if I cannot hold the delicious food they prepared. I would rather leave it untouched and maybe make someone else happy by eating it. I will apologize to the cooks in person for my rudeness, rest assured."
This time, the brown haired general's face fell into displease as he pursed his lips. He had been rid of his fun.
"Very well, make sure you do so," he simply stated before turning back to his own plates, silence overtaking the room.
A groan resonated in the room as Flynn slid inside quietly, plopping down on his futon. He closed his eyes tightly and his hands reached his stomach as it growled painfully for the umpteenth time this evening. He still could not believe he gave up like that and did not eat in the end. He should have kept trying! Maybe he would have gotten the hang of it! But there was also the chance that he did not manage to do it and that would have ended up in being ridiculed more by the general. That was just out of the question.
This meant that he was paying for his actions and was now wishing he could have food. Oh how he longed for the yummy fish displayed in front of him earlier, or the tasty-looking omelettes begging to be chewed. Another groan escaped the captain's lips as he shifted to the side, holding his stomach more tightly. He needed to stop, that was pure torture! He would go to sleep and would be granted his wish in the morning, where he would be able to eat alone and in peace. Besides, this was not the first time he was going hungry in his life. He could definitely take it.
As he was about to let himself drift to sleep, Flynn heard a knock on the side of his door. He softly voiced his welcoming and the fusuma slid to the side, revealing none other than Yuri, holding a tray. For a minute, the blonde thought he was having some sort of hallucination because of his starvation, since his friend mentioned that he never used the door.
But then, he realised what exactly the Demon was holding and he understood it would have been impossible to pass through the window. Suddenly eager and full of life, Flynn shot straight up in a sitting position, his eyes not leaving the tray that was bound to contain food. He could even smell it. Thank God he had a friend who knew his way around this place!
"Well, someone's eager to see me," Yuri teased as he sat next to his friend, placing the elevated tray on the floor.
Too engrossed by the fact that he would finally be able to fill his stomach, Flynn ignored the dark haired man and almost threw himself at the meal, wanting to just grab those tiny bites between his fingers. However, he was suddenly shown a pair of chopsticks, stopping him in his track. He threw a murderous glare at the Demon, not finding the joke very funny at the moment.
"That's not funny, Yuri," he seethed, now in a very bad mood.
He hated those damn sticks and wanted them out of his sight for the rest of his life.
"I'm not joking," the Demon retorted, and when the other confusedly stared, he indeed saw how serious his friend was. "You'll have to get the hang of these one day or another, otherwise, you'll go hungry each time you come here. And the sooner you learn, the better. Besides, I'm here to teach you, so you'll definitely manage to use them!"
Flynn was very doubtful of that, but it seemed he had no choice, so he took the utensils without any complaints. He suddenly saw Yuri shift closer to him and he was abruptly aware of the proximity they now had. Heart beating faster, the Angel felt a hand covering his own and it took every ounce of sheer willpower not to blush at that. The Demon did not seem to notice, too engrossed in the explanations he would soon give.
"Here, you have to place the first chopstick securely between your thumb and forefinger. That way, you can lean it firmly against your middle finger."
As he spoke, the long haired man made sure to place the instruments at the very place he mentioned and placed the other's fingers in the position needed. Flynn was barely listening to the explanations, watching intently the soft hand above his, wondering why exactly he was so conscious of it. The last time someone showed him, he did not give it a single thought when the servant touched his hand. But now, he could not stop the flushing of his cheeks, the light trembling of his body and the hammering pace of his heart.
"And now, you can place the second chopstick between your thumb and forefinger, just like that. This will enable you to move it up and down and will give you strength when you want to grab something," Yuri finished. "It should be ready now. Go on, try it out!"
Realising all of a sudden that he was spoken to, the blonde reacted in a startle and moved towards one of the fish bites, his arm trembling as his friend's hand was still above his own, staying there to help him if he needed help. But even if he took such precautions, Flynn still was unable to grab anything, trying to do so with jerky movements and trembling limbs. The Demon frowned softly, looking up at the captain who now averted his gaze, uneasy.
"Come on, it shouldn't be that hard! I'm even trying to help you here! Concentrate already, and you should be able to do it," the raven haired male chastised, to which his friend gulped.
How could he concentrate with the other's hand caressing his skin in such a way? It was just too much!
He attempted time and time again, but just like at dinner, the bites were sliding off and crumbling, making it almost impossible to get back. Yuri finally let go of Flynn's hand, huffing in frustration as he threw his arms in the air.
"Okay, that's it, you're a lost cause!"
This seemed to snap the Angel back to a seemingly normal state and, when his mind registered the words, a flash of hurt crossed his eyes. He knew he did not pay much attention and was at fault for not being successful in the least tonight, but he was still saddened that his friend would abandon so quickly and label him a lost cause.
"You must be too hungry to even think. That's it for tonight, we'll start over another time."
The captain blinked, surprised. It seemed he had misunderstood the way Yuri meant his words, and it relieved Flynn.
Happy to hear that he could finally eat, the blonde was about to reach for an omelette with his fingers, when fish was suddenly shoved in his mouth. Shocked, Flynn did not start chewing just yet, trying to register just what exactly happened. That's when he realised that the Demon next to him was now holding the chopsticks, an omelette ready and waiting for what was in the Angel's mouth to be gone.
"Come on, Flynn, I need you to chew. I can't possibly shove your mouth with everything, and besides, you have to swallow if you want your stomach to be filled."
Finally understanding what was going on, the captain blushed furiously and swallowed quickly, almost choking on the food. He then glared at his friend.
"I don't need to –"
He did not have the time to finish his sentence that another bite slid between his lips, forcing him to silence. Yuri was throwing his friend an amused smirk, obviously pleased to have such power over the other.
"You don't need to be fed?" the Demon asked. "Can you use chopsticks?"
When a glower was sent his way, the long haired man snickered.
"Thought so. Now just shut up and eat."
At first, Flynn reluctantly complied, embarrassed to be reduced as a child being fed. But the more he ate, the more he calmed and the more he found he enjoyed such attention. He did not need to move, simply open his mouth and chew. It meant that Yuri was all to himself and that the other man was concentrating on none other than him, even more so than if they discussed normally or sparred together. The thought of his friend satisfying his needs had something particularly alluring.
At some point, all food was gone and the long haired man placed the utensils back on the tray. Filled and happy, the captain smiled and thanked his friend heartily.
"No sweat," Yuri replied with his own smile. "I wasn't about to let you starve when it's all my damn father's fault."
The smile faltered into a sour expression, but Flynn placed his hand onto the other's, making the latter flush in surprise.
"It's okay, Yuri. That was also my choice. So thank you, really."
Sometime later, the Demon left and the blonde flopped back on his futon, staring at the ceiling. He wandered back to this peculiar evening, wondering why exactly he had been so self-conscious when Yuri merely touched his hand to teach him how to hold chopsticks. The touch meant nothing at all and, despite that, the Angel was put in a heck of a mess.
He just wished he could understand what his body was trying to tell him. Or maybe he already knew, but was just trying not to find out both consciously and unconsciously.
A/N: And what do you know, we're not giving you a cliffhanger for the second time!
...
Don't get too used to it, though xD
Well, that's how peace goes for now. Couldn't have expected it to start well after thousands of years of war, after all. Hope our heroes will manage to make it better.
And aren't they just too cute? The idea of Flynn not being perfect at everything and being unable to hold chopsticks was just too precious and hilarious xD And it was a nice yummy bonus for Yuri to feed him, hmm~~ Oh, and Ryuku is definitely uncool. Not that we didn't already know that.
Oh yeah, as for Karol being so awkward with Flynn? That's because in the PS3 version, there's a skit the first time Flynn joins the party where we see Karol being awkward and embarrassed. Thought I'd reproduce that here.
I think that pretty much sums it up for this chapter?
This chapter was brought to you by~
Give unto me - Evanescence
See you guys in the next chapter and thanks for reading!
Rose&Saenda
