Disclaimer: Tales of Vesperia and Tales of Destiny don't belong to me but to Namco.

A Phone Call

It was Saturday evening and it had been one week since his conversation with Yuri. Since then, everything seemed to being back to normal. They sent message to each other and they even went out together. Lion couldn't say that it wasn't awkward, especially when he wanted to kiss Yuri or take his hand. He had to keep repeating himself that they weren't boyfriend and it hurt him. Of course, it was his own fault. After all, if he wanted Yuri so much, he could have said it; unfortunately, he wasn't sure yet.

The pen wrote on the paper the last sentence of an essay. When it put the dot on it, It fell on the desk with a little noise. Lion stretched and stood up, finally glad to have finished it. It was due for the next Friday, but he rather preferred to do it before; at least, he would have time to do something else. As going to Lhant's home, for instance, or annoying Yuri.

Smiling at the mere thought of annoying Yuri, Lion went to the kitchen and took a sandwich he had bought the last day. He didn't have the courage to cook and he would like Yuri to come here and cook for him. At least, when Yuri cooked, he was sure it wasn't poison. When he finished his dinner, he went out the kitchen and sat down on the sofa.

He looked at the black screen in front of him and decided that he didn't want to watch it. He didn't know what to do. Before Rutee's and Stan's departure, there was always animation in the house. Now, it was empty. I miss them, he thought and looking at a picture of them.

At the same moment, the phone of the house rang. Lion frowned, wondering who could phone at seven of the evening but stood up and picked it up.

"Yes?" He said, not sure at all.

"Lion!" Two voices exclaimed.

The young boy startled but a smile appeared on his lips. It was Rutee and Stan! As they were talking at the same time, Lion thought that they were using the loudspeaker of the phone.

"It's good to hear you." He eventually said.

"Same for us!" Rutee exclaimed. "How are you? You eat well? You go to school? You have a girlfriend?"

"Rutee, don't scare him."

"Hey, it's my brother, I'm worried about him!"

Lion rolled his eyes. She didn't have to be worried about him. On the contrary, it must be him worrying for them, especially when he knew how they were.

"I'm fine, don't worry. I eat well, and sometimes, I eat with Asbel's family. Yes, I go to school, what do you think I can do else? And no, I don't have a girlfriend."

And he didn't have a boyfriend, even thought he could have one. But he kept it for himself, he wasn't sure that Rutee would like something like that.

"It's not fun at all, Lion! Can you not be a bad boy, mischievous, and having a new girlfriend every month?"

"What? Rutee! Don't say nonsense! If Lion was like that…!"

Lion could hear Rutee chuckled and he couldn't help but smile.

"I didn't say that I didn't do something bad, through."

"What!?" Rutee and Stan said at the same time. "What do you mean!?"

Lion laughed and decided to not telling them now. He would tease them.

"Lion!?" Rutee insisted.

"Anyway, how is life at Palmacosta?"

"Fine. We're not too disoriented, as there is a harbor. And the sea is as blue as the one at Windor!" Stan answered and Lion was sure that he had a big smile on his face.

"Of course that the sea is as blue as Windor's…It's the same sea, you idiot!" Rutee scolded and this time, her brother laughed.

They didn't talk for some minutes, as Rutee was scolding Stan, telling him to stop saying nonsense, and Lion listened to them. It was like they were at home and he was relieved to know that they didn't change at all. Then, his sister said:

"So, what do you mean sooner?"

She was stick to it, huh? Oh well, he needed to tell her.

"Well, first, I have two things to tell you. Second…Promise me that you won't be angry."

"I'm scared, Lion."

"It's not that bad. I think."

"You think…?"

Lion didn't say a think, waiting for the promise. Then, he heard his sister sighting and she said:

"Okay okay, I promise."

The young boy had a little smile on his lips and took a big breath before saying:

"Well, first, I pierced my ears."

"You what!?"

"You promised, Rutee." Stan said with a voice full of reproach.

"I know, I know…" Rutee mumbled.

Lion was sure that his sister was biting her lips right now; she always did that when she wanted to say something but couldn't.

"So, what's the second thing? I hope it's not as bad as this one."

"I'm sure that you'll rather prefer the first one."

"Lion…?" She threatened him.

The young boy sighed. He knew it was a good thing to tell her at the phone, and no face to face. I would rather prefer to tell Yuri that I love him than telling Rutee face to face that I'm friend – and even more – with him, he thought. And it was a terrifying thought.

"You know Yuri Lowell?"

Silence surrounded them and Lion wasn't sure that it was a good thing.

"Yeah…" Rutee eventually replied. "Why?"

"I'm friend with him." And in love with him, he thought, but again, he kept it for himself.

He had to wait a little bit to have Rutee's answer.

"YOU WHAT!?"

"Rutee!" Stan scolded while Lion put away the phone from his ear.

"I know I know! But that little bastard had approached my little brother!"

Since the beginning, he knew that Rutee wouldn't love it. She wasn't fond of him, for not tell she hated him. He sighed, annoyed.

"He's not a bastard and I'm not little!" He pouted. He heard Rutee sighting too.

"It's good to see that you have made friends." Stan said happily. "Do you see him often?"

"Huh? Oh yes…Something, I eat at his home, or at his works. He already came seeing my fencing training…" He said without noticing.

"Looks like a couple of lovers to me. " Stan chuckled.

But then, the chuckle stopped suddenly and Rutee's voice snorted.

"Wait. A. Minute!"

Thank you, Stan. It was the thing to not tell at all. Lion sighed. He wasn't sure to be ready to accept Rutee's anger. Fortunately, his sister was open-minded, but not when "Yuri Lowell" was the subject of the conversation.

"Lion! Don't tell me you're…!"

"Well…Maybe." She chocked. Lion sighed and continued: "We're not together. But…Maybe."

He didn't want to tell them and now but it was too late. Silence took the conversation and Lion didn't know what to say. For a while, he thought that Rutee had faint, but then he remembered that if it had been the case, Stan would have tell it.

"Why this man…? It could be everyone but no, that man!"

"Rutee, love isn't something you can control like that." Stan said and Lion was surprised to hear him telling something like that. "The more important is that they're happy, right?"

"Wowowoh!" Lion stopped, his eyes wide opened. "I told you that we're not together!"

There was a moment of silence, as if he had said something bad.

"I'm sure you'll be soon!" Stan exclaimed suddenly and Rutee sighed.

"Well, I guess it's not only a bad thing, huh…" Rutee whispered.

Did Lion hear well!?

"At least, I know how Lowell is. Lion, listen carefully." Rutee's voice grew serious. Lion frowned.

"What?"

"Love is something strange. It could be good but also bad. You'll have ups and downs, but you have to know it won't be only the other's fault. If you really love Lowell then, I won't go against it. Love is something wonderful, even if it hurts a lot."

"Why are you talking like I'm going to be with him? Seriously, Rutee, even if he wanted, I—"

"Shut up!" Rutee exclaimed. "If you love him, and he loves you, then, what are you waiting? Don't lose your chance."

Lion opened his mouth to answer something but he was at lack of words. He was surprised to hear his sister talking so seriously. She seemed to take the news better and he was relieved.

"Ah, Rutee! We're going to be late!

"Aaaah! Sorry Lion, we have to go to school! We'll phone you later, okay?"

"O—"

He didn't have the time to answer that they had already hanged up. Lion sighed and sat down on the sofa, looking at the black screen of the television. That phone call had been rather eventful. He was happy to know that they hadn't changed at all.

Thinking about that, he smiled.

At his right, nobody; at his left, nobody too. The young boy took a big breah and came close of the intercom. He pushed the button and waited for an answer that arrived two minutes later.

"Yes?"

"It's Lion. I want to talk with you. About what we talked the other day."

There was a minute of silence, as if his interlocutor was thinking about something. Then, he answered.

"Fine."

Lion heard the ticking of the door and entered. He went up the stairs until he reached the apartment and, after a big breath again, he knocked.

"Enter."

Lion put his hand on the door handle, gulped, closed his eyes, wondering if it was the right thing to do, and then, he shook his head. Yes, it was the good thing. Rutee and Stan were right, or he hoped so. He couldn't run away now, so he gathered his courage and entered the apartment. There, he went to the living room where Yuri was sitting down the sofa, in front of a plate of crepes.

"You felt them, right?" The black haired man asked with a grin.

"I have a sixth sense for them." Lion answered.

Yuri chuckled and offered him a seat beside him. When they were side by side, they didn't say a thing. It was awkward. Lion looked at the soda glass in front of him; Yuri had probably prepared it when he was still going up the stairs. The young boy didn't know how to begin the conversation, even if he was the one who had asked for it. It was like something stopped him to do it; his brain, certainly.

"So, what do you want to say?" Yuri eventually asked.

Lion's body tightened quickly and Yuri had to notice it because he said:

"Hey, relax. I won't eat you."

Well, not now but in some months, perhaps…Wait…No! Lion blushed to his own thoughts. He didn't know that he could be so wicked!

"Lion? Are you alright? You're red, are you sick?"

Yuri wasn't worried at all, Lion knew it. He heard the mockery in his voice. Did he do it on purpose? That man! He would get his revenge for sure! But for now, other problem mattered. So he decided to not answer Yuri's silly questions.

"Can we be serious?"

"I'm always serious."

"It's scaring."

"Ouch. Right in the heart."

Lion rolled his eyes – fortunately, he had say to be serious! – and he finally began:

"More seriously…" He hoped that Yuri didn't hear the trembling in his voice. "I wanted to talk about what we have talked last week."

"Yeah, that's what I understood. So?"

So? Did he really think that it was easy to tell something like that!? Oh, anyway.

"So…I would like to…give it a try…?"

Yuri's brows furrowed.

"Give a try to what?"

Lion paled. Maybe he had misunderstood their talk, one week ago. What if it was the case? He would be so ashamed that he would probably run away and never see Yuri again.

"…Are you joking?" He dared to ask.

"Yes."

"Fuck you, Yuri. I was serious."

"When you want." Yuri said with a grin and, angry, Lion stood up.

He was a fool for wanting to give it a try, if even Yuri couldn't be serious for five fucking minutes! He was about to get away but at the same time, Yuri took his hand and said in a soft voice:

"Hey, I already told you to calm down." Then, he made him sitting down. "I'm sorry, but you felt so tense that I thought by saying stupid things, you'll be better."

Lion pouted. Maybe he was a little bit too tense. He sighed.

"Sorry."

"It's okay." Yuri answered with a little smile. "So…You want to be with me, huh? Are you alright with that?"

"If I wasn't, I wouldn't want to be with you, right?"

"True."

"But, I…Huh…How to say that? I'm not accustomed to that, so…"

He blushed.

"Don't worry. Going our pace will be fine."

"Sure?"

"Hey, do you think that I'm a predator?"

The young boy looked at the older man with an obvious look and Yuri pulled a face.

"I'm hurt now."

"My poor poor little boy." Lion teased.

"Hey! This relationship has a bad beginning! Don't steal my line!"

"They say that we have to share everything."

Yuri pouted and Lion couldn't help but laugh. Then, the raven haired man acted as a selfish child and stood up, sulking, before going to the kitchen. So, Lion smiled and stood up too, following his friend – and boyfriend.

"Yuri?"

The man turned towards him, a grin on his lips and without waiting, he kissed him. And this time, Lion didn't run away.

I don't know why but I'm not happy with this chapter, and I'm sure there is a lot of mistake. I don't know where but there is!

Anyway, Lion and Yuri are finally together! For how long? Good question XD