Ok, so I've gotten just a touch out of practice with writing over the past couple weeks, but I'm confident that this one will be alright! (Also, let me know how you liked the Side Story I added in!) This one is based right after the group leaves Myorzo in search of the missing Raven and Estelle, land in Yormgen, and meet up with Flynn.

Keep in mind that this is the first time that Yuri has really seen Flynn since their argument where Yuri said that he would kill Flynn if he became a villain.

STANDING AGAIN

Summary: Sequel to Standing Apart. After all this time, it was Alexei behind everything? How could Flynn not know about this? Come on Flynn! How could you not know?

Alexei? All this time, it was Alexei? Distantly I heard Yeager speaking, though I could comprehend his words at the moment. Alexei. He's the one who was behind everything? Everything that we suffered through…because of him.

"Go after Alexei and Yeager!"

Inwardly, I felt my walls breaking down.

"Come on, Yuri!"

And my perfect mask, crumble away.

"Yuri?"

How…how could this have happened?

"Yuri Lowell!" The sudden shout towards me dragged me out of my thoughts. It was that woman that followed Flynn, Sodia, I think. I blinked at her sword shoved in my face. When had she even drawn her weapon? "Give yourself up!"

I closed my eyes slowly and reopened them just as slowly, then shoved her to the side and stepped closer to Flynn. I narrowed my eyes at him when he averted his eyes. Did he think so little of me to hurt him right now? Even if he believed me capable of killing him, did he honestly believe that I would do such a terrible act right now? The confusion and anger filling me covered the hurried words of my friends planning out the attack of Alexei.

My only focus right now was Flynn. He…he had helped Alexei, didn't he? Maybe…that meant that he…but then he seemed just as angry at Alexei as we were. Damnit. What was the truth here?

My gaze hardened on him as I barely heard Rita calling out to me. I'm sure that his flinch went unnoticed by everyone else. I just happened to be looking for it or I'm sure that I would have never seen it. Hesitantly, his eyes reached mine.

"Yuri…"

A sting of pain hit my heart at his tone, but I shoved it aside and took a step closer. My feelings for him didn't change what had happened.

"…Flynn." I kept my voice as hard as steel and I clearly saw the etching of pain crossing his face at the unusual tone. "A word?"

His eyes stayed focused on mine for a second longer than was necessary, but then nodded and spoke in a tone that completely betrayed what I knew he was feeling.

"Very well. Let's talk over there."

I watched the way his body moved as he walked away from me. Unwillingly, my eyes continually strayed to the muscles in his back clenching beneath the armor and the soft sways of his legs. He was always so graceful. Sensing where my thoughts were headed, I jerked my eyes back up to the back of his head as he stopped and turned to face me. Those bright blue eyes met mine and I turned my back to him and took a deep breath.

"Just what the hell are you doing? What happened to advancing as a knight and fixing the empire from within?" I suddenly turned back to face him, knowing my eyes burned like lava. How could he have just accepted this? "You've been nothing more than a damn puppet on Alexei's string."

Another slight flinch flew through his body and my resolve hardened even further. He deserved to hear this and stand firm through the chastising. I would not back down just because I…my glare hardened.

"Don't you dare tell me that the Don and Belius died for nothing more than that! He was there working along side you this whole time, Flynn! How could you possibly not know?" I finished my rant and stared him down. Say something Flynn. Tell me that you never noticed, that you were simply just used. Tell me that you're…

"I'm sorry…"

…tell me that you're sorry…

I turned my head to the side, not wanting to look at him as I felt my anger already beginning to fade. How is it that I've never been able to stay mad at him?

"Why, though? Did you go along with it because Ioder trusted Alexei?" I closed him eyes, not sure whether I wanted a positive or a negative answer. I wasn't looking at Flynn so I couldn't see his facial expressions when he answered.

"His Highness is not to blame. I had total confidence in Alexei. The responsibility is mine."

My mind drifted back to when I was in the Knights with Flynn. Alexei was a decent enough man then, at least, he definitely seemed that way. With an almost distracted mind, I spoke again, thinking out loud.

"So your pursuit of the apatheia at Nordopolica was on Alexei's orders, I presume." I wasn't really asking him, but he answered anyway.

"Yeah…"

I let out a sigh, already calming down, knowing that I couldn't change what happened. We just had to move forward from this. But first I needed to know everything.

"You'd better start talking. Tell me what happened. There's no reason to worry about exposing the 'Commandant' now."

When I returned my gaze back to Flynn, I saw his eyes watching me, cautiously and carefully, as though he was studying me, gauging my emotions. Apparently whatever he saw, he approved of, because I could almost feel the tension easing away. He seemed…calmer when he spoke.

"The conversion of Heliord into a military installation, the abuse of the residents at Mantaic….All of Cumore's activities, the forbidden development of new blastia…All of these were carried out under the Commandant's…" Flynn paused for a second, and in the single instant, I saw a terrible pain cross his face at his own words. Flynn…it's alright…I'm not going to be angry at a slipup like that. It's habit, not respect.

But Flynn recovered well, just like I knew he would, and continued.

"…under Alexei's ordes."

"But all it's done for you is help you lose sight of your original intentions." I couldn't help my interruption and immediately felt guilty after saying it. Just when things were starting to get a little better…I held back my sigh but turned my head. I had to correct that comment.

"Not that I have much right to preach to you, after I let them run off with Estelle like that." I hated admitting to it, but it was true.

"No." Flynn's word was so stiff that it cause me to look back to him. Was he angry? But he continued without pause. "That never would have happened if I hadn't been blind to Alexei's true nature. I had grown far too used to simply obeying orders like a good knight, even when I doubted them. It was my lack of thought that brought this about."

My breath caught in my throat. Flynn…really was blaming himself. Instinct took over and I moved my foot forward, ready to bring him into an embrace that I knew he needed. I saw his eyes widen slightly, recognizing my movement.

"Since when is moaning and whining part of a knight's job description?"

Damn. I froze, my foot still in midair. I had forgotten that Flynn and I weren't alone. We couldn't do this here. I quickly put my foot back down.

What was I thinking? We couldn't do this at all! Flynn didn't care for me like that anymore and he thinks that I could…

…but if that was true…

…then why was he looking at me like that?

"You impudent…!" The little Apple Head spoke up, bringing me back to reality, and Flynn too apparently.

"No, it is as she says. I must shoulder this responsibility. It is up to me to rescue lady Estellise." Wait. What? "Witcher, Sodia…until then, help Yuri and his friends protect Master Ioder."

"Whoa, what?" he was kidding, right? But the look in his eyes said that he was completely serious. Damnit Flynn!

"I was unable to prevent the Royal Guard from abducting Her Highness. I am duty-bound to correct this wrong by saving her." You damned idiot. That wasn't your fault at all! It was mine!

"Captain! What should be done about His Highness? If anything were to happen to him, the empire…" Good girl, little Sodia. For once you have a bit of usefulness, don't you? Distract Flynn. He's not going anywhere near Alexei. Saving Estelle is my job. Brave Vesperia's job.

"I know. That's why this brigade is concentrating all our efforts on ensuring his safety." Flynn spoke so damn calmly.

"But Captain…!" Damnit. This was never going to end, was it? Fine then. Sorry Flynn.

"Damnit, Flynn!" I yelled out, catching his, and everyone else's, attention. "I didn't yell at you to have you turn around and start telling me what to do. Brave Vesperia's going to rescue Estell. You've got your own things to worry about. Y'know, like…taking care of the little prince and all that."

"Yuri…!" I gave Flynn a hard look that just dared him to try something.

"Captain, we don't have a moment to spare. We should return to Master Ioder." That Sodia woman said pressuring Flynn. Normally I would have interrupted her. I didn't like the way she spoke to Flynn very much, but right now it was in my favor.

"…All right." Flynn conceded. Good.

As he turned to walk away, I suddenly had a flashback to that night in Nordopolica. But then…

…he stopped.

"Yuri. Thanks."

I knew that I should have kept it to myself. I knew that everyone could see. I knew that if anyone found out, things would get ugly. I knew all that.

But I just couldn't help that big smile that covered my face.

"Same here."

…..

Dang. I wasn't sure that I would ever finish that! It was just so time consuming! Well, actually it only took me about an hour to write, but I was tired while writing so I kept hoping it would end and that made it seem longer.

So…we have a little bridge of happiness forming between our lovely love-birds! YAY! I think Yuri needed a little good news after what happened with the Don and then Estelle's kidnapping.

As always! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it!

~Kia