Disclaimer - Tales of Vesperia does not belong to me. I do not make monetary gains from the series, though I would lose money should the PS3 version ever be made available in the US.

A/N - I've been playing Tales of Xillia and it feels like Jude is somehow Yuri and Flynn's son, transported to another universe. Yuri's looks, Flynn's personality and voice-actor... surely I'm not the only person to have considered this?

outfit/object - Umm... just read the story. ;)

Anniversary

Flynn looked worn out, but still much better than the previous day when he'd been feverish. Alternating cold-sweats and hot-flashes from the flu had made Flynn act slightly delirious, but the doctor hadn't seemed too concerned since Flynn's fever hadn't reached too high before breaking. The illness ended up peaking as quickly as it had come on.

Things might have been different a few years ago, when they wouldn't have been able to afford things like a doctor's visit or the medication used to treat Flynn's symptoms and speed his recovery. A few years ago, an illness like this might have even turned deadly.

So if Yuri hovered a little too much, no one said anything. Maybe they'd seen in his eyes the ghosts of those previous years... like the time, when they were sixteen, that Flynn had a fever that had required an ice bath to finally break. Or the year before that when Yuri had been the one to nearly died from pneumonia. Or all the times when someone they'd known had died from untreated illnesses.

The lower quarter had free clinics available now, funded by a charity Estelle had made popular. So Yuri tried to worry less about when people around him got sick. Circumstances had changed for the better, after all.

Somehow, the world really was becoming a better place.

Still, Yuri would feel more at ease when Flynn looked healthier and his breathing wasn't so labored.

"I'm hungry." When Yuri didn't respond, Flynn sat up, blinking at Yuri sleepily and drawing the raven-haired man out of his thoughts. "I'm hungry," the blond repeated, smiling a little. The day before, Flynn had no appetite, so this was a wonderful sign.

Yuri smiled too. "I'll get you some soup." He leaned over and kissed Flynn on the cheek. Then, standing up, Yuri stretch, smirking at the way Flynn's eyes stared at the gap of skin that appeared between Yuri's sweat pants (which were slung a little lower than usual) and his tank top (which had shrunk a little recently after Karol had his turn at the guild's laundry and done the water too hot for the wash). "You're not well enough to be hungry for anything else," Yuri teased.

Flynn blushed. "Doesn't mean I don't still want you anyway," he muttered. "I'm sorry I ruined today," he added.

"The day's only begun, Flynn. Isn't it a little early to assume the whole thing is a waste?" Yuri reached over and ran his fingers through Flynn's short locks. The hair that was normally so soft – seemingly at odds with the spiky appearance – felt a little oily to the touch. Flynn would probably enjoy getting to take a shower today, Yuri thought idly.

"It's our anniversary," Flynn responded quietly. "We had plans and I'm not well enough for them."

"So we'll put it off until the weekend." Yuri dropped his hand to Flynn's shoulder and squeezed. "I'm just glad we're both actually here for our anniversary. Last year we were a whole month late because we were so busy."

"It's always something," Flynn muttered, closing his eyes and leaning into Yuri's touch. "I'm still hungry," he added as his stomach rumbled.

Laughing, Yuri left the room to fetch the promised soup.

After eating lunch and showering, Flynn felt immensely better. He even got dressed in a plain blue t-shirt that matched his eyes and a pair of brown work-pants that actually belonged to Yuri. The pants were just a little too tight and showed off his butt, which Yuri couldn't stop staring at whenever Flynn stood up.

It certainly made Flynn feel better to know he looked good enough to, as Patty and Raven might put it, distract Yuri with his sexiness despite still feeling kind of crappy. Despite the general aching in his body and lingering headache, Flynn managed to be rather distracted himself. Yuri's 'lazy' outfit – his cleaning day outfit – shouldn't have been so alluring, but Yuri always managed to look seductive in just about anything he wore. Of course, Flynn was pretty certain he was biased about Yuri's ability to appear desirable at any given moment.

The day actually wasn't too bad either. They spent most of it curled up together on the couch, idly talking about whatever they felt like. Flynn wished they could spend more days like that, just the two of them with no outside obligations to deal with.

So when they finished dinner, Flynn made his decision. He excused himself to his room for a few minutes, retrieving a box from beneath his clothes in the dresser, and returned to Yuri.

"Yuri... um... I had this whole thing planned out for today... and I don't want to put off this part." He held out the box, his hand shaking terribly.

Shocked understanding appeared in Yuri's eyes and his hands were shaking too as he picked up the small jewelry box from Flynn's outstretched palm. The box nearly snapped shut on Yuri when he tried to open it, but then he was staring wide-eyed at the platinum and ebony bands within.

"Flynn... are these... are these engagement rings?" Yuri sounded breathless and Flynn hoped it was happiness he saw reflected in Yuri's eyes.

"Yes. Yuri... will you marry me?" Despite the kissing ban Yuri had instigated when Flynn got sick, which the raven-haired man had insisted would last until the next day, Yuri pressed his mouth against Flynn's and then slid his tongue into Flynn's mouth. Though brief, the kiss was passionate and forceful, leaving Flynn wanting more.

"God, yes. I'll marry you," Yuri murmured against Flynn's lips.

Pulling back a little, Flynn picked up the ring sized for Yuri and slid it onto his lover's – his fiance's – left ring finger. He couldn't help but think that Yuri had never looked more beautiful to him, dressed in a slacker outfit with Flynn's ring on his finger...

"I love you."

"Love you too," Yuri responded, eyes dark and face lit by a gorgeous smile as he slid the other ring onto Flynn's finger.