Disclaimer – It is not my intention to profit from someone else's work, just to play with the characters for a little while.
Inspired by – Estelle's veil, which made me think about other things Yuri could put in his hair... like a pretty lily flower :)
Traditions
Yuri always looked forward to his birthday. Flynn's too, but Yuri's birthday came a day earlier (which Flynn insisted on when they were kids and Yuri finally admitted that he didn't know his birth date) and so he'd countdown to his birthday in anticipation of their annual two-day celebration of being best friends.
Most years they couldn't afford much in the way of gifts. When they were ten, however, they pooled their saved gald and managed to have just enough to buy the sword they'd been eying at the weapons shop (the dealer admitted, a few years later, that he'd given them a discount because he'd known just how hard they worked to earn the gald). For a long time, that sword was the most expensive present they managed.
But this year, Yuri managed to lose a week after falling from Zaude. Barely remembered nightmares interrupted by moments so clouded in pain that Yuri couldn't tell if they were real or just his mind trying to cope with the combination of injury and infection. Certainly he hadn't been lucid during that time. Waking up, he'd known that time had passed, but wrapping his head around the exact amount had proven to be a challenge.
With the threat of the Adephagos looming over the world, Yuri didn't exactly have the time to adjust either. So, after leaving Tarqaron and returning to Aurnion, Yuri wasn't exactly aware of just what the date was.
It didn't help that they got back late and then Inn was already full. They were tired, cranky, and they wanted real beds to sleep in, dammit.
Fortunately, since Ioder had already left for Zaphias, Estelle and Rita took that room. Kaufman had extra space in her guild house that she let Judy and Karol use. Raven was able to find space with his brigade, who were overjoyed to have Raven back in one piece. Yuri found himself crashing in Flynn's room, much to his friend's relief and amusement. (Repede, of course, followed Yuri and was happy to have both his favorite humans where he could keep an eye on them.)
After what turned out to be the best sleep he'd had since well before their first visit to Myorzo, Yuri woke up snuggled up against Flynn. His face buried in the crook of Flynn's neck and shoulder, the knight's arms wrapped tightly around his waist, and their legs tangled beneath the sheets.
"Good morning," Flynn murmured, running his fingers through Yuri's hair and gently smoothing out the tangles he encountered.
"Don't wanna wake up," Yuri mumbled, nuzzling closer in.
"It's been a long time since we've had to bunk together like this," Flynn observed; the lilt in his voice made it sound like he was smiling.
"Mmhmm..." Yuri hummed and pulled back a little to sleepily look Flynn in the eyes. "We roomed together when I was in the Knights, but that was separate beds. So... I guess we stopped sleeping in the same bed when we were fourteen... no, fifteen." They'd had a sleep over for their birthdays that year, neither quite used to being able to afford separate rooms yet and trying to ignore the fact that the bed they'd used was barely big enough to accommodate the both of them. Needless to say, they'd been horrible uncomfortable and refused to admit defeat anyway.
"It's kind of nice... seeing first thing in the morning that you're here and safe and not... missing out there somewhere." Flynn's hand in Yuri's hair stilled while his arm around Yuri's waist tightened for a moment. Then he relaxed and went back to stroking Yuri's hair again.
"I'm sorry about that. Most of the time you were looking for me, I was completely out of it. Took a bad hit and Duke looked after me, but he kept me drugged unconscious pretty much the whole time."
Flynn smirked. "That was probably for his own sanity. You make a lousy patient."
Huffing, Yuri swatted Flynn's shoulder lightly. "I bet he has a terrible bedside manner, anyway. Duke's not one for conversation or cheering people up."
"I'll take your word for it."
The two of them lay there for a long moment, quietly absorbed in each other, when it occurred to Yuri that best friends didn't do this. Even after a night of sleeping comfortably in the same bed together, friends didn't cuddle like this in the morning. Except, apparently, they did.
Yuri tried to tell himself that thinking what they had could be anything else – anything more – was just wishful thinking.
"I've got some meetings to take care of this morning, but I'm planning on taking this afternoon off. You'll still be here this afternoon... right?" Flynn asked, his tone uncertain.
"Yeah. We're going to be here at least a few days. There are some contracts we're going to take with Kaufman concerning some of the bigger monsters in the area that there aren't enough Knights in town to go after. Actually, we might even stick around for a few weeks; depends on how long it takes to get them all."
"Good." Flynn reluctantly released Yuri and clambered out of the bed. "You can stay with me for as long as you want," he added. "I doubt the Inn will get much free space any time soon."
"Thanks." Yuri grinned and then rolled over, pulling up the covers so he could go back to sleep for a little while longer. If he happened to curl up against the pillow Flynn had been using, well... Flynn didn't seem to notice.
A little before noon, Yuri finally made himself climb out of bed, shower, and make himself presentable. Then he went out to join the others for lunch.
"I wonder why Flynn's got that flower with him." Karol's curiosity was what alerted Yuri to the fact that Flynn must have finished up his paperwork for the morning.
Mentally counting up the days as he turned to face Flynn, Yuri smiled as he saw the orange lily in Flynn's hands. Standing up, he ignored his friends' speculation on the flower and walked over to meet his favorite blond.
"I completely lost track of time this year," Yuri admitted. "I could have sworn there were still two more weeks until today."
Flynn nodded and grinned. "I thought it was something like that. I considered saying something this morning, but it isn't often that I get to surprise you on your birthday." Stepping forward, Flynn's face was mere inches from Yuri's as his hands slid into Yuri's hair. He gathered up the long strands into a rhybgaro tail, but only after taking an unnecessarily long amount of time doing what basically amounted to petting, as far as Yuri was concerned.
By the time Flynn was adjusting the lily over Yuri's ear, having secured the stem in the hair tie, Yuri's heart was thudding so hard that he thought it was a wonder Flynn couldn't hear. A little shiver ran through Yuri as Flynn's fingers trailed down the side of his face for a moment. "Why orange?"
"It means passion," Flynn responded, his eyes bright with amusement.
"Trying to say something about me finally getting out of the lower quarter and finding something to do with my life?" Yuri teased lightly.
"Only that you seem really happy now," Flynn sounded a little wistful. "I was always pushing you to do something more with your life, but I should have realized that it was something you needed to do on your own schedule."
"I get to see you more now, too," Yuri observed quietly, the words seeming to hover oddly between them. "That's a big part of me being happier."
Flynn seemed to lean forward some and then...
"Are you two going to eat or not!"
Yuri turned and scowled at Karol. Flynn just laughed, though, and started towards the table, his hand pressing briefly between Yuri's shoulder blades to coax him along.
"Now, now, Karol, they were having a moment and you ruined it," Raven was chastising as the two seated themselves.
A slight blush painted itself on Flynn's cheeks.
"So, uh... what's with the flower?" Karol asked, cutting off Yuri before he could correct Raven.
"It looks like a lily," Judy observed. "It suits you, Yuri." She grinned cheekily.
Estelle opened her mouth to add in what was surely meant to be some teasing of her own only to be interrupted. "Ah, good afternoon, sir!"
"Captain Leblanc," Flynn nodded at the saluting Knight. "I'm off duty right now; is there something that needs my attention?"
"Not at the moment, sir. Just wanted to thank you again for the promotion." Leblanc looked rather pleased.
"I guess that makes the Schwann Brigade the Leblanc Brigade now, huh?" Raven asked cheerfully. "Congratulations."
"Ah, well, I'm still calling it the Schwann Brigade," Leblanc admitted. "Thank you... Raven."
"You definitely deserve the promotion," Estelle threw in. "But I've got a question for you since you know Yuri and Flynn pretty well. Do you know what the flower is about?"
"Flower?" He turned to Yuri and nodded. "Oh, that is today, isn't it? Happy Birthday, Yuri."
"Thank you, Leblanc." Yuri snickered at the looks on the others faces. "I'd forgotten myself until Flynn showed up a few minutes ago."
"Flynn gives you flowers for your birthday? Isn't that kind of... girly?" Karol blurted out and then immediately turned bright red. "I... I mean..."
"Girly?!" Rita turned towards the kid with a hand raised threateningly.
"I always wanted someone to give me flowers for my birthday... or someone to give flowers to," Estelle mused thoughtfully, glancing sideways at Rita.
Rita blushed, a rare and hilariously adorable sight that only Estelle seemed capable of causing. Her hand lowered and she muttered something pink tulips, determinedly not looking at Estelle.
"We couldn't usually afford actual presents," Yuri told Karol, taking pity on the kid. "So for Flynn's birthday, which is tomorrow, I usually just cook him something special. However, Flynn can't cook to save his life," Flynn scowled at Yuri, who just smirked in response. "The first time he tried to cook for me I convinced him to get me something pretty instead." He tapped the flower. "Since flowers are both pretty and inexpensive... it just became our thing."
"That's really sweet, you two," Judy commented with a smirk.
Yuri just quirked an eyebrow at her and flipped open his menu. Glancing over at Leblanc, he added, "there's room to join, if you want."
"I'm afraid I still have some work to accomplish before having lunch," Leblanc replied. "But thank you." Making his goodbyes, Leblanc disappeared back into the bustle of Aurnion.
"Huh... I didn't quite realize you two were so close," Raven observed. "He was pretty concerned about you when you went missing, but I'm surprised he knows things like your birthday." The look on his face was very much a 'Schwann' expression, as if he was wondering why Leblanc hadn't made himself more helpful in poaching Yuri from Niren's brigade years earlier.
After the Heracles, while they'd been recovering in Capua Nor and preparing for the trek through the ice floes, Yuri had asked Raven if he'd known Captain Niren. It had been strange to hear Raven talk about Niren as a fellow Captain of the Knights, but what was even weirder was hearing that the only reason Yuri had been assigned to Niren's brigade alongside Flynn had been because Raven had lost a bet. Apparently, Raven had seen Yuri practicing in the training yards and immediately wanted him for his brigade; that day in jail when Raven gave him the key to his cell, Raven had finally put the recruit he'd lost the bet over together with the troublemaker that Leblanc seemed oddly fond of and made a split second judgment call when he decided to 'trip' in front of Yuri's cell.
What Raven didn't know, however, was that Leblanc had been almost as much of a constant in Yuri's life as Hanks. Maybe he'd tell Raven about it later, but for now Yuri just wanted to enjoy a nice relaxing day. Long stories could wait for another time.
"I'm just his favorite repeat-offender," Yuri joked. "Though, if he knew how much time you spend in jail, old man..."
"Ugh, you wound me, kid. Those cots are just good for my back, that's all."
"Which would be more believable if you had back problems," Rita shot back before Yuri could. She was grinning; whether Rita was willing to admit it or not, she loved arguing for the sake of arguing and no one argued with her quite like Raven did.
Raven, of course, immediately slouched in his seat and put a hand on his back. "Ow," he said woodenly. "Ow, my aching back."
"Very believable," Judy assured him.
Snickering, Yuri turned to Flynn and bumped shoulders with him. "See what I put up with?"
"You deserve them," Flynn told him with a laugh of his own. For a moment, Flynn's hair seemed to shine in the sunlight. But then a cloud passed over, giving them some much needed shade, and Yuri dragged his attention away.
Still, the image of Flynn practically glowing, his eyes sparkling with mirth, left Yuri feeling a little lightheaded and a wistful, wondering what would have happened earlier if Karol hadn't interrupted.
Eventually lunch came to an end and Flynn convinced Yuri to let him give a tour of all the town's changes. The last time Yuri had been to Aurnion, there hadn't been time to explore. So Yuri cheerfully let Flynn grab his left hand and drag him all around the town.
They wandered through the market and Yuri oohed and aahed over the locally made wood crafts that were already being sold. They stopped by the stone mason guild's booth and discussed some of the upcoming projects the guild was negotiating with both the Empire and the Union to either shore up existing city walls or build new ones where none existed to protect against monster attacks. The lily remained in Yuri's hair the whole time and, though he got a few odd looks for it, no one was brave enough, or impolite enough, to ask.
At one point they noticed Leblanc having lunch with Kaufman. Noting it to mention to Raven later, Yuri suggested they double back around so as not to disturb the pair; Flynn agreed, taking Yuri into the 'residential district' and pointing out which of the houses he'd helped construct. It was nice, hearing Flynn's stories about getting to know the populace. Listening to Flynn talk about little girls looking for lost dolls, impromptu square dancing, and a dozen silly arguments was like hearing about the Lower Quarter.
Despite how different the town was, there was something about the place that felt like home. Though that might just be a side-effect of spending time with Flynn. Yuri wasn't entirely certain.
All too soon it was dinner time. Yuri insisted on cooking himself so it could just be the two of them like always. As much as he loved his friends, he wanted dinner to be just for him and Flynn. Not that there were any objections to his plan to be had.
However, once dinner was cooked and the two were seated together at the table, Flynn began to get a little antsy. His anxiousness only increased over the course of the meal and by the time they were done, Yuri was surprised Flynn hadn't fallen out of his seat from all the nervous squirming he'd done.
"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you or should I keep on pretending that you've simply forgotten how to be still?" Yuri teased, though his concern tinged his voice.
"Um... well... I... I have another present for you, but I'm not sure if you'll want it or not." Flynn blushed faintly and ran a hand through his hair, making the already messy locks look even more ridiculously unkempt.
"There's only one way to know," Yuri intoned solemnly before scooting his chair around to sit closer to Flynn. Grinning impishly, he leaned over into Flynn's personal space. "Bring on the present!" he cheered.
Flynn laughed and ducked his head a bit, reaching up to brush some of Yuri's bangs out of the way. "You need a trim," he murmured absently and then leaned in just enough to brush his lips against Yuri's.
Yuri blinked in surprise as Flynn pulled away. "That's it?" he asked.
"Well... yeah..."
"A kiss?"
"Yes. I... uh... sorry..." Flynn started to get up, but Yuri grabbed his arm and forced him to stay seated.
"You should be," Yuri grumbled. "One measly kiss is all? Not even a proper kiss really..." Flynn seemed to get the point because he leaned back in and silenced Yuri with a much longer smooch. Yuri was the one who pulled away this time, taking deep breaths as he reminded himself that, yes, oxygen was important. "Well, that was better. Much bet..." Flynn cut him off again.
"We've known each other for sixteen years, just about," Flynn murmured when their third kiss ended. "I think I just finally figured out the best way to make you stop being obnoxious."
"Took your time on that one," Yuri challenged with a grin. "Though... I can think of a few other things you could do. No hints, though. You've got to figure them out yourself."
Flynn's eyes slid to the bed. "I may have an idea, or two."
"Mmm... I approve," Yuri declared, his already enjoyable birthday having just become indescribably better. "But first, maybe we should get this into some water," he reached up to gently pluck the lily from his hair. "I'd hate to ruin one of your presents."
A/N – Interestingly enough, orange lilies also represent revenge.
So this whole story blossomed from the idea of Flynn putting a lily in Yuri's hair. ;)
Additionally, the 'second present' section was initially typed while battling Estelle (puppy-Estelle, not story-Estelle) for control of my keyboard. Most of the time she tolerates me tapping away at this thing that steals her place on my lap. Other times she brings me a rope bone and demands I play, now, because she is puppy, princess of the house... and bored. Then there are the times she tries to just shove the laptop out of her way so that she can take its place. She is not subtle... only adorable and, thankfully, tiny. Thus it's not the end of the world when she inevitably steps on my keyboard with her dainty little paws. Fortunately, I managed to remove all of her key-smashing additions to the story.