Chapter title: On the Nature of Things.

The title of a poem by the Roman poet and philosopher, Lucretius. It's didactic so it's like an instructional manual for living taken creative form, exploring and explaining the nature of mind and soul, sensation, thought the world's development and its phenomena. Guided by chance, and not divine intervention.

The air of familiarity was a powerful force.

As Vega remembered it, the titular Palace of Mysteries was a large building that stood three stories high, smacked in between several other constructions of similar design but diverse heights. It had been beige the last time Vega laid eyes on it. It had since been repainted into a pure white. Everything looked new, including the sign hanging off its side, reading; Palazzo Mistero. Signs of change, mayhaps even a reflection of the people within. Vega was as fascinated as he was anxious about the reunion.

"Is this the place?" Ryu asked. "It's been so long since I've been here…"

"The feeling is mutual," Vega answered. He gently removed the backpack and held it in front of the building, just to let Florinda get a good look at their current destination. The cat had taken quite a liking to traveling. Suppose Ryu's endless journey had given him a taste of seeing the world.

With a sense of diligent acceptance, Ryu marched forward and flat-out opened the door at its main entrance like he owned the place. Vega was hardly surprised; that was how the pseudo-scientists got customers after all. People waltzed in to search for answers regarding their destiny – or whatever else they desired. Back then, Vega had not been that interested in fate; he had merely been curious about the women living there. He had expected to meet with the famed fortune teller to witness her beauty firsthand but instead, her female apprentice caught his eye. She was beautiful in her own right but painfully airheaded and overwhelmingly quirky. Back then, he thought of her to be naïve and easily charmed.

By all means, she was.

But she also had a strong sense of identity; this fierce loyalty to protect those she cared for regardless of how they looked, even if they tended to frustrate her with their oddities, even when they dragged her into their web of weirdness. Vega found out the hard way; he found how fragile his pride could be. How devoid of people his life was. How his humanity still remained despite everything.

He could have brought the apprentices and humiliated them as revenge but instead, he found himself enthralled by their antics – and the bond they shared with the people in their lives. Back then, it confounded him. Now, when standing here again with someone precious to him, he understood how the affinity felt – even if the person in his life was confusingly but endearingly odd.

It would seem Vega finally came to understand what Menat had said to him that night in the greenhouse. And he should thank her for that.

At this time of day, there were no patrons around yet. Which was fortuitous, Vega felt. He had been particularly tense while traveling and passing by the occasional person staring. In the end, an introduction to Florinda seemed to mitigate that. So, standing in here, he felt like he could breathe. It occurred to him that he had not thought of what to say even.

"It reminds me…" Ryu mused next to him. "Rose did once offer to read my fortune once free of charge. Said she sensed great things in me. I had to refuse because I wanted to achieve those great things through my journey. Trying to spoil them removes all purpose."

Vega couldn't quite help but smile at that. "Sounds very much like you."

"Well, she did feed me for her efforts…" Ryu lightened up a bit with a gleam in his eyes. "And I didn't eat the fridge empty."

"Only half?" Vega gently pinched his stomach through the fabric of his shirt, earning a weird noise and a faint blush for his efforts.

"W-well I need fuel."

That much was true. Ryu had the appetite of a horse but his vigorous training demanded it. Vega hadn't minded providing though the stark contrast in their diets was slightly amusing. The banter was echoed between the high walls and the open, spiraling staircase despite being kept at an indoor volume. Here was just as colorful as before. Still adorned with astrological bodies. Vega's eyes rested on a painting of constellations that was not there before, noting the Lyra of all things. He recognized it only because his mother had taught it to him when telling the story about the origin of his name.

The banter was quickly ended by the sounds of footsteps coming from the staircase; heels clicking against the steps with hard thuds until Rose now stood on the ground floor. She pursed her lips and raised her brow in subtle but abject surprise. A long pause passed between them as she continued to observe and analyze Vega. Not so much Ryu at first.

"Oh my. It is you after all," she finally said, then shifted her gaze to the other man in the room. "Same to you. It has been far too long."

Ryu nodded. "Yes, it has, Rose."

Her lips curled upwards just a bit. "Now, should I read your fortunes for old times' sake? Or have you arrived just to say hello?"

Ryu shifted a bit on his feet, then looked at Vega. After all, it was his idea to come here. But as to why, that was a little difficult to articulate. Still, he tried anyway. "I merely came to say…hello, I suppose. With friends."

Rose eyed him intently, mulling over the words like she was trying to discern if she was even talking to the same man who caused an uproar at her abode all those months ago.

"I appreciate the gesture," she finally said with the tiniest of smirks, her voice deep with thoughtfulness. Before she could say anymore, there came more footsteps tumbling from one of the nearby corridors, much less elegant and a lot faster until a head of purple entered the main hall. Purple hair, green eyes. Bright and full of life and the playful mystery required to be a fortune teller.

It was her.

"Oh! Vega! It's you!" she exclaimed, her mouth hanging wide open, then snapping shut once she got a better look at him. "…It really is."

Something tugged inside of Vega. It made his heart quiver for reasons he couldn't articulate. In Menat's eyes, there was no scrutiny or analysis. Just a faint empathetic acknowledgment and the polite endearment of seeing a familiar face. Vega swallowed hard to compose himself before he responded with a leveled smirk. "Indeed. It has been a while, mi querida. As you can see, there's been some…developments so to speak."

"Yeah, no kidding…" she tilted her head, brow pinched together slightly as her lips stretched into the easiest of smiles. "But I'm glad you're here."

And then she noticed Florinda.

"Menat," Rose sternly reminded her, but it was no use. Menat crossed the floor to the feline, her eyes growing big at the sight. They nearly popped out of her head when Vega looked at Ryu who simply shrugged with an amused look on his face, then opened the bag to let the cat out.

"Oh, he's adorable!" Menat squealed with strange noises coming out of her mouth to lure the cat closer until it was rubbing against her hands with loud purrs. In her absolute elation, Menat turned her head to Rose. "Master-"

"Don't even think about it," The older woman folded her arms over her chest with a deep scowl. "I told you. We are not getting a pet. You and Maggio always bicker and fight over names and where it'll sleep. No pets."

Dejected, Menat pouted a bit though her mood improved considerably when the cat hopped into her lap and made biscuits. She looked at Vega, tilting her head a bit in a manner that was far too juvenile for a young woman her age. "What's his name?"

"Florinda," Ryu answered when Vega was a tad too surprised at how quickly she deduced the sex of the feline. "Just call him Flo. Makes it less confusing."

While Menat remained preoccupied with the cat, there came a second presence treading down the staircase, quite gracelessly compared to Rose's elegant gait and Vega didn't have to do much guesswork to figure out who it was. Especially not from their forever-obnoxious vernacular.

"Jesus fuck, you guys are so loud," a young man yawned as he came hopping down the last step.

"Look, Maggio! A cat!" Menat lifted Florinda into her arms and the cat seemed to like it.

"Yeah, I-" Maggio ran a hand through his uncombed mess of hair, then shifted his gaze to Vega, nearly jumping in place. "Fuck, it's you! Jeez, what happened? You look like Charlie. But less cool."

Rose couldn't stop herself from groaning.

"…I suppose I deserve that," Vega shrugged, about to offer to take over Florinda when Maggio asked; "Hey, did you get your tooth fixed by the way?"

He did it so innocently, but it set off Menat and Rose like a stick of dynamite as they glared him into shame. "Maggio!"

"What?" he cowered, then bristled when Menat said; "That's not a way to treat a guest!"

And that caused another round of bickering that left Rose looking like she wanted the earth to split in half and swallow her while Ryu gawked at the scene in stunned silence.

"It's a very long story," Vega sighed with Florinda in his arms, just making sure the cat wouldn't get caught up in the apprentices' endless squabbles.

"You don't say," Ryu smiled just a bit. He held his arm out for Florinda to climb onto him and eventually sit on his shoulder. The cat had begun doing that since they began their journey.

"Alright. Since there's a bit of time before patrons usually come, feel free to head upstairs for some coffee and tea," Rose announced after separating the bickering apprentices. "And don't mind the noisy children."

The modest kitchen had undergone little change since Vega was here last. There was a larger table however, so no one had to sit cramped while trying to consume a meal in relative peace. Vega remembered that night, of how he sat comfortably and enjoyed the home cooking while eying Maggio and the…other one silently fume and pout like looming thunderclouds. Considering what had happened that night, it was merely a calm before the storm. In hindsight, Vega had poked the bear; something that hardly awoke his conscience back then. Now, suppose he did feel a lick of shame for his stupidity.

"Did I ever tell you of a saying my mother often spoke of?" Vega asked his cup rather than Ryu who sat across from him.

"No?"

Well, it's 'la vida es bella' which means life is beautiful. Cliché, no?"

Wonderment sparked in Ryu's eyes. "Not at all! I'm used to hearing it in French though. 'la vie est belle', right?"

"Very good. Your pronunciation, I mean."

"Ah, I'm not that great…" Ryu balked and scratched the side of his face. His eternal humbleness seemed to have no end. It was hard to get frustrated with it since it made him so uniquely…him. A man who had overcome countless adversities yet saw himself as no better than a random passerby on the street.

"Though I have a feeling you hear this often, I reckon you are amazing," Vega said, thoughtful. Maybe this was what Sagat had seen in him back then. "And I do mean that."

He regarded the compliment for a moment, then shot up from his chair, reached across the table, and clasped his hands around Vega's. His face burned redder than his headband and his eyes were wide but striking. Like a flickering flame, alit with passion and warmth.

"So are you!" he exclaimed, his naturally frowning expression deepening to the point where he looked moments away from bursting at the seams and Vega couldn't help himself, breaking out in laughter. Even still, Ryu retained his serious expression for all intents and purposes. Bless him.

Soon thereafter, there came noises from down the hallway, courtesy of Menat and…well, her boyfriend to put it bluntly. Charlie Nash had not changed one bit. He was still an unsightly beast with patches of discolored skin and a green gem embedded into his forehead. But then again, Vega was no different. At least now. Nash stood and gawked at him for a minute to discern that indeed, the titular dipshit Spaniard had returned to his domain. His entire body turned tense and his gaze sharpened. Behind him, Menat tried to maneuver her way into the kitchen and its appliances to boil water and fill pitchers for the patrons coming in today.

"What are you doing here?" Nash asked, just barely managing to contain the worst of his vitriol.

"I came for a visit," answered Vega briskly and tried his best not to return the lingering hostility in kind. Not for the sake of bruised egos or hurt pride but rather overall unpleasantness. You didn't need to be beautiful or ugly to share mutual dislike with someone.

"Nash, you're alive!" Ryu uttered in amazement. He was still standing but remained where he was, still holding onto Vega's hand too for that matter. "I thought you…"

"Died a second time? As did Guile. Keeps an eye on me now for it," Nash quirked a brow. He wasn't smiling but just faintly, something pleasant crossed his expression. "Nevertheless, it's a long story. I could've but…"

Menat skipped over to the table with cups in her hands. "Thanks to some frozen fiend, he won't!"

She seemed so proud to announce it. And it resonated with someone inside of Vega. As if he was beginning to understand more of the pain she had dealt with. The ache of losing a loved one. Momentarily, a pang of shame stung Vega as he remembered he had almost put Ryu through the same agony. He understood now more than he could ever articulate.

"So you don't need to worry about the time you have left…" he concluded, happy on Menat's behalf when she shook her head. She turned around for the boiling water, tea bags, and instant coffee while Nash fetched the pitchers.

"If something happens…" he said, stopping in the doorway. His expression hardened again as if to prove a point. One, Menat effectively ignored as she trotted over to him, kissing him on the cheek.

"Don't worry. Things have changed. Fate works in mysterious ways."

Nash regarded her for a bit, then looked at Vega – the burns. Little by little, it would seem he came to understand that. For as things stood now, they were more or less two sides of the same coin.

"By the way, you two are really cute together," Menat turned around with a weird grin on her face, earning three different reactions. "We should do a double date!"

The flesh-colored parts of Nash's face turned redder than the deepest pits of Hell and he buried his face in his hand.

"Ah, Menat…" Vega nearly dropped the teabag he had taken.

Ryu made a weird sound. "E-erhm…"

But he never let go of Vega's hand.

"Come on! We could go when the next fair comes around! Wouldn't that be fun?" Menat tilted her head a bit, eyes moving downward to Florinda sleeping in his open bag. "Especially since you can bring pets…"

"I suppose it would be fun?" Ryu looked at Vega with something akin to excitement in his eyes and the Spaniard nodded, trying to pour himself a cup of tea. He ended up pouring for the both of them.

"Just be careful though," Nash very cautiously gestured with the water pitchers. "You won't ever get your cat back if Menat gets her hands on it."

With the way Menat's eyes shined bright, it made that very clear. Right now, she was gently petting Florinda while the cat purred against her fingers. Certainly, he'd get attention and pets for days while he was here under the loving might of Menat. Taking a slight break from the cat, she looked up at Vega with an undefinable expression on her face.

"The scars…" she uttered. "Fate has not been kind to you."

Vega balked for a moment, staring down his cup while he questioned what to say. Just briefly, the old wounds on his arms began to sting. Then, when he was certain there was no spiral waiting for him, he looked at her. "Truly, mi querida. But I believe it made me understand what you told me back then."

She narrowed her eyes a bit. "Looks fade…?"

"But personalities are more rigid. If you observe people that you care about, you'll appreciate them a lot more than what they look like," Vega said calmly, a little bit giddy at the way her eyes widened in shock – then appreciation.

Hmm, it would seem that Vega still felt a tiny bit sweet on her.

"Ah," she clasped her hands together in front of her chest. "I wasn't saying stupid stuff after all! Yay!"

"So I can leave you alone with them, Menat?" Nash asked, mildly gesturing with the water pitchers again. "Because someone gotta bring these things downstairs and keep them filled."

Menat quickly stood up again and skipped to his side, linking their arms together as they left the kitchen. "Oh yes. But I gotta apply the makeup first!"

And the kitchen fell to a merciful quiet afterward. Ryu let his gaze linger on the doorway for a bit, taking everything in. "Pretty colorful cast. I should challenge Nash to a sparring match sometime now when I think about it."

Upon hearing that, there were conflicting parts of Vega unsure if he wanted that to happen. Not that it'd matter if he said anything. There was little that could be done against the fighting spirit of a martial artist.

"Be warned; he packs a mean punch," Vega said – and maybe regretted it with how Ryu's eyes shined with excitement. Right.

Moments later, Menat returned alone with a deck of cards in her hands. She took a seat next to Ryu, putting the cards on the table before splitting them into five separate decks. "I sense a great future for you, Vega. You seem happy. I can see fulfillment in your eyes. So if you don't mind…can I do a tarot reading on you? My crystal ball is downstairs for today's patrons so…"

"You may," Vega pushed aside his cup. No, he did not believe in fate or divination or anything to that effect. It was nothing but pseudo-science that didn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. But he was willing to entertain her, perhaps be struck with a sense of prophetic catharsis on what his supposed future held for him.

"In that case…maybe we should do a three-card spread from the Suit of Cups," Menat put two of the decks in the middle of the table and gathered the rest to put them away. "Pick three cards! They shall represent your past, present, and future."

And so Vega did, gathering three cards from each deck and laying them side by side in a grid while Menat continued to explain. "The Suit of Cups deck pertains to your emotional consciousness, and they may or may not reflect the spontaneous responses your heart beckons. Now, let us see what you drew."

Menat reached for the card to her upper left and flipped it, revealing a drawing of a man in a long black cloak looking down on three cups that had been knocked over. Behind him stood two cups. She stared at it for a moment before she looked up at Vega with a knowing but obfuscated expression on her face. "Your past is Five of Cups turned upright. It represents something unexpected happening that left you depressed and desolate. It hindered your ability to move on and instead, you were stuck in your woes. Maybe there are tiny vestiges still stuck inside of you. Some old wounds and bitter memories that still hurt."

Ryu looked at her with a mildly panicked expression while she continued. As for Vega, his stomach clenched. It was all just guesswork, but it felt uncomfortably accurate – despite its vagueness. Did the Five of Cups come from Mother's passing or the reset of Vega's identity? Surely, it had nothing to with M. Bison; Vega never had any strong feelings towards the man other than fear – embarrassing as that was to admit. Either way, Menat was correct in stating that Vega had spent a very long wallowing in his own misery. He had wallowed so much, he wished to end his life. When thinking of the events that led him to this point, all of them, it still ached somewhat. Katarina's passing ached still.

"Okay, your present is Ace of Cups reversed," Menat said, pointing at an upside-down card depicting a chalice overflowing with streams of water, being held by a hand sliding out of the clouds. Below the hand was a vast sea covered with lotus blossoms. A dove descended towards the cup for an extra maudlin effect.

"This could mean a lot of things. But considering the circumstances, it represents the process of loving oneself by connecting to your subconscious mind. Basically, exploring your own sense of self…coming from a place of repressing your emotions. Hiding them from the world for whatever reason. Withholding them from others in fear of getting hurt – or being a burden."

Vega nearly choked on his tea. That was sign enough.

"And your future…" Menat reached for the final card, flipping it to reveal a knight riding on a white horse, holding a golden cup. She stared at it for a bit, then lifted her head a bit with wide eyes. "Knight of Cups. Oh heavens, if this isn't on the nose…"

She looked outright worried.

Vega narrowed his eyes a bit. "I am no knight, mi querida. I never was."

Frowning, Menat shook her head. "Ugh, no it's not literal! Gosh, it's just like all the people who get so terrified when I draw Death or the Hanged Man for them."

"Well, those aren't pleasant illustrations, I'd reckon," Ryu said, so sincerely pragmatic, it was painfully obvious that he was very serious. Despite the potential for a jest through his statement. His expression remained leveled even as she pouted at him.

"Anyway," Menat moved on, tapping at the card for a bit. "The Knight of Cups represents someone who thrives on all things beautiful, inspired by the world and all its quirks. There are a lot of things you've wished for and dreamt of and now you're in a place to make it a reality. Upon looking at you, I think it's something you feel called to do. Well not called but you are ready to move beyond your misery and explore your passion and yourself. You follow your heart now that you've attuned to it, and you see beauty where you didn't see it before."

"What should I do?" Vega asked then, letting the words sink in. He suspected there was no easy answer waiting for him. You weren't supposed to get a cheat code for life after all.

"Continue being you – the new you!" Menat responded gleefully while she packed the cards away. "You've come far despite what has happened to you. But I think it speaks volumes about the person you're becoming."

It meant…quite a lot hearing that from her. She, whom Vega had mistreated so shamelessly. He really had no right sitting here with her, observing her smile and feeling her generosity. He deserved none of it. And yet, he felt grateful that he had come here just to experience it again from a place of good faith.

"Thank you, Menat," he said calmly, reaching across the table for her hand, feeling its softness against his skin in a manner that made him feel warm within. "Thank you for everything."

She considered the meaning of the gesture for a moment, then smiled – genuinely. "You're welcome. I'm happy you're doing better. Fate works in mysterious ways, doesn't it?"

"It truly does."

"And that is how I came to know these people," Vega said after his very long tale. And what a story it was. By now, it was evening as the night sky nearly vanished under the collective shine from the city lights. Ryu was used to it, but he could admit that he missed the starry nights. Right now, he was focusing on Vega's story, still a little floored over the tale he had been told. It sounded very much like Vega; the old Vega. The man sitting here sharing his name was his successor.

A result of changes. Good ones, despite what he himself would say.

They sat in bed, splitting the bottle of sparkling wine over the course of the evening. It had been a gift from Rose which was reluctantly accepted despite Ryu hardly ever drinking and Vega admitting to his tolerance being somewhere down the drain. So they were already mildly intoxicated halfway through the bottle with Ryu telling a few tales of his own and Vega observing him with blatant interest that spiked heat in his stomach. As the bottle was eventually emptied, he turned his head to meet Vega's gaze.

"I should bring you to an onsen one day," he mused, trying to remember the last time he had been at a hot spring. The suggestion made Vega's lips perk up a notch with a laugh as he gently pushed at Ryu.

"A public bathhouse? Perish the thought," he laid down on the bed again.

"No, it's just a hot spring. But public bathhouses are a great place to meditate," Ryu answered as he dropped his head against the pillow. "When sober."

"You are very a strange creature. I understand the things you are saying and the reasoning behind them, but your logic will forever always be esoteric," Vega said with a ragged sigh, edged with fondness.

"Ah, I'm not that special. But I'm still taking you to an onsen when we have the chance," Ryu smiled a bit. "It's good for the soul."

Vega's gaze drifted somewhat in the short pause that followed. He laughed a little, drunk and slightly broken. "Maybe. My soul does make me sick sometimes despite all that has happened."

"Don't forget Menat's fortune," Ryu reminded him, brushing some of the brown hairs away. "You're a better person regardless. It's okay."

"I'll hold you to the task of assuring me," the Spaniard reached out to gently touch Ryu's hand with soft brushes that made Ryu's skin tingle a bit. Adding the alcohol, it was being touched by clouds.

He cleared his throat a bit, retorting softly. "You don't have to rely on me for that. It's your strength, which you have plenty of. Only you can prove yourself right or wrong."

Vega regarded his words for a bit. Maybe he knew it already with how Menat never quite spoke of Ryu even metaphorically during her reading. Maybe they both realized that the transformation of oneself came from the power within. Ryu hoped for this to be the case; he didn't intend to cut Vega loose but if there came a day where they would have to separate, he could rest easy knowing that there was a better way ahead – alone or otherwise.

Vega shifted on top of him, cupping his face. "Even when intoxicated, you're still so evermore thoughtful."

Ryu didn't have much of a response to that. Not that he could when the Spaniard kissed him to the point of dizziness, hands drifting across his chest and firmly being planted there to make him groan almost involuntarily.

"It would seem that I enjoy doing that far more than I imagined I would," Vega murmured as he pulled back, tugging some of his hair behind his ear. "You bring that out of me. Take it as a compliment."

"Right," Ryu nodded, his body pulsing all over. It was the alcohol, he reckoned. Now he remembered why he seldom drank. The tiny specter of need felt twice as powerful now. "Then…?"

Vega understood the message and calmly settled above him, sliding hands all over his chest which left him feeling a little bit light-headed. His body moved on its own, winding his arms around Vega and eventually sliding his shirt off that landed somewhere over the edge of the bed. Ryu hoped that whatever he was doing would be good enough, meeting the Spaniard's gaze briefly and it triggered something dormant in his brain.

His breath hitched when Vega slid his hands under his shirt. In the modest city lights, he looked majestic. He looked majestic all around. Curious how such thoughts never crossed Ryu's mind until their relationship entered the state of whatever this was. Regardless of its name, Ryu liked it for what it was. He lifted his hand and brushed against some of the long hair away, brushing against the burn scars, then resting his hand against that side of Vega's face. They looked at each other for a moment before the Spaniard closed the gap between them, kissing Ryu as a shiver broke through him.

Alright. Why not.

Ryu got a hold of Vega and turned him until they had switched positions. Even after everything, he was still so unsure of himself. But he continued with a sense of slight confidence, leaning down to plant his lips against Vega's neck, feeling a pulse throb under smooth skin. Before long, Ryu had managed to take off Vega's pants as well, situated between his thighs, fingers between his legs. Listening to his breath breaking with contentment.

Soon, they lay between each other's legs with Ryu nestled deep within Vega until he was quivering, welcoming the intensity, the overwhelmingly perfect sensation. He was a man of restraint and discipline – except the times like these when he was not. But he didn't mind, letting it escape his mouth before he could think it through properly. "It's-it feels nice but I-I'm…"

Vega flicked his eyes open, gaze hazy with satisfaction. "Don't overthink it. Do what you do."

"I don't know what to do," Ryu groaned, briefly overwhelmed at the moment as he began thrusting his hips and smiled just a notch at Vega laughing choppily.

The Spaniard moved his hands up Ryu's sides and cupped his face, his voice edged with fondness. "Don't be silly, you."

Ryu laughed a bit, squirming as he felt two arms wrap around him, then held Vega as close as he could. He squirmed at the feeling of Vega's nails digging into his skin, nowhere as deeply as they would if they were long claws once more. Wrapping around Ryu somehow even tighter, Vega came with a faint whimper while Ryu continued through the aftershocks, feeling his own limit fast approaching. For the moment, he let go, loving this more than words could ever describe, coming after a sound escaped him and dropped down to kiss Vega along his neck and shoulder through endless strands of long hair.

"Stay," the Spaniard pleaded, gentle and Ryu felt his face burn stronger. And he stayed, pulling Vega against his body as they lay there for a while. Spent and probably messy but ultimately happy. Staying where they were.

Just staying.

In the aftermath, after a quick wash, Ryu sat on the floor and meditated for a bit, just to regain himself in the haze of alcohol. But as he sat here, he found it troublesome to fully concentrate. His mind was in flux, so he took a break with a sound sigh, distracted by the two hands landing on his shoulder.

"I wonder what happened to Balrog," he mused.

"Possibly trying to short-cut his way to easy money," Vega said, stroking his hands through Ryu's hair. It felt quite nice, distracting him from further thoughts on Balrog. They'd stumble across him one day surely.

"I've been wondering; what does all of this make us?" Ryu changed the subject, noting how the strokes on his head changed just a notch. In the meantime, Florinda came from his comfortable bed and decided to settle in his lap.

After a long pause, Vega flatly murmured; "…That depends on what you feel about it and subsequently me."

Good point. How did Ryu exactly feel about Vega? Well, obviously there was fondness; deep affection that transcended physical appearance, general empathy, history, or dead alliances. He had given it some thought but never imagined putting a label on it. No matter how much he enjoyed Vega's easy-going and personable presence. How happy he was to take the Spaniard with him. He would have been happy too if he had traveled alone and then returned to the modest village again. Because it was Vega. That was all there was to it. It was all it needed to be.

Ryu liked him. Simple as. Indifferent to scars, burns, despair. He accepted all of it. He couldn't do much to erase others' pain but for the people he cared about, he'd be more than willing to help them bear their pain. Vega too; someone who was more than his agony. Someone who didn't deserve the constant misery.

"I…I do care about you a lot," Ryu said.

"Likewise," Vega whispered. "I admire you greatly. I'm honored you adore me so. How strange it is."

"The nickname you gave Menat, what does it mean?"

"'Mi querida'. It means 'my dear'. I used it for all the women I wished to charm, regardless of how I felt about them. It no longer feels right to use it for any random lass. Especially now that I understand the value of what Menat tried very hard to protect and the power it takes to make it happen. So for you, and I suppose this is quite maudlin, I'd settle for 'mi amor' if you don't mind."

Instead of answering right away, Ryu tilted his head back to look directly at Vega, suddenly giddy all over. "Not at all!"

"Thank you…mi amor," Vega said after a surprised chuckle. "How would you feel if I grew roses at your house? In case Florinda gets sick of traveling?"

"Fair enough, I think? Not that I know how to do it right."

Vega hummed softly, tugging some hair behind his ear. "Very well. Let a noble teach you the true beauty of proper flower arrangements. Raising the flowers at the manor did bring me joy after all."

"…I think you'd look good during the Hanami," Ryu noted and watched how the pair of blue eyes staring down at him turned a little golden.

Yeah, maybe this was coming close to the territory of love if it wasn't already setting up camp there. Not that he minded it at all. Now he understood how tender Ken became whenever Eliza was brought up.

Vega absorbed the words, then closed his eyes for a bit until he nodded, a cheeky gleam resting in his gaze. "Ah, it's been so long since I've watched it. Now I expect you to take me there."

Ryu's neck was beginning to strain from the position so he stood up, scooping Florinda into his arms, and sat down on the bed again, staring Vega directly in the eyes. Happy to see the continued absence of despair, of pain, of hurt. If things could remain like that for a little longer, it would be worth a lot.

"I accept your request!" he said and meant every word of it. Not quite unable to stop smiling when Vega burst out laughing.

"You would have made Shadaloo more lively, I'd reckon," he said. "Please don't ever cease being so peculiar."

"I solemnly promise," Ryu steadied himself against the Spaniard leaning against him, perfectly ready to face a brighter tomorrow.