PSL FOR KAMUIS: A Surprise Party

[unwaveringjustice]

[ Getting Yuri to allow himself to be acknowledged or celebrated in any way possible had always been a trial. No matter how much Flynn had insisted, and argued and yelled, Yuri had an infuriatingly good way of distracting Flynn from the main point and getting away without his much deserved accolades.

But even Yuri couldn't argue against a birthday party, designed specifically to bring everyone back together. That was what they all had decided.

When they were young, scrimmaging around the slums of the lower quarter, birthdays had always been small affairs. Little treats from their landlady, letting the birthday boy choose the game of the day without argument, sneaking their way into the citizen's quarter to admire some toys and shiny baubles that had been out of the reach of children like them.

But these days, things could be much bigger.

Yuri's landlady had graciously let Flynn and the others take command of the Comet and with Ted's help and Hanks, it wasn't difficult to get a number of the lower quarter citizens involved. Lady Estellise was easy to find, and was more than delighted to drag in the scattered members of Brave Vesperia as well as summon Rita from the depths of her research for one day to simply enjoy themselves in this new future, because Yuri had helped them all make them believe it could happen.

Yuri wouldn't be too pleased, he knew. But, Yuri could put up with the love everyone wanted to shower him for one night, Flynn thinks.

...still, Flynn isn't sure how he managed to get the role of distracting Yuri. He didn't doubt Patty's or Judy's abilities to cook a truly delicious dinner, but he had wanted to help out with the cake]

Comments

[thesecondstar]

[Yuri stretches out his arms, settling down on the moist sand just a foot away from where the water ended and motioned for Flynn to come join him.] Come on over.

[He had to admit, it was nice. The sandbar was too small for even monsters to live on and they had a good view of the capital from where they stood. Its still odd, seeing Zaphias his home city without the barrier blastia protecting it.] Man, remember when we used to go to the beach and got chewed out for leaving the barrier?

[unwaveringjustice]

Yes.

[Flynn chuckles and sits down next to Yuri, close enough that he thinks he can imagine Yuri's wamrth warming him back up, far enough to still keep their own spaces to themselves]

I never understood why they were so worried. The merfish always left us alone.

[Odd, since they never hesitated to attack them before the river incident]

[thesecondstar]

Guess they didn’t think we’d be unappetizing to them.

[A shrug. Come to think of it, it probably wasn’t the brightest idea to come all the way over here without weapons. Oh well.]

Hey Flynn. [He turns over to look at his best friend with a mischievous look.] Have you found any ladies to settle down with?

[unwaveringjustice]

[It had nothing at all to do with the time when Flynn was twelve years old, he ended up in the river and beat up on a merfish with his bare hands, nosirree.

The thought is quickly derailed by Yuri's odd question and Flynn splutters]

A-any ladies? Why are you asking me that all of a sudden?

[thesecondstar]

[Yuri’s mouth forms a grin. He just loved messing around with his best friend sometimes.]

Oh you know I sometimes overhear from girls pinning for you. I’d figure by now you’d find someone with how they’re lining up to get a piece of you.

[And he can’t say for certain he wouldn’t either. But a rogue like him? Pfft, he had no chance.]

[unwaveringjustice]

[Flynn pauses, the flush fading from his cheeks while his bafflement grows]

I'm not sure what you mean. It's true there are women who tend to greet me more these days but that's just them being friendly.

[And Flynn knows he's not like Yuri - he doesn't offend people, so no one is wanting a 'piece' of him.]

[thesecondstar]

[Oh man, he just can’t be this dense can he? Yuri just laughs in amusement at how naive his knight friend was. It was kinda cute in a way.]

You’d be surprised, there’s many of them who I overhear talk about how cute you are. Whatever, I guess none of the have the guts to approach you.

[He laid down against the sand, arms crossed behind him.]

You know Flynn? Sometimes I miss those days of traveling with Brave Vesperia. Wonder how they’re all holding up. [He hadn’t really seen them much, if at all since the day they parted ways, besides Estelle, Flynn, and sometimes Karol.]

[unwaveringjustice]

Ah, you mean those women. They just enjoy trying to tease me.

[Like those women at the bar Captain Raven took him the last year. Flynn glances at Yuri and lays down too, enjoying the sun warming his skin]

They would probably like it themselves if you dropped in on them more often too.

[thesecondstar]

Ugh please, those girls don’t even want to think of associating with someone like me.

[Modest as always. Yuri yawns, pulling himself off the ground and stares back at the shoreline they swam from.]

You wanna race back?

[unwaveringjustice]

You really do never sit still.

[Flynn laughs, even as he gets up and stretches. He's down for another race.]

[thesecondstar]

[Yuri’s also down for that. He waits for Flynn to join him up back at the shore.]

You know I don’t. Plus everyone from the Lower Quarter might start wondering where we went off to.

[unwaveringjustice]

That would be a bad thing.

[Well, this was probably all the time everyone needed for him to buy. They should head back. Flynn joins Yuri at the shore, laughing as they go diving in for their second race of the day]

[thesecondstar]

[Yuri this time decides to step to the plate to call the countdown.]

1, 2, 3, lets go!

[He wastes no time blowing through those numbers, diving into the ocean and swimming at a good clip towards back home. Maybe now he’ll win the race?]

[unwaveringjustice]

[Flynn makes an indignant noise--honestly, Yuri. But indignation only fuels his competitive streak and he refuses to lose when Yuri is being a dirty cheater]

[thesecondstar]

[Please, Yuri is just following the rules. Just in his own way as usual. He swims with as much strength as he’s got in order to beat Flynn. He reaches the shoreline just mere seconds ahead. He hops out of the water and smiles back at his friend, hair soaking wet.]

Wow! I can’t believe I actually beat you for once. Were you going easy on me?

[unwaveringjustice]

[Flynn shoots Yuri an annoyed look as he climbs out of the water, pushing his hair back. Yuri might have cheated but it's still annoying having lost to a cheater]

You're awful.

[thesecondstar]

[Yuri winks at him. It wasn’t cheating in his eyes.. it was only fair after Flynn called the shots last time.]

Eh, whatever. You want to head back to Zaphias?

[unwaveringjustice]

[Flynn scoffs quietly, but relaxes into a smile. He can forgive a little cheating on a day like today]

Sure. They're probably wondering where we went by now.

[thesecondstar]

[He starts off his walk to Zaphias, side by side with Flynn. It’s nice, almost a little too nice..]

Hey Flynn, is there something waiting for me back at the capital?

[unwaveringjustice]

[Flynn startles, and then blushes, looking away. He's never been good at lying, especially not to Yuri]

What makes you think you have something waiting for you?

[thesecondstar]

Just a hunch~ did you get my landlord to bake me a cake or something?

[That would be nice, sweets were a rare treat for him. Though he’s a little off the mark, he can tell that Flynn’s definitely up to something.]

[unwaveringjustice]

[Flynn really can't lie and he blushes even further - he had wanted to make it himself but...for some reason, everyone was insistent on having Yuri's landlord do it instead]

I'm not sure why I'd bother, with the way you keep teasing me.

[thesecondstar]

I’m only doing it because you’re so easy to tease~

[He jabs at Flynn’s shoulders playfully, meaning well. He had no idea what he was getting himself into anyway. And looks like they’re almost at Zaphias anyway.]

[unwaveringjustice]

I wonder what that makes you, then.

[Flynn shoves Yuri back, struggling not to smile. As far as teasing went, well, it was only embarrassing because Flynn really was a poor liar. But at least he could conceal one part of the surprise]

[thesecondstar]

[Yuri stands at the entrance of Zaphias. Seems like the common quarter is business as usual, perhaps a little quieter. He turns to Flynn, curious.]

You wanna head back to my place?