tampered | wish us all goodnight }{ closed

wish us all goodnight }{ closed

When; A little over 24 hours after this
Rating; PG
Characters; Yuri Lowell [

notflynn], Flynn Scifo [

srslynotguy], and Euphemia li Britannia [

deadly_legacy]
Summary; Flynn wakes up.
Log; Yuri had been by Flynn's bedside for the full 24 hours in which the dead remained dead. He cleaned off most of Flynn's wounds, washed off the dried blood and changed him out of his armor and top (and, no, he hadn't been shy to strip the knight down and clean his legs, too).

He had his visitors from time to time, and of course he appreciated their company. It was a momentary distraction from the corpse on their sheets, the smell that he endured despite having to vomit because of it at its most potent. He remained mostly in that room, not once sleeping. He couldn't possible sleep, not now of all times, not when Flynn could wake up at any moment.

For the most part, he simply sat there, hand holding Flynn's, waiting for the clock to strike and a twitch of muscle, a groan- anything to indicate that Flynn was all right. But so far there was nothing, just a coldness and stillness.

He tried his best not to think about it. When he did, the emotions unpacked themselves, and he just wanted to punch something, cry a little, to hunch over and become such a messed up thing that he wasn't (he was strong, had always been strong). So he concentrated on other things, remained blank. He had to wait. All he could do was wait.

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It's hard to go back into the room with Flynn lying there. Even knowing he should wake up any moment there is still the scent of death lingering at the door. And she has another concern too. Sam told her the Keeper was on strike. What if that meant Flynn couldn't come back? That was why Dean was a ghost, wasn't it?

She knocks very softly before speaking.

"Yuri? Is it all right if I come in?"

He looked up at the door, squeezed Flynn's hand momentarily. Euphie's sweet, kind voice- like an angel in this dark time. She was one of the ones to have visited, only a little more frequently (and he thought she'd be good for him, but those kind of thoughts don't really fit a dead man).

"Come on in, Euph." He sighed, staring down at where he held Flynn's hand, feeling a persistent heaviness of his eyelids from complete lack of sleep for the latter half of the month. And the past day he hadn't slept a wink.

His gaze moved to Flynn's face, and it was difficult- so difficult to see a lifeless expression on his best friend's face, the man he'd been with since they were children.

Edited 2010-07-30 03:12 (UTC)

Dying in the city was a strange thing. For all manners and purposes, the body went down the path of decomposition for a full twelve hours, more or less, and then stopped. In this time frame, the body became cold, rigor mortis sets in, and discoloration of the skin from lack of blood in certain areas occurred. After that initial twelve hours, however, the body departs from normal scientific laws and enters into City laws regarding death. The smell of death, to punctuate this otherwise final state of the body (if it were in any of the realities outside the City, or most of them) begins to hang in the air, though it lacks the natural causes within the body. The body, itself, continues to be cold to touch, though it never quite reaches full rigor mortis.

After twenty-four hours, the body begins to regain signs of life. Those who become City Dead wake up in a state that is not much different from death itself; they remain cold to touch, pale for lack of blood circulation and a heartbeat, and their senses are dulled. And then, there are those who return to the way they were, through some City anomaly or blessing, and that transition is something different. From the state of death, the body suddenly begins to become warm again, their skin regains its healthy hue, and their hearts get a jumpstart and starts beating again. Thump thump...

The transition was strange, a little sudden - though he had been expecting Flynn to return anytime after noon, the warmth that spread through skin and flesh. It was definitely a noticeable transition, as when the smell became less pungent, when the color of skin became more natural.

In this moment, it was as if Euphie didn't exist, wasn't even there. He jumped from his chair (it clattered loudly to the ground,) and he hovered over Flynn's still unmoving body. But was that breathing he saw? A slight movement of chest and lung and-

Yuri quickly shook Flynn's chest, hoping to wake the other up, a little desperation reflected in his every movement and his eyes. Flynn was awake- he was alive! Warm!

"Flynn- Flynn, come on- wake up!"

"Flynn?" She steps in closer, not wanting to get between them, but feeling so hopeful. Please, just something go right.

Flynn wasn't sure how much time had passed. He remembered seeing Yuri's face back then and his friend had had that look of devastation. Yuri had yelled at him then, and for good reason too, because all that Flynn could do at that point was apologize. Two times, he did that, and then when he thought he could continue, his time just stopped. There was an unspeakable darkness then and time seemed to both crawl by and fly by Flynn. He wasn't sure how much time was passing, or had passed him. All he knew, or remembered, was that during that he wondered: This is death?

And then, like a jig-saw puzzle, something began piecing together in his head. His consciousness, probably. Things became clearer. That darkness seemed to become less and less thick and impregnable. He breathed, and only realized moments later that he had. He took another breath, and another, and he felt warmth traveling from the edges of his fingers and toes to his heart. And after that, he realized he could feel his body again, and the soft bed underneath it. There was a strange smell in the air, but he couldn't dwell too much on that because before he could there was that shaking and Yuri yelling at him.

He coughed, his lungs not yet fully clear from whatever it was that was clogging it - probably dry blood- and tried to sit up.

"Y-.... Yuri...." he managed, though he didn't quite succeed in sitting up. He opened his eyes as he continued to cough and then stopped. That was Yuri, and he was alive, and, tilting his head a bit, there was Lady Euphemia as well. He turned back to Yuri and then frowned.

"Are you... trying to... kill me, Yuri?" he asked with a wry smile.

Yuri stared in absolute shock, surprise- for the first time in his life, he had no idea what to say, what to do. After witnessing Flynn dying (right in his damn arms), despite knowing that Flynn would eventually come back to life- he could only really stare for a moment as Flynn spoke, could barely register what Flynn was saying. Oh, but he did hear. He could make the words out enough to scowl, tighten his fists on Flynn's shoulder.

"What are you- what the hell kind of stupid crap are you saying, now? Bastard-" But when he remembered Euphie was there, instead of pulling the other into a huge, instead of punching the crap out of his best friend, he stood straighter, shook his head. "Look, you've got visitors already."

He smiled at Euphie. There was a happiness in his chest that had yet to really make itself clear or known. His own heart beat rapidly with relief, and he almost wanted to bend over laughing, but for now he smiled, gestured Euphie over.

She was feeling so dulled inside just earlier today. Like any little thing might finally break her if she let herself feel. But she couldn't not feel this. Seeing Flynn come back to them like this. Tears gathered in her eyes, but they were happy tears. She moved in next to him and hugged as tightly as she dared to a man who just came back to life, which wasn't very tightly at all.

"Flynn! You're back. You're...you're warm!"

"Euphie-"

Flynn began to say, but he was pleasantly cut off as the princess hugged him carefully. He let her then, truthfully glad for the warm contact, though he did blush. After all, even if he were glad to be welcomed so warmly, this was Lady Euphemia hugging him. He gave Yuri a look, as if thanking his friend for being there(he knew Yuri must have watched over him tirelessly, he would have done the same for his friend), and then lifted a hand to return Euphie's hug.

It was only until Euphie mentioned it that he realized that he was warm. Euphie had been cold then, when she'd first come to the City and before she received life again, but curiously, he wasn't...

"I am..." he said quietly and found himself turning to Yuri again, and this time with a frown. "Yuri... you didn't..."

Yuri'd been wondering himself. Leon was cold, Euphie was cold- but he didn't know anyone else who would do something like give up their life for Flynn. This must have been the work of the deities, at least- or perhaps that Keeper he's heard word about? Either way, he wasn't sure.

And he wouldn't at all admit, though, that he'd been thinking about a trade. When Leon came in to check on him, they'd briefly touched upon in. He knew the both of them would be disappointed - even furious - with him if he ever did such a thing. So for now, he already resolved he wouldn't resort to such extreme measures.

He shook his head, not needing any more cues from Flynn to know what he was talking about. "It wasn't.

"I haven't had the time." Leaning against a nearby wall, arms crossed, he thought about how busy he'd been watching Flynn and seeing visitor and trying not to think. But he'd never tell Flynn that. Flynn probably already knew.

The thought of Yuri making a trade hadn't even caught up with her before it was denounced. But then how?

She lets go after another moment, blushing just a little. "What am I doing? You must want to hug each other."

Flynn knew, of course, what was going through that head. Of course, Yuri was also someone who sometimes surprised him. Though if he had an inkling of the matter, then it wasn't a real surprise anymore, was it? He decided to settle for Yuri's truth, and to trust his friend.

He sighed and turned his attention to Euphie, smiling, albeit with some measure of guilt. He shook his head.

"Yuri can wait," Flynn said quietly, blushing still too. And it was the truth, they could wait for another sort of reunion later; a reunion between friends. For now, Flynn was thankful for Euphie's presence. It was a pleasant distraction, there was... so much he had to apologize for and so many things he had to talk about with Yuri that...

He shook his head. "I'm... I'm glad to have you here," he admitted finally, looking away and avoiding Euphie's gaze. Embarrassed. "I haven't been myself... and after that... that time..." Flynn clenched his fists at his side a bit. "I'm glad to have.... what I mean is..."

"Not necessary, Euph." Yuri looked away, only a little embarrassed at such a suggestion. Him? Openly showing that kind of affection? He barely like to call Flynn his best friend to other people. Seemed too personal, too private.

He smiled, almost chuckled, when Flynn started to get flustered himself. Should he save his friend from reddening cheeks and big mouth? He wondered. It was fun watching him stumble around, after all-

-And already they were falling into the usual routine. The idea weighed heavily on his chest. He wouldn't just put this behind him - couldn't. As much as he didn't want to remember that expression on Flynn's face, the screaming, Yuri wasn't the type of person to forget the past. Especially something that important. He and Flynn would definitely be having a talk later. Alone.

"Speak up, Cassanova."

She touched his cheek, trying to get him to look at her again. "I know it wasn't you to be like that, Flynn." She leaned back in to kiss his cheek. "I'm just glad you're back."

Flynn blushed all the more furiously at that kiss. He took a moment to compose himself and then tried to speak with more structure in his sentences. He smiled gratefully at Euphie. "I'm glad to be welcomed by you... Euphie," he managed to say without trailing away before coughing. He apologized for it and then continued. "I thought that... back then, you would hate me for my actions. I hurt not only you but Sir Lelouch as well, and no doubt, Sir Suzaku..."

"I'm sorry," he finished.

"Don't worry about it, pretty sure he did a number on you, too. Pretty good fighter, that guy. Killer reflexes." Ah, yes, Yuri had to make sure that wound wasn't infected as well. Of course, it was an old injury, but he couldn't be too careful. He let his arms fall to his side before placing a hand on his hip, watching Euphie and Flynn thoughtfully.

--Geez, Ino had way too much of an effect on him.

He walked away from the wall, standing next to Euphie once more as he looked down toward Flynn. "In case you didn't notice, Flynn, you were being controlled."

"I could never hate you."

She looked gratefully at Yuri for helping to explain. "Yes, you were controlled and even still you came to rescue me when I needed you most. And Lelouch, Suzaku, and I are all fine. Please don't worry about anything like that."

"I know I was being controlled-" Flynn began quietly and then stopped himself before he could go on about when exactly he became aware. He didn't want Yuri to blame himself for that, and he had a feeling his friend would. At least, he couldn't talk about it with Euphie there. "But I was still... responsible."

He paused. Flynn remembered being shot by Suzaku too, but he couldn't remember being burdened by it. Even if he had become aware at some point, there were still curious blanks in his memories. He remembered many terrible things that he had done, but he couldn't be sure if it were all.

"And I'm glad that you're well... from that time. I couldn't imagine not being able to help at all. I only wish that... that I could have done more." In more ways than one, he thought ruefully. The slug had allowed him to aid Euphemia then, but it had come at a steep price. He'd promised to give the slug more freedom, essentially a bargain of sorts. Looking back now, it seemed to him that the slug simply had a morbid sense of humor because there was very little he could do afterwards to keep it from doing what it wished with his body.

Yuri didn't say anything concerning that subject as of yet. He had a feeling he and Flynn would go more in depth about who was to blame, punishment, and atonement concerning the slugs later on when they were alone. It was sure to turn ugly, that was for certain. And though normally he'd agree - despite being controlled, it was Flynn's body to have committed all those crimes - the fact that Flynn had to die as a result overrode any line of logic and belief he'd had since he was a kid.

For now, his eyelids still felt too heavy, and he sat on the bed next to Flynn, angled in such a way that he could still flick the other's forehead, trying to not seem as tired as he felt. His fingertips lingered longer than necessary, though.

Flynn was definitely still warm.

He'd never really felt grateful toward the higher ups until that moment, when some power returned Flynn's life and soul back to its body. Flynn didn't have to stay in this damned place forever. "Wishing won't solve anything. What's done is done. You're okay, now."

"You saved Ken and Syaoran's lives, Flynn. That was so much. I don't know if I would have even had enough to trade to bring them back if I'd hurt them like that." But she would have offered anything and everything she had to undo it.

"Yuri..." was all he could say in response to his friend. Yuri looked tired too, so he didn't dare say anything more. They would talk, later, for now there was Euphie.

When she talked about trading her life for Ken and Syaoran, Flynn felt a tightness in his chest. Though hypocritical it may be ( because he would have gladly laid down his life for some of his friends, most certainly Yuri ), hearing that from Euphie made him frown. He understood it but, Euphemia had been dead before. To give up that life once again for other people was simply unthinkable, for him that is. He knew that it was certainly admirable, but Euphemia deserved the new chance at life this city had given her.

He moved to a sitting position and tried to ignore the unusual heaviness of his body. He should probably take it easy, he thought, but it was getting annoying looking up like that. He wanted to be able to speak properly, to apologize properly, to carry his words with dignity. He leaned back on the bed post.

"If I had been unable to save their lives, I would have been devastated as well... " he said finally, after that brief silence. "Even without the matter of deity trades, that would have been a burden I couldn't possibly allow you to carry. I'm glad that I had been able to save them."

He paused again, and then said softly, "Please don't talk about trading with the deities..."

She tilted her, watching him push himself up. She might have offered aid if she hadn't been so busy marveling at him. Only a few minutes ago he had been lifeless and now here he was warm and alive. He was such a strong and vital person. It made her happy to see him getting up again even if he was leaning at the moment.

His words drew her thoughts away from this simple act. "Flynn..." Did it upset him so to hear that from her or did it only bother him to think about trades at all? "In any case it's not needed now. My friends are alive and well."

Though Yuri should have been nice enough to help Flynn steady himself - though Flynn just woke up from being dead and deserved at least that much kindness - Yuri just sighed and closed his eyes. He normally trusted Flynn enough to be handle anything without his assistance, and that didn't change now, even knowing that Flynn probably wasn't in his top condition.

"We'll help keep it that way, too," he said, voice low but clear. He turned toward the window, determined to stop this mess from happening again. "We can't just sit back and let the higher ups walk all over us."

It was a moment dipping back in the past, back when Ragou and Cumore exploited innocent people for their own selfish entertainment. Though he'd realized that his vigilantism had proved to fix nothing, he still couldn't allow those who deserved justice to do as they pleased without resistance.

"I promise to help as well in keeping your friends safe, Euphie," Flynn echoed Yuri gravely. "As soon as I can..." he added, well aware of how much death had taken out of him.

"How are they... if you don't mind me asking?"

He was curious, actually. He had an idea that Ken and Euphemia were in very good terms now, and that Ken mattered to Euphemia very much. It was evident back then. It made him have a strange feeling of loss, but it was something he easily pushed back. It was only natural.

She smiled at Yuri and then back to Flynn. "I know you will. You both will. Just don't forget you're both important friends of mine too. But I know you'll always protect each other." She paused, wanting to take that back a moment later. She believed it, but it might be a hard thing for Yuri to hear right now after Flynn was...

"Hmm? Oh." Another pause. "Syaoran is doing fine. Your healing was amazing. Thank you. He'd be doing better if he could still use his fighting skills." She doesn't really think to explain that comment as her eyes look down at the bed. She doesn't want to think about how much this next part hurts. Flynn is back and she wants to show him smiles. But she can't smile and say this.

"Ken is gone." Her voice was soft to keep it from breaking over the words.

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