tampered | closed }{ it was a long long time ago

closed }{ it was a long long time ago

When; Sometimes after this
Rating; PG
Characters; Yuri Lowell [

notflynn] and Sodia [

notsodere]
Summary; Yuri never wanted an apology, but Sodia just wants to follow orders. Bah.
Log; Sodia was here to stay, that was the last thing on his mind before Yuri decided to work off a little steam in Xanadu. There was a little clearing that wasn't too far off the beaten trail that he'd grown familiar with over the years. Nearly every tree circling the area bore cuts and missing bark.

It wasn't possessiveness or territoriality that frustrated him about her presence here. He could care less what she did or where she was - he wanted to have as little to do with her as possible. But with Flynn here, that made things complicated. He knew Flynn well, and if the blond had anything to say about the situation, he'd make sure it was said no matter what Yuri wanted. While he couldn't be too certain whether Flynn talked with Sodia about that or if he decided to wait, Yuri wasn't going to wait around until something happened.

Things may not have been settled with Sodia. Last they left off, the air, thick with tension, could choke. Not a sliver of forgiveness, and he planned to keep it that way. Her actions were for Flynn, in the end, and he knew as well as she did that a guy with bloodied hands had no place next to the rising, admired Commandant.

With each slice and cut and practiced arte in the small but decently spacious arena, Yuri erased every burden and every irritation those cat-eyes placed on his shoulders.

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It was some kind of luck--in Sodia's personal opinion the bad kind--that shortly after talking to Flynn in Xanadu she just happened to encounter Yuri here. She stopped at the edge of the clearing, holding her usual stiff pose of one hand on her sword, back military and rigid straight, as she watched him work out his frustrations. She herself felt trapped and angry, though she had no sympathy for this man.

She had almost begun to trust Yuri, he had given her his word not to tell Flynn--in his usual infuriating way. But Flynn knew, and there was only one man who could have told him. So it confirmed to her that Yuri was just as untrustworthy as she had imagined.

All the same, she had her orders. She would obey them. Not for Yuri's sake, certainly--she didn't want to be here at all, didn't want to interact with him at all, but still. Flynn's orders were absolute.

"Yuri Lowell."

He wasn't sure whether it was her tone of voice or the fact that she'd even approach him like this that gave it away. Or perhaps he could guess underneath the uncertainty that Flynn wasn't the kind of guy to just sit around and wait - they'd always been pretty similar in that aspect, after all, whether Yuri liked to admit it or not. Still, he had a feeling that whatever it was Flynn said to her or commanded her to do, he didn't approve.

Because here she was before him, acknowledging his presence and forcing them to interact. Not the type to run away, Yuri finished his move before pulling himself up straight, before turning to face her with impassive eyes.

He didn't like her, and he didn't really respect her, either. But it was out of his friendship with Flynn and his own decency that he even made an effort at all. Even if they couldn't agree, they at least had Flynn in common - ironically, both the cause and the glue to this antagonistic relationship of theirs.

"Need something?"

The feelings were mutual. Sodia neither liked nor respected Yuri--she could acknowledge his strength and skill, reluctantly, but she had severe doubts about his motives. What Flynn saw in him she could not begin to guess, and it irritated her. But she had been a coward in not confessing her crime to Flynn, she would not be a coward now. She had resolved to stand up and take her consequences.

The consequences involved this. This conversation, this attempt to work past a mutual dislike. Because Flynn wanted her to, and so, for Flynn's sake, she would do her best to fulfill his judgment. And perhaps for her own pride as well.

Though it hurt that same pride when she bent on one knee before the lying criminal known as Yuri, head bowed only through sheer force of will, teeth gritted as she formed the words she had to say. To her credit her voice managed neutral, instead of angry and resentful as she felt.

"On behalf of my actions against you, and my attempt at your life, I, Sodia of the Imperial Knights, offer my apology and my service. As a member of the Guilds, please judge me by Guild laws."

Formal, stiff. But she would keep her word--anything short of taking her life, for her life belonged to Flynn, she'd do it or endure it.

When she fell to her knee, rather than apologies and begging words, Yuri heard only garbage. Only exasperated with having to deal with her before, a purer kind of anger began to grip him, lacing over the hand that gripped his sword, reflecting in his gray eyes. Rather than at her, however, between the two of them he was, for once, more pissed off with his dear childhood friend.

"Get up," he snapped. This was Flynn's way of confronting her? He'd never wanted an apology or her humility. What he wanted was for her to atone in her own way, to take her guilt and channel it elsewhere. Yuri had no use for it. And Flynn should have known that. But he scoffed. Knowing that asshole, he did it on purpose, knowingly. "That bastard."

Judge through the laws of the guild? It made sense in the world of politics. She'd transgressed against a guild member as an Imperial Knight. But Brave Vesperia did things their own way, and even within that Yuri walked another path.

"He may be too stupid to punish you his own damn self, but I'm not going to pick up his slack."

How dare he? How dare he speak so disrespectfully about the commander? She was on her feet immediately, her hand unconsciously on her sword, eyes blazing in anger. She kept rigid and still through discipline, but it was a struggle not to hit him right where he stood. Or draw her sword on him.

"Do not speak of the commander in such words." She snapped, gauntlets creaking with the strain of how tightly she gripped her sword.

She wasn't going to force her atonement on Yuri, she'd never asked to be put in his care in the first place. He'd betrayed her tentative trust, and if he wanted to reject her apology she really didn't care. That was fine. Hell, she could even take the insulting dismissal of herself, but dismissing Flynn, and with such language.

"You are ill-equipped to even begin to comprehend his motives--someone like you could never truly have his best interest at heart."

"Flynn's a big boy, he can take care of his own interests." Yuri had no intention to fight her. Regardless of how he and Flynn often settled their differences, he didn't often resort to violence to get his point across with other people. Whether she understood it or not wasn't his problem.

But Yuri understood a challenge when he saw one, a fight for beliefs and protecting them rather than unnecessary and useless show of hot-headedness and pride. If she had something she wanted to protect, well, so did he. Sword already drawn and ready, there weren't many other directions this conversation could go. It'd already gone south as soon as she said his name.

"This was supposed to be between you and him. I don't see why he had to go and drag me into this." He'd make sure to go and have a nice talk with Flynn later about this as well. Seriously - dumping this kind of responsibility on him? Who asked for that?

She should walk away. She knew that. She knew that the better thing to do right here would be to turn around and leave. But she couldn't. She couldn't turn away and leave it. With a growl she drew her sword.

She also knew she wasn't as strong as Flynn or Yuri. At the moment she didn't care. She had no intention of genuinely trying to hurt Yuri this time, but she couldn't back down. Even if she ended up losing, she wouldn't have turned her back.

"I'm sure you'd love it if he watched his own interests." She snapped, raising her sword and slashing down in a simple opening. "Easier for you to catch his ear, right? Say whatever you like to him without interference."

"Believe me, I have no doubt that my life would be a little easier without the interference." And, notably, his stomach would have had one less hole and Flynn wouldn't have had to lose twenty years off his life from sheer worry and panic. Yuri didn't look at the what-ifs, he much preferred the here and now and reality. Sodia was here to stay, and Sodia would risk her life for Flynn.

It wasn't a bad thing.

"But I don't need you gone to have him annoying the hell out of me like this." They were best friends, after all, and knew how to really tick the other off without much effort. A look, a certain tone, a word - it took a lot more than an overprotective second-in-command to keep them apart.

He slowly dropped into stance, shifting from foot to foot. Bring it, cat-eyes.

Sodia narrowed her eyes, giving Yuri that look, the sideways catlike glare as she tested her grip on the sword. "Do you always go with the easier option?" She snapped, stepping forward and raising her blade to bring down in a blow aimed for Yuri's shoulder.

Though she had no intention of genuinely harming Yuri, that didn't mean she was holding back. She knew how strong the man was, and to enter a fight with him without giving it her all--she might as well not attempt to fight at all. He didn't need her to be that considerate, that she knew.

And as much as she distrusted him she wasn't afraid for her own safety. Perhaps it was just confidence in her own skills, or a tiny faith in Yuri's disinclination to retaliate against her, or maybe she was just not thinking, but knowing he was better than her didn't make her hesitate at all. In fact it incited her, made her more determined to push her limits and prove that she could, and would, be the only support Flynn needed. That she had the strength to match and surpass him.

He didn't assume that Sodia became second-in-command because of money or status or irresistible charm - especially considering her commander. So while he didn't expect her to be quite as skilled as the Great Flynn Scifo, he knew better than to underestimate her. The way she held and swung her sword were more than enough to know that she could handle herself just fine.

He took one half-step back to dodge, pushing into the flow of movement by swinging his sword up to meet hers. For now he was simply testing, perhaps even observing a little. That determination and that fire - weren't they admirable things? That she'd have the drive to do the things she wanted to do, protect the things she wanted to protect. To the point where she'd try to kill him.

It was a strange feeling, this empathy and vague understanding. So strange he set it aside, pushed against her.

"You don't have much room to talk."

Sodia pushed back, set her shoulders into and braced with her hips as she shoved against Yuri, blade to blade. She was shorter and physically weaker and this was the least advantageous position for her, swords locked. But she didn't care, she was too stubborn to give.

"Just because we've both done criminal things does not mean I'm interested in mutual wound-licking." She slid her feet in the dirt, turning half sideways to let he sword be pushed down and out of the way. It was an opening for Yuri to take, but if he stayed and took it, instead of backing out, he'd meet her heavily armored fist right to his chest.

And for the first time Yuri's lips quirk into something of a smirk - condescending, mostly, lacking the excitement so characteristic in his spars with others though not quite as biting as with Alexei. Or Zagi. He could have laughed, but somehow the situation didn't quite fit. Perhaps it was the company.

"Don't flatter yourself." He winced at the punch, sword still outstretched and free hand moving to snatch her wrist and end this quick. Geez, was that some kind of characteristic move of the Flynn Brigade? Punch your enemy with your gauntlet until they fall?

Either way, he was less interested in forming an Acts of Criminal Stabbing club with her and more interested in hunting Flynn down and kicking him right in the gut.

"Don't make me sick." Sodia snapped back. But she wasn't quick enough to pull back before she was caught. Didn't stop her from planting her feet and using the hilt of her sword to try to slap Yuri's elbow downward while she attempted to twist her wrist away. Not really being gentle, but not raising her blade against him either.

As far as she was concerned she would not try to harm Yuri again. Not unless he directly hurt Flynn. That did not mean she wouldn't be rough with him.

"I don't understand what the Commandant admires about you. Someone like you has no business near him."

"Did you forget? The guy's a dumbass." The smirk seemed to deepen with a caustic, burning mockery. But, hey, it wasn't his fault that she had interesting buttons to push. Step one: Insult Flynn. Step two: Receive anger. It was like clockwork.

And it wasn't like he knew the answer anyway. At this point they only had their childhood and their promise tying them together, and yet that always seemed to be just enough for them. Even if they walked different paths and bore different burdens...wasn't that how it went?

He only tightened his grip, pulled her toward him with sword aiming for her side. His elbow and his chest hurt like hell, the tenderness of a bruise already searing red into his skin. But he had a fairly decent poker face, a steady and icy smile.

It really was simple to push her buttons. She hissed, eyes narrowing in anger as soon as he insulted Flynn. Even if she might privately agree that Flynn was too trusting, she didn't need this man to say it. She didn't have to listen to him insult her commander like that.

"He's a better man than you'll ever be." She snapped back, angry and cold and frigid.

Even if she didn't have to listen passively, she couldn't pull out of his grip either. So when he tugged, she had little choice but to lurch forward, even against her braced stance. She met his eyes, and very deliberately dropped her sword. She couldn't say why, in that moment, she did it. Maybe as a test, maybe a hidden morbid curiosity--to see what Flynn really saw in this man. It was a gamble, and one she didn't have time to regret, despite her own completely lack of trust in Yuri. She hadn't even considered it in the first place, it was just a sudden impulse she'd acted on, with no time to regret or rectify or even consider it now.

He could stab her, her armor wasn't full, certainly not there on her side, or he could bruise her with a glancing blow trying to hold back. At this range and with momentum, Sodia off balance and unable to dodge or block, options were now limited. He didn't have time to consider the consequences, so what was his first instinct?

As she thought, he didn't have the time to consider or retract his blade or redirect it anyway, But when it slid past her side, it nicked her uniform for a moment before sliding off. Rather than cuts, there was only pressure. His grip on her wrist tightened briefly before he let go - almost cordially, casually, not treating her like some disgusting human (because she wasn't, and she wasn't his enemy, either).

He'd been using the blunt edge the entire time, thankfully, because even he couldn't react so quickly after such a stupid move. He was beginning to wonder if he just collected all the suicidal ones. First Raven and now this. Whatever her motives or her thoughts, he was certain that she, at least, no matter the guilt, had something (someone) to live for.

Resting his sword against his shoulder and turning away from her, he wasn't sure where to go from here. This wasn't Terca Lumireis, and their roles weren't quite the same, now.

"Then why are you still here?"

Edited 2011-06-22 05:11 (UTC)

Sodia stepped back and kept her eyes on Yuri, not, this time, out of suspicion, but just a lot of thoughtfulness. He hadn't been aiming to hurt from the very start. She looked away, bent down and revieved her sword, taking care to wipe the dirt off before she sheathed it. Not particularly answering the question, or even acknowledging it. Just silent for a while.

She knew something new now. Now that she was calmer, she was much more rational, and she was thinking. She had the proof of her conclusions, all she had to do was glance down and pass her fingers over the hole in her uniform. She didn't like them at all, but she couldn't deny them either.

"Understand this. The Commander trusts you with his life. If ever you betray that, I assure you I'll aim a lot higher than I did at Zaude." She looked up, one hand on her hip as she met Yuri's eyes. By nature she was not a murderer, but she was dead serious all the same. "As for me, I don't appreciate when my opponent holds back." Never mind that if he hadn't she'd be doing her own impersonation of Yuri at Zaude. Never mind she'd come here to deliver an apology and had ended up delivering threats.

"What goes on between Flynn and me stays between Flynn and me." Yuri kept his back turned, not intending to leave this clearing that held about a year of memories for him. His eyes shut, remembering how he'd failed Flynn a few months ago, how that one failure seemed to haunt him even now past all the forgiveness and the dulling effect of time.

But he turned to her, that cutting smirk from before softened to something a bit more serious, a little wry. The weight of Flynn's dead, unmoving body still weighed heavily in his arms and in his throat. "But if I betray him, then I won't stop you."

Didn't mean he wasn't going to go kick Flynn's ass after this, though

Sodia's fist clenched a little, angry, annoyed... She wouldn't even admit it to herself, but jealous as well. The bond they shared was one she couldn't touch, and she resented Yuri for it. Not that she'd admit that to herself. It was hard enough thinking that maybe she'd misjudged Yuri, even a little. That maybe he wasn't a complete monster after all. That was hard enough to swallow.

She met his eyes. She still disliked him, intensely. But she had to acknowledge that he could have done a lot worse. She'd tried to kill him, and while he'd broken his word not to tell Flynn, he had done nothing when he could have retaliated. Maybe it was an angle he was trying to play, she didn't trust him and she sure as hell didn't understand him--didn't want to!--but it seemed he wasn't as bad as she'd thought.

As much as her pride hurt with the revelation, doing right meant more than her own feelings on the matter.

"What goes on with Flynn will always concern me, whether you like it or not." And suddenly, her expression shifted. A cold, smug smile to return his wry smirk. It wasn't really friendly, too sharp for that, but it was just a little amused in a terrible way.

"I will see you tomorrow, Yuri Lowell." After all, he hadn't accepted her apology or dictated her punishment. And she had to see her orders through.

And Yuri watched her leave in complete confusion.

Edited 2011-06-22 06:51 (UTC)

And so, the next day ~~probably to Yuri's horror~~ Sodia ~~ambushed~~ found him in whatever he was doing at that time, and greeted him tonelessly.

"Yuri Lowell." She dropped to her knees, head bowed, and began the formal declaration all over again. At least this time she was able to recite it without feeling particularly resentful. In fact, she was able to follow the whole routine in the perfect manner of a knight, without slipping up.

"On behalf of my actions against you, and my attempt at your life, I, Sodia of the Imperial Knights, offer my apology and my service. As a member of the Guilds, please judge me by Guild laws."

Edited 2011-06-22 07:00 (UTC)

He woke up in the morning not quite expecting this. Why was she in his house. Why was she bowing to him again. Why was she apologizing.

Yuri, thankfully fully dressed even if his hair, tossed in a ponytail, was still dripping wet, just stood in the hallway in utter bewilderment. It was kind of obnoxious... but only kind of. For now.

"What did Flynn do."

Sodia would do it. Every morning. Until he accepted her apology or administered a decree for her punishment. No one could say she couldn't be stubbornly, stupidly single-minded with the best of them. But since Yuri seemed uninterested in doing either today, she rose to her feet.

"The Commander hasn't done anything. He's making breakfast." She felt the urge again, just at the mention of Flynn, and had to grit her teeth... Dammit! She couldn't stop.

Unbidden the urge took hold of her and she turned towards the kitchen, her arms raising oddly and her movements awkward and puppet-like. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLPZmPaHme0)

"I'm very sorry sir." She apologized, as she stared around the corner at Flynn in the kitchen, Yuri left to his own devices in the hall next to her.

Please excuse Yuri as he, after watching her in immense confusion before realizing that she had to be cursed, laughed his ass off. He didn't follow immediately, but who was he to miss this kind of entertainment? Besides, he had to go intercept Flynn before he decided to poison them all again.

And mostly just to watch Sodia.

"Shut up!" Not that she could otherwise make Yuri stop when she was so occupied... She didn't even know what she was doing or why but she just could not seem to control her movements!

"If this is your fault..."

"Not this time." Yuri placed hand on cocked hip. Oh, that grin was not leaving his face. Wasn't even an option. "Looks like the City already likes you."

He brought his device out, setting it to the picture-taking mode. "I wonder."

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closed }{ it was a long long time ago

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