Work Text:
Yuri felt like he should have known. No, maybe he did… but he trusted Flynn when the blond said he would be okay. After one of their people in the Lower Quarter had been assaulted in the Citizens Quarter, Flynn had decided someone should go speak to the knights about it. Try to get them to help hold the person responsible for bringing harm to them. The person had been wounded for daring to speak up about prices. About how the stall they visited at the market had a label, but the vendor tried to raise the price for them and them alone. Both the vendor and the citizen knew why.
All Flynn had planned to do was ask for help. Even just something. One of their people had been harmed enough that they were brought to their bed when they returned. Apparently Flynn pleaded too much, too loudly… because the knight he asked had punched him square in the face with a full gauntlet on.
When Flynn left to get help, Yuri suggested going with him. Flynn on the other hand was sure it would be okay. Things had gotten better in the Lower Quarter over the years. He didn't think it would be a problem for him to go alone. Yuri decided to trust him. It wasn't his fault it didn't go well… but Yuri still wished he'd gone. Most likely, he too would not have been able to do anything. If nothing else though, he could have just… been there. Even just as moral support.
“He didn't give you any warning at all? Just… punched you?” Yuri frowned as he got the first aid kit out of the cabinet. There was anger curling in his gut, but he didn't want to put that on full display. This wasn't really the time for that. The last thing Yuri wanted to do was start detailing to Flynn how angry he still was about the time Flynn had been punched by a knight when they were kids. Why did he put up with so much abuse from them? Sometimes Yuri wanted to shout at him and ask. Ask why he didn't fight back more or do anything to make those knights feel pitiful and weak.
If he had to guess though, it was simply that Flynn didn't want to escalate things. In a way Yuri understood. In another way… he was starting to not care as much anymore. As a kid, he was always begrudgingly a doormat with the knights. Back then, it was Flynn who glared daggers and spoke his angry mind. Now… he'd gotten meek. It was Yuri who was annoyed at letting their behavior slide. It wasn't as bad anymore, but… there were still some who wanted nothing to do with “their kind”. By now, Yuri was just… tired of it.
“Mm… When he refused, I started to… I guess, beg. I mean, someone had been badly hurt simply for voicing their dismay over prices in the market being unfairly raised. I just wanted them to help… They didn't like the sound of my ‘whiny’ voice and… well, you know the rest.”
Yuri clicked his tongue in aggravation and settled down on the sofa next to Flynn. He patted lightly at the cut to clean it, followed by a gentle stroke of ointment over the raw spot with a small patch. “Whiny? You? Your voice is so… light. Soft. What's whiny about it? It's…”
When he paused, train of thought stopping in its track before reaching its destination, Flynn raised an eyebrow. “It's?”
“...I don't know how to finish that sentence, actually.” Yuri let out a light puff of laughter as he thinned out the ointment and pressed the patch to the wound gently. “Don't even know what word I was looking for.”
Flynn smiled despite the two smallish cuts on his face. Even right now, when his face really hurt… Yuri's presence was soothing. As Yuri lightly pressed a bandaid on the cut, he focused on repeating the process with the smaller cut.
Since Yuri had been the “big kid” of the other kids since they were small, Flynn had heard of and sometimes seen him taking care of the other kids. How the boys in particular acted reckless, got hurt, and went to Yuri crying about their injuries. Yuri would always do this sort of thing for them. Patch them up and tell them not to do it again, or ask if they've learned their lesson… Yuri always looked so grown up compared to the rest.
Now that Flynn thought about it, when compared to the other teenagers, Yuri still seemed the most grown up. Able to handle so many tasks. So many things in this house would probably fall apart without him. He was good at raising the younger kids and the older kids. Always good at cooking. Fixing up wounds. Fighting if he ever needed to protect his home or people. Keeping the kids on schedule.
He'd probably make a good husband…
…
…A good what, now?
As Yuri finished up with the second cut, he pulled away to give Flynn space and smiled. “I'll change it tomorrow. I know we don't have much for supplies, but… if it becomes a problem I'll work extra during my shift in the market to get more. I just don't want this to go from relatively harmless to infected. We can afford first aid supplies, but I don't think we can say the same about medical emergencies.”
As Flynn nodded, it also crossed his mind that Yuri was… beautiful, actually. Despite the way his voice was deepening at their age, his face was so… gentle? Soft? His hair looked soft too… It wasn't until that moment when Flynn realized this was far from the first time he'd really considered Yuri's features and that they were… frankly, attractive.
Yuri tilted his head at Flynn's silence, finding it odd he nodded wordlessly, as if in thought. Flynn couldn't help noticing the way his ponytail followed the tilt of his head. Oh… He… Was this what they called having it bad?
“You good? Should I go find that knight and punch him for you?”
Flynn half scoffed and half laughed. “You're gonna find a guy who had a helmet on and looks the same as all the other knights?”
“I'll just punch every one I come across. I'll get it right eventually. Probably. If not, I'll have punched them for something they did who knows when to who knows who. Their bad deeds catching up to them.”
Flynn snorted, knowing it was a joke and picturing it. Just a bunch of knights minding their business and getting punched. If Yuri could do that without repercussions, he sure would.
Yuri paused, a near giggle pushing its way out of his throat. “You're funny when you laugh like that.”
“I'm the funny one, says the guy making a plot to avenge one guy by punching the whole knight faction.”
As he closed up the first aid kit and set it on the side table, Yuri rolled his eyes. “Worth it. They've probably looked at you badly. Who would even do that? You're so… unthreatening. Peaceful. I think a person who would look at you with disdain without knowing you is probably the type to automatically deserve a punch.”
“You just like punching. Especially bad sorts of people.”
“Uh-huh. That too.”
Flynn didn't bother trying to hold back the genuine laugh that bubbled up in him. Yuri looked back at him and paused, smile still on his face, but as he looked back at Flynn, he went a tad more meek. Not just unthreatening… He was cute, and… his laugh was heavenly and soft, and… Uhhh, what?
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. Why was he feeling bubbly? Fluttery? What was so different about this interaction? Nothing really, right? But Yuri's face was feeling a little hotter than usual.
Flynn suddenly went quiet, staring at him, smile fading into something so small, but his eyes were trained on Yuri. They moved down and up once, twice, until Yuri found himself doing the same between fast blinks.
Both of them were hoping they were reading this right… and Flynn scooted closer first, leaning toward Yuri slightly and slowly, waiting to make sure it didn't alarm him. Scare him away. But he… really wanted to know. Know what it would be like. How he would feel if he did it.
It didn't scare Yuri away. Yuri returned it, fighting through the burning feeling in his face. Flynn found himself feeling similarly, amplified by the way they felt so synced in closing that gap. Synced in everything in life; even this.
Yuri wanted to know too.
And when they did kiss, it wasn't uncertain or testing. Both could feel that the other meant it. They were each firm in it, lips separating for a mere second at best before repeating the gesture. Like they were waiting to do this. Waiting and waiting for it to happen. Wanting to all along.
How long had all along been?
They had forgotten, just for a solid minute, about anything else going on. That anyone could just walk in and see them, well… borderline making out on the couch. Even when they pulled back and looked at each other, they didn't pull away far. At first, they were silent. Trying to piece together where that had just gone. It was Yuri who leaned over to do it one more time, as if wanting to let Flynn know he meant it. He leaned back after, not too far, but perhaps unexpectedly… didn’t feel weird. Awkward. He felt… comfortable.
For the small bit Flynn could feel his heart speed up, he did also feel comfortable. Not alarmed, not left to think about why, not questioning. It felt right. After all, he’d never even thought of being with anyone else. Being with Yuri every day was completely normal. He never wanted anything else. This was just… how his life was, and he’d never even considered going on about his life without Yuri right there. That would just be… weird.
Not just because they’d been close for so long, but because nowadays, with the other kids their age that they’d grown up with being here and there and doing their own thing, in a lot of ways it was just them now. Just the two of them and Jiri with some of the other teenagers showing up here and there. Just the two of them raising these kids with Jiri. Just the two of them always being together, always confiding in each other…
After a couple minutes of them comfortably running through their thoughts, as if settling where they stood now, Yuri offered a small smile to Flynn and picked up the first aid kit. “Gonna put this back. We should get to eating dinner since we missed it. You mind heating up what Jiri-baasan left us while I put this back?”
“Oh- yeah, I can do that.” Flynn nodded in agreement and also stood up, heading to the kitchen to start the oven fire. Their food was wrapped on the table, and Flynn couldn’t help the way his first thought went right to, ‘Jiri-obasan must’ve been in a good mood today’... After all, usually she had something to say if they missed dinner, but today it was just neatly wrapped and waiting for them.
No, no! No, Flynn! No thinking that! Yuri would just say it out loud since she wasn’t here right now! He’d get that look if she heard it! No, Flynn! Do not risk the day you say it out loud too!
Granted, she did seem fully aware that the two of them were out and about more often these days. Sometimes working, sometimes together, sometimes missing dinner by accident or missing it because they were busy. But since they were older than the other children now, perhaps she recognized they had more responsibility and more to do throughout the day. They weren’t just getting into trouble now when they missed dinner. In that sense, it was… really nice to be recognized as the responsible ones in the house. To have food left and ready for them when they got home.
It was also weird in a way, knowing they were once the little kids who had to be looked after. Getting into trouble, missing dinner, doing things they absolutely should not have been doing, getting scolded… Well, actually, given all that… these kids were way better behaved than they ever were.
In part though, that was… largely thanks to Yuri. He played the part of a caretaker perfectly. He knew how to handle all these kids, and they were all like his extended family, if not just… part of his family. As if they were younger siblings to all the now-teens. Yuri just managed to fit into the role perfectly, like he belonged in it.
Being able to… do that just now… was really starting to make sense. There was nothing about Yuri he didn’t love. It wasn’t just the kids here, but everyone in town. He tried to take care of everyone. He’d always been the one to do that when they were kids among the kids, but now it was everyone.
Speaking of them as kids being the older ones now, just as Flynn put each of their shares of food back onto their plates and moved to place them on the table, he heard voices coming from the entryway. He poked his head out, spotting Yuri and Jareth, then retreated his head poking to grab the plates and put them on the table.
“It’s a ghost town in here. Where'd everyone go at this hour?”
“I dunno for sure, we got here late and everyone was already out. Probably out running around or helping around the town. Helps them wind down for the evening so they’re ready to sleep later. I’m gonna guess it’s also a good way to keep from getting into trouble in the middle of the night like some of us used to do.”
“Speak for yourself, Yuri.” Flynn joked as he got them drinks, adding a third for Jareth.
“I am. I’m speaking for you, too, Flynn.”
“Listen, he’s got you there.” Jareth nodded with assurance. “You two were so late some nights. Heck, one night you two didn’t even come home and left us all starving! I had to make dinner that night after I finally gave in and decided to stop waiting.”
“Okay, I concede. I was a good child until Yuri’s influence did its damage.” At Yuri puffing out a cheek in a pout (that made familiar fluttery feelings ramp back up in Flynn, if only because it was so cute…), Flynn continued before Yuri found something to get even with. “Do you want something to eat? We’re just eating what was left for us, but we can make you something.”
“Nah, I already ate. I was in the area so I figured I’d stop by. Plus you guys look like you just heated up your food, and I’d rather not, uh… take what you do have here.”
Yuri paused and raised an eyebrow, giving him a harmless side eye. “Don’t be weird.” Before Jareth could respond, Yuri patted his shoulder and moved to sit at the table. “Sit down. Nothing wrong with just us, is there?”
He could agree to that, anyway. Even if he wasn’t here every day anymore, it was still home, and Jiri always made a point to remind him of that. Nobody here treated him like a stranger. Being away for so long sometimes though made it pretty clear to him how much these two had changed. Yuri was much gentler, more outspoken, and more… he didn’t know, really. Free. Open. Happy.
Jareth was thankful with where he’d gotten in life and wished everyone else would follow suit and try to get out of these conditions. Yet, Yuri seemed to be all smiles a lot of the time he saw him. At peace with himself and everything. Like there was nothing else to want. Jareth didn’t need to ask to see it. He could tell Yuri wasn’t even considering it. This was where he belonged and wanted to be.
Flynn seemed to be similar. He’d opened back up, seemed to be a little confident in saying whatever he pleased around Yuri, happy with his situation… Maybe he was a little awkward and a little - well, a lot soft spoken, but he seemed content being here still.
Back when they were kids, they had to fend for themselves in this house when Jiri wasn’t around. The kids living here now, sure, had her, but they always had Yuri and Flynn at night now. No doubt they had it better off, always having access to someone older and someone who knew how to take care of things. These kids were lucky, to be blunt. They had a whole lot that the three of them didn’t have growing up.
“Isn’t it weird sometimes, though? There’s a bunch of younger kids. You two are the only people our age here. I know some of the other guys show up to visit, but you’re the only two who live here now out of our group.”
Yuri had thought to answer, but he paused as he took a drink first, trying to sort that thought out. “Well… yeah, it’s a little weird. Maybe not weird, but a little sad. Everyone’s grown up and gone off to live in other places. I used to see everyone every day. Now I can go days straight, sometimes weeks with you, not seeing some of your faces even once. Not that I wanna guilt you for living your life, just… it’s kinda sad how empty it feels sometimes. Even if life back then wasn’t as stable as it is now, we were always together and supporting each other. We were almost a package deal, getting into trouble and just following each other right into it.” Yuri couldn’t help the chuckle at the end. It was sad, but they were still all memories he cherished. “I mean, it’s not like I don’t wonder what it’d be like if you and the others were still here. Helping out and all. I know siblings grow up and move out and live in different houses, but I do think about it. You, especially.”
Jareth blinked, curiosity and confusion mixing onto his face. “Why me?”
“‘Cause you’re the one farthest away. The one who shows up the least. We were all a group and family, but I did feel like you and me were really close. I mean, I hope that wasn’t in my head.”
Jareth quickly felt alert, not wanting that to become a misunderstanding. Sometimes he was distant now, he knew… but he didn’t mean for it to be like that. Just like everyone else their age, he was trying to figure his life out. As kids, it was easy. They knew what their lives were. At their age and with things changing for them and the Lower Quarter in general, it was becoming more complicated. “No, no, it wasn’t! I thought… you were kinda my guy, you know? Our little leader, and I was your right hand… boy. We’d cause trouble, but we’d usually do it with you giving in to our antics and me hyping everyone up when you did.”
As Jareth laughed about the memories of it, Yuri rolled his eyes but snorted in turn. Yeah, they really did do that. And they almost always got in trouble for it. Poor Flynn got dragged around a lot of the time and got in trouble with them.
“I think this new way of life suits Yuri, though.” Flynn chimed in as he poked at his food. “Taking care of people, making things easier on Jiri-obasan, still getting into trouble with her because that part’s never gonna change no matter how old Yuri is, making life happy for the new kids… I think it’s helped me too. I feel like the best me I’ve ever been. We have good memories as kids, but I think it would be easier to accept the changes if everyone was still together.”
Yuri pondered on their life here still as he stabbed at his food in thought. “Mmm… I guess one thing that feels a little different is that because it’s just been us, I feel like… I dunno… like we’re the parents of the house? Raising our younger siblings? But it feels like we’re even closer now. Maybe it’s just because we’ve gotten older, but… I couldn’t imagine being here without Flynn now. I also couldn’t imagine leaving these kids to live at least a bit similar to how we used to. Remember how scary it was when one of us would need help with something and there was no adult to help us? Especially at night… At least now if something happens, the kids can come right to one of us. If anyone gets frightened at night or something, they know they can run to one of us and we’ll take care of it.”
Jareth nodded slowly, raising an eyebrow. “Sounds… like you two know where you stand with each other.”
For a second, the two simultaneously forgot it was even Jareth speaking those words, sharing a look, eyes meeting in silence for a couple of seconds before they looked back down at their food with tiny, nervous, distracted smiles.
“...Atmosphere is telling me you two are a bit more of a package deal than the whole group.”
Yuri couldn’t help the tiny laugh that sneaked out of his throat. The fact that it had just happened made it even harder for Yuri to keep himself collected.
“‘Bout time though. You two have been attached at the hip since we were all little.”
“Y-Yeah, I… can’t… really argue that.” Though he was feeling fidgety, it was more of a… giddy fidgety. Like he was holding himself back from talking about it. Really, there probably wasn’t much to say about it, given it was Jareth pointing it out. He knew probably better than anyone except maybe Jiri and Hanks how close they were. Sure, the whole town knew, really… but the three of them had witnessed it right up close so many times.
“Can’t imagine you two ever being apart… I better be in the first batch of wedding invites.”
Both of them froze for a few seconds, faces burning as that thought sunk in. Eventually when they both nodded awkwardly and quickly, Jareth laughed loudly. “Not even a split second denial! You two really are lifers.”
The rest of the conversation went on with its casual air, and along with Jareth’s joking pokes, they had spoken long enough that the kids had started filing back in for the night. It wasn’t dark yet, but Jareth wanted to get back before then and so informed the two he should be getting home.
Though the door was right there, Yuri still stood to see him off. “Don’t leave us hanging for another few weeks, huh? Come back sometime soon.”
“...Okay. If I’m not too busy, I’ll try to stop by. Wasn’t really sure you guys missed having me around all that much, since it seems like everyone’s pretty happy with things around here.”
Yuri gave him an incredulous look, rolled his eyes and leaned over to hug him. “I said don’t be weird, but don’t be dumb either. You’re still my brother. You’re still like a son to Jiri-baasan. Don’t be a stranger.”
Jareth gave a noise of agreement as he returned the hug. He stepped back, giving a thoughtful smile with an eyebrow raised again. “You’ve gotten more open with your feelings. I guess I really don’t stop by enough to not have totally noticed until now.”
Yuri tilted his head just slightly. “ ‘Uh? I… Have I?”
“Yeah, but… never mind. Don’t worry about it.” Jareth shook his head, but kept the smile. His gaze switched to Flynn, who was still finishing his dinner. “I’m going now, Flynn.”
Flynn nodded, feeling a little awkward and out of place at the idea of getting up to say goodbye, as if it was interfering with Yuri’s gestures, so he remained in his chair. Still, he gave a smile in return. “Mm. Be careful going home.”
“Good thing we’re not still kids or I might not have.” He laughed again and dragged another small laugh from the other two. “Tell the old lady I said hi, though.”
“Don’t let her catch you saying that.” Yuri and Flynn both nearly-recited at once.
“Geez, yeah, last thing I’d want is to turn around and she’s right there to whack me. Okay, okay! Going now.” He turned and headed for the door, making sure to close it behind him and not leave Yuri to do so for him.
When it was just the two of them again, Yuri sat back down to finish his own food. As Flynn poked at the last of his dinner, he spoke up. “I wish I could get along with him and the others as well as you do. Sometimes I feel so distant, even though I’d thought I’d gotten past that a long time ago.”
Yuri looked at him curiously, but continued with his food. “Mm? Mmmm… growing pains, maybe? In the not actually literal sense? I’d say you did get over it a long time ago. If you feel like there’s distance now, maybe you’re just thinking about a lot of things? Trying to work out stuff in your head? It could just be that you’re changing a bit, yeah? Not your relationship with everyone? ‘Cause you seem fine to me.”
“I suppose so… Maybe I just wish I was more open with everyone. I’ve been quiet my whole life, and I worry that maybe the others our age might take that as a sign that I’m not interested in talking to them.”
Yuri shrugged his shoulders loosely. “I’ll reassure them if they wonder about it. I really think you’re fine, but if it bothers you, I’ll try to push in the direction of prompting conversation or something. But really, you’re just quiet. You’ve always been, like you said. I think they understand that, so… I’m sure you’re fine. But if it’s on your mind, next time we see any of them, I’ll try to nudge you toward engaging in conversation or something.”
Not that he minded that quietness. There was a gentleness that came with it, and Yuri loved that soft side of Flynn. There was something about it that was so opposite of himself, that felt like it grounded him and made him more patient. It was also just endearing. Yuri wasn’t sure he was quite ready to admit that yet, but it would hopefully come sooner than later. Flynn… deserved to know.
And boy did he feel it again when Flynn smiled so honestly and so sincerely. “Okay. Thank you. I know it might not be something to worry about, and maybe it’s all in my head… but it’s reassuring to know you’ll keep an eye out.”
At first Yuri went along with it, nodding and finishing his dinner. Then he suddenly had a thought come to mind, switching to the tiniest of blushes and a small pout. “But instead of hanging out with anyone tomorrow, do you… wanna… um… maybe… uh… go… on… a… d-date…?”
The question grabbed Flynn’s attention in a manner of surprise, but his face lit up quickly after. “Oh- uh- s-sure! I mean… I guess… we did… um… yeah… so… yes.”
Yuri gave a nervous but amused chuckle, rising from his chair and pulling Flynn’s empty plate over to place on top of his. “You should get the kids ready for bed. I’ll take care of cleaning up the kitchen and our dishes. I’ll help out when I’m done if you still need anything.”
For just a moment Flynn nodded and was about to let Yuri take off… but a streak of completely unnecessary competitiveness rose in him in that moment, and before Yuri could get far, Flynn pulled him over lightly and pressed his lips onto Yuri’s, holding it for a moment before smiling and scurrying off.
“Ah– hey!” Yuri protested after him, but he couldn't very well chase him around the house with dirty plates in his hands. “I’m getting you back for that!”
As Flynn left the room, Yuri could hear the smile still there in his voice. “I’ll be holding you to that!”
Yuri shook his head as he headed for the sink. Good grief. He couldn't very well just leave that be without getting even, and Flynn knew that. Not the sort of “get even” challenge Yuri would’ve expected before today to be part of their never ending supply… but it was different, and a good different.
He didn’t know exactly how things would go from here, but… he had Flynn at his side. It felt just as right as it always did. It could stay just like it always was, because they didn't need to change.