Betrayal: Yuri x Reader

Chapter Thirteen - After the Dust Settles

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-Your POV-

It wasn't even a day after the terrible calamity of Aelfric's scheme fell apart. While we successfully put a stop to his dreadful plan to resurrect a woman who has long passed -- Professor Byleth's mother -- using the Ashen Wolves's blood, I was still tense and constantly on edge, expecting the ghost of Aelfric to jump out of the shadows at me, clutching at air and swearing revenge. That never happened though.

Even though I was thoroughly assured multiple times by my friends, I still couldn't shake the horrible events that occurred.

All I needed was a distraction from it all — and I knew I wasn't the only one.

There was not a real reason to visit Abyss much anymore, which saddened me greatly, but I still made time after school to briefly visit alone, like I had done days prior. I ploddingly made it to the crumbling entrance to Abyss, but hesitated at the top of the staircase, eyes glazing over as nostalgia overtook me from when I first came here.

Reminiscing got me nowhere, unfortunately, so I quickly made up my mind to walk down the steps — particularly careful not to fall down them as I had before.

At the base of the passageway now, I took cautious steps, letting the familiar chatter of Abyssians in the Main Street fill my ears. I walked past everyone there, who only gave me a glance before returning to their work. I was going straight to where I knew Yuri would be: The Ashen Wolves classroom, which has been unused for a little while now.

The doors are already open, and all four of them are there, not just Yuri.

Before I step in and make myself known to them, I freeze at Constanse's next words. "You mean to say that you are disbanding us?"

"No, not me. Rhea made the final decision." Yuri replied calmly. "She's aware that the Ashen Wolf House ultimately became a cage for us. So, the Ashen Wolves are officially disbanded. Apparently, we should be considering this a graduation, of sorts."

"You can doll this up by calling it graduating," Hapi grumbles, "But we've all been here for so much of our lives, and now we're just supposed to go live our lives as if none of this madness ever happened?"

"But we're allowed to still stay here in Abyss, right?" I hurriedly interrupt, swiftly entering the room with a panicked expression written all over my face — my wide eyes and trembling lips saying it all.

"Of course, of course!" Yuri replies, soothing my alarm. "We are now free to live as we wish now, whether that's down here in Abyss or wherever fate decides to take all of us."

"After all I have been through, I must say I feel immense gratitude at the prospect of living freely." Constance agrees.

"Yeah, that sounds pretty all right. And good timing, at that." Balthus comments.

I glance up and Yuri, whose face is twisting into a sulky pout, worried thoughts reflecting in his pale purple eyes. "What's wrong?" I ask, slipping my hand into his. "You can do whatever you want now, right? You're free from whatever chains the Church pushed on you."

"True enough. It's up to me to determine how I'll live my life now... how I'll make up for what I've done." Yuri mumbles, then looks down and meets my gaze.

Although neither of us said it, I knew that my feelings for Yuri were returned. Past his flirty personality, Yuri knows there is a bond between us. Someday, we will admit it, I'm sure. But after everything was said and done, I didn't have the heart to drop another bomb on Yuri's beaten and battered life.

However, it makes someone wonder... What would happen if I did confess one day? In all honesty, I was perfectly content with where we were at, even if a turbulent future awaited us.

I'm snapped out of my lingering thoughts by Balthus's voice, saying, "What are you going to do now, Boss?"

"Eh, who knows. For now, I'll take some time to think. My main concern at this point is... Well, that's for only me to know." Yuri smirks, though a bit of regret flashes over his eyes. I'd have to make sure I asked him about it later. "One thing is for sure, I'll stick around here for a while, watching over Abyss."

"You know what?" I huff, confidence spiking, "I'll look after Abyss too!"

"There you go being cute again. Though I'm certain if you're around, Abyss and everyone in it will be just fine." Yuri offers me a smile, and my face burns with a bright blush at the unexpected words.

Before I can stammer out a reply, a couple of Yuri's men run in, shouting, "Boss! Boss! You can't just leave us high and dry like this! Where will we go? What will we do?"

"I should've known..." Yuri exhales, "Humans are adaptable creatures. You'll sort it out just fine."

"Heh, relax, will ya? We all know Yuri's not the type to abandon his pals. He's a guy who always turns up when he's needed. Heck, we should all be taking notes from him." Balthus assures the rogues.

"The world's a dreary place. We could all use a little help now and again." Hapi adds.

"As long as we're all here for each other as true friends, we can live our lives to the fullest," Yuri says.

"Friends..." I mumble, stunned. Maybe, some small little part of me, tucked away in the back of my mind, secretly but sincerely wished Yuri and I were more. What I would do to stay by Yuri's side forever...

"You heard me. You're all my friends... You matter. You always will." Yuri tilts his head toward me.

"That seems like a good note to end on." Hapi nods.

But for me, my heart kept screaming for more. "Yuri... I'll still see you often, right?" I question him, dead serious and internally frightened at the towering prospect of not having Yuri in my life much anymore.

"Friend," he frowns, and my pulse skips a beat. "I never did take you on that date, did I? I'll have to make sure to give you a fun time next time around."

I nod vigorously and he squeezes my hand tightly. "Then, until next time?" I press eagerly.

"Yes... (Y/N),"

"Hey! That's the first time you've said my name!"

"I suppose that's true,"

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Word count: 1088 words