Title: Cinematic
Fandom: Fire Emblem: Three Hopes
Characters/Pairing: Yuri Leclerc/Ashe Ubert
Rating: PG-16
Disclaimer: Not mine, anything mentioned here by name isn't mine
Warnings: Briefly alludes to Yuri's past with Rowe, some mature situations, Ashe drops a F bomb
Notes: Modern AU
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Ashe had always been boggled by how much popular culture romanticized thievery. For example, if someone created a film of his current misdeed, Ashe was certain he’d be played by a very attractive actor in catsuit, slinking around as he seduced the guard, disarmed said guard in a way that dazzled the audience’s eyes, then quipped something witty as he sauntered off with the data.
But like always, the reality was not nearly as exciting as the movies. He was clad in black coveralls similar enough to the custodial staff that no one even blinked at him wandering the halls of Rowe Industries. Instead of seducing a guard, he found one that liked to talk. He struck up a conversation. Ashe had never liked lying, but that did not stop him from gushing about how late-night guards were the real heroes, and how was he saving up money to enroll in a criminal justice program at the local community college so he could be one as well. That predictably earned the guard's trust, and they enjoyed a chat that was so enjoyable that Ashe regretted drugging the tea he offered the guard more than usual. The guard would be fine—he would just sleep for a few hours—but it still wasn’t nice.
Well, at least then the guard wouldn’t be blamed for what was going to happen. He would just assume that he nodded off after his talk with the doe-eyed janitor. Meanwhile, Ashe had so many encryption methods in place there was no way anyone could know that this was where Rowe Industries was hacked. When the news of hacking would eventually break, all of Rowe’s lapdogs at the top would break out their daggers. They’d be so busy trying to blame each other that no one would even think to investigate one guard with one workstation. Ashe did have one concern, however, as he silently downloaded the data to his flash drive. A hack this major, and all of the dirty little secrets that would come to light, would almost definitely bankrupt the company. Companies tended to cut out the people they ‘didn’t need’ while the people at the top left with even more money than they had before. He hoped this guard wouldn’t be laid off. His only mistake had been to trust Ashe, after all.
So, instead of making a quip—which would have been a bad idea, it might have woken up the guard or gotten someone’s attention—Ashe checked the guard’s nametag. Mr. G. Keeper. He committed it to memory. If things did go as badly for Rowe Industries in the future as Ashe suspected, he would convince Yuri to hire this man. Just… not as a guard.
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In the movie version of Ashe’s crime, he would have escaped in some fancy sports car built by a company that had an advertising deal with the film. In reality, he had a plain-looking bicycle. This was a deliberate choice on Ashe’s part. No one would notice a working-class man cycling home. Also, no one beat him when it came to speed. He could dart through traffic (just another guy trying to get home during rush hour) much more quickly than using a car.
After his customary three checks that he had not been followed, Ashe entered the building through the employee entrance, then found a restroom to change out of the coveralls and into his ‘civilian clothing.’ This consisted of a dark blue sweater and ripped jeans. Ashe stuffed the coveralls in his bag, then went off in the direction of the closest elevator. A few minutes later, he was on the top floor. After waving to the guards (this time working for the Leclerc Corporation), he stopped in front of an unassuming-looking door. He checked three times: no one was around, so he did not hesitate to punch in the code. Ashe was greeted by surroundings that were tasteful yet spartan. This was the floor where the CEO of the Leclerc Corporation worked in private. There was no need to intimidate possible rivals and/or the masses here. The CEO could be himself. Only the people that the CEO treasured the most got to see him here.
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“Ashe,” Yuri breathed, in the process of standing up from his desk.
“Sit down,” Ashe instructed as he strode toward Yuri. He pulled the flash drive from his jeans pocket, placing it carefully on the desk. Ashe perched on the aforementioned desk a moment later. “You’re going to want to sit down when you go through all that information. There’s more than a few drama bombs on that little piece of tech.”
Yuri shot Ashe a dark look but still took the flash drive, plugging it into his desktop’s USB port. Even Yuri couldn’t hide the smirk as all of Rowe’s secrets were presented before him. “Well. The Shady Lady was right. They did steal her work.”
“And we stole it back—and then some.” Ashe leaned in, stroking Yuri’s hair, which hung in a messy ponytail. The poor thing. Usually, Yuri kept his hair back in a neat braid or bun. The ponytail was only when he was too stressed to look his absolute best. “Rowe’s days are numbered.” This time, he smirked—just a little. “You know. As a businessman.” It wasn’t the same as arresting him for what he had done to Yuri, but that was… complicated. Bankrupting the fucker would have to do.
“Ashe, listen to me.” Yuri placed a slim hand over Ashe’s own. “I don’t want you doing these missions anymore.”
“Wow. Here I was, thinking I was a human being that could make decisions on my own, but I guess not.”
Yuri bristled. “I’m all for you making your own life choices, believe me. But I also know what Rowe is capable of.”
“Which is why I made sure to slip in and out undetected.” Ashe leaned in to steal a kiss from Yuri. “You know I’m the best spy/thief on your team. And you are too smart to not let resources like that go to waste.”
“It’s not just that, and you know it. Ashe, you’re the best man I know. You’ve kept me from doing genuinely dastardly deeds more times than I can count.” Yuri leaned back in his chair. His hair wasn’t just a mess. There were shadows under his eyes and his knuckles were white from gripping his chair’s armrests. “You hate doing things like this. I—I don’t want you to have to compromise your morals because of me.”
Once upon a time, their roles had been reversed. Ashe, an underemployed chef at the time, had discovered that his childhood friend Yuri had been making unsavory deals to move forward in the business world. Deals that were so unsavory, Yuri was putting his life at risk. He’d tried to talk to Yuri about it one day when he stopped for lunch, but the stubborn ass wouldn’t listen. So, Ashe decided to appeal to Yuri in a new way. He shadowed him during a deal that Ashe suspected would go sour. When his suspicions proved true, Ashe (non-fatally) stabbed the punk who was trying to kill Yuri and spirited him away from the fight—and then yelled Yuri into submission. He hadn’t meant to be mean. He just… he just wanted to save his friend. Even if it meant his friend would never speak to him again.
But that did not happen. Instead, Yuri hired him as a bodyguard with a salary and benefits that would ensure both his siblings could attend any college they wanted when they were grown. Between that and having a way to keep Yuri’s ass alive, Ashe took the job. And as he guarded Yuri’s body, he realized that while he didn’t like Yuri cheating or putting himself in danger… he was using his money and power to keep the lights on at local youth centers. He was making sure orphans had enough to eat. He was keeping public schools funded when it came to tech and lunches. Yuri wasn’t always an honest man, but he was a good man. That was the man he would steal for. That was the man Ashe had fallen in love with.
Maybe it was time to remind Yuri of that. “Listen to me… Reg.” Ashe would never grow tired of watching Regulus visibly relax when Ashe used that nickname. “I’ve had some time to reflect on what I said to you. I’m still going to stop you if you hurt anyone. That includes yourself, by the way. But I will also do what it takes to help people that need it. If that means I have to do some things I’m not entirely comfortable with, so be it.”
Regulus gave him a look. “You seemed pretty damned prideful about your actions earlier.”
Ashe’s face heated up. “Well, you’re the one who says I should work on my self-esteem. Not to mention that I’m happy Rowe will no longer be a threat. Oh, by the way, when Rowe Industries goes under, I want to recommend Mr. G. Keeper as a customer service rep. Make sure he’s got a good salary.”
Regulus chuckled as he leaned forward, chin resting in his hand. “There’s my Ashe. Looking out for the guard he undoubtedly fooled to get what he needed.”
Ashe shrugged, then allowed himself to trace the outline of Reg’s face. “I just don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“And that’s what I love about ya,” Regulus whispered as he leaned up to kiss Ashe deeply. Ashe didn’t bother to fight back the whimper when Reg’s tongue entered his mouth—or the yelp when Regulus pulled him into his lap. The office was soundproof; all he needed to worry about was how far they’d go before they went home.
“Um.” When Reg started sneaking his hands under Ashe’s shirt, it was always hard to think. “Is your mom cool with watching my siblings a little longer?”
“Behold the power of modern technology, my lovable cornball.” Reg’s left hand reemerged to grab his phone. A few moments of texting later, he announced, “She is thrilled to spend more time with those little angels of yours. I also told her to bill some pizza and a streamed movie for the three of them to my account.”
“So, we have some free time before they expect us,” Ashe realized huskily. “Interesting.”
Regulus smirked at him; eyes predatory. “I could ask what you wanted to do,” and he pressed his lips to Ashe’s neck, “But I think I can wager a guess.”
“You could.” But Ashe had something specific in mind. “Hey, let’s celebrate Rowe going down by doing it on your desk like we did our first time—but we need to clear it off first!” First, they needed to protect the information Ashe had stolen. Second, even years later Ashe felt guilty about smashing the paperweight Reg’s mother had gifted her son when Ashe had tried to sexily shove all of Reg’s things off the desk before lowering his soon-to-be lover on the finally empty flat surface.
Ashe had never seen Regulus clean something so quickly in his life. As for Ashe, he triple-checked that the flash drive and work laptop were locked away in Reg’s suitcase. After that, he did not protest as Regulus scooped up Ashe in his arms, and like a vampire with his mortal love, stole him away for a night (or an hour before they went to relieve Reg’s mom) of dark passion.
Okay, maybe some parts of Ashe’s life were like a movie.
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Final Notes: For the longest time, I have been all “what if Ashe and Yuri were the Fox and Xanatos of Fódlan.” It’s just now that I was finally able to commit some of my goofy ideas to fic lol. Obviously, they’re both more ‘Robin Hood’ than Fox and Xanatos.