"The Mockingbird's Specter" (Fire Emblem: Three Hopes fic)

Title: The Mockingbird's Specter
Fandom: Fire Emblem: Three Hopes
Characters/Pairing: Yuri Leclerc/Ashe Ubert. Background Edelgard/Monica, Hubert/Ferdinand, and Shez/Byleth
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Not mine, anything mentioned here by name isn't mine
Warnings: Spoilers for Scarlet Blaze. Past alluded to CSA, canon typical violence, attempted SA. (I promise, this is angst with a happy ending.)
Notes: This is longer than I meant for it to be, but hopefully it's still good.

It was the beginning of the school year, which meant that Abyss was bustling with activity. That made Yuri’s day—more activity meant more money, which meant they could get better food for the inn and better clothes for the orphans. Between that and Aelferic rotting in prison, the only concern Yuri had now was if a student managed to find their way to the underworld. But he highly doubted a bunch of whiny little nobles would even want to get in the dirt, much less find the mysterious Abyss that merchants sometimes whispered about.

He froze, then hid, when he saw a figure in a school uniform talking to Abysskeeper. Yuri studied the figure. He didn’t recognize their features, which meant that this person was one of the few commoners accepted to the school. Yuri wondered what their story was. Although judging from that purple hair and easy attitude, he suspected this was the mercenary that had helped save the class of 1181 that even the Abyssians loved gossiping about. They carried a box nearly overflowing with baked goods, which explained why Abysskeeper hadn’t sent them on their way just yet. The treats smelled familiar. The baker had used spices that only grew in Gaspard territory… uh-oh. He needed to make himself scarce, and now.

“I know you!” A raspy voice cried out joyfully. Ashe dashed up to him before he could escape, quick on his feet as ever. “You’re Yuri from House Rowe!” The last time Yuri had seen Ashe this happy was when he found the one book in a series he was obsessed with when they were kids. “Hey, Shez! You have to meet my old friend, Yuri.”

Yuri schooled his features to pleasant neutrality as Shez, after handing the treats to Abysskeeper, approached them. “Hey, there,” he said to Shez. “If you heard rumors of a humble yet delicately beautiful creature cursed to live underground, you found your man.”

Shez frowned guiltily. “Actually, I never heard of you.”

“… Oh.”

“But you are easy on the eyes,” Shez assured him with a grin. “Although something tells me that you’re not quite as delicate as you appear, what with you carrying yourself like a mercenary and all.”

Yuri flipped his hair, which was still a little messy-looking, but was growing nicely now that Rowe was no longer around to insist that he cut it. “I may have a secret or two dozen in my past. Thanks for the treats, by the way. The little ones will love them.”

“Yeah, sure,” Ashe butted into their conversation. “Let’s get back to the part where you’re living underground.” He gazed up at Yuri, practically radiating concern. “Lonato told me you vanished after getting expelled. Why didn’t you come back home to House Rowe?”

“I’m not going back to House Rowe, Ashe.”

Ashe held out his hand. “If you need money for the transportation, I should have enough to—”

Yuri must have said no with more desperation than he realized. Ashe, Shez, and Abysskeeper were all looking at him, their expressions somewhere between shock and sympathy. He also realized distantly that he had jumped back when he had refused Ashe’s offer, putting a good distance between himself and the three of him. Oops. It would be hard to recover from this.

Yet Ashe recovered first. “You won’t go back, I promise.” His voice was gentle and his body language was neutral. Yuri allowed himself to relax a bit. “If you feel up to it, I would like to know why. But only if you want to talk about it.”

… Gwendal had known. He had beaten Rowe almost to death when he found out. Yuri could still hear Gwendal snarl The only reason you are still alive is because honor demands it. But if you ever touch him again, then honor be damned to Rowe in his dreams sometimes. Lonato had suspected. He had asked Yuri if he wanted to join House Gaspard as a knight more than once—and more than once Yuri had refused. Lonato had three children to care for, he couldn't afford to send Yuri to school as well. And he couldn’t give Yuri the pedigree he would need to seal his admission, either. Ashe had only been aware that he and Rowe argued, which had been a blessing in those dark days. Ashe had represented calm in a time when he was pitied or whispered about how he was a harlot who had seduced the Count (Rowe’s servant had definitely known).

And now Ashe was going to know, and Yuri would lose even that.

He almost wished they were fighting. Then he could snark, attack, and flee. But Ashe a good friend worried sick over him. “C’mon, let’s go to my dorm,” Yuri said, tone dull. “I’ll tell you why I don’t want to go back there.”

Ashed cried when he learned the truth because he was a crier. Yuri hated himself for it, but having someone cry the tears he couldn’t when he was younger meant a lot. What Yuri hadn’t expected was what Ashe said next.

“The next time I see Rowe, I’ll kill him.” Yuri wasn’t sure what was more startling: sweet little Ashe plotting murder, or the ghoulish tone in his voice. He was more like a vengeful specter than a student who liked reading and baking at that moment.

Maybe it was time to offer Ashe a little comfort in exchange. “Hey, now.” He placed a hand on Ashe’s shoulder. “I’m all for Rowe's murder, but I don’t want you to risk your future knighthood over that scumbag.”

That broke the spell as Ashe blinked at him. “You remember that?”

“Ashe, I play it cool, but I damn well remember you being the best friend I had back then.” Maybe ever. The Wolves came closest, but they hadn’t seen him that one time he had fled to Gaspard because he couldn’t take it anymore. Ashe hadn’t said a word as he cleaned the cuts from the tree branches as Yuri ran in the dark, made him tea, and let him sleep in Ashe’s bed that night. “Being a knight suits a cornball like you, so don’t do anything foolish and blow it on trying to avenge me. I can take care of myself.”

“If that’s how you feel, very well.” Ashe stared at his hands, green eyes sad. “I don’t know if you want to be touched right now, but if you need a hug, I’m here.”

He really was fine now, but Ashe clearly needed one, so Yuri held out his arms. Ashe clung to him, sniffling. Yuri allowed himself to stroke Ashe’s hair.

“I’m coming back tomorrow night,” Ashe promised as he pulled away.

“You don’t have to just for me.”

“I was planning to regardless.” Ashe managed a smile. “I’ve been coming to Abyss since I enrolled in the Academy. I heard some merchants talking about where you could get herbs cheaply, which I found quite interesting. I found Abyss, fell in love, and I’ve been helping out whenever I can ever since.”

Yuri frowned. “I’m the lord of the underworld and I never even caught a glimpse of you.”

Ashe shrugged. “If those rumors of the Church representative for Abyss getting arrested suddenly are true, I suspect you had other things on your mind. And you know how I like to keep a low profile.”

“Keeping a low profile is indeed Ashe culture,” Yuri agreed. “We should probably get back to your new friend.” Despite everything, Yuri felt unusually light. Ashe would keep his secret. Ashe was back in his life. Things were finally looking up for Regulus.

“Yuri.” Ashe was clad in his knight gear as he stepped into the dorm. “I came to say goodbye.”

Yuri let out a low whistle as he took in Ashe. “You’re looking good. Not as good as me, but who does?”

Ashe nodded in agreement. “Prince—I mean, King Dimitri was kind enough to make me a knight even without a title or formal education.”

“Pfft. You earned that title helping him take down Rufus and we both know it.” Yuri took Ashe’s hand. “Now go and live out your little cornball dreams.”

Ashe was crying and smiling at the same time. “Okay. I’ll visit as soon as I get leave.”

He never did get to see Ashe again, Yuri grumbled as he was separated from his people, his Wolves because Rhea and Seteth placed their security over that of Abyss when they fled with the Kingdom. Yuri couldn’t blame them, but he wasn’t going to count them as friends anytime soon.

Yuri was among friends again, which considering that he was trying to kill anyone serving the Empire just a few days ago, was a surreal experience. What was even more surreal was that Emperor Edelgard had made him a general after going on about how she’d heard about Rowe’s erstwhile heir trying to pay for his mother’s medicine. As someone who regretted not being able to save her own mother, she sympathized and wanted to help. It was way more than what the Central Church would let King Dimitri do for him, so Yuri took her up on the offer—even though his mother had sent him some scathing letters about betraying Rhea (Yuri had bought Mom a copy of Rhea’s likeness for her birthday, which she had him immediately hang on her wall, Mom was that much of a fan). Yuri chose not to tell her about Rhea abandoning the small community he had led. He was still mad, but couldn’t blame Rhea for choosing survival. And he wasn’t going to take away a source of comfort from his mother in her final years.

But Mom would come around, she always did. And the Wolves were here, and so was Ladybird. The only downside was siding with that damned Rowe, but one carefully worded conversation with Emperor Edelgard later, he had been assured that he would never have to even look at the Count. Mom would get mad if he said it out loud, but Emperor Edelgard was the best boss he’d ever had.

“I know you. You’re Yuri,” a raspy voice said.

Yuri had heard about Lonato defecting from the Kingdom to the Empire to avenge Christophe, and his son Ashe doing the same after someone had made the brilliant decision to send Ashe to kill Lonato for his betrayal. He just hadn’t expected to run into him, especially as the Imperial army was expanding thanks to their pact with the Alliance.

“Yeah, see, Ashe? Yuri’s here, just like I told you!” General Shez wrapped a friendly arm around Ashe’s shoulders as the two approached Yuri. “It took a little convincing, but you know mercs, they’ll serve anyone for the right amount of coin.”

“Well, that and you would’ve murdered me if I said no,” Yuri reminded the general, although there was no heat in his tone. Snark, yes. Heat, no.

“Yuri. It’s good to see you again.” Ashe was quieter and sadder than the last time Yuri had seen him. Yuri knew why, and he silently resolved to help out as much as he could.

“C’mon,” he said to Ashe, taking his hand. “Let’s go to my tent and you can tell me about what you’ve been up to, okay?”

To Yuri’s relief, Ashe smiled. “Okay.”

“Hey there, Yuri.” Ashe slipped into Yuri’s tent quietly, finding a seat on Yuri’s cot. “How are you holding up since the last battle?”

Yuri frowned, wondering why Ashe seemed so glum. He’d been down about having to defect for so long but seemed to cheer up when the Emperor not only approved his plan to help the orphans impacted by the last battle, but she also assisted him personally with his task. Ashe had been practically bouncing when Yuri finally got it through his thick head that Ashe really was worried about him, not just moralizing, and accepted him as his shadow for his clandestine deeds. Why was he suddenly so… oh, right. Yuri had a close call with the Church in their last scuffle. “Hey. I’m not dead, my face is fine, and I have a hot former knight in my bed.” He winked at Ashe. “I can’t ask for anything more.”

Ashe blushed but frowned. “Yuri, you need to be more careful. I worry about you.”

It really wasn’t fair. He was a grown man. Even his mother couldn’t tell him what to do anymore (not that it stopped her). If it was anyone else, Yuri would have brushed them off without a second thought. But Ashe had known him for so long. Ashe knew things about him that no one else did. And he was so damn sweet, even if he was corny as hell.

“Hey.” Yuri strode to Ashe, taking his hands as he helped him up. “Close calls happen in war.”

“I know, but—”

“Luckily for me, you saved me with that arrow to the knight’s neck.” Yuri squeezed Ashe’s hands. “Thanks for being there when I need it.”

Ashe suddenly looked very serious. Yuri wondered if he was going to get another lecture, but then Ashe blurted out, “Yuri, may I please kiss you?”

Yuri blinked—then broke out laughing. “Wait, don’t go, I didn’t refuse you,” he managed before Ashe, rejected, could slink away.

Ashe glared at him. “Breaking into laughter at a request tends to imply refusal.”

“Not this time, I promise.” Yuri took a deep breath to calm himself, then carded his hands through Ashe’s hair. “I just… of course you use a cornball line like that.” But Yuri loved those lines, and Ashe. “So, how about I make it up to you by kissing you instead?”

“I…” Ashe’s expression softened. His cool green eyes looked warm and dark in the candlelight. “I’d like that.”

So, Yuri kissed him. Then Ashe kissed him.

Then they did some other things.

“Loog?”

“Nope.”

“Pan?”

“No.”

“Kyphon?”

“Ashe, at this point, you’re not guessing my name, you’re just listing your favorite characters from books.”

“I can’t help it,” Ashe whispered, his breath warm against Yuri’s bare chest. “From what you’ve told me, your mother seems like the type to name you after a noble figure.”

“You’re not too far off, friend, but Mom’s not as avid a reader as you.” Yuri helped himself to a pastry, one of the benefits of doing it in the mess hall. He supposed Mr. Doom and Gloom would complain if he found them, but Mr. Doom and Gloom was currently in a love-hate thing with the new Prime Minister. The Emperor had announced her engagement to Monica. General Shez was sharing their tent with the Ashen Demon. Now that the war’s end was in sight, the higher-ups were hooking up, so they couldn’t really say much if two of their generals did the same. Besides, Yuri had his pants on and Ashe was snugly wrapped up in Yuri’s cloak. They were decent. Well, decent-ish.

Yuri swiped another pastry, offering it to Ashe. He must have thoroughly corrupted the former knight at this point because Ashe took it without a word. “Hey, Yuri.” Ashe rested his head on Yuri’s chest. “The Emperor must have told you about some of the nobles coming to camp later this week.”

“… Yeah.” One of them would be Count Rowe. “She also said that the Count is basically under house arrest while he’s here. He’s going to have his say about the peace treaty the Emperor and the newly minted King Claude are signing with King Dimitri, then slinking off to his castle until it’s jail time.” ‘Shockingly,’ the Count was under investigation for numerous other misdeeds. “Don’t worry your pretty little head, Ashe. I’ll be fine. Not to mention I plan to make myself scarce while he’s around.”

“Mm.” Ashe closed his eyes. “The offer to kill him still stands.”

“… What is it about me that leads to you talking about killing people? Aren’t you supposed to be the innocent one?”

“This innocent one betrayed his king and his friends to save his father. He doesn’t regret it, either,” Ashe murmured sleepily. “I’ll do what I must so I can uphold justice and protect my friends. As for you… well, let’s just say my public persona and what I feel inside are sometimes two very different things. But I can let my hair down around you.”

“You don’t say.” Yuri kissed the top of Ashe’s head. Ashe snored softly in reply. Yuri decided to let Ashe rest rather than wake him so they could head back home. If Mr. Doom and Gloom got mad, then oh well.

Just one more night and the Count would be gone, Yuri reminded himself as he bid farewell to his lackeys. The Wolves had offered to help, but Balthus was working for the Emperor now, as were the Shady Lady and Hapi. He wasn’t going to impede their lives now that they were moving up in the world. Besides, Ashe was shadowing him, and nothing got past him. Still, he was getting annoyed having to do his work outside of camp. Inns invited spies and the woods were too easy for assassins to maneuver in. They had opted for the woods tonight since Yuri had to deliver orders.

Yuri glanced up at the moon. Enough time had passed for the meeting to end and Count Rowe to be shuffled into his carriage. Good. “Hey, Ashe, let’s go.”

“Oh, we’re going,” Count Rowe said as he approached Yuri, “but that street rat archer won’t be joining us. I always knew he was a bad influence on you, little mockingbird.”

Yuri grabbed his sword in his right hand and prepared a wind spell with his left. “What did you do to Ashe.”

“Oh, I merely maimed him. He will need medical care, though,” Rowe ‘assured’ him. “But only I know where that trash’s body is. If you want him to be safe, come with me. I just want to talk.”

Shit shit shit… Yuri put away his weapon and spell. “Tell me where he is.”

“I will, once I get what I want. Mutual exchange, like in the old days” Rowe said reverently, gazing at Yuri in awe. “Goddess, you’re even more beautiful than I remember, my mockingbird. However, you need a haircut. I’ll do that personally, just like I used to.”

“Tell me where he is.”

But Count Rowe was clearly too entranced by the sight before him. “Oh, my pretty little bird, I missed you so much!” He reached out for Yuri.

Then he screamed as he was shot through each shoulder.

“Hi,” Ashe said, stepping out of the shadows. “I heard someone was looking for me?” If Yuri wasn’t so rattled, he would have made a comment about how Ashe seemed to love dramatic entrances even more than the lord of the underworld. For now, he simply took out his blade again. Ashe was safe. Yuri would die before he went back with the Count.

Now Rowe’s attention was turned to Ashe. “You filthy street rat!” His eyes were wide with pain/fury. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?!”

“I saved my friend, duh.” Ashe had picked up some Abyssian slang from Hapi. He aimed another arrow at Rowe. “If you get up, I’ll kill you, by the way.”

“It’s you who’s scheduled for the executioner’s block, you filth,” Rowe spat back. “I never should have let a common thief near my precious mockingbird—especially one who’s thrown away his life by trying to kill the man who’s helping that joke of an Emperor save the Empire after she signed that treaty that ties our hands! How—how are you even still alive?!” Yuri’s hand twitched on his blade’s hilt. So, this bastard wasn’t even ‘playing fair’ anymore. He had tried to kill Ashe so he could get Yuri back…

Ashe looked down at Rowe coolly, silver hair glinting in the moonlight, giving him an otherworldly air. “Constance was kind enough to share with me her latest breakthrough. A charm modeled off of the Hexlock Shield that augments one’s ability to resist magic. Between that and some theatrics I learned from my days as a ‘street rat,’ it was easy to fool you.” Ashe’s eyes were bright with fury, and Yuri was reminded of the specter he’d met years ago. “I took a vow to kill only when necessary. Frankly, I believe your death is necessary to protect Yuri and so many others.” Rowe screamed and Yuri froze. What was Ashe going to do next?

Ashe was going to keep talking. “However, I made a promise long ago not to risk my future over scum like you. But don’t celebrate just yet, Rowe. You will pay for your crimes.”

Rowe smirked through his pain. “You pathetic child. Do you really think anyone would believe a filthy traitor like you?!”

“You should talk—” Yuri snarled, but Ashe gave Yuri a look. Yuri shut up. It was clear that Ashe had a plan.

Ashe smirked back at Rowe. “Of course they wouldn’t take my word at face value after I attacked you. No rational person would. That’s why I brought my new friend. Hey, Hubert? You can come out now.”

… If Ashe had stepped out of the shadows, the shadows seemed to coalesce around Hubert von Vestra as he casually approached the group. Yuri could have sworn that there was a chill in the air as Hubert grinned toothily, eyes glinting. “Hello,” he said to Rowe. “So, what was that about the Emperor being a joke?”

Rowe looked like he was going to pass out. He tried to get an apology out, but Hubert held up a hand.

“I recommend not saying anything else. You are, after all, going on trial soon. It seems that the new Prime Minister has discovered that you are a serial tax evader in both the Kingdom and your brief stint as an Imperial noble. Both our Prime Minister and King Dimitri would like to talk to you personally.” His grin broadened. “I’m positive that Ferdinand’s investigation will find further misdeeds.” Hubert glanced at Ashe. “Please escort Yuri away from all this. My people and I will handle the rest.”

“Already on it,” Ashe promised Hubert. “Thanks, Bert.”

“I’m fine,” Yuri said as Ashe helped him back into their tent.

“I know,” Ashe said as he started making tea.

“It was an exchange. I scratched his back, he scratched mine.” Yuri collapsed on the bed. “I’m fine.”

“I know.” The little kettle whistled. While the tea was steeping, Ashe collected some dried fruit and nuts.

“I got what I needed from him.” Yuri curled in on himself. “I’m fine.”

“I know.” Ashe placed the tea and food on the stool that served as Yuri’s night table. Then he held out his arms. “But if you need a hug, I’m here.”

Yuri grabbed him and hugged him for all he was worth.

“Yuri,” Ashe whispered, stroking his hair. “If there’s anything I can do—”

“Don’t call me Yuri.” That was his name when he was with the Count. “At least for tonight. Could—could you call me Regulus instead?”

“Sure. Is ‘Reg’ okay for a nickname?”

Regulus rested his forehead on Ashe’s shoulder. “Yeah. It’s perfect.”

“So,” Regulus said once he’d had some tea, food, and felt vaguely safe again, “Could you explain the Bert thing?”

“Ah, that.” Ashe took a sip of his own tea. “Hapi calls him that, and I guess I’ve known him long enough that I feel comfortable enough using the nickname as well.” He took another sip. “Bert hasn’t killed me yet, so I guess he doesn’t mind. He’s actually quite nice once you get to know him.”

Regulus chuckled. “Of course you befriend the prickliest people here.” It seemed to be a talent of his.

Ashe smiled at Regulus. “I’d do a lot more to keep you safe.”

Final notes: Like with a lot of my AsheYuri fics, this was originally going to be mostly about the two of them. However, I wound up exploring how they might have met in the Academy phase for Three Hopes and what life might be like for them on the Scarlet Blaze route as well as the conflict. I really liked Scarlet Blaze, but I don’t often write fic for that route since the body count is so high. :( So, I tend to stick with Golden Wildfire (I loved the story and IIRC, it has the smallest body count, at least for the students.)

I have headcanon-ed that Ashe and Edelgard would get along well for some time. They’ve both had tough pasts, will resort to extremes when needed (Edelgard a little more than Ashe lol), and have a love of nature. One of these days, I’ll write some friendship fic for them.

Ashe and the Bert being bros was more ‘spur of the moment.’ I wanted Hubert there to back Ashe up, but as I kept writing, I realized that another prickly person was standing right there for Ashe to befriend, so he did. :)

Finally, I don’t know if anyone is interested, but I do have a Neocities page where I’m in the process of archiving most of my fic. So, if for whatever reason you want to read my fic at places other than Ao3, there you go. It’s still very much a work in progress, but all of my AsheYuri fic is there. Here is the link: https://gingayellow.neocities.org/fanfic/asheyurifanfic