Late Catchall is Late

[wolfstrike]

Characters: Yuri Lowell and You
Date: The month of March
Location: Keeliai
Situation: A little bit of this and that.
Warnings/Rating: None at the moment.


The month of March sees many ups and downs for Yuri. His relationship with Dove was moving to a different level. Brave Vesperia was getting new members. The mess regarding Milyn's past was just that, a mess. Among various other things. He mostly kept himself preoccupied with the guild, and was avoiding theJagaiz rings when he learned of Chihuelans showing up. He also found an interesting metal ore from home that he had one of the Metalworkers refine for him.

Yuri can possibly be found most anywhere, but mostly in Keeliai this month. Not Hatal as much as the last month.

Closed to Dove
Yuri had heard the radio announcement that Milyn had seen stabbed. He also caught that Dove was rushing to the scene. Good. If anyone could save the Cherrywood Healer, it would be her. His confrontation with Milyn had left a bad taste in his mouth. But she sure as hell didn't deserve this.

He waited near a console and the radio for news. When it came, Yuri was in shock. Milyn was dead? And then the anger crept in. He hurried home, getting upstairs just in time to see Dove coming out of the shower.

"What the hell happened out there?!"

Comments

[ironrule]

No one saw Yuri on the roof. No one saw Yuri drop down from the roof. No one had any reason to pass near the secluded alley where Yunxu was currently within seconds of losing his life.

No one, that was, apart from patrolling Snakes.

Yunxu's chest burned with a fiery pain he hadn't felt in years; it robbed the strength from his legs and his arms, clouded his vision, made him slide slowly down the wall to the ground. He scraped together the wherewithal to look up at Yuri, forcibly blink the world into focus, look - despite his usual control - afraid. Then he cried out, his voice ragged and hoarse.

Seconds later, there was a shout from the end of the alley, and a gunshot. The shot went wide, deliberately so - a warning shot to scare off what looked like an ordinary mugger. That changed when the group of three Snakes came a little closer and recognised Yunxu.

The second gunshot was immediate, and aimed right at Yuri.

[wolfstrike]

And then Yuri brought his sword down, seemingly ready to relieve Yunxu of his life. But as the man cried out, the blade stopped mere centimeters from Yunxu's throat.

The sword was then lowered as right on cue he heard footsteps coming, reaching out a hand to the fallen Kedan. "Hey, you all right?" Yuri asked of Yunxu, loud enough for the approaching Snakes to hear. Just before the warning shot went out. He then took a step back, only to have another shot directed right at him.

They didn't really have guns in his world. But Yuri knew they existed here. He didn't dodge the bullet, but moved just enough so that the bullet wouldn't pierce anything vital. Instead lodging into his right shoulder. Yuri cried out and fell to the ground. Dropping his sword and clutching his wounded shoulder.

"H-hey, is this any way to thank the guy who just saved your boss's life?!"

[ironrule]

Yunxu would have been lying if he'd said he didn't feel any vindictive satisfaction at the bullet piercing Yuri's shoulder. The fact that he could barely see it and his whole body was shaking, however, took some of the enjoyment out of it.

The Snakes didn't pay Yuri's objection any attention. The gun came up again. Another click of the trigger, but no accompanying gunshot, leaving Yunxu to idly wonder what the rest of the bullets had been used on while the Snake deftly ejected and reloaded. With a surge of effort, Yunxu pushed himself a few centimetres up the wall and said, "Wait."

Older training overrode new instincts. Yunxu had given an order; everyone stood still.

Yunxu looked at Yuri. His gaze was as impassive as someone who'd just been slashed across the chest was capable of. He didn't say anything, however, and after a moment it became clear he was waiting for Yuri to explain.

[wolfstrike]

Yuri had gotten some satisfaction himself seeing how the mighty Yunxu had cringed under his blade. Now it could be said that they were even.

Yuri stared up at the gun leveled at him unflinchingly. Though his teeth were gritted in pain as the bullet had shattered part of his collarbone. His hand and shirt getting soaked in blood from the wound. His right arm limp at his side. However, when Yunxu told them to wait, Yuri saw his chance.

"Geez, you'd think your guys would be better at protecting you after Milyn was murdered. Or did you guys not hear about that? Lucky thing I was nearby, or your boss would be a dead man right now. Someone's out to get him too."

[ironrule]

Yunxu's dislike of Milyn was not a secret within the Snakes. The mention of her death more than anything else was what made the Snake holding the gun turn to look at Yunxu, surprise on his face.

Yunxu hadn't taken his eyes off Yuri. A silence stretched out. No one but Yunxu moved a muscle, and even Yunxu moved as little as the injury would allow him, breathing shallow, the wall behind him a physical support.

Then he let out a breath, swallowing visibly against the pain. "Thank you," he said. "I'm... surprised a Foreigner would go out of their way to help me, but - " The sentence ended in a choked gasp, and the nearby Snakes snapped out of their reverie.

Two lifted and supported Yunxu's weight between them. The third holstered his gun and looked back at Yuri, expression unreadable, before nodding. "We'll take it from here."

[wolfstrike]

"Yeah well... maybe we're not as bad as you think," Yuri said in a slow strained voice, but still managing a cheeky little grin. But that was soon wiped off his face as Yunxu's strength seemed to be giving out.

With a returned nod to the Snake, Yuri carefully rose to his feet, letting go of his shoulder to instead pick up his sword. Letting the Snakes take care of Yunxu, Yuri stumbled through the streets towards home. Hopefully he wouldn't pass out on the way there.