Summary: It's not that Ashe has other friends, it's who the friends he left behind are and who Yuri is, and whenever he hears how great those friends are he feels worthless.
He wakes up in a small cell, wrists bound together so tightly he can feel the individual fibers of the rope digging into his skin. He hears voices, the bandits who'd ambushed his group during a routine scouting mission; usually Yuri would be the first to escape unless he was covering for someone, but everyone else seemed to have their backs covered just fine.
The one person he'd have covered for had asked to switch places with Raphael, and in hindsight it was entirely Yuri's fault.
"Don't talk about them that way! I know you hate chivalry and goodness, but they were my friends!"
"Your friends stand for everything wrong with the nobility, they're just a bunch of rich snobs with Crests and the only let you eat at the cool kids' table with them because you're a good boy with good manners. If it were me-"
"You didn't know them, you never knew anything about them."
"All nobles are alike, you were just their little toady. Their pet urchin, they just wanted some poor kid to look down on and now they're probably glad you're on the other side so they don't have to deal with you cramping their stupid style."
Ashe looked as if he'd just been punched in the face, Yuri knew he couldn't take it back, but before he could start to apologize Ashe turned around and left.
It was pure butthurt jealousy, plain and simple. Even after siding with the Federation Ashe couldn't shut up about his old Blue Lion classmates, how chivalrous and gallant they all were, how wonderful knighthood had been. Every day he'd recount something Felix had said, a book Ingrid liked, Dedue's favorite flower.
It's not that Ashe has friends other than Yuri, not by a long shot. It's one thing to see him in the kitchen reminding Raphael that he's supposed to season the food before he cooks it, or fishing with Petra. But King Dimitri and his friends have always seemed like this perfect untouchable clique of amazing. People who'd never let a guy like Yuri sit at their lunch table.
They're all so perfect and brilliant, everyone loves them, and I'm just trash.
He doesn't even try to struggle against the ropes. He knows he's got to get out of here sooner or later, but right now he feels so stupid and guilty he can't muster the energy to-
"Yuri!"
A lock clicks, the cell door pops open, and Yuri squeezes his eyes shut. He knows who it is, who's leaning over him to untie the ropes, probably holding out a hand. He turns away, letting his arms fall to his side.
"Why'd you save me?"
"You really need to ask that? Come on, the guards won't be counting their loot for much longer." Yuri opens his eyes but still won't look at Ashe as he follows him out of the stronghold and back towards camp. I insult your friends, mock you for missing them, and you still go out of your way for me.
They get back to camp and Ashe pulls him into the tent to examine his wrists. He didn't struggle, but the ropes were still tight enough to leave burns. Ashe rubs them all over with aloe salve and carefully wraps them with bandages to keep them clean.
"There."
"Why did you save me?" Yuri asks again. "You were so mad at me you didn't even want to be in my scouting group."
"I was, at first," Ashe murmurs, "but then I felt guilty and I didn't think I could face you."
Unbelievable.
"You felt guilty?"
"Something else was bothering you, and I just accused you of being a jealous idiot insulting my friends." Ashe hugs him. "I'm sorry, Yuri, I know I never shut up about Ingrid and Dedue and the others when you're right here."
Unbe-fucking-lievable.
"You're right, though. I am jealous, I know they're actually really great people and I'm just a bitter street rat who knows he'll never measure up," Yuri mutters. "I go on about how we're not so different in how you stole and I steal but you had the brains to feel guilty about it. I act all proud of what I do, they'd hate me."
Ashe hugs him tighter.
"No they wouldn't. Really, for all I gush about them they're not perfect." He whispers. "King Dimitri eats grass sometimes."
Yuri almost laughs.
"That's not the same."
"Look, the point is...I'm sorry I didn't stop to think how you might be feeling. I'm the guy who always wants to hear someone's story before I judge them, and I stomped off like a child before hearing you out." He takes one of Yuri's bandaged wrists and kisses it gently. "You're important to me, Yuri. That's why I saved you and why I'll always save you, even if we argue."
Yuri exhales, the tension slowly leaving his body as he sags against Ashe's chest. Of course he will, he knows Ashe would never leave him behind, and it makes him feel even more stupid for ever having been jealous.
"I'm the one who should be sorry. I was a dick."
"Let's just say we're both sorry and let it go." Ashe's fingers card through his hair. "Okay?" Yuri smiles a little, closing his eyes.
"Okay."