For YOI Royalty Week 2018.
Day 2: Star-Crossed.
"Yuuri, you look fantastic!" His mother cooed, trying but failing to hide her tears.
"Are you sure it isn't too much?" Yuuri twirled trying to see the back again in the full-length mirror.
"Stop moving, or I'll poke you." Viktor's seamstress really outdid herself. Her talent only being matched by her patience with the First Prince of Hasetsu. When Yuuri went to her on the verge of tears a week ago wanting to make even more alterations to his suit, she simply smiled and told him not to worry.
The original suit was white with royal blue accents; a perfect replica of Viktor's except for the colors reversed. They agreed simple was best until they returned from the Leroy wedding a few months prior.
King JJ's suit was a deep purple and completely decked out in sequence. Yuuri thought it was tacky, but Viktor fell in love with the way the suit caught the light and insisted his own suit be altered to sparkle as well. However, sequence and beading weren't enough. He wanted to outshine the Canadian King by having his suit embroidered with clear crystals that looked an awful lot like diamonds.
Yuuri hadn't meant to stumble on Viktor's fitting, but when he saw him in his blue bedazzled suit, he didn't want his own to look so simple anymore.
"It definitely sparkles." His father observed, "I think your betrothed will appreciate the alterations you made."
"Don't you think you should start calling him Viktor like the rest of us, Dad?" Mari teased, "In less than 24 hours he'll be your son-in-law."
Since presenting as an omega at birth, Yuuri had been betrothed to the alpha heir of the Russian empire, Viktor Nikiforov. Their union would end the feud that spanned generations between the two nations, finally bringing peace.
Each May, the two princes took turns spending the summer months at each other's kingdoms in an effort to get to know each other. What started out as a pleasant friendship grew into a passionate love that warmed the hearts of all those lucky enough to witness it. Finally, after twenty years of waiting, he was finally old enough to get married.
Yuuri couldn't wait to marry Viktor since it meant never having to part again. He hated autumn since it meant he would have to say goodbye to his beloved. After tomorrow, however, Yuuri would officially take his place by Viktor's side.
"Your Majesties, please forgive the intrusion, but Prince Yuuri is needed in the ballroom immediately." The beta guard burst into the room without knocking or bowing. Seeing the sheer panic in his eyes, however, trumped any thoughts of formality.
"Of course, just give me a moment to change." Yuuri began to shed his suit jacket handing it to the seamstress.
"There's no time. Please your highness, it's Prince Viktor." Yuuri felt his heart leap into his mouth as he nodded and followed the guard down the hall, half running to keep up.
When they entered the hallway to the ballroom, Yuuri could smell Viktor's pheromones radiating pure anger and the panic of the other servants inside. Yuuri hadn't bothered to check in with the preparations since Yuuko and Mila had assured him they had everything under control, now he wish he had.
Opening the door, Yuuri was overwhelmed by the need to yield to the angry alpha. "I'll handle this, Yuuri turned to the guard, "Get everyone out of here." The guard bowed, his relief evident as he made his way to the servants cowering in the back corner.
Trying to hold his breath, Yuuri made his way to his beloved while attempting to release calming pheromones. He was yelling at Mila, and even from where Yuuri was standing he could see the beta visibly shaking.
The reaction was instant, Viktor turned to face Yuuri, and his shoulders relaxed a fraction. "My love, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at your fitting with Dian?"
"I was, but one of the guards called me. You're scaring everyone Viktor, please try and calm down." Yuuri approached the alpha and took his hand, gently rubbing his arm in a soothing gesture. Viktor leaned into the touch until all traces of his previous anger began to fade.
"I apologize Mila. I know this wasn't your fault." Viktor's voice was soft and remorseful making Yuuri smile. To know he could calm his mate so quickly made him swell with pride.
Viktor never angered easily. He was a benevolent Prince that was known to keep a level head, while his uncle, King Yakov was known for his temper. Yuuri had only seen Viktor anger on a few occasions, and all were in defense of his omega.
"Again, your highness I apologize, but I swear I made every argument possible." Mila bowed low, her trusty wedding folder clutched to her chest.
"What's going on?" Yuuri looked between the two waiting for one of them to clue him in. Mila straightened and scurried out of the room when Viktor dismissed her; the ballroom now vacant except for the two Princes.
Although Yuuri knew the ballroom wasn't fully decorated yet, he couldn't help but look around in awe at how beautiful everything was coming along. Since adolescence, Viktor and Yuuri had discussed their wedding day in great detail. When the time came to plan the wedding, their decisions were easy and the vision they always dream of was coming to life before their very eyes. That only added to Yuuri's confusion as to what could have made Viktor so angry.
"Viktor, talk to me. What made you so upset."
"I'm sorry Yuuri. I should have never let myself get to that point. I'm thankful for whoever brought you here." Viktor pulled out one of the chairs and slumped down hands clutching at his usually perfect hair.
"You're starting to worry me. Please tell me what's going on."
Viktor looked up the anger from before visible in his beautiful blue eyes. "It's my uncle, he's insistent we proceed with the consummation ceremony."
"What!?" Yuuri blurted, "But I thought we convinced him otherwise."
"As did I, but it seems the King changed his mind." Viktor sighed, "As king, he has every right to demand it of us against our wishes."
"But my parents agree with us that the tradition is barbaric and shouldn't be required."
"Why do you think I got so upset? When your parents find out they may call off the wedding."
Yuuri was about to insist Viktor was wrong but paused. "They wouldn't do that to me. Both my parents know how much I love you. They couldn't."
Viktor clucked his tongue, "You forget this marriage is not just about our love for each other. Your father hates my uncle and would love for an excuse to start another war between our kingdoms."
"You're wrong," Yuuri tried to sound confident, but he was worried Viktor was right. "My father wanted peace, that's why he offered his only son as insurance this alliance would be successful."
"Yuuri, you were just an infant when the treaty was signed, so you don't remember the negotiations. I was young myself, but I remember the servants talking about it for months. Many took bets believing tomorrow would never come to pass."
Of course, Yuuri knew this. Although his parents had been in Russia for the last few days in preparation for the wedding, Yuuri knew they were tense, waiting for the ball to drop. "Do you know why your uncle is insistent against our wishes?"
"He believes your parents will declare war once the ceremony is complete," Viktor said through gritted teeth. "The consummation ceremony would ensure they couldn't."
Yuuri flinched, "They wouldn't do that."
"Your father mentioned it last night after you and your mother retired for the evening. He had too much to drink, and I think he tried to pass it off as a joke but my uncle took him seriously."
"This is a disaster." Yuuri wanted to march down the hall and throttle his father, but it was too late.
"I'm so sorry my love if I thought talking to him would change his mind I would, but I'm worried he'll only get angrier and call the whole thing off." Viktor looked defeated. Yuuri wracked his brain trying to come up with an alternative.
The doors to the ballroom burst opened.
Phichit and Chris came running in, panting from the exertion. "We heard what happened," Phichit said through labored breaths. "We… gah, I need to catch my breath." Phichit pulled out a chair and slumped down.
Chris was winded too but looked less tired than his mate, "I told you not to run, darling. You haven't got your energy back yet."
"Oh hush," Phichit slapped the alpha playfully. "We have a plan, but we don't have much time to get everything ready if you both agree to it."
Yuuri looked to Viktor who just shrugged, "We'll do just about anything."
Phichit's answering smile couldn't be described as anything other than diabolical. "I was hoping you'd say that."
Notes:
I didn't think I'd have the time to write for the YOI Royalty Week collection, but with my own wedding approaching and my best friends this weekend I couldn't let the opportunity pass!
Come say hi on Tumblr - dedicca. :)