They reached the stable in silence, the other man looking around wondrously, as if he had never seen the Palace he claimed to be the heir of.
Victor cleared his throat and attempted to do the same for his conscience.
"I believe the garments we can change into are there," Victor said, pointing to the bags hidden behind the neighing line of horses.
At Victor voice the horses whinnied louder, peeping further out of their stalls to try and get a glimpse of Victor. Victor smiled, this time out of fondness.
"They know you." The man said, a wondering tone, somehow his tone implied a query that didn't ask for an answer; wanting them, but wanting to find them independent of outside influence.
Victor stalled. He could pretend he didn't know them, forestalling the inevitable realization….
Victor's mental machinations were cut off by a slobbery warmness that butted against his hand.
Victor sighed, but nonetheless patted his faithful steed who had given away his master's strategy before it had even begun.
"Greetings my beautiful boy." Victor crooned, patting the black head adorned with a white star.
A gasp filled the air.
Victor turned to look at the other man, who was staring wide-eyed at the horse currently nudging Victor's pockets, probably looking for hidden apples.
"That - The star on his head, the blue eye, and the ox-head brand on his haunch… that's Bucephalus."
Victor laughed uncomfortably at the tone wrapped in shock and awe, wondering how he was going to talk himself out of this one; he decided to assess the information on the other side first, "Heard of him, have you?"
The way the man's head shook incredulously would have been comical if his act wasn't at the danger of being found out, as he stumbled out "Heard of - That's the Megas Basileus's horse! Even a fool living solely in the company of ants has heard of the most famous horse in history."
"You're very, um, creative with your words." Victor said weakly, mind still racing.
The man stepped forward in his eagerness, only to step back hurriedly when the previously docile horse snorted threateningly in his direction.
And damn if those brown eyes didn't look so damn injured.
Victor bit back a sigh.
Mila was going to have his head for this.
Victor beckoned the man to stay where he was with his hands, saying, "It's alright, Bucephalus is just… a tad testy around night time. It's nothing against you, personally."
The man settled back on the soles of his feet, now looking more enthused than hurt - thank Zeus for that - and rambled, "Of course! I should have known, silly me. Everyone knows the tale of how the Basileus tamed him. I was just being careless in my excitement, for you see, I have never seen a horse before him."
Victor blinked, his keen instincts giving up in the face of such absurdity, never seen a horse before? Where had this man grown up, in a dungeon?
But, on seeing the earnest look in the other's eyes, Victor decided to play along with the farce, saying, "Oh, then it's your lucky day to have your first be someone as fine as Bucephalus here. His breeding is from the best Thessalian strain."
The other man nodded eagerly, and said, "I am lucky. Both to have had the opportunity to meet Bucephalus, as well as a stable master as accomplished as yourself."
Victor's brain stalled.
"Pardon?" Victor said politely, despite his brain having decided to not participate in the conversation any longer. It wasn't the other man's fault Victor's brain had misheard, phony or no, he deserved at the bare minimum, some politeness.
Only… the other man's face was alight with sincerity, "That's who you are, correct? For it is known that no one other than the Megas Basileus could seat Bucephalus. It would make sense for the only other person to be the Basileus's stable master, and given how much he likes you… Have I offended you in some way?"
Victor smiled brightly, forcibly wiping away the incredulous face he must have been making. Gods, the lengths mortals will go to deceive themselves about something that is right in front of their very eyes.
But unknowing or not, the other man had just provided Victor's cover for him.
The gods take, but the gods also give a way.
"No, none! I was merely impressed at your deduction skills." Victor said brightly.
"Oh! That's a relief, because for a moment you looked… no matter. I was right though, you are special! For no one else who works as closely with such magnificent animals could be anything but!" The man said happily, shooting longing looks at Bucephalus.
Victor clenched his fist in protest.
Oh, what does it matter now.
Victor said, gentler than before, "You said you know how the Basileus tamed Bucephalus, can you perchance recount it for me?"
The man - if it was possible - brightened even further, and with a tone of someone delivering a bedtime tale to a babe, said, "The Basileus noticed that Bucephalus was scared of shadows, and that was why he was so distressed. He first spoke soothingly to the horse, all the while turning him towards the sun until he could no longer see his own shadow, and divesting himself of his own cloak. Thus, Bucephalus, no longer afraid, was tamed by the Basileus, a feat no man had achieved before, which the Basileus succeeded at at the age of twelve."
Victor fought the urge to redden at the admiring tone, and continued, just as gently, "Precisely. Move away from the light, your shadow is scaring Bucephalus. That's why he snorted at you. Go towards the wall, where the light won't hit you, and walk towards me."
The air seemed to shimmer with the other man's hope, as he quietly did as Victor instructed, flattening himself against the wall and walking towards Bucephalus and Victor, Bucephalus paying him no mind.
A hush fell as the man finally stood before a disinterested Bucephalus.
The man didn't move, choosing to stare wide-eyed at the horse. Clearly unclear of his next move.
At the sight of the confusion, Victor carefully took the other man's hands, repressing his initial surprise at their softness - like they had never held a sword - and placed it lightly upon Bucephalus's head, right over the white star pattern.
Bucephalus snorted, this time with less hostility than before, and abandoned Victor to sniff at the other man's pockets, drawing a (adorable) squeak from the man at the movement.
Victor felt warmth curl up in his heart as he watched the other man pet his favourite horse and childhood friend with non-covetous awe, watching the horse like someone laying eyes on the sunset for the first time.
"You know, in my head, I had always imagined horses to be huge, lumbering beasts of war. But he is quite remarkable, and beautiful, isn't he? The Basileus must be gifted with extraordinary empathy to be able to recognize a creature in pain, when the rest of the world only saw danger." The man whispered, still cradling Bucephalus's head.
Aw, damnation.
Victor The Great, Megas Basileus, Warrior, Macedonian, and now apparently, Stable Master.
Oh, how Yakov would laugh when he heard of this absurd tale.
"You should really be getting out of those clothes, lest you catch a fever tomorrow." Victor said stiltedly, unable to understand the emotions toiling within him.
The man laughed, a soft, marvelous thing, saying, "I will, in a moment. Just a moment more, if you please."
Victor resisted the urge to tell him that he would be happy to stand here all night with him, if he wanted, and he stood with him in the quiet bubble they had found themselves in. Until, finally the man broke away with a musical laugh, stepping back.
"I'm ready now."
Victor mentally shook himself, dispelling the fog that had sunk into his mind, and reached for the bag near Bucephalus, saying, "Fortunately for us, the Macedonians left their luggage here after the battle. This means we have garments to change into. Here. Take this one."
The other man stepped back, looking alarmed, "But won't they be upset at us stealing their clothes?"
"I imagine we need them more than they do at this point. The moral high ground is on our side, I assure you. Here."
The man took the clothes, eyeing the ornate work on it. Victor stayed silent and firmly didn't tell him that he was currently changing into the Basileus's own clothes.
He instead pulled out another pair for himself.
Unashamed of their nudity, in true Greek fashion, they started undressing in front of the other.
Victor sighed as he was met with great difficulties trying to unclasp his robes, the water making the expensive garment heavier and cumbersome.
"Would you like some assistance?"
"How should a man be capable of grooming his own horse, or of furbishing his own spear and helmet, if he allows himself to become unaccustomed to tending even his own person, which is his most treasured belonging?" Victor said wryly.
The other man laughed, turning away, back to Victor, kindly looking away as Victor struggled to escape his threaded prison, and said, "If you say so, but help is near, if you find yourself undone by your clothes."
Victor smiled at the imagery, shaking his head.
The man started pulling off his top.
Victor emerged victorious, and not to be undone in any battle, be it by sword or by tongue, quipped "Yes well, you will find that - "
Victor stopped short, eyes catching on the birthmark of a wreath on the other man's exposed right shoulder.
The man turned back askance, at the sudden silence, catching Victor's wide eyes with his own.
Victor was very aware of his breathing.
"What? No answering quip. Have the cloths finally defeated you?"
Victor fought to keep his emotions out of his face, internally reeling, half-hearing what Yuuri - for this was Yuuri Katsuki, Heir to Hasetsu, of that he was now sure - had just said. He wondered what he should do next: kill Yuuri as he stood, vulnerable and alone, to strengthen his claim to Hasetsu, or…
The Basileus must be gifted with extraordinary empathy to be able to recognize a creature in pain, when the rest of the world only saw danger.
Victor smiled back.
"There are so many worlds and I have not yet conquered even one. Not even the one in the realm of silk and cotton." Victor said.
Yuuri laughed, throwing his head back, exposing his throat, "I'm think a man like you could conquer anything he wished to conquer." He said, amusement lacing his tone.
Victor raised an eyebrow, "You think?"
Those eyes warmed, leaving Victor feeling like he was being watched after by a benevolent sun, and Yuuri said, fondness and certainty mixed with emotions it was surely too soon to be feeling, "No, I know."
They looked at each other, Victor content to not move and return to a place where they would no longer be able to exist unquestioned. Victor had always considered a world with questions to be the only one he wanted to live in, but now...
Bucephalus whinnied, the sound gently knocking at the door to the new world Victor had just been introduced to.
He emerged, different from who he had been before he had entered it.
"I hope I can borrow some of your courage, for I am to attempt some conquering myself." Yuuri said softly, determinedly.
Victor, knowing just who Yuuri intended to conquer, just said, softly, truthfully, "I'm sure no one has the gall to refuse you anything, Beloved. If they do, come and find me, you'll find that I'm a worthy ally to keep. Now, Let us conduct ourselves so that all men wish to be our friends and all fear to be our enemies."
Yuuri smiled shyly, and ducking his head, said "Thank you for your support. I will carry it with me as I charge onto my personal battlefield."
Victor smiled, knowing the moment of truth was very near, and said lightly, "You sound like you're saying your farewells, Beloved."
Yuuri looked back with determination and nodded, bowing, "I must take my leave, reluctant as it may be. I hope that you… I wish you the best of health. Be well."
Victor echoed the farewell, softly, eyes trailing the boy as he walked away, towards the palace.
Victor wondered what Yuuri had been about to say before he changed his mind. He wondered if it meant Yuuri had, just for a moment, wanted to stay in an unquestioning world as well.