Chapter 3: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
Because an impassioned Viktor is a distracting Viktor
Viktor had almost forgotten all about the incident in the courtyard earlier that day. All he cared about was that Yuuri was doing much better and he was pleased when no hint of anxiety clouded his omega's scent for the remainder of the afternoon. When it was time to pack up and leave he held Yuuri's hand as they walked out of the classroom. Georgi, Chris, Mila, Leo, and Phichit followed behind.
Viktor fished out the picture Phichit had given him earlier that day and showed it to Yuuri. "Look how it came out, our first photo!"
"Er…" Yuuri agreed that Viktor looked great. The alpha was really photogenic. Viktor was beaming in the photo with his right arm around the omega's shoulders. Yuuri's photographed self just looked wide-eyed at the camera in shock as he stood with hunched shoulders, body tilted a little awkwardly towards Viktor's due to the alpha's tight grip. He didn't think he looked good at all, especially with his blazing red cheeks. "It looks… nice?"
"You don't like it?" Viktor pouted and he turned around to Phichit. "Phichit, Yuuri didn't like your picture!" He said petulantly.
The beta laughed, as Yuuri sputtered, trying to think of words to reassure the alpha. "It would have looked good if Yuuri would just smile. But don't worry, I can take more next week! I just need more film."
"Okay!"
Mila, Chris, and Georgi looked over Viktor's shoulder to take a peek at the photo. "I think it looks cute!" Mila said. "You're good at taking pictures, Phichit."
"Thanks, it's my hobby."
"What do you take pictures of?"
"Anything and everything."
Yuuri smiled, "Phichit likes to take pictures of his hamsters."
"Hamsters are cute, I wish I had a pet," Mila sighed. They finally reached the doors and stepped outside. "See you next week!" She and Georgi waved as they made their way over to a bus. Phichit said his goodbyes as well with another promise to have enough film for their next photo session.
Yuuri turned to Leo. "Aren't you taking the bus today, Leo?" The beta usually joined Phichit home. He shook his head, "Not today. I'm going to be hanging out with Guang Hong. I'll just wait for him here. See you guys!" Guang Hong was one year younger than them. The two had apparently known each other all their lives since their parents were close business partners.
Viktor smiled as he gently led Yuuri off to the side of the path, allowing all the other students to make their way around them. He squeezed the omega's hands as he tried to think of what to say. "Are you sure everything's okay now?"
Yuuri blinked back up at him and gave a shy smile. "I think so. I just got scared that I got in trouble, that one teacher that came to us looked angry."
Viktor recalled the man Yuuri was talking about. It was Mr. Thompson, a chemistry teacher who was well-known throughout the school as a disciplinarian. He was the one who held onto Viktor when he tried to scramble after Yuuri when the omega ran off.
"Did… did you get in trouble?"
"N-not at all!" Viktor gave a disarming smile and swung their joined hands back and forth as they walked slowly towards the street. It was half true. Mr. Thompson did take him aside and told him off for "harassing" Yuuri, whatever that meant, and causing a scene. But after that no other teacher confronted him.
"Okay…"
Speak of the devil, Mr. Thompson was there talking to Viktor's grandfather in front of their car. They were still too far away to hear the conversation but it didn't take a genius to guess what they were talking about. Yakov groaned and rubbed his temples at something the teacher said, a habit he had whenever he got exasperated at something that Viktor did. Which happened all the time.
"Yuuri!" The omega turned his head to see his sister calling out from the backseat of Minako's car. The woman herself was sitting in the driver's seat and honked the car's horn in greeting. Yuuri was surprised when he saw Minako talking to Ms. Arena who stood on the sidewalk beside Minako's open window.
Yuuri stepped away from Viktor, "I have to go now. See you!" He waved as he walked over to Minako's car. Mari opened the back door and scooted aside so he could get in.
"I will see you Minako, we should catch up some more for dinner one time," Ms. Arena said. She turned to Yuuri as he walked over. "See you next week, Yuuri, have a great weekend."
"Bye Ms. Arena," he called as he got into the car. He still wasn't sure why she was talking to Minako. He closed the door and turned his attention to the front, meeting Minako's eyes in the rear view mirror. "Do you know Ms. Arena, Minako-sensei?"
"Yes I do, I graduated just one year ahead of her. We were friends in school. I honestly didn't even know she taught here, we lost touch in college."
"How was your day, Yuuri?" Mari asked.
He put his seatbelt on, "It was fine."
"So who's this Viktor I heard about?" Minako said, peering at him again from the rear view mirror with mischief in her eyes.
Yuuri stuttered. "V-Viktor?" What did Ms. Arena say to Minako? She said he wasn't in trouble! He looked more closely at Minako who was smiling that catlike smile again. It didn't look like he was in trouble though.
"Yeah, you see Steph-that's Ms. Arena's first name by the way, was talking about this charming young alpha in your year who said something very interesting during lunchtime today."
Yuuri looked down at his shoes and worried at the edge of his sleeves. He could sense Mari's stare beside him.
"Um… what did she say he said?"
"That's the thing. Unfortunately, Steph wasn't actually there when it happened. She just heard from the other teachers that there was this whole commotion in the courtyard during your recess when Viktor came to your group of friends and said something to you. It must have been quite the scene though, everyone's been going on about how cute you were!"
Yuuri blinked in relief. It looked like Ms. Arena didn't talk about the part where there were some teachers who didn't appear too happy. Or maybe she didn't hear from those teachers.
"Spill it, Yuuri," Mari was growing impatient, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Well…he said that he was my alpha and that I was his mate."
"WHAAAT?" Mari's mouth hung open in shock.
"Ohohoho, did he now?"
Mari placed a hand on Yuuri's shoulder so he would turn to her. Her face looked grim, "Is he bullying you, Yuuri? Tell me the truth."
"Bullying?! No! Viktor would never do something like that!"
"Woooow, just one week at your school and you already know him so well. So quick to defend your alpha!"
"Minako-sensei you can't be encouraging this," Mari reprimanded the older woman.
"Tell me more about this Viktor, Yuuri," Minako demanded, ignoring Mari. "Was he that silver-haired boy you were holding hands with?"
"Yes, that was him."
"He seems friendly enough. He looks positively charming actually. Very handsome. He also comes from a rich family judging by that Maserati he got picked up in." Minako pulled them to a gentle stop at the red light and took the opportunity to turn around in her seat so she can see the blushing omega. "You really know how to pick them well!" She winked.
"Minako-sensei!" Both Katsuki siblings called out at the same time. Mari in consternation and Yuuri in embarrassment. Yuuri groaned and placed his head in his hands.
"And that brings me to the other thing Steph mentioned," Minako's voice became more serious as she placed her foot on the accelerator again, the light had turned green. "She said you ran away and hid under some bleachers. Is everything okay?"
"Yuuri… did you have another panic attack? Did this Viktor scare you?"
"Nooo…" Yuuri moaned through his hands. Why was Mari-neechan always assuming the worst of Viktor? "It's just that everyone in the courtyard was staring at us. Everyone, even the teachers. And some of them…didn't look so happy," he confessed. "Even though Ms. Arena told me later that I wasn't in trouble. One of the teachers looked angry and he was walking up to us. I-I panicked then."
Minako gave a noncommitting hum, mulling the information over. "But how did you feel when Viktor said that he was your alpha?"
Yuuri turned to look out the window and watched the trees pass by in a blur. He never really took the time to process his feelings, being too preoccupied earlier with worrying about getting expelled. "Um...Happy, I think? Viktor's always been nice to me. He's nice to everyone, actually. I think he's popular too. I see a lot of people say hi to him in the hallway, even older students."
He smiled and began to babble, feeling that light feeling in his chest again as he recalled Viktor, "He has this really nice heart-shaped smile...he likes to hold my hand a lot and I like it because my hands are always cold but his hands are warm but not sweaty or icky. He also has this really nice scent. I also really like his hair, I think it makes him look very pretty. He must take really good care of it because it shines all bright when the light is on it and…"
Mari and Minako's eyes met in the rear view mirror as Yuuri went on and on about the alpha.
Well now… wasn't this something?
Viktor similarly was waxing poetic about Yuuri to Yakov. "My omega's the cutest omega in the entire class. No, the entire SCHOOL! Georgi thinks he's a little chubby but I don't care, I like it actually, it just makes it more fun to hug him!" Viktor kicked his feet in the air in glee and Yakov grunted at how the child's shoes scuffed the bottom of the dashboard.
"Yuuri has this really cute laugh too, I heard it all the way across the courtyard. I wanna hear him laugh all the time. He smells soooo nice, Deda, on his first day I knew I was already going to like him just from his scent. It's like the magnolias Papa used to get Mama. He also has the prettiest eyes, they're nice and brown but very rich. Like chocolate! Do you think he'd like it if I give him chocolate? I can give him some Cadbury, or do you think he likes Hershey's more?" Viktor paused in his monologue and waited for his response. When Yakov remained quiet the seven-year-old shrugged, clearly used to his grandfather's ornery behavior.
"Cadbury then. He's my mate after all so I'm sure he likes what I like too. He can be shy, but once he gets to know you he talks more, at least that's what Phichit said. Phichit is Yuuri's friend, by the way, we actually share the same classroom but I never really talked to him before since he sits way in the back. He took a picture of us after I told Yuuri that I was going to be his alpha from now on. Oh right, the picture!" Viktor gasped and reached down to retrieve it from his backpack. "Deda, LOOK! Isn't Yuuri cute?!"
Yakov yelled as a blurry photo obscured his view of the road. "BLYAT! Vitya, put it DOWN!" He shoved the boy's arm away as the car swerved slightly to the right. Thankfully traffic was light and there was no car in the lane beside them. He always thought he was going to grow bald taking care of his grandson, not die in a car accident!
Viktor looked heartbroken, clutching the polaroid. "You don't like it either? I don't think Yuuri liked it and I don't know why… do you think it's my smile? Is it too wide?" He leaned up and began practicing different variations of his smile in the side-view mirror.
Yakov swore he could feel a vein protrude in his forehead. It was going to be a long ride home.
Viktor gave a forlorn sigh that was really strange to see from a seven-year-old but he recovered very quickly. "But you know what? Yuuri's a really good artist too, you should see the picture he drew of us! Wanna see it?!" The young alpha was already reaching down his bag again.
Yakov panicked and quickly reached over to grab a hold of Viktor's arm to keep it down. The man did his best to keep the steering wheel steady but his movement still caused them to jerk slightly to the side. The car next to them honked and swerved away to avoid getting hit. "Not now, Vitya!"
"Fine..." The boy crossed his arms and sulked down in his seat.
A few seconds of blissful silence passed. Yakov breathed out in relief. And then...
"Did I mention that Yuuri has the cutest smile? I can't wait until Phichit takes another photo of us!"
Yakov pulled them to a stop at an intersection. The poor man rested his forehead on the steering wheel desperately trying to tune out Viktor's voice.
Forget a long ride home. It was going to be a long day.
Minako wasted no time informing Yuuri's parents about Viktor.
"Yuuuuuri-chan has an admirer~" Minako sang as they gathered around the table for an early dinner.
"Oh?" Hiroko perked up as she set their entrees down. "And who is this admirer?"
Minako was enjoying every moment and nudged Yuuri. "Come on, Yuuri, earlier in the car you couldn't stop talking about him."
"I did not!" Yuuri protested.
"Did too," Mari said, starting to fill her plate with rice and tempura. "You kept going on and on about him."
"So what is your admirer's name?" Toshiya asked beside his wife.
Yuuri's ears turned red as everyone looked at him. "Viktor."
"Is he a beta?"
"No, he's an alpha," Mari answered for Yuuri. "And get this: this Viktor kid said he was 'Yuuri's alpha.' But apparently he's nice. Or so Yuuri says."
"He is!" Yuuri insisted.
Hiroko giggled, "Ah I remember my childhood crush. They're such sweet things, aren't they?"
Toshiya turned to ask Minako, "How did you find out about this? I couldn't imagine that Yuuri-chan told you himself."
"He didn't, I found out from his teacher. Steph was one year younger than me when we went to Kubo together. I had no idea she came back to teach there. What are the odds that she'd be Yuuri-chan's teacher, right? She happened to walk by my car and I told her that I was picking up Yuuri-chan. She thought at first that I was his mom," Minako snorted at the idea.
"Well I'm glad that you're making friends, sweetie," Hiroko smiled at Yuuri. "I noticed over the days that you're becoming less and less stressed. That's good. Studying is important of course but so is having fun."
Toshiya nodded, "Yes, those are the memories you'll keep coming back to."
Minako laughed at his words. "Oh don't get me started on your college days, Toshiya! I still remember you getting drunk and dancing on the table at the campus center." The adults began to laugh at the shared memories. Yuuri was glad for the change in topic as he finally began eating properly.
Viktor on the other hand had no qualms talking about Yuuri. In fact, the moment Lilia opened the front door, he rushed forward to give his grandmother a hug and said, "Baba, I must tell you about my new mate!"
Lilia's perfectly trimmed brows furrowed as she changed her glance from Viktor's beaming face to her husband's sour expression. "Oh? What is this about a new mate?" She awkwardly patted Viktor's head. Physical signs of affection never came to her naturally.
Yakov muttered something unintelligible as he shrugged off his coat, passed it over to a maid and requested some wine. "I'm going to my study," was all he said before he went to the right wing, clearly not wanting to participate in the conversation. "…Almost got into an accident. Twice! Of all things…" was all Lilia heard as he turned the corner.
She decided to humor the child. "Alright then, Vitya, who is this mate of yours?" Viktor grabbed one of her hands and practically skipped down the hall. Lilia sped up her steps to match his speed.
"His name is Yuuri, and he's the cutest omega in the entire school! He's shorter than me, and he wears glasses. He's shy but very, very nice. He smells really good too! I told him that I was going to be his mate today. His friend Phichit took a picture of us, do you wanna see it?!"
Lilia's eyes widened as she took in the sight of her grandson in front of her. It was unbelievable.
Later that night when she was sitting up in their bed, Lilia placed a bookmark in her novel before setting it aside as she heard her husband's footsteps come closer. She watched as their bedroom door opened and Yakov stepped inside in his usual pajamas carrying a newspaper.
"You were in your study the entire day."
Yakov scoffed, "I needed the entire day." He placed the newspaper on their bedside table and turned off the lamp before he climbed on the bed.
Lilia blinked her eyes to adjust to the darkness as she felt his weight settle next to her. "This Yuuri that Vitya keeps talking about..."
Yakov groaned and turned away from her. "Please woman have mercy and do not speak that child's name again. Vitya couldn't stop talking about that omega, just leave it be."
Had it not been beneath her, Lilia would have snorted. "Yasha, the ride from Vitya's school to our house is only 25 minutes long. I had to listen to your grandson for two hours before I was able to convince him to go play in his room." Her husband's response was lost in his pillow. She reached over to place a hand on his arm. "Yasha, please."
The man relented and lifted his head from the pillow but did not turn over to face her. It was enough to satisfy Lilia. "Can't you see how happy Vitya is?" She pleaded.
"Yes. It's pretty clear."
"Whether or not this is just a passing childish infatuation I am happy that Vitya found a friend."
"Vitya's always had friends."
"Yes, but apparently this Yuuri is a special one." Lilia frowned and asked the question she's wanted to ask all day. "I thought you of all people would be relieved that Vitya's starting to be more like himself again."
Away from her view a flash of hurt passed through Yakov's eyes before he screwed them shut. "Of course I'm relieved. It's just…" his voice came out gruff and he opened his eyes once more. He stared angrily into the darkness. "It's because he should have been here. Vitya shouldn't need some small omega to bring him back. He should have brought Vitya back! Instead he just left, like the COWARD he is!"
Lilia began to feel tears at the corner of her eyes as she reached over to hug her husband from behind. She pressed her face against the back of his neck and grasped his hands. Yakov met her halfway and intertwined their fingers, holding them against his chest. The couple stayed in that position each lost in their own thoughts until they both fell asleep.
Thank you very much for all your reviews! This was originally supposed to be a 100% lighthearted chapter but I just had squeeze that wee bit of plot in. I had lots of fun though writing Yuuri and Viktor's monologues. As always, I look forward to your thoughts and comments.
