Tipped

The coffee looked blah this morning.

I knew it wasn't, I mean, Yakov always had thee best coffee.

"Are you sure you're getting enough sleep?"

I looked up from my stirring in the cream.

"Uh, oh, Yakov didn't use 'Sir' and has a 'that voice' again." I rested my head in my left hand as I teased.

Yakov put the spatula down and turned to face me with folded arms.

I covered my mouth. "Wow! And folded arms? Now I know I'm in trouble."

Yakov scowled. "Not kind of you to tease one who is worried. You have bags under your eyes that are worse than before and you spaced out at work yesterday. Christophe even called me directly to address his concerns."

My eyes widened as a smirk played on my lips. "Really now? Tell me, what did you tell my good friend?" I set the spoon aside.

"That I would take care of it, but then you dismissed me for the day,"

So he called before I made it home? I must've really looked bad.

Yakov turned back around to attend the scrambled eggs and toast. "Recover from this funk of yours and get back on track."

Yakov next set two plates on the table and joined me. "Not that you listen…Sir."

"You know me all too well old friend." I smirked before taking a bite as he opened the newspaper.

Eating in silence, my mind wondered what kind of food my little secret upstairs enjoyed.

Kelp? I snorted at the thought.

"Something funny?"

I shook my head and finished up my toast.

Yakov flipped another page. "Ah~ news today seems to be riddled with more bad news," he grumbled. "Can't seem to catch a break around these parts."

"Oh?"

"Yes, maybe you should take care to watch your back when you return late?"

I leaned forward, returning a hand to my chin, "why, Yakov, I didn't think you cared."

The Nikiforov butler grumbled with a slight cough. "You know I do." He muttered before he returned to stare at the paper.

Moments later, a muffled yipping could be heard from where we were. I was taking a long sip of my coffee, hopping I was hearing things.

Alas, it continued.

Yakov set the paper down. "What on Earth?"

The echoes of that dog continued and I really didn't want to deal with it.

Then Yuri came to mind.

Shit.

And yet I re~ally didn't want there to be a scene.

I got up and set my dishes in the sink. "I'll take care of Makkachin," I insisted, frankly, "thank you for breakfast."

The old man got up, surprised at my haste, but I paid no mind.

Approaching the door of my bedroom I had realized I hadn't shut the door all the way. It was out of habit as I always had allowed Makkachin to roam freely around the estate.

Oh no…

There that old gal was, digging at carpet while pushing at the bathroom door.

Yuri!

I pulled at the old girl's collar. "Enough! Makkachin!"

Bark! Bark!

With no patience I escorted her out of the bedroom and shut the door, only to immediately regret it as she kept barking while periodically body slamming against the door.

She doesn't know better…poor gal probably feels a little betrayed.

I brushed my hair aside. "Sweet Saints, its not even ten yet and its already a ruckus around here," I mumbled.

I pressed my ear against the bathroom door and knocked gently. "Yuri?"

Nothing.

Probably frightened again.

I knocked a little louder. "Yuri, its me, are you all right?"

A scrambled splashing is what I heard next. I took that as a 'come in' and twisted the knob only to find myself stumbling back onto the floor.

"Y-Yuri!"

His arms were tight around my neck and was already trembling.

"Seriously! It's just a dog!" I cried.

I looked between the bedroom door and Yuri.

Of course Makkachin barking right outside there isn't going to help. I rolled my eyes.

I placed my hands on Yuri's arms. "Let me go, Yuri."

"Shoo! Shoo!"

Oh no!

With a surge of energy, I rose up and half dragged a scared Yuri back into the room in haste.

"Victor," Yuri whimpered his head right in the crook of my neck.

Gah, I don't need this right now!

"I'll be back, just stay here," I hissed, putting a finger on my lips before I promptly shut the door and turned around.

And in the nick of time too.

"What on Earth is she doing out here barking?"

And he's mad. Great.

All formalities of employee and employer went out the window whenever he was mad.

Prolly because Father always let him, because he was usually right to be.

"And why are you leaning against the door like you've seen a ghost?"

I swept back my hair and pushed off the door. "Its nothing, I'm fine! Makkachin was being a pain and I just got her out of here."

Yakov stood in front of me, not buying it. "That pup," he pointed out, "has never been this worked up! Ever!"

"Yakov, would you please stop shouting?" I grimaced. "Too early in the morning for this."

"I'm gonna make an honest man out of you yet," Yakov insisted. "Tell me what you are hiding!"

"You think I'm hiding something?" I asked.

"I wouldn't have the gall to ask the heir of the family name if I couldn't read you like an open book. Now tell me so I don't have to listen to that horrible barking."

Knock. Knock.

I rolled my eyes to the heavens before I closed them.

Knock. Knock.

"Vitya…" Yakov warned dangerously. "Do not give me one of your excuses."

I glared at him, but then I found myself smirking back. "Oh? And if I had one, what would it be?" I facetiously replied.

Yakov pointed to the bathroom door. "Let the poor girl out of there and be a gentleman for once!"

My mouth hung open. "Wha? What?! Girl? What girl?"

"She may be trying to get off the streets, but she doesn't deserve to be locked in the bathroom!"

"W-What?!" I sputtered. "How dare you! I did NOT have a prostitute here overnight, thank you very much!"

Yakov's eyes widened. "Then a lady? That's even worse!"

"How can that be your second guess? Are you going senile?!"

Yakov leaned in close and whispered. "Do I need to sit down for a closet talk? I don't think my heart can take it."

"No~!" I pushed the old man back and stepped forward. I didn't knock him over but I almost wanted to.

"Just sit your ass down old man and shut it!"

Yakov plopped on the bed with folded arms and the biggest look of disappointment I'd ever seen.

I couldn't look at him. I looked around the room, shaking my head, trying to breathe, trying to come up with a reason Yuri was here that wouldn't make me look I deserved to be locked up.

"Look," I sighed, staring at the bedroom window, "it's a long story, but I'll get straight to the point."

Yakov remained silent.

I shifted in place, at first, unsure. "They," I point to the bathroom room door, "probably thought they could help clear up the situation, tired of us yelling right outside the door. Makkachin was upset because, you're right, I do have someone here, but not because they were here for…well that."

Yakov remained silent.

I took in a deep breath.

Great…he's not going to budge on this, sorry, Yuri.

I opened the bathroom door and poked my head in.

Yuri had wrapped a towel around his waist, having been ready to step out. He looked at me with sorry yet eager eyes, wanting to do the right thing.

I held up one finger. "One moment," I whispered.

I left and returned with a red button shirt and black, draw string pants.

Yakov remained silent.

Wordlessly, behind closed doors, I helped Yuri's arms into the shirt and left most of it unbuttoned before moving on to guide his legs into the pants.

I started to tie the strings. "Don't worry," I whispered, "he's all bark and no bite."

"Unlike the dog?"

"Very much unlike the dog," I encouraged.

Yuri grabbed my hand. "Sorry for getting you into trouble."

I looked at his hand in mine, a smile danced on my lips for a moment.

I didn't reply, instead, I led him out of the bathroom.

"Yakov, this is Yuri."

The old butler grabbed his chest. "I knew it! So this is a closet talk!"

"Stop being melodramatic!" I huffed. "Yuri, this old man is Yakov. Usually more tempered than the usually mild mannered dog around here, but, since both have gone nuts, I guess we might as well make things transparent."

"Vit-!" Yakov stuttered in protest before he corrected himself. "Victor. Why is this boy here?"

"Yuri is not from around here."

"Clearly."

"And he saved my life."

"What?!"

"I didn't bother you with it as it was late yesterday, but he saved me from drowning."

"The ice broke yesterday?! Oh my word!" Yakov took his intense gaze off me and looked at Yuri up and down. "My boy, thank you, but…are you homeless as well?" He asked, referring to the clothes.

I coughed and put a hand on Yuri's shoulder. "You can say that. He will be staying here until he can find a job in the city," I lied. "I owe him a favor so I decided to let him stay here until he can find his way…is that transparent enough?"

Yakov nodded. "Y-Yes…sorry…Sir."

The tension in the room broke. Thankful Yakov bought it, I began to breathe a little easier.

"All is forgiven." I gave a small smile.

"Yakov. "Yes, well, I may buy this story, some may not."

"Come on, it's not like we get many visitors," I huffed.

"Well that particular many are coming tomorrow night to visit."

"To visit?" Then I remembered. I put my head in my hand and groaned.

"What is it, Victor?" Yuri asked.

"My friend Chris, its his bachelor party."

"Forgetful as always this one," Yakov remarked as he walked past us. "Perhaps Yuri, as young as he is, can help me get this house ready?"

"I'll need to…uh talk to him first," I weakly replied.

Yakov didn't bother turning around. "Very well, Sir," he replied before shutting the door behind him.

With that I spun around on my heel and landed on top of the bed flat on my back. "Fantastic," I groaned.

"I'm sorry."

"Yuri," I groaned again, placing an arm over my head, "stop saying sorry."

I felt Yuri sit on the bed too. I peeked from underneath my arm and saw he had brought his knees to his head on the corner of the bed. Way away from me.

I felt the slightest tug in my chest.

NOTES:

Chapter titles are the worst, aren't they? XD Take them with a grain of salt. Lol

Please leave a review, let me know what you think! :D

Upcoming Chris x OC- sorry I am not paring him with the Mystery boy in ep 11 (Or am I? Dun, dun, du~n)