Thank you so much Hearts' Abyss, The Kindly One, & MyOu LiFe for beta reading this chapter.

10

The Rapturous Morn

Despite Yuuri's promise, his hand wasn't holding Victor's when he awoke the next morning. Thanking God that Victor was still asleep, he hastily interlaced their fingers.

He was about to lie down beside Victor again when he heard a light, "I see someone cheating."

Victor winked at him.

When he'd loosened his fingers from their white-knuckled grip, Yuuri giggled and bantered, "For a good cause."

"But cheating nonetheless. And cheaters must be punished." Victor rolled over until he was on top of Yuuri, and then assaulted him with a barrage of kisses.

Feeling the indecent twitches in his loins, Yuuri interrupted his lover's affectionate 'punishment'. "Vic—mm—tor … will there be … mmh … enough time?"

"Aww, but Yuuriiii~" Victor whined, "I'd hate to leave you and the warmth of our bed." The adorable childishness of Victor's plea did not match the raunchy grinding of his hips against Yuuri's at all.

As much as Yuuri's conscience knew better than to overindulge in Victor's presence and neglect his duties, his loins continued to twitch with every provocative drag of Victor's crotch against it. With the sternest tone he could muster, he pushed the taller man to the side and chided, "We're in need of a shower, Victor. Off with you!"

Yuuri deliberately avoided glancing back at Victor, who was surely sulking at his rejection. Deep down, he was convinced that his resolve would crumble if he were to lay eyes on Victor's 'abandoned puppy' look. However, his strength was undermined by the way his legs shook feebly beneath him, and he quickly lost count of the times he almost fell as he wobbled towards the bathroom.

"Yuuri!" Victor sprang from the bed to catch him after one particularly worrying stumble. Panic laced his tone as he bombarded Yuuri with questions, "What have I done? Oh, dear! Forgive me, I've never been on the receiving end before, so I didn't—Is it still painful?"

"I can manage," Yuuri replied, swallowing his guilt—not only for reproaching Victor just a moment before, but for his present attempt to push Victor away. His lover's proximity brought a homey scent with it, which made it all the more difficult for him to refrain from inhaling every last whiff of it from the room. He had been hopelessly infatuated with Victor Nikiforov for the last fourteen years, yet how was it possible for him to continue falling deeper in love with every waking minute?

However, Victor refused to let Yuuri go. He wrapped his arms around Yuuri's waist and gently prodded him from behind, so as to prompt Yuuri in taking further steps while providing a solid support for him at the same time. There was nothing erotic in the gesture; if anything, it reminded Yuuri of a doe encouraging her newborn fawn to walk.

Once they were inside the bathroom, Victor even turned the shower knob for Yuuri and adjusted the temperature accordingly. Yuuri didn't have the heart to shoo him outside, so he allowed Victor to brush his teeth and shave at the washbasin. After just a few seconds, though, he had avert his gaze lest he lost his resolve.

The night before, Yuuri had marveled at the divine beauty of Victor's naked body. That morning, even after their intense love-making, he had willed his lover's resplendent figure to embrace him again. He could only hope that Victor was too preoccupied to watch Yuuri cleanse the remnants of dried semen from inside his crevices.

Luck, it appeared, had decided otherwise. The moment Yuuri turned around, he was met with Victor's smoky gaze directed right at his rear and Victor's erect length in all its full glory. He gasped but did not move to cover his eyes, for nothing could save him from this embarrassment.

Yuuri was not the only one who was taken aback. Victor apparently had not expected Yuuri to turn around at that precise moment either, if his widened eyes were anything to go by. Furthermore, his hand also missed the stubble he was supposed to shave, causing his razor to score a narrow strip across his chin instead.

"Victor, you're bleeding!"

Victor set the razor aside before proceeding to clean his injured chin with cold tap water. Next, he approached the shower stall, much to Yuuri's confusion and panic.

"Victor?" Yuuri extended his arms, reaching for Victor's chin with the intention of checking his latest wound.

A smoldering gaze flared in Victor's eyes as he caught Yuuri's wrists midway and held them in a dominating grip that made Yuuri's heart flutter in his chest. It was as though something had snapped within Victor, blowing his usual gentleness asunder like chaff before the wind when he delved in for an urgent and ravenous kiss. With the press of his face, Victor tilted Yuuri's head back, prying Yuuri's lips open with his tongue and inhaling a quick breath just before his lips fell upon Yuuri's.

As they kissed, they wrapped their arms around each other in a heated embrace. As his muscles relaxed and his body became pliant, Yuuri pressed his body as close as he could to Victor's. In response, Victor tightened his arms around him, shifting his weight ever so slightly to instigate friction between their lengths as he moaned and kissed him even more hungrily. His hands spanned and cupped Yuuri's soft roundness, contriving to torment Yuuri with incredibly intimate caresses that he ached to prolong.

How Yuuri wished to melt into Victor until their bodies blended together and they were one … but now was not the time! Breaking the kiss with a breathless gasp, he rested his forehead against Victor's.

"We really mustn't do this when we're pressed for time."

In lieu of offering Yuuri any verbal response, Victor abruptly released him, before approaching the toiletry rack behind Yuuri and fetching a bottle of liquid soap from it. Yuuri heard the bottle being pumped a few times, but before he could wonder at his lover's actions for long, he felt something nudge his rump. His breath hitched as he realized Victor's erection was coated with the viscous liquid.

He opened his mouth with the intent of chiding Victor, but the hardened member slid effortlessly between his slightly parted thighs, its pinkish tip caressing the base of Yuuri's sac in the process. Yuuri's body jerked at the sensation of Victor's length brushing against his genitals. When it grazed by him, tracking wet trails of early desire fused with shower water all over his own stiffening length, his legs instinctively came together, tightening the channel so as to obtain more friction between their bare skin. The sensation was far more titillating than what Yuuri had anticipated, for there was no pain; only pleasure.

All thoughts of reprobation vanished on the tip of Yuuri's tongue, superseded by a needy whine instead. He helplessly watched Victor thrust back and forth, fanning the unquenchable flames of desire that flared higher with every motion. As Victor's slick thighs repeatedly bumping against the back of Yuuri's, the latter found it even more impossible to stifle his moans. He savored every inch of the intense journey, from the way the hard ridges of Victor's flawless abdomen pressed so intimately against his back to the way his lover's soap-lathered palm began to stroke his taut manhood. Victor's other hand roamed down Yuuri's chest, where it playfully circumnavigated Yuuri's nipple and then pinched it between his thumb and forefinger. Yuuri lost himself to Victor—to his wondrous rhythm, to his addictive slickness and to everything his impossibly attentive lover made him feel.

"Yuuri, you're…" Victor spoke with such admiration that it took Yuuri's breath away. However, he did not finish his words; instead, he bit down on the sloping juncture of Yuuri's neck, eliciting a startled gasp from Yuuri.

Below, Victor's member pulsated more wildly, before spurts of pearlescent liquid jetted forth through the gap between Yuuri's thighs. Yuuri flushed at the sight of his partner's bodily fluids splattered across the floor, for this was the first time Victor had ever come before him.

"There," Victor panted raggedly. "You're mine and everyone at the troupe will see the proof for it."

Glancing back at his lover, Yuuri huffed and muttered, "You're impossibly embarrassing."

Instead of a verbal reply, Yuuri received nuzzles along the expanse of skin on his back. Within seconds, the nuzzles turned into kisses, which quickly wended their way down. Then Yuuri felt a clamp on the fleshiest part of his bottom. Although it didn't hurt, as Victor had covered his teeth with his lips, being bitten in a spot where no one would normally touch him was decidedly awkward for Yuuri.

"Victor!"

The bubbly giggles that escaped from Yuuri's lips only served to heighten Victor's enthusiasm as his chomps drifted away from his buttocks. He even went as far as to kneel and lift one of Yuuri's leg in his playful pursuit to mark his lover's body.

Then he moved to the front.

Leaning in, Victor drew the tip of his tongue across a more sensitive portion of Yuuri's groin. Yuuri gasped, but Victor proceeded to mouth at it regardless, brushing his lips across the tender skin and dragging more of his tongue up until he was nosing the flesh right below Yuuri's sac.

Yuuri had always been drawn to the sheer magnetism of Victor's charm. Hence, when he saw Victor shift until he was down on his knees, nuzzling into his crotch and glancing up―eyes hypnotic, cheeks flushed and lips slick―it was too much for both Yuuri's paralyzed mind and his throbbing, oversensitized flesh when it effortlessly slid into Victor's mouth. The kneeling man worked Yuuri's erect length deep into his throat over several heart-stopping moments, swallowing and pulling out again in a seemingly never-ending cycle of hedonistic indulgence. The mere intensity of it convinced Yuuri that Victor was actually going to suck the life out of him, right through his―

"Ahn~" Yuuri moaned. His hips rocked tremulously without his consent, pushing his length deeper into Victor's throat as his inevitable climax abruptly overwhelmed him.

Although Victor was choking a little, he continued to swallow around the column of Yuuri's flesh throughout the entirety of his peak. One of his hands kneaded Yuuri's thigh whilst the other clenched lightly around the shaft again, steadying the appendage as he licked its underside clean of a few pearly drops.

The universe became a whirl of pleasure as Yuuri stared, transfixed and trembling violently, down at Victor's lips. In response, Victor licked the tip again then ran his tongue across his lips.

###

Needless to say, they were very, very tardy for breakfast. The ship's crew had already cleared away the buffet food, but a member of the kitchen staff took pity of them and gave them each a piece of bread, a bowl of gruel, and an apple.

Afterwards, they visited Makkachin together and were greeted with enthusiastic barking as well as a shower of canine saliva.

"Sorry, we're late," Yuuri told Makkachin, grimacing a little at the stickiness on his shirt as he patted her head. "Are you hungry?"

Makkachin answer with a long lick across Yuuri's chin, which could have easily translated as "It's all right." or "Definitely! And you look scrumptious!"

"You'll be out of this animal pen within a couple of hours—and then the three of us are going to be together again." Victor hugged her and Yuuri simultaneously.

For some reason that Yuuri could not quite fathom, his heart swelled within him. The exuberance diffusing through his being at his proximity to Victor and Makkachin made him feel as though he had gotten his family back. It perplexed him because Katsuki Toshiya, Hiroko, and Mari had never been so liberal with physical contact—indeed, neither were most people of Kouki, to the point where parents never kissed in their children's presence.

On their way out, Victor and Yuuri saw Christophe and his lover petting a white, long-haired cat.

"I'm going to write a shopping list. Have you any plans, Yuuri?" Victor asked once they were out on the tween deck.

"I'll go for a walk, then. See you in a while."

"Isn't it a beautiful morn, Yuuri?" Phichit greeted, when they passed each other on the promenade deck later.

"Yes, it is." Yuuri tried his best to keep his timbre steady, but something in the way Phichit wiggled his eyebrows and the suggestive tone he used unsettled Yuuri. What if his moans had been too loud and Phichit had heard them? Desperate to change the subject, Yuuri scanned his surroundings for inspiration.

"What a huge iceberg! To think we've yet to enter the Month of Frost!" he pointed at the distant objects clustered on the horizon.

Phichit turned around to look at the direction Yuuri was pointing. "Ah, that's no iceberg; it's The White Cliffs of Rotherfyn. Those white-chalk cliffs are famed as an iconic landmark and a symbol of home and wartime defense, as they stand guard at the Gateway to Mheadaure. It's not a surprise that their east cliff, with its commanding view over the channel and its imposing height of over three hundred feet, is a position of natural strength and has been incorporated into many a city's fortification since prehistoric times."

"So, we're going to land soon? Drat! I forgot to collect the documents from Georgi." With that, Yuuri rushed away.

Georgi, as it turned out, had already vacated his cabin. When Yuuri peeked through the open door, neither the person nor his belongings were present. Thus, Yuuri ended up inquiring after Georgi when he passed just about every single troupe member, as most were in the middle of moving their belongings from their cabins to their wagons. However, Georgi had not lingered in one place; some saw him at the promenade deck, others at the poop deck, and still others at the bow of the ship.

It was not until Yuuri had arrived at the ship's stern that he finally found Georgi conversing with Yakov. He waited until the ringleader had finished talking before he informed Georgi, "I'm supposed to collect my travel documents from you."

Before Georgi answered Yuuri, Yakov beat him to it, "Yuuri, have you not collected those documents yet? I expected better from you. Not all countries look kindly upon us, no matter how renowned our name is. What do you suppose would happen if an immigration officer denied us entry because a single person failed to present his travel documents?!"

"I'm sorry, coach. It won't happen again."

The old man pinned Yuuri with his piercing gaze and a forbidding frown. In the end, he said, "Remember this, Yuuri: Victor may have his talents and expertise, but it doesn't mean he's flawless in other areas. You'd do well to be your own judge when it comes to your own affairs. If Victor continues to prove an adversary to your discipline, I'll have no choice but to provide alternate rooming arrangements for you."

Yuuri could only hope that his gulp was not too conspicuous. "Yes, sir."

Yakov beckoned to Georgi, "Go. Get the documents." Then he turned to Yuuri, "Bring everyone hither."

When the troupe members had assembled, Yakov announced, "We are going to land soon. As Mheadaure is a nation of stricter social codes than our last stop, I must remind you all to behave. We are not to draw unnecessary attention. Also, the stockings worn in ladies' performances must be thick and anything but flesh-colored."

"We've been there before," Yuuri heard Mila muttering under her breath behind him. "What encouraging advice this is!"

"Team A," Yakov called.

Mila gasped out a half-choked "Yes!" Sara, Michele, and Emil chorused their reply more readily.

"Once we arrive at the port, you are to disguise yourselves as two honeymooning couples and exchange the currency as needed." Yakov entrusted two pouches to them.

Next, he instructed. "Team B, you're in charge of food supplies."

Eight stagehands, including Chris' lover, acknowledged their allotted duty.

"The rest of you, drive the wagons to the edge of town. Teams A and B, you must head there as soon as you are done with your tasks. We shall depart at once. I shan't stand for any delay."

Victor raised his hand. "I shall drive the Crispinos' wagon."

The moment Victor finished speaking, Georgi's hand shot in the air. "And I, the other."

Yakov nodded. "Do any of you have questions?"

When no one inquired, the ringleader dismissed them. Before retiring to the vehicle deck with the rest of the troupe, Georgi handed Yuuri a large brown envelope. It contained three sheets of paper, folded separately but held together with a cardboard cover: proof of his health status, a passport, and a visa—the last of which was required because Yuuri came from a different continent. Every single page differed in measurements from the paper of his own country, but the contents were similar; for instance, the passport was valid for two years and bore a photograph and signature, along with a personal description that included details like his facial structure, complexion, and other such features. A simple thank you was nowhere near enough to do justice for the wonders Georgi had conjured up overnight for him.

Yuuri followed Victor, intending to spend a little more time with him in private before they parted. To his amusement, Victor did not walk back to the poop deck where their cabin was located, but headed towards to the ship's stern instead.

"Don't we need to pack, Victor?"

"I already did that. Our bags are in my wagon now."

"Sorry, I should have helped."

"I'm used to packing alone. It's not unmanageable," Victor assured Yuuri, no bitterness in his tone. However, the way he gazed at the sky and sighed afterwards did not sit well with Yuuri.

"Is something the matter?" Yuuri asked.

"No … it's just that I have this … whim, I suppose…"

For all Victor's caprices thus far, he had never openly admitted to any of them as a whim. This made Yuuri arch his eyebrows. "Of what nature?"

"When I saw couples embracing each other on a ship deck overlooking the sea, I used to wonder how it'd feel."

"Didn't we kiss and embrace on the deck last night?"

"Yes…" Victor left it hanging, before a spark ignited in his eyes and he rapidly continued, "But I was too focused on you to spare the slightest attention to the ocean at that time."

Yuuri glanced at the white cliffs yonder, calculating the amount of time it would take for the ship to reach its destination. Taking Victor's hand, he led his lover closer to the taffrail. "I suppose I have to take responsibility for distracting you last night."

The smile that graced Victor's face looked more like that of a love-struck teenager than a globally renowned magician. Unable to resist its magnetic pull, Yuuri could not help but smile back in response.

"Is this closer to your expectation, sir?" Yuuri japed as he wrapped both arms around Victor's waist. He ended his question with a tiptoe that enabled him to stick his tongue in Victor's ear.

"Am I allowed to say no?"

Delighted to hear Victor's giggled response, Yuuri swirled his tongue and licked more thoroughly. "You are, if I am allowed not to believe you."

When Victor's giggles had eventually subsided, he stared at the wispy white clouds in the sky and confessed, "It gives me no pleasure to know that we shall be driving separate wagons."

"You brought this upon yourself, Victor. Someone else must have driven Team A's wagon prior to your offer, since you had nobody else to take care of your own wagon before I joined the troupe."

Victor's mouth wobbled on the verge of a pout before he muttered a string of complaints instead, "You're cold-blooded, unkind, insensitive, ruthless, uncaring, heartless, soulless, uncompassionate, cruel…"

"Don't they all mean the same? And is that the scorn of a pregnant woman I hear? Yuuko used to rave like that about her husband when she conceived the triplets, my goodness!" Yuuri huffed. "I'm not blaming you for wanting to help your friends in need. All I ask is that you bear with any consequences that may arise from the choice you yourself made."

"Weeeeell~" Victor's childishness began to shine through when he drawled his syllable in a lilting singsong and made the face that was bound to chip away at Yuuri's resolution. "If I didn't do it, I wouldn't get my farewell hug, welcome-back hug, and the kisses in-between!"

"Remind me why I'm so in love with you again?" Yuuri rolled his eyes, but proceeded to kiss Victor anyway.