Meeting Viktor's family!
PD: Please keep in mind that English is not my native language, I did my best to translate this. Enjoy!
And remember to leave comments so I will know what you like or disliked about my work~!
After spending a few days in Yuuri's home village and receiving the blessing of the Katsuki family for their wedding, human and his dragon headed to the Kingdom Capital, where they knew Yurio and other dragons were waiting for them.
The second time Yuuri rode Viktor's back (in his dragon form) he felt less nervous and could enjoy the trip. And like the previous time, they soaring through a pink sky and arrived the Capital in about two hours, when the morning sun was about to rise upon the mountains.
The view from the sky was spectacular. The couple could see the white Castle looming from the center of the Capital in all its splendor, with the still faint rays of the sun contrasting against the silhouettes of its towers and its shadow still covering part of the city.
When they landed, in a forest a mile from the city walls, Viktor licked Yuuri's face a few times before transmuting into his human aspect.
"Are you feeling alright, Yuuri?" He asked after wrapped him in his arms, and Yuuri hugged him back with a sigh of relief. "You look a little pale." He said while stroked one of his cheeks with affection.
"Yes, I'm fine." He smiled shyly. "I still don't like the heights very much. But I'm sure that over time I' will get used to it. So for now, my feet still prefer to touch the pleasant ground." When Viktor he heard him say that, he laughed.
"Yuuri. If there's anything I can do for you so you will not be so afraid of heights, don't hesitate to tell me." He kissed his forehead, then leaned his chin on Yuuri's shoulder in order to whisper in his ear. "You don't know how happy you make me to let me carry you on my back. It makes me feel good to know that I can be of use to my master."
"Viktor. I'm not your master. I'm your boyfriend." He said in a rather stern voice, though he knew the silver-haired man was joking.
"Husband." He replied with a playful smile.
"Husband." He rectified and chuckled. He didn't want to start 'another discussion'. "And thanks for thinking of me. If I can think of something, I will tell you." He took Viktor's chin and pressed their lips together in a kiss of gratitude for the flight, which caused his dragon to purr pleasingly.
They walked for twenty minutes on a dirt road, carrying their travel bags and some gifts that Yuuri's family (now Viktor's too) gave them, until they arrived at the entrance gates of the Capital, which were open wide and let in and out travelers without problems, since they were leading to the commercial and tourist area of the citadel.
However, the gates were guarded by soldiers who kept thieves away from the shops. Viktor, unconscious, tensed up and gripped Yuuri's waist tightly as the soldiers checked their bags in case they contained weapons.
"Viktor, are you feeling alright?" Yuuri asked worriedly after the guards let them in.
"Y-yes. I'm fine, Yuuri." The silver-haired man smiled with some difficulty, and interlaced one on his hands with Yuuri's, so they will not get lost in the crowd (and because they liked to hold hands). "I think I'm just a little excited. The last time I was here, was more than fifteen years ago. I don't know if I still remember the streets, but I think I can find the way to Yakov's orphanage if I follow my nose."
"Okay. I'll trust your nose." The dark-haired man replied with a small smile as he let himself to be guided by his boyfriend.
They wandered through the streets of gravel roads while Yuuri watched in amazement the structure of the Capital. The big city was very different from his home village and the town where he lived with Viktor. The houses and shops were huge, made of brick walls and wooden roofs, which was quite modern and striking. And they could see a cathedral of Gothic architecture was being built, with high windows, stained glass of many colors with religious motifs, and gargoyles in the front as sentinels.
Yuuri couldn't help but stop to look at every corner that caught his attention, including shops and the beauty of public spaces. Viktor then waited for him patiently and told him some curiosities that he remember about that places. When they felt hungry, they sat on a bench on a park. Viktor's tired leg was grateful for that. And they ate the lunch that Hiroko had prepared them for their trip.
After ate, the silver-haired man entered a jewelry store to admire and wear some jewels while Yuuri waited for Viktor's 'dragon side' to felt satisfied.
"How do I look, Yuuri?" He asked as he wore a gold necklace with precious stones and made a gesture of coquetry combing his hair.
"Well, the necklace is really nice."
"But what about me?" He pouted, feigning disappointment, and took off the necklace to leave it back in the display.
"Viktor, you know you're attractive." Yuuri replied, narrowing his eyes. Although he knew that his dragon was not really aware of it, since for him, all humans looked the same; He only distinguished them by their aroma. But Viktor chuckled.
"Well. I also think you're very attractive." He cupped Yuuri's cheeks and gave him a small kiss on the lips. Yuuri grinned and took his hand to continue their route.
As the hours passed by, the citadel was filled with passersby, to the point that on a couple of occasions Viktor and Yuuri were about to let go of their hands, which made Viktor to start to feel a little nervous again.
Since the white dragon was wounded by the knights, he began to feel an understandable fear towards humans. However, it was thanks to Yuuri's affection that his fear of them didn't increase at the point of hate them. And after knowing more of their customs, he realized that there were more humans as kind as his boyfriend and there was no point in resenting them because of what a few knights did to him. Still, there were times when his irrational side took hold of him and his fear returned, especially when there were so many humans around him and confused his senses. Especially when a nasty and familiar scent came to his nose.
One of the knights who attacked him was near to them.
Viktor stopped dead and looked on every possible direction, frantically searching for the human from which came such a disgusting smell of death so that he could take another path and get away him from Yuuri.
It wasn't the 'Captain,' that's was sure.
"Viktor, what is it?" Asked the dark-haired man, worriedly, as the silver-haired man began to walk again hastily, pulling his arm tightly. Yuuri struggled to keep up with him and nearly fell over several times, not to mention that he stumbled into some people and he could only shout apologies. However, Viktor didn't appear to be aware of the commotion.
And it wasn't until his dragon paused for a moment to consider which next street to take that Yuuri was finally able to take Viktor from the shoulders and face him.
As soon as their gazes crossed, Yuuri felt his heart break when he saw Viktor's blue eyes moistened, his eyebrows twitching in an attempt not to burst into tears as his body trembled with fear.
"Viktor...?"
"Yuuri. I... I-I'm sorry. One of them was here... I ... I couldn't see him. I... I cannot... distinguish the smells. There are too many humans. I can't smell you." Tears streamed down his cheeks, and Yuuri, trying not to panic himself too, took Viktor away from the crowd until they reached the safety of an alley that seemed abandoned.
Yuuri immediately wrapped his arms around Viktor, placing one hand on his back and the other over his silver hair. The dragon hugged his human tightly, nuzzled his nose into his neck to wrap himself in his scent, and allowed himself to sob in a low voice; He had no problem doing so if it was Yuuri who listened to him.
"Everything is fine, Viktor. I'm here with you." He whispered into his ear before kissing his cheek. It wasn't the first time he had to deal with Viktor's panic attacks. And although it hurt his heart to see it that way, it didn't bother him to comfort him at all. "No one is going to hurt you. I will never allow it."
"I-I'm so sorry, Yuuri... I ... I'm so weak."
"No, Viktor, you're not weak. Crying doesn't make you weak," Yuuri assured him as he made his head back a little so their eyes met. "Cry all you need. You'll feel better."
"B-but, Yuuri... I'm a white dragon," He murmured, his nose congested. "I should be ... better than this ... I should be able to protect you."
"Viktor... I feel protected when I'm with you." He removed his hand from his silvery strands but to take it on Viktor's face and wipe his tears with the sleeves of his robe. "You are a mighty white dragon. But that doesn't mean you should fight. I don't want anyone to get hurt. That's why I also do my best to protect your identity. And even though we knew this could happen, you still wanted to come so we could have a well-deserved rest together. You are very brave to face your fears, and I am very proud to call you my husband."
"...Yuuri, what did I do to deserve you?" He inquired as a small smile appeared on his lips and cupped Yuuri's cheeks to gather their noses together and brush them, still looking at each other. "I need to marry you as a human right now. You are so perfect..."
"Viktor, what are you saying?" Yuuri laughed, his face painted lightly red. "I also have fears and failures. And I always wondering how someone as wonderful as you want to be with someone as boring as me... "
"Yuuri! Don't say those things!" He said with a hurt look. "You are a great man, and you are so kind and intelligent. I love spending my time with you. I love you just the way you are."
"I love you just the way you are, too." He replied with a triumphant smile. Viktor blushed and beamed.
Human and dragon joined their lips in a calm and pleasant kiss, simply enjoying each other's company. Kiss, which was intended to be longer, however, Viktor and Yuuri split up as they heard a whining from somewhere in the alley. For a moment they feared being heard by someone, but they breathed a sigh of relief as they looked down at their feet and saw a puppy who was smelling their legs with curiosity.
The silver-haired man lifted the dog and they looked at each other with curiously.
"It's a baby poodle!" Exclaimed Viktor proudly after recognizing the breed. He remembered, from the time that he lived in the Capital, that rich people used to have dogs of that breed as pets. And the only reason he remembered it was because dogs were his favorite kind of pet. "Yuuri ... I think this little boy is hungry." He said with concern.
"Oh. It looks like he was... abandoned." He remarked, since the puppy was quite thin and shaky, but still he managed to wag his tail with joy. "I'll get him something to eat." He took his travel bag from his back and set it on the floor to find some dried meat and his gourd canteen to feed the puppy, which devoured the meat in seconds and drank the water enthusiastically from Yuuri's hands.
Feeling already satiated, the puppy barked gratefully and then snuggled into Viktor's arms.
"I think he likes us." Viktor said while stroking the puppy tenderly. "And he smells really good. I think he also likes our scent. Just look at how he smelled us." He smiled, and the puppy licked his face.
Yuuri looked at Viktor, who seemed to have recovered from his panic attack and gave to the puppy his heart-shaped smile. This immediately made Yuuri realize what his boyfriend was about to suggest. And although he thought it was not at all a good idea to adopt a stray puppy, which was covered in mud and didn't smell exactly good, he knew that, if his dragon liked his natural scent, it was because the puppy would have a compatible personality with them, so he took it as a good sign.
"Yuuri... can we keep him?" Viktor looked at him with plea and put on his best puppy face, and, as if he understood what they were talking about, the poodle did the same, adding whines to add more affect.
The scribe looked at his boyfriend and then at the puppy, and they looked back at him expectantly, then gave a sigh of resignation, but he smiled. After all, he liked dogs, too.
"Have you thought of a name?" He said as a response, and Viktor's eyes lit up.
"Thank you, Yuuri!" He hugged his mate, with the puppy between them, and kissed him several times on the lips. The puppy took advantage of this and licked their faces.
"I just hope Mila doesn't mind having the puppy in the Inn." Yuuri commented playfully as he parted.
"Oh, she won't be bother by that." Viktor assured him with a smile. And then entangled his hand with Yuuri's again, carrying the puppy on his other arm. "You know? I feel better. I can already distinguish the smells better. But for now I cannot think of any name for this little boy..."
"It's okay. We can think of something later. But Viktor..." He looked at him earnestly, and the silver-haired man couldn't help but felt like a scolded dog. "If you smell them again..." He said, referring the knights who attacked him. "Don't hesitate to tell me, okay? We will figure out what to do together." He ended saying with a kind smile to let him know that he wasn't admonishing him. Viktor, relieved, nodded and smiled back at him.
After several minutes, and without further incident, they arrived at a big house, perhaps three stories high, which was filled with children playing and scampering around the place. For the simple clothes they wore, but clean and without embroidered patches, and their different ages, both Viktor and Yuuri could realize that these children belonged to the orphanage.
"Uh. I had no idea that Yakov is now adopted human children." Viktor commented in surprise. Then several children turned to see them, more specifically at the puppy that was held in his arms, and they ran to him.
Yuuri feared that Viktor would feel uncomfortable surrounded by so many children, but he smiled at them and answered their questions about the poodle. He even allowed them to carry the puppy.
"And what is his name?" One of the children asked. And the silver-haired man thought for several seconds, with a finger on his chin, before answering.
"Makkachin!"
"Makkachin?" Yuuri repeated in surprise. He had never heard or read that word before, which was a lot to say because it was his job to read about two or three books a day while transcribing them. "And what does his name mean?"
"I have no idea. But his face is telling me that his name is Makkachin." Viktor replied with a big smile, and the dog barked as if confirming it. Yuuri could do nothing but shake his head and laugh. He knew there was no point in trying to argue with his dragon when he got some weird ideas into his head.
"Viktor!" A black-haired man approached them, who wore nice clothes; a tunic embroidered with silver thread and trousers of the same color as his hair, and on his face he wore violet makeup on his eyelids and lips. "Hey! I like what you did with your hair." He said, raising a thumb of approval.
"Oh! Hello, Georgi." Viktor waved a hand. Then he took his boyfriend by the waist and leaned a cheek over his head. "And thanks. Cutting my hair was my Yuuri's idea."
"I see. So you are Viktor's 'Yuri'. It's a real pleasure to finally meet you." The violet dragon reached out a hand to Yuuri, who gladly accepted it with a smile after recognized the man as one of the dragons who were taken care of his boyfriend while he was injured. But he tensed a little when Georgi kissed his hand.
"Oh. I'm sorry. I just came from the theater and forgot that I haven't cleared my face." He said while looking in his pockets for a handkerchief to wipe the labial that he painted on Yuuri's knuckles. "Sorry for having stained your beautiful skin." He added with an exaggerated genuflection, as an artist thanking his audience, after cleaning his hand.
"No-no. No problem!" Yuuri quickly removed his hand and then waved both, hoping his dragon wasn't bother with the other dragon because of his jealousy. However, Viktor was still smiling, so the scribe realized that perhaps Georgi's gallantry act should be part of his personality and that Viktor was already accustomed to it. "Aham... I ... I want to thank you for taking care of Viktor when he..." He didn't have to finish the sentence for Georgi to understand what he meant.
"There's nothing you need to thank me for. I'm glad I was able to help a friend." The actor said trying to sound modest, although it was obvious that he enjoyed the attention. "Kids, go back to playing. Adults need to talk." He ordered to the children, who complained with a sigh, but they followed his order, and returned Makkachin to Viktor.
"Georgi, since when does Yakov adopt human children?" Yuuri wasn't sure why, but the silver-haired man sounded rather sad about that fact. Georgi sighed and took a few seconds to reply.
"Come on. Let's talk about this inside." The violet dragon led the way to the front doors of the big house until they reached the common room. "Are you hungry? Luch time is in a couple of hours, but I know you must have had a tiring trip. I can ask the cook to prepare something for you two."
"Thank you, but we're fine." Viktor replied before pulling Yuuri to sit together in the couch, letting Makkachin lie down on their legs. The violet dragon nodded, then went on to answer the question.
"It is difficult to maintain a dragon orphanage when we only have three under our care. Most of them already flew out of the nest and decided to start their own lives." He said in metaphor, implying that these dragons already felt confident walking around humans. "So we had to adopt human children in order of not to raise suspicion on the society's eyes. Besides... it's not as if there were more young dragons to adopt..." Both Georgi and Viktor looked down, and Yuuri could read between lines what was happening.
Dragons were becoming extinct. A lot of them were hunted for their scales and few others were still used as slaves for forced labor or as pets for rich people. Therefore, many dragons preferred to live in the open, away from human societies. Not to mention the fact that many female dragons were refusing to produce offspring because of this. At least that is what Mila and Sara once told him.
"It doesn't make me want to have cubs knowing that they will be hunted or that they will live their whole life fearing of humans." Sara said, not sounding really upset, it was more like she was already resigned.
"Same thing," Mila said as she and Sara were taking off clean clothes from a clotheslines. Yuuri was helped them by holding the basket. "I've talked to other girls and they think just like us. Although some of them decided to have only one offspring because their partners really wanted to have children. And others has the fortune of having a human as their partners, so they have nothing to worry about that issue, since humans and dragons cannot have babies between them."
Yuuri remembered feeling a terrible affliction when he heard them said that. But he could understand their logic. Even that could explain why Viktor's parents hadn't wanted to have children in the first place, but they still rejoiced by his accidental birth.
"Oh, speaking of dragons, here are two of them..." Georgi said, pointing out to two boys peeping timidly from the lobby, and both of them startled as they were discovered. "They are Guang Hong, an orange dragon, and Kenjirou, a red dragon. Guys, he's Viktor, a white dragon, and his human mate, Yuuri."
The boys then entered the room and bowed. They both looked quite nervous.
"It's a...a pleasure to meet you. My name is Guang Hong..." Said the one with brown hair and eyes of the same color, whose face was adorned with barely visible freckles and his cheeks seemed to be permanently blushing, and bowed his torso forward. By the way he was dressed and his cap, it could be deduced that he had to work in a bakery.
"I... I am Kenjirou!" Exclaimed the blond guy with a strange red-painted tuft, making an exaggerated bow by tilting his torso. His tunic was similar to that one the children were wearing, but his was covered with paint stains of many colors. He definitely had to be an artist.
"My name is Yuuri Katsuki. And the pleasure is mine." He said as he rose up from the couch and made a bow. And realizing that the dragons had Asian names just like him, so they were probably influenced by the same cultures. Then Viktor did the same.
"I'm Viktor, but soon I'll be Viktor Katsuki!" He introduced himself with his big heart-shaped smile, and Yuuri had to put his hands over his face so as not to die of embarrassment (though he couldn't say he didn't felt flattered because of his dragon presuming their engagement). "And this little boy is Makkachin." The puppy barked.
Yuuri wasn't sure if Guang Hong's and Kenjirou's nervousness were part of their personality, or if it was because of the fact that there were an unknown human inside their home and that frightened them. But there were also the possibility that they were nervous about Viktor, since dragons tend to respect their hierarchies, being the white dragons on the top of this. However, he soon realized the real reason when Kenjirou ran up to him, with his eyes which looked like stars and looking directly at him.
"You are that human! The one who saved one of us! "Exclaimed the blond in affirmation, and he seemed about to cry as he smiled. "I am a great admirer of you!"
"And... me too." Added the other dragon, alternating his gaze between Yuuri and floor.
"Ad-admirers of mine?" Yuuri repeated in disbelief, until he remembered that Chris had already warned him that he was a celebrity among the dragons of the Capital for saving Viktor.
"Are you going to stay in the Capital for a long time? Could you give me your autograph? What is your favorite color? Would you want to be my muse? Would you allow me to make a portrait of you? Or perhaps you prefer that I make you a marble statue to represent you in all your splendor?" Asked the red dragon with euphoria, not even giving a chance to the poor and confused Yuuri to answer.
"We are sorry. It's been a long trip and we would like to rest in these moment." Viktor said with a slightly forced smile, hugging his boyfriend's waist tightly. Yuuri was proud that the silver-haired man wasn't blinded by jealousy and didn't try to intimidate the younger dragon.
"Kenjirou, don't overwhelm them." Georgi admonished him, though he covered his mouth so he wouldn't laugh after noticing Viktor's jealousy. The red dragon was visibly discouraged by the scolding. "Please excuse him. Kenjirou is a very explosive and enthusiastic boy. Guang Hong is more shy and quiet. And Yura, well... you already know him."
"Oh. Where is Yuri?" Asked the scribe to turn their attention away from him.
"He must be on his job."
"What about Yakov?" Viktor asked now.
"Maybe he's in his office. I'll go and tell him that you are here." Georgi left the room, and then the orange dragon approached them with another bow.
"Leo and Phichit told us your story. And... I think it's great that you helped a dragon and then you became his mate. That's... quite romantic." Guang Hong dared to say, and both his face and Yuuri's ended up blushing completely.
"Uhm... I ... I just did what I thought was right thing to do at the time." He replied, feeling more and more nervous about the looks of admiration from the blond boy and the brown-haired boy. Yuuri wasn't very good dealing with that kind of attention (with Viktor he was already accustomed).
"Yuuri. I love that you're so modest." Viktor whispered in his ear, but loud enough for the other two dragons to hear. Then he kissed him on the cheek, but too close to the corner of his mouth. And then he could hear in amusement as Kenjirou and Guang Hong tried not to a let go a squeak at such a suggestive scene.
"Well... Makkachin says that he is very grateful that you fed him and adopted him..." Said Guang Hong, which Yuuri remembered that orange dragons could talk to animals. "And he says that he will do everything to stay by your side and protect both of you ... He also says that he really likes the name Viktor chose for him." He smiled.
"Awww, Makkachin, I knew you would like it! You are such a good boy!" Viktor exclaimed cheerfully and Makkachin excitedly barked.
"Viktor!" They heard a mighty cry coming from somewhere in the house, and soon heavy steps began to move towards them. In a slightly unconscious way, Yuuri hugged Viktor without being able to avoid to trembling a little, and his dragon had no problem in hugging him back. Then they saw an old man, perhaps seventy years old, but still very lively, entering the room and pointing out to the white dragon in an accusatory manner. "So you decided to come back, huh."
"Yakov!" Exclaimed Viktor cheerfully. He separated from Yuuri and leave the poodle in his arms so he ran to hug the older man. "How much time has passed? You have hardly changed anything. But where did your hair go?" He inquired curiously.
"I could ask you the same!" Yakov yelled back, with his face red with anger, evidently annoyed by such an observation. "What the hell happened to your hair? But, well ... I must say I'm glad you finally cut it. At least you won't have any more fleas." That made Yuuri laugh, which made him less afraid of the older man.
"W-what?!" Viktor stepped back, blushing and embarrassed. "I've never had fleas! We-ell, maybe once, but... it was a long time ago! You do believe me, don't you, Yuuri?" He asked looking at his boyfriend with watery eyes, and Yuuri used Makkachin's fur to hide his smile.
"I believe you, Viktor. And don't worry. I also had fleas as a child." Yuuri then felt Yakov's critical eye on him, and hugged Makkachin harder.
Yuuri knew Yakov was a second paternal figure to Viktor, so he wanted to make a good impression on him, because soon they would be part of the same family. And although Viktor had already warned him that Yakov's personality made him look intimidating (while inside he was all sweet), the scribe couldn't help but worry.
"So... you're Yuuri Katsuki, Viktor's mate, right?"
"Y-yes, sir!" He replied as he bowed, afraid to look into his eyes. "It's ... it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Feltsman. Viktor has always spoken very highly of you." Yuuri wasn't sure what he did well, but he could see Yakov nodding.
"You surprise me, Viktor. You got a very educated man as a mate. I approve it."
