Reds

He bolted.

He didn't know where he was going. He ignored any and all voices and bodies which came after him. He just had to run. Somewhere. Anywhere. Just could not face anyone right now.

Yuri retraced the path he was taken to eventually reach the room with the couch and slammed the door shut and locked the the door from the inside.

"No color but I don't have photographic memory for nothing," Yuri sputtered as he panted.

Yuri could soon hear muffled voices from the other side. All conversing in Russian he couldn't understand.

'This can't be happening!' Yuri thought frantically, shaking his head in his hands as his back rested against the door. 'How can this be?! Why?!'

There was a knock on the door. There on the floor, Yuri froze. The knock happened again. It wasn't pounding away, or threatening. More cautionary, to say the least.

"Yuri…? Yuri are you-"

He immediately bristled and slammed his back against the door. "Don't you dare ask if I'm ok! How can I possibly be okay?!"

"Yuri!" Victor pressed his forehead on his side of the door. "Yuri, please! Let me explain!"

"Or what? The big guys will be sent in to make me see reason?!"

Katsuki heard further ramblings in Russian before he heard Victor sound like he was putting his foot down.

All went eerily quiet after some shuffling.

Victor slid onto the floor and pressed his back against his side of the door. "Yuri…all the guards are gone now. It's just us…if you want I can get Mila-"

"I-I just don't understand!" Yuri cried. "You said you overheard a man chew Georgi out in the hallway! Was that a lie?" Yuri ruffled the sides of his head in frustration. "Back there you acted all calm like it was just a mere inconvenience that I happened to-"

"It's almost two-thirty in the morning, Yuri!" Victor protested. "I was and am exhausted too. Believe me I wanted to explain, I did, but I honestly didn't have the chance nor permission to be clearer-"

"What the-?!" Yuri coughed.

'Come on! Nothing was holding you back!' Yuri's mind screamed in rebuttal. 'Don't you trust me at all!'

Victor turned around, stood on his knees, and placed both hands onto the door. "Easy, easy…you're tired…"

'Don't fall into a panic attack when I can't reach you,' Victor silently begged.

Katsuki slapped both hands onto the carpet floor. "As if I could fuckin' sleep now! What is this!? Why?!" He rasped loudly.

"I want to explain but you've locked me out, Yuri! Can you let me see you?" Victor pleaded. "Give me a chance to explain! We haven't hurt you, have we?"

The Russian impressionist was met with a thud followed silence.

"Yuri…" Victor tested the door knob once more. "Yuri? …Yuri! Wake up! Please-!"

"I'm fine!" Yuri shot back, lifting his head away from the door. "I just need to think, okay? Just. Leave me alone?" His voice cracked and brought up his knees to rest his head in his hands, covering his face.

'Just leave me be,' Yuri silently begged.

"I'll go…," Nikiforov solemnly rose up onto his feet, "but know…I never lied to you. I did hear the pakhan heavily complain about Georgi in the hall as the pakhan isn't me. I wasn't at liberty to tell you more than necessary."

Yuri lifted his head up to wipe the stream of tears off his cheeks. "That guardsman stood at attention when you left that white room so don't tell me you're not important too!" Yuri shouted over his shoulder.

Victor felt his chest restrict painfully. "Y-Yuri…I'm not I promise-"

"Besides! You're your own person! You can do what you want!" Katsuki cradled himself in his arms, burying his face between his knees.

'Was I not in Georgi's house this entire time? Why was I or Victor pushed around like that? Why under lock and key? Where am I then? Does this mean I can't trust Mila or Yakov either?' Yuri's mind raced.

Victor grimaced as he wrung his hands at his sides. "I may be an individual but family is family…I'll…give you some space…"

Yuri heard a few footfalls onto the wooden floor before feeling a fresh set of tears falling down his face. "W-Wait," he rasped, cleared his throat and tried again. "Wait."

Victor halted.

Yuri couldn't stop the tears as he slid his back up along the door to stand back up. "Wait!" He asked a little bit louder.

Victor turned back around and placed a hand on the door once more. "I'm here. What is it?"

"Can you -sniff- tell me…if you'd let me go even if your family said no?"

Victor felt he was punched in the gut, right in the stomach, but held steadfast.

"Victor…?"

"Y-Yes…yes I would escort you to the airport myself," he replied, though the words felt like ash in his mouth.

Katsuki sniffed and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "Would you…buy a ticket?"

Victor pressed his ear against the door. "Yuri? Sorry, I couldn't hear you, what was that?"

Yuri turned around and rested his his forehead against the cool surface. "Would you -sniff- buy a ticket and," he cleared his throat, "and come with me…even if your family said no?"

Victor choked back his own threatening tears. "I would if I could."

Yuri felt a chill run down his spine. "Are you so trapped you couldn't leave?"

Nikiforov shook his head and took a tiny step back. "Not without my uncle's permission."

"Your…uncle?"

Victor held back a yawn. "Yes, my uncle leads this family and he took me in when my father passed away because my mother died at childbirth. Between the hustle this morning and all the theatrics all day I can't ask for you to understand right now. Not when we could use rest."

'Then his uncle the pakhan, right?' Yuri wondered as his tears shifted to those of the sleep deprived before he next heard the clock behind him chime a quarter till three.

"I can't…even begin to…God I am so tired…" Yuri yawned, he could barely hold his head up.

'This drama couldn't have worse timing,' Katsuki thought

"I promise I wanted nothing more than to just protect you from all this trouble," Victor swore. "Can I…show you to a bed? At the very least?"

Yuri briefly looked over his shoulder and pondered for a few moments. 'I could stew here all night in a chilly room and a noisy clock or at least stew with a pillow.'

Victor tensely waited in silence until he heard the door knob unlock from the inside. He didn't even reach to pull the door open in the slightest, leaving Yuri to leave the room at his pace.

Yuri kept his eyes on the floor. "I'll…follow you."

"All right," Victor whispered while every fiber wanted to both explain right then and there and hug Yuri and not let go for anything.

It was silent save for the sparse Russian spoken here or there.

Yuri paid no mind to the young man with shoulder length hair from before who was scowling at him as they passed on by. He paid no mind that he heard Mila's voice, eventually, who was there in her night robe. Even her sudden appearance didn't surprise him. He was all too ready for sleep. Rapidly speaking in earnest, she sounded like she as asking Victor a million questions for all he cared as the three of them made their way down the halls.

Victor opened a door to an empty bedroom and let Yuri drag his feet inside. He stood there to silently watch Yuri collapse onto the mattress that was straight ahead in the dark room and with a heavy heart shut the door.

"I'll make sure a guard is right here for tonight," Mila offered before placing a gentle hand on her cousin's shoulder. "He doesn't know the full truth yet. Give him time."

Victor wiped a stray tear. "He doesn't have time. We don't have time to explain without bartering with the Popovich family we need to extend this stupid deadline-"

The cousins started to wonder down the hallway. "Please…you know Yakov meant for the best and I'm sure that can be negotiated-"

"It doesn't matter now," Victor interrupted with a sniff. "Given how he reacted, how emotional he is, Uncle will just see another him in the end."

Mila rushed around and took her cousin's face into her hands. "Yuri is far stronger than Chris ever was," she insisted and brought Victor into a hug. "You two are both an emotional pair. Artists through and through. Not meant for this life at all."

Victor returned her hug. "I've tried so hard…"

"Shh~ I know…it looks bleak now, but it will turn around in the morning, all right?"

Victor pulled back his head. "Heh, what an example I must be. Blubbering at this age when you are three years younger than me."

"Yes…I believe an old man told me once heartache does not care how old you are when I lost my boyfriend of six months last year."

"Oi…I'm not that old."

Mila giggled. "Then I'm not that young. Come. Let's get ourselves to bed."

Yuri rose up from his bed and took in the sight of his plush guestroom as the light filtered past the sheer window curtains before he pieced together how he got there.

'Victor…' Yuri's chest already started to squeeze in guilt. 'I…I should see him…see if he is at least okay…'

Yuri slid off the bed, however, he was met with a knock at the door before he could reach the knob.

"Yuri?"

"M-Mila? Is that you?"

"Can I come in?"

"Sure."

The redhead pushed the door open and came inside, dressed for the day in a dark purple dress suit. "How are you holding up this morning? It's ten-thirty and so I thought I'd come and check on you."

Yuri wiped the sleepers out of his eyes and yawned. "Just got up. Um…is Victor okay? I think I…no I know I said something's I shouldn't have."

Mila took a step forward. "But not unfair things I bet. I was told we took you for a scary loop there yesterday and I do apologize for that."

Yuri scratched the back of his head. "Yeah…I am not going to lie I could use some answers…or am I about to get shipped out of here because I had found out already too much?"

Mila shook her head. "I'm not going to stand here and lie either. To be frank, I'd rather see you go for your safety as the less you know the better." Mila folded her arms. "We protect our own so I want to know where you stand with Victor as a person. Either way, I will not fault you if you feel this is already too much. I will not call you a coward or blame you if Victor gets upset."

"I get it." Yuri took a step forward. "But…while I was scared I was also tired. I…he deserves a chance to explain. As a person, I still respect and care for him very much."

Mila nodded. "All right then…but I'm afraid my father is going to do the explaining. He said I can come along, but Victor is busy."

Yuri bit his lip for a moment. "The painting?"

"Yes, the painting," she sighed. "Come with me and we will have breakfast in my father's office."

Yuri did a double take. "Wait, just so I'm prepared. Who is your father exactly?"

"Victor told me you were knocked out by one of Georgi's men, correct?" Yakov asked.

Yuri swallowed his sip of coffee but did not look at her in the eye. "Yes. I-I awoke in that study room with the piano and small couch."

"There's no reason to speak so softly, you know?"

Yuri only raised his head a little to look at the man sitting behind a desk in front of him. "It's just a little hard…considering I now know who you are now, Mr. Feltsman."

Yakov hummed a little in thought. "Yes, I can understand why, but Mila, Victor and myself never thought it would come to this." He quickly took a bite of his scrambled eggs and swallowed. "So. Would you allow us to fill in the details or do you wish to head back to America not knowing? Don't get me wrong, I just want to make sure you can handle the information." He cocked an eyebrow. "And keep a secret if necessary."

Yuri sat up in his chair, a small part of him wishing Victor had been allowed to be with him that morning if it weren't for that damn painting. "I'm sure Victor has told you about my anxiety but I'm not that weak I can't keep things confidential."

Yakov sat upright in his chair as well. "Good. I'm happy to hear you are open to see reason."

Mila once again turned her head to Yuri who sat beside her. "I'm sure Victor already told you how he got into the mess with 'The Emerald'?"

Yuri furrowed his brow in thought. "Sort of?"

"Georgi Popovich had a one of his goons place the order for 'The Emerald' from my cousin, posing as a new client." Mila informed. "Neither him nor myself had any indication this was a trap and once the contract was signed we were in for it the following day when he received an email for directions on the aesthetic of the painting-"

"See, right there I am all ready lost," Yuri interjected. "I mean, oh no? Paint it and be done. Why speak of Mr. Popovich like they're the plague?"

Yakov folded his arms. "I would love our families' history to be so simple to explain, lad, but let's not forget a more present matter that someone's big, brown eyes caught his attention?"

"He had no direction for eye color! He told me that," Yuri flustered in protest.

Yakov held up a hand. "I know. But Victor should have known better, should have asked, picked up on how exacting Georgi was behaving, and sought clarification."

Yuri hung his head a little. "I can't argue with that, sir, but I didn't mean to be a distraction then or now."

"Then I can see, but now? It's a little late for that," Yakov grumbled but gestured to Mila to continue her account.

"When Yakov and I received word at the galleria yesterday, we enacted as quickly as we could. It was something out of a movie, a car chase scene the works to get you two back to our house," Mila informed. "Not to worry no lives were lost though," she added quickly to ease any potential fear or concern.

'Yep. Definitely glad I was out cold for that,' Yuri told himself. 'I would've needed to be sedated, I would've been so terrified.'

"The painting still needs to be done as it's a contractual arrangement," Yakov added with regret in his voice. "Last thing both families need is an excuse for there to be more bad blood, however, we weren't going to have Georgi harass you two for worse or for more."

"Still doesn't excuse the theatrics," Yuri defended, folding his arms. "You locked me away, you had guards barking orders and pushing me around. I believed I was in Popovich's house! Why not come to me right then and there and explain? Allowed Victor to explain?"

Mila frowned. "For his sake we saw little choice but keep you in the dark as much as possible. Its not like the rest of our family has had a chance to get to know you thus could trust you so I could only protect you so much. I'll see the guards are kinder from now on though for your stay."

"Fine…but I don't understand what you mean by Victor's sake?"

Mila exhaled a sigh and looked at the pakhan for permission who, in return, nodded.

"Yuri…the last person who got caught up in all this insisted to be the tough guy, to become Victor's knight, only to find out later his career was ruined to the point he felt he head to turn to the bottle to invoke Victor's sympathy," Mila explained before she scowled. "We couldn't do much to stop it before we knew what Georgi had done, but it was still rather pathetic."

Yuri pieced the rest together. "Chris…he was mad at Victor in the end…let me guess Georgi black listed the man?"

"Da~" Yakov sighed. "More or less, anyway. However, Chris himself was found to be unreasonable and hotheaded too and, although Victor tried to keep his faith in him, I am truly glad you had come along to helped him see the folly, helped him through leaving Chris for good. And no, right off the bat, side note, sorry, I never cared for Victor's homosexuality, I'm a Catholic man. However, I'm also human, not his Judge." Yakov took another bite or two of his food to show he had nothing else to say about it, that it was final in his beliefs.

"Giacometti didn't deserve him," Yuri replied albeit boldly. "You weren't there when I saw Chris pin him on the couch that night last week."

"Believe me, I'm grateful," Yakov replied. "but to go back to the under lock and key thing…that's…actually his…uh, need to feel secure."

Yuri brought his head back sharply. "W-What?"

"The man's anxiety run's deep whenever he is in this house," Yakov clarified. "I can guarantee you that white room you were in with him last night is locked right now. He feels safer there when working, to be kept away in the event other families or business men wish to visit. He has done this since he had hit the big leagues with his art."

"I'm getting the sense that 'visit' a far cry from just: here's some muffins we were in the neighborhood. Am I right?" Yuri gathered.

"Heh, that would be correct," Yakov replied. "But I can't implicate my family with an outsider further. We've done our best to keep the media from knowing how sensitive the man is."

"I'm far from one to fault him for that."

Yakov nodded.

"So he reached stardom on his own then?" Yuri changed the subject without missing a beat. "The black market, the mafia, and so on had nothing to do with that?"

Mila shook her head. "No amount of money can buy his talent…though Georgi would argue otherwise. His talent pales in comparison if money didn't pay off critics."

"Oh~ he's a jealous type, isn't he?" Yuri asked.

Mila nodded. "Highly. And he is quick to anger."

"Sounds like a cliché boss…though I will admit I panicked myself because I thought I was facing my own stereotypes of the mob yesterday."

Mila let out a dry laugh. "Well the stereotypes come from somewhere. To be fair, he really is, but he's also the man who got under Victor's skin far too many times."

"Victor appeared calm when I was there so I don't understand," Yuri replied.

"Really now?" Yakov asked.

"Yes, in the hotel conference room I was taken too, Victor had this stone-cold face, like nothing was about to bother him."

"Hmm, then you had more impact on him than I thought." Yakov gave Yuri a small grin. "Spasibo."

Yuri tilted his head to the side. "Huh?"

"Thank you," Yakov clarified.

"Oh..okay…for what exactly?" Yuri wondered,

"Popovich knows Victor isn't as iron clad in mental strength as the rest of our family," Mila explained. "For years he has wanted to exploit Victor's talent for his gains."

Yuri sat his coffee mug on the desk quickly, lest he drop it otherwise, and folded his arms. "I-I wish I had known…I feel awful…"

"Yes, well, each man deals with his weaknesses differently. The debonair act in front of the camera is really just for that I assure you," Yakov remarked.

"Father," Mila lightly admonished. "Victor isn't putting on a show entirely. His confidence grew from the moment you let him be his own person."

"Well, I did to a point, I love my nephew too," Yakov replied.

"His apartment, the galleria, those were funded by you then?" Yuri asked. "To keep him close?"

"To keep him safe," Yakov corrected.

"Him or his talent?" Yuri slapped a hand over his mouth. "Sorry…that was rude of me."

"No…its more than fair," Yakov sighed. "I can see why one would think so. But. If there's one thing those mob movies got right is we love our family very much. When he turned twenty-one I felt it was only right to give him a sense of a normal life outside this house and not feel locked away in a cage. Of course, I promised his father, my brother, to look after him as though he were my own so I became a so-called assistant in my free time while Mila took the opportunity to remain close to her cousin."

"If you are his uncle…why is it not Victor Feltsman?"

"Nikiforov was his mother's maiden name, one he felt more comfortable to use as a penname of sorts with the world and further separate himself from the mafia...sort of but it was his choice."

"I see…" Yuri took in and let out a breath. "Well, I'm happy Victor got the opportunity. A part of me last night feared every move of his was dictated. Will we be able to return to his apartment?"

Yakov folded his hands together on the desk. "Yuri Katsuki, the short answer is yes. Moreover, I've seen the positive impact you've been on my nephew during your stay I appreciate it. That said, yesterday I saw no guarantee you wouldn't find yourself in the middle of more family spats if you were out in the open, free to roam the halls, not to mention after getting hit in the head like that I was afraid it would be too much too soon, especially over the course of what should've been a short stay. So, I thought it would be best to keep you in the dark, leaving you to your own conclusions. But today I see fault in that plan and apologize. Victor was right as I see you're a smarter man and one of character."

"Thank you…wait," Yuri jolted. "Should've been a short stay?"

"Victor has to get this painting done and I feel you inspire him. It would be unjust of me to just ship you off here and now or tomorrow," Yakov sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I'll barter for some extra time and get you a ticket change for next week," Yakov rationalized. "Would that be all right?"

Yuri felt he could only nod.

"Beyond that I need you to take that flight. Vitya has no need for more heartache and I hear how he speaks of you. You stay, it will not be just the media that'd be after you and I rather not have another circus so soon nor subject you to that kind of attention."

'Might want to tell my heart that.' Yuri shook his a little. 'No this is for the best.'

"Sounds good. I will be with Victor until he gets the painting done, I owe him that much as a friend and for his hospitality."

"Thank you, Yuri." Yakov stood up, signaling the meeting was done. "Mila will escort you back to Victor's side and I'll make the arrangements."

Yuri stood up but felt his heart was still heavy with guilt, heavier still now that he had a better picture of the man he cared for.

Mila shut the door after her and Yuri. "Come this way. I'll let someone know about the extension, okay?"

"What if he can't?"

"Oh he will. I wouldn't doubt my father and his temper for anything."

"Ah."

"Not that he lashes out for no good reason…oh this way."

They turned right and headed towards another hall.

"No, I get it…um so your family strictly deals with the art world, huh?"

"Can't go much more that than, I'm afraid. Not part of our family and all, yadda, yadda."

"I understand…I just hope Victor will understand too…"

Mila slowed down. "Hey, I know my father can make him out to like some damsel in distress, but if you knew all the stories…its just been a lot."

Yuri felt the need to stop but kept his lead feet moving. "Today has already been a lot to process. I feel today I should just let him paint and not have him worry about me? Maybe return to my room?"

"Yuri?"

"Yes?"

"Trust me, he wants to see you. Paint with him? Take your mind off things?"

The pair took a left and eventually Yuri recognized a few decorations which told him they were getting close. "And yet somehow make it clear to him? I tried you know, ever since you asked when calling for a taxi…"

Mila remained quiet. "I know, I was…hoping that this whole thing with Georgi and Victor being a part of my family would have never come up. I honestly wanted to him to be blissful, happier." She slowed down and came to stop before she turned around. "He's just down the way, the guard will let you in okay?"

Yuri nodded. "Thank you…for trusting me."

Mila placed a hand on Yuri's shoulder. "No, thank you. You two seem to be stronger for the sake of the other."

"Heh, you seem very astute."

"I have to be," she shrugged. "I'm the only woman in this house."

Yuri smiled. "Ah, I see… well I'll talk to you later then?"

"Yes, see you later, Katsuki."

Yuri nodded his goodbye, headed forward for a few more feet before he faced the door.

The guard appeared to recognize him from yesterday and turned to unlock the door.

Yuri walked in, the door was shut and locked behind him, and remained still on the other side.

Victor remained standing at the sink, watching the running faucet water run over the brushes which laid over the drain, having barely acknowledging Yuri was there beyond looking at him from the corner of his eye.

"How…How are you?" Yuri asked, unable to take much more silence. "Are you all right?"

Victor slowly went about to grip the edge of the counter top with both hands and yet could barely look in Yuri's direction. "I have…barely made progress this morning," he cleared his throat, "I have been pathetic all morning despite some shut eye…sorry I just don't know how to face you right now…"

Yuri took a step forward. "Nothing about you is pathetic. We were tired really early this morning and we were emotional and that is normal, right? We can't both be loons, right?" Yuri gave a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his head.

Victor turned to his right. "Yuri…I don't know how much anyone has told you," he stepped forward to Yuri's direction, "but the fact you're still here," he took another step, "it means a lot to me, you know?"

Yuri dropped his hand, returning it to his side and took a step forward too. "Mila and her father told me a great deal. They appear to trust me enough to explain, and regret not being transparent from the start. I don't know the particulars of the family business of course, heh, but let's paint, okay? I've had my fill of this drama that seems to keep following us and-" Yuri read Victor's sad face, "and you…really look like you need a hug…"

Victor stiffly held out his arms. "Oh, you have no idea…"

Two quick strides the two embraced; almost immediately Yuri felt Victor was trying to squeeze the air out of his lungs he clung so desperately as he rested his silver head upon his shoulder.

"Thank you for coming back," Victor whispered, finally loosening his arms after a few moments.

Yuri took in and let out a long breath. "It's a complicated mess, but you've done nothing wrong. I can't fault you for that or wanting to follow the wishes of your family."

The two remained quiet after that for the next few minutes, appreciating the other's security.

'Okay…step one done,' Yuri thought. 'Step two…might as well…'

"Victor?"

"Hmm?"

Yuri took a step back and looked into his eyes. "Yakov…your uncle told me he hopes to extend your deadline."

Victor relaxed further. "That's good to hear."

"He's also offered to…um, help me exchange my ticket for a later date. He thinks I'd be safer if I go…eventually."

Victor didn't jump to complain, protest, or rashly want to leave to face his uncle as Yuri feared would come to pass. Instead, his eyes appear to dull, as though he were bracing for impact.

'Those are walls he is putting up…' Yuri realized before he cleared his throat.

"I was going to ask what you think, Victor. Do you think I will be safe? With Georgi and the potential media running in the longer I stay and so on? I want to make sure you feel confident about me staying, regardless for how much longer."

Victor rapidly blinked and his brow furrowed. "I uh, well…yes, it would be responsible to keep those mind, huh?" Victor took a step back but kept Yuri's hands in his. "I will…leave that decision to you, okay? Seriously, I don't want you feel any obligation."

Yuri gave a small smile. "Obligation?"

Katsuki slid his hand around the back of Victor's head and promptly covered the man's lips with his.

'I care too much for you, Victor…so here's my step three.'

Yuri lowered himself from his toes and gave Victor a smile as he saw Victor's shocked face.

"Heh, I think we passed mere obligation some time ago…I just haven't had a chance to tell your uncle yet."

Victor blinked and smiled as though a new hope was breathed into him as he gingerly placed his hands about Yuri's hips. "Yuri…are you sure?"

"I'm only as sure as time allows because who knows what the future will bring." Yuri placed his hands, flat, onto Victor's chest.

Victor grinned despite himself. "Why are you chuckling?"

Yuri shook his head. "I-I just surprised myself is all, heh. I have no idea where that came from just now, heh."

Nikiforov took a small step closer. "Is there more?"

Yuri exhaled through his nose and, for a moment, was consciously aware he stood before this man without shaking knees or blushing for once and that spurred him to continue. "I…I want to be trusted as much as I trust you. If there is any obligation, and you still want me in some capacity, Victor, friend or lover, I need you to let me in here." He firmly pressed the tip of his right pointer into Victor's chest.

'Did I not say I'd like to stay?' Yuri recalled his words from yesterday. 'That I feel better closer to you?'

Victor took both of his hands to cover and press the entirety of Yuri's hand over his heart. "That will never be a problem."

Thank you for reading!

I tried to not info dump on you, but I felt Yuri wasn't in a position to not get only a few answers rather than all of them that were needed/appropriate for the time. Also, I felt I had to make it clearer that Mila and Victor are closer in age than what she was in the show. ^_^ please leave feedback. It's always encouraging to know how you like it so far.