Chapter 1, Page 12

Tension

Viktor walked into the living room where Joseph and Asriel where already up with Joey making breakfast and Asriel doing schoolwork the argument from the night before hung in the air as Azzy virtually ignored Viktors presence while Joseph was too focused on the task at hand to noticed he had even awoken at such an early hour until Viktor cleared his throat after standing in the doorway for what seemed like forever, Joseph turned his head towards the doorway and gave Vik a small smile before resuming his cooking as he finished up the last batch of eggs and getting everyone a plate noticing Chara hadn't joined Viktor so he figured he'd save her a plate and keep it warm for when she inevitably came out from her and Viktors room to join them. Joseph sat the plates down for everyone as breakfast proceeded normally with him and Asriel having a bit of small talk as Viktor sat there picking at his food not really hungry but also really dreading when Joseph Was going to bring up what had transpired the night before as he was more than sure that Joseph knew about it by now and the thought of his reaction actually caused the saiyan to slightly shake as he knew if Joseph was anything like he was when it came to someone upsetting Chara then this might not end very well at all.

Joseph: Is everything alright old sport? I do hope the breakfast is to your liking, I'll admit I'm not familiar with your daily meals but I figured this would suffice but if you wish for something else then I'd be more than happy to prepare something else.

Viktor: Uh...no Joseph everything's fine i'm just not very hungry currently

Joseph: Well that's quite alright old sport I can wrap your plate up and put it in the refrigerator until your ready to eat it if that's what you prefer?

Viktor: no Joseph really it's fine I..just have alot on my mind currently

Joseph: I see...Asriel love would you kindly give myself and Viktor a moment to talk in private

Asriel nodded getting up and walking to the sink to put away his and Josephs empty plates before heading back into their room with his laptop to finish his assignments for the day, Joseph shifted his seat a bit until he and Viktor were facing each other as Viktor averted his gaze expecting at any moment for Joseph to explode in anger at him for what he said last night but the moment never came as Joseph studied him for a few minutes trying to gage how he should approach this delicate situation as one hand he was pse by what had happened last night but at the same time he understood Viktor's reasoning for snapping back like he did as it was how he used to be when he was his age growing up during the war and how he always had a chip on his shoulder every time he went into combat, the weight of everyone on his shoulders as he felt the need to get his squadron back safely but even Joseph had to learn that sometimes you simply can't save everyone no matter how hard you tried and in the end it didn't matter how much you tried to force the burden of being a protector upon yourself as not everyone wanted to be saved, but with Chara after everything she and Viktor must have went through these past six years he was sure it no doubt affected not only her but also Viktor to an extent because it was the same way between himself and Asriel the nights spent lying awake comforting Asriel after one of his many nightmares regarding his past life as Flowey the flower and the hours spent trying to get him to understand that he had to let that side of him go as he wasn't the same person anymore he'd changed in the fifteen years since having his soul restored and in the six months since meeting each other Joseph had noticed that slowly but surely Asriel changed for the better and now as he sat there he saw the same thing in Victor and Chara the similarities were evident enough from the minute he had met them so now it was his turn to offer Viktor a helping hand and lend a bit of advice to the youngling.

Joseph: Viktor old sport is this about what happened last night with Asriel? I'm not upset in the slightest if that's why your so upset quite the opposite actually I can understand exactly what your going through as I went through the same thing with my dear Asriel, the fear of their safety and the fact that you won't always be around to protecting them is as maddening as the feeling of being around them as words cannot truly lend to the love we both hold for our significant other. Viktor what happened last night wasn't your fault in the slightest as we all say things that we don't mean in times of great distress or in your case a moment of prideful arrogance but just because you have one small spat doesn't mean i'll automatically think any less of you old sport I give you my word as a vampyre on that.

Viktor: I just don't like when people question my ability to protect her is all...she's been through so much these past six years and it's a very sore subject for the both of us but I just couldn't stop myself yesterday and I felt terrible afterwards but he just looked so hurt and i simply didn't know what to say to hiso I left to clear my head but by the time we got back it was late and you too were already asleep, then he just ignored me during breakfast which just made me feel worse.

Joseph: Do forgive him old sport he just needs time the things said last night cut him pretty deep and he's just upset at having to remember that terrible time of his life so I wouldn't take it took close to heart my dear Viktor give Asriel a da or so and then he'll be fine i'm sure of it,but for the time being why don't we discuss something not so morbid hmm I'm sure there must be something you'd like to discuss training or perhaps sports of some kind?

Viktor: Well actually I've been meaning to ask since you've been around for so long what was it like living through everything? From the Vietnam war to the moon landing I mean being a vampyre must have had it's downside but to be able to see all that first hand must've been something right?

Joseph: Well times were simpler back then nowhere near as complicated as they are today but then again I can't say everything was all roses and cheesecake now can I? No there were times where I wished I could live out my life just like any other but there were also times that I truly cherish Viktor...\

Viktor: Like meeting Asriel?

Joseph: Yes exactly to be honest Viktor I've seen the world from the city lights glistening off 1960's Paris to the beautiful jungles of the amazon to right here in the meadows of Manitoba,I've seen the world and all the beauties it has to offer and through it all I always felt as though something was missing old sport like there was something or rather someone out there for me my own personal Daisey and to him I'd ne Jay Gatsby able to give them the world at the drop of a hat and never expect anything in return, for a time i'll admit I gave up on looking secluding myself here always staring just past the docks at the shining dot at the end of the pond hopping at I'd have my day in the sun and who would have thought Asriel of all people would love someone like me flaws and all but here we are just as happy together as we were miserable apart, I guess what I'm trying to play Viktor Is that you can't force yourself to be the hero of every story because i'm afraid that the world simply doesn't work that way old sport never will believe me I tried you must accept the fact that we all have our downfalls and look past them...Chara won't always be around and she may eventually leave for pastors anew and when that day comes you must be ready to say farewell to her and begin anew just as I too will eventually have to do the same but for the time we have them we must cherish them for all we're worth understand old sport?

Viktor: Yea...I think I do...Uh thanks Joseph I really needed to hear that it means alot more than you know

Joseph: It was nothing old sport just a bit of advice from one friend to another

The hours past as 11AM ticked by with Chara finally waking up and Joining the pair on the couch alongside Asriel who had been sitting quietly in the kitchen the entire time listening in on the conversation that had transpired between Joseph and Viktor and the words that Joseph spoke where some of the most heartwarming things that had been said in quite awhile, Asriel and Viktor both apologized for the previous night's actions with both agreeing that the other had nothing to worry bout and that there were no ill feelings between the pair while Chara and Joseph looked on enjoying the small moments such as these when they could observe the two things the loved most in their purest form as time ticked by without any meaning or consequence.