Blues

That Thursday night, the face of a strikingly beautiful lady with goddess golden hair and deep morning glory eyes posed with large, sparkling emerald earrings, staring off over her right shoulder while from the neck down and most of the background had yet to be completed.

'It's not his best but decent…damn you Georgi…'

Yuri shook his head free from his thoughts to focus. "I'm still appalled Popovich has completely changed the woman on you. Even colorblind I can tell she isn't as exotic as she used to be."

Victor continued to his precise strokes. "I miss her too." He refilled his round bristle brush and gave a short sigh. "I am not about to go into the the psyche of the man, but he is nuts and I would rather just get this done."

Yuri exhaled, noting the lingering depression in Victor's voice. "Right...I'm going to go wash these brushes too, okay?"

Victor nodded. "Sure."

Yuri went to the sink. "I don't know if you're hungry yet but we should start thinking about it, no?"

"Da~ I suppose we should…"

Standing before the sink, Yuri let the water run over his brushes. "How are we doing on paints? Or are we ready for a break?"

Victor looked at his board filled with mostly used dollops of paint. "I'm still good. "Could you see if the brushes you washed an hour ago are dried yet? I really need my number two script brush again."

Yuri let the water run, went over the drying rack, selected the brush from the six he had cleaned before and patted the bristles dry as he walked back to Victor's side. "Here you go."

"Thank you."

Yuri lingered, watching Victor work for a few moments before he felt he should return to washing the brushes. "You know, have you considered setting up a work place with a sun window? A window close to the ceiling?" Yuri asked while heading back over to the sink. "You could let a little light in that way."

'And still feel safe,' Yuri added privately.

Victor shook his head. "First floor is safest in case I need to evacuate."

"Evacuate?" The moment Yuri asked he regretted it immediately.

Victor dropped his brush. "Shit." He leaned over to pick it up. "Yes. Evacuate."

'Crap, I don't want to stir up old memories…'

"I see…but it's a little dreary in here all day, isn't it?" Yuri quickly changed the subject.

Victor shrugged, twirling the brush handle in between his fingers like a pencil. "It's only been me using this place until now…not even Chris has seen this place…"

Yuri had turned off the water and set the brushes onto fresh paper towels to pat dry the excess. "I see…as much as I am glad to share this space with you I still think some sun would do you good," he remarked gently and grabbed the paint thinner and clean cup from the cabinet.

Victor watched Yuri work to place each the used brushes into the cup of paint thinner for a thorough soak, to free each one from the oil paint residue, and discreetly stood up to walk over to Yuri's side.

"There we go. I-" Yuri turned around to see Victor was standing right behind him. "O-Oh! Hey, now who's trying to be a ninja around here?" He teased.

Victor smile flickered. "Sorry. I thought I could surprise you with a hug." He slinked his arms around Yuri's waist.

"Hold on, my hands are all wet still-"

Victor pulled Yuri away from the counter regardless. "I don't care if your hands are ice cold right now." Nikiforov held Yuri close to him. "I need to recharge."

Yuri caved with a sigh and wrapped his arms around Victor's neck. "Yeah, me too…it's been a long day since this morning."

Victor hummed in agreement and hugged Yuri a little tighter.

'This…feels so right…' Yuri thought.

"I do not want you to worry about me being in here, okay?" Victor gently spoke up after several, quiet moments. "I have grown to love this place as it is over the years."

Yuri lightly combed Victor's bangs. "But…I have seen you happier in brighter places. Believe me, I don't think this is for the best to be in here. In fact, I believe this is the last place you wanted to be back in."

"Hmm, is that so?"

Yuri pecked Victor's cheek. "Frankly? This is a torture chamber in comparison to the galleria workspace and hell compared to your apartment."

Victor gave a husky chuckle. "I see…"

Yuri nodded.

Victor looked around. "Yeah…the sunlight is sounding to be pretty good."

Yuri stepped back and read Victor's face. "Then let's take a break? Maybe a quick walk?"

Victor turned his head to the door and spoke to the guard in Russian for a bit.

"Good." He turned his silver head back to Yuri. "Now we have fifteen or so minutes. He's going go see how dinner is coming alone and see where Mila or Yakov is on that extension."

"Oh good," Yuri brightened up and looked over his shoulder. "Let me finish with these brushes and we can go around the house floor at least for a change of pace."

Victor's smile grew a little. "No…" he whispered as gently turned Yuri's face back to him, "I have enough light right here."

Luckily, the air vent overhead made its cycle, turning itself on to suck up any dust or paint fumes. It wasn't loud exactly, but provided enough white noise to help mask their moans.

"Mmm ney~" Yuri slipped his right pointer finger between their lips and pulled away. "Is this really okay?"

Victor took Yuri's right hand and brought Yuri's head forward. "You tell me."

"Eh- ohmmph," Yuri felt Victor's kiss was unrelenting while fingers played with his black hair. Katsuki held onto Victor's shirt about the middle of his back and felt he was about to be swept away all over again, but welcomed it.

Victor pulled back for air. The two already a mess, both were panting in each other's arms.

'With tousled black hair and half-lidded eyes paired with flushed cheeks…'

Victor gently cupped Yuri's face. "Can I sketch you?"

'With large eyes and tender lips paired with an endearing gaze…'

Yuri wiped a stray tear from Victor's eye. "As long as I get to sketch you too."

The left corner of Victor's lips turned up for a split second. "Heh." He sniffed and leaned forward. "But later?"

Yuri could only chuckle before Victor covered his lips once again.

'Or always would work too,' Yuri thought.

The two wobbled and shuffled, unable to keep their hands off each other until, eventually, Yuri felt himself pressed against a wall.

"Phwa~" Yuri pulled back to briefly take in account where he was exactly, but next felt Victor's forehead onto his own.

"Yuri…" Victor ran his hands down the man's sides. "There is still so much I feel I don't know about you, and yet I…" he linked his hands against the small of Yuri's back, "I am so glad you are here."

"I am too." Yuri he framed Victor's face with this hands.

'But it's not a matter of me leaving or coming back ever now though,' he reflected. 'I'm being told to leave and yet I should ask myself if I am even strong enough to stay in Victor's world-'

"Yuri?"

Katsuki smiled as big, wondering eyes, still hoping this was okay, and a soft voice pulled him back from his thoughts. He slid a hand around the back of Victor's head and brought the Russian forward. 'But that I can think about later.'

Their lips drew nearly only to crash back together again as if this was their last one. Teetering along the line of desperation yet so much hope.

Yuri felt nimble fingers work a few buttons from the bottom of his shirt before an icy yet pleasant touch of said fingers caressed his stomach.

'This…getting dangerous…but I don't want him to stop.'

"Ah. Mmmph!"

Victor quickly took Yuri's chin with his left and slipped his tongue past his lips.

Yuri felt a shrill of excitement run down his spine and dug his hands into those silver locks at the same time Victor held him tighter as though he would break apart any second and fall through his fingers like sand.

The two rocked forward slightly then Yuri would find his head and backside tap against the wall only to be rocked back forward once again.

"Yuri…"

"Ah." Yuri bit his lip back from his moan as Victor moved onto kiss his cheek and run his lips to trace the right side of his jawline.

"I need you," Victor pecked a long the side of Yuri's neck. "So much." Victor confessed in a whisper. "My light. My inspiration. My strength and hope this world."

"V-Vic..tor…"

Nikiforov then pulled back to return to look into Yuri's blown-out, chocolate eyes and cupped his cool, right hand over the Japanese' cheek. "I do not know what I did to have you in my life, to meet you as I did and be living with you as we did, but I am grateful."

Yuri took his left hand to gently hold onto Victor's right forearm. 'I can say the same thing about you too you know...'

Katsuki exhaled and gave a brief smile before he pecked the tip of Victor's nose. "Anymore flattery like that and my heart is going to burst," he quietly teased and brought the Russian's forehead to rest on his own.

"I…I feel we...heh may have some trouble getting back to work now…" Yuri whispered first after a few moments of silence.

"Mmm~ but it felt amazing…" Victor rumbled, letting his hands rest lazily around Yuri's hips.

There they peacefully remained until there was a knock on the door five minutes later.

Victor stood upright and turned his head towards the door. "Da?" He replied, leaving Yuri for a bit to straighten out his clothes.

The voice on the other side was that of the guard returning to report.

"Spasibo!"

"Eh? What's going on, Victor?"

Yuri felt his heart skip a beat when Nikiforov returned to his side with the brightest smile he hadn't seen all day.

"Sounds like our break continues."

Yuri blinked, confused. "Eh?"

Victor pecked Yuri's cheek and took a step back. "My uncle has bartered for Monday and 'The Emerald' is about half way done. I would like for us to eat outside of here, at the dinner table if that's okay with you. Besides, you have hardly sat down all day."

Yuri let out an excited gasp. "Really? That is reliving to hear…but…"

Victor's shoulders fell a little when he saw Yuri hesitate. "What is it?"

"Well I need to call Phichit, let him know of the delay. What if he has called my cell since being here? I could claim I had run out of minutes but…oh shoot."

"Yuri?"

"Rent is also coming up. I should also make sure he has it under control or if I should wire some from my account, it or something."

Victor nodded. "I understand. How about this? We eat, I will ask for a secure laptop and phone and take care of the short matter before we kick back for the rest of the evening?"

Yuri caught Victor's hand to hold him back from turning to go. "Rest of the evening?"

"Why not?" Victor shrugged. "We have extra time now."

"But…wouldn't Georgi expect it before Monday? And at it's very best? What if that's the absolute latest day? Oh gosh, what did Yakov even barter the time for? I mean, you told me earlier today Georgi had burned a part of your galleria down because you weren't there in person. I just don't want to push this kind of guy-"

Quick and deep Victor planted another kiss onto Yuri's lips before he placed a finger before his own while pulling back. "Shhh~ if we're not careful we will will be bait for drama again."

Yuri took a sec and grinned. "Yeah…okay."

Tonight was for them.

The two left the room after cleaning up the space and followed the guard to the dinner hall where Yakov and Mila had just begun to eat.

"Have you been waiting long, Uncle?" Victor asked.

Yakov looked over as he wiped his lips free from the tomato soup and stood up. "Victor! Not at all. Come and join us."

Yuri tilted his head. 'Has quite a different persona here at home, doesn't he,' he thought to himself as he walked by Victor's side to join him at the table.

"Oh it's a merlot…hey, Yuri, try the wine and tell me what you think, okay?" Victor realized and asked moments after saying Grace.

"Ah, okay." It was like a dry fruit tart in his mouth but tasty. "Its good, I've haven't had this before."

"The chef picked it out for the pasta," Victor informed with a smile.

"That so…"

"Here, try the soup first and the pasta dish is called pelmeni, I think you'll like this too."

Yuri glanced in Yakov and Mila's direction as Victor eagerly filled his plate for him.

'Both of them look like they haven't seen Victor talk this much in one sitting before,' Katuski deadpanned in his observation.

"Here we are, give it a try.

Yuri brought a spoonful to his lips. 'It's definitely veggie…'

"Yes, this is good too." Yuri took a few more sips of the soup. "What's in this dish by the way? I see cabbage..."

"Ah, its called green shchi so there is your sorrel, spinach, and other greens in there I suppose, with said cabbage."

Mila propped her left hand under her chin. "Vit~ya…guess what?"

Victor turned his head. "Hmm?"

"Napoleon cake tonight."

Yuri held back a laugh when he saw Victor's eyes practically sparkle. "I take it you like this cake?"

Mila nodded. "Oh its his favorite. Do not get him started."

"I think you've done that already," Yuri teased back. "What does look like?"

Victor Nikiforov. Twenty-seven years old. A famous painter. Almost jumped with excitement in his chair.

Mila started to giggle. "You just had to ask."

Yakov coughed to clear his throat. "Vitya?"

"Hmm?"

"Let the man eat, you have been talking to him almost after every bite," he gently chided.

Mila, however, couldn't stop smiling. "Oh let them be, its been a long day, Father."

Yuri took another sip of wine and swallowed as he slid his free hand under the table to place it over the middle of Victor's thigh.

Victor looked at Yuri from the corner of his eye and had a bite of pelmeni pasta as he slid his hand under the table to slide his fingers between Yuri's and gave a gentle squeeze.

"How comes 'The Emerald'?" Yakov asked after a few more bites in silence.

"She is about half way done," Victor replied simply, squeezing Yuri's hand a snugly.

"Oh good. So would Saturday night be a good estimate?"

Victor nodded but looked to take a sip of water rather than look at Yakov in the eyes. "Estimate, yes."

Yakov set his water glass down. "Monday is the deadest of deadlines, Vitya."

'I knew it,' Yuri thought as he turned over his hand to better return Victor's squeeze.

"And he will have what he paid for," Victor replied.

"Good." Yakov looked to Yuri. "Your flight will be this coming Tuesday. I've arranged my jet to take you."

"S-Sir!" Yuri's jaw nearly dropped. "I-I don't know what to say."

Yakov wiped his mouth and shrugged. "Please, I've been reminded I had a business meeting in New York so the pit stop in Detroit is nothing."

Yuri's heart squeezed in turn as he felt Victor hold his hand tightly for a moment. "T-Thank you, um, I hate to bother you with a favor, but, unfortunately, my roommate at home hasn't heard from me in quite awhile and our rent is coming up. Can I have the means to talk with him for a bit?"

"Sure!" Yakov nodded. "You're far from a hostage here, Yuri, and again apologize for the fiasco earlier. So we will get you a phone after dinner."

"And a computer?" Victor added. "Yuri may need to transfer funds."

"Of course." Yakov nodded again. "After that will you two be returning to the work room?"

Yuri kicked himself. 'Crap, I was hoping this topic would distract from that.'

From the corner of their eyes the two exchanged a quick glance.

"I'm not going to lie, Uncle, I really would like to take some time tonight."

Yakov's shoulder's fell. "Not to guilt-trip you but I don't think that is wise. Extension or not, the extra days negotiated was only agreed upon only if he were to receive a few of our stocks each day you go past Friday."

Katsuki nearly choked on his water.

"Y-Yuri?" Victor took back his hand and patted the man's back. "Are you all right?"

"I just…that took me by surprise is all."

"How so lad?" Yakov asked.

"You were fine with Saturday as an estimate and the painting is half complete. Victor just wants a few hours of extra relaxation and we can get up early so…I think we will be fine, right? You can give him the types of stocks, right? Go cheap."

Victor smirked.

Yakov's eyes brightened in realization. "Smart…"

Mila nodded. "Makes sense to me. No sense slave driving ourselves now, right, Father?"

"Saturday only gives you an extra day then. Can you do it by then? Not to sound greedy but timeliness would look good on the family too."

"Sure, I can manage that," Victor replied. "As long as Georgi doesn't come pounding away at our front door."

"Humph, the bastard comes within range of this house I'll pop a cap on his ass myself."

Yuri suddenly snorted and slapped a hand over his mouth. "S-Sorry -snort- that…whew…I'm sorry," he apologized as he turned his head away to sniggered some more before he spoke quickly. "The mental picture that popped in my head when you said that, ha ha."

"Cartoonish?" Victor chuckled.

"Heh, do you get Looney Tunes in Russia?" Yuri buried his blushing face in his hands.

Victor chuckled louder as he patted Yuri's shaking shoulders.

"Yuri~!"

"H-Hi, Phichit," Yuri greeted, already apologetic. "Sorry I'm just getting back to you now it has been a crazy couple of days. I had run out of minutes so I'm sorry if my number looks different. Had to get a new phone."

"I wondered why the number looked odd, but that's okay, I've been swamped at work I haven't had time to call."

Yuri switched the phone to his other ear as Victor worked to get the laptop going at the cleared off dinner table. "I see, well, how have you been?"

"Good just about to get ready for work actually."

"Oh, okay, I'll make this short. Um…I've decided to stay for an extra few days."

There was a pause at the end of the line. "Really? Weren't you leaving tomorrow? What changed?"

"Yes I was, but, the art show has kept me so busy that I hadn't had much time to see Russia yet."

"Oh that does end tomorrow, right?"

"Yes."

"Ok, how did it go?"

"I was cleaned out, imagine that?"

Yuri saw Victor give him a brief look but went about to get the English translated website for Katsuki's online banking up and running.

"Really?! Awesome! I'm proud of you man!"

"Thanks! It means a lot!" Yuri beamed.

"So…is he okay with you staying too?"

Yuri realized Victor could overhear when Victor next patted his knee and gave a small grin while still working on the computer.

"Y-Yes. We hope to visit a few places."

"I see…do I need to say told you so-"

"No, no you don't," Yuri flustered as Phichit chuckled.

"Ri~ght…"

Victor turned his head to hide a smile but let out a laugh when Yuri poked his side.

Yuri huffed through his nose. "Anyway…the thought also occurred to me today that rent is coming up. Of course, I wanted to chat with you for a bit too, but I wanted to make sure everything was okay."

"Ah, thank you for the reminder because its actually my turn this month."

Yuri sat up in his chair. "O-Oh okay, you sure?"

"Yep! Looking on my calendar app right now. It's all good man, but thanks for checking in. What day will you fly out then?"

Yuri swallowed hard. "Uh, this Tuesday is my new flight date."

"Really…that sounds expensive to change it for one so soon."

Yuri nodded. "I know, but considering I got my paintings sold and so on…"

"Heh, yeah, I hear you. You deserve a vacation. Planning on taking a taxi when you land to get home?"

"Yeah, no need to rearrange things at your work."

"Sounds good…I got to go, but take care of yourself, okay?"

"Sure. Have a good one."

"Oh and, Yuri?"

"Tell your sweetheart he mumbles too much I can hear him from here."

-Click-

'Goddammit, Phichit.' Yuri rolled his eyes but couldn't let out a dry laugh.

Victor tilted his head. "I mumble?"

Yuri looked up from his phone. "Yeah, heh, you do often, especially when you're in the zone working."

Victor gave a sheepish grin. "I see…so he thinks I'm your sweetheart, eh?"

Yuri blushed. "He likes to tease me a lot when it comes to relationships -cough- not that I've ever had any-"

"What was that?"

Yuri rapidly shook his head. "A-Anyway, um…it looks like I won't need to transfer funds," Yuri relaxed into his chair as he put his borrowed cellphone on the table. "You would think I would have had this automated by now but it depends on our jobs so…."

Victor shook his head as he let out a dry laugh. "Heh, it's all right. Besides, I did overhear you didn't need to so I went ahead and looked up a place."

"Oh?" Yuri scooted over and looked at the computer screen.

'The Hermitage Museum?'

"Oh I've heard about this place..." Yuri took over the mouse pad and scrolled down the tour webpage. "I bet the photos on Google hardly do it justice, huh?"

Victor nodded. "Da~ I thought here would be a good place to take you…before-"

"What about Monday?" Yuri asked.

"Huh?"

Yuri typed in Russia tourism St. Petersburg on the search engine. "Well we have that day too, right? The museum sounds like a good Sunday trip so is there anywhere else you'd like to go on Monday?"

Victor brightened a little and nodded. "Well um," he took back the mouse pad and briefly looked at the listed points of interest. "If you want to see more museums I think the Admiralty building would be a good place."

"True, is there somewhere you haven't visited before or in a long time?"

Victor rose an eye brow as Yuri pretended to study the screen. "Somewhere personal, you mean?"

The tips of Yuri's ears turned red, giving him away instantly. "Is that wrong?" He squeaked, a little embarrassed.

Victor shook his head and leaned forward to peck Yuri's cheek. "No…but I'll leave our last place a surprise then, all right?"

Yuri smiled and took Victor's hand into his. "Can't wait."

Nikiforov pressed a kissed onto Yuri's temple and used his freehand to shut the computer. "Now then…what would you like to do tonight?"

"Hmm…would you…care to show me around the house?"

Victor stood up and offered a hand. "Of course."

The library, the study, the kitchen, one room followed by another save for those off limits.

"One to ten how close do you think my stereotypes to the mafia world are?" Yuri asked as they traveled upstairs.

Victor smirked. "I was brought into the main circle after my parents passed away, I wasn't raised to take over."

"Even though Yakov is your uncle? Does that mean you don't know what your family really does?"

Victor shook his head. "I do, but a lot of is confidential for your protection, Yuri."

"Ah."

Yuri followed Victor down the hall after reaching the top.

"If nothing else, I assure you we don't exercise violence just because someone ticks one of us off, cut off fingers, or go on assassinations and so on, that's all Hollywood."

Victor punched a few numbers on a key pad and pulled open another door.

Yuri hesitated at first by followed Victor inside. "So you don't need have a show of force then?"

"More so the name with prestige and influence which gives the Feltsman name power."

"A show of value rather than terror."

Victor nodded. "Yes. With Georgi as a widely known exception to families like ours in this business, why kill when you can trade or pay? What for exactly or why we do what we do, however, I can't say."

Yuri took in the treasures he now was beholding inside the small carpeted room which covered the four walls. "I can…take a guess…"

Still life.

Each and every painting, all in acrylic.

A few different vases.

A couple bouquets.

Four different statues.

One was of intricate Russian dolls all in a row in order of their sizes.

'These are so intricate…' Yuri thought. 'But the style-'

"What do you think?" Victor asked.

Yuri turned around to see he was looking back. "I…I'm not entirely sure…"

"What do you mean?"

Yuri walked to Victor's side in the middle of the room. "May I ask why these beautiful pieces are all hung in here like this? Under lock and key? Are they kept here to be safe from the black market or the fine art world in general? They're such wonderful works."

Katsuki watched Victor's eyes waver as he looked side to side at the pieces of art. "They were my mother's," he replied softly. "And yes, you could say that too as Yakov wanted to keep a piece of his sister-in-law safe here, for his brother's sake, when the family lost her after I was born."

Yuri stepped in a little closer. "Victor, I-"

"I know, I know, I promised no more drama but…I haven't stepped foot in here for years, ever since I moved to the apartment."

Yuri took Victor's right hand into his own. "It's all right…thank you for showing me this…," he looked side to side, "this art is precious to your family…it's an honor to get to see them," he whispered, finishing his words with looking into Nikiforov's eyes.

Victor squeezed Yuri's hand before pulling Katuski in for a quick embrace. "Of course. I'm sure she would've loved to have met you."

Yuri stepped back and smiled. "What was her name?"

"Tatiana."

Thank you for reading!