Summary: We are each of us human, always. Foolish, flawed, fragile. And there are things we cannot bear to lose.

"How is the subject reacting to electrical charges?"

"Standard physiological pain response, but no significant change."

"Increase the voltage."

"An increase in voltage could cause heart failure, particularly when combined with the serum in his bloodstream."

"Acceptable risk."

"Yes sir. Three, two, one, clear-"

The dream drags Yuri upright with a harsh gasp, his eyes wide and half-feral. A shadow moves beside his bed and his claws lance out, sinking deep into cotton and flesh.

"Ah," someone says softly in the dark, and Yuri freezes when he recognizes the voice.

"V… Victor?"

His vision comes into focus. He's in his room at the onsen, futon rumpled around him and pajamas soaked with sweat. Victor is sitting on the floor at his bedside, and Yuri's claws are digging bloody furrows in his arm. Immediately Yuri yanks his hand back.

"It's all right," Victor tells him softly. "You're afraid. It happens."

Yuri stares at the blood until Victor shrugs on his haori, covering the red tracks in his sleeve. "It's all right," he says again.

Until he says it Yuri doesn't realize that the sound of ragged breathing in the room is his own. He tries to slow the panting, but his heart is racing and his lungs can't seem to fill all the way.

"Victor," he manages, and then gentle hands are easing him back down onto the futon.

"Easy," Victor murmurs. "Slow. You've been asleep for a while. Don't rush yourself."

Yuri catches a glimpse of his own arms as Victor reaches down to cover him with the thick comforter. They're peppered with purple bruises and plastered with a dozen bandages, and he doesn't imagine he looks much better under his pajamas. He looks like he's been through a meat grinder.

"I thought…" he starts, and trails off immediately.

"I know," Victor answers anyway. "I'm sorry. I should never have let this happen."

"You-" Yuri's eyes flicker up to meet Victor's and he's shocked to see guilt there, heavy and miserable. "Not… Not everything is about you, you know," he sniffs, trying to brush off the suggestion.

"They captured you to get to me. To get to Eros."

"I was the one dumb enough to get myself caught."

"It's different. You're a child."

Yuri snorts derisively. "I'm not a child. Haven't been since- since the facility. You know that."

"In some ways," Victor admits. "But you're still very young, Yuri."

Something about his tone makes Yuri's eyes narrow. "Where are you going with this?"

"Yuri…" Victor takes a deep breath. "I think it's time you went home."

"What?" Yuri snaps, sitting bolt upright again and ignoring the wave of dizziness that follows. "Hell no. Fuck no, Victor we have to hunt these bastards down-"

"No, Yuri!" Victor's hands slap down hard against the tatami.

Yuri's mouth snaps shut. Victor is leaning forward, hair obscuring his eyes. His frame is tense, veins visible in his wrists and neck.

"No," he says again, quieter this time. "It's clear now that you're not safe here. Whoever these people are, they've targeted you. This will happen again if you stay, and I can't-"

Victor's voice cuts off abruptly. Horror sinks into Yuri's bones when he sees a tear darken the tatami. He opens his mouth, but his voice won't come. He tries again.

"Victor…"

It's all he can say. They sit together in the dark, the silence thick enough to cut, until Victor's quiet words tear it to pieces.

"You mean too much to me. You're family. I can't lose you."

Yuri doesn't answer for a long time. How can he? What can he possibly say?

Outside, the rain falls against the roof in heavy sheets. It runs in rivulets over the windowpane, distorting the light from the lanterns outside and casting strange shadows across the distance between them.

"…There's a flight out next week." To his credit, his voice doesn't waver.

"Good." Victor stands, moving to the door. "I'll call your grandfather."

A/N: There are plenty of ways to get off a roller coaster, but not a lot of ways that won't kill you.

Sea and Chaos: Don't worry, Yuuri's definitely going to have reasons to use the Thrall in later chapters!

drkm2000: I'm really glad you feel attached to the characters as I write them! That's probably the best compliment you could possibly give me.

Unconscious Again: I won't lie to you UA, I showed this review off to like three people. I'm so touched by your enthusiasm!

Makayla: Probably about as excited as I am when I get reviews! Except for me it's more of a prolonged "eee" noise.