A/N: HAHAHAHAHA IT's fUckINg dOnE! This was really long but I told you it would be worth it. The next chapter, which will be even more wonderful, will be rated M. Again. because... I mean... Well... Listen, just enjoy this chapter and don't die before I post the next one, K?
ENJOY!
Up In The Air - 30 Seconds To Mars
Viktor slouched over the bar, his eyes drooping pleasantly and his gaze fixed distantly on one of the shining bar lights. The sounds of Yuri yelling at JJ had faded into the background and everything was just sort of floating, carried by the laughing sounds of people around them. They had, inevitably, attracted a crowd, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Hell, it was almost manageable and no one seemed too upset about it.
Glancing at the unnameable glass of alcohol in his hand, Viktor smiled. Okay, perhaps I shouldn't have drunk so much... Ah well, they'd been there for hours, having found somewhere that not only sold a fair selection of drinks but also a rather decent spread of food. Looking to his left, where Christophe was ruffling JJ's hair, much to the Canadian's chagrin, Viktor chuckled. At least his friends were happy. And he certainly wasn't bored anymore.
Glancing up at the clock, Viktor straightened and stretched. Yuuri~ He thought tiredly, a slow, pleased look creeping up over his lips. His mind kept straying to a very specific set of images, which really wasn't a good thing but ah, he was already too far gone to really care. It was the alcohol no doubt, making him lose his generally reasonable control of his own mind. Was this highly inappropriate, oh yes, did he give a damn? No, not really...
"Oi!" Yuri barked, smacking Viktor in the side of the head with a glare. "Stop making that stupid ass face! You haven't even had that much to drink." That wasn't strictly true, but Viktor had to appreciate the attempt. If he wasn't actively drunk, he was as close to drunk as he could get without being fully incapacitated.
"Yurio~" He sang, throwing his arms around the blond, who instantly struggled to get away. "You're so adorable when you're annoyed at me!" Using the distraction to snap his mind back into place, Viktor smiled when Yuri struggled to get away, squawking in protest the entire time. Such a cat, you never did like to be manhandled...
"Get off of me you drunk sod!" Yuri exclaimed, entirely destroying his previous claim that Viktor wasn't that drunk. "You're being disgusting! I can't believe I have to deal with you! It's not that late, get your act together."
From where he sat, basically in JJ's lap, Christophe argued, "Oh no, it is late Yurio, we've been here for hours, haven't we?" Glancing up at JJ, who was also drunk, the Canadian made another attempt at shoving him off before giving up and looking over at the other two.
"Yeah, we've been here for at least, like, six hours. I mean, it's no record but..." Shrugging, he turned back to the beer he'd been working on. "Hey, it's better than staying cooped up in the hotel for hours. I'm glad to be out." Looking down at Christophe, who pouted at him, JJ added, "But I would like this lug to get off of me."
"Lug?!" Christophe yelped, giving the man above him a hurt look. "JJ, your words are so horrible, you should not throw them around so carelessly, you'll leave me in pieces I say, pieces!" Dutifully sitting up till he was merely leaning against the man's shoulder, Christophe reached for his glass, which was still sitting on the table, and called to Viktor, "Are you going to go visit your beau again tonight?"
"I think I shall," Viktor hummed, smiling joyfully at the thought of Yuuri, flushed and pressed against the nearest surface. No wait, that's not what I'm supposed to be thinking about... Bother, what was I supposed to be thinking about? Shaking the thoughts from his head, Viktor laughed and exclaimed, "Why wouldn't I Chris? He is the highlight of my day."
"You're disgusting," Yuri announced, throwing his hands in the air in irritation. Pushing his hair out of his eyes, the man muttered, "I mean, do I go on and on about Beka until everyone else wishes I'd shut up?"
"Yes?" JJ answered, sounding confused.
"The answer was supposed to be no you idiot!" Yuri barked, getting in the guitar player's face. Looking slightly concerned, Christophe pushed the spitting blond away from JJ, who could do nothing but laugh. "I'm trying to say you're being ridiculous Nikiforov! Just because you're in love doesn't mean you can forget about the rest of the world."
"He has a fair point," Christophe admitted, looking dolefully at Viktor, who furrowed his brows at the attention. "Though I will not deny that you are clearly smitten, you can't just forget about the band. We were here first."
Viktor frowned. "He would never affect my abilities, if anything he makes them many times better." Scoffing, he added, "And we're not in love. I've known him for a total of eight days, it isn't love, that would be nothing short of ridiculous. Even you must admit that Chris."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Yuri snapped, his grievance with JJ forgotten momentarily as he stormed back over to his original seat at the counter where Viktor sat. "Of course you're in love with him you feather-brained idiot! What part of I'm going to sneak out every night to visit him isn't love?"
Viktor tilted his head in confusion. "Yurio, you're overreacting, I'm not going to fall in love with someone just because I like to be around them." And talk to them, and touch them, and kiss them, and do quite a bit more with them... Nope, he wasn't going there! "I can't imagine why you'd all believe I loved him."
But even as he said it, the past week came back at him in flashes, all the moments that made him wonder if maybe, just maybe, they were seeing something he wasn't. Most recently, the conversation he'd had with Otabek flashed through his mind. How did you know you were in love? And he still wanted to know how to tell, though he wasn't sure he wanted to know why he wanted to know.
And though he'd never had to think about something as frightening as love before, now he was left to flounder as things with Yuuri just kept getting deeper. Maybe I am in love...
No, it was madness, nothing was going on.
"What I'm worried about," Christophe said, getting to his feet so he could sway towards the bar, his body's movements loose and carefree. "Is something bad happening with the two of you and it leaving the rest of us to suffer." Leaning in between Yuri and Viktor, Christophe pouted, "I know how you are Nikiforov, if you're not feeling inspired, your work is pas si bon."
"But nothing bad is going to happen between Yuuri and I," Viktor countered, not liking the insinuations Christophe was making. "We are fine, and Yuuri is not so shallow as to try and hurt me." And he believed it, but the way that Christophe was looking at him like he was an idiot did not help his confidence.
"Yuuri?" Someone asked curiously. "You mean Yuuri Katsuki?"
Glancing up, Viktor widened his eyes and though he knew he shouldn't be talking about his relationship with the boy outside of his friends, the man nodded. "Ah, yes, yes I am!" The bartender who was currently leaning over the counter had her head tilted slightly and a smile on her face. "Do you know him?"
"You could say that!" the woman said with a laugh, running her fingers through long, brown tresses to clear it from her eyes. Her smirk was evident and though she was the bartender herself, it was clear she'd been drinking herself. "I knew his family a few years back when his mother was deathly ill. We knew each other before that too. Of course," she gave a sad sigh. "We haven't talked this last year, but he shut almost everyone out so I'm not too upset."
Knowing what she was talking about, Viktor nodded, "I see! Well yes, we were talking about him."
Returning to her earlier task of wiping down the bar's surface, the woman asked, "So, how do you know him Mr. Nikiforov." Viktor wasn't at all surprised she knew him, but he was delighted that she didn't treat the matter like she was talking to a celebrity. It was... refreshing.
Viktor was about to open his mouth to respond when JJ thumped down into the seat beside him. "He's in love with Yuuri!" he announced, grinning when the woman granted him another beer to replace his empty one. When Viktor elbowed him, JJ just laughed. "Come on dude, you so want to-"
"Okay, that's it!" Yuri snapped, throwing his arms in the air. "I'm out! You idiots can deal with your own drunk asses tonight, I'm fucking done." Flouncing out of the bar, much to the collective disappointment of several fans that had gathered nearby, Yuri called, "Nikiforov, you had better stop being and idiot!"
"Get back safely Yurio," Viktor called, his eyes shining brightly. "Don't do anything Chris wouldn't do~"
The boy flipped him off as he left the bar.
Watching the man go with barely concealed laughter, the woman turned back to face them. "So, what was that you were saying about Nikiforov being in love with little Yuuri?" Planting an elbow on the counter, she added, "I'm Minako by the way. You know, in case you ever get the opportunity to tell Yuuri I was asking after him." She said it like she had a feeling Viktor would be spending his time doing other things...
Leaning forward, Christophe snatched JJ's beer away from him before smiling disarmingly at Minako, who just smirked back. "So here's how it is. Nikiforov decided, for some strange reason, that he needed to socialize with the locals. He ended up in the speedway below where we're staying."
"And that's where he met Yuuri," JJ continued, grabbing his drink back and giving Christophe a suspicious look. "Who was clearly perfect for some reason, I've never actually met him. None of us have actually except for Nikiforov."
Unexpectedly, Minako threw her head back and let out a laugh. "Oh isn't this just beautiful. Little Yuuri, who thought he never could get a date after Phichit left, has managed to catch the eye of the great Mr. Nikiforov. This is just too good. Tell me," she gave him a more serious look that was somewhat marred by the way her eyes seemed perpetually half-lidded. "How is he dealing with the fact that you're... Well, you?"
Viktor scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Well, Yuuri doesn't exactly know about that..."
Giving him a fucking really? look, Minako groaned. "I'm guessing you shouldn't be telling me this?" When Viktor only shrugged, she rolled her eyes. "Yup, you're drunk. Otherwise, you might think twice for telling a random stranger about something this sensitive."
Viktor sighed. "Probably, but it wasn't precisely my idea to bring up my private life now was it?" He shot both of his friends meaningful looks. Christophe waved his hand lazily and JJ toasted him with his drink. Glancing back at Minako, Viktor said, "But regardless, that doesn't change the subject of what we were talking about which is-"
"Oh no, you totally are in love with him," Christophe countered, raising his eyebrows and staring Viktor dead in the eyes. "I would know, I know more about this stuff than you ever will. Heck, even JJ notices and he's an idiot~"
"Hey!"
Humming under her breath, Minako pulled up a stool that was on the other side of the counter and sat so she could look at Viktor pensively. "Look," she said at last, her expression hidden by her folded fingers. "Far be it from me to tell you who you do and don't like Nikiforov but you need to be careful." Shrugging, she let one eye close. "Your Yuuri's a little fragile, though, if you're this far in, you probably already know that."
"I do," he admitted, dropping his head and smiling ruefully. Viktor couldn't deny that the way she'd said your Yuuri made his stomach do happy flips. Butterflies again, I suppose. He liked that, liked the idea that Yuuri was his and no one else's. Safe from the rest of the world who would want to do him harm. But it's not love, right?
"What happened?" JJ asked, raising his eyebrows curiously. "To Yuuri, I mean?"
Minako pursed her lips. "Let's just leave it at you should be careful who finds out about you two getting together. Some people might not be particularly happy."
"We're not together," Viktor insisted, stressing the word. He knew he sounded like a petulant child but- But... He couldn't' help it! He wasn't exactly known for his track record of good relationships. If he was being honest with himself, he was more the type to simply flit through places, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind him. Not that he meant to but Viktor wasn't good with commitment. He was committed to his band and that was about it. And Yuuri... Viktor didn't want to see him hurt. Ah, which means there's already something there...
"Are they together?" Minako asked, looking between Viktor's two friend's skeptically.
"Oh absolutely," Christophe said, nodding.
"Yep," JJ confirmed, not caring when Christophe stole his drink again. "Totally a thing."
"Then stop saying that you aren't in love with him!" Minako snapped, palm slapping the table hard. "Yuuri isn't going to be able to handle prolonged exposure to something like that, you need to know how your feeling about this whole thing because he sure as hell won't for a while." Sitting back, she added, "And I'm tired of seeing him get hurt."
"I won't hurt him," Viktor insisted, thinking of the shining look in Yuuri's eyes and feeling his heart melt just a little before clenching painfully at the idea of that light going out because of him. "I would never hurt him. He knows what we are, we don't exactly let each other forget." Even though I feel like I forget on a daily basis. "We're okay."
"You say that now but..." Minako shrugged. "Whatever you think Yuuri's been through, he's been through worse. His life has been nothing but a series of unfortunate events. You, showing up like this in all your-" she waved her hand vaguely. "Glory, like this? I'd say he'd be terrified of believing that it's real and if he does end up believing, when you leave, it's only going to break him."
"I don't want to leave," Viktor admitted under his breath, burying his fingers in his silver hair. At that Christophe's eyes widened and JJ whistled. Minako just nodded, as if she'd see that coming.
"My god, it's worse than I thought," Christophe muttered, blinking some of the happy drunken haze from his eyes. "Nikiforov, what are you doing to yourself?"
"Dude," JJ said, sounding almost impressed. "Oh boy you are so boned right now. I didn't realize you were that into this."
"I"m not!" Viktor protested, but his stomach churned like it knew he was lying. "I'm not in love with him, I'm just having some fun and he's enjoying himself too. If I can make him smile, then that's all the better."
Minako shook her head. "Nikiforov," she started, her eyebrows drawn together. "I've said it once and I'll say it again, it's not my place to tell you who you do and don't have feelings for but you really don't have much experience with this stuff, do you?" When he didn't answer, she chuckled. "Yeah, I can tell. Your type never really does know when they've found something special."
"My type?" Viktor asked, confused.
"Flighty," Christophe answered at once, passing JJ's beer back.
"Flirty," JJ added instantly.
"The type that's played the game enough times that they don't understand when they're looking at something different," Minako finished, tapping the bar with a finger. "You're struggling but you don't know what you're struggling with because you've never seen it before. I can't tell you how many guys I see in here that go through the same thing. They find something and they think they know what they're doing but they just," she grimaced. "Ruin it. I don't want you to do that and I don't want that thing to be Yuuri's heart."
"I'm feeling very reassured," Viktor commented, unimpressed. "Please, can we not be quite so critical, I am doing my best, honestly I am."
"Oh I know," Minako agreed, straightening suddenly and going about mixing a drink. "But sometimes, you need a reality check. Even if you're famous."
"Especially if you're famous," Christophe agreed, raising an imaginary glass to her.
"So if you can just admit that you love Yuuri, everything will be fine!" JJ encouraged, thumping Viktor on the back happily. "Oh, and you have to let us meet him."
"I'd rather not," Viktor commented, looking between the two of them and sighing. Glancing up at the clock, Viktor watched the hand tick past eleven thirty before suddenly swinging his body around and slipping to his feet. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have other things I wish to do."
"Like Yuuri," Minako quipped, making him turn quickly and give her a hurt look, even though internally Viktor completely agreed with her. Laughing at his response, the bartender waved Viktor away. "Go on Nikiforov, have fun. I'll keep these two from doing something stupid."
Feeling an odd sort of camaraderie with the girl, Viktor gave her a strange sort of salute. "I shall entrust them to you. Make sure they both stay mostly conscious." With a musical laugh, Viktor turned and left, enjoying Christophe's and JJ's sounds of protest.
The moment he was out on the street, Viktor felt a wash of emotions crash over him. Because the woman had been at least a little right, he wasn't good with commitment and what Yuuri needed most was something steady. He couldn't handle much of Viktor's flighty airs and he certainly wouldn't be able to handle it if Viktor let slip something he didn't mean. Like love, right? Because he didn't mean it, he couldn't possibly mean it after such a short time.
But he almost wished he did, because it was Yuuri. He almost wished that he could stay in Portland, because then it might become something. Viktor almost wished that Yuuri already knew who he was so he wouldn't have to keep putting walls in their relationship. Above all though, he wished he understood, so he didn't have to be so afraid of the knot of longing that formed in his gut every time he wasn't around Yuuri.
"I'm screwed," he said aloud. "Entirely over the bend because of Yuuri and the light he holds inside himself." It sounded stupid out loud, but Viktor smiled at the words regardless because they were true and he didn't know how else to say it. He was going crazy, and really, when he wasn't being forced to think about love or hurting people or any of that other seriousness, Viktor found that he was content in his insanity.
As long as it's Yuuri, I don't care. I could fall in love and I guess it would be alright because if it's my little Flower, I can't seem to think of a downside.
With a contented sigh, Viktor directed his feet in the general direction of Speedway because all jokes aside, he really wanted to see Yuuri.
As the Portland nightlife passed him by, Viktor wondered what it would have been like to grow up somewhere like this, instead of in a cold city in Russia. He wondered if he would have turned out differently, stuck in a boring job because there was nothing to drive him to music. If he'd had a normal childhood, perhaps his own words would have never been a solace to him and he might have never met people like Yuri, JJ and Christophe who decided to stick by him even when it seemed ridiculous and suicidal.
He would have never met Yuuri...
I'm definitely drunk right now...
Well not so drunk anymore, just severely tipsy. The world just seemed to glow around the edges and his mind kept getting away from him but other than that, he was totally fine. Completely conscious of his surroundings and totally focused on getting to the Speedway in once piece.
Surprisingly, he did a relatively good job of it. Viktor didn't know where he was going but he'd been wandering around Portland enough in the last week to sort of know when he was getting close. It only took him twenty minutes to make a trip that should have taken ten at the most, which was pretty good considering he was usually too forgetful to remember where he was going.
The moment he saw the familiar red lights of the sign though, he relaxed, his mind wandering to the man who was inside. Yuuri... How would he be feeling today? Tired, emotionally drained or possibly happy to see him. Maybe he'd smile, maybe he'd blush, maybe Viktor would make him blush regardless. I kind of want to kiss him. Actually, he wanted to do a whole lot more than that but he had self control, probably...
As he strode through the front door, his movements easy, his body loose, Viktor's eyes landed on the boy in question. He looked devastatingly attractive at that moment, cheeks flushed, eyes wide in surprise and joy, lips parted just a bit, just enough to make him look so so appealing. "Yuuri Love," he sang, lifting his crystal eyes to look the boy over once more. "I missed you~"
"Yeah, I missed you too." Then Yuuri turned redder and gave Viktor a stupid grin and Viktor couldn't even begin to help himself. Moving forward without even realizing what he was doing, Viktor's hands found their natural place on Yuuri's waist and the back of his neck before he was drawing the boy forward in a kiss that he all but melted into. Yuuri tasted so savory and perfect and Viktor couldn't help but chuckle darkly as he backed the man into the wall.
"I'm sorry," he murmured against Yuuri's skin as the boy's breath sped up and his face turned even redder. "You're just too much for me Yuuri, do you have any idea what I want to do to you?" Oh yes, he was probably drunk but considering he wanted to do this sober, he was going to take advantage of the lack of that little voice in the back of his head that might try and stop him. Lips roaming over Yuuri's flawless skin, Viktor breathed in that heady scent and committed to memory.
"V-Viktor~" Yuuri's voice came out as something between a gasp and a groan that was music to Viktor's ears. This time, he knew they were alone, this time, he could keep this perfect creature to himself without having to worry about prying eyes. Swallowing those breathy sounds off of Yuuri's lips, Viktor took the opportunity to slip his tongue into the man's mouth and explore every bit of him. Yuuri just surrendered to him, curled his fingers into Viktor's shirt and hung on for dear life.
God, he's so perfect. As their mouths slid against each other, Viktor found his hands roaming, unable to get enough of this flawless being under him. Where Yuuri's shirt had come un-tucked, Viktor's fingers brushed over bare skin, causing the boy to shudder against him violently and make a soft whimpering sound. It was undeniably arousing and Viktor responded to it by pressing their bodies together, wishing there wasn't so much clothing in between them.
"Wh-what's this?" Yuuri panted, pulling away for a moment so he could stare at Viktor. His pupils were blown wide, enough so they almost entire eclipsed the familiar rusty irises. Does he have any idea what he's doing to me? Unable to hold back, Viktor attacked Yuuri's exposed neck, leaving open mouthed kisses in his wake that looked pink against Yuuri's skin.
"What do you think it is?" Viktor murmured, running his hands over Yuuri's torso hungrily, delighting in the way the man shuddered against him and let out a soft moan. "You just look at me with those beautiful eyes and I can hardly hold myself back." He found Yuuri's mouth again and he stole whatever breath the man had been able to muster. Pressing their lower bodies together, Viktor couldn't help but roll his hips ever so slightly, causing Yuuri to groan against him.
"God," he gasped out, fingers moving up to tangle in Viktor's hair in the best way possible. "Don't stop~"
Giving into Yuuri's words, Viktor chuckled darkly as he drove himself against Yuuri, kissing everything he could reach and touching everything he couldn't. His hands traveled lower and he let out a predatory growl as Yuuri gasped in pleasure, eyes rolling back in his head. "Viktor!" Yuuri's voice carried so sweetly thought the empty store, every sound only adding to the heat pooling in Viktor's gut. "A-ah, god."
Though he knew he was probably taking this too far, Viktor's hands looped under Yuuri's thighs as he lifted the boy, allowing him to wrap his legs around Viktor's waist. Yuuri didn't even complain, probably couldn't have formulated the words to do so and Viktor certainly didn't want to stop. He just wanted more. He wanted to see Yuuri spread out underneath him, needy and wanting. He wanted to listen to him call his name as he came undone at his touch. He wanted to see the look of pleasure in his eyes as he finally climaxed...
It was this that at last brought Viktor back to earth. Realizing just what he was doing and where they were, Viktor forced himself back into the present and drew back, taking a moment just to stare at the mess he'd made of Yuuri. The man was panting hard. His eyes were unfocused and his face and neck were flushed. Looking down, Viktor noted several red marks he'd left behind and he felt a tad guilty. I hope he doesn't mind.
Unable to help himself, Viktor drew Yuuri back in for a second more and simply pressed a light kiss to his lips, marveling in how perfect the man was before slowly letting him slip back down to the floor and allowing him to breathe. Finally focusing his eyes on Viktor, Yuuri breathlessly murmured, "That was..."
Leaning in, Viktor couldn't help but murmur teasingly against Yuuri's ear, "I would say I was sorry Love, but that would be a lie." He could feel the shiver that traveled down Yuuri's spine at those words. "Though perhaps I should not be continuing in here where people can just walk in."
As if the realization had just hit him that this was indeed a possibility, Yuuri yelped and exclaimed, "V-Viktor!" Squirming to get away, Yuuri complained, "I need this job!"
"That didn't seem to stop you a moment ago," Viktor said with a laugh, letting Yuuri escape regardless. Once he had an avenue of escape however, Yuuri didn't move, he just relaxed against the wall and gazed up at Viktor, a soft look in his eyes. Though his mouth was swollen with kisses and his breathing hadn't quite returned to normal, he looked content, happy. Beautiful.
Perfect.
Yuuri Love, what have you done to me...
Reaching up an absent hand and smoothing out Viktor's rumpled hair, Yuuri muttered, "Yeah well you were pretty persuasive." He smiled at his own words, as if he recognized how ridiculous they were.
Loving that small smile, Viktor stole yet another kiss from Yuuri, hardly able to believe that this was real, that such a wonderful thing was his to hold and cherish. Don't break him, don't hurt him. "I try to be," Viktor assured him, moving back so he could simply drink in the look on Yuuri's face. Far more intoxicating than any alcohol. "Only for you Yuuri Love."
And okay yes, sometimes this whole thing terrified him, but really, Viktor wouldn't trade Yuuri for the world.
Maybe they're right after all...
A/N: So yeah, we get a little Minako, a little drunk Viktor, a little bit of deliciousness and the promise that the next chapter will be out... SOON! First I've got to write some WmWmMms which is also rated M and I've got to work on The Users and The Used. To those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, that's okay. Just know that I've got to write it.
But the next chapter of this will be out soon so don't die. Really, I don't like it when you die.