CHAPTER SIX HUNDRED SEVENTEEN

One could be forgiven for thinking it was still Christmas by the way Viktor pranced into the drug store. He made an immediate B-line for the cold & flu section, and started examining the items on offer. Yuri followed in after with the rest of the crew, Ravenclaw beanie covering his head, "He's enjoying this way too much." He commented glibly, slowly following the Russian's path.

"Sometimes, taking care of the people we love is its own reward," Mikhail surmised, "I can relate."

"It's nice, don't get me wrong...I just wish it wasn't during competition."

"I think Viktor enjoys taking care of you regardless of when it happens." The elder pointed out as they rounded the end-cap of that last aisle, "I imagine it helps him take his mind off things."

"...What, the crowd earlier?" Yuri wondered, and paused in place, "He wasn't actually that bothered. I think it surprised him more than anything...but then he doubled-down and threw it back in their faces, just like he did back at NH...K..." He slowed, and immediately regretted his choice of words, "No, I didn't mean it like that... I just meant, he made a point that he can't be unsettled by a few jeers from the crowd. Not after having Yakov yell at him every day for twenty years."

Mikhail didn't seem to react for a moment, but then made an effort to nod, and looked away, "Kon deserved what he got at NHK. It forced him to take a step in the right direction."

"...I wonder how far he could've come if not for what happened." Yuri agreed tepidly. He looked to his partner - still in his search for the perfect cold medicine - then to where he could barely see Minako's head in another aisle. Yurio was nearby on his phone, as was Nikki, but they were both far enough away to be unable to hear their quiet conversation, "How are you holding up with it?"

The elder blinked in surprise, but then shook his head, "I've had other things to worry about."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know." He smiled anyway, "But I'm trying not to think about it. He's gone. He doesn't have the ability to care whether I fuss over what I think...and I'm not sure he would even if he could. The living are much more likely to notice if I'm not fulfilling my obligations though, so that's where my focus lies."

"...I guess so."

"Looks like Viktor found what he wants."

Yuri kept his eyes skeptically on the elder Russian beside him, but then finally switched his focus to the younger Russian who came sallying-up on the other side. He looked down to a hand that came up in front.

"This one will skip the 'making you drunk' part and just knock you out." Viktor teased, "But you can use this one tomorrow so you're not unconscious in the stands."

"Oh, you're going to let me watch you break another World Record?"

That earned a customary wink, "I can't skate without you."

.

The sound of nails clicking on the tile floor and tags jingling on collars greeted the clan before they'd even managed to get inside the door. Makkachin's excited yips were overtaken by Ghost's deep, rich barks. Jiro even called back to them before he could squeeze through, wiggling excitedly to be back with the pack. They all burst outside like water from a dam though, and rushed like mad to bound across the expanse of snow on the property's front lawn. Snow kicked up in their wakes, but just as fast as they'd bolted, all three stopped and looked back. Ghost barked at their humans to come out, arms stretched deep into the snow and her flufferbutt up in the air, tail swaying.

Viktor huffed a smile, and turned to his beloved, "Go on ahead. I'll humor them for a bit and then come up after you."

"Ghost will keep you out in this weather for hours if she could."

"Yes, but I have an appointment with a professional cuddler tonight, which I won't be late for."

"Sounds fancy."

"Extremely." Viktor teased, and leaned in for a quick parting kiss before he pat his partner's butt to get him into the house with the rest of their tribe, "Go on. Warm up. No sense having a cold and being cold."

"Don't take too long. I kind of want to turn in early tonight."

"Say no more. I'll be right there." He agreed, and turned to step down from the landing. As soon as the door closed behind him, Ghost and Makkachin bolted again, rushing around the front lawn like two fuzzy snow-demons. Jiro tried his best to keep up, but his puppy-nubbins weren't quite long enough to trudge through the pile at speed. The pup jumped forward instead, leaving big white divots in the drift under each landing. Viktor followed them slowly, keeping pace with the Akita and his Herculean journey through the front, side, and finally back yards. By the time he caught up though, Jiro had just about had enough, and Viktor leaned down to pick the smol nugget up and out of the cold. Jiro shook his head, but seemed quite pleased with the turn of events, tongue lolling out despite the cold. "You'll be able to keep up with them next year, little dude." Viktor reassured, "Makkachin may be the one struggling to keep up. You know he's going to be six this year? His predecessor lived to be eleven. I still miss that booger..." He explained quietly, and moved around the backside of the house to find a perch on one of the steps to the wide veranda. He set the Akita against one leg, paws dangling on either side of it, and stroked that cold, soft fur with both hands, one at a time, "...That's probably one of the most awful things about dogs, you know?" He wondered aloud, and looked out to the Ovcharka and poodle galloping around in the scintillating frost, "You guys just don't live that long... I've had to say goodbye to two dogs in my life, and it still feels fresh when I think about them. Losi live to the ripe old age of fifteen...he was grey-faced and tortoise-paced by the end, but he helped me get through some of those darkest days." He explained, and looked up to the sky, "I guess, if I had to give my father credit for any kindness in his life...he was good to animals. I guess they were easier than people. I'm sure that's why he ended up taking Ghost in when he did. He would've been glad for Papa Mimi's unexpected intrusion in the end...just for the sake of making sure the critters were taken care of."

Ghost caught a case of the zoomies and rushed from one end of the huge pair of lacrosse yards to the other, but Makkachin only chased her about halfway. Steamed breath puffed out of him, but his old bones couldn't keep up with the younger pup forever. He trotted over to his human quite contentedly, and sat beside the man on the concrete step, panting quickly to catch his breath.

Viktor reached an arm around the poodle's back, "I wish I could've brought you to competitions like this all along. So much lost time."

Makkachin just enjoyed the moment though, and slid down his person's side to curl up beside him. With his head resting on Viktor's free leg, Makkachin relaxed contentedly, and savored the massage-like head rubs while Viktor let Ghost rummage around for a few more minutes.

.

The pack was easy to move as a unit, and once Viktor started to gesture for them all to follow, Makkachin went first, then Jiro, and finally Ghost - though with some Husky-like complaining. They all got their paws dried off before being let loose into the estate though, and wiggled around one of the overnight staff who'd been caught standing outside the Nikiforov room. She laughed and stepped out of the way, holding up an almost-empty tray.

"Sorry," Viktor mused as he came up the back stairs, trailing the pack, "They probably think you have something."

"I did, a moment ago, just not for pups." She answered, "But I'd be glad to bring them something if you'd like."

"Just a snack. If I could get a decaf Irish coffee as a nightcap, that'd be great, too."

"Certainly. I'll be back soon." The attendant nodded, and stepped around to head down the stairs.

Viktor watched her go, then proceeded into the bedroom with a quick knuckle-tap on the door for warning, "We're back, my love." He announced, and felt the door get pulled out of his hand as the pack wormed their way in excitedly. He reached for it again and pushed the panel closed, then finally got to see his beloved sitting in one of the huge yellow plush-chairs, feet on the leather ottoman, television on, and a cup of hot tea on the small table between his own seat and the second. Viktor raised his head to try and smell for the flavor, "Oh, what'd you get? Not lemon..."

"Cinnamon." Yuri answered easily, twisted in place to stir the cream and sugar. Once satisfied with the brew - and careful to avoid the snooping snoots that all wanted to know what he had - he lifted the small ceramic mug to his lips and blew gently before he took a sip. He drew in a happy breath and let it go as he leaned back in his seat, "This is just what I needed. Did you want some? She brought up a whole pot of the stuff."

"I actually just asked her for something, but I'll take a sip of yours to hold me over." The silver answered, and came over to join his partner in the second seat. Yuri offered his mug, and Viktor took a his sip, "Very nice."

"You were out longer than I thought. I was able to shower and change and everything. I even found something on television to watch."

Viktor huffed a laugh and set the cup down on the small table, "That's a feat. I must've been gone for days."

Yuri just made a face at him, "Maybe it just felt like a long time."

"I wasn't here to distract you while you searched." The Russian pointed out, and reached to find the nearest hand, which he pulled over to kiss, "What'd you find?" He wondered, and pressed those knuckles to his cheek fondly.

"You may judge me oddly for it...but it's a documentary on modern Russian history." Yuri answered, "I stumbled onto it while it had a picture of the Kremlin up, but then it mentioned the years it was focused on, and I realized it was during the time you were there as a kid...so I couldn't help myself. You lived through some interesting times... I guess I can understand why Kon was such a brute after all that. He had a lot to worry about."

"I guess I was sheltered from the worst of it," Viktor answered as he brushed his thumb back and forth across the hand he still held, though he let it slip out of his grasp as Yuri went for his tea, "I mean...I noticed the way people disappeared. I knew about worksites closing. But since it never really came to my home, I could focus on little-kid problems, like how to hide my skating."

"It must've been a huge culture-shock when you moved to St. Petersburg with Yakov later. Going from a little smelting village to a big city..."

"I think I was ready for it. I took to the city like a fish to water. I had my difficulties, but they weren't from the change in scenery."

Yuri nodded as he listened, "Were Yakov and Lilia still together back then?"

Viktor huffed a laugh and shook his head against the back of the chair, "Nah. She was gone already. I think that's the only reason Yakov was able to take me in; she wasn't there to stop him. I saw her a bunch of times after that though, as they figured out their separation... I got the feeling that she didn't like me much."

"Really? Why though...?"

"I replaced her as the center of Yakov's world." He answered, eyes on the television as it panned over familiar Russian scenery and historical footage, "I think she resented what I represented...not me personally. But, still, she wouldn't talk to me unless she had to. I suppose that's where I got my thick skin to criticism. I got more than enough cold shoulders from her to make any jeering from the audience seem like small potatoes."

"Wow... Yeah, I guess that was good practice." Yuri agreed, though his brows furrowed, "I still can't believe those people came all this way just to boo at you."

"I'm not. Russians are proud and stubborn...and hold a grudge. They'll hold this against me forever." Viktor pointed out, only to let himself slide off the front of his chair. He moved over on his knees until he was between his husband's, and leaned into him for a hug, "I don't want you to worry about it though. We've had a really good time so far, all things considered... I don't want that one thing to ruin it."

"It just bugs me." Yuri explained, and set his tea down so he could more-easily return the hug, arms resting on the back of his partner's shoulders, chin on the man's head, "But I guess they suffered more than either of us did. I mean, they had to sit through half a competition just to make noises at you. I can't imagine they enjoyed all of it."

"Mmmhh...no, probably not." The silver mused, and lifted his head to look up, "Now I need only worry about you."

Yuri offered a weak smile, "I know... I really am okay though." He insisted, and pulled a hand back to brush a few strands out of his husband's eyes, "I think...I'm actually kind of relieved it went this way. I haven't felt so weak since the last time I had the flu, years ago... Tomorrow's Free Skate would be just as bad as today."

"You gave it your best shot. I'll make sure you don't stand naked in the rain again." Viktor teased, "At least, not in the middle of winter. In summer it can be kind of fun. At that point, I'll be too busy admiring the view to do anything about it."

Cheeks went red, but Yuri laughed anyway, "Just as long as I get a view, too."

"All things being equal, I think that's entirely fair." The Russian answered easily, inching closer with every word, until he spoke the end of it against his husband's lips. Yuri eased into it happily, and leaned even further back into the plush yellow cushions as Viktor came in over him for a long kiss. He hummed his contentment into that warmth, and pulled back to nuzzle his beloved's nose with his own, "I'll put on a grand show for you tomorrow." He promised, "And I'll do my best to represent Japan well while you recover."

"You'll do great. Now...how about that appointment?"