Lee and Viktor had gone to dinner twice now. Two dinners. Two wonderful dinners where they laughed and talked until the restaurant was about to close and waiters were very conspicuously placing chairs on top of tables.

Then a week after that they went to lunch, and it was a long lunch that had them holding up a table for too long. Lee was starting to worry that he was becoming too thoughtless with waitstaff.

He's commented as much to Viktor, and Viktor invited him to dinner at his place the following day, saying 'to avoid annoying any waitstaff, I will cook.'

He'd readily accepted, not thinking much on what it could mean. He'd had a nice twenty eight hours of not really considering it when the questions began.

Was he supposed to bring something? If so, what? Wine is usually the go-to host gift, but Viktor didn't really drink; at least it hadn't seemed like it when they ate dinner in the past. Perhaps he could bring some sort of cheese plate. But to a hotel, was that weird? Chocolates?

Were they really just friends? Was this a date? Had Viktor been flirting with him? Had he been flirting back? That was a harder bunch of questions to consider. He had no idea if Viktor was gay or bi or any sort of queer, but dammit if he didn't want him to be. Lee had never been nervous around someone like this. He'd always known where he stood with his dates, and even when Fred and he had escalated their friendship to dating it hadn't been a nervous sort of thing. It had just happened. The anticipation, the way his veins seemed to tremble, the way Viktor looked at him as if he could see every piece of him… it was horrifying. It was thrilling! It was stupid and frustrating and wonderful.

Which underwear should he wear? Oh shit, getting ahead of himself with that one.

By the time he arrived at the hotel room, he'd sweated through his shirt two times, having to use a spell to freshen it. He wasn't sure the spell could help a third time. He knocked on the hotel door and realized he was holding a plate of cheese that he hadn't charmed ot keep cool and the cheese was sweating almost as much as him.

"Hello Lee."

He fumbled the plate and dropped the cheese, little sweaty pieces of it spilling over his shirt and scattering over the ground.

Viktor stooped and began picking up cheese, and Lee felt the heat of his embarrassment sizzle and pop through him.

"Just so you know, I'm usually really smooth," Lee said with a grimace.

"Smooth?"

"Yeah… I'm very cool and not easily rattled," he said grabbing the brie so hard it wetly squished through his fingers.

"Yes, I noticed this about you. You are very smooth," Viktor said with a low chuckle.

"Oh don't laugh…" Lee moaned, before a laugh burst out of him.

They were on their knees surrounded by sweaty cheese, laughing, and their eyes were meeting in this lovely way. He looked down to Viktor's smile. It was such a subtle smile. It wasn't broad and easy to see from far away. It was like a secret, all his own to cherish. He'd seen Viktor smile before, of course. He'd seen him smile long ago when he only knew him as a wicked good flyer, but it wasn't this kind of a smile. It wasn't the warming beautiful smile that made Lee feel the nerves of his face go slack. That was a smile he got to see now. He knew it was only for him. He knew it.

Viktor looked to his mouth.

"I made shopska salata."

"I don't know what that is."

"It's a salad."

"Sounds refreshing."

"Yes... Ve should be going into the room, yes?" Viktor asked, his accent coming through a little more.

"Yeah… Okay..." said Lee, not able to move from his spot.

"Could I be doing one thing first?"

Lee gave a tiny nod, he thought. He wasn't sure. All he was sure of was that secret smile.

Then the secret smile moved closer, Viktor reached up, long fingers moving past Lee's temple and up to his hair.

Lee's breath caught and his eyes started to close, ready to let Viktor's lips touch his.

He waited, and waited, then finally opened his eyes to see Viktor was looking at his hair. He felt the hand brush it and come back.

"You had cheese in your hair." Lee's cheeks blazed. "We can be going inside now, yes?"

He nodded and followed Viktor in, the nervous mortification coating him as if he'd rolled in a puddle of it.

The room ended up being a large suite with a full kitchen. It was bigger than Lee's apartment and significantly more lavish as well. Krum was kind and fun to talk to, and never leaned close to Lee again; NOT that Lee hadn't tried. He'd hinted, he'd flirted, he'd stared at Krum's mouth in a way that practically broadcast the fact he wanted a kiss. Either Krum was straight, or he was just uninterested in LEE. Whichever it was, the disappointment made him feel hollow, but the embarrassment made him want to bury himself in his backyard.

They bade goodnight, after another long evening of good conversation and friendly company. Well, Lee sure had made a mess of things. He had a massive crush on a celebrity. One that he had to interview before and after the Final of the Quidditch World Cup. What a stupid rookie unprofessional move. You don't get crushes on the celebrities! You don't get close with them at all! And there he was, acting like a sod, buying tea sets and hoping to be yanked up into a passionate kiss. Ridiculous.

The Quidditch World Cup Final was in Egypt, a place Lee had always been interested in travelling to since he'd read the letters Bill Weasley wrote to his brothers. At least if he was heartbroken he could do it while enjoying the sights of the Nile. After the interviews he could close himself up in a Pyramid for the next twenty years until his embarrassment passed.

The week passed by slowly. He packed and unpacked twice, thinking twice about going at all. Stupid. It was stupid. He couldn't let something this stupid affect his work! He would smile. He would be professional. He'd stop trying to hang with Viktor— no! He's stop trying to hang with Krum. There was no point to it. Krum had so many people around him, it's not like he could possibly miss Lee.

When he finally arrived in Egypt, he was able to put some of his turmoil aside and just enjoy the sites. He enjoyed the touristy parts nearly as much as the little hidden markets and cafes. Around every corner was some new rich bit of culture to explore. The International Confederation of Wizards had gone all out with the Quidditch stadium. It was housed right on the edge of the tropical Delta Nile, right where the desert met the last of the palms. The stadium was ornate and covered in hieroglyphs, or at least it looked like hieroglyphs to Lee. His interviews all went smoothly, though they were rather intense at times as the energy heightened before the game.

He finally had Vikt— Krum to interview.

He let out a breath, and put on his smile before entering the room. It was bright and airy, with a spectacular view of the desert and nile all in one.

"Ah, Lee! I'm so glad to be seeing you," said Krum, a warm smile on his face that nearly made Lee drop his equipment.

"Likewise," said Lee, making himself smile harder. "You have so much on your plate, so I won't keep you."

"I don't mind going long, if it's you," said Krum, indicating the seat for Lee to sit in.

"Well, I can't be giving extra time to anyone. Don't want them to think I'm biased or anything. I'm sure you understand, Krum," he said, adjusting his equipment.

Krum remained silent so long that Lee was forced to look up.

"You were calling me Viktor."

"Well that wasn't very professional of me," Lee said, taking his seat. "I mean… I can call you whatever makes you comfortable, of course… But I shouldn't take up your time. You're a busy man."

Krum remained quiet, but his brows furrowed the tiniest bit.

"Ready for the interview?" Lee asked, wanting to get out of there.

Krum nodded and the interview began. It wasn't as weird and stilted as their earliest interview, but it was far from the chummy easy, almost flirty, interviews they'd had.

"Well, thanks for the interview, Viktor, and good luck with your match," said Lee before turning off the recorder, and quickly starting to pack up his belongings, not daring to look at Krum.

"Are you sure you don't want to re-record that and call me Krum?"

Lee snapped the case shut, before looking up to Krum's face, who looked almost angry. Good. Lee preferred that to any sort of pity he'd get as he was let down. He quickly turned to leave.

"Thanks again for the interview," said Lee, not daring to look at Krum again. "And good luck out there. I'm… I'm rooting for you."

"Are you?" Krum's deep voice sounded soft and almost sad.

Lee took a breath and did what he did best. He smiled. He smiled so broadly that his eyes were practically closed and he didn't have to actually see Viktor Krum.

"Of course!" he said through his toothiest grin. "See you after the game!"

With that he fled the room. The next interviews were a blur. The only time he came back into his body for it was when Rawya Zaghloul brought up how she hoped to bring down Viktor Krum.

"He's definitely one of my heroes, of course, but that won't stop me from trying my hardest to defeat him today," said the Seeker, giving a steady smile that made Lee like her, despite hoping Krum would defeat her.

"Well, with determination like that, I'm sure you'll give him a run for his money," Lee said shaking her hand, and ending the interview.

Not having any friends to sit with for the World Cup, Lee sat with the press to watch the World Cup. The teams were amazingly well matched, with the two in a continuous tie throughout the fast paced match. Despite the excitement on the field, Lee found himself unable to concentrate on much but Viktor Krum. Viktor… Lee watched him as the Seeker made a spectacular feint that Zaghloul followed, but quickly arched out of. She was light and it was easier for her to flit about than Viktor, who was much larger.

Goal after goal was made, until the teams were tied 290 to 290. The Chasers dove this way and that, tossing the ball with expert precision, when Egypt scored another goal. Then, as the crowd was still cheering, Lee saw Viktor make another dive. This was no feint. He could tell by the set of Viktor's shoulders, he was in pursuit. Zaghloul saw the snitch as well, but instead of following on Viktor's tail, she went another direction to head it off.

As the two Seekers leaned down against their brooms to expertly weave through Bludgers and other players, the Chasers for Bulgaria made another goal.

The Snitch zoomed this way and that, making the two Seekers have to do dizzying acrobatics. He was just two broom lengths away from the Snitch. One good push and he could make it!

Lee muttered under his breath, "Come on… Come on, Viktor…"

Viktor's good hand was outstretched. He was nearly there!

That was when a Bludger was pummeled in Viktor's direction. He swerved, narrowly missing it, only for another Bludger to crash into him from the other side.

Many of the audience screamed, and Lee found himself gasping at the sight. It was a horrible collision. Viktor managed to put up and arm and shield his face from the worst of it, but it gave his opponent just the opening she needed to get ahead of him. Viktor chased after her and the Snitch, holding his injured arm close to his stomach as he beared down on the Snitch, but there was no catching up with Zaghloul now. She was light and uninjured, and Krum's superior flying skills couldn't make up for the lost time and distance the Bludger had cost him.

He laid almost flat on his broom to try to reach the Snitch, but by a few yards Zaghloul reached the Snitch first.

Utter pandemonium swept the stadium. Cheers and moans erupted, confetti and streamers burst forward from seemingly nowhere, and the Egyptian team all flew to congratulate their Seeker who had won them the cup. The cameras zoomed in on her, and her image appeared on the boards, smiling with giant tears running down her face.

Lee could see Viktor. He sat stock still on his broom as it slowly hovered to the ground. His shoulders were slumped, and he waved off the Medi-Wizards as he walked out the tunnel.

As if possessed, Lee sped past the crowd of people in their Quidditch togs, the ones closing bets, and the people getting last minute kabobs or celebratory drinks. He pushed past all of them and found himself at Viktor's door. There were a pair of burly looking bodyguards standing watch in front of it.

"Hi, I'm supposed to interview Viktor Krum—" Lee began, giving his most charming smile.

"No eenterviews," the larger of the two guards grunted.

"Look, I know you don't know me, but I don't even need to interview him. I just… Is he ok? He looked like he was hurt and he refused help and—"

"No cohmant. No eenterviews," the larger Bulgarian said.

"I'm his friend. Can you let him know I'm here? Please," Lee asked, feeling desperate.

The smaller of the two had a look on his face that might have been sympathy. He said something in Bulgarian, and soon the two were having a short discussion in the language Lee had never bothered to learn, and now he felt ridiculous for never having attempted to learn it. He longed to know what they said, but soon the smaller one nodded opened the door and went inside Viktor's room, not closing the door entirely shut.

Lee tried to follow him but the larger man shook his head and put a beefy hand on Lee's shoulder.

"You vait."

Lee nodded, did his best to peer around the hippopotamic man, but there was no seeing past his girth.

The wait seemed interminable, but finally the smaller of the two guards came back.

"You he see," the guard said with a nod. Not needing to be told twice, Lee shoved his way past the titans into the room, closing the door behind himself. He looked about, not seeing Viktor, but heard the shower running.

He slowed down as he approached the bathroom door and knocked.

"Viktor? It's me, Lee…" he called through the door.

The door handle shifted down and the door swung outward to reveal Viktor sitting on top of the toilet lid. He was cradling his injured arm against his chest and slumped over, holding his head with his good hand.

"I'm— I cannot be doing an interview, Lee," he said, his voice tight.

"Of course not… I mean, people will want to talk, but you don't have to with me. It's fine. I'm… I'm so sorry," Lee said, heart aching in his chest seeing the normally proud Bulgarian looking so sad and defeated. "Do you want some ice for your arm? Or your face? It looks like there's a bruise. Or perhaps I can get a Medi-wizard? I don't know the first thing about healing, which is ridiculous as I went through a war, but I've always been shit at that kind of magic and—"

A hand went on his wrist and he stilled.

"No… I only vant you," said Viktor, holding Lee's wrist tight, his accent almost as thick as the tears burgeoning in his eyes.

"You have me," he said, crouching down on the ground so he could look up into Viktor's face. "You have me."

Viktor let out a laugh that sounded a bit more like a sob.

"I know it is silly to be… This is just a game but…" He shook his head.

Lee mirrored his shake of the head and put a hand on his knee.

"It's been everything you worked for. It's ok to feel whatever you want to feel."

Viktor swiped at his eyes, and lifted his head enough for Lee to see the bruising along Viktor's jaw better.

He hissed in sympathy. "Ok, I don't care what you want. I'm getting you some ice for that!"

He quickly got to his feet and went to the bar to find ice. As he grabbed some and put it into a napkin, he knocked into a small table, jostling the contents and upturning a few of them. He quickly started righting objects when he noticed, there on its side, was the tea case he'd gotten Viktor. Taped to the side of it was that wonderfully chummy interview they'd done. He looked about for anything else personal around the area, but there was nothing. Only that. His heart leapt. It gave him hope. He grabbed the ice and went back to the bathroom.

Viktor looked mutinous as Lee brought it to his face, but grudgingly let Lee apply it to his face. They sat for a few minutes before Viktor broke the silence.

"I'm retiring," said Viktor, his voice flat.

"What? You're only twenty six!"

"And I can't take it anymore… Two world cups through my fingers now… I work and make it twice only for… Ebasi!" he cursed, ripping the ice from Lee's hand and throwing it across the bathroom. "I can't…"

"What'll you do?"

Viktor shook his head.

"Everything in my life is about Quidditch. Everything… It's all built around it, and I'm tired and just… I am wanting something more…"

Lee bit his lip, understanding a bit of what Viktor felt. For a while everything was built around Potterwatch. All his friends were in it, it was what he was known for. It wasn't easy to redirect things, let people down, change all the little things in your life.

"I hear that England could use some new coaches…" said Lee, standing straight.

Viktor looked up at him.

"I would have to be moving to England then…"

"Yes. Luckily you already know some people."

"I do. There is Harry and Fleur— "

"And me," Lee said, putting his hand on Viktor's shoulder. "You have me."

"Do I?" Viktor asked, and Lee had to wonder how such a hulking man could look so vulnerable and sweet.

"If you'll have me," Lee said, eyes trailing down to Viktor's lips. "You... You kept the tea I gave you..."

"If it is not being unprofessional… I would like to kiss you."

"I think I could make an exception for you, and be very unprofessional," he replied with a small laugh.

"I would like that very much," said Viktor, standing up.

"I would too."

They stood, staring at each other before Viktor's eyes trailed down to Lee's lips.

"Could I —"

"YES!" interrupted Lee.

And then Viktor's lips brushed his own and every thought Lee had ever had left his brain. It was like everything was striped away and he was being seen, but he didn't feel vulnerable. He felt invulnerable and full and happy. It was tender, and kind, and warm, and sweet, and passionate and—

The kiss ended too quickly.

"Is that okay?" Viktor asked him.

Lee's eyes were closed, and he smiled. He was very good at smiling.

[END]

AUTHOR'S NOTE
And that's it for this fic! MIGHT do a little Epilogue if you guys request /

Thank you so much for the reviews for this! I plan on going back and responding to y'all soon.

Please review! :)