Viktor slouches lower in the leather seat, trying to hide himself from Yakov's accusatory eyes. Neither of them have said anything, just staring and waiting for the other to crack. Yakov seems to be more inclined to get Viktor's answer to his unspoken question. Viktor has no idea what exactly that question is, but he does know who it involves.
"I-"
"What'd you tell him?"
Viktor cringes and tries to sink lower in the seat, despite how very close he is to slipping off of it. "I didn't-"
"So you mean to tell me Yurochka just up and left on his own? He's fifteen!" Yakov huffs and throws his arms over his chest, glowering at Viktor. "He can't get on a plane by himself without forms. Forms that a parental figure has to sign. Indulge me."
"Awe, you think I'm a father figure to him." Viktor laughs awkwardly, immediately regretting when Yakov's eyes only seem to narrow. So humor isn't the way to go around this. Got it. Wait. "Did you say plane?"
"I was talking about me. I sign off on all of his paperwork. Knowing you, you probably forged it for him. I'm not dumb, Vitya, so stop playing like I am. You know about this, so just tell me already. Which foreign country did you let him go to on his own?"
"Wait, Yuri got on a plane by himself? Are you sure?" Viktor sits up in the chair and leans forward. Yurio definitely didn't mention leaving, especially to another country.
"I have a read email with confirmation of the purchase of boarding passes and a ten percent off coupon for my next purchase. Pair that with his absence from today's meeting, and you learn all the facts. So where'd he go?" Yakov sits back in his chair, seemingly less angry knowing that Viktor is probably not in the know on it. Probably.
"I have no clue. He never told me anything. He must've taken Otabek with him..." Viktor presses a hand to his chin in thought. Otabek was also absent from the meeting, and he's Yurio's closest friend. There's no way that Yurio would leave without telling the Altin kid, and since he's missing as well, he must've gone with him. He had to.
"You really don't know?" Yakov is definitely skeptical, but it doesn't change that Viktor had no idea Yurio decided to take the next flight out of Russia.
"He never mentioned it."
"You're both flight risks, but I thought you'd try to leave before he did." Yakov grumbles as he picks up his phone - Viktor would place money that he's trying to call Yurio - shooing Viktor out of the room.
Viktor doesn't hesitate to immediately rush from the room, almost knocking into Chris once he's out of the stifling office.
"I didn't realize you were still frightened by him." Chris's playful smirk implies that he's just teasing Viktor, who's always been an easy target for him.
"I don't want to be in the room when Yurio finally picks up his phone." The image of Yakov screaming through the device to Yurio sends shudders down his spine. He's been on the opposite end of that call, and he doesn't want to be a part of it again.
"What'd he do this time?" Chris must sense Viktor's urgency because then all humor is gone. "What happened? Did he burn down the building that the interviewer who mocked him works at? I told him not to, but you know how-"
"Not that. He threatened legal action, and the guy backed down. I bet Otabek standing up for him scared the poor guy to death. That's not it, though. Apparently Yurio left Russia without telling anyone, and he must've taken Otabek with him." Viktor digs his teeth into his bottom lip. It's a habit he's never really had, but maybe picked it up from watching Yuu- him.
Chris raises an eyebrow as he follows Viktor down the thin corridor that breaks into a wider one and leads to the stairs. "Interesting. Where'd he choose to vacation? I'm biased, but I love the Swiss mountains. I have a nice chalet there, remember? It was the one time when-"
"Chris, this isn't funny. I don't know why, but I feel more concerned that I should be. I've been rebellious towards work when I was a kid but leaving the country? What reason does he have to leave overnight and not tell anyone? He might hate me - not that I think he actually does - but he would still tell me. Why didn't he this time?"
Chris shrugs. "Alone time?"
"I doubt it." Viktor sighs and shakes his head.
"Maybe you should try that."
"That'd be a terrible idea." Viktor laughs humorlessly as they make their way down the pristine white stairs that lead to the entrance of the building.
"Why?"
"I might end up going to Japan..." He grumbles the words, finding himself sighing once more. He couldn't forget about Yuuri no matter what. It had gotten worse ever since he left if Viktor was being completely honest.
Chris snorts from where he's walking behind Viktor. He knew the answer as soon as he asked. "Yeah, you might. Are you really a mess over him leaving?"
"I didn't say that at all."
"You might as well have. Could he have just gone to Uzbekistan? If the Altin kid is with him, they could've just went there together. I can't imagine he actually went on a luxury cruise for the hell of it."
Viktor contemplates the thought for a moment before sighing. "I don't know what he would do. He's very unpredictable."
"Maybe you should call him and reach out before Yakov does."
Viktor stops walking and stares at Chris with wide eyes. "Why didn't I think of doing that sooner?"
"Because I'm the brains out of the two of us?"
"No, that's definitely not it. Thanks for the idea, though, Chris! You go on ahead! I have a call to make." Viktor pulls back and heads down a secluded corner, only for Chris to tag along right behind him.
"I gave you the very obvious idea, so I might as well see where it goes."
Viktor brings the phone down from his ear and puts it on speaker so Chris could hear as well.
Despite the higher chance, Viktor gets sent to his voicemail twice. Sent. Which means that Yurio didn't want to talk to him, but at least he's looking at his phone. Viktor tries three more times. He's about to give up when finally the call begins to connect.
"Yurio! Where are you? What do you think you're-"
"Shut it, old man. God if I knew you were going to be as annoying as Yakov then I wouldn't have picked up."
Viktor would've laughed if they weren't in the situation they're in now. "Where are you and why?"
"You aren't my dad. I don't have to tell you anything."
"No, I'm not. Yakov is closer to being a father figure than I am. You should've at least told him, so why didn't you?"
"Because I didn't want to."
"You're in a foreign country, Yuri! You didn't just decide to walk to the cafe down the street! This is serious! Will you act your age for once!" Viktor grits his teeth, seething in anger at the teen on the other end.
"You'll thank me later for making such a reckless decision, so don't get your panties in a twist just yet. Who cares anyway? Beka is with me, and he's eighteen."
"What?" Viktor's rage settles into confusion at Yurio's words. "Where are you and what does this have to do with me?"
"Don't want to tell you. You'll find out soon, so stop being impatient. Gotta go. I think the train is here." With that, Yurio hangs up on Viktor.
Viktor turns to Chris. "Did you get anything out of that?"
Chris frowns. "I have an idea, but it makes no sense."
"I'll take it. What is it?"
"I want to call him and confirm it first. In the meantime, don't you have your Japanese darling's phone number?"
Viktor hesitates before nodding. "Yes..."
"Have you tried calling him?" Chris quirks an eyebrow and folds his arms over his chest.
"I haven't... He's not going to answer me, Chris. He left for a reason. He ignored me for a reason before he left."
"From what I've heard, you two were head over heels for each other. He's not going to be able to ignore you for very long. There's no harm in trying."
"I suppose but..."
"No. You aren't allowed to continue that thought. Try, Viktor. After all that you two have been through so far, you can't tell me he's just going to ignore you that easily. I want you to try at least a few times."
Viktor hesitantly thumbs over his contact information. He looks up at Chris one more time before sighing in defeat and dialing the number.
.
. . .
.
"Yuuri! We're so glad you decided to stay closer to home! We missed you so much." Hiroko puts a hand up to the glass separating them from Yuuri.
Yuuri smiles sadly back at his parents. It's bittersweet to be in a hospital he'd spent so much of his life in, especially after the past half year. It isn't that he doesn't like it. He does like being close to home. It just... doesn't feel right.
"I miss you all, too."
In the room behind the glass to visit him is both his parents, Minako, and his sister Mari. Mari has visited him almost every day since he first got back. Despite her being around so much lately, she's never asked about how Russia was. No one has. It's as if they silently agreed to never bring it up unless Yuuri did himself. As if mentioning it is like walking on broken glass. In a way, it is. Instead of glass, it's Yuuri's shattered heart.
"We have to get back to the onsen, but we're nearby if anything happens. We're always here for you, Yuuri." His parents and Mari give him one last smile each before leaving him alone with Minako.
"I feel like I haven't seen you in forever, Minako."
Minako stares at him, drawing her eyebrows together as though she seems to be sizing him up.
"So how's the studio been doing?"
"Yuuri, what happened in Saint Petersburg? No one talks about it, but you don't look genuinely happy to be home."
Yuuri gazes down at his hands as he starts to fiddle with them in his lap. "A lot..."
"I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but you look miserable."
Yuuri winces and withdraws into the backboard of the bed he's sitting up on. "It isn't anything. I'm fine." Not that he is, but he doesn't want her to worry about him more than she is already.
"Look, Yuuri. Before this happened, you used to express yourself the most in my studio. You were free with your emotions when you danced. I understand you better than most people do. I can tell when something isn't right. What happened?"
"Well..." Yuuri tries his best to explain everything, leaving out details like the blue flowers and him being late for work just to visit.
"Why did you come here if you were happy over there? Vik- Him of all people, too."
Yuuri shrugs. "I was worried I'd hurt him. He even quit just to visit more often. I made him quit. I was ruining his career." He isn't that selfish as to make someone quit their career just to stay with him every single day. He couldn't do that.
"Who said that was your decision to make?" Minako's arms stay crossed as she sits down in a seat closest to the glass window.
Yuuri glances up at her with wide eyes. "What?"
"Are you sure you made him do that? It sounded like he made that decision on his own. Yuuri, did you talk to him at all before you came here? Did he say that it was your fault? Saying it's your fault doesn't sound like anything he'd say. He did something as dangerous as planning a day out with you, and you still think that?"
"He didn't say anything to me exactly, but-"
"But?"
"Yuri Plisetsky visited me and said that I was the reason he left."
"You even met Yuri Plisetsky?"
"Minako..."
"Sorry, sorry. You believe him, though? Isn't he just a kid? What say does he have in all of this?"
"He visited me a few days ago, and told me that he quit because he couldn't handle the stress of being with me and work at the same time. Yuri even told me that he made a promise to him, but forgot it because he was with me all the time."
"Oh..."
"Vit- He wouldn't have told me the real reason why he left, so... I'm grateful I got to hear it from someone. Besides, I'm a ticking time bomb. When I-"
"Don't you even say, Yuuri."
"When I die, because it will happen, I don't want him to be hurt. I don't want him to suffer."
"If you want that so badly, then why are you crying?"
Yuuri's eyes widen again as he reaches up to his eyes and wipes a tear away, gazing at it before turning back to Minako. "I... I don't know..."
"You may not, but I do." Minako sucks in a deep breath. "You love him. You may not want to hear this, but... I think you should go back to Russia. It's where your heart truly is." She smiles wryly at him as the tears stream down his cheeks.
"M-Minako, I... I d-don't..."
"Hey, take it easy, Yuuri. Just... think it over, okay? I mean... if you feel like this, then how do you think he feels?" She stands up from the plastic chair and makes her way to leave. Pausing at the door, she turns around to say one last thing. "We all love you here, Yuuri. We just want to see you happy. Do what you need to. We support you 100%." And then she's gone.
Yuuri buries his head into his hands and just cries. He doesn't know how long he stays like that until he hears his phone go off on the table beside his bed. Wiping at his eyes ferociously, Yuuri looks over at his phone, and a number he hadn't expected to see pops up on the lock screen. He picks up his phone and stares at it. After a moment, the device goes dark again, showing one missed call. It isn't too long later when it lights up again with the same number calling him.
Only this time, he picks up.
Neither of them saying anything. Their breathing being the only thing that can be heard through both ends of the call until the other says something.
"Hey."
Yuuri can't remember how to speak.
"Wow, this is the first time I've ever called you." A small chuckle follows after his words. "How uh... How are you?"
Silence from Yuuri again. He almost wants to cry at the sound of his voice.
"I hope well. Um... I'm fine here. Well, not fine really. I... I miss you, Yuuri. I'm selfish enough to hope you miss me too."
Yuuri covers his mouth with the hand that isn't holding up the phone.
"Sorry... I didn't mean to... Oh, remember Yurio? He left the country with his friend Otabek recently. He refuses to tell any of us where he went. Chris is calling him now to try and weasel an answer out of him." A laugh emanates from the other end, but it sounds forced. "He said something about it benefiting me, but I can't see how one of his vacations could." Another fake laugh. "Isn't it odd? I wish he would just tell me."
Yuuri doesn't know what else he was saying because then he could hear a commotion going on outside his hospital room. A moment later, two people burst through the doors to his room and stomp over to the glass window.
"Yo, we need to talk, imposter."
Yuuri's eyes go wide when he saw who was standing before him. "Y-Yuri...?"
"Did you just saw Yuri? Yuuri, is he there?"
"I..." Yuuri's hand drops and he ends the call. "Yuri Plisetsky?"
"Glad you remember my name. Time to move on. What the hell are you doing here instead of Russia?" Yurio stood with his arms crosses, blond hair disheveled like he had been running to get to the hospital. The person who stood behind him was much taller than Yurio yet shorter than himself. He had dark hair with an undercut, making him seem older than Yuuri thought he probably was.
"Could you pay attention for a second? I know you're absent-minded just like the old man, but seriously? This is kind of important. Why'd you leave?"
"I... I thought you wanted me to leave?" Confusion lines his tone as he answers his Russian counterpart.
"I mean yeah I did, but like... ugh, this is so frustrating. Look, I did, but now Viktor is annoying. More so than usual, which is surprising considering how irritating he was when you were around. Now, he's super clingy and serious about his work. It sort of scares me. That's why I came to get you back."
"But I thought-"
"Forget what I said before. I didn't think you'd take my words so seriously. Enough about me. When are you coming back? You better say soon."
"I... I'm not... going back. I'm staying here. I don't have much longer anyway, so what's the-"
"If I may interrupt, Mr. Katsuki? We haven't met before, but I have heard a lot about you. My name is Otabek Altin, and I'm a friend of Yuri's. Yuri has a point. It may not have been made well, but he is right. Viktor isn't himself anymore. He seems... lost."
Yuuri glances between the two, trying to figure out his thoughts. "How did you find me?"
"Not that hard to find someone Japanese who contracted something new that could be deadly. Who cares? I'm here. Moving on. You need to come back and quickly."
"He'll be worse off if I go back..." Yuuri stares between the two before looking down at his phone, which sits to his right on the bed.
Yurio snorts, grabbing Yuuri's attention again. "Clearly you haven't seen him recently then. He's a mess. A huge mess."
Yuuri shakes his head, thinking that the other doesn't understand what he really means. "You don't get it. I was given two months to live. Two months. I don't have a future. This is it. I was overjoyed when he tried to give me a piece of his own, but that was temporary. I don't want to get too close to him or... or else..." Yuuri starts crying again, not really wanting to hear the words himself.
Otabek and Yurio glance at each other, unsure of what else to say.
"Mr. Katsuki, I think Mr. Nikiforov already had an idea of that. He knew and wanted to give you as much as he could."
"Beka's right. I thought he was crazy when he first talked about you. Like... insane. Babacheva was trying to talk him out of it, saying what a terrible idea it was to be involved with you, but he didn't care. That was a few months ago. Do you get it now?"
"He... he said that?"
"Yes. How many times do I have to say it? You're exhausting."
"Vitya..."
"Now that we have that settled, when are you coming back?"
.
. . .
.
"Chris, they're in Japan."
"Come again?"
"Otabek and Yuri. They're in Japan."
"And how do you know that? Did you forget you were on the phone with the Japanese Yuuri in the first place? Just because-"
"Chris," Viktor takes his by the shoulders and draws his face closer, "he's there. Yuuri, my Yuuri, said his name and ended the call. I could hear talking in the background, but couldn't piece it together until he said his name. Yurio is in Japan to see Yuuri."
Chris places his hands around Viktor's wrists and lowers his arms from his shoulders. "Have they ever talked to each other before?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out. I never introduced him to Yuuri, yet there he is in Japan with Yuuri. Why, Chris? Why is he there of all places?" Viktor starts to pace back and forth in front of Chris, trying to piece together what he knows so far. "He wouldn't just go there to visit Yuuri. Not now after he left the country to get away from me. What other reason could he possibly have?"
"Viktor, you're mumbling. Maybe he got tired of watching you mope around all the time. Mila had half a mind to talk to your Yuuri before she heard he left the country. You also know how impulsive the Russian Punk is. That could be it."
"He wouldn't fly out of the country just for that reason alone. We're missing something..." Viktor brings a hand to his chin and continues pacing faster as if it'll help him think better.
"Viktor, maybe-"
"I've got it!" Viktor pauses in front of Chris with the hand that was previously on his chin now in the air. "I just need to fly down there myself!"
Chris sighs and shakes his head. "And what will you do when you get down there and realize Yurio and the Altin kid have already left?"
"Then I'll get to talk to Yuuri!"
"And if he doesn't want to talk to you?"
Viktor becomes silent, the idea of Yuuri rejecting him again leaving him motionless. "Oh."
"This is when your impulsiveness gets you in trouble. Wait for Yurio to get back. Figure out what to do from there."
"Chris-"
"Viktor, I'm just saying that maybe this isn't the best-"
"Chris, listen. I'm tired of sitting and waiting around. Yurio is doing exactly what I should've already done. I don't want to wait to hear what Yuuri said to him. I want to hear Yuuri talk to me himself. No one should be intervening on my part. I'm going to Japan to see Yuuri, Chris. That's my final decision. You're just going to have to accept that."
"You're a handful, Viktor. What do you want me to tell Yakov."
"Tell him the truth. I don't need someone to proctor what I'm doing."
"Alright. Send Yuuri my regards."
"Thanks, Chris. I will."
.
. . .
.
"So are you leaving?"
Yuuri chews on his bottom lip, nervously rolling the idea in his head. "I don't know."
"Kiddo, I'll support you with whatever decision you make. Don't worry about us here." Mari leans her arm against her knees and sighs at her brother from behind the glass. "Do whatever you have to."
"Thanks, Mari." Yuuri coughs into his arm and reaches for the tissues on his bedside table to wipe the blood off his arm. "I really appreciate it."
"No problem, bro. Are you sure you're alright to travel again, though? I'm not stopping you if you decide to leave, but I'm more concerned about your health."
Yuuri makes a face and throws the tissues into the nearby trash bin. "I'm not going to live long enough to care about that."
"Hiroko and Toshiya would be upset to hear you say that."
"Sorry."
Mari shakes her head and stands up, shoving her hands in her pockets. "They've said this before, but I guess I have to say it again. Everyone here just wants you to be happy. Hiroko and Toshiya have watched you suffer for too long. If Viktor is your happiness, then that's where you need to be. Don't force yourself to stay here if you're unhappy about it. Viktor sounds like he's struggling as well."
"Yeah..." What if Viktor is mad at him for leaving? What if Viktor never wants to see him again. His thoughts churn around the possibility of Viktor hating him. If what Yurio said was true, then that wasn't the case, but Yurio also said that Viktor told his boss that he quit because of Yuuri. "I wish Viktor was here..."
"Seems you've found your answer then. You said he called you right?" Mari positions herself against the glass.
"He did... I don't... I didn't say anything to him, though. I... He said he missed me and how he hoped I miss him too. Should I have said something? What could I have said? I'm so confused, Mari." Yuuri sighs and sits back against the pillows lining the top of his bed. He was pretty sure that he was a nuisance to Viktor, but now... he's not sure about anything. Viktor personally said he missed Yuuri, so he couldn't have been too annoying.
"Call him back. Tell him what you're worrying about. Maybe he'll give you an answer himself. I know you don't like direct confrontation, but that's the only way you'll find out, bro."
Yuuri nods his head and glances up at the ceiling, waiting for the right idea to come to him.
"I gotta go. Yurio is a lot of work, and I'd feel bad for dumping him with just Hiroko and Toshiya. More time with him and his friend the better anyway." Mari smiles and gives Yuuri a thumbs up.
Yuuri laughs at his sister. "Okay. Thanks again, Mari. I appreciate the help."
"No prob. Rest well, little bro. Ja ne." With a wave of her hand, Mari left her brother alone.
Once the silence began to settle in, Yuuri picks up his phone and contemplates calling Viktor. That would mean he'd definitely have to talk this time around. What would he say? Staying with Viktor could end up destroying the model. Could he be selfish enough to do that? He can do it. He'll call Viktor and tell him he wants them back to where they were before he made the mistake of leaving. This'll be easy. He can do it. He can...
"Huh...?" Sending him upright in his bed, his phone lights up with Viktor's name across the nameplate. Whatever deity is watching over him, he thanks them profusely. Despite how easy it's been made for him, Yuuri hesitates over the answer button. He hates himself for always pausing when Viktor calls him, so he answers instead of thinking.
"Vik-"
"Yuuri! I'll be there tomorrow! Don't you dare move! Got it?"
Yuuri's mind starts reeling at the new information, Viktor's words not really reaching him. "H-Huh? Viktor, what are you-"
"My flight doesn't leave for another seven hours and I'll have to suffer through 3 layovers. I'll be there, though! If Yurio visits again, make sure you tell him he's in trouble. I'll see you soon, okay?"
"Wait, Viktor, how do you even know where I am?"
"I Googled you obviously. That's how everyone knows everything about everyone nowadays. If I have trouble getting to where you are, then I'll call and ask for directions."
"Um... Why all of a sudden?"
"Huh?"
"Why are you... uh... coming down here?'
"Valid question, yet a stupid one all the same. First and foremost, I'm picking Yurio up. I don't know why he's down there, but he left with no notice at all. He's in huge trouble now. Him being down there gives me an excuse to see you, though. I've been too afraid to even try to find you because you left so suddenly. I figured if you didn't tell me then it was for a reason. I'm sorry for whatever i did to you, Yuuri. I really am."
"No wait, don't apologize, Viktor. You have nothing to apologize for. It's my fault. I thought... I thought I was too much, and I didn't want you to deal with whatever happens when I'm gone. I thought I would be helping you, saving you really, but Yurio came here and told me how wrong I was. I'm sorry I've been so selfish. You didn't deserve that."
"Yuuri... where did you get such an idea from?"
"Well... Yurio came to visit me before I left and told me you quit because of me. You shouldn't have to throw your life away just because an insignificant person is dying and likes having you around. It isn't fair of me. You took on so much for me, Viktor. I've done nothing for you."
Yuuri couldn't understand the next string of words Viktor said, but considering the way he said them, they couldn't have been good.
"That little... Yuuri, listen to me. I don't want you to listen to anyone that isn't me. I do everything for you because I want to, not because I feel like I have to. I love you. I really do. That's what someone does when they're in love. I'll admit. i was stressed, but I was also ready to take on whatever I had to to ensure you had the best possible care. You deserve more than just strangers sitting around tables and contemplating what to do with you like you were just an experiment. I wanted to make sure you didn't have that. It hurt me to hear how no one cared about you as a person, Yuuri. I yelled at everyone to get their priorities straight." Viktor laughs through the phone. "I want the world for you, Yuuri, and I want to be by your side for as long as you'll have me. Is that alright?"
Tears stream down Yuuri's face as he covers his mouth to prevent gasps and choked sobs from escaping. He knows Viktor can't see him, but he nods his head violently.
"Y-Yes." It's cut off from his crying, but he makes himself say the words as best as he can.
"That's a relief. I would've preferred to say that to you in person, but given our circumstances, it'll have to work for now. I'll just repeat it when I get there tomorrow. Wait, Yuuri? Are you crying?"
Yuuri laughs. "I might be."
"Oh my gosh, I did not mean to do that. Please stop crying. Uh... I'm not good with people crying."
"Viktor, I'm alright. Everything's okay. I'm crying because I'm happy."
"That's good. Not that you're crying! Not that! Just that it's not for a bad reason. That's what I meant."
"I know what you meant." Yuuri laughs again. "Thank you, Viktor. I think I needed to hear that. I... thank you. Really."
"Anything for you. Now, I have to go get ready for a flight in a few hours. I love you, Yuuri. I'll see you tomorrow. I promise."
"I love you, too, Viktor. See you then."
Yuuri wipes at his eyes and sighs, closing his eyes as he throws himself back down onto the bed he's confined to. For the first time in a month, he sleeps soundlessly while he awaits for whatever tomorrow holds.
.
. . .
.