Champagne, Cocaine, Gasoline

Chapter Six- Beka

"What do you think about this one? Do we like it more than the red?" Katya fussed over herself in the mirror, twirling this way and that, admiring from multiple angles. Yuri had often wondered if he had liked girls if maybe he would have gone for someone like Katya. She was a true Russian beauty, bright blue eyes and cheekbones that could cut glass. She looked stunning in the netted illusion bustier tea length gown with full ballerina skirt. But she looked good in anything.

"I don't know, both look good." He answered with a shrug and turned his attention back to his own suit, adjusting until it sat just right. He had settled on jacquard martini suit in an elegant black and white floral pattern. They were attending the Dolce and Gabanna party at Trezzeni Palace* for New Year's Eve in a few days, so of course they are picking out outfits at the last minute.

"Hmph" Katya, apparently not satisfied with Yuri's answer, turned to Otabek who was sitting in a chair off to the side reading something on his phone.

"Yoo hoo! Otabek! What do you think?" She asked popping her hip out and placing her hands on them. He watched his bodyguard turn to face the model and felt rage surge through his body. It was bad enough that all his friends had to have their little crushes on Otabek, but did they really have to flirt with him right in front of Yuri? The older man trailed his dark eyes down Katya's body, taking in the form but seemingly ignorant to the beauty that was so evident to Yuri.

"There will be 100 people there wearing black, if you want to stand out, I think red would be best." Otabek answered very matter of fact before shifting his gaze over to Yuri, who instantly looked away and pretended he hadn't been paying attention. He thought he would wear his suit with no shirt underneath, just a couple glitzy necklaces to draw the eye to his smooth skin. That was sure to make him stand out against the rest of the penguins. That's why he always drifted towards more feminine clothing, it was just so much more expressive and versatile! He much preferred his dark clubs and dive bars to these overly formal events because he was able to dress how he wanted. He hated really hated suits.

Turning on his heel he slammed the dressing room door upon reentry and started to redress in his street clothes. He had just finished slipping his boots back on when there was some heard some commotion to be heard outside the door. Then the was shouting, which turned to screaming followed but the chilling but familiar sound of gunfire. Before he could even process what was happening let alone react, the door to his dressing room was kicked in and Otabek rushed in, gun drawn eyebrows furrow.

"Yura, we have to go, NOW!" the usually calm man yelled and it startled Yuri almost more than the bullets ringing out did. Otabek grabbed him and pulled him out into the hallway and towards the back of the shop. They passed the opening to the main floor, Yuri tucked close to Otabek body to keep him safe, but the boy couldn't help but sneak a glance to the carnage in front of him. He wished he hadn't.

Blood pooled on the fine marble flooring, the crimson river running and staining the Italian rug nearby. Two sales associates and a man Yuri recognized as Katya's bodyguard lay dead on the ground, the sources of the gore. There were 2 men dressed in black wielding guns, one of them was holding Katya by the back of her hair and had forced her to her knees. That's when he realized the screaming was coming from her. As Otabek moved to throw the back door open Yuri ripped himself out of his grip and planted his feet firm.

"Yura, wha-" Otabek looked flabbergasted but Yuri didn't give him a second to speak.

"We can't just leave her! They'll kill her!" Yuri cried, terror beginning to take over him. His heart was beating out of his chest and he was struggling to get in a big enough breath to breath.

"Yura, I need to get you out of here safely, now please." Otabek eyes were like steel, full of power and strength as he once again made a grab for Yuri, but the blonde wasn't having it. He wasn't just going to leave his friend here to be murdered, or worse. A loud *smack* rang out followed by a hard voice screaming "Where is he!" Yuri felt his blood run cold; these men were here for him. He looked up at Otabek with pleading eyes, he'd never forgive himself if Katya was hurt because of him.

"Блядь." (Shit.) For the first time in 4 months Yuri heard Otabek swear right before he was unceremoniously shoved into the closest fitting room and told to stay put. He was petrified. What was he doing? What if something happened to Otabek now? More yelling and sounds of a scuffle occupied all of his senses and he almost stopped breathing when gunshots rang out. Yuri sat on the floor with his knees pulled to his chest covering his ears with his hands. After what felt like an eternity the noise finally stopped. Frozen in place, he waited, who would open the door? Would it be Otabek here to save him, or these mystery murderers? Footsteps approached fast and the door flew open with a bang. There stood Otabek holding the wrist of a hysterical Katya, who was still bawling, both of them sprayed with blood.

"Yura UP!" Otabek commanded and hauled him to his feet. He let himself be dragged out of the room and rushed down the corridor until the three stood in front of the backdoor that read только аварийный выход. (Emergency exit only.) Otabek motioned for the teems to stand against the wall, and they did so. He drew his gun again from his holster and opened the door quick, rushing out making sure no more men were stationed outside. Clear for now Yuri and Katya followed him down the alley to where an old beater car was parked. Otabek used the butt of the gun to smash out the passenger side window and reached in to unlock it. Quickly unlocking the rest of the doors he ordered the pair inside. They scrambled into the backseat while Otabek leaned down behind the driver's side door and began messing with some wires under the steering wheel. Just then another round of gunshots rang out, Katya shrieked, and Yuri cried out for Otabek.

"Get down!" His bodyguard yelled just as the car roared to life. Otabek jumped into the driver's seat trying to stay as low as possible and peeled out, screeching his tires on the way down the alley. A parade of horns met them as they merged into traffic on the main road, speeding around cars, driving like hell to get away from the scene.

"Yuri, get Viktor on the line and hand me the phone." Otabek calmly directed and Yuri found himself eager to follow his orders. He found Vitya in his contacts and his former bodyguard answered on the second ring.

"Yuri, is everything all right? You never call me!" Viktor didn't disappoint in the dramatics department as per usual, but this time he was right on the money. Yuri wanted to say something, anything, but he didn't know what. What had even happened anyways? One minute he was shopping for his New Years outfit and the next there were men murdering in cold blood to get to him.

"Viktor I-" He choked up. He was so scared, he looked behind him to make sure they weren't being follow but honestly didn't even know what he was really looking for and was too scattered to even judge.

"Yura, the phone." Otabek ordered sternly in that same tone that made him want to listen. He could hear Vitya speakling in a rapid-fire worried tone before Otabek took over. Yuri just listened in awe as the object of his affection handled the situation with such profession grace.

"Viktor, It's Otabek." He paused and listened to Viktor's rant for about 10 seconds.

"Viktor, there was an attempt made to either kidnap or take Yuri's life just now while he was out shopping, I have him and his friend Katya Khovanskaya and we are enroute to the townhouse now. I do not believe we are being followed. 15 minutes out." Otabek stoically gave his report while starting now to drive like a normal person. Yuri glanced at Katya who was staring at her own blood covered hands, he thought she was probably in shock. He listened to Otabek converse with victor about a cleanup squad and placing the manor on lock down as soon as they make it in. Yuri knew this was a huge incident, and in such a public place. There will be police and the media involved. Especially since it involved an international model like Katya.

"Katya." He whispered, his voice faint and shaky. She jumped and looked at Yuri with wide, fear-stricken eyes.

"Is this, are you okay?" It was a stupid question, but it was the only thing he could think to say. Her hands shook as she started to cry again, and she grasped the back of the passenger seat hard.

"Я понимаю, скоро увидимся." (I understand, see you soon.) Otabek finished his conversation and held the phone back up so Yuri could take it. The car filled with an oppressing silence and Yuri didn't feel safe until they finally pulled up to the back gates of the townhome and into the garage. Otabek turned off the car and they all sat in silence for a moment, the gravity of what just happened sinking in. The chaos began again all at once as had a dozen men rushed into the garage including Viktor.

"Yuri! Yuri! Mой дорогой! (My darling!) Are you alright?" He made a grab to hug the blonde, but Yuri shoved him away. Who did he think he was, caring about Yuri after all this time spent ignoring him?

"I'm fine old man!" He growled pushing the older man away from him, but it was not use. He grabbed and inspected Yuri, checking him for any signs of damage. Once deemed unharmed, he pulled the teen into a crushing hug that Yuri decided he would allow. He was feeling awfully drained after all of this, it was too much to process. He longed to numb the pain, to not feel anything about it. He'd never seen anything like this close up in his life and the only dead bodies he'd ever seen were… his parents.

When he was released Viktor immediately moved to Katya. He had met her a couple times before and was for some reason unknow to Yuri very popular with women. Yuri watched as he began to coo and fawn over her and she broke down crying against his shoulder. When Viktor began to lead her from the room, Yuri turned his attention around to find Otabek and was shocked to see him with his jacket removed, his white button-down stained red around his shoulder area. Two men he should probably know the names of were talking with him and trying to assist him in removing the ruined garment, but Otabek being the proud man Yuri has come to know wouldn't allow it.

Now he could see it, the strain in the other's eyes, the sweat beading off his forehead. The teenager couldn't tear his eyes away from those large fingers struggling to undo the last of the button on his shirt and groan audibly when he shrugged it off. Fuck. There was a lot of blood coming from his wound and he couldn't stop himself from stepping forward.

"Otabek!? Are you okay?!" He was shaking and reached out and then immediately pulling back. He didn't want to hurt him more.

"Altin, we need to get you to the infirmary, the bullet went straight through but you're losing too much blood." One of the unnamed men moved to help him there but Otabek shrugged it off. Stupid man, always so proud.

"Thank you, but I'll be fine. This isn't my first time." Otabek answered, but he already sounded out of breath to Yuri. Now he was mad. Why wouldn't he let anyone help him? Didn't he know that Yuri needed him!

"Otabek, stop this, you will go to the infirmary right now, he reached out and took a hold of Otabeks arm. He tried to ignore the skin on skin contact and how hard the muscle felt just beneath the surface. He saw Otabek wince, but ultimately the bodyguard allowed the boy to pull him through the halls, down into the basement and the good sized infirmary that was there. They'd only needed to use it at full capacity once, back when they were at war with the Solntsevskaya** Bratva, before the death of his father.

It seemed Viktor had already sent ahead for the Doctor who quickly removed Otabeks undershirt by cutting it the fuck off and cleaned the old blood away. The wound was still bleeding profusely, but after wrapping it to put pressure on The Dr went to go collect the wound care equipment, along with an IV for fluids and blood. Yuri had to agree the man looked rather pale compared to his normal olive skin.

"How could you not tell me you were shot? You were driving!" Yuri complained from his seat. He was slumped in an incredibly uncomfortable chair no more than 3 feet away from Otabeks hospital bed. The older man groaned and covered his eyes with his hand as if that was an acceptable response.

"Otabek…" He whined laying his head down on the mattress not even caring if the Dr came back and saw. When he had seen that blood, he felt so guilty. It was his fault Otabek got shot. Those men were looking for him not his bodyguard. And if he had just ran like Otabek told him to in the first place, than Otabek would have never gotten hurt.

"I didn't notice." He heard the older man speak in a low quiet voice. Yuri opened his eyes and turned his head slightly, peeking out from the curtain of hair that fell over his face.

"What?" He asked, genuinely confused.

"The bullet. I… didn't feel when I got shot." Yuri sat up at Otabek's confession. How can someone just not feel getting shot.

"I was just worried about getting you back here safely." Those words were even quieter than before, so quiet he almost missed them over his own heart that was beating out of his chest. He… he did what?

"Otabek, I-" Yuri started but was thrown even more off guard by the large rough hang placed over his smooth manicured one. When he looked up and met those chocolate brown eyes, so rich with warmth and comfort it made tears well up in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry!" His voice broke as his tears spilled over. The older man's face changed to one of kindness and confusion. Otabek raised his hand to wipe the tears off his cheeks. Yuri couldn't help but lean into the touch, finding the temptation too much to resist in his vulnerable state.

"You have nothing to be sorry for Yura, it is my job to protect you. I would do anything and everything to keep you safe. Plus, this isn't so bad, I've had worse, he gestured to a large scar running up his side. His gorgeous, beautifully defined body was suddenly hard to ignore and Yuri blushed at realizing this was the first time he'd seen the other man shirtless.

"That's where I was stabbed while I was in Biysk."*** He continued and pointed his leg. "And another one down there where I was shot, and they pulled 47 pellets out of my calf." Yuri's eyes widened and he tried to think of what to say, but just then the Doctor walked back in and Yuri consciously leaned back and away from where he was practically hovering over his bodyguard.

The old man hooked the silent hero up to both IV's and instructed him to just get some rest. The doctor tired to make Yuri leave so Otabek could sleep but he absolutely refused to do so. Otabek assured the Dr that it was alright and he begrudgingly left the two men alone. Once they had settled back in Yuri kicked his feet up on the bed and leaned back in the chair.

"You do know you don't have to stay here Yura. None of this was your fault and I am just fine." Otabek stated from his position in the bed. He was trying to act normal, but Yuri could see that he was tired and hurting. He couldn't believe he'd flat out refused the pain medication the Dr tired to give him.

"You can't tell me what to do." He combatted and gave a big fake smile. Otabek turned up the corner of his mouth in the little half smirk he does, and it was so adorable. Which was pretty much the opposite of how Yuri would describe the rest of his bodyguards' body. Thick muscle wrapped around every inch of the tanned god in front of him. This was the first time he'd ever seen the other man shirtless, and while he wished it was under any other circumstance, he couldn't help but drink in the sight. He was exposed to a few more tattoos that he'd never seen before, like the hand holding a rose on his left bicep or the sun rising over water on his forearm of the same arm. There was also feather with script surrounding it in a language he could not understand. He assumed it must be from Otabek's native land.

He felt like such a selfish jerk. He had never ever bothered to ask Otabek where he was from, after this all this time together. The shame spread through him again just like earlier when he realized it was his fault Otabek was shot. The most interesting thing though was the fact that he had two thieves stars on his shoulders, which he knew were only for the most high ranking, feared inmates. A shiver ran up his spine at the fact that the man he was in love with had seen and done such things. It made him feel like such a spoiled child. He was embarrassed to know so little about the man he had such strong feelings for.

"Yura, what's bothering you?" Yuri turned his head to face his elder. Just making eye contact made his heart skip a beat. He wanted to show Otabek that he wasn't just a spoiled brat who only cared about himself. He didn't! He cared about Otabek too. Still it was too embarrassing to say that out loud, so he blurted out the first thing that pooped in his head.

"You know I don't think it's fair that you have a nickname for me, but I don't have one for you." Yuri blushed as the admission slipped from his lips before he had a second to say something a little less… stupid. But then the strangest thing happened. Otabek looked at him with his warm expression, raised both corners of his lips and actually SMILED. Like full on smiled, not just one of those little half smirks he gave. And then he laughed, and Yuri thought he might actually die right here. It was the most gorgeous sound he had heard in his life.

"That's what your concerned about?" The older man easily teased, and it sent Yuri's heart aflutter. He crossed his arms and decided to roll with it if this was what he was doing now.

"I'll tell you what," the wounded man shifted, trying to sit up more but winced when he put strain on his bandaged shoulder. "If you'd like, you can call me Beka. That's what people called me when I was young." Otabek finished and Yuri felt like he had just won a gold medal. He wondered what Otabek, no Beka, had looked like when he was young, when he was a kid. Was he a happy carefree child or was he always quiet and reserved? And what was Otabek like when he was Yuri's age? Actually, now that he thought about it.

"How old are you?" He asked. He couldn't believe he'd never asked before. But he had almost felt like it was too personal of a question to ask.

"Twenty-five." Otabek answered after a brief pause, but ultimately Yuri didn't see any hesitation in those deep cocoa eyes. Wow. Twenty-five? He didn't know how he felt. On one hand it seemed too young. Otabek was the kind of man who gave off an air of confidence and capability, far too wise for his age. On the other hand that made perfect sense, of course he was younger than he seemed. Still, now that he had a concrete number to go on there was no more playing games in Yuri's head. Otabek was 8 years older than him, a full-fledged adult with a full life already. He had learned so much in the last couple minutes he felt like he was on a high, greedy for any and all information surrounding this gorgeous man in front of him.

And who was Yuri, just some brat kid of a dangerous man, on his own, he was nothing. Or at least that's how he felt around everyone else. But Otabek… He made him feel like he was important, all on his own. That he mattered, that he wasn't terrible. And what had he done in return, not taken the time to learn ANYTHING about the man he claimed to have feelings for. Insistent on making up for lost time he continued with his interview.

"Beka," He tried out the name on and it felt so good on his tongue. "Where are you from?" It was the last big one. The last of the things he should have already know about Otabek by now but was too busy always being so focused on himself. The older man was giving him a thoughtful, yet surprised look.

"Why the sudden interest to know all about me?" Otabek asked, raising his eyebrow. Damn. Even getting shot didn't slow him down. Yuri gulped, his cheeks flushing, and he felt the need to break eye contact and let his hair fall in his face.

"Because… I was worried I was going to lose you, and still not know anything about you." He admitted weakly. It was true. They were all lucky that Otabek was just hit in the shoulder, a couple inches over and he would have been a goner. He didn't want Otabek to die for him. He didn't think he was worth it… There was a crushing silence that followed, and Yuri was afraid that he'd crossed another invisible line that made Otabek clam up, but finally the older man spoke.

"Kazakhstan. That's were I am from." Yuri whipped his head around and let a what he knew was an idiotic smile come over his face, but he didn't care. Otabek was talking to him. He was sharing details about his life and that's what mattered. He was so excited he was trying to figure out what he was going to ask next when the door opened and of all people Viktor entered the room.

"What the hell are you doing here Vitya?" He spat, annoyed that his old mentor interrupted his Q&A session with Otabek. Viktor smiled as if he just told him he was happy to see him and strolled over to him casually laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Your grandfather just arrived home, he would like to speak to you and make sure you are alright. I in turn need to speak with Otabek. I'm sure you can find your way out?" Viktor chirped in a happy sing song voice, though his tone combatted that of Yuri's previous one. Yuri rolled his eyes and knew there was no getting out of this.

He grumbled his hatred for Viktor under his breath and begrudgingly got up from the chair. He took a few steps toward the door before turning back to face Otabek, who was staring straight at him.

"I'm glad your okay." He said the only thing he felt appropriate for the setting. Otabek gave him a little half smirk.

"And I you." Otabek answered in his low voice and it sent a chill up Yuri's spine. He turned and strode out of the room trying to exude his usual confidence but found himself lacking. The seriousness of the situation began to surround him once more.

Someone was after him, and they had killed to get to them. What did they want? Why were they doing this? What would happen now? So many thoughts ran though his head as he entered the main floor and headed towards his Dedushka's office.

There was once thing that was for certain though. Whoever did this was going to try again, and when they did Yuri needed to be ready.

*It's an upscale hotel I though would be perfect to hold a swanky designer party

** Solntsevskaya Bratva! Totally real! At one point was considered the largest organized crime syndicate in all of Russia. Borrowing them for their big them and powerful background.

*** Biysk Prison located in Altai Krai Russia.