Chapter 3: Family Bonds

Victor frowned disapprovingly as he looked out the window of the car as Yakov drove. and he noted the direction they were taking.

"This isn't the way to my house, Yakov," he complained, "I told you, I am…"

"Be quiet, Vitya," the old man admonished him, strangely in a way that should have sounded like scolding, but only managed to sound worried and sad, "You heard the team doctor. Your head is in as much turmoil as your body right now, and you said yourself that you are not thinking straight enough to make proper decisions."

"I am fine!" Victor snapped, "I haven't said anything wrong. I've done everything you've asked me to."

"That's part of the problem," Yakov pointed out, "You never just do what I tell you. And what that tells me is that you know you need help right now. I'm just making sure that you are taken care of. If you will remember, that was the promise I made to you, all of those years ago. I promised that, as your coach, I would stay with you and never leave you. I said I would always be there for you, and I am."

Victor's lips stiffened and he glared at the old man petulantly, but rather than say anything back, he just let out an agitated breath and deflated.

"I think you're being ridiculous, taking me to be cared for like a child, when all I need is some goddamned time to think. Did you even call Lilia ahead of time, or are you just dropping me on her doorstep? What about Maccachin? He's being cared for by my neighbor."

"I called and had someone pick him up. He'll be at Lilia's. And yes, she knows you were bitten by an alpha. I didn't tell her who it was. I don't think you want him murdered before any of us get to talk to him."

"Right," Victor huffed, regaining a bit of equilibrium at the half-joking reference to the former dancer's protectiveness, "But really, Yakov, why can't you just let me go home? I don't want to talk to anyone. I don't want to see anyone. I just want five fucking minutes to myself to sort through everything."

"That is the last thing you need."

"I know what I need!"

"No, not right now, you don't!" Yakov insisted, "You are a mess and you need your family."

Victor wasn't sure what made his temper give way at that moment, but the words left him before he could stop them.

"I don't HAVE a family! They threw me away! Don't you remember?" he shouted, "Just like Yuuri Katsuki just did, and just like everyone else will as soon as they know what I am!"

His gut clenched at the look of sympathy Yakov gave him in reply.

"I don't know why I ever tried to hide it. It was just going to come out and ruin my life anyway!" he cried, bursting into tears, "And it doesn't matter where you take me. The humiliation will follow me everywhere. For the rest of my life, I won't be able to escape it anymore. Yakov, I'm grateful for all you did for me, but you know as well as anyone that once this comes out, I am finished as a skater. No one will ever take me seriously again, and everything I did to this point will be discarded as though I never accomplished anything. That's how it is. That's how the omegas are dealt with. Maybe I should never have tried to go against that."

"Vitya, you know that you are not like other omegas," Yakov reminded him sternly, "There is something very different about you. With the exception of your heat cycle, you do not have the usual characteristics of an omega that stand out and tell people what you are. You are gifted in your art form. You are bold and headstrong. You take chances…sometimes even ones I wish that you would not. You play the role of an alpha with ease for a reason. I think that it's possible that, rather than simply being an omega, you are more. Vitya, I have been thinking that maybe you are a kind of anomaly."

"Oh, don't even start telling me something like that," Victor objected, "I don't need anything else to make me feel lonely, and like there is no one like me and no one for me. I am dying inside, Yakov, because I am too goddamned different! I don't want to be different. I don't want to be special. I just…I don't want to be alone, but that's all I feel anymore!"

Yakov sighed and nodded, turning the car onto the long driveway leading to Lilia's lovely, sprawling mansion.

"That's why I am bringing you here. Here, you will have Lilia, who spoils the living hell out of you."

"I don't need to be spoiled!" Victor argued.

"A little spoiling will be good for you while your hormones are settling."

"Ugh! Would you please stop talking to me about that? Being a goddamned omega isn't humiliating enough? You have to remind me every minute of everything that's wrong with me?"

Victor made a sound of surprise as Yakov abruptly stopped the car, well short of the mansion.

"What are you doing?" he complained, "What did I do wrong now?"

Yakov scowled.

"What did you do wrong?" he asked angrily, "Vitya, do you listen to yourself?"

Victor gave him a stymied look.

"You are an omega. Yes. But you know that being an omega isn't a bad thing."

"What do you mean it's not a bad thing?" the younger man objected, "You think it's great that I have to worry every time I'm in the presence of another man, and some women too, that someone will smell my heat and feel like throwing me down on the ground right there and fucking me? Do you think it's terrific being looked down on by everyone when they know, and hiding who you are like it's some kind of damning condition that nobody wants? Do I hate being an omega? Of course I do! Anyone in his right fucking mind would hate this, and that's how I know that I'm sane!"

He fully expected a scolding from his longtime coach, but Yakov's angry look just began to shift to sadness again.

"What?" Victor demanded, "You said…"

"I said that being an omega isn't a bad thing," he repeated, "and it is not. I know that it is difficult for you. I know you don't like hiding what you are and pretending to be something different. But Vitya, you know, the reason you do that is so that you can show the world the gifts that you have because you are an omega. Do alphas generally have more confidence? They do. And they tend to be physically gifted with strength and beauty. But is something like Yin and Yang. The things that the alpha lacks, the omega possesses. They are like a balance for each other. Betas have it easier because there is balance inside them that eludes both alpha and omega. Alphas tend to perform well in their professions, but it is the omegas who are needed to provide stability. Omegas too, are often, like you, very beautiful and gifted. If they lack confidence, it is usually not because they don't have any, but because the way is harder for them. The omegas are the truly gifted, and not only do they perform well, they create!

"Oh my god," Victor objected, "please don't start talking to me about babymaking and creating a great home or I may just…"

"I wasn't talking about that," the old man chided him, "although that is the kind of creativity that gets the attention most of the time. Vitya, I have coached alphas, betas and omegas, and do you know what it is that I saw in you when you were a child?"

Victor looked back at him blankly.

"M-my talent," he answered hesitantly, "right?"

"Sure, you had plenty of talent," Yakov affirmed, "but that wasn't what I saw that made me take you away from the bastard who was coaching you and train you myself."

"You knew he was a child abuser and I didn't have anyone looking out for me since my parents abandoned me?"

"I did want to protect you," the old man admitted, "but that wasn't what I saw in you that I wanted even more to coach."

Victor gave him a confused look and a little shake of his head.

"Then…?"

"I saw you skating, Vitya, and I could see your mind working as your body moved! I could see your love for skating and the genius you had at speaking non-verbally. It was like the music wasn't just playing all around you. You weren't just floating on it. The music was inside you and you were using your body to release it. No one ever had to work hard to choreograph for you, even when you didn't do it yourself. They only had to watch you and put the pieces of your movements together. You do have a lot of emotion and you convey it beautifully. That is what makes you, not just a talented performer, but the highest form of entertainer, because you see things and your bring them to life for others. This is the aspect that is missing from most of the alphas I instruct. They bring raw talent and confidence to the table, but I have to provide resources to make the costumes and music and choreography. You have that all built into you, and it is what has put you where you are."

Victor looked back at him quietly for a moment before answering.

"But what good is it if we are beaten down, told we are nothing but babymaking freaks and often beaten to death by alphas drunk on our heat?"

Yakov sighed and turned the car back onto the driveway.

"That is why you have me."

"Right," Victor replied, letting his head rest against the passenger side window.

The two were quiet as the car reached the end of the driveway and Yakov pulled around the circular end and parked at the base of a grand set of stone stairs leading up to the house. Victor climbed out of the car as the doors to the house opened and a very handsome and smiling young man came to greet him.

"Victor!" he exclaimed, pulling the amused skater into a warm embrace, "It's wonderful to see you."

"Good to see you too, Valentin," Victor chuckled as the other man pulled back slightly to look more closely at him, "Oh, but someone's been treating you badly, eh? I can see you've been terribly unhappy. Come, come, Lady Lilia wants to talk to you, then I'll draw you a hot bath and if you're good, I'll put some rose water in for you."

"Thank you," Victor said more cheerfully, "That would be great."

"Valentin, are they here?" Lilia called from the doorway as her youthful butler led Yakov and Victor up the stairs.

"Right here, milady," Valentin answered cheerfully, "and you were right. Our Vitya is in dreadful need of some pampering."

"We'll get to that," the slim former ballerina said, waving him off, "Go and start a soothing bath for him."

Victor leaned towards Yakov.

"Is there some reason that the first thing she always has me do is strip down and bathe in pretty scented water? Not that I mind, but…"

"Be quiet and do what she says," Yakov huffed under his breath, "It's safer."

"Vitya, I heard you were hurt by an alpha!" Lilia exclaimed, "Tell me who he is. I'll have him brought here and tortured in front of you for your pleasure."

"Th-that's not really necessary," Victor answered, glancing at Yakov warningly, "You know, he didn't mean…"

"Don't give me that ridiculous excuse," the elder woman gently scolded him as she held him close and captured his face in her hands, "Just because they have brutish strength doesn't mean they have to be brutes."

"Though, they usually are," Victor sighed resignedly.

"Don't talk like that," Lilia said, giving him a play scowl, "not here. Come, we will talk."

"Do we really have to talk. I'm kind of tired."

"Oh, my poor boy, of course you are. Valentin, take him to bathe immediately!"

"Yes, ma'am," the butler answered, hiding a little smirk as he bowed, "of course. Come, Vitya."

Victor headed off with the butler as Yakov and Lilia moved on to a sitting room to talk.

"He looks awful," Lilia said angrily, "What did you let someone do to him?"

"I didn't let anything…"

"What are you talking about?" she said in a voice that struck him like a slap in the face, "He was assaulted by someone at the banquet. You were watching him at the banquet."

"He wasn't supposed to go into…"

"Does that matter?" she scolded him, "You weren't watching over him, were you? You were drinking with the other drunk men!"

"I might have had something to drink…"

"I can't believe you taught our son to drink like a fish, like you do too! Is that why? Was he not paying close enough attention? He was drinking and dancing and forgot to count the days of his cycle?"

"No, Lilia," Yakov said firmly, "Vitya was still several days from when he should have had his heat. It should not have happened at the banquet."

He paused for a moment, rubbing his chin and thinking.

"And that makes me wonder if it could be true…"

Lilia gave him a little nod.

"He has never presented like a normal omega," she agreed, "Did he say anything about the brute who did this? Though he was probably afraid if you told me the boy's name I'd just have him killed, and that's not far off the mark."

"He didn't say a lot, but it was someone who he did not think was an alpha. It was someone I would never think was an alpha. And Lilia, Vitya said that it seemed like his heat began as though it was because of his meeting this alpha."

"Hmm…"

"You think like I do then? That this alpha…?"

Lilia scowled.

"What I think is that it's either that the boy was another anomaly or that you are just looking for excuses for me not to take off your head for letting our son be bullied right under your nose! Of course, with a nose that big…"

"Lilia!"

"What? Your nose is big. I always kind of thought it was cute, until it wasn't anymore."

"Ugh…I have to go now. I have skaters waiting at the rink. Will you spoil Vitya a little…oh, and watch him. The alpha didn't use protection."

"What?" the old lady snarled, "That little bastard. I'll have him castrated!"

"I don't think that's…"

"Get out of here, will you? Go and coach someone. I have to take care of our son, who you let get hurt. Go away!"

"The boy is not our son, Lilia."

"Shut up and get out of my house, old man. I'll call you once Vitya is ready to go home."

XXXXXXXXXX

"So, you're looking good," Victor said, giving the butler a little smile as they walked down the hallway, "I'm surprised Lilia hasn't fired you yet. You must be a good butler."

Valentin looked over his shoulder at his firm, round derriere.

"I think she likes my assets."

"Well, you've turned twenty-five and you're still here, so she must like you."

"It isn't the number," Valentin said charmingly, "it's how you rock it."

He gave Victor a closer look.

"And you are rocking twenty-seven beautifully, aren't you? You look great, except for those dark circles under your eyes, love, but I can take care of those in a flash."

"Oh, I know I'm in talented hands," Victor laughed softly.

"It's good to see you smile," Valentin said, his own smile fading, "Please forgive me for intruding, but I'd like to kill the guy who hurt you."

"There's a lot of that going around here," Victor chuckled, "Thank you, but I don't think he meant to hurt anyone. He's really not the type."

"I don't know if I believe that the alphas are as driven by the omegas heat that they can't stop. They all claim that, but seriously? I think it's just that they are given a pass for other reasons."

"Maybe."

Victor brightened as a bark sounded ahead of them and Maccachin bounded out of one of the rooms and ran towards him.

"Maccachin!" Victor called out, dropping to one knee, "Come here! It's good to see you, boy!"

"He got here a little while ago, so we've already bathed and groomed him. I made sure they gave him his favorite blueberry facial too."

"You smell wonderful," Victor laughed, hugging the old dog and kissing him on the snout, while Maccachin whined and licked his face, "Oh, I missed you too."

"Come now," Valentin directed the dog, who looked at him and tilted his head cutely, "Vitya needs his bath now too."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a chewy treat that Macca nipped out of his hand.

"Good boy," Valentin laughed.

"I see you're spoiling him too," Victor said approvingly.

"Well, anything for you and Maccachin, right?" Valentin said, smiling, "Lady Lilia just very much wants both of you kept happy and safe."

"I am happy, at least, now that Macca and I are here."

"It's always nice having you here," the butler said sincerely, "You and Maccachin. Come now, let's get you spruced up."