Viktor stood at the foot of the four-poster bed, mouth agape, jaw nearly on the ground, and Makkachin's laughter still echoing inside his head. He brought his hands to his face, cradling his head in them for a few seconds before his shoulders began to shake. A few chuckles morphed into unstoppable giggles, before rapidly growing into roaring guffaws. The next thing he knew, he was bent over, holding his sides and struggling for breath he didn't even need.
"Well, that's new. I don't think I've ever seen you do that before."
Viktor straightened out his back and wiped the bloody tears gingerly from his eyes, careful not to get any blood on his clothes.
"There really hasn't been that much to laugh about since we've known each other, Makka."
"Perhaps things will be different with that human around. Do you plan on keeping him?"
He did.
…
Yuuri groggily opened his eyes, fading slowly back into consciousness, and stretched his arms languidly above his head as he yawned loudly. He immediately hissed between clenched teeth and covered his ears, moaning plaintively as the roaring raucous rattled in his ears.
"Why is everything so damn loud? It sounds like the whole forest is inside my brain!"
Yuuri groaned and buried his head under the pillows, writhing pitifully as he tried to escape the painful loudness of the world around him. As he tried to bury himself deeper into the sheets, he suddenly felt something pawing at his shoulder. He lifted his head out of the pillows and came face-to-face with the most adorable caramel-colored standard poodle in the world.
"Oh-my-god-first-a-perfect-house-and-now-the-most-adorable-dog-EVER!"
Yuuri wrapped his arms around the dog's neck and pulled it into the bed with him, earning him a surprised yelp from the canine as he did so. He flipped the dog onto its back on his lap and started rubbing its belly and cooing at him lovingly until the dog fully relaxed and turned into a puddle of fluffy panting goo under his ministrations. And then, suddenly and without any warning, the most beautiful man he'd ever seen burst into the room, dressed in attire that fit in perfectly with the rest of the house. Yuuri's mouth dropped open as he took in the tightly-fitting black dress breeches, stunning plum-colored satin chemise with ruffled collar and billowing sleeves, perfectly coiffed short silver hair, and the most stunning blue eye he'd ever seen. When the handsome man spotted the prone dog on his lap, he burst into roaring laughter, a sound that Yuuri immediately knew he could never get sick of.
"If you say anything, so help me Satan, I will rip your throat out with my own teeth, keep it from you, and not let you heal for days."
The handsome man waved his hands defensively in front of him as he composed himself, readjusting his collar before turning to address the confused-looking Japanese man sitting up on the bed.
"Forgive me for the sudden and unannounced intrusion, esteemed guest. I heard my dog's yelp earlier and worried that he was perhaps in distress. But I see now that he is…being very well-looked after."
Somehow, Yuuri was finally able to close his mouth and his brain was actually able to process thoughts.
"A-ah...that's alright. Sorry, I'm a big sucker for dogs and he looks exactly like a dog I used to have. When I saw him next to my bed, I just couldn't help myself. What's his name?"
Viktor smiled winningly at the young man, feeling a bit smug when he heard his quarry's heart start racing wildly in his chest.
"His name is Makkachin, and it looks to me like you two are already best friends!"
"F-f-Friends?! I've never felt so humiliated in my entire life! I'm a three-hundred-year-old vampire werewolf, and here I am...being reduced to the most…basest of all canine behaviors...by a HUMAN no less!"
Viktor stifled another chuckle, having found the rampant indignation in Makkachin's voice irresistibly amusing. The young one stared down at the dog still being helplessly overstimulated in his lap and doubled down on the rubs.
"Well, Makkachin is the goodest and most handsomest of all the good boys, and deserves only the bestest belly rubs!"
The canine's eyes just about rolled into the back of his head and one of his back legs started windmilling rhythmically in the air.
"FUCK! This is...I could...get used to this."
Viktor laughed merrily at the situation before him, unable to hold his amusement back any longer. The young one opened his mouth to ask the handsome man what had gotten into him when he stopped, suddenly struck by how quiet things were.
"Oh! It's gotten quiet! What a relief!"
Of course it has, thought the vampire. I took care of every nuisance myself. Makkachin had informed him of the young one's torment as soon as he'd awoken. He had been in the middle of making breakfast and had dropped everything to run off and frighten away every living creature within a five mile radius. The fact that it was a bright and sunny morning had barely registered in his mind. He was old enough that sunlight didn't really bother him much anymore and he'd felt nothing more than a slight tingling sensation on his exposed skin. He'd surmised that the young one was probably still experiencing heightened senses from the leftover vampire blood in his system, and had made a mental note to keep his voice low and soft when speaking to him.
He hadn't been back at work on breakfast for very long when he'd heard Makkachin's yelp followed by a string of obscenities that would have made a sailor blush. Halfway up the stairs, Makkachin's thoughts became garbled and incoherent and he'd sprinted the rest of the way, increasingly concerned. He had crashed into the room and skidded to a halt before a sight he had never expected to see. To say that he had been absolutely flabbergasted by the scene before him had been an understatement. Makkachin was on his back on the young one's lap, his eyes half-closed in apparent pleasure, mouth hanging open, and tongue lolling to the side as he was getting his belly thoroughly rubbed. Makka had never let him do that, even once, in the hundreds of years they'd already spent together. The most he'd ever gotten away with were conservative scratches behind his ears. He could not deny the pang of jealousy that had hit him when he'd seen his loyal companion so easily undone by a human he'd just met. Not that he could fault him for it, he had also immediately become entranced by that particular human's natural charms.
"Perhaps the lack of city sounds has made the sounds of nature richer and louder to your ears. We're pretty isolated out here in the dense woods after all."
The Japanese man nodded thoughtfully, seemingly satisfied with the explanation presented to him.
"Did you have a good night's sleep, dear guest?"
The young one opened his mouth to answer, but was instead overcome with confusion.
"I...I...don't actually...remember."
Viktor's heart sank a little, disappointed that the young man apparently did not retain any memories of their heated activities from the night before.
"Ah, perhaps you were just really tired. You did do a lot of strenuous hiking yesterday."
The young man brought his hand up to his neck, absentmindedly rubbing at the spot where Viktor had drunk from him. The action caused a small ripple of excited trepidation in Viktor, and his heart would have most certainly skipped a beat, had he actually had a beating heart.
"It's so strange...it feels like...more than that. I don't even remember getting into bed or falling asleep. I get the feeling that there's something more I'm missing."
"Do you remember meeting me very briefly earlier this morning?"
The young man's mouth fell open in shock, causing him to temporarily pause Makkachin's belly rubs. Spell finally broken, the dog rolled over and righted himself before jumping off the bed and going to sit at his master's feet.
"We met earlier today? How? What did I say?"
The silver-haired vampire shrugged, trying to play things off as nonchalantly as possible.
"You pointed at me, demanded to know if I was 'V' and then proceeded to tell me I had the most 'amazing house ever', and then passed back out again."
The young man's face turned a charming shade of red, reminding Viktor of all the amazingly delicious blood coursing through his delectable body. His throat tightened almost painfully, and he licked his lips at the memory.
"I'm SO sorry for being such a terribly rude guest! I swear I have better manners than that! I don't know what's gotten into me!"
Viktor walked closer to the bed and took a seat at the edge closest to the young man, smirking when he saw the young one redden further at his presence.
"Please, don't be so hard on yourself. I'm not insulted in the least. I should be the one feeling ashamed. I invited you to stay at my home and I didn't even introduce myself to you properly!"
The ancient vampire flicked his head to the left in a smooth and practiced movement, the silver hair that usually fell over his left eye momentarily sliding out of the way to reveal the other stunning blue eye. He extended a gloved hand to the young man before him and smiled.
"I'm Viktor Nikiforov, nice to meet you. Welcome to my humble home."
The young one reached out and took his hand in his, squeezing lightly as he did so.
"I'm Yuuri Katsuki, nice to meet you too! I'm absolutely honored to be in your incredible home, Mister Nikiforov."
"Please, call me Viktor. Well Yuuri, I've got a breakfast going that is almost ready. Are you hungry?"
Yuuri opened his mouth to answer but his stomach beat him to the punch. He blushed beautifully once more and Viktor had to bite back a moan.
"Sorry! I, uh…yeah…I guess I am."
Viktor reached out and placed a hand on one of Yuuri's thighs, delighting in how the young man jumped a bit at the contact and his heart galloped in his chest once more.
"Why don't you go ahead and freshen up and then get dressed? I'll be waiting for you downstairs."
Viktor stood up and Yuuri scrambled to his feet after him.
"That sounds great! I'll…"
Yuuri's eyes glazed over and he teetered dangerously on his feet. As he began to fall forward, two strong arms wrapped themselves around his waist and held him up.
"Yuuri, are you alright?"
"Dizzy...so dizzy."
Viktor held Yuuri fast against his chest, silently providing a pillar of support while the young man recovered from his dizzy spell. Блядь! He must be weaker than he's letting on. I'll just have to bring him his breakfast in bed, then. Viktor leaned Yuuri backward until he was seated on the bed once more. He supported him easily with one arm and propped up the pillows behind them with the other. He then pushed the young man back until he was settled comfortably against the nest of pillows, picked his legs up and put them back on the bed. He covered Yuuri back up with the sheets and leaned in to brush a few messy locks of hair off his forehead, staring with great concern into those muddled brown orbs until their lucid quality finally returned. Yuuri blinked lazily up at him until his eyes lost their glassy quality and he was able to fully focus on him.
"Ugh...what happened?"
"You got a bit dizzy when you stood up. It just means you need some more more rest. Stay here and I will bring your breakfast up to you."
"No, no, no, that's fine! I'm fine, really. There's no need to bother you and make you go out of your way!"
Yuuri immediately tried to get up again, but found himself being firmly pushed back down by a gloved hand on his chest. When the owner of that hand spoke, his voice had such an ethereal velvety-smooth quality to it that Yuuri could not help but hang on every word.
"Stay. I insist. You are my guest and I shall care for you as I see fit."
Yuuri opened his mouth to argue but found that all the fight had seemingly evaporated right out of him, and he was overcome with an irresistible desire to stay in bed just as his host had suggested.
"I...uh...okay."
Viktor beamed at him, the act making the man look even more devastatingly handsome, and causing Yuuri's stomach to flop around like some fish out of water.
"Good, very good Yuuri. Stay right here. I'll be right back."
Yuuri nodded absentmindedly in the direction of the voice. There was something in the way Viktor had spoken his name that had send shivers racing down his spine. He couldn't explain it, but he felt as if he'd heard his name uttered that way by the man before. I must just be imagining things. Side effects of hypoglycemia and exhaustion, probably. Get it together Yuuri, there's nothing out of the ordinary here. Your gracious host is a blue-eyed, silver-haired pile of too-perfect perfection, and you're just another guest in his pristine gothic era mansion he lives all alone in with his dog. Miles from civilization in the middle of nowhere. In the middle of a dense forest, with no nearby roads, nowhere near your motorbike...oh-my-god-how-have-I-not-been-murdered-yet?!
"Yuuri."
The cloud of fog abruptly lifted from Yuuri's brain and clarity returned to him in one huge rolling wave. He blinked a few times and promptly noticed that Viktor was sitting on the edge of the bed with a tray of food on his lap. Wait, when did he get here? He was here just a second ago, wasn't he?
"Oh good, you're alright. You seemed a bit lost in thought there for a while."
Yuuri shook his head and rubbed at his eyes. Kami, what is wrong with me? This whole morning has been one growing pile of weirdness. I can't seem to make heads or tails of anything that's happened.
"Would you like to know what's for breakfast, Yuuri?"
The word 'breakfast' had an immediate effect on Yuuri, reining his focus in like nothing else.
"Yes, please!"
"Great! Let's get started."
Viktor pointed to a large bowl containing an orange-colored liquid of sorts. It was a beautifully rich color and smelled positively delicious.
"First we have the wild squash soup with roasted chestnuts."
Yuuri's mouth hung open in delighted shock. That sounded so fancy!
"Then we have grilled goose breast and pan-seared goose liver. It's not quite foie gras, but has just enough fat in it to make it buttery smooth."
Yuuri's mouth began to water and he swallowed quickly before he embarrassed himself by drooling everywhere.
"Then we have apple slices with freshly made cheese. I was able to find some tea in my cupboards. Sorry, I don't have any coffee."
Yuuri's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he eyed the food-laden tray before him.
"This is amazing, thank you so much! Your servants must have been quite busy preparing it."
"I do not have servants. I prepared this all myself."
Yuuri's eyes grew wide as saucers as his astonishment was clearly visible.
"You...made this all by yourself? For...me?"
He looked down at the tray once more, and was filled with immense gratitude.
"Where did you get all the ingredients? There aren't any stores around here."
"Everything on that tray came from the forest."
"Even the cheese?"
"Correct. I made the cheese this morning by adding lemon juice to the goat milk."
Yuuri didn't think that he'd ever had freshly made cheese before in his life and suddenly found himself super excited to tuck into his breakfast.
"Ittadakimasu! Thanks for the food!"
Yuuri picked up the spoon and scooped up some of the soup. He blew on the hot liquid a few times and then brought it into his mouth. Yuuri's taste buds were filled with the sweet and nutty flavor of squash, almost reminiscent of sweet potato, followed by the earthy taste of the roasted chestnuts. The soup was beautifully balanced with spices and the dollop of cream that had been placed in the middle. Yuuri closed his eyes and sighed contentedly as the warm and delicious liquid slid comfortingly down his throat. When he opened his eyes, Viktor's face was mere inches from his own. His azure eyes were staring at him with such intensity that he felt them boring right down to his soul. Agh! He's too close!
"Yuuri."
"Y-y-yes Viktor?"
"Is it good?"
Yuuri breathed a sigh of relief, smiled and nodded eagerly at the man before him.
"Yes, Viktor. It's absolutely delicious! Thank you so much!"
Satisfied with the answer he was given, Viktor pulled away from him and sat himself down on the velvet chaise directly in front of the bed.
"Have you eaten yet, Viktor? I feel a bit bad that I'm sitting here eating when you have no food before you."
Viktor waved a hand dismissively in the air.
"Worry not, Yuuri. I assure you that I have eaten very well."
A predatory glint flickered in Viktor's eyes and Yuuri felt that thrill of excitement run down his spine once more. He couldn't explain it, that kind of look would normally have him running for the hills. Instead, it intrigued him and just piqued his curiosity even further. Yuuri nodded once toward Viktor and then carried on with his meal. The goose meat and liver didn't disappoint either, and Yuuri was worried that his appreciative vocalizations were becoming a bit too much. But every time he looked over at Viktor, all he could see was that pair of blue eyes fixed on him, unblinking, and watching him. The apples with cheese were a marvelous ending to the meal, the perfect mix of crunch, sweetness and creaminess. Yuuri drained the last of his Earl Gray tea and then sighed happily as he set the empty cup down on the tray.
"That was positively delicious, amazing, incredible...you name it."
Viktor walked over to the bed and removed the tray from his lap.
"I'm glad that my cooking has pleased you so. Now, you must rest a bit more and regain your strength."
"I'm really okay now. I think I'll be fine to stand on my own again."
Viktor shook his head.
"No Yuuri, you need to rest."
"But I'm..."
"If you agree to rest a bit more, I will give you a personal tour of my entire house, including the grounds."
Yuuri's eyes lit up at the mention of a tour and he practically squealed with delight. Viktor laughed at his reaction, winking cheekily at him as he placed the tray on the nightstand.
"I'm beginning to sense a definite pattern with you here."
Yuuri blushed, slightly embarrassed that he was apparently so transparent. He rubbed the back of his head as he smiled sheepishly at his host.
"Ahhh, sorry about that. I'm an architecture student and I'm really fascinated by ancient buildings, furniture and décor. Being in your home is like finding a diamond in the desert. I've dreamed of seeing something like this, for years."
"Well then, I'd be more than happy to make your dreams come true, Yuuri. But it's going to require more rest on your part."
"I'd be more than happy to comply with your request, but I'm all full of energy after breakfast and don't think I could fall asleep if I wanted to."
Viktor leaned in close to him once more and locked his eyes onto Yuuri's. The young Japanese man gulped, suddenly faced with that deep and profound stare of his once more.
"I think you are feeling sleepy and would love nothing more than to sleep a little while longer. Don't you think? I'll come wake you up myself."
Yuuri found himself yawning loudly as his eyelids fluttered closed, suddenly too heavy for him to keep open on his own willpower. His arms fell limply a his sides and he sank back slowly into the comfy cloud of pillows. Viktor waited and listened for the slowed heart beat and respiration. Satisfied that Yuuri had fallen back asleep, he leaned in and stared closely at the angelic face of the sleeping man.
"How is it that I manage to ignore humans for centuries, distancing myself from civilization as much as possible to avoid them, and then find myself caring after one?"
Viktor removed the glove from his right hand and reached out to gently stroke Yuuri's face, stroking a warm cheek with his thumb.
"What voodoo magic have you cast on me, young one?"
…
"...ri."
Yuuri's nose twitched and he pulled the sheets over his head.
The sheets were ripped away from him and Yuuri curled up into a tiny ball, trying to hide his face from the bright light flooding the room. Laughter filled the room and Yuuri heard a rather amused voice call his name called out once more.
"Yuuri!"
The young man groaned and opened his eyes slowly to a rather amused-looking Viktor standing at the foot of the bed, both hands on his hips.
"You're being so lazy. It's like you don't care about the tour at all!"
Yuuri was immediately awake, out of bed and rushing around the room like a madman, looking for his stuff.
"Argh! My backpack, my clothes, my shoes...where is everything?!"
Viktor laughed even harder at the sight of the severely flustered young man before him.
"Calm down, Yuuri! We have lots of time. Please sit, I have something for you."
Yuuri sat down on the edge of the bed, hands on his lap and his back painfully straight as he waited anxiously for whatever Viktor had for him.
"I thought it would be a more authentic experience if you were dressed for the part."
Viktor walked over to the table and picked up a pile of neatly folded clothing and handed it to Yuuri.
"I'm sorry, they'll probably be a bit big on you, but I have some pins and can shorten the pant legs and pin them up for you."
Yuuri's eyes grew so big that they nearly bugged out of their sockets. He gingerly and reverently took the pile of clothing in his hands and looked up at Viktor with so much adoration that the man had to look away from the intensity.
"The bathroom is just over this way. I'll wait for you here until you're done."
Viktor watched as Yuuri nodded enthusiastically and disappeared into the bathroom to change. When the young one stepped out in the clothes he had picked, Viktor's breath caught in his throat. Yuuri looked beautiful, stunning even, in the trappings of his era.
"Come here Yuuri, let me take a look at you."
Yuuri picked up a fistful of pants in each hand, careful to not let them drag on the ground, and shuffled over to Viktor. The man moved in behind him, and fastened the top button of the shirt collar. He pulled the vest snugly against Yuuri's frame and walked back around to the front to fluff out the large sleeves of the simple white blouse. Then Viktor got down on one knee and rolled up the material of each pant leg until it was just above Yuuri's ankles. He pinned the material expertly and and then stood up to assess his work. Viktor nodded and hummed appreciatively before turning to pick up a pair of shoes he'd packed with tissue paper at the heel.
"The paper should fill the shoes enough that they'll be comfortable for you to walk in. Try them out and let me know if they're alright."
Yuuri put the shoes on very carefully. Studying ancient architecture often led to studying the fashions that went along with each time period. As soon as he saw the shoes, he knew they were styled after sixteenth century Italian leather shoes and that they probably cost more than he could ever make in a lifetime. They were extremely comfortable, and after he wiggled his foot around in them a bit, his toes were pushed snugly against the tip of each shoe.
"I think your tissue paper system works great! They feel quite comfortable at the moment."
Viktor smiled at the young man before him and extended a hand out to him.
"Shall we?"
Yuuri placed his right hand over his heart and folded his left arm behind him as he bowed deeply toward his host.
"We shall."
…
Yuuri was feeling severely overstimulated. He had never, ever been so privy to such beauty, decadence and elegance. They had started the tour out in the gardens and what he'd seen when he'd first stepped out into the sunlight had literally taken his breath away. A single central path paved with weathered cobblestones of varying shades of gray split the garden into two equal halves. On the left was a nearly endless sea of ruby-red roses, and a vast row of blood-red bougainvillea trees laden with heavy blossoms on the right. A series of evenly-spaced metal arches spanned the length of the path, each fully covered with some kind of flowering vine that produced delicately tiny white flowers. They provided some stark contrast to the otherwise sea of red petals before them. Yuuri had not recognized the particular little white flower and had asked Viktor about it.
"Ah, that particular plant is called Virgin's Bower. So pure and dainty in its whiteness. Much like a real virgin, wouldn't you agree?"
Yuuri had immediately turned into a blushing mess and sputtered helplessly as he'd tried to compose himself and come up with something intelligible to say.
"The best thing about the Virgin's Bower, however, is when it bears fruit."
"W-w-why's that?"
"It produces a small dry fruit that is engulfed in a sea of feathery silver plumes. It easily becomes the most beautiful feature of this garden, easily surpassing the beauty of the roses and bougainvillea combined."
"Those tiny little white flowers turn into something like that?"
"Indeed, Yuuri. Sometimes a virgin's true allure is only discovered after it has been fertilized."
Yuuri's face immediately got three shades redder and he looked just about ready to run away and hide somewhere. Viktor laughed merrily at his reaction, and Yuuri pouted so prettily at him that he'd had to fight back the severe urge to just kiss him senseless right there in the garden. I wonder... how beautiful would Yuuri be, naked beneath me in a bed of rose and bougainvillea petals, being made love to under the silver moonlight. Viktor moaned, cursing his vivid imagination as it now left him with a rapidly hardening problem in his breeches. It seemed that Yuuri had thankfully not yet caught on to his predicament and had walked a bit ahead and stopped to examine the roses.
"You tend to this whole garden all on your own?"
"That is correct."
"That's incredible! How do you even have the time?"
Viktor smiled wryly at the young Japanese man.
"I guess you could say that all I have is time."
Yuuri cocked his head to the side, confused by the apparent cryptic comment Viktor had just made.
"How does this garden smell to you?"
Yuuri lifted his nose into the air, closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.
"I think that the individual scents of the three flowers work really well together. The bougainvillea adds a bit of sweetness to the rose and the V..Vir...little white flowers have almost no smell to them. It's an absolutely spectacular garden, both a visual and olfactory treat."
"Come with me. There is one more thing I wish for you to see."
Yuuri waited for Viktor to pass him and then followed closely behind him, eyes still scanning the gardens and drinking in all the beauty around him. When Viktor began to slow down in front of him, he heard the next garden feature before he saw it, the sound of falling water filling his ears. As Viktor stepped aside, Yuuri was able to fully see a rather large water fountain, carved from gorgeous Baltic gray marble, with a single solitary winged creature at its center. Yuuri gasped in awe before moving in closer and walking around the circumference of the fountain, scrutinizing its features as he did so. At first, it appeared that the fountain's centerpiece portrayed an expertly carved dragon, sitting back on its haunches and with large open wings. Its eyes were red and shone like rubies, and Yuuri surmised that they likely were rubies. Viktor watched him, curiously silent as he continued his appraisal. Yuuri examined the creature's front feet, its claws digging into the stone beneath them, and then lifted his eyes to look at the stream of water exiting the creature's mouth. He tapped his chin pensively a few times, wheels spinning madly in his brain. Satisfied that he had come to a satisfactory conclusion, he turned to his host and spoke.
"This is a most well-crafted and masterful gargoyle fountain."
Viktor's face lit up with a bright smile, pearly white teeth glistening in the sunlight. He brought his hands together and clapped enthusiastically for the young man.
"Bravo, Yuuri! How did you know it wasn't just a grotesque?"
The young man cleared his throat and picked imaginary fluffs of lint off his midnight-blue brocade vest before carrying on.
"The term gargoyle comes from the French word gargouille, meaning gullet or throat. According to the French legend, 'La Gargouille' was a monster that resembled the typical dragon, with bat-like wings, long neck and fire-breathing abilities. In architecture, gargoyles are notorious for acting as a spout to divert water from roofs and buildings."
Yuuri pointed to the gargoyle's mouth and smiled.
"This is represented by the water coming out of the gargoyle's mouth."
"Very impressive! You are indeed quite knowledgeable for one so young. Do you not think that the gargoyle is out of place in such a delicate garden? What purpose could something so monstrous serve in a sanctuary of peace and tranquility?"
Yuuri looked back at the fountain and shook his head.
"It's actually an interesting contradiction. Gargoyles inherently look like evil creatures, and were previously overly used in the construction of churches and cathedrals to remind humans of the scary things they needed God to protect them from. But gargoyles were actually best known for having supernatural powers to ward off evil. So in a sense, its placement here could not be more perfect."
Viktor nodded, and that heated intensity was instantly back in his cobalt eyes. Yuuri felt pinned, scorched, and branded by that gaze…as if he could burn to ashes right there on the spot. Yuuri swallowed hard, and licked his suddenly rather dry lips. Viktor's eyes dropped slightly to follow the movement, and Yuuri's body was wracked by a wave of propagating tremors.
"Tell me Yuuri, in your opinion, what is the gargoyle's best feature?"
Yuuri turned toward the gargoyle fountain once more, glad to have a distraction from the sudden snaking tendrils of desire winding across his body.
"I think that the gargoyle's best feature is..."
Yuuri stepped up to the fountain and carefully leaned in so that he could reach out and gently run a thumb over one of the bloody-red eyes. He looked back over at Viktor, making a sweeping gesture with his right hand as he addressed the man.
"La Gargouille's fiery quality was transferred to its eyes, wasn't it? What better stone for bringing that to life than one symbolizing the sun and inextinguishable flames!"
So lost was Yuuri in his excitement that he didn't notice his left hand briefly leaving the edge of the fountain. When he tried putting his hand back down without looking, it slipped on the wet marble, unbalancing him and sending him forward toward the water. Yuuri closed his eyes and braced himself for the unavoidable impromptu bath, but what he felt instead was a solid mass behind him, two hands holding firmly at his waist. Yuuri opened his eyes and looked behind him, utterly shocked to see Viktor standing there behind him. How did he get here so fast? He was nearly at the other side of the fountain a second ago! Viktor leaned in, his mouth mere inches from Yuuri's own.
"Yuuri. Is it your goal to constantly keep me on my toes and give me multiple heart attacks in one day? If that is the case, I think you've succeeded."
Yuuri opened his mouth to speak, but instead found himself staring at Viktor's lips. They were so close that he could clearly see their fullness and every delicate little curve and intricate line. They looked so soft, moist and inviting, and for a second all he could think about was how they'd feel pressed against his.
"Perhaps we should go explore the interior of the home now. I think that the sun is a bit too strong today. Let us enjoy the cool comfort of the indoor shade."
Viktor stepped away and Yuuri almost reached out for him on instinct. He managed to catch himself at the last possible second and that seemed to be enough to bring him back to his senses. What the hell is wrong with me? I've been single my whole life and now I'm in a garden making googly eyes with a man I've known for less than 24 hours? Am I just crazy or...
"Yuuri? Are you coming?"
The young man looked up and realized with a start that Viktor was already at the entrance to the house waving at him. He waved back at Viktor and walked briskly over to join him.
…
Yuuri was taken around to a few areas he had already seen but was able to appreciate more fully without exhaustion and hunger weighing so heavily on his body. The dining room and marbled staircase foyer were even more breathtaking in the daylight. In the foyer, the row of Lancet arched stained glass windows positioned about a meter below the ceiling set off a sparkling kaleidoscope of little fractured rainbows. Each shimmering fragment of light seemed to dance along the lines in the marble, creating a ballet of brilliance. Yuuri walked around with his mouth open, so overwhelmed by the staggering opulence and magnificence that he was almost numb.
In a separate wing of the house, a long and wide hall was flanked by dark gray stone walls. Perfectly spaced equilateral arched windows directly faced one another across a vast stretch of dark deep blue marble. It left Yuuri feeling as if he were about to walk on a sea of stone. He stopped by one of the windows, admiring the lattice work of vergettes that took up three-quarters of the windows, culminating in a multi-foil design at the top of the arch. They allowed plenty of natural light into the area and gave him nearly unobstructed views of the flying buttresses outside on the left and the lush green forest to the right. As his eyes darted about the large hall, he spotted nine full-body carvings of rather ethereal-looking women in between each pair of windows. Four women were on the right side and three women were on the right.
As Yuuri stepped up to the first woman, he saw that she held laurels in one hand and what appeared to be two Homeric poems in the other. He knew what they were immediately, for the words had been carved clearly and legibly into the stone. Yuuri walked over to the second woman and saw that she was holding a clarion in her right arm and a book in her left hand. He gasped and turned to face Viktor, his face split in a goofy grin that ran from ear to ear.
"These are the nine Muses aren't they? The first one, that's Calliope the superior Muse! And the second one…that's Clio, the protector of history!"
Viktor laughed, absolutely delighted by Yuuri's boundless enthusiasm.
"Right again, Yuuri! I don't think there's a single thing in my house that can get past your sharp wit!"
Yuuri ran around to each of the nine statues, babbling on excitedly about each one.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh! This one here, she's my favorite!"
Viktor walked over to where Yuuri stood and smiled at the giddy young man next to him.
"Thalia, the protector of sciences. A very fitting choice for one so enchanted by architecture."
"Sweet kami, Viktor. How many more fantastical curiosities does your house hold? I don't know if my heart can take much more of this!"
"Worry not, dear Yuuri. If your heart fails you, I'll be right here to catch you and start it up again."
Yuuri's cheeks colored prettily at the comment and he pretended to fluff out his sleeves as he tried to rein in his racing heart.
"Come now Yuuri, the gem of Moon Lake Manor awaits you."
As Yuuri turned to face the end of the hall, his gaze fell upon a rather artfully plain-looking limestone wall. It looked mostly silvery-white, but had delicate wisps of dark blue woven through it. The closer he got to it, the more his architectural fanboy senses tingled like mad. If there was one thing he had learned about this incredible house was that nothing was what it first seemed. He itched to examine it more closely, but was briefly distracted by all the other elements framing that solitary wall. As he looked up, he noticed the ribbed vault ceiling, and marveled at the intricate patterns created by the supports and the atmosphere it contributed to the space. As he approached the limestone wall, he got a better view of the two heavy-looking oak wood doors set in a Tudor arch. Yuuri was absolutely enamored with all the arches on prominent display around the house. Arches were a very eminent feature of Gothic era architecture, and Yuuri was severely impressed by the clever use of the different types of arches.
Upon closer inspection, the limestone wall revealed its secrets to Yuuri. The surface of the wall had purposely not been polished, and the natural bumps and protrusions in its façade added depth and texture. Something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and he squinted to get a better look at it. Yuuri covered his mouth with both hands when he realized that what he had assumed were little flowers were actually sea lilies; fossilized remains of little sea creatures. That meant that the limestone in the wall was potentially millions of years old! The young Japanese man didn't have time to recover, for when his eyes set upon the double doors, he saw all nine Muses carved upon them in a scene starring a nearly-nude Apollo at the center, a smug smirk on his face as he played the lyre. Yuuri turned to Viktor, hands clasped together as if in prayer, eyes shining with emotion.
"Please, please, PLEASE tell me that there is a library on the other side of those doors."
"Actually, it's the family mausoleum."
The look on Yuuri's face was so simultaneously crestfallen and mortified that Viktor genuinely felt a pang of guilt for deceiving him.
"It's quite a marvel of architecture. I'm sure you'll find it rather intriguing."
Visibly deflated, Yuuri nodded and shuffled morosely backward so that Viktor could open the doors. The ancient vampire easily pulled the two doors apart with a flourish and gestured for Yuuri to step through them. The young man did so, head down and eyes to the floor.
"Come now Yuuri, you're being disrespectful to my ancestors."
That had apparently been just the right thing to say to get Yuuri's attention. His head immediately snapped up and his mouth began to form the apology. His eyes caught up to his mouth and it was the most entertaining metamorphosis Viktor had witnessed in potentially his whole lifetime.
"Kami I'm SO sorry Viktor, I …
...
…
holy shit is IS a library!"
Yuuri grabbed hold of Viktor's left arm and shook it as he almost jumped up and down with elation.
"You tricked me, Viktor! Kami, I'm SO happy you tricked me! This is...this is..."
Yuuri was rendered speechless as his eyes tried to see everything at once. The library walls were made of more of the same ancient limestone and was flooded with sunlight from all the arched windows. The glass in them had a slightly purple tinge to it, taking the harsh edges off the light. The ceiling was supported by several thick columns, branching out in expertly carved fan vaults There was a stone fireplace right in the middle and extremely comfortable-looking chaises, sofas and daybeds nearby. The indoor installations and furniture were rich mahogany wood and Yuuri's eyes followed the stairway three stories up. The whole place was wall-to-wall books and he felt absolutely dwarfed by its massiveness. Viktor seemed to sense that he was feeling overwhelmed, and steered him toward one of the comfy nearby sofas so they could sit down.
"It's...beautiful."
"Thank you, Yuuri. It pleases me greatly that you love my home so."
"How many of these books have you even read?"
"All of them."
Yuuri's jaw dropped for the umpteenth time that day and he stared incredulously at the man.
"You...can't...be...serious! That's impossible! There's easily over a hundred thousand books in here!"
The silver-haired man shrugged as he looked blankly around the room.
"All I have is time."
Viktor felt one of his hands being lifted and was surprised to see Yuuri holding it in both of his own, and pressing it against his cheek. He suddenly looked really sad and Viktor had no idea why.
"Yuuri, why are..."
"Have you been lonesome here all by yourself Viktor? I saw it in your eyes just now. You looked so desperately lonely that it broke my heart."
Viktor was positively astounded. Had Yuuri really been able to figure him out with one fleeting and passing look in his eyes? Had he simply let his guard down around the human and allowed himself to express more than he normally would? Viktor turned his hand around until the palm was cupping Yuuri's face.
"Tell me Yuuri, if I said that I was lonely and starving for companionship...would you stay here with me forever?"
_terminology_
grotesque - a carving usually of a demon, dragon, or half human/half animal, serving no utilitarian purpose. Often confused with gargoyles.
Description of gothic era architectural elements:
1.
2. .
Dark blue marble - dark-deep-blue-marble/s20746
vergettes - thin vertical and horizontal bars of iron, placed inside the window to reinforce the glass.
Nine Muses - /humanities/Muses-Nine-Goddesses-of-Greek-Mythology
Limestone used in outer library wall. -mvpYapPzWZU/UGsui8I52tI/AAAAAAAAIjU/CwxNqITIFrUvV6h05-NygxE2apFejcezwCHM/s720/00251%2BIMG_5740%2Blimestone%
Sea lily - image/e4420392/800wm/E4420392-Fossil_crinoid_or_sea_