Yuuri got to the kitchen and began aimlessly shuffling through his cupboards, heart racing and mind unfocused. For some reason, he always got flustered when he was around Viktor. When he gained his bearings again, he realized that he had been putting random items onto the counter. As his eyes swept over the array of spices, dried food, crackers, and pickled goods that he had procured, he was struck with the reality of how poor his eating habits were. How had he survived this long? Poor Viktor, he deserved only the best food.

Yuuri would have to go shopping later that day. He cursed himself, biting his lip. He had said that he would get Viktor food, but he only had a vague idea of what fairies ate in the first place. All he knew was that they didn't eat meat, and not much beyond that. Nervously adjusting his glasses, he left the kitchen. Hopefully Viktor wouldn't think him too stupid for not remembering to ask.

Yuuri quickened his pace as he traversed the hallway. He always felt like his relatives' paintings were boring down on him, ashamed of what a failure he had become. With quiet, disapproving gazes they coldly judged him for isolating himself and not doing anything with his life so far. Eyes down, he passed by his room and arrived at Viktor's. The door was still agape, and he tentatively peeked in.

There was Viktor, dancing ethereally on light feet. A real smile was on his lips, and his eyes were closed. He was holding one of Yuuri's cousin's old dresses up to his chest as he twirled gracefully. The blue Edwardian gown complemented his hair and skin perfectly. It contrasted brilliantly against his aquamarine wings, which were shimmering in the sunlight streaming in from above. Long silver strands of hair were coming loose from his ponytail, spilling around him and catching the light like the threads of a spider's web. He looked so blissful, as if he was at peace.

The sight was absolutely mesmerizing, and Yuuri found himself transfixed; his mouth had fallen open slightly. There was something so… unhuman about Viktor's movements. Every motion was filled with such fluidity and poise. Yuuri felt like he was invading something incredibly personal and nearly sacred, but he was fixed in place by some unseen and powerful force.

Viktor spun like a music box dancer, eyes half-lidded. They widened, however, when he caught a glimpse of Yuuri standing in the doorway and froze. He immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head. The genuine smile from moments before had hardened into a false one. He held out the dress with his left arm.

"I am sorry, Master." Yuuri winced at the title. "I shouldn't have touched it with my filthy hands." When he heard this, he felt like his heart was cracking. Was this all his fault for intruding so abruptly?

"It's alright, Viktor…" He tried to be comforting, but was unsure how effective it was. Treading softly, he slowly moved forward.

"Give me whatever punishment I deserve." Now that he was closer, Yuuri could see Viktor's body trembling. His shaking wings were folded behind him in submission. Oh, he wished that Viktor could be assured that there was nothing to fear. Yuuri knelt down cautiously so that they could be at eye level with each other.

"Viktor." He hoped that his voice sounded soothing, and not as unsure and worried as he felt. "I told you that everything in this room is yours." He was careful to speak kindly and not in a way that could be interpreted as accusatory.

"I thought that you were unaware that they were there, because surely I've done nothing to warrant being allowed such a luxury." This was heartbreaking. How could his old master have been so despicable that Viktor thought that he didn't deserve clothing? He reached out to touch his shoulder in consolation, but Viktor flinched. Yuuri rapidly withdrew his hand. The sick feeling growing in his stomach twisted as he realized that Viktor had been anticipating pain.

"I-I knew the dresses were there. They're for you." He offered a solacing smile. Viktor lifted his eyes, and a touch of light had returned to them.

"Really?" he asked hesitantly, a tentative smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His wary behavior suggested that he was afraid to get his hopes up.

"I promise," Yuuri told him firmly, praying that Viktor would believe him. Viktor blinked, a calculating expression hidden under his ever-present happy facade. His ocean eyes studied Yuuri for a second, and then a beam broke across his face. Laugh lines crinkled around his mouth and under his eyes, and Yuuri's throat went dry. He clutched his chest, in fear of his heart beating out of his rib cage.

"Thank you." Viktor's voice was choked with emotion.

"O-of course," Yuuri stammered out. He stood, then offered Viktor his hand to help him up. Viktor looked at it in confusion and then pushed himself into a standing position on his own with a fixed smile. Yuuri couldn't fell but feel a bit disappointed, although he didn't expect Viktor to trust him yet. It was natural for him to not accept physical contact right away; he was likely used to only being treated harshly by humans.

Yuuri stared at him dumbly for a second, mind stalling. He couldn't recollect exactly what he was doing there. With a jolt, he remembered.

"Viktor, what foods do you like?" he blurted out, then flushed in embarrassment. Viktor looked at him, surprised.

"What I like?" He cocked his head to one side, a pondering expression on his visage. "It's really alright?" Yuuri was silent for a moment, then realized that he was being spoken to.

"Oh! Yes, definitely."

"Well…" Viktor went to tap his chin with his right index finger, but couldn't because it was missing. He winced, and sorrow flashed over his face. Yuuri shivered at the sight of the bloody stump. The amputation site looked so much worse in direct light than it had under the dim flame of the brothel lanterns. It was clearly becoming infected; the flesh was swollen, red, and oozing with pus. He made a mental note to contact a fairy-specializing doctor to arrange a visit as soon as possible.

With a gulp, Yuuri tried to gather himself. Viktor had placed his left pointer finger on his chin alternatively.

"I like to eat…" His eyes positively shone, and then his face slowly morphed into a grin. "I like to eat fruit, nectar, and dairy products." Ah. Yuuri didn't think he had any of those things besides butter and small lemon candies; he suspected that a diet of those alone could not sustain Viktor. He would have to go shopping that day, something that he dreaded, but he would endure it for Viktor's sake. He felt so incompetent and poorly equipped…

"I'll go and buy food for you later." He tried to work through a schedule in his head- should he have the doctor visit or purchase food first. Having a doctor see Viktor was priority, he decided in an instant. Yuuri swallowed. "I'm going to see if I can find some food for you. Can you eat eggs?" Viktor's eyes brightened.

"Yes! Eggs are delicious, but I can only eat them once in awhile." A touch of relief dampened Yuuri's anxiety somewhat. He was sure that he still had some eggs in the icebox, so at least Viktor wouldn't starve.

"I'll go and make some for you. Is that okay? How do you like them?"

"I'd love that." Viktor smiled warmly, gratitude clear on his face. "Any way would be perfect."

"Alright, I'll go and call a doctor as well." A shadow of panic darted across Viktor's features. Yuuri knew that feeling all too well, and his heart ached for Viktor. Even if it was a source of anxiety, Viktor needed medical attention right away. "I'll be back soon, okay?" he told him gently. He bit his lip and turned to leave, then recalled something. "Oh!" How had he forgotten? "See that door over there?" Viktor looked over his shoulder, moved his head back to face him, and then nodded. "That's a bathroom. There's all sorts of soaps and oils in there, feel free to take a bath and use whatever you want if you'd like to."

Yuuri wanted so badly for Viktor to feel at home.

"And," he added, "You can wear that dress if you'd like." Without thinking, he winked. Immediate regret washed over him, and his face grew hot. "I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean-" Viktor smiled, seeming slightly amused.

"Okay," he chimed. He bowed his head, loose locks cascading around his face and obscuring it from view. "Thank you for everything, Master." Yuuri swallowed, a lump forming in his throat. He tried to work up the courage to tell Viktor to just call him Yuuri, but he was too afraid that Viktor would think he was at fault and apologize.

"Of course," he squeaked instead, then said goodbye and left the room. He was an utter fool, wasn't he? Keeping his gaze down, he strode down the hallway and to the dining room. His telephone was located there. He only used it when it was absolutely necessary, and this was one of those times. It was even harder than usual to speak to people when he couldn't see their faces to try and gauge their emotions and body language. Not that he was good at that anyway.

Hands shaking, he reached for the receiver on the wall and tried to work up the courage to speak to a complete stranger. He steeled himself. 'For Viktor, for Viktor, for Viktor,' he reminded himself, thinking about that infected stump. With a gulp, he lifted the phone off of the hook and dialed. With every click of the rotary dial, his nerves jumped. He leaned closer to the mouthpiece and waited for an operator to answer.

(Lots of angst next chapter! Please comment, it encourages me~)