Viktor insisted on carrying bags that contained items for him. He didn't think it was fair for Yuuri to be paying and carry his things. His things. He could hardly believe it, it felt like a fantastical dream. He kept pinching himself to be sure that he wasn't asleep. In any case, he hoped that he would never wake up.
He was humbled by Yuuri's generosity. It was incredible how much he cared about other people. Viktor watched as he offered poor people money and spoke to them kindly. He managed to make many of them smile, and it touched Viktor's heart. Yuuri had always treated him so compassionately. He was just a silly fairy with bad memory and missing finger, so why did Yuuri act like he mattered?
It was a completely foreign feeling to have clothes that he chose himself; he was used to having only one set of garments besides when he was performing. The weight of the bags as he carried them filled him with an excitement he'd never known before. He could hardly wait to wear these clothes regularly.
Yuuri bought him some ribbons, as well as some fairy-specific items that they found in a tucked-away shop. They got flower seeds, and Yuuri said that he had some old pots that Viktor could plant them in. There were snapdragons, lavender, marigold… Many were flowers that Viktor hadn't seen since he was a child and living with his family. The little drawings of the blossoms on the seed packets stirred up memories from long ago.
After a long and fulfilling day of shopping, the pair arrived at the last store on their trip. The inside had rows and rows of stands and shelves of food, sprawling farther than the eye could see. Viktor was awestruck. He could never have fathomed so much food in one place. There was a stack of baskets, and Yuuri took one.
"What would you like to eat, Viktor?" Viktor was completely at a loss. He'd never even tried half this food before. Yuuri must have read his expression, because he quickly said, "It's alright, how about we start with bland foods like the doctor recommended?"
Viktor nodded, smiling gratefully, and followed Yuuri around the shop with eyes full of wonder. He saw giant trays of cookies, colorful fruits in all shapes and sizes, and jars brimming with amber honey. Yuuri placed a loaf of bread in the basket, along with green, crisp apples, yellow bananas (the only bananas Viktor had tried had been mostly brown), yellow-and-red freckled nectarines, a carton of eggs, and a sack of red potatoes (Viktor never knew they came in that color).
They passed by a stand with huge slabs of meat on ice and dead fish, and Viktor recoiled. The smell alone was enough to make him feel ill. He'd only had meat when his old master forgot to buy him and Chris food, and they got sick for days.
Christophe… He was always at the back of Viktor's mind, teasing smile and olive-green eyes. Viktor kept thinking back to the last time they'd seen each other. For all Chris knew, he was dead. Viktor felt guilty whenever he thought about he was being treated so well, while his dearest friend was still starving and alone. Christophe deserved to have a master like Yuuri.
Viktor could hardly bear thinking about him still in those cramped, dark corridors. It had been barely bearable only because they'd had each other; he couldn't imagine what it was like now. He wondered if Yuuri would let him visit him, at least. Maybe he could bring food and fresh water, or some flowers. They seemed like pitiful gifts, but Viktor wasn't sure how else he could help.
On their way to the cash register, Viktor's eyes were drawn to a display featuring huge, dark green fruits with lighter green stripes and grooves on it. It was so bizarre, and he couldn't help but be curious as to what it tasted like. Yuuri gently interrupted his ponderings.
"They're called kabocha."
"Kabocha?" Viktor echoed. He didn't think he'd ever heard that word before.
"They're very tasty in soups, would you like me to make you some? Maybe not right away, but once you're a bit more healthy?" There was a dusting of pink over the bridge of Yuuri's nose. Viktor cocked his head to one side.
"What if it goes bad before then?"
"Oh! Don't worry, they don't go bad for quite a long time…"
"Wow!" Viktor marveled, staring at the "kabocha." Yuuri smiled and put one in the basket. It was loaded with food, and Yuuri was still carrying other bags as well. Viktor found himself impressed by his strength, noting that it didn't seem like a strain for Yuuri to hold all of those things. He recalled how Yuuri had carried him into the house when he'd fallen asleep on the carriage ride, and felt guilty at the impropriety of it all.
They waited in line and were almost to the front when Yuuri suddenly sighed.
"What's wrong?" Viktor asked, worried.
"Nothing, I just-" Yuuri awkwardly pushed up his spectacles while still holding the basket. "I forgot seaweed," he admitted.
"I can get it!" Viktor exclaimed, eager to be helpful.
"You remember where it is?"
"Yes!" Viktor was pretty sure, anyway.
"And you'll be okay on your own?" Yuuri fretted. Viktor nodded, beaming. "Alright, if you're sure…" Viktor turned to leave. "You can leave your bags here; I'll watch them for you." He carefully set down the large paper bags, and looked up to meet Yuuri's anxious eyes. "Please be careful?"
"I will," Viktor assured. Yuuri seemed so worried about his safety, but he was confident that he'd be alright. He started on his way, making some turns into the winding aisles of the store. Some had wooden ladders leaned against them to reach the tall items.
When Viktor arrived at where he thought he had seen the seaweed, he found only an entire section devoted to picked goods. He backtracked a bit, but found himself completely lost. Panic began to creep into his belly, but he pushed it back down. He had to do this for Yuuri.
As he looked to the signs that were affixed to the ends of the shelves, he mused that this would be a lot easier if he could read. At long last, he stumbled upon a shelf with stacks of dried seaweed sheets. He didn't know how many to get, so while he thought he reached out to take a piece of wax paper to hold them in. He was just wondering if five would be enough when he heard a voice behind him.
"Hello there!" Viktor turned and saw a man with blonde hair and brown eyes. There was a wide smile on his tanned face. Viktor glanced to his right and left to see if there was somebody else the stranger could be addressing. There was nobody. "Hello," he chirped again.
"Greetings," Viktor replied, smiling politely. The man seemed nice enough, but what could he possibly want?
"What's your name?" he asked in a jovial tone.
"I'm… Viktor."
"I'm Seamus, I'm a merchant." Seamus extended a hand, but Viktor only stared at it in confusion. Seamus dropped it to his side casually. Viktor was beginning to grow uneasy. This was all very odd. "You're very beautiful, Viktor."
"Thank you," Viktor responded with a wary smile. He was about ready to run. Instead, he slowly moved to leave. "Well, it was nice to meet you," he said in attempt to dismiss himself so that he could escape.
Seamus strode over to him and Viktor felt him grab his braid. He froze in fear, a terrifying suspicion growing in his mind. He prayed that he was wrong.
"I saw you earlier, and followed you." Viktor racked his brain, trying to recall if he had seen this man before. He was too scared to think correctly. "It's gorgeous…" He felt the ribbon at the end of his plait being untied, and then fingers running through the strands. "So healthy, and there's so much of it…" Seamus murmured.
Viktor was paralyzed, as if he had been turned to stone and couldn't move an inch. His heart pounded in his chest in terror, and there was a lump like a rock caught in his throat. Seamus pulled all of his mane loose, and it rippled around Viktor's body in waves.
"It's even longer than I thought," Seamus remarked. "And those wings…" Viktor could feel Seamus' light touch brushing his wings, and a shiver ran down his spine and out to his limbs. Goosebumps popped up all over his skin. "Such a rare and vibrant hue." Viktor felt like sobbing from his fear. "How much would it cost to buy them from you?" Seamus asked, tone still light. There was a bite underneath.
"Your hair would eventually grow back." He caressed the nape of Viktor's neck, and Viktor's muscles tensed up even more than they already were. "And I assure you…" Seamus gently pinched the base of Viktor's left wing. "You wouldn't feel a thing."
"You'd have to ask my master," Viktor told him coldly. Speaking helped him to gather his strength, and he prepared himself to fly off as fast as he possibly could. Clearly, Seamus knew the signs of a fairy about to take flight, and he took Viktor's wrist in his iron grip.
"If you run away," he said innocently, "Who's to say that you aren't a thief?" The lump in Viktor's throat now felt like lead, and tears burned hot in the corners of his eyes as despair washed over him. "Now, where's your master? I'm sure he'd be more than willing to make a deal."