Yuuri waited a bit for Viktor to return with the seaweed, but the people behind him in line were giving him aggravated glares and so he just paid for the items. He then carried all of the bags over to a bench and sat down, tapping his foot and shaking his leg anxiously. He buried his head in his hands, his brow furrowed. Fifteen minutes passed since Viktor had left, then twenty.
Yuuri wanted to have confidence that Viktor could do this, but he was far too worried to just sit by. He stood, determined, and stiffly walked over to one of the employees (who was leaning against a wall, clearly not busy).
"Ahem." The worker didn't even look over. Yuuri swallowed. "I-I have to go somewhere, could you watch my things for me?" he asked, gesturing to the bags sitting on the bench nearby.
"Huh." The employee ignored him, staring off into space. Yuuri frowned; he didn't have time for this.
"I'll pay you."
The worker's head snapped to make eye contact, suddenly very interested in what Yuuri had to say.
"How much?" His eyes had a greedy glint to them. Yuuri extracted a few bills, and the employee tried to grab them. Yuuri quickly tucked them back into his pocket.
"You can have them if nothing has been stolen when I return." The employee nodded enthusiastically, and Yuuri chewed his cheek. He didn't really trust him, but it was his only option. Hopefully the worker's drive for monetary compensation would make him more dutiful.
It would break Yuuri's heart if someone stole Viktor's newly acquired items. Viktor had been so happy and grateful to receive them…
Yuuri set off in the direction that his sweet fairy had gone, and quickly found the row that he'd spotted the seaweed on. He supposed that he'd gotten distracted earlier, and that's why he didn't pick up any. When he turned onto the aisle, his eyes fell on Viktor, who was standing a few meters away.
Yuuri's heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, but it quickly froze to ice when he registered the scene before him. The terror in Viktor's eyes, how his hair was loose and dishevelled, the stranger that was gripping his slender wrist with a rough hand. Rage and protectiveness flared up inside of Yuuri like a wildfire.
"What are you doing to him?" he demanded. The grin on the stranger's face was borderline maniacal. It sent a shiver down Yuuri's spine. The man's eyes contained the same greed that he had seen only minutes before in the eyes of the shop employee. Only in these ones… there was something dark deep within them. Something dangerous.
It nearly sent Yuuri into a panic. He needed that man to let go of Viktor immediately. He needed Viktor to be safe in his arms. He needed to guard him from the world.
"Are you this fairy's owner?" the stranger questioned cheerfully, jerking Viktor's arm up. When Yuuri saw Viktor wince slightly, he gritted his teeth in anger.
"Yes." Yuuri had to restrain himself so that he didn't unleash a fiery beration upon this man.
"I have a proposition for you." The stranger's eyes narrowed; his smile didn't change. "I'll buy this fairy's wings and hair from you for 10,000." Yuuri was enraged that he would even dare to discuss buying Viktor's body parts so casually, like they were simply bartering at a flea market. Not to mention that 10,000 was a mere fraction of what fairy wings and hair sold for. It was offensive that he even would even name such a small offer. To Yuuri, Viktor was priceless.
"So, do we have a deal?" The man asked. Yuuri stormed closer, keeping eye contact with the bastard the entire time.
"Let go of him this instant," he commanded, glowering through his spectacles. The stranger gradually released Viktor's wrist, and there was a bruise developing where his hand had been. Viktor released a shuddering breath, and ran to Yuuri's side. He stood behind Yuuri, hand gently resting on his shoulder. The man smirked, as if this was an amusing challenge.
"I would triple the price," he proposed. His voice set Yuuri on edge. "You wouldn't even miss a bedmate's wings and hair anyway. He would take up less room." Yuuri colored in rage, and Viktor's hand gripped his shoulder more tightly.
"Absolutely not," he replied firmly. "No part of him is for sale. And you would do well not to touch him ever again, or any other fairy for that matter." The stranger laughed and then grinned. It made Yuuri's belly swim with unease.
"Not to worry. I'll stop trying to buy them from you," the man said with light overtones. Underneath, his voice was as sharp as a knife. Yuuri didn't like the way that he emphasized the word "buy." "Until next time!" The man strode past them, brushing his fingertips along Viktor's left wing as he passed by. He held up his hand as a kind of wave, back turned to them, and disappeared around the corner.
The second he was gone, Yuuri breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you okay?" he asked Viktor gently. Viktor let go of his shoulder quickly. He nodded, but his eyes looked empty and dull. Not a glimmer of the brightness and life from before remained. He seemed smaller, too, more vulnerable in the way that his arms were pulled in close to his body.
"Why don't we go home?" Yuuri suggested softly. Viktor gave a tiny, forced smile, and followed Yuuri to the front of the store. Yuuri paid the employee who'd watched their bags, then started picking them up. Silently, Viktor pulled his hair up into a tight bun with shaking fingers, and knelt to take his bags.
"You don't have to-" Yuuri cut himself off. He didn't want to upset Viktor any further, and carrying less would put him in a better situation to protect Viktor should the need arise. They left the store, and Yuuri looked over to Viktor in concern to make sure that he was faring alright. His arms were tightly crossed and close to his body, hands grasping his upper arms. The bags were still looped over his arms.
His head was bowed, and his wings were folded to take up as little space as possible. It made Yuuri's heart ache. Viktor was trying to draw attention away from himself. Yuuri's throat was dry, and he swallowed.
"Would- would you like to use my cloak?" he asked gently. Viktor nodded timidly, eyes downcast and his mouth drawn into a line. Yuuri untied the string on his cloak, removed it, and then tenderly wrapped it around Viktor's shoulders. With trembling fingers, Viktor attempted to tie a bow. With pain in his heart, Yuuri did it for him. Viktor pulled up the hood, covering his head. His eyes shone like aquamarines in contrast to the royal purple fabric, and silver hair swept over one side of his forehead like a veil.
He lifted his eyes, and Yuuri knew that he was still frightened. It hurt him deeply. He couldn't even imagine being viewed as a rare curiosity that could be bought and sold at somebody else's leisure. They walked together in silence, Yuuri frequently looking up to check on his companion.
It was foggy, but the sun was shining through it. Viktor's height cast a ghostly shadow onto Yuuri. The light flickering through the mist refracted in the tiny water droplets filling the air. It was still chilly, and their breaths made puffs of steam. Whenever they passed by someone, Viktor leaned closer to Yuuri. The third time this happened, his arm brushed against Yuuri's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Viktor whispered, eyes sorrowful. Yuuri had a feeling that he wasn't just apologizing for touching him. What could he possibly have to feel sorry for? It was Yuuri who was at fault. If he hadn't let Viktor go off alone, than none of this would have happened in the first place. Guilt clenched inside of him. He was lucky that he got to Viktor in time; something terrible could have happened.
A horrific image involving Viktor and the man stooping over him flashed in his mind. He shuddered.
"Viktor…"
"Yes, ma- Yuuri?"
"Would you feel… safer if you were holding onto my arm?"Viktor blinked, surprised. He didn't say anything for a while, and the pair's slow walking came to a stop. Yuuri's heart beat in anticipation and worry. Perhaps he shouldn't have said anything at all…
Viktor's glossy lips parted, then closed again and he swallowed. His eyes looked distant.
"Yes" he finally admitted, almost inaudible. Yuuri shifted all of his bags to his right arm (it was starting to burn, but he didn't care), and offered Viktor his left one. Viktor shirted all of his bags as well and tentatively hooked his arm around Yuuri's.
His skin was cold, and Yuuri could feel it through his long sleeves. Instinctively, he leaned closer in an attempt to share his body heat with Viktor. His cheeks warmed when he realized what he'd done, but he didn't relinquish his touch. Instead, he focused on his steps to make sure that he didn't accidentally tread on Viktor's feet.
Viktor clung to his arm the rest of the way, as if he was using Yuuri as an anchor. They were eventually able to wave down a taxi in the fog. It was still easier than normal, considering that the driver couldn't tell that Viktor was a fairy because his ears and wings were obscured.
Viktor only let go of Yuuri to get up into the carriage. Once they were seated, he slowly slipped back to how he was before, thin fingers holding onto Yuuri's arm. They stayed that way the entire way home, and Viktor's skin warmed up. His touch felt so nice and right that Yuuri thought he could stay like this forever.
Gently, Viktor rested his head on his shoulder. Yuuri didn't stop him, and the weight was a comfort. Viktor was right there next to him. He was safe. And Yuuri wasn't about to let anything happen to him.