Nervousy and guilt pooling within him, Viktor heard approaching footsteps down the hall. The soft knock on the door, though it was expected, caused his heart to jump.

"Viktor?"

Viktor inhaled and exhaled slowly, then put on his best everything-is-okay face.

"Yes?" he called out brightly.

"May I… May I come in?"

Viktor hesitated.

"Yes," he replied, but it came out quieter than he'd intended it to. He stood on shaky legs and moved out of the way so that Yuuri could enter.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you before." Yuuri seemed unable to make eye contact. Viktor attempted a smile.

"Oh, don't worry. I'm alright," he responded with strained cheerfulness.

Yuuri lifted his eyes, which were swimming with concern. "Viktor, please tell me the truth."

Viktor's facade crumbled. After all the kindness that Yuuri had shown him, why was it still such a struggle to show how he really felt?

"It was not my place to do that with you," Viktor said simply.

Yuuri looked at him for a long while, and Viktor wondered what he had said wrong. Yuuri appeared to be deeply upset, with his brows scrunched together and his mouth slightly open.

"Viktor…" His voice reminded Viktor of a piece of lemon candy breaking down the middle. "I wouldn't have asked you to dance with me if I wasn't alright with it. I see you as an equal." His eyes were glistening, pleading. "I wish you could as well."

Viktor was speechless. He felt so foolish for having run off like he did. He considered what Yuuri had just told him. It went against everything that had been drilled into him for the past decade and a half. Just a fairy.

"I cannot," he replied lightly. Yuuri's face fell, and his eyes dropped to the floor. "However," he continued, "I will try." 'For you,' he added silently. For Yuuri's sake, he vowed to attempt to see himself as worth anything. It would certainly be an arduous undertaking. He could not comprehend how Yuuri thought so highly of him.

Yuuri smiled hopefully.

"I'm so glad." He turned to leave, then stopped. "Viktor…" He looked as if he was on the verge of saying something, but then closed his mouth as if he'd thought better of it. Viktor's heart thudded in his chest. Could it have to do with the events that had happened (or possibly did not happen) the night before? Viktor was nearly certain. They met eyes, and then he was sure. Without a word, they made a silent agreement not to speak of it.

"Would… Would you like me to bring the phonograph in here?" Yuuri asked. They both knew that that was not what he'd originally intended to say. Viktor did not feel like he deserved it, but… His eyes crinkled in happiness.

"That would be wonderful."

Yuuri smiled and nodded, then left. Viktor sprang up to flutter after him and help with the hauling as best he could. (As it turned out, this was not very much.)

When Viktor woke up from his afternoon nap later that day, with the sunlight shining down through the skylight above him. He discovered that the box of records had been brought into his room. He knelt in front of them, wings perked curiously. Yuuri had drawn pictures in black ink on the light labels.

It was so thoughtful of him to do that… His heart soared as he admired the carefully drawn images of swans and apple trees and stars.