"See you tomorrow!" Viktor called happily to Yurio as he left the rink a couple of hours later. His step sequence hadn't improved much, but he couldn't stand being away from his Yuuri anymore. He was too distracted to figure out how to clean up his apparently sloppy footwork when Yuuri was at home, alone, probably taking a hot bath. Viktor let his mind wander as he strolled home. Was Yuuri in the bath? Or lounging on the couch with Makkachin? Perhaps he had already turned in for the night, and Viktor would have the pleasure of Yuuri snuggling up to him in his sleep. That was his favourite. When he came to bed and Yuuri somehow figure out how to nuzzle into Viktor's neck without waking up.
Unfortunately, Viktor came home to none of those wonderful things.
When he was about a block away from home, Viktor began to hear a dog barking. As he got closer, he realised he recognized that bark.
"Makkachin?" He breathed, picking up his pace. Why was his little fluff ball outside in the cold? Yuuri never forgot to let Makka in. He loved puppy snuggles far too much to be so careless. Viktor found himself running before long, and panicked even more when he found the front door was unlocked. Yuuri also never forgot to lock the door. He was too paranoid for that.
Viktor burst through the door, calling out for Yuuri. He first ran to the back door, where Makkachin was scratching and barking. Viktor ran a worried hand through his hair as Makka bolted past him, up the stairs. Viktor followed, feet pounding as the bullet of curly brown fur returned to his side and ran away again, crying the whole time. Viktor followed his beloved pup down the hall, toward his and Yuuri's shared bedroom. When he reached the door, he lost his breath.
"Yuuri…?" Viktor whispered, taking in the horrific sight. Makka was on the bed, standing over Yuuri, licking and nosing at his face. The problems with the picture, however, were plentiful. Yuri was tied to the bed frame, bruised and battered, unconscious, a pool of blood between his legs and another at his head. "Yuuri!" Viktor finally figured out how to move again, and launched himself across the room, halting at the edge of the bed. "Yuuri, my love, what happened to you?" Viktor untied Yuuri's wrists, working with trembling fingers and vision blurred by tears. When Yuuri was freed, Viktor tore his cellphone from his pocket.
"My fiancé has been attacked." Viktor sobbed into the phone when the operator asked him what the emergency was. "I need an ambulance."
"Alright sir, what is your name?"
"Viktor Nikiforov." He choked out, also supplying the address of the house.
"Alright, Mr. Nikiforov help is on the way, is anyone with you?"
"No, just me." Viktor wished someone was there. Anyone. Even JJ's aggressive presence would be better than being alone.
"Okay, and is your fiancé conscious?"
"No, he's not."
"Is he breathing?"
Viktor's eyes widened. He hadn't thought of the possibility that Yuuri could be in respiratory distress. He leaned down to Yuuri's lips, listening for breath. The airflow was ragged and sparse, but it was there. "Yes, yes he's breathing." Viktor sighed with relief.
"Is he bleeding heavily from anywhere?"
Viktor's eyes moved to the dried blood on Yuuri's thighs, anger and guilt bubbling in his core. "No." The cut on his temple was crusted over with scabs. How long had he been like this?
"That's good, now it's important that you don't move him." The woman on the other end of the line explained gently. "Wait for the paramedics to arrive in case of spinal injuries."
"I understand." Viktor had been too afraid to touch Yuuri past untying him. He looked too fragile. As if one gentle kiss could send him shattering into millions of pieces.
"When you hear sirens, go outside and wave them down so they don't waste time looking for you. If you show them exactly where you are your fiancé will get help sooner."
"I understand." Viktor repeated. He didn't know if he could leave Yuuri's side-he didn't know if he could move at all-but he would try. Whatever it took to get Yuuri the help he needed.
Without realising it, Viktor hung up the phone. He stared at Yuuri, silent tears rolling down his cheeks. Why Yuuri? What had he done to deserve this fate? He was going to kill the bastard that had done this to him.
Minutes later, Viktor heard the sirens approaching. He proved himself wrong and sprung to his feet, moving faster than he ever had before. He ran down the front walk, waving his arms in the air as soon as he saw the flashing lights down the street. He bolted back upstairs, leading the paramedics to Yuuri. He didn't even ask before hopping into the ambulance and planting himself next to his beautiful Katsudon.
Once they arrived at the hospital, Viktor was forced to stay in the waiting room while Yuuri was whisked away through swinging doors, out of Viktor's sight. He paced around the sterile smelling, brightly lit room, unable to sit still. He should have been there. He should have protected Yuuri from the monster who had hurt him. Why did he have to choose today to start listening to Yuuri? Why didn't he just leave the ice? Why? Why!? WHY?!
Viktor's self-destructing thoughts were rudely interrupted by his cell phone blaring into the quiet room. He quickly exited the waiting area, preferring the privacy of outside air before he answered.
"Hello?" He managed, having forgotten to check the caller ID before he answered.
"Your little piggy left his phone at the rink, why aren't you answering the door?" Yurio's mockingly angered voice came thought the phone. Viktor couldn't seem to find his voice, only more tears. "Vitya?" Yurio's tone immediately changed to one of concern. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Viktor hung up and sunk to his knees, sending Yurio a text to meet him at the hospital. He sobbed into the sidewalk, a rush of emotions rolling through him at high speeds, leaving him feeling off balance.
"Vitya!" Yurio called, skidding to a stop and dropping to his knees in front of his friend. "What happened? Is Yuuri okay?" He demanded, lifting Viktor's chin gently so he could look into the bloodshot blue eyes, covered by stringy layers of silver.
Viktor shook his head, a fresh wave of tears pooling in his eyes.
"Come on, let's go inside." Yakov, who Viktor had failed to notice before, gently grabbed Viktor's arm and helped him to get his feet under him. Yurio held the door open and quickly followed, biting his lip as the three sat down in the stiff hospital chairs.
The trio sat, all worried, two not knowing why, one knowing too well.
A few minutes later, a doctor called Yuuri's name into the waiting room. Viktor seemed to be moving on autopilot as he leaped up and met the doctor in the hall. Yurio rose as well, but Yakov laid a hand on his shoulder, making him sit. "It might not be any of our business." He shrugged in reply to Yurio's confused death glare.
"Are you family?" The doctor asked as Viktor practically ran up to him.
"His fiancé, yes." Viktor nodded. "His parents and sister live in Japan."
"Okay, well Mr. Katsuki has experienced some mild physical trauma, as I'm sure you could tell."
"Mild?" Viktor growled.
"Mild meaning not life threatening." The doctor quickly explained. To the untrained eye, Yuuri's wounds may have looked severe, but most of them were nothing more than bruises that would heal in a matter of days. "He does however have a grade three concussion that will keep him out of commission for a few days, and two broken ribs that will also contribute to his bedrest."
"Nothing that will cause permanent damage?"
"Nothing that will cause permanent physical damage." The doctor nodded. "But there is also the matter of the sexual assault…" He trailed off. It was always a touchy subject, and the silver-haired man before him already seemed to be wound tighter than a spring. Apprehension rolled off of him in waves. "We did run a rape kit, and we came up with four different sets of DNA."
Viktor's heart stopped when he heard that. "Four…?" He held back tears.
"The samples have been sent to police labs; we should have results within a few days. If they've ever had a run-in with law enforcement, they'll come up."
"Can I see him?" Viktor demanded, needing more than ever to be with Yuuri. To be there for him.
"Visiting hours start at seven A.M., you can see him then." The doctor looked genuinely upset, which was rare for healthcare providers. "Hopefully he will have woken up by then."
"He's still unconscious?"
"Yes, but he isn't bleeding internally or externally, so he should wake up soon."
"Thank you." Viktor turned on his heel and walked back to Yurio and Yakov. He was expressionless as he slowly lowered himself into the empty chair between them.
"Vitya…?" Yurio had never seen the man he admired so much in such distress. "What happened?"
Viktor didn't respond. He couldn't respond. All he could do was stare at the floor, too numb to cry anymore, as the number four bounced around in his head.