A/N: Hi, guys. Just as a sort of trigger warning, there's going to be light mentions of BDSM in this chapter, but not in too heavy detail. This is not, I repeat, NOT a smut chapter.
Taking Yurio to Madame for dance lessons was the smartest decision I will ever make as his coach. Madame may not be a professional, but damn, she should be. And it was pretty sweet of Ernie to let us use the club before hours to practice. I wasn't sure if it was the weight off my shoulders after apologizing to Celestino. Maybe my outstanding date with Chris. The fact that Yurio was soaking everything up like a sponge. Everything seemed so...I don't know. Perfect. Life was good.
"Alright, sweetheart," Madame took a second to catch her breath, "I think we can call it a day. My hip's starting to act up. I can't move like I used to."
"Are you ok?" I worried. When I was still working here, Madame's hip would bother her then. I can only imagine it's gotten worse over the years.
"I'll live," she sat on the edge of the stage, "You did a good job today, Yuri. I'm proud of you."
"Thank you, Madame," Yurio fell to the floor, just as tired as she was.
"Now, before you go," Madame had a glint in her eye that I learned to fear on my first day here, "Violet...You and I need to have a little talk."
Shit. She's going to kill me, "Yes, Madame?"
"Am I going to have any other new students?" she smirked, "Any at all?"
I knew it. Ever since I brought up Madame teaching Yurio and told her about my comeback, she had been itching to get me back. I knew she would do it. All I had to do was say yes. The scheduling would be a bit of a problem, though. I couldn't do lessons in the afternoon. That was Yurio's slot. The mornings were no good either. I was coaching Yurio for some of that. When I wasn't at the rink. I'd have to talk Celestino into moving practice to nights and do my dance lessons in the morning.
"I'll need to have a chat with my coach first," I hid a little smile, "But for the most part...Yeah. I can't say no to you."
"Yay!" Madame's face lit up, "It'll be just like the old days! Do you still have the same coach, Violet?"
"Still Celestino and me," I nodded, "Nothing's changed, except for me doing double duty. Why does that matter?"
"If Celestino has any problems," she insisted, "You send him to me. You're not the only one who can't say no to me."
"What's she talking about, Mama?" Yurio wondered as an image flashed in my mind that I never wanted to see, "Madame, do you know Celestino?"
"Yes, I do," Madame grinned darkly.
"Don't worry about it, Yuri," I gagged, "Get your shoes on and grab your jacket."
"Yes, ma'am," Yurio jumped up from the floor.
"Not giving him the talk yet?" Madame assumed, taking a long drink from her water bottle.
"That's something for Chris and Victor and me to do at a later date," I grumbled. But then, my program for the season popped in my head. Oops, "We'll wait a little while longer. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to get some coffee."
"We're getting coffee?" Yurio perked up. That's my boy.
"On the way back home," I promised, "I'm sure Victor's worried."
"I doubt it," he figured, "Between Bacon Bits and Uncle Chris, I'm sure Victor has plenty to keep him busy."
"Regardless," I threw my son on my shoulders, "He still worries. And what have I said about calling Yuri a pig?"
"Fine," Yurio let out a little yawn, completely uninterested, "Bye, Madame. See you tomorrow."
"Bye, baby," Madame waved, "And Violet, don't forget to talk to Celestino about dance lessons."
"I won't," I swore, making a mental note of it. Ask Celestino about dance lessons.
By the time Yurio and I got to the cafe, he was already napping. At least he was still small enough where I didn't have to wake him up. Besides, I already knew what he wanted. However, I wanted Yurio to get some sleep tonight and I loved Victor, so he'll have to be ok with decaf. Mama, on the other hand, had plans with Uncle Chris tonight. A double shot of espresso would be my saving grace.
Once I got back to Chris and Victor's, I don't think anyone noticed I walked in...Huh...Empty house, maybe? No matter. I took Yurio to his room and laid him down. My baby had a long day. He could use the rest. You're definitely earning this weekend, kid. Before you come over, I'll need to do some shopping, though. I know I give Chris and Victor crap for not going grocery shopping, but my fridge looked just as vacant. Anyway, rest well, Dovahkiin. I love you.
I poked my head in Yuri's bedroom, just to see if he was doing ok. He was curled up on his bed with Makkachin sleeping next to him, watching Spirited Away. Victor always put on Studio Ghibli movies for him. I might have had a hand in that. He and I watched them on the road all the time. All seemed right with the world in the Nikiforov-Giacometti household. I must admit, I'm a little jealous.
Instead of wallowing in that jealousy, I would wallow in my hot tub for a while. My joints were killing me and my bruises were looking rough. Big purple, black, and yellow splotches covered up and down my legs. Whatever Chris had planned for tonight, I was covering my legs up. The world didn't need to see this mess. Hopefully, no one ever will.
This adjustment was still a bit strange. The silence and solitude. It's not like I had my boys up my ass when we were all together, but I could still feel their presence. The only thing that gave me that feeling anymore was Nadya. She sat at the edge of my hot tub with me while I relaxed with a glass of white. I missed all my boys dearly, but Mama's alone time wasn't too bad either.
"You started without me?" a beautiful Swiss man stood on my balcony, "What the hell, Violet? I thought we had something special."
"The only thing we had special between us was Victor," I pointed out, "Our friendship was a nice byproduct, though."
"Love you, too," Chris dropped his pants and got in with me. I should be surprised, but...Well...It's Chris, "So, what are we drinking?"
"Pinot grigio," I handed him my empty glass, "You want any?"
"Why not?" he accepted graciously while I poured him a glass, "But what about you?"
"Every bottle comes with its own glass," I took a drink straight from the bottle, "But only if you're brave enough."
"That's the sign of a drinking problem, though," Chris took the bottle from me, "You have two little boys to think of."
"And two big ones," I laid my head on his shoulder, "So, my dear Christophe, what are we doing tonight?"
"You'll see," he gave me a quick kiss on the top of my head, "For now, we need to get you ready."
"For what?" I got a bit nervous, snaking the bottle back, "Should I be scared?"
"Not necessarily scared," Chris settled me, "But I do have an evening planned for us. And none of it involves staying in your hot tub. Come on."
"I don't want to," I pouted, "Can't we just stay in tonight?"
"You asked for my help with your theme, Violet," he took my hand and helped me out of the hot tub, "This is how I'm helping."
"You can't help any other way?" I whined.
"Nope."
"Well, shit," I put the stopper on my wine bottle and threw it in the fridge. When I saw Chris start heading toward my bathroom, it only made me worse. I'm just overthinking. Everything's fine.
"Sit down, Violet," a knot started forming in my stomach while Chris was going through my stuff. My makeup brushes...My straightener...Six different eyeshadow palettes. Chris, what in God's green Earth were you planning on doing? I shut my eyes and prayed for this to be over.
"Ow!" I felt a quick jolt of pain coming from my forehead. Followed by another one, "Ow! What the hell, Chris?"
"Don't be such a baby," he shut me up, "You act like this is the first time I've ever touched your eyebrows. Which, by the way, for the love of all holy, when was the last time they had any love?"
"I've been busy lately," I scoffed, flinching from another one, "Between moving and practices for not only me, but Yurio, too, forgive me if I've taken the back burner."
"You don't deserve that," Chris went on inflicting bodily pain on me, "Treat yourself once in a while or I'll have to intervene again."
"You could stand to be a little nicer, though!" I cringed, "Goddamn, Chris!"
"I'm sorry," he stepped up the pace a little, "I'm really not trying to put you through too much."
"Then, distract me," I insisted, "Really and truly, where are we going tonight?"
"This club I know," Chris told me, "You're not the only one who's danced in clubs in New York City."
"Oh?" I perked up, "Do tell."
"This was about a year before I really met Victor," he explained, "But like I said, you'll see. And I need you to promise me you won't judge."
"Sweetie, I danced in a burlesque club and escorted on the side," I giggled, "I have no room to judge. Color me desensitized."
"Whatever you say," Chris threw my tweezers aside and started playing with the rest of my face, "Do you trust me?"
"Relatively."
"Fantastic!" he beamed, digging out the more dramatic colored palette and a darker, vampy red lip color.
Yeah. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. I mean, Chris has done my makeup before. Even for competition (although, I'd rather Victor do it. He'd take me away from the team Celestino had for me and bring me back to Earth.). That's not what's bothering me. It's not knowing what he was up to. Chris was keeping me entirely in the dark about tonight and that horrified me.
Our unattended adventures were always just that. An adventure. And when two people with no impulse control are let loose on the streets of New York without the group mom to tell us no, that's when things get messy. I just hope we don't come out of tonight needing bail. If we can get through this without police involvement, we'll be golden.
By the time Chris was done playing with my face and yanking on my hair, he was already off in my closet. With all of the hell he's just put me through, I better look ok. Damn, I looked more than ok. I looked down right sexy. Smokey eyes, red lips, a little bit more bounce in my purple hair. If I was trying to find some Eros to put into my lustful program this year, I might as well look the part.
"Violet!" Chris called from my bedroom, "Don't you have anything sluttier than this?"
"Sorry," I got up, "That's all I got."
"You don't have anything packed away still?"
"I'm all unpacked," I jumped onto my bed.
"Fils de pute," he grumbled under his breath, "Not giving me much to work with, are you?"
"Sorry," I shrugged, "I've been a mother of two young boys and a wife for a while. My sexy clothes went out the window."
"What's this?" Chris pulled out a long, black formal dress out of the back of my closet, "And where has it been all my life?"
"What do you mean?" I giggled, "You don't plan on stealing it, do you?"
"No," he reciprocated the sentiment, "But just out of curiosity, how long have you had this dress?"
"A few years," I figured, "I got it for a Grand Prix banquet. Why?"
"And whose credit card did you put this on?"
"Victor's."
"Do you have any sentimental attachment to it?" Chris looked it over.
"No," I gave him a look, "Why?"
"Put it on," he opened up my nightstand and took my small sewing kit out, "I have an idea."
"Chris..." I worried, taking my dress from him, "What are you doing?"
"Making lemonade out of lemons. Just trust me."
"I'm having a hard time with that," I went back into my bathroom and stripped down, switching my sweats for that dress.
"Violet, mon ami," Chris awed, "When have I ever steered you wrong?"
"There was that one night in Tokyo," I remembered.
"That was an accident," he immediately jumped on the defensive, "How was I supposed to know you couldn't handle sushi? Or that it'd be served off a man?"
"Three hours puking was not fun, Chris," I quivered, "So, yes. You have steered me wrong."
"But this is not one of those times," Chris promised, spinning my scissors around his finger, "Do you have a step stool?"
"I have a kitchen chair."
"That'll do." Chris and I spent the next half hour in my kitchen while he went Sweeney Todd on my dress, making it a little shorter...Then, a lot shorter...Then, a little gasp came out of his throat, "My god, Violet. Is Celestino beating you? Do you need to talk?"
"No," I rolled my eyes, "I've taken a few falls at practice. I'm fine. Don't worry about it."
"I mean," he held a pin between his teeth, "I understand, but you haven't had bruises like this since you started. Have you been looked at?"
"I'm fine, Chris," I snapped, "They don't even hurt. You can poke at them all you want."
"It'll only make them worse," Chris finished pinning off the bottom hem and made his cut, "We should cover them."
"Capital idea," I approved. My foundation could cover anything and lasted an eternity.
After a new hem was stitched on my dress and my legs looked like I never fell in the first place, Chris gave me a pair of five-inch heels and the two of us went a floor below. All this time spent on me and now, I had to traipse into my ex-husband's condo with his current husband while our two boys under the age of ten could see their mama looking like sex on a stick. Great idea, Chris. When have you ever steered me wrong? Other than the sushi man.
"Relax," Chris caught on to my apprehension, "Victor and the boys aren't home. They're doing the grocery shopping and getting dinner. I'm not so tactless."
"Good," I took my seat on the kitchen counter, watching Makkachin sleep like a baby on the couch.
"I shouldn't be long," he figured.
"Yes," I teased, "Because how long does it take you to change and put your eyelashes on?"
"Excuse me?" Chris gasped, "I don't wear fake eyelashes."
"Bullshit," I called him out, "I know you do!"
"Nope!" he yelled from the bedroom, "Those are lies!"
"Christophe, I've known you too long," I swung my legs over the counter, "I'm not saying they're full sets, but I know you half them. You can't hide your secrets from me. I'm like a bloodhound."
"Tell anyone and I may be inclined to kill you," Chris came clean. I knew it.
I also knew Chris wouldn't have passed this up for the world. He and I haven't hung out in so long. Even while Victor and I were married, we never did anything while he was in town. Mostly because usually, he was too busy doing Victor. But nevertheless, I loved playing with Chris. I could say tonight made me nervous all I wanted to, but those nerves were more excitement than anything. Once Chris left a note for Victor, sending his love, we grabbed a car and started heading into the seedier underbelly of Brooklyn.
Alright. Good feeling starting to subside. No, Violet. This is going to be a fun night. Relax. The sushi man was an accident. Regardless, our driver stopped outside a place called Cosmos. I've heard of this place from some of the girls and Ernie once or twice. And there were a lot of leather clad patrons standing outside.
"Chris, where the hell did you take me?" I froze.
"No judgment," Chris defended, bringing me inside. Loud, bassy techno shook the room and the inside of my eardrum while people were hanging from swings and cages, chained up on tables, racks. Women in corsets and thigh high leather boots. Men in assless chaps and ball gags.
"Chris," I wrapped my arm around his, "Again. What the hell kind of place did you take me to?"
"I damn near dressed you in white," he admitted, "But for your first time in here, I didn't want to overwhelm you."
"You didn't think this would overwhelm me?" I gasped, "What would've happened if you did put me in white?"
"You would've been a prime target for demonstration," Chris wrapped his arms around me, "Violet, you're fine. You wanted a chance to get some of your Eros back. Why not take you somewhere that oozes sex? Have you never been to a BDSM club before?"
"No," I shook my head, "Even when I was working the club scene, I got off work and went home. I didn't venture out too much."
"All you need to know," he comforted, "is that no still means no. The safe word is the most important word you will know all night. And everything is entirely confidential and safe. If anything goes somewhere you don't want it to, talk to a bartender. One of them will tell a bouncer and you'll be ok. Fortunately, you know someone that's in good with the owner."
"I do?" I wondered. Something tells me Madame knew some people here. She always kept an eclectic mix of friends.
"I told you that you weren't the only one who danced in clubs in this town," Chris got a big grin on his face, "That cage over there was mine at one point. I'm sure if I look hard enough, I can find my leather shorts in the closet. My ass looked fantastic in them."
"How in the hell did you get to dancing in here?" I freaked, "Don't get me wrong. You're the biggest slut I know."
"Former slut, but thank you…"
"But seriously…" I asked, "How did that happen?"
"I met this guy," Chris spun the tale, getting us a seat at the bar, "He said he had a club uptown and asked me if I'd do a couple nights a week. I wasn't going to say no. He was cute. A little twinkish for my taste, but like I said. He was cute. We're not here for stories. I want you to walk out of here with some numbers."
"I don't know…"
"You said you wanted to slut up," he gave me a nudge, "I just gave you an all-you-can-eat buffet of fetishes as far as the eye can see. Detach the idea that sex equals love and act on pure, physical instinct. That, my dear Violet, is true Eros."
"But I don't think I can do a casual thing," I bit my lip, "I'm more of a relationship type."
"You're holding yourself back too much," Chris rolled his eyes. But then, in the same motion, they were about to fall out of his head, "Willam!"
"No way!" a sweet little voice squeaked out, attached to a little dark haired man bolting in our direction, "Christophe!"
"I missed you so much!" Chris held the little man in his arms, "It's been ages since I've seen you!"
"I missed you, too!" the man laid his head on his shoulder, "You wouldn't want to head to the champagne room for old time's sake, would you?"
"Sorry," Chris put him down and showed him his hand, "I got married."
"Tease," the little sass king whined, "And who's this? You can't tell me this is your wife."
"No," Chris corrected him, "But I did marry her ex-husband, for what it's worth."
"I smell an episode of Springer," he jabbed, "Then, who is she?"
"This is Violet," he introduced me, "Violet, this is Willam. This is his club."
"Pleasure," I wasn't feeling up to meeting new people. Being around this big of a crowd was starting to make me sweat.
"She's needing a little encouragement," Chris shoved me forward, "She doesn't do casual hookups and she's in desperate need of it."
"Hey!"
"Maybe some liquid encouragement," Willam suggested, calling over one of the bartenders, "Violet, have you ever tried absinthe?"
"No," I grew skeptical, "Why?"
"Because," he started pouring shots, "Absinthe and melon midori is a house special. A little something, something I like to call the troublemaker."
"Why's it called the troublemaker?" I asked, downing the contents of my tiny glass. Huh. Not bad.
"Because," Chris had a little smirk on his face, "After enough of them, they'll make you a troublemaker."
"It's what we give our first timers to loosen them up," Willam put his hand on my shoulder.
"That's going to be your liquid encouragement, Violet," Chris hugged me from behind, "If tonight doesn't inspire your Eros, nothing will."
"In that case," I put my glass down on the bar, "Do you think I could get another one?"
"Absolutely!"
And so began our evening. After a few drinks, I could understand why they were called the troublemaker. In my slightly intoxicated state, I got brave. There she was. My inner slut was going to come out to play. Especially when there's a pole left unattended. This was bringing me back to my days at the burlesque club. I never got to be one of the girls on the pole, but after hours? Hell yeah! That took some core strength and I never lost that muscle. And probably just as cool, I didn't get tips in money. I got them in phone numbers!
And to make it even better, I'm not the only one on the pole. Chris and I practically battled each other. But only one of us ended up back in his cage. Willam turned on American Boy by Estelle and Chris started going at it. I've seen Chris dance before but never like this. And I couldn't let it go undocumented! I GOT A BETTER IDEA!
"Hello…?" a voice grumbled on the end of the phone.
"VICTOR!" I beamed, "HI!"
"Violet?" Victor groaned, "It's, like, one in the morning…"
"Do you know where your husband is?" I slurred a little.
"Are you ok?" he worried like such a good friend. He's so sweet…
"He's in a cage half naked," I told him, "Good for him, though. I don't have that kind of body confidence. But Chris? It doesn't matter where he is."
"Violet, where are you?"
"I don't remember what this place was called," I looked around for a sign, "Some sexy club Chris took me to."
"Cosmos by any chance?"
"Yeah!" I squeaked, "Wait, Victor, are you mad at me?"
"No, Violet," he sighed out, "Stay there. Yoptel-mopsel…"
"I'll take a video!" I promised, "This is too good not to have on hand."
"I'm calling Celestino."
"Why…?" I whined, "Why do we need to bring Dad into this?"
"Stay there, Violet," Victor demanded, "I'll be there soon."
"I love you!"
"I love you, too…"
Click!
"Hey, Chris!" I stood under his cage, "Guess what?"
"What, Violet?" Chris continued shaking that nice little ass of his.
"Victor's coming to play with us!" I sang, "He said he's calling Celestino, too, so he might be coming to play with us, too!"
"Yay!" Chris smiled, "There are some places in this club I wouldn't mind taking Victor. Or Celestino, if he's ok with it. Now, come up here and dance with me!"
"My pleasure," I took his hand and Chris pulled me into his cage where the two of us did one more troublemaker each and proceeded to shake our asses together. This was a great idea. I don't know why I was so apprehensive about it in the beginning. We needed to make this a regular thing! At least once a week. Or twice a week. Or every night! That'd be awesome!
"Violet," a delightful Russian accent called up to us, "Chris, it's time to go home."
"Victor!" I opened up the cage and jumped down into his arms, kissing his cheek, "I missed you!"
"Come on, Victor," Chris begged, "Can't we stay a little longer?"
"I think it's time to go for both of you," Victor killed the buzz.
"Okie dokie!" I chimed, "Bye, new friends! I'll miss you!"
A/N: I wanted some of Chris and Violet's friendship. Forgive me for being selfish, but I love this chapter. It brought me such joy. And the fact that it's hella long should keep you lovelies satisfied, yeah? Is that cool with you? I was going to break it off, but I'm glad I didn't. All that aside, you can't tell me Chris isn't into some things. That cage he was dancing in is pregnant with a litter from that night. And Victor doesn't sound too impressed. We'll find out more next week. By the way! I believe we'll be celebrating Christophe's birthday next week. Like…In exactly a week. Yay! I get to update this on Valentine's Day instead of binging Dramatical Murder and white knuckling it! Regardless, see you next chapter! xx