AN: What is characterization?

Disclaimer: I do not own Yuri! On Ice

Get ready for some hella OOC mess up here. Like is Yuri in the single digits, or is he in his twenties? The world will never know I had way too much fun writing this.

Be warned.

CH3— Rain Singer

Victor was in deep дерьмо.

He was walking down the street, hand in hand with an absolute bundle of joy— who was much too old to be this freaking adorable— to go see his boyfriend.

What was Victor thinking, allowing this little firecracker of a person to come with him!? When he met his boyfriend, Yuri was going to freak out and call Victor crazy. Or he was going to cry and hug Victor like crazy. Or he was going to babble away awkwardly and apologize like crazy— whatever it was, Victor knew it was going to be crazy.

Victor sighed heavily out his nose, giving a sideways glance at Yuri. The kid was wearing the softest looking white sweater in all of creation— it looked like a stuffed animals or clouds in clothing form. No joke. Victor really wanted to hug him and feel how fluffy-soft the fabric was. To add to the cuteness factor, Yuri's little arms were too short for the sleeves, so his hands ended up being swallowed by the wool sleeves up to his knuckles. He looked like a little kid.

He was also acting like a little kid. Victor was struggling to keep a straight face as he watched Yuri jump puddle to puddle, singing song after song about rain. He was currently singing a cheerful little tune that Victor found familiar, but distant.

Raindrops keep falling on my head,

but that don't mean my eyes will soon be turning red.

Crying's not for me….

Victor grinned in spite of himself. Yuri's voice was pretty, in a delicate way. Yuri was the owner of a kind of voice that Victor's grandmother had known well. She called the owners of this kind of voice by an odd name. "Rain Singers." Rain Singers had a voice that captured the gentle beauty of raindrops, which explained the origin of the strange name. They had the kind of voices that were suited for gentle, melodic lullabies. And Yuri definitely had this kind of voice, which eased some of the panic and tenseness out of Victor's body. Victor was grateful for this. Lately he'd been… stressed.

Victor shook his head, shielding himself from a spray of rainwater as Yuri jumped in a puddle that was deeper than expected. Victor smiled softly as the corner of his eye caught his jacket's dark sleeve. He remembered how adamant Yuri had been that the jacket be accepted and worn. Victor was surprised by Yuri's hospitality. He had expected that he'd be run off with a broom like a stray cat who got in the roses (fitting analogy), or shouted at until he scampered off, but instead he was granted safe passage out of the house, a lovely conversation, and a jacket to borrow.

"Oh, my goodness, look!" Yuri shouted joyfully, releasing Victor's hand. Victor whipped his head up to follow Yuri's pointed finger. Up in the sky, nestled between a pair of dark grey clouds, was a long stream of shimmery colours.

"It's a rainbow— we have to make a wish!" Yuri exclaimed. Victor smiled, remembering his father having told him the same thing as a child.

His father was a dreamer. Loved sunsets, and stars, and oceans. Talked your ear off with stories and poems and songs. Played every instrument under the sun, loved slow dances and took long walks in the moonlight with Victor's mother. He was an amazing man.

Not to say his hot-tempered, awkward, two-left footed mother wasn't amazing, too. But she had been given a choice of whether to leave or not. And she left. She left a suffering, anguishing sixteen-year-old boy— Anyways, Yuri reminded Victor of his father, and a bit of his mother. His mother was a determined, stubborn woman who knew how to get her way. Victor had the feeling that Yuri managed to get quite a few people wrapped around his little fingers, earning his way quite easily.

"Are you mad at me, still?" a voice startled Victor out of his musings. He glanced down to see Yuri's big, chocolate-honey eyes staring up at him.

"I… what?"

"Are you mad a me still? For making you take me to see your boyfriend?" Yuri's tone was light, but Victor knew a thing or two about forcing a light tone when the soul was being crushed by something much heavier.

"I was never mad." Victor answered flippantly, stuffing his hands in his pockets (to keep from wrapping them around Yuri in a tight hug. The poor thing looked so upset. He wore his heart boldly on his sleeve). Yuri brightened a bit at this.

"Are you sure?"

"Why are you so interested in meeting my boyfriend?" Victor asked suddenly. Yuri blushed and looked away, muttering something so softly, Victor couldn't make out what it was. When Victor asked him to repeat himself, Yuri turned to face him and stopped walking. Victor halted as well, watching as Yuri lowered his head.

"I just want to make sure he's good. For you." Yuri said, only slightly louder. Victor felt something warm grow in his chest and his stomach. That feeling of friendship bubbled up, making him grin widely, despite his efforts to keep a straight hands came out of his pockets and clutched Yuri to his side, another effort of self-control failed. Yuri let out a squeak and began to shift uncomfortably in Victor's arms. He wasn't trying to free himself, but it was clear he was uncomfortable. Victor pulled back, stomach still warm, chest still bursting.

"Sorry," Victor said honestly. "I'm not used to people saying…" he trailed off. Something was suddenly wrapped around his waist like a vice, holding him in place. Looking down, he saw Yuri had an arm wrapped around him, looking up expectantly.

"Saying what?" Yuri asked. Victor grinned. How could it be that someone he had met not even 24 hours ago— someone he had stolen from— was showing him more care and attention than anyone in his life had for the past ten plus years?

"I don't have people. Friends, family— I don't have anybody. So, there isn't anyone to ask how I'm doing, what I'm up to, to come see if my boyfriend is good enough for me—" Victor broke off with a soft laugh.

"It's nice, is all I'm saying. It's… it's nice." Yuri nodded as if this made perfect sense, and the pair continued down the sidewalk. Victor was actually glad that it was raining. Sure, it was cold and wet, and his apartment was probably flooded by now, but two could walk with their arms around each other and not worry about anyone staring because everybody else was inside, sheltered from the rain in their warm, dry homes. Also, Yuri was entertaining in the rain.

"So, where are we going exactly?" Yuri asked suddenly.

"To see my boyfriend."

"And, where is he?" Yuri prompted.

"In the direction that we're walking." Victor smirked when Yuri glared at him.

"Ugh, fine. Don't tell me, I'll add that to the list of mean things you've done to me." Yuri said petulantly, as if it was a threat.

"You're making a list of mean things I've done to you?" Victor raised an eyebrow in amusement. Yuri made a face at him.

God, how Yuri reminded Victor of Issei. Yes, he reminded him of his father's sensitive qualities and his mother's "my way or the highway" mentality, but Yuri was like a mirror image of Victor's boyfriend. There were differences, sure, that's what made them individuals. But the likeness was stunning. While Issei was darker in colouring and more on the muscular side, Yuri was pale and slender. Despite their looks, their personalities chimed the same melody. They were both day-dreamy, distracted and clutzy. They were unorganized and random, they spoke their minds and had "foot-in-mouth syndrome," but they were also caring and kind people. They loved, rather than fought, but were willing to fight for who they loved. They were mostly concerned with the wellbeing of others and were incredibly awkward and goofy.

These similarities were that bittersweet smile brought on by an aged, happy memory. It's seeing your old school boarded up and sitting on the same street it's always sat on, remembering biking to school, and laughing with friends under that tree, and "oh that one time so-and-so tried to climb that tree and broke his wrist". It's hearing a song that late relatives hummed during thunderstorms to you until you fall asleep, and smelling the aroma of thin, fruity teas that at one time were made to help you drift off to dream land. It's dancing the same dance with a lover that you danced with your mother before you said goodbye, and it's seeing a torn photograph and remembering when it had been shiny and new, sitting in a frame on a table that no longer exists.

It hurt, but it was a beautiful, welcomed pain that brought memories of happier times. For Victor, Yuri reminded him of the memories of Issei.

Memories of holding hands and counting the stars as they popped up across the sky.

Memories of climbing trees to kiss privately, and not be called names by the local idiots.

Memories of passing suggestive notes and sharing cheeky glances in class.

Memories of dancing in the rain to soft musical hums.

Victor glanced sideways at Yuri, who was now spinning in circles and laughing, following after Victor. Rain soaked hair fanning around his head like dark ribbons, and feet splashing in puddles rhythmically. Yuri's likeness to a child was unreal. And Victor couldn't help but stare. He was frozen in place, seeing two images. Seeing two kindred spirits enjoying the gentle rain shower.

As Yuri spun and his jacket flew about him like wings with his wet hair flaring out and sending droplets flying, Issei appeared, his feet kicking up water with rain trailing down his face like tears as he danced with Yuri through the storm. Unable to help himself, Victor reached out a hand, as if asking for a dance. Yuri stopped his twirling and grinned, looking a little nervous. Issei's image collided with Yuri's. Yuri's small hand finally came to rest on Victor's, and he gave him a mock curtsey, to which Victor responded with a low bow. Victor then wrapped a hand around Yuri's waist, Yuri's left hand going up to lay on Victor's shoulder as the pair's right hands clutched together.

Victor led Yuri in circles and they waltzed down the sidewalk, drenched in rain and slipping against the wet concrete. As they traveled in circles, Issei's body melted away from Yuri's like watercolours or wax crayons left in the sun to melt when Victor flung him into a dramatic spin that almost had the boy stumbling to the ground. And then Victor was alone with Yuri, in his bright green jacket and puppy-dog eyes. Victor hardly noticed his lover's sudden departure.

Victor hummed an old waltz tune that Issei had enjoyed, but Yuri's laughs were music enough. Victor felt like he was on a natural high. And, God, did it feel good to dance again. It was like playing the piano after years of abandoning it, only to find that you remember every song you struggled through and perfected in the past. It was like hearing your birth tongue for the first time in forever and recognizing it's rich and gruff tones immediately. It was like trying a mother's apple pie after being away for a long time, and finally feeling at peace and in the right place.

"Your voice is pretty." Yuri suddenly blurted out, the hand resting on Victor's shoulder rushing up to clap across his mouth, as if to keep himself from saying anything else. Victor grinned, letting go of Yuri's waist, and spinning him by the hand. Yuri let out an excited shout as he spun away and then back into Victor's arms, like coming back to an embrace.

"Where did you learn to dance like this?" Yuri asked, having to shout to be heard above the now pouring rain.

"My boyfriend was a dance major." Victor responded. "He didn't have a partner, so I was volunteered. He taught me everything he knew."

"Amazing, I can't wait to meet him!" Yuri said. Victor only smiled at him.

"We should go inside somewhere and wait out the storm a bit. At least to see if it'll slow down a bit." Victor suggested. "Actually, there's a little café near here that we could wait in. I know the owner pretty well. His name is Akio, he was actually introduced me to Issei."

"Really? You met your boyfriend in a café? I can't tell if that's grossly cliché or really cute…" Yuri joked.

"Yeah, apparently Issei was a regular, just like me. We somehow just missed each other every day until one day when Issei complained to Akio that he couldn't find a dance partner. For some reason, Akio suggested me as a partner and Issei waited for me to show up, Akio introduced us—"

"And the rest is history?" Yuri guessed with a grin. "You guys are the cutest love story. Two dancing partners who met in a café and fell in love. You should sell that to Hallmark!"

"Yeah, it's a pretty good story." Victor said sadly, squeezing Yuri a bit tighter as they continued to waltz down the sidewalk. Yuri stopped their swaying movements, sensing Victor's plummeting mood. Yuri tightly grasped Victor's rain-chilled hands.

"What's wrong?" Yuri asked softly. Victor tried to look everywhere but at Yuri, but he was drawn to the kid like a magnet. He watched with fascination as a drop of water trickled from his dark hair, down his pale skin and dropped off his chin.

"Nothing, I just…" Victor grinned brokenly, throat closing up. "I miss him." He whispered honestly. No phrase was truer.

"Well, then it's a good thing we're going to see him, then, isn't it?" Yuri asked. He sounded like he was trying to boost Victor's spirits, but he actually brought them down about. Well, more like he redirected Victor's depressed spirits to a different depressing thought. He was now wondering how the heck he was going to break the news to Yuri.

Hey Google: how do you tell a cute guy you just met and stole flowers from (plus spent a night watching his sleep) that he's not crashing a date, but he's crashing a grave visit?

Knowing what little he did about Yuri, who seemed to be quite strongly empathetic, Victor could only guess how well this was going to go. Maybe he should just play it off like he and his boyfriend meet in the cemetery and— whoops! — got the date mixed up, it's actually next week that they're meeting? Good in theory, but Yuri would just hang around until the "next date" to meet Issei. This was going to go so terribly.

"So, where's this café you were talking about?" Yuri asked curiously. "I can't wait to ask the owner all kinds of details about you and your lover." He added, eyebrows dancing and tone suggestive on his last word.

Victor felt himself had no idea why Yuri was so interested in knowing every last detail about himself and Issei. He sort of understood that Yuri wanted to make sure Victor was in a happy relationship, but why was he so motivated? Maybe Yuri had a friend who had a bad experience dating? Maybe said friend was abused by their lover and Yuri had to see the them suffer at the hands of someone they loved? Or maybe Yuri's own parents were hurtful to each other? Yuri had spoken so kindly and highly of his parents, what little he did say of them, so surely that couldn't be it. Unless he was hiding the rocky, painful relationship from the outside so that his parents' names wouldn't be dragged through the mud! How noble, how thoughtful, how selfless!

"Yuri…" Victor wasn't sure how to ask this. Are your parents abusing each other? Is one of your friends being hit by their lover? Oh no— is his sister—

"Yeah?" Yuri looked a little nervous. He knows what's coming. He's thinking up excuses, Victor realized

"Why are you… Why are you so concerned with my boyfriend and me?" Victor asked carefully. "I understand you want to meet him, you want to make sure he's a good person. But what… what's the real reason?" Yuri bit his lip.

"I just, you know… want to make sure he's a good guy…" Yuri wasn't fooling anyone.

"Yuri… is someone close to you in a— er — a bad relationship?" Victor tried to ask it gently, thoughtfully. It just didn't work. Hey, is your sister being smacked around by her boyfriend? See, there's just no good way to ask about that sort of thing!

"I had this boyfriend once…" Yuri swallowed with difficulty. "He was sweet. Hugged me a lot, held my hand. Told me I was… I was beautiful…" Yuri laughed bitterly, making the fine hairs of Victor's neck raise. He felt something coming. Like the feeling of the winds picking up and the sight of the sky darkening just before a thunderstorm.

"Then he would hurt me for doing or saying something wrong." Yuri mumbled quickly, so the words tied together. Victor stared at him. Wait. What?

"You mean… you…" Victor couldn't wrap his mind around this. Why would someone hurt Yuri, of all people?

"They call them "abusive relationships." Yuri said with a sardonic grin. He then shook his head, smile falling as he fiddled with his long sweater sleeves. "Everyone thinks it's bull, you know? Like, "well if he hurt you, why didn't you leave?" And that's such a stereotypical "victim of domestic abuse" thing to say. But, Victor," Yuri said Victor's voice with so much pain, Victor thought he might cry. "He was lovely, he… he really was."

"You're not— are you still—" Victor could hardly get the words out. God, his heart was beating so fast and his mouth was so dry— he couldn't get out a coherent sentence.

"No." Yuri said, seeing the question Victor was trying to ask. Victor relaxed, not having realized how tightly wound his muscles had become. Relief washed over him, and a scared, caught breath rushed out of his lungs at that beautiful word. "No."

"Way to give me a heart attack." Victor mumbled, more irritated at his own reaction. Yuri saw this and gave him a warm look.

"Thank you." he said. Victor cocked an eyebrow at this response. "I…" Victor hardly thought he did anything worth thanking, but decided to just accept it, for Yuri's sake.

"How did you…"

"I met him at school." Yuri interrupted, again able to interpret a question from Victor's babbling.

"We shared a math class in junior year— my junior year. He was a senior at the time."

"He was a what?" Victor asked, his voice coming out as a growl. Yuri flinched.

"I don't know why he chose me from the class, there were so many others…" Yuri trailed off, remembering the faces of his classmates. "At first, I assumed he was just trying to sweet talk me into giving him answers for the homework, to cheat for him, you know? He was pretty dumb when it came to schoolwork. He was taking junior level maths for the third time, after all…"

"Wait, "at first"?" Victor asked, snagging Yuri's sleeve to drag him out of the way of a quickly walking man holding a briefcase. Yuri jostled into Victor's side before straightening himself back out and regaining his balance.

"Thanks." He muttered. His head ducked, but not before Victor caught a glimpse of a blush spreading across his face.

"Yeah, at first. He got… more interested, as we got further into the class…" Victor scowled. "One thing led to another, I guess. These things don't happen all at once, you know? They happen slowly, you get eased into it so that you don't even realize what's happening— hey, is that the café?" Yuri suddenly asked, pointing across the street to a long chain of buildings.

Sure enough, one of the buildings had a bright awning with the words "Airi's Café." There were a few tables standing outside but, due to the weather, their chairs were nowhere to be seen, probably having been dragged inside to keep from being damaged by the rain. Deep green ferns hung in baskets from the awning, looking particularly bright on the dreary afternoon.

"Yeah, that's it." Victor said. He glanced up and down the street for vehicles, then grabbed Yuri's arm and jogged across the road. Lighting from inside the café spilled out onto the sidewalk and street, making the rain sparkle and the road shimmer as the rainwater caught in the light.

"Airi?" Yuri asked, reading the sign. "I thought the man who owned this place was called Aiko?"

"He is. Airi is his daughter." Victor answered.

"He named his café after his daughter? That's so sweet! Does she work there?" Yuri asked. Victor felt his smile grow at Yuri's enthusiastic curiosity. The boy peered through the large bay windows like a child looking in the windows of a candy store.

"No, she's away at university, but she hopes to take the business from her father's hands one day." He explained, pulling open the French door for Yuri. A gentle tinkling of a bell announced their presence and Yuri skedaddled in, shivering in the warm air. Letting the door close behind him, Victor scuffed his shoes against the welcome mat to dry them.

"Victor, is that you?" a jovial voice asked in awe. A large man with a round stomach walked around the counter with a rag in hang, having been cleaning the coffee machines before his guests walked in. "I haven't seen you in so long, let me look at you!" the man demanded, tossing his rag onto the counter. Victor couldn't help but relax into the strong hug from a close friend who also knew and grieved for Issei.

Pulling back to introduce Yuri, Victor found that the boy was at the opposite end of the room, staring up at the artwork on the walls. Canvases of all different sizes were hanging from the aged brick, each painted in a different style: oil paintings of people, photorealism of random objects, charcoal sketches of plants, abstract art of… something— it was like an art museum.

"Ah, you like art, no?" Akio asked Yuri, seeing his interest in the paintings.

"I adore art!" Yuri exclaimed, eyes bright with enthusiasm. "I'm no good, but I love to see it, and watch it be made." He admitted. Victor slid into a plush, indigo coloured armchair by the windows and watched Aiko take Yuri on the tour of art.

"… Oh, and this one is my favourite, one of my regulars— a sweet girl by the name of Agape— came from Greece to study here and found herself quite homesick. So, when she came in one day, I told her to think of the most beautiful place, the place she missed the most." Aiko was saying, gesturing to a glorious painting of a crumbling, abandoned building overgrown with vines and flowers and other plants done in a very realistic acrylic. Victor grinned at Aiko's theatrical voice, listening to him explain the sights and histories of Greece that Agape had told him.

"She said this was the place where she went to get away from the people and the city and the noise— a little slice of paradise on earth, she said it was."

"It's nice to think that a lonely, abandoned place like this is considered a piece of paradise, a beautiful place to hide from the world if just for a moment." Yuri said dreamily, smiling up at the painting he was stroking the canvas gently with one hand as if longing to reach through the artwork and touch the soft plants, the crumbling buildings, the dusty ground.

Aiko smiled softly down at Yuri, then glanced over to Victor with a knowing look. Victor nodded sharply in understanding.

"Anyhow, what can I get for you fine gentlemen tonight?" Aiko asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"Something sweet and full of energy, like a hot, fresh mocha? Made of the finest chocolate from the markets this morning! Or a soft, frothy latte? Brewed with only the purest cow's milk in the country!" Aiko exclaimed, describing his drinks as if they were exquisite meals.

"Just hot chocolates, will be fine. I don't think we need to rile up Yuri with caffeine, he seems to have enough energy as it is." Victor said playfully. Yuri stuck his tongue out at Victor but grinned as Aiko began brewing up the drinks.

"So, what brings you two lovely boys to my café so late on such a rainy day? Though I have to say, rainy days are my favourite— full of romance and mystery, yes?" Aiko winked over his shoulder to a giggling Yuri. "We were just passing through—" Victor started.

"We're going to meet Victor's boyfriend!" Yuri interrupted excitedly. Aiko almost dropped the mug he was holding and stared at Victor who stared right back with wide eyes. At the sudden silence and tenseness that entered the room, Yuri's smile drooped. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked, twitching in his chair.

"No, no, of course not!" Aiko exclaimed, his normally bright a boisterous tone a little flat. "It's just been quite a long time since… since Issei has been here, is all. I miss my favourite customer." Aiko added. Victor nodded stiffly.

"Why hasn't he come here in a while?" Yuri asked, his seemingly innocent question sending sharp pains down Victor's chest.

"He's… unable at the moment."

"Oh, is he busy with school?"

"Ah, something like that." Victor muttered, burying his face in the chunky mug of warm liquid Aiko just put in front of it."Wow, this is good— try it Yuri, it tastes like heaven!" Victor said, trying to distract Yuri. He felt a bit guilty at treating Yuri as if he was a toddler who asked a mature question, like "where do babies come from?"

Easily distracted, Yuri sipped from a mug that looked more like a small bowl than a cup in his little hands.

"Wow, you're right! How do you get it to taste so good!?" Yuri demanded incredulously, a smear of white whipped cream stuck on his face. Aiko merrily chuckled, going on a longwinded speech about "home grown" and "all natural" and "only the best" ingredients he used for his drinks.

Meanwhile, Victor was distracted. Very distracted. By the cream that smeared on Yuri's face. It was so endearing, but at the same time, Victor had the urge to wipe it off. But you can't just go wiping random people's faces like that, it's generally frowned upon. But his fingers practically twitched with the desire to—

And— against his better judgement— Victor reached over and gently swiped the smear off Yuri's face. Yuri stared up at him, face still half hidden in his mug as if in mid-sip. Aiko, as oblivious as ever, didn't notice this exchange and continued to babble about all the regular customers he missed.

"Th-thank you." Yuri whispered timidly, barely removing the mug from his face. Victor felt his whole neck and face heat up like an electric blanket. Dear Lord, was it possible to die of embarrassment? Victor just nodded to acknowledge the thanks and hunched down over his drink.

"So, when are you two off to see… Issei?" Aiko asked carefully, voice light. Victor shifted uncomfortably as Yuri perked up.

"We were just here to wait out the rain, but it looks like it's stopped. Let's go see him now!" Yuri exclaimed.

"Yeah, we can get going, if you want…" Victor said. Yuri leapt off his chair and scurried to the door, complaining for Victor to catch up.

"What are you going to do, my boy?" Aiko asked when Yuri was out of earshot.

"I can see that you haven't told him."

"I…" Victor sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "I don't…"

"You can't drag this on much longer. You have to—"

"I know, I know, I just—" "Victor, come look at this baby bird— aw, he's yawning!" Yuri was standing on a table outside and peered into a hanging basket of plants, clearly having found a nest inside. Victor turned back to Aiko and gestured with a firm, open hand and a straight arm at Yuri's innocence and childishness as if to say, "what am I supposed to do with this?".

Aiko grimaced. He had no idea how you were supposed to tell someone as sweet and loving as Yuri that the person he was looking for was dead. Victor dragged a hand across his face again, resting his forehead on his palm while his other clutched his hip tightly with frustration. Aiko reached out and patted Victor's shoulder.

"Whatever happens, you've made a friend today. I can see he's not the type to stay angry for long. He'll understand." Aiko said confidently. Victor knew that Yuri wouldn't be too angry when Victor finally fessed up. But he couldn't bear to think of that joyful face full of anguish. Anguish felt on the behalf of and caused by Victor.

"He's so compassionate, he has so much empathy— I know it'll hurt him too, and I just…" Victor sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"I know, son. I know." Aiko said soothingly. "Now go. I think your friend is ready to leave." Looking up, Victor saw that Yuri was lowering himself awkwardly on the table, which was beginning to shake unsteadily under Yuri's shifting weight.

"Yuri, be careful!" Victor demanded, racing out of the café. He grasped one of Yuri's arms, his other hand going to clutch the boy's hip. Yuri steadied himself by gripping Victor's shoulder and his panicked face smoothed back into its usual grin, now that there was someone to help him off the table. Victor used his hold on Yuri to swing him off the table in a grand swooping gesture.

"And that is why we don't climb on top of tables." Victor muttered, heart racing a million miles a second.

"Sorry, when I heard the baby bird chirping, I just really wanted to look." Yuri apologized. That dratted curiosity was going to get one— if not both —of them killed. Victor suddenly felt like a parent berating a child for doing something dangerous.

"Let's get going before it starts raining again." Yuri piped up wisely. Victor's mind slammed back into the gravity of the situation. Right. The truth. Telling the truth is always harder the longer you drag it out.

"Ah, right…" Victor bit his lip, distractedly fiddling with his hands.

"Are you okay?" Yuri asked, tilting his head to peer into Victor's downcast gaze.

"I…" Victor tried. If ever there was a time to tell him, it was now. Tell him. Tell him! Victor's mind tugged back and forth like a game of tug-o-war.

"I'm fine."

AN: I mean, I said "be warned."

All rights for the song lyrics go to the lovely BJ Thomas and his "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head." If you don't know it, 1: you heathen, 2: go check it out, it's a classic, 3: you're welcome for getting it stuck in your head.