Yuri woke to find himself alone in the bed, he frowned. He could hear quiet voices from the living room now and sat up to listen.
"Thank you, I'm sorry to call you like that but I just couldn't put Yuri through it. If you would have seen him at the appointment, you'd understand. He's just so exhausted and sick. I wouldn't feel right leaving him here alone, not when he has a fever." Victor's tone was filled with concern as he explained the situation.
"I never thought I'd see the day, Vitya." Yakov replied.
"What do you mean?"
"You finally care for someone other than yourself." The older man said.
"When someone as special as my Yuri comes along...things change." Yuri's heart leapt with joy, if Victor spoke so lovingly when he thought Yuri couldn't hear, it must be true.
"Do you have to be so sappy?" Yurio's voice growled in irritation.
"Sorry, Yurio, but one day you might understand," Victor said. "When you find someone who turn your life around, The one person you know you can never be without. He's the one person I would do anything for, I'd give up all my medals, absolutely everything, even my life."
Yurio merely sighed, annoyed by the topic of conversation.
"Anyway, thanks again, I really owe you."
"Whatever, can we go now?" the teen grumbled. Yuri heard the door close a few moments later.
Victor joined him soon after, carrying with him a small white bag and a brand new humidifier.
"Yuri, you're awake." The silver haired man greeted cheerfully. "Are you feeling any better?"
"Not really." Yuri admitted, there was no point in downplaying it now. He watched as Victor set up the humidifier on the night stand next to him.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up, I had your medicine dropped off so you could rest."'
"I could've gotten it tomorrow, you didn't have to go to any trouble." Victor sat down on the edge of the bed, taking Yuri's hand.
"It wasn't any trouble. I wanted you to take your medicine as soon as possible so you can get better quickly. I'm worried about your fever." Victor softly caressed Yuri's pale cheek with his free hand.
"The doctor said I'd be fine." Yuri reminded him gently.
"I know she did. I just don't like to see you sick like this. Do you feel up to taking the medicine for me?" Yuri nodded. He couldn't possibly refuse. Soon he was given a glass of water and two small white pills. He swallowed them despite the pain it caused. Victor had turned his attention to the bottles.
"The label says you need to eat with these or they'll upset your stomach. Is there anything specific you want?"
Yuri thought for a moment, he wasn't hungry .
"Not really. I don't feel like eating."Yuri laid down, hoping to go back to sleep.
"I'll bring you some soup then." Victor insisted.
"I don't think-"
"Remember what I said about keeping your strength up, Yuri. It's very important. Anyway, if you can avoid making yourself sick, or in your case, sicker, I'd rather you did. I promise after you eat, even if it's just a few spoonfuls, I'll let you sleep until you need your medicine again." Yuri reluctantly agreed but remained still, waiting for Victor to bring the food.
Yuri reached over to the bedside table, grabbing the controller and turning on the TV.
He groaned softly at the slight discomfort in his chest , he pulled the blanket close to him, feeling suddenly cold.
He turned on the competition just in time to see Chris leaving the ice and Phichit stepping out onto it.
"Yuri, I-" Victor began, noticing the program. "Are you sure you want to watch this?" He asked carrying the bowl of chicken noodle soup over to the bed. He took a pillow from his own bed. He placed it on Yuri's lap, setting the bowl carefully on top.
"I'm sure, Phichit's on, I want to see how he does. Did you want to put something else on?"Yuri offered.
"No. I just don't want you to feel bad about not being there. Watch whatever you want as long as it's not upsetting you."Yuri smiled faintly. Victor was always thinking of him.
"Are you sure you're all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's a little chilly though. Did you turn down the heat?"Victor shook his head.
"No. You seem to go from hot to cold a lot, but don't worry, the soup will warm you up."Victor took the spoon, lifting it from the bowl and offering it to Yuri.
The younger man swallowed the soup, feeling it warm him.
"That actually does help a little."Yuri admitted.
"Good, try to take a little more."Yuri did as he was asked, but took only two more before declaring that he had finished.
"It's a start, but I'd like you to try again later."the older man said, placing the bowl on the bedside table.
Yuri yawned softly earning a gentle chuckle from Victor.
"What's so funny?"Yuri asked.
"Nothing. It's just that you're really adorable."Yuri looked away.
"I don't know how you can think that, I'm such a mess right now, I'm sniffling all the time and coughing, I probably look as bad as I feel, if not worse."
"You're always beautiful, Yuri. Whether or not you're coughing or sneezing or yawning."
"You're just saying that to make me feel better, I'm a complete mess." Yuri insisted, looking away. Victor placed his hand under Yuri's chin, forcing him to look directly into his eyes.
"Every word I'm saying to you is true. I wish you could see yourself the way I do. Maybe then you wouldn't feel that way.
"But I really am-"
"All right Yuri, if you insist, I'll compromise with you. You're a beautiful mess."Yuri laughed, Victor kissed his cheek.
"Try to rest now. I'll get you a cool cloth for your head." Yuri nodded. "Thank you."
"Anything for my Yuri. I'd bring you the moon if it would make you feel better."
"Sometimes I wonder how I got to be so lucky, to have you with me and for you to love me so unconditionally and completely."
"How can I feel any other way for you?" Yuri was about to reply when he felt something soft nudge him. Makkachin stood beside the bed, his head resting on the edge. He whimpered softly wagging his tail. Victor and Yuri smiled at the dog.
"Hey Makkachin." Yuri greeted rubbing the dog's head.
"See, Yuri, we both want you to feel better." Victor said, also reaching out to his pet. After a moment, both men pulled their hands away and the large dog jumped onto the bed, moving close to Yuri, licking the ill man's face affectionately.
"He doesn't give kisses to just anyone." Victor explained. "You're the only other person I've seen him bond with."
"He's a good dog." In no time at all the poodle was asleep beside Yuri.
"Yes, do you need me to move him so you can sleep, I don't think he realizes his size. That's my fault."
"He's fine. I'm still a little cold, maybe if you lie down with us-" Yuri turned to cough into his sleeve, waking the dog, who whimpered softly, cuddling in closer to Yuri.
"That' right Makkachin, keep our Yuri nice and warm so he can get better."Victor praised. The older man stroked Yuri's hair affectionately as the medicine began o take affect and Yuri felt his body give into his fatigue. He soon fell asleep, a feeling of security and love filled his Yuri decided, had to be the best medicine of all.