"Yuuri… please… you need to stop this" Phichit begged his best friend as he followed the drunken man who keeps on tripping on his feet.

"You don't understand Phichit… You don't understand" Yuuri slurred out the words in a whisper as he half dragged and half stumbled on his feet as he could barely identify the street he's walking to.'But I have to get there'his mind insisted as he heard Phichit say, "What don't I understand? Yuuri… please…" his friend tried again as he grabbed Yuuri's arm in an attempt to stop the Japanese man from hurting himself.

Yuuri, for his part, as much as his clouded mind is allowing him, understood what his friend is saying, but Phichit must understand, so he tried to pry the hands of his best friend off of him as he heard the thai say, "Why don't you do this when you're sober? Perhaps tomor –" but Yuuri cut him off swiftly as he whispered, "I need him now Phichit" as he breathed and said, "I need to know he's real"

Yuuri started walking again as Phichit let him walk a fair distance before he followed him again. Because for starters, Yuuri could be mobbed by fans and criminals alike right now and take advantage of him while he's drunk. In addition, he's also scared that Yuuri would be found out by the media and ruin his best friends career forever.

'Drunk Yuuri might not care but Sober Yuuri will'Phichit decided. Phichit is Yuuri's best friend first before he became his manager. And as his manager, he's worried for his career, but as a friend, he's saddened for whatever's happening in his life.

He watched on as his friend tried to walk ahead as he shook his head as he remembered how they got there.

45 minutes ago

"Yuuri, the crowd is asking for an encore…" Phichit barely heard Alyanna speaking as he watched Yuuri turning his head from the side of the stage to the crowd – looking all ready to jump off if he sees the silver haired man of his dreams – life. Phichit watched as Yuuri paid the girl no mind as he finally tried to walk -- or wobble forward, only to be grabbed by the girl again by the collar.

But before Alyanna could pull him again, Phichit watched Yuuri panick and pushed her away, making the audience gasp in unison as silence filled the hall and after a few seconds, Yuuri apologized for his actions and immediately thanked and apologized to his fans and ran out of the stage – stumbling as he does so, and was luckily caught by Phichit.

"He was here wasn't he?" Yuuri asked as him as he grabbed him by the shirt as the older man lifted his head as he adamantly refused to look at him at the moment – and that's answer enough for Yuuri as he started to pound Phichit's chest as he said, "Why didn't you tell me?"

There was a pregnant pause before Yuuri heard Chris sighing from the side and answered, "Phichit didn't know Yuuri… it – Victor was supposed to surprise you…" he ended lamely which made Yuuri pout and Phichit sulk as he whispered, "It seems everyone doesn't want to tell me things now… even you" as he gave Yuuri a soulless laugh and added, "You didn't tell me about the program change – and I thought I was your friend – best friend" which made Yuuri flinch with guilt as he apologized.

After that, he asked Chris to look after Alyanna and make sure she gets home safe – because he's somehow sure that she'd get mobbed by Yuuri's fanclub. But before the Swiss left, Phichit saw Yuuri grabbing Chris' shirt and asking him where Victor stayed.

Phichit thought Yuuri would take a taxi – he was wrong. Yuuri insisted on walking – well, Yuuri said he was running, but he's tripping so much that he might as well be walking. Phichit tried to persuade his friend to just take the taxi – much safer and away from the press, but Yuuri kept on insisting.

"Victor is going to walk – I'm sure of it!" Yuuri told his friend with so much conviction that on a good day might make Phichit wince but as he watched his drunken friend lean on the wall and entered an empty alley to puke his guts out, Phichit could only sigh and rub his friend's back who, despite everything, remained stubborn and was soon walking again towards a destination they both aren't sure of.

Present

Chris called Phichit after a few minutes to ask him where they were and the thai listened to his boyfriend curse when he told him where they are and what's Yuuri doing.

"I shouldn't have told him that" Phichit heard Chris say sulkily followed by a string of apologies and reassurances that once he sent the girl home, he'd pick both of them up. Before they hang up, Phichit asked Chris if he has any idea where Victor is, or if it's at all alright for him to call Victor and just talk to Yuuri, at least once, but he could almost see his boyfriend shaking his head as he heard him answer, "They know themselves and each other better than we'll ever know them Phichit…" and Phichit wanted to counter that and declare that he knew Yuuri best but stopped himself as he also realized, that it must also be untrue.

Phichit watched as Yuuri stopped walking in the middle of the road while crossing and panicked a bit when a few seconds has passed and Yuuri still didn't budge. So he ran as fast as he could only to be stopped when the traffic light changed and he watched Yuuri half running towards a familiar silver haired man and he could only sigh in relief as he thought, 'Maybe they need to talk' and 'Maybe, I should get out of here' and sighed again as he watched Yuuri grab Victor's shirt as he turned back.

If only he waited a bit before he turned, he would've thought differently and would probably saved his best friend from the pain. But instead, with a light heart, he called Chris to tell him that Yuuri found Victor and they seem to be talking and the other didn't need to worry about picking them up and just head straight for their apartment instead.

Yuuri was drunk and dizzy as he trudged on ahead. He knew Victor wouldn't head straight for wherever he's staying but will take as much time as he could outside first – well, at least that's the Victor Nikiforov he knew. He sighed as he heard murmurs beside him and a couple of people giving him odd looks and some, looks at him with recognition and… pity?

'Do I look that pitiful?'he asked himself sadly as he tried to look at himself,'Baggy eyes, drunk out of my mind, shirt's a crumpled mess and shoes still fresh with traces of puke – well, not that many, and it looked more like someone turned the sprinkler on these shoes rather than actual puke. I haven't eaten before I drank – maybe that's why, and I'd be damned if these people were not giving me odd stares, I look and feel like shit'his mind insisted as he tried to cross the road.

Question, why would a drunk Yuuri Katsuki cross the road?

Answer, to get to VictorfuckingNikiforov.

Yuuri stopped in the middle of the road as he tried to verify if it is indeed Victor, cos if it's not, the concrete right where he's standing is probably comfy and he'd rather sleep here than be anywhere else. But he ran as even with his foggy mind, he can still identify Victor, even in the middle of a crowded street, even if the Russian wore a disguise – not that the Russian did, but he knows, he will know.

Yuuri ran as fast as his feet would take him.

He ran until his lungs gave out and he almost collapsed but he pressed on until finally, he grabbed the back of Victor's shirt as he watched as the latter turned to him slowly with eyes growing impossibly large with surprise, worry and… guilt? Yuuri could understand the first two but he couldn't understand why Victor was looking at him with guilt.

Before Yuuri was able to open his mouth though, he felt someone yanking him away from Victor as a stranger poked him in the chest with anger as Yuuri heard the stranger said, "Look buddy, this one's taken for the night!" before stomping away dragging Victor away from him who kept eye contact with Yuuri up until they turned the road and he lost sight of Victor again.

At that point, Yuuri lost his mind.

He shouted Victor's name at the top of his lungs with an overwhelming intensity of pain which made every person turn to look at him and recognized him immediately. Soon, he was getting mobbed by fans and anti-fans alike

Yuuri barely remembered what happened after.

When he came to, he was at a police station with a worried Phichit hovering over him and bottles of beer beside him.

He made a request earlier to the officers out of his own drunkenness – but they didn't expect they were fans until a full case of beer was served at his feet complete with a bottle opener and ice.

Again, he was on his sixth bottle – twelfth for that night, if he's counting the ones he drunk during his performance, but considering he puked while walking, he decided that those were probably already out of his system by now, which wasn't the case but Yuuri doesn't want to recognize that.

Yuuri heard Phichit firing question after question at him until his friend finally caught up and the horrified look he gave when he saw the beer bottles beside him was enough to make Phichit cry in outrage as Chris talked sternly to the officer asking them for details and why would they give Yuuri a full case of beer when he's already drunk as he heard Chris voice as he said, "INSIDE A POLICE STATION?" and Yuuri knew Chris was fuming, but right now, Chris was the only one coherent enough, Yuuri decided as he tried to take another swig at the bottle only to find it fucking empty again.

"Why are you doing this again?" Yuuri heard Phichit askrd him desperately followed by, "What happened Yuuri? Didn't you see Vic –" and Yuuri raised his hands and covered the mouth of his friend to stop the other from speaking until he let it go when he realized that Phichit understood as he laid back to lean on the wall and smiled sadly as he answered, "He – he was with another guy. I – the guy said Victor was taken for the night – whatever that means" he ended lamely as he hung his head in shame and guilt and worry and sadness – so much sadness as he tried to stifle his sobs.

"Oh I'm so sorry Yuuri! I didn't know… I'm so sorry" Yuuri heard Phichit say as he hugged him and Yuuri just slumped against his best friend's shoulders and cried his heart out and he leaned his heaad from drunkenness and exhaustion.

"I'll call Victor! That son of a bitch won't know what hit him tonight when I –" Phichit winced as he felt Yuuri tense until he saw his friend looked up at Chris with horror as he said, "NO! Don't do that… I don't – He's with – I don't want to ruin his life anymore…" and Phichit had to stop Yuuri from shaking so much as he just let his friend slump back to his shoulders again as he listened to his friend finally said in a whisper, "I'm glad he's having fun. I'm happy for him… just… let me just… let me rest… please"

When he felt Yuuri relaxed and heard soft snores coming from the Japanese man, Phichit slowly disentangled himself from his friend and slowly made Yuuri lean to the wall to settle back comfortably.

Phichit stood up slowly and immediately, Chris' arms enveloped his sides and said, "This is not your fault. None of this is" as he felt Chris pinch his sides and his vision blurred from the tears and he turned around to hug Chris as he said, "How could it not be? I – I left him… I – I thought he was fine! How was I supposed to know that Victor fucking Nikiforov could be such an asshole after all this time?" and he raised his head to glare at the Swiss as he said with a scowl, "I thought you said he changed!"

Chris, for his part, at least looked apologetic when Phichit stared at him fiercely and with eyes full of accusation. He sighed as he apologized and added, "I thought so too. I really am sorry…"

Chris sighed again as he continued, "Yurio called me last night using Mila's phone – said something about Victor finally watching the video I posted in the GC and that be alert that Victor would be dropping by anytime soon and… and true enough, Victor called me just this afternoon to ask me to pick him up from the airport… I – I'm really sorry" he finished as he dropped his head.

"Well, I'm sorry too Chris … but right now, my best friend is sporting several bruises because some anti-fans found him and left my best friend in an empty alley to die until the police found him, so I'm really sorry if I say I hate everyone right now" and hugged Chris fiercely.

Chris didn't say anything for a time until he and Phichit broke from their embrace to get Yuuri home before the paparazzi arrives and ruin his best friend down to ashes before he can even recover. But as they tried to grab Yuuri, the Japanese man fend them off. With both eyes closed, Phichit and Chris watched as Yuuri threw a tantrum in the police station as he declared that only Victor could make him move and after a few hours of coaxing and bribing that led to nowhere, Phichit finally relented when Chris suggested that they call Victor.

"Your friend better not be covered in cum and hickeys when he gets here or so help me Chris I'd punch the living daylights out of that guy and make sure to file a fucking restraining order against him for Yuuri after I slowly castrate him!" Phichit declared and smiled in satisfaction as he saw his boyfriend visibly blanched as he dialed Victor's number and if Phichit heard his boyfriend threaten the Russian with a slow painful death if he comes to the Police Station with a stranger, he pretended not to hear anything and smiled sweetly at the officers.

"What took you so long?!" Chris rounded up at the pale looking guy as he dragged his best friend by the collar and led him to Phichit who started grumbling as he said, "You better keep your hands to yourself Nikiforov! I'm watching you!" Victor felt himself nodding his head enthusiastically as his eyes landed to the person covered by a jacket but with his black hair sticking out under it.

Victor tried to walk slowly towards Yuuri, his ex-boyfriend, and reached out for the jacket and took it off of the guy slowly. His eyes landed to that angelic face and he shuddered as his eyes drifted to the bruises as his eyes started to sting as tears fell as he heard Chris say beside him, "The police found him near the alley on 32nd Street l, just a few meters where you were last seen with him. Some anti-fans got him in disguise as his body guards and crews for a show and led him towards the alley and beat him up good"

"But Yuuri knew how to fight. He knows Judo, Taekwondo and I even remembered him before learning Muay Thai from Phi –" Victor started until Chris cut him off as he said, "The officers showed me the video, Yuuri didn't fight back. He let himself be used as a punching bag"

Victor turned to his friend confusedly as he said, "But I don't understand! Even if he was drunk he's always well coordinated when it comes to –" but he was cut off again by Phichit this time who is walking towards them with a scowl and poison dripping from his mouth as they heard the thai said, "My best friend lost his will to live! Again! No thanks to you!" and shoved the cold compress towards Chris who got the message and shifted towards Yuuri and away from his best friend and his partner.

A few seconds passed before Chris heard his partner say, "If you think for one second that I'm happy to see you Nikiforov well let me get this straight – I'm not! Like, if you dropped dead right here, right now, I wouldn't bat an eyelash and declare a dance party in your fucking grave! Don't think I didn't know what you were up to while you were away!"

There was a pause before Chris heard Phichit add, "Yuuri let me handle his social media – and thank god for that right? Because your conquests always tag Yuuri in every fucking picture and even though I know Yuuri would try to be happy for you for your sake… I don't want to plan my best friend's funeral yet as I wait for him to break"

"I'm – I don't – I don't know what to say" Chris heard his best friend say and he just shook his head sadly as he heard Phichit say, "Then don't say anything! I barely managed to get him out of his shell alive alive when you first broke him – and I personally think it would be more difficult this time – if he'd even budge at all, but since we're already at it, I better hope you'd have enough common sense and pity left in you to leave my best friend alone after you sent him home"

Phichit walked closer to where he and Yuuri are as he heard Phichit add, "Scram before he wakes up and we'll call it even"

When Phichit reached Yuuri, he took deep calming breaths first as he refused to acknowledge the presence of two other men as he reached for Yuuri's cheek that doesn't have bruises, caressed it a bit and said, "Yuuri, wake up, Victor's here" and as if a kid on Christmas morning, he saw Yuuri's eyes fluttering open until it landed on the guy behind Phichit as he shoved his friend away and clung to the silver haired man who was shocked out of his mind to say the least.

A few minutes passed until they heard Yuuri say, "You're here! You're here! This is the best dream ever" before pulling himself up and tiptoeing much to Phichit's horror and Chris' amusement as they saw Yuuri kiss Victor Nikiforov on the lips soundly before declaring, "You taste so sweet Vitya! I miss you so much!!" before hugging the Russian again and sobbed against the other's chest as he said, "Never leave me again – I don't care about anyone else… I'm never gonna fucking wake up! This dream is better than a reality without you… you're my music! My everything!"

He sighed in contentment as his grip tightened and added, "I love you so much my Vitya, my Vitenka" before mumbling in Japanese, "Kore kara mo, zutto daisuki Victor. Eien" and passed out again and Victor swore he'd read up what that meant, after he finds the capacity to breathe.

It took them exactly 20 minutes before they got Yuuri out of the police station since the drunk man woke up a few minutes after passing out and talked to the officers around and to anyone who'd listen that his boyfriend picked him up from the police station before agreeing to go out with them – but not until Victor agreed to carry him at the elevator, and Victor had a weird sense of déjà vu as he recalled Yuuri asking the same when they first met.

Yuuri clung to Victor more at the backseat of Phichit's and Chris' car until they arrived at his and Yuuri's old apartment and he only sighed as he thought how nothing much has changed since he left – except for the dog house that was there when he still had Makkachin living with them.

As soon as Victor stepped out of the car, Yuuri immediately threw himself behind him and demand that the carrying starts now as he let Yuuri let himself be comfortable as his hands supported Yuuri's thighs and carried him up and only nodding to a scowling Phichit and a pleading Chris.

Victor thought Yuuri fell asleep. Until he felt the man squirming behind him when they reached the elevator and blew air on his ears which made Victor blushed as he asked Yuuri if something was wrong which Yuuri countered with, "What are you thinking so deeply about?"

He felt Yuuri's hold tighten as he heard him ask, "Are you thinking about leaving me again?" to which Victor could honestly answer, "No, I'm thinking of how to stay actually" and he heard Yuuri snort at that before he heard Yuuri mumble, "I want to sing" and he did.

Tell me something(he started as he played with Victor's hair)

When the rain falls on my face

How do you quickly replace it with

A golden summer smile?

Tell me something(They reached the floor and Yuuri held Victor tighter as he continued)

When I'm feelin' tired and afraid

How do you know just what to say

To make everything alright?

Victor didn't know what to say as he supported Yuuri's legs who started swinging a bit as he felt Yuuri's head swaying from side to side as well and then Yuuri's voice started to get louder and off-key as he sung

I don't think that you even realize

The joy you make me feel when I'm inside

Your universe

You hold me like I'm the one who's precious

I hate to break it to you but it's just

The other way around

You can thank your stars all you want but

I'll always be the lucky one

He whispered the last part of the chorus as Victor started to blush when Yuuri kissed his cheek as he lowered him down to open the door.

To be honest, he should have bolted out of there after opening the door – which he found the spare key off right where he and Yuuri always put it, under the mat. But whatever he promised Phichit was lost in his thoughts the minute Yuuri tugged at his arm and gave him a look no one in their right mind would ever say no to.

"Stay" was the only thing that Yuuri said but Victor was already closing the door behind him, ready to never leave this apartment ever again as he led Yuuri to their old room which he found also stayed exactly the same.

"I'll finish that song Vitya" Victor heard Yuuri say as he laid the drunken man and took off the other's shoes before covering him with a blanket. He stood up and he could almost feel Yuuri looking at him intently before saying, "Your clothes are still where you left them – I didn't throw away anything… just in case" and Victor turned to gave the other a smile which was immediately returned.

He took his old pyjamas, the ones he left here before moving out, and kissed Yuuri's forehead as he bid him goodnight and left the door open as he told him he'd sleep on the couch. Just in case Phichit shows up unannounced before he wakes up tomorrow, at l3ast he'd still have all of his limbs intact. But he did stay, at least until Yuuri finally slept and he got comfortable at the couch.

Worrying about tomorrow. When Yuuri realize that this isn't a dream and coherent enough to talk to him and sober enough to have that conversation – or confession on his part. Before he slept, he prayed to all the gods that Yuuri wouldn't hate him – he prayed that Yuuri would let him stay.