((Valery sounds like Gideon Emery in my head. This is rather unfortunate, but I can't help it.))

9. Flesh-Marked by the Beast

Yuuri was glad they were early. Since this was a high-end establishment, in no time at all the place would be swarming with people. His chance to meet the part of Viktor's family that apparently wanted to talk to him was going to last just as long as it took the media to arrive. Later, he'd be facing masks put on for the public image.

Anya seemed charming, the twins odd. Yuuri didn't like them much, but he thought that might be owed to the fact that they had all decided Viktor wasn't worth the dirt on their shoes long ago and needed two decades to change their minds. But giving them a chance would be good for Viktor, no matter how it ended – and Yuuri would never get in the way of his partner's best interest.

Anya looked as if she might burst with happiness and somehow it didn't seem like she was faking this. 'Well, here's my dear husband Ren. He's from the area.' Yuuri didn't point out that this was obvious from his name. He knew a little something about nervous babbling. 'And the young gentleman finalising the décor is his best friend Leonid. He normally goes by Lyonya and I'm sure he'd prefer if you called him that, too.' She smiled. 'I met Ren through him. He thought we'd be a good match.'

'I'll help him with the cutlery,' Lera decided.

'Yeah,' Valery muttered. 'Before the moron botches it.'

'Shut up. You're the moron. I wouldn't trust you to know what item goes where.'

Valery's handsome features were distorted by barely veiled repulsion. 'Just fuck him already. He won't get laid otherwise anyway. Then at least you can move on.'

Yuuri exchanged a glance with Viktor, whose eyebrows had shot up. Anya spun and poked a finger at Valery's chest. 'Shut your foul mouth or you can leave. You're getting that one warning.'

Valery schooled his face into bored disinterest. Yuuri didn't buy it. 'Fine. I just don't like how she fawns over him. He isn't interested anyway and she's making a fool of herself. But I'll stop. Viktor's going to like him, they're dressed pretty much identically. If our cousin dyes his hair red, they'll be indistinguishable.'

Yuuri watched Lyonya and Lera. The young man was definitely listening and talking to her, even though he wasn't looking. There was a small, almost hidden smile on his face that had only appeared when she'd joined him. Yuuri leaned into Viktor. 'I'll say he's interested but extremely shy. You?'

'Same.' Viktor got his expression under control and faced Anya. 'Is there anything we can do to help?'

'Yes.' She smiled. 'Tell me about yourselves! And do stay overnight. We have prepared a room for you. It's beautiful and you'll be able to drink.'

Yuuri shook his head firmly. 'I'd better not. I'm a chaotic drunk. Trust me, you don't want that, especially with media presence.'

Viktor laughed. 'She didn't say we should get off our face.'

'No, but I'm nervous and that isn't a good combination. But if it's up to me, we'll stay. It'll get horribly late before we get home, otherwise, and I don't want to drive exhausted, either.' He shrugged. 'I'll have a glass to toast you, but not more than that.'

Ϡ

The place started to fill up with people dressed so elegantly Yuuri felt frumpy even though he really wasn't. Lyonya, he noticed, sat by himself, but his previous attempt to talk to him had been rather one-sided. The man was either very shy or very introverted. Or both. He could relate too well to bother him. Luckily, Ren walked over to him and Lyonya's focus latched onto him with a singlemindedness he hadn't directed at Yuuri during their brief exchange.

With his back against the wall, Yuuri fell to something he enjoyed more than he'd ever admit: people watching. The guests were all younger than Viktor by about a decade. They were a lively bunch and talking in a wild mix of Russian, Japanese, and English that would have confused him a few years back. Seeing how he and Viktor communicated rather similarly, it was easy enough to follow. He pitied the reporters. Getting anything out of this would be difficult for someone who wasn't fluent in all three languages.

Yuuri felt Viktor's presence before he saw him, drifting out of the crowd. 'Just look at them,' he said softly. 'That man over there, he's the head of a large bank in Russia. And that one? He owns a private school. I swear I spotted someone earlier who was on your news, giving an interview about some political issue or other. I wouldn't be surprised if your Tenno showed up at some point.'

'I certainly hope not,' Yuuri said. 'This is bad enough as it is. I don't belong here.'

'They won't be staying long, trust me.' Viktor took Yuuri's hand and caressed it with his thumb. 'They're all very busy people. They want to be seen, look good, and get out of dodge. I know how this goes.'

'I hope you're right.'

'Ooooh, if this isn't Viktor Dmitrievich and Yuuri Katsuki,' a high voice said and a woman with a microphone and a frilly blue dress said approaching them. She had a slight Russian accent. 'You don't mind answering a few questions, do you?'

While Yuuri did mind, he knew he couldn't say so. The formal way of addressing them meant this would probably not be too horrible, though, so he made a non-committal noise and decided the more compliant they were, the sooner she'd go away.

'Wonderful! Yuuri Katsuki, the last time you were spotted in Russia, it was at the airport. Back then, rumours started that your union with Viktor Dmitrievich has come to an abrupt and painful end. That was, apparently, not the case.'

'Wasn't it you people who started that rumour?' Viktor asked, sounding genuinely interested. Yuuri knew better. He was seething but too controlled to let it show.

'We simply observed that you travelled alone and seemed distraught.'

'Well, I've seen the picture,' Yuuri said. 'In that photo you can clearly see that I'm wearing my ring. So no, I hadn't broken off our engagement. We didn't even have a fight.' Technically, that was true. He'd just run off without a word.

'Yuuri went to visit his family and I followed as soon as I could.' Viktor shrugged. 'I was in hospital after an accident at that time and Yuuri was very concerned because he couldn't help me. As you can see, I have fully recovered. Our plans haven't changed except for the location. Yuuri came to Hasetsu as the vanguard, if you will.'

'So, you will get married in Japan? When is that going to be?'

'We haven't got a date yet, and we will not announce it to the public,' Yuuri told her. 'It will be close family and friends. Ask us again next year, and we'll happily let you know how long we've been married.'

'Are you going to return to Russia afterwards?'

Viktor sighed. 'I … have no plans to go back permanently.'

'What a loss! Does that mean you will end your skating career?'

'That depends on too many factors to discuss at this time. Maybe look for me where you wouldn't expect me. And no, you're not getting more than that out of me.'

'And Yuuri Katsuki? A few short years ago, you seemed nothing but a mediocre athlete who'll never achieve anything remarkable. Now you have won Olympic gold and rumour has it you're aiming for another Olympic season.'

'I mean to, yes.' Yuuri managed a semi-genuine smile. 'I have the best coach in the world, I am motivated, and I do believe I can still win. What more could I ask for?'

From here, it was all right. The reporter seemed to be done with the personal questions and answering the rest until she left happily was easy. Yuuri had met worse than her. Far worse.

'Excuse me for a moment, will you?' Viktor said, making his way towards them men's room. Yuuri decided that the best way to stay out of everyone's focus was to get a plate of food in front of him, so he did that. He wasn't hungry anymore, but at least, he'd be left alone.

When he finished, Viktor hadn't re-appeared. The crowd had thinned considerably within the last fifteen minutes, so he should be able to see him. The moment he wanted to go look for him, the door to the restrooms opened and Viktor came out, looking pale and unhappy. They made a beeline for each other, and before Yuuri could ask what was wrong, Viktor leaned close. 'Have you seen Ren, Yuuri?'

'He's in the kitchen, helping to prepare a midnight snack.'

'I need him. Lyonya is in the restroom, I tried to talk to him but he's not well.'

'Is he sick? Should we call an ambulance?'

Viktor shook his head. 'No. He's having a panic attack. I could help a little, enough to get out of him that he isn't physically ill. But he needs Ren. I'll get him and then I'm going to our room. I'm done for today.' He swallowed. 'I notice you've taken to Anya. If you'd like to stay, that's all right.'

'No. I mean, yes, Anya is really sweet, but I'm not staying, either. I'll tell her where you and Ren went, though. You go get him, I get Anya. Then I'll come up to you.'

Viktor kissed him briefly. 'Thanks. You're lovely.'

Worrying about the closed-off young man and remembering the feeling of breaking down in a bathroom, Yuuri did what he had promised mechanically. He barely heard Anya acknowledging his words and decided that there was really no-one else here he owed to say good-night to. Lera had gone to bed early, Ren and Lyonya were busy, and Valery had become more and more obnoxious the more drunk he'd got. He'd vanished a while ago, too.

Before Yuuri made it to the stairs, a derisive laugh stopped him. He jumped and turned, looking at the twin. 'I'm sorry, Valery, I'm not in the mood. Good night.'

'Do you really think he'll marry you? Like, marry you?'

Yuuri opened his mouth to answer, then stopped himself. He wasn't worth his time. He turned away, determined to ignore him.

Valery wouldn't have that, apparently. He slunk around Yuuri and stood in his way, one hand on each side's handrail. 'You're a groupie, nothing more. A dirty little gold-digging whore and he knows it. He's playing you. He'll never love you, an idiot who can't even say his name without butchering it.'

Yuuri wondered if he should by upset by any of this and why he wasn't. Maybe he was just too tired from interacting with so many people. 'Just because you have no idea how to love someone doesn't mean all of us are that stunted, you know.'

'I'm sure he's happy to fuck you because you're so over-eager for him. But that doesn't mean he can ignore real skill. That pretty cock of his, it filled my throat nicely.'

Instantly awake, Yuuri blinked. 'What?' he made.

'You heard me. I sucked him good, your Viktor.' He leaned down, his breath stinking of alcohol as he continued. 'Make no mistake, he knew it's not you eating his dick because you were in his line of sight while I made him come under the table. His hips were twitching so prettily until he shot his load in my mouth. I gave him a little scratch on his thigh to remember me by. Just left of his sack. Nice little upwards curve he's got there on his cock, and not too veiny. I'm sure it'll feel great inside me, although the head could be a bit wider for my taste. The tiny mole just above it is cute, though.'

Yuuri's mind had gone blank as he stared at Valery. The disgusting man had taken his left hand off the railing and was gesturing for Yuuri to pass, but he remained where he was. He had seen him almost tripping over his own feet in his drunken state and found himself wishing he had. Falling down the stairs seemed a mild punishment. 'Thank you,' Yuuri said at last. 'You're repulsive and cruel and evil, but thank you. You didn't mean to, but you just did me an enormous favour.'

'No, I did Viktor a favour. If you ditch him, you spare him from making that effort. He's better off without someone like you.'

Yuuri found a smile. 'Try not to choke on the bile you spew out. That would really put a crimp in Anya's day and I wouldn't want that. Good night.'

((I swear this is the last one: Лёня - /Lyonya/ is the diminutive for Leonid.))