A/N: Here's chapter five for you guys!
Once again, this chapter is not edited, so I'm sorry for the mistakes that could have slipped in the text.
You'll also see that the formating for this chapter is different than it was earlier. I changed it due to some circumstances. The earlier chapters have also been formated in the same way. The contents of the chapters stay the same, though.
Also, thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers! I can't say it enough. Knowing that you like this story and that you keep reading every chapter makes me so happy! Also a huge thanks to my anonymous reviewers. Your comments are also appreciated. :)
I won't keep you any longer. I hope you'll like this chapter!
Fall For You
Act V: Fear
The day after Yuri and Flynn's kissing scene, there was a palpable tension between the two males at first. The memory of what happened the day before was still fresh in their minds. It was a little hard to forget when Judith was constantly reminding them about it and that "she would not mind seeing an encore." Sometimes, they wondered what was going on in that girl's head, and not only in hers; Estelle seemed to be almost as far gone as her. She kept blushing furiously when around them, unable to look them in the eye.
Eventually, Flynn and Yuri reverted to acting normal around each other, but Flynn found himself spending more time in observing his friend than he normally did. He could not help it; since their shared kiss, the blonde's mind wandered in places it did not go before. Flynn was considering he might be attracted to Yuri. It did not disturb Flynn as he was an open person. The blonde just had to get used to the idea since being attracted to another male never happened to him before.
To debate on the question, Flynn began observing Yuri, without the latter being aware of it. Flynn was a really observant person. He noticed every little detail about Yuri; how his lips would turn into a slight pout when he was bored; how he would always replace that rebel strand of hair behind his ear when he was concentrating; how his eyes would crease just a tad bit when he was planning a prank; how his eyes would avert to the side when he was embarrassed or lying; Flynn saw it all, and he found it fascinating as hell, and also just as cute.
Not only that, but Flynn could honestly say that Yuri was really good-looking. He had noticed it before, but now the blonde found himself really taking in Yuri's features; from his silky, long, dark hair to the soft features of his flawless and exotic face, to his slim and narrow waist and down his endlessly long legs... okay, he was not only good-looking, but also quite attractive. A lot, in fact.
Flynn was sure that if it was not for the rumours that went around about Yuri, the dark haired male would catch the fancy of quite a lot of people. However, because of those rumours, the only people that approached Yuri only wanted a quick fuck out of him.
After his thorough analysis, Flynn came to this conclusion; he was indeed attracted to Yuri Lowell. A lot. However, the blonde did not know if what he felt was just that, or if there was more behind this attraction. Did he love Yuri? That's what Flynn needed to figure out, but how? The only thing he could hope for was for things to get clearer with time.
When Flynn and Yuri arrived in rehearsal that day, they immediately noticed something different this time. Raven was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Yeager was standing on the stage, looking at the students entering with his trademark scary smile stretched across his lips. Behind him, there was a rack filled with costumes. The students immediately understood that the costumes for the play were ready. Everyone was excited by the news; everyone except Yuri. He glared at the clothes, as if they would magically burn under his gaze. Flynn found the sight quite amusing.
They all sat on the benches and waited for Yeager to speak.
"Welcome, my little darlings! Today is a special day. Instead of a rehearsal, it will be a trying-on session. The costumes are ready and I will ask you to put them on so I can see if they fit you," Yeager explained happily with his strange accent.
Seeing nobody was moving, he laughed in a disturbing way.
"What are you waiting for, my pretties? Come!" he said and everyone began to move as they did not want to anger the costumer. He could be scary when he was mad.
Seeing Yuri was not about to move from his seat, Flynn sighed and stood in front of his friend.
"Don't be such a kid. You'll have to wear the dress sooner or later, so come on," Flynn tried to convince Yuri, but the latter only sulked more.
Flynn did not even try to hide his amusement. He grabbed Yuri's wrist and pulled him to his feet before the raven haired male had to time to realize it. The blonde dragged Yuri with him towards the stage, ignoring Yuri's vehement protests.
Once the students were on stage, Yeager gave them their costumes one by one and asked them to get changed in the backstage. When it was Yuri's turn, Yeager gave him a dress that freaked the hell out of Yuri. The dress had many layers and a corsage. The fabric was of a red and black silky material.
"This is for you, my dear Juliet. I have three other dresses for you, so be quick and put it on please," Yeager said with amusement. Yuri shook his head.
"I'm not putting that on," he said in a defying tone. Yeager's glare turned dangerous.
"Then I'll give you a choice, my dear. You put it on, or I do it for you and I don't think you would like that alternative," Yeager said.
The glint in Yeager's eyes told Yuri that he really did not want the costumer to do it himself.
Yuri grabbed the dress furiously and stormed over to the backstage. Flynn managed to stop himself from laughing. Judith was given her own clothes and smirked at Yeager.
"I think Yuri will need some help with putting the dress on. Can I help him?" she asked the costumer. Yeager chuckled.
"Of course," he answered with amusement.
Satisfied, Judith went towards the backstage, in the direction Yuri took. A moment later, Flynn could hear Yuri protest and curse loudly as Judith tried to get him into the dress. This time, the blonde could not stop himself. He began laughing hard. The blonde was sill laughing when he grabbed his clothes and went in the backstage.
Since Yuri had the most complicated outfit, he was the last one to emerge from backstage, dressed in his costume. Judith was dragging him out of the backstage, preventing him from running away. Flynn's jaw dropped when he saw his friend. That red and black dress was... gorgeous on him. Yuri was just plain beautiful. Flynn did not say that comment out loud, because he knew he would earn a good beating in return, but he could not stop staring. Yuri's face was flushed with embarrassment and he kept on cursing in Japanese, which greatly amused his comrades. Yeager looked appreciatively at Yuri.
"Wunderbar!(1) This dress fits you perfectly!" he exclaimed, pleased by his work.
Yuri did not answer. His hands went to his stomach. Flynn noticed only now that Yuri's breathing came in short puffs.
"It's too tight. I can barely breathe," he complained. Judith had a small smile.
"It's supposed to be. You're going to have to get used to it," she said with amusement.
Yuri sighed, looking desperate. His gaze met Flynn's in a split second, but he quickly turned his gaze away as he noticed how handsome the blonde was, dressed in his costume of Romeo. Yuri did not notice the admiring look Flynn threw his way. He was too preoccupied thinking he could not wait to get rid of the dress. As if he wanted to crush his hopes, Yeager took another dress from the rack and offered it to Yuri.
"Okay, next one," he said in a pleased tone.
Yuri glared at him, but he soon saw that it had no effect. He cursed loudly and grabbed the offending dress. Yuri went back towards the backstage with a smiling Judith on his heels.
Yuri could not be happier to see a rehearsal meet its end. He thought he would go mad as he had to try on the fourth dress. He never felt more humiliated in his entire life. The worst of it all was to endure the comments and looks of the other members of the troupe. At least, Flynn did not comment on the dresses, but it was only because Yuri glared at him in a way that told the blonde that he was dead if he dared speak. Yuri knew he was ridiculous; he did not need to be told so.
After rehearsal, Yuri did not wait for Flynn like he usually did. He had received a call earlier from the club saying he had to meet one of his clients at a coffee shop in town in less then thirty minutes. Yuri hated having to meet his clients outside of the club, but he did not really have a choice in the matter. When a client took a liking to him, he could ask to meet Yuri outside of the club and more often.
Yuri could decline these invitations if he wanted too, but his pay would suffer greatly from it. It was not in his interest to refuse seeing his clients. In any case, meeting the clients outside of the club paid more, so he did not really have the right to complain.
The client Yuri had to meet was one of his regulars. Yuri did not know his name, as it was forbidden for a host to ask about a client's name. The man was in his early thirties and was quite attractive for his age, but Yuri was not interested. His interest lied elsewhere, namely in a certain blonde.
Yuri made a quick detour by his apartment to get changed before departing towards the meeting place. Yuri looked at the name of the coffee shop displayed on his cell phone. He knew the place. He was almost there. Two minutes later, Yuri arrived at destination. He entered and spotted his client sitting in a corner. As soon as the older man saw him, Yuri smiled in a seductive way, entering his host's acting. How he hated acting like he was in love with those men. However, he needed the money. He could not afford to be picky about the job.
As soon as Yuri sat at the table with his client, they began their usual game of innocent flirting. Yuri would let himself be desired and he would compliment his client on every aspect he could find. Yuri was playing a role. It was not so different than from playing in the theatre troupe at college – only now he was being paid for it. At the end of the 'date', he would go back to being his old normal self.
That was how it was supposed to go, anyway, but when they left the shop, Yuri's client grabbed his wrist, preventing him from leaving. Yuri tensed at the contact. The older man smiled at Yuri.
"Please, don't leave already. There's something I want to give you, but it's at my house. Will you come with me?" he asked gently, but there was something in his tone that Yuri did not like.
The fact that he did not let go of Yuri's wrist either was making the raven haired male think he was not letting him a choice, despite his words. Also, that man wanted Yuri to go to his house. That left Yuri with a strong feeling of unease. His client saw it on his face.
"Come on, I won't hurt you. I only want to give you something," he insisted.
After a moment, Yuri nodded, but his unease did not disappear. He knew he should not go, but the club disapproved greatly when a host denied a client's demand. Yuri's pay would be cut a great deal for that.
The older man was pleased by Yuri's acceptance. He released his wrist and put a hand on his back instead, guiding him to his car. As Yuri climbed on the passenger seat, he could not help the feeling of foreboding from pooling in his gut. He already regretted accepting.
They arrived soon after in front of an imposing house. Yuri was not even surprised. Going to a host club as often as that man did, he had to have a lot of money. Hosts clubs were pretty expensive. As he got out of the car, Yuri regretted even more having accepted to come here. His client was living in a quarter of town that was really far from Yuri's. The raven haired male tried to calm himself down. He would not stay here long; only just enough to take whatever his client wanted to give him and get the hell out of here.
The client invited Yuri into the house and told him to take off his coat. Yuri wanted to say no, but the look the man threw him dissuaded him from the thought. Yuri did as told and followed the older man to the living room. When the client told Yuri to sit down, the latter declined this time. The man sighed.
"As you wish," he answered before leaving the living room and walking towards one of the rooms.
He disappeared inside to go fetch Yuri's gift. It did not take him long to come back to Yuri's side. In his hands was a wad of money that he offered to Yuri. The raven haired male looked at the money with confusion. That was a lot of money. But why? Yuri lifted his confused gaze on the man, who was smiling at him in a way he really did not like.
"You are wondering why I'm giving you this? It's payment in advance for your services," he explained as he took a step towards Yuri.
The latter did not miss the sparkle of lust that appeared in his client's eyes. Yuri's heart sank in his chest. He took a step back in counterpart and shook his head.
"I won't do this. I'm not a cheap prostitute," he replied harshly. His client's good humor dropped a little at his response.
"There are some hosts who have sex with their clients. I'll pay you more than I would pay a prostitute, don't worry," he replied.
This time, anger rose in Yuri. With a hit from the back of his hand, Yuri made the money fly out of the man's hand and it flied all around the room.
"Maybe there are some who do, but I don't. You can keep your money; I don't want it," Yuri said coldly and turned around, walking to the entrance.
He would not stay in this house a moment more. There was no way he would have sex with this man. Coming here had been a bad idea from the start.
Yuri grabbed his coat and turned the doorknob. He had barely opened the door when a hand shot out from behind Yuri and shut it close. Yuri jumped and spun around, his hand already closed into a fist flying towards his client's face. Yuri's panic gave him the reflexes he needed. However, the man expected his reaction. He grabbed Yuri's wrist, halting his movement. The man was wearing a sly smirk.
"Fine by me. Then you just won't get paid," he answered. Yuri glared at him as his anger was still stronger than his panic.
"Let. Me. Go. Right. Now!" Yuri growled low in his throat.
His threat would have been enough to make many people flee, but not this man. When Yuri saw that the man was not about to obey, his other fist quickly flew towards the man's face, but his wrist was also caught into a tight hold. The smile on the man's face vanished.
"You know what I hate above all else? I hate it when I'm shown something on a silver platter only to have it denied in the end," he seethed and Yuri felt shivers of fear run down his back.
The man jerked him forward and before Yuri could react, his lips were claimed in a rough and hungry kiss. Yuri reacted strongly to this violation. He struggled against the man's hold, but it was no use. His violator forced his mouth open and slipped his tongue inside. Yuri did not even think about it twice. He bit down hard on the filthy tongue and tasted copper as blood seeped from the wound.
The man broke the kiss. A look at his face told Yuri that he was enraged. The raven haired male did not even see the hit coming. The man's fist collided with his jaw with such strength that Yuri was thrown against the wall. His head hit the wall harshly and he cried out in pain as his vision exploded in white. A moan of pain escaped Yuri's lips and he lost track of his senses. He was barely aware of the man grabbing his arm harshly and dragging him away until he was thrown on something soft – a bed.
He managed to focus his gaze and regain his senses a second too late. The man's weight crushed him against the mattress. Yuri's hands shot up to latch at the man, but the hit he took at his head weakened him. The man easily caught his wrists in a bruising hold and brought them over Yuri's head. Yuri's violator brought his face closer until Yuri could feel his disgusting breath against his face.
"You can only blame yourself, Yuri. I was willing to make this pleasurable for you too," he said with excitement. Yuri glared at the man pinning him down.
"Let me go! You won't get away with this!" Yuri seethed and he struggled against the bruising hold on his wrists.
The man chuckled at his efforts and leaned towards Yuri. The latter turned his face to the side and closed his eyes in disgust when he felt the man lick a trail down his cheek and neck. Cold panic seized the raven haired male's heart.
"No, I told you, I'm not ready for that yet!" Yuri's eyes snapped open in pure fright at the memory. He renewed his struggle, his fear fueling his anger.
"Bastard! Don't you dare touch me!" he exclaimed with rage. He twisted his wrists and managed to get one of his hands free.
His fist harshly hit the man's jaw, making him loosen his grip around Yuri's captured wrist. The latter straightened up and was about to hit the bastard again, but the older man recovered too quickly. Yuri's client hit him once more across the face, more violently this time.
Yuri yelped in pain and he tasted blood as his lip slit open. He fell back on the mattress and a strong hand closed tightly around his throat, cutting off his air supply. Yuri weakly gripped the hand choking him, trying to pry it off.
"Come on, don't play the prude now. You're gonna like it, I promise..." Yuri wanted to scream for it all to stop; for the memories to go away and for this to be a nightmare. This could not be happening! He would not let this happen! The man's angry face came close to Yuri's.
"You dirty little slut! I'll make you pay for that!" he said with rage.
Yuri was suffocating. His eyes rolled in their sockets. With his free hand, the man grabbed Yuri's wrists again and pinned them on the mattress. He finally released his hold around Yuri's throat and the raven haired male took his breath in wheezing. Yuri felt the need to puke when the man's hand slid under his shirt and touched his skin.
"Stop it, it hurts!" Yuri shied away from the touch and screamed in fear and anger. The man grabbed a fistful of Yuri's hair and yanked his head backwards, latching at the exposed skin. "Relax. Man, you're tight. Guess what you told me was true." Yuri renewed his struggles against this violation.
"Get your fucking hands off me!" he yelled in anger and desperation. It only earned him another laugh.
"Yell all you like; no one is going to hear you," the man told a desperate looking Yuri.
The raven haired male closed his eyes and he began to hyperventilate. Stop him, you have to STOP HIM! Yuri felt that disgusting hand burn its way down his body in a deceiving caress. His mind screamed at him to do something, anything, but his body felt numb.
The offending hand suddenly left his skin and the sound of a belt being opened made Yuri's eyes snap open. The face of someone else floated in front of his eyes; someone who was no longer there; someone who ripped his heart in half and hurt him so much in the past. Yuri's heart sank in his chest and his face paled visibly.
It hurts... Something rose in Yuri, slowly; a frightening and sick feeling. It hurts. That long forgotten face smiled at Yuri; a smile both frightening and mocking. It hurts! Then, that face faded away to be replaced by the one of the man above Yuri; the man who was hurting and defiling him. IT HURTS!
Something violently shattered inside Yuri as the man above him smiled cruelly at him.
"I can't wait to be buried into that tight-looking ass of yours," he whispered hungrily, staring at an unmoving Yuri.
The man looked closer at his victim's desperate and lifeless eyes. His smile widened.
Flynn stared at Yuri's empty place with a bothered expression. His friend did not come to college today and it worried him. The last time – and first time since Flynn was in town – Yuri missed a complete day of school was the day of his parent's death. Flynn could not stop thinking that something serious happened.
This thought was what pushed him to call at Yuri's apartment after his class. Yuri picked up after five ringtones.
"Hello?" Yuri's voice seemed raw and there was something in it that Flynn could not describe, but it worried him. Flynn frowned.
"Hey, it's me, Flynn. Why aren't you at school? Are you okay?" he asked, not even trying to hide the worry he felt.
There was a silence on the other side before Yuri answered.
"I'm fine, don't worry. I just caught a small cold. I should be able to come to school tomorrow."
His friend's answer did not quell Flynn's worry.
"Do you want me to check on you after school?" Flynn asked. This time, Yuri's answer came quickly.
"No! I mean, I'm fine, really. I just need to rest a little. I'll see you tomorrow."
There was something really strange in Yuri's voice. Something akin to... fear? He was not sure. Flynn did not like it one bit, but he knew how stubborn Yuri could be. Flynn sighed.
"Fine. Take care of yourself and rest well, okay?" the blonde said reluctantly.
He wanted to go check on his friend, but Yuri would not be happy if Flynn came despite his words. Flynn could not care less if he got Yuri angry or not, but he thought he could at least wait tomorrow. If Yuri still did not come to college the next day, then Flynn would check on him.
"Okay. Bye," Yuri answered and hung up the phone. Flynn stared a long time at his cell phone and sighed.
The next day at lunch time, Flynn was walking down the hallway leading to the cafeteria when he spotted a familiar figure walking just ahead: Yuri. It seemed he was feeling better today. Flynn walked in a quicker step to join his friend. When he was just behind him, Flynn put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Yuri! You –" Flynn did not expect what happened next.
Yuri violently startled and turned around. His eyes were wide open and he took a few steps away from Flynn. The blonde stared at his friend, unable to move as he took in his reaction. Yuri finally recognized Flynn. He smiled at him in a strained way.
"Flynn, you startled me! You're lucky I'm not cardiac," Yuri said on a tone he wanted joking, but his voice was shaking.
Flynn did not answer. He kept staring at Yuri and immediately knew there was something terribly wrong about his friend. Flynn could see bruises on his face. If it was only that, he could have thought Yuri only got into another fight. However, Flynn did not miss the way Yuri shied away from him like a frightened animal and he did not miss the pure fear that filled his eyes before he recognized Flynn. The blonde also noticed that Yuri was wearing his uniform properly for the first time; his shirt was buttoned to the top and he was wearing his tie. There definitely was something wrong with Yuri.
The raven haired male felt uneasy under his friend's unwavering gaze. He felt suddenly self conscious. His hand gripped his wrist in an unconscious gesture. Yuri forced himself to calm down and tried to hide his unease.
Flynn was no fool, however. He grabbed Yuri's arm and felt his friend tense under his touch. Flynn ignored it and started to walk in the cafeteria's opposite direction, dragging Yuri with him. The latter tried to pry himself out of Flynn's grasp.
"Flynn, what's gotten into you? Let me go!" Yuri said with a hint of anger.
Flynn ignored him and kept on walking until they were in a remote hallway. Flynn spotted an empty classroom and went inside, still dragging Yuri around. Once they were both inside, Flynn released Yuri and closed the door behind them.
Yuri glared at Flynn, not happy by the turn of events. Why couldn't he leave him alone?
"Flynn, that's not funny. Why did you bring me here?" Yuri asked with a displeased expression.
Flynn still said nothing, but he took steps towards Yuri. The latter was about to make a step back when Flynn quickly extended his hand and grabbed Yuri's wrist, yanking him forward. Yuri gasped in surprise and could do nothing but watch as Flynn yanked his sleeve upwards, revealing his bruised wrist. Flynn stared at the marks; vivid purple on white skin. They were undoubtedly the marks of fingers.
Flynn grabbed Yuri's other wrist and exposed the skin, only to see the same marks. The blonde's gaze rose to look at Yuri's face, but he could not see his eyes since his friend had lowered his head, letting his bangs cover them.
"Yuri, look at me," Flynn asked in a gentle tone. He managed to keep his calm despite the restlessness that was slowly overwhelming him.
When Yuri did not obey, Flynn grabbed his friend's chin and lifted it, but Yuri harshly yanked his face to the side. Flynn could still see the hurt and fear in his eyes, threatening to come forth any moment. Then, Flynn's attention was on Yuri's neck, where it was hidden by the shirt and tie.
"Take off your tie," the blonde ordered gently.
He saw Yuri close his eyes, and the raven haired male did not move. Flynn was getting restless.
"Yuri, if you won't do it, I'll do it for you," Flynn said impatiently. Yuri bit his lip with nervousness and after a moment, Flynn heard the soft, resigned response.
"Fine..." Yuri whispered and his hand went to the tie.
He loosened it and let it fall to the ground. He slowly undid the first button of his uniform and exposed the skin of his neck. Flynn missed a breath at the sight. Yuri's neck was in the same state than his wrists. It looked like someone tried to strangle him.
Flynn took a few steps back, staring at Yuri. The latter refused to meet his gaze as he stubbornly stared at the ground, his face to the side. He did not even bother hiding his neck anymore. What was the point now? Flynn shook his head, not liking where his mind was going.
"What happened? Who did this to you?" he asked, feeling anger bubble up inside him at whoever hurt his friend. Yuri visibly tensed.
"Look, it doesn't concern you. I'm fine now," Yuri answered dryly.
He did not want to be mean to Flynn, but he could not stand the blonde prying into his business this time. Flynn took a step forward and grabbed Yuri's shoulders. This action pried the same reaction Yuri had earlier. He shied away from him and fear shone in his eyes. Flynn's expression softened.
"It does concern me, Yuri! I care about you and I'm worried! Someone hurt you and I want to know who and what happened!" Flynn said and Yuri clearly heard the anger in his friend's voice at his last words.
Yuri did not answer, but Flynn saw him waver. The blonde sought his friend's eyes and saw great pain in them.
"You can tell me anything, Yuri. I'm your friend, am I not?" Flynn whispered.
Yuri bit his lip and closed his eyes. Despite not wanting to relive the memory, he wanted so much to tell Flynn what happened, to confide in him. Yuri knew it would surely lift a huge weight from his shoulders if he was to tell Flynn about what happened, and about his job... But at the same time, Yuri feared it would push Flynn away and he did not know if he would survive it if it came to happen. However, he needed to tell someone about what happened. It might help him to get rid of the pain and the fear he felt. What should he do?
Flynn sensed Yuri's inner conflict. He kept silent, knowing it would do no good to push his friend. A long moment of silence followed. Finally Yuri opened his eyes and looked at Flynn with a resigned expression.
"Fine. I'll tell you, but not here. I'll tell you tonight, at my apartment," he whispered in a quiet tone.
Flynn nodded and bent to pick up Yuri's tie. He offered it to Yuri, who buttoned up his shirt and put it back in place. Flynn wanted to say something else, but Yuri strode past him and left the classroom. The blonde looked at his friend as he left, worry and apprehension gleaming in his eyes.
After college, Flynn and Yuri walked in complete silence towards Yuri's apartment. Flynn did not dare talk as he did not want to make Yuri change his mind. The latter seemed to be deep in his thoughts. Not a single word was exchanged until they were in the raven haired male's apartment. Once there, Yuri got rid of his tie since he had nothing to hide to Flynn anymore. The two friends sat across from each other on the couch, much like they did the evening Yuri and Flynn confided in each other. Once they were sitting, a moment of silence stretched on before Yuri finally spoke.
"I guess I'll have to begin by telling you what my second job is about," he said in a shamed whisper.
Flynn frowned, not understanding the link between Yuri's job and what happened to him. Then he remembered the guy at the movie theatre and how he talked about Yuri's 'job'. Could it be... Some links were forming in the blonde's mind, but he pushed them away for now. Flynn stayed silent, waiting for Yuri to speak again.
The dark haired man sighed and he bit his lip, a clear sign that he was nervous.
"... I'm a host. I work in a host club," he admitted.
There was no use dragging it on forever. Yuri met Flynn's eyes after a second. He did not see disgust in the blue eyes; only confusion. So Flynn was not really aware of what a host club was. It did not surprise him. Yuri decided to explain.
"Basically, a host club is a place where clients go to relax in the company of hosts. The host's job is to please his clients and make sure they come back. The clientele of the club I work for is entirely male," Yuri said and this time, he saw another emotion appear on the blonde's face; apprehension.
This time, Flynn interrupted him.
"What do you mean "please"? You're not talking about sexual favors, are you?" the blonde asked and hoped very much that it was not the case.
Just imagining Yuri stooping to do something like selling his body upset him. Hopefully, Yuri shook his head.
"No. Well, there are some hosts who do have sex with their clients, but it's always outside of the club and it's not an obligation. At least, not in the club I work for. Basically, what a host has to do is make his client believe that he's in love with him. We do that by flirting with them and by keeping them company whenever they want. Our pay is determined by how much we manage to make the clients drink in the club. We also have regulars who often want to see us outside of the club. They pay for everything in exchange for our company," Yuri explained with shame.
He knew Flynn would surely judge him for what he did as a host, even if he was nothing like a prostitute. He still had to offer his services to men who would like nothing more but to bed him. Like him...
Yuri chanced a glance at Flynn, but his face was still expressionless, which made Yuri unable to know what he was thinking. Flynn frowned.
"So the guy at the movie theatre the other time was one of your clients at the club?" the blonde asked and Yuri nodded.
"Yeah. I couldn't really be mean to him even if I wanted to. I can't risk losing my clients," Yuri explained with uneasiness.
An awkward silence fell over them as Yuri did not dare tell more than that. He knew what Flynn wanted to know and now that he was here, he did not want to tell what happened. It would make him relive it. Fortunately for him, Flynn had another question in mind.
"Is that how the rumors about you started? Because people saw you in the company of your clients?" he asked gently, trying to comprehend.
Flynn saw Yuri tense visibly. He was obviously uncomfortable with the question.
Yuri looked to the side and answered in barely a whisper; "No. It was something else. I told you the rumors started five years ago. I was sixteen at the time, and you can't work in a host club when you're still a minor. But it fueled the rumors, at least."
Flynn understood as much. What he also understood is that whatever started the rumors hurt Yuri like nothing else. It was written all over his face. Flynn hoped Yuri would tell him one day. He realized he wanted to know everything about Yuri, the good and the bad. Maybe then, Flynn could take his pain away. He realized he wanted to do it. For now, he could begin by making Yuri tell him what happened.
"Yuri… Since you told me about the club, I'm guessing what happened to you is linked to it," Flynn said, encouraging the raven haired male to speak.
The latter closed his eyes in unrest and braced himself to revive the memories. As he began to speak in a quiet voice, he could not bring himself to look at Flynn.
"Two days ago, I met one of my regulars outside of the club. But when I was about to leave him, he stopped me and told me he had something to give me at his home. I agreed to go with him. I was stupid. Once at his home, I realized that what he wanted to give me was money in exchange for agreeing to have sex with him," Yuri began and heard Flynn's intake of breath.
The raven haired male still did not look at his friend. If he did, he would not be able to continue.
"I refused. I'm not doing this kind of thing. I wanted to leave, but he didn't let me. He… he forced himself on me," Yuri said in a broken whisper as the memories came back.
He knew he was shaking by now, but he could not stop it. When the raven haired male opened his eyes and looked at Flynn, he saw that his friend had turned livid.
Yuri did not understand why at first, but he did once the blonde spoke; "Did he rape you?" the words were said with a barely contained anger.
Yuri closed his eyes and the memory came to his mind with a destabilizing clarity.
"I can't wait to be buried into that tight-looking ass of yours," he whispered hungrily, staring at an unmoving Yuri.
The man looked closer at his victim's desperate and lifeless eyes. His smile widened. Yuri stayed motionless even when he heard the sound of a zipper being dragged down. The man holding him down chuckled.
"Come on, don't be like that. It won't be much fun if you don't try to resist a little," he said lustily. Yuri did not react.
The man's weight left Yuri when he straightened up to get rid of his pants. Yuri regained control of his limbs in a split second. His knee violently sank into the man's stomach. His violator doubled over and Yuri freed his wrists. His fist collided with the man's nose this time and a cracking noise was heard as it broke. The man yelled at the pain that flared from his broken nose. Yuri quickly pried himself from under the man and crawled to the edge of the bed.
However, he was out of luck as once again, the man was quick to recover. A strong hand closed around his neck and kept Yuri pinned face first against the mattress. Yuri felt the man press against his backside and he shivered from fear when he felt his violator's desire rub eagerly against him. The man leaned over him completely and whispered against his ear.
"Keep struggling; it excites me." Yuri wanted to scream out of rage and desperation.
He could not let this happen! His eyes locked on the clock radio lying on the bed table not far from him. Yuri realized he could surely reach it. It was his last chance.
Yuri quickly extended his arm and grabbed a hold of the clock radio. He harshly yanked on it, unplugging it from the wall. Before the man had the time to see it coming, Yuri twisted his body around enough to smash the radio against the man's temple with a desperate strength. He heard a cracking sound and the man collapsed on the bed besides Yuri.
The raven haired male did not even check if he was only unconscious. Yuri climbed down from the bed and stood on shaking legs. He quickly ran towards the entrance. He grabbed his coat and left the house in a hurry. Yuri ran until he was back on familiar streets. There, he stopped against a house and collapsed on the snow piled on the ground, still shaking from the nightmare that just happened.
Flynn watched and waited with worry as Yuri seemed to be lost in the memory of what happened. When he got no response, Flynn repeated his demand.
"Yuri, did he touch you?" the blonde was getting restless when Yuri still did not respond at first.
After a while, he seemed to return to the present and he finally shook his head.
"No. I got away in time," he admitted.
Flynn sighed in relief. At least the worst did not happen, but it was still a traumatizing experience. Flynn could see how affected Yuri was by it. He was shaking all over and was breathing harshly.
Flynn did not even think twice about rising from his seat and coming to sit next to his friend. He gently pulled Yuri into an embrace. He thought his friend would protest and try to break free, but he did not. Yuri's reaction showed how distressed he was.
Yuri gripped Flynn's shirt and buried his face into the blonde's neck as his body cuddled as close as it could against Flynn. Flynn was stunned at first by his friend's unusual behavior, but he quickly got over his shock. He tightened his embrace and one of his hands went to Yuri's hair. He let his fingers caress the soft strands. The blonde tried to comfort Yuri the best he could.
Flynn said nothing; he was only content to be able to hold Yuri like this. He found out a couple of days ago that he loved the feel of the raven haired male in his arms and this time was no different, except for one thing; they were not rehearsing right now. Flynn was holding Yuri because he wanted to. He wanted to bring him comfort; to tell him with gestures what he could not tell him with words. Flynn could hold him like this forever. He could feel their hearts beat together in a quick rhythm; he could feel the warmth of Yuri against him; he could feel his hot breath against his neck, sending pleasurable shivers through his body.
Flynn's gentle care calmed Yuri a little. He did not remember the last time he felt so at peace, so loved… As soon as he thought the word, Yuri regretted it. This is not out of love, he thought bitterly. Flynn was surely holding him because he felt he needed it, or worse, out of pity. No, Flynn would never do that. Yuri cursed himself for thinking such things right now. He only wanted to take advantage of the present moment. He sighed and closed his eyes as he concentrated on the feel of Flynn's fingers running through his hair. It was soothing and it was making him forget about his recent ordeal.
The two friends stayed in that position for a long time in complete silence. Flynn knew Yuri did not need comfort in form of words, so Flynn did not even try. Anyway, he could not even comprehend what his friend felt back then with that man, about to be raped. Flynn could not provide the right words, but he could make him feel that everything was okay now and that he was safe with him, out of harm's way. Speaking of which, Flynn was wondering something and as much as he did not want to break the present moment, he needed to know.
Flynn kept on caressing the soft hair, but he broke the comforting silence.
"Yuri… Did you quit the host club?" he asked in a soft tone.
He felt Yuri stiffen at the question. That was enough to give away the answer, but Yuri still answered his question.
"No, I didn't."
Flynn sighed in annoyance. "Even after what happened, you're still working there? That's insane! It could happen again, you know! Not only that, but what will you do if that guy goes back to the club to see you?" Flynn said as he pulled Yuri away from him enough to look at his face.
Yuri shook his head. "It won't happen. After getting away, I went to the police station and told an officer about what happened. They arrested him by now," Yuri answered quietly. Flynn looked pleadingly at his friend.
"It doesn't mean you're safe! As long as you work there, and that you see clients who are interested in you, there will be a chance for the same thing to happen again," the blonde protested.
A glint of fear passed in Yuri's eyes at the thought, but he quickly hid it.
"It won't," he said with conviction, but Flynn was not convinced. He threw a severe look at Yuri.
"Why do you want to keep this job so much? Because you like it?" he asked, trying to understand Yuri's motivations.
Yuri was getting annoyed by Flynn's questions. He untangled himself from his friend's embrace, and he looked harshly at him.
"You think I like it? You think I like having to whisper disgusting lies to older men? You think I like being looked over by them and imagining what they must be thinking in their perverted minds? I don't like it, okay? But it pays well and I need the money," he explained.
He needed the more money he could get to help the orphanage where he grew up. That was where his money was going. The orphanage was getting low on funds and when Yuri learned about that, he searched for a second job to help the orphanage. He did not want it to close. That was why he could not quit the host club.
Flynn did not know why he needed that much money. He was curious about it, but he knew Yuri would not answer him.
"Then change jobs! I'm sure there are others jobs that can pay well too," Flynn insisted and Yuri sighed.
He was tired of this conversation. He would rather still be nestled in the warmth of his friend's arms. Instead, they were bickering like usual.
"Why do you want so much for me to quit the club? Why should you care that much?" the raven haired male asked tiredly.
As soon as he said those words, Yuri saw many emotions swirl in those blue eyes. Flynn clenched his fists tightly as if he wanted to contain those emotions, but it was no use.
"Because I don't like it, okay? I hate knowing you have to seduce other guys! I hate seeing any of them near you! I hate knowing you degrade yourself to such a low level, acting as if you're nothing but a boy toy! Because that's what you're doing, and it's not like you! The Yuri Lowell I know would make them regret even looking at him in the wrong way!" Flynn exclaimed, expressing his thoughts on the matter.
Ever since Yuri told him about his job, Flynn felt this irrational anger. Just the thought of those older men talking to Yuri was making him mad. What was wrong with Flynn? He should not feel so protective of Yuri! He should not feel this jealousy, nagging at him and devouring him from the inside.
Yuri was stunned by those words. He never would have guessed that Flynn could feel that way about him. It made him feel… warm inside. A pleasant fire rose in him and it made his cheeks burn slightly out of embarrassment. Yuri averted his eyes.
"Is that really how you feel?" he asked quietly.
Flynn did not hesitate. "Yes."
Yuri closed his eyes to hide the emotions he was feeling. He was touched by Flynn's words. They were almost enough to make him yield to Flynn's demand. He did not want to make his friend feel like that again, but he needed that job…
Yuri sighed. "Okay. I'll quit the job tomorrow," he said, looking in Flynn's pleasantly surprised eyes.
Seeing the look of relief on his friend's face made him feel guilty, but he skillfully hid it. Flynn smiled at Yuri.
"I'm glad to hear it," the blonde said.
Yuri smiled back and sighed. Silence fell back on the two friends, but this time it was comfortable. Yuri threw a sidelong glance at Flynn as he remembered the feel of being cuddled against him. He suddenly felt the urge to be there again, in the warmth of Flynn's arms, but as soon as that thought hit him, as soon Yuri was scolding himself mentally. What was he thinking? This was a onetime thing. There was no way it was going to happen again.
Flynn looked at Yuri and noticed he seemed to be thinking hard about something. The face he was pulling was just too cute. Flynn could not help himself. He leaned in and pinched the raven haired male's cheek. This made Yuri snap his attention on him and rub his sore cheek as he glared at Flynn.
"Ow! What was that for?" he said indignantly.
Flynn smiled gently at Yuri and it was a sight that made Yuri's heart leap.
"What are you thinking about to be so out of it, hum?" Flynn asked with amusement.
Yuri felt his cheeks burn slightly as he remembered what exactly he was thinking about. He could not really tell Flynn that he was thinking about how good he felt in his arms, right? Yuri invented the first thing that came to mind.
"I was just wondering if you wouldn't mind spending the night here. I don't really feel like being alone tonight," he said embarrassingly.
It might not be what Yuri was thinking about, but it was still true. He wanted Flynn to stay the night. If Flynn was here, maybe Yuri would not have those nightmares again.
He dreamed the same nightmare for two days in a row now, since the evening with the client from the club. In the nightmare, the same scene replayed. He was lying on a bed, trapped under a man. However, it was not his client that was abusing Yuri in the dream; it was him. Yuri could do nothing to stop him from raping him. He screamed and struggled, but it was no use. He was always left broken and shivering from fear, pain and shame. That was more than Yuri could take.
Yuri snapped himself out of his thoughts when he heard Flynn answer him.
"Okay, I'll stay the night. I'll just have to go home to get some homework, though, and I'll be right back."
Yuri pulled a pouting face. "No way! I know what you have in mind. You want to force me to study, don't you? Well I'm not interested," he said fiercely.
Flynn chuckled at Yuri's antics. He was glad to see Yuri was almost back to normal. As much as he liked clingy Yuri, he preferred to see him acting like his usual self.
Flynn had grown fond of the arrogant and bickering Yuri. He would not trade that side of Yuri's personality for anything in the world.
One week passed after the incident with Yuri's client and Flynn was relieved to see his friend was overcoming his ordeal. He was slowly reverting to his old self. Flynn took great pride in the fact that he was the main reason for this return to normal. Yuri seemed to feel better in Flynn's presence, so the blonde spent even more time with Yuri than he did before.
However, there was something bothering Flynn. He was having doubts about if Yuri really quit the host club. He wanted to believe Yuri did not lie to him, but Flynn noticed some things that made him doubt. Yuri always had the bad habit of sleeping in class, and Flynn understood that it was because he did not get much sleep at night, thanks to the host club.
Flynn thought that habit would disappear since he quit the club, but it did not. If it was only that, Flynn might not have paid it any more attention, but there was something else. Since Flynn was hanging often with Yuri now, he noticed that the raven haired male never stayed with Flynn after ten. Yuri was always giving excuses to kick Flynn out of his apartment or to leave the latter's house if he was at the blonde's place.
Flynn did not like it. He really had the feeling that Yuri was hiding something from him. He could ask Yuri directly if he really quit the club, but Flynn knew that if he did not quit his job, then he would only lie to him again. It left Flynn with only one choice.
It was a cold evening at the end of January. Yuri and Flynn were hanging out at Flynn's house and the blonde succeeded in making Yuri do some homework with him for a change – in exchange for some sweets, of course. Like usual, when the clock approached ten in the evening, Yuri said he had to go home because he was tired. Flynn accompanied his friend to the front door and told him goodbye.
Once Yuri left, Flynn put on his coat and left the house. He spotted Yuri walking ahead and Flynn discreetly followed him into the streets. At first, Flynn thought Yuri was really going home as he was walking in the direction of his apartment. However, after some time, he diverged into another direction. Still following his friend at a distance, Flynn soon found himself into a foreign quarter. He kept following his friend for no more than five more minutes. He finally saw Yuri enter a building and Flynn's eyes raised onto the discreet sign above the establishment. Spiral club. He knew it! Yuri lied to him! Flynn felt a mix of anger and worry. How could Yuri lie about that? He knew how much Flynn loathed him having to work there!
Flynn's gaze hardened and he slowly took steps towards the club. Once in front of it, the blonde did not even hesitate before entering. He emerged into a dimly lit lounge. The man at the reception counter greeted him.
"Welcome. Is it your first time in our establishment?" he asked politely.
Flynn did not answer at first as he only wanted to see Yuri and get him the hell out of here. Now, he realized that he had no idea where his friend went to. When he decided to enter, Flynn just supposed that he would see Yuri as soon as he was inside. He was wrong. The blonde supposed the best thing to do for now was to play the game. Flynn smiled at the man.
"Yes, it is. I don't really know how it works, though," he said with fake nervousness.
The receptionist smiled warmly at Flynn. He bent down behind his counter and pulled something from under it. He motioned for Flynn to approach, which he did. When he was in front of the counter, Flynn saw what the man had pulled out.
It was a large advertizing with pictures of young men on it. Flynn understood what it was about even before the man talked.
"Since it's your first time here, you can choose the host that catches your fancy. Choose wisely though, because we only let the clients change hosts if they are really not satisfied with their choice."
Flynn nodded at the man's explications. His eyes roamed over the 'menu'. They quickly fell on Yuri's picture. He did not waste more time.
"I want this one," he said while pointing at his friend's picture. The receptionist looked at it.
"Oh, I'm sorry. He is currently with a client," he answered.
As soon as he heard that, Flynn felt his anger deepen and barely prevented it from showing on his features. There was currently a man with Yuri? Looking at Yuri like he was a piece of meat; maybe even trying to touch him? Flynn would not let that happen.
"You can either choose another host, or you can wait until he is free. It is at your discretion, sir," the man suggested.
There was no way Flynn would let Yuri even another minute with some random pervert. Flynn forced a smile on his face and looked back at the pictures. He memorized the number of Yuri's private lounge. He picked another one at random.
"Is this one free?" he asked.
"Yes. I'll guide you to the private lounge, Sir," the man offered and Flynn thanked him.
The receptionist put the advertizing away before taking off towards a hallway, motioning Flynn to follow him. The blonde did so in silence and looked around as they passed by many closed doors. It must be the private lounges as Flynn could see the numbers. Yuri's lounge was number nine.
Two doors down was the right one. The door was closed and Flynn could hear voices inside. He did not think further. Flynn went to the door and quickly opened it. He ignored the receptionist's protests and he froze before the sight that greeted his eyes. Yuri and an older man were sitting on a red colored couch. The man's arm was thrown around his friend's shoulders and he was too close to Flynn's taste. Glasses of wine were lying on a table in front of the couch.
As soon as he heard the door open, Yuri turned his face towards it only to see Flynn standing in the doorway. Yuri's heart stopped for a split second. What was he doing here? Anger flashed in the blonde's eyes. Yuri was unable to move as Flynn walked towards them. Yuri's client was displeased.
"Hey, we're busy here. Go away," he said.
He surely regretted his words later. Flynn's fist flew towards the man's face and violently collided with his nose. The man cried out in pain and clutched his now bleeding nose. Without uttering a single word, Flynn grabbed the arm of a still stunned Yuri and pulled him to his feet. He quickly dragged him out of the room, ignoring once again the vehement protests of the receptionist.
Flynn made his way to the entrance, never letting go of his friend. Yuri left his stunned state only when Flynn grabbed his coat in the entrance and gave it to Yuri in a harsh gesture.
"Flynn! Wh –" Yuri stopped brutally when he saw the look on his friend's face.
Flynn was pissed off. Yuri never saw him like that. He was not even that far gone when he beat up those guys at school. It was scary as hell.
Yuri did not even argue. He put on his coat and once it was done, Flynn grabbed is arm again, dragging him out of the building. Yuri was outraged to be treated that way, but he had enough presence of mind to shut the hell up for now. He did not want to cause a scene in the middle of the street.
Yuri let himself be dragged away by a furious Flynn. They did not say a single word until Flynn had dragged Yuri all the way to the raven haired male's apartment. Flynn's fury exploded when they were both inside the apartment, having shed their coats and boots.
"What the hell were you thinking, lying to me like that?" Flynn yelled at his friend as they stood a mere foot away from each other.
Yuri felt his own anger flare up at being treated that way. Flynn had no right to yell at him!
"Because I knew you would react like that, okay? That's why I lied to you! But you followed me there, didn't you?" Yuri accused his friend.
Flynn did not deny it. "Yes, I did. I had no choice, since you were lying right to my face," the blonde replied with anger.
Yuri clenched his fists tightly. "When will you learn to mind your damn business? I needed that job, Flynn!"
The blonde sighed in annoyance. "And you, when will you understand that everything concerning you is my business, Yuri? I –"
Yuri interrupted him harshly. "Forget it! I don't want to hear your crappy excuses! Now get out of my face!" Yuri seethed and turned around, strolling furiously into the kitchen.
Flynn did not move from his spot, even if Yuri told him to leave. He did not want to leave his friend in that state. He watched as Yuri furiously opened a cupboard and took a glass. However, the raven haired male's hands were shaking from anger and the glass slipped from his fingers. It fell against the counter and shattered in pieces. Yuri cursed loudly in Japanese and began to pick up the broken pieces on the counter.
One second later, Flynn heard him hiss in pain. Flynn did not need to look to understand his friend just cut himself. This was enough to finally make the blonde move, despite his friend's warning. Flynn's anger slowly died down, replaced by worry for his friend. He joined Yuri in the kitchen, being careful not to walk on the shattered pieces of glass. When he was by Yuri's side, the latter turned to glare at him venomously.
"Baka!(2)What the hell are you still doing here? I told you to get out!" he hissed darkly. Flynn kept a closed, but calm expression.
"Because I'm as stubborn as you are. Now show me," he ordered, as Yuri was clutching his wounded finger.
The long haired male did not move, simply glaring at the blonde. The latter was far from being impressed by it. He grabbed Yuri's hand and pried it off to look at the wound. It was bleeding a lot, which was no wonder considering it was a wound caused by sharp glass. Flynn opened the faucet at the sink and waited until the water was lukewarm before bringing Yuri's finger under it.
"Where is your first aid kit?" he asked and still did not earn any answer.
He managed to keep from sighing in frustration. "Fine. If you want to act like a kid, I'll find it myself," Flynn said and released Yuri's hand.
He went to the bathroom, knowing there was a good chance for the first aid kit to be there. Sure enough, Flynn found it when he opened the medicine cabinet. He took a bandage and disinfectant and went back in the kitchen.
He found Yuri where he left him, keeping his finger under the steady flow of the water. When Flynn was back at his friend's side, he closed the faucet and gently took Yuri's hand. The latter wanted to remove his hand, but a severe glare from Flynn dissuaded him. The blonde disinfected the wound and wrapped the bandage around it.
When it was done, Flynn went to the closet and picked up a broom. He began to clean the floor, gathering the broken pieces of glass. Yuri helped him as he got rid of the pieces scattered on the counter. The silence was heavy between them while they cleaned up the mess. When it was done, Yuri turned around, leaning against the counter.
"Thanks…" he muttered, but he was still upset as he glared at Flynn.
The blonde sighed. "Will you let me talk now?" he asked, controlling his annoyance.
Yuri snorted, but he did not say anything. Flynn understood that he was calm enough to listen to him, at least.
"If I went to get you today, it was because I was worried. When I learned you didn't quit the club, I feared that the same thing might happen again! And I feared that this time, you wouldn't be able to stop it," Flynn explained and his worry was clear in his voice.
Yuri bit his lip and turned his face away, but it was too late. Flynn saw the hurt and fear gleam in his gray eyes. Seeing he was slowly getting through to his friend, Flynn took a step towards him.
"But most of all, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to protect you," the words left Flynn's mouth despite himself.
What was he saying? Was it really what he felt? He realized after a few seconds that it was. Now that Flynn's anger died down, he could clearly see what motivated it in the first place.
Flynn's words had Yuri turn his attention on him again. Many emotions were swirling in the blonde's eyes. Yuri watched unmoving as Flynn took another step towards him. Flynn did not think twice about telling Yuri his true feelings.
"I was angry at myself, because I didn't manage to make you trust me enough to tell me the truth! I was angry because I was powerless to prevent you from putting yourself in danger! And I felt guilty, because if something was to happen to you, I knew it would be my fault, for I was unable to convince you to quit the club," he explained softly, never leaving Yuri's wavering gaze.
Yuri could not bring himself to say or do anything. He did not realize Flynn was in front of him now until two strong arms wrapped around him, pulling him against a solid chest. His eyes widened and he gasped in surprise.
Flynn closed his eyes as he took in the sweet scent of his friend.
"I want to protect you, Yuri. I want to be there for you; I want to make sure nothing or no one can hurt you again," he whispered his true thoughts, but he could not bring himself to whisper the last part he wanted to say.
Instead, his mind formed the words. Because you're precious to me. Flynn felt his heart pound painfully fast in his chest at the thought. What was happening to him? He should not feel that way about his friend. No matter how much he told himself that, Flynn could not shake that feeling; the feeling that Yuri was more important than anyone; that Flynn would do anything he could to protect him, to protect his smile; that if anything happened to him, Flynn would be devastated. Flynn understood at last.
He loved Yuri. He did not know when or how it happened, but the blonde's feelings could not be more truthful. He wanted to stay by his side, to love him and to cherish him. That's why he felt so angry and jealous when he saw Yuri with other men. He wanted Yuri to be only his.
Flynn almost laughed at that realization. If someone told him four months ago that he was going to fall in love with Yuri Lowell, the blonde would have told them they were crazy. But somehow, Yuri managed to get under his skin; he managed to make him forget about his resolve not to get near people; he managed to make him feel love again. Yes; Flynn realized he loved his arrogant, cocky and immature friend.
Yuri was so flustered by Flynn's actions that he did not even notice the fast beating of his friend's heart. He was too preoccupied by his messed up thoughts. Flynn's words stroke a chord deep inside of him; they were reaching old wounds that did not close up for five years. Flynn was reaching his heart in a way no one tried to for years and Yuri found it unfair, because it was making him fall for the blonde even more and he did not want that. It was already bad enough as it was. Yuri could not let anyone destroy him again.
That's what pushed him to reluctantly move away from Flynn. He could feel the blonde's burning gaze on him, but the raven haired male could not bring himself to meet his friend's gaze.
"You should go, now. I'm tired," he said in an uneasy way.
Somehow, Flynn felt hurt by that, but he understood that the situation must be awkward for Yuri. Flynn had walked over to him and pulled him in a tight embrace. Anyone would be feeling uneasy by it if they did not feel the same thing. The blonde knew there were no reasons for Yuri to return his feelings. That was enough to burn his chest painfully. He hid his feelings skillfully and sought Yuri's gaze. He needed to know one last thing before leaving.
"Yuri, about the club…" he let on, knowing his friend would understand what he was asking about.
Yuri finally managed to meet Flynn's gaze and a small, ironic smile graced his lips.
"Don't worry about that. After what you did to my client, I'm pretty sure I'm fired, anyway," he said.
Flynn felt a little guilty about that, but the relief he felt was greater. He did not show it, though. Flynn nodded and went to the entrance. His heart was still heavy as he put on his coat and boots. He was about to leave when Yuri called his name. Flynn turned around towards his friend, who was looking straight at him.
"Do you still want to know why I needed that much money?" he asked plainly. Flynn frowned at the question.
"Of course. Why are you asking?" he answered. Yuri's expression softened.
"If you're free Saturday, I'll show you why," he replied in a soft tone.
Flynn was surprised by this change of heart, but he was happy about it. He wanted to know everything about Yuri, and the fact that he decided to tell him was showing he trusted Flynn. The latter smiled at his friend.
"Okay. See you tomorrow," he said and Yuri waved him goodbye.
As soon as Flynn was out the door, his newfound feelings came back to haunt him. What was he supposed to do about them now?
Flynn looked at the establishment with confusion.
"An orphanage? Is this where you grew up after your parent's death?" he asked. Yuri nodded.
"Yeah. Come on," he said as he took steps towards the orphanage.
Flynn followed him, thinking he would know soon enough why Yuri brought him here. They entered the orphanage and the lady at the reception smiled brightly at them.
"Yuri, it's good to see you! Are you here to see Marion?" she asked gently. Yuri smiled in return.
"Yeah. Where is she?" he inquired.
"She's in the playground area, playing with the kids," she answered.
Yuri thanked her and walked towards the hallway in front of them. It was obvious he knew the way well. Flynn followed him. Yuri soon stopped in front of a closed room, from where many childish and happy voices where coming from.
The raven haired male did not hesitate before opening the door and entering the room. Flynn followed him and emerged in a big gymnasium-like room. Many children were running around and playing various games. One of the ladies watching the children spotted them and walked towards them with a warm smile. She stopped in front of Yuri and the latter made a step back to avoid having his cheek pinched.
"Yuri! I'm glad to see you! And who's that young man with you?" the old woman inquired gently.
Yuri turned around and threw a look at Flynn.
"He's Flynn. He's a good friend of mine," Yuri presented him and somehow, the word "friend" hurt Flynn, but he hid it.
He reached a hand towards the old lady.
"Nice to meet you," he said warmly. The woman shook his hand with warmth.
"The pleasure is mine. I'm Marion. I've taken care of that little monster for the entire time he was here," she said with humor while motioning to Yuri.
The latter pulled a pouting face. "Thanks, Nanny. That's real nice of you," he answered broodingly.
Flynn chuckled at the sight, which earned him a glare from Yuri and an elbow in his ribs. Marion smiled wider at the sight.
"I'm happy to see Yuri has good friends he can rely on. It's the first time he ever brought someone here with him," she said.
Yuri said nothing to that, but he seemed embarrassed by her comment. Flynn was pleasantly surprised to hear that Yuri did not bring anyone else here. He felt a strange happiness at the thought. Yuri finally pulled an envelope out from his coat's pocket, offering it to Marion.
"This is the last time I'll give you money. Thanks to some circumstances, I won't be able to anymore. I'm sorry," Yuri explained softly.
Flynn frowned at that. All this time, he was working at the host club to give money to the orphanage? Why? Marion took the envelope and smiled at Yuri.
"Don't worry about that, dear. I already told you; we won't let this orphanage close. We are already searching for other donators. You should just focus on living your life like you want instead of worrying for us, okay?" she said gently.
Yuri seemed unsure, but he finally nodded. There was pain in his eyes, but he hid it carefully. Yuri turned towards Flynn.
"Hey, follow me. I'm going to present you to Karol," he said and did not wait for Flynn's answer.
The raven haired male already departed towards a corner of the room where the boy named Karol was surely playing.
Flynn looked sadly at his friend's retreating back. He knew that if Yuri left so suddenly, it was because the thought of the orphanage closing was too painful to bear. Flynn felt guilty now. He forced Yuri to quit his job because he did not like the thought of his friend working in such a place, but Yuri was doing it because he needed money to help the orphanage.
Flynn doubted the amount of money Yuri was giving the orphanage was even remotely useful, but in doing so, Yuri was feeling like he was doing everything he could to help the place where he grew up. Then, Flynn went and destroyed that. Yuri had refused to tell him anything. Why? Because he did not want Flynn to know about how selfless he was? Because he did not want Flynn to know how big his heart was? Stupid Yuri!
Marion looked closely at Flynn and noticed the way he was looking at Yuri. She smiled fondly.
"Young man, you seem to care a lot about my little boy," she said gently.
Flynn turned his attention back on the old lady. He smiled back.
"I do. He's someone really important to me," he whispered sincerely, feeling his heart beat madly in his chest at the thought.
Marion also looked at Yuri as he was attacked by a young boy with chestnut colored hair who Flynn guessed was Karol.
"I'm glad to hear it. Would you be kind enough to take care of him for me? I worry for Yuri. He's always so reckless and lonely. He needs someone to look after him, even if he doesn't realize it," she said with a glint of sadness in her eyes.
Flynn was surprised by Marion's words. Soon though, his surprise melted away only to be replaced by a fond feeling.
"I'll try to. He's not always easy to deal with, though, but I'll never let him down. I promise you," Flynn answered and they exchanged a knowing glance.
Yes. Even if there was no chance for Yuri to ever return Flynn's feelings, the blonde would stay by his side forever.
(1)Wunderbar: Wonderful in German.
(2)Baka: Idiot in Japanese.
A/N: Poor Yuri... I just like to torture him so much. I can't help it XD At least he wasn't raped, ne? It's not a rape fic, so I figured it would just be too much to do that.
I hope you liked the chapter, even though the overall mood of it was different than before.
Well, tell me what you think! It will be my pleasure to read your comments! And I'll see you all at the next chapter!
Littlerosebud