Yuri slept restlessly and work early. He slung his legs over the side of his bed and saw that Phichit was still asleep and that sunlight was seeping through the curtains. So, what'll it be today? He thought. What game will Viktor and I play? Yesterday it was a battle for power. Images of last night flashed through his memory. He tried to sleep with me. Why? For power? For pleasure? Because he actually likes me? All of those? None of those?

Yuri stood and rifled through his suitcase for clothes. Back in Japan, he would have just rolled out of bed in his boxers, thrown on his glasses, and stumbled to the kitchen. For the next four months, he wouldn't have that privilege. He was never seen outside his room in anything but a button-up and slacks with his hair gelled back and his contacts in. The look was half the charade, after all. I wonder if he's angry about last night. If he is, I probably just sunk this whole mission. The only way to find out is to go downstairs and see for myself.

Upon arriving downstairs, prim and proper, he walked into the kitchen and jerked back in fear. Victor Nikiforov was sitting there silently, waiting for him but that wasn't the worst of it… he had brought a dog. A big, Yuri-sized, standard poodle with a huge, grown-out, coat.

Everyone in the business world knew that bringing a dog to a negotiation was equivalent to walking in the door wearing your gun holster and a fully-loaded semi-automatic. In the world of business deals, it was seen as an unparalleled act of aggression, a shot under the belt, if you would.

"Come in, Yuri." Victor invited as if there he hadn't noticed the elephant in the room. The panting, drooling, elephant.

"You have a dog?" Was all Yuri said.

"Doesn't it look like I do?" Victor countered. Yuri Didn't respond. "Are you scared of dogs, Yuri?"

Calm down. Yuri told himself. He's testing me, but it's not a form of aggression. He's showing me something personal. He's testing how I'll react. Yuri walked into the kitchen and began looking through the cupboards for his ingredients. "Does she like eggs benedict too?"

"He." Viktor corrected. "His name is Makkachin."

Yuri set a salt shaker on the counter and turned around to greet the dog. "Hello, Makkachin. Sorry, I won't make the mistake again." The dog didn't growl at him so he chanced patting his head. Makkachin sprang up in excitement, spooking Yuri and making his draw back his hand quickly.

"Do you have something in your pockets? Food?" Victor asked curiously.

"No. Why?"

"It's not like Makkachin to get worked up over nothing. He's getting older now, he doesn't have the energy." Victor examined the dog. Yuri turned his pants pockets inside out and shrugged.

"He probably just wants to be friends." He pet the dog one more time before turning his attention back to the cupboard. Victor contemplated silently for a minute.

"You know, I have cooks." Victor said as Yuri started a small sauce pan on the stove.

"I don't think they'll mind taking the morning off."

"It's pointless, what you're doing. Even if you cook a hundred of those things, Yurio and Yakov will still refuse to eat them. They'll do it just to spite you."

Yuri tisked. "Stubborn. That's fine, I'll cook just for the fun of it."

"Is that what they consider fun back where you're from?"

"Firstly, 'back where I'm from' is Japan, and secondly, cooking is fun. You would know that if you tried."

"How do you know I can't cook?"

"You wouldn't be teasing me if you didn't think it was silly. Come over here for a second and I'll show you what I'm doing." To his surprise, Victor actually got up from the table and stood behind Yuri, who explained everything smoothly as he separated egg yolks from the whites and set up the broiler to prepare the sauce. Yuri decided to test his luck and try to push into personal discussion.

"I always ate this as a kid. My dad took a business trip to Austria as a young man. That's where he had eggs benedict for the first time. It's been a staple in his life ever since. What about you, Victor? What did you eat growing up?"

Victor didn't answer for a moment and Yuri feared he wouldn't. Then quietly, he responded. "Borscht."

"Ah! That's delicious! And it can be made really cheaply. Do your parents cook?"

Yuri could tell by the silence that followed that he had over-stepped his boundary. What was more surprising yet was that Victor didn't counter him with hostility, he just went back to the table and sat. The dog walked a circle near his legs then laid down. Yuri figured the only way he could fix the situation was to offer up more of himself.

"If you're coming back to Hasetsu with me, you might as well know all about it." Yuri spoke for a long time about his upbringing and his family. Everything he told Victor was true. As a part of his fake identity, he had been given a fake home and fake family but, for some reason, he wanted to tell the truth. He looked at Viktor's dampened form that sat quietly at the table. It would be wrong to lie to him. He spoke to me honestly, even though it hurt him. I owe him this much. "Hey, Victor." He said.

The man looked up and met his eyes. "What?"

"Now that you mention it, I want to learn how to make Borscht. I've never made it before. Do you mind if I keep using the kitchen?"

Victor offered a thin smile. "As long as you don't bother the staff."

Yuri couldn't say why but his heart skipped a beat and his mind whirred when Victor smiled at him. He actually did it. He openly smiled at me. Not a malicious smile either but a, real, genuine, Victor Nikiforov, smile. Yuri's attitude visibly brightened. He finished preparing breakfast with a hop in his step. He served Victor, himself, and Makkachin, who inhaled his portion in a second flat.

Yuri looked around Viktor's cathedral as he ate. "That painting…Christina's World, right? By… by Andrew…"

"Weyth."

"That's it! I recognize it from an art history class I took. That's… that's not the original, is it?"

Victor looked at the painting dreamily. "What I wouldn't give to have the original. It's a museum-quality replica. Normally, I'd never keep a fraud in my house but I couldn't live without her."

"Who?" Yuri looked from the painting to Victor then back to the painting.

"Christina."

Yuri didn't understand. Is that how he sees himself? Stranded in a familiar place, his family and friends unreachable? He was intrigued. I want to know him. Where do you come from, Victor? What's your family like? What happened to make you so lonely? So insecure?

"That one, there, that's an original. View Of The Sea At Scheveningen by Vincent Van Gogh. That one next to it is one of his too."

"You like Van Gogh?"

The man nodded. "I don't let anything through the doors of this place if I don't like it. It's my haven."

Yuri knew he shouldn't feel personally complimented but he did. "How long have you been collecting?"

"Collecting what? Paintings? Sculptures? Tapestry?"

Yuri gestured to everything. "This."

"I had this place built three years but this, all of it, has been the work of many years. Do you like art, Yuri?

"Opera." Yuri confessed. "I love the opera."

Victor smiled again, thin and reserved. "Tell me about your first opera." He said.

Yuri thought back and recovered the sweet memories. "It was Madama Butterfly. My grandfather brought me, he loved opera. We sat high up in the back of the theater where the seats were cheapest and you could hardly read the supertitles. I had to sit up as straight as I could just to see the performers. I didn't understand much of what they were saying but somehow, that didn't matter."

"How'd it make you feel?"

Yuri let his guard down. "I cried. I remembered that I couldn't stop, it was so embarrassing. Every time Ciocio-san would sing out in agony, it was like a nail being driven into my heart. I had read sad stories by the bookcase full but the opera was something different. Something… more. Like I finally knew what misery sounded like and once I heard it, the sound wouldn't leave my ears."

Yuri looked up to find Victor giving Yuri a complete, unrestrained smile. He nodded, and that was all. In that moment, the two men actually understood each other. Art was their common language, and they were finally speaking it.

Breakfast passed in silence but the two of them were content. Yuri put away his dishes once he had finished and left to take a walk. Immediately, the fresh air renewed him. In his imagination, the grand vibrato of an opera singer roared on, driving his mind to a blissful thoughtlessness. As he walked down the road, it seemed the wind was swaying the trees and the world was corresponding to the music in his head. For the first time, he thought Russia was beautiful.

Yuri was only disturbed when he felt a cold, wet, nose poke at his lower back. He turned on his heal, assuming he was experiencing his first bear attack but was greeted instead by the massive standard poodle. His owner walked ten paces behind him. "You didn't even wait for me to get my shoes on," the silver man called out to him. Yuri stopped so he could catch up.

"I didn't know you wanted to come." He replied. Internally, he was glad to see Victor. He felt like he had created a bond between them, something genuine and friendly.

"I always walk in the mornings." He met Yuri and they continued on together. The dog ran up ahead excitedly, smelling things and bouncing in the tall grass. "You shouldn't walk alone. You don't know what could happen."

"Do you regularly have armed gunmen in the shrubbery around your home?"

Viktor shrugged. "Sometimes. Mostly badgers and wolves and other scary things like that. I figured I ought to come keep an eye on you. I wouldn't want a defenseless, little, city-dweller like you to run into a big, scary, animal."

Yuri chucked. "I appreciate your concern but we have big, scary, animals where I'm from too."

"Is that so?"

"Mm-hm. Wild boars."

"Pigs?"

"They're not just pigs. They're boars. Very scary, big difference. A boar scavenges in the wild and attacks without being provoked. A pig may act tough when it feels threatened but really, it just wants to have a good meal and take a nap."

"Buta… That's the word for pig in Japanese, isn't it?" Yuri nodded. "Buta-chan. That's fitting, don't you think?"

"For what?"

"You, of course." Victor answered happily. Yuri turned to him with his brows furrowed but realized upon seeing Victor's face that it was a joke, not an act of aggression. He played along.

"Code names? Sure, I'm for it. You can never be too careful, you never know who's listening. But what should I call you? I know! How about yaytsoka (eggy)? With your hair line receding like that, it's fitting, don't you think?"

Victor could tease but he couldn't handle being teased back. He glared. Unlike the day before, this expression didn't intimidate Yuri. He smiled back. "No? You don't like that one? Okay, how about Vitya?" That suggestion flustered Victor.

"That's a lousy code name, it's too obvious. Besides, that's too informal. That's a name for a child, not a business partner."

That's why it's so fitting, Yuri thought but he didn't dare say it. "We don't really need code names anyhow. This should be an easy deal to negotiate, don't you think?"

Victor nodded. "Likely, this will go very smoothly."

Now, Yuri thought. Now is my opportunity to do my job. I need information. Who is he working with and why? I need future deals… locations, times, details. "Is this a busy season for you?" He asked.

Victor shoved his hands in his pockets. "Yes. The economy is tight and everyone does business when the economy is tight. That's why you're here, isn't it?" Yuri nodded. "What is you're looking for again? Ruby?"

"Diamond." Yuri corrected.

"Right, diamond. I can secure something for you, depending on what grade you're looking for. I have a feeling I'll have my hands on some uncut material soon enough. High quality, I assure you."

"Where will they be coming from?"

"That's the best part, Yuri. I recently made the acquaintance of a Swiss man of good repute who's been mining at a site only a few miles from here. If I can persuade him to work with me, it'll be the safest business deal I've ever conducted. You don't have anything to worry about."

"Who is this man?"

Viktor looked at Yuri apprehensively. The Japanese man didn't flinch. "I don't discuss the personals of my business partners."

"He's my business partner too, I have the right to know who I'm working with. I'll pull out of the deal if I can't secure trust in my partner. Besides, if he's really only miles away, I'll likely make his acquaintance."

Victor considered Yuri's logic. "His name is Christophe Giacometti. You can search him if you like but you won't find anything. I made sure to have his tracks cleaned up."

"What is he like?"

"You're not going on a picnic with him, Yuri. It doesn't much matter what he's like."

"I think it matters a good deal. I always take into consideration the morality of my business partners."

"Is that so? What do you think of me?"

Yuri looked to Victor, assuming this was another test but it was not. Victor looked ahead, unwilling to make eye contact and sporting a look of nervousness. He really wants to know what I think of him… he actually cares. Yuri put his words together carefully, knowing that Victor was listening closely to every syllable. "I don't doubt your abilities when it comes to business. I have no qualms about relying on you for this deal."

Yuri glanced at that man. That's not all. He doesn't care about the deal, he wants me to evaluate him personally. "I think I'll enjoy working with you more than I have others in the past. You exert a nobility that's incomparable, it's fascinating. A man of the arts- a man who appreciates and lives by the beauty of the world- is always a better acquaintance than one who lives his life by and for superficial pleasures. Drug dealers are among these sorts of men. No class. They're consumed by immediate satisfaction. I much prefer to spend my time in the company of someone who matches my wits." Pinkness rose to Victor's cheeks. Yuri saw this and decided to push a little farther. "It'll be a great enjoyment to me to spend the next few months in the company of someone who I can speak of opera to and feel that I am understood."

Victor was completely flattered. Yuri commended himself. The tables have turned, Victor, he thought. Now I'm the one who plays you like a fiddle. Even though Yuri knew he had manipulated Victor, he was still genuine in his feelings towards the man. He had meant what he said. I have to be careful. I want Victor to like me but I can't get too attached. In the end, my job is to destroy him.

But Yuri already knew he was too attached. He wasn't just pretending to like Victor, he did like Victor. He was already dreading the day when he would betray him. I'm sorry, Victor. Yuri peeked up to the tall, silver-haired man who took long, powerful, strides. For the first time, Yuri noticed how pretty he was. His hair reflected the sunlight with incredible luminescence. His form was so lean and sculpted. The nicely ironed lilac blouse he wore had just the right amount of femininity that it complimented his manliness when he wore it with confidence. He upheld quite an image for himself, almost as if he were a movie star.

I'm sorry for how much I'm going to hurt you. I'll make sure your paintings are taken care of. Maybe then you can start to forgive me. And I'll make sure you're not alone in prison. I know you probably won't want to see me but I'll be there anyway. I'll bring you Borscht and the daily paper so you're not so scared. I hope you're not scared, Victor. I hope you can keep up this image of toughness that you wear so well. I hope I don't ever have to see you reduced to tears. That would be too much.

The breeze swept through and Yuri realized there were two, cold, wet, trails down his cheeks. Oh shit! Shit! Yuri hastily wiped the wetness away with his sleeve. Why am I crying!? Dammit! Why!?

Victor took notice. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"The breeze. Something got in my eyes." Yuri excused. A second later, Victor had pulled Yuri's hands away from his eyes. Yuri tried to take control of his arms back but Victor held them firm.

"Look at me." Victor demanded, his voice cool and low.

Yuri's cocoa eyes met the man's ice blue ones. He found himself captured by their gaze. No… Yuri thought. No… why do I feel like this? Dammit. His mind was dizzied with thoughts that scared him, about how connected he was with Victor when he looked into his eyes like this, about how concerned Victor was for him, about how he felt special.

"Look up." Victor ordered. Yuri did. Oh god, please, take these feelings away from me. I don't want them Yuri prayed. Victor released Yuri's arms. "You look fine but let's go home anyways. You should wash out your eyes just to be safe. They're really red."

Yuri's heart beat faster than he was comfortable with. "Okay."

Victor whistled to Makkachin who came bounding to his friend's side. They walked back and Victor told Yuri about the many tricks the dog could perform. He'd often stop on the road to demonstrate, emphasizing over and over how Makkachin would do tricks without the motivation of a treat. He was truly proud of his pet. Yuri remembered how fond he had been of his miniature poodle, Vi-Chan, and it made him like Victor even more. He tried to remind himself over and over that Victor was a heartless, manipulating, mob boss with blood on his hands and a rotten conscience. That was especially difficult when Yuri watched him pick up his ginormous pet and carry him, saying that Makkachin was old and tired and deserved to be carried.

When they arrived back at the house, Victor brought Yuri to the sink and showed him how to do it. Yuri washed his eyes in the sink under Victor's supervision. The cool water helped to soothe his burning face. When he was done, Victor examined his eyes again and declared that everything was fine.

Yuri went back to his room, where Phichit was still asleep. He woke up when he heard Yuri come into the room. "Where have you been?" He asked.

"I made breakfast."

"What did you make?"

"Eggs Benedict?"

"Was Victor there?"

"Mm-hm." Yuri began to change out of his wet shirt and into a clean one.

Phichit scoffed. "I bet he didn't even appreciate your amazing cooking skills." Yuri laughed. "I mean it, Yuri. You should be a chef and keep your neck off the chopping block. This job's not worth the pay."

"Maybe when I retire."

"So how are the Three Stooges?"

"It was just Victor. I think Yakov and Yurio have no interest in spending time with me."

"No kidding, just Victor? Was that scary?"

"No, not really. We talked about opera."

"Did you tell him about how you see Madama Butterfly every time it comes to Japan and how you bring your own tissues? Or about how you'll go to business meetings and conventions you don't want to go in foreign countries if an opera you want to see will be in town?"

"He likes opera too." Yuri pointed out, buttoning up the new blouse.

"Hey! You should offer to take him to an opera! That would defiantly earn you some brownie points."

"You think so?"

"Yeah! This is your opportunity to finally move past the first bad day."

Normally, Yuri would agree right away but he had more to worry about now. That just seems like an opportunity for me to get to like him more. On the other hand, he would almost certainly come to like me more as well. What if I could make him feel for me what I feel for him? I'd have him in the palm of my hand. I could get so much information out of him.

Yuri imagined that day again when Yuri and Phichit would give their government agency the go ahead to raid the house. They would drag Victor out onto the lawn, crying and fighting. The difference was that, this time, Yuri imagined that instead of being heartbroken over losing his precious chapel, his attention was focused on Yuri. He cried, saying, "How could you do this to me! Yuri! Say it's all a joke, please! I loved you!"

Yuri became nauseous as the guilt sat as heavy as a rock in his stomach. "I don't know if he'd want to see an opera with me."

"Did you guys butt heads again?"

Yuri didn't answer. "Hey, there's a dog downstairs. I'm telling you so you won't be caught off guard."

"What kind?"

"Standard poodle."

"Is it trained?"

"He sits, stays, and rolls over but I don't think he's an attack dog. I really think Victor keeps him just as a pet."

Phichit laughed. "A big, tough, mob boss with a pet poodle. I bet he dresses the dog up and talks to it in a baby voice."

Yuri smiled. "We started talking business too. I got a supplier but no info on other deals yet. The supplier's probably a good catch, though. It sounds like he's mining raw diamond here in Russia. If we get him, we probably also get a big ring of middle-men."

"Illegal mining's a pretty low charge."

"I know, but he might give up info on some of his business partners. Those guys have got their hands dirty in other businesses too. Those are the big fish. I'll try to get something today to show the bosses we're working and not just taking a vacation. I need you for backup."

"Always!" Phichit grinned. "I've got your back."

Yuri nodded. "I wouldn't have taken this trip if they didn't send you along as well."

"You and me versus the world, isn't that right?"

"Right." Yuri trusted Phichit completely. He knew the boy would take a bullet for him and he would do the same. He sat beside Phichit on his bed and slung his arm around his shoulders.

"You okay, Yuri?"

"Why wouldn't I be."

"You seem… bothered. Is it Victor? Is he being cruel to you?"

"No…" He considered lying to Phichit but decided against it. We're partners. If we don't have trust and honesty, we don't have anything. "He's been nice to me…"

"Really?"

"Well, not necessarily nice but nice in Victor's standards."

"What do you mean?"

"He's not trying to dominate me anymore." Yuri told Phichit about the walk they took together and about when Victor checked his eyes.

"That's so unlike him!"

"I think the tough thing is a front. I figured him out, or at least a little bit. When I'm with him, he drops his guard a little bit. I think he trusts me."

"Then why not take him to the opera?"

"Going to the opera… is a kind of romantic thing, don't you think?"

"It wasn't romantic when we went together."

"That was different, I dragged you there. It's something else if you go with someone who loves the opera."

"Hmm." Phichit thought. "Do you think Victor swings that way?"

"How should I know?"

"It's a worth a shot. If he takes it romantically, then that just makes our job easier. People spill their guts when they're in love."

"You want me to seduce him?"

"Who are we kidding, Yuri? You could do it in your sleep."

Yuri blushed. "Those weren't the orders."

"Improvisation. You assess the situation and make your own decisions. You could do it, Yuri. He's insecure and stubborn, that's your specialty. Remember that kid Takeo? You worked wonders on him. He still loves you to this day." Yuri didn't respond. "I mean, it's your decision. If you don't think it'll work, then you should trust your judgement."

"I don't know. He's different from Takeo… he's a grown man. What if he wants…"

"Sex? Don't give it to him. Just lead him on. Or, I mean, you could sleep with him if you wanted to."

Yuri got up from the bed, shaking his head. "Let's not talk about this!"

"It's been a while since you've gotten some action, hasn't it? Four years, right? Or has it been five already? Even then, you guys didn't really-"

"Stop! Stop, stop, stop!" Yuri boxed his ears.

"You don't have to be embarrassed, Yuri."

Yuri left the room, still red-faced and blocking his ears. A few feet down the hall, he ran into Victor who looked at him curiously. Yuri stared up at the man in awe. "You look like a school girl." He noticed. Yuri scowled, embarrassed. "Are you and Fu-Han telling dirty stories? Look how red you are."

"Don't be like that." Yuri retorted. "I'm feeling feverish."

Victor enjoyed embarrassing Yuri. "Then you should take a nap. Maybe take your clothes off too to reduce your body temperature."

Yuri rolled his eyes, no less red. "In your dreams."

Then Victor did something awful. He smirked and said in a low, cool, voice, "Indeed." Then he just turned and left, leaving Yuri frozen in shock.

Indeed!? What does that mean!? Yuri wondered. When he regained control of his legs, he stumbled to the bathroom, locking the door behind him, and splashed cold water on his face. Control yourself, Yuri! Don't think about it! Don't think about!

The more he obsessed over not thinking dirty thoughts, the more they came to mind. He pictured the man's nude form against silk bedsheets that ran over his skin like water. No! Stop that! Yuri thought, trying to disrupt the images. Still, his mind betrayed him and thoughts he despised ran through his imagination.

I bet he plays opera when he makes love. I bet his moans are low and seductive. I bet he kisses gently and then, out of nowhere, bites your bottom lips. I bet his ass looks great when he thrusts. NO, NO, NO. You're just horny, Yuri. Dammit, you're horny and your mind's fucked up because of that.

Yuri felt a hot tension in his groin. Dammit. He hit his head lightly against the wall. He contemplated whether he should fix the problem himself or ignore it in hopes of continuing his streak of denial. It's fine. I've done this a hundred times before. Sometimes it just builds up then you pop one out of nowhere. Yes, Victor set it off, but this isn't his doing. Sometimes this just happens.

Yuri pulled his shirt up and held it in his mouth, his actions slow and hesitant. It's fine. Just take care of it and you can relax, he told himself. Yuri unzipped his pants and ran the back of his hand over his warming member through his underwear. He let out the breath he had been holding in. It's okay… just don't think about him. You can't do something like this thinking about him, that's wrong.

Yuri closed his eyes and slipped his hand into his underwear, rubbing gently, trying to relax. It's fine, just think about something simple. He continued to rub himself rhythmically and breathed steadily. All too soon, those startlingly blue eyes returned to his memory, making him gasp. They looked at him with interest and concern. He remembered admiring Victor's form as he stood out in the sun, soaking up the morning. His lilac shirt, his relaxed demeanor, his genuine smile.

"No." Yuri drew his hand out of his underwear and zipped up his pants. "I can't do it, I can't." Yuri rested his head against the wall. He was so frustrated he wanted to cry. "This isn't right, none of this is right," he whispered to himself. "I don't want him in this way… I want something else. I want something… something… harder to satisfy." Yuri couldn't help that a few tears ran down his cheeks.

Stop, he told himself, Stop crying. What are you crying for? It's only day two of this job, you can't be losing it already. So stop this. Yuri wiped his cheeks dry. You're weak. Why did everyone think you were the perfect one for this job. You're the worst person they could've picked, you have too much empathy.

Yuri stood there with his head against the wall, feeling helpless, for at least ten minutes. Even if I go back to Japan right now, I'll still worry about him.

Yuri suddenly had the desire to call his mother. He knew he couldn't and he didn't know what he would say even if he could, he just felt like he needed her. Maybe she could reassure him that he wasn't a failure, like she always did.

When he was done crying, he cleaned himself up and went downstairs to find Phichit, his erection completely gone. Phichit spotted him and came to his side, noticing how he carried himself heavily. "You look tired." He mentioned in Japanese.

"I know what you mean by that. I'm fine." He responded. Phichit looked at him like he didn't believe him. When they went to the living room, they exchanged looks with Yakov and Yurio who finally awake by noon. The old man wore a house robe and read the daily paper while the younger dressed in just a hoodie and jeans and worked on solving the crossword. They both shot him cold, hostile, glares. Yuri was about to leave the room when he heard the younger yell out to him.

"Hey, Kuznetsov." He said.

Yuri turned around. "Yeah?"

"Ever play the crossword?"

"Sure."

"Seven letter phrase for someone who-" he looked down at the paper and pretended to read off of it, "Sheds tears frequently or readily."

Yuri considered it. "Cry baby?" Once he answered, he realized he had made a mistake. Idiot. He cursed himself. Come on, you're smarter than to fall for that. He accepted his humiliation and left silently with Phichit in tow.

"Yuri, what's going on? Have you been crying?" Phichit asked, speaking Thai. He was almost certain no one in the house but himself and Yuri spoke it.

"It's okay, I'm fine."

"We're partners, you're not allowed to lie to me. I want to know now so we can deal with it. You're not going to go then next four months like this."

"It's…It's hard to talk about it. I'm confused. I don't even know what's going on."

"Many hands lighten the load." He said, smiling at Yuri in a way that comforted him.

"I feel something for Victor." Yuri confessed. "I don't know what. Yesterday, it was empathy and intrigue but today, it's evolved."

"For Victor? Is it like… romantic? Or friendly?"

"I don't know. I really just don't know." Yuri replied helplessly.

"What's this?" Both of the Asian men looked to the doorway where Victor stood, looking unhappy.

"What do you mean?" Yuri asked, switching to Russian. He could tell that Victor was seriously pissed.

"What do you mean what do I mean? That wasn't Japanese. What the fuck was that?"

"Thai." Yuri was frightened but he did his best to fake a confident face.

"I heard my fuck'n name." Victor growled. "What were you guys talking about?"

Shit, Yuri thought. "We were talking about the paintings. The Van Goghs."

"Well, that's nothing to be secretive about, is it? So why speak Thai? If there's nothing to hide, then why not speak Russian or Japanese or English?"

"Fu-Han is Thai. It's the language he's most comfortable with." Yuri explained.

Victor turned his attention to Phichit. "You told me he only speaks Japanese."

"I never told you that, you assumed that."

"So what languages does he speak?" Victor's irritation had not lessened any.

"Thai and Japanese, that's it."

"Listen here, Yuri." Victor approached the smaller man and prodded a finger into his chest. Yuri didn't flinch. "You speak common languages in my house. Russian, Japanese, and English, that's non-negotiable. Do you understand? Next time I hear a language other than those three, I'll consider it an act of aggression and I'll respond accordingly." His glare pierced Yuri.

He removed his finger and stood up strait, regaining his powerful posture. "Explain that to him," he ordered, nodding to Phichit who was going a good job of acting confused.

Yuri repeated the threat in Japanese. Phichit offered a brief apology.

Victor nodded in approval. "I hope this is the last time I have to address you like this. I prefer to keep in good terms with my business partners and I'm sure you feel the same." As was Victor's habit, he left once he had given his final statement. That way, he always won his arguments.

Yuri glared at Viktor's back, irritation bubbling in his stomach. "What I said earlier… I don't think we have to worry about that for a while. None of that applies right now." He mumbled in Japanese to his friend.

"For your sake, I hope he's a dick more often." Phichit answered.

"I need to take a walk." Yuri declared, going for the door.

"I'm coming." Phichit responded, following him.

They spent the whole walk speaking in Thai, criticizing Victor for everything they could think of until the idea of sleeping with Victor was less enticing and Yuri could finally relax.