Chapter 14

Arthur cracked open a bottle of whiskey and poured himself a small glass of the amber liquid before Alfred grabbed the bottle, pouring himself a glass as well. Arthur sat back, making sure Matthew and Yao, who were still healing, had the comfortable couch. Alfred had claimed the chair, and Viktor and Arthur sat in kitchen chairs by the fireplace as Arthur started peeling the bark from his staff, tossing in the strips as he slowly showed the white wood underneath. "It's perfect." Arthur nearly whispered as he really got his first look at the wood. It was as pale as pine, and smooth enough he wouldn't have to worry about oiling it. He smiled as he took another strip before taking a sip of the whiskey and sighed, relaxing at the burn that rolled down his throat and warmed his stomach.

"What is that?" Viktor asked and Arthur held the glass out for him. Viktor smelled the liquor and wriggled his nose in shock and horror before handing it back. "I'll stick to my vodka, da..." He glared at the glass before drinking straight from the bottle, causing Alfred's eyes to roll.

They'd found an apothecary on the way back, and with the assurance Arthur would make a hangover relief potion before they started drinking, which he did, Viktor didn't feel the need to hold back and just started chugging the bottle. "May I?" He asked and Viktor wiped his mouth with the back of his hands and looked down at Arthur for a moment before a slight smile came to the corner of his mouth. He handed him the bottle and Arthur smelled it, honestly smelling only a mild alcoholic scent. He took a sip, surprised at the flavor that greeted his tongue and pressed the bottle back into Viktor's hand as he forced himself to swallow. The burn from Viktor's drink put the whiskey to shame and he could only stare until his breath returned. "How in the hell can you drink that?!" He asked and Viktor smiled.

"In Russia, vodka is like water." He smiled as he started drinking more from the bottle, missing the shiver of terror that ran down Arthur's spine at the thought of what that would burn like.

"Viktor's always had this addiction. He's an outright alcoholic." Alfred answered and Arthur turned, raising an eyebrow as Viktor shook his head.

"A bottle a day doesn't make me an alcoholic!" He yelped out, embarrassed and Arthur laughed as he tore another strip of bark, throwing it into the flames.

"Then how much would, exactly?" He asked as he started another strip.

"Two or three? One bottle a day isn't much, da? It's just a small amount." Viktor watched him with worried eyes.

"I remember one year, he got so drunk at a festival he threatened a shopkeeper, Aru!" Yao jumped up, making wide motions with his arms, his eyes wide in exasperation as he remembered. "He told him if he wouldn't sell him a cake he'd marry him off to his younger sister! He so scared he made a cake! It was a tailor's shop!" Yao laughed and Viktor stared, his eyes wide in horror.

"No I didn't!" He yelped out, sitting up straight in his chair, panicking and Alfred laughed.

"I remember that!" He cheered. "Natalia said if you made her marry him she'd kill you and him in the town square as soon as you were sober!" He laughed harder, and Viktor winced down, curling up on himself a bit in his chair.

"I've never been much of a drinker." Arthur admitted. He smiled at Viktor, reassuring him it wouldn't make him any less of who he was in the Brit's eyes. "About the stupidest thing I have, one night I had an image that smoke was coming to meet me. I was fighting to get away, but I couldn't breathe. I looked up and something glowing purple was coming at me. Then I woke up. I knew it was a prophetic dream, and talked with an old friend of mine, Angel about it. He told me it would happen that night, so to celebrate what I could before the end of the night, I got two bottles of ale." Arthur chuckled. "It just now dawned on me, the night I met you, why I was as brave as I was. I was still drunk." He chuckled and Viktor stared, surprised.

"You dreamed about meeting me?" He asked softly and Arthur nodded.

"I thought it was a poison, or volatility of your mind that made the glow purple. Imagine my surprise when I saw that your eyes were the same color!" He laughed and Viktor just sat, staring.

"That's how you knew my name." Viktor nearly whispered and Arthur looked over with an embarrassed shake of the head.

"My dreams aren't as... definitive as they can be yet. I need to grow more powerful before the dreams can tell me things like names. Angel told me. He saw it in his dream, and let me know that you had a reason for doing what you were doing, and said that I needed to learn forgiveness." Arthur smiled, looking down at the branch, about half freed from the thick bark. "I think I'm doing well so far, but I doubt the kind of relationship we have is quite what he had in mind." Arthur let out a chuckle, imagining the surprised horror he would have seen on Angel's face if he knew Arthur was hugging and kissing Ivan.

Arthur turned red, realizing what he was imagining and hid his face a second too late. Viktor let out a soft chuckle at his response, but chose not to respond with words. Arthur felt Viktor's warm hand on the small of his back and looked up, seeing him smiling softly at him.

He didn't know what compelled him. For the life of him, he didn't understand what was going through his mind when he asked softly. "May I?" He asked, barely a whisper, and honestly it surprised both him and Viktor that he'd been heard at all.

"You don't have to ask. The answer will always be 'yes'." Viktor smiled as Arthur leaned over and carefully pressed his lips to Viktor's cheek. He knew he was as red as could be, but he was happy. He sat back down, an excited smile on his face as he started again on his branch.

He didn't see Viktor's warm gaze, or the subtle silence of Alfred as he watched on with a smile of his own. Alfred had understood what Arthur was dealing with. He'd been fairly similar a few years back, not properly understanding his feelings, or wanting the connection of affections. He wasn't as bad as Arthur, but he understood, and seeing him ask so softly for permission to kiss Viktor's cheek said something huge.

He was progressing.

"I've had enough for tonight. I'm heading up to bed." Alfred stood, looking at Yao who nodded, finishing off a bottle of wine before standing as well.

"晚安，大家好." Yao smiled as he looked around the room and reached out, grasping Alfred's hand and they slid upstairs with a smile.

Matthew was laying back on the couch, his eyes half open and half awake. He hadn't drank, but his body still needed the sleep to help the last of the healing. He looked fine by this point, and he didn't seem to be in pain, but that had been a blessing.

Arthur slid the last of the bark off of the wood and tossed it into the fire, looking over the staff. He stood, looking it over. The height was a little too much, but he'd need to slide off a sliver anyway to serve as the button for the cloak. His hand slid softly over the wood as he walked towards the open part near the front of the dining area, drawing Viktor's eye as he stood tall. He grabbed a knife and cut off a bit, completely round, and about as thick as his thumb. He closed his eyes and ran it over the top and bottom, chanting softly. Viktor watched, amazed as the wood smoothed, the broken end condensing into a large knot, the bottom smoothing into a solid end and he smiled as he stood, spinning it.

Viktor was surprised to find him swinging it much like you'd expect to see someone spin a spear. It wasn't a long session, but enough that Viktor was impressed when it was done. "You're very good with that." He spoke across the room and Arthur nodded.

"I had to learn to defend myself when I was a child. I almost always had my staff with me, so I grew used to using it as my weapon, as well as my shield." Arthur looked over the branch and smiled as he walked over, laying it on the hearth before the fireplace. "It should be dry by morning." He looked over with a soft yawn before looking around.

Yao had already cleaned the dishes and took care of most of the mess they'd made. Arthur started to lift the empty bottles, and the half full bottle of whiskey him and Alfred had shared, taking them to the kitchen and putting them on the counter.

"Time for bed?" Viktor asked and Arthur nodded. They went up the stairs softly, trying to keep from bothering Mattie,who was dead asleep on the couch.

Arthur started to change. He could hear Viktor behind him and stilled, stripped down, his sleeping pants in his hand and the note Abbey had written came to his mind. 'You must have allowed yourself to be with him.' He frowned wondering. Should he? Would that even be alright? He didn't understand what was going on with himself, but he also knew he COULD trust Viktor. "Viktor," He asked softly, hearing the hum of question from the man behind him, "What... would you do if I asked you to... take me?" He asked softly and heard a soft gasp and a low groan immediately after. He heard the soft foot falls come across the room and warm arms wrapped around him, turning him to face Ivan, who looked him over with a kind smile, but the puckered lips and heavily lidded eyes showed something else Arthur wasn't familiar with on that face.

"I would wonder how poorly you handle alcohol." He chuckled softly and Arthur nibbled his lower lip.

"What if I asked you again in the morning, after I've sobered?" He asked softer and Viktor tilted his head to the side, questioning what was happening.

"I would be suspicious. You told me to ask permission to kiss you on the cheek earlier, and this is kind of a major step." He watched as Arthur shook slightly in his grasp. "What would make you think to ask such a thing?" Viktor asked softly, reaching up to tilt Arthur's gaze up to him.

I-" Arthur felt his throat go dry. Viktor was there before him, stripped down, his warm arms on him. Arthur swallowed hard as all of the blood rushed to his cheeks. "It was the reason for the alcohol, to loosen me up so that I could ask." Arthur admitted, having figured it out earlier in the night. "The note from Abbey-"

"Ah." Viktor sighed, a sliver of disappointment showing on his face. "Then definitely no." Viktor didn't bother with putting his sleeping pants on after that. He grasped Arthur and lifted him in a hug before sitting on the bed. He shifted back a little and laid Arthur down with him, covering them both with the blanket. Arthur watched, honestly a bit disappointed himself before Viktor ran a hand down his cheek. "I don't care if the world is ending. I won't let you be rushed again. Unless you actually want me, I won't take you."

"It's not just that." Arthur looked down, his breath a little shallow. He could feel his whole body pulse with his heartbeat. "When I asked what you wanted me for on the ship, you told me you wanted me to teach you to shake with anticipation when you enter a room, and I didn't understand at the time. It didn't make any sense to me, but I get it now." He closed his eyes, trying to steady his breath. His eyes shifted up to Viktor's as he grasped his hand and brought it to his chest. "Feel." He spoke and Viktor nodded, his eyes shifting down to his hand.

Arthur's heart was pounding in his chest. "I'm a little scared, but I'm not afraid. I'm excited and hopeful, and somehow really happy. It's not just the note. It's more like the note told me to stop fighting against it." He leaned forward a little, laying his own hand on Viktor's chest, feeling his heart beat almost as strong as his. "I do want to, not just because of the note." Arthur's eyes shifted up to meet Viktor's.

"You know, it would hurt." Viktor spoke softly, watching Arthur carefully as he processed the words.

"You wouldn't try to hurt me. I trust you enough to know you'd be kind about it." Arthur watched as Viktor's eyes widened, watching him carefully.

"It's not always a kind act." Victor nearly groaned out, rolling over, trapping Arthur's wrists beneath his hands. Arthur didn't fight it, he let himself be caught, which made another soft groan escape Viktor's throat. "It's tight, and it almost always starts out painfully. There's a reason so many associate good sex with visible bite and nail marks. It's feral, and even those who have been in love for years can admit it's like the ultimate fight for dominance." Victor moved his left hand down Arthur's arm, scratching softly along the way. His lips were only an inch from Arthur's, his body trapping him to the blanket, and Arthur pressed his knees towards each other, feeling Viktor's hips between them.

And somehow it made him even more drunk than the whiskey could have hoped. Even with the words Viktor spoke, making it sound so ferocious, he couldn't help the slight whimper as Viktor's body brushed against him.

Viktor's eyes widened, having expected the words to startle or scare him, not make his cheeks flush and small whispers of want come from him. He looked between them to find Arthur pressing hard just below his naval and swallowed hard before looking up. "Are you serious?" He asked, more surprised than hopeful and Arthur nodded, practically panting out breath, his fingers trembling with his pulse.

Viktor knew he couldn't. Arthur was horribly worked up, but Viktor knew he wasn't really ready, as much as he may have thought he was. He couldn't take him til Arthur admitted he loved him. He swallowed hard and leaned down, pressing his lips to Arthur's.

Arthur's one free hand slid softly over Viktor's cheek and moved carefully down his neck and shoulder, while Viktor shifted his legs so he was kneeling between Arthur's thin legs. They'd already done this once, but knowing Arthur wanted much more was somehow exhilarating to him. He let his hand wrap around them and gently started moving, feeling Arthur's body tense and relax as soft whimpers and mews came from him. Viktor felt his whole body shiver. He knew what to expect, even though he'd never actually done it before, but seeing Arthur like this, lost in want and ecstasy was almost too much for him. He pulled away to see the expression on his face, both panting hard. Arthur's eyes were heavily hooded, his small chest heaving while his lips puckered out, looking too amazing not to take advantage of.

Viktor kissed him harder, running his tongue over the soft pink of Arthur's, as his hand started moving faster. He could feel Arthur's nails dig into his bicep at the sensation as a moan was muffled between the two of them and Viktor nearly lost himself right there. He broke the kiss, his breaths coming hard from him as he tried to whisper out the next words. "When did your body become so sinful?" He asked a little louder than he'd intended and Arthur bit his lip with a low moan before he looked up into Viktor's eyes with a slight smirk.

"You did this to me. So delicate and gentle and c-c-c-" Arthur's body shivered as Viktor unintentionally started squeezing harder. "You made me start falling for you, and wanting you like this." He spoke softly before clenching his eyes. His nails dug harder into Viktor's bicep as he let out a soft whimper. "Viktor... I'm- I'm-" He couldn't finish the thought and the words, their understanding was enough to start pushing Viktor over the edge as well and he came hard, pressing his lips hard to Arthur's, the slick from his release pushing Arthur over as well.

Viktor could feel his back arch, pressing his small chest hard against him, and Viktor had to do everything he could not to collapse right onto him. He rolled onto his side, panting and gasping in air, looking to see Arthur in about the same state.

Arthur rolled over, reaching over the side of the bed and grasped his shirt and cleaned himself off before turning it and carefully cleaning Viktor off as well. He may not have gotten what he'd tried for, but he wouldn't complain anyway. "It felt so much different this time." Arthur spoke, unable to break a smile from his face and Viktor grasped the shirt from his hand and tossed it across the room before pulling Arthur in for a kiss.

"Of course it did. It feels different if you want it. You despised it before, so of course this would be different." Viktor let out a soft chuckle and Arthur looked up at him with a dazed, but contented look. He rested his head on Viktor's arm, his eyes looking over the strong chest before he noticed something and sat up, looking closely.

"You're bleeding!" He panicked a little and Viktor chuckled again.

"You scratched me. I told you, good sex was often accompanied by bite marks and scratches." He watched as Arthur paled.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" He started to sit up before Viktor grabbed him and pulled him back down, kissing him senseless.

"That just shows me you enjoyed what I did to you." Viktor whispered against his lips. "Don't worry about it." Viktor smiled before giving him a softer kiss, brushing a hand over his cheek, feeling the slight tick of Arthur's lip into a smile against his. "Good night, Arthur. I love you." He whispered before closing his eyes.

"Good night." Arthur responded quieter. Viktor felt a soft kiss against his chest and smiled brighter before finally falling asleep.

Arthur couldn't sleep. He laid there for an hour, trying to get through the thoughts that wouldn't stop invading his mind.

Did he love Viktor? Was it a fluke? Was it because of the kindness he'd shown him before? Viktor had made sex sound so scary, would he ever be alright with that? But he also had done part of what he'd explained, part of what had made it so scary on accident. Was that what it was? Acting out on impulse, against your will in a passion like that? Arthur's cheeks burned red when he realized how scandalous he must have sounded earlier. He'd practically begged Viktor to have sex with him.

But he wouldn't. Viktor was worried he wasn't ready yet, and somehow it made Arthur's heart pound, spreading warmth through him. He cuddled up close to him, resting his head on Viktor's arm, against his chest and sighed as he closed his eyes, surrounded in the comfort Viktor gave him.

Finally, he was able to drift off.