Skipping Stone
Over the next week, Yuri and the triplets fell into a nice routine of cleaning, cooking and laundry, becoming good, honest friends. Yuri was happy, smug even, Victor no longer bothered with him, but kept his guard up in case. One of the sisters would always relay orders to Yuri so the young man never had to see the Colbran.
"We have this whole list of things to get before three, no?" Loop asked, chipper as always.
Yuri groaned. "Just, don't make me out to be the extra muscle, okay?"
"Aw, come on, you're tougher than me and you know it, no?" She teased.
She skipped along ahead without a care. "You know, Master brought my sisters and I together, you know?"
Yuri shook his head.
She put her hands behind her back as the two continued to stroll down the sidewalk, away from their parked car. "Yep. Axel has always looked after Lutz and I…even if…" her voice trailed off and then she stalled, halting entirely.
"It wasn't good for you before, was it?"
But she only shrugged and took a step forward. "But humans aren't always nice either."
'Can't argue that…'
"How did you meet him?"
"Master?" She flashed a smile. "He visited our Master at the time and saw our poor condition and took us for himself."
"That's it?"
She looked up. "Hmm…that's what's important, no?"
Loop didn't notice Yuri stall as she twirled on ahead, daydreaming.
'He probably hypnotized the rest out of her…poor girl…' Yuri guessed. How can anybody this sweet continue otherwise? And if Nikiforov did that…sparing her…'
Yuri had started to catch up to Loop and follow her into a store before he shook his head. 'Loop was manipulated. For all I know, he told her to say that to make him look good.'
In the kitchen, three days later, Axel had Yuri practicing his mincing.
"Didn't we make this for him yesterday?"
Axel turned around, wiping her hands. "The Master? Yes, it's his favorite so I figured."
Yuri set down the knife and began to poor the chopped roots into a bowl. "Why do you care about his favorites?"
"Hmm…" she reflected for a moment and flashed a smile. "Because he let's us eat."
Yuri recalled Loop's words, and remembered his first meeting with Lady Mila.
'Mila…I seem to have a Noble you might hate very much…'
"Where is your former now?"
"Dead. Never, ever tell Loop that. I don't want her to remember why."
Yuri blanched. "I-I see…"
'So it was true?'
An hour before dinner, the girls had a surprise. It had been one month since Yuri had lived as the Nikiforov butler and had told him to go clean windows.
"Ney, Newbie…"
Yuri wrung his sponge. "Ah, hey, Lutz. You ready?"
"Yes… however…" She pointed, pressing her finger on the glass.
"H-Hey!"
"You're not very observant are you?" She interrupted.
"Hah?"
"Look. Harder this time."
Colbran's winter had fallen, and the great estate's landscaping had frosted over.
Yuri dropped the sponge on the floor.
With a heart-shaped smile, he appeared to be dancing with Lady Mila on the ice. He appeared happy as he spun around or twirled her on the hard surface of the frozen lake.
"The Master is pretty good isn't, he?"
Katsuki slowly nodded before he awkwardly cleared his throat. "Y-Yes."
Lutz turned around and leaned on the window. "Jealous?"
"Hah?!"
She raised a brow. "Are you?"
"Did he order you to ask?" Yuri deadpanned.
"He didn't time this, Dimwit. Nature did."
"Nature as in the rough month or so of cold weather or…?"
Ms. Blue sighed, shrugging her shoulders as she walked off. "Fate? Who knows, probably both. We can't have all the answers…come to the kitchen when you're ready."
'What on Earth does that mean?'
Left stare, Yuri watched a carefree Victor dip Mila in his arms, a small part of him wanted to put his worn-once skates back on.
'He looks so…human-'
Memories flashed across his mind, the pleasure and pain his Master had caused.
Yuri shuddered, crossing his arms to hold himself, taking steps back away from the window.
'How can this be the same person?'
Yuri caught himself tracing his lips with a finger.
'You look good with red lips…' His memory recalled.
"Bastard." Katsuki shook his head and turned to walk away, forgetting the bucket on the floor until later.
"Here is your evening tea, Master."
"Thank you, Lutz."
"Did you and Lady Mila have a good afternoon?"
The Colbran nodded. "Best time of year."
"You know he saw you."
Blunt, Victor never minded as she always got the job done.
He took and sip. "Of course. He's been seeing us from afar each day has he? Not exactly a ninja about it. Er, or discreet I should say."
"Ah. Well, my sisters watch too at times."
"Flattered."
She shrugged. So? Your orders for him?"
He handed her a list for the week. "Yes."
She took it and looked it over. "Rudimentary…understood."
He set down his cup. "How is he?"
"You hurt him, Sir."
Victor spat out his drink and gawked.
"We sisters share everything, Sir, or I find out what I can from them."
"I-Is that so?"
"It's the truth, Master, as always. But I think he has recovered some… maybe I don't know what you did but he's been…jumpy...especially lately." She shrugged. "If I may be so bold, I think you two not talking isn't helping."
Victor wiped his mouth with his hand. "You think I'm a fool for bringing him home I can tell," he teased, when he honestly couldn't. Her vacant expression was almost better than his.
"Yes."
Victor would've face palmed if he were anyone else. "I-I see…"
"I find him distracting. Don't you, Master?"
"That's bold for even you."
She curtsied. "Sorry. Not my place."
One afternoon, Yuri was dusting bookshelves, left to his thoughts again.
At one point, as it happened every so often, Yuri stopped and looked at his right hand albeit randomly. He felt it. It was warm.
His mind drifted, to the couple skating. He knew they were skating again, for the last time, today.
'Just for dancing!' He told himself, trying to keep busy. 'Just for dancing…and that smile…'
A flash of a memory of a much more leering on made him wince.
Yuri flushed; he shook his head. "No, no, no."
A flash of a how their kiss felt suddenly crossed his mind .
Yuri brought a hand to his lips as he held back a gasp.
Yuri felt his heart hurt.
He shook his head. 'Twisted bastard…'
Yuri dug his hands onto the book shelf.
"Mr. Katsuki?'
Yuri froze and turned around.
Dressed sharp in black and a crisp shirt there was Victor, with a book in his hand, appearing confused they were there.
Yuri held fast on the dusting cloth and quickly turned back around to hide the face his heart was hammering. "Sir! Just wrapping up here…I thought you'd be skating."
"Ah...well I finished that up awhile ago."
Yuri heard foot steps…but not in the direction he expected.
Victor took a seat at a small desk, one of many stationed between the end and start of the next book case and continued reading.
Yuri continued as he were, not wanting to raise suspicion.
'Keep your lip zipped. Keep silent. Finish and go. Don't egg him on.'
'Wha~t unless you want him?' His darker recesses intervened abruptly.
'Shut up! I hate him!' Yuri argued with himself.
'Why?' If the dark voice in his head were a person, 'It' would be folding their arms.
'He hurt me.'
"Mr. Katsuki?"
Yuri jumped. "Oh! Sorry I-"
"Are you okay?"
Yuri didn't bother looking behind him. "Urk! I-"
'It's just a question, dammit, breathe!' Reason flailed to take over.
Cool hands gently covered his own. Victor was standing right behind him.
Between their arms, Yuri froze has if somebody disconnected his brain for a moment.
'Its been too long you know it.'
"Have you missed me?" Asked a purring voice close to Yuri's ear.
Yuri's throat tightened as that voice sent a shiver down his spine.
"Five weeks is a long time..."
Yuri pursed his lips, taking in a long breath through the nose before he retracted his hands from underneath he turned to give Victor a sideways glance with a small smile. "You. Wish."
Victor's eyes flashed in surprise. "Eros…" he whispered.
'See? That's what your big mouth is doing?!' His heart screamed.
'No excuses! I'm getting out of here!' Reason overwhelmed.
Yuri had turned fully around and held up a finger. "According to Greek Myth…" he suddenly took on such a studious persona, rattling on such a bookish definition, it took Victor by surprise.
The Noble pinched his nose. "What…the hell?"
Yuri shrugged. "You asked, no?"
Nikiforov folded his arms. "Humph…I think you've been around the girls too much…maybe I should get you your own room."
Yuri pivoted on his heel. "I'm fine. And considering these books are fine and our lesson is done. I will be off."
'Please don't touch me, please don't touch me, please don't touch me…' Was all Yuri could repeat until he left the study, drowning out the rest.
Only when he shut the doors behind him did he realize Victor didn't follow.
Yuri looked at his hand.
'He…let me go…?'
Victor finished another sip. "Is there more mail?"
Lutz nodded. "Yes, from Sir Giacometti, Master. Are you in trouble again?"
The Noble took the letter from her. "Don't concern yourself."
She shrugged. "I never do." With that she left.
Victor opened the letter and scanned it over and frowned.
'He isn't going to like this news…'
After two months with no direct orders, the Yuri began to worry. The mansion had remained run of the mill, safe and unchanging. Without Victor, Yuri also didn't have to go to anymore clubs or parties. All day, he started to worry about his usefulness and if that might affect Yuuko.
'I mean…its not like all humans are perfect either…was I too harsh? Victor wasn't even alive when the Under-Swell happened…he doesn't have that blood on is hands per se, his ancestors do- ugh, what is wrong with me…?'
That night, Yuri just couldn't get to sleep. He felt off, he couldn't put a finger on it so he decided a short walk would help. In nothing but a pair of socks and boxers, Yuri snuck out of the room and went for his stroll down the hallway upstairs. The wing of the mansion was cool and dimly lit thanks only to the many windows and few, small lamps but Yuri didn't mind and kept his arms folded in attempt to somewhat keep his body heat.
Tonight in the hallway, for the first time, Yuri witnessed a true rain storm. From the moment he was at the top of the flight of stairs the storm was already crashing and pouring rain. Only thanks to books did Yuri ever know about storms. To actually witness such weather on the surface of Colbran put the books to shame. To Yuri, the sheets of rain were captivating and eventually Yuri stopped walking to just stare through a window to take in the wondrous, yet dangerous, scene.
When Yuri felt he could no longer stand being out in the chilly hallway he started to head back. Not a moment too soon, from the corner of his eye headlights caught his attention. His curiosity got the best of him so he went up to another window. No matter how he strained to see, the best he could make out was a shadowy, blurry form walking east.
The blur stopped and for a full minute the blur just stood there. Yuri was unable to peel himself away and continued to watch.
'Why was there a transport pulling in this late at night? Did I have to warn somebody? Axel maybe?'
The downpour slowed, lifting just enough so he was better able to see. The shadowy blur formed into a tall, silhouette, however the still anonymous figure remained turned away.
Yuri's heart began to quicken and became worried for this someone who was out there in such weather. When Yuri began to move in the direction of the foyer, the figure began to move; when Yuri stopped the figure stopped. Such action freaked the man out that it quickly irritated him.
'That's it! I'm going to tell this guy off!' Not caring how impulsive it was.
Not bothering to see if the silhouette followed him or not, Yuri dashed to the foyer and grabbed a long rain coat from the closet. The moment he had the item on Yuri rushed to the door and yanked on the handle.
The next thing Yuri registered was catching someone who fell through the door.
Between the confusion and the distracting sounds of the storm, Yuri and the stranger landed on the ground. Pinned on the marble floor Yuri was freezing in seconds, the thin coat already soaked through because the drenched person who laid crookedly on top of him. Yuri breathed heavily through his nose as he slowly placed a shaking hand on the stranger's back.
Notes: It is so hard to convey conflicting emotions warring with each other! PSA: Yuri is an emotional piggy and always will be. XD
