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Christophe pushed the doors to Victor's study wide open with no care in the world. "Boy are they mad at you, Boss!" He announced with no need for introductions nor pleasant greetings.
Victor merely shrugged, sitting at his desk, used to his mercenary friend's antics. "Not really. Despite this order of house arrest, I see no reason to keep doing what I have been."
Christophe placed his hands on Victor's desk and leaned over. "Nothing? Are you hearing yourself? They will start watching this house and then, more importantly, start listening."
Victor set aside his papers he was looking over. "Calm yourself. You know I have more than enough influence to push this matter aside. Her Declotes just wants both sides to cool their heads I am sure of it."
Christophe stood back up and folded his arms as his expression changed to that of a deadpanned look. "Oh? And then what? This moment could be the start of everything, especially when you practically threw down the gauntlet at Lady Mila's party a week ago."
Victor leaned into the back of his office chair. "What would you have me do?"
The mercenary arched his brows in surprise and placed his hands on his hips. "Uh, follow through?" The blonde Colbran shook his head briefly. "I know you aren't a fool, Victor. You need your comrades and my team to back you up on this."
"On what? Are we planning a mission now, Christophe?" Victor inquired in a dull tone. "I need to play my hand correctly." Nikiforov then stood up. "This is not the time to barrel through with guns ablaze. That is what Viletto Jean-Jacques did and now look at him. Why, it's all over the headlines. He lost his title for being so brazen."
Christophe begun to pace a little. "I still don't like this. Now even my fellows and loyalties are being questioned way back on Morja moon, just because I happened to know you. I just don't get what we did wrong or who snitched our private meetings."
Victor kept an even, cool stare. "You could always deny and we can part ways right here."
"Ha! You wound me." The tattooed Colbran pointed at Victor. "Like I'm leaving you now. Justice will be dealt and you, of all people, know it. No, I'm in it for the long hall, Victor Nikiforov. All I'm asking is for you to be careful."
"Yes, of course…" Victor sighed, looked off to the window for a brief moment. "But it looks like trouble knocked on my door anyway…"
Christophe folded his arms. "No, this time, its trying to bust the damn door down and you know it," he spoke lowly.
Lord Nikiforov let his head drop forward while folding his arms. "Yes...I suppose it has. How is Yuuko by the way? Yuri is sure to ask."
The blonde's dual eyes danced. "Healthy and beautiful."
"You know that wasn't intended…"
"Most matters like that aren't…I'm my own, I'll take my own risks." The blonde scratched his stubble. "Now...as for the newest...butler now is he all right in your book these days?"
Victor immediately bristled and whipped his head in the tall Colbran's direction. "Yuri Katsuki is not a traitor to us nor should be suspected," Lord Nikiforov clipped.
The blonde tilted his head. "Oh? And why's that?"
Victor beckoned Christophe with a wave of his hand. "Come here and I will tell you."
"Er, okay, what?"
BAM!
Christophe pulled back upright and rubbed his head. "Grahh! Really? The desk?! Ack, not the collar!"
The creamy skin of Victor's face turned bluer than before, glaring long and hard with daggering eyes and gritted teeth. "He isn't. Got it?"
Christophe shook his head to stop the flying stars he swore he was seeing. "This whole matter is sensitive. We have to suspect everyone. You know this more than anyone so why on cobalt soil are you so easily offended?" He rubbed his head. "Jeez that hurt!"
Victor blinked slowly and then rapidly before letting his comrade go, taking a step or two backwards. Nikiforov roughly sighed and brought his hands on either side of his face to brush back the sides of his hair. A little relaxed, and skin back to normal, Victor turned himself to squarely face the tattooed Colbran once more. "You're right...I apologize, I'm not sure what came over me."
Giacomettti's eyes widened slightly while keeping a hand on his head bump. "Oh...I think I might...you care for this lad in particular, don't you? Most of our kind tend to get overly protective in many ways."
Victor folded his arms and sighed again. "He and I have experienced quite the turn in our relationship but it does not require you noseying in. We are getting off topic and you're about to overstep your bounds my friend."
Christophe coughed and straightened himself up a bit while putting his hand back down to his side. "Yes...quite. I apologize."
Victor waved a dismissive hand. "All is forgiven. Now, as for the matter at hand. I suggest we get some intel first…see who keeps trying to put me in the lime light as some troublemaker when I'm trying to get our race to see reason."
"Oh? We need to figure out the snitch first. Leroy was too damn close this time."
"Yes. But unless you want to kidnap the bugger…"
"Ah, we don't want him to still snitch to someone else," Giacometti caught on. "Sounds like we need do some undercover."
"Sounds good. I look forward to hearing about your findings."
Right after lunch, Victor had taken his time to Yuri's room. Victor had figured Yuri always seemed to be either there or the kitchen. Since the kitchen was apparently no go, and the triplets were busy, Nikiforov went upstairs and knocked on Yuri's bedroom door and yet there was no answer. He even opened the door eventually and the bedroom was empty.
'What now…'
With less than perfect composure and furrowed brow, Victor left the room and dragged his feet to his own room. His head was throbbing from a splitting headache and his desire to take a nap increased greatly.
'I've messed up…snapping at him like that…'
Victor's eyes casted downwards to the door knob; they kept looking down and half-lidded while Victor had stepped through and shut the door behind him, take off his jacket and let it fall to the floor.
"Oy, we just picked up the floor, idiot."
Victor finally lifted his head and Yuri was sitting on one of the chairs. "Oh my yawn- there you are…I had wondered where you'd be."
"Yeah well...I figured we needed to talk. I was in my room a bit but…"
Victor took a step forward, leaving his jacket on the floor. "And you let yourself in here?" Victor then untied his tie.
"Well yeah. I had...to see you," Yuri whispered the last part.
Victor let out a short laugh through his nose as he continued to walk forward, leaving his tie around his shoulders as he worked to undo the first few buttons. "Little old me, huh?"
Yuri stood up. "Forget it, I can just leave now-"
Victor held up surrendering hands. "Hush, I'm tired, all right?"
Yuri moved in closer. "Wha-? Whoa, yeah you look like you haven't slept."
Victor slumped. "I haven't. Yes."
"Has it been...because?" Yuri wondered, his cheeks turned pink.
"Because of several things, yes…" Victor deadpanned.
'And I missed you.' Victor admitted to himself. 'And I'm sorry…and I'm in trouble…and I'm tired…just kiss me and make it better?'
Yuri looked off to the side. "I see…"
"Is that all?"
"Is that all?" Yuri replied.
"Yeah." Victor went into a full slump, bending at the waist, standing wobbly on in the middle of the room. "Your absence has kept me up…" Victor drawled a little, sleepy. "I've felt horrible for snapping at you -yawn- I was outta line."
Yuri resisted to snigger.
Victor yawned again and planted himself face down in the bed. "What?" Victor asked, muffled through all the pillows.
Yuri snorted, unable to take much more. "Y-You're acting...it's n-nothing…"
"Nuh uh, you fin'sh what you're 'bout to 'ay…"
Yuri started to chuckle.
"Stahp." Victor whined.
Yuri lost it. "You sound like a kid in timeout, ha ha ha!"
"Stahp~!" Victor whined as his exhaustion crashed over him.
Yuri collapsed to the foot of the bed and buried his head in his arms which rested on top of the sheets. "Dear God...ha ha ha!"
Yuri in his fit of chuckles couldn't resist to play this out. The present moment was pure gold to him. He stood up and got onto the bed to pat Victor's back without another thought.
"D'aw...baby need a lullaby?" Yuri teased.
An elegant, icy hand clamped around Yuri's arm, just above the elbow.
"No... I need," Victor turned as he spoke and licked his lips absently. "I need…"
Victor couldn't finish but was able to pull Yuri towards him. The gesture and words deterred Yuri slightly, but Yuri still couldn't bring himself to stop chuckling.
Yuri rested his head on a pillow and let Victor pull him into their arms. "Oh man...we are seriously a fucked up pair."
"Hmm, somethin' we agree on…" Victor muttered nearly asleep.
Yuri sighed with a content smile. "Ok...I'll stay."
"Good…"
Peaceful for both of them as both sides just caved in for a restful nap that afternoon.
A knock at the door startled Yuri awake. Victor was still asleep.
"Oi...Nikiforov...someone's at the door…" Yuri begun with a stretch.
"Master Nikiforov, sir?" It was Axel.
Katsuki gently yet firmly shook Victor's shoulders. "Please, we need to get up!"
Victor wouldn't budge.
Another knock. It was harder this time.
Victor finally startled awake. "Y-Yes?"
"Sorry, sir, it's Axel…"
Victor looked at Yuri, blinked several times and then groggily looked at the door. "Oh, yes? What is it?"
"Sorry, sir, but it's time for dinner…would you like me to set a tray for you two on your study?" She asked.
"Come on," Yuri whispered. "I don't want her in here!"
Victor right eyebrow arched for a moment, giving Yuri a look that screamed "really?" Before giving into Yuri's plea. "No two trays just out there will be fine, Ms. Purple. Yuri and I have something private to discuss."
'She'll get the wrong idea!' Yuri's mind screamed as his ears turned redder.
"Of course, sir, right away," Axel obliged.
"There. All settled…and where do you think you're going?"
Yuri was about to get off the bed when Victor stopped him by taking his hand. "Out of here. I have a pretty good idea where that 'private' discussion is going to lead and- see?!"
Victor slid his grip up to take a hold of Yuri's elbow as he slid over to quickly wrap Yuri's torso with his other arm.
"Oh hush. I merely am holding you back so you will stick around to hear the truth. Get your head out of the gutter my word." Victor finished with resting his head on Yuri's right shoulder.
"Well if the shoe fits…" Yuri shot back quietly.
Victor sighed. "Yes. Yes."
Yuri smirked. "Oh good. Here I thought you were sick."
"Huh?"
"The drawl of your words, speaking in yeah-yeahs and hardly making a complete sentence?"
"I must have really been tired..." Victor admitted.
"No shit," Yuri deadpanned.
Victor pecked Yuri's cheek. "Such a mouth… I need to do something about it."
"No- ah!"
Victor pulled back and changed into a cocky expression. "I wasn't asking…" Victor sniffed Yuri's hair. "Good grief, you smell good."
Yuri shrugged a little and lightly snorted while looking off to the side towards the pillows. "Blame the girls, they were making supposedly your favorite." Yuri turned back to look up. "Then again you never were picky."
Victor let go of Yuri while giving a, rare, genuine, heart-shaped smile before he sat up in bed while brushing his bangs aside. "Lazura meat is always tasty."
'Whoa...' Yuri's mind went blank. 'And that's for me?' His heart skipped.
"That is true," Victor replied before he caught Yuri staring. "Yes~?" Victor drawled a little in a tease.
There was a pause, Yuri held up a finger as if he was about to say something and then bolted up and off the bed, not giving Victor a chance to catch up...well up until the end of course.
Victor stopped Katsuki in thier tracks with slam of his hand on the door before Yuri could even think to put a hand on the handle.
'Crap...so close...okay maybe not...damn you Colbran speed.' Yuri cursed inwardly.
"Have dinner with me...I insist…" Victor spoke coolly. The Colbran was smirking.
Yuri made a face but relented. "You're having fun with this, aren't you?"
Victor leaned in over Yuri's shoulder so he could better see Yuri's face. "Clearly."
Yuri gave in. "Fine…"
Victor pushed himself the door and took Yuri's hand in one sweeping motion. "Good."
Yuri didn't budge. "Hold up. I need to bring in the platters…"
Victor eyed Yuri.
"Oh come on. Just let me do my job. I won't run off I promise."
Victor nodded. "All right. Bring them over here to the desk and we will eat."
Dinner consisted of mixed veggies and seared Lazura meat. Lazura were, of course, native to Colbran, but they tasted like a mix of rabbit and beef. To drink was a delicate wine made from baltin berries. The food was prepared meticulously as always and Yuri could never quite enough of the triplet's cooking.
"Good grief...good stuff…" Yuri mumbled. "And this wine…"
'I have never had alcohol before...'
Victor was about to take a sip but stopped. "Don't speak with your mouth full silly."
Yuri wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Yeah, yeah…"
Victor cocked an eyebrow.
Yuri picked up his fork. "Er- yes, sir…?"
A tense, awkward pause fell between them.
'I'm still his servant...right?'
'I'm still his Master…but…'
"W -cough- Well," Victor began, "like I tried to say before I napped..."
Yuri tilted his head. "Oh?"
"I was wrong. I overreacted in the study the other day and I'm sorry."
Yuri continued to stare...and then started to tremble. "About that…. There's something else that has been bugging me."
"What's that?"
"You don't tell me anything!" Yuri blurted what he had been keeping within for days. "I don't know what will set you off because I don't know much about you honestly!"
"You're correct, and I'm sorry." Victor whispered. "I haven't explained myself to you…frankly nothing much now I think about it."
"S-So now what? You want me to throw a fit? Oh wait I already have...you wanna have me try to bolt out of the door so you-"
Still seated, Yuri found himself swept into Victor's embrace, but didn't try to struggle. Victor, shaking his head during Yuri's ramble, finally rested it on top of that head of black hair. "Yuri, no I…just...I-"
"Just let me in…" Yuri answered for him with desperation in his voice. "Just let me know… I feel lost."
"...of course…"
Notes:
Colbran has two moons, if you recall from earlier chapters, Chris was ordered to house Yuuko on Albjora's twin moon which is Morja. :D I hope this helps.
