Damages
8:01PM
Yuri's eyes fluttered open.
He looked side to side with his eyes, far too groggy and in pain to do much else. "Wh-Where am I…?" His throat was dry and felt immensely groggy.
Victor had closed his eyes for a cat nap in his chair next to the bed and awoke with a start.
Dual-eyes melted into relief as Victor reached out to take the smaller hand into his. "Yuri…"
"V-Victor…where?"
Victor held on to Yuri's hand firmly. "It's all right. You're safe."
Yuri licked his lips. "B-But the others?"
Victor frowned a little before stroking the back of Yuri's hand. "I couldn't very well just leave you here alone, now could I?"
A sudden realization swiped across Yuri's features. "My…arm…"
The Colbran knew this wouldn't take long, but remained calm for his sake, continuing to hold onto Yuri's right hand. "Between where the bullet hit and the time it took to get you under the knife…the Doctor couldn't do much. I'm sorry, Yuri."
Deep down, however, the Colbran wondered if the Doctor had honestly tried.
Roughly from the half-way point of Yuri's upper left arm on down, the limb was gone.
Yuri slowly turned his head and silently waggled the stump he'd now live with.
Victor's brow furrowed. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I'd thought you'd lose your -well- shit over it."
Yuri licked his dry lips and turned his head back. "Yeah well…I'm sure I'll conduct self-pity episodes on my own time."
Victor brushed some of Yuri's bangs aside. "I see."
"So um-" Yuri's voice cracked and he coughed, "ahem- the, Cl- ?"
Victor knew what he meant and gave a nod. "Uh huh, we made it in time." Victor turned towards the small television in the room. "It's all over the news."
'CLEANSE HALTED IN LIGHT OF EVIDENCE?!' 'SHIPS RECALLED!' 'WHO CALLED DELCA YAKOV OUT?'
Yuri's eyes glistened as he sunk into the pillow while Victor read the scrolling taglines. "So…we can…"
It was time to take them down. It was what they needed, a foot in the door, an opportunity to speak with all the proof at their feet. It was finally time.
"Oh sure, now you start crying," Victor teased as he let go of Yuri's hand.
Yuri wiped his eyes. "Shuddup -sniff- Heh…so where is everyone?"
Victor rose up. "You sound terrible, let me get you some water." He went over to the sink, dispensed a paper cup, filled it, and handed the drink over. It took a few trips before Yuri felt he had enough for now.
"Now let's see," Victor sighed, letting his shoulders go as he sat back down. "Our news station group had gone back to the Royal estate. Delca Yakov and officials with him have all been arrested. That said, I have a feeling we can thank Jean-Jacques and Minami for holding up the Imperial ships in space. That said, I don't know if those two are going to remain on Morja for now or if Jean-Jacques is going to come back down right away. I haven't heard much yet."
Yuri smirked. "Ooo~ I bet that had to sting when the militia were told to turn around."
Victor nodded. "And you won't believe how the Delca was convinced."
Yuri brightened. "Try me."
"It was Phichit."
"Tell me everything."
Victor shrugged. "I'm sure he'd love to quote himself, but, let's say it was the ultimate threat to their egos. It was live on screen and everything."
Speaking of the devil, the news report revisited the very clip that was bound to be infamous.
Yuri smirked and pointed to his stump. "I'd do a clap back with my hands right now, but…"
Victor dropped his head forward with a tiny grin. "Yuri~"
"Heh, heh," Yuri's smile gradually faded. "Oh, um, what about Christophe's team?"
Victor sighed through his nose. "They took some damage too I'm afraid. They're here in the hospital too. They were checked in an hour ago."
"A-Are they okay?"
Victor raised a hand to his mouth. "Like you they'll live, but…-yawn-"
Yuri studied Victor's tired face. "How…long have you been up?"
Victor scooted his chair as close as possible. "It's felt like days, but you…"
Yuri watched in silence as Victor rested his silver head on his lap, taking a spare pillow for additional support.
"A-Are you sure…?" Yuri eyed the door way.
"Does it look like -yawn- I give a damn?" Victor then relaxed, closing his dual eyes.
-Drip. Drip.-
As the I.V. dispensed Yuri's meds in otherwise silent room, he eventually ran his fingers though the dirty silver hair, he noticed Victor's slightly puffy eyes, his pink nose and stubbly, unshaven face.
-Drip. Drip.-
"I wish I could've done more," Yuri whispered.
Victor's shoulders rose and fell as Yuri continued to comb the Colbran's hair with his fingers.
Yuri relaxed into his pillow. "Thank you, Victor…"
Victor helped Yuri into a wheelchair the following afternoon after a change in bandages.
"You sure? I'd prefer it if you were resting."
"Oh come on, it's an arm not a spleen. I want to see them."
Victor gave a nod to the nurse. "To Giacometti's room please."
A male nurse. pushed the wheelchair as Victor followed. The hallways were all practical and minimal. Not gloomy, just didn't scream hopeful or cheery with a bunch of paintings or flowers.
"I have to say, I am surprised this place isn't busting with the wounded right now," Yuri remarked.
"The casualties and injuries were minimal to what we could've seen," Victor replied.
Yuri nodded. "Yeah…that's true."
The quiet nurse stopped in front of another room and knocked the door frame to let the occupants know someone was coming in as there were no doors.
"Thank you, I'll take it from here," Victor took over and pushed Yuri inside.
Right away, Yuri saw Lutz sleeping away on the small couch to his left. She appeared fine besides a few minor, bandaged cuts on her face and hands.
Next, Yuri saw a Chris leaning against the opposite wall with his arms folded, staring the ground pensively.
Finally, Yuri saw Yuuko in a bed like was.
"Afternoon, Christophe," Victor whispered before Yuri could say anything.
Chris lifted his head up. His dark brown eye had been bandaged and appeared he hadn't slept at all.
"Hgn…" Yuuko stirred awake, stretching her arms.
Chris moved over and sat beside her. "Hey…"
"Victor…how did she get…?" Yuri was confused.
"Her Declotes insisted." That was all Yuri needed to hear before he let out a sigh in relief violence wasn't used to get Yuuko care.
"Hey, Babe…Victor brought Yuri…"
Yuuko rubbed her eyes. "Oh?" She turned her head as Victor brought Yuri closer.
"Yu~ri…" she drawled out with a sleepy smile before she realized what he had lost. "Yuri-!" She hissed in worry, sitting up with a jolt.
Katsuki covered the white-haired girl's hand with his own. "Hey, Yuuko, it's all right. I am here."
The whole room was silent until Giacometti coughed into his fist.
"Hey, Darlin', I'm gonna go talk with Victor for a bit. Ya two go catch up, okay?"
Yuuko and Yuri watched the Colbrans leave in silence.
Victor followed Christophe until the blonde had led them to an empty, private waiting space.
"Chr-"
Giacometti took one hand, grabbed Victor's collar, pulled him around and pushed Nikiforov against the wall. "How. Dare you…"
Yuri rubbed Yuuko's hand as her IV dripped while the monitor beeped with her vitals.
"Ney…Katsuki…"
The two looked over and saw that Lutz had woken up.
"Hey, Lutz."
Ms. Blue stretched her hands and arms over her head and stood up. "Nice stump."
Yuri rolled his eyes. "Er. Thanks?"
"I, trusted you to be there," Christophe growled.
Victor kept a vacant expression. "I couldn't stay, you know why."
The fury slowly changed to sad anguish. He knew Nikiforov was right.
"Have you told him, yet, Yuuko?" Lutz asked before she shook her head. "Sorry, wrong question. Do you mind if I do?"
Yuri shook his head. "Th-That's all right, Lutz. I get you're blunt, but we need to be considerate."
"Suit yourself," she shrugged. "I'm going to go request some food. Be back."
Chris let Victor go, stumbled backwards until he was back against the opposite wall of the small room before placing his head in his left hand. "I couldn't stop it…it's all my fault."
Yuri tilted his head to the side. "How are you feeling, Yuuko?"
"Sore, but I am glad you're all right, Yuri…well save for that arm I suppose."
Yuri shrugged his stump. "Heh, yeah…it was a shot to the arm. Victor did his best."
Yuuko gave a small smile. "Of course. They both did or neither of us would be alive."
"Mmhmm…" Yuri studied Yuuko's pale face, hands, torso, and both legs were showing under the covers. Nothing was wrapped, or appeared heavily broken or wounded.
'Then why was she put to bed rest? Was she poisoned?'
Victor remained silent.
"I've…seen many, terrible things, Victor…" Chris shook his head in his hand and looked up. "I've done shady things myself…" he choked back a cry, "but why her?"
"What did you do about it?" Victor replied.
Chris scowled darkly, but not a Victor. "Some held me back while others…if ya ever hear about dead guards…"
Victor folded his arms. "I'd have done the same."
There was a knock at the door entrance. A female nurse walked in with a report in her hand and was followed in by Lutz who took a seat on the couch again after rolling a cart in with three trays of food on top.
"Miss…Yuuko?" The nurse's eyes shifted between the human and the Unwanted. "Um, I'm not sure if I can tell you this without-"
Yuri looked between the women. "I-I can leave-"
Yuuko shook her head. "N-No I want you to stay." She then looked to the staff member. "Can you please tell me?"
Yuri felt Yuuko become tense.
"Good news, no major internal bleeding. The bruising and tearing you sustained should heal eventually…" The nurse began.
Chris' whole body was trembling with anger and sadness. "She was assaulted, Victor. I saw it happening and I couldn't get to her for quite awhile, Vitya."
A name close friends had shared and had rarely spoken. Victor remained silent, acknowledging, respecting Chris' need to let it all out.
"I've never felt…so weak before in my life." Chris held onto his shoulders. "I…how do I face someone I've let down?"
With his right palm face up with the first three fingers pointing to the ceiling, Victor held out is right arm towards his friend in a Colbran manor of apology, an 'I am always here for you'. Chris stepped forward and Victor embraced him, cupping the back of his neck.
"…you're pregnant," the nurse finished.
Yuuko with a quivering lip and wide eyes started to shake before burying her face in her hands.
Yuri started to cry himself as he watched her crumble. "Yuuko..."
The nurse performed the same gesture as Victor had done, but brought to their chest with her eyes on the ground, signaling their condolences before heading out of the room in silence.
Lutz immediately pushed the cart out of the room. "I'll find them."
Yuuko and Yuri were too late to stop her.
"Y-Yuri…" She reached out to him and grabbed his good arm. "Chris…this will tear him up so much...and on top of everything else…"
Yuri rose up and off the wheelchair and leaned forward so she could embrace him as he wished he could do the same, resting his chin on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Yuuko," he repeated.
She brought her legs up and held tighter. "I-I don't know…what to do! Chris has…Chris will…what if-?"
Yuri pushed himself back and placed his forehead on hers. "Hey. Trust him a little, okay?"
It was blunt, Yuri knew, but he didn't want Yuuko in her panic to fall more in despair.
Yuuko choked back a sob and nodded. By the time Yuri had found his seat, Christophe had rushed into the room. He took one look at Yuuko's weeping face and strode on right over.
Yuri felt a cool hand on his cheek and looked up.
Whatever comforting words or apologies those on the bed were sharing all faded as Yuri looked to Victor with tears running down his face.
"Master…a word in private, please?" Lutz muttered.
Victor turned his head. "No, here's fine, Ms. Blue."
"Fine…I don't get it."
"What's there to 'get'?" Yuri asked.
"Are we saying that baby isn't his?" Lutz pointed to Chris. "Pardon my ignorance, but I don't see how we can tell…" her voice trailed off before she straightened up under Victor's glare. "Sorry, Sir."
Yuuko wiped her eyes. "No, no, I get it what you're saying, Lutz. It's -sniff- just…" She looked down at her stomach. "I've suspected, but I was hoping to hear the news under a much different circumstance."
Lutz' eyes softened as she nodded. "I see…"
Yuri gasped. "So…Christophe is the father?" He confirmed as he adjusted in his seat. "Er, not to dismiss the pain, but that's…"
Chris framed Yuuko's face, brushing her tears with his thumbs. "Yes. That is good news."
Victor rested a hand on Yuri's shoulder and squeezed.
It was another bittersweet mess to unfold. One friends such as these would do together over time.
Thanks for reading! :D
