6

On his corner of the bed Yuri didn't know what to say, but he couldn't help but grin back when Victor smiled that particular smile again.

"O-Oh, you have a tail?"

The long appendage flipped back and forth. "Mmhmm…while demons have horns, devils have tails. There be days I swear it has a mind of its own."

"Heh…I used to have a dog." Yuri squirmed a little in place as he reminisced. "You could say his tail was the same way."

Victor grinned. "Really?"

Yuri nodded, but hardly looked at Victor in the eye.

Still on his right side with his head propped up, Victor lifted his left arm. "Come, we have eternity so we might as well talk, right? I'm not a confessions booth, but-"

Yuri nodded and turned around, crossing his legs on the mattress, but spoke to his lap. "I just…don't get what you see in me that'd you'd drag me here when I should've been…um…well you know…"

"How about this, why don't you think you deserve my affections?"

"Ah…well I don't know you for one."

"But you can learn."

"I hurt myself and you should be disg-"

Victor held up a finger. "Ah~ you believe others have already judged you negatively before you let them show otherwise?"

Yuri's shoulders dropped. "And then feel guilty when I am wrong…yeah…I know I was known to do that a lot."

Victor sat up. "And then you say sor-"

"Sorry -oh-…heh, yeah…" Yuri scratched his head.

Both were now sitting in respective corners. "It's all right, you know?" Victor prompted.

"Huh?"

"I'm a devil, Yuri, I can't judge you. In a world of wrong and nothing right among chaos how can I possibly do so?"

Why me? Victor could sense the question permeate throughout Yuri's entire soul-self and expression when he finally lifted his head.

"It's called selfishness, Yuri. Want rarely needs a why…and no, justifications are different, those aren't really whys."

"Eh? That's…an unusual way to put it."

Victor shrugged. "Heh, well, it's different down here."

"Yeah…I suppose so." Yuri's eyes shifted anxiously. "Um…A-Are you stuck in this room with me?"

Victor shook his head. "I don't have to stay. While there are some duties I'm required to do, understand I'd choose to stay if I didn't. You're not a burden."

Brown eyes wavered. "I…I don't recall anyone really choosing to have my company…"

Victor scooted closer. "Or to listen it would seem. I can read your soul, Yuri. You were lonely even in a room full of people."

Yuri was about to lower his chin again when Victor took it. "Please talk to me. I want to know everything there is to know about you."

Why? Still flickered across, but so did appreciation, relief that someone saw his value to listen.

"And then you said...well, I think your eyes tell me enough." Victor finished his retelling with a sigh as he leaned into Yuri's touch.

Brown eyes were now sparkling less these days. More so they wavered emotionally, as Yuri caressed the pale skin of the devil's cheek. "Victor…thank you…"

Victor took that hand placed it on his chest. "You're welcome…now come here…" He pulled Yuri close. "I brought something for you."

"Hmm? A gift? On top of everything else?" Yuri wondered aloud.

"I got it the other day. Can I you close your eyes?"

Yuri did, and felt something slide over his right, middle finger.

"A-A ring?"

"A~w, you don't play along very well do you?" Victor teased.

Yuri opened to see he was correct and was a rose gold band. "Hehe, sorry I…wow it's beautiful…"

Victor kissed the top of Yuri's forehead before lifting Yuri's hand up towards the ceiling, showing he had a one to match. "They are pretty, aren't they?"

'An hour of time a piece, but worth it.'

"Heh, you're not gonna surprise me and say these are engagement rings now are you?

Victor smiled his famed smile. "Oh ho? They can be if you want."

'For the next few hours why not?'

Their story had grown longer, and longer to tell.

Yuri's back arched off the bed as he giggled. "Ok. You're probably not gonna look at them otherwise now anyway."

Victor kissed Yuri's temple. "You deserve everything. You're perfect. That is why you and no one else."

Yuri leaned forward. "Skipping to a honeymoon are we?"

Under the blankets, Yuri let Victor spoon him from behind as they snuggled and chatted about regrets and everything in between.

Victor nuzzled Yuri's neck, while taking back his chilly hands.

'This is just cruel…not now!'

Yuri was happy.

'I just want to stay…'

Victor choked back a sob. "Y-Yuri?"

Yuri turned around. "Ye-? V-Victor! What's wrong?"

Victor tapped his lips with a shaking finger as his heart squeezed harder than ever in his chest. "There's one…thing…"

Yuri was sobbing. "B-But!"

Victor placed a wriggling Yuri onto the bed as gently as he could despite the pain. His chest ached for the days the wasn't always the case.

"N-No! Don't make me!" He scrambled backwards towards the pillows.

Victor winced, feeling Yuri's despair even more so this time around.

'I'm so... sorry…'

The back of Yuri's head sunk deep into the pillows while Victor pressed his hands down over Yuri's upper arms into the mattress.

Yuri's lip quivered as Victor lowered closer. "Please -hic- please don't-"

"I wish I didn't have to, Yuri…"

Yuri gasped as warm lips encased his own. Giving in as his soul shuddered in sadness, he exhaled.

Victor pulled back. "…I wish I could keep you whole."

Yuri felt emptier, his eyes felt like lead as Victor kissed his scars. "Vic…"

"Please say it...before you sleep?" Victor begged in a whisper, resting his head on Yuri's chest as yawned.

"G'night...my…"

Tears rolled as Yuri fell asleep a whole lot faster than before. Victor moved and shifted them so he could spoon Yuri from behind as always. This time, he slept for a solid year by his side.