ACT 7

i fell in love with you one night in september

'"Vincent—" Henry tried to grab the soldier's arm, but it was pulled out of his line of reach.

"No, Henry. You can't stop me. You know this is what I have to do." Vincent pushed his golden hair out of his face and fixated his steely cobalt gaze onto his comrade. "If I don't do this now," he said gruffly. "I won't ever do it. I know you don't understand, but I can't go back with you. You know he's still in there; we both know he's in there, somewhere, lost and cold and worried about us. I can't leave him like this." He closed his eyes briefly and took in a breath of the damp, frosty air. Hiring Roman was one of the best things he had ever done. "Not when he means so much to me."

Henry was not stricken with shock or anger or disgust like Vincent had imagined him to be. Instead, the snow caught in his dark hair and he did understand then. "I'm not going without you," he said.

Vincent clenched his jaw. "Then I'll—"

"I'm not going without him, either. Because I'm going with you." Henry stepped in and clasped a heavy hand over Vincent's shoulder. "I can see how much he's worth in your eyes. I understand because I think the same way about Olivia, and I would do anything to ensure she is safe from harm." He nodded.

Vincent's eyes went wide and his breath caught in his throat. "Henry…"

"On my honour, I will lay my life on the line for you, you who have done so much for me as well. You saved my life." The corners of Henry's mouth lifted. "If it weren't for you, I'd still be in that prison cell, rotting away and wasting my life. For that, I am forever indebted to you." He set his chin, and Vincent saw the genuity in his eyes.

"Thank you," he breathed. "I can't be any more grateful." Truly, he couldn't be.'

"So sweet!" Viktor cried.

Nah…

"It is! I think I might cry."

Don't cry! We don't need to flood the earth any more than it already is, Yuuri teased as he leaned in to kiss Viktor's cheek.

"Tell me, Yuuri. Are they going to save Roman? Will he be okay?" Viktor looked at Yuuri with wet, wide eyes.

Yuuri shrugged.

Viktor pouted. "Boo. Can't even tell your wonderful boyfriend the ending?"

Yuuri smirked. If my boyfriend really was wonderful, he wouldn't go snooping around trying to get me to spoil the ending for him. That wouldn't be fun at all, would it?

Viktor let out a dramatically elongated sigh and carded his fingers briefly through Caesar's fur, whose body gently lifted and lowered every time he snored. "We've been through this. I'm not you. And I would love for you to tell me the ending."

No. No cheating. Yuuri got up from the couch and headed into the kitchen. Viktor followed after him promptly. Yuuri returned the tub of ice cream to its place in the freezer before turning to Viktor.

He stepped in close and wound his arms around Viktor's shoulders loosely; instinctively, Viktor's hands followed suit and rested lightly on Yuuri's waist. Yuuri's back bumped against the edges of the counter behind him.

It had been a long time since their first kiss at the pond. Ever since then, there was something different about Viktor; something was off and something was peculiar and he was not all right because he was better than all right. Chris noticed it, too—"The Norwegians have a word for it," he'd said. "Forelsket."—but to be honest, Viktor didn't really care what it was called. All he cared about was that he felt it, deep inside him, felt the forelsket bury itself into the very top layer of his skin and maybe it's contagious; maybe Yuuri can catch it, too; or maybe he's already got it.

I'm worried, Yuuri said as he pulled his arms back, and suddenly, too.

Viktor also pulled his arms back. "Worried about what?" He can forego the forelsket for now.

What else? The stupid book. Yuuri paced around his kitchen, stopping to lean against the fridge. He sighed heavily. I'm worried that nobody will want to read it.

"Are you kidding? You have millions of fans. They've been waiting all this time just to read what you put out next."

Sure, but… Yuuri shook his head quickly. He looked at Viktor and sucked his lips between his teeth. This is the first time I'd be putting a gay character into my book. He pushed off the fridge and stood in front of the island counter and leaned forward on top of it.

"And?" Viktor wasn't sure where Yuuri's worry was originating from.

And… Yuuri sighed again and paused briefly to rub a hand over his cheek, something he did when he was nervous. He sighed yet again and shook his head again. What if once they read it and find out one of the characters is gay, they'll stop reading?

Viktor frowned. What a silly thing to be worried about. He scrunched up his nose in irritation. "Yuuri, seriously? That's what you're worried about?"

Yuuri furrowed his brows, a crease forming between them. Yeah? It's a pretty big deal.

"I really don't think so. The times are changing...I don't think anyone's going to bite your head off for putting in one—well, technically, two gay characters."

I'm already afraid people think I'm way too conservative. Now I'm afraid they'll think I'm too liberal. Yuuri huffed. Maybe I shouldn't have changed anything at all. Maybe things were fine when everyone was straight. His face dropped. Maybe I'm making things worse.

"Please." Viktor rolled his eyes; how melodramatic Yuuri could be sometimes! "You sound like you already know there is going to be a controversy."

It could happen.

"I highly doubt that. Really, darling, be reasonable."

I am being reasonable.

"No, you're not. I think you're overthinking things again."

Yuuri scowled at him. You wouldn't understand, you're not a writer. Stop pretending like you know everything.

Viktor went tight-lipped. He nodded briskly. For some reason, that hurt more than it probably should have. It was a fair statement, though, because he really didn't know much at all. "Okay. Fine." He folded his arms and turned away. So he didn't know a whole lot. So what? He was just trying to help. He moved to the window and stayed there.

He heard yet another deep sigh from behind him. Soft footsteps padded his way and then Yuuri touched his shoulder. Viktor was a bit upset and he shouldn't grant Yuuri this, shouldn't give his attention, not when he was being obtuse. But this was Yuuri and Viktor just could not ignore him. He turned to his boyfriend, arms still crossed firmly over his chest.

Yuuri blushed and looked so guilty. He twiddled his fingers for a second, his eyes flicking back and forth between the hole in Viktor's shoe, where his heart had squeezed down his leg and popped through it and floated up to the ceiling like a helium balloon, and Viktor's eyes.

I'm sorry, Yuuri said finally. That was rude of me. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

"You didn't," Viktor lied, not passing a single second to be stubborn.

Yuuri winced. Even so, I still feel like I was being pretty mean to you. I'm sorry. His dark eyes dropped down to his hands. He shuffled his feet.

Viktor. Could not. Resist him.

Yuuri's lashes lowered because Viktor caressed his cheek with the back of his hand; his knuckles brushed against warm and slightly dry skin and—maybe Gatsby wasn't crazy after all, if he felt this way, too, touching and feeling and being around Daisy. Either way, Viktor drank in the sensation, his thumb caressing against the corner of his beautiful boyfriend's mouth.

Yuuri smiled and kissed the thumb when it landed on the center of his lips. His brown eyes opened and Viktor had never felt so otherworldly. (Was this even real life?) "It's okay, Yuuri. No hard feelings."

Yuuri tilted his head and his eyes softened and his mouth softened and he wordlessly invited Viktor in closer, closer, closer.

Viktor wrapped his arms around Yuuri's waist. Yuuri was here and hot and close and Viktor felt so, so selfish because he had all this to himself. Viktor leaned forward even more and dragged his lips over the curve of Yuuri's ear, smelling his hair. Yuuri's breath wavered slightly and his breath swam over the expanse of Viktor's neck and his breath was warm and Viktor melted and Yuuri's left hand clutched his waist and pulled him closer.

—Yuuri pulled his arms back. What are you thinking about, right now?

It was a good question to pose. Viktor would answer if he knew how to; Yuuri kept looking at him and distracting him and his mind processed nothing even the slightest bit intelligent. His fingers guided Yuuri closer, pulling him flush against his own body. His eyes never left Yuuri's. "Just thinking about how beautiful you are, and how lucky I am to have you."

The second after he said that, he realized he hadn't signed while doing so. "Oh," he said, suddenly a little embarrassed he'd forgotten so easily. He retracted his hands and raised them up. "Sorry. Uh, I was just thinking about—"

But Yuuri cupped his face, then, with both hands, closed his eyes, and kissed him deeply. He giggled as he pulled away, and sweetly, too. I can read lips a little. Remember? His face blushed and he smiled coyly. I think I'm getting better at it.

God, Viktor was so in love with this man. "So you understood what I said?" he whispered.

Yuuri nodded slowly and lowered his lashes to half-mast.

"Good. Now, read my lips." Viktor traced his hands over Yuuri's hips. Yuuri gulped, the flush traveling down to his neck and spreading, and Viktor never took his eyes off him.

"You're gorgeous," he said. "Sexy. Handsome."

Yuuri immediately made a face and rolled his eyes and tried to push Viktor away but he was blushing again and Viktor held on fast. "Hold on, I'm not done. You're also sweet, and kind, and smart, and talented." He smoothed his thumbs over the curve of Yuuri's jeans. "And your book is going to sell big. Everyone is going to love it because you are one of the most amazing writers I have ever read. People will talk about it for months and they're going to love every single word they read. I know they will. So don't be worried, okay?"

It would have been a more tender moment if Yuuri hadn't given him such a blank look. You lost me after 'talented'.

Viktor smiled and repeated what he said, signing this time. At the end of it, Yuuri's sweet face reddened and he smiled and he pulled Viktor into a tight, warm hug.

Yuuri's cheek pressed against the junction between neck and shoulder, and Viktor's insides turned to mush. It reminded him of that scene where Henry and Olivia embraced one last time before parting ways, where Yuuri used delicate, beautiful words to describe the feeling Henry felt when pure emotion galloped through his senses and made him shudder. It was powerful and Viktor's knees buckled under the weight of adoration he felt for Yuuri.

He had half a mind to kiss Yuuri senseless and stuff a hand up his shirt. Or down his pants. Either one would work; preferably both. The temptation grew too much to bear. His hands slid down.

Yuuri sighed softly. Viktor could almost feel the sigh on his tongue as he tasted Yuuri's neck, affectionately pressing kisses into his skin and absorbing his warmth. Yuuri clung gently to him. Writer's hands squeezed his shoulders and Viktor's hands squeezed and cupped the contours of what resided below Yuuri's back. Another soft, sighing moan—a quiet noise Yuuri made only when he was feeling really good. Viktor envisioned Yuuri's physique under his clothes as he sucked softly around the edge of his boyfriend's jaw. It was just too much. Everything was just too much. Yuuri was too much.

Viktor lifted his head and pressed his lips to Yuuri's. He tilted his chin to deepen the kiss and Yuuri cupped his face. He sucked Yuuri's bottom lip into his mouth and his fingers trailed up, slipping up under the hem of Yuuri's t-shirt, and outlining every inch of his butter-soft skin. Viktor ran his hands over smooth skin on top of hard muscle and greedily swallowed the little sighing moan as Yuuri arched into his touch. Yuuri parted his legs and Viktor stepped in closer and he slipped his tongue into Yuuri's mouth and he tried to memorize every line and curve and twist of Yuuri's body as Yuuri's breath quickened and the heat between their bodies grew and shifted and widened and intensified and—

Yuuri gently pulled away. He was so embarrassed as he put his hands on Viktor's chest and forced them into a more appropriate distance from each other, much to the dismay of Viktor. Viktor pouted, but nonetheless he wanted to know why Yuuri wanted to stop.

His cheeks were scarlet as Yuuri wet his lips. I...don't...have...protection, he signed very slowly, very shyly.

Viktor offered a cheeky smile. "That's alright, sweetheart. Would you like me to stop by the pharmacy and get some? I don't mind."

No, I'll go myself. I have to pick up a few groceries anyway. Yuuri smiled softly. Can I say something?

"Of course. Anything."

You're a really good kisser. Yuuri licked his lips again. A really good one.

Viktor chuckled quietly. Yuuri was too precious for his own good. "If you come back quick, I'll show you what else I can do with my mouth. I'm not just good at kissing." He ran his finger over the contour of Yuuri's lips.

The sweet author bloomed carnation red and his smile was so sweet and so shy. I won't take long. He took Viktor's hand.

Viktor lifted Yuuri's hand to his lips and kissed it gently. "Go on, then."

And Yuuri slipped out of his arms and made his way to the front door, Viktor following close behind. He watched his lover slide into his light jacket and shoes and Yuuri put a hand on the doorknob when he was ready. He turned to look over his shoulder at Viktor, his dark eyes twinkling. He offered a sultry smile. See you soon.

Viktor melted into a puddle of hot goo, right there on the floor. "See you soon."

Yuuri slipped out the door.

Truthfully, Viktor didn't even know Yuuri could—was allowed to—drive, and he speculated on this new fact when he heard the engine rev and the clunky machine chug along down the road. He made himself comfortable on the couch with the dog and waited.

He would always wait for Yuuri.

Seven minutes later, there was a knock at the door, and Viktor graciously got off the couch to answer it.

He opened the door, and a young man that hardly looked a day over twenty-one stood there. The young man's lovely tan skin was flushed as if he'd been in a hurry getting here, but his dark eyes widened in surprise as he saw Viktor. Almost sheepishly, this young man signed, Hello?

Cautiously, Viktor responded. Hi. Can I help you?

The young man looked him up and down quickly, assessing him briefly. He made a noise of confusion, then continued to sign. Are you deaf?

To which Viktor replied with: No, I'm hearing.

"Oh, thank God," the young man said loudly and adjusted the backward-fitting cap on his head. "Not that I have an issue with it or anything. It's just a lot easier not to sign, you know?" Then he put his hands on his hips. "And who are you, exactly?"

Viktor lifted a brow. "Excuse me?"

"I've never seen you around here before. What's your name? What are you doing here? How do you know Yuuri?" the young man demanded as he scrutinized Viktor with a hard look.

Viktor was hardly even fazed, but the boy was kind of cute. "I'm Viktor, Yuuri's boyfriend. He just left a few min—"

The young man gasped. "You're Viktor? Oh, my God, he has told me so much about you, but he never told me you were so hot! Well, he did, but I didn't believe him because honestly, he has the worst taste in men, to be honest."

"Thank...you?" Viktor said as the young man pushed past him into the house. Hopefully, he wasn't letting some strange, crazed fan of Yuuri's inside. He closed the door, blinking a few times as the young man made himself right at home on Yuuri's couch. "And...who are you?"

"Phichit. I'm Yuuri's best friend...and agent." The young man—well, Phichit—took off his cap and ran a hand through his hair. "I've been Yuuri's agent since day one. I read over everything he wants to publish, I get some people to edit it, I edit it, the whole shebang. He's hopeless with his grammar, I swear to God he's only getting worse." Phichit took out his phone and briefly examined his reflection. "Anyway, so nice to finally meet you. I've been dying to meet you ever since Yuuri mentioned he had a crush on you. He hasn't had a crush since middle school, so this is a pretty big deal." Phichit's eyes went wide and he glanced furtively at Viktor. "Um...you do know what kinda job Yuuri has, right?"

Viktor smiled and made his way over to sit across from Phichit in the living room chair. "Yes, I know who he is. I've been a big, big fan since his first book."

"Cool." Phichit grinned. "Did he show you part three yet?"

"He did! Oh, my God, seriously, I'm in love," Viktor squealed. It was one thing to praise Yuuri's writing directly, and another to squeal about it with someone who is just as big a fan as he is. Chris couldn't care less, so this moment was actually quite refreshing for Viktor. "Vincent is a really cool character, don't you think?" It never hurt to self-promote every now and then.

"Hell yeah, he's cool. And, uh, super sweet and buff as fuck? Need me a man like that." Phichit fanned himself with a hand. "If and when Yuuri's books get adapted into a movie, I wanna be the one who picks who gets to be Vincent. Brad Pitt, maybe? But Brad Pitt from 2004. Like, Brad Pitt in Troy, with the long hair, and the chiselled abs, and maybe we could get him to roll around in butter to make his skin all super shiny which is pretty similar to what they did in 300 with Gerard Butler, who is so totally yummy in that movie and super fit and oiled up—why do everybody's eyes glaze over when I talk about this?" he whined.

Viktor blinked hard once. Twice. "Oh, no, no—" He rubbed his eyes with his knuckles. "No, they weren't glazing, they—they were resting!" he assured. "No, ah, I think Brad Pitt would be a great fit." That was a lie. He thought Brad Pitt was a little too pretentious for his likings.

"Thank you," Phichit sighed, his lips pouty. "Most people just stop listening when I go on about hot guys."

Maybe take a hint, then. But Viktor doesn't say that. Instead, he smiled and shook his head. "Personally, I think Brad Pitt from Ocean's Eleven could be Vincent, too."

Phichit's expression did a one-eighty. He suddenly beamed ear-to-ear and nodded appreciatively. He pistol-pointed. "I like you." He rolled over onto his back and lifted his feet onto the armrest. He crossed his ankles. "Anyway, if we do get a Brad Pitt from over a decade ago to play Vincent, I'm so going to cry my eyes out when we kill him."

"Hahaha, what?"

"That ending though! Yuuri kills him off!" Phichit suddenly seethed. "How could he do that to Vincent? And to Roman? Now Roman's going to be left all alone. God, I'm so mad!"

Viktor's stomach twisted in all the wrong ways. "He...killed him?"

Phichit went quiet, then glanced at Viktor with wide eyes. "You...you didn't know?"

"No. I didn't even know he wrote the ending already."

"Shit. Oh, shit, oh, shit, oh, shit," Phichit mumbled, a hand lifting to press against his cheek. "Oh, God, I totally spoiled it for you. Me and my big mouth...Yuuri's going to kill me." He hesitated slightly. "Uh, Viktor, pretend I never said anything, okay? Oh, my God, he's going to kill me. I came over here to discuss the ending with him, actually, to see if he was really okay with it. I'm so sorry, Viktor, I didn't mean to spoil it."

It just didn't make sense. He felt sick to his stomach as the sense of betrayal and confusion washed over him. Did Yuuri really just kill the character based on Viktor? Why would he do such a thing? Did he kill Vincent because he was gay? Or because he was similar to Viktor? His head spun. Sure, it was just a book, but—all that time spent sitting down with Yuuri as they, together, created Vincent, down the drain? It felt like a giant slap across the face. He couldn't stay here anymore.

Viktor shook his head and got up. "Excuse me, Phichit, but I have to go. Something—important has come to my attention." He strode over to the door and retrieved his coat, slipping it on. "It was nice to meet you, though."

"Oh—you, too." Phichit sounded slightly disappointed. "Just—please don't mention anything to Yuuri. Please?"

Like hell he wouldn't. Viktor smiled tightly. "See you around." He adjusted his collar roughly and left the house abruptly.

A/N: PewDiePie proposed to his girlfriend Marzia today. Now they're engaged. I sat in my apartment and just cried for about 15 minutes. I'm so incredibly happy that no words can describe how I feel. I've been waiting for this day for 6.5 years. I love them so so so much. This is what cloud nine feels like yo.

Anyway. Hope you enjoyed this chap. Stay tuned y'all.

See you next week!

Stay classy.