Chapter Text
Yuuri rung out the washcloth and hung it on the towel rack. He looked himself over in the mirror and determined that the redness had gone down enough for him to face whatever was coming when Viktor returned.
He walked down the hall and sat on the couch, facing the front door. Makkachin traipsed over from his bed where he’d been taking refuge and demanded pets, which Yuuri gave willingly, welcoming the distraction from awaiting Viktor’s return. He had no idea why Viktor had left, but he knew they needed to have a conversation about it. A soft knock on the door drew both Yuuri’s and Makkachin’s attention.
Viktor stood on the other side. While his face wasn’t splotchy (he always was a beautiful crier), his eyes were rimmed red.
“Hi, Vitya.”
“Hello, Yuuri.”
Yuuri stepped to the side and let Viktor come in. He did so, slowly taking off his coat and hanging it backed up on the rack he’d removed it from not an hour earlier.
“Do you need to talk or do you need a hug first?” Viktor asked.
It was an interesting question. Yuuri hadn’t been expecting it, and it made him take a step back. It was certainly a departure from the loud talking over each other that he’d been expecting. Maybe he was basing what a couple’s argument should look like too heavily off American TV.
“I would like to talk, unless you need a hug first?” he responded carefully.
“I think I need a hug first,” Viktor admitted.
Yuuri paused and put all his emotions on the figurative back burner for a moment. He moved forward and wrapped Viktor up in his arms and was surprised when Viktor started crying again. It astounded Yuuri, how Viktor had been able to ask him for this, knowing he would give it, how much trust Viktor had in him. Yuuri had never thought he would be the one between the two of them to offer the other this sort of comfort, but if that’s what Viktor needed from him right now, he could do it, regardless of how frustrated he currently was with the other man.
Eventually, Viktor took a deep breath and pulled back from Yuuri.
“Okay. I am ready to talk now,” he said, wiping his eyes.
“Let’s sit on the couch,” Yuuri suggested, grabbing a tissue and handing it to Viktor. “I think this is going to be a long talk.”
Viktor blew his nose, then took a deep breath, steeling himself. “Okay.”
They made their way over to the couch and sat close, angled towards each other so their knees touched, but without being pressed together. Yuuri reached over and took Viktor’s hand, sensing that he’d need to be the one to start this conversation.
“Do you want to tell me why you left? I’m sorry that I yelled at you, if that’s what it was.”
Viktor shook his head. “No, that wasn’t it. I… It’s stupid, really.”
“Tell me?” Yuuri prompted.
“What you yelled at me…” Yuuri winces, but Viktor continues. “Phichit said it’s the Japanese word for idiot, is that right?”
Yuuri nodded. “Yes, ‘Baka.’”
“Well… It sounds a lot like the Russian word ‘пока’, which means-“
“Goodbye,” Yuuri interrupts, recognizing the word from his duolingo course. “Oh.”
“Yeah,” Viktor grins sheepishly. “I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I assumed, incorrectly, it turns out, that you wanted me to leave, so I did. I don’t know what I would have done without Phichit.”
Yuuri frowned. “Yes, why did you call Phichit?”
“I didn’t. I called Chris, for some reason Phichit was with him?”
“Hmm. Something to figure out later, I think.”
“Yes.” There was a small pause.
“You cried,” Yuuri stated.
Viktor nodded.
“Why?” Yuuri asked.
Viktor was silent for a moment.
“Yuuri… I worry every day that you’re going to get tired of me. People always get exasperated with me and I never really understand why. I sort of learned to ignore it, but… I don’t know if I could stand it, you being unable to stand being around me like that. When you said goodbye, I figured that was it, that you’d had all you could stand, and I just…” Viktor trailed off, eyes welling up again.
“No… Vitya, no, Vicchan… I may be frustrated with you right now, but I am not leaving you. I always worry that you’ll realize you’re wasting time on me.” Yuuri looked down. “I never properly express what you mean to me, and you’re always so open, with the gifts and the affection, and I’m… not really… that.”
Viktor moved his hand that wasn’t in Yuuri’s to cup Yuuri’s cheek, making him meet Viktor’s eyes again.
“Let’s both stop being stupid and assuming what our partner is thinking, agreed?”
Yuuri chuckled, eyes glistening. “I don’t know if I can promise you that, but I can agree to try.”
“That’s more than good enough for me.” Viktor replied.
Then Yuuri moved forward and Viktor laid back, and the two were wrapped in a horizontal embrace on the couch, quiet and calming. Yuuri felt his heart rate return to resting for the first time all evening.
“So, why are you frustrated with me, solnyshko?”
Yuuri took a breath and sat up a bit so he could see Viktor’s face. “It’s stupid, and kind of my fault.”
“I’m sure it’s no stupider than me thinking you were yelling at me to get out of the house. It’s clearly made you upset. Tell me?”
Yuuri paused, choosing his words carefully. “Last week, when I was on the phone with Okaasan, she suggested that we come back to Hasetsu for a vacation after the competition.”
“That’s a great idea, Yuuri. I would love to visit Hasetsu.”
“I thought so, too. I also wanted to bring Okaasan a gift when we went. You know that shop across the street from the café?”
Viktor nodded.
Yuuri continued, “Well, there’s a necklace in the front display that I think she would really like.”
“The heart-shaped amber one?” Viktor asked.
Yuuri nodded, pleased that Viktor had noticed it too.
“I think she would love that, Yuuri.”
“I was going to buy the necklace and the plane tickets next week. The trip was going to be a surprise for you.”
“Oh, Yuuri! See, you are sweet!”
“But then you bought me all of those gifts, and I did the math in my head, and since you purchased the lamp… I don’t think there’s enough money left in the account to buy Okaasan’s necklace and the tickets.”
Viktor blinked at Yuuri. “You mean… In the joint account?”
Yuuri nodded.
“Yuuri… I haven’t been using the money in the joint account for those gifts. Remember that advertising deal I did with that car company a couple months ago? The check came in last week. We’re very comfortable right now, and I thought it’d be fun to buy some things you’d want around the apartment. You never tell me directly what you want; I thought you were trying to give me hints.”
“Oh. Vitya… I was just making general comments. I’m sorry for making such a big deal out of nothing.”
“No, my Yuuri, I’m sorry. I should have known you would worry about where the money was coming from. I should have told you when the check came in. Let’s go tomorrow and buy the necklace, okay?”
“Okay,” Yuuri murmured, eyes welling up again, but from relief this time that nothing was actually wrong.
“Although,” Viktor said thoughtfully, “There is something you can do for me.”
“O-oh?”
“Tell me something that you really would like for the apartment.”
Yuuri giggled a little, but then thought for a moment, knowing the request was serious. An idea crossed his mind, perhaps a little bit ridiculous, but perfect all the same.
“Okay,” he said, and then leaned forward to whisper his idea to Viktor.
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It arrived the day before they were scheduled to leave for the competition. Yuuri came home from the grocery store to find Viktor up on a step ladder, carefully centering a nail on the wall.
“Yuuri! Perfect, you’re just in time! Would you like to do the honors?” Viktor asked.
Yuuri nodded, and set the groceries down on the island to come and open the box that had been delivered while he’d been out. He cut through the tape with his key and removed the box’s contents.
Perfect.
Viktor stepped down from the step ladder so Yuuri could climb up and hang their new treasure.
Yuuri stepped down and walked to stand next to Viktor to admire the view. Above their fireplace now hung a commissioned family portrait of the two of them and Makkachin based off a picture they’d sent to the artist. It was absolutely brilliant and absolutely ridiculous and so them that it made Yuuri’s heart ache in a good way.
“Almost makes the effort it took to get Makka to sit still worth it, da?”
“バカ,” Yuuri murmured affectionately.