Chapter Text
Work was a drag. Yuuri had been up on cloud nine for the last day and a half and what awaited him the next day was a rather nasty reality check.
It started out bad. Yuuri missed his bus and so the only option was to walk, and walking in his very formal work shoes was not nice at all. Then he was yelled at by the manager for being late, despite the fact that he was actually five minutes early.
Once he actually got to working it didn't seem that bad until towards the end of his shift where one of his customers turned out to be an absolute nightmare and screaming for their meal for free because it was undercooked, not that there was any food on their plate left to confirm it. Yuuri was close to tears and had no idea how to deal with the situation so he just handed them off to his manager and now he was sitting in the break room, as he was told, trying to prepare himself to get shouted at again for not dealing with the situation properly.
"You don't need to put up with this." One of his co-workers whispered to him, sitting down beside him and giving him a little nudge.
"Thanks Minami, but its either this job or I move back in with my parents. Despite all of the crap we're put through, the money here is good and I don't wanna just give up all that money because I didn't wanna deal with some angry customers." Yuuri ran a hand over his hair, it was slicked back and so he needed to keep it in place.
"Don't forget the shitty manager." Minami grumbled, he seemed to be more annoyed at their manager than Yuuri did.
"Don't say that too loud," Yuuri whispered, "he might hear you." Minami smiled at that but it didn't last for long.
"I'm serious Yuuri, it's borderline bullying and it's not okay." Minami insisted but Yuuri just shook his head.
"Don't worry about me. I'm fine." Yuuri put on the bravest face he could muster and Minami didn't seem convinced, but he dropped the subject, much to Yuuri's relief. If he could afford to quit he would, but he doubted that he could find a job that paid this good any time soon.
The manager stalked into the break room, angry as ever, and if looks could kill Yuuri would already be six feet under. He screamed for everyone to get back to work and the few people that were in the break room scrambled to their feet and rushed out. Yuuri got up to, but he didn't have his chance to leave before he was called out.
"Not you Katsuki," the manager growled and Minami shot him a concerned look, he just smiled to reassure him.
Once everyone was gone Yuuri braced himself, he bowed hurriedly and apologised. "I'm sorry for what happened." He said, referring to the awkward customer that he had failed to deal with.
"Why is it always you Katsuki?" The manager said bitterly and to be honest, Yuuri was asking himself the same thing.
"Answer me!" He yelled.
"I'm not sure Sir," Yuuri braced himself, still stuck in an awkward half-bow.
"Not good enough," the manager insisted, "why are you even on my staff if you are completely incompetent when it comes to customer service?"
"Completely?" Yuuri echoed, it hadn't been the best night but there were loads of satisfied customers that left his tables without a single complaint.
"Yes Katsuki, completely. What are you, stupid? You can't deal with a single customer complaint! And then you have the audacity to sit back here smiling with the others as if it's one big joke." He ranted.
"I'm sorry," Yuuri tried, but it was no use.
"One more fuck up from you and you're out of here." The manager told him.
"Yes Sir," Yuuri whispered. He could feel his hands shaking and his eyes felt like they were about to overflow. To say that Yuuri was feeling overwhelmed would be an understatement.
"Now piss off out of my sight." Yuuri didn't question him. He just tried to stay out of his way until his shift was over.
Minami tried to talk to him, to make sure that he was doing okay, but Yuuri didn't want to end up crying in front of him. He was too young and too nice to have to deal with Yuuri's shit, so Yuuri said a quick goodbye in the break room before he rushed off home. No dance today. Minako was busy.
Thankfully, Yuuri didn't miss his bus this time which he was grateful for. He sat quietly in his seat, half asleep for most of the ride, until it was his stop. Then he dragged himself up the stairs into his apartment and barely managed to take off his shoes and his coat before he dropped onto the bed. Yuuri was drained, he didn't have the energy to do anything. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he reached for it to check the notification. When he saw who it was he nearly dropped his phone on his face. It was Victor.
Victor
Hey Yuuri xx
Yuuri felt that warm feeling inside of him begin to grow and it made him smile.
Yuuri
Hey Victor
Yuuri rolled over to his side, watching the three little dots was Victor typed out his response.
Victor
How was work? Xx
Yuuri
Long and tiring, how was your day?
Victor
My day was boring (a lot of meetings) but it's much better now ;)
Yuuri could feel the blush creep onto his cheeks as he pulled the covers over himself and tried to think of a response.
Yuuri
Why is that?
Victor
Because I am talking to the cutest guy in the world.
Yuuri couldn't help but laugh. Was Victor always like this? Because Yuuri could get used to this.
Yuuri
Thanks Victor
Victor
I'm just stating facts xx
Yuuri
XD
Victor
Have you eaten yet?
Yuuri
Not yet
Yuuri had forgotten, but he was too tired to move now. He wasn't that hungry anyway.
Victor
You should probably go do that
Yuuri
Nah, I'm not that hungry to be honest
Victor
Yuuriiiiiii! You need foooood!!
Yuuri
But I'm tired Victor!
Victor
But you need to eat!
Yuuri had to admit that he had a point. He knew that he needed to eat but he didn't know if his body would let him get up to get the food in the first place.
Victor
Do you want me to come over and cook for you? Would you eat then??
Yuuri
I'm not gonna make you come all the way to my apartment just to cook me something!
Victor
It's no big deal, I'm getting my keys now
Yuuri
Victor, it's way too late and it's not fair on you
Now Yuuri wasn't opposed to Victor coming over, he was welcome any time, but he didn't want Victor to come over just to look after him. He meant what he said, it really wasn't fair on Victor when Yuuri had nothing to offer him as thanks.
Victor
Yuuri you need to eat
Yuuri could sense Victor's change in tone and he relented.
Yuuri
I'm getting something now
Victor
You sure?
His body groaned as he pulled himself from the bed and went to the kitchen. Three minute noodles would have to be good enough. Yuuri snapped a quick picture with the noodles and sent it to Victor.
Yuuri
See, I've got food, no need to worry
Victor
Good :)
Yuuri found it sweet that Victor was worried about his wellbeing, ever since he moved away the city it was only him mum who checked up on him like this. It was a nice change. Especially since Victor had been willing to come all the way to Yuuri's apartment to cook for him, although he had a feeling that might have been a joke.
Victor
When are you next free to go out?
Yuuri was all smiles. Victor wanted to go out with him again! That will definately be something to look forward to after what is looking like a difficult set of shifts at work. Although, he couldn't do it the day after that because he promised to help out Minako in one of her new classes before his lesson, so it would have to be the day after that.
Yuuri
Next week? On Wednesday?
His noodles were done and Yuuri was just about ready to collapse onto his bed and sleep into next week, but he remembered to set his alarm before he changed and slid under the covers.
Victor
It's a date xx
He stared at the message. There Victor goes saying stuff like that again. Was it really a date? Yuuri hoped so, but he didn't have the guts to ask. He was too tired and all he wanted to do was sleep.
Yuuri
Goodnight, Victor
Victor
Goodnight Yuuri, sweet dreams :)
Yuuri didn't remember much after that, just the warm fuzzy feeling that seemed to always appear when he spoke to Victor. He loved that feeling. It made him feel amazing. And it seemed like Victor wouldn't be leaving him any time soon, so he had a lot of it to look forward to.