Chapter Text
Yuri is going to kill Viktor.
No, scratch that. Kill is too kind an act for the likes of Viktor. Yuri is going to drop kick Viktor down a canyon. With luck, a roaming band of starving bears and coyotes will stumble upon him. It’s a potential disservice to the wild animal community if they choke on Viktor's bones but at the rate the situation is escalating, that's a risk that Yuri is willing to take.
Even now, Viktor and his overgrown shaggy mutt of a poodle are circling around the trunk of the tree as if they had marbles for brains.
Poor Potya’s eyes are narrowed into thin slits and her tail is a blur, flicking around too fast to track. And, for the past ten minutes of this ordeal, she's been hosting a one cat concert.
“Get away from the tree,” Yuri hisses.
Viktor turns around, raking his hand through his hair.
Yuri notes with grim satisfaction that the hair looks like it's thinning on top and Viktor's forehead is shining brightly in the afternoon sun. Good. It'll help the coyotes spot him more easily.
“I'm so sorry, Yura. I forgot you just adopted a cat. Makkachin meant well.”
Legitimate remorse and concern clouds Viktor's eyes. It only pours gasoline on top of Yuri’s anger. “You're not allowed to feel sorry. You're making the situation worse right now. Potya thinks you're stalking her,” he barks back.
“We’re keeping watch to ensure she stays put,” Viktor says evenly. “Or would you prefer she ran down the other side of the tree and into the street?”
Yuri doesn't have a witty comeback at the ready. He’s pretty sure that won’t happen - Potya is smart - but it’s a gamble he’s not willing to take when Potya’s life is on the line. He glares at Viktor, willing a suitable comeback to materialize.
Instead, what comes cruising around the corner is a fire truck. And it is most definitely coming to a stop and pulling up right next to them.
What. In. The. Actual. Fuck.
“You called the fire department?” Yuri is feeling faint.
One look at Viktor's face is enough for an answer - it's as red as the truck.
“I did not. I texted Chris at dispatch,” Viktor says stiffly. His lip is curled in disgust, clearly offended at the suggestion that he would do something so distasteful. “This is his idea of a joke.”
Yuri snickers. There's always been a good-natured rivalry between the police and fire departments but ever since Commissioners Feltsman and Baranovskaya divorced last year, relations between the two departments have been frosty. With his aim set firmly for the police commissioner seat, Viktor is neck deep in the squabbling and politics.
As bad as it is for Yuri to have firefighters showing up, it's exponentially more humiliating for Viktor to have a fire truck rolling up at the scene of his crime. This is too delicious and almost worth it to have Potya stuck in the tree.
The doors to the truck open and the crew start piling out, stretching their limbs. Naturally, they're all dressed up in full gear, ready for any emergency more pressing than cats in trees. Yuri is torn between fighting down the burst of excitement to wanting to climb the tree as well. He decides to stand his ground as one firefighter peels away from the group to approach.
The fireman lifts off his helmet and extends a hand. “Hi, I'm - ”
“Yuuri Katsuki,” Yuri half yelps, half squeaks in shock. He claps a hand across his traitorous mouth. A glance down at the embroidered name patch across the top right of the jacket confirms it.
“Oh. You know me?” Yuuri says.
Yuuri's face is a ruddy pink. His eyes are wide, blinking quickly. It’s unfairly and objectively attractive.
The note of curiosity and confusion in Yuuri's voice has Yuri taken aback. What kind of shitty question is that? Everyone knows - or should know Yuuri Katsuki. He’s the youngest captain of a fire ladder in the city, performs daring rescues on the regular, and is in high demand to give lectures around the country on innovative fire fighting and prevention techniques.
Yuri has a Google news alert set for Yuuri's name and there's a signed book that he won on eBay last night arriving on Friday via express mail because only chumps wait for standard shipping.
Viktor may think that Yuri switched career tracks from policeman to firefighter to piss him off but that is only an excellent side benefit. The truth is, ever since Yuri saw the news coverage of Yuuri emerging from a burning apartment building with two kittens wrapped in a blanket, he knew he found his true calling in life.
A better question might be who doesn't know Yuuri.
“I saw you on the news,” Yuri mumbles, eyes downcast. Yuuri in full uniform is even more impressive to see in person.
Viktor reaches out and grabs Yuuri's hand like the utter heathen he is, pumping it up and down enthusiastically. “I'm Viktor. And what a coincidence! This is Yuri too. He's currently training - ”
“I'm an EMT in training,” Yuri interrupts. He's pleased to see Yuuri's attention dragged back to him and Viktor's face fall in a frown as Yuuri pulls his hand away. Hah. Trust that Viktor is the one idiot in the city who doesn't know of Yuuri already. “And next year, I'll be taking the written tests to be a firefighter,” he adds with a bit of hesitation.
He tenses up, puffing out his chest, anticipating and prepared for the worst. It wouldn't be the first time someone's sized him up and scoffed at his dreams. He might not be a total meathead but he's bulking up properly and he’s close to performing all of the necessary lifts.
“I look forward to seeing you in the Academy then,” Yuuri says, eyes lighting up. “I’m usually a guest lecturer for a few sessions. And you’ll be a welcome addition to the team when you graduate.”
Yuri bites his lip to hide the grin trying to break free. That would be totally uncool. He should’ve known better than to doubt Yuuri. He gives him a manly nod. “Looking forward to it.”
Makka-mutt noses eagerly at Yuuri's legs and Yuuri bends over stiffly at the waist, pulling his glove off his hand.
“And who’s this handsome fellow?” Yuuri inquires.
Viktor makes a funny choking noise and Yuri kicks him subtly when an answer isn't forthcoming.
“That's Makka-m - Makkachin,” Yuri says - only to make things less awkward. Viktor is having a coughing fit. What an idiot.
“Hello Makkachin,” Yuuri coos, giving him his hand to sniff.
Makkachin is making fast friends with Yuuri, putting his paws up against his leg and whining eagerly for more pets.
Yuuri straightens up and smiles. He looks as professional as possible with a dog licking his hand. “Sorry for the interruption. We’re here about a cat in a tree?”
Yuri’s heart jumps into his throat. Shit. He hasn't heard Potya in a while. His eyes snap upwards. To his relief, Potya is supervising them with a snooty look down her nose.
Viktor clears his throat. “Ah, yes. Makkachin scared Potya up the tree.”
Yuri scoffs, outraged at this unfounded accusation. “You mean she performed evasive maneuvers.”
Viktor's smile is bedazzling and full of teeth. “We’re so worried about Potya. Thank you for coming. If you could lend us a ladder, that would be wonderful.”
Yuri is ready to kick Viktor. He just needs to locate the nearest canyon to drop him down into.
“Better let the professional handle it,” says another fireman who comes up to the group, clapping his arm around Yuuri's shoulder with ease and familiarity.
Yuuri huffs a little sigh but doesn't move away. “Phichit. You're going to give me a reputation.”
“You already have a well-deserved reputation,” Phichit says with a snort. “Everyone knows that rescuing animals is your specialty and you sulk if you're not included in those calls.”
“I do not sulk,” Yuuri objects. “It's protesting. Vehemently. There's a difference.”
Phichit nods. “It's good PR for the department.” He gestures at the tree. “Up you go! We shouldn't be dallying. Twitter hashtags don't trend by themselves.”
Yuuri turns back to Yuri and Viktor, inclining his head in apology. “You'll have to excuse Phichit. What he meant is that I insist on going on all of the animal rescue calls as I have the most experience.”
“Oh not a bother at all,” Viktor chirps, hands waving inanely in the air.
Yuuri gives Makkachin one last pet on the head and hands his helmet and gloves to Phichit. He turns to survey the situation.
Phichit heads back to the truck and emerges shortly with another firefighter, ladder in hand. They prop it up against the tree.
Finished with his inspection, Yuuri takes his jacket off, the velcro snaps pulling away with a satisfying schwipping sound, as he walks back toward them. He holds his jacket out. “Can you please hang onto this for me?”
Yuri reaches out eagerly but Viktor swoops in at the last second with his stupid spaghetti arms and snags it.
“Gladly,” Viktor says, holding his prize tightly to his chest.
“We need an extra hand here to hold the ladder steady,” Phichit calls out.
Yuri smirks at Viktor and puts extra pep in his step as he struts over to help with the important task. Yuuri is rolling his shoulders and pulling his arms above his head to crack his knuckles. Yuri eyes Yuuri’s suspenders with envy. They show visible signs of honest use with smudges of soot sullying the bright orange. They must've seen Yuuri through countless dangerous situations.
As it turns out, there's really no need to have hands steadying the ladder. It’s sturdy enough and Yuuri is experienced, climbing with easy confidence while cooing quietly at Potya.
Still, Yuri is glad to have the opportunity to observe a rescue closely. Potya’s head is cocked towards Yuuri. As he continues to talk to her, she visibly relaxes, shoulders falling down and tail flattening out again. Yuuri offers her his hand to sniff and she gives it a perfunctory review. It apparently meets her satisfaction; she jumps onto Yuuri's shoulder without further prompting.
The descent is just as steady and as they get close to the bottom, Potya twists around and jumps into Yuri's waiting arms.
He lifts her to his face and gives her a discreet kiss. She gave him quite the scare today but he is proud of her sharp survival skills.
Yuuri hops off the ladder, brushing off his hands on his pants. Viktor comes rushing forward. Yuuri reaches out for his jacket and shrugs it on, not bothering with doing up the open sides again.
Yuri feels a thrill of excitement running down his spine. He looks like a real hero. “Thanks,” he says, swallowing down his nerves.
“My pleasure, Yuri,” Yuuri says cheerfully. He turns to Viktor and gives him a nod. “It was nice meeting you too, Viktor. Thanks for holding my jacket.”
Phichit pulls a phone out of his pocket and waves it in the air. “A commemorative photo for the department’s Twitter?”
“Phichit,” Yuuri says, tugging on his arm sharply. He turns back to them. “Please excuse him. He lost his manners and never found them again.”
“I don't mind,” Viktor says brightly.
Phichit takes this as permission, herding a protesting Yuuri next to Viktor.
Yuri's eyebrows jump up. Oh hoh. Now this is interesting. Viktor can't deny meeting Yuuri if there's photographic proof. And all of the guys down at the station are sure to laugh their pants off at their sergeant posing with a firefighter.
He crowds into the middle, ignoring Viktor's indignant yelp. Potya is the well-deserving star of this afternoon after all.