Chapter Text
“I just feel so… empty, I guess? Like I’m all surface, and no one notices. I feel – cold. Talking to you has been helping, a little, but…” Viktor trailed off, giving his therapist a guilty look.
“Viktor, you don’t have to feel bad about this. I think we’ve gotten a good start, but I agree that this might not be enough to break you out of that shell. Tell me, have you ever considered cuddle therapy?”
“Cuddle what now?” One perfect eyebrow was raised in disbelief.
“Cuddle therapy”, the therapist repeated. “You can book a cuddle session with a professional, there are agencies that specialise…”
“I may be feeling low, but I’m not going as low as to hire a – a prostitute!” Viktor protested hotly.
“You’re deliberately misunderstanding me. There is nothing sexual about it whatsoever. Professional cuddling is just that – the cuddler and the cuddlee get together someplace comfortable and cuddle, on a couch, on a bed, in a chair, on the floor, whatever feels best. Hugs, maybe a gentle massage, no taking your clothes off or touching private parts.” The therapist gave the Russian a stern look.
“That’s preposterous! I could just cuddle with a friend! Why should I hire a total stranger for something like that?”
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Viktor chewed his thumbnail and stared at his laptop in concentration. He’d managed to ignore his therapist’s advice for over a week, but finally he’d given in and was now trawling the treacherous seas of the internet looking for someone to cuddle. He’d found an agency based in his hometown and his concentration right now was due to the form he was trying to fill out. Those questions were so illogical! Why was his marital status or his educational level at all relevant?
Male or female cuddler – he chewed some more on his poor thumbnail and chose “male”. Did he want the cuddler to be older than him, a sort of fatherly character, did he want someone his own age, more like a friend, or a younger one, like a younger brother? He pondered for a while, then chose “same age”. Finally, the questionnaire was finished, and he huffed out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding in. Now all he could do was wait for the agency to get back to him with an appointment.
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The building where the cuddler plied his trade was a rather anonymous brick house in a quiet residential area. Viktor pressed the call button by the sign reading Y. Katsuki and waited.
“Yes?” The voice was soft and sweet, and Viktor immediately felt like he wanted to listen to Y. Katsuki all day, as a matter of fact he’d want to hear him say yes again and again… or perhaps moan it.
“Hello?” The soft voice sounded a little worried now. Viktor found he had been staring at the name plaque by the door, forgetting to answer.
“Yes, um, I’m here for an appointment?” he squeaked.
“Yes, of course. Come right up.” The buzzing sound from the door woke Viktor up from his daydream that had been brought about by the dulcet tones of the man who was going to cuddle him in just a few minutes. And now he had another problem too, of a more physical nature. How was it possible to get turned on by a disembodied voice through a tinny loudspeaker?
He skipped the elevator and took the stairs up to the sixth floor, hoping his erection would go down by the time he got there. (It did.)
The door was ajar, and Viktor poked his head through the opening.
“Hello?”
“Come right in, close the door behind you. Did you take the stai… oh!”
The dark-haired man that appeared in the hallway was the most perfect thing Viktor had ever seen. His huge, brown eyes had flecks of gold within the brown, his lips were full and looked very soft, his black hair was tousled and he might have needed a haircut – but he was perfect. Shorter than Viktor, slim waist, narrow hips and a dancer’s stance. Viktor was in love.
Y. Katsuki seemed to be having some sort of epiphany as well. His eyes went wide and his mouth opened a few times, but no sound came out. Then he suddenly blushed, no, flushed, a deep, deep red. He coughed in embarrassment, then cleared his throat and spoke:
“Um, I hope you don’t have a problem with dogs? The dogwalker is ill, so I had to bring my dog to work today.”
Viktor felt faint. This man was more than perfect, he was the epitome of perfection, he was divine!
“No, of course I don’t have a problem with that! What breed is he? Or is it a girl?”
“He’s a toy poodle, his name is Vicchan! I love all dogs, but poodles are so special – they’re so clever and loving!”
“What’s your name?” Viktor was proud of himself, he didn’t even stutter.
“Yuuri. Yuuri Katsuki.”
“Marry me, Yuuri!”