Chapter Text
“Katsudon?” he looked up from the television. Yuri, standing there, not making eye contact. He was staring steadfastly down at his shoes.
“Yes?”
“CanIgooutwithBekatonight?” it came out all in one breath. He peered at his ward, hiding the coo when he saw his cheeks turning pink.
“With Beka? Where to?”
“Dinner and maybe to the mall to walk around for awhile. He's got something to do tomorrow, and then he wanted to stay here tomorrow night.”
“Is your homework all done?” Yuuri stood up and stretched.
“Yeees,” he sighed. “And I got a B on that test from earlier, and Beka can't stay out super late. I'll leave my cell phone on and I promise not to ignore texts. I'll text every hour.”
“I don't see why not.” Yuuri shrugged. “I trust you.”
“Really,” Yuri froze. He honestly thought that there was going to be much more a fight in this. The older man just smiled and nodded, padding to the kitchen.
“If we're not going to have you, though, then I think I'll save the stroganoff for when Beka is here.” he mused to himself.
“We could bring you and Vitya back some supper? Since, you know, we'll already be out.” That was just too precious for words. Yuuri gave him one of those sappy looks that Yuri hated most of the time.
He just made a fake gagging sound and looked away.
“Don't make it into something it's not. It's just because we'd already be out doing something.”
“Well thanks anyway.” he laughed softly. “But no, sweetheart. I think we'll be fine. Vitya can order in if he wants something else.”
“What else would Vitya want?” the silver haired man came in, dabbing at his forehead with a towel that was hanging around his neck.
“Something for supper.”
“Aren't we having stroganoff?” he frowned.
“We will when Otabek comes to visit. But he and Yuri have plans tonight, so it's just you and I.”
“You have a date!” the older Russian squealed, reaching for his ward. He dragged the boy close to him, ignoring the way he shoved and squirmed trying to get away from him.
“Oh, they grow up so fast!”
“Let go of me, old man!”
“Where are you going? How long will you be gone? What are you going to wear? Can I help you get ready?” the questions flew out of his mouth as he dragged the kid off the floor and spun him around in a circle.
“Quit it! Put me down, before you give yourself a heart attack!” he demanded. “Katusdon, help me.” it came out so close to a whine.
“Enough you two,” Yuuri waved his hand at them. Victor set him down as the blond straightened his clothes, giving him a dirty look.
“Go get ready, Yura.”
“Are we sure this is a good idea?” Victor asked with a thoughtful look as he sat at the table. He helped himself to an orange out of the bowl in the middle, peeling the skin easily.
“Why wouldn't it be? We like Otabek, and God knows Yuri likes him. He seems nice enough, doesn't he?”
“But Yura is so young...”
“He's old enough to go on a date. We can't keep him sheltered forever.”
“But do we really know what Otabek's intentions are?”
“I assume it's to get something for supper. Don't get caught in your head, old man.” he bumped Victor with his hip playfully as he went to start the kettle for tea.
“Besides, now we'll have the whole evening to ourselves. Doesn't that sound nice?” he coaxed.
“It does sound nice. It always sounds nice to have time alone with you. But I like Yuri being here.”
“I like him being here, too. But he's a young man, and he's allowed to live his likely as safely as we can make it. He'll have his phone, he'll text.”
Victor got a thoughtful look on his face. It wasn't long before Yuri emerged from his room. He was wearing another pair of nearly impossibly tight jeans, and a cropped black top with leopard print accents. When he lifted his arms it gave peeks at his belly button.
“Will you held me detangle my hair?” he waved the brush at Victor.
That seemed to snap him out of whatever scheme he had, at least. He directed the boy to a chair and pushed down on his shoulders until he sat and began to brush, starting at the bottoms. Yuri sat, patient and still, watching as the brunet flitted around, finishing up making tea.
Victor finished brushing and fluffed the ends of the golden locks. Yuri really was a beautiful boy, he thought. He knew that most people attached the adjective 'handsome', but that just didn't fit. He was beautiful, he was breathtaking.
And he was going to go out alone with someone he had romantic feelings for.
It was terrifying. He left his hands on his ward's shoulders, realizing how thin they were, how delicate. It would be very easy to hurt him, if someone really wanted to. Beka would never, he told himself. He'd seen the way they looked at each other.
Beka wasn't that kind of boy.
He thought then about Yuri. Fragile, sweet Yuri. Yuri who hid all his feelings, buried them deep inside his heart. The boy thought that needing help, needing someone was weakness. He and Yuuri had only just begun to get him more settled and show him what it meant to be a family. He wouldn't want to lose that.
He knew how much Yuri wanted to be loved though. How much he wanted to feel love. Victor remembered being so young, when the idea of romantic love was so new and fresh. He recalled the sensation of realizing that his body was a gift, something that he could give or not give, as he saw fit. And the fact that his body could be used to express that romantic love.
How would that be for Yuri, he thought. Yuri who was still unsure of the idea of unconditional love, and what it really meant for someone to care about you enough to fight with you for the best things to happen for you. He swallowed hard and sank into a seat.
“Yuri?”
“Hmm?” he looked up from his phone, and Victor was taken again by how gorgeous he was. The way his hair framed his face, the sharp chin, the big green eyes. He swallowed hard and let out a shaky breath.
“You don't have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. You know that, don't you?”
“What?” Yuri said, dumbly. A tingling started at the base of his spine, and he was beginning to think that this was going to be a rather uncomfortable conversation.
“If you're ever dating someone, and they want to do something that you don't want to do, you can say no.”
“I know that.” he grumbled, cheeks going pink again.
“I mean it,” he put his hand down on the table, staring at the kid until he dragged his eyes back up to Victor's.
“You tell them no if you're not comfortable. If they love you, they'll only want to do things with you that both of you like. They won't want to hurt you.”
“Oh my God,” Yuri moaned. “I really don't want to have this conversation.”
“That's too bad! Because this is serious, and I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't tell you. I'd be doing you a disservice, and I won't do that. I won't let you be hurt, Yura.”
“My soul is leaving my body.” folded his arms on the table and put his head down. “Do we really have to do this?”
“Victor has a point.” Yuuri said softly. The tips of his ears were pink, but he solidered on. “If you're ever anywhere with anyone and you realize that you don't want to be there, you call us. We'll come get you, day or night. If you're ever with people you don't want to be with, we'll come get you. All you ever have to do is call.”
“What if it's super late and you've been sleeping?” he didn't lift his head.
“It doesn't matter. You being safe is more important than us sleeping.” Yuuri rubbed the back of his ward's exposed neck.
“We care more about you. And if someone else cares about you, they'll care about your safety, too. They won't want to do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable, hurt you, or get you into trouble in other ways.”
“What if it's something that they really want?” for someone who had wanted to stop the conversation, he sure had a lot of questions. Maybe they should have tried to do this earlier. At least they were having it now, and it appeared the kid was listening.
“Then it'll be something they'll talk with you about afterwards, instead of forcing it on you. Those—ah, actions, are best done when everyone is happy and enjoying it.” he cleared his throat. No one here was comfortable at the moment.
“What if I really want someone to like me?” his voice was soft and uncertain. It was just what Victor had been afraid of. He put his hand on Yuri's shoulder, waited for the kid to turn his head towards him. He touched his cheek.
“That's not the best way to get someone to like you. And if someone really likes you, they won't rush you, or push you. You'll take it all in your own time, the best way for both of you. Do you understand that, malyutka?”
“Maybe,” he said softly.
Victor and Yuuri locked eyes across the table, Victor's hand still on their ward's back, rubbing in small circles. They were all quiet for a few moments. They knew that their words were sinking in, held weight with the kid. But they couldn't make him apply those words to his real life. They could only prepare him and hope for the best.
The door bell rang then, Makkachin racing for the door. Yuuri stood and went to answer it.
“Come on, Otabek.” he greeted warmly. The young man stepped in, petting the poodle, who happily leaned against his legs, tail wagging. In the kitchen, Victor looked at his ward and stood up, extending his hand. Yura took it and let himself be pulled up.
“Hi, Yuri,” the young man stood up straight when the blond walked in.
“Hi, Beka,” he was turning pink again, but turned and put on his jacket and wriggled into his shoes instead.
“Got your phone?” Yuuri asked with a smile. The kid waved it at him and then shoved it in his pocket.
“All right, answer it if we call. Not too late, okay?”
“All right,” he turned towards the door with his friend. He gave an awkward wave, and Beka nodded at Victor and Yuuri as he left. They stood alone by the door for just a moment. A slow, dark smile spread across his face, and he reached up to pull off his glasses.
“Looks like we have the place to ourselves for awhile.” he purred.
“We do...” Victor pulled his husband close to him. “And that's the best reason to get dressed and follow them.”
“Er, one more time?” he squeaked, blinking in confusion.
“We follow them!” Victor repeated, gleefully. “Don't you want to know how he does on his first date?”
“That's a terrible idea! We don't even know where they're going.” he looked scandalized.
“There's maybe a tracker for his location.” Victor confessed.
“What? Why would you do that?”
“Remember when he went out and we didn't know where he was? I'm not taking a risk like that again. If he shows me he can handle it, I'll take it off and he'll never know the difference.”
“Victor,” Yuuri face palmed. “That's all a horrible idea.”
“Well, enjoy your night in alone!” Victor gave him a heart shaped smile and reached for his keys. Yuuri paused for a moment. Better to chase after Victor though, and hopefully keep him from doing something super embarrassing. Yuri would kill him, and he wouldn't blame the kid.
“Let me get my shoes on.” he grumbled.