Chapter Text
Bali, Indonesia
The ocean sweeps against their heels. Victor and Yuri stand next to each other by the shore, their backs against the melting sun. Its rays drape across the horizon like a summer gown, deep shades of orange dappled by clusters of drifting clouds. Yuri inhales deeply as the water tickles his feet. Japan smells a world away, some distant land he might’ve once known. Strangely, he’s okay with that.
Victor stares at a palm tree some distance away. They sprout from the island soil without rhyme or rhythm, wild and free. He takes Yuri’s cold hands in his. A little rough and small against his own fingers, as if afraid to take up space. They intertwine their hands at the same time and Yuri looks at him, a slight grin lighting up his face. The sun emits a gentle glow against his form and the firelight of camps further back fleck his eyes. Victor doesn't look away.
Saraswati Temple. Yuri flips the map upside down, giving it a little shake in puzzlement. Victor leans against the hemp railing of the bridge they’ve stopped on and gazes at the wide pond on their left- the way it remains still as glass, reflecting every detail of a dozen lily pads. The whole place is steeped in a rich viridian that Victor never saw much of at home. There are no flowers in sight, but it only adds to the stoic beauty of the swamps and the grey, rain-clad weather. The temple slithers in and out of their sight beyond the trees and hills.
“Look,” Victor tugs the band of mosquito repellent around Yuri’s wrist. Yuri sidles up to him, eyes still poring through the map. He hasn't paused for a second to admire the view. Creases appear on Victor’s nose and he taps his fingers against his hips.
“What's that?!” Victor exclaims, arm shooting to the sky.
Yuri looks up immediately. In two seconds flat the map vanishes from his grip and it takes Yuri a good while to comprehend two things: one, that there’s a no-good smirk on Victor’s face, and two, that the map which had helped them navigate through the winding paths towards the temple is slowly sinking into the black depths of the pond, never to be seen again. Yuri doesn’t even try to salvage it; he just stares at Victor, panic knitting his brows. His mouth hangs open, a fish out of water. Yuri feels weak in the knees.
Victor’s smirk grows wider. He winks, slinging an arm across Yuri’s shoulders. The weight of Yuri’s backpack is heavy enough that he almost falls to the wooden boards. Tears are forming in his red-streaked eyes.
"Not everyone can be as carefree as you, idiot."
Alarm spreads through Victor's features like an infection and there, in the midst of nowhere, Victor showers him with an infinite number of kisses, hard and fast and relentless while Yuri slaps at him playfully to stop. By the end of it he can barely feel his face anymore.
They make it out eventually upon encountering a tour group. By then, they’re three hours later than Yuri had scheduled for them to leave. He’d bought zoo tickets the first day upon landing, excited to watch the famous Seli, a Javan Lutang, perform her tricks. He gazes at them now in his hands while the truck undulates along the rickety ground.
“I mean, there’s always next time?” Victor offers.
Yuri is so angry with Victor that upon returning to their hotel he shoves Victor onto the bed and they get it on for three hours straight. Victor doesn't complain.
“It’s nice being here.”
Yuri glances up at Victor. He's staring at the view of the beach outside their hotel room, his eyes like the waves that wash on shore, foaming silver and grey. His bigger hands card through Yuri’s hair, a little damp from all the sweating last night. It’s 5a.m. Victor hadn’t meant to wake Yuri when he got up for coffee.
Yuri’s cheek is pressed against the curve of Victor’s chest. Their feet are tangled. Yuri hums noncommittally as the sun shines on them via a mirror. Victor giggles, a soft noise against the backdrop of seagulls calling beyond them. Moments pass in companionable silence. Then, Yuri takes Victor's hand and kisses the ring on his middle finger. A resin ring filled with tiny pressed flowers, blue, to remind Yuri of Victor’s mesmerizing eyes. Victor can look away as often as he likes; Yuri will never forget them.