Hey mina!

I know , I know what some of you must be thinking… shouldn't she write her other stories? And yes, I should… buuuuuuut the idea for this just hit me like a rock and I had to write it down. I won't try to predict how long the story is gonna be, but not at long as my other stuff I think. The other chapters are also in progression already and will probably be up soon (for those you are waiting for them anyway XD)

So, what is this exactly? It's a vet-AU! With a sick (but soon well again) puppy and a worried Victor who might or might not develop a crush in Makkachin's vet, one Katsuki Yuuri! Prepare for a little bit of angst and a lot of 'falling-in-love-fluff' ;)

If you have any questions or things you want to tell me, just come and find me on tumblr - hikarisdream! Love you all!

Disclaimer: I don't own Yuuri! on Ice All characters belong to MAPPA and Mitsurō Kubo

Puppy Love

Chapter 1 In The Blink of an Eye

It all happens so fast. No more than a heartbeat could have passed. One second Makkachin is right beside him, the next, there is an excruciating yelp and the squeaking sound of car brakes. Time freezes before Victor's eyes as he watches the car slow down, but not fast enough. He darts forward, the leash useless in his right hand, only to be held back by someone (it must be Yakov) gripping him by his shirt.

The crash is inevitable, Victor knows it the moment he spots the car approaching, not with Makkachin having broken loose from his leash and running straight across the street, chasing something Victor never saw. He has never done something like that before. Makkachin is well behaved, gentle and calm. But today…

Today something has riled him up and made him dart right in front of the car. The car that is too slow to come to a hold before it hits the big brown poodle. And Makkachin's yelp of pain and suffering fills the air, makes Victor's blood run cold and fuels an unknown panic in his heart.

It's terrible. The worst feeling in the world. To know what's going to happen, but to be unable to prevent it at the same time. To be confined to watch while a loved one gets hurt. It shatters something inside Victor, leaves him stunned and weak and shaking from head to toe.

He has never been so scared in his life.

Finally, he breaks loose from the grip holding him back and runs after his dog, eyes fixed on nothing but Makkachin. Makkachin who has been with him for so many years. His sole companion in a lonely world of competitive sport. His anchor when Victor felt like drowning. Makkachin, who is now lying halfway under the car, his lower half crashed by the wheel but who still raises his head once he sees his daddy rush towards him.

His dark, gentle eyes look at Victor, pleading for him to take the pain away. It breaks Victor's heart. There's nothing he can do. Makkachin is in pain, but Victor can't help him. Can't take away his suffering. God, he feels useless.

A soft, pained whine escapes the dog while Victor falls to his knees, reaching for his beloved pet with trembling hands. He doesn't know what to do. He is fucking twenty-seven years old and he doesn't know what to do. His dog is in pain and Victor has no idea how to help him. He can already feel the tears burn in his eyes. What good is he, if he can't even protect Makkachin?

His innocent, gentle dog, who trusts Victor beyond anything. It hurts to disappoint him. To sit there on the warm pavement, with the afternoon sun shining down on them, and not be able to help.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!", a voice cries, female and panicked, but to Victor she sounds as if talking through cotton, her voice so muffled that it barely reaches his mind. He is too focused on his pet. And his own inability to make the situation better. "I was… my kids… I was distracted… I didn't see him. I'm so sorry". The words are broken when they fall from her lips, and the meaning never really gets through to Victor. For him, it's just sound that doesn't make sense.

All he can think about is Makkachin.

Makkachin who whines again so miserably that it breaks Victor's heart a second time.

"Vitya!", a voice calls, finally shaking him from his stupor. He looks up. Yakov is standing above him, and the unknown woman – the woman who hurt his Makkachin – is kneeling beside him, looking just as panicked as Victor does. She must be a good person, because it's obvious how much she regrets what happened. Good people always love pets, don't they?

"Vitya, we need to get him to a vet", Yakov says, his voice stern, as stern as always, but he isn't yelling. Just for once, he isn't yelling at Victor. Just… helping? Victor doesn't know. It's all too blurred for him to understand. The one dominating thought in his mind is that he didn't protect his only friend.

"I know but… He's stuck… The wheel… It's still…", he can't keep talking, his voice breaks, the tears are now running down his cheeks, leaving wet marks on their path. Speaking makes it all real and brings with it the possibility that Makkachin might not survive this.

"My… husband", the woman beside him stammers and jumps to her feet as if struck by lightning. "My husband always keeps a car jack in the trunk. Says you never know when you'll need it". Her pale hands run through now messy auburn hair, tied back in ponytail. A few loose strands fall into her face, which is twisted with worry. Victor looks up from his dog to the woman and then to Yakov, who is nodding approvingly.

Together they run around the car, while Victor stays with Makkachin. He can't leave him. Can't leave his pet in a moment of pain and fear. He knows that Makkachin needs him, needs to be sure that his daddy won't abandon him in this moment of utter vulnerability.

Victor closes his eyes to compose himself. His hands are still shaking and he's scared beyond words, but he knows Makkachin needs him. He must stay strong for his only friend in the world. The big brown fluffy poodle who has seen him at his best and at his worst.

Victor doesn't know how many nights he's cried into Makkachin's fur when he felt alone and forgotten. So many miles away from his family, often forced to sleep in empty hotel rooms in countries he had never been to before. When you're just sixteen, the world is a scary place and a fluffy friend can make all the difference. He did for Victor at least.

Hands still trembling, Victor reaches out for Makkachin's head and timidly pets him. Makkachin must sense his fear, because he whines again softly and Victor finally speaks to his friend. "It's alright, baby boy. We're going to help you. You'll be all better soon", he explains, his voice soft and low. He has no idea how bad Makkachin's condition really is, but he can't bring himself to think about any other possibility but for his dog to get well soon.

A few minutes later, the young woman and Yakov reappear with the car jack. "We'll press the car up with this and as soon as the wheel is high enough in the air, you'll pull him free, alright?", she suggests, her brown eyes slightly red from tears she's obviously holding back.

Victor feels sorry for her.

She might have hit Makkachin, but she is unmistakably feeling guilty about it. And she hasn't done it on purpose of course.

Victor nods in agreement, hands still in Makkachin's fur, while Yakov and the woman get to work.

The car jack works slowly, but by now a few passers-by have noticed the commotion going on the usually barely frequented street and some of them even come over to help by pulling on the car to press it up faster.

Voices muffle together above Victor's head; people coordinating a slow and steady rise of the car, as to not hurt Makkachin further by putting pressure on the dog again. Some of them even speculate about the injuries he might have sustained, but Victor just tunes them out. It's a little like googling your headache that always turns out to be brain cancer – people always assume the worst.

And Victor really doesn't want to hear about putting Makkachin down.

But despite the speculation, Victor is grateful to all of their helpers. He has no strength left in his bones to say so, but he is. Only he needs to focus on Makkachin right now. His dog is still in pain, and lifting the pressure of the wheel might give them the chance to free the big fluffy puppy, but it also inflicts new pain. So Victor keeps rubbing his ears gently. That always soothes him. His ears are his special spot to scratch.

After what feels like a small eternity the wheel is finally high enough in the air for them to free Makkachin and Yakov gets on his knees next to Victor. He can't lift the dog on his own. Not without hurting him again. And they still have no idea how bad the injury of his hind legs actually is.

"Slowly…", Yakov mutters, partly to himself and partly to Victor, who is still shaking like mad. Makkachin whines and yelps and trembles as they slowly free him and then there is blood and broken bones. It's bad. So bad Victor thinks he might puke right then and there as Yakov gently pushes the injured dog into Victor's arms.

He is broken, is all he can think. His beloved pet, shattered and in pain beyond believe. People are still standing around him and as grateful as Victor feels to them, he now wishes them all gone. He still doesn't know what to do. Of course, he has to get Makkachin to the vet, but he's in Japan, in a foreign country and he doesn't know how to find a vet here. He doesn't even have a car to take Makkachin there.

But suddenly the young woman is back. She has set her car back down and is now standing in front of Victor, eyes still wide with guilt and worry. "My… best friend… He's a vet… a good one. Loves dogs… I can take you to him…", she says. It's only now that Victor realizes how thick her accent is. There are vowels in her English where the English language usually doesn't have vowels. It sounds almost a bit funny. But Victor isn't in the mood to laugh. All he can do is nod and get into the car, with his still whining and bleeding dog pressed against his chest.

Yakov tells him to meet him back at the hotel once Makkachin is taken care of, but Victor can't remember if he even agreed to that or just ignored it.

When he gets into the car, he notices the three children on the back seat. He glances at them through the rear-view mirror. Triplets obviously. Girls. As alike as Tweedledum and Tweedledee, with their brown hair and round faces. They even wear the same clothes, just in different colour sets. Victor doesn't know if they're aware of what has happened, but maybe not knowing would be for the best. Children react even more sensitive to hurt pets than adults and Victor already feels like he's been hit by a truck.

A few seconds later their mother enters the car on the other side (which still is a little strange for Victor because traffic is the other way around in Russia, and driving on the left side always leaves him a little nervous – it doesn't go well with his senses). She casts a quick glance at Makkachin, who is curled into a ball, his hind legs hanging uselessly in Victor's lap.

Her face falls and she starts the engine. "Don't worry. My friend will help him", she declares, her voice like steel when she hits the accelerator and gets the car moving. A few words in Japanese follow, probably meant for her kids, because they answer with the same sharp sounds, although their voices are a little timid. For a split second, Victor wonders what their mother has told them, but then Makkachin lets out a whine again and Victor leans down to bury his nose in soft fur.

They are driving too fast. Victor knows it. But he can't bring himself to care; wants Makkachin to get to the vet as fast as possible and if that means violating a few traffic rules, then so be it. Victor can live with it.

Far worse though are Makkachin's whines and yelps every time the car turns around a corner or goes over a bump in the pavement.

"I'm so sorry", the woman murmurs. "So, so sorry…". The words are a constant stream of apologies muttered in heavy accented English. Victor appreciates it, even if he again doesn't reply to anything. His lips are still pressed against Makkachin's head and he's started to mumble soothing words in Russian, low and warm to make his dog feel safe and take away his fear.

Blood is slowly seeping through his white cotton shirt and dark slacks. Makkachin's blood. But Victor tries not to think about it. He doesn't want to know what losing so much blood must mean. The possibility that Makkachin might not survive this just doesn't exist in his mind.

He doesn't know how long it takes for them to reach the animal hospital, but by the time they arrive, Victor's clothes are soaked in warm blood and he wants nothing more than to get out of the car and have his dog finally treated by caring hands.

The young woman turns in her seat, briefly talking to her children, before turning back to Victor. "Let's go. You carry your dog, and I will do the talking, okay?", she says, her eyes travelling over the shaking bundle in Victor's arms. Makkachin is not in a good state right now.

Victor just nods and awkwardly opens the car door with one hand, the other curled tightly around his puppy to hold him in a steady embrace. It's not exactly easy to get out of the car like this, but he somehow manages and follows the young mother across the parking lot.

It's not far, and Victor usually has good stamina, but by the time they burst through the front doors, he's panting and out of breath, as if he'd just skated his technically demanding free program. Makkachin's wet nose is pressed against Victor's neck and his large front paws rest on tense shoulders. Soft whines escape the little bundle and his breathing is too shallow and too ragged.

There's a girl sitting at the counter by the entrance and Victor's companion wastes no time, practically running towards her and pointing at Victor while she talks to the girl in rapid Japanese, explaining what has happened. The girl looks first at Victor than at Makkachin and just nods, her face grave and dark, before she rushes through a glass door behind the counter.

"She's gonna fetch Yuuri for us. That's my friend. He will help him", the young woman explains once she returns to Victor's side to wait with him. It's a good thing she is here with him. Victor's Japanese is by no means good enough to explain the whole situation to a vet who probably doesn't speak a word of English.

"Thank you", Victor finally says, because he really is grateful to her. She might have hit his dog, but now she's doing whatever she can to help. Not only Makkachin, but Victor as well.

"Nothing to thank me for. I hurt your dog… it's the least I can do. I'm Yuuko, by the way. Nishigori Yuuko", she says extending a hand to Victor that he awkwardly shakes, because he needs both his arms to balance Makkachin.

"Victor Nikiforov", he replies and tries for a smile that doesn't properly stick to his lips. He is too tense, to riled up and scared to smile. But Yuuko only nods with a slightly lopsided smile that Victor can't interpret. Maybe it's a Japanese thing. Or a woman-thing. Victor has never been exactly good with women.

The glass door opens again and the girl from the counter reappears, followed by a man clad all in white. He's almost running towards them and only stops a few inches away from Victor, eyes glued to Makkachin.

"Yuuri-kun", Yuuko says. It's the only thing Victor understands before they talk to each other in Japanese again and Victor can do nothing but wait for Yuuko to explain what happened, while the doctor, whose name is obviously Yuuri-kun, motions for Victor to follow him.

They enter a treatment room, white and sterile and everything Victor's nightmares are made of, with tiles on the walls and too bright lamps on the ceiling. Victor shivers. He doesn't want to leave Makkachin here, but he knows that it's the only way.

A few nurses follow them and start working on Makkachin the second Victor sets him down on the metal table in the middle of the room. Finally Yuuko stops talking and the doctor, his name tag says he's called Dr. Katsuki, turns towards Victor with the tiniest of smiles on his lips.

It's the first time Victor actually looks at him properly, now that he doesn't carry Makkachin anymore, and his heart does a little jump. Katsuki Yuuri must be the gentlest person on the planet, at least judging by his large, kind, brown eyes hidden under long dark lashes and his slightly round cheeks. He has black hair, a little messy maybe, and the soft strands fall into his face. Blue glasses sit on the bridge of his nose, framing his beautiful eyes. He looks cute, endearing really.

Victor isn't surprised that the man is a vet.

Halfway through parting his lips to ask Yuuko what would happen to Makkachin now, Dr. Katsuki starts to speak – not in Japanese, but in smooth almost accent free English, while extending a hand towards Victor.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Katsuki. You must be Mr. Nikiforov?", he says, his smiles widening, making Victor's breath hitch. How can he not trust a man with a smile like that? And a voice warm like molten chocolate? He feels so safe here.

"You… you speak English?", Victor mutters, not answering the question as he is still too surprised by this man, who is a few inches shorter than Victor and must look up to him through those beautiful lashes.

Dr. Katsuki's cheeks bleed a little pink as he blushes slightly, white teeth sinking into soft lips. He's a little shy, Victor concludes, but it makes the other man just even more charming. "Ah, yes I do. It's not that common in Japan, you're right. But I can explain to you what is going to happen from now on", he says with another smile. There's no pity in his voice, just gentle understanding. Victor is probably not the first person with an injured dog to walk into the clinic.

"Thank you", Victor breathes, because he really isn't sure if Yuuko's English would have been good enough to explain what is going to happen to poor Makkachin now.

Dr. Katsuki nods at him, and half turns to face not only Victor but Makkachin as well. The big brown poodle lies on top of the examination table, still bleeding and looking more miserable than Victor has ever seen him. "My assistants will narcotize him now, to stop his suffering for the time being. A thorough examination wouldn't be possible as long as he is in so much pain. Yuuko already told me that she got him with a front wheel. I won't go into detail what pressure does to bones, but surgery is inevitable. I guess you already know that?".

His voice is calm and even though the topic he talks about is as unpleasant as it can get, he somehow manages to sooth Victor's nerves a little. Somehow he just knows that this guy will do everything he can to save Makkachin. There's something in his eyes, something that Victor can't exactly pinpoint, but it's been there ever since Dr. Katsuki first laid eyes on Makkachin. And it speaks of love and affection.

"Yeah, I already thought so. Is he… will he be okay?", Victor asks, anxiety bubbling up in his throat. There's a great difference between 'surviving' and 'living'. He wants Makkachin to live and fully recover. Not to be unable to walk for the rest of his life. His dog might already be a grandpa but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be allowed to live a life worth living.

Dr. Katsuki licks his lips and averts his eyes for a second. It's obvious that he doesn't want to give Victor bad news, but he also doesn't want to lie to him. "At this point", he begins, and the smile turns a little sad: "there's no predicting whether he will make a full recovery or not. I might know it after surgery but… in the end… only time will tell…".

Well, it's not what Victor has hoped to hear, but it's the truth and that's better than any sugar coated lie. It reminds him of the ice a little – sometimes harsh and hard and unforgiving but never fake, never pretending. "Can I wait here? While he's… in surgery?", Victor asks. He doesn't want to talk about the future anymore. Not when neither he nor Dr. Katsuki can predict what will happen.

"Of course you can. There's a waiting area for relatives down the hall, where you can stay", Dr. Katsuki answers and Victor walks over to the table where Makkachin is slowly falling asleep.

"If it's okay, I'll wait until he's passed out. I don't want to leave him", he says, running his hand through soft, curly fur.

"He'll be out cold in a few, but you can stay until then. There's not much I can do so far anyway. Not without hurting him. And that, I don't want", Dr. Katsuki says and walks around the table to examine whatever he can see without moving Makkachin. It's not much, Victor guesses, because there's blood and fur and the curled position the dog is in that block his injuries from view. A small sigh escapes the young man. "I can't see much so far, but several of his bones are broken. Or worst case, shattered. Whatever it is, he won't properly walk for quite some time. Where did you say you're from?".

"Oh… I… I didn't… we're from Russia though", Victor replies, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head. He hasn't been the most polite person today, but maybe an injured pet is excuse enough for that.

"Mhm… Thought so… Your Makkachin won't be fit for transport for a while. But we can talk about that later. Looks like he's fallen asleep… so… I should get started…", Dr. Katsuki presses his lips against each other before giving Victor a lopsided smile.

"Oh… yes… you… you should", he agrees and finally moves away from Makkachin. He knows surgery may take hours and it scares him to be honest. Scares him beyond words. He's never been in a situation like this, so unsure if he'll ever see his puppy again.

Outside the examination room, Yuuko finally says her goodbyes. She hands Victor a small slip of paper with her telephone number scribbled on it. To stay in contact and tell her how Makkachin is doing, she says. Also, she wants to pay for the surgery and whatnot, claiming that it is her fault that Makkachin got hurt in the first place. Victor doesn't fully agree with her, though. After all, his dog has broken loose from the leash and for that only Victor is to blame. But at the moment, he doesn't have the energy to discuss who's to blame for what has happened.

Instead he just agrees and wishes her a nice day… of at least a nicer day… because the accident will probably haunt her dreams tonight. It will do Victor's, that's for sure.

The waiting area is quiet and other than himself, there's only an elderly woman waiting with him. She's talking to a nurse in hushed voices when Victor enters and takes a seat by the large windows overlooking a meadow with a small pond for koi fish. It looks peaceful, ideal for taking a walk with your pet and Victor thinks that it suits this place.

The sun is still shining outside. It's a beautiful day and Victor can picture himself out there in the meadow with Makkachin, playing fetch or just lazily laying in the grass, cuddled together. They often do that on hot days in St. Petersburg, when Victor is done with training and has time to be spent at leisure.

Victor doesn't exactly know how long the surgery takes, the battery of his phone has died by the time he wants to check it and the waiting area lacks a clock, but eventually, the sun starts to disappear behind the trees lining the meadow and the room grows darker and darker, until the elderly lady gets up from her chair and switches the lights on. She has been reading a magazine so far (completely in Japanese of course), but now she's smiling at Victor a little, two of her front teeth missing.

But Victor smiles back nonetheless. They're both in this together, waiting for their pets to come out of surgery.

And eventually a nurse enters the room, again talking to the woman, who then gets up from her chair and bows before Victor, wishing him 'konban-wa' – a good evening. (That much Japanese he knows.)

Afterwards, Victor busies himself with flipping through the various magazines available for waiting relatives. He doesn't understand a word, because he's even worse at reading Japanese than he is at speaking (or understanding).

Next time the door opens, it's not a nurse, but Dr. Katsuki, looking tired and drained. There're circles under his eyes and his shoulders hang a little, but he's smiling and that gives Victor hope that maybe Makkachin is doing alright.

"Hey", Dr. Katsuki greets, hands buried in the pockets of his lime green scrubs. The colour looks horrible on him, making him paler than he is.

"Hey there…", Victor says and gets up from his chair. He's so done sitting. His butt and back are aching and his neck is stiff from looking down at the magazines, which by the way are filled with pretty pictures. "How is he?".

"Stable. A lot of broken bones, some multiple times, but no organs were injured. He lost a lot of blood on the way here, but we gave him transfusions. He must stay here for some time. I had to use more than just a few screws and metal plates to secure his bones in a position that makes it possible of them to coalesce again", he explains, while watching Victor's face with those beautiful brown eyes.

"Does that mean he… will walk again…?", Victor asks, finally voicing one of his greatest fears. Makkachin wouldn't be the same if he couldn't run around and play. He was a happy, lively puppy with a lot of energy despite his age.

"Yeah, he will. It will take a lot of time and a lot of additional training, but with patience he will be able to walk and run again. First the bones have to mend and then his muscles as well. That won't happen overnight, but it will, eventually. We have a program here in the hospital for pets like him, if you're interested", Dr. Katsuki says, sounding a lot more hopeful now. The relief that Makkachin might make a full recovery is obvious on his features and it warms Victor's heart.

"Yeah… I mean… you said he's not fit for transport anyway?", Victor wants to know, fumbling with the hem of his still bloody shirt. He must look horrible, but he doesn't really care.

"Well, by the time recovery training starts, he will be fit enough to get him to Russia. They have good treatment there too. I understand if you want to go home as soon as possible", there's a slight… sadness… in Dr. Katsuki's voice and it makes Victor wonder where it comes from. Does this man find Victor as endearing as Victor finds him?

"Ah, yeah. I don't know. Don't have to decide that now, do I?", he says, reluctant to talk about getting back to Russia although he knows that Yakov will want him to as soon as possible.

"No, you don't. Well… I know you want to see Makkachin right away, but… It's still too early. He's not yet woken from anaesthesia and the risk of an infection is pretty high. By tomorrow morning he'll be awake and the antibiotics will do their work. You can come and visit him then".

Victor understands. Of course he does. It's too dangerous. But he's disappointed nonetheless. "I will be back first thing in the morning then", he says with a deep sigh.

"I'm sorry...", Dr. Katsuki replies, and again Victor believes him. It feels like this man knows exactly what Victor is going through, but he can't, can he? He's probably just had a lot of patients in his career and all their owners worry. It's natural. "Where do you stay? I'm free now and I can give you a ride… only if you want to of course!". The offering comes with a new blush that almost reaches the top of Dr. Katsuki's ears and his voice cracks, too fast for his tongue apparently.

But Victor just tells him which hotel he and Yakov are staying in and follows the young doctor to his car in the garage. Apparently, it would take some time to get to the hotel from the animal clinic despite Hasetsu being a rather small town.

"So, how come you speak English so well?", Victor asks, sitting in the passenger's seat, while they exit the hospital garage.

"I went to college in Detroit", Dr. Katsuki answers, eyes glued to the road, but smiling all the same. "A… And you, Mr. Nikiforov? What do you do for a living?".

"I'm a figure skater. Professional. With competitions and all. But… could you call me Victor? Mr. Nikiforov… that's my dad", he says, rubbing the back of his head again because he knows that addressing someone by their given name is something very personal in Japan, but he hates to be called 'Mr. Nikiforov'.

"Oh, yes of course. I'm Yuuri by the way", Dr. Katsuki, or maybe Yuuri, replies. "I used to watch figure skating as a child. Wanted to become one myself at some time", he admits as they drive down what Victor identifies as the main road. It dark outside and the lights come in blurred though the windows, but Victor has walked down this street often enough these past days to recognize it.

"So why didn't you? Become a figure skater that is", Victor wants to know. It's strange how interesting this man appears to him. He feels drawn in; wants to know more about him, although he has just met him some hours ago.

"For my twelfth birthday my parents got me a dog. A poodle just like yours, but a lot smaller. That got me glued to pets, I guess. I was so fond of him and it pained me to think that one day I would have to say goodbye to him. I wanted to spare as many people that pain as possible and decided to become a veterinarian", he explained, sounding like he doesn't regret not becoming a figure skater for the sake of saving animal lives.

"That's the best reason", Victor says. He's grateful. Grateful that so many years ago, Yuuri's parents decided to give him a dog for his birthday, because otherwise he might have become a figure skater and wouldn't have been here today to save Makkachin. Whatever deity had made it so, Vic1tor was grateful to it.

They stop in front of the hotel a few minutes later and Victor leaves the car, but remains standing in the open door, leans down to get a proper look at Yuuri, who has his hands loosely wrapped around the steering wheel.

"Thank you", he breathes again, feeling a blush creep up his cheeks. He isn't happy about what happened to Makkachin, but he's definitely looking forward to meeting Yuuri again. And then it hits him. He never asked if Yuuri has to work tomorrow. He's a doctor, isn't he? That means shift duty. "Will… will I see you tomorrow?", he asks, his voice a little too hopeful.

"Ah, yes. I'm on early shift tomorrow, so if you come by as soon as you said you would, I'll be there", Yuuri says, sounding pleased. Maybe Victor isn't wrong and the guy really likes him.

"Good! That's good! Oh… that means you only have a few hours of sleep left, doesn't it? I'm sorry! Go home and have some rest!", Victor smacks his hand against his forehead. God, he's going to screw up the one time he meets someone he's genuinely interested in.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. But you should catch up on some sleep, too. It's been… a hard day…", there's that strange sadness again, and Victor want to ask where it comes from, but it feels like it's too early to do that. Too private a matter to be addressed by someone Yuuri barely knows, even someone who rarely ever takes his eyes off the pretty doctor.

"Yeah, you're right. See you tomorrow then?", Victor says instead, and runs a hand through his hair. Maybe being casual will lead him somewhere. But then again, his shirt is covered in blood and he must look he hasn't slept in days. Charming.

"Mhm. See you tomorrow. Good night", Yuuri says with a polite nod and a small smile.

Victor finally closes the door, reluctant of course, but he does it all the same and Yuuri starts the engine to drive off, while Victor watches his car disappear down the road. It's been a hard day. Far worse than Victor expected upon waking up this morning. But maybe, just maybe, all his bad luck will lead to something good.

He smiles for the first time since Makkachin's accident as he steps into the elevator and thinks about Katsuki Yuuri's adorable blush and his big brown eyes.

Yes, maybe something good will come out of this.

Thank you so much for reading! Any kinds of feedback, comments, kudos are appreciated! Tell me what you think, or what you want to read in this story.

Love you all!

If you like Puppy Love, go to my profil and check out my other Yuri on Ice Fanfiction ^-^