Author's Note:

Hey guys!

College has been killing me, but I remembered this story and writing it was so cathartic that it inspired me to ignore my work for this instead...

Which is... a bad idea, bu

Happy Reading!

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"You say you're sick, huh? Well, it looks like you've come down with a case of bullshit!"*

Victor resisted the urge to sigh as a familiar voice roared when he opened the door to his agency. The kids, it seemed, were not alright.

There was some muttering that floated his way, obviously in response to the outburst, but Victor didn't have to spent too long wondering what was being said because...

" Don't swear so much?! Look bitch, everything about me is colourful. My hair, my skin, my language."*

Victor's mind whimpered; it didn't have the energy to deal with this. But, it seemed like the choice of whether to engage had been snatched from his hands.

"Victor, There you are! Come join us and see if you can speak some sense into this vicious kitty-cat." Chris drawled, somehow managing to retain his composure despite shouting across the room, a feat no one but him could manage.

Victor let his lips quirk up, hoping the action didn't look as grotesque and unnatural as it felt.

(God, he was… so tired)

Nonetheless, he walked over to where Yuri, Mila and Chris were standing, watching how Yuri started spitting out curses at being called a kitty-cat, for he was a tiger, damnit, as Chris and Mila watched Yuri indulgently. Their bodies were all turned towards the center of their circle, as though they had managed to carve out their own little island in the room; An island Victor could only look at from the sea, trying to swim past the raging currents to the nearby land... But unable to.

The tides were too rough and Victor was tired.

As Victor made his way to them, he saw that there was a fourth he had missed.

"Hey, Georgi. How's Anya?" Victor asked, glad that his famously unreliable memory had remembered the name of Georgi's girlfriend. Now, he just had to wait for Georgi to wax faux-poetically about his partner and maybe this nasty feeling in Victor's chest would go-

" Anya! " Georgi cried anguished, looking at the ceiling with red-rimmed eyes made all the more dramatic with mascara and eyeliner that clearly weren't waterproof (which was odd as Victor distinctly remembered gifting Georgi a waterproof set a week ago). Victor looked up as well at the ceiling; it was the popcorn kind, which, Victor agreed could cause anguish in and of itself, but Georgi had never seemed to care too much about it before.

Victor cocked his head as Georgie continued staring at the hideous popcorn ceiling with what could only be described as deep-seated torment, like the kind exclusively felt by Byronic heroes. Which, considering the ceiling, was valid.

"Oh, Georgi, baby, it's alright." Chris said softly.

Victor resisted the urge to refute him, that ceiling would never be alright.

"Yeah Gosha, she never deserved you anyway." Mila said, her usually bright eyes dimmed.

Victor was starting to feel like this wasn't about the ceiling. He turned to a still fuming Yuri for an explanation who spit out, "Anya left him. But can you blame her? Who the hell would want to stay with someone who doesn't have the dignity to put on waterproof make-up?!"

Chris tsked and with a chiding tone said, "Now, now, Yura, wait till you're older and then maybe you'll understand."

Yuri rolled his eyes and said, "Some grey hairs will make me "understand" why Gosha would willingly want people to know that he is in pain over some bit -"

"Pain isn't a weakness, you know." Victor said lightly, cutting the angry expletive off, continuing, "Pain is not an indication that Gosha is undeserving of love or that that his worth is somehow lessened. It's not something to be ashamed of or something you need to hide. Pain is simply… a reminder that something is wrong and needs to fixed. That's all."

Victor felt a lump in his throat as he narrated the words he had spent hours re-reading and memorizing. And if he could help someone else… it had been worth it.

Victor looked up at Yuri who was staring at him wide-eyed as silence surrounded them, until…

"Well said, Vitya." Chris said, warmth in every syllable, and he turned to Georgi who too was looking at Victor shocked, "See, Georgi, you'll be alright."

Georgi smiled, a trembling thing with muted edges but with hints of sunlight peeking through the cracks, and nodded.

"Alright! Now that that's taken care of, tell us, Georgi, what can we do?" Mila said, voice brighter.

"I want revenge against the scoundrels who dared to take my Anya away from me!" Georgi said, a dark light in his eyes.

Um.

They all stood in silence to process the request.

"Unfortunately, we're all out of bitter revenge at the moment, so it's either tea or nothing.* " Chris said briskly, moving towards the kettle.

Georgi sighed as if terribly inconvenienced and said, "That'll do too, I guess."

Victor resisted the urge to fidget as the rest started talking about something or the other, their words sounding like he was underwater. He wasn't sure where to put his hands, have they always just been there? Hanging by his sides? That didn't sound right.

Conversation flew around him as he tried to tune into it and engage with them, but to no avail.

When did I stop being able to connect with people? Victor wondered. He knew he was technically a part of this group, but… it didn't feel like he was.

"Victor?"

Victor looked up to see them all looking at him questioningly and jolted, putting on another smile that felt like it had been sewed on from the remains of another body, a frankenstein's monster of a smile.

"Yes?" He said, hoping his voice didn't sound dull or diminished. People Magazine had once written that his voice rang with "star-like energy, twinkling and bright, something that could shine light on even the most joyless of souls."

(Victor had back then wondered who lent their light to the stars when the stars needed a light)

"Your hearing going or what, Old Man? Grabby Hands here asked you if you were seeing someone." Yuri groused.

Victor blinked, "Sorry?"

Mila put her chin on her bent knee and said buoyantly, "Oh, we're sharing details about our love lives now, Victor. So, tell us, anyone special right now in your life?"

Oh.

Victor spied the eager looks on their faces at his hesitation, their body language soft and comforting. And… Victor was suddenly eager to let the words spilling against the back of his teeth flow out - his confusion, his hesitation, and (worst of all) his hope - but at the same time felt strangely reticent, wanting to keep this one thing for himself.

So, he smiled, and chimed brightly, "Oh, yes, a special person in my life. I do have someone. In fact, I was with them before I came here."

All their eyes widened and they leaned forward as if to hear Victor better, and Chris, almost haltingly asked, "What's their name, Victor?"

Victor smiled and throwing them a wink, said with blithe disregard, "Why you've met my special someone! It's Makkachin, of course!"

Victor resisted the urge to laugh as they groaned in unison and ignored the looks of disappointment they levied his way. He got up fluidly, and, walking away, cheerfully said, "Anyway, I have got to go now, I'll talk to you guys later!"

For… He had a date to prepare for.

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End Note:

NEXT TIME: A date with Yuuri and some Ghibli movies!

(tbh the reason why that part isn't included in this chapter is because 1) I need to study, pls god 2) I have yet to finish a ghibli movie :head_in_hands:)

All lines marked with * are from colormayfade's prompt generator on tumblr.

Hope you enjoyed that!

Be sure to tell me below if so!

Till Next Time!