Yuri's POV

I had never seen Viktor like that. Pale. Lifeless. Dull. His eyes had lost their light. His figure sagged. He looked like all of the strength had been sapped out of him. To be fair, though, I'd never seen Viktor when he was sick. I felt really bad, leaving him. I didn't want to leave him all alone. So I didn't.

"Hey, everyone, Viktor's really sick. I'm gonna go look after him. He's so sick he can barely move." I said sadly to everyone at the table.

"Aww! Do you need some help?" Hayami stood up and started to walk over.

"Thanks, Hayami, but I don't need you getting sick, too. Plus, you need to eat. Go on, I'll get something later." I gave a weak little smile.

"Okay. Let me know if you need anything." Hayami kissed my cheek and sat back down. Mari instantly started to gasp and fangirl. I rolled my eyes and left the room.

Once I had reached Viktor's room, I walked in and found him lying on his bed. He was staring up at the ceiling, his pale blue eyes looking more like a dull gray-blue now. "You've got lipstick on your face." He commented dully. I blushed.

"Viktor, do you need anything? I... I feel like I need to get you something. Do you want medicine? Or water? Or food? Ugh I'm an idiot you can't have food it'll only upset you..." I started pacing the room.

"Yuri?" Viktor said my name so quietly I barely heard it.

"Yes?" I stopped pacing and watched him.

"Have you ever loved someone so much it hurt?" Viktor whispered.

My eyes widened. "So that's why you were so embarrassed earlier when I asked for advice. You were struggling yourself." I sat next to him on his bed and pulled him up, putting an arm over his shoulder.

"You could say that." Viktor sighed, and looked away. I wanted to help him... it hurt me to see him like this...

"Did she reject you?" I asked quietly.

"She?" Viktor raised his eyebrows. I sat there for a minute, confused, until my slow brain reacted. Oh. So he's gay. For some reason, I felt butterflies.

"Sorry. Did he reject you?" I asked again.

"In his own way, yes." Viktor sighed, and tears started to slide down his cheeks.

"Would you mind... would you mind if I asked you who it was?" I looked into his eyes.

"I don't really... um..." Viktor looked away.

"It's okay! I'm sorry for asking!" I hugged him close to me. To my surprise, he wrapped his arms around me and held on like a vice.

"Yuri, he hurt me." Viktor whispered.

"Who could hurt you, Viktor? Who would do such a thing to you?" I felt tears start to blur my vision. Viktor just stared at me.

Viktor's POV

His words wounded me. I was injured on the inside, invisible claws ripped at my heart. Yuri started to cry. Why are you crying?! You broke me! I thought. I looked away. I had never been able to watch people cry. I hated it when they cried in front of me. I never knew how to comfort them.

"Yuri, don't cry." I whispered. Yuri raised his eyes slowly.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be the one crying." Yuri sniffed softly. You got that right, pal. I snorted inwardly. I sighed, and started rocking, cradling Yuri, almost.

"I shouldn't ruin your night with the girl. Go have fun with her." I looked away, tears pooling in my eyelids. I imagined them, cuddling in Yuri's bed. I imagined them staying awake the whole night, talking, giggling, joking around. Where would I be? I would be dreaming about doing that with Yuri, and snuggling with a certain poodle instead.

"Viktor, I'm so, so sorry. I don't want to flaunt her around you after you were rejected, I- sorry, that c-came out really bad, I'm sorry. I meant-"

"Yuri, I'm fine. Have fun. You don't get a girl like that every day." I put on a fake smile, flashing my teeth and everything. But my eyes gave away that I was still empty. That my soul was still absent.

"Thanks, Vitya." Yuri hugged me. I froze. Yuri had never called me that before. Ever. No one had ever called me that but my parents and Yakov.

I stayed frozen until Yuri's fingertips brushed the doorknob. "Yuri?" I called softly after him.

"Yes?" Yuri turned, his chocolate brown eyes melting my heart.

"Thank you. I love you so, so much." I said.

"Me too, Viktor. I'll check on you later, yeah?" Yuri smiled. I smiled back, even though it was a sad one.

"Sure." I sighed. He didn't know how much I meant it. How much I really, really loved him.

Thanks for reading!!! Sorry this chapter was short but I'm working on the next one so it should be out fairly soon. Love you! <3

- sarcasm _is_my_kink