Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/ works/14104629. Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Underage Category: F/F, F/M, M/M Fandom: Yuri!!!_on_Ice_(Anime) Relationship: Otabek_Altin/Yuri_Plisetsky, Otabek_Altin_&_Yuri_Plisetsky, Katsuki_Yuuri &_Victor_Nikiforov, Katsuki_Yuuri/Victor_Nikiforov, Leo_de_la_Iglesia/Ji Guang-Hong, Jean-Jacques_Leroy/Isabella_Yang Character: Yuri_Plisetsky, Otabek_Altin, Victor_Nikiforov, Katsuki_Yuuri, Leo_de_la Iglesia, Ji_Guang-Hong, Original_Characters, Nikolai_Plisetsky, Lilia Baranovskaya, Yakov_Feltsman, Sara_Crispino, Michele_Crispino, Emil Nekola, Jean-Jacques_Leroy, Isabella_Yang Additional Tags: Alternate_Universe, Fae_&_Fairies, Alternate_Universe_-_Soulmates, Mpreg, Hurt/Comfort, Friends_to_Lovers, Alternate_Universe_-_Gods_&_Goddesses, Katsuki_Yuuri_and_Victor_Nikiforov_are_Yuri_Plisetsky's_Parents, everyone is_royalty, Smut, Demons, Angels, Gods, Mage_Otabek, Fairy_Yuri Stats: Published: 2018-03-26 Chapters: 6/? Words: 18638 ****** Agape, Eros and Fate ****** by Honestmabe Summary I suck at descriptions. Fantasy au partially (SUPER LOOSELY) inspired by The Ancient Magus Bride universe. I mean very loosely. Yuri is a fairy and Otabek is a mage. Otabek is kind of an asshole but is secretly a softie when it comes to Yuri. Look up "Save You" by Echoes to kind of get a feel for the atmosphere if music helps. **Things to note** 1. Very strong language 2. Strong sexual themes eventually (but with feelings) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) 3. OTABEK HAS SECRETS (TヮT) 4. There will be quite a few flash backs in italics 5. Fairies are basically omegas (minus the heat and stuff like that) 6. Otabek is a very bad man and Yuri isn't quite as innocent as he seems ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Notes See the end of the work for notes ***** Chapter 1 ***** The forest Otabek called home was safely nestled in between four human kingdoms and was home to the Fae. To the North was The Kingdom of Ivor, ruled by the Leroy family. The King, JJ, was an old friend of Otabek's but Otabek couldn't stay in his presence too long, as he was foolish and overbearing. A great contrast from Otabek's quiet and stoic nature. To the East was The Kingdom of Nippon, ruled by the Katsuki family who's prince eloped with a Fae, the king of them to be exact. The Katsuki's didn't seem too bothered, however, and just passed the throne to the eldest sister, Mari. This relieved everyone in the vicinity because generally kings snatching away young princes could cause an all-out war. To the West was Aglaeca, a kingdom ruled by the people with elected officials in power. They're a very proud and boisterous people but they defend their neighboring allies, as they consider them to be their brothers in arms. Finally, to the South, was Otabek's homeland. The Kingdom of Almaty was firmly but fairly ruled by the Altin family. Being the heir to a throne was something Otabek found stifling so he renounced his title and learned magic. His lifestyle change was kindled by his desire to find and take his heart back, or at least find the boy who had promised to keep it safe. The lack of a heart is both a blessing and a curse. His body was stronger and more resilient, partly because he had lost what made him human and partly because his heart was in the hands of a powerful fae. Giving one's heart away isn't an easy or painless task and Otabek still remembers the shock of the emptiness in his chest, how he had no feeling when he would've normally been rocked with emotions. He remembers his servants whispering in the hallway about how he had been such a 'sweet and gentle boy' but had now become an 'emotionless shell.' It was true of course, which didn't bother the heartless boy in the least bit. Why would it? With his heart he'd experience pain and suffering. He trusted the fae boy to keep it safe, he just wanted to keep the boy safe in return. His heart resided in the Land of the Fae, with a green eyed fairy that stole his heart years before. He had never learned the fairy's name, he just remembered the beauty and their fierce eyes, so akin to a soldier's even though the fairy was at such a young age. The Land of The Fae is the forest nestled in between the four kingdoms and is ruled by an Ice Fairy named Viktor Nikiforov and his husband, Yuuri Katsuki- Nikiforov. They have an adopted son that is rumored to be spoiled and short- tempered beyond reason but Otabek was fortunate enough to have never crossed paths with him. Then again, maybe a passionate boy would be a good companion for the emotionless man. "Here's your love potion, Mila. If I may ask, why would you need one?" Mila, a forest nymph with long curly red hair, smirked and examined her red fingernails "Maybe to use on you, if you don't mind." Otabek smiled politely but it came off as more of a grimace. It was a common occurrence for Mila to be so forward with him "Sorry dear, my heart is spoken for." The nymph pouted and Otabek took his payment and left, feeling no need to socialize further. He was only a half mile up the path when he heard a commotion up the road. "You're constantly wearing that flashy ass crown and it makes you look like a fool!" Otabek didn't recognize that voice but he had a feeling about which King he was talking to so he approached, hoping to defuse the situation. He was met with the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. Long blond hair hung wildly past the fairy's waist and accentuated their willowy frame. The fairy was built like a dancer and was wearing a silver suit that clung to them, the back was open, allowing the glorious wings protruding from their slender back to be in full view. The sunlight made the glittery green wings shimmer and Otabek felt hypnotized by the color. The fairy still had their back to him and was pointing an accusing finger at King JJ himself. JJ had his hands held up in mock surrender as his betrothed pouted at Yuri from behind JJ. "Easy now. We're all friends here aren't we?" JJ then noticed Otabek's presence "Otabek! I was just coming to see you! Mind if we stay at your home tonight?" Otabek thought of his magical mishap and the love potion currently splattered on his walls, floor, and furniture. "Sorry, I have plans." His eyes fell back on the fairy and he felt his breath hitch in his throat as his brown eyes met a set of piercing green ones. A pair of eyes he'd been dreaming about since he was a twelve year old boy. "Why are you staring at me, asshole!?" The deep voice was kind of shocking, coming from such a beautiful and feminine person. The fairy looked pissed and it took Otabek another moment to realize he had been rudely staring. He felt opted to just walk away rather than deal with the boy's wrath. "On second thought, I would love if the two of you came to my home tonight. Just give me an hour or two." He flung the words over his shoulder at JJ. By the time he turned back, the fairy was gone and JJ was staring up the path, brows furrowed. Otabek felt accomplished, that had to be his fairy. It took the mage only half an hour to clean his home using magic and he spent the rest of his time cooking for his guests. "Otabek, it's so good to see you!" "You too Leroy, but don't just walk into my house. Knock first." Otabek's response earned a giggle from Isabella. She was JJ's betrothed and to say he adored her was an understatement. Otabek had never seen JJ love someone as much as he loved himself until he met her and somehow, she can deal with his overbearing personality. Otabek needed to know about that fairy "What was that incident with the fairy about?" "Oh him? That's Viktor Nikiforov's son, Yuri Plisetsky. I call him 'pretty miss.' Get it? Because he looks like a woman? He argues with me on sight and I've never understood his disdain for me. I assume he's jealous because I'm taller, more handsome, a king, et cetera." Otabek had a feeling he knew why Yuri Plisetsky was so angry with JJ, and it definitely wasn't jealousy, but he decided not to comment on it. "So what brings you here?" "Isabella and I have decided on a date for our engagement ball and I wanted to personally invite one of my oldest friends. It was only a few hours trip by horse so why not?" JJ handed Otabek an envelope with a wax seal donning the Leroy family crest on it. "Congratulations, I appreciate the invitation." JJ started talking about his extravagant wedding plans and Otabek tried to pay attention but his mind kept drifting to the fairy boy, Yuri Plisetsky. It had been years but there was no mistaking those eyes and the aggressive attitude. He had finally found him, he just needed to earn his trust. JJ was smirking at Otabek and it took him a moment to realize he had been saying something while Otabek was zoned out "I'm sorry, I had a long night." "I just couldn't help but notice how interested you were in the fairy boy. He's a great beauty for sure but that rose has a large number of thorns, maybe too many for him to be worth the bother." "I have thorns myself, Leroy. Don't we all? I like his aggressive attitude, especially when he's putting a certain foolish king in his place." JJ smiled tightly, knowing the answer to his question "Who would that be?" "You, dumbass, take off that damn crown." He playfully snatched the crown off of JJ's head with a chuckle while the man complained and reached out for it. Otabek dodged around his outstretched arm then used magic to send the crown spiraling up in to the ceiling to rest on a support beam "I'll give it back when you go to leave. Would you like some wine?" The next morning he saw the couple off before heading into the forest on his horse in search of plants for his potions. He was just about to dismount when he heard a boy yelling. With a jolt, he recognized the voice and immediately sent his horse into a gallop in the direction of the noise. The fairy was being pursued by a very aggressive bear when his hair had got stuck in a tree branch mid-flight. He was flitting around, dodging the bears outstretched claws, and screaming up a storm. "Fuck you, you stupid bear! Wait 'till I get out of this tree! I'll show you who the fuck you're messing with!" Otabek sighed, this boy was entirely too aggressive for someone his size. He quickly pulled out his cane and shot a calming spell at the bear and then added a spell to send him on his way. He had no idea what Yuri did to anger the bear so much but he deemed it unimportant. He smirked at the sight of the fairy struggling with his tangled hair and cast an untangling spell. The fairy landed in an ungraceful heap on the ground and crossed his arms "Oh. It's you." His face was flushed and it only took Otabek a second to figure out what was wrong. "Your wing.." The boy's right wing was ripped at the tip which was probably why he ended up tangled in a tree. He couldn't fly properly in this condition. "Believe me, I fucking noticed." Otabek held out his hand to the boy "You coming or not?" He looked skeptically at his outstretched hand but took it and mounted the horse, to Otabek's delight. The fairy sat as far back on the horse as he could but eased closer to Otabek and wrapped his arms around his waist as the ride wore on. They arrived at Otabek's home and the fairy looked around skeptically "So. You kidnapped me while I was injured." "I'm a mage." "So?" "So, I have medicine for your wing." Otabek didn't look back as he entered his house but heard the footsteps of the blonde as he followed him inside. "Sit on the living room couch and I'll be in there in a moment." A few minutes later he was applying ointment and bandaging the fairy's ripped wing as the fairy looked at him with a mix of annoyance and curiosity "So why did you help me?" "Because you can't fly and I couldn't leave you alone like that." "I can take care of myself." Otabek didn't respond and the boy pouted as if he wanted Otabek to argue further. "What did you do to the bear?" "You won't believe me, but nothing. I was just wondering around when he attacked me from behind. Animals usually aren't aggressive with fae so it took me off guard.. he wouldn't even listen to my communicating with him. It was as if he was rabid." Yuri looked away but not before Otabek saw a flicker in Yuri's eyes. He had a feeling Yuri knew more than he let on but he decided not to ask him about it, obviously he had a reason for not telling him. He silently finished up the bandages on the fairy's wing as the boy watched him with curiosity "Why did you save me?" "We've met before." Otabek couldn't stop the words before they left his lips. "I don't remember." The blonde scrunched his face "I feel like I would remember someone like you. It's hard to come by a good mage these days." "I was living in another country and it was a long time ago. You had the unforgettable eyes of a soldier and I thought we were alike, that's all." The blonde seemed shocked "A soldier? Me?" Otabek sighed and looked him directly in the eyes, holding his hand out for the boy to shake "Do you want to be friends with me or not." The boy looked perplexed but nodded and they took each other's hands. "I don't even know your name, mage." "It's Otabek." "Mine's Yuri." "I know your name already, little one." "Well I'm sorry not everyone can be brooding and mysterious! And don't call me that! I'm not little!" "What are you? 5'3?" The blonde blushed furiously "I thought you meant my age.." "No I meant your height. You're unusually aggressive for someone your size, you know." "Pick on my size again and prepare to get your ass kicked." "I'm not picking, just making a statement." Otabek smirked at the boy's blush "However, you're so cute when you're angry so I don't think I'll stop." "Why did I agree to be your friend a few minutes ago?" Otabek shrugged, feeling a twinge of happiness for the first time in years as he walked towards his kitchen "Because I pulled a 'knight in shining armor' on your 'damsel in distress' ass. It tends to really build relationships." Yuri's response was to throw a pillow at his head, followed by a string of curses "I'm strong and I can take care of myself! I don't need you and I don't need friends so fuck you!" Otabek turned back to him, smiling broadly "What do you want for dinner?" Yuri huffed and kicked the floor as he spoke "Anything is fine." "Ok then, I'll whip something up. Go clean yourself up for dinner, you'll find the bathroom upstairs. If you need clothes I have some in my bedroom across the hall." "You can't tell me what to do!" He stamped the ground as he spoke. "You're covered in dirt and leaves and you're not sitting at my dinner table like that. Aren't you hungry?" Yuri flushed, embarrassed and trudged upstairs. Otabek shook his head and smirked. This boy sure was a handful. Dinner was quiet, which was unusual because Yuri didn't seem to ever be quiet "Anything on your mind, little one?" Yuri sputtered, red faced "I'm eighteen!" Otabek smirked "Again, I was referring to your height. I'm twenty by the way." Yuri stared at his dinner "Why are you being so nice to me?" "I told you-" "I heard you weren't nice." Otabek was shocked at the shaking in Yuri's voice. "That's a strange statement." Otabek wasn't nice but he didn't want to scare Yuri away. "Are you good or bad?" "At what?" Otabek purred the words suggestively. Either Yuri didn't catch the suggestion in his voice or he chose to ignore it because he continued. "In general. Are you a good guy or a bad guy?" Otabek dropped his friendly demeanor "What an odd question to ask someone who just saved your life." "I need to know because-" "Because you're afraid of the scary mage that lives by himself in the woods?" Yuri looked him straight in the eyes in such a way it sent an excited shiver down his spine "I'm not afraid of you. I just wanted to know." Otabek smiled at Yuri's answer "I'm good where it counts but I don't allow any room for disrespect. I've done very terrible things without the slightest remorse but for my own moral reasons. I'm not exactly a monster but I'm no saint either." Yuri paled "Oh." "You scared now kitten? Scared of the man without a heart?" Yuri turned crimson "No! And don't call me that!" He stared down at the table and mumbled "You may be bad but you were good to me, so maybe being friends wouldn't be so bad." Otabek couldn't keep his eyes off of Yuri in his home, wearing his shirt. It gave him this sense of protectiveness that he'd never experienced. Yuri dropped his aggressive demeanor eventually and they stayed up all night talking about anything and everything. Otabek had a feeling he was going to enjoy the boy's company. Yuri eventually retired to the guest bedroom of Otabek's home while he recovered from his torn wing. Otabek could barely sleep, having horrible dreams about the day the two met. Eventually his exhaustion caught up with him and his eyelids became heavy. As he drifted to sleep, he could've sworn he saw a red string wrapping around his wrist. ***** Chapter 2 ***** The first thing Yuri had seen was the lifeless body on the floor and the amount of blood, so much blood. Yuri slipped in the red liquid, his ears ringing and his chest feeling constricted. He might have been screaming or sobbing but he didn't hear or feel anything except the ringing in his ears and the lifeless body he was clinging to. "I'm sorry Yuri, I didn't mean for you to have seen this. I wasn't expecting you to be home so soon." He heard the words through the ringing in his ears but couldn't comprehend them. This couldn't have happened. It had to be some kind of bad dream. This. Could. Not. Have. Happened. Yuri kept staring at the body, not knowing if he responded. "Yuri, please darling, look at me. I had to do this. He wouldn't let us be together. You said you'd do anything to be with me." Yuri felt heat scorch through his body and struggled to stand, his feet slipping in the blood. "You're a monster and I'd rather die than be with the person who'd murder the only family I have!" He spat with venom, his grief temporarily replaced by white-hot anger. The man in the doorway merely chuckled "You're grieving right now and cannot see reason. I'll be back for you when you understand that I did what I had to." "Go fucking die." He spat the words with so much anger it chilled him to the core and then watched the man leave with his posture relaxed, as if he hadn't just killed his lover's only family. He slumped to the floor, pulling the top half of the lifeless body onto his laps, uncaring about his clothing being covered in blood. He rocked back and forth shaking and sobbing "Дедушка, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault, I'm so sorry." "Дедушка" His body felt numb and cold. "Дедушка" Then a surge of warmth surrounded him, as if in an embrace. "Yuratchka, it wasn't your fault" "Дедушка?" The heat surrounding him seemed to solidify and a new voice spoke to him, deep and low "Yuri, it's fine. I'm here. It's fine, ok? Just please wake up!" Yuri woke up with a jolt and realized the warmth he felt was Otabek holding him. He glanced around the room to see everything covered in ice, including Otabek. He was shivering slightly and his arms and chest has a blue tint and were covered in icicles. It would've been beautiful, had it not been life threatening to the human man. "I'm so sorry! Let me help!" He tried to sit up but Otabek held him in place and hummed quietly. "Yuri it's fine." Yuri was stunned. What kind of human was this fine with their mortality? "But if your heart froze.." he began but was cute off with a chuckle from Otabek. "I don't have one. I'll thaw." Yuri swallowed, this was his fault for losing control of his emotions while he slept. He touched his lips to Otabek's chest, where his heart would be and sure enough, there wasn't any pulse. Otabek stiffened, letting go of him "Yuri, what are you doing?" Instead of responding, Yuri blew warmth into the human man's body, pushing the cold out through his finger tips. After a few moments he was done and leaned back to look at Otabek to ensure the chill was gone. He gasped at the sight before him. He had noticed the day before that Otabek was a gorgeous man. Any person with eyes could see that. Otabek shirtless was simply breathtaking. His brown skin and muscles alone were enough to knock the breath out of Yuri but what struck out at him were Otabek's strange tattoos. The smoky black swirls wrapped around his arm and traveling to his chest and came to a rest on the "v" of his pelvic muscles. Yuri assumed it was from a demon contract, something Mages often did to gain more power and skill for their trade. Judging by the size of the mark, the demon had to have been at least a greater demon. It was a wonder Otabek had the demon under control. Yuri felt his mouth go dry and looked away "I-I'm sorry I almost froze you." The older man chuckled and let Yuri climb out of his lap and begin heating the room, melting the ice that had escaped him. "How did you know?" He was glad Otabek couldn't see his embarrassed expression. "You were screaming, so I came to help." Otabek shrugged as he spoke. "I'm sorry if I woke you.." Yuri felt Otabek's eyes on his back. "Yuri, I have no issue with you waking me. I'm here if you need me, that's part of being friends." Yuri heard him stand up "Now get dressed and I'll make breakfast." Yuri suddenly found the cedarwood flooring to be fascinating "Y-you aren't going to ask me what I was dreaming about?" "Not if you don't want to talk about it. I won't push you. Though if you do want to talk I will listen." Otabek grasped his shoulders and turned him to face him "Yuri are you fine with breakfast not being breakfast?" Yuri chuckled softly "Wow you have a way with words. Yes I'm fine with any food, I'm starving." Otabek grinned widely "Well you're in for a treat. My magic teacher taught me his special recipe he used for his grandson when he was feeling down. I don't know if it'll help you but it definitely helped me on my bad days. It's like magic" Yuri rolled his eyes "Ok, ok. Go cook this supposedly magical food. Though I think the term is comfort-food." Otabek rolled his eyes "Shut up and get dressed, brat." He left after giving Yuri a small half smile and Yuri found himself staring after him. Everyone said he was heartless and cruel. Yuri couldn't understand how. This man was nothing but kind and gentle to him, even comforting him after a nightmare. He smiled at the thought of this man wanting to make him a delicious meal to cheer him up. He scowled at his own dirty clothes and then tiptoed across the hall to borrow more of Otabek's. They were oversized but they were clean and had Otabek's scent which he found very pleasant. As he descended the stairs, a familiar scent wafted up to him and he felt tears sting his eyes. Otabek was pulling piroshkies out of the oven and humming to himself. The tune seemed familiar. Yuri wiped his tears before making his presence known "So piroshkies huh?" Otabek set two plates down on the table then pulled a chair out for Yuri, gesturing for him to sit "I'll check your wing after breakfast" Yuri hummed in response. As soon as he took a bite of a piroshki, his tears returned, choking him up. He managed to swallow and stared at the food hybrid his grandfather had made after Yuri spent time in Nippon with Yuri Katsuki. The tears came faster, blurring his vision. "Otabek who was your teacher?" Yuri's voice sounded choked and broken and Otabek's eyes snapped up to meet his. Yuri could see concern at his tears in Otabek's eyes but the man just answered his question "Nikolai Pliset- Oh shit. Yuri, I'm sorry. I didn't put two and two together and now I made things worse." Yuri smiled through his tears "No.. you did great. I haven't had piroshkies in so long and you meant well. It means a lot that you're trying so hard to make me feel better." Otabek smiled sheepishly "I hope they taste fine. I'm no piroshki expert." Yuri chuckled, wiping his eyes "They're delicious but total shit compared to my grandpa's." Otabek fake pouted before his face broke out in a smile "I guess that's fair." "The pig and I tried to recreate this and it was so awful. I have no idea what happened. My grandfather must've been turning over in his grave." Otabek's lips twitched "You're a bad cook?" Yuri rolled his eyes "I could fucking burn water. Grandpa always told me I wasn't cut out for the kitchen and I was going to give my husband trouble. I told him it sounds like my future husband needs to learn to cook." Otabek laughed out loud and Yuri found himself staring. How can someone not only look like a god but be charming and have a perfect laugh? Yuri laughed along with him and was shocked when he realized this was his first time talking about his grandfather happily since he passed. Why did already feel so comfortable around this man? After they ate Otabek guided Yuri into his library and started searching through some boxes while Yuri looked at all his strange books, vaguely recalling that Otabek must be the mage Mila has been buying from "I have a charm somewhere that would be perfect for you. It's very rare but don't worry about paying me. It's a gift." The raven-haired man held up golden chain, a strange scale-like object which shined an iridescent green hung from it. Yuri gasped at the beauty of the object "Otabek, that's so beautiful. I couldn't possibly take this." Otabek grasped Yuri's hand, placing the object in his palm and closing his slender fingers around it. Yuri stared at Otabek's tan hands encasing his on as the man began to speak "Yuri, this was always intended for you. Your grandfather asked me to take care of you it something ever happened to him." Yuri's eyes widened. This was the student his grandfather had always talked about? This was the student his grandfather had told Yuri he'd wished Yuri would marry? Otabek? Yuri had mostly ignored his grandpa's rambling about his student. He had a boyfriend, after all. Looking back at it now, Yuri wished he would've listened to his grandfather. "What does that have to do with taking care of me.. and where were you?" His voice was only a shaky whisper. "It's similar to a dream Walker but instead, this let's you navigate the memories of the deceased. I figured this would help you remember him better and it'd be like reliving your favorite memories together." He smiled softly "I was out of the country when Nikolai passed and when I made it back, you were no longer there. I heard rumors that you were here and I was going to settle down here anyways. I was keeping an ear out for rumors of another human. I had no idea you were a Fae." Yuri nodded slowly, taking it all in "I'm uh, glad you found me." Something flickered in Otabek's eyes "I am as well." They stared at each other for a few moments "Um Ota-" He was interrupted by the library door opening "Altin, you bastard! I forgot my crown!" Yuri's eyes narrowed "What the fuck are you doing here!?" Jeane Jaques Leroy smiled mockingly "What are YOU doing here? Wearing Altin's clothing nonetheless? What a naughty, naughty kitten." Otabek spoke up "Don't walk into my home without knocking and start being disrespectful to my invited guests." JJ laughed and gestured for Otabek to follow him "Fine, fine. I won't tease your little kitten." Yuri shrieked, indignant "I'm NOT a kitten! I'm a fucking tiger!" JJ laughed and left the room, leaving the other two men alone. "I'm sorry about him.. he's a good guy. He just doesn't think before he speaks." Yuri huffed "He implied that we slept together and you didn't even defend my honor!" Otabek chuckled and ruffled Yuri's hair "Your honor? You're so innocent." Yuri snatched away, embarrassed "I'm not innocent! I just don't like people thinking I was sleeping around with strange men." Otabek smirked "Men in particular? So strange women are ok?" Yuri responded by stalking out of the room. With a laugh, Otabek followed. JJ was lounging on the living room sofa when they entered. He gave Otabek a strange look "I mean this in the best way possible but you look weird." Otabek rolled his eyes while casting a spell to retrieve JJ's crown from the rafters in the ceiling "Wow. Thank you. I could say the same for you but it wouldn't be so unusual for you would it?" Yuri snorted and JJ rolled his eyes, retrieving his crown from Otabek's outstretched hand "Ok that's fair. I'll see you both around." He shot a pointed look at Otabek "Hopefully I won't be seeing Yuri around here again. This part of the forest is dangerous for kittens." Yuri looked to Otabek to see his jaws and fists clenched. "I think I'll be the judge of that." Otabek's voice was low, almost a growl. Yuri's eyes widened in confusion. What was this about? JJ left without another word and the house became eerily silent after the door slammed behind him. "Let's go outside, Yuri." Otabek wasn't looking at him as he walked out the front door. Yuri followed mutely and they sat on the edge of a beautiful lake. "I didn't notice your property had a lake.." He said the words with wonder, his eyes glittering like the ripples on the lake. Otabek's lips twitched "You were too busy accusing me of kidnapping you." They sat in silence for a few moments before Otabek spoke up "Yuri, I think you should know that I wouldn't ever hurt you but if I'm ever too scary for you just leave." Yuri nodded slowly, did Otabek have anger issues or something? Then his body went cold. No. It's because he doesn't have a heart. His mind drifted to the boy whose heart he had taken years ago. Was he like this too? What do humans even do when they don't have a heart? "What's it like, not having a heart?" Otabek looked out onto the lake, his brows furrowed "It's hard to explain. I feel empty and I just don't feel anything, not any extreme emotions anyways. I can feel annoyed or amused but I can't.. love. I can only ever love one person." Only one person? "Who is the person?" Otabek still wasn't looking at him "The person who took my heart." Yuri felt a weight on his chest. The boy.. he'd never love anyone but Yuri. He felt guilt prick at his chest. No. I had to do it.. his heart was sick.. he would've died. Would death have been better than living an empty and loveless life? "Do you regret giving your heart away? To be forced to love someone?" "I don't regret it in the slightest." Otabek finally looked at him with a strange intensity "I was in love with them before it happened. I hate to admit it but I had been watching and pining from afar for a while before we had crossed paths." Yuri smiled warmly "I hope you find her again!" Otabek suddenly looked away, back onto the lake "Yeah.. me too." They sat that way for a long time in comfortable silence before Otabek took him to the palace. Yuri barely escaped a lecture from his adopted father with the help of his human step dad, Yuuri. He made a mental note to not mention Otabek for while, to see if their friendship would even last. He didn't want to worry them unnecessarily. He collapsed onto his bed and pulled the Memory Walker Charm out of his pocket. "Grandpa, is he the one you always told me about? Because if so, I wish I'd have listened to you." He drifted off the sleep, charm in hand, sleepily watching a red string dance around his wrist. ***** Chapter 3 ***** Yuri, for the first time in a long time, wasn't plagued with nightmares of his grandfather's death. Instead, he saw through his grandfather's eyes and into his most cherished memories. His grandfather meeting Yuri's grandmother and how he found her blonde hair angelic when the sun kissed her long curls. Their wedding day and Nikolai nervously watching the love of his life, both their eyes and hearts full of pure love and adoration, as she walked down the aisle. His grandfather when he found out that he was going to be a father. Yuri woke up with tears leaving salty trails down his cheeks and into his pillows. It was comforting to be able to see these things, to have some piece of his grandfather that wasn't corrupted. He made a mental note to thank Otabek for the charm when he saw him next which, Yuri hoped, would be later that evening. It wasn't too much of a shock when he found out Otabek was a student of Yuri's grandfather's. Nikolai Plisetsky was a very accomplished mage and wanted to teach the next generation. Their home doubled as a sort of school, the students staying in dormitories and eating in the mess hall in the two bottom floors of the Plisetsky home; leaving Yuri and his grandfather the top two floors. No. It wasn't odd that someone that powerful studied under his grandfather. What was odd was that Yuri had no recollection of ever seeing him. Otabek wasn't exactly forgettable and Otabek himself had told Yuri he had no idea that Yuri was Nikolai's grandson. Another odd thing was Nikolai teaching Otabek his most treasured recipe that he made specifically for Yuri. He was on good terms with his students but that was strangely out of character for the stern man. He remembered his grandfather telling him he particularly liked one of his students, always speaking as if Yuri was going to marry the man. But Yuri couldn't remember the name... It was all distorted when he tried to recall, as if his grandfather was speaking from under water. Yuri couldn't help but wonder if Otabek was the student his grandfather seemed to love so much and if his grandfather had really requested that Otabek take care of Yuri. His hand drifted to stroke his injured wing that Otabek had bandaged. Well he did keep his word. A soft smile crept onto his lips and he felt color blossom in his cheeks. Everyone in the forest talked about Otabek. Yuri had recalled where he heard his name while he was bathing the night before. He had felt fear creep into his chest because he had heard so many terrible things about the man. But then his mind drifted to Otabek rescuing him and how gentle he was when he bandaged his torn wing. His smile was so blindingly beautiful and made Yuri feel as if it was reserved only for him. Though the feeling was ridiculous, it was still very present. Something about Otabek comforted him. It was strange but Yuri couldn't deny the pull he felt towards the older man. Yuri concluded that he should give Otabek the benefit of the doubt, though he was trembling when he confronted Otabek, asking if he was good or bad. Otabek's response was slightly chilling but Yuri kept remembering him saying "I would never hurt you." Yuri also found something alluring about Otabek's tattoos and the way his eyes darken when he's angry. He's so bad. Yuri wished so desperately he was too. A knock at his bedroom door interrupted the less-than-innocent direction his thoughts were going. Viktor didn't wait for Yuri to answer before barging into his room, a very apologetic-looking Yuuri trailing behind him. "Yuri. We. Need. To. Talk." Viktor looked unnervingly calm which meant he was angry. Yuri huffed "Knock first, you old geezer." Viktor ignored him "You were gone all day and all night then you come home in some man's clothes and smelling like magic. Who were you with?" Yuri rolled his eyes "It's none of your business." Viktor slammed his fist into the wall behind him and Yuri flinched "Damn it Yuri! You'd think you'd have learn your lesson after what happened with Alexei!" Yuri felt his blood run cold "I.. don't mention him." Viktor narrowed his eyes "It was Otabek Altin wasn't it?" He must've got the answer from Yuri's expression and he shook his head "No. No, Yuri. This shit isn't happening to you again. I won't allow you to be hurt like that again." "He won't.. he won't hurt me.." Yuri was unnerved at how broken his voice sounded but nonetheless, as he said the words he knew they were true. He didn't know how he knew. It was just something he felt. Otabek wasn't someone for Yuri to be afraid of. Viktor was having none of it "He's a murderer Yuri! Just like Alexei!" Yuri jumped to his feet and stood on his bed, eye level with Viktor "Don't fucking compare him to that monster. Otabek wouldn't kill an innocent. He wouldn't kill someone like my grandpa. Otabek. Wouldn't. Hurt. Me." Viktor eyed him coldly "Yuri, just what exactly makes you so special? You think someone like him would want you for anything other than an easy fuck?" When Yuri didn't answer, he spun on his heel to leave the room. He paused at the door "You're not to leave this castle until you've come to your senses." He slammed the door, leaving the two other men standing silently in the room. Yuri didn't realize he was crying until Yuuri rushed to him, wiping his cheeks "Yuri.. Yuri please don't cry. Viktor didn't mean it. He shouldn't have brought Alexei up.. he's just worried about you." "Otabek isn't like him!" He sobbed brokenly into the older man's chest, feeling his fingers sift through his blonde hair. "Shhh shhh. It's fine. He'll feel bad about it by tomorrow and let you leave. He's just upset right now. I'll talk to him." He sobbed brokenly, his mind never straying far from Alexei and the unforgivable act he committed. Viktor didn't let up on his decision and Yuri found himself cuddled up to Mila on his bed, his eyes red and puffy, three days later. Yuri had spent the past few days either moping in his room or throwing himself wholeheartedly into his dance lessons. Mila had come barging in to their dance lesson earlier that day shouting "Where the fuck have you been?" Lilia was less than thrilled about their chatter and was moving to chastise them when silent tears started rolling down Yuri's cheeks. She let their class out early, denying that it was for Yuri's sake, saying that she had plans. Mila wrapped a blanket around Yuri and kissed his forehead "Yuri, what exactly happened? If you're ready to talk about it.." Yuri stared forlornly at the window "It's just.." He trailed off when he saw a familiar face suddenly appear through the glass. Warmth crept to his chest and he felt his tears dry up. Otabek came for him. He rushed to the window and hurried to open it, ignoring the confused noise Mila made. "Otabek what are you doing here!?" He breathed the words quickly, as if it was something Mila shouldn't overhear. The older man responded by quirking his brow and fluidly climbing through the window. He quickly assessed Yuri's room, completely ignoring Mila's presence, before turning to face him "I was worried. You told me you'd visit me three days ago and I haven't heard anything from you." Mila made an excited squeak but Yuri ignored her "I'm.. kinda stuck. Viktor told me I'm not allowed to leave because he found out that I stayed the night with you.." Yuri could see Mila practically hyperventilating in his peripheral. He made a mental note to fill her in later. Otabek smirked and Yuri found himself grinning back at the man as he said "I guess Nikiforov doesn't want his precious little kitten to be tainted by a bad man. That's understandable." The way Otabek was smirking told Yuri that while Otabek found it understandable, he had no intention of respecting that decision. The brunette man bowed dramatically, holding out his hand to Yuri "May I?" Yuri smiled, giddy, as Otabek helped him climb out of the window. Mila finally found her voice "Yuri! What if Vitya comes in here and you're gone!?" Yuri shrugged "Tell him I decided to run away and fill the rest of my life with alcohol and debauchery!" He started clambering down the tree next to his window with a cackle. Otabek just awkwardly saluted Mila before he followed after Yuri. When they made it to the gardens below, Otabek took his hand again "How are you with heights?" An hour or so later Yuri was on the back of a dragon, screaming with delight as Otabek held onto him tightly, ensuring he doesn't fall. Yuri had to scream over the roaring wind "This is so amazing! How did you know I would love this!?" Otabek let go of his waist to touch the small of Yuri's back where his wings usually sit, leaning close to his ear to speak "I figured you'd like to fly since you haven't been able to lately.. I hate when you don't show your wings by the way." Yuri leaned against Otabek's chest instead of responding to the strange confession, his heart pounding with both adrenaline from riding the dragon and Otabek touching him underneath his shirt. They eventually landed next to a lake and Yuri jumped in surprise when the dragon morphed into a man with a brilliant flash of light, smoke billowing around him as if the dragon had turned into mist. The blonde man smiled warmly at the two of them then hugged Otabek and started shaking him. Yuri laughed at Otabek's annoyed expression. The man eerily reminded him of Viktor when he spoke "Otabek! He's so pretty! I could just absolutely die!" Otabek scowled "Shut up Gwen. Yuri isn't pretty." Ouch. Gwen sighed dramatically before he addressed Yuri directly "You should have seen Otabek earlier! He was going on and on about how he wanted to do something nice for you since your wing was hurt. It was really sweet actually. Which it shouldn't be surprising considering you're his-" Otabek clapped his hand firmly around the blonde's mouth to shut him up "- friend. He needs to shut up." Otabek looked away from Yuri as he spoke, as if he couldn't look the blonde in the eye. Was Otabek embarrassed? Yuri raised a delicate eyebrow at Otabek's strange behavior "So why are we here?" He gestured at the lake which was calm and perfectly mirroring the night sky. Otabek gestured towards a cabin closer to the lake "Some friends of mine live there. We're meeting them there for a bit and then we're off to a local club for some drinks and some dancing." Yuri's ears perked up at dancing and Otabek must've noticed his excitement because he offered him a knowing smile as he took his hand, leading him towards the cabin. They had barely made it through the door when a petite, blue haired woman pounced on Otabek, kissing him directly on the mouth. Otabek didn't kiss her back and instead gave her a pointed look when she pulled away, as if this was a regular thing for her. She better back up or heads will roll. The woman saw Yuri and before Yuri could even open his mouth to voice his thoughts and she pounced on him, pulling him into a crushing hug and kissing him on the mouth too. Otabek pulled her off roughly and politely excused himself as he pulled the strange woman into a separate room. ** Otabek roughly shoved Yuki into the counter "What the actual fuck!?" Yuki bounced on her feet slightly, like a spoiled child "I'm sorry! I just wanted to rile you up! He's so beautiful! How have you not fucked him!?" Otabek pinched the bridge of his nose, regretting his decision to bring Yuri with him tonight "You're so fucking embarrassing. I hope you know that. And there's more to life and love than fooling around." "I knoooow but I can tell you totally want to! He's your soulmate, Beks, go for it! Tap that delicious bubble butt!" She clapped her hands as she spoke and Otabek silently begged the universe to smite him down. "Why are you so concerned with me getting laid?" He wondered over to the fridge to fix himself a beer and Yuri a soda. He pondered the selection, realizing he had no idea what Yuri liked to drink. Fairies love sweets right? "Because you haven't had sex in like for-fucking-ever!" Otabek recalled Nikolai mentioning that fairies love sweets so he chose the sweetest flavor of soda. "One year isn't forever and I could get laid if I wanted to, I just don't care enough to pursue meaningless sex. Don't touch Yuri again, you should know better." He walked out of the kitchen, ending the conversation. ** Yuri could hear raised voices speaking another language, one angry and clearly Otabek's and the other belonging to the blue haired woman. Something about her tone irked him. Who exactly is this girl to him? They excited the other room, the girl still looked excited and Otabek looked annoyed as he carried two drinks. The girl bounded up to Yuri, still full of energy despite being yelled at by someone as intimidating as Otabek "I'm sorry Yuri! I was just fooling around and I shouldn't have kissed you. Or Otabek. I just wanted to make you both jealous because you would be such a perfect-" Otabek rushed to put down the two drinks and clapped his hand over her mouth like he had done to Gwen just earlier "WILL THE TWO OF YOU SHUT UP!? OH MY GOD!" Yuri burst out laughing at Otabek's embarrassed expression and concluded that he probably didn't bring new people around his friends often. That made a bit of giddiness flutter in his stomach. It's not that you're something special to him, you're just his friend. Friends introduce new friends. Otabek let out an exasperated sigh and motioned Yuri towards a couch, handing him a cup of orange soda "I didn't know what kind you liked.." Yuri stared down at the cup "Uh.. is there vodka in it?" Otabek's eyebrows shot up into his hairline "Vodka?" Yuri scoffed "Yes. Vodka. You stale end piece of wheat bread." Otabek chuckled "I didn't realize you would want vodka." Yuri grinned wickedly "What do you mean? I'm Russian! Vodka runs in my veins." Gwen entered the room with a tray of vodka and shot glasses "Then let the kitten have his vodka!" Yuri took a shot, smirking triumphantly at everyone's shocked expression "I told you. I'm Russian. This is like water to me." Gwen laughed "Wow. I'm impressed. Just so you know, we're waiting on some more friends. You've already met me and Yuki but the others still need to arrive." Yuri nodded as Otabek handed him another shot, his brown eyes seeming to grow darker. I can be bad too, Otabek. He took the shot just as the door burst open, a man with long hair and dark skin stepped in accompanied by a familiar face. Yuri, feeling a little buzzed, shouted "Ji!!!" Guang Hong Ji, a woodland fairy, seemed surprised by either Yuri's presence or good mood (or both) but laughed "Hey Yuri! I haven't seen you since the last winter solstice! Your dancing was beautiful, as always." Yuri beamed brightly at the compliment as the other man introduced himself "I'm Leo, and old friend of Bek's!" The door opened, causing Leo and Ji to stumble out of the way. Two men and a woman came in. One man seemed friendly and easy going while the other man looked grouchy and overbearing. The woman was gorgeous but had a mischievous glint in her eyes. Leo pointed at the friendly looking man "Yuri, that's Emil. The other two are the twins, Michele and Sara. Don't try to fuck Sara because Michele is overprotective." Michele scoffed but Leo ignored him and continued "Though to be honest, Yuri, I've heard you're not interested in the fairer sex." Yuri smirked into his third shot of vodka "My, I didn't realize I was such a hot topic these days." He shot a pointed look at Ji, who he assumed was the source of Leo's statement. He could feel Otabek's eyes on him as everyone arranged themselves in the living room to catch up on shots. Yuki jumped up "Drinking game time! I think we can start with Truth or Dare! Don't puss out!" She spun an empty alcohol bottle around until it landed on Ji "Truth or Dare?" "Truth?" "Have you every had dirty thoughts about Leo?" Ji, to everyone's surprise, smirked "Yeah, having sex with him really does wonders for my imagination." Gwen and Otabek clapped Leo on the back and everyone took a shot "to soulmates." Yuri stared at the couple, wondering what it was about them that said they were soulmates. He made a mental note to ask Ji about it soon. The bottle hadn't landed on Yuri yet but so far Yuki was walking around topless, Sara confessed to sleeping with Emil two years prior, Michele had to reenact Channing Tatum's dance from Magic Mike, Emil had to skinny dip in the lake while everyone cheered him on and Leo got off easy with only having to reveal how he and Ji realized their feelings. The bottle landed on Yuri and Gwen smirked "Truth or Dare?" Yuri threw back a shot, knowing he was too drink to take a Dare "I'm too drunk already. Truth?" Gwen eyed him thoughtfully "I know Fairies are secretive creatures but no one in this room has anything but love for the people of the Fae. Is it fine if I ask something personal about your species?" Yuri saw Ji shift uncomfortably out of the corner of his eye but Yuri trusted Gwen to respect their privacy, he had asked if it was ok after all. "Yeah sure, go for it. Please note that I will fight a dragon if I found out this got out." Everyone in the room laughed except for Otabek who's eyes were flicking back and forth between Yuri and Gwen. Gwen smiled warmly "Great then. How does gender work with Fairies?" Yuri felt Otabek's eyes on him which made him strangely embarrassed by his answer "It depends on your perception. If you go by outward anatomy, Ji and I are both male. If you consider the ability to bear children a feminine trait, then we're female." Gwen's eyes got as big as saucers and he looked Yuri and Ji back and forth "All fairies are female?" Yuri shrugged "Not exactly. We just are and we don't need gender labels because we're all the same. Though I do prefer to answer to 'he.'" Gwen whistled lowly and poured everyone a round of shots "We're drinking to this because that's hot as fuck!" Yuri laughed awkwardly, noticing that Otabek was no longer looking at him. Ji mock glared at Yuri "Way to make me die of embarrassment Yuratchka!" Yuri laughed in response while Otabek finally spoke up "Yuratchka?" Yuri nodded "It's what the people close to me call me. Grandpa always called me that and so has Vitya and Yakov. It kind of caught on with everyone else." Otabek half smiled "I like it, even though it's a mouthful." His eyes flicked to Ji and then back to Yuri "I didn't realize you two were such good friends." Yuri, due to the alcohol muddling his brain, felt confused by Otabek's words "Yeah we've known each other for years. He's friends with Yuuri and Pichit." Otabek raised his eyebrow "No need to speak of yourself in third person, little one" Yuri scoffed "First of all, I'm not. That pig shares the same name as me." He heard Ji stifling his laughter at Yuri preparing to rip Otabek a new one "Second of all, don't fucking talk to me like I'm beneath you. I'm a prince and you're a mage. If anyone is the on top here, it's me." He didn't understand the jeering and snickers that met his words, he was too confused by the alcohol flowing through him. He smirked as Otabek's eyes widened, clearly not used to be stood up to "Lastly, stop making fun of my height. You act like you're so much taller than me but you're still short as fuck." Gwen started wheezing with laughter as Otabek stared at Yuri, stunned "Holy shit! Yuri hit you right in your Napoleon complex!" Yuri smirked and stood up, swaying slightly "Now I don't know about the rest of you" he emphasized his next words with a suggestive shake to his hips "But I'm full of jiggle juice and I'm ready to dance!" He felt Otabek's gaze burning into him but he refused to acknowledge it. Gwen stood up and slung his arm around Yuri's shoulder "I take it back. You're not a kitten. You're a fucking Tiger bro, and you officially have my respect." Yuki pulled Yuri into her room to give him some suitable club attire. Yuri thanked his small stature because he could fit into Yuki's clothes,  though she was a bit shorter than him. He ended up wearing a shredded leopard print tank, black leather booty shorts and a pair of thigh high leather boots. His attire was sexed up with a pair of fishnets and a black leather choker. Yuki kept gushing about how she would love to dress Yuri up regularly as she expertly did his cat eye makeup "You're so gorgeous!" Yuri flushed "I'm glad you think so at least." Yuki smirked "Otabek thinks so. I wonder if he'll be able to DJ properly with a hard-on in front of all those people?" Yuri gasped "DJ!?" "Yeah he DJs. That's why he brought you here with him, so he can show off I guess. Yuri blushed, muttering something about that being nonsense. They emerged from the room around twenty minutes later and Yuri smirked at Otabek's shocked expression. Like what you see? Otabek quickly recovered and stood up "Let's get going or we'll be late for my set." As they all took the short walk to town Otabek walked so close to Yuri that their shoulders and arms kept bumping as the walked "You look stunning." Yuri smirked "I know." Otabek suddenly grabbed Yuri and whirled him to face the older man "I'm sorry about making fun of you." Yuri smiled, lightly touching his forearms, delighted to feel hard muscle "You're fine. I think you learned your lesson." Otabek smiled quickly but then it faded and his eyes darkened dangerously "Well here's my lesson to you. I don't enjoy being beneath people. If anyone will end up submissive it's you. Your body is apparently built for it after all." Yuri stared at him in shock "I uh.. didn't mean I would top you like that.." Otabek stepped closer "No?" Nevermind, this man is a completely evil tease. Yuri moved even closer until their noses touched "No. I've got quite the fetish for men strong enough to pound me into submission." With that he turned around and walked away, swaying his hips slightly, determined to rule up the older man. He didn't notice the way the man's eyes hungrily followed after him. Otabek shook away thoughts of the blonde underneath him, begging and gasping for more. He followed after his soulmate, not liking the distance between them, and draped his black hoodie over Yuri's shivering shoulders, not understanding Yuri's choice of clothing in February weather. "What am I going to do with such a bratty kitten?" ***** Chapter 4 ***** ***4 years earlier*** Alexei sat at his desk, a pretty and seemingly talkative blonde girl sat to his left and a boy who looked nearly identical to her sat on his right. "You're the newbie right?" The blonde girl asked, leaning towards him eagerly. Alexei felt the tips of his ears heat up with a blush "Um, yes. I'm off to a late start at being a mage but Master Nikolai said it would be fine because of my previous experience in magic." The girl smiled warmly "Oh are you a Fae?" Alexei nodded mutely. Some humans didn't take kindly to fae, though magic and sorcery users tended to be open minded. "I'm Olivia and this is my twin brother, Octavian." She gestured to the boy sitting next to him with his nose buried in a book. The boy mumbled a shy greeting and returned to reading while his twin took it upon herself to do enough talking for the both of them. "What's your name?" "Alexei. I'm honored to make your acquaintance, Olivia" he said, feeling his lips form a soft smile. Olivia smiled warmly and lightly touched his shoulder "I know it may be weird to be around people who aren't your kind but no one here will give you any trouble. In fact, Master Nikolai's grandson is fae." Alexei opened his mouth to reply when the classroom door opened. Olivia whispered to him that the two walking through were the class prefects. The girl who entered the room was tall with long wild hair, it reminded Alexei of fire and somehow he knew that the girl had a personality to match. You could practically see energy flowing out of her, in the swing of her hair, in the thrumming of her fingers on her hips. This girl was hardwired to fight, which Alexei found both impressive and terrifying. While the girl would've stood out in any crowd, the male standing next to her wouldn't. He was quiet, though the way he carried himself showed maturity beyond his years. His dark hair and bronze skin was exotic and made Alexei think of black knights. "That's Diana and Otabek. Like I said, they're the male and female class prefects and Nikolai's top students. Though, Otabek is still leagues above even Diana. The guy's a genius." Alexei watched as Otabek quietly sat down at his desk and began to read, his presence didn't demand attention and Alexei immediately found him boring. "He doesn't look like much, though looks can be deceiving." Alexei mused aloud. "Well maybe you don't notice because you're a guy. The man's a total hottie. The girl's in class call him 'Otabae' and 'Daddybek.'" She sighed wistfully "It's a shame he's not interested." "Does he have a girlfriend?" Alexei was wondering what kind of girl Otabek would date. Probably a quiet bookworm. He couldn't see someone so silent being with a human flame like Diana. "No. He's just obsessed with Nikolai's grandson. The feeling seems to be mutual and we've all been taking bets on when they finally hook up." Alexei chuckled "Why haven't they?" Olivia stared at Otabek while she spoke "They've been best friends since they were children. Love is a beautiful thing but so is friendship and I think they're fearful of crossing that line because there won't be any going back." Alexei nodded in understanding "Well what is this grandson of Nikolai's like?" Olivia opened her mouth to speak before a loud crash and a boyish shout of "Out of my fucking way, dipshits!" was heard down the hall. The door flung open and the most gorgeous person Alexei had ever seen ran into the room. Alexei watched as the blonde rushed to Otabek's desk and half jumped onto it, knocking some books off the desk with his knee, giving the entire classroom a glorious view of his barely-covered ass in shorts "Beka! Isn't this great? We need to celebrate. Now. Let's go!" To Alexei's surprise, Otabek chuckled and lightly hit the blonde boy over his head with the book he was holding "Usually people get to know what they're celebrating, Yura." The blonde boy burst out laughing "Shit. Guess who is Lilia's prima for this season." Otabek stooped to pick up the books scattered next to his desk "Hmm. Generally the prima is a woman but judging by your excitement I'd say it's you?" The blonde nodded, excited "So get the fuck up and let's go! I want to hit up the club!" "Yura, it's 10 in the morning." "I want a new outfit!" The boy pouted and Alexei felt heat rush to his face. Yuri Plisetsky was beautiful. Otabek maintained his neutral face and tone "Yura I have class. You can't expect me to skip class just to shop for you a club outfit. You shouldn't even be a regular at this club considering your age." Yuri giggled "It helps when your best friend is the best DJ in town." "Yuri Plisetsky, just what are you doing with my top student? Not convincing him to skip class, I'm sure." Nikolai Plisetsky had entered the room, his eyes crinkling at the corners with his smile. Yuri blushed "Grandpa! Please let Beka go with me! I won't be able to forgive him if he doesn't and I just might have to find a new best friend" Otabek shook his head at Nikolai from behind Yuri as if they were accustomed to suffering through the boy's antics together. "I planning on having the class practice casting a spell today but Otabek is usually a bit ahead of the class. If he can cast the spell correctly, he can leave." Yuri pouted but nodded. He turned to Otabek "Don't fuck it up dipshit. I need Mr. DJ tonight." Alexei looked at Olivia "Mr. DJ?" Olivia sighed wistfully "On top of being badass and a genius, Otabek is a DJ and rides motorcycles. Like. Can he get any hotter?" Alexei chuckled dryly "So that's why he's got someone as gorgeous as Yuri?" Olivia nodded "Can you blame Yuri for wanting that? And vice versa? They're the perfect couple. It's even rumored that they're soulmates." Alexei watched as Otabek turned a coffee mug into a cat plushie and handed it to a delighted Yuri. He felt a spark of jealousy, as it Otabek was touching something that was his, though if Yuri belongs to anyone, it was the man holding his hand as they left the room. He jerked his attention back to Nikolai, who clearly had a favorite. He just let Otabek out of class so he can go shopping clubbing with his grandson? Alexei had never felt that jealous before and newfound emotion caused his demon mark to throb. He wanted Yuri. He needed Yuri. He will have Yuri. The only thing he had to do was get rid of the two people in his way. ***Present*** Alexei didn't expect to see Yuri so many years later, but his eyes caught sight of the familiar blonde hair swaying as he danced to the beat. Yuri didn't see him though, he was staring at someone while moving his body in the most enticing ways. As if begging to be devoured. He felt a spark of jealousy but pushed it down. The boy had to mature and realize that Alexei did what was best for them. Nikolai wouldn't let him have Yuri, no matter how much he tried to suck up to the old geezer. Otabek just let Yuri run wild and out of hand, letting him dress how he wanted and do what he wanted. Alexei knew Yuri enough to know he needed a firm hand to show him the right way. Even that bastard child was in the way. He did what be had to do. He followed Yuri's gaze to the man standing at the DJ booth. Alexei's blood went cold. Otabek moved fluidly with the beat he was creating while his lust-filled eyes stayed focused on Yuri. This couldn't have happened. Alexei separated them. There was no way they could've found each other. He realized he needed to make sure Otabek was permanently dealt with, like Nikolai. *** Yuri swayed to the beat, suggestively moving his hands along his body, trembling from excitement when he caught Otabek looking. A man started dancing with Yuri, grinding him from behind and Yuri allowed him, his eyes staying focused on Otabek, smirking at the man's obvious jealousy over Yuri dancing with someone. The man eventually started getting bold with his hands and Yuri kept guiding his hands back to appropriate areas. He thought the guy would take a hint but before Yuri could quite grasp what was happening, the man groped him through his shorts. He jerked away from the man "What the fuck is wrong with you? I didn't consent to being touched!" The man grinned "If you don't want to be taken home, why are you dressed like a slut?" The man reached out for Yuri but was stopped when a bronze hand closed wrong his wrist. Otabek twisted the guy's arm, forcing him to his knees as the man shouted in pain "I believe he said he didn't consent to being touched by you." Yuri was shocked at the coldness in Otabek's voice and demeanor. This must be why people are afraid of him. The man, obviously lacking in common sense smirked "The slut was dancing around like a bitch in heat. He was obviously begging for some dick. He shouldn't bitch when I try to give it to him." Otabek squeezed the man's arm tighter and Yuri swore he heard the man's bone snap. The man shouted in pain but Otabek didn't even react, his eyes unnervingly cold and distant, as he kneed the man in the face "He didn't consent to you, therefore you shouldn't have touched him. I don't give a damn how he was dancing." The man responded by spitting blood on Yuri's shoe. Otabek looked at Yuri, as if asking for permission to kick the guy's ass. How could Yuri say no? He brought his hand up to this mouth and shouted to be heard clearly over the music "Davai!" Otabek merely gave him a thumbs up before disappearing, with a loud jarring noise. Yuri gaped at the empty space the two men had previously occupied "What..." Yuki draped herself over Yuri's shoulder "Teleportation magic. It is so damn loud, I hate when he does it. Damn, he was getting so possessive. You thought it was hot, didn't you? Naughty naughty little tiger!" Yuri blushed "No! He just.. it was really nice of him to protect me like that. Not that I needed it, of course." Yuki nudged him suggestively "Maybe you should be nice back?" She wagged her eyebrows to emphasize her meaning. Yuri playfully shoved her away, feeling suddenly sober "Oh stop. Otabek's probably straight." Yuki burst out laughing "He has been eye-fucking you all night! Not to mention I've never seen him react sexually to a woman. Or a man. Or anyone really." She mocked gasped "Yuri, you little vixen! What did you do to seduce my stoic friend?" Yuri laughed out loud, heading towards the bar to get another drink "He's not seduced by me! Don't be so embarrassing!" He felt a little flicker if hope in his chest, though he knew he'd need alcohol for confidence. He sat down at the bar, and ordered a glass of vodka and coke from the bartender, a tall man with a name tag that read 'Celestino.' Celestino returned a few minutes later with a glass of water and an apologetic smile. Yuri felt like throwing the glass "What the fuck? I ordered a vodka! I'm over drinking age here!" "Water will do you some good." Otabek said as he took a seat next to him, nodding at Celestino. The bartender left them alone and Yuri felt a sudden burst of shyness, remembering his behavior before he sobered up "Was it you who told him to give me water?" Otabek nodded "I don't enjoy drunk flirting. If you're going to say something like that to me and then dance like that, I want you to be sober enough to back it up." Yuri flushed down to his chest "I- I'm sorry.." Otabek chuckled "Don't be. It was sexy as hell. Now please drink your water." Yuri complied and slowly sipped on his water. He hadn't realized how dry his mouth was "What did you do to the guy?" Otabek smirked and reached out to play with Yuri's hair "I took care of him." Yuri stared back at him, wide-eyed. "Did you kill him?" He whispered. Otabek chuckled "No, kitten. I just beat the shit out of him." Yuri blushed harder at his stupidity "You didn't have to protect me, you know. I'm not delicate." He expected Otabek to tell him otherwise. To point out his size, his feminine appearance, anything. Instead Otabek kept playing with his hair, his face unreadable "How I pity the fool who is stupid enough to think you're delicate." Yuri gaped at him "If I'm not delicate then what am I?" Yuri realized just then how close they were. If he could slightly lean forward then.. "I told you that you have the eyes of a soldier and I meant that. You're strong and driven, despite your hardships. I know a lot of people describe you as delicate and pretty but I'd never use those words." Yuri leaned closer until their noses were almost touching "What words would you use?" "Strong. Fierce. Determined. Capable. Witty. Brilliant. Stunning. Mesmerizing. Need I say more?" Yuri giggled, lost in Otabek's brown eyes "I think you've said enough, Beka." His giggle died in his throat. Where did that nickname come from? Otabek quirked an eyebrow "Beka? I guess that makes you, Yura." Yuri felt a surge of warmth in his chest but this time it wasn't caused by alcohol "I like that." Yuri closed the small gap between them and lightly kissed the older man on the lips. He lingered there a moment, realizing in horror that Otabek wasn't kissing him back. He pulled back, mortified and bit his lip "I'm sorry, Beka." Otabek looked dazed for a moment and then smiled "Don't be." They kissed again, surprisingly gentle considering the kind of man Otabek was rumored to be. Yuri deepened the kiss, expressing his intentions for the night and Otabek responded just how Yuri hoped he would. This was going to be a fun night. *** Yuri pouted, clinging to Otabek's chest "Why can't I go home with you?" Otabek sighed "Because it's too soon. Let's get to know each other." Yuri giggled, stealing a quick kiss "I am trying to get to know you. Very intimately, I might add." Otabek groaned and kissed him roughly but it stopped as quickly as it had began "We will. Just not yet. Please lets take this slow?" Yuri sighed "Ok but I'm sexually frustrated. Just so you know." Otabek chuckled and hugged Yuri tightly, kissing him on the top of his head "Is it fine if I start seeing you?" Yuri smiled "Is Otabek Altin asking to be my boyfriend?" "Something like that. I thought platonic friendship would work for me until you made that comment about preferring to bottom." Yuri blushed and buried his face in Otabek's chest "Oh fuck. I was so drunk." Yuri felt the vibrations of Otabek's laughter in his chest "You're such a shameless little tiger when drinking. Was the answer yes or no?" Yuri smirked up at him "I think it's a yes. I mean, have you seen you?" Otabek gave him one last lingering kiss "Goodnight Yura." He left through the window waving at Yuri one last time before he descended. *** Yuri woke to a knock on the door and it felt like a hammer beating into his skull "Viktor get the fuck away from me." Viktor barged into the room anyways and ripped open the curtains, letting sunlight into the room. Yuri threw his blankets over his head and groaned. "Oh I'm sorry, Yurio. Did I hurt your eyes? Hangovers make you pretty sensitive to sunlight. You should've probably thought about that before you went out drinking when I specifically told you not to leave the castle." Yuri peeked out the covers at him. Viktor was flashing that annoying heart shaped smile that made Yuri want to punch him. "I'm a grown ass man who went out with some friends for drinks." Viktor dropped his smile "We'll deal with that issue later. How did Otabek get in?" Yuri rolled his eyes "The fucking window, obviously, you dipshit." Viktor sat on the bed and crossed his legs "I have magical wards around the castle to prevent intruders. How did Otabek get past them?" Yuri huffed "Fuck if I know. Ask him yourself." Viktor looked thoughtful "I think I will. I'm also having a talk with him." Yuri groaned and covered his face with his hands "You're so embarrassing, please don't do this." Viktor laughed, "If he's you're boyfriend, this is mandatory. It's my duty to scare off the weaklings and fuckboys." Yuri smiled smugly "He's not my boyfriend. We're more like friends who kiss. Besides, he's not either of those. He beat the shit out of a guy at the club for groping me. I was going to kick his ass myself but then Otabek was there." Yuri laughed "He even asked me for permission. It was really heroic." Viktor nodded thoughtfully, though he looked impressed "Well that proves he's not a weakling. Doesn't prove he's not a fuckboy though." Yuri blushed "I, uh, I was really drunk last night and I wanted to sleep with him and he turned me down." Viktor frowned "Because you were drunk?" Yuri shook his head "He helped me sober up and made sure I drank water but then he still turned me down. He said he wanted to get to know me better." Viktor's eyes widened "Wow." Yuri blushed "I really like him and I know you don't like him but can you please let me make my own decision on this?" Viktor started laughing "I don't dislike Otabek in the least bit. I just worry for you." Yuri felt a tightening in his chest "I'm old enough to take care of myself." Viktor nodded "I guess so." Viktor stood up from the bed "Ok well I guess it's time to write up a summons for Mr. Altin. He may be able to put up stronger wards for me." He strode across the room to the door "And Yuri?" Yuri was pulling the covers back over his head to go back to sleep "Yes?" Viktor's eyes welled up with tears "I'm sorry for bringing Alexei up. That was uncalled for. I've had dealings with Otabek and he's a good man. He can't help his disposition. I was just so worried and it turned to anger and I'm sorry." Yuri hated seeing Viktor cry. He was annoying as fuck but he was still a nice guy. He strode across the room and wrapped his arms around him "It's fine. Don't cry, old man. I'm not upset any more. Alexei isn't going to fuel my nightmares from now on. The next time I see him, he'll be dead before he could blink and I'll lay my demons to rest." Viktor smiled weakly and left the room. Yuri crawled back into bed, both nervous and curious about what Viktor was going to say to Otabek. He was just dozing off when a thought struck him. How did Viktor know I went out drinking!? Mila didn't really tell him did she? Fuck. ***** Chapter 5 ***** Chapter Notes See the end of the chapter for notes Viktor Nikiforov rested his head on his beloved husband's shoulder "I don't know what to do about this. I thought keeping them apart would work but obviously I can't." Yuuri sighed, touching Viktor's silver hair affectionately "Viichan, I know you want to protect Yuri but he isn't a child any more." Viktor braced himself "Yuuri, I've been lying to you about something but I feel like you both have the right to know... I'm not trying to protect Yuri. I'm trying to keep him under control to protect those around him." *****Two years earlier***** "Bekaaaa! How long until we get there." Otabek didn't react to the blonde boy's complaining other than answering "Two more weeks." He finished pitching Yuri's tent and turned around to stoke the fire before moving to grab his own tent. Yuri groaned, sitting dramatically on a log next to the fire "But we've been traveling for two weeks already!" Otabek ignored him and started on pitching his own tent. "Oi Beka!" Otabek sighed. Yuri was spoiled, self centered and had a terrible attitude. He got bored way too easily and didn't think things through before agreeing to them. He agreed to an almost two month long trip to Aglaeca to trade with some sorcerers because he "wanted to go with Beka." For the past few days he'd done nothing but complain. Otabek glanced over and couldn't help but notice how beautiful Yuri was by firelight. And in the sunlight. And moonlight. Or basically in any lighting. Otabek had to admit, he had it pretty bad for his best friend. So he would always agree to what the hot headed blonde wanted. Because they're friends. Otabek was happy being Yuri's most trusted friend, he would even happily listen to his nearly constant bitching just for a glimpse of that rare smile Yuri uses for his only friend, which happens to be Otabek himself. Still, Otabek always found Yuri alluring. His eyes and mind always lingered on the way Yuri bit his lip when he was nervous or on the way he flipped his long hair when he was annoyed. He'd stay awake at night, thinking less than innocent thoughts and ending up dirty and covered in sweat and guilt. Yuri kicked his leg, snapping him out of his thoughts "Beka! You're not listening to me!" "Oh I'm sorry. What?" Yuri sighed an sat back down "Were you lost in thought?" Otabek pretended to be focused on his task to hide his embarrassment "Yeah something like that. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you." Yuri was quiet for a long time, so long that until he spoke Otabek thought he'd fallen asleep "Was it about Diana?" Otabek turned to Yuri, shocked by the random question "Why would I be thinking about Diana?" Yuri shrugged "Well the last week we were home she challenged me to a fight to 'put me in my place.' Remember?" Otabek nodded, remembering the fight. ***Three weeks earlier*** Otabek was heading home from running errands for Nikolai when he noticed a crowd gathered around the entrance to the school. When he got closer he realized the cause of the commotion. Yuri and Diana were standing in the center of the crowd, seemingly facing off. "You know why I don't like you? Because you strut around, dressed like the slutty faggot you are, and act like you are entitled to everything you want. You're so possessive of everything, even Otabek, and it's honestly ridiculous." Yuri cackled "Oh, scared my gayness will rub off on him? You're so fucking pathetic, honestly. You're just jealous because Otabek doesn't want your crazy ass. It has nothing to do with me, if I'm being completely honest, but if you need to blame something other than your own inadequacy by all means do it." Otabek disagreed, it actually had a lot to do with Yuri. Diana was seething "I'm not jealous over Otabek! I was using an example! No one likes you around here and I'm the only one who isn't scared of stepping on your feelings!" Yuri smirked "No one likes me? Tragic." Diana scoffed "Go choke on a dick, Plisetsky." Yuri's lips twitched "Oh gladly. I'll ask Otabek if I can choke on his. He's definitely got plenty to choke on." Before Otabek could even register his own embarrassment at Yuri's words, Diana had lunged at the blonde who sidestepped her. She quickly pivoted on her feet, flames gathered around her hands and lashed out at him with incredible speed. Yuri was faster though and before anyone could blink, Yuri kicked her legs out from under her and she hit the ground and was lying there, fuming, a scythe made out of ice dangerously close to her throat. Yuri cackled as his scythe melted "You were saying?" Otabek quickly shoved through the crowd and grabbed Yuri's arm and started pulling him away from Diana "Come on, Yura, she's not worth all of this." Diana said something low to Yuri that Otabek didn't quite catch but it completely changed his demeanor from smug to angry Yuri jerked away from his touch muttering a "I can walk by myself." Before running into the house to lock himself in his room. He didn't speak to Otabek for the rest of the day but then sat next to him at breakfast the next morning like nothing happened. They never talked about what Diana said so Otabek figured it was nothing important. ****** "Is this about what she said to you after the fight?" Yuri nodded mutely. Otabek had a feeling he now knew what Diana has said but didn't understand why it would piss Yuri off. "What did she say?" Yuri practically growled at him "Don't act like you don't know!" Otabek sighed "I won't know unless you tell me Yura." Yuri's chin quivered "Did you do stuff with her?" Oh. That. "Yes and I chose not to see her again afterwards, which could've caused some of her animosity towards you. For that I am sorry." Yuri glared at him and Otabek had a feeling like he was walking to his death "What did you do with her?" Oh nothing, just fooled around with her while thinking of you to keep me hard. Turns out women don't do it for me. Or men. Just you. Otabek didn't say all this though "Just..stuff." Yuri stood up, clearly angry "You fucked her, didn't you!?" Otabek stood up too, feeling defensive "I don't see why it matters whether I did or not! It's none of your business! I'm a grown man, Yuri!" Yuri flinched like he'd been hit, unused to Otabek raising his voice. Otabek's anger softened when he saw those beautiful green eyes fill with tears. Before he could apologize, Yuri spun on his heel and ran away. Otabek quickly followed after, struggling to see Yuri's blonde hair in the dark. He lost sight of Yuri and felt panic rise in his chest. He kept running and calling out to him. He heard a familiar shout of "Get your hands off of me!" And sprinted in that direction as fast as his body would allow. He came to a riverbank and for a moment thought he had mistaken the direction of his voice then he saw the crowd of men further down river. He felt something solid connect to the back of his head, then everything went black. *****Present day***** Otabek woke up draped across Leo's lap with Guang Hong Ji laying across both of them with his head resting on Otabek's back. How did they end up like this? He chuckled and sat up, causing some disgruntled grumbling from Ji who snuggled closer to his boyfriend. It was adorable. Otabek moved to the kitchen, grabbing some Tylenol on the way, and started scrambling eggs. Leo entered the kitchen a few minutes later grinning from ear to ear "So Beks, you seemed awfully happy after we dropped Yuri off last night." Otabek shrugged, trying to be casual "I asked him if he'd see me exclusively. Nothing serious." Leo sat on one of the barstools lining the kitchen island and leaned his head on his hand "Beks. Ji is asleep. We can TALK." Otabek quickly took the pan of eggs off the burner and turned off the stove. He leaned across the island and whispered "I asked my soulmate if i could see him and he said yes and I've been fantasizing about marrying him. And fucking him. Mostly both." Leo laughed and whispered back, winking as he did so "You could've last night." Otabek sighed "Yes, I could've. But I respect him and I want to get to know him. I want to know his favorite ice cream or if he has any pets. I want to know the dearest dreams of his heart. I want to know him thoroughly so I can love everything he is, appreciate who he was and look forward to who he will be." "That's so romantic. Leo why don't you ever say stuff like that?" Leo and Otabek blushed at Ji's sudden appearance "Babe, you know I love you. I just don't have a way with words like lover-boy over here." Otabek mock scowled at his friend while setting three plates heaping with food down on the table. Ji took a sip of his orange juice "Honestly, I think it's sweet. I could sense your soul bond instantly. Not to mention, Yuri doesn't smile like that. Ever. Most soulmates move way too fast into things because their entire being craves the other person. I'm glad you're taking it slow." Leo nodded "Just not too slow. Ok? Don't be like Yuki and Gwen. They're way too oblivious. How do you be best friends with someone for two hundred years and not know they're your soulmate!?" Otabek shook his head "It's forbidden for others to point out a soul bond. It's something people need to figure out for themselves. Though, I hear it's hard for dragons to sense their own soulmate." Ji was gaping at them "Those two are soulmates!?" The other men nodded. "I swear they both went home with someone last night!" Otabek shrugged "Just because you're soulmates doesn't mean you can't be with other people. It just isn't as good as it would be with your soulmate." Ji blushed "Oh. I didn't realize. I mean, Leo's the only person I've ever.." his eyes widened "Have you ever done it with someone?" Otabek shrugged "Yeah. I think I was drunk. A blond guy. We fucked in the woods and I remember it being mind blowing. I can't imagine what Yuri is like to me if someone who isn't my soulmate felt that good." Ji's eyes widened further and Otabek found his innocence rather cute "You had drunk sex!?" Otabek shrugged "I don't remember drinking but when I think back on it, it all blurry and distorted. I would've had to have been intoxicated." Ji nodded in understanding and Leo's brows furrowed "I think I remember you mentioning having some really great sex but I always felt like you knew the guy. My mistake." Otabek shook his head in amusement and turned back to his eggs, glad the talk about his sex life was over. *****Two years earlier***** "They're going to sell him you know. A pretty blonde like that would fetch a high price." Otabek tried to move and realized he was bound. He looked up at the owner of the voice to see a man with gray skin and black hair, his entire body was more ash and shadow than human and his eyes were a burning gold. A demon. "Who are you? Where's Yuri!?" The demon smiled, showing his sharp teeth "You can call me Aurum Ignis. As for your love, he's over there." Otabek couldn't see where he was pointing and he tried to fight against his bindings to no avail. The demon cocked his head to the side "My boy, they're coming to kill you. You wouldn't sell well and they fear your power. Little do they know you can't use attack magic. Form a contract with me Otabek Altin, and you'll be powerful beyond your wildest dreams. I won't ask for much." Otabek glared at him "Just my soul! I'm just as capable with a sword as any man!" The demon sighed "Not with your hands bound like that. One is heading this way. Yell out for me when you need me." He disappeared in an instant, not that it was necessary. Demons only show themselves when they want to, otherwise they're invisible to the human eye. Otabek heard footsteps approaching and was rolled over to face a dirty man. The man smiled, showing his rotting teeth "Y'See you're b'ter off dead to us so I've been ordered to kill yer. No worries lad, we'll take good care of yer boyfriend. We've'sa been hoping he's a virgin but we're gon' test 'em out." Otabek felt sudden pain in his gut and cried out as the man slashed sideways, opening the wound further. He heard screaming and it took his a moment to realize it wasn't his own. "Otabek! Beka! Beka!" He heard a scuffle and the sound of something connecting with flesh and he heard Yuri's sobs. He wanted to smooth his pretty blonde hair and tell him not to cry. He closed his eyes, imagining Yuri's face because those green eyes were the last things he ever wanted to see. I'm dying. I can't save the person I always swore I'd protect. I'm dying and he's going to think for the rest of his life that I died angry with him. I love you Yuri. Please, if someone is out there, save him. He'd gladly give his soul to protect the boy he loved. He opened his mouth, choking on his own blood as he spoke "Ig..nis.." Aurum showed up and made a disapproving noise "You made my job so much harder, but not impossible. I will give you my power to use as you wish. You, in return, will protect that boy." Otabek looked at him in confusion but knew he had no time to think about what the demon meant. Using all he had left in him he gurgled a yes. The demon touched his forehead, almost affectionately "So it has been done so it shall be. We are intertwined, you an I. Don't waste the power I have given you, heartless boy." Otabek felt searing pain wrap around his arm and abdomen and felt his wound knit back together. He screamed in agony which caught the bandit's attention. "That boy isn't dead yet?" "I'ripped 'is guts open!" Otabek moved his body and felt his bindings snap. He turned to the group of men. Yuri's face flooded with relief and he jerked away from the men but was caught by his hair. Otabek felt a growl rip from his throat "Let him go and I'll make your death quick and painless." The bandits laughed and the one who had Yuri's hair jerked his hand, causing Yuri to cry out in pain "I think you're supposed to say you won't kill me if I let him go but it doesn't matter. You're clearly outnumbered." Two things happened at once. About twenty or so men ran at Otabek at once and Yuri used the distraction to form a blade of ice to slice through his hair to free himself. Otabek, seeing Yuri was free, screamed at him to run and lost himself to the demon. He lost count of how many men he had killed so far. He just focused on killing the men that threatened his Yuri. His newfound attack magic was quick and deadly, though Otabek could hear the demons voice in the back of his mind whispering this was barely a portion of the power he would give him. "Beka! Behind you!" Yuri's voice snapped him out of the trance he was in and he turned just in time to see Yuri launch himself through the air, beheading the man with an icy scythe on the way down. Yuri turned to face him and Otabek had never see him look so deadly and beautiful. He was covered in blood and the crimson stains made his emerald eyes, already blazing with the heat of battle, shine brighter. There was something off about him, how he carried himself. It seemed as if someone else was wearing Yuri's face. His eyes were glowing so bright, it was almost inhuman. A man ran at Yuri and Otabek watched in shock as Yuri killed him quick and ruthlessly. They gave each other one final nod and quickly killed the remaining men until only one remained. "Are there any more of you?" Yuri's voice was different, oddly soft, though it dripped with a venomous unspoken threat. "No! No, I swear! Please just let me go! I have a fam-" The man was cut of when Yuri swung his scythe, slicing the man in half, as Otabek watched in horror. After the bandits were all dealt with, the men drug them into a pile along with their belongings and set fire to them, using their magic to make the fire so intense nothing remained but ashes when it died down. They walked in silence back to their campsite and grabbed their toiletries before returning to the river to wash away the blood. What the hell happened to Yuri? Otabek couldn't wrap his head around it but something had definitely been off about Yuri, though he seemed to be back to normal now. Otabek was thankful for the lack of speaking between them because he didn't know what to even say. He had one job, to keep Yuri safe, and he apparently sucked at it. Otabek was so caught up in the silence between them he jumped a little when he heard Yuri speak. "You're in love with me. Aren't you?" Otabek opened and closed his mouth a few times, not knowing how to answer the question thatseemingly came out of nowhere. Yuri whirled to face him, eyes glowing fiercely, even in the dark "Are you, or are you not?" Otabek looked away from him "You're talking nonsense, Yura. Let's go back to camp and sleep. We just.. we killed a lot of people Yuri. We're both in shock and you don't understand what you're saying." Yuri walked up to him, so close they were almost touching "You haven't answered my question. Yes or no?" Otabek tried not to look at Yuri who was very naked and very close to him "Why does it matter?" Yuri touched his arm where the demons mark began and Otabek fought back a shiver at the contract "The demon could take you over you know. Kill you. You know that and yet you entered the contract. To save me." Otabek caught Yuri's hand "Yura, we shouldn't be talking about this right now." Yuri rolled his eyes "I'm not made of glass! You're avoiding my question." Otabek stepped away from him, though it felt like ripping off his own skin "Yes. I do." Yuri nodded, his face expressionless "Did you have sex with Diana?" Otabek shook his head "No. She and I fooled around but nothing below the waist." Yuri was silent for so long it broke Otabek's normal patience "Is that what you wanted to hear Yuri? That I'm so in love with you that I can't get it up for anyone else? Does that stroke your ego?" Yuri's attending snapped back to him "This.. isn't about my ego." The blonde grabbed the brunette and pulled him towards the shore. Yuri sat on a boulder when they closer the riverbank and spun to face Otabek who was trying not to notice Yuri's lack of modesty and clothing "I'm not one to delusion myself into thinking my beauty doesn't have an expiration date. You should take a bite before I expire." Otabek gaped at him "Take a bite?" Yuri spread his legs, inviting "Please Beka? Those men wanted to sell me to someone. I don't want anyone but you to be my first." Otabek shook his head, using all of his willpower to push Yuri's legs closed "Yura, you're too young and we just did unspeakable things that we could never tell anyone. I don't think we're emotionally stable enough for this." Yuri slid down from the rock so his body was flush with Otabek's. He wrapped his arms around the older man's chest and scratched down his back as he purred in his ear "If you don't want me, why are you so hard? Otabek groaned "Why do you even want this?" Yuri's confidence seemed to vanish and he blushed crimson "I've wanted it for a long time and we just did something terrible together. What's one more sin? One more secret?" Otabek tried his best to hold himself together "Yuri, you don't understand what you're asking." Yuri hissed at him but didn't move away "I'm not a fucking child! You're only two and half years older than me! I know what I'm asking, I want to be yours. I want to give you my body, no holds barred." Otabek was practically shaking to hold himself together "You don't know what you're asking. There's a big difference between a sixteen year old and an eighteen year old. I don't want to hurt you." Yuri blushed deeper and buried his face in Otabek's chest "I really want this." Otabek couldn't handle when his kitten got upset. He sighed in defeat "We don't have lube or condoms. When we reach the next town I'll buy some and then we can discuss it." Yuri pulled back, red as a tomato "No need. I'm wet." Otabek shook his head "Yura, water doesn't-" "I know. I get wet on my own. I guess because I'm half fairy." Otabek nearly lost the last bit of composure he had "We don't have condoms." Yuri arched his brow "Stop fighting it and make love to me. We're both guys. We don't need them." Otabek caved in and accepted defeat at the hands of the seductive blonde as he pulled Yuri into a fierce kiss. They didn't break the kisd as they waded clumsily towards the shore. The lovers didn't make it to the tent before they collapsed together on the river bank in a pile of tangled limbs. They had many secrets to keep from that night, even from each other. *****Present***** Yuuri gasped at what Viktor had told him "You mean he's.." Viktor nodded "Out of the four, one is always chosen as the guardian angel, so to speak." "Yuri is very strong and very powerful and with all that's happened with his grandfather, I fear that anything can send him over the edge." Yuuri nodded mutely "Thank you for telling me Viktor. I believe Otabek will be good for him though, he seems to be quite the tiger tamer." Viktor laughed without humor "I hope you're right, may the gods help us all if the Ice Tiger ever decides to show his claws." Chapter End Notes Sorry I didn't put much detail into the *cough*scene*cough* I just didn't want to write explicitly about underage sex (though it wasn't underage in their respective countries) The aged up scenes will be more detailed, I promise! Though I'm super intimidated because I've never written a sex scene haha ***** Chapter 6 ***** Chapter Summary I'm going to be busy this next week and I'll write when i can. Thanks in advance for your patience and tthank you all who give feedback! It's super appreciated! "Yo Beks, want to come to the Fairy King's palace with us? You may get to see your princess." Leo smirked behind his tiger themed coffee mug. Otabek eyed him, blank faced, from his position at the sink as Ji stifled a giggle "Yura would kill you if he heard you call him that." Leo waved off his comment with a flip of his hand "I feel like his bark is worse than his bite. Anyways. Wanna come?" Otabek shrugged "I guess I need to talk to Nikiforov about Yura. The man seems convinced I'm some sort of fiend." Leo and Ji exchanged a glance and spoke in unison, which slightly weirded Otabek out "About that.." Otabek sighed "He knows I snuck Yuri out. Doesn't he?" Leo looked sheepish and Ji looked unusually interested in his coffee mug "Why is this mug shaped like a cat? You don't seem like a kitten mug kind of guy." Otabek pinched the bridge of his nose "It was with my moving boxes but I don't remember them. Stop changing the subject." Ji sighed "I kind of told Yuuri Katsuki-Nikiforov that Yuratchka was going with us." Otabek shot Leo a withering look and Leo responded by holding his hands up innocently. "Fine. I guess I have to go before the fucking fae knights come after me." Leo laughed nervously "He wouldn't send his knights.." Ji smirked "Assuming you go to the palace, that is." Otabek expected to be ambushed by knights as soon as he entered the palace. Instead he was instantly ambushed by a very metro fairy while Leo and Ji, having no mercy on Otabek's sanity, snuck past. "Otabek is it? You poor thing! To think! Viktor trying to keep true love apart! How dare he! I know if someone ever tried to separate me from my Anya I would-" Otabek started tuning the brunet man out but was snapped out of it when he heard a familiar voice "Georgi! How great to see you! Your hair looks awesome today!" Yuri ran up to the brunet man, smiling as brightly as the sun. The man, Georgi, seemed shocked by Yuri's sweet demeanor and Otabek didn't blame him. He just stared at the blonde, trying to figure out what the fuck was going on. That's when he saw Mila out of the corner of his eye, walking with a pretty brunette woman. Mila and Yuri exchanged a quick glance and Yuri yelled, cutting Georgi off from his speech about love changing people for the better "Baba! Now!" In a flash, Otabek was tackled to the ground and Mila produced a familiar vial, the love potion he had sold her, and sprayed the woman in the face with it. Yuri shoved Georgi into the woman the two immediately embraced each other "Georgi! I don't know what happened!" Georgi just clung to the woman, going off on another rant about how love can't be stopped. Yuri finally turned his attention to his very confused boyfriend who was still on the floor and held out his hand to help the older man up "Sorry about that. I just didn't want Anya to see you and fall in love with you." Otabek stared at him, feeling the warmth of emotions creep back into his chest from being around his soulmate "I have so many questions." Mila chose that moment to butt in "Well Yuri and I pulled a prank and we gave Anya a hate potion and it was permanent. Not that we knew. You never told me. Anyways she broke up with Georgi and it was our fault so we had to fix it or some shit." Otabek stared at her "You.. bought that hate potion and the love potion.. for a prank?" "Don't look at me! It was Yuri's idea" Yuri scratched his head sheepishly "My bad." Otabek chuckled "On an important note, Viktor wanted to talk to me?" Yuri grimaced "Tonight over dinner. Until then, you're coming to my room." Before Otabek could respond Yuri grabbed his hand and was pulling him down a maze of hallways. As soon as they entered Yuri's room, Yuri practically pounced on him, kissing him fiercely. Otabek took control of the kiss, deepening it. He stroked Yuri's jaw, prompting his kitten to open his mouth. They backed into the bed and Otabek pinned Yuri to his leopard print blanket, nipping his neck lightly "Did you miss me kitten?" Yuri blushed "Yes.. I really wanted you last night." Otabek chuckled darkly and sucked a spot on Yuri's neck "Kitten, I told you we're waiting. You're such a slutty little thing." Yuri made a whimpering noise "You act like I'm a virgin!" Otabek snickered "You're not?" Yuri scoffed and playfully shoved Otabek off of him, all the sexual tension from before seemingly gone "I'll have you know that I've done things. Sexual things." Otabek watched pink dust across his lover's cheeks and found it adorable "That sounds exactly like what a virgin would say." Yuri looked indignant "Excuse you sir, that ship sailed years ago." Otabek snorted, trying to stifle his laughter at Yuri's embarrassment "Did you bottom?" Yuri flung his hair, feigning offense "That's it!" Otabek didn't register what was going on until Yuri placed his hands on Otabek's waist "Oh my God! Yuri! No!" He squirmed under his boyfriend's ticklish hands, begging a higher power for mercy "I give! I give!" Yuri smirked and let him go, only to be pinned down "Beka! No. You said you give up!" Otabek shrugged "I lied." Yuri giggled "Obviously." After making Yuri promise not to tickle him again, he rolled off of him to lay next to him on the bed. They lapsed into comfortable silence for a few moments, catching their breaths. "Why do I feel like I've known you forever?" Yuri muttered the question as he stared at the ceiling. "I've had lovers but never anyone that I could do fun things with. My ex always said I should act more proper and he essentially called me a slut because I wanted to pursue my dancing instead of being his in-home breeding tool. I just want to be me. That's all I've ever wanted. I don't want my worth measured by my ability to have children." Otabek just listened quietly but reached over to give Yuri's hand a squeeze to indicate he was listening. "You're different though. You don't mind how I dress and how I dance. You laugh at my jokes. I just know I could tell you anything and you'd be endlessly supportive. It's like we've been best friends our whole lives even though I've only known you a few days. I can see why my grandfather liked you so much." Otabek smiled kindly at him "I feel the same way. You're to only person who can keep me happy and smiling without any effort. You're just being yourself but it just does something to me." "For what it's worth Yura, I really cared about Nikolai as if he was my own grandfather. I can't believe I never knew I'd be this smitten with his grandson." Yuri looked pained "I wish it was you instead of him." Otabek looked at Yuri to see silent tears run down his cheeks. Without thinking he grabbed Yuri's face and wiped the tears away with his thumbs. "I don't understand." Yuri shrugged "I just know you wouldn't hurt me. I know it may be naive of me but I know deep within my soul you're someone I can trust." Yuri touched his chest, just below his own heart as if it was a reflex "If you had a heart it'd be made of solid gold." There was obviously something Yuri wasn't telling him but Otabek wasn't about to push him, fearing the blonde would run away from confrontation like that. Otabek laughed without humor, twisting a lock of Yuri's golden hair between his fingers "Something like that." **** Dinner went surprisingly well. Viktor engaged Otabek with the usual talk about Otabek's intentions with Yuri. Though Otabek knew the real talk would be behind closed doors and away from Yuri. ***** Otabek found himself sitting in a leather chair in a surprisingly human and modern office compared the rest of the castle- the exception being Yuri's room. "I want to start off by apologizing. It was wrong of me to try to keep soulmates apart." Otabek decided not to ask Viktor how he knew, assuming Leo or Ji had probably told him. "I just try to ensure Yuri avoids certain.. triggers. Things like boyfriends, pregnancy, or any extreme emotion could set him off." "I don't understand. Triggers?" Viktor sighed and sat down "I'm going to be as transparent with you. My only condition is that you aren't to tell Yuri." ***Two years earlier*** When Otabek awoke the next morning he expected to feel Yuri's naked body against his. He expected a mouthful of hair and a dead arm- a common occurrence he'd become used to from years of spending the night with Yuri. What he didn't expect for all of their supplies for their journey to be packed. Otabek usually did that while Yuri whined about being tired or bored. He certainly didn't expect to see Yuri sitting on the log he'd sat on the night before, talking to himself. "Let him go. His friend will get suspicious." Yuri's voice had a sweet and childlike quality to it that Otabek hadn't ever heard from his friend. His voice changed suddenly, the same voice Otabek heard Yuri use the night before before killing that man despite his pleas for mercy "No. I took control and I will keep it. He shouldn't have been so weak." Yuri's voice started to take on a feminine tone "Calm yourself, my brother, and let Wrath have her way. It will do you no good to argue with her. Besides, I encouraged the boy to act on his desires last night and-" "Yuri?" Otabek winced at the tremble in his voice. What was going on? Was shock settling in? Yuri barely acknowledged him "We should get going." Otabek nodded, not wanting to upset Yuri further. He had no idea how to handle someone in shock. Do they normally talk to themselves like this? He decided he could talk to Leo about it when they got to the next town and he had access to a phone. After a few hours of walking Otabek finally spoke up "Yuri, I think we should talk.. about last night." Yuri laughed bitterly "You mean when you fucked me? Way to think with your dick, Altin. Tell me. Did you enjoy fucking a min-" He was cut off when Otabek hugged him from behind "I'm sorry Yura. I swear, I won't ever touch you like that again. I should've been more considerate of our situation. I'm.. I'm worried about you. I overheard you talking-" Yuri snatched away from him "What did you hear?" Otabek felt panicked, something about Yuri seemed really off "After last night you've seemed different. I don't even understand what I was hearing." Yuri smirked "Liar. You did understand, you're just too much of a coward to confront me." He stepped forward and placed a light kiss on Otabek's lips before suddenly kicking him in the chest, sending him flying several yards and into a nearby tree. Otabek felt his spine snap on impact and fell on the forest floor, unable to move. He heard an inhuman wail and then Yuri's voice screaming "Beka!" And then it changed once again "Wrath, how could you?" Yuri cackled "He'll live. Aurum Ignes will make sure of that. I was just having a little fun. Love is so pathetic." Otabek felt Aurum's presence and then he cried out in pain as his spine knitted back together. "I told you to protect him. Not take his virginity and let Wrath almost kill you for fun." Otabek sighed "You talk a lot. You'd think I could shut you up in my own mind." He suddenly felt his head being cradled in Yuri's lap and Yuri's slender arms embracing him. He could've sworn he heard his demon let out a contented sigh. "Beka I'm so sorry! I couldn't control myself. Please wake up!" Otabek lifted his hand to stroke Yuri's tear streaked cheeks , opening his eyes to look into Yuri's emerald orbs "We're going to talk and you will tell me everything. End Notes I'm new to writing and I'd really appreciate feedback! This was just an idea I've been tossing around in my head for a while now Lol Feel free to come scream at me on Twitter! @honestmabe Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed their work!