requests == closed

~

A few days later, you dragged your feet as you came home after yet another meeting in a series of horrid, pointless meetings. You slumped on the couch and hid your face with a pillow.

You thought things were finally going well. You thought you’d finally cemented your place in the paper! But…

After your success with the polling… the ones in charge have decided to keep your comic. With a new artist taking over.

The way they saw it, if they were going to pay you an average salary, they might as well be paying a man. It’s not like you needed the money anymore.

You were married. You’d be taken care of.

So they told you, plain and simply, without room for argument, that you would be having an understudy come by and learn your tricks.

You felt… numb. All your passion, your years of building your story, your characters, your art. It came down to just this.

You were never good enough to keep around. You weren’t a man.

You were so ANGRY. You cried and stayed on the couch until Yuri came home. He lugged bags from a restaurant, you had both agreed on him bringing food that day. Seeing you as you were, he was quick to ask you what was wrong. He immediately put down the bags on your living room table and knelt down to take the pillow from your face. His concerned, piercing eyes met your red ones.

You explained the situation and he was completely on your side with rage. Who the fucking hell did these assholes think they were? After YOU brought them new readers. After YOU worked so hard for so little. They were going to give that to someone else?

Yuri shook his head and got up.

‘I’m not allowing THAT.’

Your mourning was put on hold as his response brought you back to the letter your step-father had sent you. Yuri’s influence on others. You sat up immediately and grabbed onto his sleeve.

‘Wait- No- Stop!’

Yuri paused as he looked at you, questioning.

‘I don’t want you… to have to fix this. You’ve already done a lot… it’s not right to keep asking for your help.’ You got up and rubbed your raw eyes. You tried looking at him with conviction.

‘It’s… alright. Don’t pull any strings. This isn’t your responsibility.’

Yuri was aghast at your attitude.

‘So you’re just going to let them win?’

‘No.’ You held his sleeve a little tighter before letting go. You buried your fingers in your hair in thought.

‘I’ll come up with something… I won’t let them get rid of me that easily.’

You tried smiling at Yuri. He wasn’t sure of what you could do… but it wasn’t in his place to interfere further. Still…. It was so FRUSTRATING.

He placed a hand on your head and rubbed it hard. ‘Alright. I’ll leave it to you, but damn it… don’t go letting your pride win. If I can help, just use me! Don’t forget, the comic… is important to me too.’

He let go of you and moved to set up the kitchen for your dinner. You felt reinvigorated. You had to come up with a plan…

~

Your replacement came the next few days and, though you tried being civil at first… the young man was not giving you any respect or paying your advice any mind.

Not that you were trying too hard to get him to listen… but it still left you feeling completely dumbfounded by his attitude and insistence that his way of doing things would be better. He believed himself better than you. He would leave his mark and move this comic to an elevated status.

You never argued back and simply gave your world-renowned strained smile. His ideas were stupid. His style, sloppy. You hated everything he created, and you knew the public would too. This was too easy.

~

It was a mess.

His strips were not getting the reception they should have. The things he thought he could get away with… were coming up to bite him in the ass.

His art style changes were seen as tacky. His out-of-character moments were like highlighters that something was wrong. Children did not like this. Parents of children in love with the series were not for this either.

Yuri’s coworker was one such parent.

‘Have you SEEN what they did to the imaginary friend this week?’ The man slapped down his newspaper on the table, disgruntled.

‘They made her forget everything she learned about being a good friend! Now she’s just acting like a jerk again, and why? They haven’t even picked up on the father’s secret gift yet! It’s like the creator forgot everything. It’s only disappointing my Camila more and more.’

Yuri’s eye twitched as he recalled you telling him that your replacement thought that plotline was dumb, so he cut it. After all the suspense you had built…. Yuri crumpled his own paper.

‘… I’m sure it’s not the creator’s fault.’

‘Pardon?’

The coworker looked at Yuri with raised eyebrows. How could it not be? Yuri sighed and lowered his head.

‘I just mean…. Maybe it’s the bosses of the creator pushing them around to change things.’ Yuri twisted his hand through his hair. ‘Think of it like when we censor the news. Comic strip companies sometimes do the same with their creators.’

The coworker blinked a few times before letting out a gruff sound. ‘Well that’s STUPID. Why change something that was already good?’

Yuri nodded. He was wondering what your plan was again. So far, you had just been obediently looking over the jerk that was supposed to replace you. It grated on his nerves… but he promised you not to meddle. Still…

‘You should write a letter to the paper with your grievances. They need to know, if you want them to bring back the quality of the comic.’

Yuri watched his coworker’s face turn thoughtful, then serious. ‘That’s a good idea… I’ll do it with my daughter when I get back home.’ The coworker let out a smile and looked Yuri in the eye. ‘I take it you have already sent your own?’

Yuri thought about the many, many complaints he had stacked and sent directly to the publisher’s mailbox. He smiled, a threat evident in his voice.

‘I’m doing my part.’

‘HAHAHAHA!’ The coworker burst in laughter, shaking the table. ‘You really love these comics… it’s cute that you have this childish hobby, Yuri.’

The younger man became embarrassed at being called childish. He turned away with a huff.

‘I’m allowed to have my interests…’

‘Yeah, nothing wrong with it. I’m glad to be able to connect with you over it! You’re usually very…’ The coworker thought through his word choice. ‘Peculiar with your conversation topics. It’s hard to be able to find common ground with you sometimes, heh. But this is nice!’

Yuri’s eyebrows knit together with curiosity over what the man meant. Was something wrong with him before? He considered the past, and what he would talk about with coworkers.

…. Just work, polite small talk and….

Ah. Yor. The very reason he had joined the Secret Police.

Yuri thought through his friends. He didn’t have many… and the ones he did were through having mutual interest in obscure things. He had yet to make any friends in his new department with the Secret Police… and now he did. He smiled, realizing it was thanks to you.

‘Yeah… this is nice.’

~

Four weeks and four awful strips later, you were supposed to be fired on the fifth one. However, the paper came on the same day with a secret news article from another department of the paper. The journalism one.

‘Creator of Beloved Comic Strip Gets Replaced.’

The scoop of the month.

In between your visits to the publishers, you also made trips to a reporter you’ve known for a while. They usually always complained about their designated ‘small stories’ while everyone else outshone them with the bigger news. You told them this could stir up something in the company… so they agreed to write it.

To write everything about it.

They published your name, gender, and your struggle; how underpaid you were compared to your coworkers, the lack of respect, the plans your replacement had to derail your characters. All of your grievances in one neat article. If you were going to be fired, you could afford to be vocal about it. One last bang.

Yuri didn’t find out about it until he went to work that Sunday. You had been excited all morning to see his reaction, but the man was late and simply sped by you handing him the paper. He had a busy day of going from point A to point B that day, moving one way and another trying to catch more news on a threat against an important figure. He stumbled back to work to change, exhausted and frustrated by his lack of information.

A few of his coworkers turned to look at him as he entered. The one he’d read the paper with was sitting expectantly with the paper in his hand.

‘SO! WE FINALLY KNOW WHY YURI GOT INTERESTED IN THE SUNDAY STRIPS, EH?’

‘…. What do you mean?’

He’s handed the article with everything on it. Zeroing in on your name, he realizes what you’ve done. He feels deaf as the man and others begin loudly teasing Yuri about keeping it a secret. He changed quickly and left them as they hollered at his get-away. When he got home, you were cooking dinner. He made you put down the knife you held before shaking you by your shoulders with exasperation, pride, and wonder.

What had you done? You held his hands and reassured him that this was your way of getting the last word. You wanted to cause a splash! Yuri was at his wit’s end with befuddlement on how to react. Now everyone knew you were a woman. Now everyone knew your name! He groaned and found himself giving you a hug. It was unexpected… but not unwelcome.

‘Ah- Yuri?’

‘GOD, YOU ARE TOO MUCH SOMETIMES!’

‘What do you mean?! I handled this well! I thought everything through!’

‘Yeah but-‘

He let go of you and looked at you. You were so innocent sometimes. What if someone stalked you? What if you got lash back for this by your publishers? You looked back with confusion, he looked so worried. You held his cheek with a hand.

‘It’s okay. I know what I got myself into. This was my choice.’

 … once again, Yuri had to respect that. He closed his eyes and leaned a bit into your hand with a boise from the back of his throat.

‘FINE! Okay.’ He let you go and turned away, crossing his arms.

‘But if any trouble comes from this, I’m stepping in. This can get SERIOUS, Y/N. I’m not letting your pride keep me from helping.’

You smile at his pout, and don’t think as you reach out to continue hugging him from behind.

‘I can live with that… Thank you, Yuri.’

Yuri didn’t turn around, but he reached an arm behind him to touch your head. Neither of you realized just how comfortable you have gotten with physical affection.

~

The ramifications of you releasing your identity unfolded the following week.

The comic strip department came under fire from all sides. Unhappy readers sent multiple letters over the change in creators, clamoring to get you back, wondering why it mattered that you were a woman. You were a creator of something well-liked; the traditionalists reasoned that it’s not like you overstepped any social norms by telling a story. A rare few voiced you being an inspiration for their little girls to try drawing their own comics.

Everyone wanted you back.

The heads overlooking the paper talked to your bosses about you. An agreement was made.

Bring you back or else.

With a new contract that gave you everything you wanted and more (a PROPER raise! Not just what they were giving their normal male employees anymore!), you were back in the team.

You did it.

~

At the news that you were coming back to create the strips, Yuri’s work buzzed with comments about Yuri and his wife. They recalled how he used to be with them; polite but closed off. Uninterested in anything that wasn’t work or his sister.

Now he got to walk around the office with red cheeks, always dragged to one group or another to be egged on about his wife. Everyone wanted to know more about you. Yuri didn’t comply; he was too much of a flustered mess. He’d walk away and insist on everyone focusing on their work.

He overhears his coworkers at one point mention how this was the most they’ve ever seen Yuri invested in someone other than his sister.

‘Remember how much he’d insist he’d be single forever? Look at him now!’

‘Heh… that’s love.’ They laugh.

‘I’m so jealous of the bastard.’

Yuri decides to ignore this… but the comparison creeps into the back of his mind. You? On the same level as Yor?

How could you ever be?

~

After more digging on the threat to an important figure, Yuri was sent to a city far from yours to talk to other informants. It was a week of intensive, infuriating work full of dead ends. But at least he was finally coming home.

When talking to you over the phone, he had made an estimate that he would probably be back in the evening of the next day. It's 4am when he's finally at the door. Yuri knows you're probably asleep, and for some weird reason (that he can only chalk up to it having been his routine in the months prior)... he's feeling grumpy that he won't get to hear you welcome him home as you always do.

He was wrong.

'Yuri!'

'W-What?!'

You're right in front of him. Eyebags on full display, messy hair, pajamas, and a bit of an uneven wobble as you're standing. Yuri glances behind you and sees a now empty pot of coffee.

'You stayed up...'

'Yeah! I'm not doing anything tomorrow anyways. And...

I really wanted to see you.'

Maybe it's because you were sleepy and were coming off a caffeine high but...

... that last part was not something you had wanted to say out loud. You realized it too late, a hand over your mouth immediately showing highlighting mistake.

'AH! I MEAN- It was just too quiet here sometimes and- And I’d end up cooking too much food and!!! FOR WHATEVER REASON YOR HAS UM. BEEN REALLY BUSY WITH WORK AND LOID HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF ANYA SO-!'

So, you had been lonely.

After living alone for so long...

You had gotten used to company. Without Yuri... your apartment felt so empty.

Your face was burning up. Yuri hadn't said a single thing. You felt like you'd fucked up. You tried doing damage control.

 'Sorry... I didn't mean-.......?'

As you tried to look up at him, he placed a hand on your head and held it forcefully to stay down. What?

'????? Yuri????'

'Shut up. You're loopy.'

You felt his hand brush your hair a bit, getting lighter, almost like a pat, before it switched to be on your neck and he turned you around.

'Alright. You saw me! Seriously, you're like a dog! Go to sleep already, idiot!'

He was pushing you to your bedroom, fast. You tried fighting it.

'HEY! I'M NOT READY TO PASS OUT YET! I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR TRIP! TELL YOU ABOUT SOME YOR THEORIES I MADE! YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY NEED TO BE LOOKING INTO HER WORK! THEY KEPT KEEPING HER ALL NIGHT THREE DAYS STRAIGHT-!'

This piqued Yuri's attention a bit. But not enough to stop. He pushed you into your room roughly.

'We can talk tomorrow! I have the day off!'

'REALLY?! YOU DIDN’T TELL ME THAT, JERK!'

Indignant, you turned around as quick as you could. Your door was already almost closed, but you did catch a glimpse of him. You saw  corner of his mouth was moving up as he taunted you. His grin was mischievous, but his eyes were soft…

'I don't have to tell you EVERYTHING.'

The door closed. Now you both had to go to sleep but...

Neither of you were really successful in that endeavor.

You tossed and turned, the image of his expression firmly planted in your mind. Your heart raced from it. You’re fond of him- You’re fond of Yuri. You missed him. But that was it.

Right?

He was your friend. Someone you saw everyday… cooked for… celebrated with… could spend hours sitting next to each other without talking….

A list of intimate moments flashed before your eyes. His dumb ways of showing affection, his terrible cooking always done in an attempt to help you, the promises he kept, the apologies gave. Yuri was dependable and intelligent and… attractive….

You hid under your blankets, the shame caught up with you.

You were in danger.

You were getting a crush.

… Yuri is having a similar plight in the other room, completely oblivious to your meltdown. He thought about how he got to see you. How happy he felt that you waited. How…. Cute it was that you missed him.

…. Damn it. He groans into his pillow, face buried deep inside it.

Why are you doing things like this? Why is it driving him crazy???

He can’t let this be!

You are not worthy!

~

Between everything that had been going on, you hadn’t gotten to spend as much time with Anya as usual. But this Saturday, she insisted on staying over with you with her parents were away. Because of your apartment being smaller and Bond now having joined the family, the Forgers found it easier to have you stay at their apartment while they out. They trusted you enough not to go inside their rooms. The day should have gone without a hitch, but the reason Anya had requested for you that date… wasn’t just because she missed you.

Anya insisted on going to a park not close from home.

The suddenness of this request puzzled you. She’d always been a good girl and stayed inside with you. Why was she arguing so hard to go to this park today?

You tried giving her excuses on why you couldn’t… but her teary eyes… made you give in and put on a coat. It was fall now. You stepped out with Bond’s leash and Anya’s hand, trying hard to brush off the sudden anxiety trickling down from this unexpected day spent out in public. Anya’s happiness was more important.

It took a bus ride to get there, but Anya and Bond behaved rather well. You felt lucky to have such easy wards as you stepped outside with them. Now at the park, Anya held your hand tight and began dragging you around everywhere. She looked like she was checking every corner of the park looking for something. She would merely tell you that she wanted to sightsee a bit if you asked, but her intensity had you suspecting that was a lie. Anya could only look guiltily away as she knew her fib had failed.

Finally, at an icecream stand, she found what she was looking for. There, surrounded by multiple men and his two other friends stood Damian. Anya had known that he’d be there that day, but her dad would be busy trying to uncover another group doing jobs in his organization’s name, and her mom insisted on visiting a sick coworker. So, with you, who are so relaxed with the rules around Anya, she knew she had to take this opportunity!

She gave Bond a look and both nodded at the same time. She asked you for the leash and for money. You handed both over, thinking Anya was trying to act more grown up. You held in laughter as both child and dog marched over to the stand, heads high and legs straight like soldiers. You saw the group of boys take notice of her and begin talking to her.

So they were friends! Your smile widened at the sight. They were adorable as they squabbled, though the boy’s comments weren’t fully heard by you, you could see that whenever Anya looked the slightest bit down, he’d get worried and change his tone. These were good kids.

Finally, one of the big men around Damian mentioned that they had to keep moving. Damian understood and gave Anya one last point.

‘… I guess your dog is a little bit cool.’

Anya and Bond immediately perked up at that.

After this, you all got some lunch You asked Anya about the boys and, after some thought, she excitedly went on about her quest to make them her friends. You nodded along, a bit stunned by how serious she was taking this. You guessed she might have a crush, with how obsessed she seemed… You laughed a bit and gave her a head pat.

‘I wish you luck. From where I stood, it looked like he didn’t mind you at all. I might even go as far as to say he likes your company…’

Anya’s eyes sparkled. She leaned over her chair.

‘Really?’

You remembered the faces Damien made as Anya tried impressing him. You laughed some more at the memory of his red face.

‘Yeah! You’re a cute kid, Anya.’ You looked at her warmly with a smile.

‘Anyone would want to keep a girl like you.’

Anya’s face beamed for a second, before she deflated a bit and looked down at her hands. She didn’t talk much after that, worrying you a bit. You wondered if you said something wrong… you didn’t want to force her into letting you know, so you gently guided her out of the restaurant.

You were making your way home… but as you were waiting for the bus, Bond began acting up. He looked from one side to another, sniffing, and barked. You asked him what was wrong, but his eyes stayed on Anya’s, and they locked eyes for a while. It was like they were having a conversation in their heads… the sight was peculiar Anya’s hand on yours tightened. You looked at her and her lips were pulled to a grimace.

‘I- I’M SORRY, I FORGOT TO GET SOMETHING!’

‘What?!’

Anya let your hand go and got on Bond. The pair ran off from you in a flash. You were absolutely dumbfounded for a good three seconds before you started running after them.

‘ANYAA! BOND!! COME BACK!’

Like a lunatic, you chased them, but the dog was FAST. You stumbled through the streets, lost. What were you going to do? What could you do??

You searched from corner to corner, occasionally asking passerbyers if they’d seen a girl and a dog. Most skipped past you. You were panicking.

In your delirium, you weren’t looking where you were going. You face-planted the chest of a man as you whipped your head around a crowded street. Your alarm bells went off and you moved back, apologies spilling from your mouth. You looked at his chest and saw it was a police uniform. Your anxiety spiked for a second, remembering reports of deportations, but your worry for Anya overtook it fast. You moved to clutch his arm.

‘I-I’m sorry, officer, but I really need help with-!’

‘…. Damn it….’

You had looked up and locked eyes with the last person you expected to find.

Yuri.

It was Yuri in front of you with an officer’s uniform.

What was he doing here with that get up?

~

Finally, Yuri had gotten a tip on the case. The plan of these terrorists was to kidnap the youngest son of Donovan Desmond. After being told, he was rushed to Damian’s location to be a back up to his guards.

Being so far from your side of the city, he didn’t expect to run into you.

‘Y-Yuri? Why-‘

‘Ah- It’s a work thing!’ Yuri had a lie prepared. He didn’t expect an encounter like this to happen… but he always came prepared. He looked away and tried acting aloof.

‘… I was sent to collect some papers. They wanted me dressed like this to…. Avoid suspicion.’

That was shady. You made a face as you concluded.

‘Doesn’t… dressing you as an officer make you more suspicious? What kind of papers are you collecting…?’

‘……’ Yuri had no response to this. He tried smiling it off and changing the subject.

‘What did you need an officer for?’

‘AH! ANYA!’ You explained what happened with frantic motions. Yuri took in a breath and released it with exasperation over your carelessness.

‘You just let her?? You should have had a tighter grip on her!’

‘She’s always been a good girl! I didn’t know what she was doing!’

‘Ugh, Y/N…’

Yuri looked to the side, also scanning the crowd.

‘… We should look for a proper policeman. He should be able to get-‘

While scanning, he remembered his job. His target was no longer in sight. Yuri panicked and began moving through the crowd. You followed.

‘Huh? Yuri? Did you find one-‘

He wasn’t listening to you, zig-zagging through alleys and slim passages he knew the guards would prioritize using. He turned a corner and found what he was looking for. What he dreaded.

The dazed bodies of the guards littered the floor. You gasped at the sight, shaken. Yuri made a tsk sound as he knelt down to check on the guards. One was still sputtering.

Yuri began questioning the man on what happened. He was promptly told that a group of armed individuals shot from above. They were quick with their ambush, picking up the frightened boys and running. Yuri asked if he heard any sounds of a car, but he hadn’t. Yuri hoped that meant they were keeping them somewhere near.

As you listened to their conversation, you squinted and picked up something from the floor. A pink hair. Your heart dropped. You were down on the soldier’s level in a millisecond, grabbing him and asking if the kidnappers had taken a little girl and a dog.

The delirious man was confused.

‘They…. Didn’t take a girl but….’

He hazily recollected the shooting.

‘There was a dog. I could hear it, but I didn’t see it. After the men left, it ran past us.’

Adrenaline pumped inside you. That had to have been Anya and Bond. Yuri pushed you away to ask more questions, but the guard passed out by then. Fuck. He looked at your quivering form.

‘You need to leave. Get the police and report Anya missing. I have work-‘

You grabbed his shoulder before he could get back up. Your eyes were watery but determined.

‘I don’t know what’s going on, but this! Is Anya’s hair!!! She was here with Bond! They followed those men! Oh god, we need to follow them!!!’

‘WHAT?! Y/N, you’re being hysterical! Who even knows if Anya is going the same way as them, I mean why would she?? These are dangerous men! She’d be scared! You need to go, there’s nothing you can-‘

‘SHUT UP! I know it’s a long shot but….’ You thought about it for a bit. ‘…. There’s actually a high chance she IS following them. That girl’s sense of adventure is… scary. And what good will you do by yourself?? You’re an office worker, not in the military like your stupid suit suggests! They took the kids! They might have Anya now!!! AAAUGH!’

You got up, a protective nature taking you over. ‘WE’RE WASTING TIME! You can either come with me or go get the fucking police yourself!’ You ran to the direction the man had pointed. You didn’t know what you were looking for, but you were frantic, looking for traces anywhere of the dog or Anya.

Unbeknownst to you, Yuri was following you, trying to decide what to do. You couldn’t get involved. As a civilian… this was too dangerous, you could risk everything! He resolved himself to doing what he had to do, as his job entailed. Taking you out. He’d knock you out with a blow and deal with the consequences later.

He readied his arm, aimed as you paused to look around, and-

The image of you, scared of him, popped into his head and made his arm falter.

‘PAW PRINTS!’

You ducked to the pavement, and he missed.

There was a dirty puddle that pooled ahead of you, and from it there were light traces of water droplets and grit in the form of paws. You had a lead!

‘Come on, Yuri!’ You got back up and ran ahead. Yuri gripped his palm tightly, squeezing the fabric of his glove as he exhaled and followed you. He’s missing out on crucial time he should be using to find the kidnappers. He should be doing his work!!! He considered leaving you behind, but you were so engrossed in your following of the paw prints-

A door to someone’s residence opened and its occupant almost ran into you. Luckily, Yuri grabbed your shirt collar just in time. You thanked Yuri, apologized to the startled person, and kept going, walking faster now. You could not be left alone. This area is currently dangerously close to a shooting while the perpetrators were still out. He was sure you would find a way to get yourself involved and killed. He had to try knocking you out again, to keep you somewhere safe. To stop worrying about you…

He didn’t want you involved at all.

But every time he did, it was like a guardian angel blessed you from his strike, making him not fast enough, not committed enough. So he. Kept. Missing. And you, oblivious to it all, kept investigating. Eventually, clues left behind left you stopping by a corner and peeking past it to see… armed and men entering a back door. You punched the wall in triumph. Yuri… was impressed.

‘… You got lucky.’

‘No I didn’t! I followed Bond’s trail!’

‘What is that dog thinking? What is ANYA thinking???’

‘… If we get out of this, I am not taking them out again.’

‘Yeah,’ Yuri paused and looked at you. This had to be it. He’d do it now. He steeled his worry. ‘I’ll make sure you do-‘

He had moved to grab you, but you ran to the residence as soon as the last masked man went inside. Yuri’s worry grew tenfold at your boldness; they just went in!! What were you doing following them?!

He whisper-shouted at you. ‘Y/N! SERIOSULY!’ He moved to follow you. ‘Leave this alone!!! You’re going to get shot-‘

You both moved to the side of the rickety residence and were witness to a shaggy tail hopping through an open window.

Bond.

You ran to follow it, also scream-whispering now.

‘ANYA! BOOOND!’

The window was somewhat high, so you moved to be on your tiptoes to look inside. It was a hallway, and you could make out someone moving to the left, rounding a corner.

‘Yuri, help me!’

Yuri was not having it. He grabbed you by your sides and tried yanking you off.

‘No! I refuse! Let me handle it, Y/N, for fuck’s sakes-‘

‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING? We’re already here! S-Stop grabbing there!!!!’ You made a squeak as he brushed something he shouldn’t have.

‘YURI!!!!!’

‘I WOULDN’T HAVE TOUCHED IT IF YOU’D JUST-‘

You both heard the sound of the back door open. Footsteps were coming out.

Time moved slowly for you as you were launched up to the window. You got halfway through and silently cursed in your head as you moved the rest of yourself in, trying very hard to make as little noise as possible as you fell inside. Yuri was surprisingly quicker and much more graceful with his entrance.

Now you were impressed.

‘Woah, you make that look easy-‘

‘God damn it Y/N…’ Yuri was pissed. Now you (a civilian) and him were both inside the enemy building, without a plan, without inside knowledge, and with kids on the line. He rubbed his forehead as he considered what to do, the stress getting to him. ‘… I should stuff you in a closet until this is over.’

‘And risk getting found and shot? No thanks.’ You tried moving past him to go to the corridor you knew Anya and Bond went to, but he snatched you. He didn’t want to let you go.

‘I’m deadly serious here, I think you should hide while I look for the kids.’

‘But I know where Anya went… come on, they turned this corner-‘

There were sounds of men making muffled, surprised noises, and a few thumps from the floor coming from the wall next to you.

You and Yuri locked eyes. Yuri sighed and grabbed you by the arm. He led the way as you both walked to the room the noises came from. He stayed outside and listened for any signs of someone being inside. He could only hear soft sounds like someone struggling with something. It could be the kids… He motioned for you to stand back as he cautiously opened the door…

The sight was unbelievable, as Anya and Bond were trying to untie the unconscious boys on the floor with the bodies of two unconscious men nearby. The four of you looked at one another. Anya and Bond shook as if they had been caught.

‘Anya!!!! I knew it! I told you Yuri!!! She was here-‘

‘And what IS she doing here?’ Yuri closed the door behind him and locked it. He crossed his arms and looked at Anya with new suspicion. Anya could read his thoughts, it wouldn’t be Yuri if he wasn’t ready to start questioning a child. Anya tripped over her explanation.

‘I-I WAS LOOKING FOR A PIN I UM- I DROPPED IT AND I SAW- D-DAMIEN WAS KIDNAPPED AND! AND! I’M UH- HERO-‘

Yuri’s stare was making you uncomfortable. You jumped in at Anya’s defense, moving to kneel next to her and deciphering what she was trying to say.

‘Anya, were you trying to play hero by chasing after Damien?’

Anya was sweating bullets as she read what you were trying to do. She nodded enthusiastically at the excuse.

‘I- I wanted to save him! Anya is a good girl!’

You made a noise in your throat of frustration and you grabbed her shoulders.

‘That was stupid!!! You’re just a little girl, Anya! There’s nothing you could do-‘

‘Oh, NOW you’re calling the kettle black!’ Yuri stepped in, moving towards the knocked out guards. He inspected them, they were still alive and had a curious bruise on their necks with a small puncture.  He materialized thin rope from a pocket in his uniform and got to tying them like it was nothing.

‘I told you to stay back, and look where you are now!’

You were stunned looking at Yuri move as if he’s done this before. Like this was a routine he knew by heart. Your mind lagged as you tried forming a response.

‘That… That was different! I’m Anya’s caretaker today-‘

‘Yeah? And you failed. You let her get in this mess, and you should’ve let me handle it. Now you’re a liability.’

The harshness in his voice cut you off. You were stunned looking at him, a liability to what exactly? You began spiraling with your thoughts as Yuri finished securing the knots and got up. He had another question for Anya.

‘What happened to these men?’

That, Anya couldn’t answer. She became sheepish. ‘U-Um… Anya walked inside and- It was scary but… they both just fell!’

Yuri racked his brain and looked outside. The men were near a window. By the puncture marks, it looked like someone darted them from the next building. But why? And where were the darts?

Yuri looked at the men, then at the boys. He couldn’t risk more coming in.

‘Alright, we should take the children and go. We’re going to need to escape through the window we came out of before their friends show up.’

You jolted from your delusions, and really looked at Yuri. … you decided your concerns could be saved for another day when you weren’t so close to death. As suspicious as Yuri was being, at least he seemed competent.

You nodded and took one of the boys while Yuri took two. The trip down the corridor went without a hitch, with it being clear. Yuri helped you outside first, passed you one child after the other, and was the last to jump down. So far so good. You all waited for the guard that was watching outside to go in. He took his time, but he did eventually put out his cigarette and go in.

The coast was clear.

You made a run for it, moving one way and another, getting as far from there as possible. Everything was going to be okay! Everyone made it! You were ready to keep running, but Yuri stopped when he found a telephone booth. He told you he’d call for help. He put down the two children and went inside. You couldn’t hear what he was saying, but you took the chance to catch your breath. When he came out, he looked better.

‘Someone will be here in a few minutes to help you with the kids.’

‘Great! That means we’re good now, right?’

‘…’ He turned around and grabbed you by the shoulders. He gripped them tightly, too tightly.

‘Yuri, that hurts-‘

‘Listen to me.’ You pause and look up at him. He looked like the same, scary Yuri he was when you first met him. Cold, spiteful. Not your usual Yuri these days.

‘I need to go back to… get something. You need to stay with the kids. Do you hear me?’

Your blood froze. He was going back? To those men with guns? You shook your head.

‘No- No you’re not! Yuri, what’s going on?’

‘Nothing that concerns you now.’ He was being very matter-of-factly with you.

‘Stay with the kids.’

You stayed silent as he moved away from you and began running the way he came. You had a lot to chew on in the minutes you spent sitting with Anya and the others, waiting for someone to pick you all up.

Yuri was involved in something dangerous. The image of him working an office job was long gone. You couldn’t believe that anymore. So what? What was it he was doing? Who was he really?

You didn’t realize it, but Anya was reading your thoughts and pitying you. She laid her head on your shoulder and gave you a one-sided hug. It was enough to make you momentarily pause and give her a pat back.

‘Are you tired?’

‘…. Yeah.’

‘Hm…. Crazy day… you really shouldn’t have run off.’

‘…. I’m really sorry.’

Anya clutched your shirt, face taught with emotion she couldn’t share. How could she tell you that Damien could have died if Bond hadn’t gotten a vision? If she hadn’t ran past her dad in disguise and made him follow her? It was true that she wanted to be a hero but… it was really him who saved the boys.

‘I really wanted to help. I was… scared.’

The sincerity in her words made your conscience twist. She shouldn’t have been in that situation. It was irresponsible. But…

You did the same, by not calling the authorities and jumping in. You sighed and your hand found hers. You held it.

‘I know what it feels like…’

You stayed silent the rest of the time waiting for someone to come. Eventually, one such man wearing a similar outfit to Yuri’s stepped into view. He was with others in different clothing, but all willing to help. They took care of the boys, taking them away, and the man in uniform offered to take you and Anya home. You asked about Yuri.

The man blinked, surprised that you knew his name. After looking at you little closer, his face beamed.

‘Are you Yuri’s wife?’

‘… yes.’

His smile softened. ‘I can assure you your husband will be alright. He’s going to be taken back for questioning, but that’s just standard procedure. He’ll…. Probably be home late tonight.’

‘Oh…’ You didn’t know what you expected, but the casual reassurance the man gave you… only solidified the pit in your stomach. You clutched your chest and looked to the direction Yuri ran off. You didn’t know how you would face him when he came home.

You agreed to the car ride and both you and Anya stumbled back after everything, tired. Anya felt guilty for the sadness you felt. It was to save Damian but… she still felt like a bad kid. She held your hand and promised to herself she’d make it up to you.

~

Yuri didn't talk to you for days.

He avoided you, woke up earlier, came home later, ate out and would simply stay in his room. He was still mad, and it was driving you crazy with guilt and fear.

You knew you fucked up. What if you couldn’t be friends anymore? What if he didn't want you anymore? What if he divorced you? What if-

The image of cold Yuri in a uniform came back to your head.

.... what if something worse happened to you?

Your fear was palpable. You didn't know how to confront it. You know what you saw; a different side of Yuri. A scary one that was hiding something.

... you missed not knowing. You missed being able to just laugh with him. You hated the anxiety, the quiet, the stress. You didn't like this.

It was making you sick.

So finally, a day before completing a full week of silence, you took action. Fuck your fear. This was worse.

~

Yuri slowly moved to go back home after another grueling day squeezing something out of nothing. There still weren’t any leads on who these terrorists worked for, why they targeted Damien, or who shot them-

That mystery was particularly driving him insane. It was as if someone had planned to take the boys from the house, but Yuri walked in and made them run.

… did this mean there was yet another threat he had to look out for? Yuri groaned as he made his way into his apartment complex. Stepping through, his mind went from one drag… to another.

You.

… How could he deal with you?

Days had passed and still, he was unable to let go of his anger… and his fear. He felt immense disappointment in himself for his inability to put you down. He had been given a warning for his misconduct; he spinned the story differently by saying that you were already trying to get inside when he found you but still… you were his wife. He was in trouble. And he took the shame; he blamed himself fully for being unable to take you down. He could have handled everything by himself. You didn’t need to get yourself in danger. You didn’t need to…. See him while he worked.

When he went back to their hideout, he kept feeling paranoid that you would pop back in. Find him smashing people’s heads. His fear only made him angrier. You shouldn’t have been here. This was your fault.

It…. It was your fault.

Your fault he had nightmares where you didn’t make it. Nightmares where he you were caught in the crossfire and were shot. Nightmares where you found him in a room full of corpses and you weeped. Nightmares where you ran away from him, screaming and calling him a murderer.

Nightmares where he’d come home and you were gone.

He gripped his key and stood outside your door. His door. Both of yours. He felt slapped again by the fact that you were married to him by obligation. Your relationship was so… fragile. He was sickening himself with worry over the thought of being without you.

When did you get this much power over him? It was so unfair!

He choked on a breath and had to calm himself down. He couldn’t keep waiting outside… he didn’t want Yor to catch him.

Yuri came inside and calmed himself by reminding himself tomorrow would be his day off. He could take it easy… maybe bring a drink to his room. He looked up from taking off his coat and found you waiting for him with brandy and glasses.

You pat the seat next to you. 'Please join me...'

... his heart hammered in his chest.

~

‘Why won’t you talk to me?’

You decided to start with that question as you poured some liquid into a cup and handed it to him. Yuri took it but didn’t reply.

… This wouldn’t get you anywhere. You drank from your glass and thought about what to say. You closed your eyes, took in a breath, and moved to face him.

‘Yuri… I really want to talk to you again. Please…? Can you tell me what’s wrong?’

Yuri’s face hardened. He also closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Then he chugged his glass in one go. He slammed it back to the table and looked at you with accusatory eyes.

‘You didn’t listen to me!’

‘…. Yeah. You’re right, I didn’t-’

‘You are SO. DUMB!’

‘HEY NOW!’

‘What kind of IDIOT sees multiple men that were shot and thinks ‘OH, I SHOULD FOLLOW THE PEOPLE THAT DID THIS!’ You. You are that idiot.’ He poured another glass and downed it, moving onto a third with shaking hands as he continued.

‘Fucking hunting down tracks like a junior detective. You ran RIGHT INTO DANGER with no plan and no skills in combat. What would have happened if I wasn’t there? If we weren’t so…. God damned BLESSED to have been able to get out of there scott free! Do you know how much of a miracle that was? No! You don’t know! You don’t know anything- You’re seriously so-‘

You stopped him before he could continue his consumption of alcohol. No way were you letting this man go on like this.

‘Yuri, pace yourself! No more!’

‘I know what I can handle. Focus on yourself. It’s the only thing you’re good at anyways.’

Woah. Hold on.

'I wasn’t being selfish! I was scared for Anya! Waiting for the police felt like a waste of time… I just wanted to help-'

‘Well you could have left it to me then! You could have just stayed put and I would’ve handled it.’

You snorted. You couldn’t help it. You suspected from the bit you saw of his ‘work’ that he might be right… but you still weren’t just going to stand around and do nothing…

‘You’re just one man, Yuri! Those were a lot of men with guns! What were you going to do if you got to that room alone? You wouldn’t have been able to drag so many kids out by yourself-‘

You weren’t understanding! Yuri grabbed your arms.

'I COULD HAVE FIGURED IT OUT! I can take care of myself just fine, Y/N, I’ve been through so much worse! But you can’t!!!' Your eyes widened at the declaration. You wanted to ask more but…

His face-

He looked on the verge of tears. He moved his head away from you and squeezed his eyes.

'I....' Yuri shook... and he slowly squeezed your arms a few times to center himself before continuing.

'I've taken defense classes. My job is... dangerous. I'm important.'

He couldn't believe what he was spilling. He didn't want to spell it out to you but, damn it. Damn it! You and your stupid curiosity. He squeezed his eyes and let go of one of your arms to wipe at them.

'You're weak. You could've gotten hurt. Please... be more conscious of that. Listen to me when I tell you to stop.’

You ached as you watched Yuri like this. He cared about you... and this scared him. That much was evident. No matter his secrets, his personality change, his questionable job...

This was the Yuri you knew. The one you... could depend on. The one you… crushed on. You were quick to back down and relent to him.

'... fine. You’re… right, I…. didn’t know. I’m sorry... I’m sorry for jumping in blind on something as serious as that. I won’t.... do it again.'

Your promise felt hollow, but it was what Yuri wanted. What he needed to hear. You felt your heart squeeze as his grip on you relaxed. He released the breath he was holding, turned around, and took back his glass.

'Alright...'

The mood was becoming… lighter. Now that you talked it out, now that you both shared your grievances…

What else was there to do other than drink?

~

You were tipsy. Yuri was drunk. The conversation had stayed slightly… stiff as you both sipped on your drinks, you had conversed about stuff you missed in the week of silence, and it was only… bringing you guys down again.

There was that awkward quiet again.

You decided what you needed was a change in location. This experience would be better in your bed. You picked up the rest of the bottle and made the trek to your room. Yuri was beside himself, tripping as he followed you. You placed your glass and bottle on your nightstand and laid down on your bed, making an exaggerated noise of comfiness. Everything felt better when you were tipsy.

In your hazy mind, you began reminiscing about your siblings, Anya and her friends. How cute they were, becoming friends and looking out for each other. A curious, silly question came to mind.

‘… do you think we would’ve been friends in grade school?’

It caught Yuri off guard. He stumbled into bed to lie next to you, settling on his back as he mulled it over. He wasn’t sure if it would have happened. He was… never the most open-minded kid and… he might have been one to shun you back then. But he wasn’t like that anymore. And- he wanted to believe in good things right now…

‘…. Possibly. You needed friends. Kid-version-of-me might as well have stepped up...’

You laughed at the mental image of a young Yuri brashly declaring you as his friend. It was cute… and it made you want to ask more.

‘You know about my school years… but what about you?’ You decided to turn the conversation around. Yor always told stories about Yuri’s academic successes but… never spoke about any other school passions. Or about any friends of his.

‘How was school for you? Too busy with your nose buried in a book?’

You teased him and expected a shove or something back… but Yuri didn’t move from his spot. You looked over and found him staring at the ceiling. He looked… serious.

‘Yeah. I mean. It was that or…’ Yuri narrowed his eyes and looked away. He took in a breath.

‘I guess you can say I can sympathize with your crappy school situation.’

Yuri confesses to a lot of his childhood hardships. Things he hadn’t even told his sister about. Like minor bullying he dealt with; being a bookworm and a bit of a teacher’s pet, he was an easy target for students annoyed at him. Students with better families and financial situations. He tried ignoring them at first, but it didn’t work. They sought him out. So eventually, he began lashing out, and his classmates… became fearful of him. He was finally given the peace he wanted… by becoming ostracized and avoided. At least, up until he got into a good high school and started over.

Yuri tried turning the story around. He learned how to make friends. He surrounded himself with peers that were as engaging as him. He’s successful now. He’s grown.

Still… it was unexpected to feel you hug him.

‘H-Huh-‘

‘I’m so sorry you went through that.’

In Yuri’s bewilderment, you moved to get more comfortable, his face to your chest, your arms more firmly planted and your chin on his head.

‘You deserved better. You were a good kid… to be driven to that point… kids can be such fucking dicks.’

Yuri blinked. His brain finally caught up. You were hugging him. It was comfortable. He was hugged and he was comforted, and he liked it. His hands shakily grasped at your arms and he closed his eyes.

‘Y-Yeah but- that’s in the past! It doesn’t even matter anymore!’

‘Hm… I think it does. I think it shaped you into being as cautious as you are now…’ Your tongue was loose from the alcohol, you shared too much. And you were too daring with your affection. You moved him to look into his eyes, your hands firmly on his face.

‘But… you’re right. You’re successful. You rose above those little shits and you’re all the better for it.’ You smiled, wide and smug and beautiful. His breath caught in his throat as you moved his hair aside.

‘I’m so proud of you Yuri. You’re so strong.’

Yuri had nowhere to hide anymore. He was trapped, unable to look away from you, and stunned by the rush of emotion that overwhelmed him. He tried deflecting it, he couldn’t accept your praise for once-

‘T-That’s… all thanks to Yor, though! Yor kept me going! Yor provided for the family! T-That’s why she deserves all the credit-‘

You shook your head and got up. ‘Nonono, shhh, Yuri.’ You’re leaning over him now, almost on top of him, penetrating him with your eyes. ‘I know. I understand and I admire her too for all she’s done. But your accomplishments are also your own. You defended yourself. You studied. You learned.’

Your head leans down unwillingly, like you were letting gravity win, until it touches his and you’re sharing breaths. You’re smiling again.

‘What happened to cocky Yuri? Accept it. You’re amazing, Yuri. No one in the world is like you.’

Yuri’s eyebrows knit together, and his heart exploded. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, he can’t stand looking at you any longer. He moves quickly, sweeping you into an embrace now, making you the smaller spoon. You can hear his thunderous heart through his shirt, but you’re too busy feeling giddy from his cute reaction. You giggle as he tried changing the subject.

~

The rest of the night is spent still being touchy, hanging on to each other's clothing or bodies as you laugh and cry and laugh again. Sometimes you both sit up to chug more booze, but you always melted back into each other’s arms.

Finally, the booze is gone and you’re both getting tired. But, getting off your high, you decide you have one last confession to make.

'I know I've told you that love doesn't matter for me…'

Yuri’s interest is immediately piqued. He doesn’t want to show it, but he is all ears and he can’t help looking at you, inching closer as you continue.

'.... it does. I’m... no different than anyone else. Of course I want to fall in love. Of course I want... to feel good. But here... with my life.' You give a bitter laugh; your tears had already left you.

'I knew I had to take what I can get. And… yeah, it’s better than being married to a creep... to settle for something loveless.' You force a smile.

'Yeah… it’s not all bad, I guess. This, being with you, is way better. Honestly! Better than I could’ve hoped for. I am so grateful for you, Yuri. You’re such a joy to have around… Yor has become my good friend… but I feel… somehow, a lot closer to you.'

Yuri's heart began palpitating, anticipating what comes next. Was this finally it? You love him. Just say it. Everything he had been wanting to hear, the thing he had been hoping for….

His heart stops when an extra tear manages to escape your dry eye.

'... still. I kinda wish I could’ve had a romance at some point. Would've been nice to hear that someone loves me... at least once.'

.... there is a silence in the room. Yuri looked at your defeated form. The unexpected occurs.

'I love you.'

Earnest. His words left him without a thought. He couldn’t be bothered to think it through better, it’s what he felt. What he’s been holding back, fighting, denying. And saying it... made him feel so much better. He didn’t smile, but he hoped he looked serious. He hoped he could convey that he meant it.

He said it again, making sure your eyes were on his.

‘I love you.’

... you were stunned for words. Yuri loved you. The possibility of your crush coming true fluttered in your chest. He loved you. He told you he loved you. Yuri…. Drunk Yuri… Yuri who puts his sister over everyone…. Yuri who said he’d never be in a real relationship…

Reason won over a funny fantasy. He loved you like a friend. That had to be it.

‘Yeah… he's drunk and overemotional...’ you remind yourself. And you laugh.

‘But… eh. What the hell. I'm drunk too...'

You decided you could use this a bit. To let go of your crush. To let something hide in plain sight. You closed your eyes and took a shaky breath.

'I love you too.'

You're smiling. You're beautiful. His heart is in his throat. Yuri can’t speak, he breathes in shakily. He is so happy. And lost. And a bit.... too unwell. The strong emotions and the alcohol don’t mix well. The man is in the restroom for a while, vomiting his feelings into the toilet as you laugh and begin to pass out without a care. This was the culmination of the night… you were both feeling completely wiped.

By the times he's done, he’s feeling better, and after brushing his teeth and a change of clothes, he goes into your bedroom, more sober now but still in a daze... He sees you asleep and ponders going back to his room.

… He lays beside you instead. He can’t help stare at you and wonder about tomorrow. All the things that are going to change now that you’re together. Really. Truthfully. Officially.

You were married… and you loved each other.

He's... excited. He snuggles up to you and closes his eyes, enjoying your breath on his. He wants to do this every night. He wants to keep you forever. Yeah…

He’s excited.