#composer au

Yuuri sneezed all of a sudden just as he and Victor got off the long train ride.

“Yuuri? Are you alright?”

“Yeah, just a little chilly.”

Victor smiled at him and accepted his answer.

They’d been gone for a few weeks; traveled to 13 different places throughout Japan, ate all kinds of food and took hundreds of photos. Yuuri was surprised Phichit didn’t leak any news about him and Victor but it’s not like he had any proof. Still, that didn’t stop Leo or Guang Hong from sending congratulatory texts.

After marking off their last destination on the map Victor carried around, the two of them dragged their bags to catch another train. Minako would pick them up at the station and then take them to Yuuri’s home where all of Victor’s belongings and purchases during their trip had been sent to. To be honest, Yuuri feared coming home. Because he’d have to give Victor his answer soon.

Leaving home was not difficult for him but the dread of not being able to reach Victor’s expectations was starting to overwhelm Yuuri. Victor had laid out his plans of having Yuuri move in with him in Russia and to plant their base in Victor’s selected institution where they’d have endless usage of the facilities. Victor would prepare a contract that lasted one year of their companionship and possible record deals should they be successful in composing music together.

Yuuri had 4 days before Victor planned on returning to Russia. Four days. To decide if he was willing to take the risk of failing again, possibly suffering a bigger downfall since he’ll drag Victor down with him.

“Yuuri.” Victor coaxed gently.

Yuuri broke out his thoughts with a gasp. He turned sharply to Victor who was smiling warmly, “We’re here.”

Indeed, they were back ‘home’. Yuuri’s home.

Minako excitedly picked them up at the station and began asking about their trip. Victor returned the enthusiasm with endless stories of his and Yuuri’s time together. Meanwhile, Yuuri shut them out. He drifted in his own thoughts, often drowning in them without anyone noticing. He caught Victor sending worried looks at him (his silence) but Yuuri opted to ignore him.

Yuuri succeeded ignoring Victor the whole journey back as Minako kept conversing. Even when they arrived at the onsen, Victor was too busy being showed around by Yuuri’s family to realize that Yuuri had snuck out without him. It’d be the second time Yuuri successfully got away from Victor intentionally. However, he couldn’t escape Makacchin. The loyal dog barked after him and casually joined his slow jog a few blocks down the onsen.

He shook his head with a helpless smile before he ushered the dog to run beside him. Makacchin happily complied. Makacchin fit Vicchan’s gap beside Yuuri excessively. Yuuri even laughed when the dog almost tripped him, just like his old poodle used to do.

The journey to the university felt shorter with Makacchin around. Yuuri’s chest felt light too.

The guards looked warily at the pair but recognized Yuuri as Nishigori’s friend so they let him pass.

“C’mon Makacchin, let’s see if Yuuko has any treats for you.”

The poodle barked excitedly.

Yuuko was on her way to class when Yuuri found her but she gave him her pass card before she parted, winking suggestively. Yuuko knew him too well, well enough to know when he needed an escape from life and his one and only method was to play that grand piano in that lonely hall.

“I have some jerky in my office and you know where the dog bowls are. Feel free to use ‘em~” Yuuko skipped down the hall while humming a tune.

Yuuri still had a hard time believing how happy she gets knowing he was playing the piano again.

In Yuuko’s office, Yuuri filled up a bowl of water for Makacchin and treated him with small pieces of beef. After resting for a bit, Yuuri sighed heavily.

Makacchin was sprawled on the floor when Yuuri asked, “Do you want to come with me or…?”

Of course the dog jumped into a ready stance and barked at him. It reminded him of how Victor would pique every time Yuuri suggested going somewhere of his own will. Makacchin was definitely Victor’s dog.

Victor wasn’t surprised that Yuuri wanted to get away from everything. But taking Makacchin with him? Unforgivable. (No, not Yuuri, Makacchin)

How could his poodle choose Yuuri over him? That never happened before. A memory from the back of his mind resurfaced. Victor, Makacchin is sleeping in my room tonight.

Okay, so maybe his poodle had chosen Yuuri a few times but that was just for nightly cuddles. This was broad daylight companionship.

Victor didn’t even have to ask anyone where Yuuri would go to. While the piano at the bar was usable, Victor had a hunch Yuuri would aim for the grand piano at the hall in his previous institution. It was after all, the place he most frequented, Yuuko once said.

Yuuri stared down at the piano keys in front of him. Then he looked up to the empty sheets he’d taken from Yuuko’s shelf. He honestly could not remember when he last wrote down a composition or what the piece had even been.

He wanted to get started on the first assignment Victor had given him. It was just a whim, Yuuri figured. Victor gave him the assignment while they were both flushed from alcohol and their words were slurred but the memory of it was clear. Victor’s first assignment for him was simple, ‘Write someone’s story’. Sounded easy enough but Victor made a catch that he himself was not meant to be the inspiration for the new assignment.

That left Yuuri numb and lost. Throughout his life, Victor Nikiforov was his only inspiration. Take it away and he was left with nothing. He never had to compose alone without a muse.

Thus, Yuuri went back to staring at the black and white keys. Someone’s story. Anyone.

Suddenly, Yuuri’s eyes sparkled with an idea. He didn’t know anyone intimately. But he knew himself. It would take a while. A very long while actually. Yuuri couldn’t dive straight into his own story. He had to pick up his own pieces and reflect his own self in his music. He needed to practice.

So Yuuri began to picture people in his life and extracted them in his head. He started with Yuuko first. How she looked like as the years passed since Yuuri was a little boy, how proud she looked when Yuuri played her the first Nikiforov piece he had ever altered, how her tears spilled when Yuuri shut the world out after the Grand Finals last year and how happy she looked now, knowing Yuuri was playing again.

She was her own queen, fair and loving, one of the beloved maidens in Yuuri’s heart.

He didn’t know what he was doing until his fingers started dancing on the keys.

It was a new melody, a new story; Yuuko’s story from Yuuri’s narration.

The composition was sweet and elegant, fit for a queen. Yuuri started smiling as he played.

The Queen was a ruler of her own kingdom. One day, out of the goodness of her heart, she helped to raise a difficult child. He had no words to say, nor talents to give. But the Queen taught him to speak and gave him an instrument to play, bringing out the best in him even when no one else believed in him. She loved him dearly and watched him grow. But one day, the Queen was left heartbroken as the child left her without a word. She mourned for the child that was not hers to raise or bear and patiently waited for his return. Joy reigned the Queen’s world once more when the child returned to her side as a grateful prince. Should they ever part again, the prince vowed to leave her with goodbyes and promised returns. The Queen happily forgive him, welcomed him into her arms and took him on his vow. The Queen was never disheartened again. She lived happily knowing that the child would always return.

Yuuri felt a cold shudder run down his spine as the music came to a stop. He felt tears spill as he panted from the intensity and intimacy of the song. He was not aware how much they loved each other until he laid out their past together.

Makacchin whined from beside the piano stool at seeing Yuuri’s tears. The poodle even raised its front paws to rest on the seat as it nudged its head against Yuuri’s hip.

Yuuri let out a soft laugh and tussled the poodle’s fur in between its ears, grateful for the comfort, “I’m alright Makacchin.” ‘Just a little overwhelmed.’

A big inhale and exhale later, Yuuri started retracing his own composition and began writing it on the empty sheets. He knew there were some mistakes since it’s been awhile but he couldn’t stop the adrenaline in his fingers. The numb fingertips and shaky bearings were doing horrible things to his writing and it got him laughing at some point.  

He hoped to play the song for Yuuko one day. He hoped she could hear their story. And he hoped she would forgive him and accept him like the Queen did, even if he was no prince.

The biggest sensation in the university was the arrival of Victor Nikiforov. It would be enough excitement to last till the next decade. What Yuuko never expected was for the excitement to increase ten folds not more than a month later.

It started with the whispers, from the hallways and in the classrooms. Then it was the giggles and girls visibly plotting on… something.

And then it was the shout of a person asking where Victor Nikiforov was. There were rumors of the young composer from Russia, a musician with pure talent and the ferocity of a tiger. A young-

“Yuri Plisetsky…” Yuuko said the name as it dawned on her who she caught shouting at her students in one of the music halls.

At hearing his name, the composer turned to Yuuko and rudely shouted, “OI! Where’s Victor Nikiforov?!”

Yuuko raised a finger to say something but then the finger wandered to her chin as her mouth closed in thought. She didn’t actually know where Victor was. She only knew where Yuuri was.

“I’m not sure but Yuuri’s here. You can ask him.”

Yuri seemed confused at the use of his name in her sentence. Thinking back, it did make her sound a little delirious.

She cleared her throat, “I didn’t mean you, I meant Katsuki Yuuri. He just came back with Victor this morning! Right now he’s practici-“

Yuuko was silenced as Yuri cornered her, “Who is… Katsuki Yuuri?”

The serene smile never left Yuuko’s face, she was talking to an adolescent and children never intimidated her, “Victor’s companion!” she answered truthfully.

Yuuri had forgotten the element of time as he went on replaying Yuuko’s song and rewriting parts of it onto the music sheet. Makacchin was snoring peacefully on the stage, right by Yuuri’s feet.

He hadn’t realized how immersed he was until someone tapped him on his shoulder from behind him.

Yuuri broke out of his stupor with a shiver, “Victor.” He knew from the familiar scent of Victor’s fragrant cologne. He was a little surprised he didn’t hear Victor come in. Then again, he didn’t hear Victor the first time either a few weeks ago when they first met.

Victor was pressed against his back, a hand still rested on Yuuri’s right shoulder as the man reminded in a warning tone, “Yuuri you’re supposed to be resting. The hours we traveled from last night till this morning takes a lot out of you.”

Yuuri chuckled at that, “You look fine to me.”

“You underestimate how often I travel, Yuuri.” Victor’s voice was stern but still playful.

Victor lifted his eyes to see the scribbled notes on the sheets on the music rack.

“Were you composing something?”

“Yes..” Yuuri answered breathlessly.

In came to Victor’s attention that Yuuri’s breathing was labored and there was noticeable heat under his hand where it rested on Yuuri’s shoulder. Victor gave Yuuri’s shoulder a little squeeze and let it glide to the curve of Yuuri’s exposed neck. The gesture made Yuuri sigh shakily from the contrast of temperature. Where Victor’s skin was cold, Yuuri’s skin was burning.

Victor frowned in concern, “Yuuri, are you-“

A loud slam of the door interrupted Victor, followed by the shouts of a loud voice, “OI YOU PIG-!” the intruder paused when he and Victor made eye contact, “VICTOR!”

“Yura?”

Yuuri saw the younger composer hurriedly approach them. He reminded him of a tiger. He remembered Yuri Plisetsky. He remembered the intensity of his music. He remembered that Yuri came from the same country as Victor. Which meant-

“Oh Victor you’re here! Welcome back!” Yuuko smiled from behind Yuri.

“Thank you, Yuuko.”

Yuri seemed to ignore everything as he ran up to the stage excitedly. Of course, he didn’t miss the other presence, that pig that thinks he can get away with having Victor all to himself.

He stood in front of the piano and determinedly ordered, “Victor, come back to Russia with me!”

Victor felt more than saw the flinch from the pianist who was still sitting on the stool. Ever since that day they discussed about the possible outline of the contract, Yuuri never mentioned the topic again. Victor never knew how Yuuri felt about it until someone else forced it upon them.

“Yura, I will when it’s time for me to go. For now-“

“Do you even hear yourself?! You said you’d come back when you can’t find-“

“I did. And he’s right here with me, composing.”

It surprised both Yuuri and Yuri to hear Victor admit it out loud. Yuri because Victor never made it public and Yuuri because Victor never said it to anyone but to Yuuri himself.

“That’s why I’m staying, Yura.”

Yuuri watched as the anger inside Yuri boiled and came forth. The glare he sent Yuuri was menacing.

“YOU LEFT EVERYTHING FOR THIS?! WHAT DOES HE HAVE THAT I DON’T?! I WAITED AND PRACTICED YEARS TO GET YOUR ATTENTION, YOU KNOW THAT!”

Yuuri silently spoke to himself in his mind, ‘That’s right… There are many others more qualified than me.’

“YOU EVEN PROMISED ME A COMPOSITION TOGETHER! YOU CAN’T JUST TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD, FIND SOMEONE AND LEAVE HOME FOREVER!”

‘I stole Victor’s attention unwillingly didn’t I?’

“HE’S JUST ANOTHER WORTHLESS COMPOSER YOU PROBABLY FEEL SORRY FOR-“

‘But I am worth it.’

Yuuri read Yuri’s wrath and turned back sharply to the piano. Despite the haze in his eyes and the dizziness in his head, he wanted to shove Yuri’s emotions back at him.

His arms raised dramatically before he smashed into the keys and moved dangerously fast across the white and black. He emphasized each note as though they were all meant to be played with the dynamic sign of fortississimo or higher.

Yuuri channeled all that rage and began realizing that the story he told had no motive. Why was Yuri Plisetsky so angry? Yuuri didn’t even know him. Yuri could be angry at him for taking Victor away. But that wasn’t it, was it? Yuri was angry, frustrated and… The intended rang inside Yuuri as he played impossibly faster and louder. Yuri was desperate. For something, for Victor. For an unfulfilled promise Victor had not kept. Desperate for Victor.

This was a mere child in need of a specific person’s attention. A child that underestimated why Victor chose Yuuri over him. In the end, Yuri Plisetsky was still, just a child. And Yuuri felt guilt wreck him for even wanting to silence the young composer. Yuuri knew his own worth (sort of). He shouldn’t have to prove it, to a child no less.

Yuuri’s fingers were sweating and turning red at the tips where his pressing nails were continuously going over its limits. The rushed and angry song went on for a full 2 minutes before Yuuri ended it as abruptly as he had started.

He found it hard to breath and difficult to see but he looked up to Yuri who was standing in front of him, in front of the piano. There was shock in those beautiful emerald eyes and a childlike curiosity along with hints of admiration.

“Look at me.” Yuuri spoke but it came out as a hoarse whisper. He fell back with closed eyes but was caught by Victor. When Victor’s cold palm brushed his forehead, Yuuri tilted his head back to stare up into Victor’s concerned eyes, “…At least once, please look at me….. Victor.”

Yuuri’s hands slipped tiredly from the piano keys, making a weird sound from the random accidentally played notes.

Before he let himself go completely, Yuuri looked back to Yuri, “…that’s your song…”

In the quietness of the aftershock of Yuuri’s sudden music, the pianist slumped against Victor’s body, passed out from overexertion and the fever that slowly surfaced inside him since his return.

Victor gently manhandled Yuuri till he was able to carry Yuuri in his arms. He turned to Yuuko who was at the bottom of the stage, still shocked herself.

“He’s running high right now. Is there a clinic in the university?”

Yuuko took a while to compose her thoughts, “Y-Yes, it’s near my office. Beside it actually.”

Victor nodded once and swiftly carried Yuuri out of the hall with Makacchin close behind. Yuuko went on the stage to pick up Yuuri’s glasses and the sheets on the music rack.

“Would you like to go there as well, Yuri?”

Yuri nodded dumbly, “Mm.”

The doctor prescribed a few medication to help with the fever and encouraged a few days of good quality rest. Since Victor came by taxi and Yuuri walked to the university, it only seemed fit that Victor accept Yuuko’s offer to drive them back to the onsen.

While Yuuko left to bring her car around so that it’ll be a shorter distance for Victor to transport Yuuri, Victor sat with Yuri on Yuuri’s bedside.

They were both thinking about the lightning effect of Yuuri’s earlier composition. It was so strong and powerful, unlike anything Victor ever heard Yuuri play. But, more than the music itself, he wondered about what Yuuri said at the end of it.

“Is that really how you feel, Yura? Was Yuuri right?”

As ashamed as he was, Yuri didn’t deny it, “How did he even- I didn’t- Did he really- He said it was my song.” Yuuri frowned, “We don’t even know each other.”

Victor smiled, “If he’s right, I don’t think you can question my choice anymore.”

That caused Yuri to look even more displeased.

“It’s true you don’t know each other.” Victor hummed, “Maybe you should. I enjoyed his company aside from enjoying his music.”

“Pfft. Like I don’t have anything better to do.”

That’s what Yuri said but he still followed Victor to Yuuko’s car and he still got down at the onsen despite Yuuko’s offer to accommodate him.

Yuri was dubbed as ‘Yurio’ by the Katsuki’s since he shared a similar first name with their only son. It’s better than having them call him ‘Yura’ at least. That name was too intimate for strangers.

While Yuuri recuperated and remained asleep during most hours of the next few days, Yuri discovered that onsens were a blessing from the heavens and pork cutlet bowls were to die for. He also discovered that Victor was an idiot who already had his own bedroom decorated like a studio.

It was during the third day when Yuri woke up to the sound of music somewhere in the house. It was nearing 3am when he checked the clock. It couldn’t have been Victor since he was always out like a light by midnight. So, it had to be none other than Katsuki Yuuri.

Yuri found him in the guest room where the upright piano had been placed a few days ago. Something about a lady at the bar or something who thought the piano should be at home with its owner(?).

“What are you doing out of bed, you pig?”

Yuri insulted him, so why the heck did Yuuri smile back at Yuri like it was a fucking compliment?

“Yurio, isn’t it? Hahaha, Mari told me she decided to call you that.”

“It’s not funny! And that’s not my name!” Yuri felt a little betrayed inside him when he didn’t exactly tell Yuuri to stop calling him Yurio. And he sort of didn’t mind.

Avoiding the name issue altogether, Yuri plopped himself next to Yuuri on the stool after telling him to move over.

“Seriously, what the heck are you doing?” Yuri tried reading some of the notes on the music sheets but the composition didn’t seem familiar to him, “A song?”

“Yuuko’s.” Yuuri smiled, “It’s her song, and mine but more like her song. Through my eyes. For her.”

Yeah, that made no sense to Yuri. He deemed Katsuki Yuuri to still be in his fever haze.

Still, he humored the guy and played some parts that he could make out from the sheet but he stopped when Yuuri frowned at his fingers.

“What?” he asked, annoyed when Yuuri didn’t immediately speak up.

“No, it’s not you.. I think I wrote the score wrongly.”

Yuuri laughed at Yuri’s face before he took over the keys, “I wanted to play something like this…”

Yes, Yuuri definitely wrote the score wrongly.

“If you wanted to play that, you don’t write it like this-“ Yuri took the pencil from the music rack and tweaked the notes a little. All the while, Yuuri watched and made ooh-ing sounds at the correction. After Yuri fixed that part, Yuuri flipped through the sheets till he found another part of the song.

“So, if I want to play this-“ he played a few notes after showing Yuri where it started, “-then, I should change this part and this part?” Yuuri asked as he made changes to his own score.

“Yeah.”

They went through a few more pages until Yuuri was satisfied with most of them.

“Sorry, I’m a little rusty.” Yuuri laughed self-consciously, “I haven’t done this in more than a year. It feels like learning how to ride a bike again.”

Yuri didn’t ask or press on the matter. He still despised Victor for choosing someone other than him but he liked Katsuki Yuuri enough to not completely hate him. That didn’t mean he would actually act like he liked him.

“Whatever, I still have no idea why Victor chose you of all people.”

Yuri’s attempt at provocation only made Yuuri sigh in agreement, “Me neither. He said I was his music box. He is such a weird guy. And he loves memes.”

“Oh god, is that why he’s been dabbing in all his pictures?”

Yuuri laughed, “He’s been doing it since it went viral two weeks ago. He even made Makacchin do it.”

They both collectively thought about the dabbing dog photo on Victor’s instagram and they started laughing together.  

“He used to annoy everyone with his selfies.”

“What’s it like in Russia?”

Yuri shrugged, “Cold I guess.”

“Does Victor play often?”

“Not really but when he does…” Yuri trailed off remembering how spellbinding it was to watch Victor perform.

“You never want to take your eyes off him.” Yuuri finished. He was in a good mood for some reason after waking up feeling refreshed. So he started playing one of Victor’s songs, his own take of it of course. He almost forgot Yuri was there with him as he dived in and mirrored Victor’s song while filling in the gaps as he always did.

The small revelation Yuri received from Yuuri at the grand hall was nothing compared to his version of Victor’s songs.

He never noticed how incomplete Victor’s song was until he heard it being altered and played by Katsuki Yuuri. He plays music like- telling a story, Victor once explained while Yuuri was still fever-stricken. Victor said Yuuri was not the best storyteller but his stories were breathtaking.  

When Yuuri was no longer playing, Yuri suddenly blurted out, “Yakov would have liked you. To an extent at least.”

“I think Victor mentioned that name before. And there was… a Mila?”

“Don’t ever say yes when she asks you to go to the salon with her. And don’t ask Georgi for dating tips. All he ever does is talk about Anya.”

“And what about you?” Yuuri smiled playfully.

“What about me?”

“What should I worry about with you when I’m there?”

“I shout a lot. Mostly at Victor.”

Yuuri laughed first and then asked, “And what about Victor? Don’t ever say he’s getting bald?”

Yuri’s eyes widened like it was taboo to even say what Yuuri just said, “I can’t believe you just said that! Why do you know- OH MY GOD YOU IMPLIED IT BEFORE DIDN’T YOU”

“IT WAS AN ACCIDENT! And he was so dramatic about it-“

“Let me guess. Slowly falling and fainting on the ground?”

“EXACTLY”

They shared more laughs as they exchanged stories about Victor.

Leaning against the wall outside of the guest room, Victor smiled triumphantly. While he was indeed being roasted by the two Yuri’s, he couldn’t help but feel joy from both of them speaking as though it was a sure thing that Yuuri would come with them to Russia.

If Yuuri hadn’t made up his mind before, he certainly had some time during his little bonding time with Yuri in the wee hours of the morning.

Victor smiled at his own phone camera that was blinking a red dot every few seconds. He needed to record this moment for his latest upload.

“Hi everyone! Sorry I haven’t been active lately, but guess where I’m going and who’s going with meeee~!” It was obvious he was at the airport. After spending more than a month in Japan, Victor was finally coming home.

Victor turned the camera to the two people who were pushing trolleys in front of him, “Yura, do you have everything?”

Yuri looked back to Victor with a scowl, “I’ve checked your stupid stuff ten times Victor, stop asking if I have everything! THEY’RE ALL YOUR STUFF! WHY AM I EVEN DOING THE CHECKING?! What did you even buy?! A whole department store?!”

Yuuri sighed from beside Yuri, “He probably would have if I wasn’t there.”

Yuri flailed his arms in disbelief.

They were both unaware of the recording until Victor wrapped his arms around their necks, squeezing them together to fit as the camera faced all three of them.

“Victor…!”

“The heck?!”

Victor winked, “We’ll be coming to Russia and I hope everyone will get to meet my one and only, Katsuki Yuuri~”

The video ended with Yuri facepalming as Victor kissed a shocked Yuuri on the cheek.

It went viral within seconds once it was uploaded. Aside from Yuri Plisetsky and a few others in Japan, it was the first time Victor announced the name of his partner.

A/N: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY

GET READY FOR THE RUSSIAN FAMILY

New semester is starting next week~! Can't wait aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa and thanks for following this fic of mine! I have a lot planned for it but not sure if I can pull it off YET so yeah just....watch me I guess? XDD