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No one would ever know the several dozen things that had gone wrong before the wedding. They would never know the three emergency trips to get something forgotten or the emergency trip to a florist that Yuri had made. What everyone would know was that the ceremony was absolutely beautiful.
Victor's three parents were seated next to each other -- of course, his stepfather was between his father and mother. Mrs. Katsuki was crying … almost as much as Yuuko. The girls were lovely in their different-colored dresses.
Yuuri had been walked down the aisle by both his parents and, once next to Victor, hadn't stopped smiling for even a fraction of a second. The vows had been personalized and from their hearts.
Yuri only had to stand there now and look the part of a groomsman. This was where Chris took over as the best man, and Yuri had never been this thankful that Chris loved being in the spotlight.
Finally, it was over. Victor and Yuuri were now the Katuki-Nikiforovs, and it was the moment of the day when things should have shifted from tense to celebration. That was not to be the case for Yuri. While the pictures were taken by the photographer and friends started to relocate to the reception, he could feel how she was watching him. He knew there was nothing he could do to make the day better. The party would be anything but for him as he felt that disapproving stare.
Yuri faked his best smile for all the photos. But, the one with Victor's family and his groomsmen was the only one where that smile was genuine. It was the one time when she couldn't look at Yuri, and somehow Dmitrii found a way to be positioned so he could gently put his arm around Yuri's waist. The feel of his fingers pressed to his side after not having touched for hours calmed his nerves.
Soon the pictures were over, and everyone was at the celebration. It was then that, once again, Yuri found himself too busy. Between making sure everything was perfect with the caterers and keeping on top of everyone's enjoyment, he really wished other people in the wedding party spoke Russian so so much of this wouldn't fall to him. Finally, he was seated and cutting into his meal while Chris stood and gave an entirely emotional speech about his long friendship with Victor.
The cake was delicious, and the champagne was flowing. Yuri only had one glass, though, because he'd be the one driving the Nishigori family back to the hotel tonight. So that would be his last responsibility. It was the off-season, so no one would say anything about a second piece of cake.
Victor's mother kept shooting glances at him. Once she and Lilia were chatting, when Yuri noticed those glances, they were also accompanied by a much softer look from Lilia. Yuri hadn't had time to sulk until now. With the lights down and couples on the dance floor, aside from one final act as a driver, he was done for the day. If this had been last year, he'd have whatever boyfriend he had at the time on the dance floor, or he'd just be unabashedly flirting with whoever was available. Instead, he was sitting there and trying to not let his eyes wander over to Dmitrii.
Shortly before the 'puppy toss' where Victor and Yuuri were each going to throw a plush dog to the guests who were not married to see who would be next to get married or adopt a dog, Yuri's eyes met Dmitrii's. He needed to get out of here. He needed to just not be here -- at least not for this one event.
With just a few glances, Yuri slipped away to walk out of the reception room and into the hallway. It wasn't completely empty, but it was so much quieter. It only took a moment for Dmitrii to be by his side, "How are you doing?"
"Wishing this was over? I'm just .. tired." He wasn't just tired. It wasn't a lie, it was more of a shorthand for how he was really feeling, and he knew that Dmitrii would understand.
"My Yura, I want to make this better. I --"
"No. Anything you can do to make me feel better will cause drama, and it's just a few more hours, and then this will be over." Had Yuri wanted to try and catch a plush puppy and tease Dmitrii? Of course. Did he want to be pulled tight as a love song played and shuffle dance without even caring if he was moving in time to the music? Yes. What he actually needed was this. "Thank you for worrying about me."
"Always."
Oh, did he wish that always meant always. Tonight of all nights when eternal promises were being made, he wished for that more than anything.
"I --" Yuri's thought died on his lips as he spotted a familiar figure walking down the hallways from the restrooms. The long ponytail was a little worse for wear, and the pink dress a little disheveled, but that didn't stop Yuri from stopping mid-sentence to run over to the girl. The greenish pallor of Loop's skin answered everything so quickly. "Are you okay? What can I get you?"
"I think I just had too much buttercream."
"Oh, baby." He pulled her in, pressing her face to his shoulder as he looked at Dmitrii.
"I have some antacids in the car?" Dmitrii's voice had dropped to a soft worried tone as he looked at the sick girl.
"I don't want to worry my mom."
Oh, Yuri knew that tone. He understood. Yuuko had had triplets. The number of fun things she had been able to do since that event was almost zero. Tonight, she was having a fantastic time dancing with her husband at the wedding. "It's fine, Loop. It'll be fine. Do you just want to go lie down someplace?"
When the girl nodded, Yuri looked at Dmitrii, "I'm going to talk to Yuuko, and I'll take Loop home with me. Can you take the rest of them back to the hotel tonight? If not, I can drive--"
"No, that's fine. I'll take your car and drive them back when they're ready. Are you sure you want to leave?" It hurt that he was nearly positive that Yuri really did want to be anywhere but here.
"Yeah. I'm tired."
Dmitrii didn't think about how they had an audience and momentarily placed a hand on Yuri's waist. "Whatever works best for everyone, and I'll drive whoever to where ever."
"Thank you." Yuri really did mean that. He didn't want to be guilted into staying. He just wanted to leave, and this was a perfect excuse.
With a hand on Loop's shoulder, he found her parents. Then after assuring them that this was no problem by explaining he was tired and didn't mind leaving early, he left the venue to where Dmitrii had parked. This was not Yuri's car -- not even close. This was a very nice sports car. This was shiny, black, and precisely what you would think of when you imagine an older man having a midlife crisis and going to a car dealership.
Although Loop's eyes widened, Yuri didn't comment on the car. He just ensured she was safely buckled in before driving it carefully across town to the apartment. Yes, he pulled into the under-building garage all the time, and this wasn't the first time he had driven Dmitrii's car. He usually drove the more practical sedan or his own glorified station wagon, but he had driven this car before. He still hated how tight it felt pulling in and parking. Not that Dmitrii would begrudge him any accidents. He did manage to park without anything happening and then led Loop to the elevator so they could get to the apartment.
"We'll see if you feel up to going back to the hotel tonight. Otherwise, we'll just keep you here until morning."
The apartment still smelt like roses. The huge bouquet of flowers took over the coffee table in the main room. "Do you want a shower or to just change into something comfortable?" He entered the bedroom, leaving the door open as he dug around for leggings and a T-shirt. It would be too big on the girl's small frame, but at least she would be more comfortable.
"I think just … maybe just get the makeup off?"
Yuri walked back out with a package of makeup wipes, some cleanser, and the clothes. "Here you go, the bathroom is right there. Take your time. I'm going to make some tea to try and settle your stomach."
By the time Loop was back wearing the oversized clothes, he had a pillow and a few blankets on the couch. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep, curled up under the blankets on the couch with Potya snuggled to her legs.
Yuri knew that Yuuko would worry, so a quick picture of the sleeping girl was sent to her with the caption, 'She's feeling a little better, mostly just tired now.'
With her asleep, there wasn't much to do. Yuri didn't want to turn on the TV in case it woke Loop up, but he also didn't want to scroll through his phone for fear of seeing wedding pictures. If he really wanted to hurt, he'd look at Dmitrii's old wedding pictures. Yuri knew where those were in the closet. Instead, he poured himself a glass of wine and picked up a book. Maybe people would be surprised that he read, but those were people that didn't remember how long he had lived with Lilia.
After half the glass, the wine was forgotten as the pages turned as if on their own. Then Yuri heard a key in the lock. He had forgotten his phone was on silent for the wedding, so the text from Dmitrii had been missed. He quickly checked that he hadn't missed anything more important, but no one else had messaged him aside from the reply from Yuuko expressing her gratitude.
"I thought you would both be asleep." Dmitrii's voice was a soft whisper as he walked over to where Yuri was setting the book aside.
"I would have been pretty soon." He had changed into a T-shirt and some joggers and even grabbed his pillow and a blanket.
"I told Yuuko and her husband that since you didn't reply, you were --"
"I forgot I still had it on silent."
"It's fine, baby." A soft kiss was pressed to Yuri's forehead as he was held close.
"This is what I need." He let himself go limp against Dmitrii, just feeling how he was supported by the other man's arm.
"Do you want to come to bed?" He let his fingers run through that soft blond hair as he asked.
Yuri sighed, looking from the couch to the bedroom door, "Yes, but I think it would be better if I slept on the couch in case Loop wakes up or needs anything."
"Whatever you think is best." This time the kiss was to the lips, long and lingering after having been so close but so far apart at the same time.
"I missed you." It didn't matter that it had been in the same room. The longing looks across a dancefloor that neither of them crossed left a mark on the night.
"I missed you, too, my precious Yura." Dmitrii's fingers entwined into Yuri's hair as his head was moved back to arch his neck. Softly, Dmitrii's lip's pressed to the now exposed adam's apple, lightly sucking on that so delicate protuberance,
Yuri felt his knees weaken, but Dmitrii's arms held him up. He couldn't completely stop the soft whimper from his lips.
As Dmitrii pulled back a little, that teasing look that Yuri loved so much graced him. "If you change your mind."
"I know. Good night, Mitya. I'll see you in the morning."
As Dmitrii left, Yuri sighed before finishing the leftover wine in the glass and then lying down on the second couch. He was exhausted and completely missed that Loop's eyes were open, having witnessed Dmitrii's return.
In the morning, she would be brought back to her parents. She wouldn't say a word about knowing about Dmitrii.