Work Text:
”Yuuri!” Phichit beamed as he picked up his best friend from the airport. “How was your trip? Are your parents well?”
“My parents are doing well. The trip as always was long and I’m so tired,” Yuuri sighs hoisting up his bag. “I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed.”
Phichit laughs, “I bet so. Come on, i have to catch you up on everything in the office. We got a couple new guys, Christophe and Viktor. Nice guys, started right after you went back to Japan.”
Yuuri listens intently as they navigate through the airport. It had been a while since Celistino hired new employees. The business was growing now that they had a website. ‘Always start small.’ Celistino always told them.
“What department are they in?,” he asked, throwing his luggage in the trunk of their shared car.
“Oh, well they are still in limbo as far as departments go. You’re the one that can tell where they fit best.” Phichit smirked then, “i have a feeling though that you’re going to like Viktor.”
Sighing, Yuuri turned to his friend, “And why is that exactly, Peach?”
”Oh, no reason,’ He giggled ducking into the car.
”Can we just go home then? I really need a shower and my bed.” Yawning, he buckled his seatbelt.
The drive from the airport to their shared apartment was longer than usual. Detroit traffic always got extra congested when the Lions had a home game. The bars were over filled, the streets covered in a sea of blue and silver, and loud with fans. Yuuri didn’t understand the fascination of American Football. He liked the simplicity of ice skating. It was solitary and peaceful.
Finally they pulled into their complex. “I’ll grab your bags, you go up first,” Phichit patted his shoulder.
”Thanks, Peach,” his smile tired as he opened the door. “I appreciate it.”
He trudged up the walk and into the elevator, pushing the number to their floor.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-
“Viktor! Christophe!” Celistino called from his office. “I have a job for you!”
The pair came to see what the boss needed. “Yes, sir?” Christophe smiled.
”Our business manager is coming back today. Could the both of you please go get the office some breakfast and coffee to celebrate his return?” His bright booming voice filling the room.
”Of course. We would love to!” Viktor’s enthusiasm was apparent.
Excusing themselves, they got to work. They had only been in the office for about a month. They heard stories about the Japanese man. How he and the media manager, Phichit, went to college together being made roommates by chance. Celistino had been one of their professors, later becoming their friend and starting their business.
The morning air was brisk, but not uncomfortably so. “Vitya, that little shop on the corner has the best sweet rolls, let’s go there first,” Christophe pointed to the Italian bakery.
Nodding in agreement, Viktor followed his friend. “What kind of coffee do you think he will like?” He wanted to make the best impression on the man he would be working closely with.
”Well,” Christophe contemplated, “He’s Japanese, so maybe he would rather have Oolong tea?”
”That’s a great point. I’ll get him one of each just in case,’ Viktor decided.
Walking into the bakery, the bell ringing behind them, the owner’s daughter greeted them with a smile, “Good morning, Christophe! Who is your dreamy friend?”
Laughing he answered, “This is Viktor, Sara. Viktor, this is Sara. Her family runs this bakery.”
”Very nice to meet you, Sara,” Viktor smiled.
“SARA!” A voice from the kitchen echoed. “STOP FLIRTING WITH THE CUSTOMERS AND DO YOUR JOB!”
Sara let out a puff of air turning around. “MICKEY! FOR THE LAST TIME I HAVE TO BE NICE TO THE CUSTOMERS! DAD SAID YOU ARE TOO RUDE!”
The men gave each other a look. Neither one understanding the exchange.
Sara took a deep breath turning back to the pair, “Sorry about my brother. He refuses to be kind to male customers and thinks I’m flirting with every man.” She leaned over the counter and half whispered, “I have a girlfriend. Mickey just refuses to acknowledge it.”
That was a lot of information Viktor didn’t ask for. “Could we get a dozen of your best sweet rolls?”
”Yes of course!”
A few minutes later they were on their way to the coffee shop.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-
“Yuuri!” Celistino bellowed across the office. “How was your trip? Family doing well?”
“Oh! Um… it was good considering,” Yuuri adjusted his glasses. “My family was happy to see me.”
“I'm glad you got to go spend much need time with them,” Celistino clapped Yuuri’s shoulder. “I sent Viktor and Chris off to get us breakfast for your return. We'll have a welcome gathering once they return.”
“Sounds great, of you'll excuse me I should get caught up in my office,” Yuuri smiled.
About an hour into his email replies, there's a knock at the door, “Yuuri, I've decided we're going to do a secret santa now that there are more people in the office.” Phichit invites himself into the small space, sitting on the corner of the desk.
“Sounds fun, P. I really need to get these caught up,” Yuuri responds not looking up. “Just draw for me and I'll…” he glaces up as there is a slight commotion in the hall.
Who is that? Yuuri thinks swallowing hard. The man was gorgeous. Tall, lean, big smile, laugh like music.
Fingers snap in his face breaking him out of his trance. “Earth to Yuuri!”
“Oh.. um, what did you say?”
“It's not important,” Phichit laughs. “Come on, looks like Chris and Viktor are back.”
As they all file into the meeting room, Yuuri ends up sitting across from Viktor. He smiles awkwardly to the Russian as their boss starts the meeting.
“Yuuri, again it's great having you back, let me introduce our newest members, Viktor and Chrishophe,” he gestures towards the pair.
“It is very nice to meet you finally,” Viktor smiles warmly. “Phichit has told us many things about you.”
Yuuri flushes at that. “Oh, um. I'm glad. I look forward to working with you both.”
“Ciao ciao, can I bring up a fun idea I had now that Yuuri is back?” Phichit bounces in his seat.
“Yes of course!” Celistino replies.
“Okay, since now we have a bigger team, I thought it would be great to do a secret santa!” Phichit beamed. “I have already written everyone's name on a slip of paper and we will draw. Gifts are due to your person no later than next week.”
“That's not a very long time frame, Peach,” Yuuri noticed.
“It's supposed to be fun, Yuuri,” Phichit laughs.
Hours later , Yuuri is back in his office trying to work. He had drawn Viktor’s name. He didn't know the gorgeous man at all. How was he going to get him a gift?
-*-*-*-*-*-*-
The week pressed on. Yuuri forgetting all about the gift exchange until the night before they were supposed to deliver. He remembered his mother sent home chocolate and other goodies from back home. “Perfect!” He would not go in empty handed.
The morning came, Yuuri all a mess trying to get out the door. I'm his hate he grabbed the wrong gift bag on the counter as he rushed out.
Arriving in a whirlwind to the office, he quickly placed the bag on Viktor’s desk. An hour later as he walked to get more coffee he noticed his mistake.
Crap.
He found Viktor in the break room chatting with Chris. “Um, Viktor?” He tapped the man's shoulder.
“Yuuri! Thank you for the gift!” Viktor's heart shaped smile was blinding.
“Oh, um, you're welcome, but I grabbed the wrong bag out the door this morning. Uh, the chocolate in there is expired,” Yuuri blushed in embarrassment.
“Oh! Well that's alright,” the Russian began.
“No! I mean no it's not,” he interrupted. “Let me take you out for coffee to make up for it. Please?”
“Are you asking me out on a date?” Viktor teased.
“What? Um. Ah. No?”
“I would love to go out for a coffee date,” he winked.
Yuuri blinked. “D-do you have time now?”
“Let me grab my jacket,” Viktor's sing song voice already out to get his things.
“Get him a little something extra?” Chris paused at the door. “His birthday is Christmas day.”
“Oh. OH! Ok yes I'll be sure to do that,” Yuuri promised. “Thank you for the tip.”
-*-*-*-*-*-*-
“So, Yuuri,” Viktor began holding the door open. “What kind of things are there to do around Detroit? This is my first major holiday here.”
“Well there’s the winter markets, shopping, ice skating in the park. If you can think it we can probably find it.”
“Ice skating?! I love ice skating. Used to take lessons when I was younger.”
“Let's get the coffee first, hmmm?” Yuuri pulled his collar up.
The pair went to Yuuri’s favorite coffee shop. The Russian getting the biggest, surgery concoction he could find on the menu and the Japanese getting a simple ginger tea. They walked around the small market set up as the chatted and enjoyed their drinks.
”What are your plans for the holiday?” Viktor asked as he raised his glass again.
“Oh well since i just came back from Japan, I’ll probably just stay home and watch movies. How about you? Chris said your birthday is coming up, any plans to celebrate that?” Yuuri asked.
”Well Chris will be going back home for the holiday, so I guess Makkachin and I will just stay home. I don’t really know anyone else here and Russians celebrate Christmas in January.”
”Oh.” Yuuri looked at his feet. “Who’s Makkachin?”
”Makkachin is my poodle. She’s my best friend,” he pulls out his phone to share a picture.
”She’s beautiful! I used to have a toy poodle that looked just like her. His name was Vicchan. He was the reason i went back home.” He smiled sadly at the memory.
”Had?” Viktor asked raising an eyebrow.
Yuuri laughed nervously, “My sister wasn’t watching him and he got into some steamed buns. He must have eaten the whole tray before she caught him, but by then it was too late. She called me in a panic and I rushed there. I arrived too late to say goodbye. He was my best friend too.”
”Oh how awful! I will bring Makka to visit you. Everyone needs a dog in my opinion.” Viktor sympathized.
”I’d love that,” Yuuri smiled. “How about you and Makka come and spend the holiday at my apartment? No use us both being alone and we can make food and what ever you’d like.”
”That sounds lovely! Thank you, Yuuri.”
Yuuri blushed at the way Viktor spoke his name. “This has been fun by the way. I usually don’t get to be out with anyone besides Phichit. Are you hungry? Lunch is on me too.” He was hopeful to spend as much time as he could with the beautiful man beside him.
It was Viktor’s turn to blush, “I am a bit peckish. Can we go to your favorite place? I’m afraid I’m only familiar with a few places.”
Laughing, Yuuri turns slightly, “Come on, there’s a place that reminds me of my mother’s food nearby.”
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Phichit’s voice billowed from the phone speaker, “Yuuri, everything will be fine. Breathe.”
”I can’t, Peach! What if he steps foot in here, sees all my stuff, and thinks ‘Wow. This guy has no life.’ Then turns around and leaves?”
”From what I saw last week when the two of you came back he could not stop looking at you. I don’t think you have to worry. Chris and I agree on this.”
GROAN
“You think so? I mean being around him makes me feel at home. Does that make any sense? He’s attractive, funny, and super sweet.”
”Yuuri, don’t overthink it. You two have chemistry and we all can see it.”
There was a knock at the door. “Oh! He’s here. Thanks for the chat, Peach. I’ll text you later.”
”Bye, Yuuri. Have a great time!”
Heading to the door, he wipes his hands on the small apron he has on. “Hey, Vi-“ Yuuri is tackled by a large fluffy dog.
“Makka! Get off of him!” Viktor laughs as the pooch greets the shorter man excitedly on the floor. “I’m so sorry, Yuuri. She must sense you love dogs.”
The laugh coming from Yuuri is like music, deep and warm. “Oh, hello Makka you sweet girl. Do you want some treats?” He manages to get up, scratching the dog behind the ears. “Come on in, Viktor. I have food in the oven, drinks in the fridge, and food and treats for this sweet girl.”
“Wow! Yuuri, I didn’t realize you cooked,” hanging his coat up, Viktor follows the Japanese man.
“Oh, yeah,” Yuuri opens the oven, “My mother made sure I knew how to take care of myself before I came to the US for college.”
”There is so much more I need to know about you,” Viktor slid into a stool, watching Yuuri closely.
The next few hours went by in a slow rush. Filled with laughter, drinks, and food. They shared stories of their past and their hopes for the future. Neither one noticing how they were inching ever so slightly closer to one another.
“You and Phichit got into a lot of mischief in college,” Viktor commented at the current story, placing his hand on Yuuri’s knee.
“Well it was mostly Phichit dragging me along, but yeah without him I suppose I would have been very introverted. I was lucky to have been roommates with him.”
Viktor hung on every word uttered from Yuuri’s lips. “Yuuri?”
”Yes, Viktor?” He noticed the slight flush of Viktor’s cheeks from the wine.
“Does the night need to end?” He was entirely too tipsy to make it home safe and Yuuri could tell.
“I still have one more thing for you to make up for my horrible job on that gift,” he stood going to the kitchen. There he grabbed a small cake out of a box, placing one candle and lighting it. “I hope chocolate cake it alright?” Yuuri placed the confection down on the table. “Happy Birthday, Viktor.”
The lights from Yuuri’s Christmas tree turned on just then, casting a warm glow across Viktor’s surprised face. “Oh! Oh, Yuuri, no one has ever gotten me a cake. Thank you, really.”
”You’re welcome, Viktor,” Yuuri whispered. This, he thought, has been the best holiday. “Make a wish.” He sat next to Viktor.
Closing his eyes to make a wish, Viktor gently blew out the flame. This is the best birthday he thought.
“What did you wish for?” Yuuri asked.
”To spend more birthdays and holidays with you,” Viktor wistfully replied. “You’ve made this move here more bearable. I’m happy I chose to move here.”
”I think that sounds like a wonderful wish. Once that we can make happen,” Yuuri smiled at him. “We still have new years and Russian Christmas right?”
”Oh you would want to spend that with me too?” He was surprised.
“If you’ll let me. I know we haven’t know each other more than a month, but I am excited to do more together.”
Makka let out a snore making the pair laugh. “Then my wish has already started coming true.” Viktor’s heart shaped smile even brighter than the Christmas lights around them.
-*-*-*-*-*-
Happy Holidays!!!