@bledlose said: it's an impulsive thing, the hug. viktor had become overwhelmed with the simple act of five smoothing the wrinkles on his cuff- the cuff of the suit's dress shirt, something so new, so freeing, so right- that he could do nothing but pull him close. smile tucked into shoulder, it's startlingly warm. 'thank you, this...'' voice unsteady, it takes a moment for it to rise above a ghost of a whisper. 'this means so much to me, five. thank you.'' - & then the moment is gone, and viktor is pulling away again, turning his attention back to himself in the mirror.
there was no universe, no time, he had expected to live long enough to be doing something so menial. he’s reminded, again, of what he’s missed in his decades away. that he was simply not there — that what he did know, he had gleaned from viktor’s own words — from a tattered copy of his tell-all, in the skeleton of a apocalyptic library. so, perhaps he doesn’t have much to draw on. but he doesn’t think he can recall a time, even back in the academy days, that viktor had ever looked so relaxed. happy.
mostly, five remembers a viktor that had made himself invisible in a given room, silent at the dinner table. or perched on those big oak stairs, watching while the rest of them waited in line to have the umbrella etched into each of their wrists. five had sat in front of him after it was said and done, and fixed the imitation lines of permanent marker for him. don’t let dad see it. he’ll flip.
five comes back to himself, standing about as tall as he was back then, next to viktor in the mirror; what a goddamn cosmic joke. five sighs lightly; ❝ call it making up for lost time. ❞ he rolls his eyes as he finishes adjusting his brother’s cufflinks; ❝ besides. i wouldn’t exactly be doing you any favours, letting you walk around dressed like one of our dimwit brothers, ❞ five says, frowning up at him. luther’s enthusiasm to foist his oversized hand-me-downs onto the both of them was endearing, admittedly — but completely useless.
was viktor smiling? it distracts him enough that he’s unprepared for the sudden display of affection that follows. the motion is fleeting — nearly careless in nature, but five only stiffens. the embrace isn’t even long enough for him to react, but it punches the words clean out of him, jams the ever-turning wheels in his head to a full-stop. he curls his fingers into his palms. the moment is gone, and five clears his throat. ❝ …you’re welcome, viktor, ❞ he manages, after a moment. his expression regains its neutral furrow, and he claps a hand on viktor’s shoulder as he passes. there’s something less tight, and less terse, in his face. ❝ i’m... happy that you’re happy. ❞