#cheesecakeportfolio

[yurionice-secretsanta]

To @xsopan From @cheesecakeportfolio

[tea-and-finalfantasy]

@cheesecakeportfolio 💛  @akatsuki-gift-exchange ❤️

konan and itachi teaching each other things they’re good at! cute and shippy and just short of being late, haha (also idk why i can’t write in one tense anymore? idk why i switch so often from past to present????)

but i hope you enjoy this and that it’s a good start to the new year! 💙

The plants lining the inner steps out to the porch crept their tendrils up to the tops of the windows, using the plastic frames as steps towards the sun. They reached for any glimpse of light amidst heavy rain and drank whatever sunlight cracked through the clouds before it could even consider lighting the insides of the house.

She sat just within that range of cool gray light and didn’t notice him enter the attached kitchen area, too focused on the last of it illuminating just her hands. She was folding paper with her fingertips, not creasing with her nails, but could set the frame firmly, pushing the finished flowers towards any vacant table space.

Forgoing heading back to his room, he sat across from her and poured half his freshly brewed afternoon coffee into a mug for her. She drank it without question, as if it were routine, not a fast twitch thing. His stomach rolled over so dizzily it was almost painful but he drank quickly over it, sure to look her in the eyes.

She slid him the last of the construction paper, stretching outside the reach of daylight. “If made with thin enough paper, the light will seep through,” she said, reaching across the table to cup his hands and move his fingers to fold.

After guiding him through those same meticulous, mathematical steps, she relaxed back into own work, shifting to a thinner medium.

As he folds something wrong, unfolds it, and folds it that same wrong way again, he realizes that her roses are made of cardstock and self-contain themselves in an infinite hold. He assumes holding her hands would be the same: as if time has stopped for the plants, the afternoon sky, they themselves- the skin thin enough to feel the thrum of one’s own blood in the fingers curled underneath.

Her other masterpieces wilt loosely with gravity and the table kaleidoscopes over the glass, even as the sun dies and the sky relights itself with snow. Her cranes were the most put together but his (even the messier ones) she said should not be wasted and were propped up in the bookshelves- her cubes and pyramids (made with heavier paper) decorating the tabletops.

He took one horrendously made, almost 2D crow, and taped it above his bed’s headboard so that if he lies down, its beak is just within in sight. It’s dinky and uneven but is his favorite for those reasons and judging by her quiet laughter and sweet smile, it’s hers too.

When he returned to the kitchen, ready to make a second coffee and only consider eating something with it, he found her filing through the fridge, making note of its contents but not decisively enough to settle on something.

“Looking for anything in particular?” he asked, switching on the kettle.

“You make omelets well, don’t you?” she asks back, taking out their half-empty carton of eggs.

He nods and she whispers that she can’t cook, talking so quietly he can hear the wind rush over the windows, but looks at him so honestly its dull. He blushes as if she’s said something inappropriate.

Soon the sink’s overhead bulbs light the kitchen warmly in the same egg yolk color smeared on her fingers and across her palms. He snaps his wrist and the white bubbles out easily but for some reason she’s heavy handed with this- smashing the shell so that the outsides hang loosely off the membrane and fall into the yolk.

Perhaps it’s because it’s uncontrolled in comparison to origami- even with his expertise, it could always end up breaking, as an earthquake makes no even cracks- but he moves her hand with the same force and thankfully its a successful snap with the yolk perfectly intact.

He knows the exact heat level to cook it on, how long to cook it for, at what temperature the butter melts and when it starts to burn, and how to flip the solidifying omelet without using two spatulas. The kitchen heats up quickly despite the snow caking the porch’s glass door and the room’s high windows but she still closes the curtain- to keep that lovely glow in, to keep them suspended in this atmosphere for as long as possible.

As she sits down to eat, he swaps their plates and takes a bite of her cooking before she can say anything to stop him; he’s never seen her so surprised and she’s never seen him so spontaneous and it takes them both a moment to resettle. He finishes first and tosses everything into the dishwasher, whether it belongs there or not. She thanks him for dinner with a firm hand on his shoulder and moves to recline on the couch, asking him something without words.

He feels foolish as he stumbles over, so thrown by everything she does, no matter how intricate or simple.  He nestles his head into the crook of her neck and it doesn’t feel at all unexpected, as if that’s all they’d been doing today and all the days previous. As if that’s all they would do now, past the known future and into the infinite. Maybe it was fine, he thought, as he noticed her ear piercings were a little uneven ear to ear: that her omelet crisped just a bit close to burnt, that his crows were flat and his cubes unstructured and collapsing, that neither of them were much for talking and to other people, whatever this is would always seem cold.

But he could feel her skin tighten just below her chin in a smile and that tightness was instinctively reflected back inside himself, forcing his nose closer to her veins: to feel her heartbeat and conceal his face.

Whatever this was, whatever this would become, was more than fine. Complicated, but he could crack it. Unpredictable, but he could calculate it: he knows what’ll happen if he moves from her shoulder, if he moves his head to look at her.

She kisses him through a smile and he’s already smiling back.

[yurionice-secretsanta]

To @cheesecakeportfolio From @awesome-cookies-and-cream

The Winter Solstice ball was one of the most prestigious balls of the entire year in this country. Not only was it the founding year if this kingdom, it also happened to be the moon gods and goddesses' birthday.

Only the most regal of all the gods are invited, the richest and most powerful.

"You know that's actually just a formality and they literally would just accept anybody who hauls their ass up there. There were even rumors of a mortal who got in by mistake right?" Phichit, the messenger god of the heavens said. Yuuri wasn't exactly sure how they became friends. The messenger just seemed to have stuck around a couple of millennia ago and Yuuri didn't really mind. Actually he was too shy to ask at this point. It just happened and that was that.

Yuuri busied himself with the coffee he was brewing. "Yeah but I don't think the celestial palace would appreciate having the god of death in their palace when it's literally the moons' birthdays."

Yuuri rang up the next order. A soul in the line accepted it graciously and bowed to the god in thanks. Yuuri waved the gratitude off easily.

"You say it as if being a god if death is such a grim thing. I mean you literally brew coffee in your past time. You're probably the most approachable god there is," Phichit replied. "I mean nobody would expect to be in a coffee shop when they die."

Yuuri entered the kitchen. He started on the desserts. He baked when he became stressed. "People sometimes couldn't accept their death you know. They either died violently, or parting with their loved ones became too painful. It's nice to enter the afterlife with a warm reception."

"Case in point." Phichit said, floating towards Yuuri's side. The god of death huffed and started beating the eggs on the bowl with enthusiasm.

"I'm busy with welcoming the dead anyway. It's not like people stop dying because it's winter solstice." Yuuri added the flour and yeast.

"You can give that to your servants. In fact all you really need to do us sit on your throne and discuss politics. At least that's what they do at the celestial palace." Phichit shrugged.

"As if I don't do plenty of that already." Yuuri rolled his eyes. Yuuri hated that aspect of his responsibility most of all. Political disputes were the worst. There weren't really many. In fact everything had been prosperous so far. There really isn't that many things the dead can do. Yuuri wanted to think he's governing his domain well.

He was lucky enough not to attend council on the celestial palace every decade. He's lucky enough to not need to show his face to the other gods. Except a handful, like Phichit. One does not escape the messenger god, even if you are the god of death.

Either way, Yuuri preferred brewing tea and coffee. He liked baking sweets and welcoming new people and talking to them, learning their lives. Yuuri loved this idea of his more than anything.

"Everybody will be giving their offering to the moons." Phichit pointed out.

"And I will give mine, like I always do every year." By asking the merpeople sing and by letting a thousand fireflies loose. He does this whenever they start to dance. Oh and when they do start, the world just seem so stop. Yuuri would leave the underworld to watch.

"Don't you wish to see them up close this year?" Phichit meant well, but Yuuri was suddenly so tired.

"I think I'm good," Yuuri tried to smile. "Don't you have like, a dozen other gods to invite?"

"Oh fuck!" Phichit yelped. "Thanks for reminding! I gotta go!" He wooshed out of the underworld in haste.

-

Every god and goddess desire to marry a moon. The seven moons were the most beautiful and stunning beings in the known world their dances were something to die for. It is an honor for a mortal to see their dance at least once in a lifetime.

As a god, seeing their dance was a pleasure of being immortal.

Yuuri thought so as he stared up at the shining deities in the sky and they looked lovely with their every movement. He stayed up on the tallest tree on the tallest mountain and watched the sky as the dance started. Their silver dresses glimmered in the dark, bringing a soft glow in the night. And they look stunning. Yuuri was in awe.

The fireflies and the mermaids were singing sweetly in honor of the moons, because Yuuri asked them so. The birds too joined in the fun.

And Yuuri.

Yuuri felt inspiration from the beautiful sight. The music was loud and he might be just a little drunk on wine which tasted sweet on his tongue.

So he danced. And danced. And he danced the night away. Forgetting everything with every cup of wine he drank.

-

Yuuri felt like shit the next day.

He crawled out of his bed looking like death and plague.

"Stop being dramatic. You technically are death incarnate. It's literally your job description." Yuko's admonishing voice did little to help to Yuuri's hangover. It's strange how one can rule over the afterlife and still somehow get wasted over wine.

Yuko was Yuuri's right hand. She watched over the underworld whenever Yuuri was out. Which was almost never. Except last night. He was out getting shit faced drunk last night.

Yuuri's day wasn't exactly the best. Despite his hangover, he had duties to attend to, plans to approve, souls to welcome and comfort, coffee to brew.

"You can always take a break you know. I'm sure you're subjects won't mind you sleeping in for a day."

When Yuko told him that, Yuuri merely gave him an affronted look and continued brewing coffee and tea. However, Yuuri can't escape the hangover for so long.

"Ugh. I'm never drinking again." Yuuri murmured as he hauled his body to his personal springs. It was convenient to have an entire bath for himself. "I'm going for a bath."

Yuko followed him to his bath chamber. "Should I send in Minami to wait on you?"

"Goodness no! Get him away from me until my hangover pass!" He yelled. Yuuri casted an entire wall to prevent anyone from entering inside. He wanted to bathe alone thank you very much. Yuko simply giggled with glee.

Yuuri started to strip his robes. First taking off the sash on his waist and then the kimono that was heavy on his shoulders. He folded his glasses gingerly and set them on the side. When he was completely naked, he dipped slowly to the hot water, closed his eyes in bliss, and let out a loud moan.

"Long day?"

"Yeah." Yuuri replied without opening his eyes. Nothing beats a soak in the springs. The throbbing in his head subsided a bit and he might just stay here for the rest of the day. He let out a contented sigh.

This was good. This was great. This was relaxing. Therapeutic. There was a man in the bath lounging next to him in his personal hot springs, probably all stark naked and staring at Yuuri with interest. Everything was soothing to his muscles.

Yuuri's eyes shot open.

There was a man stark naked in his bath and staring at him with interest.

Most importantly, this was the most famous moon god, Victor Nikiforov. In his hot springs. Stark naked. Staring at Yuuri with interest.

"Eeehhhhhhhhhhhhhh????!!!"

-

"Say Yuuri, I don't know how to say this but what the fuck?" Yuko's mouth fell open when he saw the moon god sleeping on Yuuri's bed, half naked and surrounded by flower petals. Yuuri hurriedly shushed her.

"I know Yuko. You don't need to remind me." Yuuri grumbled while signing a couple of paperwork on his desk. You'd be surprised to know that the afterlife worked on bureaucracy. In fact Yuuri wanted to push for democracy, but for some reason the dead didn't want to deal with who was leading them. For now he settled on a constitutional monarchy.

"What is Victor Nikiforov doing here of all places? In your bed most of all and looking like," Yuko moved with frantic gestures. "Like that?" He pointed. Her voice was shrill despite whispering and Yuuri seriously didn't need more of this.

"I don't know Yuko," Yuuri set his pen on the desk with a sigh. "Heck he'd be back to the celestial palace by now if I knew." He rubbed his temples.

"You didn't sleep with him, did you?" Yuko asked when she finally calmed down.

"Yuko!" Yuuri blushed till the tip of his ears.

"What? He seemed utterly blissful if you know what I mean." Yuko studied the figure closer.

"He took a soak in the springs and fell asleep," Yuuri pushed his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "Honestly I was surprised to find him in the bath."

It took him quite some time to persuade the man into leaving the springs and changing into something slightly decent. There went Yuuri's precious alone time.

"Hhnmnm..." The moon god stirred from his sleep. Yuuri and Yuko held their breath and paused. Then he woke, brilliant blue eyes greeting dark brown ones. His long silver hair was tousled in his sleep.

"Oh! He's awake." Yuko whispered.

The moon god blinked, as if confused. Then he took in his surroundings as if he had forgotten where he was.

"I'm hungry.." He muttered.

Yuuri jolted at the sudden declaration. "Uhhh...is there anything you want to eat?"

The moon god turned his gaze at him and suddenly Yuuri was aware how bright those eyes were. "Hmm..what's your favorite food? I think I want to know."

Yuuri turned to Yuko for help. If you look close enough, you could see the panic written in Yuuri's eyes. "Uhh...Yuko..?"

But Yuko paid him no mind. She flashed a grin on the moon god and said. "I'll bring two bowls of Kastudon right away, your majesties." Maybe to escape the room. Maybe just to bring him trouble, either way, Yuuri nearly gave a shriek for help. Being with the moon god was too much at once.

"Is something the matter?"

"N-nothing!" Yuuri was quick to reassure. Thankfully, Yuko was quick to comeback with two steaming bowls of katsudon. That was fast.

"Here we go you're majesties!" Yuko said.

"Wow!" The moon god exclaimed. He picked up the chopsticks and dug in. "Vkusno!"

Yuuri dug in his own bowl of katsudon. Occasionally, he would look at the moon god. Each and every time. The moon god would be staring back. Each and every time, Yuuri would avert his gaze wuickly.

Yuuri can't handle the look the moon god was giving him. Especially when he tilted Yuuri's chin to meet his gaze.

"Yuuri," he said and Yuuri's world stopped for all he could see was the deity before him. "I think we should build trust in our relationship, no?" Yuuri could smell the scent of Jasmine and lilies and just a hint of Yuuri's bath oils and he was too close too close too close too close-

Yuuri scrambled back without grace or dignity. It was all too much at once! He flushed red with the proximity of the moon god. Were the moons really this tactile?

"What's wrong?" He asked Yuuri with this confused look that somehow still looked so adorable it's unfair! And Yuuri should be the one confused here.

I just-" Yuuri took a sharp inhale. "What are you doing here?"

Victor tilted his head, silver hair falling gracefully like a waterfall. "You don't remember last night?"

Last night was the solstice ball. Last night he remembered watching the moons dance, last night he was dancing to the songs of the merpeople with the light of the fireflies, last night he getting plastered with wine....

The rest of it was blurry. Yuuri felt a headache coming just thinking about it.

"How cruel!" The moon deity wailed. "Last night was the best night of my life! It was my first time after all! And you forgot about it? Oh you cruel thing!"

Yuuri's cheeks burnt. He didn't actually mean he slept with him last night right? "W-wait! What was your first time last night? What did we do?!" Yuuri can feel the panic rising in his body.

"It's my first time in the underworld of course!" He pouted with petulance. "You showed me around and danced with me till dawn, only for you to forget it!'

On one hand, Yuuri was thoroughly relived because he didn't do anything that might have caused trouble. On the other hand, the moon deity saw him absolutely make an utter fool of himself in his drunken stupor.

"I was," Yuuri bowed his head in embarrassment. "I was drunk last night. I tend to black out when I've passed a certain limit. Whatever happened last night, I am so sorry."

Victor Nikiforov stared at him with this undescribable look. Yuuri couldn't look him in the eye.

And then, Victor Nikiforov stood up and left. Just like that. Without any other word.

Yuuri tried to quash the feeling of disappointment in his chest. But that was that. And he probably would never see him again. Yuuri sighed, rubbing his forehead. What a weird experience.

-

Yuuri hated mornings more than anything.

He stayed up the entire night to catch up all the things he missed and perhaps finish tomorrow's work. Then he could sleep in. The encounter with Victor stressed him too much that he ended up overworking. So now, he was going to sleep in. Without his alarm, he slumbered like the dead until past noon. He might understand now why he was the god of the dead.

He remembered groaning and putting his alarm on snooze. Or he thought he did. The godforsaken alarm did shut up at one point. Maybe he threw it away and it broke. Anyway Yuuri would bargain his divinity for additional five minutes of sleep.

He rolled over and hugged his pillows. He didn't really remember having a sturdy body length pillow. He wondered why it was very warm and comfortable. But it didn't matter. He sighed and went back to sleep for five more minutes.

"Yuuri." He stirred in his sleep. A soft whisper in his ears. "Yuuuri~'

He groaned and burrowed deeper into the pillow.

"It's already noon Yuuri." The voice said, fingers slowly caressing his back. Yuuri peeked at who was talking to him and blue eyes stared back.

"Hi." Victor smiled at him. "I'm back and I brought my things with me this time." He beamed. "You look really cute when you sleep you know?"

Yuuri knew he should scream, but honestly? He was too tired for this. If he didn't really think about it, maybe he could pretend that there wasn't a moon god lying next to him in bed, and he wasn't hugging him while he drooled in his sleep.

Instead all he did was shut his eyes and said:

"Wake me up after five minutes....yeah."

(Only when he woke up that afternoon did he give out a long a panicked scream.)

-

"Why would you even want to be here?" Yuuri tried to do his regular duties. However, a persistent moon god decided to follow him the entire day. Now the newly arrived souls were gaping at the shining god greeting them beside Yuuri, who looked plain and ordinary. One of them had even mistaken Yuuri as a servant. It was a child of course, so there wasn't any harm done. Even if they were an adult, Yuuri still wouldn't do anything, but it kind of did hit home. He didn't need to know how ungod-like he was.

Yuuri beat his egg whites faster. Victor's face when he saw how the underworld's reception is a coffee shop, was priceless.

"I told you. You invited me." He said while hovering over the counter. He seemed delighted at the array of pastries Yuuri created.

"When did I say that?" Yuuri handed the dessert to a waiting servant. She took some time staring at Victor before remembering to move on.

"You know when." He insisted. He didn't seem to notice the blatant staring.

"I don't really know. I don't get drunk often and when I do I forget about it the next day." Yuuri entered the kitchen in favor of running away from this conversation. Victor never really seemed to get the hint. So Yuuri was stress baking instead. Which was good because for some reason there were more people dying today than usual. Maybe the goddess of war had something to do with this. He'll have to send Minako a letter later.

"I don't really understand why you're so against my stay here." The god tried to sneak one brownie from the next plate. Yuuri swatted his hand and gave him a disapproving look.

Yuuri went back to making his icing.

"Don't you have responsibilities? Won't your siblings I don't know, wage some sort of war when they find out you're here the entire time? Won't they think I abducted you and held you against your will so that I can force you to be my spouse?" He asked in exasperation.

"Wow! What kind of novels are you reading Yuuri? Also these are very good." Victor was already munching on one of the macaroons to be served. Actually he got more than one.

Yuuri just sighed. "Just take it. The entire plate. And no, stop eyeing those tarts. I'll make you a separate batch."

The moon god's eyes sparkled with that said, he took Yuuri's hand, looked him in the eye with all seriousness. "Nothing bad will happen when you keep me here. I promise the moment I cause trouble, I will go back." 

"Oh alright," Yuuri groaned. "You basically want a vacation. You can stay."

Victor beamed so wide, he started to shine. Yuuri squinted at the brightness.

"Does that usually happen?" Yuuri asked.

"Only when we're feeling happy." The moon god looked so excited. "We moons tend to do that. We lose our shine when we're sad. Nothing to worry about."

Yuuri nodded. What mess had he gotten himself into? He merely took an éclair for himself.

"You know about what you said earlier, I don't really mind you making me your spouse." Victor said.

Yuuri choked on his éclair.

-

"So he's really going to stay here?" Yuko asked.

Yuuri tossed the project proposals on his desk. Everything was giving him a headache. Most of the proposals weren't even feasible.

"It's not like I can kick him out. I already tried that." Yuuri sighed.

Victor was roaming around his personal library and office. He was reading the books while Yuuri tried to do his work. He could see sudden bursts of light while the moon god ventured the other parts of the room.

"Does that usually happen?" Yuko asked when light bursted from somewhere in the history section.

"Only when he's happy." Yuuri replied. It was slightly endearing actually. He couldn't hide his feelings. "Anyway the reports tell me of a sudden increase of deaths. Please start an inquiry on the newcomers' deaths. But do it patiently. You might overwhelm them."

"Will do."

There was a sudden clatter of books from where Victor was. Yuko winced at the crash. Yuuri just sighed.

"Go. I'll handle this." Yuuri was already walking towards the history section. Yuko simply giggled at his plight.

When he saw Victor, he could see a dozen books scattered around the floor and his toy poodle on the moon god's chest, and Phichit sitting by the window. Victor was glowing.

"Yuuri, I didn't know you had your boyfriend over!" Phichit gave Yuuri a teasing smile. Yuuri blushed.

"He's not my boyfriend!" Yuuri murmured the same time Victor said. "I didn't know you had a poodle!"

"Yuuri had him sent to a healer since he seemed to be feeling off." Phichit explained to Victor.

"And I could have picked him up myself."

"The elusive Katsuki Yuuri, going up to the surface? Unbelievable!" 

"But Yuuri had been up the surface when we met." Victor piped up with wonder. "We met on the solstice you know. He asked me to live with him!"

Phichit just broke into a wide grin. "Yuuri you hoe."

"I was drunk." As if that everything.

“Sure you were.” Phichit replied. “Anyway, I heard you have something for the goddess of war?”

Yuuri conjured up a letter and handed it to Phichit. “Be gone you nosey god.”

Phichit bowed. “Do tell me when the wedding is on.”

“Phichit!”

-

"Oi Victor! There you are! You bastard! Open the door!"

A rather loud voice yelled from the other side of the door. Incessant knocking followed the demand.

"Oh dear. Who is it this time?" Yuuri rubbed his temples. Since Victor arrived, Yuuri's days had been out of schedule. It was barely a week since Phichit left. Yuuri opened the door and a kid stormed in the room without even acknowledgment for the death god.

"Victor!" He yelled at the moon god who was busy playing with Yuuri's poodle.

"Oh Yura! What are you doing here?" Victor seemed oblivious to the irritation of the latter.

"I should be asking you that you shithead!" The kid barked at Victor. Yuuri would have laughed at the comical scene if he weren't so confused.

"Excuse us. My uhh...husband means no harm." Another man entered the room. He looked muscular and serious, but perhaps just as exasperated as Yuuri. One look at him though and Yuuri knew something was off.

Mortal.

He knew then that this was Yuri Plisetsky, the first moon god who left the celestial palace and married a mortal. It had caused an uproar amongst the gods.

"Whatever it is you have to sort between yourselves, please don't break anything. I assure you, it's older than any of you." Yuuri spoke.

"Who the fuck are you?" Plisetsky hissed.

"I'm the god of death." Yuuri replied simply. He wondered if he needed to wear a sign so everyone would know who he was because he was almost certain even if he wore his imperial regalia, he would still be mistaken as a servant. With this Plisetsky's eyes widen.

"...You don't look anything like the god of death I had in mind. You look so..plain. What happened to your merciless stare?"  Plisetsky squinted. 

Yuuri simply sighed. As if Yuuri didn't need to know how dime-a-dozen he looked like. "So I've been told."

"Where's your horns? And your soul sucking eyes? Doesn't everything you touch die??!" Plisetsky started asking as if he was cheated. Yuuri was really starting to wonder where these rumors about him came from.

"Yura, calm down now." Victor appeased. He was still holding Yuuri's dog.

"Shut up! You aren't off the hook either." Plisetsky growled. "Why are you in the underworld? Is he holding you hostage?"

See. Yuuri knew this was going to happen. How did they manage to enter his palace seamlessly? Maybe it was time to hire security.

"You know Yura, you're not the only one who knows how to elope. You won't be the last one either." Victor grinned. Plisetsky did not appreciate that statement.

"Yes, but you decided you want to stick around with him of all people." Plisetsky snarled. 

"At least he's a god. I'm not the one who married a disgraced mortal." Oh and Victor's smile was vicious. There was tension in the room. Yuuri just wanted to do his work. The mortal looked ready to bolt, Plisetsky was itching to draw his sword, and Victor looked the same.

Yuuri did distinctly remember that the mortal was the only surviving member of the Altin clan. He survived because he was banished a year prior the entire clan entered war and died. He then became disgraced for not did not die with them. Which Yuuri thought was stupid. Why would he join the war when he was banished? Actually why would people find honor in dying? It just meant extra paperwork for him.

"Yuko!" Yuuri summoned his right hand. The woman appeared without missing a beat.

"Oh Yuuri. More guests?" Yuko giggled. "You've been having them a lot nowadays."

"Please just send them to a room or something. I'm getting a headache."

"Umm....Lord Katsuki, I'm sorry for Yura ahh...he means well." If Yuuri remembered correctly, his name was Otabek Altin. "And I'm sorry for suddenly barging in when you seem busy you're majesty."

Yuuri at the commotion before him and sighed. "Just call me Yuuri. Besides," He glanced at the man with a smile on their face. "What do you say about drinking tea with me?"

-

Somehow the palace managed to stay in one piece after that entire debacle, although barely. He did at least learn a few things such as:

1.) Otabek's favorite dessert was baursak which he helped make with Yuuri in the kitchens while the two moon gods bickered. 

2.) Plisetsky's favorite dessert was Piroshki which Otabek helpfully taught Yuuri after they made the baursak. (Allegedly Plisetsky was better at cooking the Piroshki)

3.) The moon gods were all drama queens.

4.) The only reason Plisetsky hated Yuuri was because he was afraid he would take Otabek someday since he was a mortal. He was also ready to fight Yuuri when the time came.

"You know, he could've just asked politely and I would've found a way." Yuuri sipped his tea. Otabek still looked pretty uncomfortable with having tea with the god of death so casually. Well Yuuri can't blame him. 

"Would you really?" He asked. 

"Well yeah. I could give him a plot of land here to live in so he could still see you. But I guess he would want you to be immortal. That's trickier. He'll have to plead to the higher council." Yuuri shrugged. "The plea can go through if the applicant has done a heroic deed or is deemed worthy."

At this Otabek looked disheartened. 

"But I'm starting to like you a lot Otabek Altin. So when the time does come, you need not to worry." 

Otabek laughed. "I still can't believe death ran on a bureaucracy." 

"Mhm...sometimes I can't either." Yuuri laughed with him. It was quite a ridiculous thought.

"Beka we're leaving!" Plisetsky glared at Yuuri. "What did you give him? Did you make him eat something so he can't leave the underworld anymore?"

"That's a myth. Seriously where are you getting these stories?" 

"That crazy messenger god told me since he's the only one who's ever seen you!" Plisetsky said.

"Oh Phichit." Yuuri wasn't even surprised anymore. 

"Come back soon Yura!" Victor entered the room looking so much more winded down.

"Fuck you Victor!" Plisetsky gave him a vulgar gesture. 

"Plisetsky." Yuuri said before the pair could leave.

"What?" He grumbled.

Yuuri took his hand and pressed something in it.

"So you won't have to worry." Yuuri whispered.

Plisetsky stared at the talisman on his hand and gaped.

Yuuri winked. "I only have so few of those so don't make me regret it. Don't tell anybody about it either."

Plisetsky furrowed his brows. "Whatever." He rolled his eyes as he pocketed the gift. But his eyes looked grateful.

Both of them left without any other word. When they were gone, Victor slid next to Yuuri and said. "You never told me you had a ward against death."

Yuuri chuckled. "I'm the god of death. Of course I would, though limited as they are."

"Kind of you to give Yura one."

"I like them. Plisetsky and his husband. It would be a shame to tear them apart." Yuuri smiled. He turned to Victor. "Now let's go bake some Piroshki."

-

Living with Victor fell in a routine, albeit a disorganized and mostly spontaneous one, it was a routine regardless. Most often both of them would go sightseeing.

("It's actually an inspection and survey."

"Don't be a spoilsport Yuuri. I'm enjoying the tour.")

And Victor would help in greeting the dead. In fact he’s taken a liking in spending time in the coffee shop.

(“You know I’m starting to think you made a coffee shop so you have an excuse to drink all the coffee you want.”

“Shh..I feel dead without caffeine.”

“Yuuri, you’re the god of death. Feeling death is in your job description.”

“You’ve been chatting with Yuuko too much haven’t you?”)

For some reason, Victor also insisted on sleeping next to Yuuri all this time.

(“You have your own room, you know.”

“Your bedroom is warmer and the underworld is so cold.”

“For someone who is stuck in the heavens the entire time, you seem to really hate the cold.”)

And Yuuri thought it wasn’t actually so bad.

Time passed and it was already time for hallows eve. The underworld was buzzing with activity.

“It’s the time of the year where the boundary between the living and the dead start to blur into nothing.” Yuuri explained to Victor. He was dressing himself up for the ceremony later. He donned his imperial regalia. A black Kimono with golden cranes woven in the back and a red sash tied on his waist. “It starts with Halloween and ends with All soul’s day. By then all spirits have to be back after visiting their families. The portal closes.”

It was absolutely worth it when Victor’s face morphed into amazement when lights flickered into life and built the bridge between the dead and the living.

“Wow.” And he glowed bright in happiness.

-

However, it was pretty sobering when the news came that winter.

“Three moons are dead.” Yuuri said after he read the letter Plisetsky sent them.

Victor looked absolutely grim.

“You need to go to back.” Yuuri insisted.

So with a heavy heart, Victor left the underworld to mourn for the death of his siblings.

-

It was quiet. Yuuri missed the noise Victor made. He missed the life that he brought, he missed the sudden bursts of light when Victor felt happy about the most trivial things, but he waited patiently anyway. He continued his work quietly.

-

It was almost a week. He’s heard of nothing from Victor. Yuuri worried that Victor might have changed his mind. Maybe he didn’t want to be with Yuuri anymore.

No, Yuuri quashed the worry in his chest.

-

It was almost a month. Still nothing. Yuuri was almost certain that something bad did happen to Victor.

His doubts were confirmed when Yuko came with the news. Apparently the increase of death was due to the sea serpent’s berserks on the mortal towns. It was also responsible on devouring the three other moons. It came for Plisetsky too but thankfully Otabek managed to fend it off.

Yuuri was suddenly running to the realm of the living, his armor on and his trusted sword tied to his belt. Yuuri knew many were after the moon’s hand in marriage, but he’s never heard of anyone devouring them after rejection. Nobody dared.

Yuuri didn’t think anymore, he couldn’t even remember what happened. He was sure he fought the sea serpent after he saw it after Victor. He blacked out after that. When he came to be, Victor was already in his arms and Yuuri was filled with blood, though he was sure most of it was not his own.

Tears fell from Yuuri’s eyes at seeing Victor.

“I thought I lost you!” He said over sniffs. “Don’t do that ever again!”

“Oh Yuuri. It’s okay, you saved me.” Victor whispered.

“Why are you so calm over everything?” Yuuri wiped his tears. “Why am I the one crying? You’re the one that almost died!” Yuuri grumbled.

“Frankly I don’t know.” Victor laughed.

“Stop laughing! You’re never leaving my side! You’re staying close to me from now on!” Yuuri buried his face on Victor’s chest after pulling him in a hug.

“That sounds like a marriage proposal.” Victor chuckled while tracing soothing circles on his back.

“It can be if you want it to.” Yuuri murmured.

Victor stopped his ministrations. “..what?”

“Do I have to say it again? I’m asking you to marry me.” Yuuri repeated. Victor’s blue eyes widen in surprise. His mouth fell open in shock like a fish out of water. His face flushed pink.

Yuuri can’t help but feel his own face burn in embarrassment.

“If you don’t really want to-“

“Yes!” Victor cut in. “Yes yes yes yes!” He giggled and he glowed brighter than any other time, he glowed the brightest that night. “Can I kiss you?”

This time it was Yuuri who looked surprised.

“Sure if you want to. I mean, I know I would.”

Victor kissed him before he could over think.

-

The souls still gaped at the sight of Victor next to him. After all, it was strange to see a moon god so far from the sky. But this time, Yuuri was proud to say that he was married to this moon god.

Besides Yuuri found himself gaping at his own husband.

“By the way, I still don’t remember how we met.” Yuuri said as they lay together in bed.

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is this.” Victor kissed him goodnight with the promise of eternity ahead.