Chapter Text
In an idyllic countryside, adorned with vast, lush grasses and fertile soils, skirted by a wide river, there once lived a humble pig farmer. He lived alone in a small, thatched roof, stone cottage near the base of the mountains, a distance away from the capital of the land and civilisation. Though it was a long and arduous journey to the nearest town to sell his wares, here nature and food was plentiful and he was comfortable. Each day he would tend to his pigs and other creatures, his crops and his land happily, conversing with the beasts as though they were real people, eating fresh fruit and vegetables almost all year round and able to bask in the sun when all of his work had been done. Yes, he lived a fairly basic, simple life but Yuri Katsuki could not have asked for a happier one.
One particular morning, when the sun had not yet risen, Yuri found himself up in the heights of the trees in a small orchard that lay to the west of his abode. He was plucking fruit from the branches and had just finished filling three large wicker baskets full of plump and juicy, fresh figs, almost ripe for eating. Today was the day of the month that he would go to market to sell his wares. The money he earned from the minimal crops that he sold would go towards substantial food that he was not able to produce on his farm and feed for his animals. Enough provisions to keep him going for the next month ahead of him. It was not long before he had loaded the fruit and vegetables that he had so carefully harvested and two of his finest pigs, Katsu and Don, into the rickety wooden cart that he used to travel lengthy distances. The morning was still dark when he set off on the dirt road, his cart trundling behind him as his horse pulled them along.
It was like this every month; he would go to the nearest town, which was an hour or so away by horse, and set up in the market place with his goods for people to purchase. The people of the village were definitely aware of Yuri, the timid boy always seemingly bringing some of the best produce from around, many people having tried to befriend him, though he was never one to reciprocate and socialise. Yuri was in fact quite a shy man, nervous around most people but still he appeared once a month with his wares and never disappointed. Yuri, himself, believed that he had no friends to call his own but there were always two who greeted him fondly whenever he arrived at the marketplace, one of which was a very beautiful girl of whom he could never pluck up the courage to utter more than a few words to.
The sun had just begun to breach the horizon when he neared the outskirts of the town, breathing a sigh of relief at the faint sounds coming from the various inhabitants of the area beginning their day. He did not mind the journey but sometimes it became a little tedious towards the end, especially if he had not had much sleep the previous night. Yuri struggled to sleep some nights, lying awake, thinking. Other than his beasts, he was alone and had no company so he had plenty of time to think of things, good and bad in his spare time. He thought of how blessed he was to live in such a perfect location. How the Gods of Olympus had blessed him with fertile lands, good weather and perfect health. But then, he thought, how the Gods did not bless him with companions, how they did not bless him with looks nor prestige. He longed for someone to talk to when the nights were long and cold and the Gods simply would not present him with that opportunity. If only he had the courage, he thought, to talk to people perhaps he would not be in such a predicament. He wanted nothing more than to make friends and though he was happy on his farm, alone, he sometimes wished for it to be different. He wished that he could talk better with the pretty girl at the market who always went out of her way to talk to him. She was beautiful, kind and Yuri was very fond of her. He wanted to tell her how he felt and wanted to begin courting her like many men his age. He took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. Today he would confess. No longer did he want to return to his hut alone. No longer did he want to eat his meals alone. No longer did he want to live alone. He would ask her today if she wanted partake in lunch and see where it went from there and perhaps after-
"Yu-ri~" A voice resonated throughout his body and he turned abruptly, his cart stopping in the middle of the market. "Hey Yuri!" Chestnut hair flowed behind the girl who was calling his name, her brown eyes sparkling in the morning sun.
"Y-Yuko! G-Good morning." As per usual, he was unable to form a sentence like a normal human being. He cursed himself as he jumped down from the cart, grabbing his horse by the reigns. "H-How are you this morning?" Averting his gaze he could feel a hot flush appearing, hearing the woman before him titter.
"Yuri, I'm wonderful! I have such great news! There's something I must tell you!" She clasped her hands together and beamed, her dainty eyelashes fluttering as she half bounced on the spot.
"Ah, as a matter of fact, there's something I must tell you also..." His words trailed off, his nerves getting the better of him. Would he truly be able to confess?
"Oh, tell me!" Yuri walked his horse and cart to his usual spot, Yuko following him as they spoke.
Yuri was quiet for a moment as he began to unload his wares, a small tussle with Katsu preventing him from continuing his conversation for a few moments. Once the two pigs were securely tied to the side of his cart, Yuri gazed up at Yuko and bit his lip, shaking a little.
"Well, the thing is I- Well, I really wanted to ask you if perhaps today if it's not too much trouble, if you-" The next few words were choked from him, a thump to the back winding his small frame slightly.
"G'morning Katsuki! Was Yuko just telling you the good news? It's great right? I'm such a lucky man." Standing beside him was a burly looking man, the other of the two who always greet him kindly whenever he came to town.
"N-No, I was just uhm..." He trailed off, every inch of nerve that he had left in his body gone now that the other man had appeared.
"I haven't told him yet, Takeshi." Turning to Yuri, she beamed once more and grinned from ear to ear. "Takeshi asked me to marry him and I said yes! I will be Mrs Nishigori in two months time!" She clapped excitedly and smiled. "And that's not all!" She exclaimed, leaning into the bigger man's side. "We're going to be parents as well, how wonderful is that!?"
Yuri's eyes widened, his chest seizing at the words that left the girl's mouth. As Takeshi slipped his arm around Yuko's shoulder, Yuri felt a part of him slipping from his body. The only person he had ever truly come to care for, the only one he had ever harboured feelings for, had been cruelly snatched from him right before his very eyes. Not only was she to be married but she was going to bear this man's child. His heart ached and it pained him not to be able to outwardly show it.
"A-Ah, congratulations on both accounts. I'm so... So very happy for the two of you." Yuri smiled pleasantly, his face saying one thing but his heart another. Deep inside he was slowly withering away. The last ounce of courage he had, gone, like a candle extinguished in the wind.
"What was it you were wanting to say?" Yuko stood there, blinking, still with a smile on her face.
"Oh I," Yuri mumbled, glancing away to his boxes of fruit. "I have more of the figs that you liked last time. That's all." Yuri smiled once more and turned away.
"Oh, wonderful! I'll take a couple of baskets of them! Well," Yuko turned to leave, Takeshi placing his hand on her shoulder. "We must finish setting up our stall too. Come see us at lunch!" And before Yuri could reply, they were already on their way back across the plaza, arms linked, gazing lovingly at one another. Yuri could not help but stare after the two helplessly, his heart feeling heavier each second that passed by.
"Oh dear, it's such a shame when they don't love you back, isn't it?" Yuri shrieked, jumping back and knocking one of the baskets of peaches he had set out, fell to the ground. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Looking up his gaze befell a man so beautiful, with pearly white skin so smooth and glistening silver hair that fell way below his waist. So beautiful that for one moment Yuri almost mistook him for a God. Upon his back rest a golden quiver filled with silver arrows, each tipped with bronze feathers and over his shoulder a simple wooden bow. Was he a hunter, perhaps? He was dressed in a long, flowing, pale lilac tunic - certainly not what a hunter would wear.
"W-When did you-H-How did you?" Smiling at Yuri, the Adonis before him reached out his hand and leant forward to pick up the bedazzled boy who was still on the floor, surrounded by peaches.
"Ahh, life's wonders are a mystery. Just as I prefer to remain." He winked, placing a finger to his lips before chuckling. "Your feelings, however, are not so much of a mystery. I feel your heavy heart and it hurts me so."
"Wh-Who are you? How do you know about what I feel?" Smirking, the man cocked his head, shifting on his sandal-clad feet, the arrows in his quiver clicking together as he moved.
"Oh, you can call me Victor, and I just know." He remained still, a mischievous look still firmly on his face.
Little did Yuri know that the man that stood aside him was indeed that of which he had surmised. Victor was indeed a God and perhaps one of the more playful of them. He was God of Eros, God of love. It was his job to peer deep into the hearts of those who longed and those who loved. Those who were lacking and those who were lustful. Victor had been particularly drawn to Yuri, his lack of love and lust something that saddened him deeply. His attempts at inciting love a failure at best. Victor took pity on Yuri and wanted nothing more than to help him. Yes, 'helping him', was what he liked to call it however others would perhaps call it meddling in matters that should not be meddled in.
"Well, excuse me Victor. I'm rather busy and I need to get set up, if you don't mind. I just want to forget about everything, so..." Tutting, Victor shook his head and sighed.
"This will not do. Oh well, it was nice meeting you, Yuri." Turning around, Yuri frowned.
"How did you know my-" But he stood talking to an empty cart, the one who once stood there now gone. "Oh..?" Looking around, he searched for the beautiful individual who had just been there mere moments previous, but he was nowhere to be found.
Sitting cross-legged atop the house just behind Yuri, Victor grinned, fingering one of the arrows in his quiver before slipping it out slowly and smoothly. Whipping the bow from around his neck he hooked the rod into place and took aim at Yuri, one eye closed. "I think it's time you had a little fun, Yuri."
"Eros, you don't want to do that." A cool chill slithered across Victor's skin as he pulled the bowstring taut and he frowned.
"Oh, Georgi, what a pleasant surprise." A dark, cold mist had appeared, swirling around Victor's ankles, pooling up to his waist. "What brings Past here? You know I can't seduce your past loves for you."
Grunting in disgust, he frowned. "I've been speaking to Guang Hong and he says he foresees you doing something stupid." Rolling his eyes, Victor stood from where he was sat, the darkness getting a little too depressing for his liking.
"He's Future, of course he sees me doing something. It's not stupid, I'm just having fun. Now let me have my fun and be off. I'm quite busy you know." A snap to his left and a warmer cloud began to ooze amongst the darkness, the purple and orange mixing to make a rather fantastical colour. "Hello Leo." Victor was getting more and more irate by the second.
"Hello Victor, you should think about the repercussions of what will happen if you do what you're going to do. Future has told me and you should reconsider." Pulling the bow taut once more, Victor growled.
"Let me do my job. Do you not have someone else to bother?" Chuckling in unison, both Past and Present Fates looked at one another.
"Currently it's your turn." Raising an eyebrow, Victor shook his head.
"Whatever." And in a single breath he released the bow he had pointed at the brunette below, Yuri turning to smile at the first customer who walked his way, unaware of the chaos coming directly towards his face.
It happened in a mere second, the arrow left Victor's fingertips, sailing through the air towards Yuri and with millimetres to spare, a flash of pink smoke appeared, the mortals wandering about their daily lives unaffected by the goings on of the Gods, their being invisible to the mortal eye. The arrow that had been aimed at Yuri was heading straight back towards Victor, a small, brown haired boy stood in between the weapon and its target, a smile on his boyish face.
"Hello, Victor." Grabbing the arrow as it narrowly scraped past his face, leaving a small cut on his upper cheek, Victor watched as he floated back up to the seething God, still smiling pleasantly. "It seems you missed your target. I did foresee this happening. You know not to meddle in what fate has already decided. The girl is betrothed and they are meant to be, surely you know this, what with your position. Why would you try to change fate when you know that it is not in your power."
"Well, I thought that perhaps it would be a little fun to give the boy some-" Shaking his head, the brunette tut.
"You know the rules Victor." Raising his hand, he brought it down swiftly and sharply, an orb appearing in front of him. Pressing his finger to the orb, the small, golden light that glowed brightly turned to a pale, silver colour and in turn, causing Victor to fall to his knees.
"N-No... Guang Hong, you know I didn't-" Pressing a finger to his lips, he continued to smile, the same smile he'd retained the entire time he had been there.
"The penalty for interfering in another God's work, you are stripped of your powers until you are able to remember truly what it is to be Eros: God of Love. When you once again find your centre, your powers will be restored. Until then you will be without power, like that of a mortal."
"I am a God, you can't do this to me! I demand that you return them at once!" Victor pleaded, angry yet desperate. He had caused trouble in the past but never before had he done something this reckless.
"Know what it is to be a true God of love, Eros, then your powers shall return."
"I told you that it was a bad idea Victor." Georgi frowned, standing next to Guang Hong, as did Leo on his adjacent side.
Victor shakily pounded the tiles of the roof and whimpered, his powers gone leaving him feeling weak and somewhat vulnerable. Looking up at the three Fates that towered above him, their auras mixing together to create an intoxicating light show, slowly surrounded Victor who attempted to rise but failed to do so, the heavy atmosphere weighing him down. Before he knew it he was back on the ground, his legs wobbling as he leant up against the nearest thing for support; Yuri Katsuki's cart. What was he to do now that he had no purpose in life? Where was he to go, now that he had nowhere to go?
"Excuse me, are you alright?" His memory of Victor was all but gone, meetings with Gods always a silly little daydream or nothing more than a blink of an eye.
His eyes widened and he smiled. Of course, Yuri Katsuki was the answer he was looking for. He just needed to find love for this helpless soul and all would be well again. How difficult could it be to make someone fall in love with another the mortal way?