A/N Here, have a ridiculously long chapter in which I try to make Lily not the bad guy but clearly fail in doing so.

Another week passed and it seemed that things were beginning to find routine again. It was Monday again and Yuuri found himself in Viktor's classroom as he did every lunchtime. Yuri had yet to turn up to school at all. He had supposedly been ill but they both knew better. They would leave it for now, he just needed time. He had the ability to catch up in his subjects, they both knew that. Yuuri, especially, who had been trying to do so for weeks after his continued absences.

'Yuuri, it's been awhile since we talked about this. Are you sure?' Viktor confirmed, watching as Yuuri's brows furrowed and relaxed, over and over as if his thoughts were just bringing him around in circles. Yuuri nodded, nonetheless, squeezing his eyes shut once more.

'I'm sure, Viktor. I have to at least try.' Viktor nodded and took his place on the floor opposite Yuuri, both of their legs folded. Viktor just watched, painfully aware of the winces that Yuuri was showing the more he concentrated.

A minute or two must have passed before Yuuri gritted his teeth and opened his eyes. 'Nothing.' He breathed, frustrated, a look of sadness quickly passing over his face before he shook his head and found some resolve.

'Viktor, I need you to talk me through it. Your power I mean. I know, you've had it from birth, you probably don't know the steps or anything but at the moment, anything will help. I'm clueless here.' Yuuri explained, his eyes solemn but determined.

Viktor sighed, running a shaky hand through his silver locks that glistened gently as the sun poured through the windows- an awkward contrast to the sullen atmosphere. 'I don't know where to start.' Viktor muttered, looking to the ceiling for a short moment, sifting through his thoughts, trying to pick out the single one that would help him. 'I'm not sure how to without using it.' Viktor sighed, defeated. Yuuri had other plans.

'Use it on me. If it would help, I give you your full permission to use it on me.' Viktor stared at him, shock a secondary thought to his confusion. His mouth hung slightly agape as he stared at the boy.

'I can't, Yuuri. Not only do I not want to but I'm your...' his words fell short. The word seemed incorrect. The word 'teacher' was a falsehood to them now, nothing more than what others told them they were. Not even Viktor could persuade himself of what he was anymore.

In simplistic terms, yes, he was Yuuri's teacher. He taught and Yuuri learnt. But, their relationship was far from it. Just as it was beginning to draw away from their friendship. They were something more. They both just knew that they could never admit that 'more'.

'You can use it, Viktor, I'm giving you my permission.' Viktor's face turned blank. Any emotions had drifted away, leaving him thoughtless. It was as if Viktor was detaching himself from his own body. But, with the same dedication as he put into so much he did, he furrowed his eyebrows and spoke- not that he needed to but it was clearer to himself what the stages were if he voiced them aloud.

'Lift your arm.' Viktor's eyes shut in concentration. If he was going to explain this, he had to dedicate his mind to every single thought and action he went through. Yuuri did just that, despite his unwillingness, his arm lifted; at first, almost painfully. Viktor's power was a battle of two wills, a battle in which Viktor never lost. Viktor breathed out, taking a huge gulp of air afterwards as if he hadn't breathed for days. Afterwards, taking deep breaths, seemingly to calm himself down more so than for the sake of breathing itself.

'Viktor?' Yuuri asked, his voice no louder than a pin dropping, worry lacing the edges of his words. Viktor's head shot up in acknowledgement, a small smile crossing his face.

'I'm fine.' He reassured him, taking one last deep inhale of air before his breathing returned to normal. 'Okay,' Viktor started, the topic changing abruptly but both were glad for it. 'I think I know how, although, this may be specific to me.' Viktor spoke as gently as possible. It seemed, whilst in their own little world, neither bothered to notice the new presence in the room. Viktor had forgotten to lock the door again. Airhead.

'Okay, look ahead. You want to see the future, right, so keep your eyes set on that.' A small gasp drew their attention away from each other. Their eyes darting in an oddly perfected synchronisation to see the perpetrator. Lily. Of course, it was Lily.

'You can see the future?' Lily's voice was timid, she had long since forgotten her reasons to be here, this was far more important. It would be for anyone. Clairvoyance was no more than a party trick that people who clearly had no such skill liked to trick people into believing. And now, apparently, they had found their first true clairvoyant.

Yuuri's head flung sideways, his eyes already brimming with tears. He was scared. He knew what people did when they found out about his lack of powers. He had no experience in this field. Anything was about to happen. Anything wasn't something Yuuri could handle. Anything was something Yuuri feared.

'Yes, yes he can.' Viktor confirmed, his voice calm- Yuuri's rock in all this. If he couldn't say it, Viktor would. Viktor could assess the situation in seconds, a task that would take Yuuri days and it seemed Viktor had made the choice- Lily could know. Anyone else? Yuuri wasn't sure.

Lily's mouth hung open, her golden curled hair falling around her face, her cheeks blossoming pink. Disbelief was evident. 'That's amazing.' She breathed, true awe in her tone. Despite everything, Yuuri was kind, caring boy who clearly put others before himself- Lily respected that. Viktor was the one she had no respect for.

Just as Viktor had no respect for himself anymore. He really did believe that he failed them. Yuuri, if he knew, would beg to differ. Viktor was everything that kept him on the planet. If not for Viktor, who knows, Yuuri could be hanging from rope right about now. Or maybe, the pills would be beginning to dissolve in his stomach.

'I can't exactly use it, though.' Yuuri admitted, feeling the scrutiny of both people's gazes despite the lack of judgement in both. He was a miracle to them. Somehow, he still managed to feel like plain old Yuuri. With the look of disappointment, so clearly acting towards himself, on Yuuri's face, Viktor piped up. 'We're working on it. I'm sure, not that you know, you could be of help. Anyone is, really, the more aware you are of your power the better, though.' Lily nodded, her eyes softening, pity aimed at the young boy strong.

'You didn't know?' She asked and despite the ambiguity, it was quite clear what she meant. Yuuri had lived a life thinking he had no power and yet, she had heard nothing of it. Yuuri felt stripped, bare, as if all his secrets were flooding from him. Yet he found, with Viktor beside him, that he didn't feel so afraid of that anymore. The anxiety was nipping at his heels, not quite reaching him.

Yuuri shook his head, still feeling scrutinised but returned to his previous position as if to indicate that he was ready to try again, even with Lily in the room. He didn't dislike Lily, or, at least, he led himself to believe that, but there was no doubt that tension hung in the air with her presence in the room. Yuuri found himself wishing for her to leave as silence fell, Lily herself realising that this was no time for talking- this was Yuuri's time to try out this new found ability.

'Return to the place we left off, Yuuri. Focus on the goal and only that. Don't feel pressured to go far, even seconds will be impressive.' Viktor encouraged, his voice as caring as he could muster, trying to ignore Lily's presence by the door. Lily remained silent, watching like a hawk, trying to explain it all to herself. Yuuri had always been different but she would have never thought this was why. She couldn't deny it, though, he really was a miracle. Jealousy had blinded her, Yuuri was nothing to hate. He was kind and gentle, she wished that the boy hadn't been caught up in this mess. Just as she knew that she would have to get him out of it. She could see the struggle on Viktor's face. He wanted Yuuri but it was clear that he knew what was right and wrong. He was trying to push Yuuri away, he just couldn't find it within himself to do so.

Lily knew it was up to her. She didn't want to. She never in a million years would stop love is she could help it but this was wrong. No, not wrong, illegal. She shook her head, her thoughts had strayed too far. But, she found within the silence a goal. She was going to help the boy, just as she was going to help Viktor. They couldn't be together. She wouldn't allow it. She was helping both of them in thinking so.

Yuuri was still jittery, his breaths were slightly shaky and the woman by the door was not helping. Not even a glimpse of calm could be captured. Suddenly, the entire task was impossible. He was too distracted, as was Viktor. 'I can't.' He breathed, that self-hatred aimed right back at himself. Viktor just nodded, too tired to deny it. They were both worn out, the excitement had drained. It wasn't Lily's fault, they knew that. It was their own minds deceiving them now.

It would always be their own minds.

word count: 1640

published: 04.06.17