Spice [NaNoWriMo 2023 Winner]

Second Position

Second day of travel was a little more rough, Yuri was in a mood and Pizza had not been enough for breakfast that morning. They agreed that the next market they saw they would be making a stop so they could get some proper food and the biggest cup of coffee he could find.

"Oh, finally," Victor sighed when they found a bakery that was open and parked, they were barely out of the car when a couple of young women charged their way.

"Yuri Plisetsly! Can we get a picture with you, please!" One of the girls asked. She sported a cat eared hoodie and paw mittens, her friend was similarly dressed. Victor wondered if someone had seen them at the hotel and they were now stalking them to Barcelona.

Yuri looked perplexed, on one hand he could let them get a picture, but on the other he didn't look great at the moment and was hungry and cranky.

"Girls," Victor's voice was stern but gentle, "I'm sorry to intrude, we're not in a hurry to leave but we are in a hurry to eat. I don't mean to be rude but we are starving."

"Oh, shit, we're sorry!" The older of the two spoke and looked at the quiet Yuri who gave her a tight smile, "Can we...bother you after you eat?"

"I think I can handle that," Yuri said, his voice was rough but friendly enough and both girls lit up and then focused on Victor.

"Can we get a picture with you too?" She asked and Victor tilted his head, "You're Victor Nikiforov right? Yuri's roommate and the model dating that hot shot designer from America?"

"Japan, but yeah, that's me," Victor smiled, "Sure, I don't mind at all,"

"Can we get some pictures with your car!" The younger girl was already staring at the pink Cadillac with absolute glee in her eyes and Yuri snorted a laugh as Victor nodded. The girls rushed for Victor's vehicle, waving at the animals inside and asked permission to get photos with their pets too.

"Keep them company so no one breaks my windows, we'll be right back!" Victor called as they went inside.

"I'm not sure what they were more excited over, me, you or the car," Yuri drawled as they scoped out the cafe before heading up to the front. There were very few people, it was early so they either missed the morning rush or came just before.

"All of it, I think," Victor said, keeping a close eye over his shoulder as the girl posed and snapped pictures, "They seem harmless."

"Most of my fans are, they are just excitable," Yuri yawned as he looked at the menu. Both were getting a coffee, pocketing some of the jam packets and waiting for their orders.

"They're young, like you," Victor explained, "Most of them are barely in their teens."

"Yeah, just a few months ago I was shorter than most of them," Yuri commented, "I don't think I have to worry about being jumped anymore."

"Probably not," Victor chuckled, "You'll have me and Otabek to guard you."

"Drop it," Yuri warned, there was heat in his voice but Victor knew that talk about Otabek was to be limited when fans were close by. Their coffees and breakfast arrived quickly and they headed back outside to the waiting girls. There were a couple more joining them and Victor and Yuri kept their promise. They decided to stay casual with coffees in hand and let the girls laugh at their expense. Yuri's hair was a mess and he was in his favorite green sweater and some sweats and Victor looked no better in his own sweater and ragged looking jeans. They were freezing in the Russian winter but they hadn't expected to stop for photos and they managed to have fun nonetheless.

"Thank you!" The girls waved and ran off with their friends as Yuri and Victor got back into their car.

"Don't have much time before people start to swarm," Yuri said as Victor pulled out of the parking lot. They both took a deep drink from their coffee and heard their phones ping with the tell tale notifications of being tagged.