Chapter Text
Mila wakes in a lackluster hotel room somewhere in America. Was it California this time? New York? The cases have started to blur together and this last one was like a punch in the face. Right, there in Tennessee. Most of the time she feels like there is some decency to the catfish and why they did what they did, but this last one was just so weird, and mean. Mila really hates the mean ones and she made sure he knew it.
She sits up with a sigh, trying to rub sleep from her eyes with the heel of her hands. The morning light from the window is slipping through the slit between the blind and the wall. It looks like its mid-morning which means soon there will be a knock on the door and the producers and photographers will start shuffling in to prepare for a new episode somewhere else in this huge country. Leo will bring everybody breakfast, Isabella will complain of pregnancy nausea, Seung Gil will look displeased with everyone and everything as he sets up the mics, Sara will hum Italian lullabies as they do their makeup. Well, might as well get up before the pounding on the door starts. It’s Sara’s least favorite sound. With another sigh Mila slings her legs over the edge of the bed and looks at her co-host sleeping in the bed next to hers.
Sara is gorgeous through and through, just as much when she sleeps, even with the crows nest of hair on her head. Mila wishes she had the courage to tell her that she would go to the end of the world for her but she doesn't dare; she’s too afraid to disturb what they have as friends and co-workers. Mila is a coward, and because of that she gets to pine all in her loneliness.
Sara starts to stretch out in the small bed and opens her beautiful purple eyes, looking straight at Mila. Mila has to avert her gaze to fight the temptation to crawl under the warm white covers and kiss this breathtaking woman senseless.
”Good morning,” Sara says with sleep lacing her voice and Mila feels so, so weak.
”So... yesterday was crazy,” Mila says instead of all the endearments that race in her mind. Things really had gotten way too heated at the last interaction with the catfish. It's a wonder nobody got physically hurt, Mila herself was close to kicking that idiot in the shins.
”Yeah, really crazy. I thought Seung Gil would start throwing punches at that jerk. Thank god that's over and we can move onto better things.” Sara says with a big smile and jumps out of bed to start rifling through her huge suitcase. Months of living in hotels and not visiting home tends to make you bring your entire wardrobe.
Mila chuckles. Sara is usually so grumpy in the morning, except when she is hungover. Unlike everybody else, Sara seems to be backwards in that regard.
”Well, there have been a lot of crazy people lately” Mila says with a sigh. She knows Sara will hear the defeat in her voice, does not need to explain.
Sara stops with a navy blouse in her hands and looks up at Mila with worry in her eyes. ”Hey, do you not want to do this anymore? I know this was my thing to do... after what Mickey did. And I've been so thrilled to do this with you, but if you need out, I get it. It’s intense dealing with all the drama and being away from home.”
Milas hearts aches for this beautiful person. Sara always sees her and gives her everything she wants. Well, almost everything.
Sara was catfished by her twin brother Mickey three years ago. He claimed it was to try to protect her but Mila just thinks he has some sort of creepy, possessive crush on his sister. He was exposed by his close friend Emil on social media, who thought enough was enough, thank god. The whole thing blew up and after a while, MTV producers contacted Sara asking if she would want to help others in her situation. They had been constructing an idea for a TV show exposing catfishes and felt Sara would be a good face for it. And Sara is perfect for it. Kind to the hopefuls, optimistic even though her history but still firm against the catfishes who deserves it.
Mila and Sara had been studying journalism together at the time, and when Sara asked if Mila wanted to be a part of it, she immediately said yes. Now it's been two years and three seasons since they started this and it's really been getting to Mila, draining her. Couple after couple crumble because of lies and deceit and fear, but quitting and not seeing Sara everyday? Impossible.
”No, no, I just -” Mila starts and sighs, looking down in her lap as her fingers play some sort of nervous dance. ”I really need a good one soon.” she settles for.
Sara beams at her, arms full of neatly folded clothes. ”Well, I have a good feeling about today! I'm sure this one will be better!”
Mila laughs and shakes her head fondly. ”That's what you always say, you romantic sap.”
Sara keeps beaming, bouncing a little on the balls of her feet before moving towards the bathroom. ”You'll see! Come on, the team is going to come bursting through soon, we should get ready! You know how grumpy Seung Gil will be if we’re late.”
When Sara is safelylocked in the bathroom, shower running, Mila gets up, pulls the curtain open and lets daylight flood the room. She takes a deep breath, and another. Centering herself. She can do this. New lackluster case, new naive hopeful, new asshole catfish, new heart break. Let’s go.
———————————————
”Alright, you girls ready?” The producer, Isabella, asks as Leo sets up the cameras and Seung Gil places the last of the sound equipment.
Mila yawns behind the desk and laptop and gives Isabella a tired smile that she knows doesn't reach her eyes. Mila knows she should be trying to pump up, but she really can't seem to. Maybe it's better to just use her pessimism, they are always encouraged to be themselves. Beside her, Sara is as chipper as ever this morning.
”Yep!”
Isabella smiles at them while inspecting the hotel room one last time. ”I think you'll like this one. It looks to be kind of different than most of our other cases.”
That's weird. Isabella usually doesn't give anything away from what the team has gathered from their research before the show. Maybe it's because Mila was so down on the drive back to the hotel yesterday.
”Really?” Sara says excitedly beside her. ”Sounds fun!” Sara then gives Mila a brilliant smile and Mila swoons.
”Yeah, sounds fun,” Mila agrees and gives Sara a soft smile before they turn back to Isabella and the crew.
”Everybody ready?” Isabella says to the room, looking around at the nodding faces around the room. ”Okay then. Girls, the floor is yours”
The red lights on the cameras flicker on, indicating that the recording has started.
”Alright, here we go!” Sara says and starts reading the Email.
“Subject: Please help me save the most beautiful cinnamon roll’s heart!
Dear Sara and Mila
My name is Phichit Chulanont and I'm writing because over the last year, my best friend and roommate, Yuuri, have been talking to somebody online. Apparently they met on a forum about dogs and after chatting for a while, exchanged numbers. Since they started talking I've noticed a change in Yuuri. He’s a lot less prone to anxiety and he’s more relaxed, he smiles more and slowly his confidence has been building up.
The problem is that Yuuri has no idea who he is talking to. He has seen no pictures and his information is rather limited. I've been trying to persuade him to push this ” IceKing” or as Yuuri calls him ”Vitya”, but I think he’s afraid to burst the bubble. I'm just so scared that this person is using him or is going to just disappear and break this beautiful, sweet cinnamon roll’s heart. Please help!
/Phichit”
Mila frowns for a second and looks up at Isabella. Except the fact that it's a friend that has contacted them, this sounds a lot like the cases they usually get. Isabella just smiles and Mila turns her attention to Sara. Perhaps there is more to the story than it seems.
”Aaaw,” Sara coos beside her, cute grin on her face. ”He calls his best friend Cinnamon roll, how sweet is that?”
Mila laughs and continues. ”Yeah, it's always interesting when we get a loved one who has written in, it could mean that it's not as bad as the friend thinks, or the hopeful is in so deep they can’t even see the way out and need help.”
”Yep, but I've got a good feeling about this one.” Sara says, a big smile on her face.
Mila rolls her eyes. ”You say that about every case.”
Sara gasps in mock offense and places a hand on her heart. ”Are you doubting my catfish sixth sense?”
Mila laughs, loudly. ”Yes definitely, Miss ‘I Was Catfished By My Twin Brother’.”
Sara pouts, and Mila adores her.
“Okaaaay,” Sara finally says and bumps Mila’s shoulder while Mila laughs. “Let’s just call Phichit.”
The Skype call is already prepared and Sara clicks ‘call’ on a contact namned “phichit+chu”. After a couple of seconds the call connects and they are meat with the big grin of a cute, dark haired, grey eyed boy waving.
“HII! Oh my God it's really you! Hi Sara! Hi Mila!” Phichit is bouncing in his chair looking like he has seen some sort of magical being instead of the co-hosts of a TV show. It’s infectious and Mila can't help but feel her smile turn genuine towards this excited boy.
“Hi Phichit!” Sara answers, big grin on her face as well.
“Oh, this is amazing! Can I please take a selfie? I promise I won't post it until after the show airs.” Phichit is now waving his phone.
“How about this,” Mila says, looking at Sara asking a silent question. “You tell us about Yuuri and this Vitya and if we come we can take as many selfies that you like.”
Sara nods and Phichit on the laptop squeals and nods so fast that Mila worries his head is going to fall of. But then his face relaxes and his brows furrow as he looks down for a second before looking up at them.
“So about two years ago, I moved from Thailand to Detroit to study and to follow my dream as an ice skater. I got to room with Yuuri, who is studying dance. Yuuri is from Japan so we really bonded over being in a new country and trying to figure out the culture and language. Plus he’s like a big ice skating fan so that helped. He really helped me a lot and now we're best friends. A little over a year ago, Yuuri started talking to Vitya on a dog forum, since Yuuri has a poodle, and Vitya apparently has a poodle too. I've never gotten the whole dog hype, I’m more of a hamster person. Anyway, Yuuri didn't tell me he was talking to someone through until, like, three months ago.”
“Okay, well, did something happen three months ago?” Sara asks.
“We had been out celebrating my latest competition in the juniors and got a little too drunk. Suddenly Yuuri starts talking about this Vitya, and how he should text him and that we should send a picture. And we do, it’s a selfie of us, and the morning after I realize I had no idea what Yuuri was talking about. So like, when he wakes up, I ask him and he flushes sooo red and starts telling me that he's been chatting with this guy for over a year. And since I watch your show and I know my best friend is a clueless cinnamon roll, I start prying a little, but the only thing I could get out of him was that it’s a guy who he met on this forum, lives in Europe, is twenty-something and that they have never exchanged pictures until Yuuri sent that picture last night.
“That's not good. Vitya didn't send any pictures back?” Sara says, looking like she's trying to process the information.
“No, not that I know of. I tried to poke a little more, but Yuuri got really defensive and that's when I realized that this is serious. Yuuri gets very defensive over people he cares about, but he doesn't let many people in. “
“Okay, well it sounds like it’s a bit of a mess,” Sara says sympathetically, “We would love to come and help you.”
“Great!! I'm so excited!” Phichit exclaims, “Yuuri is kind of scared, but I think it will work out.”
“Okay, great! See you both soon then!” Sara saysand waves, Mila following her example.
“Bye!” Phichit says, big grin back on his face and the call disconnects.
“Well, that doesn't sound like much to go on, but hopefully Yuuri has more information so that we have something to go on when we get there,” Sara says, turning to Mila.
“Still have a good feeling?” Mila teases. The call with Phichit has gotten her in a little bit of a better mood but she’s still convinced that this is probably going to go to hell. Luckily Yuuri will have Phichit to help him pick up the pieces of his broken heart when they find out it’s some old man in Poland.
Sara just grins at her and says, “You'll see.”
“And cut!” Mila hears Isabella call in front of them.