Written for the Caesar's Palace Monthly Oneshot Contest.
WC: 523
Makkachin's tail thumped ruthlessly against the couch, likening to a bass drum as the rain acted like a rolling snare. It was becoming increasingly difficult to read and continuously pet Makkachin, which the dog wouldn't let stop lest he look at Yuuri in that way that said I knew you never loved me all along.
With a sigh, he closed the book he had been reading. A set of retold fairy tales, focusing on the triumphs and trials of the 'happily ever after.' The rain had just started to pick up again, so he was stuck inside with Makkachin and nothing to do except reminisce. And pet Makkachin.
Yuuri wondered: if his life were a fairy tale, when would his 'happily ever after' begin? Some could say it was after Victor came into his life, but that was barely the beginning of a new chapter in his life, not a switch of a narrator. Some could argue that it was after he won gold at the Grand Prix, Four Continents, and World's and beat the records for the short program and combined programs, as well. But that hadn't been the start of an ending, but rather the rise of his career. He had more records to break and new things to achieve. Perhaps he'd never get that quad axel, but he could sure as hell try. Other might even say that his happily ever after wouldn't come until he retired into a quiet life with Victor and his dog. Yuuri thought they might be right, but happiness was never guaranteed. He was twenty seven now, and things still were not much clearer than they had been when he had been twenty two and his world turned upside down.
Yuuri moved onto his knees and turned around to look through the window, Makkachin faithfully behind him. He looked out at the bleary landscape of St. Petersburg, blurred by the rain sliding down the window. This is how far he'd come from his little onsen back home.
Suddenly, Yuuri heard a creak and a slam; Victor had come home. Neither Yuuri nor Victor thought to call out a greeting; perhaps they both were in a thoughtful, quiet mood, or perhaps they both knew that the other was greeting them happily in their hearts.
"I forgot an umbrella," Victor announced after a few minutes.
Yuuri smiled. "I did tell you to bring one. You insisted."
He heard shuffling and a few Russian curses. Makkachin leaped towards the bedroom where Yuuri assumed Victor was changing into dry clothes. "Well, you're not always right, so I thought I might be right again this time," came a muffled reply. "I should come out here all wet and give you a hug for being away so long."
"It was three hours," Yuuri said wryly, "to get groceries. And you wouldn't dare."
"I would," Victor said seriously as he emerged from the bedroom. He sat on the couch near Yuuri and enveloped him in a hug. "So warm!"
And Yuuri felt at this exact moment that perhaps it was not "ever after," but he was living happily, and that was enoguh.