Yuri Plisetsky had gone 15 years in life with no friends. He'd had no interest in them when he was younger, focusing his entire being on ice-skating. He had acquaintances from ice-skating and he had his coach, Yakov, and there were his nemeses-slash-parental figures, Katsuki Yuuri and Viktor Nikiforov, but no friends.
Yuri Plisetsky was 15, friendless, and lonely.
And then he wasn't.
Otabek Altin had come into his life on a motorcycle and a leather jacket, saved him from the wrath of his fangirls and then asked to be his friend. Yuri, 15, friendless, lonely, had said yes. Yuri was no longer friendless and alone. He had a friend, someone who had wanted to be his friend, someone who had admired him, someone who still admired him.
And then he won the Grand Prix Final, even if it was by less than a point. He had won, he had beaten the obnoxious JJ, made sure that Yuuri didn't stop skating and he had a friend. He had everything he wanted.
But he wasn't happy.
The downside to this whole situation was that he had an (unrequited) crush on his best (and only) friend. It was, decidedly, a nuisance and unwanted. He also didn't see Otabek very much due to the fact that they were in different countries.
So he complained about his problems to the only person he knew that was in a relationship and was sane, Katsuki Yuuri. The two sat on a couch in Yuuri and Viktor's living room.
"Why do I have to have a crush on my best friend. It's annoying and painful, and I am nearly one hundred percent sure Otabek is into girls," said Yuri irritably.
"Well, I never thought I would have a chance with Viktor, yet here I am, engaged to him," replied Yuuri.
"Well, your relationship was weird, you guys didn't even confess to each other," said Yuri, "You just kind of started dating and then you got engaged, you two make no sense."
"You never know he doesn't like you until you try, Yuri," Yuuri said wisely.
"Why did I even ask you? You didn't say anything different to what I thought you'd say," huffed Yuri.
"You could've asked Viktor," said Yuuri.
Yuri stared blankly at Yuuri.
"You're right," said Yuuri, "He would probably do something stupid, like convince Otabek to pull your fingerless gloves off with his mouth on live television."
"Okay, well, he was the one to suggest that him taking it off with his hands didn't really go with the program."
Yuuri stared incredulously at the younger male. He understood that Yuri had had very few positive relationships before he went into the senior division, most of the previous relationships being rivalries against his fellow skaters in the junior division, but didn't he see that Otabek clearly had a crush on him? It was clear as day that when Otabek saw Yuri he lit up and became more open. But he knew Yuri wouldn't believe him if he told him, so he would continue being there to listen to Yuri.
"That's certainly interesting," said Yuuri, "Anyway, why are you stressing about this again? Are you still afraid that he'll look at the texts you sent him, which I know off by heart since you made me read them in case they were 'weird', and think 'Ah, Yuri has a crush on me, and therefore I hate him and find him weird, and we can no longer be friends.'"
"Well," began Yuri awkwardly, "He's coming to Russia to see me in a week, and it can't be that hard to tell that I have romantic feelings towards him when we're talking in person instead of over the phone or through text messages and social media."
"You never said he was coming to Russia! Is he coming for your birthday?" asked Yuuri.
Yuri nodded, embarrassed. "I told him not to come, but he insisted that it was important. He also said he had something important to tell me."
"That's so nice of him! I wonder what he wants to tell you? Maybe he's going to confess his undying love for you!" exclaimed Yuuri.
Yuri snorted unattractively. He shook his head at Yuuri and stood up.
"We should go to practice before Yakov throws a fit and loses what's left of his hair," said Yuri.
"You should be nicer to him, he goes through a lot with all his skaters being over-dramatic," Yuuri replied.
Yuri smirked and said, "You know you technically count as one of those over-dramatic skaters now, right?"
Yuuri laughed cheerfully and said, "I'm aware Yurio, I'm aware."
The duo left the living room and Yuri headed to the front entrance, whilst Yuuri went to fetch Viktor from his room, where he had been sulking because Yuri had told him that he only wanted to talk to Yuuri.
"Come on Viktor," said Yuuri, "Time to stop sulking and go to practice."
Viktor huffed and got out of bed, where he had been intently watching an anime about volleyball.
"It was just getting to the god part!" Viktor whined.
"Come on Viktor, you don't want Yakov to yell at you, do you?" Yuuri said.
"Hmm, i suppose if we don't show up he'll start yelling and get worked up and then he might have a heart attack!"
Yuuri stared at his fiance in exasperation. He loved Viktor, he really did, but sometimes Viktor could be very odd.
"What's taking you two so long!" yelled Yuri, "You better not be kissing or anything else gross!"
"We're coming now, Yurio!" exclaimed Viktor.
Yuri huffed, and walked out of the apartment waiting impatiently. He stared at the wall opposite him and wondered what would happen if Otabek did like him back. Would they start dating? Would Otabek go easy on him in competitions and expect him to do the same? If he thought that would happen, he would be extremely wrong. He didn't go easy on anyone.
Viktor and Yuuri finally exited the apartment and the trio got into the elevator to go to the bottom floor.
"We're starting to properly choreograph our routines today," said Viktor, "What are your themes?" he asked Yuri and Yuuri.
"Happiness," said Yuuri. Viktor smiled, he was happy Yuuri was happy.
"Unrequited love," said Yuri, grouchilly.
Viktor stared at him and Yuuri smiled sympathetically.
"What were you two talking about? Is this about your crush on Otabek?" asked Viktor.
"How did you know about that?" Yuri asked, alarmed.
"It was obvious from the way you smiled everytime he sent you a message," replied Viktor.
Yuri whimpered miserably. "I'm doomed," he whispered, "So doomed."
The elevator doors open and the trio stepped out and began the short walk from Viktor and Yuuri's apartment building to the ice rink. They had specifically bought the apartment due to it's closeness to the rink so they didn't have to walk far as they didn't own a car.
"Hey," said Yuuri, "You never told us your theme."
"My theme?" said Viktor dramatically, "My theme is overcome."
The other two stared at him before Yuri asked, "Overcome what?"
Viktor glanced at him before staring into the distance.
"Overcome," he muttered.
"He's gone senile," stated Yuri.
Yuuri laughed before grabbing his fiance's hand and pulling him towards the ice rink, which Viktor had nearly walked past.
"Come on Viktor, let's go practice."