"Yuri Plisetsky~ It was your eyes that I noticed first. The strong piercing eyes of a soldier." Otabek said to me. That's what Otabek Altin said to the blonde boy in front of him.
It felt like a dream and yet the only response Yuri could give was, "Me... Really?... A soldier." Me? A soldier? There's no way and yet he said it. And there wasn't a hint of deceit in his eyes. This baffled him.
He didn't think he even spoke to him at Yakov's camp, but Otabek noticed him. He remembered him... His eyes. How? Why? They're rivals. he couldn't understand. He should be tearing him down. Not calling him a soldier. So Yuri asked him. "Otabek, I don't get why you would talk to me... We're rivals."
"Ever since I met you at that camp, I've always thought we were alike. That's all there is to it." Then the older boy looked at the Yuri and suddenly he forgot how to breathe. "Not so complicated really." He continued with a smile. He then held his hand out to the blonde. "Friends?"
No one had ever asked Yuri to be friends with them. Here he was asking to be his friend. At first the younger boy was hesitant. "How could I trust him?" He thought.
Trust is a very delicate thing. It's easily broken and sometimes damn near impossible to rebuild.
However no matter how hard he tried, Yuri still couldn't find any reason not to trust him. "Either he slipped me love potion or I can trust him? I can trust this friend with my heart.?" Yuri contemplated.
He took a deep and steadying breath, as his hand met Otabek's. "Friends." He confirmed.
Yuri had never had a friend before. So he didn't know how he was supposed to act. Social interaction has definitely never been his strong point. This didn't phase Otabek one bit though. He knew what he was doing so Yuri followed his lead.
Competition came around fast and despite being rivals there was no tension between them. "No matter how the scores turn out, we will still be friends right?" Yuri asked, Otabek nervously. He didn't want to lose his first friend over a competition.
The Kazakh skater then gave Yuri a sad look and smiled reassuringly. "Yura, you have nothing to worry about. I want to win, but so does everyone else. No matter the results I will remain friends. I promise." He replied, already using his nickname for the blonde boy. After lacing up his own skates, Otabek stood. "Stand up, Yura." He ordered.
Normally Yuri would bite back at an order, or just flat out refuse to comply. However when it came to his new friend, he didn't feel the need to. "Okay?" He was a little confused, but he stood anyway. Once he did, Otabek wrapped his arms around his friend and held him in a tight embrace.
Yuri's eyes widened. He froze in the hug. What was this? He thought to himself. The last hug he received was from his Grandpa. He couldn't recall when he had been embraced by anyone other than his Grandpa. This was another new thing for Yuri. However he soon melted into the hug, he even smiled.
As soon as Otabek pulled out of the hug, Yuri's smile disappeared again.
The overhead speakers blurred, announcing for all the skaters to enter the rink.
Every relationship and encounter with others up to that point had helped Yuri find his Agape. With his new found friendship with Otabek, he stated with all of his bring. Through his short program routine he got so lost in it that his mind went blank in the middle of it. He was a beautiful, ever evolving monster and he was determined to win gold. As result of this new understanding of love Yuri's score was 118.56, putting him in first place and breaking the world record set by Viktor Nikiforov.
When it was Otabek's turn on the ice, Yuri sat in the stands yelling, "Davai!!" In support of his new friend. The older boy had decided that he didn't need to do ballet to become a national champion in males figure skating, and he proved that with a routine that even surprised Yuri. When his friend had finished, the blonde boy couldn't help but boast. "Someone else will out score the piggy." He said teasingly and proudly to Yuuri Katsuki.
Viktor had also watched Otabek's short program in awe. "He's really talented!" The older man exclaimed.
Otabek's score was 112.38, that had currently put him in second place. With Yuri in first.
The biggest surprise that day was definitely JJ Leroy. The pressure of competing in the Grand Prix Final had gotten a tight grip on him, turning all of his quads into single jumps. This definitely pleased Yuri, because of how arrogant and annoying JJ always is towards him. Not to mention that the blonde gave it his all and the Canadian skater still took gold in the Rostella Con Cup. Leroy's score was 86.71, the lowest score in his senior division. However this didn't puncture his ego for long. With the encouragement of his fiance and fans, JJ rebound his confidence. This pissed Yuri off.
"That wasn't fair. JJ finally gets what he deserves and then his stupid fiance and fans make it better. I had really hoped that was his ego taken down a peg." Yuri grumbled, walking back to the hotel with Otabek, Mila and Sara.
Mila burst out laughing and ruffled his blonde head. "Oh Yuratchka, your ego is no better than JJ's. Besides you broke a world record, which is much more of an ego booster than you need."
"Mila is right, Yura. Forget about JJ and focus on the fact you just beat Viktor Nikiforov's World record." Otabek added.
Without even a second thought Yuri responded to his friend with. "You did amazing too, Otabek. You came in second, and your deliverance of your program caught me completely by surprise." The blonde was trying to hide the bursting pride he was feeling for his new friend. Yuri had never felt pride for anyone other than himself, so this was a new emotion among many others he had gained.
Otabek smiled at him and was about to respond, when Yakov came beaming up behind the blonde boy. "That's my Yuratchka! Well done! You beat Viktor's World record. If you skate tomorrow, like you did today you will take gold in your senior division debut!" Yakov gave Yuri a big hard pat on the back, before continuing. "Now just because you broke a record today, doesn't, mean you can stay up late. I want you to settle down early, 9pm at the latest." His coach demanded, before continuing on his way with a slight spring in his step. He was evidently proud of his young student, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.
"On that note." Sara began, clearing her throat. "Mila and I have dinner plans. Don't stay up too late Yuri and congratulations again on beating Viktor's record."
"Yes, Yuri. Listen to Yakov, and will be in to check later." Mila added, with a large grin, and just to annoy the blonde further she ruffled his hair before dragging Sara with her.
As expected, this pissed off Yuri tremendously. "Piss off, Hig! You are not my baby sitter! Nor are you in charge of me! I take care of myself!" He yelled down the hall after her, but at this point both women were long out of ear shot.
Otabek couldn't help, but watch in amusement. "Come on Yura. We can watch a movie in your room or something. Then we can get some sleep for tomorrow."
Yuri's usual scowl was replaced by a slight smile. "Okay, Otabek. That sounds like a plan." The pair then did just that.
The two friends walked back to the hotel. Yuri popped his key card in the door and Otabek pushed the door open and held it for his friend to walk through. The blonde barely managed to hide the slight blush at the older one's gesture. He then shook it off and jumped face first onto his bed, sinking his face in the pillow. "I've never hung out with anyone other than Grandpa before, I've never watched a movie with a friend before... What do I do?" The blonde wondered to himself. In all of his fifteen years, this was the most civil he had ever been with anyone. Seconds after face planting his bed, Yuri felt the edge of his bed dip and a comforting hand rub his back. Something else Yuri wasn't used to was comfort, and never had someone made him feel the way he was.
"What do you want to watch, Yura?" Otabek asked softly.
The blonde tilted his head to face the other. "Nothing too scary. I don't want to be up all night with nightmares."
The dark haired boy nodded. "That sounds fair. Have you ever seen '10 Things I Hate About You'?"
Yuri sat up, his curiosity struck. "I think I've seen it once, but I would like to see it again." He then reached for the TV remote and found the film in question on Netflix.
Both friends sat against the head board, staring at the screen. The younger boy leaning slightly against the older. Without thinking too much about it, Otabek brought a strong arm around, Yuri's thin frame and held him close. Yuri instantly melted into the touch, as his mind was running circles.
The Kazakh skater was so engrossed in the film that he didn't notice a pair of green eyes look up at him, wearing a massive smile. "He's so cute and so... Ugh! What the fuck is this feeling? I just want to kiss- No! What am I thinking? We're friends. He doesn't like me like that. Why would he? Fuck I need help." Yuri decided not to think on the matter any further and watch the movie. Before they knew it, the pair had fallen into a comfortable and peaceful sleep in each other's embrace.
Meanwhile Yuuri and Viktor were also relaxing, coincidentally watching the same movie. "Yuuri?" Viktor began thoughtfully, as he watched the screen. "Is there anything about me that you hate?"
In a flustered panic Yuuri answered, "No! Of course no' Viktor."
Viktor laughed sweetly at what he thought to be the adorable way Yuuri responded. He then paused the movie and turned to face his skater, taking his slightly shaking hands in his. Yuuri had grown immensely in confidence, but certain scenes such as this with Viktor and he got all shy and cute. "It's okay if there's things about me that you don't 100% love. I may be Viktor Nikiforov, but I'm still human." He then gave his partner a reassuring smile.
Yuuri merely nodded and cleared his throat. "Okay. Well..." He looked down while answering. "I suppose, you could work on your tendency to forget things."
The older man just laughed. "You have a point there." He agreed. "See that wasn't so bad was it?"
Yuuri looked up at Viktor through his glasses. "It wasn't. Eh- is there anything about me you dislike?"
The Japanese skater watched intensely as the other contemplated his question. Finally Viktor snapped his fingers. "There is one thing I absolutely hate about you."
Yuuri's head dropped and he looked down again. "Oh~" He answered, almost on the verge of tears.
"Aww Yuuri! That's it. That's what I hate." Viktor placed a finger under the down looking Yuuri's chin and tilted it up so that brown eyes met blue. "I hate when you look so sad, and that you don't smile more. I love your smile and I want to see it more." The coach then gently stroked his skater's chin and leaned in to kiss him. The moment he did, he could feel Yuuri smile as he kissed him back. When their lips finally parted, Yuuri had a massive smile on his face. "That's the smile, don't forget it in your routine. It's a very important part." Yuuri nodded as Viktor pulled him into his arms. "Yuuri?" Viktor asked, kissing the Japanese skater's forehead.
"Yea?" Yuuri asked, looking into Viktor's eyes.
"Did you remember to take your suppressants?" He grinned in his cheery, but serious tone.
Yuuri suddenly jumped out of bed and anxiously went through his case to try and find them. "Where are they?" He thought out loud as he finally found them inside the boot of a spare skate he had packed. "I guess I forgot I even needed them. It's been a while since my last heat."
"Now who's being forgetful." Viktor teased, playfully. "You may be a recessive omega, but Yuuri that doesn't mean there aren't alphas around that will pick up on your pheromones as faint as they are. You need to be more careful." He added, his voice full of concern.
"Yea, I know. I'm sorry for making you worry." Yuuri sheepishly smiled, crawling back into bed and clicking right back into Viktor's arms.
Viktor smiled lovingly at Yuuri, cuddling him close to his chest. "I only worry because I care. You're my omega and I want to keep you safe."
"I love you Viktor." Yuuri sleepily said.
"And I love you Yuuri." Viktor replied, falling asleep with his love safe in his arms. The movie long forgotten