Chapter Notes
Again, poetry of my own as a gift to Ren.
~x~
05 ~ Ren & Gabriel - Last Part
Victor and Yuuri are very patient with Gabriel, who often has nightmares involving Richard or his mother. With the help of psychologists, therapy and help from the pair of former skaters and Ren, he manages to gradually recover and smile again.
Two years go by without Ren moving on the ice competitively. He wants to, but in his head he does not believe he's in perfect shape to participate. Talking about Yuuri, Victor and Gabriel, all he least expects is to see the two technicians look at each other before they burst into laughter.
"Yuuri, it reminds me of when I started training you," Victor says, hugging his husband.
"Truth. I was way overweight, "Yuuri says, and Gabriel laughs. "Worse is not even that. Victor was naked, bathing in the hot springs that was where I lived, and when I see him, he stands up and says: Yuuri, I came here to be your coach. "
Yuuri mimics her husband's pose, and the four of them burst into laughter. Gabriel coughs a little, and drinks some water that is in a plastic mug he is holding.
"So, what did I do when I realized how much overweight he was? Banned Yuuri from the ice and made him do exercises, "Victor says with a wicked grin. "And that's the solution, Ren. Marathon of daily exercises, balanced diet and ballet. "
"I can still do shows with my band, right?" Ren asks, already hating what's to come.
"Of course. We can do this: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the afternoon, I will be with you to accompany you in the ballet. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, you can play. Sundays are for rest.
"Great Yuuri idea!" Victor exclaims excitedly.
...
Being busy makes Ren not think much of Gabriel. Not that he's not happy seeing Gabriel well. Quite the opposite. The problem is that Ren wants more. He wants Gabriel to have only eyes for him.
...
"Yuuri-san," Gabriel says, seeing the Japanese in the kitchen, preparing dinner.
"Hmm?"
"I was thinking ..." Gabriel swallows, and Yuuri interrupts what he is doing to pay attention to him. "I want to change sex."
Yuuri widens his eyes, surprised by what he has heard. He then goes to Gabriel and crouches, stroking his ginger hair.
"Are you sure?" He just asks, worried.
"Yes," Gabriel replied decisively.
"Very well. I'll make an appointment and I'll follow you around it." Yuuri smiles and hugs him. "And do not worry about the expenses, I'll take care of everything."
"But ..." Gabriel is scared of him.
"But nothing," Yuuri says. "I want to help you with whatever you need."
...
Yuuri and Gabriel take advantage of the fact that Victor and Ren are distracted by trainings to consult with experts. Doctors explain to the two that normally only one procedure is needed, but in Gabriel's case, it will be necessary to divide in stages because of his body being weaker than normal. And when Victor and Ren travel to Chicago for the America Skating Cup, Gabriel prepares for his first surgery. Yuuri and he watch the championship at the hospital and cheer up when Ren wins. When they return, both are frightened when Yuuri says that he is with Gabriel in the hospital.
"Why did you decide to do these surgeries?" Ren asks Gabriel, who is lying on a bed with a serum on his right arm.
"Because I want to be myself. A man of body and soul. And because I love you and I know you were confused about your feelings, "he replies, giving a yawn.
"Sleep. We'll be here. "Ren smiles, sliding his fingers into his hair, making him smile.
...
Ren takes almost a month to go back to the ice, returning to train with Victor. And as Yuuri also joins her husband to assist him several times, Gabriel also joins them, completely cuddled and watching from the stands. The training only ends at night. One of those nights falls on Gabriel's birthday.
Outside the arena, under a starry night sky, Ren approaches Gabriel.
"Happy Birthday." He then holds out a glass rose.
"It's beautiful!" Gabriel exclaims, taking the rose with both hands and looking at it closely. "Thank you so much, Ren! I loved!"
And suddenly, Ren touches his cheek and kisses him. Gabriel is surprised at first, but relaxes and grabs him by the jacket. When they separate, they are both smiling
~ x ~
The blue, blue, blue ocean water
Shine on our meeting eyes
Blessing the bond that is uniting us now
A love able to overcome any barrier
I believe I can be very happy.
All because you're here with me.
And slowly we will build a new future.
And slowly we will build a new future.
The orange, orange, orange of the setting sun
Reflects on our skins that touch
Protecting ourselves from the challenges that can
A love that can last for all eternity
I believe I can be a better person.
Why doubt something that is already right?
It's okay, it's time to grow slowly
Our hearts, our special feelings
I believe we can be very happy.
All because we always trust each other
And surely we will live a new future
And surely we will live a new future
A white, white, white color of Peace
Purify our hearts, our souls
And slowly we will build a new future.
And surely we will live a new future
...
Ren literally shines skating to the sound of a song he composed for Gabriel. It shines so much that he outgrows his personal best and medal until the end of the Grand Prix. And at the banquet, Yuri and Otabek decide to liven up the party. Soon, several people who are present begin to dance by the two DJ's there. Among them is Ren, who rubs himself on other people, aware that he is watched by Gabriel, who sheds a tear and leaves the room. Ren reaches him in one of the corridors, and is frightened when he sees him crying.
"Is it fun?" Gabriel whispers, head down.
"What?" Ren frowns, confused.
"Is it fun to play with my heart this way? Is it fun to see my face hurt when I see you rubbing at others, kissing and flirting your bandmates? "He asks, and Ren finally realizes that he has made a big mistake.
Jealousy is not something you can play with. And never force anyone to feel it. Ren, with his craze to show off, wanted Gabriel to be jealous. He had forgotten that Gabriel is different from the others. He had forgotten that Gabriel can not make much effort. He forgot ... blinded by the desire to make Gabriel feel jealous. Completely blind.
"I'm sorry, Gabriel. I'm so sorry."
Yuuri talks to them about what he's seen, and Ren decides he needs to explain himself.
"I thought if I made Gabriel feel jealous of me, it would mean that I could really be loved by him. I know, but this is all new to me. I do not know how to express my feelings right and I am afraid of being rejected. "
" Baka Ren." Gabriel says, surprising the other two. "Why do you think I went through so many surgeries? Why do you think I've changed my body? "
Ren and Yuuri still look at him in surprise.
"I chose to change because I love you. And you did not have to make me jealous for it. In fact, you made me upset, because what you did was play with my feelings and mess up the memory of our first kiss. Our. First. Kiss. "
Then Ren realizes what he has done and hugs Gabriel, apologizing to him. Yuuri smiles and gives them privacy, going to the kitchen, where Victor is preparing lunch and hugs him in the back, surprising him.
That night, Ren presents Gabriel a bouquet of magical black roses and declares himself again to Gabriel singing a new song that he created especially for him. Gabriel accepts, weeping.
Victor and Yuuri take them both to Hasetsu and St. Petersburg for a holiday. Gabriel delights in the small Japanese city and loves to meet Yuuri's parents, who welcome them with open arms.
And then, five years later, Ren decides to retire from competitions, and asks Gabriel to marry him, removing his most precious necklace and putting it on his neck. They get married in civilian, having Victor, Yuuri, a friend of the couple who plays hockey and draws manga named Michael and his companion as witnesses. And both mothers do not accept their marriage, disturbing them to this day.
~ x ~
Ren today gives exhibitions and gives skating lessons to children and supervises two twin brothers. He usually has fun playing video games, and Gabriel sometimes watches or plays with him. He also helps Gabriel in the kitchen, and tries not to take his eyes off of him, because Gabriel has an enormous facility to hurt himself and in his case, a small injury are not so small.
Gabriel lately has focused on writing Fanfics and lyrics for Ren, who continues to perform with his band and to draw. And despite having his hands damaged by the bullying he has suffered in the past,
Victor and Yuuri, with Ren's retirement, decide to retire together to enjoy love and life to the fullest. They are currently traveling around the world, but every day they call Gabriel and Ren to find out how they are.