„Are you sure you want to do this, Yurio?" Victor's voice was a bit louder than usual, revealing his disapproval. "After all what he's done to you, you want to move back in with him? If it's because of us, you don't need to worry. We are happy to help you and we don't mind our guest room being taken by you."

For more than half an hour, Victor has been reasoning Yuri into staying. After talking to Otabek, the Russian had decided that he wanted to give him and Otabek the chance to find their ways back together. Only sitting next to each other had felt incredibly soothing, like every needle that had picked into Yuri's heart had been pulled out piece by piece. Besides the slightly awkward atmosphere, because both of them had been insecure and especially the Kazakh had obviously feared to say just one wrong word, the blond skater had really missed being so close to his friend. Otabek still was the one he loved, so he would lie if he denied that it had felt anything but amazing when he had confessed. Sure, they needed time, but keeping his distance wouldn't help mending the scars they had scratched into each other's hearts.

On the way back to Victor and Yuuri, the Russian had been thinking about what had just happened and what he was going to do. Otabek had offered to drive him, but the younger skater had needed the fresh air to make up his mind. He had already made his decision when he had knocked on his friends' door, but when the Japanese opened the door, his hair ruffled and his cheeks beet-reed, Yuri's choice was clear. Without leaving a comment, he had walked into the guest room. Now, he was packing his things under the watchful eyes of Potya who sat on the bed following his master running around the room looking for his stuff. After a while, Victor appeared in the doorframe asking him what he was about to do.

"It doesn't look like you're cleaning up, although I would really appreciate if you did."

"I'm packing."

"But there's more than a week left until we leave for Japan."

"I'm not packing because of the championship. I'm returning home."

"You'll do what?" Yuri looked up from his bag he was shoving clothes into. Victor's eyes were widened in shock and every expression had fallen from his face.

"I'm returning home."

"But why? Isn't Otabek still living there?"

"Yup." Yuri tried to evade the topic, because he was sure Victor wouldn't be happy about it. Sometimes he acted more like his father than his actual begetter. He wanted the best for Yuri, that was certain, yet he was too persistent.

"Yuuri!" Victor's shout echoed from the walls. "Yurio wants to return to that asshole!"

The Russian didn't even finish rolling his eyes when Yuuri came running over from the kitchen.

"He'll do what?"

"He says he wants to go back home, although that idiot is still living there!"

"Does he force you?" the Japanese turned to Yuri, looking quite concerned.

"No."

"Then why would you go back?" Victor asked.

Yuri sighed. "We talked and I decided to give him and us the chance to settle this thing."

"But what will happen if your conditions worsens again? It took you months to get over it and now, after only a few weeks of finally being better, you want to risk everything for something that jerk has said?"

"I'm sure Otabek won't let this happen again. And would you mind stop insulting him with every sentence. That's more like my thing."

"Why should he? He was the reason that made you sick in the first place." Just like that, Victor went on and on visualizing the last few months to remind Yuri what he has been going through. The Russian tried to remain calm, but slowly Victor went too far. "There's no way we'll allow this. I really don't understand…"

"Right, you don't understand." Yuri had reached his limit. He got up from the floor and walked right up to Victor. "I really appreciate your concerns and worries about me and I'm more than thankful for everything that you've been doing for me the last months. Really, I can't thank you enough for being there for me, because without you, I probably wouldn't have made it. But you have no idea what has been happening between the two of us. You don't know what he did and neither do you know that half of this has been my own fault. Sure, Beka has done a lot of things wrong but so did I. He meant it well and I believe him."

"But…" Victor started again, but his husband's hand on his shoulder made him stop. Yuuri had a soft smile on his face, looking at Yuri who was pretty surprised by his intervention.

"Let him go. He knows what he's doing."

"Don't you think that he'll just get hurt again? Why don't you…?"

"We can't hide him here forever and I'm pretty sure that he has a real good reason to return home." Pushing a furious but defeated Victor out of the room he turned to Yuri again. "You haven't called him this way for a long time." He smiled mysteriously and closed the door behind him, leaving behind a confused and slightly blushing young skater.

About an hour later, Yuri was sitting in Victor's car. After a long talk with his husband, the Russian had hesitantly accepted to let Yuri return to his own apartment.

"But only if I drive you there," he had added.

Now, the three of them and Potya were sitting in the car. The sun had set a few hours ago, but the atmosphere in the car was still colder than the air outside. None of them dared to say a word. It was really uncomfortable to watch Victor staring down the front window, but Yuri was glad he had stopped raging. The Russian understood very well that he only wanted the best for him and he was really thankful for that, yet it still was Yuri's decision to make. Watching other cars and the streets lamps go by, he tried to imagine how it would be like, living with Otabek again. How much time would they need to get used to each other again? Would it ever be like before all of this had happened? They only had about two weeks until they would leave for the World Championship and right afterwards, Yuri would go to Germany. Of course, he was still excited to go there, but since Otabek had confessed to him, his anticipation had decreased a little. Although he tried not to put to much weight on it, Yuri knew deep inside that his decision to fully move to Munich would not only depend on his compatibility with Wertmann, but also on how his feelings would change during the following weeks together with Otabek.

Suddenly, the car stopped and Yuri noticed that they had reached their destination. He got out off the vehicle and wanted to get his bags from the trunk. Yet, he had reckoned without Victor who was already carrying both bags on his shoulders.

"You don't need to carry them for me. I'll take them. You already drove me here. Thanks, but you can leave."

"No way." The expression on Victor's face didn't allow any backtalk. "We will accompany you."

When he had left the apartment earlier, he hadn't decided if he would move back, so Otabek would probably be more than surprised to see him again so soon. Now, he came with Victor and Yuuri in tow, so what would he think? And what would Victor do? Yuri was pretty sure he didn't insist on accompanying him to do small talk. Slowly, he walked up the stairs, thinking of a way how to make Victor not eat the Kazakh alive. His last hope was Yuuri, who hopefully kept his husband under control. He put his key in the door lock and opened it hesitantly. When they got in, Otabek was nowhere to be seen and Yuri hoped that he had left to go shopping or running or anything that would make him stay out of the apartment long enough to miss Victor's anger. Yet, luck wasn't on his side, because after a few moments, the older skater opened the door of his room. Completely surprised, he stood still as if he wasn't sure whether he was dreaming or not.

"I'm moving back in. I hope it's alright with you." Yuri said bluntly, trying to hide his trembling voice. Otabek had already told him that he wanted him to come back, but he was nervous about how he would react.

"Yeah, sure." Otabek stumbled. He was obviously too confused to say anything and Yuri took the chance to take his bags away from Victor.

"See, I'm home now. Thanks for driving me. Have a good night you two." He tied to shove Victor and Yuuri out of the door when the older Russian walked past him right towards the Kazakh.

"A word, please". He didn't even wait for an answer. He pushed Otabek into his room and closed the door behind them.

"Don't worry. He won't eat him. At least I hope so," Yuuri tried to comfort him, "Let's get your stuff into your closet again. I'll help you."

They had just emptied the second bag, when Otabek's door opened again and Victor stepped out.

"And let me make it clear one last time. If you dare to hurt him again, I'll make sure that the next Piroshki he eats is made out of you, okay? Yuuri, let's go home. Makkachin is surely waiting for us." He took his husband's hand and dragged him out of the apartment.

The door fell shut with a loud bang that echoed in the silence they had left.

"I'm…I'm sorry. I hope he didn't…." Yuri hoped that Victor didn't pick too much on Otabek. The last thing he wanted was the Kazakh to draw back again after being shouted at and scolded by Victor.

"Don't worry. I'm fine. I'm just glad that you are back." His whole expression was so soft and so loving, a well-known heat filled Yuri's face and he was pretty sure that he was blushing. Otabek smiled, but it was not a smirking one. He rather looked really happy about Yuri's reaction. He turned around when he threw one last glance towards the Russian before he closed the door.

"Good night, Yura, and welcome back home."