Ryuugazaki: This fanfic is literally almost complete, and I'm just upset that it took me two whole years and 2.5 rewrites to get to this point.
Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year. I'll explain why I haven't updated in ages.
Chapter Fifty-Three
(Wednesday, 9 December 2015 – 8:55pm, Marseille, France)
They touched down in Marseille. Khoudia didn't let either of her parents sleep which was good news for Yuuri and Celestino. Yuuri was exhausted and anxious, and Celestino was just exhausted. Yuuri rubbed their eyes and took out their phone. They had a text from Victor. He had already touched down, and he was itching to see them. Yuuri was feeling anxious. The time they'd be intimately seeing Victor was nigh and they couldn't even talk to Khoudia about it. Khoudia was leaning on her father, and her father was talking to her mother in Wolof.
Khoudia: You look stressed. Something on your mind?
: I'm seeing Victor when we get to the hotel.
Khoudia: And? Is that a bad thing?
: It's not, but I feel bad.
Khoudia: Physically or emotionally?
: Can't it be both?
Yuuri looked over at Khoudia. She wasn't leaning on her father anymore. "I'll take an Uber with Ciao Ciao," Yuuri said.
"Can't we just take one of the bigger Ubers together?" Khoudia asked.
"Do they even have those in France?" Yuuri asked. Khoudia shrugged. "If they don't have them, I'll ride with Ciao Ciao. I don't mind. Plus, you have a lot of bags."
"It's not that many bags," Khoudia said. She looked towards the window. "So, Ciao Ciao, what's the plan?" Coach Cialdini looked up from his phone. "You weren't listening, were you?"
"No, Vannozza texted me." Yuuri put their phone away. "What were you and Yuuri talking about?"
"How are we getting to the hotel?" Khoudia asked.
"Aren't we taking an Uber?" Coach Cialdini asked.
"But do we get a big Uber and try to force all of us in there or do you and Yuuri ride together?"
"It's probably a good idea for us to ride separately," Coach Cialdini said. "Yuuri, text Khoudia the address of the hotel." Yuuri looked at Coach Cialdini.
"And what's the address?" Yuuri asked. Coach Cialdini deadpanned. "Give me your phone." Coach Cialdini unlocked his phone. "Do you have the address saved?" Coach Cialdini nodded. "Go to where you have it saved." Coach Cialdini did as Yuuri asked and Yuuri texted the address to Khoudia. Then Yuuri texted her the address of the rink.
"Thank you, Yuuri," Khoudia said. Yuuri held on to their coach's phone and requested the Uber. Khoudia was doing the same with her dad's phone.
"Daddy," Khoudia said in Wolof, "we can't ride with Yuuri and Ciao Ciao because there're too many bags. We're taking a different Uber. " Mouhamadou nodded. Khoudia put her father's phone in her pocket. "Mama, when we get to the hotel, can I go with Yuuri to their room? I want to help them settle in. "
"How sweet of you, Kiki," Mama Awa said. She grabbed on to Khoudia's forearm. "You may go. Call us when you're on your way. "
"Yes, Mama," Khoudia said. She smiled at Yuuri and nudged them.
Khoudia: Do you want to touch where I shaved when we get to your hotel room?
: With my hands?
Khoudia: What else would you even touch with?
: I don't know. My feet?
Khoudia: ((eye roll emoji))
Khoudia: Do you want to touch it or not?
: Okay, okay, I'll touch you.
Khoudia: Thank you.
Yuuri gestured for Coach Cialdini to give his phone back. Coach Cialdini unlocked his phone and gave it to Yuuri. Their Uber was five minutes away. "How far is your Uber?" Khoudia asked. She went to try and get a look over Yuuri's shoulder. Needless to say, it didn't work because Yuuri had eight inches on Khoudia. Khoudia, instead, brought Yuuri's arm down to her level and looked. Then she took out her father's phone. "Four minutes." Khoudia started to lean on Yuuri. "I can't believe we're actually here! This is so exciting!" Yuuri smiled. "I'm delighted you decided to come." Yuuri deadpanned.
"I was bullied into coming," Yuuri reminded her.
"I know," Khoudia said. "And I'm glad you've decided to come." Yuuri rolled their eyes. Then their phone buzzed.
Victor: Are you in Marseille yet?
: I'm at the airport with Khoudia and my coach. We're waiting for our Ubers right now.
Victor: Aah, I can't wait to see you!
Victor: I've missed you so much. I can't wait until I have you in my arms.
Yuuri felt their breath hitch. They put their phone away and looked at Celestino's phone. Three minutes. Then Celestino's phone buzzed. It's his daughter. "Do you want to text Vannozza back?" Yuuri asked their coach. They offered Celestino his phone. Coach Cialdini took his phone and went to his daughter's message. "Ciao Ciao, have you ever thought of having another baby?" Coach Cialdini stopped texting and froze. Then he chuckled.
"I have, but after we had Vannozza, Philippa was very against the idea of going into labor again." Yuuri chuckled. "I told her that if she doesn't want to endure going through labor again, we could just adopt, but she's on the fence about it." There was a silence between them. "Why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering. Vannozza is fourteen, right?"
"Fifteen, but yes," Coach Cialdini said. Her birthday must've passed recently. Yuuri didn't feel bad about not remembering. They don't get the chance to think about Vannozza enough to remember her birthday.
"I was wondering if she ever got lonely not having a younger sibling." Coach Cialdini nodded.
"Are you lonely without a younger sibling?"
"No, I have Mari. But Vannozza is an only child," Yuuri said. Coach Cialdini smiled. "How did you decide to have a baby?" Khoudia looked over at Yuuri. She was squinting.
"Well, Philippa's family expected us to have a baby, and my parents wanted grandchildren, and she wanted a baby."
"So, you went with it?" Coach Cialdini nodded. "Did you want a baby?"
"Not at the time, but I grew to like the idea of having one. Didn't expect to have a girl, though." Coach Cialdini shrugged. "But I loved Vannozza since the day Philippa made the gender reveal cake."
Khoudia: Why are you asking Ciao Ciao about having children?
"Why do you ask?" Coach Cialdini asked.
"Just curious," Yuuri said. "How did you pick the name 'Vannozza'?"
"Well, my Nonna's name was Giovanna so I named Vannozza after her. I loved my Nonna greatly." Yuuri smiled. "If we had a son and I had my way, I would've named him Aurelio."
"If you had your way?"
"Philippa wanted to name our son 'Laramie.' I told her that he would get bullied if she did that." Yuuri chuckled. "But no, Philippa wanted to name him Laramie, and I would probably go along with it."
"Why would you have to go along with it?"
"'Mia moglie ha sempre ragione.'"
"What does that mean?" Yuuri asked.
"'My wife is always right.'" Coach Cialdini resumed his text to Vannozza. "Having a wife is frustrating, but it is also rewarding. There is nothing better than getting to build yourself and a home with someone you truly love." Yuuri nodded. "It may seem odd now, but you'll see what I mean when you get married. You're going to be simultaneously frustrated by and in love with your wife."
"And what if I don't marry a woman?" Coach Cialdini's face blanched. "Ciao Ciao?"
"Well, I could only presume that it would be the same thing, but I am not an expert in that." Yuuri nodded. "Are you planning on not getting married to a woman?"
"Oh no, no," Yuuri said. "I was just curious. I am very heterosexual."
"Good," Coach Cialdini said.
"One more question and I'll leave you alone," Yuuri said. Coach Cialdini nodded. "Giovanna is the name of your Nonna. Did your wife have a name for her?"
"'Tala Sampaguita,'" Coach Cialdini said. "I conceded to those being part of Vannozza's name."
"'Sampaguita'?" Yuuri asked.
"'Sampaguita' is a type of jasmine flower. It's also Philippa's favorite flower," Coach Cialdini clarified.
"So, what's Vannozza's full name?"
"Giovanna Tala Sampaguita Cialdini. She also likes to use her mother's maiden name, too. I, personally, feel that it's a mouthful for anyone to say, but my darling Vannozza loves being Filipina as much as she loves being Italian, so it's hard to say no to her." Yuuri chuckled. "So, if Vannozza wants to use 'Reyes' in combination with 'Cialdini,' I can't say no."
"Your daughter is your weakness," Yuuri remarked.
"She is," Coach Cialdini said.
"Does it bother you having to leave Vannozza and your wife constantly?" Yuuri asked. Their Uber pulled up, and Yuuri nudged their coach. Yuuri and Coach Cialdini gathered their bags and put them in their Uber. When Yuuri and Coach Cialdini got in their Uber, Khoudia's family's Uber pulled up.
Once Coach Cialdini got situated in the Uber, he decided to respond to Yuuri's question. "It always bothers me having to leave them, but my wife is supportive, and my daughter loves to brag about how her old man travels to all these countries as a sports coach. It makes me cool in her eyes." Yuuri chuckled. "Having children is both a weakness and a strength."
"Why's that?"
"It makes you vulnerable in the sense that there's an actual part of you that's so vulnerable and it makes you strong in the most abstract of ways. You'll see what I mean when you have your own."
Khoudia: Text back, you slut
"Do you have any more questions?" Coach Cialdini asked.
"Yes," Yuuri said. "How did you know that you wanted to marry your wife?"
"She had gone to visit some family in Manila, and I had missed her. I was afraid that she would never return to me and that's how I knew that I wanted her in my life for the rest of my life." Yuuri nodded. "Is there someone who you want to return to you?"
"I think so," Yuuri said. "But I don't know. There are a lot of feelings involved, and I'm not sure how to process them."
"I'm sure Olivia wants you to return, too," Coach Cialdini said. This time it was Yuuri's turn to blanche. "Talk to her." Yuuri looked at their fingertips.
Victor: Did your Uber come yet?
: My coach and I just got in.
Victor: What about Khoudia?
: She's taking a different Uber. She's coming with her parents.
Victor: Is that why you're able to see me now?
: Yes.
Victor: I am glad that her parents have accompanied her.
Victor: But why did they come?
: They wanted to support her.
Victor: How adorable.
"Yuuri," Coach Cialdini said, "talk to your tesoro."
"I will," Yuuri said.
"Do it now," Coach Cialdini urged.
: Khoudia's parents are adorable.
Victor: Do they regard you well?
: They do. Sometimes her mother takes off her niqab so I can see her face.
: Khoudia explained that it's because I'm kind of like her son.
: It makes me feel warm.
Yuuri decided to go to Olivia's messages.
: Khoudia and I touched down in France. Just letting you know.
Olivia: Oh? And how do you like Marseille so far?
: I don't have an opinion just yet. I've only been here for 20 minutes.
Olivia: You can have an opinion on something in 20 minutes. That's how I decided that I liked you.
: Good for you.
Olivia: ((eye roll emoji))
"Did you text Olivia?" Coach Cialdini asked.
"I did," Yuuri said. "It was a terrible idea."
"No, it isn't. You need to accept that you're in love with Olivia." Yuuri shrugged and sighed. They would have to write out their current feelings for Olivia in their journal, and they would have to contend with themselves and Victor tonight. The closer Yuuri got to the hotel, the more they dreaded seeing Victor. They would probably need to take a Xanax before Victor comes to see them.
"Ciao Ciao," Yuuri said, "what if I'm gay or bisexual?"
"I would advise you to never speak of it to anyone in the skating world." Yuuri nodded. "It is not kind to those who are part of the LGBT community." Yuuri nodded again. "Are you questioning your sexuality?"
"No, I'm just thinking about it." Coach Cialdini nodded. "Like, I'm straight. Super straight. But I'm just letting my mind wander." Coach Cialdini nodded again. The ride was awkward and filled with silence.
#
(Wednesday, 9 December 2015 – 9:23pm, Marseille, France)
Khoudia and her parents arrived at the Hôtel Kyriad Marseille Palais des Congrès before Yuuri and Coach Cialdini. They were waiting inside, by the door with all of their bags. "Finally you made it," Khoudia remarked. Khoudia's mother nudged her forcefully. She grumbled briefly before saying, "Mama, can I go with Yuuri now?" Khoudia grabbed on to her mother's forearm.
"Do you know the room number?" Khoudia's father asked. Khoudia nodded. "Then you may go. Leave your bags here," he said. Khoudia nodded and grabbed one of Yuuri's bags.
"Let's go!" Khoudia grabbed Yuuri's arm and led them towards the elevators. She looped her arm through their and took grand steps. Once they were out of earshot from Khoudia's parents, she opened her mouth. "You have a lot to explain."
"I know, I know," Yuuri said.
"First of all, why in the fuck were you asking Ciao Ciao about having a baby? Is there something you're not telling me?"
"Not telling you like what?" Yuuri asked.
"Are you having a baby?" Yuuri shook their head. "Then why did you ask him?"
"If I go back home, I'll be expected to start a family," Yuuri said. "I wanted some perspective on it." Yuuri looked to Khoudia's left. There was a tanned man with an Asian girl there.
"Stay in America and you can be as childless as you wish," Khoudia said.
"I can't avoid my parents forever." Khoudia shrugged.
"Yeah you can," she said. "Say you got a great job in America and you don't want to let it pass you by. Bam, you can be gay and childless and sleep with a different guy each night." Yuuri rolled their eyes. "So, why did you tell Ciao Ciao that you're straight? We all know you're not."
"Your parents were right there, and I didn't feel like disappointing Ciao Ciao." The elevator came. The tanned guy let Yuuri and Khoudia step on first.
"What floor are you on?" Khoudia asked.
"Five," Yuuri said. Khoudia pushed the button for the fifth floor. The tanned man and the woman stepped on. They pushed the button for the sixth floor.
"You wouldn't have disappointed Ciao Ciao by saying that you like guys," Khoudia said. "I don't think he'd even care, to be honest with you."
"He said 'good' after I told him that I was straight, A–."
"Don't," Khoudia whispered. "I know what you're going to say, but don't." Yuuri shrugged. "But either way, I genuinely think that Ciao Ciao wouldn't give a fuck if you said you like guys. He's not a leftist, but he is liberal and he's pretty open-minded. Not open-minded enough to go to an American bathhouse to explore his sexuality, but open enough to be okay with other people going to American bathhouses to explore their sexuality. "
"So, have you come out to Ciao Ciao?" Yuuri asked. Khoudia started to laugh. "That's what I thought." The elevator stopped on the third floor; no one got on. "I'm not weird for not feeling comfortable with coming out to him with two anti-queer Muslims nearby." Khoudia shrugged. The elevator stopped on the fifth floor, and Yuuri and Khoudia got off.
"Now, what room?"
"F, I think," Yuuri said. They went to 5F and knocked.
"Wait fuck! We need the keycard thing!" Khoudia groaned. "Which one of us is going to go down for the card?"
"Maybe we can text Ciao Ciao to give it to us when he comes up," Yuuri suggested.
"You text him. My phone is on 12%."
: Ciao Ciao, we need the thing for my room. Can you bring it up?
Celestino: What floor r u on?
: We're in front of 5F.
Celestino: I'll give it to u when I drop off my bags
: Tysmmm, Ciao Ciao.
"So? What'd he say?" Yuuri showed Khoudia their phone. "Thank goodness." Khoudia laid one of Yuuri's suitcases down and sat on it. Yuuri rolled their eyes. Yuuri unzipped their coat and sat on the floor. "Why don't you just sit on a suitcase?" Yuuri shook their head. "You're something else; you know that, right?" Yuuri nodded. "Why are we even friends?"
"We might as well be. We go to the same rink; we have the same coach."
"I know that, but that doesn't mean that I have to be friends with you." Yuuri shrugged. "I could be friends with someone who isn't weird." This time it was Yuuri's turn to laugh. "What's so funny?"
"You say that like you're aren't a countercultural kid yourself," Yuuri said. "You're already on the Christmas card." Khoudia squinted.
"We have a Christmas card?" Khoudia asked, confused. Yuuri laughed and shook their head. "Then why would you say that?"
"Do I need to have a purpose behind everything I say? Can't I talk for the sake of talking?"
"No," Khoudia said. "Plus, we aren't necessarily kids despite our delayed adulthood." Yuuri shrugged. Khoudia swatted their shoulder.
"Disrespectful," Yuuri said. "Do you think your parents are going to let you go macaron hunting tomorrow?"
"They have to. They don't want to have to put up with me all day." Khoudia yawned. "If they don't let me, I'll annoy them into letting me."
"Is this what you do? Annoy people into letting you have your way?" Khoudia nodded. "Terrible, terrible." She shrugged and took out her phone. "Wasn't your phone dying?"
"It's still dying," Khoudia said. "But I have to text Adé." Yuuri nodded. "Pose." Yuuri posed for Khoudia.
Khoudia: We're here! Votre poupée is in one piece!
Adé: Aaaa!
Adé: I'm so happy for y'all!
Khoudia: We're happy too!
"I'm not," Yuuri said.
"Shut up," Khoudia said. "Oh! I gotta post this on Snapchat!" Khoudia went to the app. "Hey y'all, just letting you know that Yuuri and I are in Marseille. We're getting ready to tear this place apart because of who we are as people." Then she started a new one. This one was silent, and it was just a recording of Yuuri blinking and breathing.
"You're weird, and your phone is going to die."
"Shut up." Khoudia put her phone to sleep. "Text Victor and tell him we're here."
"Why? So you can have him sit on the floor and talk to you?" Khoudia sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes.
"You told me that I could meet him."
"I know," Yuuri said. "But why do you want to meet him right now?"
"Because we're here," Khoudia said. "Give me your phone." Yuuri arched a brow at Khoudia. "Yuuri, give me your phone." Yuuri shook their head. "So help me if you don't give me your phone!" Yuuri was cowed into giving Khoudia their phone. Khoudia tried to unlock it. "Yu–"
"You literally know my passcode," Yuuri said.
"I have ADHD, Yuuri."
"So?" Khoudia sucked her teeth and grabbed Yuuri's left hand. She unlocked Yuuri's phone and went to their messages. She made a face. "Why did you text Olivia?"
"Ciao Ciao told me to text her. He thinks we're in love or whatever." Khoudia sucked her teeth again. "I know right?"
"I don't doubt that she's in love with you, but I constantly question your true feelings for her." Yuuri deadpanned. "Constantly," Khoudia repeated. She reached over and grabbed Yuuri's face. "Con-stant-ly," she whispered in Yuuri's face. Yuuri removed their face from Khoudia's hands and sat up.
"If you're going to text Victor, text him before I decide to snatch my phone back," Yuuri said.
"Snatch this phone away from me, and I'll snatch you by your 2B hair." Yuuri pursed their lips. Khoudia went to Yuuri's messages to Victor. She started to read. "You should've just told him that you'd chill with him. You could've left me out of it."
"I didn't know if you wanted to do something, though," Yuuri said.
"I know, but I don't mind forcing myself to be around my parents if it means you'll be with Victor." Khoudia kept reading. "Victor's ardor for you is so endearing. I wish I could find me a girl like that." Khoudia smiled and kept reading. "Oh, he thinks my parents are cute, too. There's nothing cute about queerphobia, but okay, hunty." Yuuri rolled their eyes and leaned on the wall. Yuuri's phone pinged. "Ciao Ciao just texted you."
"What did he say?"
"That he's waiting for the elevator right now." Yuuri nodded. Khoudia texted Celestino "okay" and went back to Victor's messages. Khoudia texted him a simple "we're here in room 5F" and gave Yuuri their phone back.
Victor: I'll be there in a few.
Victor: Just let me figure out something to tell my coach and my rink mate.
: Are you with them right now?
Victor: Yes. It's nice seeing them after so long.
: If you want to stay with them, stay. I'll be fine by myself.
Victor: But I want to see you, though.
"Yuuri! Khoudia!" Khoudia looked behind herself. Coach Cialdini was coming down the hall. "How long have you been out here?" Yuuri shrugged. Coach Cialdini placed Yuuri's keycard in their hand. "Doesn't matter. No sleepovers, you two."
"Yeah, yeah, Ciao Ciao," Khoudia said.
"Khoudia, stop being insolent, or I'll tell your mother." Khoudia squinted.
"Are you really threatening to tell my mother on me?"
"Yes," Coach Cialdini said, not wavering in the slightest. Khoudia sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. "That's what I thought. Now, no sleepovers," he said, looking at Yuuri. "And no sleepovers," he said, looking at Khoudia. Khoudia rolled her eyes and begrudgingly agreed.
"No sleepovers," she murmured.
"Good. I'm glad we could all reach an agreement tonight. Behave yourselves now." Coach Cialdini walked away. There was a silence.
"Hey, at least we have the keycard now," Yuuri said. They stood up and unlocked the door. Khoudia forced herself up and brought the suitcase she was sitting on inside. Yuuri went for the remaining two bags and closed the door behind them. "Now show me your shaved body before Victor comes."
"I was about to punch you for saying that, but then I remembered that I want you to see where I shaved," Khoudia said. She unzipped her coat and hoodie. She pulled off her shirts and was standing in front of Yuuri in her bra and pants. She lifted up her arms. "Look at my arms!" Yuuri brought their face close to examine them. "Touch them! They don't have any razor bumps!" Yuuri ran two fingers up and down Khoudia's right armpit. "It's soft, right?" Yuuri nodded. "Now you have to see my crotch. That's soft, too!"
"Wait, what?!"
"I told you I shaved everything. That everything includes my pubic area." Yuuri scrunched up their face. Khoudia started to take off her pants and her layers. Yuuri covered their eyes as she stripped. "Why are you covering your eyes? You've seen my boobs before."
"Yeah, your boobs," Yuuri said. "I have never seen your vagina before."
"And you're not. All you're going to see is my pubic area."
"This is still very weird," Yuuri explained.
"All you have to do is touch it, and then I'll put my clothes back on." Yuuri made a sound. "It's not going to be that bad."
"And all I have to do is just touch it?"
"Yes," Khoudia said. "You can uncover your eyes now." Yuuri peeked from behind their fingers. Khoudia was standing in front of them in her bra and waist beads and nothing else. "You can touch me." Yuuri withdrew their hands from their eyes and brought them to their mouth. "Do you need me to guide you?" Khoudia didn't wait for an answer and grabbed one of Yuuri's hands. She dragged two fingers along her linea alba. "So? Is it smooth?"
"Holy fuck, this is smooth." Khoudia laughed. Yuuri withdrew their hand from Khoudia's pubic area and covered their eyes to let Khoudia get dressed. "Let me know when you're done dressing."
"No problem," Khoudia said. There was a knock at Yuuri's door. Khoudia hurriedly put her shirt back on and adjusted her pants. "Who is it?" Khoudia said from behind the door.
"It's me," the voice said. Khoudia looked at Yuuri.
"Victor, it's Victor," Yuuri said. "You can get the door." Khoudia adjusted her shirt and pants again to avoid giving Victor the impression that things were going on. She took a deep breath to center herself before she would get her first in person look at al-Bahá, the Most Compassionate. Khoudia fixed her shirt a final time and walked over to the door. She opened it. "Hi!"
"H-hello," Victor said. He stepped away. "I must have the wrong room. I'll leave you alone."
"Depends, are you here to see Yuuri Katsuki?" Khoudia asked. Yuuri could presume that Victor had nodded. "Then you have the right room." Khoudia finger-gunned Victor. "I'm Khoudia Bâ Sène." Khoudia held out her hand for Victor to shake. Yuuri could guess that he took it and shook. "Don't be a stranger. Come in!" Khoudia stepped aside and let Victor come in.
"Hello, Yuuri," Victor said. He sat next to Yuuri and grabbed their hand. He brought it to his mouth. He tentatively looked over at Khoudia.
"Don't worry. She knows everything."
"Everything?"
"Well, enough to keep her gluttonous curiosity at bay." Victor nodded. "What I haven't willingly told her, she's forcefully extracted and snooped for."
"That's a weird way to talk about your friend," Khoudia said. She sat on the bed, behind them. "It's nice to meet you, Victor."
"It's nice to meet you, too… I think." Khoudia made a face. "I don't know much about you aside from what Yuuri's told me."
"And what have they told you?" Khoudia asked.
"Not much," Victor said. Khoudia glared at Yuuri. There was a silence between them.
"Khoudia, shouldn't you be getting back to your parents? Your phone is dying." Yuuri grabbed Victor's hand, and they locked fingers. Khoudia seemed to grasp the thing Yuuri was trying to get across. She got up to grab her phone. She didn't make a phone call, so Yuuri presumed that she sent one of her parents a text. "So?"
"I texted my dad. I'll get out of y'alls hair." Khoudia kissed Yuuri on the forehead and hesitated on hugging Victor. "May I hug you?" Victor nodded. Khoudia took Victor into her arms and hugged him tightly. "Thank you for letting me hug you," Khoudia said. She let go of Victor and left. Yuuri looked at Victor's hands.
"Hey, look at me," Victor said. Yuuri looked up at Victor. Victor kissed Yuuri and ran his hands through their hair, knocking their hat off. Yuuri wrapped their arms around Victor's neck and pulled themselves closer. Victor pulled away and pecked Yuuri on the lips. "I've missed you."
Yuuri pulled Victor into a hug, and they inhaled. Victor smells like Victor and Yuuri was concurrently set on edge and comforted by it.
"I love you so much," Victor said, keeping his hands in his bonheur's hair. Yuuri stretched upward to kiss Victor's forehead. Yuuri pulled out of the hug and grabbed Victor's hands again.
"So, what did you think of Khoudia?"
"She's… very awkward. And very small."
"Yes, Khoudia is a tiny person," Yuuri said. "And incredibly awkward. But not really somehow." Victor made a face. "She's a different person in private."
"So, what did I just see?"
"You saw a startled Khoudia. Well, not so much startled, but caught off guard." Yuuri let go of Victor's hands. "She's a good bean, though."
"And she knows about me?" Yuuri nodded. "And she approves?" Yuuri nodded.
"I don't think she would've given you a hug if she didn't approve," Yuuri said. "Khoudia knows a lot, and she's been dying to meet you." Yuuri got up and pulled off their coat. They placed it on the back of the chair. "But enough about Khoudia. How is your coach? Your rink mate?" Yuuri turned around and leaned on the chair. They looked Victor up and down. Victor leaned in and focused on Yuuri.
"My coach is fine. He's been pressuring me all season." Yuuri brought a knuckle to their mouth. "I know he's only been stressed because I decided to pack up and go to campus to learn, but I feel like that he should be focusing more on my rink mate." Yuuri nodded. "It's his last competition in the junior division. He needs to go out with a flourish." Yuuri nodded again. "Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to talk about skating with you. I want to absorb your presence." Yuuri bent down to untie their Docs. They kicked them off and placed them under the desk.
"How long are you staying with me?" Yuuri asked.
"How long do you want me to stay with you?" Victor asked. Yuuri wanted to say "forever," but decided against it. They were certain that Victor would happily oblige to stay with Yuuri forever, but Yuuri understood that – unless they both stayed in America or moved somewhere more queer-friendly – they couldn't necessarily be together forever. "Yuuri?"
"I'm thinking," Yuuri said. Victor deadpanned. Yuuri turned around and pulled off their hoodie. Victor got up and stood behind Yuuri, his hand resting on their back. "Victor, what are you doing?"
"I'm going to hug you," he said.
"Then why don't you just do it instead of creeping up behind me?" Victor chuckled and kissed Yuuri's neck. Yuuri started to take off their shirt and let it hang around their neck. Then they began to pull off their layers.
"Why don't I help you?" Victor said. Yuuri shook their head and continued to take off their thermals. "Can I at least look at your face while you get undressed?" Yuuri obliged and turned to face Victor. They pulled their thermal top off and placed it over their shirt which was over their coat. Yuuri was standing there in their pants and a tank top with stars on it. Victor wrapped his arms around Yuuri. "I've decided that I'm staying the night." Yuuri's face blanched. "What? What happened?"
"Don't you have to get back to your coach and rink mate?"
"No," Victor said. "I told them I was going to get some sleep."
"So you're sleeping here," Yuuri said, wrapping their head around the idea.
"Yes."
"But the ISU doesn't allow sleepovers," Yuuri reminded him. They started to undo their pants. They pulled them down and struggled out of them.
"I know, but what they don't know, won't hurt." Victor put his arms around Yuuri's neck. "Would the ISU keep me from my boyfriend?"
"Probably," Yuuri said, wrapping their arms around Victor's waist. "Here, we're figure skaters first and boyfriends second."
"I can be both things," Victor said. He kissed Yuuri's forehead and left his face there. "So let me be your boyfriend tonight. We can be skaters tomorrow." Yuuri held on to Victor as they started to kick their pants off. Victor started laughing. "Do you need to sit down?" Yuuri shook their head. They stepped out of their pants and bent down to pick them up. They started to fold their clothes, and Victor joined in with folding Yuuri's shirts and thermals. Once they were done, Yuuri anxiously looked at everything but Victor. Victor grabbed Yuuri's face and brought it close to him. "What's going on?"
"The word 'pelican' comes from a Greek word meaning 'ax,' and the American white pelican's wingspan ranges from 2.44 to 2.9 meters."
Victor let go of Yuuri's face. "What?"
"The plumage of the American white pelican is almost entirely white, and the brown pelican is the smallest of the pelican genus."
"Yuuri, that isn't what I was talking about at all," Victor said as he put down Yuuri's shirt. "I was asking about you. Not pelicans."
"Oh," Yuuri said. "Do you want to learn about pelicans now?"
"No," Victor said. "Shit," Yuuri thought. "I came to spend time with you. Not learn about pelicans." Yuuri made a face. "But I suppose that you can tell me one more fact about pelicans."
"The Dalmatian pelican is the largest of pelicans." Victor nodded. Yuuri looked up at the ceiling then back at Victor. They should say something. "Do you want to watch a movie with me? Maybe – if you want that is – we can go out and do something – walk, maybe. We can do that. We get something to eat. We can, um, we can –."
"What movie do you have in mind?" Victor asked, cutting them off. Yuuri blanked. "Yuuri? Do you have a movie in mind?"
"Frank," Yuuri said. "We can watch Frank."
"What's that about?"
"It's about a dysfunctional band." Victor nodded. "There's a theremin in it." Victor nodded again. "Do you like theremins?"
"I might if I knew what one was." Yuuri gamboled over to their bags and started rummaging through them for their laptop. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to show you a theremin! I need my laptop."
"Can't you just show me on your phone?" Yuuri stopped their rummaging. Victor held up Yuuri's phone. Yuuri exhaled and returned to Victor's side. They grabbed their phone, unlocked it, and rushed to their home screen. They swiped down and searched. They went to Google Images and showed Victor a Moog Etherwave Theremin. "It looks unimpressive."
"Looks can be deceiving." Victor shrugged. "We should start watching Frank." Yuuri put their phone in Victor's hands and went back to their suitcase. Yuuri found their laptop and charger and placed it on their bed. Victor started to undress and fold their clothes. Yuuri looked behind the bed for an outlet, and they found one. They forced their hand behind the bed and plugged in their charger. They connected the laptop to its charger and opened it. They logged in, and Victor got a look at their wallpaper. It was still Vicchan; Yuuri had neglected to change it.
"Is that your dog?" Victor asked. "They look so sweet. They kind of look like Makkachin." Yuuri nodded and opened Chrome. They would have preferred to avoid talking about Vicchan and why Vicchan happens to look like Makkachin. Yuuri didn't want to have to approach their obsession-crush-special interest in Victor to Victor verbally. Yuuri went to Netflix and logged in. Frank was in their "To Watch" list. "Have you watched this before?"
"I've read the summary. Watching it tonight will be an adventure for the both of us." Victor put his socks near his clothes which were on the desk and sat on the bed. He placed his phone and Yuuri's on one of the nightstands and got under the covers.
"Join me," Victor said. Yuuri got under the covers with Victor and cuddled up to him. "Space."
"Hm?"
"Your shirt and boxers. You have a space theme going on." Yuuri nodded.
"I'm a space kid," Yuuri said. Victor nodded and put his slightly clenched hand on Yuuri's thigh. "Let's watch Frank." Yuuri started the movie and grabbed Victor's hand. They ran their thumb along Victor's index finger. Yuuri felt vulnerable and warm in Victor's nice arms. The voices weren't hassling them; they weren't completely overcome with waves of sickening anxiety. They were simply allowed to be with their happiness.
Ryuugazaki: Okay so I've been working on part ii for a while now. But I've been torn between working on the thing and trying to get funding for school. It's a whole lotta mess, but the semester's over and it's a new year. I'm gonna try and post more. Maybe we'll finally get to part ii now.