Otabek would probably say that he's more concerned about Yuri meeting his family than Yuri is. Which bothers him. A lot.
For one thing, how is anyone calm when they're meeting their significant other's parents? Otabek has seen Dina go through a lot of partners and all of them nearly shat their pants when meeting him. Only two of her partners have met their parents and the looks of pure terror they wore felt like the correct response.
The other thing, the real kicker in Otabek's opinion, Yuri is going to spend two weeks in their house. He would like to reiterate that point for emphasis. Yuri will be staying in Otabek's parents' house and Yuri is still somehow, miraculously, not losing his shit.
Sure, Otabek has spent a few weeks briefing him on the family; dynamics, likes, dislikes, everything and anything he could think of to prepare Yuri for the experience that is the Altin family. Yuri listened, of course, but he didn't seem bothered by any of Otabek's warnings.
How the fuck is that even possible? To not completely freak out about meeting your boyfriend's parents?
"Beka, you there?" Yuri asks with a chuckle.
"Hm?" Otabek shakes his head slightly. Yuri looks perfectly at ease in the airport terminal lounge, the teasing smile pulling at his lips looks just shy of cocky.
"You didn't hear me, did you?"
"Sorry, I got distracted. What's up?"
"I asked if you were coming to get me or if I should call an uber."
"Of course I'm coming to get you." Otabek scoffs, "What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't pick you up at the airport?"
"I don't know, a rich one?" Yuri chuckles, "You look stressed."
"I am stressed, I'm stressed for the both of us." Otabek mutters.
"You love your family, I don't get why you're freaking out."
"Because I love you and my family. I'll die if you don't like each other."
"I will like them, Beka, calm down." Yuri laughs, "They seem nice, they're hosting me for two weeks, and they made you. You're basically my favorite human so there's no way I could hate them."
"You have an extraordinary amount of confidence given you know nothing."
"I work well under stress." Yuri shrugs looking away from his phone. "My flight's boarding. Don't have a heart attack while I'm gone."
"Ass." Otabek rolls his eyes. "Call me when you get through customs."
"Got it." Yuri nods before ending the call.
"Otabek!" Dina knocks on his door, "You in there? Dad wants to know when you're leaving for the airport."
Otabek opens the door and passes by her with a smirk. "Soon."
"Ugh, don't be difficult, he wants to know when he should tell the staff to have dinner ready." Dina shoulder checks him as she catches up.
"His flight lands in two hours." Otabek relents stopping just short of the two youngest Altin siblings barreling across the hall.
"Hey, careful you two!" Dina calls after the pair. "You'd think we live on main street, honestly, I should install traffic lights."
Otabek chuckles at his sister but doesn't comment.
"So when do we leave?" She asks with a smirk.
"I am leaving in an hour." Otabek tells her, "From the rink, by the way, because that's where I'm going."
"Oh no you don't, I'm coming with you. Initiation starts the second he touches down in Almaty." Dina folds her arms triumphantly.
"Please don't call it that." Otabek groans.
"Why not? It's true." She laughs, "We have to find out how serious this little relationship of yours is."
Otabek doesn't respond again, he grabs his keys and his skating bag as a way of ending the conversation.
"Otabek, sweetheart?"
"Yes, mom?" Otabek fights a grimace as he turns towards the voice.
"Come here for just a moment." Otabek complies, stepping into the sunroom with Dina close behind. His mother is tending to one of her plants while Mari sits by scrolling on her phone.
When his mother glances up she smiles, "Is Yuri's flight on time?"
"Yes ma'am." Otabek answers.
"And his room is ready for him? You never told me if had any dietary restrictions, Beka, I don't want him to feel unwelcome." She reminds him, her gaze remaining on her freesias instead of her son.
"His room is ready and I told dad that he'll eat what we give him. He's not picky." Otabek assures her.
"And you intend to take him to the rink, yes? Do your coaches know about that?"
"Mom, it's fine."
"Did you also get his blood type and passport information? You know, all the necessary things, just in case." Mari chuckles at him. "His medical history would also be great."
"Mariyam." Their mother snaps her fingers at her daughter.
"We've got it covered, mama, we're going to get him in a couple of hours." Dina assures her.
Otabek rolls his eyes with a huff.
"I need you here, Dina." Their mother says.
"Ugh, no way are you letting Fatima meet his boyfriend first." Mari groans from her seat.
"Otabek will be the first to see his boyfriend and make him feel welcome. We will make the house warm and inviting for him. And I best be able to see clean rooms when I get upstairs." Their mother gives them all a sharp once over prompting Mari to scurry out of the room.
"Mom, I don't even live here." Dina argues lightly with a fold of her arms.
"I'm going to practice." Otabek turns towards the door.
"Don't take you dare take that motorbike to pick him up, Beka. Take a real car!" She calls out to him.
"Mama." He groans.
"Take the family car, the keys for the Cadillac are in the garage. Make sure it has enough charge."
Otabek rolls his eyes at the insane irony of the Altin family, whose money comes from oil, having electric cars. Regardless, he takes his mother's advice, grabs the keys, and unplugs the car before speeding off to practice. He has a fleeting thought about how overwhelmed he is by his own family, he has no idea how Yuri will handle them.
Practice flies by which is better than the restless nights he's had leading up to this trip. Anxiety and excitement knotted up his stomach in such a way that he hardly found his way to REM sleep. Now, at least, he can channel those nerves into jumps and spins.
He takes a shower at the rink, which he never does but he's not about to be a sweaty mess when he picks up his boyfriend from the airport. Traffic is bad and Otabek wishes he could zip around every mediocre driver in his path. He just barely manages to pull into the pickup lot when Yuri texts that he's landed, Otabek can feel the giddy smile stretching across his lips as he locks the car behind him.
He stares at the ever so familiar arrivals gate, usually he's on the other side of those doors, anxiously awaiting to return home. He's so excited to show Yuri around Almaty and so fucking terrified to introduce him to his family. What will they think of each other? Will his mother be over the top with her hospitality? Will he be overwhelmed? Yuri knows he's from a big family but it's one thing to know and another to know.
In the midst of his pondering he sees the ever so familiar leopard print hood stalking through the crowd. Yuri's just so breathtaking no matter the circumstances, tired and slouched as he is, he's still ethereal in his beauty. Otabek's heart stops as Yuri glances up and an excited glimmer shines in his eyes.
"Beka!" Yuri calls, in seconds the distance between them is closed and Yuri's legs are wrapped around Otabek's waist.
He barely manages to catch the weight of him without stumbling back. "Missed you too."
Yuri chuckles as he puts his feet back on the ground, "I can't believe I'm here."
"I can't either." Otabek smirks, "You got your bags okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, let's get going I want to wash the plane off." Yuri waves him off, grabbing his hand as he goes. "Ugh, it's so fucking hot here, I'm sweating my dick off and I've been here for thirty minutes."
"It is summer." Otabek teases him.
"Yeah, but it's over 40 degrees, that should be illegal!" Yuri complains as they exit the airport, which only proves to be warmer still.
"You can send a petition to parliament about that." Otabek suggests.
"You're such a dork." Yuri bumps his shoulder as they walk.
Yuri makes a snide comment about Otabek's propensity for vehicles when they get to the car. Otabek tells him it's a family thing, dad likes cars so to do all of his children; in different capacities anyhow. Yuri only props up his feet on the dashboard for a few minutes just to prove a point, but Otabek does see the way he checks to make sure there's no residue from his sneakers left behind.
As they turn onto Otabek's street Yuri chuckles to himself, Otabek has very little restraint as he asks:
"What's up?"
"Of course you have your own private street." Yuri chuckles.
"It's not like… blocked off or anything." Otabek defends himself.
"You have your own street in an already gated community." Yuri points out, "You're a rich boy through and through."
Otabek blushes in response.
"God Beka, chill out, I still love you and your privileged ass." Yuri assures him as they pull up to the house.
"No comment."
"I'm sure."
Otabek parks and gives a nervous sigh, "Now when you get in-"
Yuri is already out the door and opening the trunk to grab his things.
"Yura." Otabek complains.
"Chill out man, you're freaking out over nothing. People love me." Yuri reminds him, "You love me too and that's what matters."
Otabek doesn't have a chance to respond as Yuri plants a kiss on the tip of his nose. Yuri gestures towards the door and tugs on Otabek's hand.
"Let's go."
With a sigh Otabek picks up Yuri's bag and takes him inside. The hall to the garage is blissfully empty, though Otabek can hear some chaos upstairs indicating that the little ones are probably rough housing.
Otabek chuckles to himself as he sees his father's head poke out of the mudroom.
"Well, well, well, fancy seeing you here." His dad smiles warmly at them.
"Yuri, this is my dad. Dad, Yuri." Otabek introduces them.
Yuri waits until Otabek's dad hangs up his coat to shake his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"You as well, you can call me Ishmael. Welcome to my home."
"It's very impressive." Yuri's smile is small, barely there even, but it's charming and sincere all at once.
Ishmael waves him off, "I hope you'll be comfortable with us. You can leave your bag I'll have one of the housekeepers take it up to your room."
"Dad, that sounds pretentious." Otabek groans.
"So you say." Ishmael wordlessly gestures to the front door.
Otabek does leave the bag at the door and Yuri rummages through his backpack before procuring a… miniature building.
"Here, it's uh… it's the mosque in Moscow… Thank you for allowing me into your home."
Ishmael looks truly taken aback by the gesture, Otabek doesn't remember Yuri saying anything about gifts and he's a little ashamed by that.
"Thank you, Yuri, we're thrilled to have you." Ishmael takes the gift and looks it over with interest. "Get inside you two. I think your mother will be getting antsy."
Yuri takes his backpack with them as they enter the main hall. Otabek starts to open his mouth to ask what the fuck he's just witnessed (because what the hell, did Yuri just immediately win his dad over?!) when his mother strides out of the conservatory.
"There you are my darling boy." She reaches up and kisses his cheeks, "I hope traffic wasn't too bad."
"Not more than usual." Otabek rolls his eyes as she reaches over to hug Yuri.
"Welcome, welcome. We've heard so much about you." She takes his face in her hands and looks him over. "You're so thin."
"I get that a lot." Yuri chuckles.
"You skaters and your diets, I swear, I'll fatten you up this week, you'll see."
"Mama." Otabek groans.
"I get that a lot too." Yuri tells her, "I promise I eat, I just process it quickly."
"I've heard that before." Otabek's mother fixes her son with a pointed look. "You can call me Noor, Yuri. I'm looking forward to these two weeks of getting to know one another."
"It's nice to meet you." When Yuri grabs another gift from his backpack, Otabek has no clue and he looks just as baffled as his mother. "This is for you."
"Oh, sweetheart you didn't have to bring a gift." Noor places a hand over her heart.
"Of course I did." Yuri says, holding out the folded fabric, an intricate red embroidered pattern beautifully decorates it. "We call this rushnyk, we all have them in our homes. They're symbols of good fortune."
Otabek is suddenly wondering if he picked up the wrong Yuri at the airport. This must be some imposter, right? RIGHT?!
Noor takes the cloth in her hands, delicately even if it looks more like a sturdy towel than a fine piece of art.
"I'm honored, thank you." Noor bows to him slightly.
"Mama! Ruslan is kicking me!"
"I am not!"
Noor shakes her head as she calls up the stairs in stern Kazakh, "Cut it out you two, we have a guest!"
Otabek rubs his brow at that, "Now you've done it."
There's a scrambling upstairs as Yuri looks to Otabek. "Done what?"
"The stampede is coming." Otabek would love to say he's sympathetic for Yuri's incoming plight… but he just won over both of his parents at least SOMEWHAT. In record time too…
Dina and Mari are the first ones down the stairs, nearly tripping over each other and laughing as they round the banister. Ruslan, Vasila, and Fatima are not far behind with little Leila taking up the rear.
"Oi, my children are a pack of wild animals." Noor tuts her tongue as the girls skid to a halt.
"Wow you are pretty." Mari slaps a hand over her mouth as if she did not mean to say that. Otabek snickers at her.
"I'm Dina, this is Mariyam-"
"But I go by Mari." She interrupts her sister with a scowl.
"I'm Ruslan!" The freshly-turned-teen boy almost jumps the line but Dina reaches forward and pulls him back to her.
"It's nice to meet you." Yuri chuckles at them, Otabek has no idea if any of these names are sticking. He'd sent Yuri a rundown of his family's names and ages when he was initially panicking about the visit. Lord knows if that helped at all considering… everything…
"What about me?" Fatima holds onto Mari's pant leg but pouts at Yuri.
"The three fraidy cats back here are Fatima, Vasila, and Leila." Mari puts a hand on Fatima's head.
"I'm not afraid." Vasila stomps her foot but makes no effort to move closer to Yuri.
"Welcome to Kazakhstan!" Ruslan gives him a big smile.
"Thank you." Yuri chuckles. Somehow, Otabek's boyfriend has managed to bring all of the siblings gifts from Russia that they're equally surprised by.
Yuri is particularly good when presenting Leila her doll, he gets on his knees and holds it out to her with a sweet smile. She looks like she's instantly developed a crush on him (as is the way with six-year-olds, but Otabek is not above fighting his baby sister for his boyfriend) before hugging the toy to her chest.
"Dinner won't be ready for another hour if you'd like to freshen up." Noor tells him with an intrigued grin.
"Thanks." Yuri nods to her.
"Let's give you the grand tour, so you don't get lost." Dina suggests.
"Yeah let's show him around. This house is huge, you'll need a map to get around." Mari corroborates as the younger four are ordered about by Noor.
"I can do that myself." Otabek tells them with folded arms.
"Sure you can, come on Yuri." Dina disregards him immediately.
Yuri takes Otabek's hand with a laugh. "Do we humor them?"
"They're up to something." Otabek grumbles.
"So accusatory big brother!" Mari gasps, "We're trying to be good hosts."
"Sure you are." Otabek rolls his eyes as the group head upstairs.
"So down this hall are the kids rooms." Dina continues to ignore Otabek's accusations.
It's all-in-all a fine tour which only heightens his suspicions. Especially when they point out that Otabek's room is only a few doors down from the guest room Yuri will be staying in.
"Just so you know, I'm not a snitch." Mari teases.
"Gross, Mari. This is our parent's house." Otabek barely finishes the sentence as the door to his room is thrust open.
He would like the record to show that he had absolutely no intention of Yuri finding out the depths of his fanboy phase. Yuri knows that Otabek has followed his career since their meeting, but he didn't need to know that he had bought Angels' merch. He had taken it all down from his room once they had started dating (because obviously the real thing is so much better than having a poster) and he fucking knew he should have thrown them away.
Dina and Mari have put all of his merchandise back up, how they had found it is neither here nor there. Otabek is going to kill them.
"I guess you've already spent a bunch of time in here, huh?" Mari teases.
"Mariyam! Dina!" Otabek shoves them out of the way and closes the door.
"Uhoh, is baby Beka mad?" Dina reaches out to pinch his cheeks. Otabek slaps her hand away and glowers at her.
"I hate you!" His face burns with embarrassment.
"How rude! And in front of your guest?" Mari points out.
Yuri bites back his laughter as he puts a hand on Otabek's shoulder. "It's fine babe."
"They're trying to embarrass me." Otabek huffs.
"You're letting them embarrass you. I think it's cute that you had a crush on me." Yuri tells him with a chuckle.
"Ugh." Otabek groans, "I give up."
"Good, now we can tell him all about how-"
"I think Beka needs a break." Yuri cuts off Mari's statement, "Could you show me the washroom again?"
Mari looks displeased at being interrupted but nods as she shows Yuri down the hall.
"What a charmer." Dina chuckles.
"Dina, I'm seriously mad at you." Otabek opens the door to his room and swiftly begins taking posters off the wall.
"Come on, it was a joke. Besides, Yuri seems chill about your borderline obsession with him." Dina puts her hands on her hips while Otabek flips her off. "Don't be a poor sport."
"Can you be less of a bitch then?"
"Hey, language." Dina scolds him.
"You're unbelievable."
"We're looking out for you, you know."
Otabek balks at that, "What are you on?"
"Look, you've been worshiping the ground he walks on for half a decade and now he's giving you attention. We're just trying to make sure he's not stringing you along."
"He's not… He's not!" Otabek is shocked by the accusation.
"Oh he better not be or he'll have to deal with me."
"Dina, I don't care if you think you're looking out for me, you can't keep testing him at my expense."
"We'll see." Dina smirks, "I mean, he passed, he didn't laugh at you outright, did he?"
"Ugh." Otabek does not mention that for the rest of time Yuri will definitely use the fact that Otabek owns Yuri Plisetsky merch against him.
Their mother calls for dinner and Otabek brushes past his sister to retrieve his boyfriend… and to ensure he gets to sit beside him at the table. Leila sits on Yuri's other side and implores him to help her dish up her dinner.
Yuri surprises Otabek by his gentle demeanor with her, he encourages Leila to help herself instead of bending to her desires. He lets her talk at him despite the rest of the table vying for his attention. Meanwhile, Otabek and Yuri's knees touch under the table the whole time and when the meal is over Yuri laces their fingers together.
Mari and Dina continue their attempts to embarrass Otabek but his mother is swift to put a stop to most of their antics. Otabek's stress doesn't wane and he kind of hates that Yuri is so… comfortable.
With dinner over, Otabek is free to take his boyfriend up to bed. He pulls Yuri up and into the guest room, closing the door behind him with a louder thud than he was anticipating.
"I thought you said we weren't messing around this trip." Yuri teases.
"I didn't know you were going to win over my family in a single night." Otabek retorts.
"Hey I'm very lovable. I have like six families spanning several continents. Give me some credit." Yuri scoffs.
"I'm serious."
"So am I." Yuri puts his hands on Otabek's shoulder. "What's going on in that big head of yours?"
"You brought my parents gifts." Otabek says that as if it is a big revelation.
"Yeah, you bring people gifts when you go their houses… you don't do that?"
"Not really." Otabek winces because that makes him sound kind of like a prick. "I'm just surprised."
Yuri curls a hand behind Otabek's neck, "I'm full of those."
Yuri pulls his boyfriend into a disarming sort of kiss that lasts longer than it should considering they are in Otabek's childhood home. Otabek finds his hands twisting up in Yuri's shirt subconsciously, possessed by some force of nature or innate instinct to have his hands on Yuri at all times.
"So… did I really win over your family in a day?" Yuri asks with a pleased smile.
"Dad for sure likes you, mom has a few more tests, I'm sure. Dina and Mari are also going to be on your ass."
"Hm… good, don't want it too easy." Yuri snickers.
"I hate that you're so confident." Otabek pouts playfully.
Yuri puts a finger to Otabek's lips as he looks around his boyfriend. He creeps towards the door and swiftly opens it to reveal Fatima and Mari stumbling away.
"You could've knocked." Yuri snickers at them.
Fatima rushes away while Mari stands her ground. "I just-"
"I swear to god Mari if you don't go to your room, I'm telling mom." Otabek threatens. Childish? Yes. Does he care? Not exactly.
Yuri laughs as Mari bites her lip, "Fine, but you're not supposed to have your door closed."
Otabek rolls his eyes as his sister lingers another moment too long, she leaves when it's clear neither of them will say anything in her presence. Yuri kisses Otabek one more time before turning in for the night. Otabek is relieved to return to his room (even if he is brutally reminded of his shameful memorabilia lying in a box) and he sleeps like the dead that night.
He had been sure to schedule morning ice time so that he and Yuri can get out of the house with as little interaction with his family as possible. They're going sightseeing today and Otabek doesn't want to face the peanut gallery again so soon.
Yuri is awake and chatting with his mother in the breakfast nook. They've each got a cup of coffee in front of them but Otabek is well aware that on no planet is his boyfriend drinking or enjoying black coffee.
"Morning dear." His mother smiles at him, "Yuri was telling me that you'll be out for most of the day."
Otabek grabs a banana and sits beside Yuri. "I told you that a week ago, Mama."
"You know that we're going to Hilaria's restaurant tonight, I want everyone to be well dressed. He'll be exhausted."
"He'll manage." Otabek tries not to groan at that.
"Hilaria is a good friend of mine, one of the top chefs in the country, you'll love it." Noor explains to Yuri.
"I'm sure I will." Yuri agrees pushing his coffee towards Otabek as subtly as possible.
Well, he couldn't be perfect.
"Be back before three, okay? I want everyone ready to go by five and I know how long you take to style that hair of yours."
Otabek says nothing as Noor stands from the table to adjust the vase of flowers on the counter. Otabek swipes Yuri's coffee and drinks from it.
"You ready to go?" Yuri asks Otabek.
"You boys have barely eaten anything!" Noor protests as the pair rise from their seats.
"We're saving room, bye mom." Otabek unceremoniously tugs Yuri out of the house.
Without explicit instructions from his mother not to take the motorbike, he and Yuri hop onto the vehicle and ride off towards the city.
Yuri's arms wrapped tightly around Otabek's middle, Otabek can feel his smile pressed firmly into his shoulder. They zip over to the rink for practice and waste no time in getting on the ice. Skating is a cure-all, Otabek's stress melts away as he dances with and circles around his boyfriend. The pair of them float around each other like planets in orbit or some other horribly cliché metaphor.
Otabek is pretty sure that's what love is, right? Terrible, embarrassing metaphors that somehow manifest in reality?
Anyway, the pair of them finish their skate and take an extended tour around Almaty. Otabek eagerly shows off the city better than any tour guide. Yuri melts, according to him it's due to the heat, Otabek would beg to differ considering he spends much of their day pressed firmly in Otabek's arms.
They arrive just after three and Noor is in a tizzy about it, hands on her hips and a tutting tongue.
"Otabek I was beginning to worry about you." She tells him in a terse voice.
"We're fine." Otabek offers lamely.
"I should hope so." She shakes her head, Otabek can feel the disappointment radiating off of her. "You know I want family photos at five fifteen sharp."
"I know."
"Your sister is in the bathroom now and you'll have to wait for her to be done."
"I know." He looks at her pointedly.
"I hope you've been eating."
"Mom, we're fine." Otabek assures her, "We'll be ready. Promise."
"Hurry up."
Yuri is already halfway up the stairs, biting back a wicked cackle at the interaction.
"Somebody's in trouble." Yuri teases.
"I thought I invited my boyfriend to Almaty, not a little brother." Otabek pouts.
"You can use the guest bathroom if you want." Yuri tells him, "Unless your precious hair products are in the occupied bathroom."
"Get in the shower before I throw you down these stairs." Otabek laughs.
"Is that a promise?" Yuri challenges as he closes the door behind him.
Otabek is starting to regret the early start time but he's not about to admit that. Even when Yuri does graciously allow him to use the guest bathroom as the hour ticks by.
He shouldn't be nervous, he tells himself, he has no right to be so nervous. Family is family and he loves them dearly, but god they can be such a pain. He cannot believe he agreed to let Yuri stay here. He cannot believe they still have six days of this left. Fucking god…
He's ready for dinner in record time, his hair even looks good which is a big win. When he goes down the stairs, however, he only sees his mother adjusting Vasila's dress and no boyfriend in sight. Feeling suspicious, Otabek sneaks down towards his father's office and nearly jumps out of his skin at what he finds.
Yuri is with his father, the two of them are perched over Ishmael's extensive train set.
"Dad what are you doing?" Otabek's jaw drops at the sight of it.
"Hm? Oh, I'm showing Yuri where I put the miniature he so kindly gifted me." Ishmael smiles innocently at his son.
Yuri points out the building, "It fits in pretty well too."
"I feel like everyone's trying to steal my boyfriend from me." Otabek admits with a hint of exasperation.
"You can have him back over dinner, promise." His father assures him, "Do you want to see the train go?"
"Dad." Otabek pinches the bridge of his nose, his embarrassment knows no bounds.
"Sure." Yuri chuckles, straightening his back and walking closer to Otabek as he mouths a quick. "Relax."
The train starts up with a musical whistle before it meanders through the village that Ishmael so lovingly constructed. It's sweet that he's trying to share his passions with Yuri, if not incredibly embarrassing for Otabek. How lame is it to have your dad show your boyfriend his model trains!?
As the train chugs into the station Noor calls them for family photos and Otabek is reminded yet again that his torture is not over. He isn't sure on what fucking planet parents want to immediately include their son's boyfriend in family photos, but he's pissed off that he ended up on it.
In spite of everything the pictures are nice, dinner is even nicer (if a little ostentatious because Noor Altin doesn't do anything half ways).
Otabek is starting to think that he needs to instate some kind of don't-leave-Yuri-unattended rule soon; because when they return home they part ways to change and by the time Otabek returns to the guest room Yuri is gone once again. After no less than twenty minutes of snooping he finds Yuri sitting with Mari in the formal sitting room, flipping through photo albums.
"Wasn't he the chubbiest little kid?" Mari chuckles.
"He's pretty cute." Yuri responds with a humored chuckle.
"Goddamnit Mari!" Otabek gripes as he leans on the doorframe. "Stop embarrassing me!"
"Hey baby photos are absolutely necessary to show any potential partners. That's a rule." Mari defends herself.
"Is it?" Yuri asks.
"I'll remember that for when you start dating." Otabek walks forward and closes the photo album. "And I was not chubby."
"Of course you were! Mama always talks about your squishy cheeks." Mari reaches up to pinch his cheeks but Otabek smacks her hand away.
"I'm not kidding, Mari, get out." Otabek nearly snarls at her.
Mari, seeming to realize she might have gone too far gets up and hurries out of the room.
"Yikes… you okay, Beka?" Yuri asks tentatively, "I've never seen you get so riled up."
Otabek sighs as he runs a hand through his hair, "Look I-… I had… I struggled with my weight when I was younger okay? I was the fat kid for a few years and I can't stand it when they bring it up."
Yuri stands up and wraps his arms around Otabek's shoulders. "I'm sorry."
"No it is not your fault. Not even a little bit. They're just… I'm sorry alright? They're a lot to handle and they keep saying things-"
"It's really fine, I'm not uncomfortable or anything." Yuri kisses his cheek, "They're nice and they love to tease you as much as I do."
Otabek pouts at that to receive another kiss. "I can't believe dad showed you his trains, how long did he keep you?"
"Well… to be fair he didn't say much, he's a quiet guy. I see where you get it from." Yuri chuckles, "He just wanted me to know that he appreciated the gift, that's all. I'm glad he likes it."
"Why are you perfect?"
"Because when I see a challenge I like to meet it head on." Yuri tells him, "And your family is nice, I get to see a different side of you too. I feel like I'm getting to psychoanalyze you and shit."
Otabek kisses his boyfriend, "As long as you don't hate me after this."
"I don't hate you, and you were a really cute kid."
"Please pretend you never saw those."
"Never." Yuri kisses him one more time before they are interrupted (surprise of all surprises) by Ruslan skidding across the hall.
"Beka! Beka! Beka! Can we play smash bros?" Ruslan is practically jumping off the walls at the idea.
"Rus, you're not supposed to run inside the house." Otabek scolds him lightly.
"Yeah but Mari's making the good popcorn and she said that she'll play with me if you say yes and you got up early and I wanted to catch you before bed and-"
"Okay, okay." Otabek chuckles, "Yura, you wanna-"
"Of course I'm playing, what are you nuts?" Yuri snickers.
"I'll set up the game in my room, Rus-"
"Mari has it going in the movie room." Ruslan tells him excitedly.
Otabek cringes at that, "But-"
"Let's go before mama finds out and tells us to go to bed." Ruslan runs in and grabs both of their arms.
The three of them settle in for a few rounds of smash bros (in which the thirteen-year-old boy wipes the absolute floor with them all) before bed. Otabek figures this is the closest to getting an apology from Mari as he's going to get, so he takes it in stride.
The days that follow are far less hectic, Yuri fits in well with the Altin clan and everyone else has dialed their shit down to a six (as opposed to the eleven they had all been operating at initially). Leila and Mari seem particularly interested in spending time with Yuri and Otabek does his damndest to keep them in line.
Otabek's blood pressure has gone down significantly, it seems, and the universe cannot allow that for too long. He makes the mistake of helping Fatima with her English lessons, Yuri had claimed to need time to pack and perhaps that had been true.
By the time he's emerging from his sister's room he knows there's trouble because the guest room is empty. Not surprising, just mildly frustrating.
When he climbs down the stairs he swallows thickly because he sees Mari, Dina, and Vasila all crowding the door to the sunroom. It's closed which can only mean one thing.
Let's be clear about something, the sunroom is Noor's safe haven. It's her sanctuary and the symbol of her ruling domain. Not even the staff are allowed to tend to her plants in there. Anytime Dina's had a semi-serious partner they've been taken into the sunroom. Every one of them ended things not long after the sunroom talk.
This is, all things considered, a catastrophe. And Otabek can't do a damn thing about it.
"What are you three doing?" Otabek's voice is firm, accusatory, and a little desperate.
"Your boyfriend is being interrogated but we can't hear shit." Dina explains.
"Yeah, it's like mom soundproofed it or something." Mari huffs.
"Get away from the door." Otabek instructs but the girls don't listen.
"You can't interrupt them! Mom will kill you." Vasila gasps at the idea.
"Mom shouldn't be threatening my boyfriend." Otabek tells her.
"You don't know if mom is threatening him." Dina points out.
"Didn't Faruk say that mom told him she never wanted to see him in this house again?" Otabek asks.
Dina puts her tongue firmly in her cheek, an acquiescence (or as close to one as he'll get) that shit is probably not going well in there.
"Look, even if you do go in there, mom won't be happy about it. Maybe it's a test." Mari points out.
"Or maybe mom's just trying to be protective over her baby boy." Dina points out.
"Yeah, maybe it's a good thing." Vasila agrees.
"I don't care."
Just then, the door opens and one displeased mama stands there. "Children, I expected you all to respect the rules of this house. Was I wrong in doing so?"
All four of them wince a little, "No mama."
"Go on, you know that when this door is closed I'm having a meeting."
"Mom-"
"Otabek, why don't you take Vasila to her dance lessons. You are ready to go, aren't you?" Noor passes a stern glare towards her daughter.
Vasila dashes up the stairs to throw on a leotard and tights.
"Now go." Noor's voice is stern and her command is final.
The three oldest siblings scurry away with their tails between their legs. Dina and Mari claiming that it was the other's idea while Otabek is just short of panicked. He had mentioned the sunroom curse to Yuri but he had hoped such a terrible fate could be avoided.
He drives his sister to her class and when he returns to the house Leila has seemingly taken pity on him.
"Beka, Dina took Yuri to her old room but I wanted to play with him." She pouts holding onto his sleeve as she complains.
"I'm sorry, Leelee, I'll get him for you." Otabek strides forward leaving his sister in the dust. He's up the stairs and approaching the second guest room within seconds of arriving home.
"Really? Robin was the best, it's sad that she couldn't be our nanny forever. Or I guess the correct term is Au Pair, but they're basically the same thing." Dina says boredly.
"Dina." Otabek is nearly breathless as he reached the door frame.
"Hey Beka, Vasila get off to class okay?"
"She's fine." Otabek huffs as he walks into the room, he puts a hand on Yuri's face and asks (a little too genuinely). "Are you okay?"
Yuri chuckles, "I'm fine. Dina was just telling me about all the shit your family gets up to. Dance, football, robotics club, gymnastics, skating, English lessons, cricket. You guys run a prodigy factory."
Otabek blushes in response, "Well, we've always just… our parents are really supportive."
"And they have the money." Dina shrugs.
"Di-"
"What? It's true, they've been footing the bill for all our extracurriculars since the beginning. I mean they've been able to send you to four different countries to train, international competitions, costumes, skates, coaching fees. Hell, you only got your first sponsor what? A year ago?"
Before she can say anything else Otabek is rushing out of the room, embarrassment flooding his features. He cannot believe this shit. He cannot believe his sister would just tout their financial privilege like that when she knows Yuri doesn't come from money. It has him choking on his humiliation and now he's sort of hoping his mother convinced Yuri to dump him.
Otabek storms off to his bedroom where he collapses on his bed, frustrated and shaking with shame as he replays the words his sister has just spoken. Not only did she point out their privilege but she even managed to rope in his own failures with the sport; because he's only just gotten sponsors in the last year. Fucking GOD.
"Beka?" Yuri knocks lightly on his door.
"Hm?" Otabek groans, running a hand down his face.
"You okay?" Yuri steps into his room.
"I'm fine." Otabek answers lamely.
"No. You're not." Yuri lays down beside him. "Come on, what is it?"
"Dina shouldn't have spoken to you like that. Mom shouldn't speak to you like that. No one in this fucking family should have said anything they've said to you and I can't believe they're like this." Otabek admits with an exasperated sigh.
Yuri is silent for a moment before he threads his fingers with Otabek's. "My dad is just as much of a loser as yours."
Otabek looks at Yuri then, his boyfriend has never once mentioned his father. Or if he has it's been a joke or a passing flippant comment that Otabek didn't put much weight in.
"My parents… all parents, act like yours. You're not special. Parents are weird and embarrassing and it's honestly kind of comforting to see you on edge." Yuri tells him.
"What's that mean?"
"Come on, Beka, you're the coolest person I know. You DJ, you skate almost as good as me, you're smart, and you think I'm hot." Yuri pokes his chest. "You had to have something wrong with you and I guess being anxious about your family is that thing."
"Thank you?" Otabek doesn't feel like that's much of a compliment.
"And I know that siblings are a special brand of crazy-"
"Since when?" Otabek chuckles.
"Dude, you know I have an older brother, right?"
"No… I guess I didn't." Otabek bites his lip thoughtfully at that.
"Well, I have an older brother so I get the sibling vibe. Even if you have a million more sisters than I do. I have none by the way if you're keeping score." Otabek nods as Yuri sits up on his elbow to look down at Otabek. "Besides, I came here for you, not them. I came to meet them because I love you, they're not going to change that."
Otabek puts a hand on Yuri's cheek. "You really are perfect."
"Duh, I'm the best." Yuri chuckles, leaning down to kiss Otabek. "You're a sap and I know you care about your family liking me. That's the only reason I care, okay? Don't get it twisted, this is all for you."
"I'm flattered." Otabek huffs, "I'm sorry if all the money talk is... weird."
"It's not weird, your family is loaded. I get it."
"I don't want you or anyone to think that I can just buy success." Otabek admits, "My parent's money is not my money and I know… I know it's a lot."
"Look, I practice with Viktor drenched-in-Gucci Nikiforov, okay? I don't think any more or less of you because you have money." Otabek smiles at that. "Besides, I know you didn't buy your success because you still haven't beaten me."
"You're such a dick." Otabek shoves Yuri's shoulder.
"So if money is buying you wins, whatever you're paying isn't enough." Yuri continues to tease.
"You suck."
Yuri kisses Otabek again, this time it's deeper, longer, more like Otabek's used to. He gets that buzzing feeling in his head and his heart starts to beat a little faster.
"Beka?" Otabek can't help but laugh at the sound of his little sister calling for him. "I thought you and Yuri were going to play with me."
"Sorry, Leelee, we'll be right there." Otabek calls.
"You're a good brother, for what it's worth." Yuri tells him.
"Yeah?"
"You're lame but in a good way."
Otabek taps Yuri's shoulder before pulling him towards the youngest Altin's room.
Over dinner that night Otabek sits in his customary seat beside his boyfriend. The collective chaos of at least three siblings trying to talk over each other as they tell a story colors the room. Yuri seems to have given up on trying to get the story straight and is now feeding the insanity.
"Even I'm confused and I was there." Otabek laughs, his head falling into his hand.
"Look, it makes more sense if you've seen the villa, I promise." Mari explains, "But the floor plan of this is very important!"
"God, Mari, you have it all wrong it was the game room not the movie room." Dina chuckles.
"No, I swear it was the game room."
Noor shakes her head fondly, "It really is a lovely property, Yuri. Have you ever been to Turkey?"
"No I haven't." Yuri responds with a shake of the head.
"Well you should come with us to the villa next summer then." The table halts at her words, gawking Noor and Yuri as they speak. "I think you'll enjoy your time with us."
"I'd love to." Yuri agrees with a nod.
"Really, Istanbul is such a nice city. It's where Ishmael and I got engaged." Noor raises her cup to Ishmael who nods with a cheeky smile.
"I-… is he-" Dina stops herself short of asking her question. She sits back in her seat looking impressed.
"Mama are we not going this year?" Leila asks, clearly confused by the sudden change in atmosphere.
"We're still going, but Yuri will join us next year. Isn't that exciting?"
The conversation shifts then, Yuri looks at Otabek like he has no idea what's happened. It gets under Otabek's skin and he's so baffled by it that he has to pull Yuri into his room once dinner is over to ask:
"What the fuck Plisetsky?"
"What? What'd I do?" Yuri asks taken aback by Otabek's frantic energy.
"You-… what did my mom say to you!?" Otabek explains himself further.
"You were just-"
"In the sunroom, where she usually tells boyfriends to get the fuck away from her kids."
"Nothing? We talked about skating and family and a whole bunch of stuff? Nothing specific, why?"
"Because-… Because! She's never ever invited anyone to stay at the villa. What did you do to my mother?"
"I don't know, I guess I told her I love you and I'm in this for the long haul." Yuri shrugs.
The sentence takes a few minutes to fully wash over Otabek. The revelation is startling and surprisingly wholesome.
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"Oh…" Otabek leans forward and kisses Yuri, "You're… you really are perfect, aren't you?"
Yuri chuckles, "As close as you're getting anyway."
"You are… I love you so much, Yura."
"I love you too, Beka. Even if you're secretly high strung and a dork."
Otabek pulls Yuri into a tight embrace. His heart is bursting with light and he feels like he's smitten all over again. Like he has a crush on his boyfriend because, holy shit, he's in this relationship. It's not a game or a casual fling.
He's never been so… he's never been looked at like that. He's never had anyone banking on him or truly committing themselves to being in his corner.
Yuri's not only won over his whole family, Yuri's won him twice over.
"Beka? You okay, babe?" Yuri chuckles when the hug lasts too long.
"Yeah… I'm good."
Yuri doesn't look convinced, "Well, your mom said there's cake and coffee downstairs-"
"We can split it." Otabek chuckles.
"Thanks… Coffee's so strong here how the fuck do you drink that shit before bed, it's insane." Yuri bemoans as he takes Otabek's hand.
The pair of them head down to rejoin the family. Otabek's head is still in the clouds as he revels in having his favorite person in the world fit in so well with his family.
There's gotta be a name for that, maybe Otabek will find it one day. For now, he's focused on drinking good coffee and watching his boyfriend get into an argument over Mario Cart characters.
In that moment he's positive that everything really is as close to perfect as it comes.
Here's a list of the Altin fam because lord help me I can't even keep 'em straight:
Mom – 49 Noor
Dad – 56 Ishmael
Dina – 22 F
Otabek – 18 M
Mari (Mariyam) – 16 F
Ruslan – 13 M
Vasila – 11 F
Fatima – 9 F
Leila – 6 F