Welcome To The Family
"Are you sure I look okay?" Otabek asked as he and Yuri made their way up the creaky stairs to Nikolai's apartment. The building was so old that it didn't even have an elevator, the avocado green carpeting covering the treads of the staircase threadbare and badly in need of replacing.
"For the hundredth time, yes," Yuri assured him, sounding only mildly annoyed. "You look fucking hot as always."
Otabek frowned, smoothing down the uppercut of his hair as best as he could manage. While he had slicked it back with hair gel, it had been far more windy than expected, his neat and tidy hairstyle pretty much ruined in the short walk from their Uber ride to the entrance of the building. "I don't want to look 'hot'. I want to look...respectable." After all, he would only have one chance to make a good first impression in front of Yuri's beloved grandfather.
"I'm telling you, Grandpa doesn't care about that shit. You could show up in ripped jeans and a 'Pretty Fly For A Bi Guy' tank top, your hair dyed bright pink and your body covered in a million piercings and tattoos, and he would still love you, because I love you."
Indeed, in contrast to Otabek, who had spent well over an hour getting ready that morning, Yuri had put very little effort into his appearance, dressed in his favorite leopard-print hoodie, with his long blond hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, better to show off his multiple new ear piercings. He would have worn his usual comfy sweatpants too, had Otabek not convinced him to at least change into a nice pair of jeans so he wouldn't feel too over-dressed in comparison.
"If you say so… And I still can't believe you actually bought me that shirt."
"I do," Yuri said with a smirk, "and you're welcome."
By that time, they had finally reached the door to Nikolai's apartment on the third floor. Otabek reached up to undo the top button of his crisp white button-down shirt, suddenly finding the collar far too restricting.
"Beka, you're going to be fine. He's going to adore you, I promise." Turning to face Otabek, Yuri placed his hands to Otabek's cheeks, giving him a soft, comforting peck on the lips. "All you need to do is be yourself," he said.
Otabek inhaled a deep breath. "Right. I can do that."
"Now, are you ready?"
To meet the most important person in Yuri's life other than himself? No, absolutely not.
He'd been dreading this moment ever since Yuri announced that his grandfather had invited them to come visit him in Moscow during Otabek's month long summer trip to Russia, wanting to finally meet the guy his grandson had been dating long distance for the past six months. Not that he didn't want to meet Nikolai – he did! – but meeting his partners' families for the first time was always nerve-wracking in his (admittedly limited) experience. Otabek was hardly a social butterfly on a good day, and the extra pressure to "perform" in front of complete strangers was enough to put him on edge.
It didn't help matters that he was pretty certain that Yuri was "the one", if such a thing existed. They may have only started dating at the end of the past season's Grand Prix Final, where they finally admitted their growing feelings for each other after dancing around them for months, but they had been best friends for even longer. Otabek could no longer envision a future without Yuri in it, so it was more important than ever that he make the best impression on Yuri's only real family. (Yuri had made it clear that his mother was no longer a part of his life, and he had never known the identity of his biological father. "Don't know, don't care," Yuri had said when Otabek asked about him early into their friendship.)
He couldn't possibly tell Yuri that, though. "As ready as I'll ever be," Otabek said instead, which he supposed wasn't a total lie.
"Cool," Yuri replied, knocking loudly on the door.
Heart pounding against his chest, Otabek discreetly wiped his sweaty palms against his jeans.
"Grandpa!"
Yuri's face lit up the moment the door creaked opened, revealing the rather imposing figure of Nikolai Plisetsky. He immediately launched himself at his grandfather, throwing his arms around the old man and giving him a huge hug. Despite his nerves, Otabek couldn't help but smile, enjoying the rare chance to see such an unguarded side of Yuri.
"Oh, my Yurachka!" Nikolai hugged Yuri back, kissing him on the cheek. "It's so good to see you again." Pulling back, he had to crane his neck upwards to look up at Yuri, who was now taller than him by several centimeters. "And look at you! When are you going to stop growing, boy?" he teased, reaching up to ruffle Yuri's hair. "I swear you get taller and taller every time I see you."
Yuri groaned, rolling his eyes. "Ugh, soon, I hope." His height was a bit of a sore subject at the moment, as his current late growth spurt was throwing off the center of gravity on his jumps. "Anyway, Grandpa, there's somebody I'd like you to meet." He reached back for Otabek's hand, giving it a firm squeeze as he pulled him forward. "This is Otabek Altin, my boyfriend. Beka, meet my grandfather, Nikolai Grigoryevich."
Nikolai took notice of Otabek for the first time, his eyes narrowing as he looked him over. On instinct, Otabek found himself straightening his posture under Nikolai's scrutiny, barely even breathing.
"So you're the young man who has stolen my Yurachka's heart?"
"Grandpa!" Yuri rolled his green eyes, one of the only physical features he seemed to share in common with his grandfather. "Do you have to say it like that?"
"What? It's true, isn't it?"
His cheeks burning a soft pink, Yuri rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, yeah, I guess, but..."
"It's nice to finally meet you, sir," Otabek said, holding out his hand. "I've heard a lot about you."
"Oh, you're a polite one!" Nikolai took the offered hand and gave it a hearty shake. "Try to rub some of that politeness off on this one, will ya?" He jerked his head in Yuri's direction.
"Hey! I can be polite...you know, when I wanna be…" Yuri mumbled.
Nikolai laughed affectionately. "Well, don't just stand there. Come in, come in!" he said, inviting them inside. "Yurachka, put the suitcases in your room. I'll prepare the tea."
Yuri took the suitcase Otabek was gripping and pecked him on the cheek. "Be back in a sec," he promised before heading down the hall that presumably lead to the bedrooms.
"Oh! Uh..."
When Nikolai had invited them for a visit, Otabek hadn't expected they would be sharing a room, although it made sense when he thought about it. A quick glance around the small and humble apartment was enough to surmise that money was probably on the tight side. It wasn't likely an old man living alone on a pension would be able to afford a three-bedroom apartment in the city, even with the generous stipend Yuri sent him every month out of his own earnings.
"Um, do you need any help?" Otabek offered, not sure how to act without Yuri by his side.
"Oh, no, no. Thanks, but I've got it," Nikolai said from the open kitchen, reaching up for some mugs stored in one of the wooden upper cabinets. He waved toward the upholstered couch, decorated with a floral pattern several decades out of date. "Go ahead and take a seat. Make yourself comfortable!"
Otabek did as he was told, sitting down on the leftmost cushion. While Nikolai puttered around the tiny kitchen, he took in the rest of the apartment, Yuri's childhood home. Unlike his grandson, who was a notorious slob, Nikolai kept his apartment neat and tidy. The furniture might have been old and dated, but he had obviously taken good care of his possessions – a minor miracle, Otabek thought, considering how...rambunctious he imagined Yuri to be as a child.
An antique curio cabinet in the corner of the dining area caught his eye. Instead of the expected fine china or kitschy knick-knacks, it was filled with Yuri's many trophies and medals from over the years, including the Olympic gold he had won in the team event, proudly displayed in the center of the middle shelf. Well, that was one mystery solved, at least. Otabek had wondered where Yuri kept his medals; there had been no sign of them at his apartment in St. Petersburg.
Numerous framed photos of Yuri also decorated the living area. Some of them were of him on the ice, dressed in costume, but it was the more casual, candid photographs that interested Otabek the most. He picked up the wooden picture frame standing on the end table beside him, smiling at the photo of Nikolai and Yuri admiring their Christmas tree, standing in front of the large window near the fireplace. Yuri, dressed in adorable blue-and-white snowflake pajamas, looked to be maybe two, possibly three at the oldest, the tree's bright white lights reflecting in his wide-eyed look of wonder. He sat on the hip of a much younger and clean-shaven Nikolai, who was pointing to one of the beautiful glass-blown ornaments hanging from the branches.
"Hey, whatcha lookin' at?" Yuri asked, plopping down on the couch beside Otabek and looking over his shoulder.
Otabek angled the picture frame so that Yuri could better see the photograph. "You were a cute baby."
"The cutest," Nikolai agreed. He set the tray in his hands down on the wooden coffee table in front of them. "It's not much, but enjoy."
"Hell, yeah, you made pirozhkis!" Yuri immediately grabbed a bun from the tray, along with one of the three mismatched mugs. Otabek caught a glimpse of Yuri's faded name written underneath the mug in black permanent marker as he lifted it up, but he doubted anybody would mistake the cup decorated with various funny cat faces as anyone else's but Yuri's. "Mmm, delicious as always, Grandpa," Yuri said with a moan after biting into his pirozhki. He spoke with his mouth full, paying no mind to the crumbs flaking down his shirt. "You always make the best pirozhkis!"
Nikolai smiled, reaching for the plain red mug with the small chip on the handle and stirring a spoonful of raspberry jam into his tea. "Of course I made pirozhkis! Did you honestly think I would invite you over to visit without having some on hand?" he asked, taking a sip. "Beka, don't be shy! Have some."
"Oh, thank you." Otabek set the picture frame back on the end table, then took the last remaining mug from the tray, adding a couple of cubes of sugar to his tea. He couldn't be certain, but he suspected his mug was brand-new, the blue-and-yellow color scheme far too similar to the Kazakh flag to be mere coincidence. The forgotten clearance price tag still stuck near the bottom, which Otabek discreetly peeled away before anyone else noticed, all but confirmed his suspicions.
"Here, take a pirozhki, too," Yuri said, practically stuffing a bun in Otabek's mouth.
"Yura, I can feed – Oh!" Otabek's eyes widened in surprise as he took a bite, Yuri beaming with pride as if he had made them himself.
"Good, right? I told you Grandpa made the best pirozhkis in Moscow!"
"Yes, it's delicious," Otabek agreed, taking another bite. "These are...chicken?"
Nikolai nodded. "I usually make my piroshkis with pork, but I know you abstain, so I asked Yurachka what kind you might like instead. He said you loved pirozhkis made with chicken filling."
"I-I do." Touched by his thoughtfulness, Otabek found himself relaxing for the first time since they arrived. "Thank you, Nikolai Grigoryevich."
"Please, call me Kolya," he insisted.
"Yes, sir. I mean, thank you...Kolya."
After taking a shower later that night, Otabek returned to Yuri's bedroom. Yuri, who preferred to shower in the morning, was already dressed in his nightclothes, laying stomach down on the floor, legs in the air, as he scrolled his Instagram feed. As it turned out, Yuri's room only had a twin bed, so even though they were sharing a bedroom, they wouldn't be able to sleep together – not that Otabek had any intention of doing anything, anyway. Nikolai's bedroom was right next door, after all, and the walls were paper thin.
Yuri set his phone aside and looked up as Otabek entered the room, drying his hair with a towel. "See, that wasn't so bad, was it? I told you Grandpa was cool."
Smiling, Otabek stepped over Yuri's legs and took a seat on the edge of his bed. "Yeah, I like him. He's a good guy." He and Nikolai actually had quite a bit in common. They both enjoyed classic Russian literature, vintage cars, jazz music, and, of course, they both adored Yuri. They had spent most of the day exchanging stories about him, Yuri surprisingly tolerating it unless they said something he deemed too embarrassing.
(Otabek was still curious about the ending to the "Yuri's First Day of Kindergarten" saga, which Yuri had cut off before Nikolai could get to the ending. )
"He's the best," Yuri agreed, flipping over on his back. "He liked you, too, you know."
"You think?" Things had gone pretty well in Otabek's estimation – he had managed to get through the day without saying or doing anything too stupid, embarrassing, or disrespectful, at least – but Nikolai might have only been putting on a good face for Yuri's sake.
"I know. Wanna hear what Grandpa said when you were taking a piss at the restaurant?" Earlier, they had gone out for dinner at Nikolai's favorite Georgian restaurant – Yuri's treat.
"I don't know. Do I?"
Clearing his throat, Yuri sat up and lowered his voice in a rather uncanny imitation of Nikolai. "Yurachka, if you don't marry that boy one day, then you're a world-class fool – and you know I didn't raise no fool," he repeated, complete with a stern finger wag in Otabek's direction.
"Really?" Otabek asked, using his towel to hide the uncharacteristic blush he felt crawling up his cheek from view. Nikolai had liked him that much?
"Would I lie to you? I'm telling you, that's word-for-word what he said, and Grandpa never says anything he doesn't mean. Not that I'm in any rush to get married!" Yuri waved his hands in front of his chest. "I mean, I'm only eighteen, and we just started dating –"
"I know." Otabek wasn't in any hurry either. As much as he loved Yuri, he knew he wasn't ready to settle down just yet. They were both too young and focused on their skating careers for marriage to be anything but a terrible idea. "But...maybe someday?"
Yuri's eyes widened before his lips curled in a surprisingly shy smile. "Yeah...maybe someday," he said softly, laying back down.
"Hey, are you sure you're okay with me taking the bed?" Otabek asked, tossing his towel aside and crawling underneath the tiger-print comforter. "I don't mind sleeping on the floor."
"You're the guest. Besides, I'm too fucking tall to fit in that bed now. My feet would be dangling off the end."
Otabek arched an eyebrow. "Are you calling me short?"
"Hey, if the shoe fits…"
Chuckling, Otabek laid down on his side. He was almost too tall for the bed himself, needing to slightly bend his knees in order to fit his entire body on the mattress. "Too bad this is only a twin," he said with a sigh. "I've gotten used to you sleeping beside me this past week."
Yuri propped himself up on his elbows, looking up at Otabek on the bed. "Well, there is plenty of room here on the floor…" he pointed out, which was true. It was a small bedroom, but with all of the furniture pushed up against the walls, there was quite a bit of empty floor space in the center where Yuri had his makeshift bed placed.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Yuri jerked his head to the side. "So why don't you get your ass down here if you're missing me so much?"
He didn't need to be asked twice. Grabbing his pillow, Otabek climbed down and joined him on the floor, Yuri scooting over so that they could share the blanket. They both turned on their sides to face one another, Otabek pulling Yuri closer and wrapping his arms around him as had quickly become second nature whenever they shared a bed – or, in this case, floor.
"Better?" Yuri asked, snuggling even closer. Their noses were only centimeters apart, the faint scent of Yuri's minty mouthwash lingering on his breath.
His back might think otherwise in the morning, but for now… "Much better," Otabek said, kissing Yuri on the lips. "Good night, Yura. I love you."
"Love you, too."
DISCLAIMER: "Yuri! On Ice" doesn't belong to me.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I hope you enjoyed the story! This fic was written for the Yuri! On Ice Rare Pair Week, Day 1: Family.
BTW, the "Pretty Fly For A Bi Guy" tank top mentioned? Actually exists. You can search for it on Amazon.
Feel free to follow me on Tumblr! My username is kaleidodreams.