CHAPTER SIXTY
Half an hour passed in uneasy silence. Every time Viktor would move to stand up, he'd sit back again and slouch. Every time he pulled out his phone to call Yakov, he'd shut it down again. Yuri was just watching quietly, half the time with an eyebrow quirked.
"...I'm gonna go this time."
"Okay."
Viktor was on the very edge of his seat, further than he'd made it before...but then took a breath and threw himself back with a grumble, "Never mind."
"Why do you keep retreating?"
"I don't even know what to say to him."
"What was the last thing you guys said to each other?"
"Something along the lines of 'If all you're going to do is leave, then leave, and don't ever come back' but with more colorful language."
"And your reply?"
"...'Okay.'"
"Hm." Yuri slouched on his part of the bench, legs crossed where they stretched out before him, arms crossed over his chest as he leaned slightly against Viktor's shoulder, watching Yurio and Yakov curiously, "Are they even talking to each other?"
"Hard to tell from this far."
"...This is getting ridiculous." Yuri grumbled, rising to stand, putting his hands in his coat pockets, "You want something? I'm going to get coffee."
"You're going to end up walking right by them."
"And I look like 90% of other guys they might see. Unless they actually look at me, they probably won't even notice me. There's enough other people in the terminal that I'd blend right in."
"Aside from your coat being recognizable."
Yuri shrugged out of it and set it on the bench, revealing a form-fitting dark blue shirt, "Last call." Again, his hands went casually into his pockets, just this time into his black jeans instead of a coat.
"All right, all right...get me something with Chai tea in it." The Russian answered, scrambling for his wallet, though Yuri raised a hand.
"Relax, I got it."
Viktor slouched again, "We really need to get a single bank account..."
"Psht, just so you can make me feel bad for my meager drop in your vast ocean?" Yuri laughed as he stepped off.
Viktor just watched him go quietly, "...I don't have that much..." He leaned down as his husband stepped away, "...Okay maybe I have a bit."
As Yuri got closer, he noticed that the jacket over Yurio's usual black hoodie wasn't even the Team Russia track-suit coat...it was just a normal white and grey jacket. He tried to act natural and walked right by with the flow of several over people. He didn't look back to see if either the teen or coach had recognized him, but when he made it far enough past that it was likely he was seen as just another black-haired man-blob in the crowd, he figured he'd gotten by unnoticed.
Viktor had finally relaxed a little as he saw the same thing. He pulled up his phone again and started fiddling around on Instagram, thinking there wasn't much to worry about for the moment. He lamented to himself as he saw photos starting to pop up from the Banquet to show that Chris hadn't been lying about there being another half-naked strip-tease going on. There wasn't a pole this time around but they had a stage, "...Ahhh we should've gone!" He whined to himself.
He glanced up to see if Yuri was coming back yet, only to see his Russian counterpart rising from his seat, say something briefly to Yakov, and then step away. Viktor kept his eyes focused like a laser, following as Yurio went onto the main track and found one of the terminal maps, looked at it for a minute or so, and then stepped off again.
"...Where...is he...?" It was hard to see from where he sat, but Viktor squinted his eyes as well as he could anyway. Yurio disappeared behind the info obelisk though and the crowd covered his tracks soon thereafter. In a panic, he tried to text his partner.
[He's coming your way!]
The Russian's heart sank as he felt the buzz on the bench next to him, and looked down to see Yuri had left his phone behind, still plugged into the charging station, just under where he'd left his coat. The blue poodle-themed case seemed an oddly cheerful sight considering the context of the situation.
"Blin!" He cursed to himself as he unplugged their devices and ran as fast as he could.
Weaving through one group of travelers after another, the Russian couldn't believe how many people were waiting to catch flights that late at night. Still, he flew past Yakov through a small clearing.
The older man's attention was caught by the sound of footsteps blasting by, but as soon as they were past, he looked down again...only to look up again as he realized the frantic blur had silver hair, "Vitya!?"
Viktor ignored him and kept running, hoping to catch sight of either of the Yuris before they caught sight of one another. Sadly, he'd come too late...they were already in the midst of a stare-down in the middle of the wide hall.
Yuri had the two drinks in his hand and casually sipped at his while Yurio remained still, hands firmly in his jacket pockets.
"...Hey."
The teenager said nothing, one green eye staring straight ahead through a few strands of messy, pale blond hair, unblinking.
"I guess you didn't go to the Banquet?"
Still no answer.
"Yeah, we didn't go either. That was my fault though since I drank too early in the day." Yuri tried to make light of it. He'd seen Viktor in the distance behind the blond, but tried not to react to it to prevent the teen from getting angry. People were walking on all sides of them to get by, but none seemed to cross between them or get in the way, "Did you see the Gala?"
"...I don't care about the fucking Gala." Yurio finally answered.
"Oh..." The Asian lowered his head a little, "Maybe next time then."
"There won't be a next time, dumbass." The blond said between grit teeth.
"What do you mean?" Yuri wondered, thinking perhaps this was just another arrogant taunt.
Yurio just laughed though, a sad sort of laugh that even Viktor picked up on from his distance. The teen shook his head, his hair falling in front of his one visible eye, "It's so fucking ironic. You and the grey-haired retard are the last people I want to see right now, and yet, here you are."
Yuri's expression changed to worry after that, "Sorry you feel that way."
"And don't think I haven't noticed Viktor behind me." Yurio continued, "Anyone could've heard that elephant stampeding over here. What'd he think, that I was going after you or something?"
"No..."
"Good, cuz I didn't even know your stupid face was here until just a minute ago anyway. If I knew you were down this way I would've gone somewhere else."
Yuri sighed and shook his head, stepping forward and then around the angry teenager, like he wasn't even there, and headed for Viktor. He passed off the drink, said something Yurio couldn't hear, got a nod, got his phone back, and then moved away again, "Come along, Yuri. I'll get you whatever you were coming this way for." He said as he passed the blond by, not even pausing to see if he'd follow.
Yurio did go though, keeping pace about 15ft behind the older skater. It was only when they were finally out of Viktor's sight that Yuri slowed down to let the teen catch up, and they walked side by side in silence while Yurio figured out his next move. He paused once or twice to get his bearings and then made for a small Asian-style food stand, one of the few places still open at that time of night. Yuri said nothing as the teen placed his order and then stepped back again, watching the cook behind the glass pull assorted shredded veggies like carrot and cabbage from a holder on the side of the grill, gathering them up into a small pile, adding water from a small ladle and then putting a metal cover over top. Another pile came second, but this one was chicken and assorted sauces.
There was nothing to say for a long time. When the food was done, Yurio grabbed a bottle of green tea from the ice bin next to the register and left to let Yuri pay for it like he'd offered to. As he waited for the receipt, Yuri looked at his phone to see the message Viktor had previously sent, as well as a new one that got his attention.
[He's coming your way!]
[Stay where I can see you. I'll come pull you apart if he starts anything.]
Yuri shook his head and thumbed a quick reply as he got his debit card back.
[I think it's fine. Might be a while though.]
[...] Typing. Stopping. Typing again. Then gone.
Yuri looked at the coming and going of the indicator that Viktor was replying, wondering what he was doing. He went to catch up with the blond at a nearby table, and eventually put the phone away as he realized Viktor wasn't sure what to say and had given up typing.
They sat in complete silence for what felt like forever, but Yuri was determined not to be the one to break that silence. He just sipped at his drink until he noticed it was half gone, and Yurio's plate was almost empty.
"I was cut."
Yuri lifted his head at those words, "...You...were cut?" He thought immediately about the hand injury, but wasn't sure that was what the teen meant.
"After my Free Skate." The younger skater explained, "I was so furious with everything...with Viktor, with you, with my skating, with failing, feeling so completely fucking helpless in it all...I walked out of the kiss and cry as soon as I heard my score. Yakov and Lilia came after me, but I told them to go fuck off, and they took me at my word. The old lady said she wouldn't work with someone like me and Yakov said basically the same. He told me if I ever wanted my spot on the Russian skating team back, I'd have to earn it from the ground up again, like I was just learning how to skate all over again. I passed you guys in the prep area to refill my water and get my shoes after all that happened. At the time, I still wasn't taking it seriously...I thought they were just saying things, not really meaning it."
The Asian skater listened quietly, patiently.
"I don't even know what I'm going to do. I didn't make the podium, so my winnings are paltry compared to yours. What I got from the Grand Prix won't cover expenses until next season, especially with my grandpa being sick." Yurio was clenching the plastic fork in his fingers so tightly that Yuri could see it starting to crack, but beyond that, he could see the small bandage that covered where the stitches had previously been tied. It was carefully hidden under the extra-long end of the jacket's sleeve, maybe pulled that far specifically to cover the injury, "I've lost sponsors because of my crashing ranks...everyone's lost confidence in me."
Yuri felt terrible for the teen. Nothing about what he was saying had ever entered into his mind before.
"I'm not going to make it..." Yurio's voice was cracking, and his head lowered, but he finally let go of the bent fork, "I can't afford to..."
"Haven't you talked to Yakov about this?"
"He knows...but I've fucked up so much..."
He could see where the tears were falling to the tray, but Yuri wasn't sure what to do.
"I've had so many chances, so many opportunities to do better...but there's just...so much anger in me..." The teen continued, but then he roughly dropped back against the vertical part of the bench with a grunt, keeping his face low so Yuri could only really see the top of the black hood and some dangling pale blond bangs, "I don't know why I'm telling you all this shit."
"Maybe cuz you know I come from somewhat humble beginnings too." Yuri offered, "But my situation was very different. I wasn't competing to put food on the table. It was just a hobby...something I did for myself because I wanted to be like Viktor. My family was my only real financial support up until this season."
"My grandpa's on a pension. He can't afford the fees or upkeep. I've been the breadwinner between us since I was in the Junior division."
"Pushing everyone away because you're scared isn't really the smartest thing to do though, honestly." Yuri explained, moving from where he'd been sitting sideways on a wooden chair to sit next to Yurio on the padded bench opposite him, and cautiously put an arm over the teen's shoulders, "When Viktor said we would help you because we're your friends, it wasn't a lie. He meant it, and I do, too."
"What can either of you do?" Yurio said, reaching up his hand to rub his sleeve over his face, keeping it well hidden under his dangling hair and the sides of his hood, "Both of you are deucing out."
"We're moving to Japan, yes, but it's not like we're dying." Yuri pointed out, "I'm sure Viktor would agree...no, I know he would agree...we want to help however we can."
"Short of packing me up in a box and taking me with you, I don't know what else you can do."
"You came a really long way without Viktor and I in your face. I think you could go further if that continued."
"Is that your subtle way of telling me to fuck off?"
"No, it's my subtle way of saying Viktor and I are a distraction and you aren't at your best when either of us is around. But just because we're away doesn't mean we're inaccessible. Viktor was even saying so when Chris FaceTimed us into the Banquet earlier. Someone asked if Viktor was abandoning the Russian Team and he instantly refuted it, saying Yakov always knows how to get hold of him if he's needed. He and I have an open door policy for you guys...if you need something, we'll figure out how to make it happen."
"Then make something happen!" The teen barked angrily, desperately, pounding the table with his fists lightly, trying not to make a scene despite his fury, "Please...!" He said quieter, his hands shaking.
"Shh." Yuri hummed, "We're still just talking. I'll need time for the rest. You know I need to go over it with Viktor before I can make any suggestions." He still had his arm over Yurio's shoulders, speaking quietly, calmly, "I have a couple ideas though."
He felt his phone buzz in his pocket, and withdrew it with his free hand as he let Yurio digest what he'd just said. It was just a late notification of Viktor saying [Okay] from the previous text conversation.
"You're not telling Viktor all this shit over text right now are you?" The Russian teen glared at him finally, the one visible eye red from his frustration as he watched the Asian skater typing away with his one free thumb.
"No. I'm not messaging him right now at all."
"Yuuko?"
"Mmmm...no, but I'm sure she'd be happy to hear from you." Yuri answered, slower with one thumb than with two, but then finally sending out the message, "You and her used to keep up with one another during the lead-up to the Grand Prix Series, right?"
Yurio nodded quietly.
"Did you stop talking after that?"
He nodded again.
"Why?"
"Wasn't much to say anymore. She mostly told me about yours and Viktor's training, so when you left Hasetsu..."
"I see." Yuri tried to smile, "Then I guess you guys will have something to connect over again soon, right? And it's not like you're forbidden from coming to Hasetsu ever anyway. You can come whenever you want. You'll always have a place at Yu-Topia to stay and soak your feet."
The younger skater couldn't bear to look at him. He just reached up to rub his face on his already-damp sleeve again.
So...Yuri did the only thing he could think of. Both arms went right around the teen's chest and pulled him close, resting his chin on the back of Yurio's shoulder. To his surprise, Yurio didn't twitch, fight, resist, or do anything, really. He just sat there and let it happen, so Yuri held him for a while.
"The last thing you want to do in a bind is push everyone away who could help you. I don't know if lashing out is a coping mechanism or what...but we've got to teach you a better way. You do have people besides your grandpa that care about you...and you've got to learn to treat them better." He explained, "Your first lesson will be with me."
"...Ehh...?"
"From now on, anytime we meet or depart, you gotta give me a hug, and let me hug you back." Yuri said simply, "It doesn't have to last long...just a quick hug, that's it."
"...Why?"
"It's something Viktor taught me...and it's important. Being held by someone makes you feel good. The longer you're held, the better you feel, and the calmer you are. Every time I get anxious about something, Viktor hugs me somehow, even if it's just one arm. Plus, he hug me a lot anyway, so I don't often get a chance to become anxious in the first place. How do you feel now?"
Yurio wasn't willing to admit it.
"That's okay. You don't have to say. Just think about it." He finally pulled back, patting the teen on the shoulder in a gesture that suggested they start heading back. He stood up and drained the last of his coffee, realizing it had gone cold a long time ago, "Come on, they're probably worried about us."
The teen took a deep, ragged breath, rubbing his eyes on a dryer part of his sleeve before moving over on the bench to get out from behind the table. He kept his sights on the floor, "You're only going to be in Russia for a week before you leave again. What good is this 'training' if you're going to be gone as soon as it starts?"
"A week is still a long time. We have a lot of work to do in a short period of time. For now...I have to get Viktor on board." Yuri reached up to squeeze the teen's shoulder reassuringly, "You're not in this fight alone."