CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY SEVEN
It took laying a trap for Phichit before any of them managed to get the keys back from him; they all knew he'd eventually have to come back for his gear-bags. Chris snapped a photo of the small pile where it had been so nicely set up on top of a low-sitting table, sending it to the skater as a text with the simple caption, [Aren't you forgetting something?]
Phichit still tried to be sneaky about his return though, peeking around corners before trying to tip-toe into the mostly-empty Players' Club, and halfway grabbing up his things before anyone managed to snag him. Yuri snuck up behind his younger friend, completely unnoticed...and drew in a quiet, but deep breath.
"HE'S OVER HERE!"
The Thai athlete nearly jumped out of his clothing, skin, and bones as the shrill cry sounded out directly behind his head, and he landed in an unflattering pile on the floor, his ghost trying to leave him as well. He was practically in tears when he looked up to see Yuri smiling innocently back down at him, "Y-YURI, HOW COULD Y-"
"That's payback for pranking me with the water under my door after we watched The Ring that one time."
Phichit's brown eyes went wide, but then blank, and he looked on with the blood draining from his face, "...You remembered that...?"
Yuri's expression was dire, as though a flashlight had been lit under his chin and he were telling the most terrifying of horror stories, "...I remember everything..."
"...Except that time you stripped and pole-danced with Chris." The younger figure shot back, giving a wry smirk.
Cherry-hazel eyes became beady little things on Yuri's face at the mention of it, and he stood paralyzed as Viktor and the aforementioned Swiss skater finally came out of hiding, clapping and laughing as they came up on either side. The Russian draped an arm over his partner's stiff shoulder, "It's such a shame, too. I've often wondered when or where you learned those moves."
"Me too." Chris mused, "You were very good."
"I suppose I should keep that to myself." Yuri finally spoke, slouching a little where his cheeks went a bit pink, "Let there be a little mystery about me."
"He learned it here in Detroit." Phichit spoiled, still on the floor, "There was a work-shop at the university campus, way-back-when, that advertized pole-dancing as a way of getting into shape and building strength. He'd already learned break-dancing, and thought pole-dancing would be a fun way to break up the monotony of going to a gym like normal."
"Ph-Phichito-kun...I swear..."
"That's for making me go with you."
"Oohhhh...!" Chris and Viktor both cooed, bringing a hand up in front of their mouths, "Scandalous!"
"...It would be, but it's not like he had the guts to learn it with me." Yuri countered, "He just sat on the sidelines and watched."
"You didn't even tell me what it was until we got there! Then it was just you and like 15 women, and there's no way I was going to jump on a pole when I'd only been in the states for like 3 months!" The youngest athlete protested, finally picking himself back up to his feet and started gathering his equipment.
"Half the reason I didn't tell you was because I didn't want to be at the thing alone, and I knew you'd ditch if you found out!"
"And you weren't alone! I went every time!"
"I meant doing it alone!"
Phichit just huffed a laugh as he dusted off the back of his jacket, but then turned his half-lidded, secret-knowing eyes over to the older two figures, "Yuri was very popular in that class, especially when the rest of the students found out he knew ballet."
"That's because you told them everything."
Chris was beyond amused at the whole thing, patting Yuri's head before stepping towards Phichit and draping his arm over the shorter figure's shoulders, leading him back out to the exit, "You must know all sorts of interesting stories about him. Tell me about that Ring prank though."
"Oh, well, you see..."
"Don't even go there, Phichit-kun!" The older figure protested, trying to hoist the straps of his backpack over his arms at the same time.
The Thai man just stopped, Chris with him, and they both looked back curiously. Phichit smiled innocently though, "...Then I'll just tell him about the time I called you after you had just seen Ju-On, and I did that croaking sound that the ghost made, and you screamed so loud I thought you wet yourself."
"VIKTORMAKEHIMSTOP."
"But did you wet yourself?"
"OF COURSE NOT."
"Are you sure?"
Yuri turned his head to look incredulously at the Russian clinging to his shoulder, "Why would you even ask that!?"
Viktor just held for a moment and smiled, but then quickly moved forward through that meager inch or two between them and stole a kiss.
Cheeks went red and eyes white, and the younger figure stood there, utterly stupefied, even as he could hear his partner (and the others) laughing at his expense.
The silver legend just leaned away to grab his own bag and reach for the rolling suitcase with their shared equipment, and nudged his husband with an elbow, "Let's get going."
.
The ride back to the hotel was no-less harrowing for the young skater, having to listen to more stories being told by Phichit the Betrayer in the back seat. Chris made it worse by continuously asking for more.
"...Everyone's going to think I'm a complete basket-case if you keep this up..." Yuri complained, slouching where he sat in his usual seat up front, left hand reaching across the center-console to rest on his husband's thigh.
"I could tell stories about you for days." The Thai figure laughed, clearly entertained by it all, "You just make it too easy."
"I could tell stories about you, too!" The older skater twisted a bit in his seat to look into the passenger area, "Try me!"
"If you tried telling stories about me, Yuri...you'd just end up outing yourself on something I haven't told about yet." Phichit winked and smiled brightly, "But, if you want to..."
"You used to tease me relentlessly for being the Captain of Viktor's Fanclub." Yuri started.
"...Aw, that's not much of a story...everyone already knows that." Chris pouted again, "I was hoping for something more juicy."
"For days and weeks and months, he'd threaten to out me to Celestino...to phrase it like I'd learned more about skating from watching videos of Viktor than from anything Celestino ever taught me."
"He probably did." Phichit whispered behind a hand, leaning slightly towards the blonde.
"But then one day, you left your phone unlocked on the rink-wall while practicing your triples, and I found a video paused on it...of Viktor." The Japanese skater explained emphatically, "And suddenly the tables were turned! I told everyone at the rink what you were doing!"
Chris raised a brow as he gazed on skeptically, crossing his arms and looking rather unimpressed. He glanced over towards the Russian being spoken of, and just saw a dumb-happy smile on his face.
"What Yuri fails to mention is that I wasn't embarrassed by that at all, and in fact, most people at the rink would pull up videos of Viktor's jumps to use as a quick example during practice. I still do sometimes." Phichit shot back, "Not to mention...when people stuck their heads out back then, wondering what was going on, it was mostly because none of them had ever heard Yuri raise his voice before. None of them knew about the back-and-forth he and I had had about his obsession with Viktor, so outing me to others over an inside joke went over everyone's head. Plus...since he'd yelled something so strange...I had to up the ante...and I yelled that Yuri had a framed picture of Viktor in his bedroom."
"What? That didn't happen." Yuri said under his breath.
"Oh, the picture we saw in that video from the wedding party? When Yuri was sick with the flu during Viktor's Skate America in Detroit?" Chris wondered, starting to see where it was about to get entertaining, "And he was all upset about Viktor being right down the road, so you shoved that picture into his arms and told him to hug it while he watched on TV?"
"The very same."
"That can't be true. I don't remember that at all." Yuri huffed, speaking a bit louder.
"That's not surprising." Phichit mused, "As soon as I said it, people started laughing, and you passed-out where you stood."
The older skater just guffawed and turned back to face forward in his seat.
"So you see? There are no stories you can tell about me that don't somehow come back as being stories about you."
Yuri just brooded where he sat, as it seemed like the entire car was laughing at his expense again. Phichit could at least tell by then that he'd had enough of 'story time,' and went instead to telling embarrassing tales about Celestino. Yuri sighed and slouched a bit in relief to hear the 'conversation' moving away from him, and returned his hand back to its perch on his partner's leg.
He looked up through the windshield, seeing the side of the hotel just up the road from where they were. It wasn't a long drive from the arena, but it took a while anyway just because of the weather and all the traffic cutting through Detroit's downtown. They'd passed the outdoor rink at Campus Martius Park earlier on, then the Joe Louis monument; a giant hanging ebony-black battering-ram-like arm at the intersection before the river, followed by the twisted concrete obelisk on the other side of the road at the front of Hart Plaza, and the Labor Legacy Monument far to its right; a metallic ring that stood some 30ft tall. The hotel itself looked like a monument as well, the many pillars of the complex rising into the sky like a modern castle.
Even in the dark of the Michigan night, the city still looked a marvel, with everything decked with Christmas lights, and spotlights shining against the bottoms of the clouds.
Yuri idly rubbed his fingers against his husband's leg, getting the Russian's attention. Viktor glanced aside to look at the man, and was enamored all over again to see that 'seeking' look in those eyes, just like he'd had that night a year ago in Barcelona. As he turned the car to the left, passing the giant black arm, he reached his free hand down and clasped his fingers around his husband's, holding there reassuringly.
Even if we don't make conversation, I'll watch over him, just like back then.
.
Carrying their gear-bags into the hotel room, and quickly putting half of it away along with his Team Japan jacket, Yuri rummaged through the closet for the long-coat and scarf he sought to wear to the outdoor rink. Finding the dark-blue garment, he pulled it from the hanger, and slung it over his arm before moving off to find where he'd left his glasses on the bathroom vanity. Looking at himself briefly in the mirror, he poked at his gelled-back hair, pondering quickly whether it was worthwhile to try and fluff it into its normal affect...but then decided against it. He clicked the light and stepped back into the main part of the room, spotting his partner peeling out of his team jacket.
Still wearing his Short Program outfit underneath it, Viktor had started working at the sash around his waist, where he'd looped it through itself to prevent it from hanging low and making his pants look weird. He stopped though when he felt a hand press lightly against his back, and twisted slightly to see his soulmate standing just behind him, leaning aside to set the heavy winter coat onto the bed.
Yuri lifted his eyes, and wordlessly took hold of the sash, looking up into those cool blue pools a few inches above him, the left barely visible through those platinum strands. His fingers went to work unlooping the sash-belt, the rustling sound of fabric being the only sound between them. The thin chains that looped down under the sash jangled quietly together as the belt came away, and Yuri held it out with one hand, letting it slip gently through his fingers as it went down on top of his coat. Viktor had entirely turned around to face him by then, and was just watching quietly, curious as to what would happen. He just sought for the 'hidden buttons' on the front of the show-jacket, unsnapping them and letting the two folds of lavender-blue material fall away a little, exposing the rest of the bare chest, and the chiseled core, that had been hidden under it. Fingers slipped into it soon after, feeling at that pale skin, rising up from abdomen to chest and further under the fabric as it went over the Russian's shoulders, pushing the garment off of them to let it slide down the man's arms, leaving him bare from the waist up.
"Yuri?"
Eyes lowered a little, but then came back up again for a moment before closing outright, and leaned inward, left hand sliding over the Russian's right shoulder, fingers tracing the back of the man's neck, right hand curving lightly around the left side of the taller skater's waist. The kiss that followed was light as a whisper.
Viktor savored that wordless answer, letting his own hands go forward, the right curving around his partner's black-clad ribs, the left holding to the bare shoulder ahead of it, both drawing the man closer. He could feel where the hand that had settled on his waist was sliding around his front, palm flat against his skin, going up a few inches, pausing with fingertips just under his chest, and then going down again. Slate eyes opened a crack when he felt those fingertips brushing the edge of his remaining clothes. He closed his eyes again, smiled in the midst of another light kiss, and eagerly awaited his emboldened young husband's next move.
The hand Yuri had rested on the back of his partner's shoulder and neck slid a bit further up, weaving his fingers into that short silver hair, pulling gently on the Russian's head to deepen the kiss. He felt his partner's hand rise up from where it had been sitting against his side, coming against the inside of his arm and cupped the side of his head instead, thumb gently brushing against his cheek there. The width of his partner's shoulders pushed his hand slightly away, combing it free from where he'd still had his fingers in the man's hair, but he slid it away willingly, letting his palm lightly trace over the side of the Russian's arm, down against his ribs, and settled on the right side of his waist, holding there as he let his right hand slide a bit further down.
Viktor barely twitched, instead pressing his hips slightly forward when he felt those warm fingers come against him. The perhaps-unintentional tease in the car had already set his blood on fire, and the heat of him was as obvious as the hopeful flesh being teased against then. That soft, squishy skin, surrounded by immaculately-groomed but still-course hair, was already tense and keenly interested in what was to come. The Russian drew in a quiet but vocal gasp of a breath when he felt the whole of his husband's hand cup against him.
The young skater paused the kisses there for a moment, half-lidded eyes opening so he could watch the look on his partner's face as he continued at his task. Gently and slowly, he rubbed and kneaded at the man's center, feeling it come to life with every delicate squeeze. Yuri turned a bit where he stood to make it easier for his arm to bend, touching his brow and nose against the silver legend's cheek, listening to every intentional breath as each one grew more ragged, with the occasional subtle whimper hiding underneath. Within moments, he'd done enough to reposition the member upward, letting it be pinned between the man's abdomen and the dark-blue rim of his show pants. His hands instead went to the elastic of the black track pants that had covered them, and pushed them down to just above the man's legs. A subtle push where he still had his left hand against his partner's hip, and Viktor backed up, feeling the edge of the bed against the back of his knees and taking it as a cue to sit. Yuri was soon to follow, leaning forward to start another kiss as the silver genius pressed his hands to the comforter to hoist himself further back, then slowly leaning away until he was lying down.
The younger figure came up and sat against his hips, one knee at a time rising next to his waist as he crawled up on top of the bed as well. Viktor let his hands come back up, settling them on the bare shoulders above himself, and drawing in a hissed breath as he felt fingers curl around center again. The first stroke pulled him a bit further out from the fabric, but Yuri let him go almost as quickly, hands instead finding the button and zipper that held him contained and undoing them both. The black elastic fabric beneath that was easily pushed away, and the young skater took him back in-hand again, that flesh completely free and begging attention. Viktor let himself become hyperaware of everything his partner did, every inch of skin he touched and stroked, even as he'd left the kiss to trail those lips down the side of his neck, down to his chest. All the while, that warm hand stroked and squeezed gently, not going too fast, twisting a little at the tip as the heat and hardness grew. He slid his hands down the edges of his partner's arms, until Viktor could feel the curve of the man's elbows, relenting then to raise his arms out to the side, curving slightly above his head.
Yuri made good use of the added room, kissing still at the upper part of his husband's chest and collar bone, his free hand sliding up against the man's right side. Lips trailed down a little further, tracing lightly against pale skin, his own cheeks showing a hint of rouge just before he found that first pink nub. He kissed it at first, thumb finding the other one on the opposite side at the same time, then licking a little, tracing his tongue around the nub until it grew and became hard. He glanced up a bit when he heard his husband's more-vocal gasps, and smiled to himself as he continued on, latching on briefly and sucking on that nub until Viktor cried out. He circled his tongue around it again once more before switching over to the other side and giving that one the attention of his mouth as well. If the Russian's gasps and moans weren't tell enough, the way he arched his back or tried to lift his legs up onto his toes helped Yuri know he was doing a good job. He switched sides again one more time before moving back to the center of his partner's chest, kissing and licking his way back up to the man's neck. As he came further up, nosing his husband's lip, and the tip of his nose, Yuri opened his eyes a little to look down into those crystal blue hues, seeing the man's cheeks touched with red. He smiled at that, closed his eyes again, kissed him, and started traveling down once more.
The Russian watched his partner as long as he could, but soon just dropped his head back to the sheets, silver hair springing away from his face. He closed his eyes and savored the feeling of each kiss as it went lower against his frame, touching a few ribs, abdominal muscles, naval, and lower. When he felt those warm lips against the tip of his member, he drew in a quick breath, arms curling in more tightly above his head. His fingers curved around the edges of his elbows, and he arched his back to the feeling of a few kisses being dragged down the length of that eager flesh, bringing his crossed arms up over his eyes. When lips found the edge of fabric, a hot, wet tongue replaced it, traveling all the way back up the length to the tip. He lifted his arm off one eye just in time to glance down and see the younger figure nibbling a bit at the head, teasing that skin gently before taking it wholly into his mouth.
Hearing his partner gasp out, Yuri set to slowly bobbing up and down against that length flesh, carefully turning his head with each descent. Hands came in to help massage the base, rubbing and holding the member in place as he continued the rhythmic suck, kiss, and lick. After a while, feeling every convulsed twitch of his husband's frame underneath of himself; legs trying to kick while still holding him up, upper body arching and twisting under the pressure of every sensation, Yuri took a moment and just watched the man. He kept on stroking with his hands, left kneading at the base while the right rubbed and twisted gently at the tip, then switching. He turned his eyes down to the flesh in his grasp, seeing it red, shiny from his attention, and throbbing. The silver Russian's heavy breathing and gasped moans helped to tell him how close the man was to the edge. He lowered down a bit again, left hand sliding up his partner's front, fingers splayed out as far as they could go, and took the member back into his mouth again. He rubbed his tongue against the base of the tip, turned his head, kissed the same spot, and plunged down over it again, drawing quite the needy cry as reward.
Viktor had raised both of his arms up over his head, elbows together where his wrists pressed against each temple, back quirking into that upward arch with each strong pulse from center. Right hand went down urgently to find where his partner's had parked on the lower part of his chest, clasping his fingers around it tightly as he felt himself drawing ever-closer to the end, "Y-Yur-...Yuri...!" He arched so far as the wave rushed over him that he was holding himself up on the crown of his head, crying out loudly, legs clenching and buckling under where his partner still perched over him. He could feel the release into the back of his husband's mouth and throat, a few pulses of hot white liquid escaping him with each convulsive rush of pleasure through his whole body. The electrical storm of that much-needed climax pierced through his core, traveling halfway down his legs, jolting him over and over again as Yuri practically milked that member until he fell limp again. Heavy, vocal breaths went into and out of the Russian's lungs, with almost the same intensity as the end of a powerful Free Skate. There was nothing else in the world that could get him to pant so heavily for having basically done nothing.
The younger figure gentled his attention, letting that trembling flesh rest against his spouse's abdomen, kissing lightly at the end of it to keep it clean. Soon though, he could feel the silver legend wiggling under him a little, wordlessly trying to get him to scoot up a ways to face him. Yuri acquiesced to that need, and lay flat against his husband's rising and falling chest, both hands trailing the length of the man's arms until he found his hands, and was able to lace their fingers together up above the Russian's head. Viktor was still trying to catch his breath when they came face to face, but Yuri continued in his strange silence, nosing the pale chin under him.
"...I...I don't know why you decided to do that just now...but...thank you." The Russian puffed, squeezing his hands where he felt his husband's.
"I just wanted to make you feel good." The younger figure answered quietly, looking into those crystal blue eyes.
"Wh-what about you though? I didn't stand a chance..."
"I'd hoped you wouldn't. I didn't want you to do anything." He answered simply, "You've already done enough in so many other ways."
Viktor continued his heavy breaths, but soon closed his eyes and smiled, using what little strength he had left to twist over and force Yuri to his own back, leaning over his chest where he could and looking down adoringly at him. Never once letting go of his partner's hands, he wiggled himself until he could loom over and touch their brows together. He held there a moment, nuzzling his husband fondly before finally leaning down to kiss him, the taste of himself on the younger skater's lips be damned. He gently nosed those lips after, feeling where his spent member had flopped against the man's front between them, "You always know how to take care of me. ...But now I just want to take a nap...!" He laughed.
"Maybe you'll let Chris drive this time then." Yuri mused, one leg rising up against his partner's hip, "You can nap with me in the back seat until we get there and find a place to park."
"...I think I can agree to that."