CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED NINE
When Yurio heard his name being called for the first time, it was a mad dash from nearly behind the Krampus costume to get to the light shining down in front of it. But, he cast off his hat-mask and rushed forward, hoping he didn't look too obviously sweaty as he greeted the audience, turned around, and made his way back to rink-side. His count-down had begun, and he knew he had roughly four minutes before the rest of the Gala ensemble had been introduced before he'd be expected back on the ice for the night's first solo performance.
While the lights in the Players' Club were lowered, he could still see enough to make his way through the open doorway without tripping over himself or running into anyone. Yakov had been waiting anyway, and handed him his garment bag as he hurried by, like a relay racer taking the baton from the previous runner.
He hurriedly locked himself into the solitary bathroom and threw off the grubby-looking costume he'd worn over most of his own, revealing an ensemble that was its polar opposite; an entirely white and rather form-fitting one-piece. Rummaging into the garment bag though, he pulled out a few ancillary accessories. Over his skates, and pulled up to nearly his knees, were a pair of red padded boot-covers, darker burgundy red at the base and rising up into a flame pattern that moved into a lighter, more crimson red, with black at the top. He pulled over his head a black raiment that clung to his torso, sleeveless, looking like woven, overlapping straps. Over that came a red vest-like mantle, thick like armor where it came in front of his chest, adorned with a large, circular, red-purple gem in the center to unite the two panels. Above that, a black feather mantle with a purple, Victorian-style frilled collar. Forearm and hip pads to match the vest went on next, attached to golden belts, and a two-pronged jester's hat to sit atop his golden hair. The long tails of the hat went down past his waist, with thick rings of the same crimson and burgundy red as the boots. A golden, metallic, masquerade-style half-mask was placed over his eyes and cheeks, with feathers at the pointed ends, and a purple-red gem set between them, just above the bridge of his nose. Finally, he pulled on what looked like gold-plated gloves, each finger articulated and tapered into pointed claw-like projections.
He caught a quick glance of himself in the mirror as he moved away to leave the room, and noted how vivid the green hue of his eyes seemed, standing out from the gold and red. There wasn't much time to admire himself though, so he just smirked and came rushing back outside again, heading over to hand the empty garment bag to Yakov and sneak back towards the doorway.
Yuri and Otabek had already had their names called and were waiting nearby, though Yuri looked on with zeal as he waited for the shocked response of the audience to the big reveal at the end. He caught sight of movement out the corner of his eye and spotted the Russian teen coming up towards them, "Oh wow! That looks really great, Yuri!"
"Spasibo." He answered, "How many are left?"
"Three and then Viktor."
"I would have to draw first when I have to do a costume change..." Yurio huffed, "Oh well."
"Normally I draw first." The older skater pointed out as a duo of Pair Skaters shuffled by, "Minami-kun would laugh every time it happened."
"Who?"
"Ah...the... Uh..." Yuri stammered, surprised that the teen would've forgotten, "Well, he was a rival of yours in Juniors. He was at the wedding party, too. The real small kid with the blonde and red hair."
"Oh... I think I remember." Yurio looked up a bit, as though trying to picture the skater, "...Well, maybe not."
"...Maybe he'll turn up in a big event soon." Yuri smiled and shrugged, looking out onto the ice again as his husband's name was finally called out overhead, and the audience went wild. They all watched quietly as Viktor made his presence known, waving and bowing before ducking back inside the big Krampus ensemble to haul it off towards the Player's Club.
The younger Russian waved as he slipped out through the doors, avoiding notice as he moved through the dark to get back onto the ice in the dark.
Viktor came to replace him soon after, wheeling the monstrous 'costume' into the lounge area. Unable to really see much by then, he stuck his silver-haired head out from within the creature's robes, pushing the beard aside, looking around to get his bearings.
"You really had way too much fun in that thing." Yuri commented, coming up alongside it as the lights started slowly getting brighter finally, though only coming on enough for people to be able to see where they were going, and not distract from the darkness in the arena. Curtains were pulled down to block the doorway, and the lights got brighter after that.
The Russian just smirked though, "How many people get to run around wearing one of these things?" He nudged his head up at the demon, "You should see the inside."
"How do you even see while in there?" The younger skater wondered, taking an extended hand to pull him within the massive 'costume.' Viktor stepped back a bit to give him room, and Yuri turned around to face forward, realizing the entire slack-jawed mouth was just one big hole, giving him an easy view outside, "...Oh."
"They made the frame from aluminum I think. It's pretty easy to cart around."
"The first performance of the Gala...your Men's Singles Bronze Medalist...Yuri...Plisetsky!"
The audience was cheering again, and Yuri was about to step outside the proverbial 'hut' to find a place to watch from, but he paused when he felt hands settle on his hips. Fingers curled around and pulled him backward, until he was flush against the Russian's front, and he felt lips on the side of his neck. That just made him smile though, "Viktor..."
"It won't be much longer..." The silver legend whispered, nibbling on an ear while he was there, "You managed to slack my hunger earlier, but..."
"Your appetite for me is insatiable."
"You did become the tastiest pork cutlet bowl in the world last year." His hands roamed forward and up, pressing flat against the man's chest to pull him closer, "I can't resist a good katsudon."
"Mh..." Yuri drew in a reluctant breath, but reached up to take hold of his partner's fingers before they could go much further, "People are going to start to wonder what we're doing in here."
"Let them."
"You would say that..." The younger man answered, finding himself being turned around where he stood, one arm curling around his right side as a finger from the other traced his jawline, "But..."
"But?"
Yuri rolled forward on his blade-guards and allowed the man one kiss, even if it went on for a while.
Everyone...please stay in your seats...the show will begin momentarily...
Eyes opened just enough to see, but Yuri rolled back again, "Come along, Viktor-kōchi..."
The Russian sighed, rubbing the back of his head as his free hand was taken and he found himself being lead back out of the darkened space, "You know just what to say to spoil the mood."
Brown eyes turned back to look at the man, but Yuri smiled anyway as he made their way over to the curtained exit to rink-side, "I need you to settle down so we can do our skate later. I did promise to make it up to you later though..."
"Later is so far from now though..." The silver legend comically whined.
['Left Behind' - DA Games (Nightcore remix) - You can also play the original at 1.25x speed on Google Chrome, but it sounds kinda weird. Un-altered, the song is way too slow.]
The Russian Tiger had his face lowered, his shadow creeping out in five different directions from the lights above. Just as the first lyrics began though, he whipped his head up, took a step forward with the right foot, and extended that same hand out in an arc.
Behold the horrors, they lurk beneath the shadows of remorse
You wouldn't know, of course
He shook his finger and his head, sliding his left blade out around himself to turn around and start moving away from his starting place.
But I force a new Judgment Day
On this day you will repay,
Your respects to all that may,
He kicked out and twizzled a few times, his feet clicking against the ice and moving his frame to the 'bounce' of the funhouse beat.
Lurk in between your mind, and mankind.
A finger came up to his head as he glided backward towards one corner of the rink, moving that hand out to point at the audience as he slid through the curve in an outside spread-Eagle.
So have a seat and be afraid,
Fear's about to commence the final ritual
He kicked off into a triple Axel, followed by a single Toe-Loop, using the momentum to continue backward as he landed. He lowered down and brought his free leg slightly forward for balance as he hydroplaned, extending his arms out to the side.
One body's all we need for this to be complete.
He leaned to the side then, one hand touching down to the ice to bring his glide into a tighter formation.
And when the day, begins to take form
The free leg bent and a toe-pick grinded into the ice, frost shards breaking away as the colorful teen came to a sudden stop, and he settled on one knee.
You won't be leaving those doors
You'll only live with us, inside the darkness as we tear you up inside!
He pointed into the darkness, then pulled his fist back, roughly patting his chest as he rose back up onto his toe-picks, legs crossed beneath himself. He then jumped up in place...
I WAS LEFT BEHIND!
...uncrossed his legs, landing with his feet apart, and his right arm up and extended in front of himself.
All this torture will unwind
I was never all that kind
If you were to rewind, then you'd find
He twisted and lowered down as he started sliding out of place again, picking up speed as he turned and pivoted. By the end of the stanza, he'd flipped around backwards again with a mohawk turn and was getting ready to...
I was left behind!
Toe-pick into a triple Flip.
Take your turn to run and hide, I will catch you all the time.
This night no longer shines, your tears divine, you'll now be mine!
Finding a less-crowded spot along the narrow wall to either side of the Club' main entrance, a wall where there would normally be benches for idling hockey players, Yuri finally ended his march. He glanced aside as the blonde was still flying across the ice, gesturing out possessively at the audience with both hands, but then turned back to where Viktor was finally catching up to him, fidgeting with the blade-guards he'd only finally found.
Behold the terrors,
You won't believe what I have done to you.
I've made it look brand new, oh how cute!
Yurio set a finger on his chin and bobbed his head before twisting off on black blades again, weaving in wide arcs as he picked up speed.
But don't digress, I'm the ringmaster you see,
Once Viktor had finally settled his blade-guards, he reached a hand out to re-find his partner in the dark, feeling fingers take hold of his own to pull him along. He found himself pressed up against the wall, just beneath a guard-rail, behind which, spectators were sitting only a few feet away. It was hard to see anything but what was happening on the ice though, which served him just as well to not be bothered for the moment.
In this horror game you flee.
I take up every shadow, believe me.
The silver Russian soon felt as his slightly-shorter husband came up in front of him, leaning back against his chest as his arms were pulled around that smaller frame, hands neatly folded over his own where they came to rest on the skater's stomach.
Now have a seat, and grab your light.
Tears begin to run you dry, but darkened thoughts are the common ground I give myself to be complete.
Yurio vaulted through a two triple-Axel jump sequence, pausing at the opposite end of the rink and digging a toe-pick in.
Be as it may, our courtesy remains.
Left hand went to his hip as the right gestured up and arced over to his chest as he bowed his head.
So we offer you our darkest passion,
He pushed forward, gliding along on the right blade as both hands came in front of himself, cupped together before extending forward, fingers splaying out as he picked up speed.
Take off that blindfold that heals
And reveal your soul that dies!
The Russian gestured more aggressively then, his body moving through a 3-turn to flip backwards, legs crossing over one another as he readied for...
I WAS LEFT BEHIND!
Quad Loop, triple Loop, triple Toe-loop.
All this torture will unwind
I was never all that kind
If you were to rewind, then you'd find
After a brief glide, Yurio threw himself into a flying camel spin, arms held out to the side as the two long tails of his hat flew behind him.
I was left behind!
Take your turn to run and hide,
He pulled his frame in close for a cannon-ball variant, then grabbed hold of his blade as that leg swing down to clear himself and position itself behind him instead, torso angling upward as a free hand rose up for the half-Biellmann.
I will catch you all the time.
This night no longer shines,
The blade was let go, and Yurio pulled his arms in close to his frame, spinning faster through the scratch spin.
Your tears divine, you'll now be mine!
He stopped suddenly, digging in a toe-pick as the rest of his thin body continued to twist a little.
YOU DARE BRING YOUR FILTH INTO MY LAIR?
One hand went up to point accusingly at the unseen audience in the dark before himself, then coming back as both hands gestured to present the rink.
WELL THEN, LET US DESCEND!
Reborn again!
He suddenly started moving backwards again, lowering himself half-way to hydroblading again as both hands were open and gesturing for those in front of him to follow.
Our suits are now refined.
Yuri tapped his thumb idly against his spouse's hand to follow the beat of the music, eyes following the teen intently. He suddenly remembered something Yurio had told him earlier in the day though, and tilted his head where he'd been resting it against the front of Viktor's shoulder, "Yurio said there was some surprise that he'd worked out at the last second, close to the end of his program. I think it's coming up soon..."
"Surprise?" The Russian echoed, "I wonder what he's planning...?"
Breathing new life, inside our tombs at night!
Triple Lutz, swivel, triple Flip, followed by a long backwards glide down the center of the rink.
You have no idea what we've been through,
Time and time again, don't hold it onto our deadliest demise,
As the teen moved, like before, he gestured out at the audience, drawing them into the performance more and more.
We can't keep you alive!
He hopped through a half-Loop and then suddenly paused though, bowling slightly and holding out one hand towards the darkened rink wall...and someone sitting on it. A spotlight that had been following the blonde kept moving even as he stopped, pausing only as it shone down on that spot, revealing none other than the Russian Punk's latest partner in crime; Nikki. She wore a purple and black variant of the same two-pronged hat that Yurio had for himself, and a microphone in her hand.
Yuri and Viktor both perked their heads up to spot her, "...Oh!"
"All this torture will unwind, take it from our broken crimes, we have no place to go..." She sang, legs crossed casually where she perched on the upper lip of the wall, "Take your turn to run and flee, but death's your destiny!" She leaned forward then as Yurio started easing closer on the ice, and one delicate finger from the girl's free hand came to rest under his chin, "Stop holding back from me..."
He suddenly flipped around, his back to her.
THEY BURNED IT ALL DOWN!
Moving forward again, the spotlights all followed him like before, converging on him as he glided through a layback Ina Bauer.
They burned us alive!
THEY MADE US LOOK LIKE CLOWNS!
His hands were on his head, as though in a gesture of anguish, the tails of his hat dragging along the ice as he moved around the curve of the rink in a cantilever.
Our souls arise!
Arms reached high before he swung them around in a circle to help thrust himself back upright, twisting over himself to descend into a kneeling position on one knee, rotating slightly as he moved along.
But like the Jester said to the King,
There is bad news that I bring!
He pointed to himself before throwing both arms into the air and falling to his back on the ice.
NOW LET THE NIGHT BEGIN!
(I was left behind!)
All this torture will unwind
Yurio was quickly back up onto his feet, twisting his hips and swiveling his way across the rink.
I was never all that kind
If you were to rewind, then you'd find
I was left behind!
He vaulted into a quad Salchow, then pushed into something of a step-sequence, feet a blur on the frost as he twisted and turned from one end of the rink to the other.
Take your turn to run and hide,
I will catch you all the time.
This night no longer shines,
Your tears divine, you'll now be mine!
He paused then, returning to center, with all spotlights shining down on him from all different directions.
We hope you enjoyed the show...
...Within your GRAVE down below!
The teen gestured up, and then down, rotating in place as he lowered to sitting. As the chimes of a child's toybox filled the arena, the blonde laid down on his back. He crossed his ankles, then his arms over his chest, and remained still there until the music came to an end.
The audience cheered mightily for a few seconds before Yurio allowed himself to splay out, waving his arms and legs as though making a snow-angel on the ice before finally pushing to sit up again and waved.
Viktor was clapping his hands in front of his husband's tummy, "That was different." He mused.
Yuri clapped as well, "I really wasn't expecting Nikkita to be part of it...but I guess there's precedent with him." He supposed, leaning back against his partner again as the teen rose up to his feet and made his grateful bows before starting to come back to rink-side, "Otabek jumped into his Exhibition at the last second last year, too."
"Otabek didn't sing though."
"True..." Yuri huffed a laugh, "I wonder what her dad thinks."
"...She said she was just going to the Players' Club to watch..." Mikhail lamented from the stands, slouching deeply in his seats, "Those two have barely known each other for a few days and they're already scheming like this."
Minako pat his head reassuringly, "I actually think it's kind of fun. I wish my Yuri had friends like that when he was younger. Yura's really coming out of his shell to have people his own age around."
"I've created a monster."