CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN

It was impossible to know how much time had passed when Viktor found himself starting to wake up again. To the best of his knowledge, it was at least night-time, since there was no dim glow hiding behind their room's curtains, but whether it was midnight or 5am was anyone's guess. He blinked and looked around hazily, knowing his phone was in his jacket somewhere on the floor, but he didn't want to move to go find it. Instead, he drew in closer to the warm body next to him, trying to remember where he'd had his head before, finding it only because of cold drool-patch he'd left behind on his husband's skin. He huffed a quietly embarrassed laugh at himself and tried to wipe the spot away with his wrist, kissed it, and then set his head down again, draping his right arm across the man's thin athletic frame.

Trying to go back to sleep was an impossible goal though. His internal Skating Event Clock was ticking, and though he knew he'd managed to Snooze it a few times, the bells were ringing uncontrollably, and he was certain he'd have to get up and walk around before it would silence again. In the quiet of their hotel room though, those bells in his head were deafening.

Reluctantly, crystal blue eyes peeked open again, and Viktor turned his head, setting his chin down on Yuri's chest where his cheek had been, and looking quietly on at his sleepy partner. It had been what felt like years since he'd had a peaceful moment to just watch him. He put all thought of the Banquet they'd likely missed out of his mind and thought only of the moment, listening to Yuri's slow, humble breaths, looking at how his lips were gently parted in relaxation, at his softly closed eyes. But when Viktor saw the still-healing cut on Yuri's chin, his worries crept in again like before...at least, until they were stopped in their tracks by the quiet mumble of Yuri speaking in his sleep.

"...Mnhh...Viktorrr..."

Hearing it banished Viktor's nerves, and he let himself smile. He gently eased himself up onto his elbow and leaned forward, ever-so-softly touching his lips to those that had whispered his name. He couldn't help but do it again a moment later, holding in place a little while longer than the first time. It didn't occur to him to stop even as he felt unseen fingers weaving through his hair. He just lowered his face a few seconds later, kissing the edge of Yuri's chin instead before settling there. The gentle stroke against the back of his head went slowly up and down, until he felt fingertips brushing the edge of one ear.

"Sorry." The Russian said quietly, "I hope I didn't wake you up."

"You didn't." Yuri answered, his voice barely a whisper, continuing the gentle touch through soft silver strands, "Well, maybe a little bit."

Blue eyes lifted, and Viktor rose up again so the younger man could see him more easily, and leaned in a bit closer to give him a soft Eskimo kiss, "How rude of me."

Yuri could sense the sarcasm, but it was laced with an air of uncomfortable honesty. He lifted his free left hand and lightly brushed his fingers against the man's cheek, drawing those eyes back up, "Did your internal alarm go off again?"

"Unfortunately." Viktor answered, bringing up his arm where he'd still had it draped across Yuri's chest, gently grasping the hand that was touching his face, and turned it to kiss those fingers. He closed his eyes and drew in a breath, feeling the hand opening up and pressing to his cheek. He couldn't help but lean into it, and set his own hand behind it, looking on at his partner, "I wouldn't mind staying put though."

"You won't catch me arguing."

Viktor huffed a quiet laugh, smiling at the thought. He slowly slid away from the hand and started placing light kisses on his husband's chest, moving slowly from one side to the other as Yuri quietly watched, moving his own hand down from silver hair to stroke at Viktor's upper back instead. By the time the Russian had made it to the other side, he'd slowed to a crawl, returning to kiss the center of his partner's chest one more time before turning his head to set it down there, trying to close his eyes again. The feeling of the gentle back-and-forth of a thumb against his skin was soothing, and Viktor dared to let himself believe he might be able to fall back asleep.

Yuri gradually moved his hand back up into his partner's hair, playing with it idly as the man dozed against him. The feeling of each soft, warm breath grazed his skin, a contrast to the cool air surrounding them both. The peace of the night seemed to linger for once, leaving them with not but the sounds of their own making, and the occasional noise of someone far down the hall.

But, even that was short-lived. Footsteps bounding up the hallway were coming closer. For the moment, neither exhausted skater bothered giving it the benefit of the doubt, assuming the thumping would come and go as whoever was running by would pass their door entirely to find their own. But, when they stopped right outside their own...both men's eyes were open, staring straight ahead, waiting for the next noise to come.

BANG BANG BANG

"...This is why we can't have nice things..." Viktor grumbled, defiantly staying where he was for the moment.

Yuri wasn't ready to move either, and stayed quiet, listening to any sign of familiarity to the people who were outside, banging on their door at whatever ungodly hour it was. Eventually though, their intruders made themselves known...Phichit first, then Chris, loudly demanding that the two of them come to the door.

"Are you sure this is their room?" Chris asked, quieter than before.

"Of course I'm sure. I stayed here with them on Thursday night, remember?" Phichit answered, "I even have my key-card still."

Yuri's eyes shot open wide as he heard those words, and his frame twitched in an effort to sit up, but Viktor pinned him down.

"I turned the deadbolt and the sliding chain lock." He explained, "Even if he uses the key-card, they're not getting in."

"Viktor! Yuri! If you don't come out, we're coming in!" Chris hollered, pounding on the door again.

"Maybe they aren't even here." Phichit suggested, "I mean, wouldn't they put the DND sign on the door handle if they were in and wanted to be left alone?"

"Where else could they be? No one's seen them at the Banquet and they all confirmed they'd heard no plans that these two would be skipping out." Chris went on, "VIKTOR! YURI! If I have to take your victory gifts back to my room, they're not coming out again!"

Yuri just made a face at the ceiling, "...As if I'm worried about a box of chocolates and some gift cards."

"I have your Prize money, too!"

And he was upright. Viktor buried his head under a few pillows and Yuri threw his legs off the edge of the bed, rummaging for his underpants before marching towards the door. A few clicks of the different locks, and the door swung open, with a rather disgruntled and disheveled Yuri standing within it.

Chris, decked out in a full suit, just smiled pleasantly behind the circular frames of his thin glasses, nothing in his hands, "Hey."

Phichit's face was red, but he waved anyway, "H-hi Yuri. Chris is a liar. He doesn't have your stuff."

"...I can see that." Yuri answered grudgingly, "I don't know why I believed he did. Maybe it's because we were sleeping."

"Oh, so Viktor is in there with you." Chris nodded.

"OF COURSE HE'S IN HERE WITH ME. WHERE ELSE WOULD HE GO?" Yuri argued; he was getting more irritated by the second.

"Hurry up and get ready. It's almost midnight. You'll miss everything." The blonde instructed, pointing into the room, "You guys don't have the luxury of getting to make a big scene at the medaling ceremony, and ask to do a second Exhibition performance, only to bail on the Banquet." He took a step forward, only to find Yuri trying to close the door on him before he could get inside. Chris stuck his foot out and stopped the door a few inches out, and huffed a sigh to himself, "It's a wonder you two weren't sent with a chaperone to make sure you showed up. The ISU suits are kind of miffed you're trying to avoid them."

"We're going to see them in the morning at the press conference anyway!" Yuri retorted, pushing on the door insistently, only to find that it wouldn't budge. That foot was acting like a rather effective door-stop.

Chris and Phichit exchanged glances, but then Chris used his superior strength to push the door in and sent Yuri stumbling backward. The blonde then stepped two paces into the room, "I'd recommend you guys come with us. If we go back empty-handed, it'll be Yakov and Celestino coming down next, and they won't give you time to get dressed before they drag you both upstairs."

Phichit was already rummaging around in the closet by the bathroom, knowing that all of their clothing had been hung in there on the first night, "Yuri, come on and help me find the suits you guys planned on wearing-"

"Alright! Alright, enough! Get out and we'll come!" The older skater barked, stepping forward again and trying to make the two intruders leave.

They just stayed where defiantly where they were though, and the dim lights of the hall glinted on Chris' frames, "If you kick us out, we know full-well you'll lock the door and you won't answer it for anyone for the rest of the night. Then you might even bail on the press conference because you know about all the dirty looks you'll get for how things turned out tonight."

"We're not going to bail on the press conference!" Yuri insisted, "That whole thing is going to be on ISU TV! We'd have to be dead or crippled to miss it!"

"Viktor!" Chris hollered, trying to get his voice around the man in front of him, "Let's get a move on! I can see your feet from here!"

Up to that point, the Russian had tried to stay in bed. But, upon hearing his name in that moment, grudgingly started to move. What came next was entirely unexpected though. Yuri was quick to notice what was coming and ducked.

Phichit dodged as the first rolled-up sock came hurtling towards Chris, who was standing just behind him. He got beaned in the face with the next one though. A third sock-roll came flying at him then, bouncing off his head and hitting Chris as well. The fourth sock was dodged by both. Viktor then threw his pants, then Yuri's coat, then their shoes, his underwear, Yuri's shirt, his own coat, and by then, the bare-arsed Russian had made it to where Yuri had dropped their gear bags.

"IF YOU TWO DON'T GET OUT, I'M THROWING KNIFE-BOOTS NEXT."

Chris looked up from where he'd raised his hands to protect himself, and suddenly saw the glint off a smartphone that had tumbled onto the floor. He glanced down at it and spotted the device, grabbing for it and seeing the wine & blue Aria motif on the phone-case. He waggled it in his hand, "I'm taking this as collateral. I'm not giving it back until you two get ready."

"UBIRAJSJA!" Viktor barked, holding up one of his own skates by then, ready to pull off the blade guard if the two didn't move it.

Phichit took the man at his word and bailed, though Chris was slower to follow. He gave the naked Russian a good look-over before winking, and then leaving, "We'll be waiting in the hall for you."

The door clicked behind them, and the two men left behind sighed angrily. Yuri crossed his arms and glanced back at his infuriated husband, watching as Viktor finally put the skate back into the bag it had been pulled from, "Guess we're stuck now."

"That's four straight nights in a row where everything goes to Hell!" The Russian lamented, crouching down to zip the bag up, "I just want one night where my sleep isn't interrupted by blood, drama, other peoples' drama, or THEM!" He pointed at the door and then sat roughly backward, all but sobbing by that point.

Yuri sighed, but looked away a bit sheepishly, feeling bad that his blood had been the first reason his partner had listed. Instead of lingering on it though, he went to the closet where Phichit had been trying to find their things, and finished the task himself, pulling out the two suits that had been selected days ago specifically brought for the Banquet. He set the two garment bags across the bed before kneeling down next to his partner, and settled his hands on the man's shoulders, speaking quietly, "We don't have to stay long. Let's just go make an appearance, satisfy the higher ups, and then come back to bed."

"Maybe if neither of us had gotten on the podium...but you know full well we'd never get away with that." Viktor sighed, "Chris said it was midnight. We'll be there till 3am at the least."

"Probably." Yuri agreed, rubbing his thumb back and forth, "Well, let's get a move on. We can still have a little fun even if we didn't technically want to go. We're technically on the clock, so to speak, as long as we're at a competition. We won't be completely free until we leave the hotel tomorrow morning."

"...Maybe if we play Drunk Snap again, they'll kick us out like at NHK." Viktor suggested, bringing one hand up to rub his chin, "Remember?"

"No, but we should totally do that anyway." Yuri mused, pushing to stand up again, and offering his hands to help his husband up as well, "Just don't let me get so drunk that I can't recall what happened again."

"I make no promises." The Russian answered as he rose, holding onto those hands for a few moments longer, "Mostly because I don't know how much I'm going to drink."

"Maybe we should both abstain then."

"...There you go making sense again." Viktor lamented with a smile.

"I know...it's a problem I have..." The younger man nodded, stepping up onto his toes briefly to kiss his husband's forehead before turning away to unzip the first garment bag, "Let's do it then..."

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Ubirajsja = Get out!