Aww...Look at my boys. My precious little boys still sleeping soundly at my hips. Yuri and Yurio may not agree on much. Hell, some days, they don't even like each other. But there was no doubt about it. Neither one of them would hesitate to use my legs or my stomach as a pillow. They're both so cute when they're sleeping. My boys. Mama's special boys. I get to watch my boys skate today. Hopefully, Yurio won't be giving me any more surprises like last time. No crying in the locker room today, Violet.
"Mmm..." And the first one wakes up. Yuri felt around the bed for his glasses. I nudged them a bit closer. There you go, Yuri, "Good morning, Mama."
"Good morning, Yuri," I kissed his round, little cheek, "Did you sleep ok?"
"Uh-huh," he cuddled into me, "What time is it?"
"It's a little after seven," I checked the clock, "Why?"
"We should probably get some practice in before competition," Yuri tried to get up. He wobbled a bit. Not even on the ice and he's already beat. My god, Victor. How hard have you been working him? Then again, Yuri had a pretty ridiculous drive when it came to his skating. His little brother was no different. It'll be their saving grace and their downfall. I bet Yuri's legs are full of bruises and stress fracturs. And it wouldn't surprise me if Yurio's the same way.
"I don't think so, kiddo," I kept Yuri on the bed, "It's not going to kill you to lay here for a bit."
"But Mama," he whined, "I need to practice."
"You also need to take care of yourself, Yuri," I kept my voice down. Even though Yurio could sleep through a freight train.
"I do," he promised me, still trying to get up, "But I can handle it, Mama! Let me go!"
"Think of it this way." Victor's words from a time long passed came to me, "Every competition up to Grand Prix is practice for the Grand Prix. That way, you won't peak throughout the season either."
"Wow..." Yuri began to relax, "I never thought of it that way."
"Your daddy told me that when I first started skating," I wrapped my arm around him.
"Maybe Victor could tell you a little quieter next time," a cranky tiger cub growled in my ribs.
"Well," I smiled down at my baby, who glared up at me, "Good morning, dovahkiin."
"Mama, I'm tired," Yurio grumbled, "Can you get me some more coffee?"
"Of course, sweetheart," I allowed, "Yuri, what about you? You want a little something, something, too?"
"Sure," Yuri nodded, "Can I have a green tea?"
"Absolutely," I got up and threw a hoody on, "You two, stay here. I'll be right back. Yurio, no tying your brother up and throwing Cheerios at him."
"No promises."
I knew better, though. If I ask Yurio not to do something, he won't. With my boys locked in the room, I snuck down to the hotel cafe and got them exactly what they needed to start the day. Along with my own favorite addiction. It's not like I was leaving them for long. When I got back, they were both damn near ready for competition. I knew we did something right with those two.
"Thank you, Mama," they took their respective cups.
"Anytime, boys," I melted inside, "Anytime."
Knock, knock.
What the hell...? I don't remember ordering room service and Yuri and Yurio knew better. I got up from the bed and checked the peephole. Alright. Not the maid. Not a hooker. I opened the door to find my ex-husband's dark circles on the other side. Yet I've heard him give me shit about my own for years. It'll be nice to kindly return the favor.
"Hi, Victor," I let him in before anyone had the chance to see.
"Morning," he rubbed his eyes.
"Hi, Daddy!" Yuri ran into his arms.
"Good morning, Yuri," Victor's face lit up, "Are you ready for today's competition? Are you going to make me proud?"
"Definitely!" Someone's tea has kicked in. Or he stole some of Yurio's espresso. No. Yuri's arms were still attached.
"Go back to our room," Victor put him down, "Your costume's hanging in the closet. Yurio, you, too. Celestino's looking for you."
"Ok." Yuri and Yurio left Victor and me alone. And now, to tear into his hungover ass.
"Are you alright, Victor?" I worried, "You look like shit."
"Chris and I went out last night," he smiled, "I feel like I've been through hell, but nothing a little concealer can't hide, right? You should've been there. It was so much fun."
"It looks like it," I teased, "Nothing quite like being back in Russia, huh?"
"I do miss the motherland once in a while," Victor chuckled, "But we'll have Rome. You are going out with us in Rome, right? No. You have to. It's non-negotiable. We haven't been in Rome in years. We're getting Celestino to watch the boys and we're having a proper night out in Rome if it kills me."
"If you say so." If I haven't exhausted myself first. I'm skating double duty in Rome. My own program, then Yurio's special program. Rome is going to kill me. If I come out of it injury free, I'll be amazed.
With Yuri and Yurio preparing for competition at noon, I had a little time to kill. What to do in Moscow when I have nothing better to do. I could take a guided tour and correct the tour guide. But I don't want to be that dick. Don't get me wrong. I could stand to be petty once in a while, but a full-on dick like that? Someone's just trying to make a living with the city they loved.
I could go and get a tattoo. I've had an idea for one bouncing around my head for a while, but the thought of Celestino handing my ass to me on a silver platter didn't appeal to me much. Especially not when Grand Prix Finals are coming up so soon. Skating with a tailbone injury sucked. Maybe I could get a new piercing. Some dermals on the tops of my hips would be cool. But if I were to fall on the ice with fresh hip dermals, I'd bawl my eyes out. I knew exactly what I could do!
My routine for Rome was getting scrapped. I'm not doing S&M, but I had no idea what's replacing it. I'll figure it out eventually. I didn't have the time to find another rink to skate at for today. But it won't hurt to find something else to use for a costume. It's not like I could use the ropes and the leather I had intended on. Not when I'm not doing S&M anymore.
Maybe I could go back to the roots a little more. Something more innocent. It'd be a total one-eighty from the original plan. Sometimes, these things change. Not that I'm complaining. S&M wasn't even really my routine. It's what Mike wanted me to do. I didn't make that decision. But now that I was free, I could do whatever I wanted. Maybe my costume could reflect that. Something light and flowy. I always looked good in chiffon. It's too bad I didn't bring my sewing kit with me. I'd really go back to the old days and make one.
No. I found a white dress in a thrift store that spoke to me. The woman said she couldn't sell it to me because of the stains on it, but they looked like coffee stains. It's perfect. So, instead of dropping money on it, I brought it back to the hotel room. Let's see. What can I do with you? You're light like I wanted. It'll be a bit cold, but that's what skater tights are for. I could cut it off at the bottom and leave it frayed. It could easily apply to a multitude of situations. Jilted lover, returns from battle, falling apart, a spirit stuck in the veil. I could've used this when I was skating Black yesterday. A little bit of tweaking and it's perfect. Maybe a little more tulle on the skirt?
I didn't have time for that now. I had babies to support. And the arena was PACKED. I'm sure that was for previous Junior Grand Prix winner Yuri Nikiforov. Or because they knew Victor would be here. He was nothing if not a press magnet. Alright. Now, what's the line-up? Which one of my babies is going first?
Yurio. Yurio wasn't just the first one between him and Yuri. He's got the dreaded first position. Then again, he's gotten gold with every first spot he's ever had, so I shouldn't be worried. Kick some ass, baby. Mama knows you got this. And…if you could not make me cry this time around, I'd really appreciate it.
It seems someone's feeling cheeky, not soul bearing. I guess I'm not the only one doing Gaga this time around. Paparazzi began to play over the loudspeaker. Alright, Yurio. What kind of story are you telling today? One of relentless pursuits of those damn leeches. But toward the middle of his program, Yurio began to cheat out to the crowd, just like Mama taught him. Instead of fighting the press, he's sending his love to them. Because in the end, they boost his career while boosting their own. Everyone wins. Very diplomatic, Yurio. Very diplomatic. And your cheekiness of ending your routine with my dreaded double toe loop did not go unnoticed.
84.65. Alright. I can agree with that.
"Mama!" Yurio skated to the partition, jumping into my arms, "How did I do?"
"I would've given you a couple points higher," I shrugged, "But what are you doing with my double toe loop?"
"Sorry," he bit his lip, "I was in the moment. It was supposed to be a triple, but I lost a rotation."
"Good," I let it go, "Your double was a little shaky. If you would've went for a triple, you would've gotten hurt."
"I couldn't have said it better myself," Celestino agreed with me, "But you still did great, Yurio."
"Thanks, Celestino," Yurio pulled his skates off and popped all his toes. My god, this kid's like bubble wrap.
"Mama…" Yuri pulled at my shirt, "Are you going to stay for me, too?"
"Of course, sweetheart," I promised, "When are you up?"
"Last."
One opens up, one closes. Alright. I hope my boys make me proud. One of them already has, "Alright. What are you doing, Yuri?"
"It's a surprise," Yuri smiled, "You'll like it. Daddy said they were one of your favorite bands when you first met."
"Ok…" Oh, shit…That doesn't narrow it down. Why did I have a feeling that Yurio wouldn't be the one to rip my heart out through his routine, but Yuri instead? I listened to a lot of alternative bands when I first met Chris and Victor. And a lot of the music of the time was full of heartache and emotion. I'm screwed, aren't I? When it came to be Yuri's turn, I braced myself for the worst. It didn't start with a single G note played on a piano, so that was promising.
"Can anybody hear me?" the speaker blared out as Yuri got up from the ice, "Or am I talking to myself?"
Oh, shit, no. Instead of the story of learning to embrace the press like Yurio's, Yuri spun a different tale. Astronaut. The story of someone afraid of being forgotten. Of someone afraid of being lonely. And feeling shoved out into the vastness of space. And all he wants is to come home. But no one's listening. Can I just give Yuri a hug now? Because I'm damn near in tears again. Even amongst all the applause, I had the worst empty feeling I've ever had.
"How'd I do, Mama?" Yuri skated up to the partition, much like his brother before him, making a score 91.12. And not a word was said. All I could do was hold him. Don't let them see you cry, Violet. You keep that shit bottled up.
"You did great, Yuri," I praised, "I'm proud of you, baby."
"You were wonderful, Yuri," Victor took him off my hands, "And you're taking home gold from here!"
"I am?!" Yuri started sweating buckets, "Yay! I'm sure you'll get gold, too, Daddy. Mama, are you going to watch Daddy skate tonight?"
Victor looked over at me, anxiously awaiting my answer. I had too much in me, "I have a lot of things to do to prepare for Rome. I have to choreograph a new routine. I'm not feeling the one I had planned."
"Ok," Yuri let it go, but Victor…Victor had a look in his eye. He knew there was something up. He knew I would never pass up an opportunity to see him skate. And for something so trivial. He knew my improv skills were legendary. So, why was I turning him down now?
Victor's seen me cry enough. He doesn't need to see it anymore.
A/N: Poor Violet. Skating is usually very therapeutic for her. Hopefully her thinking through her new routine will make her feel better. I'm proud of my babies, though. Taking first and second. We need some reunion. And since those crazy kids are all going to the finals in Rome in the next few chapters (I'm trying to get this done and over with by November, so you guys don't have to go through NaNoWriMo hiatus.), I'm sure they won't be the only ones. I really can't wait to show you guys what I've had in mind for the ending. It makes me so happy and it's been burning a hole in my brain for weeks. I promise it'll be wonderful. See you next chapter! xx