Pandora here today with 'thunderstorm'. In this, Yuri is 24 and JJ is 27 - this is set soon after they get engaged.
Ever since he was little, Yuri has always hated thunderstorms. For a child who made it a point never to be scared of anything, it was frankly embarrassing to be afraid of the weather of all things, but he couldn't help it. Storms were chaotic and powerful, unpredictable and dangerous, and he hated them. The anticipation was the worst part: the build up of pressure in the air, the slow sluggishness of breathing and the grey clouds gathering, because he knew he'd inevitably spend the night in bed with the covers pulled over his head to smother out the crashes and flashes.
Over time he formed coping mechanisms: listening to his competition music on headphones too big for his head, playing video games, burying his hands and face in his cat's fur, all while hidden under his bedclothes. If he was in Moscow, his grandfather would tell him stories or they'd watch films together. As he got older and started to let people in more, he sought comfort in phone calls and texts, losing himself in words. With the eventual inclusion of JJ in his life and that first, stammering confession of fear, they start finding new distractions for Yuri together, and normally they end up tangled together, hearts pounding and hands everywhere.
Yuri comes to realise how absurd it is that he loves someone so like a thunderstorm. JJ is chaotic and powerful, but predictable enough to not be dangerous, and he loves him. The sound of his voice rumbling in his chest reminds Yuri of thunder rolling across the sky, his smiles like brilliant bolts of lightning. With JJ, the anticipation is the best part: the wicked look in his dark eyes, the slow drag of his fingers on Yuri's hip and long, passionate kisses, because he knows he'll inevitably spend the night in bed with the covers thrown aside to make way for the two of them.
It's a little while after the storm has broken when JJ pushes open the window to cool the room. Yuri watches him lazily, still catching his breath and with the phantom press of the blindfold still playing about his face. JJ crawls back into bed, his skin warm against Yuri's body, and Yuri sighs peacefully. He traces the tiger tattoo on JJ's ribs, the inked scars raised under his fingertips, and listens to the gentle patter of rain outside.
"Better?" asks JJ and Yuri nods, leaning up to kiss him softly on the lips. JJ envelops him in his arms, pulling the duvet up around them in a warm cocoon. When they break the kiss, Yuri's head settles on JJ's chest.
"I think I know what I'm going to do for my exhibition skate at the final," Yuri says after a pause.
"Cool." JJ's hand strokes languidly up and down Yuri's spine. "What's it called?"
"'Struck by Lightning'," says Yuri, thumb running along the edge of his engagement ring.
"That sounds interesting – what's it about?"
Yuri can feel his face flaming against JJ's chest and his voice comes out as a murmur when he replies, "You."
"What?" Yuri can feel JJ's grin against his hair and knows he's not asking because he didn't hear.
"It's about you, you shithead," Yuri says, voice edging on a soft growl.
JJ chuckles, his fingers coming up to caress the back of Yuri's neck. "I'm honoured."
"Should be," says Yuri. "It's going to be fucking spectacular."
"I can't wait to see it," says JJ, drawing Yuri in for another kiss.