AN : There will be a banquet part 2, don't worry. And those who want faster updates can go to AO3~ this chapter was updated 4 days earlier.
Phichit started on hearing the knocks. It was nearly time for the banquet event ( the gala already done with, Phichit didn't get a medal was he was happy with his unexpected fourth position ), so that must be Yuuri.
"Come in!"
The man entered, looking quite dashing in his black suit and- "What even are you wearing Yuuri?" He looked confused at the question, but Phichit had eyes only for the tie. The hideous blue tie and should do the world a favour and set fire to itself. "That tie would not do," he proclaimed. "I think I have an extra, you are going to wear that mister. Now take that trash off."
Phichit conveniently ignored the muttered 'I thought you were the only piece of trash in this room' and dug in this suitcase for the grey tie he was sure that he had tossed in. And he was glad he did, for as much as his best friend was good at the whole modeling thing, he could be somewhat dense when it came to fashion choices.
He should be glad that he had yours truly, if he said so himself.
He gave a shout of delight as he finally found the damn thing, throwing it over to Yuuri.
"Better yet, your highness?" Yuuri asked drily after he had finished tying the necktie.
Phichit frowned. "Well...nope. Slick back your hair Yuuri. You look better that way, especially when combined with formal wear. And get rid of those glasses, they definitely do not go with the aura you need. I know you brought your contacts, go put them on. Now march."
Yuuri marched.
When he returned, Phichit exhaled in a satisfied way. This was definitely a lot better than what Yuuri had decided to go with.
Step one - make Yuuri the hottest person at the banquet - was complete. Now time for step two. Phichit resisted the urge to cackle. Nikiforov would never know what hit him.
"I don't even need astrologers", grumbled Viktor, "I can predict that I would die right here today with sheer boredom, my body dying away from inside along with my patience."
Christophe snorted and raised his glass of champagne "Amen to that." He suddenly whistled. "Well my good man, I think someone just arrived to wake you up inside."
Viktor laughed mockingly. "At this point only the sweet relief of death can rescue….me." His words died away as he looked to see just who Chris was talking about. "Never mind."
It was his sweet smol bean, but without the sweet part. His breath hitched in this throat, Chris giving him a knowing sideway look. Yuuri looked absolutely gorgeous in the 'oh god take me now' way instead of his usual 'too pure too good' way.
His suit was crisp, hugging his figure in a very...ah, exciting manner. His raven hair was slicked back, and his usual baby blue glasses were absent. There was nothing to hide the alluring face and those intense eyes and Viktor could feel himself melting in a puddle because damn.
Chris huffed a laugh. "Viktor, your thirst is showing."
Viktor spared him a glance. "I am not even thirsty, I am parched . Now excuse me while I go and have the time of my life."
"Hey Mila, who's that?" Sara eyed the man talking with Viktor. She would give the man a solid 11/10 when it came to the hot factor. The person or Nikiforov alone would make it hard for anyone to take their eyes off him, but with both of them combined...well, suffice to say that Sara was hooked.
Who wouldn't? One was sexy and mysterious with hair hair and dark clothes, eyes practically smoldering and the the other was utterly charming and beautiful, smile as radiant as his silver hair. Honestly, she just might pull a Mulan if male figure skaters and their friends were so attractive.
But the women were awesome too! Like the amazingly gorgeous and wonderful Mila, who was currently staring hard at the two people and not being subtle at all seriously what even .
Sara cleared her throat. "Uh, Mila?"
Mila startled. "Oh sorry! It's just that guy looks so familiar! I swear I have seen him many times but I can't remember where ugh." She grabbed a flute of champagne from a passing waiter and drowned it in one go, frustrated.
A disgruntled voice piped up. "Why do you lot even care what the old man does and who he is with? It's none of you fucking business."
Both of them looked towards the source of the voice, which was the one and only Yuri Plisetsky. He glared at them. "What!?"
Mila squealed. "Aww Yura, I didn't know you were so interested in our talks! You should have just joined right in instead of eavesdropping." She wagged a finger at him. "It's rude, you know?"
Sara muttered a quick prayer for Mila's safety as she watched the little ball of rage attack Mila. Well, tried anyway. Mila's strength was a thing of fear indeed.
"So anyway", Plisetsky began after Mila released him, "why are you interested? Not like who Viktor fucks is any of our problem."
"Aww Yura, 'our' problem? So you admit that you love us!"
Sara sighed when he again tried to attack Mila. Would the two of them ever learn? "Okay, okay! Break it up! I said break it up! Are you guys even listening?" She took a deep breathe. "STOP FIGHTING YOU FUCKERS!"
She adjusted her dress and smiled primly when she saw that they stopped after all, staring at her with shocked looks. Ah, seems like the 'get shit through Mickey's thick head' method works with everyone.
Mila coughed. "You heard her Yura. And yep, it is our problems because have you even seen Viktor's face?"
"I have and my life has never been the same. I have been scarred for ever, never to recover."
The Russians really were an eccentric lot, thought Sara. Maybe that's why Mila smiled though that like it was the most natural thing and continued on. "I mean now, like currently in the banquet. That boy is in love."
Cue gagging noises from the salty child in the vicinity.
Sara clapped her hands together. "We must find out more about the person with whom the legendary 'one night stand' Nikiforov fell in love with!"
Mila nodded her head, while Plisetsky just grumbled. "You do that, I don't want anything to do with this shit." He walked away.
He didn't get very far before being dragged back kicking and screaming, courtesy of Mila.
Yuuri looked over to the commotion nearby. If he was not mistaken they were senior female skaters Mila and Sara, and that was definitely the Russian Yuri. He pointed them out to Viktor ( god knows where Phichit went after he deserted him ) who just laughed.
"These young kids, so lively!"
"Viktor you're not exactly old, so saying young ki- are you crying!?"
Viktor glomped him excitedly. "Yuuri! That's the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me!"
Yuuri sweatdropped. Really, this man. Viktor moved back from the hug, eyes wandering towards the area where few people were dancing. He turned to look at Yuuri again, sparkles in his eyes. "Yuuri, let's da-GUAAAH!"
Yuuri was started at the unexpected scream. Suddenly, Yuri Plisetsky emerged from behind the man. He looked at him straight in the eye and said, "I am borrowing this old geezer." Without waiting for a reply he delivered a final kick right in Viktor's stomach and dragged him off.
Yuuri was still trying to comprehend what just happened when he felt a tap on his shoulder. It were Mila and Sara, smiling widely. He knew that look. He would recognize it anywhere. It was the face Phichit made when he was scheming something or was interrogating him. That look screamed danger, and he did not like it one bit.
Yuuri decided that he really should write a will soon, he was sure he would die early.
"So mister," the redhead began coyly, "you and Viktor seem to be rather friendly . What exactly is your relationship?"
Ah. So this is where the conversation was headed. Yuuri had braved through enough magazine reporters and fake 'scandals' to know how to handle people like them. They still made him rather nervous ( although he could not blame them, they were just doing their job, which happened to be an unfortunate one for their dignity ), but he could do this. All he had to do was to be cool and calm, not giving any detail that might be twisted into something else.
He raised an eyebrow. "As you said, we're friends. Anything that might bother you, ladies?" He didn't know how true the statement was though. Viktor did seem to like him, and he enjoyed spending time with the man too, so it should be enough to call them friends, right?
Yuuri hoped so.
Sara replied, "Oh, we have no problem with it! We were just curious! We'll be going now, have fun!" She waved, walking away with Mila.
They grabbed Yuri from where he was arguing talking with Viktor and convened in a corner of the banquet room.
"What is even going on? I thought they were a couple?" Sara whispered urgently.
"I thought so too! Either hot guy is lying or Viktor is- is", Mila burst out laughing, "friendzoned! Oh god, I think this will be a first."
"What the fuck am I doing here let me go- STOP THAT YOU HAG I'LL STAY PUT ME DOWN!"
"Focus here! Mila, you sure Viktor isn't forcing himself on the guy?"
"Positive. He might be clingy and touchy but he would never force himself on someone if they truly do not want him. You can trust him."
"Not like the fucker has to ever do that it's his stupid fanclub doing the forcing...but oldmanwontdothatanyway."
"You know we can understand that last bit, yeah? I am trusting in your judgement, since you are his rinkmates after all."
"Thanks Sara! So anyway, whatever the thing is, we have to get them together!"
"Bye- FUCKING HELL LET GO OF MY HAND!"
"You are in this too Yura! This is going to be so much fun!"
"I agree! I honestly think the great ladykiller Viktor Nikiforov would be useless in romance this time, so we have to help!"
"Do you even know the damn guy's name?"
"..."
"Thought so. It's Katsuki."
"Full name. Or do you not know?"
"Impossible not to know with that idiot going on and on about him. Tch. It's Yuuri."
"Ohh! How cute! It's like your n-"
"Shut up hag! I am the best Yuri out there!"
"Okay okay! Stop fighting like children! Yuri, what else did he tell you about Yuuri?"
"Nothing much he fucking wasted time waxing on and on about how sweet and beautiful and polite and-"
"Hmm, that's gonna get confusing. How about we call you...Yurio!"
"THAT'S NOT MY NAME I WAS THE FIRST YURI GIVE HIM THE NICKNAME!"
"Technically he was born first though soooo…."
"I DON'T CARE!"
Sara sighed as the two dissolved into another argument. She should really stop Mila from provoking the spitfire so much.
Yuuri looked worriedly at Viktor, who looked for a bit worse for wear. Plisetsky was not famous for his gentleness, after all. "Are you sure you're okay, Viktor?"
Viktor waved away the concern with a big heart shaped smile. "I am fine! He just wanted to know about you, isn't that sweet?"
Yuuri had his reservations about whether it was sweet or a process of gathering information before he set the mafia on him ( he decided to to be optimistic ). "Ah? Really?"
Viktor nodded. "Yep! Now enough talk, how about some danci-"
"Viktor!" Both of them swiveled to see Chris approaching, a champagne bottle in his hand. ( was it just him, or did Viktor not look pleased to see his best friend? )
Chris waved the bottle, cheeks flushed. He sidled closer to them and copped a feel of their...ah, behinds. He blushed and moved away, flustered while Viktor just laughed. "Chris! Where did you disappear to?"
Chris grinned. "Oh just here and there, enjoying my time with all these wonderful people."
Viktor snorted. "And their equally wonderful butts I suppose."
"Oh of course!"
Yuuri laughed nervously. Maybe he should leave these two alone, they must want to talk to each other. "Ah, I should go and find Phich-"
Chris turned his dazzling smile towards him. "No, no! Please stay. I think I saw him with Plisetsky, won't want to disturb them, would you? The atmosphere seemed fiery."
Yuuri sweat dropped. What did his insane bro do now? As great as Phichit was, not everyone could take the energy. And the Russian tiger did seem the aggressive type… He weighed the pros and cons of going to see what was going on and decided against it.
Phichit always had fun no matter how much trouble he got into. It was like the boy was born with the talent of making lemonades when life gave him lemons.
Yuuri startled when he felt something being pushed into his hand. He looked down to see Christophe thrusting a glass of Champagne into it. "Ah, I prefer not to drink."
Viktor replied, "It's just one glass Yuuri! Please?"
Yuuri stared at the glass in his hand. It was just one glass, right? It's not like he was downing a whole bottle…he should be safe.
He smiled back at Viktor and drained the glass.
Chris cheered. "That's the spirit! Now have another! Here!"
"Huh!? Sorry but no thanks! I promised I would drink only one!"
"Two glasses won't do anything!"
That night three things were discovered.
Yuuri discovered that Christophe was extremely persuasive.
Viktor discovered that alcohol is truly magical all hail.
Everyone discovered that drunk Yuuri was something that should be illegal because the boy was too hot for their fragile hearts.