LLL- This chapter is a bit longer than I'd hoped but my writing style is novel and I enjoyed it.
Victor- I have to say, I'm enjoying it too.
Yurio- Why is this man only wearing an apron?
Yuuri- notlooking notlooking notlooking She doesn't own YOI
He sits in the dark of his room, the only light coming from the street light that pours through the window. His lips feel stained with the soft sensation of Yurio and he punches the bed in a poor attempt to alleviate the shame.
"Why'd I do it? I forced myself on him." Otabek stands and circles the room. He runs his hand through his hair, recalling every emotion and breath he felt. The most of his shame stems from the fact that part of him doesn't regret it. To hold him so dearly and then feel him, it's been eating him alive since Barcelona. He knew he should've declined Victor's offer.
He drags his feet across the room and leans on the window seal. It's then that he notices that he has view of the balcony. Yurio still stands in the cold, looking off into nothing. Otabek wants to open the window and yell out to him to get his little ass back in the house, but the worst part of the situation steady haunts him. "And then I ran," he whispers to himself, lowering the shades and retreating to his bed.
Getting to sleep under the pressure of his own thoughts is a challenge, but somehow he manages.
The next morning birds wake him and he squints his eyes open, still drunk with sleep and regret. He stretches and makes his way down the stairs where the smell of breakfast glorifies the air a second day in a row. His appetite isn't exactly roaring this morning. Along the way, he sneaks a glance at Yurio's closed door and resists the urge to barge in to apologize, continuing down stairs. Victor and Yuuri's laughs echo loudly in the hall before the kitchen.
Otabek rounds the corned to see them on the couch, tickling and pinning one another down. On the other side of the bar in the kitchen, bacon burns. He takes it upon himself to trot over and turn the stove off. Doing so causes it to beep and it grabs their attention.
"Aw crap!" Yuuri pushes Victor off of him. "I told you to wait!"
"Sorry!" Victor smiles, clearly not concerned for their blackened breakfast.
"Thanks Otabek." He says, moving the pan over an aisle. And then he sees his face. "Are you alright? You don't look like you've slept a wink."
"Yeah. Probably just homesick," he mumbles.
"Oh." Yuuri isn't sure how to respond to this. He can't imagine someone with Otabek's demeanor being homesick and then remembers his difficulties with Victor the night before. Now guilt has flooded him as much as the red has his cheeks. "w-well, maybe breakfast will cheer you up. The bacon was the last thing."
"Breakfast is ready?" Victor jumps from the floor. "I'll go grab Yurio!" Otabek is shook at the very sound of his name.
"Wait," Yuuri calls. "He's not here."
Victor raises an eyebrow and Otabek turns. Victor walks up to the bar. "He isn't?"
"He left earlier this morning. I asked if he wanted to eat anything. He said he will when he gets back."
Victor rubs his chin, more serious. "He normally goes out to practice, but never this early. And without eating?"
Yuuri looks down at the plate of pancakes. "He's been strange since yesterday."
"Where does he normally go to skate?" Otabek demands.
"The team gym. In the Labova Center. It's not too far from here."
"Thank you." Before even finishing the phrase, Otabek is out of the door. Victor and Yuuri look after him.
Otabek types the location of the rink into his phone against the freezing cold, speed walking. The location pops up as a five minutes walk. Cars rumble by him and he looks into grey clouded sky. A brisk breeze blows and he covers his arms. He'd walked out without grabbing a jacket but his mind is on Yurio. This is a decently long walk in such cold and it was definitely colder this morning.
It's his fault Yurio left so hastily. Not wasting another second on his self loathing, he begins to jog in his slippers.
The navigation proves minutes off as he walks into the front door of the building, his hands and ears bitten numb by the cold. The recreation center is active with children ranging from ages five and up running about, all ready to skate. Its then that the memories strike him.
This is the location of the camp he attended when he was younger. The camp where he first met Yurio. He sees his younger self sitting on the bench, struggling to tie his skates and then Yurio walking by, pouting.
"I don't want to practice that today! You said you'd teach me the flip today!"
"I know that." A coach comes into view, kneeling to his level. "But you need to stay with the group session for now."
"You promised..." His gaze finds the floor. "They're all too slow."
Otabek's younger self feels a sting hearing those words.
"Be patient. We'll get there."
Yurio furrows his eyebrows, failing desperately at looking angry and storms away. A few moms in the corner giggle. "He's going to be a fire to reckon with when he gets older.
Otabek finds himself smiling at the memory as it gently fades. He surely is a flame of some sort. One of passion. He walks into the rink area where the kids are against the wall, stretching. Some are on the wall, others on the floor and some on the ice.
One kid is on the floor, clearly not flexible yet, attempting to touch his toes.
Young Otabek appears back into view, on the ice, trying to lift his foot above his waist. The coach skates up behind him. "There's no rush. You'll get there."
Young Otabek pouts. "I can't do this. I don't even know why I'm here."
"Because you love skating, right?"
He looks off to the left, not wanting to hear those words. That's when the sound of skates leaving the ice reach him. Kid Yuri soars by. His eyes widen as he watches the boy three years younger than him spin. His long hair floats around his head as he's in the air like a halo. When he hits the ice, he does with a hard slide on his back, legs folding above his head.
"Are you okay, Yurio!" Another coach runs to his aid. "I told you, you don't need to do this stuff now if..."
"Again!" His small voice echoes through the rink and his eyes burn with passion. "Let me do it again! I'll get it."
Young Otabek's mouth has fallen open watching as Yurio stands again, stronger than ever. The coach nods. "You over rotated so next time you need to..." Their voices fade as they skate away and young Otabek huffs, stretching more and more. The coach notices the burst of determination and smiles, bending down to give pointers.
"Otabek?" The voice yanks him out of the memory and he turns to see an older man walking towards him. "That's how it's pronounced, right?"
He nods to Yakov. "Good Morning."
"What brings you here?" Yakov asks, looking around. "Victor told me that the group would be coming to the rink for an informal exibition match but that shouldn't be for a few days. Unless I'm mistaking..."
"No no. That's correct. I came a little early on Victor's request." Otabek looks around, remembering his initial purpose. "I came to see Yurio."
"Yuri?" A look of surprise crosses him. "He hasn't come in today."
"What!" Otabek's heart drops. Where is he? "Are you sure?"
"Positive. Yurio has a special locker on the third floor next to my office. He leaves his bag in front of it and puts his own lock on the door since some fans managed to get into it once. But it hasn't been touched. Not to mention I haven't seen him. The kids here are crazy for him since he won the grand prix. There'd be a definite small commotion if he were around." Yakov takes note of the expression on Otabek's face. "Aren't you staying in the team dorms with him? Is something wrong?"
Eyes lost in space, Otabek manages the words,"Everything is fine." At that he runs out of the building into the cold and looks into the sky where small white flakes fall from the sky.
Otabek unlocks his phone and scrolls to Yurio's name. Just as he is about to hit call Victor's name pops up on his screen.
"I can't find him!" Otabek answers. "Victor where do i...!"
"Otabek, calm down." Victor interrupts in a soft tone. "He's here."
Warm relief washes over him and he barely has the air to speak. "There..?"
"Yes, but he isn't doing well."
"What do you mean?" Annnd the panic returns.
"He's sick."
Otabek nearly drops his phone. "What happened?"
"Nothing. It looks like it might just be a cold. He's sleeping now so we'll figure it out when he wakes."
"Okay," he replies weakly. "I'll be there soon."
His walk back is slow and the cold no longer bothers him as it surrounds him with memories of last night.
~Earlier this morning~
Yurio skates and bounds from the ice, pulling off a triple lux. The air around him is cold as snow begins to fall. He looks up at the flakes. He breathes hard and the cold air invades his lungs with a sharp pain. He has been skating for a while. His lack of sleep is probably catching up with his stamina. He brushes the discomfort with timed exhales.
"Yuri!" His grandfather calls on the other side of the ice, holding a cup. Yuri skates to him, grabbing the scolding cup of tea. Yurio looks into the steaming tea, thoughts clouded. "You gonna tell me what's wrong?" His grandfather growls. "You ask me to pick you up at the oddest time of the morning and then skate without saying a word."
Yurio finds his grandfather's concerned eyes before retreating to the cup. "I-I missed you."
"Missed me? I haven't seen you in days and you've been gone longer. Why now?"
"Do you have to ask questions?"
"Yes. This is your favorite tea and you haven't even taken a sip."
"Grandpa. I love you."
This catches the old man off guard but he plays along. "I love you too."
"I only feel comfortable talking to you about things. I feel better when I see you. You're always there for me."
His grandfather simply nods, not knowing at all how to respond to this.
"But I think I'm comfortable with another person. Or getting comfortable... I don't know how to feel about..." His speech halts before he looks up desperately. "Tell me what to do."
Now he understands and nods considerably. This is a talk he's been emotionally preparing to have with Yurio ever since the boy up and took off to Japan without a second thought. "I see. So this is about Victor."
"What?" Yurio glares off to this side. "This has nothing to do with him."
Yep. Confusion. Now he has no clue what he's dealing with. Is it another guy? Or maybe a girl? Is it a person at all? "Yuri. Do you want a cat?"
"...what," Yurio mumbles in a raspy voice, eyes narrow. "No, just listen to me. This person, I don't get angry with them. I can't. I want to tell them a lot and they kinda understand me. We're technically childhood friends, but something happened..."
"Yuri," his grandfather stops him. "You're getting older. Learning and breaking out. It's only natural that you connect with other people. Did you and this person have an argument?"
"No! Nothing like..." He can't tell his grandpa what happened. "I MEAN YES. Big fight. And now I don't know how to approach him. I mean, I'm not mad at him. I actually want to talk to him. I think."
"The older you get, the more communication becomes necessary with other people."
"But I don't like people..."
"Do you like this person?"
His face burns red and his grandfather cracks a laugh, placing a hand on Yurio's head. When he does this, his eyes grow wide and he places his entire palm on Yurio's face. Shocked, Yurio cringes at the touch before releasing a vicious cough, dropping the cup of tea. "You're burning up! Lets go." His grandfather walks him to the car, not even letting him remove his skates.
The ride back to the dorm, Yuri is reclined in the seat, face pale and coughing his lungs out. His grandfather clinches his hand tightly.
"I'm fine. Just a cough." He says with obvious difficulty. His grandfather kicks the gas, arriving to the dorm in a record of 15 minutes.
He bangs on the door and Victor answers shirtless, wearing nothing but an apron and pants. "Yurio, you're ba...!" A sense of urgency fills him when he sees Yurio's granddad. "What happened?"
"His fever is rising. We need to get him in the bed." The three hurry him up stairs. Yuuri grabs a cold cloth. His grandfather finds the medicine he keeps in his bag and undresses him.
"Yurio," Victor calls, "how do you feel?"
"Headache," he mumbles. "Turn off the light."
They do as he requests and relax when his breathing calms and the temperature begins to drop.
"So he was with you?" Victor nods, relieved. "I knew it was strange that he left so early. I wish he would've told one of us."
"May I ask?" Yuuri says. "Why'd you bring him all the way back here instead of treating him at your house?"
"Unfortunately I don't have anything there that would help him, but I knew he'd have medication here. He always carries it around, afraid he'll get sick by traveling so much."
"Yurio's never gotten sick before," Victor mumbles.
His grandfather stares Victor down with eyes of disapproval. "Why are you wearing an apron," he probes, addressing the elephant that's been in the room since he walked in.
"Oh! I should call Otabek..." Victor changes the subject, grabbing his phone from his pocket.
His grandfather ponders the familiar name. "Otabek?"
"Yes sir," Yuuri confirms. "He's the skater from Kazakhstan. He went out searching for a Yurio not to long ago. He seemed worried. More so than we were."
"What is he doing here?"
"Oh." Yuuri fears he said something he shouldn't have. "He is staying here for a while. We are having a mock exibition match this week. The other skaters are coming later in the week. Otabek showed up early."
"Ahh..." Yurio mentioned the practice competition, but nothing of staying with the other skaters. "Mphm."
"Otabek. Calm Down." Victor says. They both look over at him. "He's here." The voice on the other end is less frantic "Yes, but he isn't doing well." And the frantic returns. "He's sick."~~~~ "Nothing. It looks like it might just be a cold. He's sleeping now so we'll figure it out when he wakes."~~"Okay, see you."
Victor hangs up the phone with both eyes on him. "Otabek is on his way."
"He sounded concerned," Yuuri comments.
"Yeah. He is the only one of us who left immediately after hearing Yurio was gone." Victor admits. "I should've been more observant."
Yuuri looks at the ground. "He was probably acting strange because he was sick."
"Whatever the reason." Yurio's grandfather interjects their sulking. "It'd be best to let him rest. He'll be fine."
Victor nods. "You're right." He opens the door. "Mr. Plisetsky, you're welcome to some breakfast."
"Thank you. I'll be down soon." They leave the room, closing the door behind them.
His grandfather stands in the dark room. He looks around and sees the medal hanging on the back of the door. He smiles at the memory of Yurio bringing him the medal. He hugged him, crying tears of joy. The win was something he'd needed and chased for so long, not for the medal but recognition.
He talked about skating a lot, but more than anything he talked about Victor. He talked about being seen by him and when Victor left for Japan his Grandfather feared Yurio wouldn't be the same, but it made him stronger. That day in Barcelona he felt a weight lift off of his shoulders that even he never knew he needed.
Downstairs Otabek bursts through the front door. He pants heavily against the 4 minute sprint he did to get here. Victor and Yuuri peak out of the living room but before they can say anything, Otabek bolts up the stairs. He doens't waste a single second. He won't be calm until he can see Yurio. Hold him.
When in the room he sees Yurio lying in bed with a cloth on his head. Otabek has zero time to be relieved because confusion immediately hits as he makes eye contact with the old man leaning against the wall.
The old man doesn't speak and Otabek is frozen in place. And then he remembers. His eyes shoot to the picture of the old man in the picture on the dresser. He's even wearing the same hat and jacket. He quickly straightens up. "Sir." Otabek is still out of breath but manages.
"You're the kid whose fancy with my grandson."
What the shit. "Sir?"
"Listen boy. Yuri is strong. He has been his entire life."
"Yes I..."
"No," he continues. "Yuri is too strong. He's been through a lot. Between his parents and competing at such a young age, I'm surprised the boy can still stand. Any other child would have collapsed under the pressure, but he fights."
Otabek nods, listening intently.
"There are times when he deserves to rest. Times he'll need someone." Otabek swallows deeply as his grandfather stares him down. "I don't know what happened between the two of you." Yep. He can't breath now. What is oxygen. "But Yuri is burdened by the distance."
"Burdened?"
"Keep up with me boy. I'm here for him at any time, but this is a time when my words won't help him. There are going to be more times like this. And quite frankly I'd prefer it if Victor isn't the answer."
"Yes sir?" Otabek looks at Yurio as he suddenly exhales deeply.
"You are like him. I see it and I can tell that you don't want to stay silent anymore than he does, so when he wakes up, talk to him." His grandfather walks closer and Otabek scoots out of the way. "Normally I wouldn't allow this but with the way he speaks of you... I'll tell you this, it may not look it but he needs someone. If you aren't going to be that person, step aside. But if you plan on staying around, don't let him fall. Never let him fall."
At those words his grandfather walks out of the door. Otabek's breath is caught in his throat. Was that approval. He quickens to the door before his grandfather can reach the stairs. "Sir... thank you."
His grandfather glances back. "How old are you?"
Oh shit. He should've stayed in the room. "I'm 18, Sir"
"Hmm," his grandfather nods. "Yuri is 15. Keep your paws off of my boy until he's of age."
Guilt stabs Otabek as his cheeks heat up. "A kiss." Otabek blurts, stopping his grandfather from descending the steps again. "It was a kiss, Sir." Otabek is making direct eye contact despite his possible impending death. "That's what started this."
His Grandfather stares in silence. This old man really only has one expression and it looks pissed. "I'll allow it. Now stop calling me back."
Otabek slumps in relief before retreating into the room, closing the door with a light click. He looks back and it finally dawns on him that he's spent his entire morning worrying about this one person. This one person is sick because he was too coward to drag him from the balcony last night. Who knows how long be might've stayed out there.
Otabek sits on the bed next Yurio and runs the back of his hand over his cheek. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it. I should've made sure you were okay first instead of diving in. It wasn't lack of self control. I knew what I was doing. I was just... scared? No. That's not the word. Worried?"
He pauses, letting the sound of Yurio's breathing help him find his words. "You're my best friend and I didn't want to mess that up by talking about what I did or didn't feel. I didn't want to rush you, but I wanted to know. Not to mention I was really in the moment and you were holding on to me..."
"mnnnnm. shut up," Yurio groans.
Otabek flinches at the sound and looks down to see his eyes open. "You're awake."
"Of course I am, dumbass. How could I not be with you talking like that. You'd have known had you looked down even once." Yurio is instantly snatched from his pillow and pulled into a tight hug.
"I was fucking worried." Otabek charished the feeling of Yurio beneath him with ever touch and movement.
Yurio nonhesitantly returns the embrace. "It's just a cold."
"It's my fault."
"No, it's..."
"Yes!" Otabek yells, looking him in the eyes. "Yurio, I'm not going to make anymore mistakes. I want you to be my best friend. I want to be the person you vent to. I want to be the one who you smile with."
"You sound really cheesy."
"I want to be the one who holds you, who kisses you."
Yurio shrinks back, embarrassed, but warmed by those deep dark eyes. "Okay, I get it, but quit blaming yourself first. I was sick before you got here. Victor made me stand outside with him waiting for Yuuri and I felt the soar throat then. I was really tired yesterday but I couldn't really sleep after you got here. I didn't want to think about it though so I never mentioned it."
Otabek laughs. "Too strong for your own good."
Yurio's face manages to get more red. "And I didn't exactly dislike the kiss. It was my first one and..."
Yurio stops talking when seeing the look a pure adoration on Otabek's face. Or it looks like that. It could just be a creepy ass blank stare. or desire? "Your first?" Otabek smiles, but remains calm. "I won't force one on you in the future. I'll ask from now on."
"Actually," Yurio mumbles, eyes looking everywhere but him. "I was going to ask. Can you do it again? The kiss."
Otabek heats up in ways no man should heat up. He places his hand on the back of Yurio's neck and leans in, but is quickly stopped by both of Yurio's hands. "Wait..."
"You change your mind? It's fine if you want to wait. I won't..."
"No... you'll get sick."
"I think it's a little late for that. I kissed you yesterday and according to you, you were already sick." Otabek looks at the unsure expression on Yurio's face and decides now isn't the time. He doesn't seem ready. He casually pulls away from Yurio with a yawn. "It's been a really long morning and I-"
Otabek's sentence is stopped by Yurio's sudden movement. He sits up in the bed and pulls him closer, connecting their lips. Otabek can still feel his fever, his mouth warmer than usual. He displays self control, not wanting to push Yurio too far. That plan quickly fails when Yurio slides his tongue in, parting his lips.
Otabek's eyes widen and Yurio crawls onto his lap, wrapping his arms around his neck, tightening their embrace. Yurio's tongue invades Otabek's mouth like he's done this before. Weak, Otabek's hand finds Yurio's hair, caressing every strand, and his other hand palms Yurio's back. Otabek softly nips at Yurio's bottom lip and a hand finds it's way under Otabek's shirt.
That very sensation sends him over and Otabek breaks the kiss, hearing the old man's words ring through his ears. "That's enough," he says, short of breath, hands gripping Yurio's waist as they've suddenly entered a straddle position.
"What? Why?"
"I can't. You're 15. I can't do this. I don't want this."
Yurio smirks and nuzzles towards Otabeks neck, biting lightly. "That's not what this is saying," Yurio purs, grinding against Otabek's heated crotch.
"HOLY no!" Otabek falls back onto the bed in the worst attempt of escape he could've imagined. Yurio prowls overtop of him.
"My birthday is in 3 months. It's fine."
"What the hell's that got to do with anything?"
"I'll be 16. I'll be of age."
"Okay. Then wait until your birthday."
"Don't want to." Yurio jumps onto Otabek, lifting his shirt without hesitation.
He struggles under Yurio for second. "You're a friggin monster."
"Damn right I am," Yurio hisses.
"But I'm bigger than you," Otabek laughs, lifting Yurio up and pinning him onto the bed.
"That's more like it."
He immediately releases him, and places the cloth back on his forehead. "You need to rest." He looks down to see Yurio smiling back at him and realizes he's in a position he never imagined he'd be in.
"I'm going to make you love me," Yurio challenges in a pout.
Otabek shrugs and looks him in the eyes. "I already do."
Yurio is shocked into silence. "Th-thats not what I meant. I meant physi..."
"I know what you meant, but what I'm doing right now is loving you." Otabek leans down and places another, more calm kiss on Yurio's lips. "You'll see in three months." Otabek stands and stretches. "Now go to sleep. Your temperature is rising."
"And your dick is rising," Yurio mumbles, sliding beneath the covers. "Seriously, you're hard as a rock."
"That's something I can take care of," he sighs.
"I can do it for you."
"If you keep acting out, I'll make you wait til you're 18."
"Like you can wait that long," Yurio snaps.
Otabek looks back at him with a glint in his eyes. "I've made it this long." At those words he shuts the door and stands in the hall, face heated red and pants tight. "Another 3 months won't kill me."
In his room Yurio looks at the ceiling, unable to get Otabek's taste and worlds out of his thoughts. His heart is pounding the way it does when he's on the ice. Maybe more.
LLL-HOPE YOU LIKED. I'm planning to make another chapter, maybe, of Yurio spending the entire day trying to seduce Otabek and Otabek basically dodging every trick with the skill of a ninja. Of course this doesn't go unnoticed by Victor and he offers to help, while Yuuri thinks Otabek's idea of waiting is nice and helps him evade.
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