A/N: Hi, guys! Before I forget, there's a thing I want to run by you all. This is basically for my records now. We'll talk more at the end, but! Today! It's another Victor chapter since Violet's still sick. And the same day as last week. We'll call this a part two. So, I'm going to shut up and you're going to read. But I'll have a question for you at the end and I'm really going to need some feedback for those reading in current time. We good? Ok. Time for me to attempt to shake a Russian accent out of my internal voice. But that's not happening anytime soon. Pray for me.
I can do this. I've been dreading it since I put the boys down for a nap, but I could do this. I woke Yurio up this morning. How would this be any different? Other than the fact that he hadn't been sleeping long. And I didn't know how long he slept heavily. I couldn't hurt to test the water first, right?
I went into Yurio's bedroom where the little angel was balled up in the middle of his bed with his stuffed tiger. Slowly, I tried prying his tiger out of his arms, but I heard a troubling growl...and it didn't come from the tiger. Ok. Plan B. I let Yurio's tiger go and went down the hall to our bedroom, "Violet?"
"What, Victor?" my beautiful princess sat up in bed, "What do you want?"
"Just checking to see how you're feeling," I bit my lip. That usually turned her into putty in my hands.
"No," Violet saw right through me, "You need something from me."
"What?" I gasped, "I can't believe you'd think I'm so vindictive."
"You're making the face, Victor," she called me out.
"What face?" I continued to deny everything.
"The sexy face."
"That's my usual face, sweetheart."
"No, no, no," Violet pulled me down to the bed and knocked my ego down a peg or two, "This is a different sexy face. This is the 'I want Violet to do something for me' face. I'm sick, Victor. My libido is virtually nonexistent right now. Sexy face isn't going to work."
"Damn," I folded, "Can't fault me for trying."
"I'll ask again," she cuddled into me, "What do you want, Victor?"
"I'm scared to wake Yurio up," I confessed, "I tried taking his tiger away from him and he growled at me."
"I would, too, if someone tried taking my tiger away," Violet giggled, "Are you seriously afraid of waking Yurio?"
"If I say yes," I kept my fingers crossed, "Do you promise not to make fun of me?"
"I'll never let you live it down," she kissed my cheek and got out of bed. I felt horrible for making her do this, but I had no desire to go to the hospital for a tetanus shot today.
"Yuri," Violet spoke softly, sitting at the edge of our son's bed, "You have to wake up, dovahkiin. Auntie Nat's expecting you in the next half hour."
"Can I skip out on lessons today?" Yurio begged, still half asleep in his mother's lap.
"No," she cradled him, "Yakov would find out and he'd get cranky and work you twice as hard. Not to mention, he'd come down on me like the hand of God."
"Ok," his eyes opened up.
"Violet," I stared in amazement, "How did you do that?"
"It was easy," she shrugged, "I know how to work him."
"That wasn't easy," I followed her back to the bedroom, "That was witchcraft."
"I'm his favorite person in the whole world, Victor," Violet crawled back in bed, "Of course he's not going to get pissed at me for waking him up."
"I'm still chalking that up to witchcraft."
"No witchcraft," she promised, "Good luck."
"With Yurio?"
"With Natalia," she pulled the blankets over her shoulders and went back to sleep.
The first time I ever met Natalia was shortly after Violet agreed to move to Russia with me. At the time, my career was booming and I was one of the biggest skaters in the world. It's no surprise that a dancer would know about me. Especially a prima like Natalia. She was obsessed. Then, Violet took me to meet her teacher, the one that'd be choreographing her first program.
As soon as I stepped foot in her studio, I will never forget the look in her eyes as long as I live. It was like someone dumped an entire bottle of glitter in her eyes. For a moment, I thought she was going to pass out. The dropping of the bombshell that we were together was an entirely different monster. For a while, Natalia resented Violet for the plain and simple fact that she was the one that wanted me more than anyone else in the world.
When she found out that I wasn't exactly playing for her team, Natalia took it surprisingly well. Although, I still think she wishes she was in Violet's position. The only one in all of Russia to know our secret. The only one that could out me. That could end me. But she wouldn't do that to us. Natalia loves our boys almost as much as what we do and there's no way she would break that up.
Once Yurio and I got to her studio, like every other time I was there, her nose started gushing blood. At this point, I'm not surprised anymore. However, we've known each other for years. One would think they'd stop by now and she'd be used to me, "Hi, Natalia."
"Victor!" her heart stopped, "To what do I owe the honor and the privilege? Where's Violet?"
"The poor thing is sick in bed," I told her, "I've been running all of her errands all day. And Yurio does have a lesson today, does he not?"
"Of course," Natalia nodded, wiping the blood from her nose, "Just like every other day."
"Go on, Yurio," I gave him a little nudge, "Show me what you can do."
"You can go now," Yurio grumbled under his breath, "You don't have to stay."
"What if I wanted to stay?" I wondered.
"Whatever," he rolled his eyes, "Just don't throw me off!"
"I won't," I took a seat in the corner and watched as Natalia guided him through his lesson. Wow...Yurio really was coming along. His leg could've been a little straighter and his balance could use some work, but his progress really did translate off the ice. I wasn't sure if that was Natalia's instruction, Yakov's coaching, or his mother's guidance. Maybe a combination of the three. I had done all three with Yuri, but Yuri was nothing like this.
As Yurio's lesson came to a close, he ran through his post stretching by himself with his headphones in while Natalia sat with me, "Victor, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course," I allowed, "What's on your mind?"
"Why aren't you teaching Yurio?" she wondered, "I've never seen more flawless footwork than yours. Not even on my prima."
"Honestly," I chuckled a bit, "I'd love to teach Yurio. Something tells me Yakov wouldn't have it, though. And besides, I've been so busy with Yuri. I wouldn't want to take my individual attention and split it between the two of them. Not to mention, Violet's already done such a wonderful job with him. I wouldn't want to ruin that progress."
"You could only improve it!" she squeaked, "Victor, you're a god in the skating world. Your step sequences are heartbreaking and your choreography brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it!"
"I don't know," I thought it over, "Yurio probably wouldn't have it anyway. He's starting to take on some of Yakov's bitter qualities."
"I know what you mean," Natalia agreed, "Hold on...Yurio!"
"What?" he took one headphone out.
"Does Yakov know I'm your ballet teacher?" she asked.
"How should I know?" Yurio snapped, putting his earbud back in.
"I haven't seen Yakov in years," Natalia took a drink from her coffee cup that I was almost positive contained at least forty percent vodka. She had such a tolerance that it was practically water to her by now, "Is he still the same old, bitter son of a bitch he's always been?"
"He's gotten worse over the years," I admitted, "But he's still the same old Yakov."
"Vitya," she held my hand, keeping surprisingly calm. No...Not calm...Worried, "Keep a close watch on Yurio. For his sake."
"Why do you say that?" I gave her a look, "Do you know something I don't?"
"Not necessarily," Natalia went on, "I know you've dealt with Yakov before and you did for years, but he does work Yurio too hard. I could tell while he was running through warm-ups. Yurio might be his mama's little warrior, but because Yakov has probably drilled it into his head, he pushes himself more than he should. I'm starting to feel signs of strain in his legs. I worry about him."
"So do I," I let out a heavy sigh, "I don't think he realizes it, but I do. He is my son. Why wouldn't I?"
I knew that feeling of strain all too well. And mostly, it stemmed from Yakov pushing me. That's why when I listened to him, its clarity wasn't always there. Selective hearing, I guess. I knew that certain parts of me couldn't handle it and I knew my limits. I'm sure Violet has already had that talk with him. She always took care of my injuries whenever I'd come back beaten and bruised. Even when we had first met, I had torn ligaments in my knees and Violet took care of them for me. She would make one hell of a physical therapist if she'd go back to school and get certified for it, but alas, she stayed home with the boys. Or started coaching Yurio.
Yurio and I waved goodbye to Natalia and began our seemingly eternal drive home. The static between the radio stations was the only thing breaking the silence. Natalia's words about Yurio pushing himself burned in the back of my brain, making me worry even more about him. I couldn't help myself.
"Yurio..."
"What do you want?" he groaned, "Auntie Nat wore me out and I'm in no mood to talk."
"Fine then," I let him go, "I'll do all the talking and you can listen. Is that alright with you?"
"Do you want the honest answer to that or-"
"I'm sure you'll want to hear this," I promised.
"Whatever," he shifted around in his seat, "What?"
"You're on a fast track to do great things," I told, "I just don't want it going to your head."
"It's not going to my head!" Yurio jumped on the defensive almost immediately, "I'll be fine!"
"I know," I continued, "I want you to know it's ok to take a break once in a while, too."
"I do take breaks," he pouted, "I take one between training and lessons and then one between lessons and training when I sleep."
"Not what I meant," I clarified, "Taking a day or two off isn't going to kill you."
"I don't want to lose the muscle," Yurio laid his head on the door, "If I lose the muscle, I lose the day and if I lose the day, it's a waste of time."
"I understand that," I agreed, "But the occasional break is a good thing. Believe me. I did this for ten years and still do once in a while. Just know that I'm proud of you, Yurio. You've come a very long way and in such a short time."
"Why did you have to make it weird?" he screeched.
"What?" I shrugged, "I can't be proud of you?"
"You did it again!"
"Mama is," I threw in my trump card.
"That's Mama, though," Yurio settled down, "She's different."
Violet wasn't joking. She really was Yurio's favorite. Maybe I have been a little neglectful to him lately. I have been spending all my time with Yuri getting him all trained up for Juniors. Maybe I should consider coaching Yurio sometimes, too. Take a little bit of the mental strain off Yakov. Maybe that'll make him more pleasant.
As soon as we got home, Yurio dropped his bag at the door and the smell in the house hit us both like a brick. Violet's been cooking. When Chris and I were holed up in Violet's apartment in New York for the first few months of our relationship, her cooking was better than any restaurant I had ever been to in the world. And when she learned to cook Russian, it only made her that much more talented.
Still sitting on the counter and steam billowing off them were a pile of Yurio's favorite pirozhkis. When she made pirozhkis, Violet never told us what she had filled them with, but the faint smell of bacon hung in the air. Yurio made a beeline for the counter, nearly pushing me out of the way. I needed to find his mother. She should know better than to be cooking like this. Granted, I had all intentions of ordering takeout, but this was better. Yurio was content and I didn't have to deal with the delivery person gushing over me.
Sure enough, Violet had put a movie on for Yuri and they were both napping in the living room; Yuri on Makkachin's stomach and Violet on the couch. My pain in the ass American girl that could've had the stockbroker. But she got me instead. You were too much, sweetheart, but I love you all the same. You rest easy. I'm sure Yurio and I will live without you for the time being.
However, I wasn't going to leave Yuri on the floor. I scooped him up into my arms and like a reflex, he cuddled into my shoulder. It never got old. I resisted the urge to squeal a little bit. While his brother slept in my arms on the chair, Yurio proceeded to stuff his face with pirozhkis. Aside from Violet being sick and Chris being back in Switzerland, all was right with the world. I think I got this.
A/N: Alright! So next week's going to be back to regularly scheduled programming. And I think I might have next week be kind of the heavy chapter. There's going to be a little trouble brewing in the Nikiforov household. Also, I really want to make pirozhkis. They look so damn good…Mmmm…In my defense, I haven't eaten today and honestly, anything sounds good and food porn doesn't help. All that aside, I have that thing I want to ask you guys about!
Do you think if I were to start posting another Yuri on Ice story in the week, it'd be overkill? Because *whispering* I've kind of started on one that I'm not going to go into too much detail about yet (despite the fact that I've got it outlined already), but I recently ended my Death Note fic, so I got my Mondays open. But I feel like I should only post one story per fandom in a week…So, overkill? No? Shut up and scrap it altogether? I'm genuinely asking you here. Would that be a thing you're on board with? Let me know, please. I'd really appreciate some feedback here. I'll see you next chapter! xx *still whispering* and possibly this coming Monday…