#Yurio's used to shifting all the time all over the place

[rikeijo]

Today's translation #424

Miracle!!! on ICE, Animage 1/2017, Toyonaga Toshiyuki interview

Part 7.

-- The bar goes higher and higher, right? [for Victor if he wants to surprise his audience]

T: When I re-watched the first episode, I felt that Victor himself, also feels like he reached a place, from where he can't go any further using the same methods. In this sense, in the beginning, Victor was thinking only about himself, but I would say that through Yuuri, who has something that Victor doesn't, he became more human...

-- In the beginning of the story, it seems that both Yuuri and Victor think only about themselves.

T: Yuuri, who think about himself negatively, and Victor, who thinks about himself more positively. I think that the goal for these two was to make that plus and minus get closer to each other and interact. I have no idea, what we are going to see in the final episode, at this point in time, too, so even now I'm quite nervous. I'm really looking forward to the last episode, and I really want to know, where the story is going to go... But I feel quite sad, when I think that it's going to be all over soon. Before the last episode, I always have these mixed feelings.

[Notes: Next the topic shifts to Yurio, so a shorter part this time.

Thank you @thegirlwhorideslikeasamurai and @natsolano, for taking the time to comment your thoughts on the previous part! I like reading other people interpretations soooo much ✨

The avatar theory, at least in Jp, was a bit controversial, because the impression that you get when you read these interviews, is that they suggest that Victor had ulterior motives for coming to Jp (and Yuuri as a person isn't all that important to him). And just like you've written, a lot of people don't see the story in that way at all. But at the end of the day, what VAs say doesn't have to agree with what the creators think even, and it's hard to say when it does and when it doesn't... They often say "I think" "I guess" etc. On the other hand, of course, there are also people who like their interpretations best.

I'm going to translate Victor's VA's interview next, too! ]

[lazuliquetzal]

@tavina-writes said: okay but now you have me curious! I haven’t been in the YoI fandom for YEARS but please tell me about the competitive classic tetris au

ADSKFLJKF

okay if you're familiar with the competitive NEStris scene, I first got into it in 2018 so that's the meta that I'm working off of here: i.e., no rolling, DAS is still relevant, level 29 is still the killscreen. if that made no sense to you, don't worry about it. it's fine.

Some actual NEStris context that is important in terms of gameplay:

CTWC stands for Classic Tetris World Championships.

NEStris, or Classic Tetris, is a fundamentally different game when compared to modern (hard drop) Tetris. The stacking strategies in NEStris are less complex since there are less tucks/spins you can pull off. However, it is generally considered to be a more brutal game than modern Tetris due to the way the pieces lock onto the stack as soon as they touch and the Extremely Unforgiving randomization.

DAS (delayed auto-shift) used to be the most widespread method of using the controller. It's also the most accessible way of using the controller.

Hypertapping is a different method of maneuvering pieces -- basically, you're tapping the controller faster than the programmed DAS can move a piece. It is also a very physically taxing way to play.

YOI time: We've got five-time CTWC champion Viktor Nikiforov who is getting real depressed about being at the top. Yuuri, meanwhile, is a modern Tetris certified Grandmaster (which is a Real Thing, respect the grandmasters), but he's also secretly a Classic Tetris nerd. Unfortunately, the first time he joins the CTWC, he chokes and has two embarrassingly early top-outs in the round of 8 before ever getting to play his inspiration and idol, Viktor.

But during the post-competition afterparty, they all head over to Christophe's place and Yuuri absolutely BRUTALIZES Viktor's world record ass in NEStris while he's completely sloshed. It's off-stream and it happened in Christophe's garage when nobody's conveniently watching, so there's no proof. Then he seduces Viktor. Also Yuuri completely forgets about it because he's so drunk.

Anyway it's basically the same plot as the show except with Tetris lmao.

Some other random details that I may or may not make sense to everyone:

Viktor is a hypertapper. That's why some people hate his guts, because they think he's just tapping his way to victory into covering his mediocre stacking strats. These people are wrong, of course, because even though hypertapping gives you a speed advantage, you still need absolutely rock-solid stacking fundamentals in order to be able to achieve maxout pace-- *Yuuri gets hit in the face with a brick to shut up his Viktor speech*

Yuuri is an absolute GOD at tucks and spins. He has never missed an I-spin in his life. Sometimes he'll set up an I-spin on level 27 just to boost his confidence in the endgame.

Yuuri's also a DAS player, and he does center-well setups sometimes. If you've ever seen suitogreentea play... yeah. Good stuff.

Yurio is a roller. Rolling wasn't around in 2018, but now I've decided. Yurio is a roller and he is going to DOMINATE the future--

[yukipri]

Panther shapeshifter Otabek

from the YOI Wild Beasts AU

He’s a melanistic jaguar, and though he looks completely black in panther form, you can see his spots flicker across his skin when he’s human. ^ ^ Which, doesn’t happen too often, as Beka tends to prefer remaining in panther form.

(first comic HERE)

~~

PLEASE DO NOT REPOST, EDIT, TRANSLATE, OR OTHERWISE USE MY ART. To share, please reblog!More detailed rules available on my Rules & FAQ Post.

~~

MORE OF MY YOI ART HERE.

[wenttworth]

Anyone able to help me with a name for this thing lmao

Yuuri had almost chewed through his pen in the time it took Viktor to finish his phone interview. Viktor had given him a few odd looks during the interminable thirty minutes which, frankly, Yuuri couldn’t fault him for. He knew himself well enough to be aware that he had that particular expression on his face, the one Phichit called the ‘climb him like a pole look’.

So, sue him. He loved how his husband sounded when he spoke Russian. There was little reason for him to speak Russian now. They’d lived in Japan for five years after Yuuri’s retirement and Viktor had no real ties to Russia to stay in contact other than perfunctory congratulatory texts to Yurio following his competitions.

Viktor gave him yet another confused look as he answered another question as Yuuri hadn’t been able to help the shiver that ran through him. Giving a small sigh, he reached over from the other side of the sofa to pull the pen from between Yuuri’s teeth and threw it on the coffee table. Which was smart on his side; any more abuse and he would have been drinking ink.

Yuuri held back a laugh and tried once again to focus on the book he had discarded as soon as Viktor started talking. It was one of his favourite books; surely he could ignore his husband of ten years for a few moments as he finished the chapter.

Viktor laughed at something the interviewer said. Yuuri, accidentally dropping his book but barely noticing, gave in and stared again. Viktor had always been entrancing and, Yuuri swore, was becoming more entrancing by the day. He had the most delicate laughter lines at the corner of his eyes now, which Yuuri delighted in bringing forth, was almost jealous when anyone else caused them.

He could almost forget that little petty jealousy at the sight of him now, the sun beaming through the window behind him and lighting him with an ethereal glow as he laughed. Yuuri felt himself fall a little more. He’d been falling since he was twelve years old and never wanted it to end.

Vaguely, he recognised the familiar sounds that were Viktor’s customary sign-off and surreptitiously slid his glasses off and placed them on the coffee table in preparation.

Viktor hung up the phone and threw it onto the other sofa, turning to Yuuri. “Okay, what is--” He froze as Yuuri threw himself into his lap and kissed him with all the pent-up frustration which the past half-hour had caused. It didn’t last for long, a second later and his hands were in Yuuri’s hair and eagerly matching his intensity. Yuuri toyed with the buttons of his shirt before shifting to kiss his neck instead, smiling when Viktor whined his name.

“I like it when you speak Russian,” he admitted against his skin. Reconsidering, he added: “Really like it.”

He pulled away to look at Viktor, who was watching him with eyes a little wider than usual. “I-I can tell,” he said, and Yuuri grinned at the tremor in his voice. 

Viktor leaned forward to kiss him again, but Yuuri stopped him with a hand on his lips. “Talk to me in Russian?” he asked softly.

The red on Viktor’s cheeks that appeared when he said that was beautiful, and Yuuri touched it reverently. He was still in awe that he was the one who could paint Viktor’s cheeks such a colour.

Viktor gave a self-conscious laugh. “I’m not sure I can.”

Yuuri looked at him pleadingly, only the smallest hint of amusement hidden beneath. “You already do. Sometimes.”

It usually came out when he was close, and Yuuri was very fluent in Russian when it concerned the words ‘please’ and ‘harder’ and ‘more, Yuuri, more’. To the point that if he heard them in any other context it was liable to make him think of things not acceptable in polite company. Thank God they no longer lived in St Petersburg.

“That’s different. I never know what language I’m using then. I’ve never...spoken to anyone like that in Russian.” He mused for a second, and Yuuri only barely resisted kissing the furrow between his brows. “Actually, I’ve never slept with anyone Russian. Does that make me unpatriotic?”

“Don’t think of starting now,” Yuuri grumbled. “Regardless, you’ve been unpatriotic since you arrived in Hasetsu.” Viktor smiled sunnily before darting in to kiss him before Yuuri could stop him.

“I guess I could try.”

Yuuri’s hands tightened in Viktor’s shirt in anticipation, and closed his eyes when Viktor kissed his jaw, his hand moving to the inside of his thigh.

“Все счастли́вые се́мьи похо́жи друг на дру́га, ка́ждая несчастли́вая семья́ несчастли́ва по-сво́ему,” he said, and Yuuri shivered at the sound.

At some point, they had stumbled to the bedroom, Viktor whispering against his skin and Yuuri unable to keep his hands off him. The sun was setting now, though all they could see from their bedroom was the way it stained the sky above the sea hundreds of colours. Viktor ignored it, instead holding Yuuri as close as he could and basking in the afterglow. Yuuri marvelled over the colour his skin turned in the setting sun’s light, like it was reflecting the sky as much as the sea.

“What were you saying to me?” he asked.

Viktor’s eyes were suddenly a bit shifty, and he hid it by kissing Yuuri’s neck. Yuuri’s curiosity spiked, and he tapped the still-barely-thinning whorl on the top of his head. “Vitya?”

“Nothing in particular,” Viktor insisted. “The usual. You’re beautiful, I love you, etcetera.”

Yuuri shook his head, pushing Viktor back gently. He had noticed that Viktor was particularly mirthful, having to hide his smiles against Yuuri’s neck and thighs and back--now he really had to stop, or he would be pinning Viktor to the bed again--not that he’d minded. Viktor was always playful when he was at his happiest. “I know that much in Russian. Now you have to tell me. What did you say?”

“Um.” Viktor laughed, with a little embarrassment. “You don’t want to know. Don’t worry about it.”

“What, were you describing a medical procedure or something?”

Viktor laughed. “No, it’s not that bad.” 

Yuuri waited, but he resolutely kept his mouth shut. He pulled himself closer, playing with the hair at the back of Viktor’s head. It was a little longer than it had been when they first properly met. Perfect to run his fingers through. “Please?” he said pleadingly, only feeling a little triumphant as Viktor looked away with another blush.

“Just remember that you didn’t give me any time to prepare, ok? And I’d never done it in Russian. It sounds… wrong.” He stole another quick kiss from Yuuri. “I just...recited the first,” he pondered for a second, “five pages of Anna Karenina? It was all I could think of on such short notice.”

Yuuri always knew how intelligent his husband was. To the point of being scary, sometimes, with the range and depth of his knowledge of everything from the most common to the most obscure subjects. Sometimes it almost became habitual, that his husband could probably easily be classified as a genius.

“You have the first five pages of Anna Karenina memorised?”

“The first five chapters, actually. I’ve read it a lot.”

“Why wouldn’t I want to know that?” His voice was breathless, and Viktor tucked a stray strand of hair back behind his ear with a smile.

“Because it’s a tragedy? Doesn’t seem right to quote it when we’ve got our happy ever after.”

Yuuri buried his face in Viktor’s chest. “I’d throw myself under a train for you.”

Viktor laughed, and it was like the setting sun was spilling from his lips. “That’s not why she… never mind.”

Yuuri had pulled away from his chest to watch him laugh, and moved to straddle Viktor’s lap. “Any more great Russian classics you’ve got memorised?”

A slow smile spread over Viktor’s mouth. “The first ten or so chapters of War and Peace. It has a lot of French in it too, however.”

Yuuri pretended to consider it. “I think I can live with that.”

[my-wonderland-imagination]

Mother Russia's Ice Tiger

Prologue-

If you had told me three years ago that I’d would have won a gold medal in the Grand Prix, with a skate choreographed by that shit head Viktor Nikiforov, winning against that little piggy, Yuuri Katsuki, and falling in love with my first ever best friend, WHOSE A FUCKING GUY, Otabek Altin... I would’ve cut you with my knife shoes, laughing manically as you screamed in pain... but here I am, winner of the Grand Prix, with Katsuki second and beside me, smiling proudly, Beka smiling over at me with his thumbs up, Viktor clapping and screaming that he’s proud of his fiancé and his son(WHICH I AM NOT!) and for once, I don’t feel angry, I don’t want to hit or throw anything, for once I feel truly... happy... I’m happy, I’m proud of what I’ve managed to achieve, for being able to finally show that I’m more than a kid with anger issues and that I can do anything, that I’m not just some liability...

A liability... That’s what she called me, a worthless liability... My supposed mother, she never cared, and she couldn’t have given a damn about me, when I was younger to me now. And that sperm donor that she called my father, I couldn’t give two shits about him nor who he was. He left us both, he didn’t care, the minute he found out she was pregnant with me, and he was out of the door faster than you could say “Pirozhki”. Ha, who could ever give a damn about someone like him?!

That’s when everything went downhill... Mama decided drugs and alcohol were the way to go... They were more important than me, more important than food or the house, and far more important than her job. The day I was taken away from her, I screamed for my mother, crying out her name, clinging onto her thin, sickly arms, begging for her to keep me. I’ll never forget that day... The anger in her eyes, the hatred burning towards me, igniting me from the inside out as she screamed back, screaming abuse at me, putting all the blame on me... I suppose she was right, if I hadn’t been produced, HE would’ve stayed, SHE would’ve been able to further her career, THEY’D be happy together... And Grandpa wouldn’t have been burdened with me, a stupid five year old, clinging to a ratty old cat plushie, given to me by one of Mamas junkie friends in pity after I got slapped again, after asking her where my daddy was for the supposed hundredth time, she hated me for driving him away, maybe she was right... It was my fault he left, neither of them wanted a kid, especially not a weak, worthless one like me...

No one wanted me, why would they? I was nothing, no matter how hard I try, no matter how many medals I win, I wasn’t ever going to be good enough. She was rig-

“Yurio! I’m so proud of you, you truly did deserve the gold. And I’m grateful that you did, as much as I wanted to retire to give Viktor his chance to go back, I felt as if we were going too fast and I didn’t want to give up what I loved doing, even if I’m a terrible skater. Thank you.” Yuuri smiled down at me and pulled me into a tight hug, holding me close to him as he laughed softly. Tears started to fall from my eyes and onto his chest, I’ve never experienced motherly love before but now, from Yuuri, it’s all I could feel.

“Sh-sh-shut up, p-p-pig! I d-d-didn’t do it f-f-for you o-o-okay?! I h-h-had to w-w-win, I d-d-deserved to!” it was hard to get my words out whilst sobbing against him, he didn’t say a word though, just tightened his hold around me, I have never felt so loved or protected in my life, not from Yakov, or Lila, not from Otabek, my best friend turned crush, not even from my beloved Grandpa.

“You know, Viktor had mentioned adopting you, he wanted us to become a proper family, and as much as I would love that, I told him that it isn’t up to us to decide, it’s your decision. But even if you say no, you’ll always have a place with us, no matter what happens, we’ll always accept you with open arms. You’re like a son to us and we both love you very much, even when you have those god awful temper tantrums of yours, ha ha.” I couldn’t help but let a strangled laugh as he laughed.

I felt him shift as he looked up at the extra idiot he calls a fiancé. I couldn’t help but wonder if he really meant it, adoption... Living as a family... It sounded like a cruel nightmare and they were just joking, that they didn’t really want me...

“Do you really mean it…? About adopting me…?” I asked timidly, too scared to even look up at him, just in case it was a cruel joke,

“Of course, we’d love to adopt you. You’re like our son already, we just wanted you to have a say in all of it too, Viktors excited about it, he started making a room for you in his apartment and started to teach Makkachin to be nice to cats, though I doubt he’s going to succeed, the man himself isn’t overly fond of them either. What do you say, be our small, angry Russian son?” He chuckled and pulled away slightly, a soft smile decorating his face, ruining his Eros image he made on the ice. I nodded slowly, letting more tears fall down my face.

I had a family now... A real fami-WAIT WHAT DID HE SAY?!

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN HE ISN’T FOND OF CATS?! HEY, OLD MAN! WHAT’S WRONG WITH CATS?!” I yelled over at the idiot, his stupid heart shaped smile widening as he waved over at us, laughing stupidly at my comment. Did this bastard think I wasn’t serious? I can’t have someone who dislikes cats in my life, fuck that! I’m just glad Beka likes them, and tigers, because I would seriously kick his ass if he didn’t.

I looked over my best friend, my Beka, with his weird ass bear that he named Kitten after me. I admit, it was soft and cuddly and damn did it smell good, it smelt like him and that was my favourite scent in the world, my own piece of catnip. So whenever we were hanging out after practice, I’d fall asleep against him, clinging to that stupid bear that I claimed as mine after having a little wrestling match, that he always let me win after I pouted at him, and I’d end up waking up to myself curled up against his chest with his hoodie on me, which he somehow managed to slip over me and keep the bear out of it, his fingers tangled in my messy blonde hair and his eyes closed, dead to the world and yet cradling me close to him, almost as if he was protecting me from the outside world, from my past and the darkness that still lingers around me. I loved those nights, Grandpa wouldn’t mind me staying with him, Beka usually sent him a message to tell him that I fell asleep again and that he would bring me back, dressed in clean clothes, fed and happy, with the amount of times it happened, I now have clothes in his suitcase, though I usually stole something of his, one of his hoodies, a scarf, a tee, just something that was his (He’d always give me this look then would chuckle at me, shaking his head before making sure that the helmet was tight and sturdy on my head). Lila would’ve told Yakov that I was allowed to spend the night with my best friend because I’ve been training hard enough to get a little break and it's good for my body to relax in comfort, seeing as I usually had nightmares when we stayed in hotel rooms and I was away from my personal drug that was the only thing that could comfort me.

It’s weird how easy it was to get used to Beka, it took me years to get used to Yakov, I’m still not used to that old hag, Mila, no matter what she tries. I’m still trying with Lila, even if she’s nicer than Yakov and helps me keep my flexibility. I will never get used to Viktors extra, stupid ass, and Katsudon… He’s just there, whenever I need him or need someone to yell at, he always takes it and helps me. But Beka, when he told me about how we met years ago, and what he thought the moment he saw me... Fuck, I melted, he’s everything to me, my best friend, my crush... He’s always there to cheer me up when I need it, with his totally awesome bike, he’s always there to save me from crazy fangirls and I don’t know what I’d do without him there to make me laugh, he makes me feel more... Human, he’s my Agape... My Agape, fuuuuuccccckkkkkkk, why does he have to be so cool, and sweet and fucking hell, he’s so fucking hot... But most of all, why did he choose me? Why did he want to be friends with me?

No one’s ever wanted to be friends with me before, everyone’s always thought of me as the angry, spoilt, Russian child who hates the world and everyone in it, I may look delicate but my personality ‘clashes with my innocent look, especially when I skate’ but he didn’t say that, he said that I was rude, arrogant, angry, resentful, crazy, foul-mouthed but that’s what made me so unique, especially when I skate because it showed how human I really was, I was real not some fake like some people * cough JJ cough * and I was able to show everyone that you should never judge a book by its cover... He was good with words like that, he melted my icy heart and settled into a special place in it, and I’m terrified he might leave once he finds out about my past... He might think I’m a liability, that I’m worthless, just like Mama said, that’s why I keep everyone at arm’s length, because of how terrified I am that they’ll leave once they see, that they’ll lie like she did and will throw me away like I’m nothing.

I may act like I’m this scary, angry, Ice Tiger of Mother Russia but really, I’m this scared, broken, lost, little kitten, desperately trying to survive in the big bad world of sharks, that’s all. But with my Beka, with the idiot Viktor, and the piggy, Katsudon, I think that maybe I can become a real Ice Tiger of Mother Russia and do them proud, I have to make everyone proud, so then they won’t abandon me, I can’t have anyone else abandon me, it’d destroy me...

[screw-real-life-i-pick-fandoms]

Hearts on the High Seas (Pirate!Tom Hiddleston x Reader)

Chapter Nine: Happily Ever After

Part 9/11

Words: 1,688

(Thomas' POV)

It was the night before me and Y/N's wedding, and some of the crew wanted to celebrate with me at one of the local taverns. I wanted to spend time with her, but she said it was fine if I went out with them, and with some persuading, I found myself sitting a tavern with a cup of beer in my hand, laughing with the rest of the crew.

"A toast!" John yelled while raising his mug of ale in the air, spilling some in the prosses. "To Captain Thomas and Y/N! May you have many long years together!"

A cheer was heard from the rest of the crew and we all drank.  

"Thank you," I said looking to him and then around the room. "All of you. She really is the love of my life, and I don't think it would have been possible for me to marry her if it weren't for all of you, my brave and loyal crew!"

Another cheer erupted from the crew. I sat and continued to talk and drink, enjoying myself, but also missing my bride-to-be. Alex came up behind me and patted my shoulder, looking at me with a knowing smile.

"Get out of here," He said with a laugh. "The boys will be fine and I can tell you want to go to her. Don't worry, they will understand."

I nodded in thanks and slipped away from the bar and out the doors of the pub and into the dark streets back to the ship.

(Y/N POV)

I sat up in my and Thomas' bed reading a book he had gotten me that morning about the constellations. I was so engrossed in the book I didn't notice a tall figure come into the room.

"Good evening, love," Tom's soft voice made me jump in surprise, and he chuckled at my reaction. "Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."

He moved from his position leaning against the wooden doorframe and walked over to the bed. I smiled as he got closer to me. He placed a soft kiss to the top of my head and then he walked to where he keeps his clothes. He grabbed a loses cotton shirt and tossed it to me, and once I had it began to take off the many layers of his day clothes.  

"Are you not going to close your eyes or turn around?" Thomas asked when he got down to his undershirt.

"Nope," I said with a smile. "Why would I turn around when the view is in front of me?"

"Now now, Y/N," He said removing his shirt to reveal his well-toned chest. "There will be plenty of time for that tomorrow night."

He sent me a cheeky look and walked over to me to get his shirt for sleeping in. I was blushing bright red when I handed it to him, and he laughed. Thomas put the shirt on and slipped into bed next to me. I felt nervous about tomorrow, the wedding, and the night that would follow."

"Don't worry," He said lightly grabbing my chin to face him. "Everything will be fine. The wedding will be perfect, and as for what comes after," He placed a quick, loving kiss to my lips. "There is no need to be afraid, you trust me, right? I would never dream of hurting you. We will have a night of gentle love-making, and we will be one. The moment we have been waiting for since we were young will finally happen. After years of waiting, we will finally be Mr. and Mrs. Captain Hiddleston."

I snuggled in close to him as he talked. The vibrations of his soft deep voice lulling me to sleep.

"That sounds amazing," I said softly, growing tired. "I love you so much, Thomas."

"I love you too," Thomas said kissing the top of my head once again. "Forever and always."

That was the last thing I heard before I fell into a peaceful sleep, excited for what the next day would bring.

*Time Skip to Morning*

(Thomas POV)

I woke to the sounds of water lapping against the ship and the warmth of Y/N sleeping soundly wrapped in my arms. She looked so peaceful laying next to me, but I couldn't resist placing a light kiss on her forehead. Y/N shifted a bit and her beautiful Y/E/C eyes looked into mine.

"Good morning love," I said as she moved into my grasp. "How is my soon-to-be-wife doing this morning?"

"Seeing as it's our wedding day," She began with a smile. "I could not be better."

We continued to lay there, no words exchanged, just the two of us in a loving embrace.

*Time Skip*

(Y/N POV)

I had just gotten into the white lace-covered dress that John and I made for the wedding. It was beautiful, with long sleeves, and a loose train.

"You look stunning," John said once he stepped back and got a good look of me in the dress. "If the captain doesn't lose it when he sees I don't know what will."

"Thank you, John," I said looking at myself for the first time. "The dress is wonderful. Thank you for all of the help."

"Lucky for you I had a mother who wanted a girl," He said with a laugh. "Looks like it came in handy."

I laughed as well and gave him a hug.

"You and Alex were always so kind to me," I said after stepping back. "Even when you thought I was a man. You helped me on the ship and made me feel welcome."

There was a knock on the door and Alex came in with a smile.

"Whoa!" He said after looking me over. "You tow did an incredible job on that dress."

"Thanks," I said looking at John with a smile. "Now that you are both here, there is something I wanted to ask you."

"Go ahead, mon amie." John said.

"We are all ears," Alex said. "What is it?"

"Well," I began. "Seeing as I left everyone but Tom behind, and I view you two as family, as brothers. Would you two do me the honor of walking me down the aisle?"

"It would be our pleaser." Alex said happily putting a hand on my shoulder."

"Absolutely," John said with a slight leap. "We wouldn't now want you to walk yourself."

I brought them both in for a hug.

"Thank you both so much." I said as I hugged them.

"Come on now," Alex said after we all separated. "Let's get you married."

*Time Skip*

(Thomas' POV)

I was standing next to Father Danials on the shore, the crew was standing a few feet away. Any moment now Y/N would come down the rock stairs and make her way across the sand to us.

"Nervous?" Father Danials asked me with a small smile.

"Yes," I said. "But in a good way. I have known her my whole life and always knew I would marry her but after everything that has happened over the past few years, I didn't believe we could. I can't believe this is really happening."

"Love is a strange, yet beautiful thing," Father Danials said patting me on the shoulder. "True love can go through a lot and come out the other side even stronger than before. I am sure that is what you love for Y/N has done. Don't be nervous Thomas, just remember you two are young and this is only the beginning for you and Y/N."

"Thank you, Father," I said with a smile. "I do love her, more than words can describe in fact. Thank you for marrying us under these strange circumstances."

"It is no trouble," Said Father Thomas as he flipped through his bible. "No matter who someone is, they should be able to marry."

I gave him a nod and then I saw movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. I looked down the shore and my breath hitched. Between Alex and John, Y/N walked across the send to us in a beautiful dress that blew around her in the breeze. With every step closer she took, the world seemed to slow.

Once she was in front of me, she unlinked her arms from John and Alex, and I took bother her hands in mine. I stared into her beautiful deep Y/E/C eyes, and she had a huge smile on her face.

"Hi." She said with a small chuckle.

"Hello darling," I said with a smile matching hers. "You look absolutely stunning."

"You don't look bad yourself," She said with a light blush. "I still can't believe this is happening."

"Me either," I said back. "I love you so much."

*Time Skip*

(Y/N's POV)

"Do you Thomas William Hiddleston, take Y/F/N Y/M/N Y/L/N to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Father Danials asked with a smile.

"I do," Thomas said looking deep into my eyes. "Always and forever."

"And do you, Y/F/N Y/M/N Y/L/N, take Thomas William Hiddleston to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Father Danials asked looking at me.

"I do," I said with a lager smile. "Forever and always."

"Then by the power invested in me," Father Danials said as he closed his bible. "I pronounce you, husband and wife."

Thomas wrapped me in his arms and lifted me off the ground as he brought his lips to mine. Once our lips connected, it was as if time stud still and we were the only people in the world. The kiss was filled with love, pain, passion, and all the unspoken thoughts we had for each other.

After what somehow seemed like a moment and forever had gone by, we parted and Thomas lowered me back to the ground but did not let me out of his grasp. The sounds of cheering faded into my awareness and I turned to see the crew hollering with happiness.  

"I love you so much," I said breathlessly. "So so much."

"As do I," Thomas said as he brought his hand to my cheek, "More than words can describe."

"May I present to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Captain William Hiddleston," Father Danials said as the crowd calmed a bit and turned to us. "May you two be blessed in the rest of your life." 

Tag List: @theoneanna @mybabydrivesa67impala @lokislittleslut @camu-winchester @jessiejunebug @fandomnerdsarecool @narvelc00kie35 @kinghiddlestonanddixon @darkprincessloki92 @namelesslosers @turniptitaness @drakesfiance @wegingerangelica @little-dis-kaalista-pythonissama @imasultforlokiandspencerreid @vethrvolnir @scorpionchild81 @fire-in-her-veinz @dumbgopher1 @lokislittleslut @justagirl6sstuff

Pirate Tom: @yurio-plisetksy @deaniebeanieandsammywammy @alexakeyloveloki

Let me know if you want to be tagged or have a request.

[marble-guts]

(read on ao3)

Yuuri’s favorite color is blue.

It’s not exactly a challenge to figure it out.

It’s the color of his glasses, the case he tucks them into when he steps onto the ice, the color of Yuuri’s poodle phone case. Viktor tries not to smile when he turns it over in his hands, watching Yuuri as he skates around the rink-- once, twice, a slightly faster, more anxious third time. Even the jacket on the chair beside him is blue, and although his warm up jacket looks gray in the lights overhead, Viktor knows its blue.

All of it is blue.

The music Yuuri skates to is blue-- it always has been, and Viktor is sure it always will be.

After Sochi he had taken every free moment of his time to watch Yuuri’s practice videos. He was one of the few skaters who didn’t squander practice tapes and progress under lock and key. Every two weeks or so, another video either practice or tutorial would surface, Yuuri in blue skating to blue music.

Most of them were from Instagram, small snippets of Yuuri at a distance as he threw himself around on the ice, both a marionette and the puppeteer.

The music was always him in a strange way. Soft in a way that ached, dreamlike with a bitter edge, cold like the ice he skated on. When the tone shifted, so did Yuuri, and with each season, Yuuri’s tone became less saturated, less him and more of what others thought he was and expected him to be.

Those were his cracks.

He hated admitting even to himself that he had taken notes on Yuuri’s cracks, on his struggles and fears. It felt predatory, looking at Yuuri like a coach, like a piece of art from afar worthy of his commentary.

Viktor thought back to how Yakov had observed him for a full two years before he decided Viktor was worth his time. He thought about how he had showed off a quad salchow in juniors, perfectly placed in front of Yakov. He thought of how Yakov knew Viktor’s fears before he knew them, how the man would check in on him under the pretense of making sure he was still alive.

Yakov had seen his loneliness, just as Viktor had seen Yuuri’s anxiety.

Yuuri’s cracks were something to be utilized, much like Viktor’s own. He bled from them, the blue he was afraid to release, but released through self-sabotage and deprecation.

It was his passion, oozing onto the ice with every fall, every shy teary-eyed interview, promising to do better next time. Viktor could see the pain in the way Yuuri talked to cameras, the way he looked at the judges without meeting their eyes, how he always seemed to be just in the corner of every video, every photo.

The blue that leaked out of him was deep and rich, it was beauty misplaced, opportunity and potential not yet discovered. Viktor wanted nothing more than to drown in it.

He wants Yuuri to drown the world in it, to coat the world with such beauty and grace, to saturate the world with his talent through the story he tells with every movement, ever performance, program, and season.

Instead, Yuuri covers himself, creating an image of himself so distorted that it’s oppressive. The way Yuuri skates, wants to skate, the way he is, and the way people want him to be is such an astounding clash of electric blue costumes and evening blue smiles that Viktor has to take a deep breath. Yuuri is using the ugliest shade of powder blue paint to cover up what could be a record-breaking view.

Viktor doesn’t have a chance to tell him, or to help him peel it all away like the old wallpaper in Yakov’s dining room. The video the triplets release does that instead and it takes Viktor’s aching with it.

Even without Yuuri’s atrocious costumes,  the overwhelming contrast in who Yuuri is on ice, who he is on a pole, and who he is at home is almost enough to send Viktor back to St. Petersburg, Aeroloft delays and all.

But Yuuri’s blue returns to him in pieces, in small ever-evolving glimmers behind a mask of self-hatred and questioning.

It’s almost like when he was thirteen, sitting at the kitchen table with his reading assignment in front of him. The house was always quiet, Lilia and Yakov in separate rooms giving Viktor the time and silence to focus, though not on school work. He would watch the prism Lilia had dangling over the window above the sink, he would watch it soak in the sunlight, spinning and never casting the same colorful shade again.

It’s in the way Yuuri watches him stake in Hasetsu, the way he counts the beats of Stammi Vicino on the side of the boards without realizing it. It’s in Yuuri’s hesitancy, how simply he can skate compulsory figures, the gentle pause in his voice when he thinks over what he’s going to say. It’s a second, sometimes three, where Yuuri places his determination ahead of his fears.

It’s only when Yuuri says that eros makes him think of katsudon that Viktor realizes he isn’t even aware of his own bleeding.

He stays up that night, wondering just how dense Yuuri must be, but then he remembers the banquet. Yuuri had been so blue, reflecting every facet of himself like the prism over Lilia’s kitchen sink.

It’s when he’s incredibly late to Yuuri and Yurio’s practices that he knows he’s going to make Yuuri aware in some way, and at the same time, he’s going to prove to Yurio he, too, has cracks.

He does. Just not as he had planned.

Yurio disintegrates on the ice during Agape. Viktor can see it in the way his back stiffens, how his arms move through the stilted poses of ballet. He’s breaking his own heart, none of his movements are his. Instead, they belong to Yakov, Lilia, and whoever else has helped shape Yuri into the Ice Tiger of Russia.

Yuuri doesn’t even have to take his skate guards off to lose himself.

It’s like watching an avalanche how Yuuri’s fingers twitch at his sides when he watches Yuri. He doesn’t know where to put his arms, if he should have them at his sides or across his chest. Viktor wants to solve it for him by taking his hands and holding them, but instead he watches Yuuri when the anxiety begins to crush him.

Yuuri’s hands are in his hair, pulling at it, he’s looking down and knowing, thinking, feeling that he’s next. His resolve, all of the distance he’s put between himself and Viktor, it’s all still there between them when Viktor moves in front of him, wanting nothing more than to touch him. Viktor wonders if any of it is cracking, if he’s breaking through to Yuuri’s true self when Yuuri looks up at him on the verge of tears.

“Yuuri, it’s your turn.”

Yuuri is still struggling to get out of his own head, to surface out of blue that’s hidden underneath.

Eros Yuuri, another mask he’s decided to hide behind, comes forward. “I’m going to become a super, tasty pork cutlet bowl, so please watch me!”

That fraction, that small minuscule piece, of Yuuri, cutting through the mask, is enough to make Viktor forget to breathe. The distance between them, it all vanishes when Yuuri holds him close, as though Viktor is the one bleeding.

“Promise!” Yuuri begs, although it is in no way a question.

Part of Viktor, the ghost of the competitor, wants to get Yuuri on the ice as soon as possible, he wants to remove the crowd, stand by the gate, and watch as Yuuri Katsuki releases all that he’s held back.

“Of course. I love pork cutlet bowls.”

And somehow, in the music, Viktor finds more blue.

Eros becomes the paleness of Hasetsu’s sky, the way it looks through budding springtime trees. Oddly, it’s homesickness, but not for Russia, it’s for a place Viktor has never been before. Later, he knows that it’s the way Yuuri wakes up the morning, stretching his cold feet against Viktor’s legs before he rolls over and falls back to sleep without setting another alarm. It’s how the trees along the Japanese hillside turn dark when a storm approaches, looking almost blue. It’s how the calm ocean waves turn dark with strength.

Eros is still a mask, but truer to Yuuri’s blue.

In another way, Eros is everything Yuuri is capable of, but doesn’t want to be. It’s the dark blue of Japan’s olympic team jackets, the cold comfort of landing a quad flip with no one to satisfy but himself, the sensual aggression only found in sixteen flutes of champagne and the devastation of coming in sixth at the GPF.

It’s the blue of an ice skating rink, being the only person on the ice in an empty stadium. It’s the feeling of hearing his own skates, feeling the way he can dig into the surface with the toepick of his skate through the beginning of Stammi. It’s the blue that was missing from St. Petersburg, only found at the Hermitage in the softness of a gray night.

He wants to ask Yuuri what Eros really is, what it means, and where he finds it.

The mask comes off when Yuuri performs Yuuri on Ice.

Yuuri wears his blue, the comfort of stars in a winter night sky, the warmth of his smile, his eyes. It doesn’t bleed, it shines, through what he allows them to see.

He lets them see the gentle start of his career-- the bee program he performed when he was eight, the middle school photo that his mother keeps on the counter in the kitchen beside a photo of Yuuri’s college graduation. It’s his evolution, his falls, his dreams, everything that he has always been.

The blue that Yuuri skates is soft, it’s the warmth of his smile when Yuuko teases them over their warm-up music, it’s the small blue flowers at Yuu-topia, the way Yuuri flops back on his bed, his arms spread out, just before someone calls him for something.

Viktor can see Yuuri’s quiet reflections in the way he jumps, as though compulsory figures have brought this out in him.

He’s beautiful, he’s himself, and nothing else, and that, is what’s captivating.

When he skates, Viktor can’t even find himself to care about Yuuri’s fingers, touching the ice, and he knows he should. He knows that Yakov would’ve stopped him, would’ve sent him back to the start of his program.

This is the Yuuri Viktor had fallen so in love with. The pieces, every single one, they all come together, and the program, even the buzz Yuuri feels afterward, it leaves him breathless. With Barcelona, it’s almost like Yuuri has left it behind.

He knows better than to think that. Viktor knows that Yuuri still has his mask, that it surfaces every time his anxiety tries to coat him in bright, fluorescent blues. Viktor takes to scheduling practice whenever Yakov and Yuri aren’t there. He locks the rink, even the observation room.

Being invited to see such vulnerability, to such truth, as a coach and a fiance, it feels like Yuuri has more than just his heart.

Viktor thinks of Worlds, how Yuuri will crush him and Yurio with a smile and a soft laugh.

He kicks up into a flip and follows through with the rest of his choreography-- soft three turn, think of Yuuri when he skates figures. Viktor slips out of his routine with a spin, stealing the essence of Stammi Vicino, only he doesn’t force the turns tighter. He lets himself spin out of it and crouches there, on the ice.

It’s always missing something so integral, so unexplainable and necessary that it leaves Viktor feeling discouraged.

He isn’t even aware of Yuuri’s presence until he sneezes and Viktor finds himself on his feet again, skating around the rink through the soft build of the gentle Russian waltz he has selected. Yuuri usually sits up towards the top of the rink, in the shadow of the observation box.

Viktor tries not to let the aggressive competitor inside of him take over. The feeling that comes with Yuuri and knowing that Yuuri is watching him, is enough for him to ruin the take-off of a quad flip and turn it into a messy ‘floop’.

He lands cleanly, keeps him moving, shaky, almost, and it’s enough to ruin whatever he had been trying to accomplish. He skates out of it, lazily circling around and filling the second half of the music with what Yakov would consider a waste of time and what Viktor thinks of as a time to reflect.

The music shifts to something far more melancholy and heartbreaking, a lone violin calling out to a duet, one that never follows. The orchestra swells beneath, the soft hum of winds. It reminds Viktor of Yuuri when he skates figures, a shade of icy pale blue, bordering into a hazy lilac.

“What were you thinking of?” Yuuri asks, and his voice nearly startles Viktor half to death.

The song ends and Viktor skates to the boards to stop it, but Yuuri is already there, pausing it from playing the Russian waltz again.

“The flip?”

Yuuri shakes his head, he’s smiling in a way that tells Viktor he already knows. “Before that, before you came out of your combo spin.”

“I wasn’t.” Viktor’s answer is honest, because he wasn’t thinking at all, and Yuuri frowns at that, just a little. “I was… I don’t know, feeling?”

“What were you feeling?”

Viktor lets the ice carry him back just a little. “This.” He says simply, and its too much to explain with any of the words he knows in any language. “You.” He says in a small breath of air.

Yuuri is leaning against the boards now, Eros is slipping from him, leaking to the ice and puddling somewhere at his shadow. “Me?”

“No, katsudon.” Viktor answers, and it’s impossible not to smile as he puts more distance between them. He looks at the ice and it’s hard not to think about everything that they’ve gone through, all that they’ve overcome in such a short amount of time.

The Yuuri that’s watching him is so different from the Yuuri that approached him. He’s soft and gentle, but knows when not to be. Yuuri isn’t delicate, not with him, he’s no longer the electric blue costumes and ties he had tried so desperately to hide behind. The mask of Eros Yuuri is even misplaced. The confidence, the Yuuri from Yuuri on ice, with all of his potential and ability, his boldness and charm not entirely feigned... that Yuuri is watching him.

He’s the soft blue of a forest in winter, the soft dying sun against the bright snow and bitter cold. Yuuri is the Neva River reflecting St. Petersburg’s sparkling beauty. He’s sunlight in the long winter days of darkness and darkness in the bright summer nights. He’s home, and somehow, he always has been.

Viktor has just never known to look for him.

He’s not aware that he’s fallen into figures like Yuuri does until the gentle music of his waltz disappears, replaced with Stammi Vicino. Viktor is even less aware of the fact that Yuuri is on the ice with him until he feels Yuuri take his hand and pull him through one of the careful loops he's carved into the ice with his skates.

The smile Yuuri gives him, the peace it fills him with--

all of it is blue.

[piroco]

Welcome Home

Status: Complete (One-shot) Word Count: 830 Rating: Teen Pairing: Yuuri Katsuki/Viktor Nikiforov Tags: Fluff, Injured Yuuri (nothing serious he was just hurt himself being a dumbass), Sulky Yuuri Warning: None AO3 Link: Here

For @griffith-did-nothing-wrong!

Yuuri sighed deeply. He was sitting alone in Viktor's apartment, his back flat against the backrest of the sofa, with only a lazy Makkachin resting on his lap for company. He shifted slightly, not enough to rouse Makka but to move his injured ankle into a more comfortable position. 

Carding his fingers through the poodle's soft curls, Yuuri sighed deeper this time. He wishes Viktor would be back sooner... 

Truthfully, it was very rare for Yuuri to be by himself in the apartment, or even anywhere since coming to train to Viktor's home rink — and even before that, Viktor had steadily made himself a constant presence by Yuuri's side until Yuuri had not only gotten used to him, but found in Viktor a source of support and comfort. With a beautiful heart, beautiful smile, beautiful voice and — admittedly — beautiful ass, Viktor made himself a permanent place by Yuuri's side. And considering the Russian's persistence to remain, so had Yuuri. 

But then Yuuri ruined even that. Got himself too caught up on his own frustrations at being anything less than perfect, pressured himself too much, pushed his body past his limits and beyond, more and more each day until even Yurio was yelling at him to slow down... And then, one day, against Viktor's objections and Yuuri's own lacking balance from exhaustion, he jumped a quad too many and landed on his ankle. 

Even then Yuuri had wanted to go to the rink with Viktor, at least to watch, but in the end he only managed to upset himself — seems like no matter what Viktor or anyone else says, the fear of setbacks was solidly ingrained in Yuuri's brain. 

So, here he was now, idling alone in the apartment until Viktor came back from practice. 

Yuuri is about to resume his round of evening moping, when the sound of keys and a lock opening breaks through the silence of the apartment. Makka immediately perks up, head and ears rising up as she slips off Yuuri's lap to greet her master, Yuuri's excitement matching the pup's as he straightens and reaches for his crutch, intending to follow after her. 

"Yuuri, I'm home~" Viktor sings out, obscured from Yuuri's view by the entry hallway. 

"Welcome home Viktor!" Yuuri replies, trying to hurriedly walk around the tea table with a crutch and an injured leg. 

Just as the Russian comes out of the hallway Yuuri, in his rush, trips on the edge of the table, losing his balance and his grip on the crutch. As Yuuri begins to fall Viktor rushes to catch him, strong arms wrapping around Yuuri. 

Yuuri's face is against his chest, and before Viktor has a chance to scold him Yuuri lifts his head and catches Viktor's lips in a quick, sweet-tasting kiss. Heat spreads over Viktor's cheeks and in front of him, still holding on his arms, Yuuri's visage matches his flush; the latter's unabashed happiness, sparkling eyes and fond smile take away all words from Viktor mind except for one. 

"Wow," he'll never tire of Yuuri's smiles. 

"I missed you," Yuuri says, and continues with a mock-pout. "You made me wait too." 

"Hmm," Viktor hums, taking a moment to kiss Yuuri back before continuing. "Practice was unusually long today, I couldn't wait to see you too... But I had to make a quick stop on the way here." 

"Huh?" Yuuri asks wordlessly as Viktor helps him back into the couch and picks up his crutch from the floor; it's then when Yuuri notices the plastic bag sitting on the floor, Makka's sniffing snout opens it enough to reveal its contents. 

"Ice cream? Viktor, you know I shouldn't—" 

"Just as you shouldn't overwork yourself to the point of injuring your ankle, but here we are" Viktor snaps with thinly-veiled dissatisfaction behind a heart-shaped smile, but then it vanishes into something softer and sincere. "You've been pushing yourself too hard, it's not wrong to spoil yourself once in a while. I picked your favorite flavor too." 

Yuuri licked his lips, noticing the faint flavor clinging to them. "Yours too," He said with amusement. 

"I couldn't resist a bite, sorry," Viktor says, clearly not sorry at all, as he picks the ice cream and sets it over the tea table. Yuuri is already taking the lid off before Viktor says, "I'll go get the spoons." 

Once he's back, both men cuddle on the sofa, tuning on some random show on the TV that quickly becomes nothing more than white noise, as their attention is taken by each other, and each innocent bite of ice cream soon becomes a challenge to get the other flushing redder until Yuuri raises the ante by licking a trail of sweetness over Viktor's thumb. 

Yuuri smirks when he catches the way Viktor's eyes sparkle excitedly. If Yuuri can't get as much time with Viktor as he's wants to, he'll make sure to make the best of the time they get together until he fully recovers.

[animebw]

Binge-Watching: Yuri on Ice, Episodes 8-12

It’s the end of Yuri on Ice! In which I acknowledge an interesting bit of criticism, Yurio steals the show, and Victuuri brings everything together.

Too Many Cooks?

So, funny story about me: I got into watching anime Youtubers long before I actually got into watching anime. It made for a unique entry point, hearing about the reputations and opinions on a lot of the most popular shows before I finally decided that I was interested to see what this medium was all about. I never actually watched any videos on Yuri on Ice, but I did see the thumbnails on everybody’s channels. And what fascinated me about the community’s reaction to it, just going by the many video titles, was that it seemed like everyone was out to criticize it. Mother’s Basement had a What’s In a Scene video with the subtitle “Fixing Yuri on Ice”. The title of Super Eyepatch Wolf’s video proclaimed his “Conflicted Feelings” on the show. Digibro’s analysis began with a question: “Does Yuri on Ice Live Up to the Hype?” Not to mention all the secondhand memes expressing frustration at just how completely it swept Crunchyroll’s first anime awards. The impression I got from all this tertiary osmosis was that this widely beloved, incredibly popular show was somehow an underdog, fighting for recognition amongst a community that was more eager to point out its flaws than anything else. And from my outside perspective, I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly was the cause of this oddly lukewarm reception from these largest voices.

Well, having finally finished the show, I think I can understand where this trepidation came from, because Yuri on Ice handles its narrative structure far less conventionally than you might expect from its simple, inspirational-sports-comeback narrative. As I touched upon last time, the show’s focus is firmly on the ice rink itself, using the various skating routines as character trials and dialogue that advance its story as opposed to just being the capstones of major arcs like you might expect. Looking back, I realize I missed the second half of this design: YoI uses its ice-rink storytelling to expand the scope of its narrative from just focusing on Yuri and Victor to encompassing an entire ensemble cast of competing visions and personal tales. It reminds me of reality competition shows like “Top Chef” more than anything, where the point is to get acquainted with a wide variety of personalities right off the bat, then spend time fleshing them out as contestants are weeded out over regular challenges. Everyone’s arc even sort of feels like the kind of arc you’d get in such a show, from JJ’s superstar persona cracking under pressure to Pichit’s inspirational “win this competition to inspire my third-world country” intentions. In short, after establishing Victor and Yuri as the focal point of its narrative, Yuri on Ice suddenly then expands to something more akin to an actual sporting event, where the focus is more on watching everyone compete and grow more than following one individual person’s journey.

And I can understand why that shift might have been jarring for some people. The show does such a good job getting you invested in Yuri’s personal struggle that the story’s scope expanding so radically can feel like it’s taking you away from the reason you got invested in the first place. Especially when the alternative includes an Italian sister fucker, god dammit anime can we just let this trope burn already? And the lack of downtime does start becoming a little draining in the Russia arc, especially when the show’s animation budget finally has to take a breather from all the endlessly amazing skating animation it’s been churning and compensate by filling time with repeated crowd panning shots.  Thankfully, once we get to the finals in Spain and we’re left with a final six who we’ve mostly all seen before and gotten to know a little the style finally clicks. The best part of any reality competition show is, after all, the finale, where the pros who’ve sweat and bled it out over the past however-many episodes of grueling competition finally come together for one final match between the best of the best, the people who you’ve spent the most time getting attached too. It probably could’ve been handled better overall, but watching the pieces come together like that makes for an incredibly tense and exciting build-up to watching these final six lay it all out on the ice.

Born to Ship Victuuri

What really helps make this final chapter come together, though, is that we finally get a chance to step off the ice and just hang out with these skaters, getting to know them outside the confines of the ring. It’s another smart reality-competition pay: even Top Chef knew to always give you plenty of time to just watch the contestants bumming around the house, making friends, swearing rivalries, and getting personal about their lives back home. Watching them all interact- Yurio making friends with the stoic Kazak guy, everyone casually noping out whenever JJ and his stupid haircut show up- makes for a blissfully low-stakes breather that gets to care about all of them in some little way. More importantly, it also gives us a chance to see something that’s all too rare in anime: our central couple gets a chance to actually be a couple. Victor and Yuri’s relationship is one of the most heartwarming things in a show that could literally be the textbook definition of heartwarming; they’re just so freaking tender with each other. They have moments of playful flirting, like Victor kissing Yuri’s skate after a strong performance, and genuinely touching moments of connection like the shared promise of their matching rings. And with Victor’s insecurities becoming more and more prominent as he’s really forced to consider the idea of how much of his life and career he’s willing to give to his new student, even to the point of tears, you really get a sense of how far they’ve both come since their first drunken meeting at an after-party last year (side note, the reveal that that’s how Victor first got the idea of being Yuri’s coach- by Yuri drunkenly begging him to do so- made my fucking day). It’s the emotional tether that finally justifies the change in style, bringing us into the final showdown with no regrets.

The Quad-Leap Finish

And when it comes time for that final showdown- one last short form, and one last free skate- god damn do the pieces come together so fucking well. The strength of the show’s skating-routine-as-narrative style really comes through here, as we watch these old pros perform the steps we’ve seen them perform before one last time, now with new purpose and drive. JJ’s flubs hurt all the more after seeing him perform so flawlessly last time, and watching Chris finally stumble a little was a pleasure. Meanwhile, Yuri’s final Eros was so unbelievably tense you could snap it with a knife. And Victor’s triumphant spin juxtaposed with Yuri’s not-quite-perfect quad flip was a genius bit of editing, wrapping us up in the excitement of the moment before dashing it against the rocks of Yuri’s mistake. And then the show uses that established pitfall- the quad flip Yuri could never quite manage- as the climax point of his final performance of the title them, when he finally nails that tricky jump in a triumphant re-affirmation of his commitment to what Victor’s given to him. That’s how you effectively use nonverbal storytelling to your benefit.

But it’s Yurio who really steals the show here; his journey to Agape is complete, and he proves that with a one-two knockout punch of near-flawless performances that took my goddamn breath away all over again. Seriously, it’s fucking unreal how consistently stellar the skating animation has been throughout this show. The animators nail this punk’s apotheosis into skating history with aplomb. This isn’t the frantic, aggravated Yurio who forced his way through this routine back in episode 3: this is a Yurio who’s come to terms with his insecurities and come out stronger on the other side. This is a Yurio who’s come to accept his rivals cheering for him, who wants to skate now for their sake as much as his. and it all comes through in just how breathtaking his final performances are. His first-place win is a testament to how much he’s grown, taking the win both for himself and to inspire Yuri to keep improving and not give up on all the progress he’s made. In the end, that’s the heart of Yuri on Ice: people looking out for each other, helping each other out, pushing each other down the right path so they can become all they can be. Like the song says, there’ll be no more darkness if you believe in yourself. You are unstoppable.

Odds and Ends

-”Hey, coach, Yurio vanished.” I love how completely nonchalant she sounds about that. Does Yurio just slip away from the crowds that often?

-”Aw, I got disconnected from the livestream!” MOOD.

-”The crowd’s giving him a standing ovation!” *cut to a shot of the crowd still sitting down* lol wut

-”It’s JJ Style!” WHO EVEN ARE YOU

-A katsudon piroshki. Holy crap, Yurio’s grandpa is the freaking best.

-Holy shit, Yuri’s aggressive hugging slew me. What fantastic comedic timing.

-”You don’t get to feel more down than me!” two second later: “here, eat my grandpa’s katsudon stuff, happy birthday.” God, Yurio’s the best.

-”That almost felt like a proposal.” mmmmrrrg THEY’RE SO TENDER I LOVE IT

-Just embrace the cat ears, Yurio. They suit you.

-”But I feel he’s also peerless when it comes to selfies.” Victor’s got good taste.

-”Congratulations on your marriage!” PICHIT OH MY FUCKING GOD

-”We’ll get married after you win a gold medal, right?” *wheeze* I cannot handle this much concentrated yes

-Okay, that was legitimately some of the best French I’ve heard in anime. Did they get an actual Frenchman to play Stephane?

And we’re done! I don’t know if I’ll be able to get my series reflection out tonight, I have a lot of things going on. But I’ll do my best, so see you then!

[julianwolski]

Issue #1 - Why should you watch Yuri!!! on ICE?

With a premise that involves figure skating, something quite rare in anime, one would expect this series to bring competition to the front seat for the ride, or butcher everything about the sport along the way--but one would be wrong on both counts. I am the first to admit that Yuri!!! on ICE does batter the audience with a lot of technical information, but most of the time it’s used as a way to further the plot and develop the characters, which for me was fascinating to follow.

The main focus of the series is Yuri Katsuki. As Yuri says himself, he is one of a dime-a-dozen top Japanese skaters, who after failing in one of the biggest competitions of his career doesn’t know what to with his life. For all the talent Yuri has, it seems like he got stuck and stopped improving.

With shame dragging him down, Yuri makes his escape to Japan, trying to hide away from the world. He hopes this will be the perfect moment for him to look inwards and decide whether he wants to continue skating or wallow in misery for the rest of his life.

Talk about fanboy!

From the get to go, it’s clear that Yuri loves skating, but this love is presented through a different perspective. It’s not only by the words he says that we can see this emotion. Instead, the story is peppered with little moments that help the viewer understand how this feeling came to be and how it grew over time.

It all started when Yuri saw Victor Nikiforov, a then teen skater from Russia, a few years older than Yuri himself. Instantly he became a fan of the way Victor moved across the ice, and that early infatuation eventually evolved into admiration. Through the years these feelings shaped who Yuri is and helped him nurture his love for skating.

Even now, Victor still is Yuri’s idol. He is someone Yuri looks up to, and someone whose level of excellence Yuri always aimed to reach--if not technically, artistically.

He never managed to do that, though. Yuri has talent, but it feels like he doesn’t know how to harness it and direct his efforts the right way. Also, Yuri himself has trouble believing he has what it takes to get close to Victor.

That’s one of the reasons why when these two meet close and personal, after a surprising turn of events, the world shifts on its axis.  

Victor leaves Russia for Japan. Together, they share the same ice, something they only did in competition before, but never at an intimate level. For all the laughs that their first interactions will get out of you, slowly these two start to find common ground in the rink, and it’s not a surprise the way they get close to one another.

NIPPLE!

On their orbit, however, we have a bunch of other characters that make their mark on the story. One of them is Yuri Plisetski, the rival of our main character.

Yurio, as the series baptizes him early on, wants Victor’s attention to himself after a promise made to him. However, even as a young kid that is a genius on the ice, Yurio is completely inexperienced in life outside of it, and it shows.

Inadvertently he follows Victor to Japan and tries to get the man to come back with him, albeit with no success. In the end both Yuris battle for Victor in a way that doesn’t seem unlike two knights unsheathing swords for a princess.

Besides that, their interesting dynamic offers the audience two very different viewpoints of the skating world: one from the eyes of someone that has been at it for years but hasn’t reached yet the pinnacle of success, and the other from someone that is a threat to all the established players in the game.

If anything, we should have gotten an entire episode of this party!

These three are central to the story, but there’s a lot more skaters, friends, and family that manage to steal the scene. We get to know Yuri’s close family and appreciate how much they root for him. There are the friends Yuri left behind in his hometown when he was young, the other competitors in the skating world, many of them who are also friends with Yuri, the coaches, and fans; a lot of colorful faces that bring a worldly charm to the show.

And now, I couldn’t very well forget about Makkachin, Victor’s dog. He begs to be adopted by anyone that starts watching the show. With his cute, fun, and carefree nature, there’s a special place for him between Yuri and Victor--and in the hearts of everyone that gets into the show too.

Do I need to say anything?

I’m sure many people gave props to the series for being an important piece of media depicting a gay relationship, especially for its country of origin and the mainstream attention it got, and I’m not here to dispute that. What I would like to call attention to, is the fact that there was a lot of thought put into this series, especially when it comes to how it was written.

The way these characters act, being their actions right or wrong, seems natural but also idealistic at times.  The same with the way various of the relationships that bloom, and even how the characters themselves evolve throughout the show. Some may seem stereotyped or impossible to take seriously, but most of the characters and situations have a side that can resonate with the audience.

There’s a little bit of everything for everyone, that’s for sure.

Another thing that also impressed me was the absence of those big coming out moments. I’m not against them, mind you, but it is such a visceral part of our queer identities that when it doesn’t exist in a universe, or when it doesn't receive the same amount of attention, you start to wonder why it is the way it is in our own society. What we get to experience is the way the bond between Yuri and Victor gets stronger and thrives based on simple and pure moments.

And though, some might say it’s not realistic, the show does carry a level of realism within its core, especially in the figure skating front. In fact, people from the skating community criticized the believability of the talent of some skaters in the series arguing that they were doing impossible feats, only to have a real skater surpass whatever impossible feat they thought the series was based on. The name of the guy who did it is Nathan Chen, if anyone is wondering.

But I digress. This is supposed to be fiction, after all. Although silly at times, Yuri!!! on ICE has a lot of poignancy in the way it addresses some complex issues the characters have to go through.  

When it was airing I remember waiting for each episode eagerly. I’m sure now you’re going to smile and laugh and cry if you watch, and most likely want more of it by the end, which is good because there’s still a movie in the works.

With only twelve episodes, Yuri!!! on Ice is short, and if you fall for it, you’ll think it ends too soon. So, yeah, I think you should give it a try.

P.S.: The series has an incredible soundtrack! Not only it gives life to the characters but it also adds a lot to the experience of watching. You’re going to be singing some of the songs in no time, I guarantee!

[imatastyporkcutletbowl]

Victor Rushes to the hospital to learn Yuuri’s condition as the Gotei team begins their work.

Victor’s handsome face wore an intense look that seemed completely unlike him as he endured the seemingly endless flight back from Spain to Saint Petersburg. His finger tapped lightly against the earbud in his left ear as he listened to the news and watched the feed that played on the video screen in front of him. His heart ached at seeing images of Yuri’s smiling face and clips of his past performances.

“The skating world is in shock at the news that skater, Yuuri Katsuki, was attacked in a Saint Petersburg park near the home he shares with Victor Nikiforov. We go to our affiliate in Saint Petersburg, Russia, for the latest on this developing story. Jana?”

The image shifted to show a woman standing in a sea of other media personnel, in front of the hospital.

“I’m standing here, in front of the Saint Petersburg hospital where Yuuri Katsuki was said to have been brought for treatment last night, after a vicious attack that took place in a park near the home he shares with fiancé, coach and fellow skater, Victor Nikiforov. Hospital staff refused to release any information on Katsuki’s condition, other than to say that he is alive, and that competent medical personnel are remaining with him around the clock.

Worried friends, fellow skaters, supporters and family have rushed to the hospital, and hospital staff have secluded them to wait for news. We were able to capture, here, the arrival of friend, Yuri Plisetsky with fellow skater, Otabek Altin.

Victor’s eyes narrowed, studying the blonde youth’s face and spying instantly the little hints of anxiety that others would easily miss. His eyes softened and he gave a sympathetic sigh.

“Yurio, my Yuuri would be so touched to see you worry for him this way. You’ve grown a heart, my friend. Let’s hope that new heart is not broken, along with ours. Yuuri, please be all right. I don’t know what I would do…”

His worried eyes turned away from the video screen, but he couldn’t help seeing Yuuri’s smiling face reflected against the smooth windowpane.

Yuuri…

His fingertip traced the lines of his fiancé’s lovely face and tears threatened.

Yuuri, please be all right.

As soon as the plane touched down, he hurried out and through the security checkpoint, then picked up his bags, his mind focused on one thing, and one thing only…to reach the side of his badly injured lover.

I felt it like a knife through my heart when you fell, Yuuri. But I shouldn’t be surprised it was like that. I’ve been feeling everything twice as much since becoming your coach and your lover.

Your fiancé.

You still owe me a gold medal to kiss, and a wedding when you win it. Yuuri, we are only at the beginning of our dreams. You wouldn’t dare to leave me now, would you?

He started to run towards a taxi, but skidded to a stop, looking around as a deep, male voice called out his name.

“Vitya!”

Relief flooded Victor’s face, and he hurried to meet his coach, where the man stood by a dark colored limousine.

“What are you doing here, Yakov?” Victor exclaimed, “I thought you were still abroad with Yurio.”

“We came back a day early to do a photo shoot,” the elder coach explained, “I was approached about you and Yuuri doing one as well. The government is promoting the skating arts aggressively in advance of the next Olympics.”

“Ah, right,” Victor acknowledged, “I suppose that’s a good thing. I’m sure Yuuri would agree, but have you heard anything? Anything at all? Are Yuuri’s parents here?”

“They arrived a short time ago. They are at the hospital with some friends of yours, who were competing locally. Come now.”

The two fell quiet as the driver quickly loaded Victor’s bags into the trunk, then sped out of the airport, and across town to the large, central hospital. The driver headed past the large crowd near the front doors and to a guarded entry.

“May I see your identification, please,” the guard on duty requested.

“This is Victor Nikiforov,” the driver explained, handing over the documents, “He is here to see Yuuri Katsuki. We’ve already been given permission to enter.”

“Go on, then,” the guard answered, studying the documents for a moment, then handing them back.

The driver guided the limousine into the parking area, where Victor opened the door and leapt out of the vehicle, as soon as the wheels stopped turning.

“Vitya!”

He ignored his coach and ran into the building, looking around frantically and finding the nearest staff member, a middle-aged nurse, who started to speak to him sternly, then froze in recognition.

“It’s you, Victor!” she exclaimed, “Come right this way. Yuuri’s family is about to hear from the doctor about his condition. He did poorly during the night and was taken into surgery this morning. He needed a transfusion, which he was luckily able to get. But there was additional damage and bleeding that the doctors needed to see to.”

“But he is alive?” Victor asked urgently, “My Yuuri is alive?”

“He is alive,” the nurse confirmed as she guided him into the private waiting area.

“Vic-chan!” Yuuri’s mother sobbed, running to hug him, “Thank you so much for coming back so quickly.”

“I would have been here faster,” Victor said, hugging her tightly, “but the only flight I could get had to make a couple of stops. I thought I’d never get here.”

“You’re here now, Vic-chan,” Yuuri’s mother said in a more collected voice, “Yuuri will be glad.”

Victor started to answer, then felt all of the air sucked out of his lungs as a doctor and nurse appeared in the doorway of the waiting room.

“Please, sir, how is my son?” Yuuri’s father asked as Victor held on to Yuuri’s mother, unable to make his voice sound.

The doctor gazed at them for a moment through tired, but relieved looking eyes.

“Yuuri’s body was subjected to a sudden shock that caused him significant blood loss,” he explained, “We were able to stop it, but struggled during the night when it began to bleed again, unexpectedly. We have not been able to divine exactly what happened, but something was affecting his body’s ability to heal itself. We struggled with that, and finally had to resort to additional transfusions and surgery, but we have him completely stabilized now, and his organs show every sign of continuing to be fully functional, despite the damage.”

The doctor paused, a little sadness coming into his eyes.

“I know that Yuuri is a competitive figure skater, and I must be honest with you. Even though there was no damage to his arms or legs and he will, most likely recover fully, it may be difficult for him to continue at the level he is used to performing.”

Victor’s already pale face went white.

“What are you saying?” he demanded, “You are saying that he will have to retire?”

“I am saying that I can’t be sure he can continue to do something that puts that level of stress on his body. Yuuri is still not out of the woods. We must wait for him to regain consciousness, and we must watch carefully for any signs of problems in his arms or legs that might result from the blood loss he suffered before.”

“I thought that you said he was going to make a full recovery!” Victor cried, tears threatening, “But, now you say that…that…”

“I am saying that it will take longer to know the full outcome,” the doctor said patiently, “Our staff will be with him around the clock to make sure he receives the best possible care, and we encourage you to sit with him, talk to him. It may help him to have you there.”

“Which way do I go?” Victor asked, placing a hand on the doctor’s arm, “Where is he?”

“He has been taken to the third floor, room 315. It is a private room, and three people may go in at a time to sit with him. I will be in to check his progress every few hours, and will come immediately if there are any problems.”

“Thank you,” Victor said breathlessly, turning and running out of the room.

He ran heedlessly to the elevator, then became too impatient and ran up the stairs instead.

Yuuri, you have fought hard to stay alive until I could reach you. It’ll be okay now that we will be together. Just…just don’t leave me!

He reached the third floor and dashed out of the stairwell, heading down the hallway and to a security checkpoint, where he panted out his name and was waved on. He closed the last few steps in a near panic, then slowed and stopped in the doorway, staring.

Yuuri laid on his back, slightly elevated and comfortably covered in a sheet and blanket. His face looked deathly pale and the only movement was the slow rise and fall of his breathing.

“Yuuri,” he said solemnly, “I am here.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Echoing footsteps sounded in the precipice world as the four shinigamis assigned to Saint Petersburg headed quickly to their destination. Toshiro ran alongside Tetsuya as Byakuya and Kisuke led.

“What’s gotten into them?” Toshiro mused, “That hell butterfly Byakuya got must have been bad news.”

“A skater was injured,” Tetsuya panted softly, “and it was a highly ranked skater. A fourth division healer was in the area and infiltrated the surgery team. He was able to quietly rid the skater’s body of damaging reiatsu that was slowly killing him, but there was damage that requires a different type of healing. I think I will be asked to assist, using my waterforms.”

“Your waterforms?” Toshiro asked, blinking, “How will they…?”

He broke off as the group reached the exit point and Kisuke opened the doorway.

“Now remember,” Kisuke warned them, “an advance team has already used the adjustor to very slightly shift reality so that we’ll fit in. Byakuya, you are a former skater who was expected to become a world champion, but who was forced out of competition by injury. Instead, you now coach your cousin, Tetsuya, who has shown promise, but you have carefully protected as he developed. This will be Tetsuya’s first entrance into the men’s division. Toshiro is another promising student who you coach. You are on friendly terms with the family of the skater, whose name is Yuuri Katsuki.”

“He is Japanese?” Tetsuya noted.

“Yes, and you know each other because you have, on occasion, trained at the ice rink in Japan that he has used. Yuuri is engaged to another male skater, Victor Nikiforov, whom you also know as an inspiration for your own skating. We’ll be going to the hospital, and we should be on the hospital’s list of approved visitors. I am listed as a well-known consultant, who is friends with you, Byakuya, because I was the consulting doctor who helped when you suffered your injury. Just play it cool and let the devices I gave you feed you any information you need so that no one figures out who we really are.”

The group stepped out of the senkaimon and into a park, a short distance from the hospital, where they paused briefly to enter their gigais, before heading to the hospital. They hurried inside and were swiftly greeted and hurried through security.

“Yuuri’s family is taking turns visiting him,” the nurse guiding them informed them, “Doctor Urahara, I will take you to consult with Yuuri’s physician. Yuuri’s parents have asked for the other three of you to be brought to them. Victor is with Yuuri now, but you can go in to speak to him also, after you have spoken with Yuuri’s parents.”

“Very well,” Kisuke answered, waiting until the nurse had led the others to the little waiting area, then following her down the hall.

“Ah, Byakuya-san! Tetsuya-kun! Toshiro-kun! It’s so good you are here for Yuuri!” the skater’s mother greeted them, wiping her eyes.

“Thank you,” Yuuri’s father said, bowing, “Yuuri will be glad to know you are here. He is not awake yet, but soon.”

“We’ll be happy to show you to Yuuri’s room,” the skater’s mother offered, “Since Victor is not leaving him, two can go in at a time.”

Toshiro smiled and took the anxious woman’s hand.

“Why don’t you two go, and I will stay here and visit?” he offered.

Yuuri’s father led Byakuya and Tetsuya out of the waiting room and down the hallway.

“Tetsuya,” Byakuya said under his breath, “I want you to make physical contact with Yuuri and see if you can connect with him to better assess his exact needs.”

“Hai.”

Their guide stopped outside one of the rooms and left them to enter. They walked into the room and found Yuuri sleeping peacefully in the bed and his tired looking fiancé sitting silently at his side.

“Byakuya, Tetsuya, it’s good to see you,” Victor said in a weary voice, “I heard that you’ve brought Kisuke Urahara to consult?”

“We have,” Byakuya assured him.

“I know that Doctor Urahara will be able to help Yuuri-san,” Tetsuya encouraged him.

“I hope so,” Victor said anxiously, “Yuuri has stabilized, but he is still unconscious. His body seems to be healing, but he just won’t wake for us.”

“That must be distressing for you,” Byakuya said, joining Victor on one side of Yuuri as Tetsuya took a place across from them.

Tetsuya slipped a hand into Yuuri’s, bowing his head as though praying silently. As Byakuya engaged Victor in conversation, Tetsuya loosed his reiatsu and carefully sought a connection with the unconscious man.

If I make a good enough connection with him, I should be able to enter his inner world to evaluate it. Hopefully, when I enter, I will find Yuuri awake and able to communicate with me.

He found he had to carefully focus for several long minutes, but eventually, he felt the opening of the connection and was drawn down into the injured skater’s spirit matrix.

Every sentient creature has an inner world. Most think, when they enter, that it is just a construct of the mind, a mental retreat that they go to for reflection and thought. But to the shinigami, the inner world is a place where one also connects with the source of his power. Yuuri is a talented figure skater. It is well documented that humans who excel in abilities related to the elements air, fire, earth and water do so because they possess related powers that will develop more fully when they pass over into Soul Society. Yuuri may well have an undiscovered ability to manipulate ice or water. This will be useful while I am trying to help him.

Tetsuya felt the presence of heavy, driving rain as he passed over, into the injured skater’s inner world.

I’m not surprised that there is rain. Storms in one’s inner world are often related to emotional or physical turmoil. The intensity of the storm reflects the level of challenge in bringing things back into a proper state of balance. I can feel that there has been a heavy shock to Yuuri’s body, and I also sense that something is not right here. I shall have to make contact with Yuuri and investigate.

Tetsuya’s blue eyes closed, and he focused on the place where Yuuri’s spirit resonated most strongly. He headed through a cluster of trees and emerged near a large, frozen lake, where he spotted the skater kneeling on the shore and struggling with strange looking vines of some kind that seemed to be coming from beneath the lake’s icy cover.

“Yuuri-san!” Tetsuya called out, hurrying to the kneeling man’s side and touching a hand to his.

“Tetsuya-kun?” Yuuri inquired anxiously, “Tetsuya-kun, what are you doing here? Am I dreaming this? What’s going on? What is this thing that tries to pull me under?”

“It’s all right,” Tetsuya said reassuringly, “I’m here to help you, Yuuri-san. Please, if you will just close your eyes for a moment. I will help you.”

Yuuri gave him a look of uncertainty, but then nodded and closed his eyes.

Tetsuya’s fingers touched the offending vines, and he instantly felt the source that laid beneath the surface of the frozen lake.

Ah, the healer was able to remove the reiatsu of the creature that injured Yuuri, but that creature left a transformative essence that grew into this extension of itself. It remains here, deep down, continuing to feed on Yuuri’s reiatsu.

Invoking his freezing power, Tetsuya gripped the tendril that had wrapped itself around Yuuri, and he breathed a soft command.

“Kudakero.”

The ice covered tendril shattered instantly, setting of a chain reaction that rumbled through the area, cracking the surface of the lake and breaking apart the rest of the creature that had formed.

Behind Tetsuya, Yuuri opened his eyes and sucked in a surprised breath at seeing his acquaintance surrounded in blue light as Tetsuya’s power swept through the area, cleansing it thoroughly.

“What was that? What did you do?” Yuuri asked in a frightened voice, “If this really happening?

The skater looked down at himself, noticing for the first time, the glowing chain that extended out of his chest and off into the distance.

“What is this?” he asked, his voice shaking, “Tetsuya-kun?”

“It’s all right,” Tetsuya assured him, “Yuuri-san, please don’t be afraid. That is just your soul chain. It connects you with your body. And I am just a helpful reflection of someone you know, who is here to help you find your way back.”

“Find my way back?” Yuuri repeated in a haunted tone, “Where am I? Where is Victor?”

“Victor is right beside you,” Tetsuya promised, “You are unconscious, and your mind is just working to try to wake your body. I am here to help, Yuuri-san.”

Tetsuya focused on the broken ice of the lake in front of them. He first extended a hand, making the ice turn completely to water, then he froze the lake, making a sort of icy mirror that reflected the hospital, where the injured skater’s body laid.

“Victor!” Yuuri gasped, reaching out, only to have his fingers impeded by the ice.

The rain around the two fell harder as Tetsuya knelt beside the distraught skater and took his other hand.

“Victor!” Yuuri cried again, running his fingers along the reflection of his fiancé’s handsome face, “Why can’t I go back to him? Victor!”

“You will be able to go back,” Tetsuya said firmly, squeezing Yuuri’s hand, “but you see the rain that is falling? There is still a storm here, which means that something is still not right. You need to try to stay calm and let your body and spirit heal. I know you’re scared, but being calm will help to ease the storm.”

“But, why is there a storm?” Yuuri asked, “What caused it?”

“There was a great shock to your body and spirit when you were attacked,” Tetsuya explained, “The creature that attacked you…”

“It was awful!” Yuuri said shakily as he remembered, “I couldn’t see it until just after it slashed me. It was huge, with sharp fangs and claws, and it had a hole in its chest. It screeched so loud the sound rang in my ears! I couldn’t run. I couldn’t even move. I was sure it was going to finish me off.”

“It seems to have been distracted,” Tetsuya surmised, “Luckily, you were brought to the hospital quickly and you are healing. But it is a problem that you can’t wake. Yuuri-san, please trust me. You will wake up soon. And while you wait, I will do everything I can to protect and to help you!”

[kasumi-chou]

Magic in the Air

This is a small fic for the lovely @bibibingka as a part of a SS exchange I participated in! It was both fun and frustrating to write. I never realised just how out of practice i was of writing characters that aren’t Victor/Yuuri/Yurio until I started this fic!

AO3

Guang-Hong let out a breath that immediately turned to fog in front of his eyes as he watched the first snowfall of the season.

It was strange, being halfway across the world but still being able to witness the first natural snowfall of the season.

He still couldn’t quite believe it, he was actually here in America about to spend Winter with two of his best friends.

“Guang-Hong!” A voice called out, immediately catching his attention. He turned and smiled when he spotted a young man hurrying towards him, huddled in a jacket that seemed too large for him.

“Phichit!” he called out, trying his best to not jump up and down in his excitement in fear of slipping on the wet surface below his feet. He couldn’t help but laugh as the tanned male seemed to ignore the ground and charge straight into him, wrapping him up in a tight hug and sending them both tumbling to the ground.

“You’re finally here!” Phichit all but shouted in his ear while squeezing the life out of him. He let out a squeak of a laugh as he squeezed back.

“It is so good to see you!” Phichit sighed when they broke apart a few long moments later before they got to their feet, smiling brightly at each other as they did so.

He was actually here! In America, about to spend the winter with his two best friends, Phichit and Leo de la Iglesia.

Speaking of Leo, he threw a glance over Phichit’s shoulder, hoping to spot his missing best friend. He tried to hide his disappointment when he didn’t spot Leo standing off to the side, waiting for his turn to greet him.

Phichit seemed to let out a chuckle while throwing an arm across his shoulders and began pulling him along. He barely had the chance to grab his luggage as he was dragged away without warning.

“He’s not here. He didn’t manage to finish whatever his teacher has assigned him in time,” Phichit explained with a knowing smirk. He couldn’t help but blush in embarrassment at having been caught looking for his other best friend. It wasn’t exactly a secret – at least to Phichit – that he had a small crush on Leo.

“But don’t worry, he swore that he’ll meet us for dinner,” Phichit said while throwing a wink in his direction.

He opened his mouth, but whatever he had been about to ask escaped him as a small fluffy head poked out of the collar of Phichit’s jacket.

“Phawta!” he cooed at Phichit’s adorable familiar. The adorable clouded leopard blinked at him drowsily for a moment before letting out a small chirp in greeting.

“We’ve been so excited for you to get here that she tired herself out,” Phichit explained as he lifted a hand to gently scratch underneath the wild cats chin.

“Where is Zhen?” Phichit asked, seeming to look him up and down, searching for his own familiar.

He couldn’t help the blush that rose to his cheeks under his best friend’s gaze.

Familiars in his home country were a sacred thing, only meant to be revealed behind closed doors to family and lovers. In America, it was the opposite of his home land. Familiar were basically put on pedestals, shown off like prized pets rather than a physical projection of a person’s soul.

So, it had been rather frustrating to his two best friends about how secretive he was about his own familiar. It had taken months of skype calls after they meet for him to even reveal the name of his familiar, revealing her was still off the table for the time being anyway.

He dropped his gaze down to the messenger bag hanging at his side which held his familiar, who seemed fine, despite being thrown around slightly when Phichit had knocked him to the ground.

“Does she want to come out?” Phichit asked, seeming to notice where his gaze had floated to subconsciously. He quickly shook his head while turning his attention back to Phichit.

“N-no,” he answered quickly.

“Well, she is allowed to here if she wants too,” Phichit reminded him with a bright, cheerful smile on his face.

He nodded his head while wrapping a hand tightly around the strap that held Zhen securely at his side.

He still couldn’t believe it sometimes, that a person like Phichit was his friend, and Leo too.

They had all met in Beijing a few years back, having been seated together randomly at one of the shows of the famous summoner, Victor Nikiforov. His shows were few in numbers, and tickets sold like crazy, for what he understood, Victor hadn’t been to America in a number of years which had prompted Phichit and Leo’s sudden trip to China for the show.

The show had been taking a small intermission when he had overheard the pair that he now considered his best friends, questioning each other in English about the location of the nearest bathroom. Having been studying English for a number at years at that point, he had – what he had hoped was politely – butted into the conversation and told them where the closet bathroom was.

And everything after that was history. Apparently, he had been given immediate best friend stasis for helping the pair and hadn’t been able to shake that pair since then – not that he had really tried.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” Phichit declared suddenly, “Let’s find something American to eat so I can snap Leo and torment him for not finishing his potions in time.”

“Okay?” he barely managed to mumble before Phichit speed up, pulling him along with him.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

“What?”

He gasped, staring at Phichit with wide eyes as the tanned male giggled from across the table.

“I know, right,” Phichit said while nodding his head.

“Yuuri?! Dating the Victor Nikiforov? Like, the famous summoner Victor Nikiforov?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yep,” Phichit giggled, nodding his head.

“How?” he questioned.

“Used his enchanter powers, clearly,” Phawta said from Phichit’s lap.

“He went home for the winter, and apparently Victor tracked him down and now they are dating,” Phichit explained to him, seeming way to giddy about the fact that Yuuri Katsuki – another one of Phichit’s friends that he had only spoke to a handful of times himself – was suddenly dating the world renown summoner.

“Tracked him down? Have the met before?” he questioned in confusion, causing Phichit to giggle again, “Oh dear,” he mumbled to himself, knowing exactly what they giggle meant.

“We went clubbing,” Phichit said brightly, “And Yuuri may or may not have had a drink too many.”

He opened his mouth to reply, only to jump in surprise as Zhen suddenly shifted in his messenger bag that was resting between his feet. He froze for a moment, feeling Zhen shift around into a more comfortable position before settling down again. He sighed to himself, ignoring the disappointed look that appeared on Phichit’s face as he returned to the piece of cake Phichit had gotten for him. It was full with enough sugar to give both his parents and teacher a heart attack if they knew he was eating it.

“He really shouldn’t be so surprised. He is an enchanter after all,” Phichit sighed while scooping up a spoonful of his own cake and popping it into his mouth.

In a world full of magic, it still fascinated him about how many different types of magic there were.

Magic to summon beast of legends like the summoner, Victor Nikiforov.

Magic that enchanted, seduced and tempted, which Yuuri possessed.

Magic to create potions to do anything and everything, that Leo could made.

Magic that manipulated reality that Phichit specialised in.

His own power seemed bored in comparison.

A simple Wu, or Shaman in the English language. Only able to heal, manipulate weather – only to a small degree – and to interpret dreams.

Nothing exciting, like being able to fool a person into walking in a continuous circle forever or creating a potion that could allow a person to breathe underwater.

He let out a small sigh as he shoved the rest of his cake into his mouth, chewing on it while staring across the table at Phichit.

“So, when are you and Leo hooking up?” Phichit questioned, causing the piece of cake he was trying to eat to get stuck in his throat. He lifted a hand to his mouth and coughed until his airway was free of sugary cake once again.

“Phichit!” he gasped in horror, causing the tanned male to burst into more delighted giggles at his response.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

He let out a small sigh as he kicked his shoes and wiggled his toes happily at the sudden freedom.

They had finally made it to Phichit’s place where he would be staying for the extent of his stay in America. Since Yuuri had decided to return home for the winter – and possibly longer depending on how his thing with the Victor Nikiforov went – his room was currently vacant. Yuuri had been generous enough to offer the room to him while he was away, which had been a huge relief on his holiday budget.

“Make yourself at home! You should be able to squeeze a nap in if you want!” Phichit declared while shrugging off his coat. Phawta seemed to just appear at Phichit’s feet, stretching her little paws out in front of her.

“If I nap, I don’t think I’ll sleep tonight,” he admitted as he shoved his luggage to the side and shifted to take his own jacket off. He bit back a smile as heard more than saw Zhen poke her nose out of the messenger back and sniffle the room curiously.

“I forgot about jetlag,” Phichit seemed to mumble under his breath while walking through the room. He watched as his friend seemed to talk across the room, flipping a switch here and pushing a button there. By the time Phichit plopped onto the couch, the television was on, the room was suddenly being filled with warm air and by the look of it, the internet might have been turned on if Phichit’s phone was anything to go by.

“Internet password is on the fridge. Help yourself to everything in the kitchen,” Phichit called out to him.

“Don’t touch the crispy seaweed strips!” Phawta declared rather loudly while settling on a nearby windowsill.

“Leo just messaged me, said he just needed to clean up and then he would be here,” Phichit finished off his list while throwing a smirk in his direction. He ducked his head in embarrassment as he fiddled with the strap of his messenger bag.

He glanced down at his clothes, wondering if he looked okay.

“Relax, you could be wearing anything and lover-boy would think you look nice,” his friend sighed dramatically, an obvious eye roll included in his statement.

“O-okay,” he mumbled, ducking his head in embarrassment.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

He stifled a yawn, blinking slowly at the television in front of him.

He couldn’t sleep now! It didn’t matter that the couch was ridiculously comfy and that Zhen had escaped the confounds of his messenger bag and managed to curl up under his shirt without being spotted. Sleeping now would screw his sleeping pattern. He only had to stay awake for a couple more hours. Just long enough to have dinner with Leo and Phichit.

He jolted suddenly as he felt a lightweight drape over him, he glanced up to see Phichit smiling down at him softly.

“I have ordered us some take out. You look ready to drop,” Phichit commented, patting him gently on the head. He let out a sigh while shaking his head to knock the tanned males hand away.

“We can go out!” he tried to insist, only to earn himself a raised eyebrow in response.

“You were almost asleep a moment ago,” he opened his mouth to protest, only to pause and perk up curiously as he heard the front door of the little apartment pop open.

“I brought food.” He couldn’t help the smile that rose to his lips at the all too familiar voice that came from the doorway. He quickly scrambled to his feet – almost tripping when his feet got slightly tangled in the blanket Phichit had thrown over him – and hurried towards the front door.

“Guang-Hong!” Leo called out to him, smiling brightly at him before he all but barrelled into the man.

“Leo,” he couldn’t help but sigh as he hugged his other best friend tightly.

“It feels like forever since we last saw each other,” Leo replied while squeezing him tightly back.

“We skyped not even twenty-four hours ago,” Phichit piped in from the background.

“Wasn’t talking to you,” Leo huffed, causing him to giggle in response. He pulled back and smiled brightly up at Leo.

He was actually here, in America with his two best friends.

“Did I hear the word food?” he questioned, earning himself an amused chuckle as he was handed two plastic bags.

“American Chinese,” Leo announced, causing him to spin around and glare at Phichit. The tanned – or most tanned seeing as Leo was also tanned in comparison to himself – only grinned at him from the back of the couch.

“You have to experience it, Guang-Hong,” Phichit declared.

Zhen let out a muffled snort from the pile of blankets where she had been left when he had scrambled to greet Leo. The sound seemed to startle Phichit, who jumped away from the couch like it was suddenly caught on fire. He giggled at Phichit’s reaction, only to grin brightly as Leo threw an arm over his shoulder.

Yeah, this felt right.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

Despite his best efforts, it did seem he wasn’t able to beat jetlag on his first night, finding himself awake a little after three in the morning.

He glanced around him for a moment before jolting upright, finally taking notice that he was in a bed, a bed he didn’t remember falling asleep in.

He remembered having dinner, seated between Leo and Phichit on the couch as the ate food that should in no way be called Chinese food.

It was both weird and exciting to be here with them, physically with them. Their whole friendship had been created online, firstly in a group chat which had quickly evolved into a group skype call.

“There is too much noise here,” Zhen mumbled suddenly as she wiggled her way out from the blankets that had pooled at his waist when he had jolted upright. He smiled as he opened his eyes to the beautiful red panda who climbed into his arms and nuzzled into his neck with a content sigh.

Zhen was classed as a rather boring familiar back in his homeland, but he didn’t care about the disappointed look his parents gave Zhen whenever they saw her. She was beautiful to him, from her little black nose all the way to her gorgeous striped tail.

“It sure is different,” he agreed softly while slowly dropping back down onto the bed.

“Make it rain,” Zhen suggested while pulling away from his hands to drape herself around his neck like a scarf, “That would quieten it down.”

“Too much effort,” he reminded his familiar, who huffed in response.

Controlling the weather was difficult. You had to factor in a number of things, from current temperature levels to the humidity level. It was impossible to just snap his fingers and change the weather from rainy to sunny.

“Interrupt their dreams,” Zhen suggested, flicking her tail to hit him in the face.

“That is rude and an invasion of privacy,” he pointed out while raising a hand to scratch behind her eat.

Zhen let out a hum as she accepted the pat happily, only to hit him in the face with her tail yet again.

“We could go try and pat Leo’s familiar,” Zhen sighed out, causing him to pause in surprise.

Pat Leo’s familiar? Physically touch Leo’s familiar?

The thought alone brought a deep blush to his cheeks. He couldn’t!

It didn’t matter that Daniel – Leo’s familiar – looked like the softest, fluffiest cloud with his winter coat. He wouldn’t dare touch the male arctic hare without Leo’s permission.

What if he saw something he wasn’t meant too? What if he found out Leo had a crush on someone else? What if-

“But he looks so fluffy,” Zhen sighed, hitting him in the face again. He huffed as he captured the striped tail in his hand and gently dragged his hand down it, directing it away from his face as he did so.

“No,” he stated simply, earning a dramatic sigh in response.

“You suck,” Zhen huffed.

“We suck,” he corrected, earning a defeated sigh in response from his familiar.

“We don’t suck,” Zhen told him while curling around his neck perfectly.

He let his eyes slide shut, as he tugged the blankets up to his shoulders and let the sound of the city attempt to lull his jetlagged mind back to sleep.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

Guang-Hong couldn’t help but giggle as he stumbled forwards with Leo’s arm wrapped around his shoulders, listening to Phichit screech from behind them.

It was barely nine in the morning, but they were all awake and ready for the day.

Since the moment he announced holidaying in America for the winter, Phichit had created a list of things that the three friends had to do, a list that had to be started that day, his first official day in Detroit.

Phichit had begun giving them a list of things he had wanted to do today, only for Leo to declare half way through the list, that he had already organised for them to go to a cat café for lunch, something that seemed to ruin all of Phichit’s plans for the day.

Despite the rather chilly weather, the city still seemed alive.

People were everywhere, hurrying along in their own little world.

Unlike in China, it was easy to tell who possessed magic. Familiars were plastered by their owner’s side, many big and bright and eye-catching.

He let out a gasp while grabbing onto Leo’s jacket and tugging on it.

“Is that a reindeer?” he questioned, pointing towards a large deer like creature with huge antlers. Leo seemed to chuckle at his excitement before letting out a hum.

“Looks like it,” Leo seemed to say before he noticed Phichit’s snickering from behind them.

He felt a blush heat up his cheeks as he quickly let go of Leo’s jacket and shoved his heads into his pockets in embarrassment.

“Have you never seen a reindeer?” Phichit questioned while finally catching up to them. He shook his head in response, trying to be subtle as he stared at the reindeer that stood outside a store, standing tall and proud.

“It is so big,” he mumbled in awe, which caused his two best friends to laugh. He let out a huff at the pair and ducked his head lower.

He blinked as he noticed Daniel hopping barely a foot in front of him. He stared down at the hare, wondering how he hadn’t notice how close he was to kicking the fluffy bunny every time he took a step.

“So, we can cross off Guang-Hong having a panda,” Phichit giggled, catching his attention.

“What?” he questioned, blinking at the pair, “A panda?”

“Phichit thought that maybe you had a panda familiar and that is why you didn’t show it off,” Leo explained.

“An adorable panda to cuddle, it sounds perfect for you,” Phichit declared.

“I think,” he stared, glancing between his friends confused, “I think you would have already realised if I had a panda.”

“We were teasing,” Phichit huffed, nudging their shoulders together.

“How do people live with big familiars?” he questioned the pair, earning a baffled look from the pair.

“Don’t know,” Leo stated simply.

“Practice?” Phichit said slowly and hesitantly.

“Oh,” he mumbled, finally realising how stupid his question probably sounded.

“Now, the cat café,” Leo butted in.

“Why?” Phichit huffed, causing him to chuckle as the pair seemed to argue between themselves for a moment in quick English that he couldn’t quite keep up with.

Suddenly, the breath in his lungs seemed to freeze. He came to a halt and glance upwards, staring up at the sky for a moment before he felt something nudge against his leg curiously.

“Guang-Hong?” a small voice questioned, finally breaking his gaze from the sky.

“Oh, um,” he said, glancing in front of him to see Leo and Phichit staring at him with raised eyebrows, “We should get under cover,” he suggested suddenly. The pair stared at him for a moment longer before shrugging and waving him over. He hurried back to his friends, grabbing a hold of their arms and pulling them to the nearest covered area.

It was almost immediately after they were covered the sky opened up. Rain, cold rain quickly started falling all around them.

“Wow,” Phichit mumbled while bring out his phone to document the moment as he stood pressed against the wall with Leo next him – Daniel was now cradled in Leo’s arms, his adorable little feet visible as he hung limply in his owner’s arms.

“You felt it?” Leo questioned.

“Yes?” he replied hesitantly.

“How? Did someone else do it or?” Leo questioned, trailing off and staring at him with a curious look on his feet. He felt his cheeks heat up – or heat up more, he couldn’t be sure if the blush had settled down from the earlier teasing from his friends.

“No,” he says, shaking his head, “I mean, it’s pretty easy to tell when someone does manipulate the weather, but I sort of just… felt it?”

“Felt it?” Leo questioned.

“The humidity increased which normally means rain or snow and since the temperature didn’t change it meant it was going to snow,” he explained, shrugging his shoulders as he turned to look at the sky. A shiver ran down his spine, causing him to pull his jacket tighter around him in an attempt to keep himself warm.

“You could tell all that?” Leo questioned, sounding impressed.

“Yeah?” he replied with a shrug.

“That’s incredible!” his friend gushed, causing him to pause. How was that incredible?

“Didn’t you say you could also interpret dreams?” Phichit suddenly piped up while colliding into his side and wrapping him in a tight hug.

“Yes?” he replied hesitantly.

“Do me!” Phichit demanded, smiling brightly at him.

“What does that mean? Interpret dreams?” Leo questioned.

“Um, I-I can see what a person is dreaming about. And, um, certain things can be translated?” he tried to explain with a shrug.

“Guang,” Phichit whined, “Do me!”

“I can’t,” he mumbled, “It’s better to do it when someone is asleep or have just woken up.”

“That’s so cool,” Leo mumbled, “I just make potions.”

“Potions are cool!” he quickly stated, earning a giggle from Phichit that seemed to grow his already red cheeks.

“Not really,” Leo mumbled with a shrug.

“You can make people breath underwater or fall in love! I can tell when it is going to rain or if someone is having a wet dream,” he pointed out, earning a deep chuckle from Phichit.

“Wet dream, huh?” Phichit cooed in his ear, causing him to quickly pull away from the Thai boy and hurrying to the opposite side of Leo.

“Phichit’s being mean,” he whined, looking up at Leo with big round eyes in hopes that he would get some backup.

Instead he received the most breathing-taking laugh he had ever heard.

Life was sometimes so unfair.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

“Look!”

He couldn’t help but gasp as he held up the tiny kitten that stumbled into his lap not moments ago.

He couldn’t believe it! He was in a cat café and everything was amazing.

There were cats everywhere and more and more kept coming up to him, meowing for attention.

It was amazing.

“Guang-Hong, smile!” He blinked at his name before flashing a shy smile at Phichit who quickly began snapping photos of him with a lapful of cats and kittens.

He jolted in surprise as a cat jumped onto his shoulders, purring happily and nuzzling against his head, after only a moment he finally realised that it wasn’t any old cat perched on his shoulders, but Phawta.

“She’s jealous,” Phichit called out, earning a hiss of dismay from Phawta.

“You’re jealous too,” Phawta stated before nuzzling against his ear, sending a shiver down his spine.

He sat there for a little while longer, giving attention to all the cats and kittens that approached him before finally dragging himself off the ground and towards the table that Leo was situated at. He paused beside the table, staring at the large milkshake that was situated in the middle of the table, with cream and chunks of chocolate placed on top.

“You okay over here?” he asked while taking a seat beside Leo.

“Oh, yeah,” Leo said with a nod, “Cat’s just don’t… like me?” Leo supplied with a small smile.

“But,” he mumbled, “You organised this?”

“Because you said you like cats,” Leo explained. He blinked at his best friends whose cheeks seemed to turn red at his confession. “Oh, I got you a drink,” Leo mumbled, pushing the milkshake from the middle of the table towards him. He couldn’t help but smile in delight as he grabbed the handle and took a sip, humming in delight at the over-sugary drink.

At this rate, he was going to go home fat with how sugary and delicious everything in America was.

“Oh, lovebirds, smile!” Phichit called out, causing him to turn towards Phichit with a dark blush on his cheeks.

“Phichit!” he shrieked in embarrassment.

The giggle that left Phichit’s lips felt familiar, almost like he had heard it multiple times that day or something. He covered his face in embarrassment and ducked his head down.

He was beginning to hate Phichit and his teasing.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

“I’m off guys.”

He blinked in confusion while glancing over the back of the couch, where he was seated with Leo, watching some American show that he didn’t understand.

Phichit was standing at the front door, dressed extremely nicely as he slipped on his winter coat.

“Where you going?” he questioned as Phawta appeared on Phichit’s shoulder, an adorable bow wrapped around her neck.

“Ah, date night with mystery man?” Leo questioned, causing him to look at the male beside him in confusion.

Date night? Mystery man? What was going on?

Leo raised an eyebrow at him before glancing back to Phichit.

“You didn’t tell him?” Leo questioned.

“I’m off, don’t wait up for me!” Phichit said suddenly, blowing them a kiss before hurrying out of the apartment before any more words could be exchanged.

He shifted around to face Leo, who was staring at the door in confusion.

“Explain,” he demanded, a pout on his lips. Leo turned to him and gave him a soft smile.

“Ah, he met some guy and has been sort of seeing him,” Leo explained.

“Sort of?” he questioned, “Does he dress up that nicely for ‘sort of’?”

Leo stared at him before shrugging in response. He huffed while settling back into the couch, facing the television to try and finish the episode they were watching.

He couldn’t believe that Phichit was seeing someone. Okay, that wasn’t what he couldn’t believe. He couldn’t believe that Phichit hadn’t told him.

He thought they told each other everything.

“Want to go get ice cream?” Leo asked, causing him to blink and finally take notice that the episode had finished while he had been pouting over Phichit.

“Yes,” he answered all too quickly, jumping to his feet and hurrying to get his jacket, shoes and Zhen.

American ice cream was amazing.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

“Tell me!”

He demanded the next morning as Phichit finally stumbled out of his room, a rather obvious hickey visible on his neck.

“Tell you what?” Phichit questioned while making a beeline for the coffee machine.

It was a strange contraption that both Leo and Phichit seemed obsessed with. Had neither of them heard of tea or something?

He had been appalled on his first morning here to find out that the apartment didn’t have tea at first glance. Thankfully, Phichit had gone through Yuuri’s hidden stash of food and found a large tin of decent green tea.

“About mystery man!” he demanded in a huff.

Phichit continued to fiddled with the coffee machine until it gurgled to life – no, seriously, gurgled like some drowning beast. Phichit left the machine gurgling while walking over to join him at the adorable little circular dining table.

“We met at a gay bar,” Phichit stated simply.

“Wait,” he said softly, tilting to his head to the side in confusion, “I thought the drinking-”

“Drinking age is twenty-one,” Phichit confirmed.

“Gay bar?” he questioned in confusion, earning a nod.

“Yep. It’s call a fake id,” Phichit said, winking at him. He sat there, sipping his tea for a moment before letting out a small hum.

“So, where is lover-boy?” Phichit questioned, glancing around.

“Leo,” he corrected, “went home last night. Saying something about needing to change clothes.”

“I see. So, you two didn’t bang or anything while I was gone?” Phichit questioned, causing him to choke on his drink in surprise. He all but slammed his mug into the table, coughing harshly.

It took a moment for him to catch his breath again.

“Phichit!” he gasped in horror, earning a delighted giggle from the boy.

“A-at-at least I don’t have a huge hickey on my neck,” he declared. Phichit paused before slowly rising a hand to his neck.

“No,” Phichit mumbled to himself before bolting from his seat and stumbling across the room to a mirror that was hanging on the wall.

He bit back a smile as Phichit groaned in dismay while staring at his neck.

“God damn it,” Phichit all but whined while turning back to him, “How am I meant to hide this?”

He gave a shrug in response while picking up his mug of tea again and taking a sip.

“Innocent my ass,” Phichit huffed while turning back to the mirror.

“So, what’s his name?” he questioned. Phichit was silent, simply touching the mark on his neck before letting out a rather dramatic sigh.

“Seung-gil,” Phichit said in a soft tone. It almost sounded like Phichit had sighed the name with how softly it had been spoken.

“What type of magic does he do?” he questioned.

“He’s a mentalist. It’s both so frustrating and fascinating. My illusions don’t work on him,” Phichit declared while turning away from the mirror and walking back to the table.

“Don’t… work?” he questioned.

“He just always knows. It’s like he feels around everyone’s minds constantly, and that is how he can gauge if what he is seeing is real or not,” Phichit sighed while slumping into the back of his chair, “He’s… like no one I’ve ever met.”

“It sounds like you two are a pair made in heaven,” he commented, hoping that he had gotten the English phrase right.

“Oh god no,” Phichit laughed, shaking his head, “I’d say the complete opposite. We are so different and I think that is why it works.”

He opened his mouth to ask another question, only to be cut off by a round of knocks on the front door. Phichit got to his feet and answered the door, which revealed Leo. Leo stood in the doorway with Daniel poking out of his winter jacket, hair tousled and sprinkled with snowflakes.

If he wasn’t sure of his sexuality at this point, he was pretty sure he could confirm it now.

He was gay. Gay for one of his best friends.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

“A carnival?”

Phichit nodded his head at his question while typing away on his phone.

“Yeah! You’ve heard of a carnival, right?” Phichit questioned. He turned his gaze to Leo, who looked at Phichit before rolling his eyes. He giggled in response before smiling innocently as Phichit finally looked up from his phone.

“Right?” Phichit questioned again while eyeing him closely.

“It’s sort of like a festival, right?” he replied, only to bite back a giggle as Phichit returned to his phone.

Almost as soon as they had finished the breakfast that Leo had brought with him – a breakfast of sugary pastries, he was beginning to think Leo enjoyed feeding him – Phichit had been rather distracted by his phone.

It wasn’t exactly hard to figure out why though, with the smile plastered on their friend’s lips and the blush that seemed to appear randomly every now and then.

“Sort of,” Leo hummed, “There is lots of games and children’s rides and stuff.”

He nodded his head slowly, thinking he understood it.

“We can go on a ferris wheel together!” Phichit gasped suddenly, startling him and almost causing him to drop his new mug of tea.

“Or you could go on it with your mystery man,” Leo piped in. Phichit immediately pouted, causing both Leo and himself to giggle in delight at their friend’s adorable reaction.

Phichit – never one to lose – quickly turned to him, his pout replaced with a smirk.

“Or, you know, you two could go together.” He ducked in his head in embarrassment, hiding behind his mug in a poor attempt at hiding himself.

“I’m not very good with heights,” Leo stated.

“Fine, the love tunnel than,” Phichit suggested. He glanced up slightly, firstly at Phichit – who was smirking at Leo – and then to Leo – whose cheeks were tinted a lovely shade of red.

“What’s ‘the love tunnel’?” he questioned meekly, quickly turning Phichit’s smirk on himself.

“It’s a boat ride which couples and people in love ride. Completely romantic,” Phichit ensured him.

“Phichit! Don’t be mean,” Leo said suddenly, seeming to kick Phichit’s chair and cause the older male to burst into giggles.

“You two are so easy to tease,” Phichit laughed before getting to his feet and leaving the table, humming happily to himself.

He watched Phichit leave before turning to Leo, catching the other male looking at him.

He didn’t know who looked away first, but he was pretty sure Leo’s cheeks were just as red as his when they finally looked away.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

“You can win toys?” he gasped while turning to his two best friends with wide eyes.

He didn’t care that both of them laughed at him because he was going to get a teddy bear tonight even if it was the last thing he did.

“Yeah,” Leo said, nodding his head, “Do you want me to win you one?”

He couldn’t help but nod his head in excitement before all but jumping on Leo.

“Nawwwww, look at that,” Phichit said, clearly trying to be a tease – how he had gone so long without realising just how much of a tease Phichit was beyond him.

“I don’t see you promising to win anything,” Leo replied, causing Phichit to shrug his shoulders in response.

“It’s too easy,” Phichit stated simply while walking towards one of the van type things that seemed to be selling food.

“Easy?” he questioned, letting go of Leo to hurry after Phichit. As much as he wanted a teddy bear, food seemed like a good thing to start with.

“Phichit cheats,” Leo commented while catching up with them.

“I do not,” Phichit gasped.

“He uses magic,” Leo whispered, causing Phichit to huff in response.

“It works like that?” he questioned curiously.

“What? Twisting reality to make it seem I’m in front of the counter when I’m behind it?” Phichit said, shrugging his shoulders in response.

“Cheating,” Leo repeated.

“They are scammers anyway,” Phichit replied simply. He frowned and glanced towards Leo in confusion.

“A lot of the games, you can’t actually win,” Leo explained, patting his shoulder in response.

“Why not?” he questioned with a frown.

“Because they are scammers,” Phichit stated, not exactly answering his question.

“Don’t… they have like, magic detectors or something?” he asked, glancing up at Leo for answers. His friend simply shrugged his shoulders in response.

“They are rather expensive here, so I doubt it,” Leo told him.

“Welcome to America,” Phichit said while pushing his way to the front of the line to order some food. He stood with Leo, looking around curiously.

It didn’t take him long to spot the exact teddy bear he wanted to take home with him that night.

Handing up at the front of the stall was a large plain teddy bear with big fluffy ears.

“Guang-Hong?”

He blinked in surprise before glancing down to see Daniel huddled between his feet, ears twitching up at him curiously.

“Hi,” he mumbled hesitantly, still not use to actually talking to another person’s familiar. He couldn’t help but bite his bottom lip as the hare twitched its nose up at him, making his little whiskers move.

“Did you see something you wanted?” the hare questioned while hunching up onto its hind legs to try and see what he was staring at.

“N-no! I mean, yes,” he stuttered out.

“Yes or no?” Daniel questioned, only to be cut off as Phichit appeared in front of them, arms full of food.

“Got to love carnival food,” Phichit hummed while shoving a stick into his hand that held some sort of round thing.

“It’s a potato,” Phichit informed him, causing him to frown in confusion. The thing at the end of his stick did not look like a potato.

“A deep-fried potato,” Phichit added, grinning at him before diving into some roll with meat in the middle.

American food was strange, but also rather delicious most of the time – so he hesitantly took a bite out of the ‘potato’ that had been given to him.

He blinked as he carefully chewed on the mouthful before smiling in delight at the crunchy yet soft potato.

“Wow!” he gasped before taking another bite, only to earn amused laughs from both his friends.

He really needed to look for more friends, maybe ones that didn’t laugh at him this time.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

“You really want that teddy bear, don’t you?”

He left out a huff as he threw his last ball that he was holding at the pile of bottles in front of him, only to let out a frustrated whine when only the top bottle toppled over.

Sure, he wasn’t the most active person, but he still knew how to throw a ball and hit things. How had he only hit the top bottle?

He just wanted the teddy bear! He didn’t care how obvious his attempts now were.

“Guang-Hong.” He glanced up at the call of his name.

“What?” he mumbled, totally not pouting.

“Let me try,” Leo offered, causing him to squint at his best friend for a moment.

“No,” he replied simply while digging into his bag for more money to try again.

“Hey! If I win, you can keep the prize,” Leo said while grabbing his hand, “Just one try!”

He eyed his friend carefully for a moment, totally not still pouting before letting out a sigh.

“One,” he mumbled, crossing his arms across his chest.

Leo smiled before quickly turning to the person in charge of the game and paying for one round. He moved out of the way so Leo could line himself up, shifting on his feet as he watched Leo roll one of the three balls he had gotten in his hands.

He blinked as Leo glanced towards him before flashing him a bright smile – a beautiful smile that set his cheeks alight – before throwing the ball.

He heard a stuttered gasp, which drew his attention away from Leo’s smile and to the pile of bottles – or at least where the bottles had been.

He couldn’t help but gape as he saw the bottles on the ground, all of them on the ground.

“What-how-” the person in charge of the game stuttered out.

“I’d like the big teddy bear, please,” Leo said, pointing at the teddy bear he had had his eyes on since the moment he saw it.

The bear was taken off its shelf and handed over to Leo – with a rather disgruntled look from the person in charge of the game.

He smiled and clapped his hands at Leo’s accomplishment before letting out a gasp as the bear was shoved into his arms, blocking his view of everything in front of him.

“For you,” Leo said.

He smiled as he hugged the bear tightly and nuzzled into it, feeling the soft fabric against his skin. He was totally going to send this home, there was no way he was leaving it behind.

“Thank you,” he mumbled, hoping he was loud enough for Leo to hear from behind the teddy.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

“When did we lose Phichit?” he questioned as he walked beside Leo, humming a soft tune under his breath.

After Leo had won the bear for him, they had gone around and gotten some more food before stopping to watch a few of the magic shows.

There had been a few amusing enough shows, but it hadn’t taken long for them to drift away from the carnival and begin to walk around the surrounding park areas that the carnival was next too.

“I think it was after your eighth game attempt,” Leo said while adjusting the teddy on his back.

He couldn’t help but smile to himself whenever he looked at the teddy, because Leo had won it for him.

“I think he saw mystery man,” Leo hummed, causing him to snap his attention back to his friend.

“What!?” he gasped, grabbing a hold of Leo’s jacket and pulling him to a stop, “We have to go back!”

“No,” Leo laughed while shaking his head in response, “Let him have his night with his mystery man.”

“Leo,” he whined, throwing a pout in, “How often do we get something to hold over Phichit?”

“Just… stay with me a bit longer,” Leo mumbled, causing him to pause.

“Stay?” he questioned softly, tilting his head to the side as Leo shifted around so they were facing each other.

“Yeah,” Leo mumbled with a shrug of his shoulders, “I just, want to spend the night with you.”

He stared at his best friend for a long moment, feeling his heart start to pound in his chest.

Was Leo saying this because he liked him? Or was it because they didn’t get to spend much time together as friends?

Leo couldn’t like him, right? Why else would Leo be refusing to meet eye contact with him.

He took a deep breath while clenching his arms at his side.

“I LIKE YOU!” he shouted before pushing himself up onto his tippy toes and pushing his lips into Leo’s in what he hoped could be a kiss.

He’d done it, finally done it. He had admitted his crush and kissed him. He could now disappear in a hole forever now.

He pulled away quickly and all but dropped into a crouch, burying his face into his hands in embarrassment.

He waited, expecting to hear Leo walk away, instead there was silence.

He heard a breathless chuckle come from Leo before his hands were gently pulled away from his face, uncovering his eyes and revealing Leo, crouched down in front of him.

There was a light blush on Leo’s cheeks, and he couldn’t tell if it was from the weather or not.

“Can’t I see my boyfriend’s face?” Leo asked softly, letting go of one of his hands to brush a strand of hair out of his face.

“Boy-boyfriend?” he squeaked, earning a soft chuckle in response.

“Yes, boyfriend,” Leo said, nodding his head before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to his lips.

A kiss he happily returned.

Until he realised Leo had dropped his teddy on the ground.

🐻🦁🐹🐶

“Ah!”

He gasped while gently letting go of Leo’s hand and hurrying to take off the messenger bag draped over his shoulder.

“Hold this!” he all but demanded, shoving the bag the held Zhen into Leo’s hand before hurrying towards the shop that was displaying bags of all sizes.

He had been using the same bag that held Zhen for ages and she always seemed rather squished in it.

He stumbled a step in his hurry, noticing that Daniel had kept at his heels while Leo had stood there frozen.

He wandered around the shop, checking a number of bags before finding it.

It looked like a messenger bag but the tag on the inside read satchel. He opened the main flap of the bag and smiled at just how much room the inside gave.

He hurried to purchase it before returning to his boyfriend’s side.

“What did you get?” Leo questioned.

“A new bag for Zhen!” he explained while holding the bag up.

“Oh,” Leo hummed, smiling down at him sweetly. It was an adorable smile that he couldn’t help but lean up and kiss shyly.

They stood there a moment, blushing before he cleared his throat.

“Can you open that bag,” he instructed, earning a blank look from Leo before he glanced down at the bag he was holding.

“This bag?” Leo seemed to question, looking at him confused.

“Yes,” he nodded while opening up the new bag. Leo seemed to stand there for a moment before finally opening up the bag the held Zhen.

At the open invitation, Zhen sprung from the bag, quickly jumping to his shoulder and shaking herself off.

He couldn’t help but smile shyly as he heard Leo gasp in surprise.

“Wow,” Leo mumbled, arms going slack with the now empty bag in his hands.

“Um,” he said, rising a hand to scratch Zhen under the chin, “This is Zhen,” he introduced the red panda perched on his shoulder.

“Pretty,” Daniel said while pressing into the side of his leg. He blinked and glanced down to see Daniel on his hind legs, looking up at Zhen with his little nose twitching adorably.

Zhen let out one of her soft barks before diving into the new bag he was holding open.

“Cold,” Zhen declared in English for them all too hear. He giggled as his familiar’s statement while draping her over his shoulder before reaching over to grab Leo’s hand.

Leo squeezed his hand before suddenly leaning down and pressing a kiss against his cheek.

He couldn’t help but smile brightly up at his boyfriend – Boyfriend! – while tugging him along, letting them continue their walk down the street.

[joeys-piano]

12 for whatever ship you want!(LOL Im just indecisive)

I decided to do a friendship, of sorts, between Viktor and Yurio. Hope you don’t mind

Prompt List

Characters: Yuri Plisetsky, Viktor NikiforovRating: G

Hasetsu was beautiful under the stars. Perched at the edge of Yuutopia Hot Springs, a mug of tea in hand, Viktor mapped out the stars with his fingers. He raised his right hand and made an L-shape. His thumb, a flat horizontal, while the rest of his fingers bunched together to create a sturdy stem. With a shape like that, Viktor looked through the angle he made. One eye closed, the other open to scope at every star and planet beyond his reach. Back in St. Petersburg, Viktor never had the chance to see stars like this. Either clouds or city lights made it impossible but out here towards the countryside, it was as if a veil was lifted from Viktor’s eyes. Yuuri was lucky to see these stars every night, it seemed. For the past few weeks, Viktor kept a running tally of how clear the night sky was and sometimes, he’d invite Yuuri to sit next to him during these quiet, soft moments.

Tonight, Yuuri was busy in the kitchen with his mother, helping create delicious katsudons for tomorrow’s dinner and some vermicelli spring rolls for lunch. The thought watered Viktor’s mouth when he brought his tea to his lips. The warmth blossomed over him as it came down, and Viktor retreated inside. It was late, time to sleep. As he crossed the hall and was about to enter his room, Viktor heard a soft rustle from the room across from him. That was Yuri’s room, or Yurio’s as Mari so eloquently nicknamed the blonde tiger as. Quite fitting in some ways, Viktor thought. A smile curved over his lips when he pulled Yuri’s sliding door just a bit.

On the other side, Yuri was fast-asleep. Curled inside his sleeping bag, his spotted jacket used as a pillow. His bangs shifted left and right with his breaths, and Yuri smacked his lips in his sleep. Perhaps, he thought of younger memories because his face was calm. Almost like a child’s, and Viktor appeared as an older sibling that had come to check-in on the younger.

Viktor hovered at the doorway, shielding Yuri from the hallway lights. He couldn’t recall a time where they had been this close, in such tranquility. Upon Yakov’s rink, Yuri was either bickering or going through the motions of a routine that he sketched for himself. He always did things alone, wanted to stand-out and in a lot of ways, it reminded Viktor of himself. Yuri and his nerves of steel compelled him to come here, Hasetsu of all places, so that he could learn and feel alive again. For a skater, life flourished when their skates touched the edge of the ice. Even so, some of the greatest parts about life came through the inspirations that motivated one to pick up their skates, in the first place.

Like how Yuuri was to Viktor, Viktor was to Yuri.

“I’ll create a choreograph fit for your image,” Viktor whispered. The telltale trail of bangs slid from his forehead and over his eyes. Viktor brushed them to the side and left Yuri alone. No, Viktor finished his tea and left the mug near Yuri’s door. A reminder of sorts that someone had kept him company. In a place like Hasetsu, even under all the stars, it got pretty lonely as an outsider.

[n3rdlif343va]

YOI Anniversary Countdown Day 3

As soon as I read the “katsudon/piroshky” prompt for day 3 of @yoianniversary I knew I had to take it back to the Be my chef, Yuuri AU. This is a scene we didn’t get to see in the original story and it occurs right after the conclusion of Chapter 13. Please enjoy Nikolai teaching Chef Yuuri how to make Katsudon Piroshky :)

The first time Yuuri had eaten the bizarre combination of piroshky and katsudon, he was in a hospital bed amazed by both the taste and the fact that he was alive. The car accident had left him unconscious and beaten, but in the first moments of consciousness, it had been a pleasant surprise to find Yurio as one of the rotating members of his bedside parade. Yurio’s caring gesture had also been a surprise, leaving Yuuri almost as speechless as the gift of heavenly food was presented to him in an unassuming brown bag.

Despite the hints of its existence, it was that quiet moment that confirmed the softer side of Yurio. Yuuri had woken up, opening his eyes to the presence of the surly teen, and was greeted with the sparkle of relief in the young eyes. Their relationship had already been different than Yurio had with most, and Yuuri prided himself on the ability to tease and support Yurio in equal measures. On that day though, their relationship had shifted. On that day, they became family.

Yuuri smiled across the prep counter, watching as Yurio carefully chopped the ingredients laid before him. Propped on a stool next to Phichit was Yurio’s grandfather, a grumpy-faced man who only showed any sort of amuement when his eyes landed on his grandson. Nikolai was fulfilling a promise, one made by Yurio and happily accepted by Yuuri.

The old man refused to give them the recipe outright, stating that piroshky was an art and Yuuri would have to earn his right to be called an artist. Never one to back down from a challenge, Yuuri had arrived at the Nikiforov’s kitchen, dressed for an off-day and ready to heed every one of his guest chef’s instructions. Phichit had happily accompanied him along with Victor and the rest of their found family would be joining them in a few hours for a specially prepared dinner.

Leaning in his favorite spot, Victor watched as Yuuri softly nodded, listening to each direction without question. His skilled hands worked the dough on the metal counter, forearms flexing with every pull and push. His Yuuri, alive, well and now a permanent fixture in the Nikiforov’s kitchen. It had been exactly one week since JJ and Isabella’s wedding and Victor could still feel his heart flutter every time he remembered the decisions they had reached that night. When Yuuri glanced up, Victor grinned, feeling the familiar ache is his chest that was only produced by his unconditional love for his chef.

“Pay attention!” Nikolai barked, making Yuuri jump and Phichit chuckle. The wrinkled hands reached over Yuuri’s, grabbing the ball of dough and smacking it down with a loud thwack. “It isn’t a lover,” he scoffed, shoving from the stool to push Yuuri out of the way, “beat it as if you are angry.”

“Well-” Phichit started, laughing as his sentence was broken by Yurio shoving a handful of sticky rice in his mouth. Sputtering the tiny white grains into the sink, Phichit continued to laugh at his own unspoken joke while Yuuri flushed cursing under his breath about his truly inappropriate best friend.

“Yuratchka, be nice to your friends,” patting Yurio’s shoulder, his grandfather moved to smack Phichit on the back and immediately confused all of Yuuri’s assumptions about him. The man had been similar in temperament to his irritable grandson for all of their time in the kitchen, and was now filling a glass of water to press it into Phichit’s hands. Yuuri was reminded of the dichotomy of Yurio in that moment, and smiled knowing exactly where his prickly protégé had gotten all of his most prominent personality traits.

“You!” pointing a finger at Victor, Nikolai shuffled across the kitchen and grabbed an unsuspecting Victor by the wrist. Stumbling over his own feet, Victor let himself be pulled across the kitchen and shoved next to Yuuri. Unable to resist the temptation, Victor snuck a kiss onto Yuuri’s temple as he used the counter to steady himself. “If you love each other, you cook together.”

“I can only make pancakes and sausage…” Victor trailed off when Nikolai narrowed his eyes leaning back with crossed arms onto the stool on the other side of Yuuri. Even though nothing was said, Victor could see the argument in Nikolai’s eyes and felt his own cheeks heat up with the silent reprimand.

Letting his eyes fall toward the ingredients spread over the counter, Victor remembered his parents cooking together. The laughter had bounced from every surface of this same kitchen, and even when they made a mess or accidentally burned a new recipe, they did so with a happiness that was as palpable as the food that was created. They showed their love for each other in so many ways, including their time building the restaurant that had become Victor’s own. Sighing, Victor glance toward Yuuri. “I could try, if you’ll teach me.” The flutter in his heart became a banging drum when Yuuri turned to beam at him.

“I would love to,” bouncing on his toes, Yuuri was barely resisting the urge to throw his arms around Victor. When he had been in culinary school and watched as kitchen partners had fallen in love through their time working together, it had been a secret fantasy of his to someday share the same joy. He wanted someone to stir batter with and throw flour at, while magically creating a meal that arose from the joyful mess of a kitchen. The daydream, one that he kept close to his heart, seemed to be coming true as Victor reached over to pluck an egg from the bowl.

Grimacing from his place at the cutting board, Yurio dropped his eyes back to the pork that he was carefully slicing. “What have you done,” he muttered under his breath, directing the sarcastic question to his grandfather. He made a guttural sound in his throat as Nikolai pinched his ear.

“Someday, you will fall in love,” nodding toward Yuuri and Victor, Nikolai settled back again on his stool, “then you’ll understand.” Everyone laughed as Yurio threw more rice at Phichit who had once again attempted to make a comment.

Several hours later, when the rest of the Nikiforov’s family had piled into the restaurant to devour the heaping trays of katsudon piroshky and olivier salad, Victor sat back in his chair to continue to pick dough from under his fingernails. He had helped stuff ingredients into the doughy balls and managed to chop potatoes without resulting in any major destruction. His head was still full of all Yuuri’s praise while his belly was full of katsudon piroshky. Sighing with happiness he slung an arm around Yuuri’s shoulders, deciding to leave the rest of his nails alone for the moment.

Lost in his own mind, Yuuri let his head drop back onto Victor’s arm, replaying the afternoon in his mind. Victor had burned several pieces of pork, Phichit had made countless innuendos at the expense of Yuuri’s sanity, and Yurio had threatened to fry all of their heads at least twice while Nikolai had calmly observed them all with a slight smirk winking out from beneath his wrinkles. Smiling with the memories, which would now be a permanent part of Yuuri’s happiest moments, Yuuri let himself relax into Victor’s embrace. He had everything he wanted in life… including a brand new recipe which perfectly harmonized the place he grew up with the place he called home. Feeling luckier than he deserved to be, Yuuri tilted his head to press a kiss to Victor’s cheek, a silent thank you for fulfilling all of Yuuri’s greatest wishes.

[gaymilkytea]

Secret Santa Fic !!

This is Secret Santa for someone in our discord!! It’s longer than I thought oops Enjoy 👀

 “Yuuri?” Viktor called, his voice pulling me out of my game. I pause my game and take out my ear-buds, glancing back at him.  

“Yes?” I reply, swinging around in my seat to face him. He sat on the couch, Makkachin draped across his lap lazily, his fingers trailing down her ears absentmindedly. The book he had been reading was set down on the armrest, the page he left off on dog-eared for later. This was one of our rare days off, and we had both decided to stay in and just enjoy the other’s quiet company. He had wrapped himself and Makka in a blanket, the cold of the night creeping ever so slightly into the apartment. I had lit the fireplace, but I suppose Makkachin prefers the warmth of Viktor. He motioned for me to come over, and without a second thought I got up and walked over to him, plopping down next to him. I place my arm behind him, and he returns the gesture, wrapping the blanket around my shoulders as well. Makkachin raises her head, tail wagging slowly as she cranes her neck towards me, hoping for more pets. I chuckle and reach to rub her cheeks.

“Do you think Makkachin is lonely?” Viktor asks suddenly. I glance at him, but his eyes are trained on Makka, giving her a sad smile when she lays her head on his lap again. I lean back into the couch, scooting closer to Viktor and moving my hand to his shoulder, holding him close.

“I suppose so,” I say, rubbing slow circles on his arm, “We don’t get to spend as much time with her anymore now that we’re both competing.” Viktor hums, a far off look in his eyes.

“Why do you ask?” I murmur, nuzzling his cheek with mine. He leans into the touch, a sigh on his lips.

“I just feel so guilty leaving her alone all the time,” he starts, closing his eyes and shuffling even closer. I take the hint and sit upright, letting his head fall on my shoulder. I snake my hand around his waist, adjusting him slightly so that my arm won’t fall asleep. Makkachin huffs, annoyed that she has to reposition herself.

“She’s my baby and I’m leaving her by herself with no one but a stranger to let her out every once in a while.” He continues, rubbing the bridge of her nose gently, earning him a few hearty licks in return.

“Avi doesn’t count as a stranger.” I say absently, Makkachin perking up slightly at the name. I smile and boop her nose with my free hand. She paws at my hand as I pull away, her way of asking for more attention. Viktor leans down and gives her a barrage of kisses, her tail wagging happily at the kissy sounds.

“You know what I mean,” he says as he pulls away, leaning back on my shoulder and laying his hand on Makka’s head, “She never gets to see her dads anymore.”

I hum in acknowledgment and watch the fire crackle, unsure of where this conversation was going. Knowing Viktor, it must be something he’s unsure about, considering how much he’s stalling. Not that I mind, I know what it’s like to struggle with what you want to say, especially if you’re afraid of how the other person will react. So instead I sit quietly, stroking his arm soothingly. After a minute or two, Viktor shifts, sitting up a bit straighter.

“Would you be against…adopting?” He asks softly, hair hiding his eyes. I stiffen, my heart racing. I was never against the idea of having children, but having it sprung up on me so suddenly made my anxiety spike. This season wasn’t even close to being over, and I wasn’t ready to drop my career and care for a child. I looked down at him, eyelashes barely peeking out as he averted his gaze. I take a deep breath, not wanting to hurt him, but well aware that I wasn’t ready for what he was asking me to do.

“Viktor,” I begin, brushing the hair from his face and lifting his chin to look at me, “You know I’d love to have children with you, I want nothing more, but right now I think it would be best to focus on our skating, if we both still want to retire after this season then-” Viktor stops me with a finger to my lips, choking back his laughter. I frowned.

“What?” I ask defensively as Viktor snickered. He takes a deep breath, a smile still on his lips.

“Yuuri, I love you, but oh my God,” he says through bouts of amused huffs, still trying not to laugh. “I meant a dog, lyubov moya. Adopting a dog.” My eyes widened, heat spreading from my cheeks, and I covered my face with my hands. Viktor exclaimed in amusement and wrapped me in a tight hug, rocking me slightly as he giggled.

           “O-oh.” I mumbled into my hands, ears burning. Viktor only giggled more, wiggling happily as he held me.

           “I loooooooove you, Yuuri!”  He sang, rubbing his cheek on the top of my head.

           “I love you too…” I murmured back, still embarrassed by my mistake. I shot my head up suddenly, slapping my hands on my thighs and startling Viktor.

           “Be more specific next time!” I exclaim, my face still hot. Viktor’s smile widens and he wraps me in his arms again.

           “Sorry, sorry! I’ll speak clearly next time!” He promises, vigorously stroking my hair in his excitement. I huff, leaning into his touch despite my embarrassment. He presses a kiss to my hair and I smile in return, sitting upright and leaning in to give him on the tip of his nose. I watch as he pouts, and smile as I kiss him again, but this time on the lips. I pull away and tap his nose, leaning my forehead against his. He leans in, making our noses touch. We stay like that for a bit before Viktor breaks the silence.

           “Is that a yes?” He asks, and I open my eyes to meet his, noses still touching. I giggle and pull away, nodding towards Makkachin, who had begrudgingly moved to the floor during all the commotion.

           “Why not ask Makka?” I say, kissing the air to get her attention. She sits up, tail flailing wildly as she noses my thigh. Viktor reaches out to rub her ears, hand moving to cup her chin.

           “How about it baby girl, do you want a puppy for Christmas?” He asks, leaning down to move his face close to hers. She wiggles excitedly, lapping at his cheeks and chin. Viktor scrunches his face, trying to avoid getting any slobber on his mouth.

           “I think that’s a yes.” I reply with a laugh, scratching her behind the ears.

 In the following week between practice Viktor and I scoured websites for a shelter that allowed meet and greets. We knew Makkachin was good with other dogs, but this was something entirely different. We wanted to make sure that we’d be giving her a companion, not competition. One day, after a particularly grueling practice, Yurio asked why we were constantly on our phones between breaks and after practice.

           “We’re looking for a shelter.” Viktor says, not looking up from his phone. Yurio turns to me, raising his eyebrows.

           “We wanna adopt another dog for Makka.” I explain and Yurio gives a small “Ah.” in response. He sits beside us on the bench, unlacing his skates.

           “Ya know,” he begins hesitantly, “there’s this hole-in-the-wall shelter not even two blocks from your place.” Viktor and I look at each other and then at Yurio. Google hadn’t shown anything within a 15 mile radius.

           “It’s not some run-down pet shop is it?” Viktor asks incredulously, eyebrow raising. Yurio scoffs, tugging his skate off and placing it in a soaker.

           “Of course not, I wouldn’t volunteer at some shit hole.” He snaps, massaging the soles of his feet. Viktor smiles to himself, giving me a knowing look. I smile and shrug, knowing how tight-lipped Yurio is about his softer side. With minimal heckling, Yurio gave us the address.

           “If you wanna do a meet-and-greet,” he says as we walk out the entrance doors, snow falling gently around us, “You’ll have to call in at least an hour ahead. That way we can get the room set up. We’d usually do it outside but ya know, not all dogs like snow.” We nodded in agreement, knowing Makka would be too cold to even focus on meeting another dog in this weather. We said our goodbyes and headed home, Viktor and I chatting excitedly all the way home.

             Our next day off, we prepared Makkachin for the ride to the shelter. We both agreed it was probably best that she wear her sweater, it was all too easy for her to get cold and it might make her feel more comfortable while in such a strange place.

           “Do you think she’ll growl?” Viktor asked worriedly as we drove, Makkachin tucked safely in the backseat, her harness attached to a doggy seatbelt. The snow was piled high along the road, still holding strong despite the sunny weather today. I glanced back at Makkachin, who laid across the seats leisurely, tongue lolling out happily.  

           “I dunno,” I replied, turning around and watching the car in front of us slow to a stop at the light, “but even if she does, it won’t be the end of the world. I’m sure they’ve dealt with worse than just an old grumpy dog.” I say light-heartedly, despite the growing tightness in my chest. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. It’s hard to tell how any dog will react to a newcomer, no matter how docile they are. I’d also be lying if I said we weren’t worried about Makkachin not getting along with any of the dogs. Truthfully, Viktor and I were just as excited about getting a new pup. We always tell people it’s for Makka’s sake but we both know that we’re being just a little bit selfish.

           I let out a breath as we pulled into the parking lot. Viktor took my hand and gave it a squeeze, and I gave him a grateful smile. Yurio had been right, this place looked far from run down. The building almost looked new in fact, just much smaller than your average shelter. Which I suppose would make sense, Yurio had told us it was relatively new, and meant to house animals on the kill-list at other shelters. I got out of the car, Viktor already unlatching Makka and carrying her towards the doors. I opened the door for him, and he gently put Makkachin on her feet, clipping on her leash. The lobby was oddly shaped, but otherwise homely, small padded chairs lining the walls, and a small shelf of pet food and toys beside the reception desk.

           “Welcome! You must be Viktor and Yuuri, correct?” The woman behind the counter beamed, standing from her chair and coming around to meet us. We both nodded, and she made her way to us, crouching down in front of Makkachin.

           “And this gorgeous gal must be Makkachin! Hello lovely lady!” She offered her hand palm down to Makka, who sniffed it gingerly before moving forward to give the woman a few kisses.

           “Aw there you go, Makka! Already making friends.” Viktor said, patting her side gently. The woman stood up and shook both of our hands, introducing herself as Holly.

           “We got some dogs right over here that we know for sure get along with other dogs,” she said, leading us through a short hallway and to a decently sized room filled with about five small kennels. We could hear the raucous barks and whines of the dogs, and Makka perked up, tail wagging slightly and whining softly.

           “I’ll stay out here with Makkachin, so feel free to go on in and find a dog you’d like her to meet!” We both nodded and handed the leash over, telling Makka to be a good girl for us.

She gave a small whine in return as we entered the room. We were immediately met with a chorus of barks from the kennels. Viktor quickly fluttered to the first kennel, hushing and cooing the two dogs clamoring over each other for attention. I went and crouched next to him, holding my hand against the bars, a barrage of licks covering my hand in slobber. We met each dog in a similar way, cooing and getting slobbered on. At the last kennel was a single, tiny dog. She was curled up in her bed, tail wagging cautiously as we approached. She was a gorgeous Blenheim King Charles Cavalier, a small brown spot on the side of her nose.

           “Hi there, baby.” I cooed, crouching down and making kissy noises. Viktor came up beside me and crouched as well.

           “Aw, she’s so tiny compared to everyone else in here.” He comments, patting the floor in an attempt to get her closer. She slowly stood up, tail wagging lowly as she got closer. I gasped softly when she got closer, realizing her front right leg was missing. She sticks her nose through the bars, small tongue licking my hand excitedly.

           “You poor baby, what happened to your leg?” I asked, flipping my hand over, startling her slightly. She approached again and licked my fingers, moving towards Viktor and doing the same. Viktor and I looked at each other, eyebrows drawn tight.

           “Viktor, we have to have them meet.” I pleaded, eyes misty.

           “I know, she’s precious.” He replied, standing up. “Let me go get Holly.” I nodded and turned back to the kennel, her tiny body wiggling now with excitement instead of fear.

           “I know; I know you’re so excited! Hi, hello!” I cooed, patting the floor with my hands playfully. She barked in return, although I barely heard it over the other dogs. Viktor returned and patted my shoulder.

           “She’s gonna take us to the meeting room, and then she’ll bring her out.” I nodded and stood up, waving to her as I walked out of the room, Viktor at my heels.  We walked further down the hallway, and turned into a room half the size of the kennel room. There were three chairs and a box full of dog toys. Makkachin immediately made a bee-line for the toys, nose jamming into the box to look for anything interesting. Viktor and I sat on the chairs, patting Makka’s butt playfully. Holly closed the door behind her and washed her hands in the sink nearby.

           “Ok, so just letting you know, we always bring small dogs out in crates just as a precautionary thing. I don’t think this sweet gal will do anything, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.” She explained, drying her hands with a couple of paper towels. We nod in understanding and she lets us know she’ll be back shortly. I grab Viktor’s hand, squeezing it. He squeezes back, rubbing his thumb across my own.

           “It’ll be fine.” He reassures, giving me a quick kiss. I swallow thickly, hoping my nervousness doesn’t transfer to Makka.

           “I think adopting a kid would’ve been less stressful.” I reply humorlessly, but Viktor laughs anyways.

             The door knob turns and Makka leaves the toy box, sniffing at the gap between the door and the floor. Holly opens the door slowly, a small grid crate in her arms, out of Makka’s reach. I can see the small dog wriggling in her cage excitedly, a few barks echoing in the room.  

           “Come here, girl!” I say, patting my knees. Makka only hesitates for a second before walking over, sitting between my knees. I pat her sides, more so for my own benefit.

           “Here she is Makkachin!” Holly coos, placing the crate on the floor, “Meet Faina!”

Makkachin perks up, tail wagging as she slowly goes to the crate, sniffing at the bars. I hold my breath, squeezing Viktor’s hand harder.

           “Good girl, Makka.” He says playfully when she licks at the bars.

Faina jumps excitedly, tiny paws resting on the bars. Makka startles for a second before whining, body wiggling. After a bit more sniffing, Holly opens the cage door, Faina all but sprinting out towards Makkachin. She lowers her belly to the floor, licking at Makka’s nose, tail wagging wildly. Makkachin sniffs at her, nearly knocking her over, before letting out a playful bark, paws swatting gently at Faina.

Tears prick in the corner of my eyes as I watch Makkachin roll over, Faina climbing on top of her and licking at her mouth happily. I look over to see Viktor holding back tears, sniffing softly. I lean into him, head resting on his shoulder. He returns the gesture, cheek resting on top of my head. Makka makes her way over to us, barking at us to play. Faina rushes to us as well, jumping excitedly and scrambling a top my lap, licking madly as my face. I laugh when Makkachin noses at her, trying to lick my face as well.

           “Makka, Faina! Look!” Viktor coos, kissing the air.

They both turn at the sound, Faina jumping down from my lap. He waves a small rope toy, Makka mouthing at it. She eventually takes it from his hand, the other end dragging on the ground. Faina snatches up the other side, tugging uselessly against it. We all laugh as Makka walks towards Holly, Faina dragging on the tile as she holds onto the rope. Eventually Makkachin lays down, gnawing on the rope. Faina continues to tug at no avail.

“How did she lose her leg?” Viktor asks, kissing the air again. Faina comes running, jumping at his legs. He picks her up and place her on his lap, petting her playfully.

“Well, she was actually a puppy mill rescue,” Holly began, and I felt my heart tighten. I looked over at the happy ball of fur, paws against Viktor’s chest as she craned to lick his chin.

“She had a litter of puppies with her when she came to us. We were told that she had gotten into a fight with other dog in her cage and the leg ended up dying. They amputated it the day after she was rescued.” I nodded solemnly, stroking her ears.

“It’s amazing that she’s so good with other dogs after an experience like that.” I say, letting her lick my hand. Holly nods, leaning against the wall.

“She’s been here for some time too. No one seems to be able to get past the leg.” She sighs.

“I don’t see how,” Viktor states, placing her on the ground again and watching her zoom to Makka, “She’s an angel.” I nod, smiling as Makka gently wrestles with Faina.

We let them play for a bit longer before Holly asks if we wanted to look at any other dogs. Viktor and I exchange looks before shaking our heads.

“I think she’s the one.” I say to Holly, who beams in response. She runs out of the room for a minute before returning with paperwork. We sign and pay the adoption fee. Holly places Faina back in the crate, with both dogs whining as she’s taken out of the room. Makka walks over to us and lays her head on Viktor’s knee, tail wagging significantly slower.

“Don’t worry girl,” He laughs, rubbing her face with his hands, “She’s coming home with us.”

After checking that Faina is up to date on shots and has a microchip, we gathered Makkachin into the car, buckling her up. Holly gave us a free harness for Faina, and wished us well, asking that we call in a week or so to update her on how they’re getting along. We wave goodbye and get her situated in the back, both her and Makkachin happy to see each other again. The drive home was full of excited cooing and happy barks, and that night we gathered into bed, a new weight curled up at our feet.

[jbankai89]

Kittens and Kings [4/5]

Chapter Four – Neko

When Yuri woke the following morning, it was in a warm embrace that made him feel slightly giddy and comforted all at once.

JJ's post-sex cuddling was as intense as everything else about him. Where Otabek would hold onto him tenderly, like he was made of glass, JJ clung to him like he was determined that Yuri would not be able to escape his clutches.

Not that he'd want to, but it was certainly a switch from what he was used to.

The only downside to this was that Yuri really had to pee, but JJ was just not letting him get up.

“JJ,” Yuri hissed when he'd tried to get up for the third time, and JJ had shifted to compensate, making it feel more like he was in bed with a grabby octopus instead of a human. “JJ, wake up.”

“Sleepy...”

“Wake up, asshole, or I swear I will pee all over you.”

“What?” JJ asked as his grip slackened a little, and his head lifted off the pillow as he gazed blearily at Yuri. Yuri did not wait to explain, but instead took advantage of the gentler grip as he wormed out of JJ's arms and ran to the bathroom.

When Yuri got back, his bladder blessedly empty, JJ was stretched out in bed, one arm under his head as he grinned at Yuri.

“Sorry about that, Kitten, I had no idea I was on my way to giving you a UTI.”

“You're like a limpet in sleep, has anyone ever told you that?” Yuri groused as he got back into bed, tugging the blankets across his hips, while JJ reached out to urge him closer.

“How am I like a limpet?”

“You cling to things and don't let go.”

“What can I say?” JJ purred as he leant in for a light kiss. “I see what I want, and I grab hold of it, damn the consequences.”

“That part I know,” Yuri replied with a humourless smile. “That's sort of how we got into this mess.”

“Well it didn't turn out all bad, did it?”

“Not really, no, but...”

“But you still feel guilty?” JJ asked, and Yuri nodded a little, his mouth twisted into a grimace.

“Otabek's still tagging me in the occasional nasty tweet, but now that he's not shitfaced it's more passive-aggressive.”

“That sounds more like him,” JJ remarked as he coaxed Yuri to lie down, and JJ immediately spooned around him. “He's never been all that...vocal.”

“Yeah, I just...I didn't mean to hurt him...he's usually a good man, right now he's just hurting.”

“Usually being the key word,” JJ replied with a sour note to his voice. “He can't switch on and off, that's not how people work.”

“He was never like this before,” Yuri mumbled sadly, “it was my...our stupid affair that made him like this.”

“No one made him turn into a Grade-A douchebag,” JJ replied simply, “that was all him.”

“But—”

“—no,” JJ interrupted sternly. “Don't go blaming yourself for his shitty attitude. He decided to flip out on you over this, and there are a million ways he could've reacted, but he chose to get royally pissed and kick you out. None of that is your fault.”

“It feels like my fault...”

“What will make it not feel like your fault?” JJ asked while he leant in to nibble at Yuri's ear, which caused him to squirm and rotate his shoulders at the tickling sensation.

“I don't know...a lobotomy?”

“What about brunch?” JJ asked, “Crêpes with whipped cream and strawberries and more coffee than you can drink, or omelettes and orange slices, or eggs and toast and sausage...”

“Are you hinting that you want to go out for brunch?” Yuri asked dryly, and JJ grinned.

“See? You're already reading my mind, Kitten. We were made for each other.”

~*~

After getting dressed and layering on their jackets, scarves, and boots, JJ slung an arm over Yuri's shoulders as he escorted him to the elevator and down to the subterranean garage. Not one but three spots were reserved for JJ, in which there was a black mustang, a red corvette, and a shiny black motorcycle. The latter made Yuri's stomach twinge with regret, but thankfully JJ was not stupid enough to ride a motorcycle around in the dead of winter, and chose the corvette.

“It's the only one with winter tires,” JJ explained after he got in and fished out his keys. “I never got around to doing to mustang.”

“This is fine,” Yuri replied, “I normally bussed everywhere, I never got around to getting my license...”

“It's expensive as hell out here, so probably better that you didn't,” JJ replied with a short laugh as he backed out of the spot while Yuri fiddled with the radio, eventually settling on a station that claimed to be oldies rock, but played stuff from the late nineties and early two thousands like The Killers, Green Day, and Avenged Sevenfold.

They didn't go far, and after a ten-minute drive they pulled into a diner called Chez Cora. The 'o' in Cora had been replaced by a rising sun, and the parking lot was packed with cars.

“Saturday morning,” JJ said with a wince, “I hope we don't have to wait...”

“We could always go somewhere else...”

“No,” JJ interrupted stubbornly, “it's in the rulebook, Chez Cora is the only brunch place worth going to. If you suggest we go to McDonalds, I will divorce you.”

“We're not married, you moron,” Yuri replied with a snort of laughter, which JJ answered to with another one of his obnoxious 'winning' smiles.

“Come on, even if we have to wait, it's so worth it.”

JJ promptly dragged Yuri from the vehicle, pausing just long enough to lock it before he threw his arm over Yuri's shoulders again and led him towards the restaurant. Despite JJ's stubborn insistence, Yuri was somewhat inclined to agree with him. He'd been to Chez Cora once or twice with Viktor and his Katsudon, and the food was always good, if a little blandly Canadien.

Yuri followed JJ inside, where he jabbered animatedly with the hostess in French, and she plucked two plastic-encased menus off her stand as she chatted with him.

“See?” JJ purred in Yuri's ear, switching to English as the hostess turned and led them away. “JJ charm is all we need to snag a table.”

Yuri snorted derisively, but at the same time put an arm at JJ's back, leaning into his embrace.

“It's amazing to me how humble you are,” Yuri replied dryly, and JJ chuckled. They wove through the restaurant, teeming with families, couples, and groups of friends all enjoying weekend brunch, and distantly, he heard the smash of some kind of glass or ceramic hit the floor—a kid—presumably.

After they were seated they were brought a French Press of coffee and two mugs, along with a tiny basket of plastic creams and packets of sugar and splenda. Both Yuri and JJ ignored the dairy and sugar products as they poured their coffee black.

“This is...loud,” Yuri remarked, and JJ chuckled.

“Popular place, Kitten, of course it's loud.”

Yuri kicked JJ under the table at the nickname, but it was halfhearted, and the small smile on his face never wavered. The Canadien ignored him as he buried his nose in the plasticized menu and sipped the hot coffee. Yuri mirrored him, just as a waitress sidled up to their table to take their orders. JJ asked for some sort of crêpe monstrosity that was more dessert than breakfast, and Yuri asked for the Cabane special—a Québecois symphony of meat products and beans, with toast. The waitress noted it down and took back their menus, and at the same moment Yuri felt a foot hook around his ankle as JJ smiled warmly at him.

“See this is so nice. Just you, and me, and brunch,” JJ said, his voice once more dropping to that warm, decidedly un-JJ tone of voice that he seemed to reserve only for Yuri. Yuri felt a flush creep up his neck at the words, and hid behind his mug in an effort to conceal his embarrassment, because despite all the other shit going on, JJ was right—it was nice.

“What are you enjoying more,” Yuri asked as he reached for one of the complimentary packets of jam, and fiddled with it absentmindedly, “the brunch or me?”

“Oh the brunch, definitely,” JJ teased, offering Yuri another grin before he picked his coffee back up and sipped it. “I can eat brunch in public, you, I have to wait til we get home.”

“I dimly recall a few public blow jobs...” Yuri replied with a small smirk, and JJ snorted.

“Yeah, well...” JJ trailed off, and Yuri's smirk widened as he registered what he was seeing—JJ was blushing.

Yuri logged that bit of information away for later use just as their platters of food arrived, and the pair dug in.

Yuri genuinely had no idea what everyone thought was so great about this place, but he thought better than to voice it as he broke the pastry of his miniature tourtière and the sweet scent of spiced meat hit his nose. The food was okay, all things considered, but boring. And yet, the place was overloaded with customers. JJ himself seemed to be enjoying his crêpe monstrosity that seemed to be more whipped cream than anything else, so much so that he seemed more keen to eat than engage Yuri in conversation.

“God, I'm being a terrible date, stuffing my face and not talking to you,” JJ said suddenly, as though he'd read Yuri's mind. “Want to try a bit?”

Yuri glanced up from his own meal to see JJ holding out a forkful of crêpe, strawberry, and whipped cream. He wasn't much for sweets in the morning, but the hopeful and endearing look in JJ's eyes was impossible to say no to, and instead Yuri offered up a small shrug.

“Sure, why not,” he said as he opened his mouth to accept the bite.

And, of course, that happened to be same moment that Yuuri Cockblock Katsuki had to intrude on their meal.

“Oh. My. God. Yurio? Is that you?”

A string of choice Russian expletives slipped from Yuri's mouth after he'd swallowed the forkful, and he turned to see Yuuri with Viktor in tow, both of them staring at Yuri and JJ like one might regard an alien from outer space.

“What?” Yuri asked, his voice a little thick from the cream clinging to the inside of his mouth, while JJ busied himself with his coffee and miraculously, did not say a word.

“Who the hell else would it be?”

“But why are you here with JJ?” Yuuri asked, while behind him Viktor pressed his lips together to hide a smile. Clearly, Katsudon was still a bit slow on the uptake.

“We're going tenpin bowling,” Yuri replied sarcastically, and JJ snorted. “What do you think?”

“It's our first real date,” JJ offered, and Yuri kicked him under the table.

“Date?” Yuuri sputtered, his eyes almost comically wide. “Date?”

“That's what he said,” Yuri said, caught somewhere between embarrassment and amusement at Viktor and Yuuri's wildly different reactions.

“So you must have been who Otabek was bitching about on Twitter the other day,” Viktor said with a warm laugh. “That explains a lot.”

“So, you two...” Yuuri trailed off, the comical surprise never fading from his eyes as he glanced from Yuri to JJ and back again. He did this several times, as though his brain and eyes couldn't agree on what they were witnessing. “How long?”

“Um...” Yuri looked over to JJ, who offered him a small shrug, and went for his coffee.

“Depends on what you mean by how long,” JJ said, and Katsudon frowned disapprovingly at the response.

“I mean how long, what do you mean?”

“But do you mean how long Yuri and I have been hopelessly, madly, infatuatingly in love, or do you mean how long have we been secretly fucking?”

Yuri rolled his eyes and kicked JJ under the table again, while Yuuri flushed a deep scarlet, and Viktor seemed to be trying to keep from laughing.

“Technically, it's our first real date,” Yuri said, and JJ grinned at him. The simple explanation made Yuuri flush again. “What?”

“But...Yurio...Have you thought about Otabek at all?” Yuuri asked, “he's all alone and you're just...living it up?”

“Otabek is the one who threw me out,” Yuri replied, “he practically yanked off my ring and tossed me out onto the street, then got hammered and spread it all over Twitter. So why exactly would I think about him after all that? Yeah, JJ and I were in the wrong doing what we did—I'm not stupid, I know that—but Otabek went way too far. One tiny indiscretion turned him into a raging asshole, and that's not right, either.”

“Oh, but...” Yuuri looked from Yuri to JJ and back again, his bottom lip caught between his teeth and his expression deeply troubled. Thankfully, Viktor seemed to sense that they were intruding on a private moment, and now was most certainly not the time for an intervention from the Morality Police.

“Come on, Yuuri,” Viktor said as he wrapped an arm around the other man, and spoke in a low tone that made Yuuri blush, “let's leave them to their date, and we can all talk about it later, okay?” Viktor shifted his gaze to Yuri, and offered the fellow Russian a fatherly smile, which made Yuri scowl. “Cкоро приедете на yжин?”

Yuri scowled.

“Ты не мой отец, Виктор,” Yuri replied sourly, and Viktor laughed.

“What are they saying?” JJ hissed at Yuuri in a stage whisper.

“Viktor's doing the fatherly thing again,” Yuri filled in before Yuuri could answer.

“Well your grandpa and parents are allllll the way over in Russia, it's the least I can do to show some hospitality to your new boyfriend!” Viktor said as he fingered a wave at Yuri. “Think about it, Yurio, we'd be happy to have you over.”

Without another word, Viktor wrapped an arm around Yuuri's shoulders and led him away.

“I'm suddenly feeling like I never got the full Viktor and Yuuri experience before just now,” JJ remarked as he dug back into the remnants of his brunch, spearing a glazed strawberry and holding it up at eye level. “Are they always like that?”

“If you mean, are they always acting like my fathers, then unfortunately, yes,” Yuri replied grumpily. “I'm not that much younger than them, but they still insist on treating me like I'm ten. It's so stupid.”

“I dunno, you get this...patchy blush thing then you get really mad, it's adorable,” JJ teased, and began to laugh when Yuri glared at him.

~*~

After brunch, Yuri was far too full to even suggest something ridiculous like going to practice, and instead JJ dragged Yuri back to his condo for mint tea (which he claimed would help them feel less full) and he learned something about JJ that he did not expect.

The man was a total weeb.

“Look, JJ, I don't care if you insist on making me watch this shit, but can you please make it something other than this Magical Girl stuff? Nobody loves Cardcaptor Sakura this much.”

“Yuri, you're so mean!” JJ cried from the floor where he was sifting through a stack of Blu-ray discs. “Everyone loves Cardcaptor Sakura!”

“I bet you're the president of the Cardcaptor Sakura Fan Club too,” Yuri mumbled, and JJ laughed.

“Co-founder. Too busy being the president of the King JJ Fan Club to devote all my time to Sakura.”

“JJ Girls are so annoying, Yuri Angels are way better,” Yuri replied on reflex, and JJ laughed out loud.

“You're adorable when you're all defensive of your rabid fans, Kitten,” JJ teased as he finally settled on a disc and popped it in. Thankfully, it turned out to be Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children instead of more Cardcaptor Sakura. JJ got off the floor and snuggled up to Yuri on the sofa, dragging him close as he draped the woven blanket over them, and Potya curled up at the opposite end near their feet.

Outside, large puffy snowflakes fluttered past the window as Yuri curled up with JJ. Normally, movie nights (or afternoons, in this case) Yuri found painfully boring; he had always enjoyed spending time with Otabek (prior to his wild attitude switch) but he always got antsy when they did anything low-key, like an evening of movies or board games.

With JJ, Yuri was amazed by how much he liked it. He felt none of the old lack of attention span resurfacing, only a strange sense of peace.

Maybe this is a sign that Otabek and I really weren't meant to be, and JJ is...the one?

Yuri felt himself blush a deep scarlet, and grabbed the mug of herbal tea to hide the reaction. When had he gotten so cheesy?

“Oh, this is my favourite part!”

JJ's voice drew Yuri out of his musings, and he watched as the older man, childlike, grinned wildly and pointed at the screen. This time, Yuri didn't have a caustic or sarcastic remark for him, but instead smiled indulgently as he snuggled into JJ's side and turned his attention to the movie.

A/N: “Cкоро приедете на yжин?”(Skoro priyedete na uzhin?) - “Come for dinner soon?”/“Ты не мой отец, Виктор,” (Ty ne moy otets, Viktor) - “You're not my father, Viktor.” This is according to Google Translate, and I didn't have time to have it double-checked, so if the grammar is off, please let me know so I can fix it! :)

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