Past Put Behind You
Yuuri was washing the tea cups he and Viktor drank from when Yuri finally returned home. Thankfully, he's okay.
"Hey mama..." Yuri greets, stepping into the kitchen.
"Hey Yura, where were you?"
"Took a walk, needed some air...are you alright? You sound tired." Yuri frowns.
"Oh," Yuuri clears his throat: "I'm okay, don't worry. I just panicked a little when I couldn't find you, Viktor reassured me quick enough."
"...Sorry."
"Don't apologize." Yuuri smiles: "Everything is okay now, you're back home and I have no reason to worry."
Yuri manages to lift half a smile.
"Now." Yuuri grabs a towel and dries his hands: "I think some dinner is needed for a hungry family, don't you think?"
Yuri's half smile turned into a full one as he put his hood down and pulled up his sleeves: "Yeah, what are we making?"
The duo soon found themselves distracted by cooking and with no care about the world. Yuuri enjoyed small moments like this with Yuri and/or Viktor. Whenever a problem occurs, he pleads for small moments where they could just smile, be themselves, and not have to worry. He just hopes that the current problem can be solved quickly so no one, especially Yuri, has to worry about it or the consequences it could cause.
Unfortunately for Yuuri, the problem is going to be brought up sooner than he would have liked.
Viktor sat in bed, talking with the other skaters. He knew that Yuuri is already tired and has received enough bad news, he just got him to calm down as well, so he'll keep in check with what was happening.
Oh how he wished to rewind time and not read the results of Phichit hacking Yuri's phone.
~~~~~~~~~~
Georgi: Oh hell no
Otabek: ... What the hell is this...
Leo: WTF that is messed up on a whole other level- his parents?!?!??!
Christophe: This asshole did NOT just dead name him
Seung Gil: What the fuck is that?! The dead naming was one thing, the rest with it together is messed tf up
Guang: Yuri has seen all of those too?!
Isabella: I can't even read all of that, it gets worse the more texts there are!
Minami: Oh my God...
Michele: I swear to God, I will kill whoever this is
Sara: This is dated back to the panic attack...
JJ-style: Whoever the fuck that is better have written their will
Emil: ...you said WHO sent him these?!??!
Otabek: Are you serious right now?! His parents?!?!
Isabella: Are we sure it's them? It can't be anyone else?!
Mila: It's not...
Sara: Mila, what's wrong?
Mila: 'Silence is Golden'
Phichit: I was going to ask you about it
Phichit: This person (or persons) said it as if it was a family quote
Mila: Because it is
Mila: Yuri's mom said that to him
Mila: She used it to get him to shut up and not tell anyone about the abuse...
Seung Gil: Oh double hell no
Otabek: I'm going to kill them
Isabella: So...this is why Yuri hasn't told us about them? He knows...
Leo: He knows...
Guang: Oh God...
Christophe: No
Christophe: No, they're not getting away with this bullshit
JJ-style: They better not! Whatever shit they're trying to pull, it's not funny!
Michele: This is literally abuse! Before and after! They shouldn't be getting away with any of this
V. Nikiforov: That's why he flinched...he thought back to them...
Emil: He must have...but Viktor, that wasn't your fault, okay? Don't blame yourself for this
Isabella: Emil is right, the only one(s) to blame here are Yuri's shit birth giver and sperm donor
Georgi: Couldn't have said it better ^
Phichit: I got all the messages for evidence
Phichit: If you're planning on court, I have everything ready
Seung Gil: Keep track of the messages
Seung Gil: They could easily send more if they felt like it
Leo: They better not!
Guang: Yuri better not see anymore messages
Guang: The first 5 were bad, the rest was worse
Christophe: I can't imagine what must be going through his head
Goergi: Honestly. These monsters were meant to be in jail!
Minami: Guys
Michele: Jail?! Then why aren't they?!
Emil: If they broke out, that could be used against them
Minami: Guys
Isabella: My only concern is why are they going after Yuri again and how?
Minami: GUYS!
Phichit: What?! What's wrong?
Minami: ... Isn't Yuri in this chat?
Otabek: ...
Mila: ...wait
Georgi: ...oh shit
Christophe: What
Leo: But...he hasn't read anything...
Guang: So he's...
Emil: He didn't take his phone with him on his walk...
Michele: Oh no
Seung Gil: He hasn't read anything since when?!
Sara: Since the morning after their flight from Thailand
Isabella: ... The same morning he got those fifteen messages...
JJ-style: Viktor
V. Nikiforov: Phichit, video call. Record it as well
Phichit: Of course
Otabek: This is so messed up, Jesus
Minami: I'm so sorry
Mila: Don't apologize Minami
Mila: Thank you for bringing this to our attention
V. Nikiforov: What Mila said
V. Nikiforov: I know it's not the best way to approach a situation, but if we could get Yuri to spill we might be able to get over this problem sooner than later
Otabek: I vote sooner
Otabek: Just so I can vote for their death
Mila: ^
Georgi: ^
Isabella: ^
Christophe: ^
Sara: ^
Michele: ^
Emil: ^
Phichit: ^
Seung Gil: ^
Leo: ^
Guang: ^
JJ-style: ^
Minami: Agreed
Minami: Good luck Viktor
Phichit: I'm ready to record
V. Nikiforov: I'll just hope Yuuri won't push this away
Phichit: I doubt it
Phichit: If anything, he'll encourage it
~~~~~~~~
Viktor braced himself and took a deep breath before getting out of bed and heading to the kitchen, calling a video call with Phichit as he does.
Phichit mutes himself and lifts a thumbs up to Viktor in order to announce that he's ready again to double check. Viktor nods at him before going on his way. What he wasn't expecting was a smiling Yuri with no care of the world...God dammit, did he have to have this talk when Yuri was finally at peace from the madness between his shithead parents?
Viktor cringes before shaking his head and composing himself. It's alright. It's fine. The sooner he approaches Yuri about this, the faster the problem could be solved. Viktor just hopes that Yuri co-operates and doesn't try hiding the fact his parents are talking to him.
Not like last time.
Phichit frowns Viktor's cringe and was about to ask what's wrong-
"Mama, where's the salt?"
"Is it not in the cabinet?"
"No..."
"Odd- oh! Wait, it's right here, I was using it, sorry." Yuuri laughs.
"It's alright, thanks." Yuri laughs as well, taking the salt and adding it into the rice.
Phichit freezes. Just like Viktor hopes, he begs whatever God that exists that this goes the way they need it to right now.
Plan starting, Viktor puts his phone into his pants pocket and walks into the kitchen.
Yuri hears his footsteps and quickly turns to face him. Viktor notices how his shoulders sag in relief.
"Yura!" Viktor calls out, pulling Yuri into a hug: "You're alright. Thank Goodness."
Yuuri turns to face the both of them once he heard Viktor. Now, he knows Viktor, he knows his husband; he's acting different...something's wrong. And while Yuuri wishes he could avoid this, he can also tell that this is urgent and avoiding it could make it worse.
Yuri stumbles before slowly hugging back: "Yeah...yeah, I'm okay. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have walked out."
Viktor breaks the hugs, his hands on Yuri's shoulder: "You can go out on walks, that's perfectly fine, but please take your phone with you next time. I don't want something bad happening to you and not able to call us or have us check on you, alright?"
Yuri tenses, slightly yet clearly.
That makes Yuuri worry.
"I...yes, of course, my phone..."
Viktor throws in his all. It's now or never!
"Yes, your phone...speaking of which, why haven't you spoken to the other skaters in a while?"
Yuuri's eyes widen. That's the problem Viktor's been trying to approach.
"What do you mean?" Yuri asks.
"On the group chat. You haven't spoken to the others since we came from Thailand."
The messages from the night Yuri received three messages in addition to the other twelve...Yuuri inwardly curses, he should have taken the phone when he had the chance!
His gaze moves to the stove, which he turns off, as he listens to Yuri's response. Taking out his own phone, he reads over the messages about Yuri's parents-
...Yuri's parents...oh hell no
"Oh...the messages..."
"...You have been reading them...right?" Viktor asks frowning.
"..."
That's it. Yuuri can't take this anymore.
Victor, from the corner of his eye, notices Yuuri's expression and quickly addresses him.
"Yusha, darling-"
Yuri turns to Yuuri just as he's asked by him.
"Yuri, when was the last time you opened your phone?"
From his expression, both Yuuri and Viktor can tell Yuri's getting defensive and a bit scared. But he doesn't say anything.
"Answer me, Yuri, please." Yuuri's voice cracks.
Yuri doesn't answer.
Viktor can tell the moment Yuuri threw away all patience and decided to drop the bomb.
"Were your pitiful excuse of parents' messages the last thing you checked? From the morning after we came from Thailand?"
Oh God, it's out.
Yuri's eyes grow in fear and shock. He takes a step back, mouth agape, unable to answer.
How did-? They know...?! How could they know- how long have they known?!
In all honesty, Viktor can't take this anymore either.
"Please just tell us the truth, Yura." He pleads, voice cracking.
Yuri turns to him, now slightly shaking.
Viktor keeps talking for both him and Yuuri, who can't even speak his thoughts after what he threw out.
"Yuratchka, we know, alright? I'm not going to lie to you, that's not what I want to do- we told Phichit to hack your Instagram! We told him to do that because we were getting worried! We wanted to know what was wrong! You stopped posting, you stopped talking to any one of us, you panicked out of no where trying to speak any language besides Russian, and you're not even checking your phone anymore- we know! We noticed it all, we- you-...I-I don't know what more I have to see and avoid that's telling me you're in danger and the ones causing it are the assholes who dare call themselves your parents!
"Yura...we want you to be okay- we had Phichit hack your Instagram and he showed us the messages...all of them...we saw them and all we want is for them not to continue. You flinched just a few hours ago at me when you know we'd never hurt you- they're hurting no, abusing you again! Don't you understand that?! Abusing you AGAIN!"
Viktor at this point has tears streaming down his face as well as Yuuri who's sniffling to hold back sobs.
Yuri's eyes brimmed with tears and he's trying so hard to hold them back.
"You remember what happened the last time?!" Viktor continues: "We had to find out you were being abused because you passed out during practice and covered in bruises as a child! If Mila wasn't there with you, you would have been in even more danger! I don't want what happened then to come back now, so please! Please for the love of God, tell us what's going on!
"We just want to help you! To see you smile! To see you laughing and going on with your life not having to give a single shit about those 'parents'! We just want you to finally be away from that past, throw it behind you, move on and not have to worry about it coming back to you! Please!" He pauses: "Please Yura, tell us."
Yuri has tears streaming down his face as he tries to avoid Viktor's gaze and shakes his head in a way to hold back his tears.
"Yura," Viktor's hand rests on Yuri's shoulder: "Please. We just want to help you. If you tell us now, this will all be over. Just tell us and we'll do everything in our power to solve the problem, I promise."
Yuri lets out a sob and the dam breaks.
"I...I didn't tell you because I was scared!"
Yuuri and Viktor stop and listen, worry etched on their faces.
"I didn't tell you because they'd...they'd use it against me and I was scared! I didn't know what to do, I couldn't think!" Yuri cries: "I wanted to tell you, I did! But I couldn't!"
"You know that it's your parents though, don't you? Why couldn't you tell us? The last time you didn't..." Viktor asks.
"I know! I know I should've said something...but I couldn't because...b-because they have..."
"Because they're threatening you...?" Yuuri guesses.
Yuri hesitantly nods: "I can't say anything. If I do, they'll...I just can't say anything or the problem will get worse."
"Worse? Yuri, they're hurting you already just through those texts and threats, it's getting worse the more they tell you-" Yuuri tries to explain.
"I can't say anything! They have it all and if they realize I told anyone...they want me to stay silent so they don't get caught again...they don't want to be arrested again."
"But they have to be!" Viktor says: "Yuri, the longer they stay out, the longer this abuse will go on. You can't go on with them behind every threat."
"...I don't know what to do...if I try and get them caught again..."
"It's the threats isn't it?" Yuuri asks: "They're holding something against you and you can't say anything or else the threat will happen...right?"
Yuri hesitates before slowly nodding, tears streaming down his face and sobs held back as he tries to gulp down the lump in his throat.
"...What are they threatening you with?" Viktor asks carefully.
Yuri immediately shakes his head, not allowing himself to say more.
"Yura-" Yuuri tries to reason.
"No! No I can't say...please don't make me say it...you'll hate me, I-I can't say anything."
"Hate you?" Yuuri's in disbelief.
"Yuratchka, how could we possibly hate you?!" Viktor wonders, frowning at the thought. How could he and Yuuri ever hate him?! Especially for something that's most likely his parents fault.
"You will...I-I...there's something...I just can't say anything, alright?!" He screams, shaking his way out of Viktor's hold on his shoulders and turning his back to them, covering his ears to not hear more. His sniffles and his chocked breaths are loud in the quiet kitchen.
Yuuri and Viktor don't know with what to respond. Tears stream down both their faces as they struggle to reason with Yuri.
They know this is hard on him, that being threatened by his parents who once abused him isn't something simple. Only he knew what the threat included, and whatever it is; it's bad, really bad. Yuri can't even bring himself to tell what it is just so this problem could be over.
'I just can't say anything or the problem will get worse'- just what?! are they threatening him with that's even worse than what they're doing now?!
Yuuri steps forward and hesitantly wraps his arms around Yuri, bringing him into a comforting hug. He speaks softly to Yuri's ear for him to listen.
"It'll be okay, Yura. We'll figure something out, I promise. You don't have to tell us but...we'll get out of this problem. We'll make sure of it."
Yuri's hand slowly fall from his ears: "You can't...they have it all...if I say anything it'll be public...You can't talk to them, they'll know I told and..."
Without him having to say it, they know. They'll know he told and use the threat against him as a final warning.
"uM! No, they won't do shit smol angry nephew! May I remind you my existence exists?!"
...Oh right, Phichit :D
The family freezes and move their gaze to Viktor's pocket where the voice came from.
"He does exist and so do we! Ready to kick some ass!"
Leo?!
"What they said. Those 'parents' aren't getting away with this!"
Otabek?!
"Justice for our little brother!"
Mila?!
What?!
"Cheers to that!"
Christophe?!
"Yes, and screw the competitions, we're here for you."
Seung Gil?!
Who else-
"Justice for Yuri!"
Guang?!
Okay what the f-
"Those idiots are going down by the power of the skate family!"
Michele?!
"Skate family assemble!"
Isabella?!
Are they all-
"We're here for you Yuri-kun! On your side through and through!"
Minami too?!
"They won't get away with this, Yura! Not again, we'll have them gone for good!"
Georgi?!
Okay how the f-
"Justice for the best Russian Tiger!"
Emil?!
"That's not JJ-style at all! We better get those 'parents' of yours out of the picture for good!"
JJ as well?!
What the f-
"Justice for Yuri!"
Sara?!
Silence came next...for a moment or twenty five before Yuuri looked at Viktor and said:
"Viktor what the hell?"
"This is not my doing!" Viktor tries to defend before thinking over his answer: "Okay it kind of was, but I only called Phichit! The others are his problem!"
Yuuri deadpans as Yuri just stares in complete shock between Viktor and the phone in his pocket.
"W-...what?" Yuri whispers.
Viktor press' his lips together and looks to Yuuri for help, but he only shakes his head, face still deadpanned.
"Might I suggest we take this to a bigger screen?" Christophe says through the silence.
"I'm sorry okay?! I wanted to reassure my smol angry nephew!"
"You're saying this as if we didn't want to do that as well." Mila replies.
"Everyone. Laptop now." Yuuri orders before guiding Yuri to the couch, still holding him in his arms.
"Yes sir!" All the skaters say before hanging up to start a new call.
Viktor rushes to get the laptop before he faces a glare off Yuuri.
Yuuri sighs before turning to a shocked Yuri who's tears stopped at the moment.
"Yura," Yuuri places a hand on his shoulder in comfort: "I'm sorry that we breached into your privacy...we got really worried- I- I understand if you lose some trust or get upset but we- woah!"
Yuuri's cut off by Yuri hurriedly wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug.
"I'm sorry!" Yuri cries: "It's all my fault! I should have told you, I should have! I'm sorry!"
Yuuri's eyes widen before he hugs Yuri back just as tight: "Oh Yuri, it's not your fault. It's understandable that you were scared, especially with who the problem is revolving around. It's okay, you're going to be okay. We'll solve this and help as best as we can, I promise."
"B-but they could...they could ruin everything so easily..."
God, it broke Yuuri's heart. Yuri sounded so small, so lost, so scared. If he could, Yuuri would burn the living flesh of his 'parents' and laugh as they scream in horrifying pain.
...Everyone has their dark side, okay?!
"Don't worry. We'll do whatever we can to not allow that to happen, okay? I promise we'll think of something."
He brushes through Yuri's hair as the sounds of Viktor setting the laptop on the living room coffee table come through the silence.
Yuuri speaks again after a thought: "But Yuri, listen to me carefully." The small shift of Yuri's head against his chest indicate that he is: "Your past may define you in more than one way, but that doesn't mean it should destroy you. You're strong, so strong. One day, you'll have to stand up against that past and the ones who formed it- that day may be sooner than you wish- but if it means leaving it permanently behind you, it's most likely worth it.
"Those who truly love and care about you would NEVER hate you for it. They would understand and stand by you no matter what. Viktor, the other skaters, Yakov, Lilia, your grandfather, and I are here. We're not going anywhere. No matter what it is your 'parents are hiding and threatening you by, we could never hate you for it, I promise."
Yuri's silent. He doesn't say anything in response, but he nods slowly but surely.
Yuuri smiles before noticing Viktor patiently waiting for them at the entrance of the kitchen. He smiles at them before saying gently.
"The others are waiting. Ready when you are."
Yuuri gently breaks the hug and lifts Yuri's chin to look at him: "Ready?"
Yuri looks away as he thinks before hesitantly nodding.
Yuuri smiles and wraps one arm around his shoulders before guiding him to the living room with Viktor by their side.
"So... how you doing?" Leo asks, trying to start the conversation.
"Is that really the best you can do?" Michele asks.
"Look I-!...Yes."
Phichit: "Bruh-"
Yuuri K.: "Moving on!"
Phichit: "Yes right! Well...we have the evidence, all the messages- again! I'm sorry Yuri! But we got really worried!"
Yuri shakes his head: "It's alright. I understand, I don't blame you."
Phichit: "Where are planet tickets to give this boy a hug at- anyway! We have the messages and any evidence that they're giving Yuri a hard time. So...I think the next step is to confront the parents..."
Yuri P.: "No!"
Otabek: "Yura, we can't let them freely do this. We have to put a stop to it."
Yuri P.: "I know- I mean! You can, we can! But we can't- I ugh!" He puts his head in his hands.
Yuuri K.: "Calm down, Yura. It's okay, you're okay." He brushes his fingers through Yuri's hair gently.
Mila: "Is it about the threat they're holding, Yuri?"
Yuri nods hesitantly.
Georgi: "Okay, add a step in between. What do we do about the threat before confronting the parents?"
Seung Gil: "Is there a way to get this threat away from them? Is it an object? Another picture?"
Yuri starts shaking slightly. Viktor's the first to notice and comfortingly wraps an arm around him.
Isabella: "I believe...Yuri is the only one with that bit of information..."
Everyone goes silent and nervously look at Yuri who freezes at the attention.
Sara: "...Um, Yuri! You don't have to tell us what the threat is, just tell us what we're looking for. Is it an image? A document? A written piece that they could easily type out?"
Yuri P.: "U-um...it-it's...both a file and information t-they could tell..."
Phichit: "Okay! That's something we can work on- hold on a minute."
The skaters wait patiently as Phichit goes through his computer and through the messages of Yuri's parents again. Typing sounds could be heard as well as Phichit humming a few expressions at what he's finding. After a couple more seconds of silence, Phichit speaks up.
Phichit: "Um...Okay, so I have an idea. May not be the best, but it'll work most likely."
JJ-style: "What is it?"
Phichit: "So...if the threat is a file like Yuri says, there is a way I could hack into all files belonging to the device of his parents. I could move all files from their device to mine and send them over to Yuri. That way, he'll be the only one who could see and deal with them."
Otabek: "...I sense a 'but' though."
Seung Gil: "It's a great idea, but, like Otabek said, there's a bad news with it."
Yuuri K.: "Well, we're all here now, so whatever the bad news is; Yuri won't have to handle it alone."
Yuri squeezes Yuuri's hand as a thanks to which he gives a squeeze of reassurance back.
Christophe: "Phichit?"
Phichit: "Uh, the bad news...well, I could only hack into their full device if they were online...and currently, they aren't...so~"
Emil: "So you want Yuri to text them as a way to have them come online?"
Yuri tenses.
Minami: "What? Is there really no other way?"
Phichit looks over his computer and clicks his tongue: "Nope. Just this one."
Isabella: "Oh...well, hey! Like Yuuri said, we're all here now, aware of the situation. Yuri doesn't have to talk to them alone! We'll be right here!"
Guang: "Precisely!"
Georgi: "I am sitting my ass down and not going anywhere."
Sara: "Same here."
Mila: "Yup."
Michele: "It's your call Yuri. Do you want to get this over with now?"
Phichit: "We could always do this another time. But I fear if we wait, it could get worse..."
Yuri P.: "...worse?"
Otabek: "We won't let that happen. No matter what they try to text, we'll be here, Yura."
V. Nikiforov: "Exactly. Family sticks together."
Leo: "...I'm sorry- that sounded too cheesy!"
V. Nikiforov: "Seriously Leo?!"
Leo: "I'm sorry!"
Seung Gil: "Jesus."
Christophe: "Right here."
Seung Gil: "I am not religious af this time."
Christophe: "May my patience forgive your sins."
Isabella: "Have I mentioned how much I love this chat?"
JJ-style: "Only a couple dozen times."
Otabek: "Getting off track here..."
Isabella: "Right sorry!"
Yuuri playfully rolls his eyes at the group before turning to Yuri: "It's your call. What do you say we do?"
Yuri looked down at his hands which are playing with the hem of his shirt. What should he-...they do? If he talks to his parents now, they could get the threat away for the evidence to not be in the wrong hands, he could have it instead and no one would see it. Even if they could just easily text it out to the public, they wouldn't have evidence to support their claims, and he could easily deny it. However, if he spoke to them now...he honestly doesn't want to know what else they'll say to him, but he wouldn't have to bear it alone and for long. It's just until Phichit gets what he needs. And whatever messages they send after realizing their evidence is gone will be useless to him, because Phichit and the others are with him this time...
Yeah...he's not alone. Not anymore.
With that thought, some determination flooded through his veins and Yuri took a deep breath before answering:
"Now...I want to get this over with now..."
Yuuri smiles proudly at him and brings him into a group hug with Viktor for extra reassurance.
The skaters let out a small cheer and a couple of 'we're proud of you, Yuri.' 's.
Viktor, after breaking himself from the hug goes to Yuri's room to retrieve his phone as Phichit sets everything he needs up.
Yuri unlocks his phone and gulps, hesitant to open the messages. But a rub on his shoulder from Yuuri's hug calms him. Yuri opens the private messages between him and his 'parents' and waits a few more seconds for Phichit to start the whole ordeal.
Phichit: "Almost...not now you non-existent virus! And~...okay! All set!" He turns to Yuri: "Ready?"
Yuri nods silently before exhaling shakily and looking down at his phone screen: "...W-what should I say?"
Seung Gil: "I think the best you can do is keep a long conversation. Ask a question or two. Phichit might need as long he can have."
Phichit: "That is true, I've only done this once."
Mila: "Either way, we're here if things go wrong."
V. Nikiforov: "Exactly. Besides, Yuuri and I can take over if you find it too much."
Yuri P.: "...Why don't you take over now?"
V. Nikiforov: "We don't know them as well as you do...kind of. But I think starting a conversation with the honest person that has an honest question or response will have them fooled."
Yuri slowly nods in understanding before thinking of something to say. A moment or two of silence passes, Yuri types out a question.
Mission Ongoing.
Yuri:'What do you want from me?'
...He should nOT have said that-shit!
Yuri P.: "I- no, no. I shouldn't have asked that!"
Yuuri K.: "Hey, hey, hey! It's alright. While this situation sucks, that's actually a good question. Don't worry."
Phichit: "...Hmm...Oh! They're online! I'm going in."
Otabek: "Okay- Yura, stay calm. We're all here, nothing's going to happen."
Mila: "Yes, while they may start saying shit and hurting you again, don't listen to them. Everything they say is NOT true."
Minami: "Indeed! Whatever IS true is what we tell you, alright?"
Yuri nods as he sees the three dots indicating they're typing back.
The first message appears.
Unknown:'Yulia!'
'Where are your manners?'
'A proper LADY shouldn't take this long to acknowledge her parents.'
Yuuri K.: "I will kill them."
V. Nikiforov: "Take me as your partner in crime."
The skaters didn't know what the messages were. Besides Phichit, they all were clueless, but there is no doubt that the messages are horrible.
Unknown:'But since you're here now...'
'Who did you tell?'
Yuri tenses and tries not to quickly type out his answer as a defense.
Yuri: 'No one'
And then he starts to freak out...
Yuri:'What do you want from me?'
'Leave me alone!'
Yuuri K.: "Whoa! Whoa! Calm down, Yura. You're okay. You're alright." He brings Yuri into a comforting hug.
Yuri P.: "I shouldn't have said that..."
V. Nikiforov: "It's no worry. If anything, and I hate to say this, it'll make them believe they have the upper hand when in reality we do. Phichit, how are we doing?" He turns to the laptop displaying all the other skaters.
Phichit: "Searching through all files. I don't want to take anything useless to us, it'll be a waste of time. Luckily, there aren't many files on their device."
Mila: "Thank God."
Guang: "Then this shouldn't take long!"
JJ-style: "You're doing great, Yuri. Stay calm."
Yuri looks down as a new message from his 'parents' come through to him.
Unknown:'Leave you alone?'
'Why Yulia, what could you possibly do alone?'
'The reason you haven't fallen yet is thanks to us! You should be grateful.'
'But alas, even after all these years, you're as ungrateful as ever.'
'How is your 'family' doing?'
'Still by your side through your lies?'
Yuuri and Viktor frown. What is this big secret that Yuri's parents think could make them hate him?!
Yuri shakes and angrily types back.
Yuri:'The only lies I've told are the ones you put in my mouth'
Yuuri and Viktor sit back in surprise, proud at how Yuri stood up for himself.
Phichit even managed a quick glance at the screen and froze: "Oh! Yas bich! Pop off, Yuri!"
Leo: "What?! What happened?!"
Christophe: "What did he say?!"
Otabek: "Is everything okay?!"
Seung Gil: "Phichit, hacking!"
Phichit: "Right, sorry! I'm just proud of my smol angry nephew!"
Mila: "Why? What did he say to them?"
V.Nikiforov: "His parents accused him of telling lies and he responds, and I quote; 'The only lies I've told are the ones you put in my mouth.'!"
Isabella: "YAS KING!"
Georgi: "You tell them Yuri!"
Otabek: "Hell. Yes!"
Mila: "Ooo! He dramatic! Yes~!"
Sara: "Ohohohohoo~!"
Michele: "Say it louder!"
Emil: "Aye! Yes, Yuri!"
Christophe: "BRAVO CHATON!"
JJ-style: "Now that's JJ style!"
Leo: "Slay motherf-!"
Guang: "Leo! .... SLAY MOTHERFU-"
Leo: "Guang!"
Minami: "Well done Yuri-kun! You got them!"
SeungGil: "Hell to the yes. Get your justice!"
Yuri's lip twitches into a small smile for a second as he's brought into a hug by Yuuri.
He's okay. He's doing okay.
Unknown:'That's not all you allowed to be put in your mouth'
Yuri froze and a lump in his throat grew.
Before Yuuri or Viktor could read, he clutched his phone to his chest tightly. Both sat back at the action.
Yuuri K.: "Uh- Yuri? Everything okay?"
Yuri P.: "...Yeah...yeah I just...they said..."
V. Nikiforov: "Said what?"
Yuri P.: "It's something you don't need to know."
Yuuri eyes him suspiciously: "You sure?"
Yuri P.: "Yeah." And he looks back at his phone screen again, trying to make sure neither Yuuri or Viktor could read the messages.
Unknown:'Not that you said anything.'
'Good girl back then. Silence is golden, like we said.'
'And look at you now...'
'That 'boyfriend' of yours, does he know?'
Yuri: 'Stop'
'You're just trying to scare me. I won't fall for it again.'
Unknown:'Are you sure?'
'Yulia, we have your whole future in our hands, just like it should be'
'Why don't you just be a good little girl and come home to daddy? Mommy has drinks as well!'
'Call it a celebration of your return.'
'I mean after all, it's not like your 'boyfriend', let alone 'family', will still love you once they know.'
The skaters can clearly see Yuri shaking. Yuuri and Viktor try comforting him, but when they see tears welling up in his eyes, they know whatever they're doing isn't working.
Otabek: "Phichit?"
Phichit: "I know! I know! I'm moving all the files, it's still going. Almost done though!"
Mila: "Yura? What did they tell you? What's wrong?"
Yuri P.: "...Nothing."
Yuuri K.: "Yuri-"
Yuri P.: "I said it's nothing!"
Seung Gil: "Whoa."
Michele: "Okay, calm down."
Georgi: "Yuri...I- you sure it's nothing?"
Yuri P.: "I SAID IT'S NOTHING!"
Okay yeah, bullshit! Whatever they said clearly is making Yuri's state worse.
Isabella: "Phichit?"
Phichit: "Just a little longer...!"
Unknown:'Yulia, all you have to do is go along with it'
'Just come back to us'
'No one will have to know.'
'You're aiming for gold, so why not stay silent and just take it?'
'It'll be like the good times.'
'No.' Yuri thought, eyes burning with tears and lump in his throat getting hard to swallow. 'No. No! No good times! They'll do it again, I won't-...but if I don't, they'll find out and hate me...I don't- no! Keep your shit together Yuri.'
Mila: "Yuri, you're worrying me, what's going on?"
That's when he notices that tears are streaming down his face.
Yuuri K.: "Yuri! Please just tell us what's going on!" He wraps an arm around Yuri's shoulders and places his other hand on his chest. His heart was beating fast.
V. Nikiforov: "Do you want us to take over? We could do that."
Phichit: "One more minute, I just need that long!"
Yuri P: "I...I don't..."
Yuuri K.: "What? What is it?"
Yuri P.: "It's...I...nothi-"
V. Nikiforov: "Not in the hells of Mother Russia!"
Yuri blinks out of whatever funk he's in when Viktor snatches his phone away. When he sees the device facing Viktor, he panics.
"NO!" He jumps on Viktor and tries getting his phone back from him.
"Yuri!" Yuuri cries at the sudden panic.
"Yuratcka, calm down!"
"Give it back now!"
"Yuri, please! Just- we're here to help you!" Yuuri tries reminding him.
"No, forget it! You can't help- give it back!"
"Ai! Yuri-" Viktor yells in pain as Yuri elbows his nose by accident (kind of) and snatches the phone back.
But Yuri doesn't listen to what they have to say to him. He jumps off the couch and runs to the bathroom, tears streaming down his face as Yuuri and Viktor (along with the skaters) call out for him.
Slamming and locking the bathroom door shut, Yuri tries getting his breathing under control. He, not so gently, places his phone on the counter and tugs on his hair, pacing the small bathroom with his mind messed up.
They went and did it again. They're playing with him. They're messing him his thoughts and now he can barely think for himself, what should he do?! Surely they mustn't be serious about any of this! Surely this is just some sick joke and Yuri would wake up peacefully an find out that this is all some nightmare. Surely!
Surely...
"Yuri! Yuri, please just talk to us!"
"Yuratchka! Open the door!"
This can't be happening, please! For the love of God, this can't be happening! Yuri chokes a sob and grips his hair even tighter as his body shakes in fear. This is all a nightmare, it has to be!
He was doing so well! So well! This can't be happening!
He wants their help. Yuuri, Viktor, and the other skaters- but his parents have it all! They could easily make this family hate him! They'll hate him!
Yuri wasn't even thinking clearly anymore. His mind is a mess. All logical thoughts have left him in a pile of fear and sorrow as all he could do is bundle himself into a ball by the counter, under the phone holding his nightmare.
This can't be happening! THIS CAN'T! Yuri starts sobbing loudly and tugs on his hair as small cries were let out through his sobs. He hits the back of his head at the counter, trying to stop his mind from thinking shit. Nothing works. It keeps getting worse by the second.
'They'll hate me! They'll think I'm pathetic! Pathetic Yulia in her little girly pathetic nature! Pathetic Yulia who couldn't save herself back then and got caught in. Pathetic, little, ungrateful- STOP! Shut up! SHUT UP! Yulia's dead! She's DEAD! Stop! How could they look at him the same after this?! Yuuri and Viktor would be disgusted! Mila and Georgi would regret helping me back then. Otabek wouldn't be able to stand the sight of me- for fuck's sake! No! They couldn't! They're family! Family! They wouldn't- they would- no!'
Yuri cries loudly, hitting his head against the counter again and again. His hands come to the front of his face, covering his line of sight at the bathroom ceiling.
He doesn't hear the harsh banging on the bathroom door, the loud barks, the said meow's, or the yells of Yuuri or Viktor.
Yuri couldn't breathe, he couldn't think. Oh God, what's happening? What's going to happen?!
Please, he wants out. He wants out! HE WANTS OUT!
"PL-EASE! I WANT OUT! I WANT OUT!" He sobs, hands tightening around his hair and covering his eyes.
'Want out? Do it. Do it! It's in the drawer do it!'
Yuri's hands slowly loosen their hold on his hair, his eyes wide in fear: "N-...no..." He whispers.
He can't. He won't! Not again! Not anymore! He promised!
'What good is a promise to someone who will hate you after they know the truth?'
Another sob escapes him: "No...no please." His voice cracks as he shuts his eyes, wishing to wake up from whatever nightmare this is.
"YURI!"
"YURA OPEN THE DOOR PLEASE!"
'Do it.'
"No..."
"YURI PLEASE! PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR!"
"God- I'm getting a hammer!"
'Do it! You want out don't you?!'
"I-...I...n-no...please I don't..."
"YURI! PHICHIT HAS IT! YOU'RE SAFE- just...please! OPEN THE DOOR!"
'It's in the drawer...all it takes is one, just one!'
"...one...n-..."
"Yuuri move! I'm going to break the door open, Yura! If you can hear me, please say so!"
'DO IT!'
"...I-..." Yuri's eyes turn to face the drawer.
"Yuri?!"
'NOW!'
"...One..." Yuri's hands start to shake.
'Yes, get it!'
"Yura." Yuuri's voice comes through to him.
Yuri's eyes snap open and suddenly...all is quiet. The voice stops talking. His eyes stay on the drawer, but his ears listen to Yuuri behind the door.
"Why would we hate you, Yuri?" Yuuri asks gently.
Yuri's eyes glance shortly behind him where the door is.
"You said...we'd hate you because of the threat your parents are holding against you."
He did...
"Why would we hate you for something that you didn't do willingly?"
...
What?
"Why would we hate you for something that is most probably your 'parents' fault? HOW could we hate you?"
...He doesn't know...
"How could any of us hate you for something that was, most likely, beyond your control?"
Silence...how could he respond? Yuuri is...he's right...too right.
"Whatever it is they're holding against you, it's not your fault. None of it."
They told me it was...
"Whatever they've done or told you...it-it simply! isn't true! We love you for you! Nothing could make us hate you, especially something you didn't want."
Yuri snaps out of it.
Didn't want...?
That...yes, he didn't want it. He never! wanted it. He never asked for it! He never wanted to get hurt! He never wanted his parents to hate him, so he listened thinking they'll like him if he was good...they were wrong.
Yuuri, Viktor, Mila, Georgi, Otabek...all of them...they're here. They're here and they love him.
Love him like his parents never could.
They were right.
Yuri moves his gaze to where his hands lay. He was up on his feet, one hand having opened the drawer and the other reaching for the razor inside.
"How could we hate you?"
"Why would they love you?"
They love him...like they never could-
Yuri's eyes widen in fear at where his hands lay and immediately jumped back, hitting the wall. He clutched his hands to his chest, keeping them away from the weapon inside the drawer.
Oh God. Oh God! OhGodOhGodOhGod!!
"Yuri?!"
Yuri's gasping for breath. He almost...No. He couldn't! Oh God, he almost let it happen again! He almost let them take control again! NO! NO HE WON'T! NOT AGAIN!
"H-he...hel..." He tries crying out.
'Yuuri, Viktor...Mama, Papa...please hear me, help me.'
"Hel..." He wheezes, tears streaming down his face.
'Help me. Help me! HELP ME!'
"Hel-Help!" His sight is blurred from the tears falling rapidly, non-stop.
"Yura?!"
"He-Help!" Gritting his teeth, his body trembles. He needs them. Now. God, please, he needs them. He can't do this alone. "MAMA! PAPA! HELP! Help! Plea-se!"
Behind the door, Viktor curses before slamming the door with the hammer in his hands. Yuuri, in fear, shakes and prays that Yuri is okay.
The door splinters open as both freeze all movement for a single moment before Viktor drops the hammer and follows behind Yuuri into the bathroom.
Inside, there stood Yuri opposite the mirror; crying, trembling, harshly breathing, and clutching his hands away from...they move their gaze to where his eyes stare at...the open drawer carrying a razor.
Oh...Oh Yuri...
Yuri looks at them with fear in his eyes. A plead, a cry for help. He needs them so badly and it broke their hearts seeing him so lost.
Shakily, Yuri's hands go against the wall and push him off of it. He cries in relief at them being here with him. He quickly throws himself into Yuuri's arms, sobbing into his chest and clutching onto his jacket like his life depended on it. Yuuri didn't hesitate to hug him back.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! I didn't do it! I-I was going to- but I didn't want to! I didn't! I PROMISE! It was there! The voice told me but I didn't listen, I couldn't!"
"Yuri-" Yuuri tries speaking to him.
"I don't want them to control me! I can't! I don't- I'm scared! I'm scared...they're in my head. I want them gone! I want to be free!" He pauses: "I want to live...I'm begging you. Please help me. I'm sorry mama, I'm sorry papa. I'll listen to you all the time! I promise, I'll be good! Just please...help me, I can't- I don't want them in my life anymore." His voice cracks.
And so do Yuuri and Viktor's hearts. They find their own tears falling down their face as Viktor steps forward and huddles them into one big hug, holding them close and away from any harm.
"We're here, Yuratchka." Viktor reassures him: "We're here and I promise you, you'll live."
"We're not leaving you, ever!" Yuuri says: "You'll never have to see your parents again. We'll save you, always."
"You're safe. They won't get away with this! You'll be free from their chains soon, very soon." Viktor promises: "You're family and you're stuck with us."
Yuri sniffles as he tries burying himself deeper into the hug. He feels Makkachin and Potya circling around their legs, trying to comfort all three of them. It's nice. Safe. Yuri's lips twitch, attempting to bring a smile to his face. Makkachin and Potya's familiar fur, Yuuri and Viktor's arms, their heartbeats; he's okay.
"Yuri," Yuuri softly speaks again through the silence: "No matter what happens, we'll always be with you. Me, Viktor, Makkachin, Potya, Otabek, the other skaters, Yakov, Lilia, my family- all of us! We're here baby, YOU'RE here, with us. You're home. And we'll be right by your side through it all. This is your life now, no one can control you, not even them. You're the best son Viktor and I could ever ask for. I can't imagine a world without you in it."
"Precisely." Viktor smiles: "A world without you is one we couldn't bear to live in."
Yuri's tears keep falling, but a smile makes its way onto his face. Tears of happiness, relief. He's found.
He has a family, someone and somewhere to call home. His parents can't hurt him, not while they're here with him. Them and the other skaters, they're here for him and he can't thank them enough.
He'll be free. He'll live. Live fully with no one carrying his strings. He'll hold his own strings with help.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow he'll face the world, face his parents. Tell the truth in front of them all.
But today, at this moment, he'll hold onto his real parents, his mama and papa.
Tomorrow, he'll face the truth like the soldier he's claimed.
Today, he'll cry like the lost -now found- boy he is.
A shaky breath escapes him as his shoulders sag in relief: "Thank you." He whispers.
Their response, holding him tighter. Makkachin and Potya nuzzle his legs.
They're okay and they'll be okay when it's time.
The next day, well...let's just say after the panic from yesterday, the skaters didn't waste another second and had all gotten plane tickets to Russia without a care in the world. Even Phichit who's still going through the aftermath of his Top Surgery, somehow he managed.
Worry is an understatement to them. Yuri's panic scared them and they aren't going to wait any longer for worse to happen. They'll stand by Yuri's side through it all. The ice can melt with no sins and their coaches could scold them all they want, they aren't leaving Yuri's side until his 'parents' are (hopefully) given a death penalty.
Yuri kept apologizing over and over when he found out they're all flying to Russia, but they kept reassuring him that they were going to anyway and that he shouldn't worry about it.
When Yuri reaches the airport the next day, with Yuuri and Viktor, he sees Mila and Georgi already at the entrance pacing. He can't stop himself; he climbs out of the car and races to the duo who catch sight of him.
Mila has tears streaming down her face, relief flooding over her fear and worry when she sees her little brother uninjured and okay.
Georgi is the first to race to Yuri, his hands shaking, with Mila quickly following behind. Both pull him into a frantic hug and hold him close, he doesn't hesitate to hug back.
Yuuri and Viktor stand on the side, small smiles on their face.
"Oh, you're okay. Thank God. You're alright." Georgi says.
Mila just manages a sob.
They both pull back from the hug, but Mila's hands stay on Yuri's shoulders.
Georgi gives them this moment.
"I'm so," Her voice cracks: "So, proud of you. So proud, Yuri. You did it."
As the first to have known about Yuri's scars, she's overwhelmed. She had stuck by Yuri's side before Georgi and Viktor, helped him through relapses or moments where he almost did. Her trust and faith in him helped loads. Yuri was and still is forever thankful for Mila. She's truly the best sister he could ever ask for.
"You did it alone as well. I'm so proud of you-you have no idea how happy I am that you're okay."
Yuri smiles at her, tears clouding his vision: "I wasn't alone. Never was, still aren't."
Mila manages an even bigger smile: "Alone or not. You stopped it from happening physically. That itself is enough."
Yuri couldn't find the words to thank her, so he pulls her in for another hug, and she doesn't hesitate to hug back.
Georgi, Viktor, and Yuuri watch happily, giving the two their moment.
Eventually, they break the hug and all five head inside to await the other skaters. Georgi and Mila each have an arm across Yuri's shoulders, and he's not complaining.
They stand in front of the gate of the first to arrive from the bunch: Guang.
When he comes out and spots Yuri, he doesn't waste another second and sprints down to him. Letting go of his bag, he brings Yuri into a hug, not carrying if his bag goes flying.
It doesn't, because Georgi exists.
Next to show up was Seung Gil who, while keeping with his stoic face, looks worried and literally let's go of his bag in front of the gate and walks the rest of the way to Yuri without it.
He's not one for hugs, so he places his hands on Yuri's shoulders as if it is a hug.
"You're okay, right? Are you hurt?" He asks.
"I'm okay. And I will be okay after." Yuri smiles reassuringly.
"Thank God." He closes his eyes and faces the ceiling as he spoke. Unconsciously, his hands rub Yuri's shoulders to comfort.
Yuri doesn't mention it, but is thankful for it.
Christopher came next, surprisingly. But he took the earliest flight possible.
When he spots Yuri... Let's not underestimate his dramatics.
He drops his bag, that let's out a loud bang and cries out.
"CHATON~!"
Waterfalls quite literally falling from his eyes.
Yuri holds back from rolling his eyes, but shakes his head with a smile.
He finds himself wrapped up in a hug before he could blink.
"YOU'RE OKAY! THANK CHRIST- not myself-YOU'RE OKAY!"
"Could you be any more dramatic?" Seung Gil deadpans.
"LET ME HAVE THIS!"
Viktor laughs and Yuuri playfully face palms. Guang giggles, Mila snorts, and Georgi approves of Christophe's dramatics.
Emil surprisingly arrives at Russia the same time as Minami fifteen minutes later. Both skaters meet up before making their way to where Yuri and the others are waiting. Emil spots Yuri first and a smile grows on his face with a gasp, Minami quickly looks at where Emil is looking and lights up.
Yuri braces himself with a small smile as Minami runs at him with happy tears: "YURI-KUN!"
Emil speed walks behind him, chuckling.
"YURI~-KUN!" Minami almost knocks Yuri off his feet with his hug, but Yuri manages to hold his ground: "You're okay!"
"Yeah..." Yuri smiles fondly, hugging back: "I'm okay."
"Glad to see you doing well, Yuri." Emil stands right behind Minami.
"Glad to be here, Emil. Safe flight?" He turns the question to both Emil and Minami.
"Yup!" Minami breaks the hug to answer: "Although, the bathroom line was too long, I thought I wouldn't make it." (TwT)
Everyone laughs as Emil pats Minami on the shoulder comfortingly.
"YURI!"
"BROTHER IN LAW!" A gasp follows: "MILA~!"
Mila noticeably lights up, it makes Yuri smile her direction.
Turning back to face the gate, Sara and Michele come running towards the group, Michele trying to hide back tears of justice.
Michele grabs Yuri and starts flailing his arms around.
"Are you hurt? Any injuries? Your breathing is balanced?!" He places a hand on Yuri's chest. "...Heartbeat is normal- On a scale of one to ten, mentally, what number would you be on?"
"...Uh-" Yuri tries to answer.
"Nevermind that! How are you emotionally?! If you're about to cry, I shall provide hugs! Protecting you- and Sara- is my priority!"
"Dude," Seung Gil speaks up: "I think he's emotionally confused right now."
Sara snorts and tries to hide her laughter behind her fist. Mila laughs with her and wraps an arm around her lovingly.
"How are you feeling, sweetpea?" Sara asks Mila.
"Okay. We're all okay."
"The power of family compels us all!" Michele exclaims.
"And here we thought Viktor was cheesy." Emil jokes.
"Oh-! Come on! Let me live here!" Viktor whines.
"Non." Christophe says smugly.
Viktor dramatically gasps: "A betrayal of friendship? That's low even for you, Chris."
"The dramatics never leave this group." Guang mutters to Yuri playfully.
"Dramatic is the drama with us." Georgi says, causing Seung Gil, Yuri, Guang, Yuuri, Mila, and Sara to stare at him: "...Don't ask me what that means. Either way, it makes sense."
"...Kind of, yeah." Sara agrees.
Around twenty minutes later, Phichit arrives in all his glory.
A duffle bag held with >style<, his button up shirt open showing the bandages and, as Phichit calls them, 'bombs carrying the blood of my enemies'. He's dragging his bag and basically strutting through the ocean of people at the airport with Gucci glasses on his face.
"Oh sweet merthy!" Phichit exclaims as he makes his way to them: "That airplane has less space than my phone's storage room." He snatches his glasses off his face and stands a few feet away from the group, still talking. "The amount of money I've had to pay to be a decent late uncle hour boi because I'm carrying the blood of my enemies...wasn't that much really, but everyone is treating me like I'm Barbie in her little fantastic plastic world like heLlO?! I'm perfectly made of flesh and meat thank you very much."
He places the hand carrying his glasses on his hip in a >fabulous< pose: "But honey, that flesh and meat is the fist I'll be using to throw hands for my smol angry nephew as the caring, fABuloUs late uncle hour boi I am! Now!" He puts on his glasses again and drops his duffle bag to raise his hands out: "Can I be blessed with the hugs of my nephew or will I have to suffer in my plastic non-fantastic life even more?"
...
"Did I ever tell you you're such a vibe?" Sara asks.
"A fabulous vibe." Christophe says.
"He even dropped his bag in fabulous." Seung Gil adds.
Yuri laughs and steps forward, being careful as he hugs Phichit who smiles in victory with the blessing.
"Here in my arms, is the one and only Yuri Plisetsky." Phichit announces before turning serious and looking down at Yuri: "You doing okay? How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay." Yuri promises: "And hopefully this will all end okay."
"Ohohohoho~ Yuri, Yuri, Yuri," Phichit cackles: "You have my existence on your side. Those who dare defy me, shall-eth meet-eth their death-...eth."
"Be thankful Otabek isn't here to hear that." Yuri jokes.
Everyone laughs at the truth of the Grammar Nazi as Phichit clicks his tongue: "Is this the thanks I get? I have one English teacher, I don't need a second, I promise."
"Otabek would say different." Yuri fires back smugly.
"Oh my- leave your romantic young, high school sweetheart love life away from my English crisis. I majored in Social Media not in Dictionary. Let a man live in style."
Mila and Sara are crying tears of laughter.
Yuuri shakes his head as he laughs at his friend.
Viktor, Christophe, and Georgi have even more growing respect (if possible) for Phichit's drama.
Guang and Minami are giggling and the former sneaked a photo.
Emil just smiles fondly at his friend as Michele tries to hold in his cackle.
Seung Gil... O///O
(Hehe)
"Either I walked in on a murder by mister fabulous because of my early ass flight or I'm witnessing something completely normal."
Guang gasps: "Leo!"
Yuri and Phichit break the hug to see Leo making his way to them.
"Wow, I was expecting you to be here last." Viktor says.
"I caught a flight that left in ten minutes. I don't even know what I packed to be honest. Just know it's a bag of disaster- hey!" Leo happily hugs back an excited Guang.
"Whatever fashion fallacy you have packed in there, stay back sinful soul!" Georgi poses as if he was holding a fencing sword.
"How dramatic can one group be?" Seung Gil mutters.
"You're asking US that question?" Yuuri responds, raising a brow.
"...Fair enough for me."
Leo turns to Yuri after greeting Guang: "How are you doing, tigger?"
"...Did you just Winnie the Pooh me?" Yuri questions.
"I Winnie the Pooh-ed your title, Ice Tiger of Russia. Now, how are you doing?"
Yuri just purses his lips, his stare judging Leo's thinking.
"...You good?" Mila asks Leo for Yuri.
"Honey, is anyone?" Leo easily answers.
"My God," Michele chuckles, face-palming.
Leo just steps forward and ruffles Yuri's hair. "Either way, I'm just glad you're alright."
After a quick stop a nearby Starbucks to get either a snack or a drink, the big group wait for the next person. The last few were Otabek, Isabella, and JJ. The last two easily arriving with each other, so two more flights left to wait for.
Logically, Otabek came before the duo, seeing as he lives nearest to Russia but unfortunately had a late flight.
Yuri could feel that Otabek is worried, that he wouldn't feel calm unless he sees him in person all okay. Yuri still feel slightly guilty about worrying the whole group (he should really get used to calling them a family rather than make it sound like a school project) but he couldn't help but feel a bit selfish. He loves their company and how they always manage to bring a smile onto his face with their blessing existence (as Phichit says) so he couldn't feel completely guilty about it.
Mixed feelings, but that's okay. With them, he's allowed to feel.
The family were all seated around at a single space waiting when Yuri caught sight of a rushing Otabek with, as he guessed, an expression of worry. Standing up quickly, the family's gaze following him, he races to Otabek desperate to finally just be in his arms.
Otabek hears the rushing footsteps getting closer to him and looks up. Yuri. Screw his bag really, it can find its way to him later. He lets go of the handle and runs towards Yuri with the one wish to hold him close, safe, and away from any more demons.
They both couldn't stop themselves from letting out sighs of relief, shoulders sagging, when they found themselves in an embrace. Yuri almost wanted to cry, he's so happy Otabek is with him, and he tries pushing away the negative thoughts of how Otabek could hate him if he knew.
Otabek on the other hand, is shaking. Yuri's okay, safe. Yuri's here with him, hugging him back and away from any problems for a moment (moments if you count the other skaters). Deep down, he could tell that Yuri's not telling them something (it's very clear since yesterday's breakdown) but he wasn't going to push him to tell. Yuri shouldn't be forced to.
Besides, whatever it is, Yuri has it in his hands thanks to Phichit.
"Beka..." Yuri trails off, just tightening his hold on Otabek who does the same.
"I'm here, Yura." He pauses, sighing again after hearing Yuri's voice speaking to him calmly: "You're okay. You're going to be okay, tiger." He rubs his hand on Yuri's back comfortingly: "I'm so proud of you. So proud of you."
Yuri just smiles, placing a small kiss on Otabek's cheek.
Reluctantly pulling away from the hug, but still holding eachothers hands, Otabek asks: "How are you feeling?"
"...Now? Never felt better." They share a smile: "But...whatever happens after scares me. If it fails-"
"It won't." Otabek reassures quickly.
Yuri huffs a laugh: "You don't know that."
"Actually, I do. Yura, you have the whole skating group...family, by your side. We're not going anywhere."
Yuri's smile falters looking down: "...Even after you know...?"
"Absolutely."
Yuri looks back up at Otabek: "How could you be so confident?"
"Maybe you're rubbing off on me more than just roasting JJ's existence with his own fiancé." He jokes.
That manages to get a laugh from Yuri.
Otabek suddenly, and hesitantly, turns serious: "Yura...I promise! you that I could never hate you. No matter what it is that's happened, I will always stand by you."
For the love of all that is holy, Yuri just had to be dating the one sap that could get him to let loose a tear or two with one single sentence- and now he's using a hand to wipe it away- God...
"I love you." Yuri says, placing a hand over Otabek's hand on his cheek.
"I love you to, so much."
"You're such a sap, Otabek Altin."
"Only for you, Yuri Plisetsky."
If they could stand there, hand in hand, forhead to forhead, forever...they wouldn't hesitate to.
What did Yuri every do to deserve someone so amazing and understanding?
When they broke away from the hug, they walk back to the group where, surprise! JJ and Isabella were waiting with smiles on their faces.
"I'll scream- can I scream?!" Isabella excitedly says.
"We arrived a couple minutes ago, early flight. But she didn't want to ruin the 'Otayuri moment' and decided to fangirl on the sidelines in front of her own fiancé."
"Why else is she on our ship? To roast your whole existence." Yuri replies.
"JJ barbeque? I didn't take any of you to be cannibals."
"eXCUSE you!" Phichit exclaims from the back: "We're fabulous cannibals for your egotistical information."
"So everyone is allowed to live but me?"
"I live because I am the moment." Phichit pretends to do a hairflip.
"You're helpless." Yuuri tells him.
"Oh honey, I been knew."
Sharing one last laugh together, they all make their way out of the aiport. Viktor, Yuuri, Yuri, and Otabek ride in the pink car while the other ride on an extremely long limosouine Viktor called.
In the backseat, leaning on Otabek's shoulder, as Yuuri and Viktor convers like the saps they are in the front seat; Yuri smiles, and as he interwines his hand with Otabek's, he knows he'll be okay.
With a last bit of hope, he pleads for this nightmare to be over.
Then he'll finally live freely, happily.