The Unexpected

Chapter 3

March 4th, 2025 (Yurio's 24 by the way, since it's past his birthday)

Yurio's POV 1st Person

I wake up slightly ahead of the alarm and shoot off to the bathroom, careful to make as little noise as possible. I reach it and sink to my knees, bracing myself on the toilet bowl as I puke into it. Soon a pair of arms encircle me from behind and I droop into them, tired already. I was hoping Otabek wouldn't hear me but it's not exactly a surprise that he did, I've always been a loud person and there's no reason to think that this would be any exception. He strokes my hair from behind and I smile slightly, only to lurch forward as round two comes up. Once it's finally over I start to get up, determinedly not accepting the hand Otabek offers. If he thinks I need the help (and secretly I do but I'd rather die than admit it) then he won't let me go today, and I really want to go today. I'll have a tough enough time convincing him already and there's no need to make it worse. I act as if nothing's happened, going about my morning routine as usual. I brush my teeth, take a quick shower and am about to start brushing my hair when a hand removes the brush from my own.

"Let me do that," Otabek says, and I can hear the smile in his voice, I roll my eyes but allow it. I sink into the feeling, loving how gentle his brushstrokes are compared to mine that more often than not rip out hair. It takes a while but before long my hair is smooth and untangled. I'm just about to tie it back for practice when Otabek stops me.

"No." I say before he can even begin and continue with what I'm doing.

"Yuri," Otabek says, obviously preparing a speech, "You threw up this morning, you're still not well. You can't go to practice if you're sick," I tie off the piece of hair I'm holding and face him, calmly and making sure to employ my best persuasive tactics, 

"I do it all the time," I say with a smile. The smile does not go unnoticed, Otabek raises an eyebrow, as if saying, Oh come on I know you better than that. I let it slide off my face, "Okay whatever, yes I threw up, but only twice and it wasn't that bad!" I stand on my tiptoes, still annoyingly short, and kiss him, "I'm fine, I'll take it easy I promise!" Otabek opens his mouth again but I cut him off quickly, "Please Beka? Just this once? I haven't skated in forever and I'm losing my mind without it!" I make the puppy dog eyes at him and use the pet name I know he loves, trying to convince him. 

"Yura," He sighs, a crease between his eyebrows, and I know I've won, "What if something happens, what if you get hurt or fall down or-"

"Right because I never fall," I say, interrupting him and raising an eyebrow, he laughs and shakes his head slightly,

"No, you don't fall. I've known you for 8 years and I've only seen you fall like six times,"

"Which-" I add hastily, stopping him from building an argument, "Shows how unlikely it is that I will! I'll only do easy stuff today, I promise. Nothing more than a triple Axel." Otabek looks conflicted but knows he won't win, so is going for the bargain,

"Only doubles." He says and my eyebrows shoot up, 

"Hell no." I state firmly, "I have a tiny stomach bug, I'm not an old lady. I can do the triples easily!" 

"Take it or leave it," Otabek says, and this time I know he's not backing down. 

"Fuck you," I grumble and start to leave the room, but he just laughs, swinging me around for a kiss before I go. 

When we reach the rink my eyes light up, and I have to stop myself from racing into the locker rooms. It feels good to be home. We're the first ones here, and take extra time stretching because of it. Becka rolls his eyes when I slip into the splits effortlessly. "No one human should be that flexible!" He mutters and I laugh, enjoying watching him struggle to get into a straddle. 

"How is it so hard for you?" I rearrange my positioning so I'm parallel to the wall, one leg flat on it, completely straight as I stand on the other one. Slowly I lower myself down into a crouch on the standing leg, while the other remains upright held up by the wall. Otabek can't help but watch as I walk down on my elbows so my legs now form close to a right angle, more than a split and a Bielleman combined. I take out my phone and start surfing Instagram, as I do whenever I stretch but am stopped by a sudden twinge from my leg. I suck in a breath and look back at my right leg, still on the wall. It happens again and I scoot outward quickly, letting it come down again. Otabek watches me closely, looking concerned, having seen me do that enough times to know that my limbs never object to it. Before the question can form the door bursts open and the others trickle in. I shake my head quickly at Otabek, telling him not to bring it up in front of them. He pauses for a second, but then nods, and I can tell that I'm not getting out of talking about it, just not currently doing so. Phichit and Yuuri walk in discussing something animatedly, and only sending us a quick wave each before heading off to their lockers. I catch just enough of their conversation to gauge what's going on;

"The sitter flaked and Victor's stuck on dad duty. He said he'd get here as soon as he could but Maria's been a little clingy lately so I don't know how he'll manage that. I feel bad enough already leaving but she was really good about it so-" They walk away and I smile slightly, giving Otabek a knowing look. Maria, their six-year-old daughter, is adorable, really affectionate and really smart. She can already read chapter books, although she prefers the fairy princess series, it's crazy how fast she's growing up. I remember the day she was born, I was eighteen and thoroughly sickened by the whole ordeal, but the second I saw her I loved her. I almost cried when they asked me to be godfather, agreeing with a stiff nod and leaving the room quickly after. Ever since I've been 'Uncle Yurio'. It still pisses me off that they taught their child to call me that, but since it's Maria I accept it. Needless to say, we're best friends, I babysit sometimes and have attended countless fairy princess tea parties. I swear she's the only thing on this earth that will ever make me wear that tiara. The thought makes me smile and Otabek returns it, also having been present at several of the tiara bedecked receptions, armed with Mr. Bear, (She called him Uncle Otabear by accident once and it stuck) and Miss Kitty. 

We finish the off ice together and lace our skates. Excitement courses through my veins and as I step on the ice feel an idiotic grin appear. God, I've missed this, I take a few laps around the perimeter and go through a few loop patterns to warm up. At last, I can finally begin working and as I start my wind up see Otabek watching me from the boards, a stern look on his face. I sigh and change my position at the last second, only rotating twice before touching down, annoyed that my plans for a quad had been foiled. 

***

Two hours later I check out of my spin breathing heavily and wiping sweat from my forehead. Luckily Otabek is in the middle of working on a step sequence so he doesn't notice, and I think it's safe to get a drink at the wall. Not that he'd stop me of course, on the contrary; he'd try to force me to take a proper break, maybe even try to take me home, and I am not having that. I pick up my water bottle and drain the contents, letting my lungs burn as I down it. I'm about to get back on the ice when the doors to the rink open and Victor walks in, simultaneously motioning to Yuuri and speaking to the six-year-old at his side. Yuuri comes over and dons his guards, walking past me to speak to his husband and daughter. Maria seems to get impatient with her parents' hushed conversation, and seeing me watching, decides to say hi.

"Hey Uncle Yurio," She says, hugging me, and I wince slightly, sore.

"Hey Maria, how's it going?" I ask her, crouching down so I'm on her level. I glance at her parents and find them watching us, both look away quickly when they realize I've seen them. Maria follows my gaze and looks slightly downcast, 

"My babysitter can't come and they can't figure out what to do with me," She sighs and continues, "I told them that if they just left me at home with a book I'd be fine but they're being overprotective again," I manage to hold back a laugh (Her vocabulary is too big for her!) and force my face to straighten out, 

"That sucks,"

"Yeah it does," She agrees, then suddenly gets a sneaky look on her face, "Hey, so you know how you watch me sometimes?" She asks and I nod, immediately knowing where this is going and having no clue how to respond. "Well, can you watch me today?" She asks hopefully, "I know you're busy but I'll be really good! I can read in my room and you won't have to do any work!" She looks at me pleadingly, "Please!"