Semi-closed

[beautiful_monster]

WHO: Yurio and Viktor (and other residents/visitors to skatefam house)
WHERE: Heropa 017
WHEN: Backdated to the end of the memory event
WHAT: Viktor regains his memories
WARNINGS: None forseen; will update as necessary

[It's been a few days since Yuri's been at the house for longer than it takes him to stop by and make sure his cat is properly fed and cared for. He's been avoiding the place—or, more specifically, avoiding Viktor. The change that had come over Viktor with the loss of his memories was just too unsettling for him to want to deal with more than absolutely necessary, and he'd called Adachi to check in on him so surely it was fine to just make himself absent until things returned to normal, right? Of course that does mean he eventually needs to come back to see if Viktor has returned to himself yet or not.

So one morning, when Viktor finally comes downstairs for breakfast, he'll find Yuri in the kitchen making himself some coffee to start the day. He needs to make sure he's awake enough to deal with whatever state he's going to find the older skater in, after all.]

Comments

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor honestly hadn't thought that much of Yuri's absence from the house since he was also out of it too; when he wasn't at the rink, he was walking Makkachin on long walks through Heropa or down at the beach, or he was doing other exercises. When he actually was home, he ended up just browsing on the internet and network for a while before watching the TV for a while, at a loss for something to do. He just figured Yuri was over at either Yusuke or Otabek's place. He was used to being by himself anyway.

When he came downstairs that morning, he hardly thought about the sound coming from the kitchen either, only the faint hope that it was someone returning, still tired enough not to register who that someone might be. It wasn't until he saw Yuri standing there that he felt a twinge of disappointment, seeing blond hair instead of black, green eyes instead of brown behind glasses.

Viktor stops short at the thought, going still and eyes growing wide as he stood barefoot in the kitchen in nothing but the short boxers he put on after getting up. He stares blankly at Yuri for several beats, attention turned inside his own head as he realizes he remembers. ]

[beautiful_monster]

[Yuri doesn't even turn to see who's come down. There are only a few people it could be, and he still expects Viktor to have some obvious reaction to him coming back—provided he remembers, that is.

When he does finally turn around and sees that it actually is Viktor standing, he scowls. No reaction (as far as he can tell), so...no memory? It figures his luck would still be in the pits. He finishes fixing his cup of coffee and starts to stalk out of the kitchen past him, still not eager to deal with him while he thinks Viktor's memory is still shot.]

[fourlevels]

Yura ...

[ That's soft whisper is all the warning Yuri gets before Viktor practically attacks him. He leans in and down, wrapping his arms around Yuri's shoulders in a fierce hug, holding him almost too tightly and not even caring if it makes Yuri spill his coffee. ]

[beautiful_monster]

[The coffee is a goner. Nice job. Luckily Yuri doesn't seem to mind it. He jolts in surprise at first and then goes very still, only shifting his eyes over to watch Viktor as best he can from the edge of his vision.]

Viktor... You're back?

[fourlevels]

[ At least it's lost onto the tile floor of the kitchen rather than the carpeted living room like the earlier smoothie. Viktor just hugs Yuri all the tighter at the question, the Russian muffled somewhere in his shoulder. ]

I'm so sorry I forgot, Yura, I can't believe I forgot.

[beautiful_monster]

[There's a beat or two of hesitation, and then Yuri returns the gesture, arms wrapping around the older skater and fists clenching at his back.]

It's this fucking place. [There's a tremor in his voice he's trying to hide.] It never gives us a break.

[fourlevels]

This was the cruelest so far ... I'm sorry, Yura.

[beautiful_monster]

I'm telling Katsuki you forgot about him when he finally drags his sorry ass back here.

[It's a sad attempt at a joke.]

[fourlevels]

[ He makes a choked sound like a barely-held back sob. ]

I can't even argue with that, can I?

[beautiful_monster]

[Boy that sure is not doing anything to help calm him down either. The tremor in his voice is both more pronounced and sounds more obviously like ht's trying to hide it.]

You better not.

[fourlevels]

Okay, okay ...

[ The feigned disdain is contradicted by the way he squeezes Yuri again. ]

[beautiful_monster]

[Yuri appreciates both the tone and the extra squeeze; each comforting in their own way.]

...Sorry I didn't stick around.

[fourlevels]

[ Only then does Viktor start to pull back, wanting to see Yuri's face. ]

Mmm, it'a alright. I understand why you didn't.

[beautiful_monster]

[Yuri doesn't stop him, but he's not meeting Viktor's eyes either.]

Did Adachi handle it okay?

[fourlevels]

I think so? He hugged me at one point, but I wasn't ... ah, in the right frame of mind to hug back. I didn't really do hugs before so ...

[beautiful_monster]

...What did you do back then? It kind of seemed like nothing mattered to you at all.

[fourlevels]

I just ... didn't, really. Of anything. Nothing really did matter back then, except skating, but even that was ...

[ He makes a vague gesture, half shrug, half waving it off. ]

[beautiful_monster]

I can't imagine living like that.

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor does shrug this time. ]

It didn't start out like that. It just sort of ... snuck up? I don't know how to describe it. It wasn't until later that I realized it was everything. I guess I just got used to it.

[beautiful_monster]

[Yuri's quiet for a minute or two after that, unsure how to respond or even how to begin to process that. How the hell had Viktor managed to get so bad while no one in the Russian team noticed? He had the excuse of being an actual child at the time, but even knowing that didn't do much to ease the guilt and frustration over how little he felt he'd been able to do.]

...At least Katsuki finally snapped you out of it.

[fourlevels]

Mmm, he was ... something different. It was like nothing changed for me? I'd been standing at the top of the skating world for years, the people who flanked me a few steps down shifting in an out in a blur, but all of them looking up at me like something to attain, to surpass.

[ He says it mildly, not trying to make light of his accomplishments or to belittle his fellow skaters. He starts to smile lightly. ]

But Yuuri ... he was the first to yank me off the podium altogether and take me dancing.

[beautiful_monster]

[Unfortunately he's talking to one of those skaters that flanked him, and Yuri is the most temperamental of them all. He huffs and steps back into the kitchen for a cloth to clean the spilled coffee with.]

I just wanted you to notice me.

[fourlevels]

[ Oh yeah that would be a good idea to clean up. ]

We're rinkmates. Of course I noticed you.

[beautiful_monster]

[Yuri snorts and rolls his eyes, stooping to wipe the spill.]

You've noticed me now, but back then I was just a kid who shared a coach with you.

[fourlevels]

Ah, I suppose that's true ...

[ Viktor picks up the cup that fell, getting another towel to join Yuri in sopping it up. ]

... Did you see me as something more back then?