Chapter Text
Though the days went by slowly, Yuri was able to make it to Wednesday afternoon without dying of curiosity. He raced home from the dance studio, feeling like he was flying after all the stretching Lilia had made him do and opened his laptop. As he threw his bag against a pile of clothes he quickly pulled open Skype and the website he had found, excited for whatever Otabek had planned.
“Heey” he answered the call that came in as soon as the app had loaded with a smile.
“Ready?” Otabek asked with a mischievous smile, one eyebrow cocked.
“Yep!” He pulled the laptop off his desk and onto his bed. Movies were always better wrapped in blankets. His favorite, out of the millions he owned, was the one currently residing at the end of his bed. It was soft and the pattern was a blend of both cheetah and tiger print. He pulled it around him as he added. “So are you finally ready to tell me what we’re watching Mr. Mysterious?” He had asked Otabek many times since they had first talked about the idea but was unsuccessful at getting the answer he wanted each time.
Yuri gave Otabek’s reply of “You’ve waited so long, what’s a few more minutes?” a well-deserved groan.
Thankfully after a couple of minutes of setup they were finally ready to start the film. Yuri’s knees were bouncing with impatience under the blanket as the opening commercials started. He couldn’t help but smile at the lion roaring in the opening. Finally, the title screen popped up and Yuri found out what film they were watching for the first time.
‘The Princess Bride’…it was definitely not a film he would have picked out himself. “Wait what is this Beka?” Yuri asked as a video game showed up on the screen. “I thought this was supposed about a princess”. Otabek remained silent. “Bekaaa?”
“Just give it a chance Yuri.”
“Fine.” Yuri pulled the blankets closer to him. Preparing for what could be a very boring yet confusing movie. At the mention of “Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants…” Yuri got even more confused ‘What is this movie? Though the promise of violence is a good sign at least.’ he thought to himself. The only thing that stopped him from immediately requesting they watch something else was that Beka had picked it out.
Yuri watched as Buttercup ordered the farmboy around. “She’s a bitch.” He commented, quick to disprove of the way she used the boy. “She doesn’t deserve him”
“Give her a chance” Otabek had a pleading quality to his voice.
“As you wish?” Yuri laughed, forgetting about their earlier conversation. “That’s so sappy. Oh and here’s the sunset.” He laughed even harder as the story broke again for the young boy’s question “Is this a kissing book?” “Exactly what I was thinking, what kind of romantic sappy shit are you into Otabek?”
Yuri could hear Otabek’s exhale of breath.
“Just give it a chance Yura, and if you don’t shut up you’re gonna be confused later.”
Yuri closed his mouth before he fired off another response and decided to give the movie another chance for Otabek, he had been right about so many things before, how could he be so off about this
He heard the tiniest “Awe” escape from Otabek’s lips at Wesley’s farewell. This was still way to sappy for the young Russian.
Otabek was torn between watching one of his favorite films and drinking in Yuri’s response to it. While it wasn’t the best he had a feeling Yuri would warm up to the film as it went on. Over the next few minutes Yuri he heard various reactions from Yuri.
“PIRATES!!” “Yes I agree with the kid!” “Ugh she’s so over dramatic she could rival the Russian team.” “See I told you she’s a bitch, look at how short it took for her to remarry.”
He finally broke his silence. “Yura.”
“She’s a total sellout Beka.”
“Just watch the movie.”
Things got quieter after that, with them both watching film more intently. Otabek was smiling, it had been so long since he’d last seen the film. Yuri’s commentary was hilarious but he’d come around, Otabek knew he’d like the film. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Yuri’s grasp on the blanket around him slacken as the furry monstrosity fell around him.
“He reminds me of Yakov” Yuri mused at the unnamed ringleader of the kidnappers who was currently going on a rant. “Very angry, very small, old body” He pulled his leg up for a second, popping his hip joint to make himself more comfortable.
Another chuckle from Otabek as he chimed in any time anyone said “Inconceivable”-how many times has he seen this movie Yuri wondered? Though minutes later the film seemed to get more interesting.
“Shrieking eels? Yes! Finally some action” Yuri said excitement growing as the sounds intensified.
“NOOOOOO!” Otabek heard Yuri exclaim just as the film switched back to the boy and his grandfather. The other end stayed silent, even after the film switched back. Otabek couldn’t stop himself from breaking it to repeat “inconceivable” once again. He was fairly proud of the fact that even after so much time he still hadn’t missed one.
Yuri gasped as the rope was cut. Had they really just killed off a new character? He smiled as the man was shown below, “Black mask huh? Quite mysterious.” Otabek was silent until it came time to repeat the word he seemed so fixated on once again. He could hear Otabek repeat “Inconceivable” in perfect time with the film, then “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” Yuri still didn’t understand Otabek’s obsession with the film but at least he knew why Otabek had been so focused on that word. It was pretty funny Yuri had to admit.
“Oooo swords” Yuri laughed about the people in masks line, thinking about how Georgi’s short program used so much makeup it could be considered a mask. Well at least it was true, he definitely didn’t trust Georgi. He was just as impatient as the Spaniard for the swordfight to begin. “Omg don’t trust him” Yuri couldn’t help but exclaim as the man was offered help reaching the top. He wanted to see a swordfight meaning the masked man had to climb and live. Maybe he was starting to get into the film just a bit.
The tension leading up to the swordfight was unbearable. The tricks involved left him smiling. He didn’t even know who to root for. Maybe the Spaniard, he was helping to start a war and a war seemed like a fun option.
“I like that line though, the father one.” Yuri said trying to recall what Inigo had just said. Otabek repeated the line, perfectly. Yuri followed his words, embellishing them for drama “Hello, My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die.” Flourishing his challenge with a fake sword swish.
He was captivated by their dialogue and fast movements. This is pretty good. He hadn’t been expecting something so cool from the same sappy princess movie that had included that “As you wish” moment earlier.
Otabek tried as hard as he could to stifle his excitement at the following events. Not wanting to spoil anything for the new viewer of the film.
Yuri cheered through the fight with Fezzik, rooting for the mysterious man in black. He smiled at the response, glad to see Yuri finally getting into it.
When the prince showed up Yuri’s first question was “What’s up with his sleeves?”
“What?” Otabek asked immediately looking him over, trying to see what Yuri had picked up on.
“He doesn’t have the bottom half of his sleeve on. It looks so stupid.”
“I- I’ve never noticed that before.” Otabek said, Yuri was right though it did look stupid and it was the perfect look for Humperdink.
“This Yakov guy thinks too much” Yuri exclaimed a couple of minutes into the Sicilian’s explanation of his choice. How long would he continue to not make it? It was kind of hilarious though… and when the answer was finally revealed he couldn’t help but be impressed.
“That’s a dirty trick-I like him too”
“Who else?” He heard Otabek ask, voice husky from the time they had spent in silence.
“The Spanish guy.”
“Ah.” Otabek said knowingly. Yuri cursed himself for not knowing what was coming up next in the film. Though when Buttercup refered to the man in black as ‘The Dread Pirate Roberts’ Yuri couldn’t help but love him more.
After a few minutes he watched as the characters entered the fire swamp. It seemed intriguing, though the return to sappy romance was not the best. He agreed with the little boy. Yuri snuggled into his sheets preparing to watch the rest of the movie, only breaking the silence to repeat quotes he particularly favored. Lines like “We are men of action, lies do not become us”, “there will be blood tonight”, “There’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead”, “I’m not a witch I’m your wife”, and “That is what to the pain means.” just simply couldn’t be ignored.
And every time the little boy had interrupted, Yuri found he had been thinking the same things. His heart warming just as the character on the screen’s did.
By the end of the film, Yuri had even found himself forgiving the sappy nature of some of the lines. He was so engaged in the story going on he barely noticed. Yuri was surprised to find himself screaming Inigo’s famous lines out with him. Lilia had banged on his door for that one and after a quick sorry he was back to the film.
The credits rolled.
“Sooo?” Otabek asked.
“I liked the fire swamp, and all the sword fights.”
“And?”
“And it was pretty funny, the story was good I guess”…no way would he admit that the movie had somehow wormed its sappy way into his heart. “Thanks Otabek.”
The next afternoon Otabek got a text from Mila during his lunch break.
Mila: So I heard you showed Yuri Princess Bride
Otabek: You know the film?
Mila: Of course. But yea the kiddo’s been yapping about it all day.
Mila: Thanks for that by the way.
Otabek: I don’t think that means what you think it means…
Mila: Okay between the number of times I’ve heard that and I am Yuri Plisetsky you killed my father prepare to die I’m so done. It’s driving me insane.
Otabek: Oh no, it’s so rare to find another fan.
Mila: Hopefully he’ll stop soon and I can go back to loving the film. We can chat about it then. For now it is simply a fight to the pain to anyone who brings it up.
He couldn’t help but smile as he walked back to the ice. Not only had Yuri actually liked the film, he had found another fan of it. Otabek was sure his family would be relieved he would have someone else to talk to in the days after he watched the film again in the future.