Chapter Text
February 2019, Four Continents Championships, Anaheim
I can’t tell if this dinner is supposed to be a date.
The words still echoed in the silence of the room, even after Yuri had left and closed the door behind them. The ends of Viktor’s nerves buzzed with something he couldn’t name. He cautiously glanced over at Yuuri.
His fiancé looked as shellshocked as he felt.
“Well,” Viktor cleared his throat, trying to break through the tension. “Yura’s certainly come a long way.”
“They really have,” Yuuri nodded.
“I didn’t even know they had an outfit like that!” Viktor added.
Something about his voice sounded fake even to his own ears. He shook his head, running a hand through his bangs.
“Hey — ”
“Do you — ” Yuuri started at the same time.
They both laughed.
“You first,” Viktor prompted.
Yuuri toyed with the sleeve of his bathrobe as he quietly asked, “Do you feel… weird about Yurio going on a date with Otabek?”
“Okay, so it’s not just me,” Viktor said without thinking.
Their eyes met, startled, and Viktor noticed how wide Yuuri’s were behind his glasses. How his lower lip trembled, and how pink his cheeks were turning. And suddenly he knew exactly what was wrong.
“Oh my God,” he said. “Do we like Yura… that way?”
Yuuri’s throat bobbed.
“...I think we do,” he whispered.
“Wow.” Viktor stood there with his mouth hanging open for several long moments. Then he grabbed Yuuri’s hand and tugged him over to the bed. “Come on, I need to sit down.”
Yuuri fell against him as they both slumped onto the mattress, letting out heavy sighs. He hid his face, flushing redder by the second, in the crook of Viktor’s neck.
“I don’t believe this.”
“I know!” Viktor’s chest twinged as he gazed across the room at the door that had swung shut behind Yuri just a few moments before. “...Should we go after them?”
“What?” Yuuri said, stunned.
“We might not be too late if we hurry.”
“Vitya.” Yuuri’s voice was muffled against Viktor’s collarbone, but his tone was firm and clear. “We can’t.”
Viktor swallowed, taken aback.
“You… don’t want to tell them?” he asked.
Yuuri shifted his face just enough to meet Viktor’s eyes.
“It doesn’t matter what we want,” he said. “Yurio’s our friend, and that has to come first.”
“But — ”
“No,” Yuuri insisted. “They don’t have anyone else to talk to who’s — you know — like us. And we can’t do anything that might ruin that.” He looked down at his hands, twisted in his lap. “Besides,” he added, “what are we supposed to say? ‘Hey, how do you feel about dating two people at the same time?’ Can you imagine what they would think?”
Viktor swallowed. Yuuri had a point. Neither of them had had a chance to think this through — and there was a lot more to consider. Like Yuri’s career. Or Yakov and Lilia’s reactions. Not to mention the fact that Yuri was so much younger than either of them.
Yuuri’s fingers closed around his own, breaking through his thoughts.
“Look,” he said, “I don’t want Yurio to date Otabek any more than you do. But if that’s what happens, then we have to forget about this and be happy for them.”
“I can’t make any promises,” Viktor said, jaw tight.
Yuuri’s eyes narrowed.
“Fine,” Viktor amended with a sigh. “But what if that doesn’t happen? What if tonight is just a dinner between friends like always and we still have a chance?” He squeezed Yuuri’s hands and fixed him with his most eager gaze. “Then can we try?”
Yuuri took a few moments to respond, brow twisted in thought.
“It depends on what you mean by try,” he finally answered. “If you want to just ask them out or something, then no. But if we spend more time with them, maybe start dropping some hints here and there…” The blush on his face spread all the way down to his neck. “I think that might be okay.”
Viktor pressed an excited kiss to each of his cheeks.
“Now that I can do,” he beamed, thinking back to all the ways he’d tested the waters with Yuuri when he’d arrived in Hasetsu almost four years ago.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Yuuri said through a wry grin of his own.
He took off his glasses and set them on the nightstand, then settled more comfortably into the bed, tugging on Viktor’s arm to get him to follow. Viktor curled up beside him, winding an arm around his waist and resting his chin on top of his head. Yuuri found his hand again and threaded their fingers together.
“Well,” he said, “this wasn’t what I thought we would be talking about tonight, but at least it took my mind off the short program.”
They both laughed.
“That’s good,” Viktor said. “Maybe Yura can give you the extra motivation you need for the free.”
“They already do,” Yuuri admitted. “Why do you think I invited them here to watch me?”
“Oh?” Viktor shot a teasing smirk down at him. “Sounds like someone already had a crush before he knew it…”
“You may be right,” Yuuri said. He let out a breathy giggle. “You know, I’m glad we both feel the same way about Yurio, or this would have been really awkward.”
Viktor brought Yuuri’s hand to his lips and kissed the gold band on his finger.
“If we didn’t, I would have kept everything to myself,” he said. “I love you, Yuuri… no matter what, you’ll always be more than enough for me.”
Yuuri’s eyes shone with happiness as he replied, “I love you too. And whatever happens with Yurio — even if things just stay the same — I’m glad we have each other.”
They both leaned in until their lips met.
For the next few minutes they traded kiss after tender kiss, until every last worry in Viktor’s head — Yuuri’s short program performance that afternoon, Yuri’s dinner with Otabek tonight, and whatever might be in store for them tomorrow — faded away. When Yuuri’s eyes began to drift closed, Viktor reached over and turned out the light. Hand in hand and face to face, they both relaxed into a comfortable sleep.
“Room service!”
Yuuri blinked up from his phone in surprise.
“What?” he laughed as Viktor leapt up to answer the door. “But we already had dinner!”
“Yes,” Viktor said, “and now we’re having dessert.”
Before Yuuri knew what was happening, a server was wheeling a large tray into their room and setting it in the center of their table, then ducking out with a smile and a handful of cash from Viktor. With an excited gleam in his eye, Viktor swept the cover from the tray to reveal a towering slice of chocolate cake flanked by two champagne flutes.
Yuuri’s jaw dropped.
“...You do realize the free skate isn’t until tomorrow, right?” he asked. “You really want me to have that now?”
Viktor picked up one of the champagne flutes and offered it to Yuuri.
“Normally I wouldn’t,” he answered, “but tonight we’ve got something to celebrate.” He raised his own champagne in a toast. “Yura isn’t into Otabek!”
“Viktor,” Yuuri sighed, but he tapped his glass against Viktor’s and took a small sip. He couldn’t deny the relief that had washed over him earlier when Yuri had opened up about their dinner with Otabek — and the way it had cemented their feelings for him as strictly platonic. After that, Yuuri had spent the rest of the day with an extra spring in his step and his heart a little lighter. That same emotion sparkled in Viktor’s eyes now, and Yuuri smiled at him over the rim of his glass.
“Okay,” he said after one more sip, handing off his flute to Viktor, “you can finish this. I don’t need to drink the night before I have to skate.” Eyeing the untouched dessert on the table, he added, “I will have some of that cake, though.”
Viktor scooped up a spoonful and fed him the first bite.
As the two of them sat down to share the rest, Yuuri said, “Thank you for taking us to Disneyland today.”
“Told you it was a good idea,” Viktor smirked.
Yuuri had pulled him aside after he’d bought their tickets and booked a cab, wondering whether bringing Yuri along was too much too soon. But when Viktor had pointed out that it was no worse than inviting them to Four Continents in the first place, Yuuri had reluctantly agreed. Now he was more than happy he’d conceded.
“It almost felt like a date,” he admitted softly.
“You thought so too?” Viktor took a long, thoughtful sip of champagne. “I know we said we wouldn’t ask them on a real one yet, but when we do… I think our chances are better than we expected.”
Yuuri’s brows shot up.
“Really? Why?” he asked. “I mean — just because they’re not into Otabek doesn’t mean they’re into us.”
“But Yuuri,” Viktor countered, “didn’t you hear what they said? They’re gay for other enbies.” He polished off the last of his champagne and set the glass on the table with a satisfying clack. “How many other enbies do they know?”
Hope sparked in Yuuri’s chest, warm and bright. He hadn’t even considered that. Could Viktor be onto something? Don’t get too excited, Yuuri thought. Vitya’s probably just letting his enthusiasm run away with him again. Even so, he allowed himself to feel the tiniest bit encouraged.
“I hope you’re right,” he said cautiously.
“Only one way to find out,” Viktor grinned, pushing his empty champagne flute aside and reaching for Yuuri’s abandoned one. “So how should we start? I think Yura needs more hugs, don’t you?”
“Mm,” Yuuri nodded, “that’s a great idea.” His face grew warm at the memory of last month’s European Championships, where Yuri had taken comfort from their dysphoria in Yuuri and Viktor’s arms. He doubted Worlds would be any easier — Yuri could use all the hugs they could get.
“And more dinners too,” Viktor added. “Or lunches. Something besides our weekly thing.”
“We could make it part of our training,” Yuuri suggested. “Eat together while we review our practice footage or something.”
“Ooh,” Viktor said, “I like the way you think.”
“And maybe tomorrow night at the banquet,” Yuuri said shyly, “we could ask them to dance?”
Viktor reached across the table and took Yuuri’s hand.
“That sounds lovely.”
The ring on Viktor’s finger caught Yuuri’s eye, glinting in the light. He ran his thumb across it with a gulp.
“...I guess this means we won’t start planning our wedding when I retire, after all,” he whispered.
Viktor’s hand tightened around his.
“Not as soon as we thought,” he said. “But that’s all right.”
“Are you sure?” Yuuri asked. “I know we’ve already been waiting a long time.”
With a reassuring smile and a kiss to his knuckles, Viktor answered, “I don’t mind waiting a little longer if it means we might get to be with Yura too.” Tilting his head, he mused, “I wonder if you can get three-way married…”
Yuuri laughed and said, “Let’s just worry about dating first.”
His stomach swam with relief at the way Viktor had taken the change in plans to their wedding — and really, to their whole future — in stride. As fervent as he’d been when they’d talked last night and gone to Disneyland today, Yuuri couldn’t help but worry a little. After all, catching feelings for Yuri was the last thing either of them had expected to happen. But now that Yuuri knew Viktor was just as firmly on board as he was, he could finally let himself relax.
“I suppose we should wait until after Worlds before we take things any further than flirting,” Viktor sighed, and Yuuri nodded in agreement. “But there’s one thing I would like to do in the meantime.”
“Oh?” Yuuri raised a brow.
“Yura’s birthday is coming up,” Viktor said, eyes lighting up, “and I think we should spoil them a little.”
Squeezing Viktor’s hand with a smile, Yuuri asked, “What do you have in mind?”