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It’s not that Yuri hated having placed silver, if nothing else it gave the stupid Katsudon his last gold before retiring from competitive figure skating forever. And he couldn’t even hate the pig either. At 29, Katsudon was already way past his prime and it was a miracle he could even make it to the podium. Even the “Living Legend” Viktor Nikiforv had to fight for gold after his season off. But for all the figure skating community called Yuri an “ever-evolving monster”, they all knew who the real freak of nature was.
Yuri didn’t hate his second place nearly as much as he should have. As long as it was Katsudon and not JJ on the top of the podium, he would accept silver. Said annoying Canadian motherfucker had missed half the season for paternity leave or whatever, so Yuri didn’t even have the satisfaction of smashing JJ’s routines into the ground with his own.
However, placing second meant that Yuri skated second to last in the exhibition gala. This was unacceptable. Ever since the whole Welcome to the Madness debacle (that absolutely no one is allowed to mention—at least around Yuri), Yuri had made it a point to keep his exhibition skate secret from everyone. If there was any piece of Viktor’s advice he had listened to, it was that the element of surprise was an important and valuable tool. Skating last in the exhibition with what he had planned would have been the ultimate surprise, but now Yuri could only aim to upstage whatever Katsudon had planned just like he and his stupid husband had done to him at his senior debut so many years ago.
“...2021 Worlds Men's Singles Silver Medalist, Yuri Plisetsky!”
Exhibition skates were different in that the entire rink was bathed in darkness except for the spotlights that followed the skater. Yuri found it both exhilarating and terrifying. It was exhilarating in that there was no pressure to land jumps and turn a performance into numbers on a scoreboard. And yet terrifying because every move and jump was made into darkness with only the hope the ice would faithfully catch you as it always did.
Yuri skated out to the center of the rink and paused, assuming a pose that Viktor and the other Yuuri definitely would have recognized if they were rinkside instead of backstage. Even the cheering gala exhibition crowd went quiet.
The opening notes of Yuri on Ice began to flood the arena. And Yuri moved with it.
Quadruple toe loop, double toe loop, both landed with grace typical of the Russian fairy. Quadruple Salchow, the same one he taught to the other Yuuri all the way back in Hasetsu. A triple flip. A lunge into an Ina Bauer into a triple axel, one of Yuuri’s signature moves. Yuri was getting tired now, this routine required more stamina than he usually needed for his own free skate programs.
A quadruple toe loop. Triple axel, single loop, triple Salchow all in a combination. Triple Lutz, triple toe loop. Then came the step sequence. The very same step sequence in which Yuuri received some of the highest marks, and which Yuri imitated to the best of his ability. Quadruple flip. A combination spin, ending in a final pose pointing right where Yuuri had finally made his way rinkside.
Yuri’s heart pounded in his ears as he made eye contact with the Japanese skater, drowning out the cheers of the audience and whatever the announcer was saying. He panted heavily, trying to catch his breath after having performed an entire free skate program.
Slowly, the pounding in his ears faded away, letting the applause and screams from the audience in instead. Yuri released his final pose, blinking away the tears that had suddenly formed. He turned and waved to the audience as he made his way to the side door and backstage.
Almost immediately he was swarmed by reporters. Honestly, you would think after yesterday’s press conference most of them would’ve gone home, but vultures would always be hungry, especially with this competition being Yuuri’s last and Yuri definitely gave a performance worth at least a footnote in the bigger story of Yuuri’s retirement.
The fact Yuri wasn’t also tackled by Viktor after he left the ice told him the two had planned one last pair skate for the gala, which would have been touching if the couple didn’t make it gross and totally predictable each and every time.
“Was that Katsuki Yuuri’s 2015 free skate?”
“Skater Plisetsky! That performance–!”
“Plisetsky! Was your routine an homage to now retired Skater Katsuki?”
“Skater Plisetsky—!”
Yuri sighed. It wasn’t as if he didn’t know he would be hounded with questions, it’s just he wasn’t looking forward to it.
“Yes, I performed Yuuri on Ice as one final sendoff for Katsuki Yuuri. No further questions.”
The media immediately started to ask more questions.
As subtly as possible, Yuri looked around for Yakov to bail him out of this situation that he created himself. Seeing no such rescue, he decided to push his way towards one of the skater-only rooms and deal with the press at another time. Future Yuri could curse him out later.
Yuri all but collapsed into a chair as he watched a TV showing the rink with the commentators jabbering on in the background.
“...Plisetsky has been known to keep all his exhibition skates secret until the time comes to perform them, and people love to guess what it’ll be about, but I don’t think anyone could’ve predicted what we saw here tonight.”
“Most skaters use their gala skates as a way to let loose and to be freer with their choreography, but Plisetsky dove right into an exact replica of Katsuki’s free skate from 2016. Now I’m no judge, but if that were an actual judged performance I think it’d come pretty close to beating that free skate record don’t you think?”
“He’d definitely give Katsuki a run for his money, and with his own routine nonetheless! And the audience seems to agree with us. Despite Katsuki being this year’s men’s gold medalist, I think Plisetsky might’ve taken the spot of favorite with that skate of his. How is Katsuki going to follow that skate?”
“Well, I guess we’ll find out in just a few seconds because here he goes.”
“Now, the 2021 Worlds Men’s Singles Gold Medalist, Katsuki Yuuri!”
Yuri watched through the TV as Yuuri did a lap around the rink, waving to fans for one of the last times. He assumed a position in the middle of the rink.
The music started.
It was a beautiful performance. Viktor joined in halfway through the song and the two weaved and intertwined together, painting a wonderful and masterful piece of art. If the two ever decided to come out of retirement and take up ice dancing, they would certainly demolish the rest of the competition.
The music ended, and Yuuri and Viktor came to a stop, looking just as in love with each other as the day of their marriage.
The crowd was deafening. Japanese flags were held by fans all over the stadium and fans chanted Yuuri’s name.
With tears streaming down his face, Yuuri, along with his husband, turned to face the audience and took several bows. He waved at everyone as he did one last loop around the rink before exiting.
And now Yuri knew it was only a matter of time before Yuuri and Viktor confronted him. Sure enough, within minutes the two burst into the room.
Yuri stood up to greet them and was almost immediately wrapped in a bear hug from Viktor in a way that was eerily similar to how Viktor hugged him and begged him to not let Yuuri retire back in 2015. Yuri could tell VIktor was remembering it as well by the way he gripped him tighter.
Yuri tolerated the hug for a few more seconds, then started squirming.
“Get off me, old man!”
Viktor released him but still held on to his shoulders.
“Oh, Yura.” He breathed.
Yuri scoffed and turned his head, accidentally making eye contact with a red-eyed Yuuri who still stood near the entrance to the room, speechless.
They stared at each other for an uncomfortable amount of time, Viktor even letting go of one of Yuri’s shoulders to turn and face Yuuri.
Yuuri took one staggering step toward them. “Yurio, I–” he started.
“Yuri,” he corrected himself. “Yuri, I–”
Yuuri stopped again to wet his lips. “Yuri, thank you.”
And that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Yuri blinked furiously to try and get rid of the tears that swelled in his eyes. Yuuri had no such restraint and tears immediately started to flow down his cheeks. He took two quick steps and did his best to squeeze the life out of Yuri. Viktor moved to hold both of them.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see that program again.” The former Living Legend said fondly with nostalgia and love in his eyes
“There’s no better way to retire. Thank you so much, Yuri.” Yuuri repeated. “Thank you for everything, kotenok. We love you so much.”
“...I love you guys too.”