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I. Special Interest
Cats. They can talk about cats for hours.
"Beka, did you know that cats have a layer of cells in their eyes called the tapetum lucidum that reflects light, and that’s how they can see so well in the dark?" They call over from the corner of the room where they’re poring over a book.
Otabek nods and smiles, "that’s cool, babe". Yuri wears so much leopard print it has become an online meme at this point. The Angels toss toy cats onto the ice when they finish a routine, and (though they would deny it whenever asked) they display each one in a place of pride in their room. They could go through each one and give a litany of information about coat patterns, colors, ear shapes. They can, and will, talk about cats for hours.
II. Angry
Yuri doesn’t consider themself an especially angry person. It just … feels like when they do get angry their body rebels. They see red and yell, hit the sides of their head and growl. Sometimes, when they get angry they launch into a manic tirade, sometimes they get quiet and seethe, and sometimes, worst of all, they shut down in a rage so intense they don’t recognize who they are. The things that trigger them vary - sometimes it’s injustice (perceived or actual), sometimes it’s a throwaway comment from a rinkmate, sometimes they can just feel the tag of their jacket a little too much for comfort. They hate it, they hate feeling so out of control, but they don’t know how to make it stop.
III. Stimming
"You know," Otabek muses one day, "it makes sense that you became a figure skater". Yuri fixes him with a quizzical gaze. "I mean, you are always spinning." Yuri, suddenly realizing they’d been turning slow circles in the living room of their apartment for quite a long time, stops and blushes scarlet.
"Fuck you, no I don’t!" Yuri abruptly flops down on the couch next to their boyfriend, crosses their arms, and pouts. Otabek gently touches their arm.
"It’s not a bad thing," he said sincerely, "there’s no shame in doing something to regulate yourself."
Yuri scoffs, "I’m not five, I don’t need to regulate anything." They sit quietly for a moment, seething. Then, they pull their arm away from Otabek’s hand, and shake their hands out like they are trying to expel excess energy from their fingertips. "Fuck it, I need to be moving." They stand up abruptly and go right back to spinning in circles, still glaring at him.
IV. Routine
It’s 6:30 AM, which means it’s time to wake up. Yuri stretches their arms and groans as they stand.
It’s 6:45 AM, which means it’s time to go for a run. They pull on a pair of shorts, a sweatshirt, and their running shoes, locking the door behind them and tying their house key to the shoelaces of their right sneaker.
It’s 7:30 AM, which means it’s time to take a shower. Yuri sheds their shoes, hangs up their key, gets out of their clothes, and takes a lukewarm shower. They wrinkle their nose when they realize the only soap left was Beka’s citrus scented shower gel. Soap should not smell like fruit , they grumble to themselves, soap should smell like nothing at all.
It’s 7:45 AM, which means it was time to get ready. They wash their face, brush their teeth, and dry their hair. They slip into a pair of leggings and a cropped sweater, and make their way to the kitchen to make coffee.
It’s 8:00 AM, which means it’s time to go to the rink, and finally get their day started for real.
V. Sensory
"It’s too loud here," Yuri grumbles.
Otabek turns to face them. "We are in a club, Yura, it’s going to be loud," he sighs patiently, "I told you that you didn’t have to come."
Yuri bites their lip, "I want to support you Beka, this is something you care about." Nonetheless they whine softly, "Do you have earplugs? Or headphones?" Otabek smiles and reaches into his backpack. He takes out Yuri’s favorite headphones, a navy blue pair with cat ears that light up in sync with the music.
"Next time you come, I’ll tell them we’re doing a silent disco," he chuckles as he places them over Yuri’s ears. Yuri smiles gratefully.
"I’ll hold you to that."
VI. Community
Yuuri understands. Yuuri told them about his tricks. 1. Keep a pair of earplugs with you at tournaments because when you beat a world record as often as the two of them do, the crowds tend to scream, a lot 2. Look at a person’s nose when you’re talking to them and it can trick them into thinking you’re maintaining eye contact 3. Chew gum when you’re overstimulated at the rink, it’s easier to explain than using a chewy necklace. 4. Your boyfriend doesn’t know how to read your mind, you have to ask for the things you need. Yuuri knows these things because he’s been there, he did the trial and error that Yuri gets to benefit from.
VII. Stimming, part 2
Yuri sits with Yakov in the kiss and cry, anxiously picking at the fur of another stuffed cat thrown their way by a fan and chewing the inside of their cheeks. They are so focused on the sensation, trying to remain calm, that they don’t realize the scores have been announced until Yakov excitedly shakes their shoulders. They look up to read on the screen, 322.59 - a new personal best that pushes them once again into first place. They drop the cat and their hands fly into an excited flap as they jump up and down. They feel like their bones are about to vibrate out of their body, although not in an entirely unpleasant way. They spin in a quick circle, Otabek’s words entering their mind again; you’re always spinning, and it’s not a bad thing. They smile and spin around again, the skirt of their costume flaring out in a joyful circle.
VIII. Overwhelm
The tap is dripping. The tap is dripping. The tap is dripping.
The radiator is humming. The radiator is humming. The radiator is humming.
The light is flickering. The light is flickering. The light is flickering.
The light is dripping. The radiator is flickering. The tap is humming.
Their heart rate is too fast. It’s too fast. It’s too fast.
They get a text. The text says, "I’m running late, we might miss the reservation."
The plan is changing. The plan is changing. The plan is changing.
Yuri is crying. Yuri is crying. Yuri is crying
IX. Sensory, part 2
Yuri likes the sound of skates on ice, the sound of Beka’s heartbeat in their ears, and the sound of soft thrum of rain on the roof. Yuri likes the smell of gas as the zamboni chugs around a rink, the smell of piroshki cooking, and the smell of freshly cleaned sheets. Yuri likes the texture of their Team Russia jacket on their skin, the texture of their cat’s scratchy pink tongue, and the texture of their fingernails rubbing over a smooth plastic surface. Yuri likes the taste of popcorn from the food stand next to their childhood skating pond, the taste of their grandfather’s favorite licorice candy, and the taste of spearmint toothpaste.
X.Neurodiversity
Otabek is dyslexic, Yuri eventually finds out.
"I’ve never been much of a reader," he explains, "the letters don’t like to stay in one place."
JJ has Tourette’s, but it’s gotten better since he was a kid.
"Yeah, the “JJ Style” hand thing was a tic at first," he tells them sheepishly, "Easier to reclaim it than to explain it,", he shrugs .
Viktor has ADHD (no shit, Yuri thinks).
"The only time I really can focus on anything is when I’m skating," he slurs drunkenly while they are out for hot pot and drinks after the Cup of China.
And Yuri? Yuri is Autistic, and they’re trying to be less quiet about it.