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Viktor is reconsidering why he accepted this. Right, Viktor loves Yuuri and he wants to be the best husband he can to his beloved. And he’s always wanted to visit more than just the skating arena.
Yuuri said he missed his friends, so they had taken this skating break to go visit them in Detroit, Phichit tagging along, because Yuuri’s friends are also his friends. And he has other people he wants to see. And Gabriela and Leo… She had a break from university so she came to New York to visit her aunt and her boyfriend, and it was one of the rare occasions Gabriela could see Yuuri, and Leo had decided to take the trip with her.
They had gone out with Mike, Sean and Ketty these past few days, Yuuri’s best friends while in college. Ketty had been the one to compose Yuuri’s free skate ‘Yuri on Ice’ from a year ago. She is kind and funny. Sean is gentle and is pretty quirky. Mike is more silent, always sticking with either of his friends. But when he speaks, he doesn’t spare his kindness.
They’ve been to the Motown Museum, with Ketty as their guide, and the Detroit Institute of Arts, with Yuuri explaining the sculptures and paintings, making his own sketches. Viktor is gonna hang them on the walls of their home when they go back to Russia. He has to show off his Yuuri’s amazing talent. Yuuri is so talented, he did history in university and took a minor in arts, because his drawings were always just the best in the world.
They have been having a great time in Detroit, and Viktor cannot complain. He loves learning about the place where his beloved spent time growing from a teenager into an adult, he loves meeting his beloved’s friends. They are nice people.
But there is someone they are meeting today and Viktor is trying to be in his best behaviour, to not exaggerate, to not be jealous.
Yuuri’s still friends with his ex-boyfriend, Alison. Viktor’s only heard nice things about the man. So they’re on a triple date today, with Alison and his boyfriend Henry, Gabi and Leo. And Phichit finds them midway.
But Viktor can’t help it. He wants to be kind. He tries his best. But he can’t help but feel a bit of jealousy seeing Alison and Yuuri interact. He can see how they were a couple a few years ago. They must have been beautiful together
Viktor scowls as he looks away. He can't deny it, Alison is pretty hot. Viktor can't deny it, Alison is very nice. He's kind, funny, easy going, he doesn't fake his smiles. He's friends with Yuuri's friends. He understands Yuuri in levels that Viktor still doesn't. He knows some of Yuuri's pet peeves, he knows what Yuuri likes to eat aside from katsudon or pirozhki.
Viktor doesn't. He still doesn't know what is Yuuri's favourite food aside from pirozhki and katsudon, he's still figuring out Yuuri's pet peeves. Viktor still doesn't know Yuuri's friends well, he only knows the ones in the skating circuit, and even then, barely. Viktor likes to believe he's kind and gentle, that he's funny. Viktor has to fake his smiles around most of the other people. Viktor knows he is beautiful, and that's the problem because often wanted him for his beauty and his beauty only. Or his money.
"I'll be right back," he says and excuses himself from the table. Yuuri gives him a worried look and makes to follow him but Viktor shakes his head and Yuuri drops back into his seat. Phichit raises an eyebrow, Gabriela stares at him before she sighs, Leo bites his lower lip. Henry doesn’t pay him any mind. And Alison… He surveys Viktor with a strange look. Viktor leaves.
He stands outside the cafe, crossing his arms. It’s raining lightly and the breeze is soft. Plus, he has a coat, it’s not like he’s gonna be cold. Yet, he still shivers.
He’s a shitty boyfriend. Why is he even jealous? He knows Yuuri loves him. They are married, goddamnit. When Yuuri skates, it’s for Viktor. They live together, Yuuri now has custody of Makkachin, he helps Viktor train Yura. God, if he’s to push it further, Yuuri’s family loves him. There’s no reason for him to be afraid.
Still…
Viktor doesn’t notice Alison standing next to him until the man offers him a lollipop. He shakes his head politely and looks ahead of him, avoiding Alison altogether. Alison chuckles next to him and unwraps the lollipop, popping it in his mouth.
“You look better than the posters,” Alison says and sucks on his lollipop. Viktor’s eyes widen and look at him. Alison chuckles and his blue eyes crinkle gently.
“You’ve seen my posters,” Viktor gulps. It’s not a question. Clearly not.
“Yuuri had so many. Has. I imagine he still has them?” The man laughs again. “Although, I don’t think he needs them if he sees you every day.”
“I-” Viktor falters, a small smile opening on his lips. He knew Yuuri kept posters of him. He’d seen them in Hasetsu. But to have an ex-boyfriend confirm that he himself saw them? A dark blush spreads over Viktor’s face. “Oh.”
Alison chuckles again before he bites into his lollipop and hum. “You shouldn’t doubt his love for you.”
“I don’t!” Viktor exclaims a little too fast and he sighs. “I don ‘t. I know he loves me and I love him, adore him back. I just…”
“Hm?”
“You-” Viktor takes a deep breath, a hand coming to cover his face. “There’s you.”
“Me?” Alison raises an eyebrow, twirling the lollipop’s stick in his fingers. “What about me?”
“I don’t know what Yuuri sees in me when you’re here,” Viktor says and Alison’s eyes widen. “I don’t know what he sees in me. I’m just good at skating. That’s the only thing I can do. Skate. I win shitty medals that bring nothing in our life. I can see what he saw in you. You’re smart, you got an awesome job, you know him well, you know his friends, you understand his hobbies and his habits, you know how to deal with his anxiety,” Viktor gives a bitter laugh. “Last time he had a really panic attack, I only offered to kiss him. I couldn’t help him properly. I don’t feel like I understand him half of the time. And I want to, gods, I want to so badly. I love him so much. And sometimes… Sometimes I’m afraid he’ll drop me because I’m not good enough, because I don’t know how to feel. I just know how to skate.”
Alison shakes his head and sighs. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. You skate, yes, absolutely, and it’s a shame that people only see that in you. You’re very nice, hot for sure, kind, and you know how to feel. I’m sure of that. And you know why? Because you skate with your feelings. You pour your emotions into your skating. And Yuuri mimics that from you.”
Viktor scoffs and slumps back against the wall of the cafe. Alison hums and moves to stand closer next to Viktor.
“You know,” the other man starts with a hum, “I was never suited for him. Nobody ever was,” Alison tilts his head to look at Viktor. “Believe me, he was always searching for you.”
“Bullshit,” Viktor protests and Alison shakes his head. “He can’t have been searching for me all this time.”
“Yes he can. He has been, I’ve seen him looking for you. It’s true, I may know how to deal with his anxiety, I may know Ketty, Mike and Sean better, I may understand some of his habits and hobbies better,” he concedes, “but that does not mean that I am suited to be Yuuri’s romantic partner like you are. I only know him that well because we spent time together. Trust me, in a few years, you’ll know everything about him and absolutely dethrone me. You’ve always been his dream. It was always about reaching you on the ice. I didn’t understand it, but I did my best to support him in the endeavor. And in the end, reaching you, both on the ice and in your hearts, was the best outcome of this endeavor,” Alison offers a smile. “I may be well suited in some areas, but you are still the only one that can match Yuuri’s energy.”
Viktor is speechless. Why is Alison being so nice to him? Shouldn’t Alison be resentful that he and Yuuri ended? Shouldn’t he hate Viktor, because apparently Viktor had been a factor that led to Yuuri breaking up with Alison? Why is Alison being so civil? Why, why, why?
“Dating Yuuri meant knowing everything about you. There’s no way to not admire you,” Alison continues with a smirk, as though he can read his mind. “I know a lot about you. Everyone who knows Yuuri knows at least a bit about you,” he sighs. “I just knew at some point that you were the endgame for him and I felt so lucky that Yuuri decided to give me a bit of his time.”
“I’m sorry,” Viktor says as kindly as he can.
“I’m not offended,” Alison shrugs. “I knew you were his dream from the beginning. I’m happy to have helped him reach it, one way or another.”
“Hm,” Viktor hums, speechless again.
“Hey,” Alison calls him again and smiles. “Everything’s okay. Yuuri is yours. You’re his. I have my own relationship in which I’m very happy.”
“Thanks,” Viktor ends up chuckling and Alison smiles wider. “Sorry for acting like a dick. You didn’t have to help me.”
“Ah, it’s fine, I’m just sad I missed the wedding. I had work,” Alison starts dragging him inside, back to their table. “As for you being a dick, that’s fine. After all, you are what you eat,” he tosses with a wink as they sit down where they were before.
Henry raises an unimpressed eyebrow, Phichit and Gabi both hold back from laughing, Phichit going as far as hitting the table. Leo’s towards Gabi and whispers something that makes her turn red. And Yuuri? Yuuri blushes deep, deep red.
“Alison!” He scolds and the man raises his hands.
“Guilty as charged,” he replies and Yuuri pouts, crossing his arms as he leans his head on Viktor’s shoulder.
“Are you alright?” He asks gently, looking at him. He uncrosses his arms and puts one hand on Viktor’s hand, intertwining their fingers.
“Yeah,” Viktor smiles and brings their hands up to his lips, kissing Yuuri’s ring. “He’s a nice guy. But tell me, zoloste,” Viktor smirks. “Doesn’t he kinda look like me?”
“Wh-What do you mean?” Yuuri stammers and his blush deepens again.
“You know, tall, light hair, blue eyes…” Viktor teases his husband and Yuuri looks away, pulling away immediately from his shoulder.
“I knew it!” Yuuri exclaims and Viktor sees Alison smirking in the corner. “I knew I shouldn’t have introduced him to you.”
Viktor laughs and hugs his fiance. Yes, they are alright. Why was Viktor even worried? He and Yuuri love each other. And as long as they love each other, everything will be perfectly alright.
“So,” Alison picks up again, with that mischievous smirk of his. Yuuri frowns and throws him a very pointed glance. “I heard Viktor offered you a kiss to calm your anxiety,” he says innocently and Yuuri blushes again. “You must have been thrilled!”
“God just kill me,” Yuuri murmurs and Viktor winces, trying to hide away.
“Oh he was so thrilled!” Phichit giggled. “Yuuri delivered the best skate of his life afterwards. And got a kiss.”
“Viktor’s shitty with dealing with people crying,” Gabi pipes up. “He had to look up how to calm down people when I was crying last year.”
“Kill me,” Yuuri whispers. And that was what he should have remembered as to why he’d never gotten Alison, Gabriela and Phichit together. And now Viktor. Agents of chaos.
And yet he can’t help but love these dorks. They’re his dorks.