Took a wrong turn somewhere (or is it right?)

[yokunaru]

[When Yuuri wakes up, he's greeted with a pounding headache, the likes of which he's never had before. Opening his eyes gets him an eyeful of cheerful sunlight that sends him whimpering back under the covers. He tries again a few minutes later, just managing to swing his legs over the side of the bed, wincing the whole time.

He freezes when he finally gets a good look at the room. This is...not his hotel room.

The shock is enough to temporarily push back the discomfort and make him jump to his feet. What happened? Where am I? he wonders, when he comes up empty handed after a quick search of the room for his belongings. One hand running through his hair as his panic steadily rises, Yuuri finally starts toward the door, intent on finding answers.]

Comments

[yokunaru]

[Oh...that bright smile is a good look on him. Much better than the muted one he'd worn in the car. Yuuri's inordinately pleased that he managed to draw that out of him.

Still smiling, he leans against the counter.]

I want to know more about you, too.

[Mentally, he's just shoving all the little Victor Facts he's memorized from magazines to the side. Learning the answers from the man himself is so much better anyway.]

[wauuu]

[sorry, Yuri, you're getting called out immediately]

It's a bit strange! You admitted you were a fanboy. [he has to tease] You probably know a ton about me, already. I've got catching up to do.

[yokunaru]

[Ouch, straight to the heart. Yuuri flinches, back to fiddling with his sleeves.]

I--maybe. But anything I picked up is from interviews. I want to hear this all from you, so it would feel like we're both starting with um...blank slates...? [He covers his mouth with one hand, embarrassment thoroughly seeping back in.] That probably sounded really stupid.

[wauuu]

You don't have to pretend for me. I want to know you just as you are. [The fan thing is honestly really cute to him, it makes him feel determined to not just live up to expectations, but surpass them.]

I'll be the real me, too. Deal?

[yokunaru]

[Somehow, with just a few words, Victor manages to put a stopper on his overthinking. It's temporary, as always, but it allows Yuuri to smile more genuinely again at least.]

Deal. [Yuuri, thinking that they should really organize all the supplies they've brought back, gets an idea just then.] Let's put the groceries away together. You can ask me anything you want while we're doing that.

[wauuu]

Hmm, let me think... [he'll start organizing the items on the counter, getting the stuff that needed to be kept cold out first to go into the fridge]

Silly question, probably, but how far can you see without your glasses?

[yokunaru]

I'm not completely blind without them, but...

[Yuuri peeks into the cabinets and emerges victorious with a probably-forgotten fruit bowl. He drops the apples and other fruit in there.]

Everything's kind of blurry around the edges when I don't have them on. I definitely can't read anything without them.

[wauuu]

You're farsighted, then? I thought you might be near sighted, since you take them off to perform. I guess it doesn't matter, when you know the routine perfectly well. [Victor closed his eyes during plenty of parts of his performance, understanding your speed was probably the most important sense on the ice]

[yokunaru]

No, you were right the first time. I'm near sighted.

[Yuuri reaches up, touching the glasses in question.]

I get...anxious when I perform in front of an audience. Having them out of focus like that helps a little.

[wauuu]

[he imagined reading up close, but it clicks a moment later that Yuri meant reading things at a distance. The idea of blurring out the audience is interesting, though.]

Not to be cruel, but were nerves the reason you fell so many times at the Grand Prix?

[yokunaru]

[Yuuri winces. He probably should have seen that one coming.]

Um, that was part of it. My first Grand Prix Final--I was really nervous. [Looking down at the fruit bowl, Yuuri inhales shakily.] The other part was... I got a call from home right after I got here. They had bad news, and I just couldn't shake it off in time.

[wauuu]

[Victor will nod thoughtfully. He doesn't want to seem condescending at all, that kind of thing happened to high pressure competitors.]

That's understandable, I'm sorry about whatever happened. I won't pry if it's not something you want to say.

[yokunaru]

[He thinks Victor would probably understand, since he has Makkachin, but Yuuri still hesitates before he says softly--]

My dog died. I haven't seen him since I moved to Detroit to train with Mr. Celestino.

[wauuu]

That would throw anybody off, I know that heartbreak too well. I felt really guilt too, for the same reason. [All too well. He had a preference for standard poodles and had lost two before getting Makkachin. They didn't live as long as their smaller counterparts... He hadn't spent enough time with them.]

Reminds me I should spend more time with Makkachin. They don't last long enough.

[yokunaru]

That's what got to me the most. [Yuuri admits, a little relieved that Victor had accepted the answer so easily.] I thought I'd be able to see him again after I graduated and went back home for a visit. It just happened out of nowhere.

[He glances toward the doorway, like he's expecting Makkachin to click into the room right that second.] We have a lot of time while we're snowed in. We can make sure we spend a lot of it with Makkachin, too.

[wauuu]

[he'll try to lighten the mood with a smile]

I'd really like that, Yuuri. I'm sure he'll love it... [Victor will look around curiously, Makkachin was probably knocked out on his bed for an evening nap] Whenever he's awake that is, lazy dog.

[yokunaru]

[That does the trick. With a small smile, Yuuri finishes putting away the groceries closest to him and then surveys the clean counter with satisfaction.]

There. With all this, I can definitely make one of the Japanese dishes for you tonight. [He pauses when he glances at the clock.] Mm... it's a little early to even prep for that, though. We could...do something else until then?

[wauuu]

If you would like! Did you have something in mind? [he's going to be respectfully of this whole "going slow" thing by not edging that with a sexual undertones. You're welcome.]

[yokunaru]

[He appreciates the effort, Victor. Really. Yuuri crosses his arms over his chest as he thinks.]

When Phichit and I didn't feel like leaving the dorm, we'd just watch movies together and play with his hamsters. What about you?

[wauuu]

I hide in my studio most days. Or sit at the far end of the longest hallway and toss Makkachin a ball until he got worn out.

[yokunaru]

[Victor's answer draws a soft laugh out of him.]

We did say we'd spend time with Makkachin. [He smiles shyly.] Besides, we can talk while we're doing that, too.

[wauuu]

Let me get his ball then, the hallway upstairs is best. [Victor will look around the living room, eventually finding a well used squeaky ball. Heading upstairs, he'll squeeze it and the sound immediately draws the dog with ears perked, out from his napping room.]

Going to fetch! Fetch! [the poodle jumps into the air excitedly, springing cartoonishly alongside Victor, nearly able to snatch it out of his hand from how high the dog can get with each leap]

[yokunaru]

[Seeing the poodle so excited 100% convinces Yuuri that he made the right choice. He wishes that he'd thought to visit Hasetsu more often to see Vicchan, but... there's no use dwelling on that now. At least he can play with Makkachin and make this poodle a bit happier in the meantime.]

Wow, look at him go.

[Yuuri laughs when Makkachin jumps particularly high and just barely misses the ball.]

[wauuu]

Go on! [Victor will get to the far end of the long hallway and toss the ball, sending it and the dog careening away. Makkachin scrambles with teeth out to snatch the toy, rushing back down full speed. Then, of course, it's "no take! only throw!" as the dog offers the ball back, only to try and tug it back when grabbed for. Victor gives a command in Russian and the dog finally relents. Victor hands it to Yuuri to throw]

Not shy of slobber, I hope.

[yokunaru]

[He takes the ball without hesitation, still grinning.] Got used to it within the first month of getting my dog. Makkachin, go! [The ball soars down the hallway, bouncing along as the poodle gives chase.]

Hey, Victor? How'd you get Makkachin anyway? [Then, remembering what Victor had said earlier about not hiding anything, Yuuri adds-] The interviews always had picture of the two of you together, but nothing about that.