Cooking mishaps!!

[yokunaru]

[In some way, it isn't surprising that Yurio ended up in Hasetsu with the rest of them after the Grand Prix Finals were over. As much as Yurio doesn't want to admit it, Yuuri figures he at least enjoyed the time he'd spent at his family's inn the first time around. He's not complaining; he's grown to like Yurio quite a lot since that first unfortunate meeting. And after the two of them took silver and gold at the Finals, Yuuri figures they can have a little fun.

He silently apologizes to him mom for the mess they're likely to make in the kitchen.]

Your grandpa gave you the recipe, right?

[Yuuri rolls his sleeves up to his elbows, adjusting his glasses as he squints at the ingredients and bowls scattered over the counter space.]

Comments

[deridingly]

[..."we". Who's "we".

Yuri's turning back to his own station, stacking up the bowls and utensils there, and snorts.]

I'm not helping you with that mess. I'm not the one who spilled the flour.

[It was technically Yuri's fault and yet.

Here we are.]

[yokunaru]

[But you were the one trying to grab it, Yuuri thinks, but doesn't say out loud because he's an Adult.

Instead, he just sighs quietly and offers up in that mild tone of his--]

Clean up will go a lot faster if both of us are doing it.

[deridingly]

[..... Why should he care about that.........

Ultimately, what gets him to do it is thinking about Yuuri's mom and how kind she's been to him.

Hrmm...]

Ugh, let's just get this over with.

[yokunaru]

[Victoryyyy. Yuuri just shoots him a pleased look before turning back to his counter space and trying to figure out what step he was on before they both got distracted.]

Say, Yurio. Why'd your grandpa decide to make the katsudon piroshki?

[While Yuuri's not super familiar with Russian cuisine, he's pretty sure that's not a typical version of the stuffed bun.]

[deridingly]

I just...brought up having it here when we were talking, and he decided to make them.

[At least...they are making progress? Conversation is happening??

Of course, he's brightening a moment later, forgetting every single last moment of aggression because GRANDPA.]

He's really talented, right?

[yokunaru]

[Don't think he's missed the fact that Yurio voluntarily brought up katsudon to his grandpa. But he looks so pleased in a way that Yuuri rarely sees, that Yuuri can't bring himself to break the moment and tease him about it.]

He is! The katsudon piroshki were as good as my mom's katsudon. [It's a high compliment coming from Yuuri. He glances at Yurio from the corner of his eye.] You two must be really close.

[deridingly]

[Uwoh... a good compliment, well deserved by his grandfather, Yuri thinks. He nods, certain and satisfied, until Yuuri makes his observation, and then he's ducking his head.

Ah... Hrm.]

...Well, yeah. That's not weird, huh? Got a problem with it?

[Nope, still aggressive, still an asshole.

(Mostly embarrassed, though.)]

[yokunaru]

[His smile widens as he notes Yurio's reaction. If anything, Yuuri knows he made the right call, getting Yurio to talk about his grandpa instead.]

Not at all. He's your family, right? [Yuuri's tone softens.] What's he like?

[deridingly]

[There's a lot of suspiciousness here, much like a wild animal. Yuri's just not sure what Yuuri's getting at here, or what he could possibly want.

But...

Well, he can't see any benefit Yuuri's getting out of this. Maybe he's just...asking to ask? (What a weirdo.)]

...None of your business...

[It's just a mutter, but then he's looking away awkwardly, even as he vaguely wipes down the countertop.]

...Granpa's... [So, so important in so many ways.

He doesn't always get it, but...that sort of unconditional love and support is undeniably something special. How does he even describe that?]

Ugh, it's not like I can just describe him, just like that.

[yokunaru]

[Though he'd been prepared to let the topic go as soon as Yurio started to brush it off, he's surprised when Yurio actually tries to give him an answer. Pleasantly surprised.

Yuuri beams at him.]

I guess not. Then... [Tilting his head as he thinks.] What do you two like to do when you spend time together?

[He suspects they must like being in each other's company. He's never seen Yurio so happy about anyone before.]

[deridingly]

[He's trying, Gramps is great and everyone should know!! That he's great!!

But he's also not very good at this.]

...S'not like we get to spend a ton of time together. He's usually in Moscow.

[St. Petersburg isn't that close.

...A beat. Wait.]

Not--that he isn't around to support me or anything, he figures it out and shows up when he can...!

[yokunaru]

[There's probably something wrong with him, if he thinks that Yurio's odd combination of reticence and defensiveness over his grandpa is a little endearing.]

Ah, he was there at the Rostelecom Cup, wasn't he? [It would explain how Yurio had gotten a hold of the katsudon piroshki in the first place.]

I think Viktor wants me to visit Russia with him sometime soon. Maybe I can meet your grandpa while I'm there.

[deridingly]

[Yeah, it means Yuuri's a big fat sap.

Yuri looks at him suspiciously at that, frowning.]

... Why would you even wanna do that?

[SUSPICIOUS SQUINTING.]

[yokunaru]

[Yuuri just tilts his head, like he isn't sure why Yurio's looking at him like that.]

Why wouldn't I? I mean, you've met my family, and Yuuko and Nishigori, too..

Ah. [That line of thought brings a slight frown to Yuuri's face.] Viktor never talks about his family much, though.

[deridingly]

[...]

Yeah, that guy doesn't talk about himself much at all.

[Yuri just shrugs, unbothered.]

Viktor's just Viktor. He's a jerk that way.

[As if you have room to talk, Yuri]

If he hasn't even told you, who he's all gross puppy-dog-eyes over, then it's probably just a Thing for him.

[yokunaru]

["Gross puppy dog eyes"... Yuuri blushes, ducking his head a little. It's true, he and Viktor do get a little overboard with their affections.]

I just thought you might know something, since you were rinkmates... [Yuuri bites his lip now.] Actually... about the rink you use in St. Petersburg. We've been talking about it.

["We" being him and Viktor, of course. Yurio's free to jump to whatever conclusions he gets from that vague comment.]

[deridingly]

[That would assume that Yuri socializes, Yuuri. That's silly.

He's rolling his eyes at Yuuri's assumption, and then-- then the rest sinks in.]

You're what?!

[WHO THE HELL IS WE.]

[yokunaru]

[Yuuri blinks, pausing in the middle of frying the pork cutlets and setting them aside.]

We're...talking about it. You already know that Viktor wants to compete again next season.

[Why is Yurio so surprised?]

[deridingly]

[He's more irritated about--]

Ugh, you'd better not be gross on the ice all the time. You got that?! The rest of us are gonna be practicing.

[gross]

[yokunaru]

[Don't mind him just slowly turning a deep red as he blushes.]

We--we're not gross! I mean, Viktor does like to get all touchy-feely sometimes, but we're not that bad. Especially when we're practicing.

[His voice grows faint as he realizes just how often Viktor will just reach for him while they're practicing, too.

...okay, maybe Yurio's concerns are a little justified after all.]

[deridingly]

[Yeah he's just...watching Yuuri...........]

... Uh huh. Yeah sure. Just make sure it's really like that, because nobody's got time for that touchy feely nonsense during practice. You can't slack off, got that? It doesn't mean anything if I beat all of your records because you stopped trying.

[yokunaru]

[Still red, he nods. He can't believe he just scolded for too much PDA by someone eight years his junior.]

I'll talk to Viktor. Make sure he's focusing during practice. [Yuuri frowns now, brows creasing with concern.] Not that...he'll have a lot of time to goof off if he's really planning to return in time for Nationals.

[deridingly]

[Sorry Yuuri... that's all Yuri is good for, let's be real here.]

Eh...that guy handles skating different from everyone else.

[Asshole.]

He'll probably goof off a lot and still put out a good showing for Nationals--not that I'm gonna let him win. [Viktor's a cheating prodigy though.]

... You, on the other hand, need as much practice as you can get. I don't wanna see another shitty performance, it won't mean anything if I beat that.

[It's...almost like he's concerned?]

[yokunaru]

It's almost like you want me to do well. [Yuuri says with a soft laugh.] I'm in a better place than I was a year ago--I should be fine.

[Despite the new confidence, though, Yuuri's aware that his anxiety could act up again, out of the blue. Putting his all into practice is still a good idea.]

I can't wait to see you and Viktor skate against each other this year.

[deridingly]

Don't be stupid.

[HE DOESN'T WANT THEM TO DO WELL.... except he does... it's complicated okay!!]

Ugh. [Viktor!!] There's only room for one Russian skater on the podium and it's gonna be me.

[He won't let Viktor swoop in and steal all of his glory!!]