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yurionice-secretsanta · 5 years

Text

To @feshnie From @awesome-cookies-and-cream

Merry Christmas! i didn’t really know what you liked so I just did this…accept my 8,000 words worth of love for you!!!

Phichit was just a day before the second semester. College wasn’t that bad. In fact the classmates he’s with were pretty friendly (some of them are kinda useless at group presentations though.) The rooms were very nice. He managed to make his dorm feel more like home just about two weeks ago. His roommate wasn’t as bad as he thought he might be. (He’s almost never there. In fact Phichit might have seen him a grand total of six times. Other than that, he had no problem.) He could have gotten worse, he often reasoned with himself. Over all, he might think his decision to study in America was going in smoothly. The only things that’s been an issue so far was the godforsaken weather and the Russian Roulette game between landing on a fun, caring teacher, versus a devil incarnate teacher that thrives on the suffering of their students.

Phichit did not enjoy dealing with his previous professors. (Phichit learned that the devil is not, in fact a he, but was actually a she. And she goes by the name Lilia Baronovskaya.) Anyway long story short, Phichit was not exactly lucky with his professors last semester. This semester though, he’s hoping he could get a really awesome and caring one at best, to mildly indifferent at worse.

Basically, from what Phichit had heard, the one he had to worry the most for this semester was organic chemistry.

There were only two people worth noting, anybody other than that would mean tranquil waters.

His safest bet was professor Cialdini. He was a lax teacher. In fact, he’s often out if town and classes under him were often cancelled. Though gives out good grades easily, you’ll hardly learn anything this semester. If all you wanted was to pass, then this was the right place for you.

Then there’s professor Katsuki.

He was the newly accepted professor from the previous semester and there’s little to no information about him. There wasn’t enough data to make a definite opinion of how he really is. Some people say he’s too strict, too serious. He was often seen glaring at everything he ever looks at. His dark eyes were things of nightmares and nobody had ever endured his glare. You do not want him as a panelist for your thesis presentation. Also, do not upset him in your first day.

Phichit had to admit the new professor was pretty intimidating, but so long as it was not Baronovskaya, Phichit would take it anytime. Phichit was not actually ready to go through the ninth circle of hell right after he crawled out of it. He barely passed last semester and he’d fought tooth and nail for that barely passing grade but he’s perfectly convinced that nobody can get any worse than her.

Now here he was sitting in organic chemistry, waiting for what could be his salvation or damnation.

Ten minutes passed. People were slowly packing up their stuff, ready to go home after the fifteen minute mark.

Twelve minutes.

Their professor was still nowhere to be seen. The only guy who arrived was the latecomer in a hoodie and a black backpack who entered the room with long purposeful strides. He was sweaty, obviously trying not to get late on his first day. Lucky for him the professor wasn’t around yet.

“Hey nerd! Maybe you wanna chill a bit? The prof isn’t even here yet.” Some guy at the back teased. He looked brash and loud, the regular asshole stereotype. His lackeys laughed even though there wasn’t anything really funny. Yes, the man was starting to play the role of the arrogant bastard in those cliché Hollywood movies.

The hoodie dude stared at the guy, his eyes were dark and cutting, just a little bit annoyed. Somehow Phichit had a bad feeling about it.

The hoodie guy ignored the remark and instead placed his bag down, uncapped a whiteboard marker he apparently had been keeping in his pocket, and wrote on the board in a neat script.

Professor Yuuri Katsuki, Organic Chemistry I

Phichit could see the arrogant bastard’s face slowly pale at every letter added on the board.

Professor Katsuki turned back and looked the man in the eye, in which the man ended up standing rigid in place.

“Now that you all know my name I believe we can start by looking over what we will be discussing over the semester. We shall also discuss my criteria in grading. That way you will know if you will fail by the end of the semester.” Professor Katsuki never left his gaze from the man, making sure to look at him especially at the word fail.

Phichit then understood what the rest meant when they said professor Katsuki was someone you didn’t want to piss off.

“I think I’m going to flunk organic chemistry.” Phichit mumbled as they met up with his friends for lunch.

“Who did you get?” Guang-Hong piped up from beside Leo.

“Katsuki.” Phichit burrowed his face in his face in his arms.

Leo patted his head in consolation. “There there. I’m sure he’s not that bad.”

Phichit responded with a groan. “He gave us a test in our first day. I failed gloriously.”

Guang-Hong and Leo smiled at him with sympathy. “Maybe he’s not actually that scary. He’s just mysterious and people fear things they don’t understand, see?” Ah that’s Guang-Hong’s wise words for you.

“I like Katsuki.” Was the first thing Seung-gil said the entire lunch break.

“Of course you do. You’re almost alike.” Phichit moaned his miseries. “Plus you’re pretty smart. There’s no way he could fail you.”

Seung-gil shrugged and continued to eat his lunch. It wasn’t quite helping Phichit’s case. Maybe it was time to accept that he was just unlucky with his professors.

“Anyway, any of you want to hang out in my place later? We could binge FMA.” Phichit’s pretty sure his roommate won’t mind. He hadn’t seen the man in weeks now. Their schedules just never seemed to match.

“Yeah, I’m down for some alchemy action. I’ll bring drinks.” Guang-Hong grinned.

“Hey! I’ll bring popcorn. Seung-gil wanna come?” Leo asked.

When the Korean nodded without much protest, they let out a big whoop of excitement.

“Great! Let me set it up.” Phichit decided to forget about organic chem for now. That’s a problem for his future self.

No matter how much Phichit wanted to dislike professor Katsuki, he really couldn’t find it in him. He taught his material well. In fact, Phichit had learned more about organic chemistry under the man than any other professor. He actually understood what he was doing…most of the time.

The only problem was that he’s very particular with their lab experiments. That, and it didn’t change the fact that he was scary and intimidating as fuck. Nobody knew anything about him and his life outside class, not even the other teachers.(Some guys tried to ask professor Cialdini about him. Even he was unable to answer anything remotely interesting.)

There a few things one would know from Professor Katsuki and Phichit had made a list:

1.) He’s often mistaken as a kid despite being on his mid-twenties or something.

2.) He loves worn down hoodies and is not exactly helping the case above.

3.) He’s hella freakin smart

Phichit thinks number three was already obvious. The way he talked about his subject sounded so professional and yet it’s understandable, stripped to the basics unlike pretentious people who cannot explain things in layman terms. Phichit appreciates that he’s open to questions and would answer them in the easiest possible way. Although, asking him kinda does need some courage. The glare also seem to soften when he’s discussing. It’s subtle but there.

They just discovered about a fourth on the list though. That was when they managed to cram two and a half lesson in less than two meetings.

4.) He hates wasting time.

Everything was on the rush under professor Katsuki, but it was a calculated rush. You can miss any other subject, all but organic chemistry with professor Katsuki. On one hand, they actually made good use of their textbook and it was not bought for nothing. In fact, they were nearly half way. On the other hand, the stress of one session was killing them all. Phichit’s brain was on fire. His mind says doctor but his heart screams rice farmer in the rural areas of Thailand.

Phichit wanted to think he cared about his students despite the outer persona he shows, the strict teacher. Someone did fall asleep in front of him while he was discussing about acid-base chemistry. Everybody sucked in their breath when they saw him approach the unknowing student. Nobody dared move. The sound of Mizuno rubber shoes (yes Mizuno, everything he owns are slapped with Mizuno labels.) on tiled floors felt so loud as he walked towards the unsuspecting Emil Nekola.

“Mr. Nekola.” He nudged his shoulder gently. He was responded with a groan. He tried again. “Mr. Nekola.” Still a groan. He turned to the person beside him with a sigh. “Please take him to the nurse’s office,” He said. “I’d rather you take absence than to get sick.”

The person next to him nodded and immediately helped to bring Nekola to the clinic.

“I know I asked you to limit your absences from this class at the first day, but do not compromise your health for this. It’s pointless when you can’t even absorb what I’m discussing about. It’s a waste of time. Rest is being productive too. I am more than willing to give you extra time to catch up when you’re sick.” He said. Phichit then thought, maybe he wasn’t really that bad. Maybe he just needed a little warming up.

“Now,” The professor continued. “We still have to answer three worksheets before the period ends and I will let you bring home two more to be checked next meeting.”

The class groaned. One glare from Katsuki and they immediately shut up.

“The man is a taskmaster.” Phichit threw his bag haphazardly on the floor as he opened the door. “I give up. I’m going to be a rice farmer in the outskirts of Thailand. Maybe a goatherd in the Swiss Alps. That way nobody will bother me.”

Seung-gil, Guang-Hong, and Leo were waiting for him in his dorm room. Surprisingly it was left open. Maybe his roommate forgot to lock it? Nothing seemed to be missing though, thankfully. But Phichit would’ve wanted to talk to his roommate about safety.

Phichit glanced at the TV screen and yelped when he realized the opening sequence was already playing. Haikyuu was on the screen.

“Hey! Don’t start without me you little shits.” Phichit kicked off his shoes and shoved Leo to scoot over the bed. Guang-Hong giggled and Seung-gil just groaned.

“Weebs.” Phichit rolled his eyes, squeezing between Guang-Hong and Seung-gil.

“You’re a weeb too. Shut up.” Leo snorted. Phichit smacked him in the face with his pillow. Leo retaliated.

They all paused when the door opened and a tall pale man with long braided blond hair entered the room.

“Oh.” Was what he said. It was Phichit’s roommate.

“Hey. You don’t mind me having people over…right?” Phichit asked with hesitation. The guy was wearing this deep scowl that somehow reminds Phichit of someone.

The guy looked over where the four of them were sitting. Then to the TV screen.

“Is that Haikyuu?” He asked, eyes never leaving the screen.

“Yeah.” Phichit shuffled uncomfortably. What was it with the people around him and their intensity? It didn’t help that he was wearing a leopard print leather jacket and had the heaviest Russian-like accent as if he was a bond villain. The man slid his gaze back to Phichit in a disenchanted way with grace that only he could possibly do. Tension. There was this invisible tension in the room.

“Whatever. Do whatever you want.” The guy said after picking up his bag and leaving the room as quickly as he came.

When they were sure he already left, the four let out a deep exhale. Seriously, talk about intense people.

“Hey, have you heard? There’s going to be a fire drill tomorrow.” Leo said in an attempt to bring back the fun atmosphere from a while ago.

“Uh…really?” Phichit mumbled, distracted.

Fire drills mean cancelled classes. So long as it doesn’t fall on organic chemistry, it’s all going to fine.

“Midterms is fast approaching,” Professor Katsuki started. “We’ll try doing this as fast as we can. The exam is a collaboration between the other professors and you might miss some items because we haven’t discussed it.”

Just as he started writing on the board, the fire alarm went off.

“Fuck.” Katsuki hissed. His eyes narrowed into slits as he ran a hand through his hair. He stared at the class, which everyone averted.

“Let’s pretend we didn’t hear that.” He decided and continued writing on the board. The class continued taking down notes that was, until the door opened and professor Cialdini entered.

“Dr. Katsuki, we-”

He paused, staring at professor Katsuki who only stared back. A quiet conversation was exchanged between the two until professor Cialdini merely nodded and left the room without any other word.

There were two things that registered to Phichit and so he added to the list of things he knew about professor Katsuki:

4.) Professor Katsuki had finished his PhD. Otherwise he wouldn’t be called doctor.

5.) His deadly stare could bring down even professor Cialdini.

There were distinct noises outside. A familiar sharp female voice was giving a rather long lecture. Phichit knew that berating voice all too well.

It was professor Baronovskaya. She was not pleased.

Professor Cialdini reentered the room, stared at Katsuki with remorse. This time Professor Katsuki sighed.

“Okay. Since we won’t be able to discuss this, I will hold a tutorial this Saturday. Anybody can sit in. We can discuss the things you didn’t understand too. For now please form two lines and proceed to safety.”

Phichit added another one to the list and somehow this added some sort of comfort inside him.

6.) Even Katsuki isn’t exempted from Baronovskaya’s wrath.

Phichit started searching professor Katsuki’s social media once more. (A lot had tried and a lot had failed. Phichit is one of them too.) Either he lived his life as a hermit and didn’t own any SNS or it was in Japanese because there really was nothing.

On the other hand, searching for Yuuri Katsuki on Google can produce a lot of different articles, mostly thesis dissertations and research proposals. His name appears on different news articles too, albeit it was all in Japanese so there was no way to understand it.

Either way, Phichit added a couple more to his list:

7.) The man was currently twenty seven years old and he received his doctorate just last year.

8.) Dr. Katsuki was a famous name in the world of academia.

9.) The man was hecking smart.

The man published books. He was highly acclaimed. Phichit really shouldn’t be dumbstruck, but he was. He shut his laptop with a resolute sigh just as the door suddenly burst open and the same blond man entered, except his hair was in a bun now and he was wearing a comfortable sweater instead of the tacky leopard print jacket he wore last time. He didn’t really bother with any greetings, he just took off his shoes and dived face first onto the mattress, probably to pass out.

“I don’t really get why you’re here after being missing for the entire semester.” Phichit stared at the figure laying on the bed. The sudden presence of his roommate had thrown him off balance.

“The Old Man’s probably fucking the pig as we speak.” He said as if that answered everything. It only left Phichit with more questions. He kept fidling with his phone. All his stuff were cat themed. Even the sweatshirt he was wearing and the leather jacket he had last time was cheetah printed.

“…right.” Phichit tried to continue with his essay. Keyword: tried. He ended up glancing back to the man.

“Spit it out.” He snapped. He put down his phone and glared at him, irritated.

“What do you mean?” Phichit averted his gaze.

“You have questions. Ask away. I can hear you thinking from here and it’s fucking annoying.“ He rolled his eyes.

"Uhm…I don’t really know your name.”

“Huh?!” His scowl deepened. “It’s Yuri Plisetsky. And you are?”

“Phichit Chulanont. Why are you always out anyway?”

“I don’t like the shitty dorm. The pig’s apartment is better plus there’s free food. Even if he and the Old Man are gross all the time.” He crossed his arm across his chest. “The stupid rules needed foreign students to have dorms at least in their first year. Well at least I can get away when I don’t want to hear those two being all nasty.”

Phichit nodded with sympathy. He could remember when his sister would bring her boyfriend back in Thailand. He never got to sleep at night.

Yuri’s phone rang. A scowl returned to his face when he picked up the call. “Hey Old Man. Da.”

Phichit did not understand the next conversation. It was spoken in rapid fire Russian. Or at least it sounded Russian. Plisetsky sounded Russian. Yuri looked like he was cursing whoever was on the other end.

Somehow the call ended and Yuri tossed his phone on the bed with frustration. “Guess like I’m sleeping here.”

“Well…wanna watch something?” Phichit asked. “I could set up Netflix and watch. Or whatever you wanna watch anyway. Your pick.”

Yuri peeked at Phichit. “…do you watch My Hero Academia?”

Phichit felt his lips immediately stretch into a grin. “You came to the right place buddy.”

“Awesome,” Yuri sat up. “Put that shit on.”

Phichit had a good feeling about a new friendship that’s about to bloom.

It had been raining hard that day. Phichit was trying to find shelter from the rain when he noticed a figure crouching on the sidewalk.

Upon closer inspection it was actually Dr. Katsuki and he seemed to be coaxing something out of the corner of the dumpster.

Phichit tried not to think about it until it was time for organic chemistry and Dr. Katsuki arrived seven minutes late and drenched with the rain. He was splattered with mud and he was dripping from head to toe, except he didn’t really seemed to notice.

He carefully set his backpack on the floor instead of his table, his eyed narrowed at the class.

“Sorry I was late. Got caught on…something… Yeah.” Which totally sounded the least bit suspicious. He started writing on the whiteboard when..

Yip.

He paused and stood rigidly. Then he seemed to pay it no mind, continued writing with hard determination.

Yip yip.

There it was again.

Then the sound of shuffling and whimpering were heard, followed by scratching. The class didn’t dare breath or move as Dr. Katsuki turned to them and narrowed his eyes into slits as if suspicious.

Yip yip yip.

More scratching.

A bated breath.

Dr. Katsuki sighed. He picked up his black backpack with an expression almost akin to that of a kid caught eating cookies he was strictly told not to.

What came out of the bag elicited a surprised gasp.

It was a white fluffy dog that poked its head out of the bag, tongue lolling out, and he had the most adorable dark eyes ever.

The class lost their shit. There were students who whipped out their phones and started to take pictures, others were cooing from its cuteness. Some were just whispering among themselves.

Phichit then realized what the man was crouching on the pavement for. Plus the dog looked newly groomed and treated. He must have spent his break period cleaning it.

“Everybody settle down.” Katsuki commanded.

The commotion died down in an instant. His power over crowds was still a bit overwhelming.

“Don’t mind the dog. Just..just… Let it do its thing.” He said softly.

It was admittedly hard to focus when there’s a ball of fluff walking around the room, demanding pets. Nobody’s complaining though. It was quite adorable to see it climb over Dr. Katsuki’s desk and the former patiently taking him down to the floor, only for it to do it all over again.

Somehow, Dr. Katsuki got tired of this and decide to just carry the dog while he continued his lecture. He brought up the dog in level to his face. The dog happily licked his cheek, which apparently was a shock to him because he turned bright pink as he mumbled. “Yamette-kodasai.” The dog yipped once more as if in agreement. It was more than willing to be carried and tucked in the front pocket of Dr. Katsuki’s hoodie.

10.) Dogs like him

So there’s an intimidating man perpetually glaring while holding a white fluffy puppy as he went on to talk about carboxylic acids and derivatives.

It was a funny sight. Phichit made sure to take a pic. It made him less… Scary. Because if dogs trusted him, people can too, right?

Dr. Katsuki didn’t look bothered though. In fact, there’s a telltale upturn on his lips, just a small twinkle in his eyes.

11.) He likes dogs too.

“I swear though, they don’t give class B enough screentime."

This had been a ritual of some sorts. Every Friday night, they try to catch up on their shows in Phichit’s dorm. It’s the only one with a TV see. Sometimes they play Mario Kart when they have extra time.

On screen, Bakugou was held hostage by the villains.

"I’d let Dabi kick me in the face and I’d still thank him for it.” Phichit commented. The others nodded in agreement.

“That guy…” Yuri gestured at the screen. It was Shigaraki, a man with a hand for a mask. Why his mask was shaped like a hand, no one knew. He creepily calls it ‘father’ an all that jazz. “I don’t like that guy. He’s a fucking brat.”

They were surprised when the Russian opted to stay and watch with them. He was often out, but quite recently, he’d been around the dorm.

The two lovebirds probably want to do it at every inch of the apartment now that they’ve officially managed to settle down. Yuri once said with a shudder. I can’t look at the kitchen, the dining table and the couch the same way again.

Apparently he’s walked in on them a couple of times and they still got no shame. So now he’s trying to avoid any of those awkward encounters by staying more in the dorms.

“Reminds you of someone?” Phichit snickered.

Guang-Hong smiled. “He does sound like Yuri, doesn’t he?”

Yuri snarled. “He doesn’t sound like me! And I don’t scratch my neck like a creep when I’m angry. Everything about him screams creepy!”

“True. Personally, Yuri is more similar with Bakogou, personality wise.” Leo shrugged.

Yuri responded with a hiss. Strangely, Yuri fitted right in the group easily. At first there was some awkwardness between them, but in the end he was just a big of a weeb as they were.

This time the screen played Aizawa on a bun and clean shaven, bespoke in a suit.

“Daddy.” Phichit sighed. The others grunted in response.

“That Aizawa dude reminds me of the Old Man," Yuri squinted at the screen. "I can’t explain it. He acts nothing like him. He looks nothing like him too. But…he just does.” Yuri gesticulated in frustration. “It’s like that Tokoyami guy. He reminds me of Beka you know? I don’t even know why.”

This Beka, apparently was Yuri’s best friend from Kazakhstan. How that friendship managed to work, they didn’t know and frankly they were too afraid to ask.

“I totally get you my dude,” Leo started. “Eiji from Banana Fish reminds me of Seung-gil and they’re nothing alike. Seung-gil’s too dead inside to be Eiji.”

“We don’t talk about Banana Fish.” Guang-Hong wailed.

“Why? The first few episodes were great!” Phichit wondered.

“Anime only don’t get to say anything.” Guang-Hong hissed.

“Speaking of anime only. The next season of MHA is going to hurt like a bitch.” Seung-gil talked for the first time in the entire time they were there.

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” Yuri growled. “The pig’s already all smug for reading the manga! I don’t need another one!”

They laughed. This was normal now, Yuri complaining about those two parental figures. (Yuri threw a fit when Phichit suggested that they sounded much like his parents as if the very idea insulted him. That just convinced him otherwise.) Phichit never really asked for names, he respected Yuri’s privacy. Although there were times where he did wonder who they were. Whoever they were, Phichit hoped they staryed obliviously married as Yuri said.

It was an accident. He was on his way back to the dorm because he forgot his scientific calculator, and god forbid he forgets his calculator on a calculus exam.

On his way back he heard two voices arguing on the hallway.

“-don’t tell me you already bought it.” One of the voices groaned. Phichit recognized it as Dr. Katsuki’s.

“…I won’t tell you that then?” The second voice sounded sheepish but not exactly sorry. It had an accent, Phichit couldn’t pinpoint where.

“Oh my god Vitya.” Dr. Katsuki exclaimed. He then launched into a smattering of Japanese and…Russian? His companion answered in kind. His companion must be Russian then. Or somewhere Slavic. He never really could tell the difference.

Phichit couldn’t understand whatever they were talking about, but he could see that Dr. Katsuki was pretty upset with this Vitya guy.

He couldn’t see who he was talking to though. He did catch a glimpse of silver hair.

He hurried off before he became late for calculus and before he could find out how that encounter ended in. It was also pretty rude to eavesdrop in a conversation where he was obviously not invited in. Phichit did, somehow manage to add another fact in his list:

12.) He can speak fluent Russian.

When Saturday rolled around, Dr. Katsuki seemed just a tad bit pissed. Well…more pissed than usual. But he did explain the material better and he actually paid attention on every single student who needed help.

Phichit was just a tad bit confident that he could pass this thing. Just a tiny bit confident.

It didn’t really change the fact that he was scarier than usual. Just as they thought he wasn’t as bad as they first thought. But Dr. Katsuki looked so out of it. He looked sad. Or angry. Or maybe both. In the end though, he just seemed resigned. More often you would find him stealing a glance at his phone and then looking away as if reprimanding himself.

Phichit didn’t know why this bothered him so much, but it just did. He thought back to what he overheard the other day and wondered if this was related to that.

“Stupid pig. Stupid Old Man.” Yuri stormed the dorm irritated and slammed the door.

“What happened?” Phichit woke up with a start. His organic chem notes still scattered over his desk. He noticed Yuri’s usual braided hair was left loose like a waterfall to his back. He still look good, maybe just a bit off, a little unkempt.

“They’re fighting. The Old Man won’t stop moping and the pig won’t give him a chance. He kicked the Old Man to the couch. He’s probably sleeping in my bed right now.” Yuri grumbled and flopped on his bed. He kicked off his shoes without any care about where they fell on. "I cooked dinner for them! And what? The only thing the pig uttered was to pass the salt. That’s it. Nothing.“

"That’s rough.” Phichit kept his notes. He was startled when he realized how late it was. He should be studying for his midterms tomorrow, but that could wait. He shook the sleepiness away.

“It’s been days and they still aren’t talking to each other! Damn it why are they so bad at communication?! This is worse than when they were fucking each other senseless.” Yuri groaned.

“You sound like you really care about…whoever you are talking about.” Phichit said in jest. His filter wasn’t exactly the best when he just woke up.

Yuri was silent. Phichit had expected him to deny it or lash out for even having the guts to insinuate he cared for those…whoever those two oblivious idiots with the communication problem were. But instead, Yuri, very quietly, said: “Yeah…I do."

Phichit had never seen so much sincerity shown in three words as he had seen reflected from those green eyes. Phichit couldn’t help but smile.

"A-anyway. Yeah…you didn’t hear that from me.” Yuri remembered himself and pink started to dust his cheeks. He looked adorable, like a little kitten. He cleared his throat to recompose himself. “We’re gonna binge watch some Cell’s at Work because fuck Biology."

"Mood. Organic chem sucks.”

It was finally midterms. Phichit entered the testing room with all information crammed in his head, caffeine running in his bloodstream and hysteria on his nerves.

Dr. Katsuki looked just as dead as the rest of the students. It was painful to watch. The usual sharpness of his eyes were nonexistent. It was replaced with dullness, as if he hardly slept in days.

He looked so tired. His hair was uncombed and he was pale as death.

“Everybody take your seats.” His voice was very very quiet. Phichit slid into his seat.

“You have an hour to finish the exam. Questions about the exam will not be entertained unless it is a technical problem. Timer begins now.”

Phichit took that out of his system for now and focused on taking the test.

He took one look at Dr. Katsuki before writing.

Phichit passed his answer sheet with a spark of confidence that he will pass.

Just as he left the room though, he noticed a man leaning outside the testing room with a serious face. He had silver hair and blue eyes. He was subjectively handsome, Phichit figured he had this charisma on a regular day.

But today, he looked grim. Perhaps he looked remorseful. Phichit can’t help but be intrigued.

When the last student left the room, the man entered the testing room with determination.

Curiosity got the better of him and Phichit peeked just a little bit.

“Vitya.”

He heard Dr. Katsuki’s sharp inhale, the man was looking at him face to face. He couldn’t see Dr. Katsuki’s expression, but this Vitya guy looked ready to break.

“Yuuri. I’m-”

Unexpectedly, Dr. Katsuki hugged Vitya and didn’t look like he was ready to let go anytime soon. Vitya gasped and then he was sobbing on his shoulder. Phichit knew then he was watching something too personal. He slowly backed away, but the image will always replay in his mind for the rest of the day.

Yuri was blushing when he entered the dorm that evening and stormed directly for a shower. He said he needed to bleach his eyes after what he saw.

Phichit raised a glass of red bull for Yuri’s disgusting lovebirds. He would assume that a.) They finally made up, and b.) Yuri walked in on them once more.

Dr. Katsuki entered the room with this fresh look. It was almost as if he was blooming, as if the past gloomy days never happened. He looked like…like…

…Like he just got laid.

None of them commented on his sexed up bed head nor the obvious hickey on his neck. There’s this subtle awestruck look in his eyes, a certain dazed shine in his face, a dopey contentment in his posture. Of course these were subtle things you’ll only find when you really look for it. It did

Dr. Katsuki cleared his throat. “Class. Well done on your midterms. I’ve graded them this weekend and I’m happy to tell you that this class has the highest passing rate among the other classes. Congratulations.”

There was a burst of excited chatter among the room. You can hear relieved sighs at the receiving their test papers. That fell short when someone knocked on the door.

“Delivery for Dr. Katsuki-N.” The man said, holding a giant bouquet of blue roses. Blue roses. Someone actually paid enough to have them dyed blue.

The professor’s expression shifted from shock, to absolute horror, to sheer embarrassment in a matter of seconds.

“Are you Dr. Katsuki-N?” The delivery man asked. Dr. Katsuki rubbed his face, exasperated and annoyed but also resigned as if he knew one day he would be faced by a gigantic bouquet of roses in his class.

“Just mister Katsuki would do.” He signed the slip and received the roses for him. After the whole ordeal, Dr. Katsuki set the bouquet on his desk.

“So uhh…” He cleared his throat once more. “Don’t mind that. Please open your textbooks to page two hundred fifty two, and if you’ll excuse me I have to make a call.”

He exited the room with haste that everyone else was left in confusion. If you listen carefully though, you can hear exasperated Japanese from the outside.

Everybody was having a field day.

“I swear man. That was so weird.” Phichit explained as they ate lunch at a cafe near the campus. It was raining hard so they weren’t able to eat by the quad like they usually do so they rode Leo’s car and drove here. “I think Dr. Katsuki is just misunderstood.” He paused, deliberating. “Or all he needed was to get laid.”

“Phichit!” Guang-Hong blushed. It was pretty entertaining to see the Chinese become so flustered despite being old enough to actually talk about these things.

“I take it that organic chem is going well.” Leo sipped from his cola.

“Seung-gil was right. Dr. Katsuki isn’t that bad.”

Seung-gil looked smug. The slight upturn on his lips being the only giveaway.

“Still though, before that happened, I managed to overhear Dr. Katsuki arguing with this silver haired man he apparently calls "Vitya”. Then at midtems, they kinda…made up? Then awhile ago Dr. Katsuki got a bouquet of roses.“ Phichit mused out loud. "Could it be that this silver haired guy is Dr. Katsuki’s boyfriend?”

“You don’t even know if he’s into men.” Seung-gil finished his lunch.

“Tsk. Don’t assume everyone is straight Seung-gil.” Phichit snickered. “Besides he doesn’t feel straight to me and boi is my gaydar almost always correct. This is why we’re friends after all.”

“Actually you collected all the weebs and and decided ‘they’re mine now’ and that’s that.” Leo deadpanned.

“Hey, isn’t that Dr. Katsuki?” Guang-Hong pointed at the man across the street, taking refuge from the downpour while scrolling through his phone. He seemed to be waiting for the rain to stop. He had his signature hoodie cover his hair. . “Maybe he needs a ride, should we offer him to join us?”

Turned out he didn’t need a ride though, because someone just tackled him from behind. Dr. Katsuki yelped in surprise, or it seemed like it. They couldn’t hear what was happening from the downpour and from the glass window separating them.

“That’s him! That’s the man!” Phichit gasped. Dr. Katsuki was now berating the man for causing them both to get soaked. The man didn’t look the slightest bit remorseful, he just sported a rather wide and bright grin to an annoyed Dr. Katsuki. Dr. Katsuki flicked the man’s forehead in response.

“Isn’t that professor Nikiforov though?” Guang-Hong squinted at them.

“Professor Nikiforov?”

“Yeah he teaches literature I think? Like he caused a commotion last semester when he first entered? Because a lot of students would sit in his classes without actually being enrolled and the poor guy just couldn’t ask them to leave. And we all know they weren’t actually there to learn about history.” Leo explained. “Where were you last semester?”

“Probably dying from the she-devil.” Phichit groaned. Professor Baronovskaya basically took one look at the class and decided she wanted to consume the souls out of them all.

“Anyway. I think it makes sense that they’re friends. They seem to have entered the university the same time.” Leo said as they watch Dr. Katsuki pick up the umbrella Professor Nikiforov dropped after tackling him from behind. Katsuki huffed, professor Nikiforov took the umbrella and wrapped an arm around Katsuki’s shoulder before walking away.

“Yes, just two bros sharing an umbrella, under the rain, no space apart cause they’re not gay.” Phichit snorted. His phone pinged with a notification which drew him away from the scene.

“It’s a text from Yuri.” Phichit said. “He says he can’t come later because he’s spending it with the idiots.”

“No Yuri today?” Guang-Hong mused. “I kinda miss his swears. Especially when we play Mario Kart.”

“It be like that sometimes.” Phichit said. “Anyway, who wants to re watch One Punch Man?”

Since their grades actually got better after the whole tutroial thing before midterms, Dr. Katsuki decided to keep it going until finals.

“Let’s meet in this cafe next Saturday. Just tell them you’re under my class. They’ll know.”

Apparently all the other lecture rooms were taken for the week so they had no choice but to relocate.

The first thing Phichit noticed was the blue framed glassed perched on Dr. Katsuki’s nose when he arrived next Saturday as he sat on the second floor of the cafe, the smell of green tea wafting from the cup Dr. Katsuki ordered. Phichit made sure to be at least a thirty minutes earlier than the agreed time because his friends were busy with their own studies and he had nothing better to do yet. However the Japanese apparently got here even earlier. He was reading a V.K.N novel, this year’s bestselling novel from an author whose face was never revealed. He was deeply concentrated, brows knitted together, but also he looked content, tranquil. Colored highlighters were on the table and the book was filled with sticky notes.

Phichit didn’t know what to do. His other classmates weren’t around yet. (Fashionably late they say) so he was alone with him for probably an hour or so.

Dr. Katsuki probably noticed his presence hovering around and looked up from his book.

“Mr. Chulanont.” He said. It wasn’t the first time he as addressed by the doctor, but it was the first time without his classmates around. Phichit was a little out of his element.

“Dr. Katsuki.”

“Just mister Katsuki is fine,” He replied, closing the book as he did so. “Dr. Katsuki sounds so formal.” It was so casual. Too casual.

For someone claimed to be a very outgoing extrovert, he’s having a hard time talking now. Well, that was until he saw his bookmark.

“You watch My Hero Academia too?” It was of Midoriya Izuku holding a bowl of Katsudon.

Dr. Katsuki’s lips turned to that akin to a smile. “Yes, and I read the manga too.”

“Nooo! No spoilers! Everyone’s saying season four will hurt!’ Phichit wailed. Katsuki nodded solemnly.

"Trust me it will.” Katsuki took a long sip from his green tea. “Plus there’s not enough Tododeku moments.”

Phichit gasped. “You ship them too?"

"Obviously. Intellectuals don’t watch season two and not ship them.” Katsuki rolled his eyes. Actually rolled his eyes.

“Wow. Where were you all my life?” Phichit breathed because wow, this man was nothing at all like what he first expected.

“Dying somewhere else probably.” He quipped back. Somehow some professor are just about your age in college and it’s jarring like that. Phichit can’t seem to fathom this. If he told his classmates, they probably wouldn’t believe him.

13.) He likes anime

“Yuuri!” Someone called. “Solnyshko, have you seen my-oh.”

It was professor Nikiforov in all his gilded splendor. Seeing him up close kinda explained why he caused so much trouble in his first semester.

“Hi! Are you one of Yuuri’s student’s?” He asked, beaming with charm. His mouth is shaped like a heart when he smiles. He reached out a hand. “I’m Victor Nikiforov, it’s nice to meet one of Yuuri’s students. He talks about all of you often.”

Dazed, Phichit can only nod and shake the man’s hand. “Phichit Chulanont. It’s nice to meet you too professor Nikiforov.”

“Wow! Does Yuuri talk about me too?” He look absolutely delighted. His eyes sparkled.

“They probably knew you as that guy who was followed around a lot last sem.” Dr. Katsuki snickered. “Creepy stalkers still keeps me awake at times.”

“They weren't stalkers Yuuri. They were just students.” Professor Nikiforov insisted.

“Whatever you say Vitya."

"I spy someone jealous.”

“Mhm, sure you do."

Phichit realized how different he acted outside of the classroom with less people and a more comfortable setting. Especially with Professor Nikiforov. He seemed most comfortable with him. He wasn’t glaring anymore, his eyes were full of life. Phichit thought it suited him.

"Aren’t you supposed to be doing something else right now Mr. Nikiforov?” Dr. Katsuki told the professor.

“Oh right right. Anyway I think those are some of your students downstairs. I’ll tell them to go up.” He left them and hurried downstairs. “I’ll also ask for the do not disturb sign so nobody goes upstairs.” Professor Nikiforov yelled from the stairs.

“Spasibo!” Dr. Katsuki yelled back.

Phichit’s classmate started filling in the second floor, Dr. Katsuki became busy accommodating them and they weren’t able to talk further. He can see though that Dr. Katsuki was way different with the Russian than when with his students. He didn’t know where their relationship stands, and in all honesty Phichit never knew he was about to consider this but.

He ships them.

“Oi, you have plans this weekend?”

Yuri suddenly asked in the middle of studying. His notes on Biology was so cute. It had little Cell’s at Work doodles. Yuri turned bright pink when Phichit teased him about it.

“No not really.” Phichit stopped highlighting stuff. (He was randomly highlighting words. It’s almost twelve and he hasn’t crammed everything he needed to for his exam on history.) “Why what’s up?”

Yuri’s brows turned into a scowl. Not the pissed scowl, the one where he’s too embarrassed to say something.

“Do you want to have dinner with me?”

Phichit stared at Yuri.

“Are you asking me on a date Yuri Plisetsky?” Phichit cackled. Yuri flushed red and threw his biology book at him. It him right in the face but damn was it worth it.

“No!” He screeched. “The Old Man and the Pig wants me to bring friends for dinner because it’s my birthday because I thought you assholes weren’t so bad! But apparently I was wrong so if that’s how you wanna go then you’re fucking uninvited you mother fucker! Blyad!”

“Yuri No,” Phichit wheezed out. “I’d love to meet your parents.”

“They’re not my parents! Why are we even friends?!” He groaned, throwing another thick hardbound book. Thankfully, Phichit managed to dodge it this time.

“Seriously! Chill! You’re like a sibling slash kitten to me. Dating you would be so weird.” Phichit was still laughing even when Yuri attempted to strangle him. “Did you tell Guang-Hong, Leo and Seung-gil?” He managed to choke out after his laughter dying.

“I did. Seung-gil’s busy with a project, Leo needs to study for an exam and Guang-Hong has part time. I understand if you’re busy though.” Yuri said softly. He refused to look at Phichit as he said it.

“Aww Yuri. Don’t worry about it. I’m free this weekend.” Phichit reassured.

“Really?” His eyes widen in anticipation.

“Yeah. Let’s go meet mom and dad!” Tears rolled down Phichit’s cheeks as Yuri’s face morphed into absolute anger.

Phichit might have deserved getting smacked in the face with a seven hundred pages worth hard bound chemistry book.

Totally worth it though.

Phichit was sure he saw Dr. Katsuki by a corridor with professor Nikiforov. He was also sure he didn’t just imagine Dr. Katsuki slowly reaching up to press a quick kiss on professor Nikiforov’s lips before retreating away.

Poor professor Nikiforov was left, absolutely stunned and was blushing hard. It took him a good couple of minutes before he realized what actually transpired and his shocked face morphed into a dopey grin.

Phichit sung praises to the heavens.

“So this is where you go when you’re not in the dorm. It’s pretty near the campus.”

It was Friday afternoon and the pair had arrived to Yuri’s apartment. It wasn’t anything too fancy, but Phichit can tell it was slightly more expensive than what was the average man’s salary.

“Yeah. I didn’t really want a dorm. But I guess I’m glad I did.” Yuri opened the door. They were immediately greeted by a massive ball of brown fluff.

“Makkachin! Down!” Yuri commanded. The poodle obeyed his command, but not before licking his face. There was another dog. It was Whits and fluffy and…familiar. He felt a shiver down his spine.

Phichit knew that dog!

“Yurio! Okaeri.”

Phichit whipped his head to the source of the voice so fast, he could’ve gotten a whiplash.

Standing in front of him was none other than professor Nikiforov himself, wearing a sweater an apron just like any regular person. It felt so…wrong.

“Y-you!” Phichit gasped.

“Oh? Mr. Chulanont? What a surprise!” Professor Nikiforov flashed his million megawatt smile.

“Wait, you fucking know each other?” Yuri exclaimed.

“Vitya, is that Yura? I-…oh.”

Of course Dr. Katsuki had to follow.

This was a bit awkward. Seeing your organic chemistry teacher in sweat pants and a Fullmetal Alchemist fandom shirt was not part of Phichit’s weekend plan.

He was quite sure being seen in sweat pants and a Fullmetal Alchemist fandom shirt by his student was not part of Dr. Katsuki’s weekend plan.

“Don’t tell me you know who he is too Katsudon.” Yuri scowled.

Phichit was too stunned to wonder why Yuri was calling his professor a pork cutlet bowl, after all that wasn’t the most pressing matter here.

“Dr. Katsuki’s my organic chemistry professor actually.” Phichit managed to say when he finally found his voice. Talk about having a small world.

“He’s the intimidating professor you were talking about before?” Yuri burst out laughing. “Oh yes, how intimidating! It’s almost like he didn’t spend half an hour crying about snakes.”

“They don’t have arms!” Dr. Katsuki blushed. “In my defense I was plastered as fuck by then and I blame Victor for that.”

“What?” The silver haired man gasped in mock indignation, too dramatic too be real. “How could you suspect me of such? Oh my Yuuri so cruel.”

Dr. Katsuki giggled. Phichit was having an out of body experience. He must be dreaming.

“I never would have guessed that the friend little Yura here mentioned was you Mr. Chulanont.” Dr. Katsuki said after they recovered from their laughing fit.

“Please call me Phichit if you don’t mind. And yeah I never would have guessed that you were who Yuri talked about so often.”

That caught professor Nikiforov’s ear. “Yurio talks about us? Do spill.”

“Oh my god! This was a mistake!” Yuri just tossed his hands in the air. “Why does this have to happen on my birthday of all days!” Phichit was quite familiar of this tone. It was often used on complaining about his two idiots love birds…which apparently was his professor.

It kind of struck Phichit that he knew a lot about his professor’s sex life than what was absolutely necessary and he didn’t know what to do with this knowledge. He most especially doesn’t need to know about how he has a thing for bondage and exhibitionism. Or that he could pole dance.

Phichit started to understand Yuri in a more spiritual level.

“Phichit then, please call me Yuuri outside of class. Any friend of Yura’s is a friend of ours.” Dr– Yuuri bowed his head curtly. “Come on dinner is ready.”

Phichit followed them towards the dining table. He tried not think about Yuri’s complaints on seeing them fuck on every single piece of furniture in this house.

He’ll possibly never enter organic chem the same way ever again.

“Please feel at home Phichit. And also call me Victor, that professor nonsense makes me feel old.” Victor started setting up the dining table.

“That’s because you’re old, Old Man. Your hair is thinning.” Yuri stuck out his tongue.

“That’s fine. I’d still love you anyway.” Yuuri kissed the crown of Victor’s head.

Everything was so domestic. In the end it all just kind of fits. Although there was one more thing that bothered him.

“Hold up. So this also mean that both of you are married married?” Phichit burst out. Wow, here he was thinking they simply looked good together. Dr. Katsuki, a weeb and happily gay and married.

Victor and Yuuri looked at him, mildly confused.

“Yes?” Yuuri showed his ring, that for some reasons Phichit wasn’t able to notice. “I wasn’t actually trying to hide it.”

“In Russia, we wear the ring on our right hand. Maybe that’s why people don’t think it’s a wedding ring.” Victor grinned. “Been happily Victor Katsuki-Nikiforov for two years now!”

“Okay then how is it you didn’t add Victor’s last name when you introduced yourself to us?”

“Oh, my Yuuri earned his doctorate, did he not? Seems wrong to have my name slapped with it.” VIctor’s smile widened considerably. “Besides, Dr. Katsuki sounds so much sexier!”

Yuuri sighed. “And yet he insisted to have my initials part in his pen name.”

“Oh but Yuuri! You’re my muse! The reason why those books were written in the first place!”

“Books?”

Yuri blanched at the lovey-dovey display before him. “The old ma may not look like it, but he’s a bestselling author. I think you’ve heard of VKN?”

Phichit didn’t think he could take all the plot twists unraveling before him. What a power couple. The talented bastards.

“Is there anything else I need to know?” Phichit rubbed his head.

“I don’t know about you, but I think Yurio does.”

The doorbell rang, Yuuri got up to open it.

“Beka!” Yuri stood up in shock and immediately hugged the man.

Phichit wanted to sit down from all that was happening. The rest of the evening flew by like a blur. He did add a lot more in his list.

14.) He was gay and happily married.

15.) He was married to Victor Nikiforov, five times consecutive bestselling author.

16.) Yuri Plisetsky is their 'son’. They themselves agreed.

17.) Victor and Yuuri are a power couple and together they can rule the world.

“How the hell did we miss all that?” Guang-Hong mused.

“Seriously the man’s like half blind. He wasn’t glaring, the contacts were irritating his eyes. Stubborn pig didn’t want to buy glasses yet.” Yuri munched on his fries. They started clearing out all of what happened that weekend.

The others were also dumbfounded when they found out. It was good to know Phichit wasn’t the only one.

“You saw the man enter the room with a puppy in his bag and you all still thought he was a murderous criminal?” Yuri was having fun with all this.

“There we’re rumours that he nearly made one of the resident jocks cry. He must be that intense if he actually did.” Leo shrugged.

“Oh yeah he did. The guy was talking shit about being gay.” Yuri explained. “I still find it funny that you found the most anxious ball of nerves, the literal personification of anxiety, as threatening. What a concept.”

“I think I find it funnier that my professor once enrolled in a pole dancing class by mistake and was too shy to back out.” Phichit snorted.

So maybe Phichit was slightly lucky with his professors this sem. Finals came and go and regretfully Phichit had to say goodbye to Dr. Katsuki. But only in class.

They still meet up sometimes when Yuri invites Phichit to their apartment. He also spend most of the holidays there.

And whenever he could hear anybody saying organic Chen with Dr. Katsuki is hell, he’ll give them notes compiled properly, and the list he did over the semester.

#feshnie #awesome-cookies-and-cream #gifts18 #YOIsanta18 #fanfic #phichit chulanont #submission

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yurionice-secretsanta · 5 years

Text

If it’s me you really seek

To @nooowestayandgetcaught From @singeiji

Hi! i hope you like the fic!!!

Title: if it’s me you really seek Rating: T Word Count: 3.4k Notes: wings/fairy au, canon compliant

Yuri is three when his Mama sits him down and tells him why they have wings that no one else can see.

Before tucking him in at night, Mama tells him a story. It’s always about a girl who can fly. She lives in the countryside with all of her fairy friends, and everyday, they go on a brand new adventure. But today, Mama tells him about the time the girl finds a boy in the woods.

“Her mother taught her to always be careful of strangers, but the boy was lost, and he seemed very nice, so she decided to help him anyway,” Mama says.

Yuri stares up at her, wide-eyed, captivated like he always is.

“What happened?” he asks, and he watches as Mama’s lips curl upwards in a smile.

She tucks his hair behind his ear and says, “It turned out that he was so nice, she decided to stay with him.”

Yuri’s eyebrows furrow.

“But what about her mother? And her fairy friends? Did she leave them?”

“Well, she did, but she made new friends, and she found a new family,” Mama says. “She got married to the boy and they had a baby together and she loved them both very much.”

“Just like you love me, Mama?”

Mama bends down to press a kiss onto Yuri’s temple.

“Yes, Yurochka, exactly how I love you,” Mama says. “You know why, my love? Because you are that baby, and I am that girl.”

Yuri’s breath catches and mouth drops open. “Does that mean we’re fairies, Mama?”

Mama’s smile widens. “Yes. That’s why we have wings, because we’re fairies who can fly.”

“Teach me how to fly, Mama!”

Yuri squirms, excited at the thought of it. He’s tried to, before, but even when he jumped as high as he could, he couldn’t follow the seagulls up to the sky.

But Mama shakes her head at him.

“You’re too young, Yurochka,” she says, and she reaches out to smooth the crease that appears between Yuri’s eyebrows. “But someday, Mama will teach you. We’ll fly together and we can show it to Papa.”

That night, Yuri dreams of flying above a forest. He dreams of his Mama and Papa all the way down on the ground, as tiny as a little kitty. They’re waving at Yuri, and Yuri waves back.

That night, Yuri dreams of flying towards the sun.

Yuri is five when his parents die in a house fire.

Yuri’s Grandpa lives all the way in the city. Yuri sleeps through most of the ride there, and when he wakes up, he’s on a bed he doesn’t recognize in a room he doesn’t recognize.

His room back home was always so bright and warm, even at night, but this room is cold and lonely. The corners are dark and they scare Yuri. But he has no more Mama to tell him he’s alright, and he has no more Papa to hug him and protect him from the monsters hiding in the dark.

Yuri doesn’t realize that he’s crying until Grandpa is already shushing him, until he’s already wrapped in Grandpa’s arms.

It isn’t the same. Grandpa is bigger than Papa, and his hands are rougher. Grandpa doesn’t have wings like Mama’s and Yuri’s, so he can’t hide Yuri away behind them like Mama used to do.

But it’s still nice. Grandpa is warmer than the rest of the room, and he lets Yuri cry into his shirt. His voice is low like Papa’s and his words remind him of Mama’s.

And even though Yuri cannot sleep with his parents on either side of him like he used to when he was having a bad night, he sleeps that night with his head on Grandpa’s lap and his hand wrapped tight on Grandpa’s wrist.

That night, Yuri dreams being stuck on the ground while his Mama and Papa hover above him. He can’t see them clearly because the sun is too bright behind them, but he knows it’s them. He can hear them calling for him, telling him to come, but he can’t. Yuri doesn’t know how to fly; his Mama hasn’t taught him yet.

That night, Yuri dreams of being left behind.

Yuri is six when he discovers the ice.

The figure skaters on TV look like they’re flying.

They glide along the ice with their arms spread, and to Yuri’s eyes, they look like birds with their wings extended on both sides, riding on the air. They take off for their jumps—triple axel, quad lutz, double toe—and to Yuri’s eyes, they look like birds taking flight.

There’s one who Yuri can’t take his eyes off. His hair is long and grey, and he’s wearing a pale gray costume to match. There are frills along his arms and his torso that almost look like feathers when he spins, and when he jumps, he soars.

His name is Victor Nikiforov and Yuri wants to ask him how to fly.

That night, Yuri dreams of skating. He’s on the lake back home, and when he looks up, he sees that Victor is with him. Victor is holding his hand and pulling him around. His smile is wide and there’s gold around his neck.

“You’re doing so well, Yura,” he says, and Yuri believes him.

That night, Yuri dreams of hope blossoming in his chest.

Yuri is nine when he first meets the man who coaches Victor.

A lot of the other kids are scared of Yakov, but Yuri isn’t.

See, Yakov Feltsman looks like the angry dog next door who always barks at Yuri when he passes by. That same angry dog turns to putty when Yuri reaches through the gate’s bars and pets him, and Yakov is very much the same.

Yakov barks out corrections and commands, but his touch is gentle when he moves to adjust Yuri’s limbs and his eyes are warm when he tells Yuri that he did a good job. Yakov reminds Yuri of Grandpa, and that’s why there isn’t any way he could be scared of him.

Yuri was hoping to catch a glimpse of Victor at Yakov’s camp. He doesn’t, but it’s fine. Instead, he takes home the image of Yakov’s face, his lips set into a line and his eyes warm with satisfaction so, so close to Grandpa’s face when he tells Yuri he’s proud of his Yurochka.

That night, Yuri dreams again of flying. The wind is strong, but he doesn’t get blown away with it. There’s a string wrapped around his ankle. When he looks down, he sees Grandpa and Victor and Yakov, and they’re the ones holding him to the earth.

That night, Yuri dreams of smiling down at them.

Yuri is eleven when he finally meets Victor Nikiforov.

Victor looks nothing like he did when Yuri first saw him. His hair is cut shorter, his shoulders wider, his legs longer. He still soars when he jumps, but now that Yuri can see him up close, he looks cold, lonely. He wraps his arms around himself and holds on like he’s hoping it’s someone else’s touch. He smiles like a lie.

He’s sitting down when Yakov first introduces Yuri to his new rinkmates, and yet it still feels like he’s looking down on Yuri.

“You’re good,” he says, after he watches Yuri skate for the first time, “but you’re still young.”

When he walks away, it feels like a slap to the face. Crystal clear dismissal that starts a spark in the pit of Yuri’s stomach.

Victor is still beautiful when he skates, but Yuri doesn’t want to fly with him anymore.

That night, Yuri dreams of Victor skating in a stadium empty except for Yuri, sitting at the very back. It’s cold and it’s dark except for the spotlight that follows Victor around the rink. Yuri doesn’t think Victor knows he’s here. He doesn’t think Victor realizes that there’s anyone watching at all.

That night, Yuri dreams of what loneliness looks like as it pours from Victor and fills up the whole room.

Yuri is twelve when he learns his first program.

Yakov tells him not to overwork himself. Yakov tells him he shouldn’t practice his jumps yet. Yakov tells him he can’t sneak into the rink after-hours all the time.

Yuri doesn’t understand why he can’t skate every hour of every day if it’s what he wants. He doesn’t understand why Yakov won’t let him fly. So he doesn’t listen. He practices, even when Yakov is shouting at him. He skates, even when Yakov threatens to drop him as a skater.

Weill. If Yakov drops him, then Yuri will find someone else who will let him fly.

That night, Yuri dreams of flying. The sky is clear and the sun is bright as it beckons at him to come, my child, come to me. But when he tries, he finds that he can’t. When he tries, he finds a string wrapped around his leg that pulls him back down, further and further away from the sun.

That night, Yuri dreams of falling to the ground before he can even reach the sky.

Yuri is thirteen when he wins his first gold medal.

In the last few seconds of his skate, Yuri replaces his triple with a quad. He touches down, but he gets the rotations in, and he hears the audience gasp and roar when they realize what he’s done.

But that doesn’t matter to Yuri. To Yuri, all that he can think about as he stands here with his chest heaving and sweat dripping from his skin is that he’s finally gotten to fly.

Yuri is always cold these days, but today, he’s as warm as the last time he was in his Mama’s arms.

That night, Yuri dreams of being back home. He’s in his childhood bed, tucked in tight just the way he likes. Mama is sitting beside him, telling him a story about a girl who can fly.

That night, Yuri dreams of warmth.

Yuri is fourteen when he first sees Yuuri Katsuki.

It’s easy to sneak out of a hotel room when there’s no one guarding him, and since Yakov has to look after Georgi, Yuri has absolutely no trouble at all.

Yuuri Katsuki skates first, and he takes Yuri’s breath away. His costume is plain and he falls on most of his jumps, but he skates like it’s what he was born to do. When he moves, he is smooth, effortless. He is ethereal and otherworldly. He is extending his hand to the audience and telling them come and watch me, only me.

He makes Yuri want to skate. He makes Yuri want to fly.

That night, Yuri dreams of the time his Mama flew for him. She hovers up in the sky, her hair blowing in the wind, her wings wide enough that she covers the sun.

“It’s beautiful up here, Yurochka,” she tells him. “Someday, you’ll see this too.”

But when Yuri blinks, Mama is gone. In her place is Yuuri Katsuki, his hand extended to Yuri.

“Come, Yuri,” he says.

But Yuri can’t.

That night, Yuri dreams of failure.

Yuri is fifteen when he’s reminded that those who fly can fall.

Yuuri Katsuki places sixth in his first Grand Prix Final event.

Maybe Yuri should have expected it considering how Katsuki is so inconsistent. Or maybe Yuri should have expected it considering how everyone he thinks could teach him to fly seem to fall flat in the end.

Somehow, though, this hurts more than the last time. Yuuri Katsuki had yet to soar, but now he’s bent and broken. Now, Yuri can’t take his hand and learn with him.

Yuri gets angry. Then again, he’s more angry than not these days.

That night, Yuri dreams of skating Yuuri Katsuki’s program.

He falls.

He gets back up.

He falls.

He gets back up.

He falls.

That night, Yuri dreams of falling so far that he can’t get back up again.

Yuri is fifteen when he learns to rely on himself.

Lilia Baranovskaya is scarier than Yakov Feltsman could ever be.

She tells him that pain is beauty, and so Yuri reaches into the deepest, darkest part of himself and pulls out everything he can use to be beautiful. She tells him that his natural talent is nothing if he doesn’t work hard, and what Yuri hears is that his wings are nothing if he can’t use them.

She tells him that he needs to throw his past self away, that he needs to be reborn, and Yuri listens.

He dances and he thinks of the sky, coming closer and closer until it almost seems like it’s within his reach. He skates and he thinks of his wings unfurling around him, of his feet lifting from the ground because of his own power.

Yuri learns to fly.

That night, Yuri dreams of his Mama.

“You had it in you all along, my Yurochka,” she tells him.

Yuri bows his head. His hand tightens around hers.

“I’m sorry it took me so long, Mama,” he says.

Mama doesn’t reply. Instead, she stands up and she walks to Yuri’s window, which is open, showing the full moon. Mama extends a hand, palm up.

That night, Yuri dreams of jumping out of his bedroom window and flying with Mama right beside him.

Yuri is fifteen when he becomes friends with Otabek Altin.

Yuri loves watching the sunset. The world glows yellow, and for a few minutes everyday, Yuri can bathe in the sun without having to fly to it.

Today, he watches the sunset with Otabek. Today, he listens to Otabek describe a boy Yuri doesn’t remember. Otabek says he has the eyes of the soldier, and it’s the first that Yuri’s ever heard it.

Everyone has always told Yuri that he’s too delicate, too angry, too lazy, too greedy. They contradict themselves. They never know what they really want from Yuri. Yuri has enough confusion and doubt in him; he doesn’t need theirs.

But Otabek—

Otabek saw Yuri’s hard work, even though he hadn’t. Otabek saw Yuri’s efforts, even though he felt like they weren’t enough. Otabek wants to be Yuri’s friend, even though he thought he’d always have to be alone to fly.

When Yuri takes Otabek’s hand, it feels like a new beginning.

That night, Yuri dreams of being back in that novice ballet class.

This time, he sees Otabek. This time, he’s the one who offers a hand to Otabek when he falls.

That night, Yuri dreams of dancing in a pair.

Yuri is fifteen when he wins his first gold in the Senior division.

Grandpa is proud of him. Yakov and Lilia are proud of him. Katsudon and Victor are proud of him. Otabek is proud of him. Yuri wishes his Mama and Papa could be here, but he knows that wherever they are, they’re proud of him too.

Most of all, though, Yuri is proud of himself. He breaks Victor’s world record. He won so Katsudon wouldn’t stop skating with him. He wins gold on his Senior debut.

But there is more to overcome. Yuri has flown to the top of this mountain, but there’s more left for him to cover.

That night, Yuri dreams of standing on top of the podium. Everyone is with him, surrounding him, and Yuri has never been happier.

That night, Yuri dreams of warmth that starts in his chest and spreads to the rest of his body.

Yuri is sixteen when he shows Otabek that he can fly.

They’re in Yuri’s room in Grandpa’s apartment. It’s Otabek’s first night in, and he sits on the futon laid beside the bed while Yuri paces back and forth.

“What do you need to show me?” Otabek asks.

Yuri pauses, takes a deep breath. He hasn’t shown anyone else but Grandpa before, but Grandpa already knew he could do it, just like he knew Mama could.

Yuri doesn’t know how Otabek will react, but Otabek is his friend. His first friend, if not his only friend. Yuri wants him to know.

“Watch me,” he says.

He flies.

Otabek blinks, says, “Amazing.”

Then—

“I guess we don’t need my bike to run away from your fans now.”

Yuri tackles Otabek in a hug and pretends he isn’t smiling into Otabek’s neck.

That night, Yuri dreams that he’s back in his childhood home. Instead of seeing Mama like he usually does, though, it’s Otabek who sits on Yuri’s bed. It’s Otabek who stands up and offers a hand to Yuri.

It’s Otabek who jumps out of the window and flies with Yuri.

That night, Yuri dreams of Otabek’s rare smiles.

Yuri is seventeen when he first shares a podium with two of his favorite skaters.

Getting silver isn’t the same as getting gold, but it’s not so bad when it’s Katsudon who snatches the top spot on the podium right from under Yuri’s nose. It certainly isn’t so bad, getting a score barely two points above bronze when it’s Otabek who’s standing on Katsudon’s other side.

Yuri can see Victor standing with Yakov and Lilia. He has Yuri’s phone pressed to his ear, and Yuri can easily imagine Grandpa on the other end of the line, asking Victor to tell him what’s happening.

There’s a feeling in Yuri’s chest. It blooms and it blossoms and it makes Yuri feel like he’s flying even though his feet are still touching the ground.

That night, Yuri dreams of sitting in his burning childhood room. It’s alright, though. It’s not just Mama with him tonight, but Papa too.

“You’re doing so well, Yurochka,” Mama says.

“We’re so proud of you,” Papa says.

When they offer their hands to Yuri, he takes them.

That night, Yuri dreams of his parents letting him go, letting him fly without them.

Yuri is eighteen when Yakov retires and hands him off to Victor.

Hasetsu is far away from St. Petersburg where Mila and Georgi are. It’s far away from Moscow where Grandpa is. It’s even farther away from Almaty where Otabek is.

But Yuri is used to having to talk to Grandpa through phone calls everyday, and he’s used to talking to Otabek online.

So Yuri makes Grandpa promise to keep calling him everyday and ask how his practice is going. Yuri makes Otabek promise to keep sending him recordings of his mixtapes, and he promises to keep sending pictures of Potya to Otabek. Potya, who’s now safely in Hasetsu and all too condoning of Victor’s dog.

Victor and Katsudon—

Well. Yuri promises to keep making a fuss whenever they get too affectionate with each other in public, of course.

That night, Yuri dreams of flying across the distance between Japan and Almaty.

That night, Yuri dreams of meeting Otabek.

Yuri is nineteen when he realizes he’s in love with his best friend.

By some cruel twist of fate, they have to wait until the Grand Prix Finals to see each other again.

Yuri waits in the hotel lobby. Katsudon has to hold his leg down because he keeps bouncing it on the floor otherwise. Victor has to confiscate his phone because Yuri keeps checking it obsessively for a new message from Otabek.

But finally, Victor says, “He’s here.”

Finally, Otabek comes through the doors and Yuri sees him again after more than half a year of nothing but messages they have to sneak into their busy schedules and Snapchats that consist of less selfies than Yuri would like.

Usually, Yuri wouldn’t even consider openly giving affection in such a public place, but Otabek is right there and he feels like he’s been waiting so long for this. So Yuri runs and he runs and he jumps into Otabek’s open arms.

“I missed you, Beka,” Yuri says.

“I missed you too, Yura,” Otabek replies.

Yura doesn’t even mind that Victor is so obviously taking a video of them.

That night, Yuri dreams of flying with a string wrapped around his ankle. It doesn’t connect him to someone on the ground like it did before. Instead, it connects him to Otabek, who’s flying right beside him.

That night, Yuri dreams of finally finding someone he wants to stay by his side.

Yuri is twenty when he first kisses his Beka.

They’re in Almaty. Yuri is staying at Otabek’s while Victor and Katsudon are away on their honeymoon.

Otabek’s sister is in the next room, and his mother is in the room across theirs, but somehow, those details disappear from Yuri’s mind when he and Otabek are staring at each other under the dim light of Otabek’s bedside lamp.

“Yura,” Otabek says. “Will you kiss me or not?”

Well.

Yuri kisses him, of course.

That night, Yuri takes Otabek flying. They stay up until sunrise.

#noowestayandgetcaugt #singeiji #gifts18 #YOIsanta18 #fanfic #otayuri #Yuri Plisetsky #Otabek Altin #submission

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