Chapter Text
When Victor got home from China, he was greeted by a clean house and the smell of piroshki and Yuri and his Grandfather laughing in the kitchen. The young skater was babbling about how his day had gone, and what ideas he had for his routines. Victor decided to release Makkachin, snickering when Yuri shrieked when the dog rushed the blond, greeting him with face kisses and a wagging tail.
"I think he missed you," Victor laughed, crouching down to give Potya a pet, the feline tangling herself around his legs with a mewl and a purr.
"How was your trip?" Nikoli asked, dusting his hands on his apron to greet Victor properly.
"Good but exhausting," Victor smiled, allowing the old man to bring him in for a hug and take a proper look at him. He had to admit, it was nice having someone other than Yakov look after him.
"Well, you clean up and then sit, Yuri and I have made dinner and you can tell us all about it," He parented and Victor gave him a tired little smile. The elder went back to the kitchen and Victor was able to unpack, throwing all his clothes into the laundry and grabbing the gifts he got for friends and family. He handed Yuri his little present, a little cat pin he could add to the collection, and Nikoli got a tin of tea that was supposed to soothe swollen joints. Yakov got a similar tin and Lilia would be gifted a collection of skin care he had seen her use before.
Once he was clean he sent a message to Yuuri to let him know that he had made it home safe and would call later. Once dressed and comfortable, Victor sat at the table as a bowl of pelmeni was served with a pot of shchi. Nikoli led a prayer and then everyone dug in, the table silent for a wonderful moment as they enjoyed the home cooked comforts of home. Victor spoke about China and how he and Chris caused minimal trouble for the hotel staff but they still had fun. Yuri spoke about his training and how he was trying to do jumps with his arms up but was having problems with his balance. Victor couldn't help with that one because he never managed to get that far, but maybe some of the girls would be able to help, that move was more often in women's skating than men's.
"My clothes are getting too short, again," Yuri finally complained and thrust his arms out, the sleeves an inch too short on his gangly limbs, and the collar of the shirt had been cut wider.
"You might have to take a season off," Victor explained, "So you don't hurt yourself again."
"Yakov said the same thing, Madam Lilia said that ballet should help with my balance and might be able to keep me on the ice," Yuri pouted and looked at his hands, it was weird how his body was becoming a stranger to him. He was frustrated that he no longer knew where his feet were and where his arms ended. He was becoming unsure but he was determined to see this season through and be confident enough for the next one. He had to make it through.
Victor remembered when he had to deal with the sudden growth spurts, his limbs getting longer, his body rushing to catch up and the appetite for anything that he could get his hands on. He knew that Yuri would be unpleasant but at least he wouldn't be alone to figure stuff out by himself. Victor wasn't looking forward to any of those kinds of conversations but Lilia was crass and Yakov would just usher the boy's questions off. Victor wouldn't leave the poor boy in the dark if he had questions. Yuri deserved to have at least one adult who wouldn't be embarrassed about the sudden rush of hormones and the emotions that came with it. Should Nikoli not be able to help Yuri, Victor would be there.
"Where is the next competition?" Nikoli asked and Yuri thought for a moment as Victor answered,
"I'm going to the Trophee de France, Yuri has the Rostelecom Cup," Victor explained "And then everyone is going to the Grand Prix Finals,"
"Holy shit," Yuri's eyes snapped up to Victor and for a moment he couldn't tell if the kid was breathing or not, "I'm in the Finals..."
"Not yet Yuri..." Nikoli said
"No...No he's right," Victor said and did some mental math. He had been keeping up with Yuri and he thought for a hard moment as he calculated it in his head. "He doesn't even need to get gold in his next skate, all he needs is to podium."
"Holy shit..." Yuri's hands came up to cover his mouth as his face flushed pink and he bounced in his seat. The high pitched sound coming from the young man was pure excitement and shrill happiness.
"Yuri, breath," Victor laughed as the young man's eyes gleamed with happy tears, "Yuri, you are not there yet, alright?"
Yuri wasn't listening but nodded anyway as a string of babbled words fell from his mouth. Victor didn't blame him, Yuri had been told he might not even compete after his fall. Yuri had healed, worked hard under his coaches and with Victor himself. He had problems along the way, with other competitors and their fans giving him a hard time. Being the youngest in the run was not easy, no one would expect the feisty little Russian Fairy would claw his way to the top.
"Don't get a big head, Yura," Nikoli said as he ran his fingers through Yuri's hair, "You could lose your feet still, so you listen to your teachers and your coaches."
"Yes Grandpa," Yuri said, but that stupid grin was still on his face, even the chance of being in that run was enough to keep Yuri riled for the rest of dinner. Victor had to put him to work, forcing him to take a walk with Makkachin to run off his energy. Yuri complained but did as he was asked, telling Victor that he was taking pictures and there was nothing he could do to stop him from posting them all over his socials.
"That boy," Victor sighed, jumping when he heard Nikoli laugh from the kitchen,
"That boy indeed," He said, "I have never seen him more happy, I owe you for that young man."
"Oh, no, not at all, seeing him that happy is payment enough," Victor chuckled and gave a choked gasp as the elder grabbed him in a bear hug.
"I have been caring for that boy for years," Nikoli explained as he pushed Victor back so he could look into his eyes, "This is the first time in so long that I have seen him truly happy."
"He's just a kid," Victor said, "They bounce back from just about anything."
"Not Yuri, not since his mother, you did something for him Victya, and I owe you my thanks for that much, at least," Nikoli said and Victor felt his heart pinch with the endearment. When was the last time someone had been that familiar with him outside of skating? He couldn't remember anyone else but his own parents.
"You're welcome," was all Victor could manage without becoming overwhelmed. The old man nodded and went back to cleaning the dishes, humming an old lullaby as he cleaned. Victor stood silent for a long moment, wondering what had just happened before he remembered his manors and jumped in to help. They were quiet as they worked, Victor drying and putting away as the elder washed and hummed. Victor fed the screaming Potya and filled Makkachin's bowl for when Yuri came back and looked at the pictures he had taken.
Yakov arrived soon after to pick up Nikoli and asked Victor about his trip. While Victor caught Yakov up, Yuri hugged his grandfather tight and promised to call him. Victor handed out gifts and promised to keep Yuri on track as the men left. Both of them immediately broke that promise and sat down in front of the TV and put on something to watch. Yuri poked and prodded Victor for more details until he gave up and showed Yuri his new clothes for his critique. Yuri also opened up about his worries and fears about flubbing because of his sudden growth. Victor comforted the blond as said blond called him an idiot for thinking that he didn't 'live rent free in Katsuki's head.'
It was a kind of dance that everyone was involved in, this new family that Victor suddenly had. The little brother in Yuri he wasn't expecting, the father in Yakov he didn't know he needed and the mother in Lilia he always knew he had. He wondered where Nikoli would carve himself into.
He wondered where Yuuri would fit in all of this, if he would fit in all of this. He wondered how long it would all last before something eventually cracked and broke apart. He was so used to things shattering around him that he suddenly felt like he was in a snow globe, waiting for the glass to break around him.
"Oi, old man, you have new clothes, shouldn't you be showing them off to your stupid fans?" Yuri asked as he held up Victor's phone, "Or are you going to leave them all waiting."
"You just want more pictures of Makkachin and Potya on my feed," Victor said, "People are making the connection, you realize."
"Yeah, and?" Yuri asked, "It's about time your fans know you can't dress yourself."
"I can too!" Victor squawked and Yuri grinned impishly, "Fine! I'm going, you brat."
It was a strange dance indeed, but one he couldn't stop because the music just kept on playing as Yuri laughed. Victor just hoped it never stopped.