Spice [NaNoWriMo 2023 Winner]

Variation

Day two of the competition was stressful, Victor and Yuri were in Yuuri's hotel room while Vicchan and Makkachin were herded away to join Potya in Yuri's room. The blond didn't seem anxious, but the way he paced around was telling enough. Yakov and Lilia came by with Georgie so everyone could get ready at once but both skaters were divas and Victor had to drag Yuri into the bathroom while Lilia sat the older skater in front of the mirror in the bedroom.

"I'll do makeup, you do hair!" Victor called from the bathroom and tipped the young skater's face up at him.

"I can do my own makeup," Yuri snarked but didn't struggle as Victor started patting on a base for him, keeping the look as natural as possible.

"I bet you can, but so we don't trip all over one another, you will stay in here," Victor said and dusted on some shadow and contour. Yuri's face was starting to lose that boyish tone, becoming sharper and more defined. Yuri would always have a feminine touch to him, but it was startling to watch the child he took in grow into a young man.

"You're staring," Yuri grumbled

"You're losing your baby fat," Victor chuckled and pinched his cheeks, "You're getting all grown up on me."

"Gross, stop it!" Yuri snapped and then actually hissed at him as Victor continued to poke and prod at him. They goofed around for a couple more seconds, helping the blond relax a bit more as Victor touched up the make up, set it and sent him out to be tortured by Lilia. Georgie came in and took a seat, him and Victor silent as the broken skater looked down at what could have been. Georgie had an amazing run, but Victor knew that he was tired and would probably call it quits either this season or next. Skaters didn't last long, sore knees, broken feet and worn hips, they beat themselves bloody for the sport.

"You'll be just fine," Victor said to him when he swiped the last of the white across Georgie's eyes. He chuckled and looked up at him with a saddened smile,

"I got here, didn't I, that's good enough for me," Georgie said and stood, "Thanks for being here."

"I'll do my best to stick around this time," Victor nodded as the other man left the bathroom and he was left looking at himself through the mirror. Last year he would have just been home, or in his Parents' house moping and whining about not being able to work. He would still be in his ragged clothes and left to wonder if he would truly ever be able to make it out there on his own. Last year he had wondered if he would ever find a way to even make it to this year.

He touched his chest where the snowflake lay against bare skin and sighed, he wasn't really making it on his own but that was alright. He was so used to being alone that with Yuuri by his side the world seemed a little more bright. He jumped when hands rested on his hips and smiled at Yuuri through the mirror, turning in his grip and draping his arms over the man's shoulders.

"Thank you for everything, I wouldn't be here without you," Victor breathed and Yuuri chuckled, "No, I mean it, I never would have gone on that walk and ended up at the rink. Yakov wouldn't have invited me to help and I'd still be in my little apartment or worse."

"Well, I'm glad to be of service," Yuuri breathed and rocked up on his toes to get a kiss from the Russian, "They're almost ready."

"Okay," Victor nodded and let Yuuri go, the Japanese man saying he would meet them at the gala and headed out. Victor rounded into the bedroom to see Yuri getting his costume on and Georgie pulling on his team sweater.

"We got this for you," Yakov said and handed Victor a bag, "We thought you would like it."

"Oh, Birthday presents," Victor smiled and unwrapped the gift and gasped as he pulled out a Russian team sweater for himself. The sweater was white with some red detailing, so it was different from the blue that Georgie and Yuri sported but it had his name on it and came with a lanyard.