Spice [NaNoWriMo 2023 Winner]

Ballon

The exhibition skates had been amazing, Chris had pulled off his usual seduction but for Otabek and Yuri, they had teamed up and came together with something unexpected.

Welcome to the Madness had been a collaboration they had thrown together at the last second that showed off Otabek's musical talents, Yuri's skating and something way more grown up than Victor had been comfortable with. Yuri was sixteen though, caught between child and adult and this was at least a safe way to show himself off. Although he would be talking to Yuri after and scolding Otabek for the glove removing stunt he pulled.

Later though, there was a Gala to attend and people to preen for, so there was no point in making either of them sulk. Yuri escaped Lilia before she could get her claws on him and put himself in Victor's care for the Gala. Dressed in his new Katsuki Original shirt and black trousers, he wore his mother's chain, newly refurbished and a pair of crystal stud earrings. He wanted to be pretty, it seemed, so Victor obliged and brushed Yuri's hair until it was glossy. He left it down to frame Yuri's face and helped him wash the black make up that he had applied for his exhibition.

Once he was ready, Victor and Yuuri dressed their best and headed out, Yuuri was going as a sponsor, Victor was going as his plus one. They met up with Chris and Otabek in the lobby, Phichit and Malee were chatting with Chris as the other approached.

"Heading home?" Yuuri asked and Phichit nodded, "Safe flight and don't let your Mom bully you into an early wedding."

"Oh she's just happy we're engaged, so we have a party to show up to there, Malee's family is hosting a dinner too and then we have a few months of work there and then we will meet you at the Onsen end of February," Phichit smiled, "One of your longer visits, huh?"

"It's been a long year," Yuuri chuckled and Phichit snorted before the two of them hugged, Phichit said his goodbyes to everyone and Malee was busy cramming her contact information in everyone's phones before they left.

"I like her," Otabek said, his own prim suit looking out of place on the usually casual man.

"She's a firecracker, that's for sure," Chris chuckled, "But, shall we?"

"Now or never," Yuri sighed and the group of them paraded off towards the large ballroom where their Gala was taking place. Skaters, Coaches, Sponsors and invited media gathered and spoke among themselves as they all entered. Yuri was yanked away from their group by Lilia so she could get at least a couple more prospects for him while Yakov was working with Georgie across the room.

"Well, time to flirt with the bosses, be good," Chris winked and sauntered off to talk with his own sponsor group and maybe find someone else willing to take him on. Otabek looked highly uncomfortable, it was usually JJ's parents helping him out but they had their son to worry about this year.

"Come on, I'll help you," Yuuri chuckled, "This is actually my scene."

"Thank you," Otabek breathed and stuck close to Yuuri and Victor as they guided him into the crowd, picking up a couple flukes of champagne along the way.

"Yuuri!" Someone smiled, a tall gentleman wearing casual clothes and smiling broadly. Yuuri laughed and approached, taking his hand and smiling up at him.

"I figured you would be around here, or Mikal, how is he?" Yuuri asked,

"Oh, he's trying to keep everything together at the moment, what brings you here?"

"Same as you, I suppose, but also you know about myself and Victor," Yuuri let his arm rest around Victor's waist, "Victor, this is Jackson, he works in marketing with some big name athletics company..."