Of Monsters and Men (yuri x otabek)

Beginnings pt 2

I started skating because of my mother. She was a famous skater when she was younger and was very well known around the country. When I was younger I would watch her performances sometimes, and she would show me her medals and the costumes she wore. I was fascinated, I saw how many people admired her and were inspired by her; I wanted to be just like that someday.

But then my dad left. I was too young to really remember anything about him, but after he left she changed a lot. She became lost, didn't understand her purpose anymore, so she quit skating and got another job. She would be working abroad, away from me, and I think that was exactly what she wanted. I guess every time she looked at me she would somehow remember the past life that she used to have. I was just a bad memory for her.

After she left, we grew further and further apart. She became less involved in my skating career, she started to forget that I even existed more and more, it even came to the point where she forgot my birthday. That, you have no idea how much that killed me. She was the person that made me want to start skating in the first place, but in the end, she was still my mother. My father had already left, she was the one person I had, the one person I respected, trusted, and then she just abandoned me because she was in pain. Left me with grandpa, like something useless that someone else could take care of.

And now, for some reason, she's back. Back at possibly the worst time ever.

"Surpriiiiseee." She grins, giving me an enthusiastic smile. Grandpa was right, I look more like her than ever. We're literally a spitting image of each other, especially now that my hair is longer. The only difference between us is our eyes, I think I got my green eyes from my father. I'm grateful for that though, because that's the first thing that Otabek noticed about me.

"Um, hi." I reply awkwardly, glancing at grandpa who's giving me a mischievous look. Geez, I bet he's the one who told her to come; I wonder why she listened this time.

Piroshki wriggles out of my arms and strides happily towards my mom. She picks him up and kisses him quickly. "Whoa, I can't believe I almost forgot about this cute little kitty."  She says. Before she left, she got me Piroshki as a kitten to keep me company. I hated her for doing that, it was like another excuse for her to leave. If I had the cat, if I had grandpa, I would be alright, that's probably what she kept telling herself. Well, she was wrong.

She stands up from her seat at the table then and walks towards me, she tries to hug me but I step away.

"What are you doing here?" I ask quietly.

A disappointed look crosses her face. "Well, I just wanted to see my son and my father, is there something wrong with that?"

I don't have an answer to her question. She looks different, almost happier, less stressed. So, I guess that's what happens when I'm not in her life huh? "OK, well, I'm tired, I had a long day at the rink, so I'm going upstairs," I turn away, but she stops me.

"Hey, seriously, what kind of greeting is that for your mother huh? Let's talk, c'mon, I haven't seen you in forever Yuratchka." She says.

"Yeah? And who's fault is that?" I snap.

She sighs and puts Piroshki down onto the floor. He stays close by, sitting beside her leg. "Can we go for a walk, please? I want to talk to you."

"No-"

"Yuratchka." My grandpa speaks up.

"What? Look, I'm tired alright? I don't feel like talking." I grumble.

My mom puts a hand on my shoulder. "Dad's been saying that you've been really down lately, I just want to know why. I don't ever want my Yuratchka to be sad."