Learning To Count(Otabek x Yuri) [boyxboy]

Chapter Nine

When Otabek woke up, he was immediately concerned to find he was alone. He sat up slowly, his head spinning and the room teetering on its axis as he pulled himself out of the bed. The party was still raging on and he didn't think Yuri would dare venture down into whatever was happening on the ground floor, so he cautiously pushed open every door until he found him throwing up in the bathroom.
'Hey, are you okay?' He squatted down next to him and held his hair back.
'Just the alcohol,' Yuri choked out, and Otabek nodded like he hadn't seen his fingers down his throat just moments ago. He groaned and sat back, pressing his hands against the cool tile and tipping his head back.
'Wait there for a second,' Otabek patted him on the shoulder. 'I'll go get you some water.'
He was scared to leave him when he looked so ghostly pale, but he slipped down the stairs and through the growing crowd into the kitchen, where Rafael was taking body shots off of someone or other.
'Where did you run off to?' He grabbed Otabek by the arm and dragged him over to the hotspot of flowing alcohol.
'He snuck off with that little blond twink,' Katie informed him, her words slurred so much it was hard to decipher which was which.
'Oh,' Rafael smirked, nudging him. 'And decided to come back to the party?'
'I can't,' Otabek opened up a cupboard and pulled down a glass to get some water. 'Sorry, I need to get back to him.'
'Seriously? We've been planning this for months! Just because you wanted to get it on doesn't mean you can ruin my party after.'
'Is it really ruined if I'm not there?'
'Yes!' This was a resounding cheer from everybody within earshot.
He really had been meaning to go back- this he stood by in what was to come. When it came down to it, perhaps he could have been a little more persuasive and stood up for himself better, but when people wanted him around and said that he'd ruin things if he left he couldn't exactly leave them. That would go against his personality entirely. Yuri would be fine, anyway. He was sick because of drinking a bit too much- it hadn't been that much anyway, so it wasn't as if he was in any danger. He'd probably just fall asleep and be fine in the morning. One more drink couldn't hurt, could it?

It was at least two hours before Otabek returned to Yuri, and it was in a considerably worse state than before thanks to several more drinks- that 'just one more' had inevitably spiralled a little until he'd lost all track of time and responsibility. Being the central life of the party was his calling and to leave it would be painstakingly difficult when everybody was so happy- when he was making everybody so happy. Eventually Rafael had brought Yuri up again briefly and Otabek had had a flash of realisation and darted up the stairs with a glass of water to find Yuri sat where he had been before looking very sorry for himself and, Otabek was horrified to noticed, surrounded by tissues soaked with blood.
'What do you-?' He began, but Yuri interrupted before he could make any stupid assumptions.
'Nosebleed. Won't stop,' He was still holding a tissue to his face. The panic subsided and was replaced with a strong wash of guilt that made Otabek hang back for a moment before he handed him the glass of water.
'Sorry,' He mumbled, sitting down next to him and putting an arm round his narrow shoulders. 'I didn't mean to be so long, I got distracted and...' He trailed off, unable to find an excuse that didn't sound like he'd basically forgotten to come back because he'd been having fun.
'It's fine. I know I'm ruining it. You should go back, have fun.'
'What? No, I'm staying right here with you.'
'I'm fine,' Even as he said it, Yuri could feel himself getting lightheaded and his lips began to tingle. Each breath he took felt shakier than the last and opening his eyes came to be a huge struggle, so much so that they just fluttered uselessly as his eyes rolled back into his head.
'I think I'm going to pass out,' Was all he said before he did just that, tilting forwards and his head lolling like he was a discarded rag doll. Otabek cursed and held him up so that he didn't hit the floor, waiting for him to come around. The last time he had after just a few seconds and he'd gotten the impression over the two weeks he'd known him that fainting was a frequent circumstance for him. So when Yuri hadn't opened his eyes after a pensive thirty seconds Otabek really began to panic.
'Yuri?' He shook him by the shoulders gently, then firmer, but all that happened was Yuri's head rolled back and his eyelids cracked open a little to reveal a thin line of white. Otabek picked him up with the ease of somebody reinforced by adrenaline and carried him back to the bedroom they'd been in earlier. He rummaged for his phone but was unable to find it, so he grabbed the house phone from the bedside table and was about to dial 999 when a terrible thought hit him- he couldn't call an ambulance to the house when there was a party. All his friends were on drugs and Yuri was underage. His drunken and panicked mind scrabbled for an idea but found none. All he could do was bite his nails and stare at the phone. Looking back at Yuri, who was still unconscious and had gone a pale shade of grey-blue convinced him that he had to call an ambulance. He'd deal with the consequences later. He had to warn Rafael first of course, because they were all his friends downstairs and he couldn't let them get into trouble on his own behalf. He didn't even remember going down the stairs, but he walked a one-track line to where Rafael was lounging on a sofa with two girls sat on his lap.
'Rafael,' He squeezed his shoulder, not realising how hard he was clutching him until he saw him wince. 'You have to get everyone out. Or hidden somewhere. I don't- I don't know.'
'What? Are you trying to sabotage my party again?' Rafael chuckled, shaking him off nonchalantly. 'Can't you see these two lovely ladies and I are having a good time?'
They giggled coyly and tossed their hair back flirtatiously.
'Yuri's passed out cold and won't wake up. I need to call an ambulance and I don't want to get police involved.'
'He's just asleep,' Rafael gestured vaguely with his hand, rolling his eyes. 'You're too paranoid.'
'No, really. I can't get him to wake up.'
'Carajo,' Rafael shoved the girls unceremoniously off and jumped up, rushing to turn the music off. 'Guys!' It was a hurdle to get them to even notice that the music was no longer playing. 'Hey! Everyone into the cellar, okay?'
'What the fuck, Raf?' Katie yelled back, everybody looking indignant.
'We're calling an ambulance, so all get in the cellar for a while and I'll tell you when you can come back up.'
'Ambulance?'
A ripple of concerned murmurs swelled up around the room, drowning out all other noise.
'Just call the damn ambulance and stay with him, I'll sort everything out,' Rafael pushed a stock-still Otabek towards the stairs, sobered by this grave turn of events. He nodded and stumbled his way precariously back to Yuri, who was still unconscious as ever and looking an ashier shade of grey than before. His lips were turning slightly blue and Otabek had to rush to check he was still breathing. He called the ambulance and fumbled to explain that his friend had passed out, he didn't know what to do and he was scared out of his wits. He listed off the address and then it was just a heartstopping waiting game for the ambulance to arrive, the approximate time of arrival having been set for ten minutes' hence. He clasped Yuri's hand in his, willing him to open his eyes and blink those big green eyes of his slowly like he did when he was confused or worried, which was pretty much most of the time. Rafael appeared in the room at some point and sat next to him, reassuring him that everything was going to be fine- the ambulance was on its way, and he'd had to have his stomach pumped once and it had been fine in the end. The mention of stomach pumping turned Otabek's stomach and he almost had to run off to be sick.
'I should never have brought him,' He rued the moment he'd decided it would be a good idea to invite him, and the one in which he'd given him alcohol. He hadn't thought of the ramifications on the malnourished body of a minuscule sixteen year old.
'Maybe it wasn't the best idea,' Rafael agreed, compulsively checking Yuri's pulse again.
'You shouldn't have given him so much to drink!'
'It was his own choice.'
'You practically forced it down his throat!'
'If you hadn't taken him off to screw him I had planned to feed him, but I figured it was your choice.'
'Don't say that,' Otabek growled, his eyes blazing. Rafael startled, never having seen his friend so angry in the time he'd known him. There was a hostile atmosphere that bristled sharply between them, but thankfully it was sliced through by a hammering at the door and sirens.
'I'll get it,' Rafael jumped up, knowing Otabek wouldn't want to leave Yuri alone. He reappeared just moments later followed by paramedics looking very business-like and serene. They started saying stuff but Otabek couldn't hear a thing as they loaded Yuri onto a stretcher and hauled him down the ambulance, somebody putting foil round him and letting him ride in the back.
'You'll be fine,' Rafael waved him off, kissing his cheek. 'He'll be fine.'
Otabek nodded vacantly and climbed into the ambulance, his heart murmuring distinctly against his ribs. The paramedics started talking to him again and he caught brief snatches of conversation, words like 'alcohol poisoning' and 'comatose' drifting in and out of his mind. Time stood still as he watched Yuri's chest tie and fall gently, his breath barely there and his face a deathly white.
'We need to get in contact with his parents,' A nurse touched his arm to get his attention once they were in the hospital and Yuri had been rushed down a corridor somewhere or other, leaving Otabek reeling in his wake and sitting in the hallway. It struck him as almost amusing that this was the place they had met, and possibly the last time he'd see Yuri again. He didn't know whether he'd die or not- his condition remained to be seen- but he doubted he'd ever be allowed anywhere near the boy again. He texted his own parents to let them know what had happened and his mother had instantly texted him to say they were on their way down to pick him up- on no account was he to get a taxi when he was drunk (he'd ended up in the complete wrong place the last time) and she was worried about him. He saw Yuri's mother go flying past after what felt like about ten minutes and he wondered how the hell she got there so fast, but his sense of time was skewed by the fact that it didn't seem to be moving. A nurse came out to talk to him a while later and was quick to reassure him that Yuri was going to be fine. What she really needed to talk to him about was the legal side of things.
'Was it you who gave him the alcohol?' She asked and he nodded because while he hadn't physically handed him any, he had taken him to the party and allowed him to drink. 'Did you know he was a minor at the time?'
'Yes,' He sighed, dropping his head into his hands in dejection. 'It was just beer.'
'I need you to be honest with me about how much he had.'
'Somebody- I gave him some punch. I don't know how much was in it. He had half a glass of it and a can of beer, I just don't understand why he passed out!'
'Are you sure? To get to the point of stomach pumping I'm sure there would have been more. We need to know exactly what it was for the procedure.'
'Stomach pumping?' He felt the blood drain from his face. 'Jesus... I just don't think he had that much. Would it make a difference if he hadn't eaten?'
'Huge difference.'
'Okay, umm, he's anorexic so I doubt he'll have eaten anything. I would have made him eat but I didn't see him and-'
'Don't worry, we have his medical records. I'm sure that will have had an effect on him. Look, you seem responsible enough and I don't think there's any need to involve any law in this.'
'God, thank you so much. How is he? Is he okay?'
'He'll be okay. I think it's your mother you should be more concerned about, she's been considering pressing charges.'
'For what?'
'I think you should have a conversation with her. I have to go now and help the doctor, you sit right and I'll send you in to talk to her and see your friend once it's all over.'
He braced himself for awkwardness, but thankfully before anything could happen his parents showed up looking worried for once. His mum fussed over him until he assured her he was nothing more than a little tipsy. They sat with him as he waited until he could go in. It was 3:27am before he was allowed to, and by that time several eternities had passed. Yuri was in the ICU, asleep but looking a little better. His mum was sat in the chair next to him, looking drained and exhausted. He couldn't blame her- being responsible for Yuri 24/7 had to be nerve-wracking. She stood up when she saw him, a tearful fury hazing her eyes, and he knew he was in for a well-deserved bollocking.
'How could you let this happen?' She snapped, stomping her foot on the linoleum. 'He is sixteen! Sixteen, and you took him to a party for people five years older than him. Not to mention he's dangerously sick!'
'I'm so sorry,' He bowed his head, clasping his hands together. 'I should have been looking out for him better.'
'Damn right! He's just a kid. He's just a kid,' She repeated, dissolving into tears that made her shoulders shake. 'I'm sorry.' She delved into her handbag and pulled out a tissue, dabbing at her eyes like Otabek had only ever seen a grown woman do at his cousin's wedding. He couldn't help it; he was instantly by her side and putting an arm around her shoulders.
'You must be under so much pressure,' He soothed, keeping his voice down. 'It's a terrible sickness and you're doing a great job.'
'I just feel so useless,' She gestured to her son, lying in a hospital bed and hooked up to countless drips. Looking at him was painful in itself, but it was nice to see that his face was relaxed for the first time since he'd met him.
'It's hard to know what to do,' He patted her shoulder understandingly, stepping away and giving her some space to recompose herself so that she didn't feel embarrassed.
'That's why he's going to be hospitalised,' She sniffled. 'I can't deal with him on my own anymore.'
'I think that's the right decision,' He nodded gravely. He couldn't see any other way that Yuri would get anywhere near recovery, however loved he was by anybody. He was too far gone to be anywhere but a hospital.

Yuri felt like he was swimming through treacle trying to wake up and it was infuriating. He willed his eyes to open and when at last they did obey him after what felt like hours of trying, everything was blurred and he screwed them shut again. He blinked hard a few times before forcing himself to face up to the bright fluorescent lights glaring down at him. It didn't take long to realise where he was- he'd passed out at Rafael's party and no doubt he was in hospital now. He'd been stupid and let himself get carried away when Otabek had gone downstairs. A few people had joined him in the bathroom for a while and shared a bottle of Smirnoff Ice with him. And now there he was in hospital. His worst nightmare. With great strain he managed to turn his head sideways to avoid the light a little, and when he did he caught sight of the catheter stuck into his hand. As his neck turned, he felt an odd rubbing, tight sensation in his throat, like something was stuck in it. When he coughed and it was abrasive against the tender skin of his throats his hand flew up to his face. Upon feeling a tube taped to his nose he glanced to his side and saw the pole waiting for formula to be attached to it. He'd seen this far too often when he went to the eating disorder clinic and he couldn't allow it to happen; they'd put in a feeding tube and wanted to make him fat. He sat up quickly and wrenched at the tape, yanking the stiff NG tube from down his throats before anybody could intervene. He scrambled to his feet, pulling out the catheter too and wincing at the pain.
'Yuri, calm down!' His mother came into focus, dark circles under her fear-stricken eyes. A nurse came running over, reaching out to grab Yuri and restrain him. Yuri stumbled backwards, his eyes registering only a blank terror.
'No!' He screamed. 'Leave me alone, I won't do it! You can't do this to me!'
The nurse was about to dash off and call for backup, his eyes flickering back and forth.
'I'm going to need you to calm down, okay?' He walked a step closer and Yuri lost it, screaming at him to get away whilst all the while he trembled so violently he looked like he was in the middle of an earthquake.
'I'd rather die! If you put that tube back in me I'll kill myself!' He yelled, his throat burning all the more for these harsh words he was hurling. He didn't look at his mother, knowing she would be inconsolable. The nurse was still floundering, but after a moment they ran out into the hallway as another nurse bustled over to join the kerfuffle.
'Now, what's all this fuss, eh?' She had a much more brisk manner, clearly more experienced. 'Ah. You cannae pull your tube out, deary. Why don't you get back into your bed, eh, and I'll bring you a hot cuppa? Will that do you, bird?'
He stared at her for a moment, bewildered and panting hard from his exertions.
'I'm... I don't want a tube,' He tried to growl but his croaking voice wouldn't allow it and it came out as more of a whisper.
'I'm sure you don't, but there's worse that can happen to a wee bairn such as yourself,' She started walking over to him and he backed away, the screams rising up in his throat again as she waddled closer. 'What's wrong, chook?'
'Go away!' He wailed. At this moment, Otabek walked in with the nurse who had just run off. Yuri was beginning to verge on hysterics, his body shaking uncontrollably as he clenched his fist round the tube. He hated to think of what they could have been forcing into him whilst he was unconscious. He knew it was inevitable that they'd subdue him and force him into submission once more but he wanted to delay it as much as possible. He was probably burning calories with this breakdown too.
'Hey, it's okay,' Otabek walked straight up to him and embraced his small frame, holding him tightly to stop the tremors and rocking him back and forth. 'You're okay. I've got you.'
Yuri sobbed brokenly into his chest- huge, racking sobs that had him gasping deliriously for breath in between.
'I don't want this,' He whimpered pathetically.
'I know you don't. I promise I'll visit you whenever I can, okay?' Otabek kissed the top of his head and gently helped him back into the bed, wherein the nurse stepped forwards and began to reinsert the catheter and such. The feeding tube was going to be a wrestle but Yuri was far too worn out to stop her now. He consigned himself to his fate for a while, knowing that all too soon he'd just suffer another identical psychotic break. It was as inevitable as the tides, as was his quick relapse once they set him free again. They couldn't stop him losing weight, and he wouldn't let them make him gain any in the first place. He was determined to beat the system and lose yet more weight while he was hospitalised. He fully intended to use the fact that he was a boy and therefore an unlikely candidate to his advantage. Whatever the cost, he was going to become a skeleton.