Unexpected ▪ Yuri On Ice

Paparazzi

This is painfully shit. Sorry

I had completely forgotten what Victor had said the first time we spoke.

Then when he turned up at today's practice with a camera and the most gorgeous shy smile it came tumbling back.

He asked if he could take those pictures for his photography class and Pichit said yes before I could even have a meltdown.

And that's how we got here; Victor set up at the sidelines of the gymnastics gym, taking pictures in a pastel pink jumper with Crybaby written in blue bubble. I would 300% steal it if he was my boyfriend.

His presence limits my capacity. I had planned to train on the horizontal bar today but the thought of him watching will definetely make me fall and break my face. Therefore I settle for helping Minami improve his skills on the Parallel bars wearing nothing but my team tank top and black leggings that unfortunately leave nothing to the imagination. 

"Do a dismount for me Minami" I instruct, facing away from Victor and hoping that'll some how trick me into forgetting he's there. 

Minami nods, swings and leaps off of the bars, summersaulting into his landing.

"That was poor to say the lest" I state bluntly, crossing my arms. When Minami first joined I'd always criticise him politely and he'd always see right through me. He works better with blunt criticism.

"I know, I didn't get enough turns and I stumbled" he pouts, clapping his hands together to remove excess chalk.

"That's right. You need more speed on takeoff and you stumble because you struggle to keep your legs together"

"Can you show me?" I knew that was coming. Minami is always asking for demos, a lot of the time they aren't necessary at all.

"Ok, get the ramp" I point to the spring board and head to the powder box, slapping between Minami's shoulder blades on my way.

"Posture Minami" he has alright posture, sure, but there's unmistakable sag in his shoulders he can't afford to have.

"Is that your secret?"

"Secret to what?" I frown, bending over to powder my hands. Over at the vault I notice Pichit smirking in amusement at something behind me that I don't bother to adress.

"How you look so cool" he says, positioning the spring board.

"Cool? Are we talking about me here?" I chuckle, rubbing my chalked hands together as I return to the bars.

"Yea! Didn't you know that you're known as the schools mysterious cool guy? Quiet and untouchable to commoners" he whispers the last part like it's an enthralling secret. 

Minami thinks way to highly of me. I realise that now more than ever.

"Oh, I thought I was the friendless nerd" Pichit sighs so loud it reverberates around the gym. I ignore him and step onto the board, breathing deep.

As soon as I hop onto the bars Minami moves the board. Trusting that he's watching, I start by holding an L sit; my muscles trembling at the satisfying strain of holding myself up. Following, I swing my straight legs behind me and let go to do a summersault, then grab on, sweep close to the floor and hold myslef straight up, my toes pointing in the air.

"Watch me dismount" I call to Minami from my upside down position before forcefully swinging down and letting go as my legs swing up; holding my knees, I fly through the air and land in a squat, arms held out, stumbling slightly.

"Sorry, that wasn't perfect. Ask Guan Hong to do it too, dismount is his thing." I note, rolling my shoulders.

"I thought It was awsome" Minami claps happily.

"Yuuri!" I spin to see Celestino. The team coach. He's approaching with a huge smile on his lips and paperwork in his hand.

"You are a miracle boy. You got Plisetsky to join!" He claps a hand my back hard and I flush terribly at what I had to go through to get him to join.

-

"Pichit, co-" when I turn from the bench Pichit is gone, leaving me alone  in the gym with Victor who's clearing his camera stuff.

"Did you get any good pictures?" I ask Victor when we're close enough to converse, "I know only Guan-Hong, Minami and Leo were the only ones acctually doing something" I ramble as he glances up at me, blue eyes electric as always.

"I got great pictures, thanks" he smiles kindly. How is he even real?

"Can I see?" He seems hesitant at that. Very. But gives in when I pout, which I didn't think would work.

The gallery starts with some pictures of me stretching, then goes on to pictures of me on the parallel bars, the one of my L sit and an air born one are particularly well shot in my opinion. Following that is a picture of me slapping Minami's back, and one when I was powdering my hands, another of me lecturing Minami and a single picture of Minami on the bars.

"You're really good" and he must be good because I'd actually put these on my instagram; which is an honour to him because I don't ever look good enough in pictures for instagram.

"But... these are all of me" Victor swallows then.

"The aesthetic you bring to the pictures is what I was going for" he explains, taking the camera.

"Oh. Okay!" Not thinking much of the strange answer, he and I make our way out.

It was nice to see him in a new setting, focused and snapping pictures rather than on the field or at a table.

It's just nice to see him really.