The Truth About Yuuri Katsuki

Neunzehn

Yuri had tried countless times to call, text, and contact Otabek in the short time that he was at the hospital. He hadn't left his grandfather's side but he was seriously considering it. What had happened to Otabek? Why wasn't he answering? Did Yuri do something wrong? Otabek wasn't known for giving him the silent treatment. Why was it now of all times that he disappeared? This was the time that Yuri needed Otabek the most. Where was he?

Yuri paced back and forth at the base of his grandfather's hospital bed. He had a choice to make and he didn't know which decision was the right one. Should he leave his grandpa and go to Otabek's apartment? What if something seriously wrong had happened? What if Otabek was injured and in critical condition? 

"What should I do?" Yuri stopped his pacing and looked to his grandfather for advice. He was sleeping soundly in the hospital bed. Yuri didn't want to wake him up. This was probably the only time he had to sleep with all of these doctors buzzing around him. But, it was also the worst time imaginable. What if Otabek was actually completely fine but his phone died or something? Then Yuri would've been worried for nothing. What if a silly reason like that was the reason he hadn't replied to Yuri? What if Yuri's grandfather died while he was gone? Should he really risk his final moments with him just because of a chance that Otabek might be in danger?

Yuri inhaled and exhaled a couple of deep breaths to try and clear his mind. There was a feeling in his gut that something was wrong. He didn't know what it was. What could've possibly happened to Otabek in the short time that they'd been apart? Yuri tried his best to calm down. He sat in a chair and folded his hands. Staring at his grandfather wasn't helping him decide. The only decisions Yuri could make (on a good day) was what to eat for breakfast. 

"Yuri? Is that you?" a familiar voice spoke. Yuri jumped out of his chair and turned around. His hopes were let down when he realized his brain had played tricks on him. Of course it wasn't Otabek. Otabek didn't even know that Yuri's grandfather was in the hospital. Why would he be here?

"Why are you here?" Yuri glared. Jean-Jacques was the last person he wanted to see right now. 

"My mother is a doctor," Jean-Jacques answered, "I came to visit while she was working. Where is Otabek? Isn't he always with you?" 

Yuri shook his head in response, "No, I haven't heard anything from him for a few hours now."

"Is that unusual?" Jean-Jacques' voice seemed panicked but Yuri didn't understand why. Was it unusual for Otabek not to text him? Now that he thought about it, it kind of was. Otabek would always respond to his messages within minutes of him texting them. Yuri nodded to Jean-Jacques' question.

The male he barely knew stood before him with an expression pale as a ghost. "We have to go check to see if he is okay," he grabbed Yuri's hand and dragged him out of the hospital. His decision was made for him. Yuri mentally said his farewells to his grandfather and prayed that everything would be okay for both his relative and his friend. 

When the two finally arrived at Otabek's apartment it was eerily quiet. Yuri's feeling of discomfort increased. He was uneasy and still didn't understand why. The two opened the door (since Jean-Jacques had a key) and walked right in. Otabek wasn't there. It didn't matter how many times Yuri called for him or how times the two searched the rooms, he wasn't there. Every cell in Yuri's body trembled with fear. What had happened? It appeared that Jean-Jacques had the same reaction. He was Otabek's childhood friend and the only person who knew, truly, how terrifying Otabek's parents could be. 

"This isn't good," Jean-Jacques said, "this isn't good at all." Yuri didn't know how to react. He was already feeling terrible and now it had gotten drastically worse. What should he do? Who should he call? Where should he even begin to look?

"Yuri," Jean-Jacques' voice got creepily serious, "are you willing to die for Otabek?" he asked. Yuri stared at him, bewildered by the question. He'd never thought about it before. Would he die for Otabek? Yes, he almost certainly could say that he would. However, there was a piece of him that knew if he did die for Otabek, Otabek would almost certainly die too. 

"No," Yuri shook his head, "I'm willing to live for him," he said. If he died Otabek would die too. So he had no choice but to live, even if he died, so that Otabek would still live.

"I am almost 99.9% sure that I know what happened to Otabek," Jean-Jacques' hand shook with fear which only unsettled Yuri more. "However, if I'm right, I can't say that nothing bad will happen to you. Do you want to help me help Otabek? Even if you get hurt?"

Yuri nodded without a second thought. This was his chance to help Otabek after all of the times that Otabek had helped him. He wasn't going to allow Otabek to be at risk any longer. He would save him. He would save him no matter what it took. That's what friends are for. Friends slap you in the face when you do something stupid to keep you on the right path. Friends have your back when times are tough. Friends do everything they possibly can to make sure they're there when you need them the most.

But, then again, lovers do that too. Or at least, they're supposed to.

Yuri followed behind Jean-Jacques. He had no idea where he was going but he trusted that Jean-Jacques did. Each step that he took his resolve strengthened and his fears worsened. He was absolutely terrified but he was even more scared of the idea that he'd never see Otabek again.  

"I'm on my way," Yuri prayed that Otabek could hear him. He hoped with all of his might that Otabek would hold out until he got here.