Shattering Glass

Chapter 3

Over the next few weeks, Yuri encountered many changes in his life, the first of which being that he had been asked to permanently take over the junior ballet class for which he'd once substitute-taught. The next change, coming within the hour of the first, was that his hours at the rink had been cut. The excuse Victor had given for the decision was that with Yuri's new ballet class, the hours at the rink became unnecessary, and, in hopes of avoiding an argument (an unnecessary fear, really, for there was no hope of rekindling Yuri's old flame), Victor said that Yuri would retain two on-ice classes a week, though rudimentary level ones.

Though the rationale behind Victor's decision did, in theory, make sense, Yuri suspected that his motivation for the change came from a less logical place in him than his brain.

Yuuri and Victor were worried, that was clear as day. What they were worried about, Yuri could not say for certain; maybe it was his continuing as usual under changed circumstances, maybe his continued disinterest in his pregnancy, maybe even his hollow, uninterested demeanor, but it was certain that he was the object of their concern.

While it was likely that a mixture of the three mentioned reasons and doubtlessly more cemented the couple's anxiety on his behalf, Yuri hypothesized that maybe the second reason took the spotlight for them. It would, he figured: when Victor and Yuuri had had their first child, Luci, they had been ecstatic; absolutely over the moon about every stage of her existence, -- even the godforsaken morning sickness that had plagued Yuuri -- so, of course, Yuri's noticeable lack of jubilation would surprise and concern them.

Acting most-likely with the intention of (in their minds) helping Yuri come to grips with his reality, the couple had been highly vocal about his pregnancy, though Yuri did ask them to try to refrain from mentioning it in the studio should his pupils overhear. Of course, this only invited concerned glances and questions as to why he didn't want people to know; wasn't this a good thing? After brushing off their inquiries with vague mutterings about privacy, Yuri made his escape from the conversation topic. With all his years with Victor and Yuuri, though, he should have known that it was better just to be straight with them and effectively bar any follow-up circumstances. He really should have.

But he didn't. Which was why he found himself there, at their house, going over a maternity scrapbook with Luci sitting behind him and Elliot (her little brother, only seven months old) on his knee. He had been invited under the pretext of dinner, and while he'd done his best to decline, Victor's stubbornness on the matter had become exhausting and, half an hour later, his hair was being played with by a five-year-old.

"Oh," Yuuri laughed in a slightly pained way, pointing at a photo in the book, "I remember when this was taken: I had just tried on half of what I owned and nothing fit," he shook his head ruefully, "I was so annoyed-- I ended up having to go shopping that day just to find something I could comfortably wear." He paused a second, looking thoughtful, "You're reaching that stage about now, aren't you? I remember it happened when I was around the five-month mark."

Yuri looked up, having been lost in thought, and needing to mentally replay the comment before he could reply. "Not yet, no."

"Really?" Victor raised a surprised and incredulous eyebrow; he glanced at Yuri's midriff, but his view was impeded by little Elliot, playing with the fingers of Yuri's right hand, having snatched them up immediately. "I thought you looked rather--"

"Victor," Yuuri spoke up, shooting his husband a glance that could either be interpreted as sickly sweet or downright dangerous. "Why don't you check on dinner?"

Victor looked ruffled but nodded before getting up and leaving the room, shooting the two Yuris a questioning glance over his shoulder.

"Sorry," Yuuri turned to the younger, "that was a bit... brusque, even for him; you know he didn't mean it offensively." Yuri nodded, shrugging. "So," Yuuri continued, prompting in Yuri's silence. "How are you?"