Yuris Secret!! (YurionICE!!!)

-7: Dejection-

When Yuko called me I was more then surprised. I was even more surprised when she asked me if I could pick up Yuri at the rink. I didn't expect him to be still there or even call me. Even thought I got into the car and drove towards the rink immediately.

When I open the door to the ice castle Yuko is already waiting for me. She smiles at me, thought I swear I saw a slight sad look in her eyes. "He is changing in the first room. Maybe you should talk to him.", she says quietly and I wonder what crooned that she was so nervous.

"Talk to him?", I repeat with an eye role and exhausted sigh. "Every time I try to talk to him he yells at me."

"Well.. none the less you should try it. I think there is something bothering him."

"I'll try.", I say and smile at her reassuringly. I head of to the locker room Yuko told me Yuri was in. Hopefully he was ok. His earlier fall looked serious. Right after he returned to training. Maybe he over did it. After all the doc told him to wait longer before returning to the ice. He told us he was fine and just needed to train, but something in my gut told me that wasn't true. Something was definitely going on. I had the feeling that Yuri was hiding something since he came back. Something that weighted heavy on his shoulders. Maybe it was what he tried to tell us when he still was back in russia and they talked over the telephone. What was Yuri hiding? It has been ghosting inside my mind ever since Yuri came back. He seemed tense and kinda jumpy. But he was the last one to push Yuri to talk about something he clearly didn't want to talk about. When the right time comes he will talk to us.

Still caught up in my thoughts I open the door to the looker room and step in. "Yuri I came to pick you up.", I say and meet Yuris eyes starring at me like he just saw a ghost. I catch the slight bruise forming on his left temple. Automatically my eyes take in his position, searching for more signs of injuries. Sitting on the bench his pants pulled down to his knees. Normally it wouldn't be a big thing for me to see another men more or less naked – after all I was gay. But in this case it felt like it was the worst situation I could have chosen to open the door - thanks to my ability to find the perfect timing... not.

"Yuri.", I say softly and slowly move to sit down next to him. I notice his hands tighten around his pants not moving them an inch. "Are you injured?"

A short shake of his head is all I get as an answer.

"Is there anything else bothering you? You know, you can-"

"Yeah.. I can tell you anything!", he interrupts me loudly and finishes the sentences. "It's not as easy as you think.", he ads a little quieter.

I'm kinda surprised at his quiet reply and survey the frown that was working it's way between his brows. He was so serious. It didn't suit him. Or maybe I just didn't know this side of him?

"Yuri.. I..", I start to say, but I don't really know what to say.

"It's ok. You don't need to say anything. It's my turn to talk. I should have told you already. It's long overdue."

"Is it the same you wanted to tell us on the phone a few weeks ago?"

He nods. "It's.. I was.. scared...", he whispers.

"Scared? Of what?" I was actually a Little surprised that Yuri was afraid of something. Sure he was just an 15-year-old but he is always so confident and act so self-conscious.

"How you two will react. Especially Victor. I was scared that you might treat me differently. I thought I could do it on my own. But I can't do it alone. I'm not strong enough."

"Yuri! That's not true!", I protest.

"Stop! Just don't.", he says a little louder then before. "Promise me you won't tell Victor and please don't freak out."

"Why do you-"

"Just promise it!", he yells. "You will understand.", he adds a little quieter.

"O..okay. I promise I won't tell Victor and I'll do my best to not freak out.", I say solemnly but still kinda afraid of what will happen next.

"I.. well..", he stammers. "I think it's easiest to show you.", he whispers and I see the slight tremble in his hands. He is anxious. I'm more then confused when he starts to pull his pants down exposing his legs. Except that his left leg consists out of a peace of light brown material matching the color of Yuris skin.

"Yuri..", I whisper starring at the prostheses that took the place of Yuris left leg from a few inches under his knee. I was speechless. Of all the scenarios that played through my mind in the last days this one didn't came to my mind.

"Say something.", Yuri whispers.

"I..", I start and hesitate for a moment. "Well.. I've got some questions and I'm more then surprised, but first of I want you to know that it's ok. That you didn't told us I mean. I'll still see you the way I saw you before and I'm still going to support you in every way I can. It's just like I told you. You can tell me anything. And you know I'm kinda proud to be the first one you showed it."

There is a moment of silence. Yuri just sits there looking so damn young and small and unusual vulnerable. A slight shiver runs through his body and I realize he's sitting here in only his underwear.

"How about, you get dressed before you get sick and then we can talk about.. it?", I suggest, trying to sound like a mature adult, thought I'm sounding a little unsure about his prostheses.

"Mm.", he nods and gets up to get his fresh sweatpants. I can't help but watch his movements. Especially the prostheses. I always thought moving with an artificial leg would be obvious, but Yuri moved as smoothly as always. Always? I had no idea how long Yuri was already living with this condition. Probably I never saw him move fluently with tow human legs. Did he really hide something as serious like this for such a long time? After all not even Victor knew about it. No one knew.

"I'm finished.", Yuri pulls me out of my thoughts. Dressed in his dark pants and a black hoodie with a tiger head printed on it he stood in front of me. His bag hung over his shoulder. He looked like an average teenager. Without knowing you couldn't even tell he wore a prosthesis.

"Ah.. yeah.. Let's go.", I stutter and stand up. We leave the ice castle and I notice that Yuri was in fact not walking as smoothly as I thought. There was a slight, barely noticeable limp, favoring his right leg. I couldn't tell if it was because he hurt himself or if it was just normal to limp and I just never noticed.

"Do you want to go home?", I ask stopping in front of the car, somehow sensing that Yuri needed some room.

"No.", he says and shakes his head.

Suddenly I got an idea. "Get into the car. I know where we can talk in peace and quiet.", I say and smile at him.

- - - -

Weeell, the secret is revealed!
What do you think?