Damaged love

It's your what?

Yuri POV
Halloween dawned overcast and raining. I got dressed in workout gear for the rink. Otabek was already in the kitchen. He really was a good cook. Today looked to be special. Scones, eggs Benedict and a bowl of fruit sat at my usual place with a cup of coffee.
“You like Halloween or something?” I grouched looking over the food. Chuckling he grinned at me. How his face shined when he smiled.
“Or something.” He stated vaguely. I glared at him as I dug into the food.
“I refuse to dress up or go to any stupid parties. Mila is always trying crap like that. I’m sure that idiot Victor will have his usual party.” I huffed. Over the years I was at this rink under Yakov's coaching he had forced me to go to Victor's parties. I swore this year I wouldn’t go. I was on my own I didn’t need them. They were boring anyway.
“Oh, Victor did invite me. I was thinking about going.” He looked a little disappointed. “The one thing I hate about having a birthday on a holiday is that I hardly ever get to do what I want.” His chin rested on his fist as he starred out the window.
“Wait, today's your birthday!” I yelled slamming down my fork. He jumped as I caught him day dreaming.
“What? How did you…” he paused as he thought about something. “Oh, I said that out loud, huh.” Jumping to his feet he picked up the dishes. “Look just forget I said anything!” he ordered me. I jumped up behind him.
“Hell no.” I tried to take the plates from him. “I will clean up. You did all the cooking, plus its your birthday.” He ripped the dishes out of my hands almost dropping them.
“Knock it off. Its just a day!” he grouched at me. I was stunned. Otabek never even sounded upset with me, let alone yell like that. He went into the kitchen as I stood there stunned.
“Yuri, I’m sorry. Its just…” he waved a hand in the air. “Look my folks kicked me out a few years ago. I haven’t really celebrated my birthday since then, alright.” I felt his hand touch my shoulder.
“Yeah, sure.” I jerked away like the asshole I was. “We're going to be late to practice.” I muttered keeping my back to him. Without a word he followed me out of the apartment. The rain would make taking his motorcycle a mess.
We reached the front parking lot. A taxi sat there. I went to walk around it but was tugged back. “Since it is raining I called a cab for us.” Otabek stated as he opened the door for me. Not saying anything I got in. He slipped in after me telling the driver where to go. We headed off down the street.
“Why did your folks kick you out?” I asked to fill the strange silence between us. He shrugged.
“I was a pretty decent skater. But they spent more money than I could make. When I couldn’t pay the coaches or get to the competitions, they felt I was a burden to them.” I looked at him.
“So what have you been doing? I mean your skating again.” Finally he turned to look at me. A smile touched his lips. Tiny but it was there. It was for me I knew. I smiled back.
“I never stopped skating. Whenever I could I got on the ice.” He said. “One day Yakov saw a video I posted. I was looking to be taken on by another coach, having gotten the money together to pay them.” He said. The rest was how we met, I guess.
We pulled up to the rink. Before he could get his wallet out I handed the driver a fifty. “Keep the change.” I told him. He waved after we got out.
“I was going to pay for that.” Otabek smiled at me. I shrugged.
“Consider it part of your birthday present.” I said.
“Wait, its your birthday!” Mila where the hell had she spawned from!
“Shut up, hag!” I yelled!
“Buzz off punk.” She pushed me out of the way to get to Otabek. Linking her arm through his she dragged him toward the door. I was pissed he let her! Flowing behind them I fumed as she rattled on about how she was having a party but now it could be a birthday Halloween party!
“Happy Birthday!” Victor shouted as we entered the rink. He held out a small box to Otabek. It looked like a jewelry box.
“Uh, thank you. You didn’t have to get me anything.” He said.
“Just open it. Its from Yuuri and I.” Victor took the hand of the dark haired skater who smiled sheepishly from slightly behind him.
“How did you know it was his birthday?” I demanded. Yuuri’s smile faded a little.
“Oh, I was helping Yakov file some things. I saw it on an entry form.” He said.
“Fat little snooping piggy!” I raged.
“Yuri.” Otabek laid a hand on my arm. “Relax its ok.” He said. Turning to the others he held up the box.
“Thank you.” It was wrapped in green paper with silver string tying it shut. I watched Otabek slip the string off. Yuri took it from him as he opened the box. He cackled out a laugh. I couldn’t see what was in the box yet. Turning he held it out to Victor.
“Hold this for a minute.” He asked him. Victor let him place it in his free hand. Otabek pulled out a silver motorcycle like the one he drove. It was attached to a wire. Popping out the stud earrings he wore he switched it with the motorcycle one.
“How does it look?” he asked. The smile on his face was huge.
“Perfect.” Victor cried.
“It looks great.” Yuri told him.
“You look like a meathead.” I complained. Turning I left the three of them standing in the entrance way. I went to the locker room to get my skates on. How was I going to get him something like that? I sucked at picking out presents. Usually I conned Victor or Mila into getting something for me to give. I didn’t want them picking out something for Otabek though. No, for him I wanted to do it myself.
With my skates on I turned to go out to the rink. Otabek was standing there looking at me. “That was rude, what you did. They mean well, Yuri. For some reason no matter how mean you are to them, they still like you.” He said. He pushed away from the wall to go get his skates on.
What the hell! I thought. Screw the old man and that stupid little piggy! Furious I hit the ice. Doing some stretches I got warmed up. Once ready I launched into my routine. Spinning over the ice I angrily went through the routine.
It was October. We should be heading to the Gran prix finals. Yakov was taking smaller groups to the various different completions. Since I had done so well last year, I didn’t need to compete in any of the leading finals. I had secured my spot.
Yuri and Victor had just returned from the cup of China. Victor was still the best he ever was. Winning gold in every competition he has entered. Yuuri had struggled into Sliver in the last two competitions. Christophe, JJ and Leo fighting for third depending on the competition.
Someday soon,  I will be facing them on the ice. The show will be spectacular! I smirked.
“Yuri how do you expect to beat Victor with a sloppy performance like that! Don’t make me send you back to Lila!” Yakov shouted. I had finished the program. Yakov was right it was missing something. I was missing something. My eyes flashed to Otabek. He was skating on the far side of the rink with Yuri and Victor. They were all laughing. I saw him look over his shoulder at me.
He winked. What the hell was that. I turned my back to him swinging out to my beginning position. I shoved all thoughts from my mind. Focusing only on the program I began again. Flying over the ice like an eagle, an avenging angel? I listened to the music in my head as I pushed myself through the routine.
Yes, that was. What I was missing. I was an avenging angel, swooping in to save others from being idiots.  I would smite the little piggy, the old hag, that stupid old man Victor would get a halo where the sun can’t shine. Yakov yelled that my feet were going everywhere. I drew in my breath brought my body back under control. Yakov. No, I would leave him alone. Without him I had nothing.
No home, no career, no Otabek. I came out of the last quad, spun to a spread eagle then up to a statue in the center of the ice. I froze there. Did I have Otabek? Did he even know how much I liked him? I threw myself down on the ice screaming out my frustration.
“Yuri, go run the track. You are not in control of anything today. Phichit could beat you!” Yakov yelled at me.
“Hey, Phichit is good!” Yuuri defended his friend.
“Don’t make me kick you out of my rink, Yuuri. Just because your coach skates here doesn’t mean…”
“Oh, Yakov you wouldn’t get rid of Yuuri.” There was a warning edge to the cherry cry from Victor. No. Getting rid of Yuuri would mean no more Victor. I knew how much Yakov struggled without his silver star when he left to coach the fat little piggy.
I went out to run the track. After twenty laps I went into shower. Everyone else was gone. Putting on my everyday clothes I called a cab. As I walked out, I saw Otabek standing near the rink. He was leaning against the boards dressed in street clothes. I ducked down slipping out the door before he looked up from his phone.
The cab was waiting. I had them drive me to the mall a few miles away. When I looked at my phone after I paid, I saw three texts from Otabek.
‘Hey, you almost ready?’
‘Yuri, you can’t be mad at me, it’s my birthday.’
‘Where are you, Yuri?’
“Chill I left the rink. I have things to do.” I texted him. “Just go get ready for Victor’s party. Its where you really want to be!” I stormed. Instead of waiting for a reply I shoved the phone into my pocket and headed into the mall. I had to find him something for his birthday.