On the back of Beka's motorcycle, Yuri feels free. Pressed against the leather jacket is the only place Yuri feels like he can really breathe.
They spend years meeting briefly at competitions and taking mini vacations to each other's countries, and each time, there's a motorcycle if the weather permits. Yuri's favorite times are on the back of a motorcycle.
They take a road trip together across Kazakhstan one summer. He feels like he's going to die from the heat when they're standing still, but when the bike is moving he doesn't feel it at all. As the sun sets while they cruise down the highway, Yuri laughs, and leans back in his seat to look at the darkening sky. He tightens his thighs to ensure his hold and feels the bike slow just a little bit, like Otabek knows what he's doing. He releases his hold on Otabek's waist and lifts his hands to the sky.
He is flying, when he closes his eyes. The wind in the long hair escaping his helmet and through his fingers has a chill to it. It breathes life into him again and there is only the wind and himself. The bike hums between his legs and reminds him to correct himself.
There's only Otabek and himself out here.
He opens his eyes and slides forward to wrap around Otabek again. A hand touches his clasped ones lightly before vanishing again.
Otabek revs the engine and speeds the bike into the Kazakh night.