#otayuriww

❄️❄️PROMPTS ANNOUNCEMENT IS HERE!!❄️❄️

Thank you to everyone that submitted and voted for prompts for Otayuri Winter Weekend! We can now reveal the prompts for the weekend are as follows:

Friday 29th December

baby, it’s cold outside / first snowfall

Saturday 30th December

caught under the mistletoe / fireplace

Sunday 31st December

snowed in / new year 

BONUS PROMPT: jealous Otabek 

Works for the weekend can be fics, art, edits, cosplay, etc. and you can use either or both of the prompts for each day. The bonus prompt is optional but can be used on any or all of the three days if you want! 

The tags for this event are #otayuriww and #otayuriww2017 or you can mention us @otayuriwriterscollective when posting your works. The AO3 collection can be found here and more information about the event including our rules and faq can be found here. We hope to see you participating in Otayuri Winter Weekend 2017!

drew this for @otayuriwriterscollective otayuri winter weekend’s friday 29th prompt ‘first snowfall’.

Good evening! Hope everyone is enjoying the season. The @otayuriwriterscollective​ is hosting a winter event for our favorite pairing from Yuri!!! on Ice, and we couldn’t resist joining in! Prompt: “Baby, it’s cold outside!” Title: “Keep Me Warm” Rating: General Synopsis: Yuri was excited to meet up with his friend, Otabek, over the holidays and do some sightseeing around New York City. But he was unprepared for how cold it would be in the city in winter...or for how Otabek would keep him warm. Read on FFNET Read at AO3

Yuri stepped out of the hotel building and shivered as the icy winter air whipped through his hair and tossed the blond strands wildly around his face. He quickly pulled his hood over his head and zipped up his jacket. He’d been aware of the low temperature today, but he had plans with Otabek, so not even the cold could chase him back inside.

Otabek had texted him just a few minutes ago to say he was already outside and would buy them some hot chocolate from a pastry truck on the street. The two of them had flown to New York City to hang out and do some sightseeing for the holidays. Just because Yuri was used to the cold didn’t mean he liked it, and he was grateful when he saw Otabek at the curb just down the block, tucking his wallet into his back pocket before reaching for two steaming styrofoam cups. Their eyes met from the short distance and Yuri couldn’t fight back a smile. He tucked his chin into his collar to hide it and briefly waved a hand in greeting before shoving it into his pocket to keep it from being chapped by the wind.

They had come to the United States on different flights, so this was actually the first time they’d seen each other since arriving in New York. But as excited as Yuri felt, Otabek did not appear to share his enthusiasm. The taller man was walking towards him with a deep frown marring his handsome face.

When Otabek reached him, Yuri didn’t have to try anymore to hide a smile, because it had faded away. He had been anxious to see his friend again for the first time after the Grand Prix Finals skating competition, during which Yuri had won the gold medal, and had wondered how they would greet each other: with a shake of hands, a hug? Now all Yuri could think to offer was a flat, “Hey.” He kept his hands in his jacket pockets.

“Yuri,” Otabek said sternly, looking him over. “Where is your coat? Aren’t you cold? You must be; I can see your breath.”

Yuri was taken aback, but come to think of it, Otabek was snugly bundled up in a black winter coat and had on a scarf and gloves, to boot.

“I d-d-didn’t bring one with m-m-me,” Yuri was forced to admit through chattering teeth. “Hadn’t expected it to be this c-cold.”

It was then he realized the expression on Otabek’s face wasn’t one of disappointment or annoyance or boredom; he was concerned.

“Are you serious?” Otabek pushed one of the cups at him immediately. “Here. Drink this. It will help a little.”

Yuri accepted the drink with both hands, grateful for the heat that seeped from the cup to toast his palms.

“You can’t stay out here all day in that thin little jacket. Come on,” Otabek said, waving for Yuri to follow him. “There are plenty of shops on this street; let’s find you a real coat.”

“Uh…Otabek,” Yuri said, scampering to keep up, “we have a lot of things to do this weekend, you know? I mean, I didn’t budget for buying clothes.”

“This is more important than souvenirs,” Otabek said without hesitation. They walked to the end of the block when he spotted a men’s clothing store across the street. They waited on the corner until the crosswalk light lit up, then Otabek threw an arm out to his side to block Yuri from bolting right into the street. Instead Otabek checked both directions for traffic, then to the younger man’s surprise he took Yuri’s hand and walked him safely across the street. Yuri was so surprised he didn’t immediately return the pressure of Otabek’s fingers around his, but as soon as they were safely out of the street and standing once more on the sidewalk, Otabek let go.

Otabek approached the shop and pulled open the front door, holding it for Yuri. Yuri looked up at the sign overhead. It read, “Giorgio’s Classic Menswear.”

“Otabek, I don’t know,” Yuri said hesitantly. “This place looks expensive.”

“Go in,” Otabek ordered, so Yuri did.

Inside, the shop was filled with men’s designer suits, fashionable tuxedos, silk ties, and cashmere sweaters. This was definitely not the type of place Yuri typically shopped. He wasn’t broke by any means, but when he bought clothes, it was because he liked the print or the design, not because it had a fancy name brand. “Otabek, let’s get out of here,” Yuri pleaded quietly as his friend followed him into the store and let the door close behind them. “I’m sure we can find an outlet mall or something cheaper than this.”

“You need a coat, so I’m buying you a coat,” Otabek gently argued. “It’ll be your Christmas present, okay? So don’t ask me to get you something cheap.”

Yuri felt his face grow warm. “Oh… Okay.”

“May I help you?” asked a voice.

The two young men turned to see a very well-dressed man approaching. His nametag read, “Richard.”

Otabek placed a hand on Yuri’s shoulder. “My friend needs a coat,” he explained.

“Certainly. Right this way, gentlemen.”

Otabek removed his hand from Yuri’s shoulder to follow after the clerk, and Yuri almost shivered again. How was he able to feel Otabek’s warmth through his friend’s gloves? And why did he feel so cold each time Otabek let go?

“Doing some sightseeing today?” Richard asked as they trailed after him deeper into the store.

“Yes,” Otabek answered.

“Then you’ll definitely want something a bit warmer,” the man agreed, glancing over his shoulder at Yuri in his black and leopard-print jacket. “Here we are,” he announced, leading them to a corner with several racks of fancy coats and designer jackets. “Everything with a red tag is part of our after-Christmas sale; everything else is part of our new collection. Just let me know if you need any assistance.”

Otabek nodded as the man left them and said, “Thanks.”

“Good.” Yuri sounded relieved. “Let me find something on sale.”

He started towards the racks, but Otabek caught his arm. “Yuri,” he argued, “just…find something you like. Okay?”

Yuri looked up but the expression Otabek wore made his face feel even hotter. “Can you hold my drink? And my jacket?”

“Of course.” Otabek accepted the hot chocolate and held out his arm for Yuri to drape his thin jacket over it, then claimed a lounge chair next to a tie display and waited for Yuri to try on a few things, admiring him from his seat all the while.

Yuri felt a little guilty, but he tried not to look at the price tags dangling from the wrists of the coats as he tried them on. He considered a green one that matched the shamrock hue of his eyes, but it was uncomfortably long and seemed to squeeze his legs together when he walked over to a mirror to have a look at himself. He put it back and tried on a blue one that reminded him of the Russian flag, but the sleeves were too stiff and the wool fabric was itchy. He finally reached for a black one that fit him perfectly, and it looked stylish, too. He turned to Otabek with a questioning look. Would his friend think it looked good on him? “What do you think of this one?” he asked nervously.

“It’s perfect.” Otabek stood up and moved closer. His voice was very soft as he said, “It looks like it was made for you, Yuri.”

Yuri felt his heart race at the compliment. He lifted his arm to look at the price attached to the sleeve. He didn’t see any red on the tag. “Otabek, I don’t think this is on sale—” he started to say. But Otabek distracted him by pushing Yuri’s hot chocolate cup back into his hand. Then, wordlessly, Otabek ripped the tag off of the coat and crumpled it in his fist, preventing Yuri from seeing it.

Yuri stared at him with an open mouth as Otabek walked away. “Let’s get you some gloves,” his friend called back to him. “And a scarf.”

Yuri was still stunned and trailed after Otabek in stupor. He let the other man choose a pair of black gloves and a black, white, and gray plaid scarf for him, then shuffled after Otabek to the cash register.

“Did you gentlemen find what you need?” Richard asked from behind the counter. Another man behind him was folding shirts and adding them to a wall display. Not a single one cost fewer than three-hundred American dollars.

Otabek nodded, setting the gloves and scarf down so they could be rung up. He also set the coat tag down and slid it across the counter toward the clerk. “He’ll wear it.”

“Very good.” Richard began ringing up their purchases, then said, “All our toboggan hats are on sale for $9.99 today…”

Otabek turned to his friend. “Yuri, go pick out a hat,” he instructed, and Yuri went. When he returned, Otabek ripped the tag from the hat and settled it over his head, carefully brushing strands of blond hair out of Yuri’s eyes. “Let’s go,” he said, apparently having paid without letting Yuri hear exactly how much.

Back outside on the street, Yuri held Otabek’s drink while his friend tucked his jacket into his backpack for him. “Otabek, I didn’t mean for you to buy all this.”

“How could I let you freeze to death on the street? What kind of friend would I be then?”

Yuri couldn’t argue with that.

They were finally free to explore the city. There was more to do in New York than they could ever accomplish in just a few days, so they made sure to hit the highlights and skipped the souvenir shops. Yuri had intended to buy some tchotchkes while on vacation, but Otabek’s generous sacrifice had made him have a change of heart. “That crap’s all made in China, anyway,” he just shrugged as they passed by yet another tourist trap.

They caught a double-decker tour bus in Midtown Manhattan and drove through Times Square before visiting the Rockefeller Center to tour Radio City Music Hall. Afterwards the pair enjoyed lunch at a buffet-style restaurant along Fifth Avenue called “Bread and Butter.” Next they took a stroll in scenic Madison Square Park, and from there it was only a ten-minute walk to reach the Empire State Building. Next they headed to the harbor and caught a ferry to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. They ended their day with a luxury cruise back to Pier 17 and dined on a delicious meal served on the ship.

Otabek posed for selfies with Yuri as his excitable companion went a little camera crazy and spammed his Instagram account all day long with more than a hundred photos of the two of them storming the city. By the time the sun was setting, they were both tired out. But Yuri wasn’t quite willing to part with Otabek’s company. Even if his friend was reserved and didn’t say much, it made Yuri happy just being together. Otabek didn’t have to say a word for Yuri to know he was enjoying their day, too; he could tell by the sparkle in Otabek’s chocolaty caramel eyes.

As the sun sank below the city skyline, the temperature dropped even further. The coat, hat, scarf, and gloves Otabek had bought him were warm, but Yuri was still colder than was comfortable as they walked slowly back in the direction of their hotel.

“Hey—why don’t we get some dessert?” Yuri asked when their building became visible in the distance.

Otabek’s eyes widened in surprise. “Aren’t you full?”

“…No,” Yuri said, looking away embarrassedly. “There’s an ice cream shop on the corner. Let’s go!”

“Yuri, it’s nineteen degrees out here,” Otabek reminded him.

“Oh. Oh, yeah.”

“How about a coffee, instead?”

Yuri smiled.

They killed thirty minutes in a quaint little café, listening to Christmas-inspired jazz music and warming themselves with piping hot coffee while they engaged in pleasant conversation. Too soon, it was time to leave.

Outside again, it felt even colder.

“Hey—look at that!” Yuri said suddenly, pointing at a souvenir shop. “We didn’t buy anything frivolous all day. Can I get you something, to remember our trip by?”

“Yuri, I won’t ever forget it,” Otabek assured him. His gaze was so intense, Yuri looked away.

“Yeah, but…you got me such a nice Christmas gift, and I didn’t get you anything. Let me find you something fun to take home to Kazakhstan and show your friends!” This time Yuri was the one to reach for Otabek’s hand, and Otabek reluctantly let himself be dragged into the gift shop.

One miniature Statue of Liberty and “I <3 New York” T-shirt later, the couple was back out in the cold.

“Hey, Otabek,” Yuri said, pointing out yet another store. “Want to check that out?”

Otabek’s eyes followed the direction his friend’s finger was pointing and he frowned. “Yuri, that’s another café. Is something going on?”

In spite of how cold it was, Yuri felt heat rising to his face. “No!” he said, a little too quickly. “I’m just cold.”

“Then we should get back to the hotel where it’s warm.”

Yuri gave a little shrug. “I guess so,” he murmured weakly.

They stood there, staring at each other in silence. Then, all of a sudden, Otabek’s arms were around Yuri, drawing him close.

Yuri gasped in surprise.

“You don’t have to keep running into cafés to buy coffee just to warm up,” Otabek said. Yuri couldn’t see his face, but he could hear the smile in the tone of his voice. “My hugs are warm. And they’re free.”

Yuri definitely felt warm now. After a moment his arms slowly lifted, winding around Otabek’s waist.

Otabek continued, “And our date doesn’t have to end, just because we get back to our hotel.”

Yuri’s heart was pounding. Otabek’s embrace was equally firm and gentle, just as he had imagined it would be. There was no hesitation, only warmth and the quiet strength Otabek always exuded. In spite of being in a huge, foreign city, Yuri had never felt so safe. He licked his chapped lips. “Is this…a date?” he dared ask.

“I didn’t come to New York to see the sights, Yuri,” Otabek breathed into his ear, “I came to see you.”

His eyes shining, Yuri hugged Otabek harder. “Then…let’s get back to the hotel, before we freeze to death!”

Written for day 2 of the Otayuri Winter Weekend event over on @otayuriwriterscollective for the prompt “caught under the mistletoe”

❄️❄️PRESENTING: OTAYURI WINTER WEEKEND 2017!❄️❄️

Otayuri Winter Weekend is an event hosted by Otayuri Writers Collective celebrating the relationship between Otabek Altin and Yuri Plisetsky. It is a three day event that will accept all types of works, whether it be fic, art, edits, cosplay, etc. – all we ask is that Otabek and Yuri are the main focus of your work! The official tags for this event are #otayuriww and #otayuriww2017

The official schedule for the event is as follows:

1-7 December: Prompt Submissions

8-10 December: Prompt Voting

11 December: Prompts Announced

29-31 December: Otayuri Winter Weekend happens!

Prompt submission is open now: prompts can either fit into the theme of “winter” or be more general. Check out our rules & faq for more information, reblog this post to spread the word and don’t hesitate to send us an ask if you’ve got any questions. We hope to see you participating in Otayuri Winter Weekend 2017!

❄️❄️SUBMIT YOUR PROMPTS NOW! ❄️❄️

❄️❄️PROMPT VOTING IS NOW OPEN!!❄️❄️

Voting for prompts for Otayuri Winter Weekend has now begun. You can vote here and voting will close on Sunday 10th December at 10pm GMT. 

Here is our second offering for the Winter Weekend event hosted by the @otayuriwriterscollective! Prompt: “Fireplace.” Title: “Love Letters” Rating: Teen for language Synopsis: The skaters get together for a reunion at a ski lodge in Switzerland. Yuri is excited to get to spend some time alone with Otabek, but havoc ensues when JJ finds a love letter addressed to Yuri from Otabek. Read on FFNET Read at AO3

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Switzerland. In just a few minutes we’ll be landing at Zurich Airport. We ask that you return to your seats and restore your tray tables to their upright positions. Please turn off your electronic devices now and secure any loose belongings. Thank you.”

Yuri Plisetsky slowly opened his eyes and blinked a few times to clear his vision. He hadn’t really been sleeping when the flight attendant had made her announcement, but he had dozed on and off during the six-hour flight from St. Petersburg to Zurich. Just now he had been listening to music on his phone, but when the instructions to turn off all electronic devices came across the speakers inside the cabin, he tugged his earbuds free and did as directed.

“For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until the captain turns off the ‘fasten seatbelt’ sign.”

Yuri yawned and stretched as best as he could in the cramped row. It had been an early morning for him, and a boring flight with one brief but annoying stop to change planes in Amsterdam. He wouldn’t even have to be doing this if not for those idiots he had competed against in the skating competition last month. They were supposed to be rivals, not friends; he didn’t know why they all kept sending him friend requests and following him on social media. And he wasn’t exactly certain whose moronic idea it had been to hold a post-podium reunion in lieu of a banquet, but now here he was in Switzerland, about to join the other figure skaters at a ski lodge for a weekend of “fun.”

Normally, Yuri would have never agreed to this. In fact, when the first friend request had come through on his Facebook account—from Jean-Jacques Leroy, aka JJ, of Canada—his initial instinct had been to block the guy and report him for online harassment. But he noticed after a brief check that all the men who had competed together were apparently befriending one another. Publicly, at that. When Victor Nikiforov, a fellow skater from Russia, had sent him an invitation to join them at the ski lodge in Zurich to enjoy a get-together, he was determined to refuse. But then Victor had informed him that Otabek Altin was in. Otabek was a skater from Kazakhstan whom Yuri genuinely had grown close to, and if Otabek was going to be there, then Yuri had known he had to be, too.

Thinking about Otabek now made Yuri feel warm. He didn’t even hear the rest of the flight attendant’s landing script as he smiled quietly to himself, watching the clouds outside of the window disappear as the ground rose up to meet them.

It was a smooth landing, and now that he’d arrived, Yuri began to feel the palpitations of excitement he’d been suppressing. He’d get to see Otabek again, and soon!

“Welcome to Zurich!” the attendant called as the plane rolled slowly toward their gate. “The local time is 10:23 AM and the temperature is two degrees Celsius. At this time you may use your cellular phones and other electronic devices. When the door opens, please collect your belongings before disembarking from the plane. Remember to use caution when opening the overhead compartments, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the flight.”

Yuri had to wait until his seatmate moved out of the way before he could get into the bin overhead to collect his luggage. He was only staying in Switzerland for two nights, Friday and Saturday, so all he’d brought along was his backpack and one piece of rolling luggage.

He squeezed his way out into the aisle between other passengers and made his way toward the exit. It saved time not having to wait for his suitcase at baggage claim; instead he was able to walk right out of the airport and hail a taxi to take him to the lodge.

During the drive, Yuri turned on his phone and checked his Instagram feed. It looked like some of the others had already arrived at the resort and were posting photos. As reluctant as Yuri had been to join them, even he had to admit the slopes looked choice, the lodge was ideal, and the spa seemed like a tiny piece of winter paradise. He found himself growing more and more anxious to get there, himself. But then Yuri saw he had a text message.

“Uh-oh…” Yuri muttered to himself. The text was from Otabek, and read:

Sorry, flight delayed. See you tonight.

“Damn it!” Yuri cursed through gritted teeth. Now he was going to be stuck at the resort all day by himself with those assholes!

The Silver Slopes Ski Resort was a smaller, more peaceful location than some of the larger resorts in Zurich, which had thankfully soaked up most of the post-Christmas ski crowd. It seemed the figure skaters were to have the small ski lodge almost entirely to themselves.

Though it was considered small by most resort standards, the Silver Slopes lodge was still large to Yuri. The first floor contained a rugged salon that was just like a cozy den at home, except its sofas, recliners, and lounge seats could easily accommodate fifty people. There were two TVs, which were currently not in use, and since it was still early January the Christmas tree had yet to be taken down, lending a festive atmosphere to the warm environment. There was a restaurant that opened early and closed late, and attached to that was an open bar. To the left of the salon was the spa, and down a hall to the right was the equipment storeroom where guests could check out whatever they needed for skiing, snowboarding, and sledding. Upstairs were the guestrooms.

Victor and Yuuri Katsuki were sitting at the breakfast bar having brunch when Yuri arrived. They greeted him warmly and showed him how to find the front desk. Yuri apparently had some time to kill before Otabek would be arriving, so as soon as he was checked into his room he rented a snowboard, along with bindings and a pair of snowboard boots. He had his own goggles and plenty of layers of clothing to keep him warm, thanks to Otabek’s generous Christmas gift. Some of the men he recognized from the skating competition last year were gathered in the lobby, but Yuri walked right past them and made his way out into the snow alone.

All in all, it wasn’t a bad day. Yuri managed to avoid contact with nuisances like Jean-Jacques Leroy and his girlfriend, Isabella Yang. They’d had a run-in once before, and Yuri wasn’t keen on repeating the scenario; he’d had enough insults flung at him from that pair to last a lifetime.

He did manage to have fun by himself while snowboarding, at least. (Thankfully JJ was more into skiing.) There was a snack shack out by the slopes, so he didn’t have to walk all the way back to the lodge for lunch. The standalone restaurant was a lot smaller than the one inside the main house, but it featured live entertainment so Yuri enjoyed a comedy show with his meal, then stuck around to listen to a concert performed by a local rock band. Once his food had settled he rejoined the lift line to be carried back up the mountainside for another run.

As the afternoon sunlight began to dim, Yuri started wondering just how soon Otabek might arrive. To keep it safe and dry, he had left his phone back at the lodge, but when he realized the sun would be setting soon, he decided to call it a day and head back.

There was still no sign of Otabek in the lounge. Yuri returned the snowboarding equipment he’d borrowed and decided to take a hot shower to chase off the chill and freshen up for Otabek. It wasn’t as late in the day as he’d thought, but apparently the sun set a little early in Switzerland in the winter.

In his room, Yuri checked his phone again. He didn’t have any more messages from Otabek, but someone had managed to capture a shot of him landing on his ass out on the slopes today and had publicly humiliated him on Twitter.

“Grr…! Assholes!” Yuri growled when he recognized the names of some of the people who had retweeted the embarrassing picture. At least it was a shot from behind; he could just deny it was him and sue them all for slander.

Yuri threw his phone down onto the bed with a little deflating sound and trudged into the bathroom for a shower. He took his time getting dressed again, but he was getting hungry. He thought Otabek probably would be, too, and decided to wait for him to have dinner. In the meantime he could chew on the little dried fruit snack he’d gotten on the plane this morning.

He still had an indeterminate amount of time to kill while waiting for his friend to arrive, so Yuri scooped up his backpack before heading back downstairs. Inside he tucked some things that would help pass the time, including his cell phone and a book called, “The Snow Leopard Emerges,” which was a collection of anecdotes about Kazakhstan. He hoped he might impress Otabek with his reading choice…whenever he finally showed up.

When he reached the first floor, fortunately everyone else was in the bar area making a ruckus, so Yuri was able to claim a quiet seat on a lounge chair next to a roaring fireplace and avoid them all.

The blond messed around with his phone for a few minutes, just listening to the crackle in the hearth and watching the minutes tick by on the clock on the salon’s stone wall. It was after six now, and his stomach was growling. He hoped Otabek was having a safe flight. He felt anxious and nervous for some reason. He wouldn’t be able to settle down until he was looking at the other man’s handsome face, but already knew that would make him anxious and nervous for entirely different reasons.

He tucked his phone into the front pouch of his backpack after ensuring the volume was maxed, in case Otabek texted him again. In the same pocket was a familiar, folded piece of paper, and with a softening expression Yuri reached for it, unfolding the well-worn page.

It was a letter, but not just any letter: it was a love letter, the first and only Yuri had ever received. The message began,

Dear Yuri…

I know that to you it’s only been a few weeks since we met, but I have yearned for you for years. So while the distance between us might seem great, I have learned that it is much easier to bear knowing you are thinking of me, as I have long thought of you.

As Yuri’s green eyes drank in every line, they sparkled with happiness.

I hope the coat keeps you warm this winter, but if you feel lonely, just imagine my arms around you again…

Yuri had read the letter so many times, he had it memorized. But each time he picked it up again, he shivered as he reminisced about being in a certain young man’s embrace…

Of course, those memories were best relived alone. And right now JJ Leroy and his fiancée, Isabella, were heading his way.

JJ had one arm draped around Isabella’s shoulders. In his other he carried an overflowing mug of Swiss beer—not his first tonight.

“Look, JJ!” Isabella whispered loudly as they made their way over to the fireplace. “It’s that scary little boy again!”

Yuri growled, his fingers clutching his letter more tightly. When he realized he was wrinkling the already worn paper, he relaxed his hands.

It was a mistake. He’d already drawn attention to the page he was holding, and after shoving his drink into Isabella’s hands, JJ reached out and snatched the letter from Yuri’s lax grasp.

“What’s this?” JJ wondered, lowering his other arm from his fiancée’s shoulders so he could inspect the letter. His eyes skimmed over the paper while Yuri sat there, dumbstruck. “Oh, wow! So that’s why you were blushing!”

Yuri jumped to his feet, his hands balled into fists. “Give that back to me, you prick!”

“Where did you find it?” JJ asked, twisting to avoid Yuri’s grasping hands so he could finish reading.

“It’s mine, asshole!”

“Yeah, right,” JJ snorted. “Hey, babe, listen to this,” he said to Isabella. He started reading Yuri’s letter out loud, his tone mocking. “‘I have yearnedfor you for years! Just imagine my arms around you. And, I hope I might dare, the touch of my lips upon yours…’” JJ howled with laughter. “Aw, man, this is too much!”

Yuri’s eyes were burning with furious tears. “How dare you, jackass! That doesn’t belong to you. Give it back!”

JJ continued to hold the letter out of Yuri’s reach and cupped his free hand around his mouth to shout to the other skaters at the bar. “Hey, guys! Get a load of this! Yuri got a mushy love letter!”

The other men were too busy talking and drinking to really pay them any mind. But now JJ had to wonder—assuming, of course, that this really wasYuri Plisetsky’s love letter—who had written it?

“Say, who’s this from, anyway?” he asked the boy.

“That’s none of your business!” Yuri snapped. As JJ gripped the page by the bottom to look for the signature, Yuri made one final grab for it, jumping into the air to attempt to tear it free of the taller man’s grip.

It worked, but at the same moment Yuri lost his own hold on the paper. He watched, horrified, as it fluttered into the fireplace.

Yuri wailed as the flames licked at the letter. Then a hand unexpected reached into the fire and rescued it.

The three of them—Yuri, JJ, and Isabella—watched with wide eyes as Otabek Altin brushed the smoldering edge of the paper to douse the flickering flame that had caught, then gave the page a little shake to knock the charred ash at its corner loose.

Yuri reached out gingerly and took the scorched paper from Otabek. He held it gently between his hands and inspected it for damage. Thanks to Otabek, only the corner of the paper had been burned off, and all of the writing on the page was intact.

Yuri’s eyes glistened with tears of relief and gratitude. “Otabek! You…”

Otabek cocked his head at Yuri. He’d just arrived, so was still bundled up in his coat and scarf, and was carrying a duffel bag in one hand. “Yuri,” he said, sounding surprised, “I thought you liked my letter.”

“I do!” Yuri cried, then said again, more softly, “I do.”

Otabek didn’t understand. “Then why were you burning it? Yuri, didn’t you get my text message? My flight was delayed. Are you upset with me? Is that why you burned the letter? Did you think I wouldn’t come?” He set down his duffel bag and stepped closer, cupping the blond’s face tenderly.

Yuri was so relieved that Otabek was here, and that he’d rescued the letter, that he forgot to be embarrassed. He threw his arm around Otabek’s waist and leaned into him, burying his face in his coat. Otabek’s arms wrapped around him in an instant, and Yuri looked up to say, “Thank you for saving my letter. It means a lot to me. Stupid dumbhead JJ threw it into the fireplace!”

“That’s your letter?” Watching them together, JJ’s expression was one of shock.

“Why did you take Yuri’s letter and try to burn it?” Otabek asked. He sounded more confused than angry, but he was beginning to feel a tinge of ire.

“I didn’t do it on purpose! And I had no idea it was from you.”

“Regardless,” Otabek reasoned, “you shouldn’t touch something that doesn’t belong to you.”

Yuri stuck his tongue out at JJ.

Isabella gave JJ a pouty scowl. “JJ, why don’t I ever get letters like that?”

“Aw, come on, babe—! You don’t seriously want me to write flowery crap like that, do you?”

Otabek and Yuri, their arms around each other, left the two fighting and went over to the bar to get some spicy seasonal cider to sip by the fire. The other skaters greeted them warmly but Otabek’s expression made it clear he was there for one reason alone, and that reason was Yuri.

They returned to the den, relieved that JJ and Isabella had taken their argument elsewhere, and Otabek hung up his coat while Yuri carefully returned Otabek’s treasured letter to his backpack. Finally alone together, they sat side by side on a sofa next to the fire.

“Otabek, I’m glad you’re here,” Yuri said, gazing up at the other man with starry eyes. “I…missed you.”

“I promise to write more letters, so you’ll have plenty of others to keep you company whenever you miss me.” Otabek rested his arm along the back of the couch, his fingers tenderly stroking the soft strands of Yuri’s blond hair. “I’m sorry I was late. But,” he added, leaning a little closer, “I’m here now, and we can talk all night if you want.”