Spaghetti Day

 

“Oy, what are you working on today Katsudon,” Yurio asks as he plops down on the bench next to Yuuri while he laces up his skates. “Are you and the old man still choreographing your free skate?”

“I think I just want to change the placement of a couple elements, but other than that it’s almost ready.” Yuuri flashes his rinkmate with a smile, only to get a grunt and nod in return.

Yurio stands and heads towards the rink, throwing one last comment over his shoulder. “Good. I’m still going to kick your ass next season but you at least better give me a good fight.”

Yuuri just laughs and focuses on his skates again, but he pulls a bit too tight on the laces and one end suddenly snaps off in his hand.

“Dammit.” He knew that one was starting to fray a little, but figured he had at least another week of practice before having to change it. Sighing to himself, he digs through his skate bag, only to find that he didn’t have an extra pair with him. Normally he was more diligent than this, but his new order of laces and other accessories from Mizuno only arrived yesterday so he hadn’t unpacked the box yet. Looks like he’s going to have to run home during lunch and grab a new pair.

Victor glides up to the boards, having just finished his early morning session with Yakov, and calls over to Yuuri. “Good morning zolotse! Are you ready?”

Yuuri gives him a small pout. “My lace broke and I forgot to pack extras. Looks like I’ll have to run home during lunch, so I should probably just go do off-ice for now. Would that be ok?”

Victor’s bright smile falters. “But Yuuri, today is spaghetti day! The one day a month the cafeteria serves us carbs — you can’t miss that!”

Yuuri’s feels a pang of disappointment in his chest. Yuuri loves spaghetti day — it’s probably second to when he gets to enjoy his victory katsudon. The rink’s chefs make the sauce just right, and yes the noodles are whole wheat, but it’s still an indulgence all the skaters enjoy. However, the need to practice certainly outweighs his one chance to enjoy the sinful carbs for another four weeks. Even if he ran back home now, Yuuri would then need to still practice or workout when he returns, so either way he’s going to miss out.

Yuuri gives Victor a pained look, feeling the tears pricking at the corner of his eyes. “There’s really no choice Vitya, I have to go get my laces. I guess… I guess I’ll just have to miss it this time.” Yuuri dejectedly removes his skates, which now feel as if they’re a ball and chain locked around his ankles, packs up and walks over to his fiance who is still standing at the boards looking forlorn.

“Have a second helping for me, ok? You can then tell me all about how the sauce is a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, just like you say I am.” Yuuri tries to keep his tone light and laugh it off despite his growing bitterness at the situation. He places a quick, soft kiss upon Victor’s pouting lips and heads off to the workout room, scrubbing at his eyes to rid himself of the pesky tears which threaten to fall.

Of all days for this to happen, it just had to be spaghetti day…

Yuuri’s lunch consisted of a protein shake and a small salad he grabbed from home during his quick trip back to fetch his new laces, which was just enough to sustain him during his make-up ice time with Victor that afternoon. By the time they make it back home that evening, Yuuri is starving and lumbers over to the fridge to try to scrounge up something healthy yet hopefully tasty for dinner. With a heavy heart he stares at the uninspiring options, knowing that nothing can make up for the deliciousness he missed during lunch, when suddenly he feels arms slink around his waist, Victor’s breath puffing against his ear as he hooks a chin over his shoulder, making Yuuri shiver. “Don’t worry about looking in there love, I have dinner for you already.”

Yuuri turns around in Victor’s arms to face him, uncaring momentarily that the fridge was still open and he was thereby wasting electricity (Otousan would have his head if he saw). “You have dinner already?” Yuuri repeats back, blinking up at Victor, confused.

Victor gives him a cheeky smile. “Well…” he begins in a sing-song tone. “I did get that second helping of spaghetti like you suggested, but I decided to bring it home for you to enjoy instead.”

Yuuri feels his eyes go wide and tears start to well up for the second time that day, but now for a completely different reason. “You… you brought me spaghetti? Oh my god Vitya, thank you!” Yuuri throws his arms around Victor’s neck and buries his face against him. “You didn’t have to do that.” He mumbles against the soft skin of Victor’s throat, unable to keep the smile out of his voice.

Victor’s arms tighten around his waist and he gently presses kisses into Yuuri’s hair. “Of course I did. You’ve been working so hard and deserve it. Now it’s in the container I just placed on the counter, so go heat it up while I take Makka out.” Yuuri pulls back, about to protest and ask about what Victor will eat, but Victor shushes him with a lingering kiss to his lips that he immediately sighs into. Pulling back, he gives Yuuri the beaming heart-shaped smile that's only reserved for him. “And don’t you worry about me, there’s more than enough stuff in here for me to whip something up. You just enjoy.”

With that, Victor leaves to take a very excited Makkachin on her walk so Yuuri wastes no time in indulging in his own personal spaghetti day, moaning happily around every bite. It definitely tastes even better knowing that this time it was served with love.