Since being an young teen, Otabek has suffered from severe bouts of depression. He isn’t a sad person, on the contrary actually, but it just so happens that the chemicals in his brain sometimes don’t match up to how he feels, and because of that, he has patches of extreme highs and very deep lows throughout the year.
It’s a constant dull hum, always there but not always at the forefront of his mind, and it gets very confusing and distressing for him when he can’t figure out what’s wrong or why he feels a certain way. It ends up with him having to go on medication to keep the worst of it away, but sadly not all meds work 24/7 and it still takes a lot of work some days just to take care of himself.
When Otabek (re)meets Yuri, his world changes bit by bit. Having a best friend helps his immensely, even though he never openly talks about his mental health, but he always gets the strongest feeling that Yuri wouldn’t treat him any differently had he known.
Yuri finds out eventually. Depression is a hard thing to hide because sometimes it can become so consuming. Otabek hits one of his lows while Yuri is staying with him and although he desperately tries not to hide out in his bedroom with the curtains drawn, it somehow happens anyway. When Yuri returns to Otabek’s flat that evening, he doesn’t even ask what’s wrong. Instead, he climbs onto his bed with him and curls up beside him, threading one of his hands through Otabek’s hair.
He cries that night as Yuri holds him, but Yuri never once questions it, only shushing him softly and pulling Otabek into his chest, letting him cling to Yuri’s shirt.
When Otabek settles down, Yuri makes them both some tea and turns the TV on for them. When he settles back down in bed beside Otabek, he opens his arms to him and Otabek takes it as quickly as its offered.
When he wakes up in the morning, its to Yuri holding a glass of water and his med package with a small smile, gently offering them both to him. Otabek takes them both gratefully and then watches as Yuri climbs back in bed beside him. They stay there the whole day.