A/N: Thank you so much for the kiiiiind support, Eliaaaan. I hope you enjoy this one! It's been a hot minute since I wrote Otayuri and it made me what to watch yoi again ehehehe. Also big thank you for being patient with me!
Summary: a lot of things and discoveries can happen during the off-season
Words: 3k
The off-season was strange for Yuri, even stressful.
No screaming coaches, no lights, no constant push to be the very best. Just… relaxation. Silence that stretched for days, weeks and months until he didn't know what to do with himself anymore.
Otabek was the only one that made all that time bearable.
He'd flown in from Kazakhstan to spend a few weeks in St. Petersburg for "training", or at least that was what he and Yuri had planned. They didn't train much, however. They mostly slept in, wandered around the city, Yuri showing him cool places and not so cool places that he enjoyed very much. They even tried making their own version of Katsudon that ended in a kitchen almost burning to crisp and a horrible food that they still had to eat.
They had a good time together. They'd been friends for a couple of years now, but recently… things had started to change. Not suddenly, but gradually, so that even someone as dense and stubborn as Yuri could notice. In the way Otabek's fingers brushed against his when he handed him a cup. Or in the way they stared into each other's eyes for longer than they should have before turning away, cheeks flushed, their hearts fluttering against their ribs.
Somewhere in the breakfasts they shared and the late-night chats, their friendship had turned into something warmer. Something that made Yuri's stomach fill with butterflies when Otabek smiled at him when he caught him staring.
They never mentioned it out loud; there really was no need. They had both silently accepted that they had fallen madly for each other.
They spent almost every afternoon in Yuri's apartment, sprawled on the couch, Otabek on his computer and Yuri on his phone, checking social media and uploading stories when Otabek wasn't noticing: his fingers typing on the keyboard, or his profile while sipping from his steaming cup of cocoa.
Sometimes Yuri would end up pressed against Otabek's side without releasing, or so he thought himself. Otabek would drape an arm lazily over the back of the couch, his fingers sometimes moving, unintentionally, to rest on Yuri's shoulder, his side, the back of his ribs, even his waist. Light touches that made Yuri squirm a little every single time.
He tried to hide it, of course. He tried to act nonchalant, but those fingers seemed to find the exact spot no matter what.
And Otabek noticed. He always noticed.
The first few times, he didn't say anything. He even thought it was his imagination and that Yuri was just trying to get more comfortable against him. After all, for a figure skater, Yuri was always cold, even when Otabek felt like he was on fire. So he forgot about it... Yet it kept happening. Every accidental brush, every small touch, provoked the same reaction: a sharp intake of breath, a small flinch, and adorable fair cheeks blushing like apples.
And, eventually, Otabek couldn't ignore it anymore, but silently stored the information in a reserved place in his brain that was all about Yuri.
One afternoon, they were watching a movie. Yuri rested his legs on Otabek's lap, his head on his shoulder. Neither of them felt shy about showing affection like that anymore; sometimes Otabek would even place Yuri's feet or legs on his lap and gently massage the muscles without asking.
Yuri shifted slightly, snuggling closer to Otabek because he could and wanted to. Otabek adjusted the blanket over them as a gust of autumn wind blew through the window, his hand brushing against Yuri's waist in the process.
That was all it took.
Yuri jerked under his touch, a small, surprised laugh escaping before he could press his lips together. He turned away, his face flushed. Otabek blinked; it had all happened so fast, his brain could barely process it. Then he smiled, slow and knowing.
"Yura?" he asked in a playful tone that made Yuri's shoulders tense.
"What?" he barked, avoiding his gaze at all costs.
"Did you just laugh?"
"Of course not. Don't be ridiculous."
Otabek hummed, clearly unconvinced, after all he had heard it as clear as day. His eyes remained on Yuri's face, calm but bright with amusement.
"Are you ticklish?"
Yuri froze, his blush creeping to his ears. "Of course not."
"Of course." Otabek's tone was too soft, and Yuri finally narrowed his eyes at him.
"Don't even think about it," he warned, and Otabek laughed lightly.
"I didn't say anything," Otabek said with a goofy grin.
"But you're thinking it!"
Otabek laughed again, but said nothing more, turning back to watch the movie. Yuri could only groan, shoving his shoulder, but Otabek just laughed once more and didn't look at him.
The movie continued, but neither of them paid attention to it. Yuri tried to refocus, but he could feel Otabek's eyes on him, and that alone made his skin tingle with anticipation. He shifted again, pulling the blanket higher as if that would protect him. Otabek's hand moved with it, without thinking, and his fingertips gently stroked Yuri's side.
The reaction was instantaneous. Yuri let out a squeak, jerking heavily. They were both startled, and for a moment there was only silence, and then Otabek laughed, his eyes shining.
"So you really are ticklish."
Yuri's face turned red. "No! That was— That was—the movie!"
"The movie?" Otabek asked, trying not to laugh.
"Yes!"
"Are you really sure?"
"Absolutely!"
Otabek chuckled under his breath and nodded, leaning back. He didn't insist, not yet, but the sly smile on his lips said it all. Yuri burrowed deeper under the blanket, grumbling while Otabek just took another sip of his hot chocolate, as if nothing had happened.
But his fingers had already accidentally sprung into action, tapping against Yuri's waist lightly. It was only casual and innocent... or not... because each tap was more deliberate than the last and Yuri twitched each time, making Otabek's smile widen.
"Stop doing that!" Yuri hissed, swatting Otabek's hand away.
"Do what?" Otabek asked with feigned innocence.
"That!"
"You mean this?" Otabek squeezed Yuri's waist, making him jump and kick a little.
"Altin! Don't!"
"Why not?"
"Because it tickl-" He cut himself off too late, and Otabek's smile was pure mischief now.
"It what, Yura?"
Yuri's glare was fierce, or at least as fierce as it could be when he was curled against Otabek's side with his blanket half-over his legs and his cheeks turning pink. "I swear to God, if you dare tickle me, I'll cut your hands off and then- AHAHA!"
"You were saying?" Otabek asked with a chuckle as his hands latched to Yuri's waist, squeezing the delicate curve gently but precisely.
Yuri writhed around, laughing, trying to kick Otabek and hit him with his hands, but Otabek somehow managed to dodge all the blows and continue tickling Yuri until the blond ended up with his back on the couch and his hands around Otabek's wrists.
"I- I hahahate you! Stop! Stop nohohohow!" Yuri laughed with flushed cheeks and a smile so big Otabek's brain nearly shut down.
He had never seen or heard Yuri laugh like that, and the way it made his heart race made him think he might have a cardiac arrest any moment.
"See? I told you you were ticklish," Otabek murmured, looking down at him.
"I'm nohohot!" Yuri said through giggles as his waist kept being under the ticklish attack. "Bekahaha! St-Stohohop!"
Otabek chuckled, quiet and warm, leaning close so his face was near Yuri's pink ear. "Now, how long have you been concealing this information from your... partner?"
The word made them both blush and a warm feeling like hot honey spread through their chests.
"I- I d-dihihidn't- I dohohon't- Ahahaha! Stop it!"
A smile curved Otabek's lips as he placed a soft kiss on Yuri's ear and pulled back again so he could see his face.
"Not only are you denying that you didn't keep this information from me, but also that you're extremely ticklish," he said as his hands moved down to Yuri's stomach. The blond arched his back, letting out giggles like a kid. "Are you going to deny the allegations that you're incredibly ticklish?"
Yuri nodded, trying to push Otabek's hips with his feet while laughing. "I'm nohohot tihihick- AHAHA! NOHOHO!"
He didn't get to finish his lie before Otabek tickled his hips, his thumbs digging into the sensitive skin. "I don't know, Yura. All that laughing makes me think otherwise. Should we continue with the demonstration? Or would you rather tell me where your ticklish spot is? Maybe I'll leave you alone if you do," he said in a serious tone, almost as if he were bored with what he was doing, but his smile was playful, small, and warm, and his fingers moved as if they had a life of their own.
Yuri shook his head, tears of laughter glistening on his long eyelashes.
"You look like a prince," Otabek said softly, his eyes full of love and adoration. Yuri didn't seem to hear him, but that was okay. He could tell him later.
"Ahahare you crahahazy?! Why would I tehehell you--"
"Aha! So you're admitting you're ticklish!"
"NOHOHO!"
Otabek chuckled and shifted a little, stopping the tickling for a moment as he straddled Yuri's waist and pinned one of his arms above his head almost too easily. Yuri began to shake his head and beg desperately as giggles of anticipation escaped his lips.
His armpits were dangerous territory—not that Otabek knew this information, of course—but Yuri immediately jerked when Otabek's fingers finally made contact with the spot. Laughter spilled out uncontrollably.
"NAHAHA! AHAHALTIHIHIN!"
"This one seems like a very good spot, but—tch, this pesky hand." Otabek paused only for a second to tuck Yuri's free hand under his knee, pinning it there to continue tickling the poor exposed armpit. "Like I was saying... it's a good spot, but I have a feeling it's not the spot. Do you have something to say, Yuri?"
Yuri was sure he'd never heard Otabek talk as much as he did at that moment. Especially not in that playful, amused tone of voice, and he couldn't help but feel his heart leap in his chest. He squealed, arching his back and kicking behind Otabek, futilely trying to free himself from his boyfriend's grasp
"Ready to confess, or are you going to let me find out for myself?"
Yuri gasped between laughs, squirming beneath him, but Otabek's hands, though making him laugh like a madman, were gentle. Teasing, but not hurting.
"I'm nohohot—I'm not tehehelling you! Lehehet me fuhuhucking go!" Yuri hated that he was having fun and prayed that Otabek couldn't tell.
"That's fine, don't worry. I've got you covered," he said with a smirk as his hand moved methodically, his fingers carefully exploring, searching for the tickliest spot on Yuri's body.
He continued to play with his armpit for a moment before moving to the small space between his neck and shoulder, causing Yuri to snort and tuck his chin into his chest, trying to stop Otabek's fingers. That spot wasn't anything special, not even when he tickled him under his chin; in fact, Yuri looked like he was about to purr like a kitten.
He moved, then, back to Yuri's stomach, his fingers clawing and poking at the sides of Yuri's abdomen and around his navel. That spot made him squeal and laugh out loud, but compared to his armpits, it left a lot to be desired.
He tickled his hips again, finding the perfect rhythm to nearly drive Yuri to hysterics.
"AHAHAHA! BEKA! I CAHAHAN'T!"
"Oh, I'm sure you can," Otabek said over Yuri's laughter, pinching the sensitive skin of Yuri's right hip between his thumb and forefinger, making Yuri squeal, tears of mirth running down his flushed cheeks. "Besides, I think I know your weakest point."
Yuri's laughter caught in his throat when Otabek stopped for a moment and leaned close to his ear again.
"Did you really think I wouldn't notice anything, Yuri?" he whispered, his warm, soft voice sending a shiver down Yuri's spine. "I notice everything, especially if it's about you, Yura."
Yuri nearly choked. The warmth of Otabek's voice and the closeness of his body almost made him melt on the couch. He tried to protest, but before he could even open his mouth, Otabek's fingers came back to life and Yuri's eyes widened as he felt the terrible tickling on his most ticklish spot: his ribs.
His reaction was charming, at least to Otabek. Yuri screamed so loudly that Otabek's ears went deaf for a few seconds before they were filled with Yuri's thunderous laughter again.
"AHAHA! NOT THERE! NOT THEHERE!" he begged, arching his back so much that he almost threw Otabek off him.
Otabek had to put a little more weight on Yuri's hand under his knee and a little more force around Yuri's wrist above his head. His fingers slid up and down each of Yuri's ribs on both sides. His thumb rubbed in the front and the rest of his fingers wriggled in the back. Yuri was on the verge of madness, laughing hysterically, unable to form words as tears streamed down his cheeks.
"Well, I told you I knew where it was, didn't I?" Otabek said with a soft laugh. "Should I stop?"
Yuri nodded slowly, jerking heavily as Otabek's fingers concentrated on the highest ribs, the ones closest to his armpits.
"Okay, just for a moment." His hands stopped, and Yuri slumped against the couch, still laughing with residual tickling that seemed to make his ribs and the surrounding nerves vibrate. Otabek laughed again. "Oh no, you'll never stop laughing?"
Yuri eventually stopped, breathing heavily as he tried to catch his breath. His hair stuck to the sweaty skin on his forehead, his eyes shining with a mixture of embarrassment and relief, and a little amusement, though he wanted to deny it.
"Y-Yohou- You're... you're the worst..." he muttered, but it came out more as a soft chuckle.
Otabek let go of his arms and helped him settle properly against the back of the couch again. His arms wrapped around him, placing Yuri's legs on top of his lap, just as they had been before.
"Is that so? I think you're the worst for trying to keep this secret from me," he said, kissing the top of Yuri's head.
Yuri buried his face against Otabek's shoulder, muttering incomprehensible things about how mean Otabek was and how unfair it was that he had tickled his ribs.
Otabek let out a soft laugh that made Yuri snuggle even closer to him.
The tranquility after the laughter was almost as intimate as the teasing itself. Yuri could feel Otabek's steady heartbeat, the warmth of his body, his hand gently massaging the back of his head, and his lips leaving small kisses against his nose that made him blush terribly, but he was relaxing, almost becoming a puddle against Otabek.
"It's nice to see you like this," Otabek said suddenly, his voice no more than a whisper. "You looked... really beautiful laughing just now."
Yuri's cheeks reddened even more, but for some reason, he didn't feel embarrassed, but rather— he gulped and realized there was no turning back. He was in love.
Yuri looked up, a small pout on his lips. "Don't think you're going to get away with this," he said, and before Otabek could say anything, Yuri leaned in and planted a soft kiss against his lips.
Otabek's eyes widened, but he immediately leaned in to kiss Yuri back— throwing his head back with a laugh as Yuri's hands shoved under Otabek's arms, tickling his armpits.
His fingers wiggled and dug into the warm skin, and Otabek squirmed and laughed like a madman. Yuri giggled, and he understood why Otabek liked tickling him so much just a moment ago.
"Did you really think I wouldn't return your stupid game?" Yuri whispered in Otabek's ear and laughed when he tried to escape, but Yuri's legs tightened on his lap, preventing him from getting up. "You set your own trap up," he giggled.
"Oh, are you serious now? I was very serious when I— your ear is ticklish, huh?" Yuri smirked, catching Otabek's earlobe between his lips and nipping at it gently.
Otabek let out another loud shriek as uncontrollable laughter poured out of him. His shoulders hunched up, trying to protect his ticklish ear, but Yuri was merciless and relentless.
And why lie? Yes, they were both loving every second of this ridiculous game.
"NOHOHO!" Otabek begged as Yuri shifted positions, straddling Otabek's lap as he pushed one of the Kazakh's arms over his head, pinning it against the back of the chair while his free hand wiggled its fingers against the hollow of Otabek's armpit.
The poor man was already crying with laughter, unable to bear the tickling in such a sensitive place. His other hand tried to push Yuri away, but Yuri placed his hand under his knee to prevent him from stopping him.
"UNFAHAHAIR!"
"Says the most unfair person in the world. Oh, look, you have a dimple," Yuri commented, staring almost adoringly at the small indentation in Otabek's cheek. "Were you hiding it from me?" He teased with a smirk.
Otabek shook his head desperately, laughing so hard his voice wouldn't come out.
Yuri chuckled, the sound so warm and tender that he was almost surprised it had come from his own lips, but it was impossible not to react that way when Otabek was laughing like that.
His cheeks were flushed, his cheek sinking into that small dimple that Yuri struggled not to kiss and bite.
"What's wrong? You don't like tickling?" He teased again. "Since you were having so much fun torturing me, I thought you wanted me to tickle you too! Was I wrong?" Otabek shook his head, but then nodded, and Yuri laughed. "Which is it?"
Yuri finally took mercy and stopped, ridiculously slow, letting go of Otabek's hands. His arms wrapped around Otabek's neck, barely giving him room to catch his breath. His body pressed against the other's.
Otabek, his head resting against the backrest, breathing heavily, moved his hands to Yuri's waist, pulling him closer.
Silence reigned again. Yuri looked at him with tender eyes as he tried to recover, and when he finally did, they both looked at each other and giggled like two fools. The tips of their noses nuzzled each other before they kissed almost shyly. Again and again and again.
They stayed snuggled together until the sun set outside the window, the room filled with the silence after laughter, soft sighs, and the knowledge that they were right where they belonged.
Worked on this first Beka sketch back in June and didn't opened it until today - I can see how much my lines and stability improved by now, so I'm gonna redo most of it 🙃.
This is also for my fanfiction series 'Winter Olympics of Broken Hearts 2026' ❤️🔥
