I was your Secret Santa! I hope you enjoy the story! I hope you and your family have a Happy Holidays!
Playing Records
There are many things that Yuuri enjoys doing. Like skating, playing with dogs (specifically with Makkachin), and dancing. But there are things that Yuuri definitely does not like doing.
And deep cleaning is one of them.
When Viktor woke him up early that Sunday morning to do deep cleaning of their apartment, Yuuri couldn’t help but groan.
“Oh Yura,” laughed Viktor. “It won’t be too bad. I promise.”
“I highly doubt that…” Yuuri grumbled as he got out of bed.
Viktor laughed again and kissed his cheek.
“Get dressed,” he told him. “Then we can have breakfast and get started on cleaning.”
Yuuri grumbled again, but he also pressed a kiss to Viktor’s cheek before going to get ready for the day.
After getting dressed and eating a filling breakfast, which Yuuri thought was very delicious and was grateful for, Yuuri had gotten up and headed to the closet to get the cleaning supplies but he saw Viktor head down the hall to the closet that they kept the extra things that they had no where to put anywhere else in the apartment.
Yuuri raised an eyebrow.
“Viktor? What are you doing?”
Viktor pulled down a large box.
“Getting the music we’ll need to clean to,” he answered.
Yuuri was confused.
“Viktor, we have music on our phones—”
“Yes but you have to play records while you clean,” Viktor told him with a smile.
Yuuri watched him as he brought the box over to the table by the window.
“I didn’t know you owned records,” said Yuuri as he walked over to Viktor.
“Yep! I only bring them out when I deep clean.” Viktor took out a large record player and plugged it in. Then, he took out the records.
“Why only when you deep clean?” Yuuri asked. He was curious. Viktor had never mentioned it before.
Viktor didn’t reply. Instead, he took the record out of its case and placed it on the turntable of the record player. He turned on the turntable and put the needle on the edge of the record. Classical music filled the room. A big smile spread on Viktor’s face.
“Alright!” he said, clapping his hands. “Let’s get to work.”
Yuuri watched as Viktor walked back to the closet to get the cleaning supplies.
‘I wonder why he didn’t mention this before…’ he thought.
Yuuri and Viktor worked hard cleaning most of the morning. Yuuri had focused on the bedroom and the office while Viktor cleaned the kitchen and laundry space. All the while, they listened to the records that Viktor brought down, quietly. Viktor had not sung a single word. Which was odd. Viktor always hummed or sang when he worked on anything. This worried Yuuri, but he didn’t know what he should say.
Thankfully for Yuuri, Viktor approached him first.
“Hey, I’ll help you shampoo the carpet in the bedroom and office. Then, we can break for lunch,” he told him with a small smile. “Maybe we can take a walk with Makkachin afterwards.”
Makkachin, who had been watching them clean from his bed in the corner of the living room, looked up at the word ‘walk’ and wagged his tail.
Yuuri smiled a little too.
“That sounds like a good idea Vitya—”
“Great! Let me change the record and we can get started,” Viktor interrupted before going over to the record player to change the record.
Yuuri followed him.
“Vitya, actually, can I ask you something first—”
Music rang through the apartment again. This one had a fast rhythm and Yuuri could hear a man singing in Russian. This time, Viktor bounced up with one of the widest smile that Yuuri has seen all day.
“Oh Yuuri!” he exclaimed. “We need to dance to this!”
Before Yuuri could even protest, Viktor grabbed his hands and pulled him into a waltz. Yuuri was a little confused and flustered at first, but then he saw how happy Viktor was. Viktor was singing and laughing as he spun and danced around with Yuuri. It had been a while since Yuuri had seen and heard Viktor laugh like this.
This last skating season had been particularly rough for both of them. Viktor was not only training and working on his own routines for the season, he was coaching and helping Yuuri with his routines as well. It had been many late nights and early mornings for them. There also had been several fights. Yuuri was sure that Viktor was going to leave him after one particularly harsh fight while in Canada. Thankfully, when the competition ended and they were given time to rest, Yuuri and Viktor were able to talk through everything. It still made Yuuri sad, especially all the things he said. Viktor told him not to worry about it and all was well.
Still, Yuuri would think about it often.
But now…
Hearing that laugh…seeing that smile…All those thoughts melted away.
Yuuri smiled and laughed too while dancing to the music and Makkachin’s barking that was in rhythm.
It seemed like the song was there and gone when Viktor finally started to slowed down, laughing breathlessly.
“That was wonderful,” he breathed, slowing them down into a slow dance.
“It was,” Yuuri agreed.
They slow danced for a before Yuuri remembered the question that he wanted to ask Viktor. He pressed his forehead into his husband’s shoulder.
“Vitya?”
“Hmm?”
“Why…Why didn’t you tell me about the records?” Yuuri asked. “And the record player.”
Viktor sighed, pulling back to look at him.
“You…You remember when I told you about…” Viktor swallowed, “about the accident?”
Yuuri nodded somberly.
Viktor’s parents had died in a car accident when he was 22 after his own accident on the ice a week earlier which resulted in a broken leg. Viktor had been devastated when it happened and he stopped skating for months to recover and grieve. Even after talking to a therapist, it was still difficult for him to even talk about it.
“Well, to help cope…I would play the records…specifically their favorite ones…” Viktor quietly explained. “And their favorite songs. Over and over and over again until I felt better, which could’ve taken all day in some cases. But…”
He took a deep, shaky breath. Yuuri stayed quiet, giving him time.
“But I had to get back to skating…I had to…so, I started to only play one record a day, which was usually in the evening after practice. It made the process…easier…”
Yuuri nodded, listening to him.
“Soon, I was only listening to them when I just wanted to. I wasn’t crying or staying holed up in my home all day. I was finally back to living the life my parents wanted me to live. It was great,” Viktor continued. “But…one day…I had brought home my date at the time…He was looking around and he spotted the records…”
Yuuri’s stomach dropped. He was sure he knew what happened.
“He started to insult the records and my parents and said that they were worthless junk that should never see the light of day again…I kicked him out…and I put the records away…I decided to only take them out if I know I’m going to be home all day…” Viktor sighed and rubbed his eyes, tears falling down his cheeks. “Those records…they’re the only things I have left of them…They’re so important to me. I love them…and I will never ever get rid of them…”
Viktor takes another shaky breath. “I know it’s stupid—”
“It’s not stupid,” Yuuri interrupted, gripping his hands. Viktor’s eyes snapped to his.
“You had every single right to feel the way you did,” Yuuri continued, “and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Viktor’s eyes were shining with more tears.
“And if you want to play those records all day, every day for the rest of your life,” Yuuri went on, “I will listen to them and dance with you for the rest of our lives.”
Viktor was openly crying now. He hugged him tightly. Yuuri hugged him tightly back. They stood in the living room, embracing each other, for what seemed like hours. Viktor eventually pulled back.
“Thank you…” he whispered. “Thank you…so much Yura…”
“You’re welcome Vitya,” Yuuri whispered back.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Viktor gently pressed a kiss to Yuuri’s lips. Yuuri kissed him back. Viktor pulled back and smiled, Yuuri smiling too.
Suddenly, they heard a bark. They look down and see Makkachin with his favorite toy, gently wagging his tail. Viktor let out a laugh.
“Are we taking too long, Makka?”
Makkachin barked again and jumped a couple of times. Yuuri laughed too.
“Ok, we’ll get moving,” he promised him.
Makkachin yipped happily and ran off.
Viktor shook his head, laughing still, as he went to the closet to get the carpet shampoo. Yuuri followed to get the carpet cleaner, laughing too.
“Thank you Yura,” Viktor told him again. “I…I needed that…”
“You don’t have to thank me Vitya,” Yuuri told him gently, “You’re my husband. I will always be here to be a lending ear. You can talk to me about anything.
Viktor smiled and gently kissed his cheek.
“Still…Thank you.” Viktor clapped his hands and smiled brightly. “Now, let’s get this carpet cleaned so we go out for lunch and to the park.”
