^ I think my nose is bleeding after looking at this ^

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[Yuri's POV]

Otabek and I had found a table to sit down and order some food after a long hour of dancing. I must admit it's a little distracting with him sitting there topless...because of the bright orange paint all over his body, obviously. It's so hard to think straight with it...glowing all up in my face and stuff. Stupid fluorescent...and toned...body...

"Do you want anything to drink?" Otabek asks.

"I need vodka." I answer shortly.

"Wha—Yuri! You're underage." Otabek says. "I meant water or a soda or something."

Unless he is going to splash it on my face, water is useless to me right now.

"I was kidding; a soda is fine." I lie.

Maybe I can ask the bartender to slip in some vodka while Otabek isn't looking. What am I even saying? Alcohol won't help my mind get any clearer. I'm probably just dehydrated and delusional.

"Actually you know what, I could do with some water." I tell Otabek.

"Sure thing." Otabek smiles before getting up and making his way to the bar.

The bar is swarmed, there is no way Otabek is getting serviced any time soon—

The bartender beams at the sight of Otabek and waves all the other costumers away. The crowd parts for Otabek to make his way to the bar, people patting him on the back as he passes. I watch as Otabek and the bartender share a short conversation, followed by a bit of a laugh and in no time Otabek is returning to the table with our drinks.

The whole night people have been coming up to greet Otabek as if he is some kind of legend. Even the staff respect him, first the security guards letting us skip the line and now the bartender?

"Should I be concerned that you grew up in a club?" I ask once he has sat down.

"I didn't come here that often." Otabek replies.

"Sup Ota-man," A passing stranger says.

I raise my eyebrows at Otabek.

"Okay, but I didn't literally grow up here. I just meant that this place is a big part of my life." He answers. "That's why I wanted you to see it."

"A big part of your life?" I repeat.

Before I can inquire any further, two girls approach our table. The first has long, curly, black hair and cool brown eyes. The second girl has short, red hair and bright green eyes.

"Hey Otabek," The first girl greets as she twirls her hair. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"Hey Sabina." Otabek greets back.

"This is my friend Natalie, she's American." Sabina continues, gesturing to the red haired girl beside her. "This is her first time in the town. I just had to introduce her to the famous Ota-man."

"Hi. My name is Otabek, please, that title is a little out-dated for me." Otabek introduces himself, holding out a hand.

Natalie smiles and shakes his hand. "That's a shame. From what I've heard, Ota-man is a really cool dude."

Sabina shoots a glare at Natalie before quickly smiling back at Otabek. She steps closer to him and traces a finger down his chest. "I like your body paint."

Otabek clears his throat awkwardly. "Thanks, Yuri did it."

Both of the girls turn to me as if noticing me for the first time.

"Is that your little brother?" Natalie asks.

My fists clench beneath the table, but I try to keep my face neutral.

"Er—no. This is Yuri Plisetsky, my friend from Russia." Otabek answers. "He won gold at last year's ice skating Grand Prix Finals."

"How interesting." Sabina says, not bothering to make her tone sound convincing. "Natalie, isn't that interesting?"

"...I guess?" Natalie answers, looking confused.

"Great. You two should get to know each other." Sabina replies with a spiteful smile. "Otabek, let's go dance." She takes Otabek by the hand and pulls him off towards the dancefloor.

Natalie's jaw drops as she watches her friend ditch her. "Oh no she doesn't. I am not spending the night with some twelve year old so that she can bag the man." She mutters as she storms off after Sabina and Otabek.

"I'm sixteen!" I yell after her.

I stand up so angrily that I almost knock the table over.

"I need this." I say as I snatch a shot glass out of a passing girl's hand.

I swing back the shot but I have never drunk anything besides Champaign before so I end up coughing and sputtering after. I head towards the bar and slump down into one of the high stools.

"Excuse me, can I get a drink?" I ask.

The bartender completely ignores me and continues serving other costumers.

"Hey! I'm friends with Ota-man and he demands some vodka mixed with lemon-lime bitters." I speak up.

As if I had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the bartender scrambles for a glass and pours my drink in a matter of seconds.

"Cheers." I say before taking a sip.

Whoever Ota-man is, his identity is very useful.

"Having a rough night?" A voice asks from beside me.

I turn to face a girl with brown hair cut so short that I didn't recognise her as a female when I first sat down, but now that I look at her face she is quite pretty. She has large brown eyes and freckles on her cheeks, though she is staring down at the counter so her beauty is hard to notice at first.

"Not really." I answer. "Are you not getting served either because I can get you a drink?"

"Nah it's cool, I'm only seventeen." The girl responds.

"Oh. Why are you in a club if you're underage?" I ask.

The girl shrugs. "To have fun. Why are you drinking if you're underage?"

"To have fun." I mimic.

"Nice try, but right now it looks more like you are trying to drink your troubles away." The girl says.

"How did you know I'm underage?" I reply, wanting to change the topic.

"Well I saw you attempt to take a shot and then cough it all back up just now." The girl says casually. Her eyes flicker up to mine. "And also...I must admit that I'm kind of a fan of yours."

I take another sip of my drink, not knowing how to respond. Usually my fans are much crazier than this, I'm not sure if I'm just making a friend or if I should be concerned that I am about to be kidnapped.

"Don't worry, I'm not some psycho fangirl." The girl assures me as if reading my mind. "I'm not into you particularly, I just love to watch ice skating."

She sits up straight and turns to me. For the first time I can see her face clearly and despite how her hair may look from behind, this is definitely a beautiful woman.

The girl introduces herself finally, "My name is Liza." She holds out her hand and smiles.

I smile back and shake it. "Nice to meet you Liza."

A man looking to be a douchebag in his early twenties approaches Liza, leaning against the bar in between us with his back to me.

"Hey." He says. "Can I buy you a drink?"

"I'm underage." Liza replies shortly.

The man instantly retreats looking repulsed.

Liza chuckles and shakes her head at him as he quickly walks away. "Idiots. All of them."

"Hey. Don't judge the male gender based on guys like that." I say.

Liza laughs. "Well you're all in the same club aren't you?"

"If you dislike it so much, why are you here?" I question.

Liza sighs and rests her head in her hand. "I don't know. Because I'm an idiot like the rest of them."

"That makes two of us." I reply before sculling the last of my drink.

"Hey, do you wonna paint each other?" Liza asks suddenly.

I look up at her in surprise.

"Don't get me wrong, the green hand prints on your face are cool and all but it could do with some finesse." Liza jokes.

"Sure, why not." I laugh.

I leave some cash on the counter for the drink and follow Liza over to the paint. I had almost forgotten that Otabek slapped paint on my face, I must look like an idiot. The thought of Otabek lingers in my mind, the memory of painting his body bringing heat to my skin. Then suddenly I picture those two girls drooling over him like—like—like Mila!

If he would rather dance with some skanks then hang out with his best friend then fine. I'll show him, I'm just as good as he is. I can get girls too. Two can play at that game.

I grind my teeth in anger and pull my shirt off.

"I like how you roll, Plisetsky." Liza says.

She begins painting my body with green paint. I hope wherever Otabek is, he can see me right now.

Right on cue, Otabek comes storming towards us. Before I can even ask what he is doing here, he taps Liza on the shoulder and as soon as she turns to face him—WACK! Otabek's fist had smacked across Liza's jaw, sending her stumbling backwards into me.

I support her in my arms and help her regain her balance. "Liza, are you okay?"

Otabek's eyes widen in horror.

"Otabek what the hell!" I shout.

"I thought she was a dude!" Otabek panics.

"You punched a girl!" I exclaim.

"Oh, you're one to talk. You kicked a girl into a river!" Otabek retorts.

"She was a thief, it doesn't count!" I argue.

"Yeah, well, she looks like a guy from behind!" Otabek retaliates, pointing at Liza.

"Hey it's one thing to punch me in the face, but don't yell at me for looking like a man afterwards." Liza says.

"Are you okay?" I ask again.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Liza answers, rubbing her jaw where Otabek had hit her.

"Please don't sue me." Otabek says.

"Even if you thought she was a guy, why did you punch her?" I question.

Otabek looks back and forth hopelessly at Liza and me. "I—uh..."

.

[Otabek's POV]

Crap, what am I supposed to say? All I remember is trying to get away from Sabina and seeing Yuri topless being painted by some other person and losing it. I don't know what got over me, I just got all heated up with jealousy and charged in without thinking. Then I ended up hitting some poor girl...I mean, she shouldn't have been touching my Yura but punching a girl is still a bit harsh.

What am I even saying? My Yura? If I offer that as an explanation they will definitely think I'm crazy.

"Hey, you're Otabek Altin aren't you?" Liza speaks up suddenly, saving me from answering Yuri's question.

"Um, yeah..." I answer awkwardly.

"Cool, I was just telling Yuri that I'm a fan of ice skating." Liza says. "Tell you what, I won't sue you if I can get a photo with the both of you."

This girl seems really cool, which just makes me feel more guilty for punching her and even more jealous that Yuri is spending time with her.

"Sure." I smile.

Liza asks a nearby person to take a photo of the three of us, with her standing in the middle.

"Aw man, a shirtless Altin and Plisetsky. All the fangirls will be so jealous." Liza says happily as she admires the picture.

"Tag me in it and I'll follow you." Yuri says.

"Sweet." Liza replies.

My heart sinks as I watch the two of them smiling friendlily with each other.

Liza glances at me for a second before turning back to Yuri. "Hey how about you go buy me that drink you offered earlier and then I'll finish painting you."

"Yeah okay, thanks again for being cool about Beka punching you." Yuri says before walking off towards the bar.

Liza approaches me once he is gone and starts conversation. "You know, I have been watching ice skating ever since I was little."

I watch her silently, not really sure where this is going.

"I liked that performance you two put on during last year's Grand Prix Finals." Liza continues. "After Yuri's program you ran onto the ice just to hug him. You must really care for him."

"Oh, yeah, I guess—I mean, I just look up to him and, uh, we have been friends for a while—" I stammer.

"You don't need to worry." Liza interrupts. "I'm lesbian. I only came here tonight because I'm hopelessly in love with my friend, I'm sure you can understand."

"W-What?" I choke, startled by this sudden confession.

Liza smirks. "Do me a favour and finish the paint job for me?"

Before I can respond, she walks off and disappears into the crowd. Yuri comes back not long after carrying some kind of fruity alcohol drink.

"Where's Liza?" He asks.

I stare into the crowd Liza had left through. "She said she had to go, but..." I turn to Yuri with a smile. "I could finish painting you if you like."

I'm not sure if it's just the lighting, but I think Yuri's cheeks have gone a little pink.

"Okay," Yuri agrees. "But you better not just slap your handprints on me." He adds with a smile.

I give a light laugh as I dip my hands in green paint and continue the patterns Liza had started on Yuri's body.

"To be honest," I say as I start painting his chest. "I don't see any point in adding more of my imprints on you when it didn't work the first time."

"What do you mean?" Yuri asks.

"Well, some pretty girl still stole you away from me even though you said you are mine." I answer.

Yuri falls silent. My eyes slowly raise up from his body to meet his own. Yuri remains speechless as I gaze into his eyes. This time I am sure that his face has flushed pink, am I getting a reaction from him? I know I said I would be fine being whatever Yuri wants me to be, but I can't help wonder what exactly that is. Maybe I should be trying harder; saying bold things like this seems to have some effect on him, even if he tries to cover it up.

Yuri turns his head away. "You're the one who left me first." He mutters.

"What?" I reply.

"You got taken away by some other girl first." Yuri speaks up, still averting his eyes.

"You think I wanted to dance with Sabina?" I say. "I was hoping you would come save me; at least I came to your rescue when a girl had you cornered. Heck, I punched her for you."

Yuri finally breaks, his mouth stretching into a smile. "Yeah but she hadn't really cornered me; plus you freaked out afterwards because you thought she was a guy." He turns back towards me as he begins to laugh.

"Whatever, it's the thought that counts." I reply with a chuckle.

Yuri stops laughing to admire me fondly. "You punched JJ for me too."

"So I did." I smile. Once again, I look into Yuri's eyes intensely. "I would punch anyone for you, Yuri Plisetsky."

"I'm flattered." Yuri replies playfully.

As I finish painting Yuri's body, I draw my hands away and wipe them off on my pants.

"Don't do that, you're going to have a glow in the dark ass." Yuri laughs.

"Is that a problem?" I respond.

"Well it's hard enough trying not to stare at your glow in the dark abs." Yuri says.

That was not something I expected Yuri to say, my brain took a while to register it. By the time I realised what he had said, Yuri was already onto a different topic.

"Okay, cards on the table, I can't take the suspense anymore." Yuri starts.

I stare at him in bewilderment, still dwelling on his previous comment about my body. Was that a joke? If it wasn't what is he implying? Does this mean he thinks about me the same way I think about him or did I just imagine him saying that?

"What on earth was your lifestyle like before you moved to Russia?" Yuri continues.

"What?" I reply, snapping out of my thoughts.

"Why is everyone calling you Ota-man?" Yuri asks.

"Oh, that, did I not say? I used to be a DJ here. People called me Ota-man but personally I think that title is a little lame." I answer casually.

"You—what...a—a DJ?" Yuri stutters, his jaw dropping.

"Yeah, is it so hard to believe I had a hobby outside ice skating?" I chuckle.

"No it's just..." Yuri says slowly. "Well, it's just kinda hot."

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To be continued because tbh I never want this night in the club to end. *is drooling*

This chapter is brought to you by Kubo-sensei's blessing of revealing Otabek's DJ hobby as well as the beautiful fanart that followed: