He'd hoped that getting Yuri away from his sanctuary in the rink, and out of the house, and somewhere where they could just talk, the two of them, would help him open up, and it seems to be working. This might be the most Yuri's ever said to him all at once, that hasn't been a declaration of how hard he's willing to work, and it feels like –
(Will you watch?
Promise?)
But, more importantly, it gives Victor some insight, and a foundation to work with. Yuri had said I lack confidence when Victor asked him why he lost, despite having the skill to win, but that's not the whole problem. The problem is that he's worried about what others think about him, and his fragility. His meltdown last season, the way he's been running away.
What Victor thought was Yuri ignoring him being avoidance, instead...and that's something he can fix. "Yuri, you're not weak."
Nothing Victor's seen over the last few weeks would have made him think so. Not even the crash and burn of the season before. Athletes at their level exist under tremendous pressure: they all know cracking under it is a possibility.
But it isn't a weakness. "No one else thinks so, either."
Yuri doesn't answer, but this is promising, enough that Victor coaxes it a little further, heading towards the next item on his list. Once he knows what's bothering Yuri, he'll be able to help. But first, there's one other thing he has to know:
"What do you want me to be to you?"
Because he keeps getting it wrong, somehow. Flirting results in red faces and the rapid backwards scuttling away of Yuri from him, and he can't seem to find the correct relationship dynamic to give Yuri whatever it is he needs. "A father figure?"
no subject
(Will you watch?
But, more importantly, it gives Victor some insight, and a foundation to work with. Yuri had said I lack confidence when Victor asked him why he lost, despite having the skill to win, but that's not the whole problem. The problem is that he's worried about what others think about him, and his fragility. His meltdown last season, the way he's been running away.
What Victor thought was Yuri ignoring him being avoidance, instead...and that's something he can fix. "Yuri, you're not weak."
Nothing Victor's seen over the last few weeks would have made him think so. Not even the crash and burn of the season before. Athletes at their level exist under tremendous pressure: they all know cracking under it is a possibility.
But it isn't a weakness. "No one else thinks so, either."
Yuri doesn't answer, but this is promising, enough that Victor coaxes it a little further, heading towards the next item on his list. Once he knows what's bothering Yuri, he'll be able to help. But first, there's one other thing he has to know:
"What do you want me to be to you?"
Because he keeps getting it wrong, somehow. Flirting results in red faces and the rapid backwards scuttling away of Yuri from him, and he can't seem to find the correct relationship dynamic to give Yuri whatever it is he needs. "A father figure?"