Even if Altin's matter-of-fact voice makes his words sound simple, almost banal, Yuri can feel the weight behind them. It had taken all of Yuri's own courage to leave Moscow for St. Petersburg, but in the end the two cities are only a few hours apart in the same land of his birth. To have moved around to so many places, spending year after year away from home, in search of any opportunity to become stronger --
He gets it. He understands. How could he not?
And yet at the mention of Kazakhstan, Yuri's hands clench reflexively, mirroring the sudden tightness in his chest. This isn't just some other skater talking to him, sharing the details of his own solitary path through their sport. (Though it's not as if he'd ever listened to anyone else like this before. It's not as if anyone's ever talked to him like this before.) This is one of the five senior skaters that Yuri has to beat, to crush, to grind beneath his toepicks, in order to take the Grand Prix Final gold medal here in two days' time. Only one of them can stand at the top of the podium. Why on earth would Altin go out of his way to tell him all of this, when tomorrow morning they'll be out for each other's blood and none of this will matter anyway?
He turns on his heel. 'Otabek, why did you talk to me?' He's standing up straight, facing this challenge head on. 'I'm a rival, aren't I?'
No games. No excuses. He can shut this down right now, if it's a threat to his chances of winning.
no subject
He gets it. He understands. How could he not?
And yet at the mention of Kazakhstan, Yuri's hands clench reflexively, mirroring the sudden tightness in his chest. This isn't just some other skater talking to him, sharing the details of his own solitary path through their sport. (Though it's not as if he'd ever listened to anyone else like this before. It's not as if anyone's ever talked to him like this before.) This is one of the five senior skaters that Yuri has to beat, to crush, to grind beneath his toepicks, in order to take the Grand Prix Final gold medal here in two days' time. Only one of them can stand at the top of the podium. Why on earth would Altin go out of his way to tell him all of this, when tomorrow morning they'll be out for each other's blood and none of this will matter anyway?
He turns on his heel. 'Otabek, why did you talk to me?' He's standing up straight, facing this challenge head on. 'I'm a rival, aren't I?'
No games. No excuses. He can shut this down right now, if it's a threat to his chances of winning.