Is not possessiveness but fear.
These feelings do not originate from something as selfish or controlling as possessiveness, they can’t.
The simple action of getting close, and holding his hand with a new found force that even surprises Victor works as proof, to show how hard Yuri is trying to hold onto the russian man, but why?
Well you see, “Don’t ever take your eyes off me…” those are words that come from Yuri’s own urge to reaffirm himself that Victor is actually there, and that he’s not going anywhere. And how could he not? After listening to this:
And specially this:
There’s a part at the beginning where you have to kind of shut out what Christophe is saying, and listen how one of the girls states: “Just split up with him already.” And even if we have to consider the possibility they might be talking in russian, or the possibility that maybe Yuri’s just getting parts of the conversation, he still understands what Christophe’s point is, he knows others are not congratulating Victor because of his decision, no one is, they all want him back on the rink, and he knows it.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT FLIPPED HIS SWITCH, because he’s scared, scared of Victor turning his attention to something or someone else, and being forgotten in the process, and all this does not come from a controlling feel rather a sense of fear of letting go if that time ever comes. Because HE IS Victor Nikiforov, he’s got a thousand and more opportunities from where to choose, he’s been consider one of the most talented skaters worldwide, he is the “living legend” of their time. How can he not feel frightened?
Many are expecting his return, and they see Victor’s attempts of coaching as something he’s decided on doing on pure impulse, when for Yuri it has come to mean his world. Listening to all of this being said to his face has to be painful.
Yuri has no idea what Victor’s plans are for the future, he may trust him and he may want to stay with him, he may find reassurance in the man, but still there’s the fright of not knowing. What will Victor do after the Grand Prix is over? Would he return to the world as his official coach? or as the “living legend” everyone’s expecting him to be? Even if it’s not for skating, would he stay by his side? There’s still so much Yuri doesn’t know, so much… he’s in all his right to fear what’s to come. Their relationship is in no way perfect, is still filled with holes and gaps of self-doubt, and that’s something that needs to be praised, because there’s still so much more for them to understand and learn from one another, and that’s what makes it feel real.
Having everyone around him doubt what Victor’s done for him, having them not get the change Victor brought to his daily life… has to be frustrating, that’s why he knows he’s the only one who’s acknowledge the shift Victor’s cause. He’s the only one that gets the love Victor puts when skating and his dedication when wanting to motivate others, because he has been a first hand witness. These feelings are not motivated by a possessive behaviour, but by trusting in what he’s seen and experienced alongside Victor. He knows, whatever he decides to do to please everyone around him, will never be enough, and that’s why he has decided to skate for one person only.
Of course he is scared of what might come, but that in no way will make him give up, and he’s provig that with his skating, not to everyone, but to Victor himself.
Being afraid is no weakness, but a double edged sword, Yuri took advantage of. He has set his goal and is striving for it.
These feelings come not from a sense of possessiveness but from fear of losing something he holds dear, of losing someone he’s come to love so deeply.
This carries even more weight in light of this week’s episode.
