The quiet sounds of Yuuri's heavy breathing filled the empty rink. Sweat dripped onto the ice below him as he bent over to regain his strength. After a few moments, he managed to catch his breath enough to stand up. He put his hands on top of his head, standing up as straight as he could. His eyes were shut tightly, focusing all his energy on breathing. "I can do it." He whispered to himself.
It had been a while since he had felt like this. He definitely missed it.
After some time, his breathing had finally returned to normal. He sighed deeply and ran his fingers though damp hair. He hadn't even realized he was sweating that much. Yuuri pulled his hair back out of his face, tying it in a tiny ponytail in back of his head. Just one more time, he thought to himself.
He took a couple of simple laps around the rink to get his blood flowing again. He rotated his shoulders a few times as well, trying to keep his muscles from tensing up. The sound of his skates against the ice echoed though the entire rink. He was alone just like he used to be. Normally, he would always have someone around him. Whether it was Yuko, the triplets, or even Viktor, he hardly ever had the chance to be by himself anymore.
He wasn't complaining. He very much enjoyed the company. But every so often, he craved that alone time he used to have. He never was much of a people person so this time gave him a chance to breathe and release the stress that has been plaguing him lately.
He turned, preparing himself for a jump. He took a deep breath before digging his toe pick into the ice and launching himself into a quadruple toe loop for what could have been the 15th time now. He lands smoothly, arms stretched gracefully on either side of his body. A smile spread across his lips. He still had it.
He skated off to the wall where his bottle of water, cell phone, and glasses were resting. He put on his glasses and picked up his phone. He had kept it on silent the entire time he had been there. The loud ringing or the obnoxious vibrating would distract him from what he was doing. This was his quiet place. A place to focus on himself and melt the day away. He wasn't going to let a phone call or text ruin that feeling for him.
He slipped off his gloves and ran his fingers across the screen.
5 missed calls.
10 new text messages.
He shook his head with a grin crossing his lips. He didn't even have to see who it was all from. He already knew. He pressed a few buttons and the screen and pressed the phone to his ear. As the ringing started, he wiped the sweat dripping from his brows. The ringing stopped and a rustling was heard from the other end.
"Viktor." Yuuri said calmly. Before he even got a chance to properly explain himself, Viktor started.
"Yuuri! Why haven't you answered your phone? I have been trying to call you for over an hour! I thought something happened to you!" Viktor said, the worry in his voice was clear as day.
"I'm sorry I worried you but I texted you earlier that I was going to the rink. You know I don't answer my phone while I am here." Yuuri explained, using his shoulder to prop up his phone against his ear. He pulled off his other glove and grabbed his water bottle and took a few sips.
"Well I didn't see the text. You know I have bad service out here." Viktor whined. Even over the phone, Yuuri could imagine how his adorable his face looked as his did that. He would have scrunched up his eyes, trying to look angry but failing miserably. Yuuri chuckled a little and took another sip.
"What are you laughing about?" Viktor grumbled.
"I can picture how you are looking right now. Like a child who couldn't have another cookie after dinner." He joked. He took another sip of his water before setting it down. "How's everything going? Is the competition stiff?"
"Of course. But everything is going well. Kurio seems to be handling the pressure of the older guys well. He made a few mistakes in his short program but that's okay. He still did great for the first time skating that program in public" Viktor rambled on.
"That's good. I was worried about that." Yuuri, was quiet for a few seconds. "I miss you." Yuuri said quietly, feeling the blush start to creep up his face.
"I miss you too, dorogoy" Viktor spoke. "My bed is cold without you in it." Yuuri's blush had made it to his entire face, turning it a shade of pink. Even after Viktor telling him stuff like this for years now, it still made him blush like a school girl.
It was so quiet. He could hear Viktor breathing though the phone. He smiled softly. It was like he was actual there with him. He was sure Viktor could hear his heart beating as it nearly beating out his own chest.
As the silence continued, he looked down at the gold band on his left hand shining underneath the bright florescent lights of the rink. He fiddled with it for a second, replaying the memory though his head.
"Yuuri."
The first snow of the season was starting to fall. The small snowflakes floated down, starting to coat the ground. Yuuri turned his head to look at Viktor. He tilted his head a little. "Hmm?"
He reached out and grabbed his cheek, pulling him close to him. He gently ran his thumb across his soft cheek and looked into those big brown eyes of his. "You are so beautiful."Viktor said, breathlessly.
Yuuri's emptied his air in his lungs, not daring to look away from Viktor at all. Viktor's eyes softened and he leaned in, pressing his lips against the younger skaters. His lips were warm and inviting, making Yuuri melt in his hands. Viktor caressed his face though the kiss, carefully pulling away.
Yuuri took a deep breath, filling his lungs again, not realizing he was holding it the entire kiss. Viktor smiled and gave him a peck on the lips. Viktor kept close to his face, brushing the stray hair out of Yuuri's eyes so he could see him clearly. The snow was starting to come down and the lights from the street were glistening against it. Yuuri's heart skipped a beat. His breath was caught in his throat. Viktor ran his hand across his cheek and used his thumb to run his thumb across Yuuri's quivering lower lip.
"I love you so much Yuuri. You have changed my life in ways I couldn't even imagine." Viktor said softly. Yuuri smiled brightly, letting the blush cover his entire face. He closed his eyes, trying to steady himself.
"Can I ask you something?" Viktor asked; Yuuri's eyes still shut.
Yuuri nodded slowly. He felt Viktor back away from him. He let out the breath he hadn't even known he had been holding in.
When he finally opened his eyes, Viktor was down on the ground, kneeling down on one knee. He had a small black velvet box holding a single gold ring in his hand which was outstretched to Yuuri.
Yuuri took a second to realize what was happening. Once he understood what was happening, tears started to stream down his face. "Viktor..." he managed to squeak out.
"I can't imagine my life without you Yuuri. You are my everything. The first thing I think about every morning. The last thing I think about before I fall asleep. The only thing I dream about. I love you Yuuri. I want to make you mine forever." Viktor said, choking back tears of his own. Yuuri's tears were flowing freely down his face at this point. He couldn't even see Viktor's face though all of them.
"Yuuri Katuski. Will you marry me?"
Yuuri nodded furiously though his tears. "Yes! Yes of course! Yes I will marry you!" he yelled though his tears.
Viktor stood up and Yuuri wrapped his arms around his neck and gave him a passionate kiss. Viktor pulled him closer to him, wrapping his arms around his waist. His own tears burning hot against his cold skin. Yuuri pulled away and stood back as Viktor pulled the ring out the box. He grabbed Yuuri's left hand, pulling off his glove and handing it to him. He slid the gold band onto his finger, making sure it fit snug. Yuuri's tears were still flowing down his face as he looked at it. He wrapped his arms around his neck and kissed him once more, this time, with more feeling than he had ever had before.
"Yuuri are you still there?" Viktor asked. Yuuri quickly snapped back into reality.
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I was just remembering something." Yuuri said, a goofy smile plastered on his face as he looked at his ring.
Without asking, Viktor already knew what he was remembering. He had been thinking about it a lot lately since he had left. He hated leaving Yuuri but alas, he was still a coach and he needed to be there for his student just like he was there for Yuuri. It never got easier but these phone calls helped him more than anything.
"I love you." Viktor said, his voice cracking just a little.
"I love you too. I hope the competition goes well. Wish Kurio luck for me, yeah?" Yuuri said.
"I will. Don't hurt yourself okay? I know you might want to relive the glory days again." Viktor joked.
Yuuri laughed a bit and shook his head. "I'll be careful. I still have to be able to teach the kids tomorrow. I am teaching them the basics of spins." He explained.
He started teaching a few beginning skating classes at the Ice Castle a while ago to keep himself on the ice but he ending up falling in love with all his students. He was now teaching classes full time and doing private lessons on top of that.
"That should be fun. I wish I could be there to watch. I always loved your spins. It was probably on of your strongest skills." Viktor said, naturally praising Yuuri as he always did. Yuuri let out a small chuckle. Viktor started to laugh along with him. It lasted a few moments before some voices were heard on Viktor's side of the line. Yuuri listened carefully, hoping he could make out a few words.
"I have to go now Yuuri. Kurio's free program is coming up soon. I'll talk to you when I get back to the hotel room." he said.
"Okay. I should be home by then. I will probably leave here soon. I hope Kurio does well. Text me his score when he is done, okay?" Yuuri said, his voice low, realizing that he would have to hang up soon.
"Okay I will. I love you."
"I love you too" Yuuri said before hanging up the phone.
He set his phone back down on the wall. He grabbed his water bottle and took a huge gulp. He capped the bottle and put it next to his phone. He grabbed both of his gloved, slipping on the right one first. He started to put on the left one when he stopped and looked at the ring once more. His cheeks flushed a bright pink and he smiled. He pulled the glove on all the way. He shook out his arms and legs and smiled, heading out to practice a bit more before his love called again.