Prologue; The Calm Before the Storm

Even with his earbuds in and his usual warm-up music blasting in his ears, Yuuri could still hear the crowds roaring for Christophe just outside the rink rooms. It was the Grand Prix Final and excitement was to be predicted from the people who had gathered to watch the event live, but the amount of noise being made was unusually loud. Loud enough to attract the majority of the skaters' attentions.

Yuuri paused in the middle of a stretch and turned towards the score cast, suddenly curious. As if to confirm his suspicions, the T.V. screen above showed the Swedish skater landing yet another combination flawlessly, sending the stands reeling. Christophe had been unmotivated for the first part of the season, doing just enough to pull through qualifying rounds, but watching him now it was clear that the older competitor was holding nothing back. Perhaps he had never intended to in the first place; his inspiration had just been tough to come by until now.

As if reading his mind, a familiar voice piped up from behind him. "Chris sure doesn't look like he's endured his slowest season yet when he's out there skating like that, huh?"

Viktor, who had kept to himself for a majority of the warm-up, was now watching Yuuri with soft eyes, his hand outstretched expectantly. Without a seconds hesitation, Yuuri placed his hand in his fiance's and interlocked their fingers, letting the Russian coach pull him into a hug. Then, a whisper, "Are you nervous?"

There was no hiding anything with Viktor, was there? Yuuri smiled into his coach's shoulder.

Sometimes it still surprised him how well the older skater could read him, even when he believed he appeared physically calm on the outside. And to tell the truth, Yuuri was internally scared to death. There was no way Viktor could have missed his trembling hands and sweaty palms, so he had balled them into fists before hugging the silver haired Russian. Even that attempt to hide his anxiety, as feeble as it was, didn't seem to work in the end.

Ashamed, Yuuri finally pulled out of the embrace and met Viktor's gaze with a nod, sighing softly. Even now, after everything they had been through, searching their aquamarine depths was enough to give him a delighted shiver.

"He'll definitely get a few extra points for that combination, and if he lands that quadruple flip. . ." Yuuri shook his head, listening as the crowd broke into another belated cheer. From the speakers overhead the announcers went berserk as well, undeniably confirming Chris's success, and a fresh cold sweat broke out on his fingertips. It was going to be hard to top that.

Suddenly, Viktor's hands were in his. "Yuuri look at me." Firm but delicate fingers lifted his chin towards his lover's face, and Yuuri's breath hitched in his throat as Viktor leaned in to press his forehead to his. The gesture was tender and heartwarming, but it did everything except calm the finalist's racing heart.

"It doesn't matter if you land all your jumps tonight. Your program's difficulty level is higher then Chris' and that alone will spare you a few points here and there if something were to go wrong. Your focus tonight is to max out on the performance points. We've perfected that step-sequence in practice over the last few weeks and if you put your heart into the dance, no one will be able to take their eyes off you."

Viktor's voice was steady and confident, and Yuuri clung desperately to every word, even when his coach's tone became seductive in the end. Now was not the time to panic, not after all the work the two of them had put in to ensure his position at the top of the podium.

No. The only thing left to do was perform.

"Right." Yuuri, who had intended to pull away after Viktor's pep talk, drew him closer instead, his cheeks flushing as their hips met. "Thank you, for everything. Tonight, this win will be my declaration of love to you."

Viktor laughed and squeezed him harder, to his surprise, causing his hair to fall over his eyes in a sweeping motion. "I'm counting on it. But Yuuri, just remember that no matter what happens, I will always love you, no matter what."

Yuuri caught one last glimpse of his lover's cerulean gaze before Viktor pulled him in for a kiss. His lips were soft and warm against his, leaving the skater longing for more, but for some reason, this time. . .they tasted bittersweet.

The two had shared several kisses over the months that they had been engaged, each one a delicate memory in the back of Yuuri's mind, but they had never left him feeling as if he were leaving, as if he were saying goodbye.

Too soon did Viktor break the kiss, and Yuuri pulled away reluctantly, wondering if his fiance had felt the throbbing finality as their lips met. But watching as Viktor smiled softly, looking unaffected and unshaken, Yuuri wondered if he had only been imagining things.

Still, an uneasy feeling stirred in the asian's chest and now more than ever Yuuri wanted to jump into Viktor's arms and hold onto his warmth amd strength, never to let go. . .but somewhere from above, the announcer called his name. It was his cue to take the ice.

Viktor nodded encouragingly, still smiling as if to urge him on, and somewhere behind him he could see Yurio watching, his scornful expression filled with an unusual amount anticipation. It was now or never, and the world was waiting, anticipating Yuri Katsuki's claimed "gold-medal worthy" performance.

So with one last longing look in Victor's direction, Yuuri took to the ice and Never. Looked. Back.