"Passengers, please fasten your seatbelts."
Yuri was startled awake by the soothing voice just as the plane hit an unexpected air current. Eyes widening momentarily, he looked to his left, feeling the reassuring weight of Viktor beside him, shiny grey hair spread over his shoulder where the other man still slept. They'd flown from Fukuoka to Tokyo and then onto Beijing for a little over an hour, Yuri devised, looking down at his watch. Almost there. He could do this. Yuri sighed, looking down to reasure himself for the uptenth time that he was indeed 'securely fastened' and attempted to go back to sleep.
He had no such luck. Apparently the plane was flying through some weather, jostling it from side to side and making his stomach clench every time it took a sudden change in altitude. Yuri ground his teeth. He really never had gotten used to flying, especially through turbulence. How Viktor could sleep through all this was beyond him. Not for the first time, Yuri wished Viktor's carefree attitude would start to rub off on him.
Startled by a rather nasty drop, Yuri let out a small noise as he unconsciously reached out and grabbed Viktor's hand. Only opening his eyes as the plane leveled out, Yuri blinked at the startling blue eyes that appeared inches from his own nose. He blushed, holding his breath as Viktor gave him a curious look.
"Yuri? You alright?"
"Umm," Yuri stuttered out a useless response.
"You've got quite the grip, I must say," Viktor laughed, causing Yuri to start, only then realizing his hand clutched tightly to the other man's own.
"Sorry!" he started, pulling his fingers quickly from the warmth of Viktor's hand as the other man smiled widely.
"Maybe we should train you in arm wrestling instead," Viktor teased, running his hand through sleep-tousled hair before setting it back beside Yuri's own clenched fist.
Yuri attempted to reply but instead squeezed his eyes shut at another small drop that made his stomach fall out from under him.
"Ah, Yuri, you don't like to fly do you?" Viktor questioned, cocking his head and smiling sympathetically. Yuri only nodded and let out a deep breath when the turbulence once again abated. "Does it help?"
"Huh?" Yuri asked, unsure.
"Holding my hand. If it helps, I don't mind."
"Oh, er, yes I suppose…" Yuri started as long graceful fingers intertwined with his own.
"There then. I'm happy to distract you, you know."
"Umm, what?" Yuri stammered, turning red once more. He often wondered if Viktor's not-quite-fluent japanese was to blame for the things he said which could be taken so wrongly. Or perhaps he did it just to get a rise out of Yuri.
"You know, take your mind off things," Viktor said, leaning in closer. Yuri's heart took on a rhythm far faster than any the turbulence could possible cause. He wished he knew why.
"Perhaps," Viktor licked his lips, "we could talk about your performance..."
"Er…"
"Tomorrow. At the China Grand Prix."
"Oh!" Yuri said, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Right, of course."
"Hmm," Viktor smiled slightly.
"Well, I'm a bit nervous about the triple axel, I'm getting better at the combinations in practice though so I'm not as worried about landing those."
"Good," Viktor said, leaning back in his seat. "You can do this Yuri. The short program is only part of it, but I believe in you."
Yuri blushed.
"You are the katsudon."
Yuri sighed. "I really miss it."
"But you ARE it."
"No, you know what I mean. EATING it."
"Ah," Viktor said, looking momentarily thoughtful. After a minute of silence he looked over at his prodige. "Okay Yuri!"
"Wait, what?" Yuri said, startled out of a doze.
"I've got it. You've been working so hard, you deserve a reward. So if you get over 100 points in the short program, you can have one."
"A reward? So, anything I want?" Yuri said, biting his lip in thought.
Viktor nodded. "Well within reason."
"Hmm, can I think on it?"
"Of course," Viktor beamed, hoping they would both be eating katsudon together soon.
Luckily the remainder of the flight was uneventful and Yuri was able to fall back to sleep, soothed by the music of his headphones and Viktor's warmth by his side. He was only startled awake as the stewardess kindly asked them to ready for landing. Viktor yawned and stretched as Yuri frowned at his side which suddenly felt cold without the other man sleeping upon his shoulder. Then he looked down, smiling to find their hands still intertwined.
"Oh!" Yuri started, looking over and beaming at Viktor.
The other man raised an eyebrow and smiled as he raised an eyebrow.
"I've got it. I know what I want as my reward!" Yuri exclaimed.
"And what's that?" Viktor asked, anticipating their victory meal.
"Pair skating!"
"Come again?" Viktor frowned.
"You and I, I want us to skate as a pair! It doesn't have to be at an event, even just for fun would be great, but that's what I want."
Viktor's eyes were wide. Yuri was sure he'd never seen the man more surprised.
"Oh," Yuri said, his face falling, "I didn't mean...you don't like the idea do you? Sorry I…"
"No," Viktor said, his lips a thin line. Yuri felt his breath catch in his throat. He had no idea what the other man had against the idea, but he was ready to take it back, to get his coach smiling again.
"Please, forget it, it was a stupid…"
"I mean, 'no', I DO like the idea. I've never tried pair skating. And with another man? Wouldn't that just be shocking. I love it!"
Yuri's face light up. "Really? I mean, it wouldn't be easy, but I think we could transform 'Eros' into a really beautiful pair performance."
"Hmm, are you sure you haven't been thinking of this all along?" Viktor asked, smiling and shaking his head.
"No, really, the idea just came to me when I saw our hands. Viktor, really? Will you skate together with me?"
"Why not?" Viktor said, shrugging his shoulders. "No one expects it of either of us. Everyone seems to think they know what I'm going to do next now, but this...this they would never see coming!"
Yuri grinned and squeezed Viktor's hand once. "Wouldn't we need a coach though? Since neither of us has experience skating in pairs…"
"Hmm...that shouldn't be hard to find. I'm more worried about gaining the muscles to pick you up for lifts."
"Oh, well, I wouldn't mind being the one to lift you," Yuri stammered, blushing slightly. He had no idea where that idea had come from.
"Really?" Viktor said, before shaking his head and laughing. "I do love how you surprise me Yuri. Let's see who lifts who then, shall we?"
Continued in part 2