The first week for Yuuri was... difficult.
Although they couldn't see each other so much at school during the breaks because of Viktor's team project, nor in the afternoons because Viktor had part-time work and Yuuri had to train, the silver-haired man always managed to send him texts full of love that made Yuuri lowered his guard. In addition, Viktor also made sure to kiss Yuuri as a good morning before starting classes. And when the classes finished, he walked Yuuri to his house, without forgetting to kiss him while they said goodbye (and after Yuuri had made sure that there was nobody from his family nearby).
Yuuri scolded himself for being so happy. He wasn't supposed to fall in love with Viktor, but gradually, he began to get used to his company and his pleasant conversations. It was even funny to see that Viktor wasn't as perfect as everyone was portrayed him; He was quite clumsy, clueless and forgetful.
However, Yuuri could always feel the threatening looks of some girls. And he knew by third parties that, in the school, there were gossip about him that sought to ruin his reputation. And even though he wanted, they weren't so easy to ignore. The only 'not so bad' thing is that he was sure that it wasn't because homophobia; he was simply hated for being Viktor's partner.
Luckily, he had Phichit's and his classmates' support.
"Don't listen to them, Yuuri." Sara said after she and her brother take out by force a group of girls who had come to their classroom to bother him. "Those harpies only envy you. You and Viktor are a really cute couple!"
"... Thank you, Sara." Yuuri said, although not very convinced. So much negativity around him began to affect him and make him feel angry.
The rest of that day he didn't answer Viktor's messages, and when they met at the end of the classes, he asked Viktor to talk privately in the back of the school, away from prying eyes.
"Viktor. I don't think this relationship can work. There are too many people against us... I can't handle this."
All his life Yuuri had tried to go unnoticed. He hated attention, but now, because of Viktor, there wasn't a single day when some girl he didn't know spoke to him just to mock him or ask him if he and Viktor had already had sex... Yuuri expected Viktor would realize his mistake and then they could make a clean break.
Viktor looked down and twisted his mouth. For a moment, Yuuri thought he was going to cry and try to change his mind with that, but he didn't. Instead, Viktor hugged him, resting his forehead against his. The wind made the threads of silver hair to hit their cheeks.
"Please, don't say that. I would feel very lonely without you, Yuuri" Viktor said when he finally dared to look into the brown eyes. "They also bother me because they don't agree with our relationship, but I don't care what others say. I want to be with you. You are the one who makes me happy. And... I'm sorry if being with me hurts you. But we made a deal, remember?" He smiled faintly. "If by the end of the month you don't want to stay by my side anymore, then I will understand..."
... Now the one who wanted to cry was Yuuri. Viktor's words fell on him like a bucket of cold water and his heart hurt. Because he was only thinking of himself, he didn't worry about Viktor's feelings. He had already realized that Viktor was a sensitive man, but didn't know that he also suffered from harassment simply because he wanted to be with the person he loves... Oh. The person he loved was him.
He, who also intended to sabotage their relationship. He, who had tried everything, like taking too long to answered Viktor's messages; not answered his calls, and even acting cold when they met by chance in the corridors. However, the silver-haired man always managed to found a way to make him laugh and ruined his plans.
Yuuri could see that Viktor was fighting for not to crying. The white of his eyes were pink and his smile trembled. It was a painful expression to see. He had to fix it. So Yuuri wrapped Viktor's neck with his arms and joined they lips together.
It was the first time that Yuuri started a kiss. Viktor at first was astonished because he didn't expect it, but a second later his face flushed and showed a more a more genuine smile.
That was better.
In their first weekend as a couple they didn't make plans to see each other. Both had exams to prepare. Besides, Yuuri used to go skating with Phichit without the pressure of training, which was only during the week. Even so, he and Viktor continued talking by text.
The first days of the second week were similar to the first, with the difference that on the third day Viktor finally finished his team project and asked Yuuri to meet him in the garden during a break.
While the dark-haired boy was waiting for him, sitting on a bench and watching videos on his cellphone, he heard the barking of a dog. Intrigued, he looked away from the screen and looked down. At his feet was a brown poodle, who placed his paws on his knees and began to sniff him. Because of his size, Yuuri figured it was still a puppy. The poodle also wore a collar, so he supposed the owner would be nearby.
Yuuri smiled and petted it ears. He loved dogs. The puppy, delighted to receive love, climbed on top of him and licked his face while wagging his tail.
"Makkachin!" They heard Viktor's voice, who immediately came running up to them. "Makkachin, I told you not to leave the house!"
The dog, who evidently didn't understand his human language, jumped happily on Viktor to also lick his face.
"Oh, so this is Makkachin," Yuuri said, remembering that Viktor had already told him several times about his pet. "What are he doing here?" Now he asked confused. He doubted that Viktor had purposely taken him to school.
"Well, he doesn't like to be left alone at home, so sometimes he follows me." Viktor responded as he sit beside him, with Makkachin in his arms. "What I don't know is how he does it to get out. I always make sure to block the pet door."
"Your parents don't watch him?"
"Uhm... I don't live with my parents. It's just Makkachin and me." He said with a smile, but Yuuri could tell he was sad.
"Why?" He wanted to know.
Viktor already knew Yuuri's family, he had presented him at them as 'a new friend'. However, he didn't know anything about Viktor's family, in fact, it was the first time that they mentioned them. His curiosity was bursting.
"It's... it's a long story. I would like to tell you, but I don't think this is the right moment. I mean, we're still in school." Viktor seemed more cheerful. "I promise I'll tell you later. For now, I must go home to return to Makkachin."
The silver-haired man got up from the bench and Yuuri followed him.
"Can I come with you?" He surprised himself for asking. Yuuri didn't want to admit it, but he hoped to spend more time with Viktor since he got his text. It was also because he wanted to know where his apartment was. He knew the address but he hadn't been there yet.
"Oh? Are you sure, Yuuri? If you come with me you'll be late for the next class." He warned playfully, though it was more than obvious that he also liked the idea.
"I'm sure there won't be any problem if I'm late one time." He answered as he petted Makkachin, and Makkachin licked his hand. Viktor smiled pleased and they started walking.
"You know, Yuuri? Makkachin is very shy with strangers, but he likes you," He commented after a while. "I guess I left my smell impregnated in you and he confused you with me."
"Ah ..." Yuuri blushed. In the morning, Viktor had hugged him and kissed him as usual, so it wouldn't be strange that his cologne had remained on his clothes.
After that comment they changed the subject. But Yuuri still though about the conversation they had in school, when Viktor told him that he lived alone. Yuuri tie up all the loose ends and remembered that Viktor worked part-time all week, and it was probably because he himself was his economic support and Makkachin's.
"Viktor... would you like to eat at my house today?" He asked with some shyness. When it came to money, there wasn't much he could do to help him, but maybe he could help Viktor to avoid spending money on food.
Hearing that, Viktor stopped walking. His blue eyes wide open. Yuuri stopped a few inches later.
"W-what... You mean it? Eat with you and your family?"
"Of course," He stated with a smile. "I'm sure my mother won't mind putting another plate on the table."
"In that case... I'd love it." Seeing Viktor's radiant smile was more rewarding than he expected. From that day, he would invite Viktor to eat every day.
A couple of days later. Yuuri and Phichit were talking on the skating rink after their training.
"So, how are things going with Viktor?" Ah. That was the question he wanted his friend to keep for himself and never ask. "Lately I see him very happy, and you too."
"... Yes. Things are going very well," He said. It wasn't a lie. 'Unfortunately' things were going well between them. Actually pretty good. Yuuri had no complaints about Viktor and still couldn't make the later to be disenchanted of him, although he wasn't even trying anymore.
"Oh, that's good!" Phichit clapped. "But I know you, Yuuri Katsuki." He said narrowing his eyes. "I'm sure you are still thinking that Viktor is just wasting his time with you, when it's obvious to everyone that he throws hearts every time he sees you. You should value yourself more."
"Phichit, thank you... I think you're right." He knew that his best friend wouldn't tell him a lie just to make him feel good. Even fewer girls were bothering them at school.
"Oi, you two! Instead of talking to each other like little girls, you should teach me more jumps." Said a blond kid who came gliding up to them.
Yuri Plisetsky, nine years old, was their youngest rink mate. They called him affectionately 'Yurio' to distinguish him from Yuuri. And unlike them, he did train to be a professional. So after school, Yurio went every day to practice at the rink. Literally every day.
Yurio was small, with a truly cute face, adding green eyes and golden hair, which at that time had been tied in a ponytail. However, his attitude was too strong and rebellious for his age. The only reason why instructor Yuuko could stand his tantrums was because she found him adorable, like a kitten without claws trying to scratch.
"Oh! Yurio. Sorry to take Yuuri away from you." Phichit patted the kid's head and Yurio growled and stood aside. "I must go home already. See you later!"
"Okay, bye." Yuuri waved a hand and then slid near to Yurio. "What do you want me to teach you now?"
"A triple axel." He replied with a sharp tone.
"Yurio... Even I can't do that." He laughed nervously.
"Ah. How useless you are! And you're supposed to be the adult here." He huffed and made a gesture of resignation by shaking his head. Yuuri was already used to his rudeness, so he didn't felt bothered. "In that case, help me rehearse my routine. Yuuko says you did it in a festival a few months ago."
"Oh? You mean Agape?" He inquired surprised and the kid nodded. "Yes... it's true. I did that routine three months ago, but I had to lower the difficulty."
"Yes, she told me to lower the difficulty too, and that I shouldn't do jumps. Yuuko said it would be too difficult for my age, or something silly like that. I don't know, I got bored listening to her." He yawned. "Show me how you did skated it and I'll know what movements I can do and which ones I can't."
"Uhm... Okay," Yuuri said after thinking for a moment. The blond kid would be small, but he dominated the base jumps and had technique. He was a prodigy. "But it will be our secret, okay? I don't want Yuuko to get mad at me."
"Yes! I promise!" Yurio smiled and clapped.
"Good. Now follow my movements," He said as he took off his glasses and stored them in their case so they wouldn't break.
Yuuri's normal vision wasn't very good, but since the skating rink was white, he could tell with relative ease if he was about to hit something or someone. Also, at that time of the afternoon there were very few people skating.
The dark-haired boy began to hum a sweet melody, which he accompanied it with slow movements of his arms and legs, sliding slowly over the ice. He could distinguish Yurio from the corner of his eye, following in his footsteps.
Agape was an advanced program, not only had technical difficulty but also performance. It talked about 'pure love', which were encompassed for any possibility of interpretation. When Yuuri showed it in public, the only thing that occurred to him was to think about how much he loved his family. He failed some jumps, yes, but he remembered how enchanted the spectators were with him and theirs claps.
At that moment he wanted to repeat the same emotion he felt to show Yurio exactly what he did, but something changed. In his mind, the image of a smiling Viktor jumped in, which caused his muscles to tighten for a moment, but soon he let himself go and his body felt lighter.
And when he was about to finish the routine, he stopped abruptly because of Yurio's little hands clinging to his waist.
"Yuuri! There is a pervert looking at us." The blond kid murmured and Yuuri immediately put his glasses back and looked where he was pointed.
Behind the protection fences was Viktor, the person who a few seconds ago Yuuri dedicated his routine. The silver-haired man, realizing that is boyfriend was looking at him, blushed and raised a hand to greet him. Yuuri's face went red as well.