Viktor had been pining for Yuuri ever since he had the epiphany at the theatre. Simply everything Yuuri did made his bones turn to jelly and his stomach try to eat itself. Viktor had decided he was going to make a move, despite his worries. He couldn't let Yuuri drift away from him. He at least had to try.

He'd made a small crack in the glass when he had hugged Yuuri, but that wasn't enough. He wanted Yuuri to know how he felt, even if it might cause problems. The problem was that he didn't even know where to start.

Not only that, but he didn't want to come on too strong. Yuuri got nervous easily, so Viktor couldn't bear making him upset. But, he still couldn't get that silky black hair, that soft tan skin and those beautiful brown eyes out of his head. He knew he couldn't wait much longer.

The entire day through Viktor thought about various ways to get the Japanese man's attention. None of the solutions he came up with were any good. They were all too much or too little. He noticed Makkachin had sensed his distress and came to nuzzle against him.

"Ugh, Makkachin, what am I going to do?" Viktor mumbled, shoving his face into his poodle's curly fur. Makkachin just whimpered gently in response. Of course, poodles couldn't talk. Viktor had never wished for a dog's advice more than he did now.

For the next few hours Viktor considered his options, only stopping for lunch and a short dance session with the subject of his affections. That short dance session in which Yuuri showed him a performance he had choreographed on his own was what gave Viktor an idea.

He could dance with him. He had mentioned to Yuuri before that he took ballroom dance as well, mostly for formal events he was required to go to. He was suddenly more grateful for such a genre of dance.

Hopefully, of all went to plan, he would convince Yuuri that it was for practise and get him to help. Afterwards, he would try to make some move on Yuuri, whether it be through words or actions. Preferably through words because of Yuuri's nervousness.

Sadly, night came much slower than he had wanted. It seemed as if it was mocking him for being in love. After all, he was alone all these years and had done fine, so why was now any different? Well world, Viktor thought to an imaginary listener, that's just the way it was. He couldn't help it.

During ballet practise, Madame Ulyana had noticed that something was off about Viktor. He had messed up on a pirouette of all things. He'd rolled on his ankle.. That was practically a sin for him.

"Something's wrong, Vitya, I can tell. What is it? I've known you for the better part of six years, you need to open up more. I can't help your dancing if you don't." His instructor had said.

"I know. Its nothing, really. Let's start again, shall we?" Viktor replied. Madame Ulyana just raised a thin eyebrow to him.

"Is it that boy you brought in? If he's causing you problems, just get rid of him."

"No!" Viktor snapped, far harsher than he had meant it to be. "I'm sorry, but its really not him. I think a more pressing matter is that roll, don't you?"

Madame Ulyana accepted his apology and then sent Viktor back into his pirouettes. She eyed him constantly, but she had promised Viktor he wouldn't tell anyone. Breaking a promise made by Viktor could easily get her fired. She got paid good money, so Viktor doubted she would even think about tipping off the authorities. Despite the fact that Viktor tended to stray from the news, Viktor had heard on the streets that the Allies were advancing well, which meant an end of this war would come eventually. Maybe, someday, he and Yuuri wouldn't have to worry who was from where. It wouldn't matter in a perfect world.

When Yuri arrived home, he babbled to Yakov about the things he had heard. Everything from the Allies' advancements to the English lessons at ballet school. He barely spared Viktor a glance until it was time for dinner, where he suddenly seemed interested in him. In order to talk to him, he kicked him under the table. It was something they did often.

"Viktor, you've been looking at Yuuri all dinner. He knows," he said, gesturing towards Yuuri, who was looking down with a red face. Viktor felt even more stupid than Yuri was informing him that he was. He hadn't even realised.

Silently, Viktor went back to his food, only speaking up to answer questions asked of him. He was thinking over his plan to get Yuuri to dance with him. He had been daydreaming about it all day and it was almost time.

When dinner was finished, Viktor tried almost too hard to hide his excitement. He was thinking of how nice Yuuri's hands would feel when gently placed in his own, how much he wanted to see Yuuri's wonderful smile and what music he would decide to hum to their dancing.

He waited until everyone had spread out to their respective areas of the house; Ivana to the study to work, Yakov to the sitting room to read whatever news he had missed that morning and Yuri to the studio to practise. Everything was in place.

"Yuuri, can I ask you something?" Viktor said. Yuuri looked up, nodding.

"Just give me a moment to put this away." Yuuri replied. Viktor waited patiently for Yuuri to put the plate away before the man came out of the dining room. "What did you need me for?"

"You know how I mentioned I was in ballroom dancing as well?" He asked. Yuuri nodded. "Well, I was wondering you could help me practise."

"Isn't Yuri using the hall though?" Yuuri questioned. Viktor nodded, but didn't give up.

"We can just go outside. The weather's warmed up, and now you have a jacket! Come on, hurry." Viktor said, hiding his excitement behind a playful tone. Yuuri let a little blush pool on his cheeks before nodding and hurrying to get his new coat.

When he came back, Viktor couldn't help but note how cute Yuuri looked in his new coat. The sleeves went over half of his hands and the bodice of his almost reached his legs. Viktor still just smiled, leading Yuuri outside.

He guided Yuuri to the forest, claiming that he enjoyed the atmosphere better there when he was asked why they were going into the woods. Yuuri stuttered in his steps, but Viktor managed to find his hand and guide him forward. This was both for his own benefit and Yuuri's. He wanted Yuuri to feel secure, but Viktor couldn't say he wasn't doing this partially for selfish intentions without lying.

"Don't worry. We'll just be dancing, and then we can head back. I promise I would never leave you out here." Viktor whispered to Yuuri when he dropped back to walk next to the other. Yuuri's looked away defiantly, but his eyes were soft.

"I know. That won't stop me from worrying." He said in reply. His voice didn't seem to be bitter, though. To Yuuri, he was simply stating a fact. That didn't help with stopping the small wound to Viktor's pride, however. He'd have to lick it later.

When they finally arrived to the spot, Yuuri's eyes went wide in awe. Viktor decided that he liked Yuuri's shocked looks.

"Well, we should start, right?" Viktor said, his voice gentle. They didn't have to speak loud in the soft noises of night. They barely had to speak above a whisper. Yuuri responded with a hum of affirmation, turning to face Viktor.

"Which position should I be in?" Yuuri asked quietly. Viktor hadn't planned which type of dance they would be doing. He'd left out that small, yet crucial detail.

"Um, here. Just grab my hand," Viktor said, placing Yuuri's right hand in his own and holding them up, "and put your other hand on my shoulder."

Yuuri did as he was told, his face growing noticeably pink. Viktor settled his hand on Yuuri's waist, waiting for a retort of embarrassment that never came. Yuuri seemed to settle into it as Viktor began describing the motions.

"This is a very simple dance. Not much footwork is necessary. It's all in the way it feels. That is what creates a flow in the dance." Viktor said. Yuuri just nodded in understanding and waited for Viktor to make the first move.

Viktor started to hum a simple tune as he guided Yuuri around. Yuuri was a bit off at first, accidentally knocking into Viktor a few times before getting the rhythm and dancing in time with Viktor. His explanation for the incidents was that he was a ballet dancer before all of this, not a ballroom playboy. Viktor just laughed at that.

They danced in almost complete silence aside from Viktor's humming. Neither kept track of how long the continued with the slow yet steady pace of the dance, but they seemed to be incapable of letting go. Viktor had to admit, Yuuri was warm and it felt nice to have a careful hand placed on his waist.

Months ago he would've never dreamed he'd be feeling the swirl of emotions he had been feeling then. He was so absorbed in his dancing that the rest of the world didn't matter. He acted like it did, sure, but deep down be knew that he was getting too focused on dancing and losing quality in his life. He had grown lonely and distant from others and he didn't know how to get back.

Yuuri was like a nice warm furnace making your fingers better after being outside too long. It was a little strange at first and maybe even tingled and burned a little, but it always felt better in the end. Yuuri was filling the hole Viktor had created in himself and he didn't even think the Japanese man knew what he did to him. It took Viktor long enough to realise this himself and even longer to realise the hole was there at all.

Viktor couldn't help it anymore. He lifted his eyes from their feet to meet Yuuri's face, shocked to see that Yuuri was already looking at him with an emotion that seemed too familiar yet he couldn't name it.

Viktor will never be able to properly describe the feeling that coursed through him when their eyes met. It was like being struck with lightning, but instead of pain, there was only warmth. It was sharp and shot straight through his heart, clean and precise. That's the best way he can think to put it.

Yuuri just looked into his eyes, unable to look away. Viktor wasn't much better. He figured he must have the worst blank expression, but he didn't care in that moment.

He didn't know when his eyes closed or when Yuuri's face got so close, but he got another bolt of electricity running through him as soon as their lips met. He never wanted this point in time to stray. It was like everything wasn't war-torn and there was no anger and no hatred. Yes, Viktor's ideal world where everything made sense and nothing hurt.

When they separated, Viktor almost went back to Yuuri's lips. He wanted more. They were like a safe haven for him. Magic, perhaps. Instead he got a set of fingers carefully sweeping away his bangs.

"You have the most magnificent eyes." Yuuri mumbled absentmindedly. His glasses were slowly sliding down his nose.

"You have the most magnificent lips." Viktor replied without thinking. He only made time for embarrassment once Yuuri snapped out of his own haze to chuckle softly at Viktor. All traces of this were gone once arms wrapped around him and a head rested against him.

"Yuuri?" Viktor sighed. Yuuri hummed back. "I think. . . I think I might be in love with you. No, I'm certain of it."

Yuuri laughed a little more, a practically angelic sound. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm absolutely smitten."

So, Viktor thought to himself whilst hugging everything that dreams were made of, this is what being in love feels like.

xxxxxxx

We finally made it to the kiss! I tried to make this scene so tooth rottingly fluffy but idk if I really succeeded. Even so I hope you liked it. Just a heads up though:

This is only the beginning

-MidnightQuestant