Summary: On calm nights, a wayward superhero's feet can lead him in interesting directions.
Hasetsu isn't always a hotbed of criminal activity. In fact a lot of the time it's pretty quiet, fishermen and shop vendors going about their daily routines, buying and selling and gossiping on the side of the road. Tonight is one of those nights. Peaceful.
Yuuri stretches his arms above his head, silver and black gleaming in the moonlight as he makes his nightly patrol. It's a leisurely patrol tonight, more like a walk across the rooftops, his gaze straying more than once to the vast expanse of ocean just beyond the boardwalk.
Beautiful.
Without really knowing where his feet are leading him, he wanders in the direction of the Ice Castle. It's a familiar spot, and one where he spent more than a few restless nights when he was younger. Tonight he can hear music and, curious, he slips silently through one of the skylights to see who could possibly be practicing at this late hour.
What he sees takes his breath away. It's Victor, eyes closed, gliding across the ice with the kind of desperate grace Yuuri has come to expect from him. His hands, always moving, sweep out gracefully behind him as he turns, spins, moves off in another direction. It's not a routine, Yuuri notes. Victor isn't making any jumps or following any particular choreography. He's just…
Skating.
It's an entrancing sight.
Emboldened by the mask and by Victor's closed eyes, Yuuri moves in for a closer look. He pads, catlike, across the rafters to drop down next to the rink, eyes following Victor's every move. Leaning against the partition, he watches in fascination as Victor sways to the music.
There's a momentary increase in speed, and Yuuri's heart skips a beat as Victor flies into the air. A perfect quadruple flip. He sighs.
Abruptly, Victor's eyes fly open. He stops on a dime, staring wide-eyed at Yuuri. "I- Eros?"
Yuuri swears a blue streak in his head. Perfect. Now Victor thinks he's some kind of voyeur. "I'm… sorry, I heard the music and-"
"No," Victor is quick to assure him, skating quickly to the partition where Yuuri stands. "It's- It's fine. I'm glad. I mean, I've heard so much about you but. It's an honor, to meet you I mean."
Yuuri is certain he's imagining the soft flush on Victor's cheeks. Or maybe it's just the cold, or the exertion of the jump. There could be a million explanations.
"Oh," he manages, blinking, his hands fumbling a little on the partition. "Or, likewise I guess." God, he sounds so stupid. "You're a great skater," he says, just for a change of subject.
He's not imagining it. Victor is positively pink. "Do you think so? I mean. Thanks, is what I meant to say." Victor is definitely blushing. And fumbling over his words. And…
Acting on impulse, Yuuri leans across the partition and smiles. "Really," he says. "I was very impressed." What. The hell. Is he doing. "You looked great."
Victor flushes all the way to the roots of his hair and has to brace one hand on the partition just to keep himself from falling over. "Thanks," he almost squeaks.
Yuuri can't do this. Not in a million years, he doesn't have the guts. But maybe… Maybe Eros does. Maybe Eros can. The mask makes Yuuri brave, and he rests his chin on his hand. The other reaches out, almost casually, and smoothes down a rumpled line on the sleeve of Victor's black t-shirt. "Do you skate here a lot?"
"When I have time…" Victor's tone is distracted, his eyes fixed on the gloved hand sliding across his shoulder.
"Pretty brave of you, to be out and about after dark." Yuuri tugs a bit at the hem of the sleeve before letting go, his hand falling back to the partition. "Considering all the criminal activity lately."
"I'm not worried," Victor tells him, an almost shy smile lighting up his face. "You'll protect me, won't you?"
"Count on it." Yuuri offers him a broad wink, almost fainting at his sudden boldness. "Still, be careful on your way home handsome," he adds. "It can get pretty rough out there."
In the next moment, he's swung himself up into the rafters and disappeared through the same skylight he came in by. As soon as he's out in the open air he collapses onto the roof, wheezing slightly, unable to believe his own daring.
Inside, just a stone's throw away, Victor sags against the partition. What, he thinks dazedly, was that?