CHAPTER SIX HUNDRED TWENTY NINE

By the end of Group 2, Phichit still held onto 1st place, with Otabek maintaining 2nd. Anticipation for Group 3 was high; the former-Russian Legend was about to put them all to shame. On his own, Viktor went through his paces in the prep area, dancing in sneakers to the major parts of his Free Skate. He could feel eyes of fans and other athletes alike on him, but he just stuck to his business and focused on his form. He waited until he heard the mid-event re-surfacing notice before he stepped off to put his skates on. By then, everything seemed to have settled down, and there was no sign that anything more was coming.

So those guys that Ghost snarled at earlier today really were looking for trouble with me, he thought, and sat down beside his gear-bags to pull his sneakers off. One shoe thumped to the ground, then the other, and Viktor used his feet to nudge them together and push them back under his seat. The concrete was cold, even through his thick socks, but Viktor couldn't help but pause, and leaned over his legs, elbows on his knees as he looked at the floor. His brows crinkled slightly, and he felt a small roil in his stomach, ...Maybe I should ask Papa Mimi to send for Ghost to be brought here for me. I don't have a note for her, but I have enough witnesses to say that there's people here with bad intentions. I wonder if that would be enough? He wondered, but then shook his head and sat back to unpack his blades, Nah, no point now; we're more than halfway through the program. By the time she gets here, we'd be nearly ready to go back to the Estate House.

Track-suit pants were pushed off and boots were pulled on, laced, and tied. Bags were zipped up, and Viktor moved off towards the curtain to rink-side. A quick peek outside let him see the Zamboni smoothing out the pock-marked ice, and with nothing else to do until it was done, he pulled his phone out. If nothing else, he was happy to tell his husband that the Otabek-Mikhail-Nikki situation had been solved.

[Otabek should be able to unblock Nikki now.] He wrote, [I walked right into the middle of the thing. Him and papa Mimi came to an understanding in record time.]

It took a moment before 'Sent' changed to 'Seen' on the display, and the jumping dots appeared to show that Yuri was typing. Viktor smiled awkwardly at the message, [That's great, but...how? It was such a big deal. They really figured things out that fast? What happened?]

[I wasn't here when it started.] He answered, more or less telling the truth, [I can get into all the crazy details later on. I wouldn't have enough time to type it all out before I have to get into the rink.]

[...Sounds like you walked into something pretty significant.]

[It's all good, my love.] Viktor wrote, [I'll dazzle you with the tale after I've seduced you with my skating.]

[I can't wait!]

The Russian smiled and felt the relief wash over him, even if it was just a stalling mechanism. He clicked out and opened his existing text window with Yurio, [Не посылайте сообщения Юрий о том, что случилось] He started, asking the teen not to message Yuri about what had happened, and then followed it with the statement that he'd tell the man himself later on, [Я скажу ему сам позже]

[Хорошо] (Okay)

Viktor blinked, "...That was almost too easy. Maybe he's too busy to get into it with him right now."

.

Yurio kept his phone out for a moment longer, in case Viktor had sent anything else. He looked over the top of it to where their little motley crew had sequestered near one of the many huge glass sections of wall. In the minutes since the whole crazy conflict had been resolved, Nikki had cried out every tear she had, and had been reduced to dry, pained breaths. She'd at least been given a place to sit down and, surrounded by her family, was able to calm down quite a bit. A cursory look at her long, twin-tailed fleece jester hat revealed that the hand-sewn seems had gotten torn on one side, and she sadly stuck a finger through the hole.

Mikhail stood quietly by, leaning against a corner of wall where the glass met the masonry. He kept one hip against his daughter's shoulder, and leaned down enough to keep a hand on the other, rubbing his thumb there gently. He spotted that pale finger sticking out through the section of purple fabric, "...Did that happen just now?" He asked.

Nikki hesitated, but then nodded, and lifted the hat up to put it back on her head anyway.

Jade eyes went from the young teen to Yurio again, and Mikhail asked the obvious, "...Please go into detail about what happened. What were those goons trying to do?"

"...I...didn't see them approach," The blonde admitted grimly, and looked away slightly, "We'd gone down to catch Otabek after his post-skate interview. Since it's an open floor-plan, there were fans standing around listening...I guess those two must've been standing with them. I talked to Otabek for maybe ten seconds before we both heard Nikki yell to 'stop it,' and we jumped on it. All I really saw before Otabek threw himself at them was that one had her hair and the other had a tail to her hat."

"That tail?" He asked, and pointed at the spot where the tear was known.

"Probably. Maybe."

Mikhail caught a glimpse of Minako coming back with a hot drink, and looked down to his youngest child. He slipped around in front of her and knelt down to crouch on one knee, and looked up into those swollen eyes, "Did they hurt you? Are you injured anywhere?"

She blinked slowly, but then shook her head. Her hands and legs still trembled in fits and starts, and she was sure her father could feel it where he had a hand on the edge of her knees. She looked up though as Minako finally got back to them, and took the small white cup in her hands when it was offered.

"It's a warm vanilla milk," The ballerina explained, "This kind of thing used to make me feel better when I was upset. It'll help soothe your throat."

Nikki took a careful sip, wary that it would be extra hot, but found that it was just a bit hotter than lukewarm, and just like Minako said it would, felt the cream and froth soften her raw throat. She coughed slightly and took a longer sip, and tried to speak, "...I'...I'm s-sorry..." She managed, "I should...should've listened..."

Mikhail stood up again and leaned forward to kiss his daughter's head, "It's okay. Sometimes it's hard to know what to do until it's too late. I'm glad you weren't alone. That could've been a lot worse."

The petite teen looked up , worried, "What ab-about Viktor...? If th-this whole th-thing...was to get to h-him...then...?"

"He's by himself down there." Yurio pointed out, "I mean, he's in the athletes-only section, but still."

"What about Yuri?"

"Still with his friends in the skater's section of the audience, probably." The Tiger answered, only for his brow to furrow, "You don't think they'd go after him, do you?"

Mikhail shook his head, "I don't think it's safe to assume anyone in our family is off the hook right now. Let's all go down there, snag Yuri, and stay close to Viktor until we're done here." He leaned down again to speak more softly to his daughter, "Come on, sweetie. Let's go to where it's better."

.

"Group 3 is free to enter the rink for a 10-minute warm-up."

Viktor pushed onto the white expanse with ease; there was some fanfare from the audience to welcome the next set of eight onto the ice, but nothing serious. At least there weren't any jeers. He looked around the audience as he sped his way around, and waved to his beloved once he spotted the man, then let himself buckle down to ply his craft.

Nothing will stop me from winning Gold here today, he thought, and twisted around with grace and ease. If those idiots wasted their money to come all the way here, just to try and piss me off, then they don't know me very well at all. They've only made me want to win even harder...to prove to them that they don't matter, and can't scare me.

Even just watching a warm-up, Yuri couldn't help but be entranced by his husband's fluidity. He sighed happily and sank into the warmth of his ample blankets. Just before he could really relax though, he felt a pair of arms slide over his shoulder.

"Say cheeeeese!" Phichit laughed, and clicked a selfie before Yuri could react; Jiro barked at the gasp that followed though. Still, once Phichit had retreated to the higher row, he couldn't help but cackle at the goofy look on his friend's face, "This is great. I can wait to post this."

"Nooo I look terrible!" Yuri protested, and jumped up to turn around, "I'm sick and you surprised me!"

"You never let me take any regular pictures though. All I ever get are the ones after skating." Phichit whined, "So I hardly ever get pics at all."

"Can't you at least take that one again so I don't look like I just sat on a whoopee-cushion or something?"

Phichit snorted a laugh, "Alright, alright...Kenjirou, do you mind?"

The bubbly teen eagerly took Phichit's phone and held it up, "Not at all...always happy to help!"

Yuri shuffled his way down and around the end of the row, keeping hold of Jiro's leash as he moved, and then plopped down next to his friend with a head-shake, "You know that Viktor's been training me to accept the lime-light a bit." He puffed, "I'm much better with pictures than I used to be."

Minami, in all his Japanese extra-ness, did everything he could to get the perfect angle, even stepping over the back of the lower row with a foot in an empty seat so he could lean back slightly. He snapped a few photos, wobbled where he stood, and recovered just in time to give Phichit his phone back, "Th-That should do it."

Phichit took the device back and inspected the goods like an appraiser, "Mhm...mhm...good, good, these are good. You've done well, apprentice."

"Yay~!"

"...Apprentice?" Yuri echoed skeptically.

"Mh." Phichit nodded with a grin, "My young Padawan Learner. I'm teaching him all the finer points of selfies, and using social media for self-promotion. SNS already thinks Kenjirou is one of the top three most adorable men's skaters in Asia, so he's on the right track."

"Really? Who else is on the list?"

"Me and GuangHong." Phichit teased, and leaned over to show the best photo from the set, "This one's okay, right?"

"Will it get me on the list?"

"You're more likely to be in the casually handsome category, I think, alongside Otabek and Seung-gil." He answered, only to reach up and tap the hidden man-bun under Yuri's Ravenclaw beanie, "And maybe even a bit edgy and sophisticated. I'll take it you approve of this picture. Posting~!"

"...What...does casually handsome even mean?" Yuri blanched, and felt the butterflies flutter as he watched those thumbs typing away.

"Good-looking without a lot of effort." Phichit answered simply, "People often wonder how drop-dead gorgeous you'd look if you let Viktor primp you up ever."

Yuri's face just went red, "I don't need to. I seduced the hottest man in figure skating when I was drop-dead drunk. As long as I don't let myself go again, I think I should be fine."

"Are you worried about that kind of thing?"

"Ehh... Well..." Yuri stammered, unsure how to explain it, "Let's just say that I started sleep-walking recently, and me walking out into the freezing rain to get sick wasn't the only dumb thing I did."

Both Phichit and Minami gaped at him in confusion, "Sleep walking...?" They both asked.

"There's been a lot of stress since Nationals," Yuri vaguely explained, "I think it just got to me. I ate a bunch of mochi that Viktor bou-"

"Yuri," Came Yurio's voice suddenly, and the group of them looked to where he stood. Jiro stood up in his seat and swayed his tail in recognition, "Come down to the prep area."

"Eh?" He blinked, "...Why? What's wrong?"

"Just come down." Yurio repeated, and took a step towards the exit, stopping only long enough to make sure Yuri was coming with him.

Yuri, of course, did as bid and stood up again to collect his things, "Guess I better go. You guys going to stay here?"

"For a little bit." Phichit answered, "I'm thinking about getting some kettle corn later."

"Oh...alright. Well, see you later then." Yuri said, and stepped off with his puppy to follow the tiger. The nervous flutters returned, and the descent through the cramped, concrete, bunker-like stairwell didn't help. It was odd to see the whole rest of the family there in the prep area when he came out of the exit, "...What's all this?"

"Just being cautious." Mikhail answered, "We had a bit of trouble earlier."

"What kind of trouble...?" Yuri asked, and only then spotted the odd affect hovering all over Nikki's posture. The flutter became a worried stick, and he quickly hopped over towards her, "What happened? Are you okay?"

Nikki nodded, though she did so while firmly attached to her father's arm.

"Some of Viktor's hecklers came looking for trouble," Mikhail explained simply, "Since they're stepping up their game from simple booing to actually finding some of us, I figured it would be best for us all to stick together. I've already called my PA, Sinclair, to arrange for some security until we're done in Colorado. Expect to see some more cars driving around tonight at the Estate House, and some burly-looking men patrolling."

"...Isn't that a bit excessive for hecklers...?" Yuri asked nervously, "Or am I missing something?"

"I'm done taking chances and hoping for the best." The elder answered, "If these twats are prepared to mess with my kids in an effort to get under Viktor's skin, I'm going to put an end to it. Ideally, it'll be the most boring and uneventful job the detail ever has, but I'm not going to let anything happen again."

"...Alright." Yuri nodded quietly, and looked back just in time to spot the warm-up skaters coming back through the curtain from rink-side. Viktor was one of the last to come through, using a towel to rub some of the sweat from his neck and cheek, but he stopped where he was when he spotted the gathered and gave a weird look. Yuri shuffled over to get a hug from the man, and held there with Jiro at his side; even the pup could sense that there was tension, and his little triangular ears went everywhere, listening to every sound, "Mik says we're going to be sticking together for the rest of the night. He says there's going to be extra security at the house later."

"...Oh." Viktor blurted uncomfortably, "Isn't that a bit excessive?"

Yuri made a face, "I just asked the same thing."

"You guys just keep doing what you normally do, and leave the worrying to me." Mikhail added, "Consider it an upgrade to your celebrity status."

"...Kind of weird but okay." Viktor smiled awkwardly, and took a drink from his water-bottle. He turned then to his partner, "I'm up fourth. No one in the audience made a peep like they did yesterday."

Mikhail just quietly watched, He really doesn't understand what happened earlier, he thought. I'm not sure if that makes him reckless, or...