"Is this really your new music? It's depressing as fuck."

Viktor opened one eye where he had closed them to feel the music on the ice before working on choreography. Yuri had his arms crossed wearing a frown with the heel of one blade dug into the ice. "If you consider this depressing then you don't understand the music at all."

"Tch," Yuri scoffed, "I understand it just fine. It's about dead people. That's depressing. Why the hell would you want to skate to a song about dead people?"

Rolling his eyes Viktor started to move onto the ice leisurely in tune to the music. "You miss the point of the song, Yura. Danse Macabre is about the universality of death. No matter your status in life, it is death that brings us all together. It is a reminder about how fragile our lives really are and to seize the moment, because it may be gone tomorrow." It was about seizing Yuuri. It was about the omega's own dance with death in the Yakuza and in turn, Viktor's dance.

Yuri huffed. "So no matter how many golds and world titles you win, in the end, you end up in the ground just like the rest of us peons, right?"

Viktor came to a stop and smirked over his shoulder. "Now you understand."

"How humble of you," Yuri mocked. "I don't want any of that shit in the program you are making for me, got it?"

Viktor blinked. "I'm making you a program?" Since when?

Yuri's face went red with anger as he balled his fists at his side. "Are you kidding me, old man?! You promised me if I won the Junior Grand Prix without quads you'd choreograph a program for my Senior debut!"

Tapping his chin, Viktor tried hard to remember when he ever made that promise. He couldn't remember, but he was super forgetful. It was likely he had made the promise at some point. "Ah, well, you know I have a bad memory. Fine, fine, I'll choreograph something for you. Do you have music picked out?"

"I thought that was your job," Yuri pointed out as the music stopped and he started skating some figures.

"I said I'd choreograph for you, not do everything," Viktor countered. While he did have a healthy library of skating music, he wanted to focus on his own two programs. And Yuuri. More importantly Yuuri. They had barely talked since he'd left Japan, and it was nothing more than simple pleasantries. Viktor was convinced Yuuri was doing it on purpose.

Yuri came out of a spin and jabbed his toe pick into the ice to come to a stop. "Yakov wants me to skate to Swan Lake. Fucking everyone skates to Swan Lake! It's stupid!"

Viktor couldn't help but chuckle. "It's a rite of passage, Yura. Every skater has to use a warhorse song two or three times. I did Swan Lake. And a Russian skater in his first year in Senior's? What better choice."

"I hate Swan Lake," Yuri growled.

"Would you prefer Phantom of the Opera, then? Or perhaps Carmen? Could you imagine?" Viktor teased. "You trying to be sexy?"

"You trying to say I couldn't do it, old man?" Yuri scowled, moving into Viktor's space.

While Yuri had presented after the Junior Grand Prix Finale as an alpha, Viktor couldn't help but still see him as a little kitten. His growl was just a small meow to him. "I'm saying that the world expects you to do something strong and masculine now that you are an alpha. I think Yakov has the right idea making you do something soft. It'll be surprising and refreshing to the audience."

"Fine, whatever, I'll win no matter what stupid program you give me!" Yuri assured with balled fists and determination.

Viktor smiled. Good. He liked a good challenge. Other than Chris, no other skater had really ever given him a run for his money. "Ok. When your music is cut send it to me and we'll schedule time for choreography. In the meantime, I'd appreciate it if you left me to my 'depressing music about dead people'."

"Tch, whatever," Yuri scoffed before skating away to work on his own.

While Viktor got the first minute solidly choreographed, he quickly found his mind wandering to where he was useless. Chris had accused him of pining once Viktor had explained his confrontation – minus the Yakuza part – with Yuuri at the banquet. Well, Viktor couldn't deny it – he was pining. Bad.

"If I didn't know Yuuri as well as I did, I would accuse him of using a bit of omega seduction and scent marking," Chris had said. "And while it's true Yuuri might have changed, I know you well enough to know you're just an idiot who falls fast and hard."

Chris wasn't wrong and Viktor didn't even try and deny it. Besides, he knew Yuuri had done none of those things, despite the very different Yuuri Chris had described from his Junior years. Chris had described him as timid, awkward, and quiet, but also adorable, cute, and talented. Such opposite things to what Viktor experienced that night in Japan. Well, mostly. Viktor had gotten a glimpse of those things Chris had mentioned. He wanted more than that, though.

Desperately, he'd searched the internet on articles about Yuuri but found nothing more than what Chris had told him. Yuuri had gotten in some unknown accident that made him retire early. Yet, no where did he find any mention of the type of accident or why it had made him retire. There were no mentions of injuries, though surely there must have been some sort? He'd found articles about how Yuuri had become an almost overnight millionaire with his family's business and played a strong role in Japan's ice skating scene as a sponsor. Overnight millionaire...right. One night he'd even foolishly tried typing in Yuuri's name and Yakuza in the search bar. It didn't turn up much, but what it did was all in Japanese that translated into a jumbled, incoherent, Russian mess.

Mind too busy on other things, Viktor eventually abandoned any further work on the program and stepped off the ice. Sighing, he reached into his bag to check his phone, expecting silence as he had been greeted with the past three days, except this time there was a text message. Holding his breath he opened it.

Yuuri: Viktor, I am very sorry for my silence this last week...I had very important meetings that took up much of my time and I couldn't get distracted.

Viktor's heart fluttered. Yuuri found him distracting. That was a good thing!

Me: You think I'm distracting? ;) I'm honored!

Yuuri: I have time to talk now, if you'd like…? Maybe even facetime?

Viktor swallowed back his scream of delight.

Me: YES! Yes, definitely! Give me twenty to get back home, though? I'm at the rink right now.

Yuuri: Sure

Almost ripping his skates off his feet Viktor quickly dried off his blades and put the soakers on before throwing them into his bag and running for the bus stop. Viktor lived close enough to the rink he didn't need to take the bus, but he wanted to get home as fast as possible. Thankfully, he made it to the stop before the bus and he was home within 15 minutes. Makkachin could wait just a bit longer to go for her walk.

Makkachin disagreed, promptly jumping up onto the couch next to Viktor and laying her full weight on his legs with a huff. "This is important, Makka," Viktor assured her. "I have to talk with your future second daddy! Or does Yuuri prefer being addressed as a mother as an omega? We'll have to ask."

Me: Ok! I'm home!

Almost immediately his phone was buzzing and lighting up with the notification of Yuuri's facetime. Viktor happily accepted and felt his heart stop when Yuuri's face came on the screen. His hair was slicked back like at the banquet, but he wore his thick blue glasses that softened his face. "Yuuri…" He almost couldn't hear himself speak.

Yuuri let out an amused huff. "Almost four days since we've spoken and that's all you can say?"

Viktor smiled brightly. "What can I say? You leave me speechless."

The omega blushed lightly, but quickly brushed it off. "You um, said you were at the rink? How are your programs going?"

"I got about half way through choreographing my free skate, but I got too distracted thinking about you," Viktor confessed.

This time Yuuri managed to not break his character. "Still haven't decided on the music for the short, then?"

Viktor tilted his head. "Still thinking about it. It has to be perfect, after all. You don't seem like someone who is easily impressed."

Those brown eyes softened. "I've always been easily impressed by you, Viktor."

This time, it was Viktor who blushed. He'd spent most of his life working to impress the crowd and the judges, but this season, all he cared about was Yuuri's approval. Proving himself to Yuuri was his only objective. Stupidly, though, he changed the subject. "Yuuri. The accident that took you from the ice...you don't have to tell me about it, but did it cause an injury? Is that why you had to stop skating? There's nothing about it anywhere."

Any softness held in Yuuri's eyes disappeared and his jaw tightened. "That's because my family worked very hard to make it that way. I'm...not ready to tell you about it yet. Yes, there was physical injury that would end my career, but it was more than that. Much more."

Viktor could feel himself swallow the regret of even asking. Yuuri had rejected discussing it at the banquet, and a few weeks wouldn't have changed that. He was an idiot. "I'm sorry."

It took a few moments, but the red left Yuuri's eyes and his jaw relaxed. "Is there something else I can share with you?"

Viktor took a moment to think what he could ask that Yuuri might actually answer. There was still so much the omega refused, still not believing Viktor was serious. "I know skating is a painful topic for you, but surely there were good times? Tell me how you fell in love with the ice. The things you enjoyed."

Yuuri's eyes lowered and he smiled. "You. The answer to all of it is you."

The alpha held his breath as he waited for Yuuri to continue.

"I started out in ballet and took skating lessons just on the side. I became really close with one of the girls there. She was very talented and could have gone far if she had decided to stay in competition. One day, she turned on the TV and there you were skating your short program at the Junior Grand Prix Finale. I fell in love right then - with you and the ice."

This is him. This is my mate. There's no other explanation. We are meant for each other. His free hand at some point had come up to his mouth and his eyes started to water. Viktor could feel himself on the verge of tear when Makkachin nudged his arm and then shoved her head between his and the screen to lick his face in comfort. "Makka!"

Yuuri laughed. Viktor loved Yuuri's laugh. "So, that's the famous Makkachin! Hello!"

Makkachin sniffed the screen curiously and then gave it a lick.

"Vicchan! Oide!" Yuuri called off screen, and he suddenly started speaking Japanese baby-talk while he bent down and returned on screen with his own brown bundle, although much smaller.

Makkachin's head tilted curiously at the newcomer and she let out a low woof. Vicchan yet out a loud-pitched bark and Makkachin jumped up with joy, knocking Viktor back onto the couch with a paw landing straight on his face causing his phone to drop to the cushion.

"Makka! Off!" Viktor pushed the poodle off and scrambled to find his phone. Yuuri was laughing again. Viktor would die for that laugh. "Sorry, sorry! I guess Makka really likes Vicchan! I wish I wasn't staying in so many different hotels while I was there. I'm going to miss her and she's not getting any younger."

Yuuri wiped at a tear from beneath his glasses, finally calming down. "Well...normally it takes half a year to go through the right process to get an animal into Japan, but...I might be able to help."

"Really?" Viktor asked excitedly. "But the hotels?"

"If you want to bring her, Viktor, just tell me. I'll worry about the rest," Yuuri assured.

The next month couldn't go by fast enough. Not only would he be with Yuuri, but Makkachin, too. Finishing his programs was even more important, now. "Yes. The answer is yes."

"Ok," Yuuri smiled, stroking a hand through Vicchan's fur. "I have to get going, soon. I'll do my best not to take so long next time. You sure you won't tell me the music for your program, at least?"

Viktor desperately didn't want their talk to end, but he managed to wink. "Definitely not. It's a surprise!"

"Ok," Yuuri said, accepting it without push. "And Viktor...do you really think it's smart to be searching my name in association with the Yakuza on the internet?"

Viktor almost dropped the phone again as his eyes went wide. How?

"Someone is always watching, Viktor," Yuuri warned, "And they aren't always friendly eyes." A soft smile formed on his lips. "I promised in due time I'd tell you. If you really want to be with me, you'll be more patient than this."

With a defeated slump of his shoulders he let his lower lip purse in a pout. It was just so hard to think of Yuuri as Yakuza, still, despite the horrors the omega had promised he was a part of. "I'm not very good at being patient."

Yuuri smiled, slightly larger this time. "So I'm finding out."

"I just want to see you again. Now," Viktor said. "Another month is too long."

"Viktor-," Yuuri started with a sigh.

"Vitya," Viktor quickly corrected. "Please...call me Vitya. Vitya and nothing else."

Yuuri didn't immediately respond, instead turning his head away from the screen in thought. "In a month. If this is still going on when you come, then I will call you Vitya."

"You still don't believe me, Yuuri," Viktor sighed.

"It's not you I don't believe in, Viktor," Yuuri smiled sadly. "Have a good afternoon."

"Goodnight, my Yuuri," Viktor responded, not ready for the screen to turn black, but it did.

Normally, Viktor would have gone back to the ice that afternoon, but he couldn't find the heart to go. In fact, his heart hurt. He only managed to get off the couch long enough to walk Makkachin and make himself a protein smoothie. He really was hopeless.

As if on queue, Chris' name popped up on his screen after his so-called dinner. Viktor swiped right to accept the call and propped it up against the fake flower vase on his coffee table. Grabbing a pillow, Viktor held it against his chest and rolled over to face the screen with a sigh.

Chris chuckled. "I could feel your pining thousands of kilometers away, mon ami."

"He called me this morning, Chris," Viktor started. "It was too short."

"I've really never seen you like this before," Chris mused. "I mean, sure, there was something quite alluring about his adorable and quiet nature. I would have banged him - tried to - but he certainly doesn't seem your type."

Viktor shook his head. "He's not like that anymore. I know you assumed it was me that approached him, but it was the opposite. Yuuri seduced me right back to his room and had his way with me. It was glorious."

"Are you sure we're talking about the same Yuuri Katsuki?" Chris asked with a curiously raised eyebrow.

"I'm sure," he confirmed. "He was...well...after we had sex he showed more of the quiet side you were talking about. It's still there, I think, but only behind closed doors. At the banquet he was all confidence. He owned the room."

Chris whistled. "I knew he had come into some money. Who knew it could boost one's confidence so much?"

Viktor knew that wasn't it, but he couldn't say that to Chris. Not exactly. "I don't think it was the money, necessarily. I think he was thrown into a position that required him to gain the confidence."

Chris hummed in thought and acceptance of it. "Crazy to think a single inn could make so much money. We should visit, see what the fuss is all about."

Visit a Yakuza lair. Sure. Sounded great. "I'll ask him about it."

"Am I ever going to meet this new Yuuri? I'm disappointed that I had already run off with Markus before seeing him at the banquet. I usually last a bit longer than that."

"You weren't there five minutes," Viktor said with a smile. "Josef was complaining about you all night. But, yes. We are meeting while I'm back for Fantasy on Ice. I'll introduce you two. Well, re-introduce."

"Perfect," Chris smiled. "How did Yakov take your music selection?"

"Actually, favorably," Viktor said. "It's a classic, but isn't over used like the war horses, so it's something still fresh as far as the skating world goes."

Chris took a sip of a water glass. "I'm assuming you didn't tell him your inspiration - your sexy omega."

"Mmm, no," Viktor confessed. "Not my real inspiration. I told him my theme was Dancing with Death because so many people think my career is already dead."

"Smart!" Chris beamed. "Dancing with Death instead of the super sexy omega Devil sponsor you slept with."

Viktor tilted his head to look at the ceiling rather than at Chris. Yuuri had said he'd killed. Would kill. Maybe he wasn't the Devil, but Death himself. Deciding who lived and who died. "Maybe it really is Death I am dancing with…"

"Don't be so dramatic," Chris tsked. "You're only 27. Skaters last longer than they used to these days. Some of our competitors are in their early 30s, you know."

"Yes, and you never see them on the podium, do you?" Viktor retorted.

Chris shrugged. "What else do you have to win, Viktor?"

Yuuri's heart. The ultimate grand prize, as far as he was concerned. Shifting around on the couch he decided to confess that to Chris. "Yuuri gave me an ultimatum, you know? For me to skate another season. I wasn't going to before we met."

Chris' green eyes widened and then twinkled. "Oh! You must win the fair omega's hand? How incredibly romantic! I love it! But really? You were going to bow out the season of the Olympics? Why?"

Viktor just shrugged absently. "It didn't seem worth it. I already have an Olympic gold and the likelihood of me doing it again isn't good."

"You and I both know that's a lie," Chris argued. "Well, anyways, I suppose there is more to win, then, isn't there? I won't make it easy for you. I'd like a second go at Yuuri." He winked.

Viktor clutched the pillow hard, feeling a growl at the base of his throat. He'd taken Chris' comment as a threat, even though deep down he knew it was only in jest. They'd spent one night together and he was already feeling possessive.

"I heard that," Chris mused. "Jealous already? Now you really have me curious. Well, I best leave you to your moping."

"I'm not moping," Viktor retorted. Except, he totally was.

"Uh-huh," Chris rolled his eyes. "Au revoir, my lovesick alpha puppy."

"Au revoir," Viktor mumbled before reaching out and pressing the end call button. Sighing heavily Viktor clutched the pillow tighter and buried himself into the couch. Moping. He wished it was Yuuri between his arms instead.

Viktor must have fallen asleep on the couch, for the next thing he knew he was back in bed in Japan and Yuuri had him pinned beneath him. The omega's hair was slicked back and he didn't wear his glasses. He was naked, leaving all his tattoos on display, and his eyes flashed red as he smirked and licked his lips.

"Would you give me your soul, Viktor?" Yuuri asked. "Give yourself to me completely? I would give you everything."

The alpha sucked in a breath as Yuuri's lips hovered over his. "Yes. Yes, Yuuri. You can have me. All I want is you."

Yuuri hummed before leaning in for a kiss. It was long and deep, mouths parting and tongues meeting. When Yuuri finally pulled away it was with Viktor's lip between his teeth. "Which Yuuri is it that you want, I wonder? This one? The fire and confidence? Or this one?" Suddenly Yuuri was gone from atop him and in the bed next to him, hair soft and void of gel and eyes a warm brown behind the glasses.

"Either," Viktor said, voice sounding so far away. "Both. It doesn't matter. They are both you."

Yuuri smiled, reaching up to brush away a strand of silver from Viktor's face. "Dance with me?"

Everything changed around them as Yuuri took Viktor's hand and they were at the banquet in their suits and dancing. While there were people all around them, they were faceless. All Viktor could focus on was Yuuri. Sweet Yuuri who laughed and twirled with him across the floor, his face tinged with pink from the endless champagne. And that ugly tie.

When their movements brought them close enough, Viktor stopped and rested his forehead against Yuuri's. "I wish we could dance together on the ice."

There was a pause, but Yuuri's mouth curved upward. "In here, we can do anything."

The scenery changed and they were on the ice, Viktor in his signature magenta costume and Yuuri in a matching blue one. In the distance, a piano and a violin played and they flew across the ice as one. They lifted each other with ease, and Viktor felt himself ascend to the skies when Yuuri's palm touched his cheek.

Apparently, he ascended right back to the real world. The moment Yuuri's fingers fell from his face he woke to a dark room. Viktor lifted his head to take in his surroundings, still on the couch with Makkachin snoring around his feet. With an upset sigh Viktor lowered his head back down. Maybe, in some other life, he and Yuuri did dance on the ice together.

Even though he managed to get a few more hours of sleep in, Viktor felt exhaustion in his bones as he entered the rink. He couldn't get the dream out of his head. His and Yuuri's dancing and the music. The music. The violin kept playing over and over in his mind. He needed to find that music.

"Vitya," Yakov's voice jerked him from his thoughts. "Walk with me."

Viktor did as he was told, dropping his bag down and following Yakov rinkside where a few of the skaters were out on the ice already, including Yuri and Mila.

"You haven't given me any updates on your programs. How is the choreography going?"

Viktor let his eyes watch the students skate. After his second world title he'd refused to let Yakov medle with his programs. He'd picked his own music and done his own choreography. "I'm almost done with my free program. I should be able to show it in full this week to you."

Yakov hummed in approval. "What about your short? Do you have a piece of music yet?"

The violin. Viktor lifted a hand to his chin, his index finger pointed over his lips. He needed that violin. "There is a piece I'm having trouble recalling. I vaguely remember it from some classes. The composer had a dream where he sold his soul to the devil and there is a beautiful violin piece he tried to recreate, but always felt it could never compare to his dream."

Yakov nodded, clearly knowing what Viktor was referring to. "Violin Sonata, often referred to as The Devil's Trill Sonata by Guiseppe Tartini. A good piece with several movements to choose from. For you I'd probably choose the second movement, but you'll do whatever you want because you don't listen. I'd approve, certainly, but I must admit, Viktor, that this year's theme and these pieces are a...surprising choice for you. It's impressive, that after so long you can still manage to keep me and the audience on their toes."

It was rare to receive such a compliment from his coach, and Viktor found himself without words at first. "I...just suppose that the moment I lose the ability to surprise them, I really will be dead to them."

"You will be," Yakov agreed, watching as Yuri triped for a quad flip and promptly fell. "Which is why I strongly suggest bowing out before that time comes. I at first thought you a fool for trying to go one more season, but now I'm curious. Maybe you can win another Olympic gold yet and go out with the greatest victory of all."

Viktor simply hummed, watching as Yuri tried again and failed. "He's going to break himself if he keeps going on like that."

"Sometimes that's the best way to learn," Yakov said simply. "It's not like you ever listened to me when I told you no. Though, I noticed you finally got him to agree to my music suggestion."

The younger alpha shrugged. "I simply turned it into a challenge for him. Besides, you always make your first year Seniors do war horses. He shouldn't be exempt. You even made me do Swan Lake."

Yakov huffed. "Yes, and you rebelled by having that ridiculous see-through costume made. They are called war horses for a reason. They work."

Boring. That's what they were. Yet, Viktor couldn't exactly disagree with Yakov's statement. "Have you been working on his free skate at all? I would prefer to get my own programs finished before I work on Yura's short."

"Yes, that's fine," Yakov waived him off. "Lilia is choreographing his free skate: Don Quixote."

Viktor choked on the air he was breathing. "Lilia? As in your ex-wife Lilia?" The alpha woman had been one of the greatest primas the Bolshoi had ever seen. She was scary. Alpha-Alpha relationships rarely worked out, and it was easy to see why with those two. Neither would ever back down about anything and it had led to their divorce.

Yakov gave him a strong side-eye. "It may be impossible to believe, but the little brat needs more discipline than you."

Well, there certainly wasn't anyone better than Lilia. Even Viktor was scared of her. But if Yakov was willing to put aside his differences for Yuri, than that meant he was already moving on. It was a hard pill for Viktor to swallow, but he did so gracefully. For now. He hadn't lost yet.

For the first time in a while Viktor really paid attention to himself on the ice. How did he feel after a quad? A combination? His triple axel? Did he hurt? Was he shaky? Was he feeling old? The answer was not really. His bones didn't ache and his muscles were strong. Maybe his stamina had fallen a bit. He likely couldn't back-load his program. And - oh. Yuri had just done a tano quad salchow.

Fuck.

Blowing out a discouraged huff of air Viktor called it quits for the day. If anyone noticed that he was bothered, they didn't approach him about it. He took the long way home, mind unable to quiet. What he'd seen was just proof that the younger generation was ready. Ready to up the level, make new records, and ready to pass him by. Viktor was now of the age to let it go, find a mate, bond, settle down, and have a family.

He was trying to do just that, thank you, but Yuuri was making it a challenge by requiring him to win like this.

Pulling out his keys from his pocket he fumbled through them for the right one and unlocked the door. Opening it he stepped inside and came to a screeching halt. The entire living room was covered in bouquets of flowers. Dropping his skating bag and slowly pushing the door shut behind him he approached the first of what had to be a hundred bouquets. There was a note that had Viktor's name on it. Carefully, he pulled it free and opened it.

Viktor -

Important business has pulled me away to China, and I do not know how long I will be gone. I know I promised to try and speak with you sooner, but it is imperative I hold these meetings now so that I can make the most of next month with you. I will send texts when I can, but as I've said, thinking of you is...a distraction. I hope these flowers speak enough of my apology.

-Yuuri

Slowly, Viktor clutched the note to his chest and looked around the room once more. Flowers weren't cheap. This must have cost a fortune. And how did they get in? Yakov was the only one with a spare key. Eyes were always watching, Yuuri had said, and apparently able to break in, too. At least they had locked the door behind them, and Makkachin didn't seem bothered by it at all, the poodle eagerly sniffing the various bouquets. Viktor didn't expect a response, but he eagerly pulled out his phone and typed a text message.

Me: Apology accepted!

It was more than accepted. It was...it was everything. Sure, he'd come to his hotel room full of bouquets from fans and sponsors all the time, but this was different. This was personal. Honest. It made all his worries from earlier that day disappear. Viktor wished he knew how to send Yuuri something in return. What would a mafia lord like, anyway? He knew Yuuri like dogs. Maybe they could buy a lot of dogs when they moved in together. Solid plan. That would have to wait a while, though. What else could he do? Ah-the tie. How with so much money could Yuuri have a perfectly tailored suit and an ugly tie? Yes, he'd find him a tie. The perfect one.

In fact, he'd have something custom made. Something personal, to remind Yuuri of him. Yuuri looked best in blue. What if...aha! The pattern could replicate the feathers from one of his more famous costumes. Everyone remembered it from the iconic scene with his blue rose head wreath. Maybe they could incorporate the roses, too, in the design. Viktor sent a text to his tailor with the deadline of his trip to Japan. It didn't take long for Andrei to respond with a promise of creating something exquisite and on time. His phone chimed with another notification.

Yuuri: I'm glad.

Viktor smiled and clutched the phone to his chest. Just a few more weeks. He could do this.