CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

-A new Nikiforov is on the scene! Only ONE can take the Gold!-

March 29th had arrived too quickly, but at least the flight from Spain to Finland was relatively short. Yuri couldn't contain his glee over where it said 'Yuri Nikiforov' on his shiny new passport, which had arrived only just before they'd needed to leave for the airport. Even on the trip to the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, the new Nikiforov was bouncing in place, giddy like a child at Christmas.

Victor went over the event program as they rode in their taxi. For the first time since winning Gold at his last World Championship, he was dressed up in his full white and red track suit with [R U] emblazoned on the chest. Yuri was in his own track suit, with its black body and aquamarine stripes, and each of them wore their event lanyards with their competitor passes, though Victor's had more 'stuff' on it for his additional occupation as coach.

"The Men's Short Program isn't until tomorrow at 12:30pm and goes until 8pm." He explained, "Then the Free Skate is on Saturday from about 11am to 6pm. The Exhibition is on Sunday starting at 5pm."

"I don't think I've ever been this excited for a competition." Yuri commented, eyes gazing out the window as they got closer to the sports complex, "I'm about to jump out of my skin."

"Save all your energy for later." Victor teased, and looked up past his phone, "Don't need you wearing yourself out before you even set foot on the ice."

"I can't help it! This is different!" Yuri puffed; he twisted in his seat and beamed at his partner, "Think about it...last time I saw you in that whole outfit, in person, at an event, I blew you off and ran home with my tail between my legs. Now look at us!" His eyes were bright like his gold ring, making Victor smile, "I feel like I could do six quads!"

"Do you want to?"

Yuri blanched dramatically, "OhwhathaveIdone? Can I take it back?"

"I'm still sure you could do it."

Hands flailed back and forth, "There's no way! I'd freak out from the pressure!"

Victor shrugged, though still amused by the whole thing, "If you say so."

There was already a pretty big crowd at the drop-off area in front of the arena. Yuri recognized the building from previous years; the last competition held there was in 2009, a European Championship, and the last World Championship hosted there was in 1999. Cameras flashed like glitter as other taxis and vans pulled up with other competitors, and fans of every nation called out and clapped for their skating heroes.

When their own vehicle finally pulled up, Victor paid the driver and nodded to Yuri to exit. The door opened, and a wave of excitement washed over them, nearly pushing Yuri right back inside the car. He finally managed to get out though and stood upright, looked out at the massive gathering, and for once, was happy to hear their cheering. It all paled when Victor came out of the car after him, and fans started screaming. Dozens of people held up home-fashioned signs and flags to welcome Victor back to competition. Yuri couldn't have been happier, seeing the fire of life blazing in his husband's eyes, breathing in the air like it had never been so fresh before. Victor finally addressed the throng of people, and raised up his right hand to wave; the wink was what set them into a mad cacophony though. The Russian laughed and reached for his partner's hand, pulled up his carry-bag a bit higher on his shoulder, and waved a bit more with his right hand, being rather deliberate with the display of his wedding band. The roar of excitement rolled with them like waves in a storm, and continued on as they walked in tandem through the front doors.

The crowd wants him...but he's mine, Yuri thought confidently.

They'd been inside the arena a few times since arriving the previous Sunday, taking advantage of the practice times on Monday and Tuesday. They'd even reunited with their competition friends on the ice, accepting their congratulations and rebuilding damaged bridges with those who'd been hurt by previous events.

"We're here to compete as friends, even if we're all rivals." Yuri had said, "So we should all cheer each other on from now on, okay?"

Morale was high after that, and the energy of the competition shifted, especially after many of the skaters saw Victor's Short Program practice. They quickly realized just how serious things were going to be again. He'd been absent from the Grand Prix Series, Russian Nationals, and the European Championships...but now he was back to reclaim his crown, and everyone knew it. Many had even given their sympathies to Yuri.

"He got you all trained up to win Gold and now he's just going to dangle it in front of you like a carrot on a stick." Chris mused, "Are you worried?"

"Worried?" He huffed a laugh, "I'm going to win Gold this weekend. He's the one who should be worried."

"Such determination..." The Swiss skater swooned, "If you perform your 'Eros' program like this, you may melt the ice before I even have a chance."

"Don't worry, Chris." Yuri reassured, "If the ice has already turned to water, your mature sexiness will evaporate what's left into steam."

Despite the success of the practice, Yuri could still hear Victor getting lectured by Yakov. Where it was once a chastising to Yurio for attempting quads while still in the Junior division, it was now an argument against quads for a skater entering the twilight of his career...but Victor wouldn't hear it.

"You could hurt yourself!" Yakov insisted.

"That's always a risk." The skater retorted, "But I haven't been hurt yet."

"Don't jinx yourself!"

"I won't!" Victor laughed, hardly taking it seriously at all.

Yuri listened to them intently, but his mind always went back to secret Victor had told him about his upcoming performance. Victor hadn't shown that element off to anyone yet, not even him...but Yuri could see the itch every time the Russian went to perform his jumps. The spirit of that world record was in them. He could feel the power in the height and distance of each leap; he could tell there was room for more.

If he actually pulls it off while being scored...his name will be in the history books for decades, maybe even long after we're all bones and dust. It won't just be replaced by the next record setter in a generation or two...it'll have staying power. What more could he ask for than to have his name still listed as a current record holder when he's too old to even stand? We'll look back on these days together and wonder where all the time went...like we all just made history yesterday.

The announcers had begun the Opening Ceremonies, and the national anthem of Finland was played while several local skaters carried the large flag out onto the ice, one at each corner. The ISU flag came out after them, carried on a pole by a single elegantly-dressed female skater around the rink, followed by the flags of all the participating countries.

The competitors had all seen it a thousand times before and found it all rather dull. What they were looking forward to was the custom ice-skating show that the host nation would always put together ahead of time. Local singing talent would give something of a concert, or a storytelling exhibition would be presented, and with the lights and play of the ice taken full advantage of, a whole movie could be played in real time.

Yuri remembered the show from the World Championships when they'd been held in Shanghai a few years prior. The Chinese show was an homage to ice itself, and how archaeologists and anthropologists had discovered a 10,000 year old cave painting on Chinese territory that depicted ancient people on a hunt...on skates.

This year, a few specific Gold medalists from the current season's major events had been selected to put on a special show, to celebrate their accomplishments separately from the rest. Yurio - and his GPF Gold medal - had been among the chosen, and he performed a section of his Grand Prix Final Exhibition Skate; 'Welcome to the Madness'...although he was doing it to a different selection of music more appropriate to the tone of the event. Without the proverbial death-metal, the show seemed somewhat...neutered.

Yuri leaned over to Victor as they watched it from the stands, "He barely stands taller than the kids skating around him."

"I'm sure he's thinking the same thing." The Russian laughed, and clapped along with the rest as the show progressed.

When the mascot event came up though, and Yurio had once again been shuttled out onto the ice to participate, the pair could hardly contain themselves.

Yurio was forced to pretend to enjoy himself amongst the rabble of big, annoying mascot costumes.

I literally could not hate anything more than I hate everything right now.

It was only about a 30 minute wait before the Pairs Short Program would begin, so the two decided to stay and watch. Even though their own event wouldn't start until the next day, Yuri still felt himself starting to get nervous. The Pair Skaters had different requirements than Singles did, and some of the jumps involved the man throwing his female partner through the air to perform her jump. A few landed hard and fell, and it unsettled Yuri's stomach.

Victor could sense it, and touched his husband's hand where he kept it balled up on the chair's arm-rest, "You aren't even competing against these guys. What's gotten you all stiff?"

"I see them jump and fall, and some might even be hurt..." He answered, "Yakov's worried about that happening to you, too. This record-setting jump you have planned...is it really such a good idea?"

"It took me two weeks to get it right. You think I didn't fall a few times before I landed it?"

"The idea of you falling on the ice is a foreign concept to me." Yuri answered pensively, "I saw how banged up you were coming home from your solo practices...but I never thought it was because you were trying to do such an impossible jump."

"It's fine, Yuri..." Victor tried to reassure, "I can do it. I made sure I could do it ten times over before I ever thought of celebrating the idea that I could land it in competition."

"Are you sure though?"

The Russian gave him a look, "I need you to believe more than I do that I can win."

Yuri was taken aback by the statement, "...Victor..."

"If you heard two years ago that I was going to do this jump, would it ever cross your mind to doubt that I could do it?"

"...No."

"Then why doubt me now?"

"I'm not just a distant admirer anymore." He answered quietly, barely audible over the cheering of the audience as the latest skaters' scores were called out overhead, "If you somehow miss the jump and get hurt...I have to watch you suffer afterwards. Even if you don't get hurt physically...since you're such a great skater, the humiliation of messing it up would hurt your pride even worse."

"Now I'm going to have to worry about you messing up your own jumps because I know that's on your mind." Victor said nervously, and reached his free hand across to caress his beloved's cheek, "Stop worrying so much and have faith in me. I wouldn't do it unless I knew that I could...and I know that I can."

"Alright..."

.

To Yuri's relief, and perhaps to his dread at the same time, the order of performances had placed him on the roster after Victor for the Short Program. So at least, no matter what happened, he'd know ahead of time if he had anything to worry about.

If he gets hurt though, then my shot at the podium will be completely destroyed, Yuri thought warily, eyes on the schedule board. He looked to his husband, their hands swaying gently where they held together between them; Victor was chatting with Chris - things were still a bit tense between them, but Yuri could tell they were on the path to forgiveness. I hope everything works out.

After a while, they made their way out of the prep-area and headed back to the shuttle port. Yuri looked around in wonder, and waited nearby quietly while Victor was pulled away by ISU media. He could hear them clamoring for information about the Russian's return. Yuri suddenly felt a hard kick against his back though, but to his own surprise - as well as everyone around them - he held his ground with only one side-step to keep his balance. He felt two more kicks, but still held steady. When he looked over to see the stunned but indignant look on the Russian Punk's face, he couldn't help but smile, "Looks like you had fun out there tonight, Yurio."

"Shut your face-hole, Katsudon." The blond answered curtly, "We found your friend for you."

"Friend?"

"Victor's uncle." He clarified, and thumbed back to where the man had been talking to Yakov.

The older man wore the same flat-cap and black duster as he had before, but his suit under it was more of a glossy gunmetal grey than black like before. Those jade eyes hadn't spotted him yet, and Yuri swallowed a nervous lump in his throat. He nodded though and turned back towards the interview, "Oi!" He hollered, and waved to get his husband's attention, "Victor, it's Mikhail! He made it!"

"...All right, it looks like I have to go then." He told the group, and bowed his head politely to depart from them and follow his partner into the crowd. Like his partner, a nervous knot formed in his throat, and the birds in his stomach fluttered and thrashed, but... I promised I'd give this a chance. Yuri's doubted himself since the funeral; for his sake, I hope this works out. He needs to feel like he's a good judge of character again.

Meeting with the man again had made Victor more nervous than making a come-back to competition. He knew what the ice felt like...but the Mikhail was untested and potentially dangerous, like black ice. There was always the worry that something would cause him to fall through it and drown. So, unlike their first official meeting in St. Petersburg, Victor was a bit more reserved, and tensely held out his hand, "Uncle."

"Nephew." The older man smiled cautiously, and shook that offered hand, then released, "It's good to see you again, and under better circumstances."

"Yeah." He answered stiffly; he felt the nervous squeeze around his hand, and he pulled it into his tracksuit pocket to offer its soothing warmth.

"Coach Yakov was telling me about the rules and scoring system." The elder went on, "It's all really complicated."

"Only the judges make it complicated." Victor pointed out, "Anyone with an HD camera can go back and check the rotations on a jump, and see which foot and what edge was used to take off and land on...but judges can be prickly when it comes to giving good scores for the artistry of the performance. Plenty of skaters have been hurt by biases rather than an actual lack of talent or skill, or even for something as petty as a judge not liking the music."

"You're worried about the American judge?"

"It's not so bad since the 6-point system was replaced, but Every Russian worries about the American judge."

"I'm sure you'll do fine. You've been scored by them in the past and still whipped up a Gold mine ."

"Mh..." The young silver answered; the hair on the back of his neck bristled, but he tried not to show it. I don't know why it makes me so uncomfortable that he suddenly knows so much about me. It's not like that information is difficult to find... I should be more surprised if he came here not knowing anything...right?

"Victor, I want a pork cutlet bowl when I win this thing." Yurio interrupted.

Yuri balked, "But that's what my reward's supposed to be..."

"That's why I want it." The blond retorted, and turned to twist upward into the older skater's space, "So I can eat it in front of you with the Gold medal around my neck."

"Ahhh you're so cold!"

"Katsuki-kun!" Came a familiar voice, and it pulled the whole group out of their previous mind-set.

Yuri looked over, and had a serious feeling of déjà vu to see Newscaster Morooka there. But, instead of being depressed like the last time the announcer had grabbed his attention, he stood proudly, and lifted the participant's badge that hung from his lanyard, "It's Nikiforov-kun now."

"Ah yeah, I'd heard that! I guess it's official, then." The man answered as he approached the group, "You look like you fit right in with these guys. You're still skating for Japan though, right?"

"Absolutely."

Victor watched quietly, but then smiled and put his hand on his husband's shoulder, "This feels familiar. How about that commemorative photo you bailed on before?"

Yuri's eyes lit up, and he realized, in that moment...everything had finally come full-circle for him.