(Author's Note: A lot of folks aren't getting notifications in their email when a new chapter goes online. I have no control over that, unfortunately. That's all website-based, and is this site's responsibility to sort it out. Please email them! Update notifications haven't gone out since 4/30 when Ch118 went online.

Skating people...if you see any obvious mistakes in this sequence, please PM me. I'm doing my best but the rules are often difficult to interpret.

ALSO...a lot of people were saying they wanted to actually SEE Viktor's FS outfit, so I doodled it for ya'll. Please enjoy~ [ koltirasrip . deviantart art/Viktor-Nikiforov-FS-679312242 ] )

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TWENTY FOUR

The crowd erupted into a different sort of cheering...going from simple hoots and hollers to screaming out either Viktor's name, Viktuuri, good luck in various languages, or amplified shrieks that only the most die-hard fangirls could utter. The flags and signs came out in force as well. Viktor caught sight of a few blown-up photos from the wedding photobook, and he smiled to see them.

He made a few lazy laps around the south end of the rink before twisting back to the wall to find his 'coach' for the last moment before starting. He set his curled-up fists on the top part of the barrier and lowered his head, closing his eyes and listening to the roar of the crowd, trying to get into the right frame of mind.

"So...the last year has been pretty crazy, right?" Yuri asked quietly, his voice breaking through the cacophony, reaching the silver skater like no other voice could. He gently set his own hands over his husband's, rubbing the back of each with his thumbs, "A lot of things went down that upset you more than anything else has in the last 20 years..."

Slate eyes opened a little, looking down on where their hands were set in front of him. He focused on the gold he could see on his husband's finger.

"No matter what happens, or how happy I am going into it...I need you to remind me of everything." Viktor said, getting ready to do his first dress rehearsal in the Ice Castle, "I need you to bring me back to the worst moments. I can't do it on my own. Bring it all back to the front of my mind. Make me see it again like it just happened."

"...Viktor..."

"Promise you'll do that for me."

Yuri looked on quietly, but then reluctantly nodded, "...I promise."

"Something as unintentionally painful as my selfishly suggesting you should stop being my coach so you could come back as a skater... Or as serious as having to deal with your father on the horrible occasion of your mom's death... Getting hit in the eye, to the point where you were almost blinded, and not even for the first time, but the second..." Yuri reached up with his right hand to touch lightly to the side of Viktor's normally-hidden eye, thumbing the faint scars that only he knew were there, "Remember the pain. Remember the feeling of the vodka and blood trailing through your hair and down your face, making your clothes stick to your skin. Remember the moment Konstantin grabbed you by your shirt, and then threw the both of us down into the snow like we were less than nothing..."

He heard the shaky breath being drawn in, and though it pained him to speak of it, he had sworn to go on no matter what.

"Remember the tank in the woods, and finding your first pair of skates, the ones you hid inside it because you were scared Konstantin would destroy them if he ever laid eyes on them. Imagine your life if you'd never escaped, if you'd ended up in the steel mill like he wanted. Think about how different things would be if..." In this case, even Yuri felt the agony rising in him to mention it, "...If we never got to meet."

That forced Viktor's eyes closed again, clenched shut like the sights coming to his mind were too much to bear. He pulled his hands from the rink wall and slid them up around his partner's neck, sliding velvet-soft thumbs up just enough to feel the thrum of Yuri's heartbeat just under his skin. He nodded his head twice, kicked his toe-pick against the rubber wall-guard loudly enough to confuse the audience into briefly going a bit quieter than before, and then pulled away without saying a word.

"...Davai, Viktor..." Yuri whispered, watching the man skate away as rigidly as he'd ever seen him, "...And I'm sorry."

Newscaster Morooka watched the Russian slowly get to center, carefully observing how he held himself. The announcer leaned forward dubiously, and started to speak into the microphone for the television audience, "Skater Viktor is bringing a new emotion to the ice today, as he skates to the furious and violent nature of rage. The years catch up to all of us in the end, he tells us, and the ever-looming fact of retirement has hung over him like the vapor of death. Tonight he skates to 'Evoke' by After Forever. Ladies and Gentlemen...five time consecutive World Champion, Grand Prix Finalist, and European and Russian National Champion...Viktor Nikiforov."

The roar of the audience was slowly fading away in the Russian's mind, keeping his eyes low to the ice as he made wide arcs. When he started to see his own scratches in the frost though, he knew to bring it in, and twisted sharply to finally take his position. He could feel his heart pounding in his head, his fingertips...even his toes. The reminder of everything that had infuriated him over the last year had served its purpose...and even though most of it had been resolved, to an extent, it still felt like it was too much.

Maybe it's just because of how raw I still feel after yesterday. He thought to himself, drawing in a slow, deep breath. He brought his arms up, and then down in front of him, like he was channeling the energy into a ball below his hands.

His eyes closed again, and slowly exhaled.

The music finally began, deceptively calm at first. He popped his head up, opening his eyes as he twisted his right leg away in a wide circle around where he stood, then pushed off backwards, rotating gracefully as his blades left their marks in the ice.

The music exploded then, and he stopped, slamming his right skate into the ice hard in time with the boom, going partway down on one knee with both arms up at his sides. Shards of crystalline ice rose into the air from the impact.

So wild, so beautiful and pure

He raised his arms up above, and then brought them down around himself as he turned and rose back up, the lyrics following him. The left skate slammed down to the second boom.

All elements divine

He swung his right leg out, picking up speed as he rounded the far end of the rink, pushing into a 3-turn.

The essence of all life

Quad Lutz right out the gate, timing his landing with the next loud boom in the music.

So vast, extensive and remote

He rushed back out in a long line, twisting and weaving his feet across and behind one another, arms coming up and around him.

Unbridled and erratic

.

The envelope was right there in between them, held at the limits of Konstantin's arm's length. Instead of cautiously stepping closer though, Konstantin just barreled forward, closing the distance until he rammed the envelope into the center of Viktor's chest with a speed that surprised all three of them. Viktor had his hands out of his pockets then, the right one up defensively as he stumbled over his own feet in shock at the sudden advance. He didn't fall though, and held his ground.

"...Viktor!" Yuri blanched.

"STAY WHERE YOU ARE." The Russian barked, not taking his eyes off the huge man in front of him.

The younger skater was on edge, but for the next few seconds, no one moved. Even Yakov was unsure what to do, so he stayed put as well.

It only took a second or two for Konstantin to notice the gold shine on one of his son's fingers, and his eyes glanced over to where Yuri had his hands up as well, seeing the matching ring there.

.

Savage but glorious

Viktor lowered down to one knee and spun several times as he slid diagonally across the ice, then rose and kicked off into a triple Flip, triple Loop.

It bursts, Its energy is stirring

Layback Ina Bauer into a triple Axel, double toe-loop, triple loop combo.

It calls, its drawing power

With his right foot on the ground, Viktor pulled the left out across him and went immediately into an outside spread-Eagle...

Will enchant us with its might

...and at the end of it, launched into another triple Axel.

Its massive spirits bright

.

Yuri acted on instinct after that, jumping into the fray to try and put himself between his fiancé and the man who'd grabbed him.

"Don't hurt him!" The small figure pleaded, "Let Viktor go!"

"Yuri!" Yakov called.

It was too late though. His desperate flailing was like a fly on a horse's backside, and it just annoyed the larger man. Konstantin reached his left hand under where his right had grabbed his son, and yanked Yuri clean under it to hold him up again on the other side. Cold slate eyes glared at him, like they could stare straight into his skull and bore a hole into his brain.

Konstantin just sneered, and literally threw Yuri away. The young skater landed with a crunch in the snow and skidded several feet before coming to a painful stop.

"Yuri!"

.

LET IT FLOW!

He threw himself into a butterfly spin; flying entry into a standard camel spin.

Its endless beauty WILL EVOKE

His arms extended out from himself; layover variant.

A timeless sequence we ALL SHARE

A long reach back to grab his free leg by the blade, pulling it in close to the back of his head to increase speed on the rotation; donut spin with an arm raised.

We cannot break through NOR CONTROL

He finally moved out again, slowing down slightly in time with the music.

But to feel its true soul

.

Yuri finally collected himself and slowly struggled over to Viktor's side. Viktor just cringed as he tried to push himself up to sitting again.

His father snarled at the both of them, spat a wad at Yuri, hitting him in the face, and then kicked snow over the both of them before finally leaving. He passed Yakov without another word and without looking back.

Yakov scrambled over to Viktor after he was sure Konstantin was gone, "Vitya, are you...?"

The skater was too busy using his cold, wet scarf to wipe the spit off his fiancé's face to answer. He shook terribly as he did so, and Yuri tried to avoid letting him get his own clothing even more dirty for his sake, trying to rub the wet spot off on his sleeve.

"I should never have let you come." Viktor finally said, dropping his arms to his lap.

.

Dare to concede and to connect

The energy picked up again, and Viktor went into the first step sequence, pushing from one corner of the rink to the other with an intensity that even made the audience feel the burn. The memories were becoming more vivid, playing in front of his eyes like he had only just experienced them a second beforehand.

He knew he'd used the mildest of excuses to inspire his theme officially...the looming threat of retirement did make him angry...but remembering the rest, the true source of his pain and anger...the private torture that he'd endured so soon after bringing Yuri back to St. Petersburg...that was enough to make him forget the ache starting in his legs. All he could feel was the adrenalin surging through him.

Emerging waves and brightened skies

.

"I know I chastised you fiercely for even suggesting this before...but..." Viktor reached for his finger and pulled the ring off. Sighing, he kissed the gold and put it carefully into the palm of Yuri's hand, cautious to close his partner's fingers overtop of it before encapsulating the whole hand with both of his own.

Yuri was entirely confused, and his chest and throat started to hurt immediately.

"I need you to keep this safe for me." Viktor finally explained, "The last thing I need is for my father to try and take it away, and throw it into the woods. I would never forgive myself if I allowed that to happen when I knew I could protect it. You understand?"

The younger skater nodded, though he shook as he did so, "I do..."

.

The sun that burns in your eyes

Yuri was feeling as out of breath as Viktor must've been, even though he was just watching from rink-side.

The wind that blows and pounds

It was always different to see the programs on the official field, no matter how many times it'd been done in practice at the Ice Castle. But this time...it wasn't just different in the normal sense. Yuri hadn't wasted his breath before to inspire his partner's fury. He knew that he'd have to save that for the competitions if it was going to have enough of a lasting impact. But now that he'd fulfilled his promise, seeing the man skating like he was fighting a losing battle, kicking, slashing, and punching at targets he couldn't hit; Yuri regretted making that promise at all.

It shines, its energy is whirling

The young skater crossed his arms over the rink wall and settled his chin there, brows furrowed with worry, ...Remember, Viktor, but don't let it consume you... You're just skating now. The war is over.

It fights, will not be interfered with people

.

[At least you had the sense to leave your wife behind.] Konstantin chortled.

Viktor snapped. The world was red.

He felt a searing pain in his right hand as he turned on his heel to cram his fist as hard as he could into the older man's face. He felt the crunch of cartilage under the impact, and saw the droplets of blood that flew away from the site as Konstantin wobbled a little.

"VIKTOR!" Yakov yelled, "What are you thinking!? Get out of there be-"

Konstantin was too large to put off balance by a little peck like Viktor's sucker-punch, and he easily reached out with one hand to grab him by the throat as the other came up to set his nose back into place.

Viktor's coach came scrambling up to try and pull them apart, but Konstantin backhanded him in the jaw and sent him sprawling to the mud, then turned his attention back to the man in his grip. He put his thumb over one nostril, blew a snort to clear it, and then did the same with the other.

[So at least you had some balls in the end.] He taunted, holding tight even as Viktor was trying to hit his arm for release, [But maybe it's just that, between you and your girlfriend, you had half a ball between you. Did you borrow it to come out here?]

[...Yuri...is a better man than you ever were...] Viktor said, trying to draw breath when he could, [You're just...an animal...!]

Konstantin shrugged, and used sheer brute force to push Viktor down to his knees by his throat. That massive bear-arm came up after that, and Viktor would only watch in horror as the world turned to slow motion.

He felt the first crack against his eye, but not the second, and he went sprawling to the ground after that.

.

Who can't feel, it is all nature's flow

Yurio was watching close by, but he had his ear-buds in so he could focus. There was no doubt that he could still hear, or at least feel the music, even if he was trying not to listen to it. Yakov and Lilia were watching the show as well.

LET IT FLOW

Viktor made a wide, slightly-spinning arc around the north end of the rink, one arm above his head as the lyric was sung. He was on the threshold of the second half of the program, and he'd saved his two remaining quads for the 10% point bonus therein. The flashes of memory in his mind were sending a new surge of energy through him, overriding his love of the sport with an intense, all-encompassing hatred that made his very heart hurt to feel it.

It's endless beauty WILL EVOKE

.

Yakov looked uneasy as he watched Viktor rise back up to his full height, even as Yuri threw both arms around him in greeting, saying all the expected things to welcome him back. When Yuri finally looked up again though, finally able to see past the bangs that covered the opposite side of his fiancé's face, he saw true 'rewards' of the afternoon's events.

The skin behind those strands of silver-grey hair was red, shiny, and swollen. Further inspection lead Yuri to see that there were a few deep cuts around the eye socket and cheek, black in the dark of the night, and a single slate-blue eye looking back at him through a pool of dark red. Whatever had gotten Viktor's hair wet earlier had smeared the blood around his face and left faded, crusty red streaks down his chin and neck.

The gentle skater couldn't handle it, and he fainted right there in Viktor's arms without a word.

.

Viktor kicked a leg out, then dipped low into a sit spin, raking his right toe-pick across the ice and sending shards flying away from him as he went. He stretched his left arm out behind him, the other gently touching to the top of his head as he spun.

A timeless sequence we ALL SHARE

Both arms came around as he straightened out again, sticking his free leg out in front of him and crouching overtop of it as he continued. Within a few rotations, the free leg bent again, pinned over his knee as both arms lifted out to the sides.

We cannot break through NOR CONTROL

He rose again and stood straight up, waving his arms and twisting his core as he moved to get back around the shorter end of the rink and return to center.

But to feel its true soul...

Quad Toe-loop, triple Salchow. The speed of coming out of the landing lent well to starting the next step sequence, moving in a serpentine formation from one end of the rink to the other. The 'fight' from before looked more like a 'retreat' this time.

Its endless beauty will evoke
A timeless sequence we all share

Yurio pulled out one of his ear-buds as he watched the display in front of him. It was becoming more and more obvious that the reasons for Viktor's fury on the ice weren't what the newscasters had been claiming. His eyes turned over to where Yuri was waiting by the rink-side doorway, and how he was hardly blinking.

We cannot break through nor control
We should cherish it

.

Viktor kicked away the snow with his boot and emptied the bags into the muddy pit, pulled some matches from his pocket, and tossed them down into the pile, lighting them one at a time. It wasn't long before the fabric caught fire, and black smoke rose into the sky. He watched closely as the fibers singed and curled, taking to flame and withering away into black dust.

Yuri watched quietly from the concrete stairs behind him, leaning over the bottom railing like he had when they'd FaceTimed with Chris before the Euro Championship.

"Everything on the ice is a display of love." Viktor suddenly said, getting his attention away from the billowing smoke, "Except when it isn't."

"When it...isn't?"

"The opposite of love is hate. I'm going to create a program that no one's ever seen me do before, and I'm going to show the world all the hate I have trapped inside me."

.

LET IT FLOW!

Viktor threw himself forward, skidding halfway across the ice on his knees, bending way backwards as he went, arms up over his head. When he slowed, he twisted into a kneeling spin, using the momentum to rise back up to his feet and slide out to the side. The final jump of the program was coming up, and the audience was ready for it.

Oddly, the Russian's mind went back to the last World Championship in that moment. All he could think of was how he'd fallen the last time he'd done his signature move in competition...and how he'd been so embarrassed and angry about flubbing it that he couldn't even look his new husband in the eyes as he came off the ice. His eyes narrowed and he resigned himself to this different kind of fury.

LET IT FLOW!

Quad flip; hands on hips instead of pulled in. Perfect landing.

The audience roared and screamed with excitement.

Viktor could feel his right leg wanting to give out, but he stuck the landing and continued on like the wobble hadn't happened. There were only a few seconds left.

This endless beauty will evoke

Combination spin...camel entry, then dropping down into a donut sit-spin variant with arms bent up in front of a down-tilted head.

A timeless sequence we all share

Seamless foot-change to continue with a different sit-spin, head lifted up this time, hands out in a 'giving' gesture. He grabbed the blade where his free leg was pinned beneath him, and slowly started to rise up again.

We cannot break through, no control

Blade still in his grasp, he rose to his full height, free hand over his chest as he lowered his face slightly. He then kicked the free leg out and brought both hands in across himself to increase speed.

It is not in our command...

Arms were up above his head in the final scratch-spin.

...NO!

Right leg went out as both bent slightly, digging into the ice to stop and come into the final position. The music was gone by then, and Viktor could finally feel the cold sweat on his forehead. His lungs quickly burst into flames. It was only after all that, that he heard the audience starting to fade in.

...Did I finish? I forget what happened...

Looking around, the stadium came in and out of focus. He was still dizzy from the final spin, and wobbled until he was down on one knee trying to catch his breath, one hand on the ice to keep him steady.

It wasn't that uncommon for skaters to drop a little at the end of their programs; Yuri had seen both Yurio and Phichit do so during their own events. Seeing Viktor do it was a bit weird though for him.

"...C'mon Viktor...get up..."

"Absolutely unbelievable!" Morooka was yelling into the microphone, not even sure if he could be heard over the cheering of the crowd in the stands behind him, "With a performance like that, even with only three quads, can anyone really say Viktor was taking it easy!? He just set the bar for the rest of the afternoon! A true Master of the Ice!"

The Russian finally pushed to standing again, feeling weak and cold all over. He kept his sights low as he made his way wearily to the rink exit, looking up only as he crossed the threshold and felt someone latching onto him. He brought his left hand down from where he was rubbing his eyes and found his husband there.

"I did it..." He said between heavy breaths, "I didn't fall this time."

"You completely killed it!" Yuri beamed, pulling back again to offer his partner the water he needed. Viktor wrapped his arm around his husband's back as he took a quick drink and then traded the vessel for his blade-guards. Yuri watched him curiously, "...You okay? I thought you'd be a bit happier."

"Just starting to regret that I agreed to do that interview right away." He answered, letting Yuri hobble him towards the kiss and cry, "I just want to sit and not move for a while."

Hazel eyes blinked at the man, but nodded and quietly moved him over to the couch. Viktor lazily pulled on the figure-hugging black coat, hunching over himself and taking back the water soon thereafter. It still hurt to breathe for a while, and Yuri watched over him without saying anything, simply rubbing his back gently while they waited for his score.

I shouldn't have had him remind me of everything right away... Viktor thought, looking at the magma pattern on his skate covers.

The feeling of Yuri's arm over his back reminded him suddenly of the reddish-pink claw-marks that were still there, and he finally allowed himself to huff a quiet laugh through his panting. Closing his eyes, he leaned over and set his forehead into the crook of Yuri's neck and shoulder, letting him hold him up instead of forcing himself to do it on his own.

The younger figure embraced him fondly, "You'll probably out-score your last GP Final with this. Your performance was unreal. I don't think anyone's going to be able to top you today."

"Really?" Viktor echoed, "No one? That's disappointing..."

It took Yuri a moment...but when he understood, his cheeks went pink. He gawked at the man as well he could, given how Viktor wasn't looking at him, "Well, at least you didn't lose your sense of humor out there."