((Author's Note: Everyone seems to have gotten the wrong idea about why Minako talked to Viktor, so I added a bunch of new content to the end of 281 (after Viktor says he thought Minako was fearless) to clarify what she was trying to do. Hopefully people will cut her some slack now, since it was my fault it was unclear, not hers.))

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY THREE

Water dripped and flowed as the steaming hot deluge was cut off, and Yuri reached one hand out from behind the curtain to grab for the nearest big towel. By the time he stepped out and had finished ruffling it over his head, a hand-smear on the foggy mirror revealed a proverbial cactus of black hair sticking up in every direction. The remnants of Viktor's fog-doodle could still be faintly seen to the side, and Yuri smiled at it before finally patting the rest of himself dry, and tossing on a pair of light sweat-pants over his legs.

The light was clicked off before the door was cracked open, making sure not to risk anything potentially waking up his feverish partner. Yuri slid his hands quietly along the wall to find his way back around the front of the bed, and over to his side. A quick check at the time on his phone on the nightstand, charger cable plugged in, revealed that it was just after 11pm, and he pulled up the Time Clock app on his home screen. For a moment, he hesitated on the 7:30am wake-up timer, glancing over towards his exhausted partner just behind himself, and set it instead to 10:30am before clicking the screen off again.

We're lucky to be in Detroit. Having access to my old Skate Club means we won't have to worry about finding a public rink if we miss Official Practice...and I can't stand the thought of waking him up when he needs the sleep.

Five cold dots pressed against his lower back unexpectedly, and Yuri squeaked in surprise, phone flopping out of his hands to dangle against the front of the night-stand. He scrambled to lean forward and catch it before it hit the solid wood a second time, and set it face-down on top of the stand. Catching his breath from the fright, Yuri twisted where he sat on the edge of the bed and realized the five cold dots were his husband's five fingers reaching for him. With a guilty sigh, he pulled the blankets back and made his way under, scooting over towards center until he could feel the man's warmth next to himself.

"...Sorry, did I wake you up...?" He wondered, his voice barely a whisper.

"...No...I was still awake... I just...couldn't...fall asleep..."

Yuri could feel where his partner was weakly trying to turn over onto his side, pulling the left arm under himself as the right went over his chest. Legs found their way around his own before Viktor finally settled the side of his head against his chest, directly over his heart. Yuri felt the man's body go limp against him with a final exhale against his skin, in final surrender to sleep. He reached his free hand up to run his fingers through that silver hair, and settled both arms around him...though he himself was still wide awake.

Whatever Minako-sensei told him...it really blind-sided him. I wonder what it was...? She told me to get lost, so she obviously only wanted Viktor to know...but I wonder if she realizes how much pressure he was already under. It was really kind of cruel to do this to him after everything else that she knows has happened.

He reached for where the damp cloth had folded against his chest, and pulled it away to re-fold it and place it on the back of his husband's neck instead. Replacing his fingers through that mess of silver hair, Yuri lifted his head to kiss at the imaginary bald-spot, and finally resigned himself to trying to sleep in spite of his wakefulness.

.

Yurio clicked his phone on for a second, looking at the time before yawning and clicking it off again. The big van pulled up in front of the hotel, coming to a stop a few seconds later. It was packed almost full with everyone that had piled in at the end of the night; Yurio in his usual corner at the very back, with Otabek next to him, and Nikkita in the 3rd spot, Mari and Viktoria in the middle 2 seats, Chris and Phichit in the front set of 3, then the two eldest members of the troupe in front. Phichit pulled the side door open and quickly hopped out, followed by the rest of the skaters, and they all bid their thanks and goodnights before pushing the door closed again and turning to get inside before the cold could creep into them again. The van pulled off quietly after that, disappearing into midnight on its trek back to the MGM.

Everyone slowly started departing on their various floors, until Yurio stepped out second to last, turning only to tiredly give Otabek a side-clap of his hand as he watched the doors open, "See you tomorrow."

"Laters."

He yawned again and moved down the hall, looking for the first of two doors that the Russian team had been assigned by the ISU. Pulling out his key-card, he slid it into the slot quietly and pushed the door open after the click, careful to watch out for the darkness he expected within.

Since it's just Yakov in here, it should be lights-out already...

Except that there was a dim, unexpected glow that he saw through the door crack, and Yurio scrunched his brow in confusion to spot the elder coach still awake. Sitting at the room's desk with a pair of reading glasses on, looking rather nonchalant as he looked down at some papers, Yakov raised his eyes to spot the teen entering.

[Was wondering how long I'd have to wait up for you to come back.]

[Hah? What for?] Yurio wondered, a pang of anxiety shooting through him, [Normally you're asleep already. This is really late for you.]

Yakov pulled the glasses off and folded them before setting them into the small black case nearby, [It is, but I had faith you'd return here tonight rather than going back with Mikhail to his hotel. I guess you all had fun at the outdoor rink since you were gone so long.]

[...Yes?] The teen cautiously stepped further into the room, setting his backpack on the end of his twin bed, [...What's this about?]

The stoic coach just wove his fingers together and looked over them towards his skater, [When were you going to tell me that you planned to leave Russia?]

Shit, Baba was right...how did he find out though!?

Yurio could feel a panic rising inside his chest, but he tried to play it cool, unzipping the front of his jacket as he spoke, [I leave Russia all the time.]

[I'd rather avoid the pointless banter of me clarifying exactly what you already know I'm talking about, Yuri.]

[After Nationals, then.] He answered simply, shrugging out of his jacket, [Mikhail made me an offer I couldn't refuse, but it means moving to Hasetsu.] He set his jacket down next to his skate-bag and lifted his eyes towards the older man studying him, [My skating may suffer some for it, but I'm prepared to accept that.]

[Having a ballerina with no skating experience as your coach...that's quite the risk you're willing to take.] Yakov lowered his hands, but kept his fingers together where they were, [Is Russia really such a toxic place for everyone now that half of my All-Star team has abandoned it for Japan?]

[I can't speak to Viktor's reasons, but I need this.] Yurio explained, [Even if it hadn't been hammered into me by basically everyone I know...the thing Mikhail can give me is something I've never had before. Something everyone else takes for granted.]

[You act like you think I wouldn't understand.] Yakov huffed, [But given how much you adapted, and even thrived, while the both of us were conscripted to live with Lilia last year...this is no surprise.]

Green eyes watched the older man carefully, [Mila said she thought you and Lilia might be getting back together.]

Yakov coughed and chortled at the idea, his face going red, half from embarrassment and half from anger, and he stood up with his hands flat down on the tabletop, [That never even crossed my mind!]

[...I'm not judging. You do you.] Yurio said quietly, deadpanning the man like he was overreacting.

The elder coach cleared his throat, crossing his arms and looking down like he was trying not to be bothered still, [That Mila...always speculating...] He muttered, mostly to himself, but then raising his eyes back up to the skater in front of himself, [It doesn't matter. I'm just curious why you thought it was necessary to hide this from me. You've already known for a little while, but you weren't planning on saying anything to me until you were practically on the plane to leave St. Petersburg. Springing this on me at the last second like this is more Viktor's style...but at least in his case, it's because he literally just thought of doing it 5 minutes before going through with it. You though...you're not half as impulsive as him. I'm surprised at you.]

Yurio just closed his eyes and tried to look stubborn, [I wasn't sure how you'd react. I didn't want to deal with it if you were just going to be mad at me. With Viktor already gone, and Georgi retiring after Worlds...I'm the last member of the Men's event under your wing.]

[Even so. I thought you trusted me more than this. I've been your coach for years already, not months.] Yakov finally sat down again, leaning back in the office-style chair and picking at a bit of lint on one of his sleeves, [But I suppose you've never been the sort to want people to know you count on them. No matter what you learn or who you learn it from, you always act like you could've done it yourself, given enough time.]

[Until now...] The teen twisted on one heel and threw himself onto his back on the top of the bed, braided hair spreading out across the sheets, [It's more obvious than ever that I need a life off the ice, so that I can be better on it.]

[I understand that better than you think.] The coach answered, [You and Viktor are rather similar to that end...even if you're very different, too.]

Yurio turned his head to gape at the man quietly.

[You both came to me from very different places, but in a way, you were both orphans, in your heads at least. You both dedicated every ounce of your time and energy to your art, abandoning your need for close bonds with the people around you, thinking yourselves too strong and capable to need it, but craving it all the same. Viktor just became the class-clown after everything finally settled down, while you became...]

[...Yes...?] The teen looked on skeptically.

[...You became the angry bully. You resented the world and acted like it owed you something for your trouble, and when you didn't get it freely or quickly enough, you beat it into submission until it gave you what you wanted. That's why it was so obvious how much had changed in you while we were stuck living together.] Yakov explained quietly, [Because when we were between competitions, you were happy, lively, and willing to engage. You remember how you made that pirozhki for us?]

[...Sure.]

[And how you had your grandpa make the pork-cutlet flavor for Katsuki's birthday during Rostelecom, after trying and failing to make it yourself?]

[...Yeah.]

[I doubt doing so would have ever crossed your mind if it hadn't been for Lilia.]

Yurio stared up at the ceiling again, saying nothing even if he knew it was true.

[My point is...] Yakov started again, [Although I'm angry that I'm losing my remaining prized athlete, I'm happier for you than I am disappointed in you.]

The teen tilted his head again to look at his soon-to-be-former coach, [...Really?]

[Even if you have setbacks in your skating for a short while, I know that this is better for you in the long run.] The elder went on, leaning forward against the desk again to rest against his elbows, [And who knows. In a few years, after you've gotten what you need from this, maybe you'll come back to Russia. Even someone as impulsive and reckless as Viktor eventually came back. You'll always have a spot at the St. Petersburg Skate Club.]

.

The silence of the drive back was worse than the road conditions, and the closer they got to the MGM Grand, the more Mikhail could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Glancing back to everyone in the van, he realized he was the only one who wasn't trying to sleep by then, so that alleviated some of his nerves...who talks when they're snoozing anyway?...but knowing that Minako still had plans for later left his stomach a bit unsettled.

When they finally got up to the room though, the sleepy woman almost looked ready to call it a night in spite of what she'd said. The silver Russian stayed standing though, and kept his shoes and jacket on, as though giving the subtle hint that he wasn't going to let it go so easily. Minako seemed to fluidly realize it though, never once giving the suggestion that she had changed her mind about their planned conversation even if she was tired before it began.

"...We're going...to be back in a while." She said through a yawn, looking at the two girls as they started rifling through their bags for their overnight effects, and at Mari where she'd face-planted into the roll-away in front of the entertainment stand and television, "Don't wait up for us."

"We don't plan on it." Viktoria answered for the three of them, rubbing one hand over her eyes as she pulled the tie out from the end of her bulky, multi-colored braid, "Don't make a bunch of noise when you get back, okay? We'll all be out cold, but at least Nikki and I are light sleepers in hotels. I dunno about Mari."

The woman in question raised her hand from where she'd dropped, and mumbled something into her pillow, but was too tired to turn over and clarify, letting her hand drop back down again in exhausted defeat.

"No worries. We'll be quiet."

Nikki nodded solemnly in agreement, sitting on the edge of their Queen bed, taking a break from the rigor of getting ready for bed. She raised one hand into a hazy wave as she blearily watched the two adults make their way to the door again, "Night night."

Mikhail paused where he had the door by the handle and stepped back into the room, giving each of his two daughters a quick kiss on the top of their heads before going back, "Prijatnyh."

"Sladkih." They both answered sleepily.

As the door quietly clicked closed, and the duo of adults set their way back towards the elevators, Minako mused to herself, "I thought they didn't know Russian."

"They don't." Mikhail answered with a sigh, "One of my failings. I didn't think they'd need it, growing up in Canada."

"So what'd they speak just a minute ago?"

"Oh...the words were Russian, sure...but, we've said it that way for so long that it's practically English to them, too."

"Do they say it that way to their friends?"

Mikhail shrugged, "Not sure, actually, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did."

"You're speaking kinda fast." Minako pointed out, "Sorry you're having to wait for so long."

"Can't you just tell me here, now?" He asked, turning to face the shorter woman right there in the hall, ten feet away from the elevator space, "Or give me some hint? I'm literally dying right now."

She could almost see the man sweating bullets under his heavy clothes, and simply lifted her right hand to flick his hat off center, "You're not dying."

"MinakoIsweartoGod..." He raised both of his own hands and pulled down on the flat-cap on both sides, desperation on his face, "Please!"

She just stared at him for a moment longer, huffed a final breath, and reached to grab one of his hands, "Open."

Confused, the Russian did so, though his fingers curled away like rigid claws. He watched carefully as the ballerina's left hand came out of her jacket pocket and dropped something into his palm. A second later, though it felt like forever, she pulled both hands away, leaving the sparkly ring there in his grasp. He blinked at it like he wasn't sure what he was seeing, and raised those jade eyes towards her.

"You asked me because you got scared, and I agreed because I got scared." She explained simply, "But I'm not ready to go there and I don't think you are either. So I want to take a few steps back, so the both of us can get our heads straight and we can take a minute to breathe a little."

Still stunned, Mikhail could do nothing but stand there, stiff as a board. He hadn't even closed his fingers around the ring yet. He couldn't react either when he felt the woman's hand touch to the side of his arm.

"Hun, we went from zero to sixty in like a week." She went on, trying to speak as few words as were necessary to get the point across, "You only got used to holding my hand a month ago, and before that, we were both so ambiguous about things that Yura yelled at us about it. It was funny over the summer, keeping everyone confused about whether we were dating or not, but looking back on everything...I don't think we actually were until that first time you jokingly asked me to marry you in Sapporo. That was last weekend."

"...I know, but..." The Russian finally managed.

"But nothing." Minako stuffed both hands into her coat pockets, shifting her weight to one leg where she stood, "We need to figure out what we are to one another, for a while, before we should even think about any next steps." She leaned forward a little, trying to look up into the man's eyes where his gaze had sunk a little, "You and I aren't like Yuri and Viktor. We can't go from being friends to being engaged by accident and have it work out."

"...I thought it was working out..." He said quietly, his voice sounding dry in spite of his best efforts.

The younger woman gave a worried look, "Maybe for you, but...not really for me. You've done the 'married and having kids' thing before. I haven't. This is all a bit much for me to take in, and I don't want to feel trapped on top of it all."

"Why do you feel trapped though...?" Mikhail asked, the shine in his eyes giving away the heartbreak he was trying to hold in, "I could give you anything you ever wanted..."

"If you catch a bird right out of the sky and put it in a cage, even if that cage is made of gold and diamonds, it's still a cage." She tried to explain, "This scare we had in the bathroom that one morning in Banff...that's already something that's grounded me for the moment. The ring...even if, to you, it seems like the right thing to do...to me, it just feels like a lead weight, keeping me from getting on with things. I need some room right now. The meaning behind that ring was suffocating me." She reached both of her hands forward to close the man's fingers overtop of the item in question, "So for now, just hold onto it...like you did before. In a year or two...after everything in Hasetsu has settled down...maybe we can revisit this again."

"Hell with Hasetsu. In a year or two you will have alread-"

Hands went up to cover the exasperated man's mouth, and Minako gave him the same look she'd given to Yuri the first day he'd been back home from Detroit, confronting him with his rude behavior towards others, "Mikhail...this is my choice. I'm not rejecting you; I want things between us to continue as they had been before that morning. In fact, I'm not even saying that I'm not open to the idea of marrying you later. But right here and now, I'm not ready to say yes. I'm sorry that I didn't have the courage to tell you that before."

The flat-cap finally fell off its tilted perch on the silver Russian's head, dropping with a light tap at their feet on the floor. Mikhail couldn't even look at it; finding the mental wherewithal to remember breathing was hard enough. He just stood there in uncomfortable silence until he felt like he could function again, and nodded behind the silver frame of his bangs.

Minako pulled her hands back then, lightly touching one thumb to the edge of his chin as she did so, and then crouched down to grab his hat, settling it back into its proper place on his head.

"...Is this what you told Viktor about?" The Russian managed to ask, reaching up to pinch his fingers over the bridge of his nose.

"It's the only thing I meant to tell him, but yes. I wanted to say the words out loud to someone who I thought would understand, and Viktor was the only one who knew you well enough, so..."

"I thought he'd be happy to know we were calling it off, given what he said before."

"He seemed fine with it either way."

"Except for how he basically said he was worried that I might react physically towards you when you told me."

Minako shook her head, "From what I can tell, his issue was that you hadn't talked to him and Yuri about your plans to go ahead and move everyone to Hasetsu. Maybe he thought you would dismiss me like he felt you'd dismissed him."

"Then why did he want to throttle me?" Mikhail asked, retracting both hands into his coat pockets.

"He got a bit too curious about why I had agreed to the engagement in the first place, if I was backing out of it so quickly." She explained, turning slightly on one raised heel and taking the man's elbow before restarting their trek towards the elevators, and clicking the Down button when they got there, then waiting, "I didn't even want to tell him that much. But, I ended up explaining the scare we had, and that's when he basically shut down."

"Does he really hate me so much that the idea of us starting a family would infuriate him?"

"I think he sees it differently than that right now." Minako said, shrugging in contemplation, "Even though I tried to make it clear that it was always my idea, the way he is right now, Viktor must've assumed you had intended for this to happen, like you'd done it on purpose as a way to secure your permanent stay in my and, in a way, his life."

"He really doesn't know me very well, does he?" The Russian sighed, still fighting back his tears, even as his throat started to cramp from the effort, "I don't even know what to do anymore."

"Hun, just...take a step back, and breathe." Minako told him, patting the arm where she held to it, and turning her head when she heard the ding of the arriving elevator, "Viktor is incredibly stressed out right now. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes to regret the way he singled everyone out earlier, once he's had a chance to sleep and recover. He even said it himself...he wasn't sure how to react to what I told him. Of all the emotions he had flooding through him in that moment, the only ones that he could act on were the ones that had been simmering under the surface already anyway. The frustration, the anxiety...he's made himself sick over all of it now, too." She reached over the click a button for their destination, and the elevator doors began to slide closed, "For now, just leave it to Yuri to keep him focused, and let them both just worry about the competition. The only thing they should be thinking about is trying to beat each other to the top of the podium. We can talk to them again once the medaling ceremony is over tomorrow."

Mikhail nodded quietly, lifting his free hand to pull the flat-cap off his head and ruffle his hair into a silver-white mess before putting it back again, "...I guess so."

"You look like you're going to stroke out anyway." Minako gave him a nervous look.

"I think I need a drink."