(Author's Note: Reviews are posting again. I'm not sure why ffnet wasn't pushing them through. I emailed the admins on Thursday but it was only around 6:50pm CST tonight/Saturday that they started showing up finally. Sorry for the trouble, all. I was hoarding comments in my email until they showed on the site XD)
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED NINETY SEVEN
The audience was confused at first, seeing such an unexpected costume on that final athlete. Gone was the black with its flames from foot to hip, the glacial hands, and the starry sky on those shoulders...replaced instead by an almost monochromatic gradient of black to silver to white. It shimmered like sunlight on a lake, ripples of light glinting from the brighter parts of the outfit, starting at the outside of each thigh where darker colors gave way to silver, and on up until it was pure white at the shoulders and arms. There was a texture that rose from the lightest areas, like flecks of crunchy, newly fallen snow. The sleeves were in one part form-fitting, with a helix of white stripes that wove down each arm, the open panels between the intersecting ribbons revealing the skin beneath, yet from shoulder to wrist, there was a thin, transparent layer of a bigger, puffy sleeve going over top of it all. The wrists were clasped in white bands, with silver embroidery and a delicate assortment of white, gold-yellow, and light blue crystal. The chest opened up from just above the navel, covered by a panel of material that matched the Russian's pale tone, and rose up in a ragged V-shape towards the man's neck, where it opened up into a small, puffed-up rim of feather-like fluff, making a half-ring around the back of the skater's head like the collar of a shirt. The same fluffy rim adorned the end of each arm, coming out from under the elaborate cuffs to partially cover the tops of the man's hands.
Viktor raised those hands up to ruffle the puffs, exaggerating the volume where it had been pressed down while hidden under his team jacket. He made his lazy circles around the rink, presenting himself to the audience and the judges along one side of the wall.
Once the crowd had gotten used to the idea that 'Evoke' had been replaced, the excitement grew again, and they eagerly anticipated what new show the man had made just for the Final.
"In a written statement, Skater Viktor tells us that he hopes everyone is excited to see this new program that he's created. Unlike his former Free Skate, which embodied all his frustrations and anger, this one evolved naturally from it, and expresses all his love and adoration." Morooka explained, holding a newly-opened letter, "And while he debuted this program as a duet with his husband at last weekend's Exhibition in Sapporo, the solo Free Skate version is an entirely new composition." The newscaster set the letter down, looking anxious, turning to glance at Oda briefly in the media box, but then out onto the ice, anxiety changing over to hopeful excitement, "Skater Viktor is taking a big risk tonight by skating to a program that he hasn't refined and tested in competition yet. Still, I can't wait to see what he has in store for us. Viktor never disappoints."
Yuri leaned on the rink wall again like before, looking all around the stadium and taking in the sound and energy of the audience.
It always feels a little different when Viktor's on the ice.
He turned his eyes towards his partner, beholding that new outfit for the first time like everyone else had.
Those tailors of his back in Russia really busted their butts to get that done in time. I wonder how many people worked on this outfit before they finished it?
The audience's cheering starting morphing over to a wave of chants, more people joining in as the seconds ticked on. Before long, they were all crying out the Russian's name. Viktor lifted his head from where he'd been watching the ice, and paused in the center of the ISU logo, looking all around and rotating slowly in that space. Soon, he turned his head towards his partner, and extended an arm out towards him.
They're cheering my name, but I wouldn't be here if you hadn't asked me to come back.
The chanting seemed to evolve with the Russian's gesture, and Yuri started to hear the telltale sound of 'Viktuuri' coming out of what was originally just 'Viktor.' He lifted up off his elbows and looked around, eventually settling his eyes on his spouse, and just as he was about to lift his hands up to cup around his mouth, he could feel the presence of half the Players Club coming out to rink-side behind him.
"GANBAAAAAA!"
Viktor lowered his arm, looking on in surprise, but then smiled and bowed towards the group with his usual dramatic flair. When he rose back up though, he brought one hand in and blew one last kiss to his partner before finally taking his position.
He checked his position on the ice and turned slightly away, lowering down onto one knee at a time, and sat back on the heels of his boots. He drew in one last quick breath, and waited for the audience to quiet down, thumbing at his ring until the music started.
['Stand In The Light' - Jordan Smith]
The intro had been altered a little, with the quiet hum of violins sighing in, and then out, before the lyrics began. Viktor slowly lifted his head, looking up into the rafters high above as the first words were spoken.
Stand in the light and be seen as we are
One arm rose up towards the ceiling, and the Russian legend glided to his feet, as though lifted by the air around him rather than his own strength. When the line ended, that arm was pulled in again, and Viktor moved away in reverse, bobbing and twisting around to the short end of the rink, moving like mist over water to the flow of the new violins.
Didn't I tell you I hear what you say?
Four-spin left outside twizzle, with the outbound glide bringing his arms up again, one hand up near his ear.
Never look back as you're walking away
He twisted over into a long Ina Bauer, moving diagonally across the ice, one arm gracefully held vertically above himself.
Carry the music, the memories, and keep them inside you...
Arms came back around himself, hands holding to shoulders before sliding up around his head, then back down to overlap above his heart.
Laugh every day
A backward slide, left leg held slightly out behind himself as he moved long on that right golden blade, right hand extending out into the wake of his path. Then a twist...
Don't stop those tears from falling down...
...He descended down into something of a sit-spin, but rose back up again quickly, one hand spinning and rising along with the rest of him until it was reaching high into the air. With the momentum, he threw himself into a flying camel spin...
This is who I am inside!
...Landing into a forward rotation on the right foot, arms out to the sides.
This is who I am, I'm not gonna to hide!
He moved from his forward inside edge to the outside edge, and twisted his core, left arm out behind him as the right came up in front.
Cuz the greatest risk we'll ever take is by far...
Viktor reached back to grab the up-raised boot by the blade, twisting over and reaching out with his free hand for the catch-foot variant.
To stand in the light and be seen as we are...
When he let the blade go, he started making wider arcs, circling out of the spin and rising up until he could switch feet with a mohawk-turn. Gliding forward on the left blade now, he kicked the right back...and threw himself.
To stand in the light and be seen as we are...
"Triple Axel with both hands in the air!"
"Very clean!"
The cold air of the rink whipped through the Russian's hair, refreshing in contrast to the heat already building in his legs.
...When I first picked this song for the NHK Exhibition, my only thought was wanting to send a message to my father. He thought quietly, moving elegantly as the violins played high above, That I would be who I wanted to be in spite of him, and that nothing he did could change me. I'd been fighting off the ghost of his legacy for most of my life, but until recently...it was really just a coordinated retreat.
He paused in the midst of some choreographic elements, spinning through a pseudo-twizzle as the lyrics came back in again.
With courage and kindness hold onto your faith
In a backward glide, the Russian hopped and spun over himself, landing on the opposite skate and descending to one knee, But you...Yuri... You became the courage I always lacked, and you stood your ground when I couldn't, forcing me to face the things I'd been running from all these years.
...Hand reached out before him, clasping for something in the air, head bent down.
You get what you give and it's never too late
He rose up, slid through a 3-turn, and launched off his left back outside edge.
To reach for the branch, and climb up leaving sadness behind you...
"Tano triple Lutz!"
That upturned arm stayed out as the silver legend landed on the right outside edge, and quickly stuck his left leg out, toe-picking a second time.
"With a triple Toe-loop right behind! Beautiful execution!"
Arms extended out, and Viktor twisted his hips, spinning around as one arm went up overhead.
Fight hard for love
Cross-overs as he moved around the short end of the rink, then straightening out and raising his left leg high for the added spiral-entry difficulty of his next jump.
We can never give enough
The left leg came down, and airborne blades switched places, the right going out behind him as the left glided backward along an inside edge. In quick succession, the toe-pick came down, and the Russian vaulted on the emphasis for the first quad of his program.
This is who I am inside!
Clean landing on the right back outside edge.
"There it is, ladies and gentlemen, Skater Viktor's signature move! The quad Flip!"
He quickly twisted over to face forward again, pushing his chest out as arms went back and face tilted up.
This is who I am, I'm not gonna hide!
Moving swiftly, he angled himself for the combination spin, arcing on his blades until he could thrust his leg for the backward-entry camel spin, both hands clasped behind his back.
Cuz the greatest risk we'll ever take is by far...
Hands reached back to grab the blade again, this time pulling that leg right up behind his head as he pivoted his frame upward for the full Biellmann.
To stand in the light and be seen as we are...
He let it go and descended low, his free leg extended as he lowered down to pick up speed, only to tuck in for the foot-change. When he rose back up again, he grabbed for his left blade, and pulled that leg straight up for the Y-spin, clasping his ankle with the opposite hand and holding the free hand out in an open gesture as he slowed down.
To stand in the light and be seen as we are...
Time seemed to slow down for the skater as he arced out of the last bit of that spin, cruising towards the corner of the arena where his step sequence would start. He couldn't help but rekindle that last thought. Memories from the past year circulated through his mind, just like they had the first time he'd done the program. These memories were different though. No longer did he think back on the torments of his own family on himself, or that troubled early upbringing...these memories were fresher, newer...much more recent.
.
"You let the opinions of others, spoken and unspoken, scare you as much as other skaters' scores do in competition." Viktor whispered, their lips so close that they could feel words as they were spoken, "Don't. I'll protect you from all of it. You trust me to do that, right?"
"Of course, but..." Yuri muttered, feeling the man's hands going slowly up and down his sore thighs, kneading them as he went to rub out the pain, "When it's just us, I feel okay...but around others... ...I'm just...still so weak...even after everything you've done..."
"You were never weak, Yuri. I told you that once before." Viktor answered softly, "You don't always listen to me, but at least believe me."
.
[Don't you feel any shame for taking on a foreign athlete when your own team could use your experience?] ... [And the fact that you're engaged to marry your own student won't be a problem, either?] ... [How can you even maintain credibility when you're going to marry a man? You can try to hide his ring with cups and water bottles all you want, but we all knew about it long before either of you ever sat at that table.] ... [You've embarrassed the Russian team, and Russia itself.]
.
Yuri pulled his hand back immediately, watching nervously as his fiancé loomed over their audience-neighbor darkly.
"Dlja čega èto!?" Viktor asked, quietly, but with a tone like he was ready to yell it for all the audience to hear if the answer he got wasn't good enough.
"SHH."
Blue eyes blinked, seeing a well-dressed elderly woman gesture with both hands towards the stage, then held one finger in front of her mouth, an incredulous look on her face like she couldn't believe he'd still be talking. The silver Russian sat back down after that, feeling a bit sheepish, and coughed to clear his throat, "Prosti, požalujsta..."
"...Sorry, I'll shut up..." Yuri whispered nervously, balling his hands together on his lap, a nervous bead of sweat rolling down the side of his face.
Viktor just tugged lightly on the man's thin wrist and got those fists to unravel, then pulled the one hand out again and set it on his leg where it'd been before, "Don't worry. I thought someone was going to give us grief again like at the conference. Was about to take them outside."
.
"I'll expect an apology for that one day."
"From me? Fat chance." Yurio huffed, turning to move away again, "The only apologizing around here should be you to me and Katsudon." He showed his back to them as he moved on, "I'll see you on the podium, idiot. Then you can shove that Gold medal up your ass, along with all the other stuff you're putting up there lately, including your head."
.
Viktor could feel every crystal of ice as his blades scratched over them, and the sway of every silver hair in the breeze with his movements. Still, seeing those memories flash in front of his mind's eye made his heart hurt.
We never did anything but love each other. Yet, the world...even some of our own friends...used it as an attack against us, like we were somehow less for being together than we were on our own. I could take it when it was my father's words...I expected it...but the rest still cut a bit too deeply.
Cool slate eyes looked up as he passed along the side of the rink wall, and caught the hazel irises of his partner as he flew past, still feeling the micro-seconds passing like they were minutes.
Yuri... There isn't a force in this world or the next that could keep me from your side. You've done what nothing and no one else was ever able to...
The rink corner finally came up, and the silver legend twisted to begin that step sequence, feet and arms moving in a blur of expert control and power.
Riding the storms that come raging towards us, we dive
Holding our breath as we break through the surface
With arms open wide...
The Russian descended low for a sweep, mimicking the final rotations of a sit-spin, rising up into a 2-rotation scratch-spin, and brought his hands up in a characteristic and rather familiar way.
With arms open wide...!
Yuri blinked, but there was no mistaking it. His partner had his right hand over his heart, one skate behind the other, left hand reaching out towards him, "...Viktor..."
This is who I am inside!
The resting skate came up and around, and the silver skater took a sliding-step forward, arm still reaching for a moment as he gave his husband a wink before moving on again.
...You set me free...
Viktor twisted around gracefully, stepping through a 3-turn as he built up his speed again, ducking onto the left outside edge as his right leg kicked out behind.
This is who I am, I'm not gonna to hide!
Toe-pick, four revolutions with both hands on his hips, landing on the right outside edge and gliding off with ease.
"Quad Lutz!"
Cuz the greatest risk we'll ever take is by far...
Hands extended out together as the silver legend curved back around, twisting and pulling his hands in only to arc on his blades and gesture to the side again.
To stand in the light and be seen as we are...
He curved around the short end of the rink, leaning into a forward split with one hand extended outward, twisting around then and backward-hopping to change direction and go straight down the long-line of the rink.
To stand in the light and be seen as we are...
He went down on one knee again, but this time bent backwards, both arms rising up as he glided, barely feeling the cold of the ice under the back of his head.
The song changed then, the finale switching over to a duet version of the previous stanza. Viktor curled his arms back and then thrust them forward to help hoist himself back up onto his feet as the emphasis of the line boomed overhead.
This is who I am inside!
He pushed through a few cross-overs as he rounded the short curve of the opposite end of the rink, and twisted over several times before finally ending on a 3-turn and dipping onto the outside edge of his left skate. The right blade came down behind it, and the Russian waited for his cue...
This is who I am, I'm not gonna hide!
"Quad Loop! ...Triple Loop combo! ...TRIPLE LOOP! Viktor cleared his last quad with a 4-3-3- combo!"
The skater could feel the burn in his legs, but he pushed on.
Cuz the greatest risk we'll ever take is by far...
A few more choreographic elements as he slid down the length of the rink.
To stand in the light and be seen as we are...
As he came back towards the center, he thrust his leg up into a series of star maneuvers, kicking up into another rotation to the beat of the music until...
To stand in the light and be seen as we...
...He kicked off for the leap into the Death Drop on the last lyric.
...are...
The music returned to just the solitary singer again, and Viktor began his last required spin, starting with the easy shoot-the-duck position, right leg extended as he pivoted over the left.
Oooohhhh...!
The free leg bent forward slightly as Viktor straightened out his posture, raising up one hand above himself as he kept spinning, then bent down again as feet switched positions beneath him. One hand reached down for the newly-freed blade and pulled it under himself for the cannon-ball spin.
Cause the greatest risk we'll ever take is by far...
He rose back up to standing again and sped off in reverse, sliding along in a wide curve until he twizzled into the start of a layback Ina Bauer.
To stand in the light and be seen as we are...
Pulling himself back to normal, he twisted and wove his feet over one another to turn, and veered off towards center again, mohawking his way into a forward glide.
To stand in the light and be seen as we are...
He threw himself for the last jump of the program, throwing his arms up for the triple Axel, and again for the triple Loop that followed.
The song reunited the duet of singers for the final line.
So stand in the light and be seen as we...
Viktor calmly skated the length of the rink, gliding along softly as he reached a hand for the lights shining down from high above.
...are.
Both hands crossed over his chest, clasping at the opposite shoulder by the sides of his neck, and he bowed his head. As the violins returned without the voices, the Russian quietly moved in long arcs, switching from wide inside spread-eagles, and rotating on the apexes, to solemn slides with open gestures of his arms. By the time the music faded out, the silver legend was down on one knee, right hand on it while the left was stretched out to the side, face tilted up to look towards the spotlights.
The audience went mad with excitement, and after a moment of trying to catch his breath, Viktor rose back up to his feet, bowing tiredly as he began to slide forward again. Flowers and poodle soft-toys were being thrown out onto the ice, as well as the odd nigiri pillow. He skirted around to pick up one of the poodle toys as the rink assistants started skating all around him, collecting the gifts to make way for the next part of the event.
Viktor slowly made his way back to rink-side then, and fanned himself excitedly as he got close to the doorway where everyone was waiting, "Whew~! I didn't even do as much as I normally do and I'm still exhausted."
Yuri handed off the blade-guards as his partner came off the ice, and snaked an arm around the man's back once he was on the concrete, "It was still really good." He said, looking hopeful for the soon-to-be-known scores, "I was really surprised by the nod to my old program. That was a really nice touch."
The Russian leaned slightly to kiss his spouse's forehead, "It fit the tone of the story, so I wanted to include it. I wonder how many other people noticed?"
"Probably everyone." Yuri laughed, guiding his partner over to the kiss and cry.
Nerves ran high as the two sat on that bench. Viktor had his arm over his spouse's shoulders, and Yuri held that remaining hand with both of his own on the Russian's lap.
He drew in a deep breath, "They sure are taking their time with this one."
Viktor nodded, rubbing the edge of the far shoulder with his thumb, "Hopefully they won't keep us waiting all night. The event staffers are almost done setting up the podium already."
They both looked up and over the edge of the score-display screen and the rink-wall behind it, watching as that red carpet was rolled into place and the wide steps of the awards stand was lined up next to it. ISU brass were already filtering down to rink-side as well, though were hanging back just inside the edge of the door to the Players Club.
"The score for Viktor Nikiforov..."
All heads went up in anticipation, hearts pounding in chests from one side of the arena to the other. Yuri's grip on his husband's hand got tighter then, but like before, Viktor just gently rubbed that spot on his partner's shoulder to try and soothe him.
"...204.19. He is currently in 1st place."
RUS - Victor NIKIFOROV - 204.19 - 315.65 [1st]
"...O-Oh...!" Yuri stammered, "You scored lower than I did!" He turned his eyes as the arena burst into cheers and exuberance, "But I guess that makes sense...considering..."
"It was only by 5 points." Viktor huffed, making a face like it wasn't that big of a deal, "You lost a lot because of how you looked drunk out there half the time...but I only did 3 quads, and knocked out 2 whole jump-elements from the program. Even flawlessly executed, it would've been hard to catch up with you."
"Yeah, you gave up a good 20 points just by not doing those last potential jumps..." The younger skater nodded. He then let go of the man's hand and pat a leg instead, "Shall we?"
The Russian smiled and pulled his partner closer for a kiss, holding for a moment before letting go again, "Da. Ikuzo."
.
Yurio looked salty as ever as the 3 Finalists lined up near the rink entrance again, team jackets held only to shoulders as they each waited for their names to be called. The audience was humming with excitement, and when the voice boomed overhead, the cheers burst into a fever pitch again.
"Ladies and Gentlemen...your Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Men's Singles winners... In 1st place, winning the Gold medal...Russia's Viktor Nikiforov!"
The slender figure shrugged his jacket off, set it on the rink wall, and stepped back onto the ice, gliding around and waving as he made his way around the back of the podium and out towards the front. When he finally arrived, he gingerly stepped on his toe-picks across the carpet, and stepped from the 3rd tier on the right up to the 1st in the middle. He turned around and waited quietly, smiling as he looked back to the rink wall where his husband was getting ready to come out next.
"In 2nd place, winning the Silver medal...Japan's Yuri Nikiforov!"
More unrepentant cheering, and Yuri added his jacket to the wall before he threw himself across the ice, happy to have defended his title from the previous year and even happier to share the podium with his idol. He followed the same path, twisting around backwards for fun, and let the Russian offer a hand down to help hoist him up onto the left-most platform.
"And in 3rd place, winning the Bronze medal...Khazakstan's Otabek Altin!"
Like the two men before him, Otabek set his coat over the wall and rushed out into the frost, waving to the audience as he made his big circle around the tiered platform before he stepped up into place. He turned around to face forward, and dutifully clasped his hands behind his back, waiting for the pomp and ceremony to get underway.
As the small pack of ISU officials came out, the medals were brought out behind them, carried by a row of fancy ladies in matching dresses, three carrying the trays with the metal discs and lanyards, three more with bouquets of flowers. The same man that had put the medals around the necks of the previous year's winners was there again before them, looking pleased with everything, and stepped firstly in front of the highest tier.
The Gold medal was placed over Viktor's head, and his flowers were handed to him. He gratefully accepted them both, and the handshake that followed, and rose back up to his full height, turning to the right to watch his partner get the next reward in the line, and finally, Otabek on his left.
Yurio clapped along with the rest of the audience, even if he still felt a bit burned by the results.
At least it was because of Viktor this year. Katsudon might've won if JJ hadn't mowed him down, but Otabek finally got the medal JJ robbed from him last year.
The audience clapped all the more excitedly as the three stood there together with their prizes, each of them looking proudly on at all the flickers of camera flashes, and the waving of various banners.
All but Viktor, anyway.
His smile faded about halfway through, vanishing entirely when his husband stood back upright. Viktor watched quietly as the younger man reached his free hand up to clasp the Silver medal hanging in front of his chest, looking at his reflection in its chrome-like shine.
Yuri felt eyes on him though, looked up at his partner. For a brief moment, he hadn't noticed that his husband's expression wasn't as eager as his own was, and he turned how he held the medal in his hand, giving that knowing smile. But, the Russian's brow furrowed just slightly, and Yuri suddenly noticed that something wasn't quite right, "What's wrong?" He wondered, the silver disc lowering where he pinched at the lanyard just above the clasp.
Viktor couldn't answer, simply looking from those confused brown eyes, to the Gold disc hanging from his own neck. He turned his gaze out towards the rest of the arena...a feeling coming over him that he hadn't known before...
...and he stepped off the podium.