CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX
With the ice-pack still wrapped around his ankle, Viktor hobbled along with the skate on his left foot, the toes of his right barely touching the ground. Yuri stayed close to take most of the weight of each step, seeing the backboard for post-skate interviews coming up just ahead.
The media there were already in the midst of their talk with Minami and his coach, but the young skating nugget spotted them coming and started flailing excitedly in their direction, "YURI-KUUUUN! OVER HERE!"
"We're coming, hang on."
Photos and video quickly turned away from the currently-3rd-place athlete, focusing instead on the 1st-and-2nd who were getting closer with each passing moment. But far be it for them to want to get started on the interview both had been putting off...the mob's attention was quickly changed to the fact that Viktor wasn't walking on his own. The clicking and flashes went up to a fever-pitch then.
Yuri pulled his partner over next to the board, but found the teen stepping aside to let the two in, "Sorry, we don't want to interrupt if you're not done."
"It's okay!" Minami insisted, "We were just milling around by this point! You can go!"
He glanced aside to his husband, but Viktor made a face like they should own the situation now that it's gone this way, and they stepped up in front of the sponsor board. Minami still held onto all their things, hugging the Makkachin-plush to his chest and smiling eagerly to watch the interview to come.
"Hiii~!" Viktor started, waving at the group, and getting a flurry-storm of photo clicks in response. He smiled nervously where he stood, "...So."
One person spoke for the group, "Ashikubi. Nani." (Ankle. What.)
Yuri half-rolled his head back, leaning it against the arm still perched over his shoulders, "Just like you said...they didn't even say hi before they ask about what you did to yourself."
The Russian waved his hands defensively, "It's fine, really..." He told the group, "I twisted my ankle a little when I got into the rink earlier. The ice pack is just precautionary. I'm sure I'll be fine by tomorrow night."
Yuri didn't argue the statement just yet, despite what he'd said earlier, "I'm just making him be extra cautious."
"Ashita no 'Exhibition' wa dō desu ka...?"
Again, Viktor looked for the translation, but this time, Yuri answered for him, "He won't be in tomorrow's Exhibition." He said, oddly in English, "I'll be skating a solo piece instead."
The Russian's smile cracked slightly and half his face twitched, but he refused to let his mirth go entirely, since another onslaught of photo-clicking rained on them as soon as Yuri was done speaking.
He's killing my chances of even trying...! Yuri, why! Ahhhh! You wouldn't even let me think about pulling you from the Final after you ended up in the hospital over your injury! But this ankle thing is barely a thing at all!
He felt a hand slide from the crook of his waist to relax over his hip instead...followed by the slow, inconspicuous, circular massage of fingers against his rump and the outside curve of his thigh...and Viktor's expression relaxed, almost to a point of narrowing his eyes.
...Oh...right...that's how he does it... He's got me wrapped around his finger... All he has to do is cry or flirt with me and I'll buckle to whatever he wants...! Why am I so easy!?
Yuri had continued on responding to questions in Japanese, leaving Viktor clueless, but when the younger man reached up his free hand to find the fingers holding to his shoulder, and pulled them over to kiss the gold band...Viktor realized.
...It's not that I'm easy...it's that Yuri's too perfect...!
The Russian's eyes were comically warbling from the water-levels rising unchecked in them...and before much longer, there were rivers dripping down his face, and he became a blubbering mess.
Yuri glanced up at him in astonishment, "...Viktor...what's wrong?" He waved his hand toward Minami, and the teen hopped into frame to offer the tissue box. Yuri pulled a bunch free and squashed them against his husband's face, "Why are you crying all of a sudden...?"
"...B-because I'm not gonna get to skate with my Yuri tomorrrooowwwww...!"
Click click click click click click click
.
Being on her own, Minako managed to find a seat to take, and played with her phone nervously. The FaceTime conversation had been over for a few minutes already, and even though there were only 4 skaters left for the night, the three that followed immediately after Yuri felt like they went on forever.
Minami's was at least entertaining; the music was catchy, and even though his show wasn't nearly the level of Yuri or Viktor's, the teen had proven himself in the past and put on a good show. The two after him, however...
Minako looked at the screen of her phone, seeing the text messages she'd received since the FaceTime session ended.
[So are you gonna tell me why you're on my nephew's bad list?]
[Minakooooo]
[We both have iPhones...I can tell you've read my texts...just type if it's a bad time or something and I'll quit bugging you]
She eyeballed the little blue boxes on her screen, but finally relented and typed something back, [Sorry hun, I was trying to think of how to answer, but the more I think about it, the more complicated it is...it's not really a conversation for texts]
[Cliff's notes so I know you're okay?] He asked instead.
[Ahhh...other than being on the shit-list of Victor Nikiforov, greatest skater of all time...? I'm okay I guess]
[Something happened to Yuri here at Nationals, and it was sort-of taken care of...but I guess I've taken a page out of your book and I'm trying to fix it for everyone, not just the boys, and they saw me in the stands with the other person]
[Yeah, I could've told you that doing something that I would do was a bad idea. You frequently told me so yourself.]
[It's so much more obvious to someone outside looking in.] Minako sighed as she sent the message, looking up over her phone to spot the second-last skater finally leaving for the kiss and cry, [I guess I get you now...it seemed like a good idea from my own perspective but it's kind of backfiring, and it's hard to explain since I can't just go down there and find them without a guest pass like you always have.]
[I'll try to catch them after the medaling ceremony...we'll see if they're even willing to talk to me tonight]
[Call me when you're done?]
[Yeah]
[Last skater is about to go out. He's an Olympic hopeful so I wanna watch. TTYL]
The crowd started cheering for the previous skater's score, but Minako was too busy putting her phone away to hear what it was, and just clapped along with them out of obligation once she was done. Her eyes went down to rink-side, and the nervous skater she'd conscripted to the audience, who was taking his place to go out next. Asahi was with his coach and choreographer, but it didn't look like much was being said between them; the athlete himself looked lost in his own head.
Minako felt herself pulled out of her own thoughts rather abruptly when someone sitting next to her tapped her arm. She glanced over and saw a number of faces looking her way, "Eeettooo... Nani...?" (Uhm...what?)
[You were standing with Asahi-kun earlier on, while Yuri-kun and Viktor-san were doing their shows...does that mean you know him?] One of the women asked; the rest looked hopeful for a confirmation.
[Er...that...isn't really true. I don't know Asahi. We share a mutual pool of, uh...friends.] She answered nervously, trying to back up against the side of her chair, [He's just an acquaintance!]
[Do you think you can help us get close for autographs later!?]
[Wh-what!?] She evacuated her seat entirely then, standing in the stairway aisle.
[The final skater tonight for the Men's Singles Free Skate...] The announcer called overhead, mercifully giving the woman a brief reprieve from the mob, [From Imari in Saga Prefecture...Saito Asahi-san!]
The crowd went nearly ballistic with their cheers, crying and screaming near as loudly as they had for Yuri earlier on. Asahi didn't seem to acknowledge it though, stepping out onto the ice as though it were a practice-run and there weren't any fans in the audience at all.
By the time the group that had pestered Minako settled down again, the ballerina was nowhere to be seen. She heaved for breath as she backed up against a wall in the lower stairwell, the cheers like waves, coming and going as Asahi made his rounds about the ice. Still, once she was sure she was safe, she went back up a few steps to see the ice from there.
Asahi's frame was clad entirely in black, accented with a light blood-red brush-texture that started from the edges of his chest and went over his shoulders and back. Scarlet crystal shimmered within the brush-strokes like dark embers, accented here and there by orange or yellow. His jacket tapered behind him like coat-tails, tipped by dark red feather-fluff that ended just behind his knees. The same fluff was on the cuffs of his sleeves, nearly hiding his gloved hands. The outside of his knee-high boot covers were edged by sharp, rigid feathers in the shape of pointed crests.
On the side-lines, coach and choreographer were watching him carefully, but looked nervous.
This was supposed to be my big come-back... Asahi thought to himself, lacing his fingers together in front of his face, thumbs and forefingers pressed to his skin, But now it all just seems antithetical to how I feel. The idea of having my programs be loud, explosive, attention-grabbing...I really wish I had something more demure now... I don't know that I can muster the same intensity for it that I had before getting to Osaka... I've completely lost my confidence now...
Grey-brown eyes looked up a little, sifting through the lower tiers of the audience in the hope that he'd see more friendly faces; not just the fans though, other skaters who didn't know what a giant mess he'd made. There were a few, mostly from the Ladies' group, but no one he really knew. He wasn't surprised that Viktor nor Yuri were in the stands.
At least...until they were.
Coming out at probably the last-possible second, the duo of skaters emerged from one of the arena stairwells, about half-way up the first level. As soon as he spotted them, Asahi could see the rather serious look on his once-friend's face. Viktor was ignoring him outright, focusing on the man next to him instead.
...Viktor's hurt? Asahi wondered, noting the way the Russian propped his right leg up slightly, barely touching the ground with his un-booted foot, I wonder when that happened...?
He shook the thought away and turned around, looking down at the ice instead, and sucking in a deep breath. The butterflies in his gut became like moths; heavier, thicker, thumping harder against his insides. He tried to quiet them with a palm against his stomach as he settled down in the middle of the rink, but it didn't help. It felt like the eyes of the Nikiforovs were driving knives into the back of his head.
From the stairwell entrance, Yuri watched quietly, even as his husband was still sulking somewhat beside him. He stepped them both closer to the railing and set one hand on it, keeping the other around his partner's back.
"Why can't we go inside to watch? I'd rather sit..." Viktor complained, "I'm supposed to keep my ankle elevated anyway, right?"
"So elevate it." Yuri answered.
The Russian glowered at him slightly, but then twisted away a little and ever-so-slowly started to raise his right leg. He curled his knee up towards his chest before unfurling the rest of the leg even higher up, using his now-free hand to hold it in place by the back of his knee, "Like this?" He asked dryly, hoping the ridiculous imagery would inspire his partner to return to the prep-area.
Yuri glanced over briefly, eye twitching at the sight of it, but he just smirked in the end. He stepped in closer, chest pressed to the underside of that upturned leg, "Yes, exactly like that." He mused, "Keep it up there...if you can."
"If I can." Viktor puffed his chest out, taking it like a challenge, but he deflated as his partner stole a quick peck off his lips...and he resigned to just turn and hold the railing, leaning far forward to stand in a split for as long as he could. As he rested on his elbows and sighed his latest defeat, he felt his partner's frame lean against his side, one arm resting on his back, fingers lightly playing with silver hair on the back of his head, "...You're enjoying this way too much."
"It's not every day I get to tell you what to do, Mr. Nikiforov."
"You tell me what to do all the time, Mr. Nikiforov." Viktor retorted coyly.
"I make suggestions...you just happen to agree most of the time, that's all."
"Yakov would love to know your methods."
"Love is my method."
"Hah?" Viktor glanced up, seeing the confident smile on his husband's face, even as those eyes were fixed on the ice, and the skater who'd caused him such grief.
"Yeah. If you were hopelessly in love with Yakov then maybe you'd listen to him more, right?"
"Just like you'd be a top-skater already if Ciao Ciao slept with you?"
That made Yuri's face red, but he laughed and shook his head anyway, "...Touché."
"I love you~!" The Russian nuzzled his head against the hand close by, then further towards his partner's chest.
"I love you, too," Yuri responded easily, leaning down to kiss the man's crown, his hand reaching back to brace that still-upturned-leg, fingers sliding precariously lower, "Now watch the show. We have lots to do after."
"Do we?" Viktor wondered, turning his face slightly and giving a sly grin as his partner pulled his hand away again to replace it against his upper back.
"Hai." The younger man answered, "Just maybe not the stuff you're thinking of right now."
"Eh!?"
The thunderous start of the final program's music completely cut off any possible reply.
['Preliator' - Globus]
Hosana meus (My savior)
Asahi's head shot up, right arm gesturing forward as the left followed half-way, pulled up into something of an archery pose, but with his hands forward. He pushed forward on the ice, swerving dramatically until the lyric ended, and he twisted around sharply, bringing both hands down close to his sides, bowing his head slightly towards the audience on that side.
Fortuna deus (Fortune god)
Again, his head shot up, and he pushed off a second time. Long arching scratches were left in the frost as he moved toward a spot that mirrored the first, but when he sharply twisted around to bow at the stands that had just been behind him, instead of reaching for them, he dipped into a backward-moving curtsey, with both arms forward, raised higher than before.
Aeterna teus (Eternally yours)
He rose up again to his full height, moving through a single twizzle-like spin as he picked up speed, only to lower down again and travel across the ice in a rotating knee-slide. By the end of the lyric, he rose up directly into a 3-turn, kicking his right leg out behind himself as the left dipped on an inside edge.
Mystre, morte, sancte pior (By the mysterious, deadly, holy one I'm cleansed)
With the beat, he kicked off for the triple Flip, half-loop to connect, and triple Salchow to finish. There was a brief pause in the music as Asahi glided out of the landing, song replaced by applause until the marching drums began.
Dan...dadadadan...dadadadan...dadadadadadadadada Dan dadadadan...
Viktor turned his eyes to look for his husband's reaction, but Yuri was stone-faced, giving nothing away. All he could sense was the changing speed of the younger man's hand against his back, going from a dedicated brush of a thumb against the space between his shoulders, to sliding down the center of his back and across to cup around his side.
The choir returned, and the sound of a single boy's voice filled the arena. Asahi leapt through a backward flying entry into the first part of a combination spin, moving swiftly in a circle in a standard camel spin, hands clasped behind his back.
Fortuna hosana deus (Fortunate savior god)
One...two...three illusion spins, head swinging down towards the ice on each turn before finally twisting out and lowering down for a shoot-the-duck sit-spin variant, head bent down over where his hands held onto the thigh of his extended leg.
Legionus ab comae (Legions of rays)
When he rose up, there was a quick foot-change, and he continued on with his spin on the opposite boot, grabbing quickly for his right skate to pull the blade up behind his head for a full Biellmann.
Fortune fortuna equis (As fortunate as fortune)
He kicked out of it and started gliding off again, using the long moment to gain speed and cross the rink.
Once more, Viktor glanced up at his spouse, but again was disappointed to find no discernible change in the man's demeanor. All he had to read into were the movements of that one hand, which by then was, to his guess, trying to find its way into his pocket. Viktor pushed up from the railing then, bringing his leg back down to normal, and gestured for his partner to step in front of him.
Ad pugnatoris in veritae (Truthfully into battles)
Yuri found both of his hands clasped by the silver legend's, and in turn, wrapped them around himself, keeping them warm together as the man's chin came down on his right shoulder.
Asahi slid into a forward-inside mohawk, and vaulted on the outbound lyric through a quad Salchow, 'sitting' deep on the reverse glide. The choir of the song quieted for a moment, leaving the skater to breeze across the ice before the next stanza began.
...I wonder what Nagisa and Webber are thinking right now...? He thought, the interlude allowing him to meander across the ice, even if it felt like a battlefield, I didn't talk to them before I came out here... His eyes went up and found Yuri again, ...I wonder what he thinks...? Is he looking for a message in my skating like Minako said was in his own? What could I possibly even say...? My skating was always about being a force of nature, showing no weakness, no mercy...
Hosana meus (My savior)
The intense music returned, and Asahi's battle resumed, kicking through a 3-turn and dipping down low on his left outside edge. His toe-pick cracked down, and he vaulted through the quad Lutz, the hardest jump he knew, and followed with a triple Loop, fumbling slightly on the landing but managing to avoid a fall.
...Get your head in this! I'm a fighter! I fucked up but I can't quit now!
Fortuna deus (Fortune god)
The outbound slide from the Loop transitioned straight into another jump; the death-drop into a sit-spin.
Protego causa in sanctus (Protect the cause in holiness)
He twisted his core and extended the free leg for a broken-leg variant, barely dragging a toe-pick above the ice as his right arm went up above himself. Eight revolutions at a blurry pace...
Aeternus praetor, firmitas semper (Eternal governor, everlasting firmness)
...He rose up slightly to finish out the level 4 spin, grabbing the blade of his free foot to pull it under the back of his knee and thigh, and held the fingers of his other hand to the toe of his spinning skate.
Coryphaeus, Rex Regis universe (Leader of the choir, King of the kings of the universe)
As he rose up, he hopped to get a pick-up in speed, gunning for the far corner of the rink as though he were leading a charge, only to quickly hop into an outside spread-eagle for the triple Axel on the curve, and landed straight into another outside spread-eagle. He half-twizzled to get into position, and when the music shifted, banging with a new set of drums for the transition, the step sequence began.
Prose solis hosanna, protego sanctus causa (Onwards for the only savior, I protect the holy cause)
Padre illuminata, gloria in resurrectem (Illuminated father, glory in the resurrection)
Viktor pivoted on his chin, nosing at his husband's ear to get his attention, "You're rather fixated."
Yuri hesitated, but finally let himself blink again, "I feel like I'm watching Silver slip out of my hands."
"...You think it's that obvious?"
"You don't?" He asked honestly, nudging his head out towards the ice, "I remember the posture you took on when you realized Yurio had just wrecked your Short Program record." He sighed and slouched a little, leaning against his partner's frame, "I think this must've been how you felt at the time, too..."
"That's dire."
The step sequence went on, taking on an even more intense air as the chorus repeated, shaking the rafters.
Prose solis hosanna, protego sanctus causa (Onwards for the only savior, I protect the holy cause)
Padre illuminata, gloria in unum diem (Illuminated father, glory on that one day)
"Well, for one, I don't think he's going to beat you." Viktor attempted, giving the man in his arms a gentle squeeze to reassure him, "He's going into the second half right now and he looks exhausted. I don't think he'll even manage to squeeze one more quad out of it."
"He always has one at the end..." Yuri explained, "Always..."
"Are you worried it's going to be a Flip?"
"Wouldn't that just be the icing on the cake."
Terra tenebrae (World of darkness)
Asahi threw himself above the ice, vaulting through a triple Loop, triple Loop jump combo. Sweat flew off his skin, but the beat wouldn't let him rest at all.
Telluris malus, qui sere pere. Curiatus (Evil earth, who sows, perishes. Curiate.)
Each heavy beat of the drum made the skater twist or kick, swinging or thrusting his arms, and he pushed through backward cross-overs at the end of the rink.
Genitor edo, in ex domino (I eat/beget the begetter, within outside of the lord)
The fight-sequence seemed to fade as he came back around towards center; a lull in the fighting, but not for long.
Patris illuminata, Rex Regis... (Of the illuminated father; King of kings...)
He thrust himself down onto one knee, one arm grasping for the sky as the other trailed behind him, then twisted his gliding-blade to spin him around.
...Universe (...Of the universe)
With the twist, he threw his free leg out and straightened it, gliding backward in a long arc as the lyric trailed and faded out. He slid on as the heavy horns struck two cords, but quickly rose up, twisted over himself, and bent way back for the Ina Bauer as the soulful cry of a Valkyrie sounded overhead.
Yuri's worried look seemed to deepen, and the foreboding notes of the music only served to enhance the feeling. The drums and horns came together, and the intensity of the song picked up again, leading into to explosive finale. Yuri's brow furrowed and he took on a more serious expression, watching for any signs of misstep or mistake. There were few, but his newly-trained eyes, sharpened by the lessons of an Ice God, were able to pick up the obvious blemishes of an athlete absent from competition for two years.
"...I could do this better."
"Hah?" Viktor blinked at him, but the song shifted into overdrive, making his husband's words hard to hear.
Asahi switched into another step sequence, each swing of his legs and arms looking more and more like a martial arts form than the last.
Prose solis hosanna, protego sanctus causa (Onwards for the only savior, I protect the holy cause)
Padre illuminata, gloria in resurrectem (Illuminated father, glory in the resurrection)
The audience was creeping closer and closer to the end of their seats. Even Minako was entranced by the battle. She glanced aside for a second, and spotted the blue and white track-suits of the Olympic team, worn by two men on the next landing. She squeaked in surprise to realize it was her boys, and ducked behind the wall to avoid being seen unprepared.
Prose solis hosanna, protego sanctus causa (Onwards for the only savior, I protect the holy cause)
Padre illuminata, gloria in unum diem (Illuminated father, glory on that one day)
Yuri had to pull his hands free from the finger-laced hug, gripping the railing in front of himself and leaned forward. He couldn't take his eyes off the program.
...I know he's been planning this program for months, if not an entire year...maybe even longer... There's no chance he could've known what would happen this weekend. So why do I still feel like this battle he's fighting is against me? And why do I feel like he's winning...?
He saw the left blade going down onto an inside edge, and the right leg lift behind the skater. Yuri's hands were white-knuckling the railing, squeezing so tightly that he could feel the breeze under the edge of his ring, brushing cold against skin that had long-ago taken a groove to the gold's placement.
Viktor saw the skate-placement too, and felt himself loosen his arms around his husband's frame, You better not... This better not...
The toe-pick jammed down, and Asahi flew, spun, and landed, earning him a big applause.
"It wasn't a quad," Viktor insisted, pulling his partner back from the edge, "It was just a triple."
"Are you sure? I couldn't-"
"I'm sure." He said firmly, "You're not even wearing your glasses...trust me on this one! I'd be furious if he did a quad Flip!"
Yuri still held tight to the banister though, I don't want to be mad at him...I just don't want him to be better than me!
Prose solis hosanna, protego sanctus causa (Onwards for the only savior, I protect the holy cause)
Though the second step sequence had ended, Asahi still made good use of the full surface of the ice. The end of his program was quickly pressing down though, and he could feel the burning in his chest and lungs. The cold arena air couldn't do much to cool to heat on his skin, and his long teal bangs threatened to blind him with each whip of his head.
Padre illuminata, gloria in unum diem (Illuminated father, glory on that one day)
Prose solis hosanna, protego sanctus causa (Onwards for the only savior, I protect the holy cause)
He pushed through a series of stars, kicking his leg up as his body rotated in a diagonal line across the ice, then finally straightening out into a forward-entry camel spin, both hands extended out to the sides, looking like wings as he stared ahead.
Padre illuminata, gloria in unum diem (Illuminated father, glory on that one day)
Arms came closer as the skater hugged himself to bring his center of gravity in, and he stepped down for a quick foot change, kicking off again for another camel spin. He used the toe-off from the foot change to push as hard as he could, twisting himself into the direction of the spin, and rounding it out with another kick to stand up straight.
Lacrimosa, lacrimosa (Tearful, tearful)
Stepping out of the spin, he power-housed it as hard as he could, forcing his way across the rink with all the stamina he had left.
In ex dominum (Within outside the lord)
He twisted around in a mohawk, and lowered down on the right outside edge, left going out behind him. The toe-pick jammed down on the final beat, sending him flying into the quiet. The audience heard his blade land on the ice with a crack, and the sound of it echoed off the walls and rafters like a pin-drop in an empty concert hall. The scratching noise of that one blade on the frost sunk deep into every onlooker, a stark contrast to the thunderous roll of the song that came before. The quiet hum of a woman's voice slipped through the crowd like a fog, flowing into the rink until it pulled the skater into his final pose...and faded out altogether.
Yuri stood up straighter when it was over, looking down into the rink as everyone else went wild with cheering. The audience seemed miles away to him...save for Viktor, who was with him in that strange place. They glanced around the arena like they couldn't understand what all the cheering was for; it felt strange and alien to them, given their morning and the night before. Still, Yuri grit his teeth before turning back to his partner, "When we're done with the medaling ceremony, we're going back to Hasetsu."
"What!?" The Russian was immediately in a panic, "What do you mean, back to Hasetsu!? The Exhibition is tomorrow! You gotta skate! If not for yourself then at least for me!"
The younger man was already making an effort to get towards the stairs behind them, "Let's just go."
Viktor felt weird wanting to stay, but he glanced back out to the ice, then down to his spouse, who had paused one step down before turning around to offer his hand. He grumbled nervously and reached for it, knowing it'd be harder to follow after if Yuri got too far ahead without him, and let the man guide him safely down, "...You need to start making sense, Yuri! What are you saying!?"
He paused briefly as they got to the bottom of the stairs, and drew a deep breath, but then just shook his head, "He's just taken Silver. I don't want to be in the Exhibition as a Bronze medalist..."
"But-"
"I'll skate it for the sake of your Gold, but...that's all."
"...So...we're going back because...?"
"I need a different outfit." Yuri turned on the heel of his blade-guard, and set both their arms back into place before walking again, "The one I thought I was going to be using here in the first place."