A/N: Here comes some self-gratifying fluff! Most of this chapter is heavily influenced by episode 4. I'm not trying to pretend that I created the masterpiece that is Yuri on Ice, so I figured I'd give you all a heads-up.

Yuuri relaxed in the warm water of the bathtub, feeling much safer hiding away in her hotel room. Her muscles were sore from the abuse she had heaped on them early in the studio, but the underlying pain gave her something else to focus on instead of the events of the day. Focusing on the rest of her body helped her get out of her own head. Yuuri wasn't a masochist, but she enjoyed the aches that she earned from training. They reminded her of what it took to get where she was. She wasn't invincible or naturally perfect. Her skill was forged from hard work.

The hot bath reminded her of Hasetsu, where she would sit in the bath after training nearly every day. She shifted lower in the water, allowing it to surrounded her head and cover her body more completely. With the water covering her ears, everything was finally quiet.

When the water started to cool, Yuuri reluctantly sat up and got out of the tub, pulling out the stopper. She toweled off before wrapping herself in a bathrobe, moving to settle into her bed. An early night would be good for her. More time sleeping left less time for her to sit alone and think. Hopefully, she could regain her composure before tomorrow. She eyed her phone on the bedside table, not bothering to turn it back on. She could wade through the sea of notifications she was sure were waiting for her later. Phichit could take it up with her later.

A knock on the door surprised her, but distracted as she was, Yuuri went over and opened it, not bothering to look through the peep hole. She was startled when she saw familiar blue eyes and silver hair waiting outside. Her cheeks reddened as she realized her own state of undress, the cozy white robe revealing far more than she normally liked. Victor seemed as shocked as she was, his eyes wide as he stared. She tugged the bathrobe tighter across her chest.

"I was going to ask if you wanted to go for a walk, but now might not be the best time." Victor's face looked suspiciously red as he tried his best to avoid staring at her. Yuuri relaxed. This was the Victor she had come to know. He certainly seemed earnest, though she heard the warning bells going off in the back of her mind. He transitioned so smoothly between personas, it was clear he had been acting for a long time. Was this yet another act from him? His request seemed benign enough, so Yuuri reasoned it couldn't hurt to take him up on it.

"If you give me a few minutes, I'll be ready to go," she said impulsively. Victor brightened, turning to go back to the hallway. Yuuri scrambled around the room, pulling on some clothes before brushing her hair and trying to make herself look as presentable as she could. She grabbed a hat to cover her damp hair. Itt wouldn't do to for her to get sick now. Looking in the mirror, she sighed. She wished that she looked better. Her hair was wet and matted down, and her skin still pink from the bath. She felt almost embarrassed to let Victor see her this way. But on the bright side, maybe nobody would recognize her?

Victor nodded when she emerged into the hallway. They walked silently out of the hotel. It was growing dark outside already, and the streets contained very few other people. She trailed slightly behind Victor, unsure of where exactly he was taking her. The sound of their footsteps on the stone echoed loudly in the empty streets. The semi-solitude was strangely comforting after the crowds of people surrounding them earlier.

Yuuri wondered where they were going, the answer finally becoming clear as a familiar salty smell began to waft over to them. The wind blew gently, carrying the soft squawks of seagulls. She stopped in her tracks and closed her eyes, reeling from a sense of dejá vu. Yuuri felt almost like she was back in Hasetsu, nostalgia nearly overwhelming her. She snapped her eyes open when she heard the footsteps in front of her stop.

"Sorry," she smiled, eyes slightly watery. "It just reminds me of home."

"And where is home for you? If I recall, you train in Detroit, and I don't think there is an ocean there," Victor asked as they made their way to a path down to a dock.

"A small coastal town in Japan. My family runs a onsen or hot springs inn there. I would go down to the ocean all the time when I was younger. The seagulls sound just the same. I never really thought I'd miss that noise, but then, I never planned to leave home."

Victor nodded in agreement as they settled onto a bench next to each other. Yuuri barely noticed, continuing to pour out her feelings.

"It's all so different now, so overwhelming. Sometimes I wish I could return home, to the simplicity of the seagulls on the beach. I wonder if I would be happier if I never made it this far. "

"Ah, but if you hadn't, then we never would have met, Yuuri. And I don't think that I would be happier had we not."

"Can you so easily say that? We've known each other for all of three days. I know I would be happier without all this focus and attention," she lamented.

Victor looked at her, eyes projecting hurt. Yuuri felt a sting of guilt.

"I'm sorry about all the fuss that this has kicked up for you. I didn't mean for this to happened when I asked if I could skate with you. Is it really so bad for you here?"

She had never been very good with emotions, growing very good at pushing people away to deal with later, the same way she tried to do with her feelings. She did it so often it had become a reflexive response, even when it was the last thing she meant to do.. Yuuri could hear what he was really saying. Is it really so bad that we are spending time together? Has this all been pretending for you? Her heart ached at the doubt in his voice. The doubt that she so often felt herself. When people tried to comfort her, she often doubted them. Instead of helping, it made her feel weak, like they didn't think she was strong enough on her own. But Victor hadn't tried to pry or hover. So Yuuri did her best to articulate the chaos raging inside of her

"No, Victor, this has been like a dream for me. I'm just afraid of what might happen when I wake up from it all." Yuuri cast her eyes downward before she continued, afraid of how he might react to what she said next.

"For a long time I've admired you. But now that this all is actually happening, none of it feels quite right. How can what I wanted feel so unsatisfying now that I have it?"

"What do you want me to be to you, then? A mentor? A brother or a friend?"

Yuuri remained quiet, staring up at him with questioning eyes, shaking her head.

"Perhaps a lover?" Victor leaned close to her, his lips drawing near to her own. Yuuri was tempted to accept the offer and meet his lips with her own. It would be like something out of a movie, a kiss on the beach in the dark, right before the credits rolled. But she realized what he was saying. He was willing to pretend to be any of these thing with her, just like he pretended with the press. And Yuuri didn't want that from him. She drew back suddenly.

"No, no, no. That isn't what I want from you! I want you to stay who you are, Victor! The person I have gotten to know over the past few days. I don't want you to put on another mask just to try to please me. Be yourself for me!"

Yuuri turned to look out on the water, heart pounding as she waited for him to react. Why wouldn't he just say something? Anything? The passing seconds stretched on impossibly long. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and automatically, she turned to face him again. He was close, so tantalizingly close. He moved even closer, and suddenly his lips were on hers.

In terms of kisses, it probably wasn't the most impressive. But to Yuuri, it was one of the most amazing things she had done. Certainly the best kiss she had ever had, not that she had much to compare it feeling of elation that spread through her body was equal to a gold medal performance, perhaps even better. She hungrily kissed him back, trying to convey all of her desire for him. They pulled apart reluctantly, gasping for air. Victor smiled widely.

"Would you believe me if I said I have wanted to do that since we danced together at the banquet? You cast a spell on me, Yuuri, and I've been unable to forget you. But you never seemed to notice me after that, almost avoiding me at competitions."

Yuuri blushed, shyly leaning in to kiss him again, planting a peck on his cheek.

"I ignored you because I didn't want you to see my shortcomings. I was afraid that I wouldn't be enough for you if you ever got to know me. Let me make it up when we skate together. I won't take my eyes off of you."

They sat together in the rapidly cooling night, Yuuri snuggling closer to him as she felt the chill seep into her bones. But eventually she couldn't hide her shivers any longer. Victor pulled away, and the wind bit at her more fiercely. He pulled off his coat, draping it around her shoulders. Yuuri swam in the sea of fabric, grateful for the warmth that it provided, but conscious of the chill that he must now be feeling.

"We probably should head back soon. We have to be up early for training tomorrow," Yuuri suggested, mentally kicking herself in protest of what was coming out of her mouth. She wished that they could just stay there forever in the salty sea breeze.

She didn't know what to call what they had between them, but she certainly wanted it to continue as long as it could.