A/N: It's May 3rd and you know what that means ! The first chapter of Footprints in the Sand is finally here ! I've been putting so much work into this fanfiction ever since I announced it and so far, everything looks promising !
But just a quick disclaimer, if your haven't or didn't read the IMPORTANT PLEASE READ section before this, I highly recommend you do before you start reading in case this story contains anything you are not comfortable with reading. That section also goes into more detail of the layout of this story.
But enough of my rambling. I've kept you guys waiting long enough.
I hope you enjoy !
(With my writing, thoughts and sound effects are italicized)
Sunday, May 3rd, 4:00 P.M. Yu-Topia
"And he's been like that for the last 3 days ?" Phitchit inquired, causing the black haired Japanese male on his phone screen to sigh.
"Yeah...I just wish I could do something to help him. But I can't if he doesn't tell me what's wrong."
"Have you tried...discussing things with him? Sitting him down to talk?"
"Yes. A few times actually. But each time the answer is the same. He's "fine" or "just tired" or "has alot on his mind". I'm not buying it."
"Well maybe he just needs some time. I remember on countless occasions the times you went through fighting your own demons back when we trained together in Detroit. Sometimes we wouldn't have a real conversation for days. Then you would wake up one morning and suddenly you were back to normal."
The Japanese male sighed again, fixing the blue frames that sat on the bridge of his nose. "I guess...but that happening to me, weird and sad as it is, fits my personality. It's how I've always been. But Victor ? He's NEVER been like this before. And it's...really starting to worry me. I wonder if this is how he feels when I get into one of my moods..." He trailed off.
Phichit bit his lip, "I wish I could help you out more."
This caused the Asian male to smile softly
"It's okay, don't worry about it. I'm sure I'll figure something out." He paused, "You know, it always amazes me on how many more things I'm able to notice about him now that we're bonded and married. Never in million years would I thought I'd understand Victor the way I do now...in the exception for what's been going on currently."
"Well duh." Phitchit, deadpanned. "You two are practically soul mates. Your whole relationship might as well be written as a romantic love story. I can see it now 'The story of Russian alpha Victor Nikiforov and omega Yuuri Katsuki tells a beautiful tale about love on the ice'. Can you IMAGINE how good that would sell?"
Yuuri blinked, "...I'm not sure if I want to."
The Thai male shrugged in playful defeat, "Oh well. It was worth a shot. Pretty creative idea though right ?"
Yuuri laughed. If there was one think Phitchit never lacked in, it was entertainment.
They talked for a little while longer until Yuuri noticed the time.
"Sorry, Phitchit. I would love to talk more, but I have to go. Victor will be back from the rink any minute and I should probably greet him."
"Haha...gotcha. If you want to talk about anything later or if you have any updates with him, let me know, okay ?"
"For sure."
"See you later, Yuuri."
"Bye, Phichit."
*beep
Yuuri sighed and laid back on his bed, looking at the sky from his open window. A chilly breeze rustled his curtains. Yet somehow, he could still feel the warm heat of the sun radiating on his skin.
Even though it was the beginning of May, Spring still occasionally brought on a slight chill to the air. Winter was definitely over, the time when business at the onsen was at it's best. But even still, when Spring comes along with it's warmer days and cool nights, it gives people reason to come to Yu-Topia for a final round of hot spring bliss before Summer rolls around.
Since business was at it's final peak before Fall and Winter make their way around again, Yuuri thought it as a nice gesture for him and Victor to stay at Yu-Topia for a little while to help with customers while also running their skating class at the nearby rink.
That's right. A skating class.
Even though they both retired from the ice competitively, the sport still played a role in their lives in teaching younger children who had interest in making the sport a part of their future the basics of ice skating.
And so 4 days a week, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, they held 2 classes a day. One from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM for children 5-10 years old and one from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM for children 11-16 years old. Between the classes, they had a 2 hour break to eat lunch and go over what plans they had had for the next class and get started on plans for the next day.
They found that most of their younger students were homeschooled or did private studies (as did most younger kids in Hasetsu) in order to fit the skating class into their schedules. Their older students attended school if they were able, but most had private lessons or were homeschooled as well.
Overall, the whole thing brought great joy to the two older men. Being able to teach kids and see their faces light up when they do something as simple as stand up successfully put a smile on their faces.
The thoughts of the children and their happy smiles when he returned played over and over again in his mind. He couldn't wait to go back.
It's was just Victor today. And it was just Victor yesterday. And the day before that.
All because of some annoying nausea, dizziness, and one bout of vomiting.
It was nothing he couldn't handle, but Victor wanted him to stay home anyway.
Some rest had seemed to pay off, as he had started feeling better earlier so hopefully whatever little bug he had would be gone by tomorrow. It would be the last class until that Friday, with another class on Saturday and then a day off for their students on Sunday because it was Mother's Day .
But even though he had an ache to see his students again, he also wanted to help Victor out...since for the last few days...it had seemed like he needed it.
The conversation he just had with Phichit played over again in his head.
He needed to talk to Victor again. Or...at least try to. Something was wrong. And he wanted to know what.
His thoughts were interuppted by a knock at his door. He sat up, already knowing who it was due to the sweet, minty smell that had become weaved into air.
"Come in."
The door opened revealing a tall, silver haired man. He wore a black t-shirt, dark grey sweat pants, running shoes, and had a training bag swung over his shoulder.
Yuuri smiled.
"I'm baaack." Victor sang.
"So I see." Yuuri chuckled, standing up. 'He seems a little better.'
Victor gave a small smile, reaching out to the the shorter male with both of his arms. Yuuri moved towards him and meltehd into his embrace immediately, nuzzling his face into Victor's neck. The minty scent, now containing a touch of eucalyptus soothed him. Victor seemed calm, and he was happy about that. Very happy.
Victor kissed the top of Yuuri's head and gently pushed him back to look at him. He pushed his black hair aside, caressing his forehead with his thumb then moving both of his hands to hold his face, squishing his cheeks slightly.
"How are you feeling moya lyubov ? Have you gotten sick anymore since I was gone ?"
Yuuri shook his head, "No. Just this morning and that was it. But I slept a little bit and I drank lots of water. Honestly, I think it helped. I feel like I can probably go back to the rink tomorrow and help you out with the kids."
Victor beamed, " Well I'm glad to hear that. And I hope you can too. They really miss you. But let's not jump to anything yet. We'll see how you feel tomorrow."
Yurri puffed his cheeks, but now they looked extra cute since Victor still had his hands on them. The Russian man giggled.
"Awe Yuuriiii~ Now you look like a chipmunk !"
Yuuri rolled his eyes playfully, taking Victor's hands off his face.
'He's such a dork...but I love him...so much.'
Yuuri then remembered the conversation he had with Phitchit. 'Maybe now would be a good time to ask him...'
"Victor. Can I-"
"Oh, there you are, Victor."
A sweet, feminine voice came from the doorway, causing Yuuri and Victor to turn thier heads.
A women stood by the open door. She was short, as well as her hair, with a round face, glasses and wise smile. She held a tray of crisp, white wash rags folded and stacked neatly on top of one another on her hip.
Hiroko Katsuki. Yuuri's mother.
"Oh, hi Mom. Everything okay?"
"Oh, everything is just fine dear. It's just that I had heard Victor come in from outside but I was in the other room and wasn't able to greet him. I just wanted to know how the classes were. Everything okay without Yuuri there today?" She asked.
Yuuri looked at Victor with a tiny smile, but it quickly disappeared, turning into a frown.
Victor had gone...stiff. His eyes were frozen on the women standing in front of them. Yuuri noticed his chest, the steady rise and fall of it moments before had changed to be short and staggard.
Yuuri couldn't pin point what was...wait...it...it almost looked like he was having a..
...panic attack.
Or...close to one at least.
Yuuri reached his hand out slowly, his palm eventually pressing gently against Victor's forearm. The silver haired man flinched, his head darting to the source of contact, breaking out of his trance as fast as he entered it.
"H-huh ? I-I'm sorry. I...I lost myself there...for a second."
Yuuri's face contorted slightly with concern. Not just from Victor's strange...reaction, but also from the heavy, distressed sent that had begun to spread through the air. A complete 360 to his mood and scent from mere moments ago.
However, it seemed that Hiroko didn't notice a thing. At least not from her demeanor. She still had a smile on her face, but it now had a slight sentimental twinge to it.
" Oh, don't worry about it Victor ! Just a nosy old women I am." She shook her head, "I shouldn't have pried so quickly, especially with how tired you much be from teaching and looking after all of those children by yourself ! That reminds, how are you feeling, dear?" Her eyes moved to Yuuri, head tilting to the side.
Yuuri smiled, " I'm feeling better. A little tired, but I think I'll be okay to go back tomorrow. After all...I can't have Victor winning over our students and becoming the favorite teacher." he said teasingly, causing Hiroko to laugh.
"Everything today has to be a competition between you two," she shook her head, " Anyway, the other reason I came to see you two was to tell you that business is starting to slow down a bit, so I think you both could probably go back home anywhere within the next week. It's also pretty empty right now, so if you two would like, you can take a quick dip in the hotsprings before dinner. Take a chance to enjoy them before it gets too hot."
Yuuri nodded, " Okay. We'll definitely consider it. Thanks Mom."
Hiroko smiled and leaned in, kissing Yuuri on the cheek, and before walking away, she grabbed Victor's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze."I'll see you boys at dinner, it should be ready in about 45 minutes" she said, making her way down the hall to the main room.
Yuuri watched as his mom walked away, turning to Victor after she rounded the corner of the hall.
He looked very...off. Almost sad, confused, angry, nervous, and horrified all combined into one.
It was exactly the look that would suddenly take him over the last 2 days. The looked that had Yuuri worried sick. The look that earned Yuuri the same ( obviously untruthful ) answers when he'd asked Victor what was wrong.
Yuuri then decided it fruitless to ask again. It was obvious Victor wasn't ready to talk and, as much as he didn't want to, he had to accept it.
Instead, he gently grabbed Victor's hand, lacing the Russian's fingers between his own. A tiny smile present on his face.
"Wanna take Mom up on her offer ?" Yuuri asked softly, " I could definitely use a good soak, and I'm sure you could too. It won't be for long though, about a half and hour or so, but..."
Victor met his Omega's soft, brown gaze. His eyes were adorned with concern, yet they were still warm and sweet, much like his scent. A calming, fragrant vanilla mixed with sharp, yet not too overwhelming cinnamon that made his still tensed body relax a great deal.
He nodded, a baby smile present on his lips " That sounds lovely."
After dressing in their robes and grabbing a few towels, the couple made their way to the springs.
Everywhere they went, they always found that their hands would end up intertwining with one another. This was no exception, even as they walked down the hall of Yuuri's childhood home. Palms were pressed together, fingers were laced, and inner arms were touching.
Yuuri could sense that the stress that had been emitting from his Alpha was slowly beginning to wash away, his minty, fresh scent slowly resurfacing.
Though this relieved Yuuri a great bit, it still left him wondering.
Was he overthinking this ?
Phitchit had brought up Yuuri and how he used to 'fight his own demons' back in Detroit, which was true. As it happened quite often, and he bounced back eventually every time.
The same went with Victor. He would tense up during the last 2 days, for reasons Yuuri did not know, and would eventually snap out of it. Though it took him less time to than Yuuri.
But regardless, as soon as he came over...whatever it was, he was back to being Victor, and that, to Yuuri, was comforting.
Maybe that was it. Maybe that's all it was.
Victor was dealing with some personal problems that he needed to get over on his own.
And Yuuri, from experience, respected that.
Yeah...he would be fine.
But that word, maybe, left a heavy, unsure feeling surging in the back of his mind. A feeling that there was more to it than that. Much more.
And he wanted, for Victor's sake, to figure out what it was.
A/N: Annnnnd that's chapter 1 everybody ! I definitely plan on this being a longer story, maybe around 2,000 to 2,500 words per chapter so I have my work cut out for me.
But you won't have to wait long since chapter 2 will be out tomorrow with more information about what's going on with Victor. It's going to get good, I promise.
And it's my first time using Russian in a fanfic so 'moya lyubov' I believe means 'my love' correct me plz if I'm wrong 😅.
But next chapter is comin tomorrow so I will see you guys then. Thank you so much for reading !
Bye bye !