Yuuri sat quietly in his wheel chair in the waiting room, holding tightly to Viktor's hand who sat beside him in one of the uncomfortable padded chairs.
Looking over and seeing the tense look on the younger man's face, Viktor raised Yuuri's hand to his mouth and held it there in an attempt to comfort both of them.
"You ready for this?" The Russian asks the man sitting next to him.
Yuuri takes a deep breath as if preparing himself for something monumental before letting it out and speaking, "Maybe?"
Smiling into the slightly tremoring hand and giving it a gentle kiss.
"Everything will work out."
"Mr. Katsuki," a nurse called out to the two of them, ready to lead Yuuri back to his examination room.
Viktor stood up and began pushing Yuuri's chair after the nurse. He put a hand comfortingly on Yuuri's shoulder, unsurprised when Yuuri reached back to place his own hand on top of Viktor's.
Doctor Takaeda is a shorter bald man, with a thin wispy mustache, he looks to be in his 60s and he has thick square shaped glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. And when speaks, he speaks with such a thick an eccentric accent that you will never forget it, even when you've heard so many accents from around the world.
"Mr. Katsuki, Mr. Nikiforov, I hope you are having a good day so far. My name is Doctor Takaeda," Doctor said in his memorable accent that surprised both Yuuri and Viktor upon him opening his mouth. "I am a specialist here at this hospital, and my job is to assess the potential of walking rehabilitation in patients. Yours is an extremely special case as I have seen Mr. Katsuki. A paralyzed figure skater. To be honest with you, the chances of standing alone let alone walking again are slim. But I am sure you have heard this all before while still at the hospital."
Yuuri nodded, too afraid to open his mouth and speak.
"Well, I am always willing to give a person a chance on walking, even with as small of a possibility as your case is. But there are a few things we need to go through before we can start therapy," Dr. Takaeda adds the last part at the sight of Yuuri excitedly turning to smile at Viktor.
Not letting anything quell his spirits, Yuuri turns back to face Dr. Takaeda, smile still on his face, "I will do whatever I need to do, just tell me what you need of me."
Dr. Takaeda gave a knowing smile at the young man sitting in front of him, looking fully determined. He might actually be able to do it.
"First off, Mr. Katsuki, I will not allow any therapy until all your bones are healed. Meaning you will have to wait another two months before I will even consider you ready," Dr. Takaeda told the Japanese man. Yuuri opened his mouth to protest, but closed it quickly at the look Takaeda sent him. "Second, you must do exactly what the staff instruct you to do, no fighting them. If you protest even in the slightest our work will end right then and there."
Yuuri nodded enthusiastically, "I understand sir. I will do everything to the best of my abilities."
Dr. Takaeda felt as if his face would burst from the amount of smiling, something about this young man's eagerness was contagious.
"I'm glad to hear that Mr. Katsuki. Now, would you and Mr. Nikiforov like to take a tour of the rehabilitation rooms and meet some of the other patients there?"
"We'd love to," Yuuri instantly shouts, practically jumping out of his wheel chair with excitement.
It took all he had not to go crazy with anticipation as Viktor slowly pushed his chair through the halls behind the slow walking doctor. The doctor escorted them through a door, following closely behind them.
The room was large, and very open, with windows on the far wall allowing bright light in while allowing a beautiful view of a courtyard with a garden. Five people could be seen scattered around the room in various places. A man stood between two balance beam looking poles, holding on to them tightly with his hands, standing right next to him is a nurse, ready to catch him if need be. On the other side of the room a little boy sat on the floor, using his arms to push him up off the ground and move around, kneeling nearby was another nurse, smiling encouragingly at the little boy. Standing close to those two, leaning against the side wall watching, was a tall man with two wooden pegs attached just at his knees.
"Peggy," Dr. Takaeda calls out in a soft voice, and waves the tall man over.
"Yo. What's up Doctor?" The man called Peggy said with a large smile that covered the entirety of his face.
Upon further inspection by Viktor and Yuuri, they found that the man could be no more than twenty years old, barely older than Yuuri himself.
"This is Yuuri Katsuki and Viktor Nikiforov. Yuuri is hoping to begin sessions here soon. Mr. Katsuki, Mr. Nikiforov, this is Peggy, one of our volunteers here," Dr. Takaeda took care of introductions for them.
"Hiya, the names actually Ceasar. But since I got these two planks of wood here, I've been dubbed Peggy. The kids find the name enjoyable, so I go with it," Peggy explains, an air of ease surrounding him.
"Oh, do you dress up in a pirate costume as well?" Viktor asks, eyes glittering with child-like excitement.
Yuuri is just about to scold him when Peggy lets out a laugh, "Sometimes. The kids love when I play the part. But I save that for special occasions."
Looking between both tall men, Yuuri couldn't help seeing the similarities between the two, knowing instantly that they could become good friends. Still smiling, Yuuri takes a peak at his phone, only to be horrified to see the time.
"Viktor!" He exclaims, "We have to go. We're going to be late!"
Bidding Peggy and Dr. Takaeda goodbye, they made their way quickly out of the hospital.
"We're not going to make it in time!" Yuuri exclaimed, feeling useless having to sit in the chair with Viktor quickly pushing him down the streets of Hatsetsu.
"We'll make it," Viktor insisted, looking straight ahead with determination.
"This is all my fault, just leave me behind, I'll figure out how to get there," Yuuri tried for the hundredth time to compromise with Viktor, but to no avail.
"I am not leaving you behind Yuuri. We're going to make it!"
Both the men are stunned out of their brief spat from a voice nearby.
"Looks like someone forgot to do their cardio!"
Viktor and Yuuri both turned to look in the direction the voice came from, and saw the town bums, Devlin and Erin, sitting against a local shop's outside wall. Erin had been the one to speak, cackling at her joke.
"Push a little faster there Snowy, you might be able to force the fat off your pig there," Devlin said, bursting out laughing at his own terrible joke, ignoring the elbow Erin jabbed him with.
Viktor looked about to stop and say something, but Yuuri managed to remind him forcefully enough about their prior engagements, and they continued on their way. Both remaining silent and lost in their own thoughts for the rest of the rush.
"I'm so sorry we're late Minami!" Yuuri exclaimed once he and Viktor had finally arrived at Ice Castle, bowing as best as he could without falling out of his chair.
Minami, who was already in his skates and had been doing laps when the two older men had arrived, was taken aback by the older Japanese man's actions.
"No! No, there's no need to apologize Katsuki-san! It's my fault! You've only been home from the hospital for a week, I should have given you more time to rest and recover before asking to start training!" Minami exclaimed, waving his hands in front of him in an attempt to get Yuuri to stop bowing.
Yuuri sits up slowly, head tilted to the side in thought. "You know you can just call me Yuuri, right? You've done it before at competitions."
Shaking his head back and forth faster than Yuuri thought possible, Minami cried while his face went bright red, "I could never do something like that! We were rivals then, but now you are my coach, and so I must show you respect in all it's forms."
Slouching at the discomfort of being addressed so formally, Yuuri couldn't help but notice a laughter from nearby. Turning to look, Yuuri found Viktor sitting on a bench nearby, lacing up his skates, laughing at his expense.
"What do you think you're laughing at?" Yuuri asks, feeling uncommonly angry at the sight of Viktor laughing at him, "And where is your laptop? You were supposed to start your training with Yakov ten minutes ago."
Giving Yuuri a warm smile, despite his annoyance, Viktor stood up, towering above Yuuri with grace and power.
"I don't need to work with Yakov today. In fact, I won't be working with him for the rest of the season. I've decided to change coaches," Viktor informs Yuuri, surprising the wheel chair bound man.
"What do you mean you've changed coaches? Why didn't you discuss this with me? Where is this new coach?" Yuuri cried, feeling panic setting in at the prospect of someone else using his rink to train his husband.
Noticing the look of panic in Yuuri's eyes, Viktor quickly makes his way over to the younger man and kneels down before him, taking the other man's face in his hands.
"Yuuri. Love, please calm down. I was referring to you, I want you to be my coach," Viktor explains to him, watching as he could see Yuuri slowly process the information.
"Me? As in, I will become your coach? But I can't do that! I have no clue what I'm even doing with Minami," Yuuri's panic returned tenfold at the idea of messing up with coaching Viktor.
"Please, Yuuri. We both know that I don't really need a coach other than for the purpose of being allowed in the competitions. And with this way, I don't have to worry about splitting time between Russia and here, I can stay focused here and be more able to come to the rescue if you need it," Viktor explains, trying to calm his husband down.
Yuuri looked over to where they had left Minami standing. He had turned his back to them, but was peeking at them out of the corner of his eyes. Seeing he had been caught by Yuuri, Minami let out a squeak and jumped, turning further away from the two.
"I believe in you," Viktor whispered, drawing Yuuri's attention back towards the snowy-haired man.
The Russian leaned his forehead against Yuuri's and they remained there like that for a brief moment before Viktor pulled back.
"Now, let's go get you comfortably set up with Yuuko, then Minami and I will go and start warming up."
Yuuri sat watching Viktor and Minami skate around the rink while listening to Yuuko's excitable chatter, feeling as gloomy as the sky outside as dark clouds slowly rolled over Hatstesu.
"Yuuri, Yuuri!" Yuuko suddenly shouting his name drew Yuuri out of the trance he hadn't realized he was in.
Focusing his eyes back to the current situation, Yuuri found Yuuko's face worriedly in front of his, and just behind her, Viktor and Minami leaning against the wall, fear clouding Viktor's eyes.
"What's going on?" Yuuri asks, unsure what all he had missed.
"It's all good Viktor, he just zoned out," Yuuko informs the worried Russian, sitting back with obvious relief of her own.
But Viktor was not ready to end it there, "Yuuri, are you okay? Are you tired? We can end early if you'd like to go home."
Viktor continued rambling on, and Yuuri could quickly feel the sadness bloom into annoyance.
"Would you stop asking me what's wrong and just shut up for five seconds Viktor?" Yuuri bursts out finally, cutting Viktor off and stunning everyone to silence, "I mean, it's pretty obvious what's wrong, don't you think?"
The taller man stared unblinking for a few moments before turning to the scared looking man beside him, "Minako, why don't you go to the lockers and take a shower, we're done for the day. Yuuko, I can lock up here, you go on home before the rain hits."
Both complied without a single word, only sparing quick glances at the two silent men before they left.
Viktor made his way off the rink to Yuuri, looking at the younger man who had his face turned away from the Russian. But even without seeing his face, Viktor knew Yuuri was cracking under the guilt of having yelled. He quietly sat down next to the wheel chair bound man, then took a minute to gather his thoughts.
"Yuuri-" he began, but was quickly cut off.
"Viktor, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have yelled-" Yuuri was cut off by Viktor raising a single hand to stop him.
"I'm not mad Yuuri, I just want to know. Is this really how you feel?" Viktor waited until he could see the barest of nods coming from Yuuri, who would not look anywhere but his lap. Sighing, Viktor let his shoulders slump. "I should be the one apologizing. I've been selfish and haven't been paying close enough attention to how you feel." Yuuri made to protest, but was again cut off by Viktor's hand. "Please, let me say what I have to say. This is all my fault. It's my fault you're miserable. It's my fault you're hurt." Leaning forward, as if it could quell the pain, Viktor whispered, "It's my fault you're paralyzed."
"No, Viktor it's not-" Yuuri began protesting, but Viktor sitting up quickly and staring him dead in the eyes cut him off.
"I'm the reason we got into that argument Yuuri. I wanted to retire, I wanted to mess up the flow we had. I was scared. Scared of growing old, scared of disappointing my fans, scared of getting hurt. I should have known you wouldn't want that, you'd never ask me to do that. I should have known you would be here. I should have gotten here faster. If I had been here just a split-second sooner, maybe, just maybe. This all wouldn't have happened…" Viktor's face had by this point dissolved into a look of anguish that Yuuri wished he'd never have to see on his husband's face.
Suddenly feeling the urge to be closer to the man he loved, Yuuri grabbed Viktor's shoulders and pulled him into a hug, holding on as if his life depended on it, and maybe it did.
"Don't blame yourself Viktor," Yuuri choked out while trying to fight the tears, "It's not your fault. I'm the one that didn't listen to the doctor after my car accident. I'm the one who fell. I knew you were there when I jumped. For some reason, I thought showing you I could do the jump would show you why you should stay. I was so stupid Viktor," Yuuri finally lost the fight with his tears, but continued talking around them, "I'm so sorry Viktor. I've ruined everything. Please forgive me."
Viktor began stroking Yuuri's back, hushing him gently while taking comfort in his presence as well.
"Everything will not be in vain. You will begin therapy, and I will continue competing this season, and I will be dedicating this season one hundred percent to you," Viktor informed his crying husband, making him cry harder, tears of happiness this time though.
Neither of the two noticed as the clouds outside began to part ways, and bright sunlight broke through, washing away the potential storm that had been brewing.
"So how did your appointment with the doctor go today?" Yuuri's mom asks as she sets a vase full of bright beautiful flowers in full bloom in the middle of the table Yuuri was sitting at with Viktor as they were eating dinner later that evening.
Making sure to swallow the pork cutlet in his mouth first, Yuuri excitedly answered, "I think it went great! They said I need to wait a little longer for my bones to heal, but once that time comes I'll be good to go."
"This is great news! I'm so proud of you for not giving up Yuuri," his mom gushed, giving him a hug before rushing back to the kitchen.
Yuuri and Viktor begin quietly discussing details about today's practice when Mari walks in with an envelope.
"This just came in the mail," she explains, handing it to Viktor.
Leaning against Viktor's arm to get a better view of the envelope, Yuuri found it addressed to the both of them. The return address said it came from Switzerland.
"Chris?" Yuuri asks, confused as to why he would send another letter instead of just calling.
Viktor didn't say a word, just flipped the envelope over and gracefully opened it, sliding out a thick rectangular piece of cardstock with gold designs engraved on it.
Having trouble, but still attempting anyway, Yuuri began reading the small printed words on it, "You are here by cordially invited to the wedding of one Christophe Giacometti-"
"Woah, wait a second, Chris is really getting married? That's so great!" Yuuri exclaims, not bothering to read any further.
Still holding the letter with one hand, Viktor grabbed the envelope and looked at it closer.
"He sent this out nearly a month before your accident."
Yuuri rolled his eyes, "International postal services are the worst. When's the wedding?"
Holding his hand, Yuuri was bestowed the invite and took a closer look at the date.
"September 22, and it's in America. Why America?"
"I've not a clue," Viktor says shrugging his shoulders, taking another bite of food.
"It's in New York City."
"Really? I've never been to New York before!" Viktor puts down his fork, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I've been a few times with Pitchit. It could be fun to go back," Yuuri said, musing.
"Wait, what's this?" Viktor asks as he pulls a thinner piece of paper with Chris' recognizable hand writing on it. "This is for you."
Yuuri takes the piece of paper and reads it, feeling his spirits fall as he realizes what is being asked.
"Yuuri, Love? What is the matter?" Viktor asks, seeing Yuuri's face falling with disappointment.
Handing the paper over to Viktor, Yuuri sits quietly until Viktor finishes reading the request that was sent out months before his accident.
"He wanted you to pole dance at his wedding," Viktor summarizes, understanding the situation.
"There's no way I can do it now," Yuuri says dejectedly.
Viktor sat quietly after that, no longer worried about food as he struggled to figure out how to make his husband feel better, then it hit him.
"The earliest you can get your casts taken off is the first week of August, correct?" Viktor asked Yuuri, a plan formulating in his mind.
"Yes…" Yuuri drawls out, feeling worry about what Viktor is planning, "Why?"
"If this is what you really want, then give me the remaining time left before the wedding after your casts are taken off and I will make sure you can pole dance at that wedding."
"Viktor, are you sure that's even possible."
With eyes glowing with pride, Viktor declared, "With the two of us together, anything is possible."
*Sigh* I'm tired of making excuses at this point, but I'm really sorry for not posting sooner. I had to leave town for a family emergency last week, and life has been crazy since I got back, and next week I'm supposed to be leaving again to go another trip.
I truly do hope you guys like this chapter. When I write I try to keep my readers in mind, but this chapter I just feel as if I fell short for you guys. I'm sorry.
In an attempt to make up for my slow going on posting, I did make this chapter much longer.
Thank you so much for reading.
Please leave a review to tell me what you think or give me suggestions.
Have a wonderful day.