The Southern Regional Championships. Yuuri's return to the ice. It was a daunting prospect, but one he couldn't avoid. He knew he had to take that first step onto the ice, especially if it meant qualifying for the Grand Prix Circuit. He made a deal, he was going to follow through with this, no matter how difficult it might be. Luckily, they didn't have to travel too far to make it to the championship. It wasn't like it would be for the Grand Prix, he wasn't going to get there and feel absolutely exhausted from the travel. Still, Viktor had insisted they make their way there early to ensure he was in the best possible shape for this competition. It meant a lot. He couldn't fail here. This was just the beginning. To falter right from the start meant that he would never get his second chance to prove himself.

Yuri had taken the opportunity to head back to Russia, saying he needed Yakov's help to work on his free program now that he'd figured out what he was missing for his short. It had been a strange experience; saying goodbye to Yuri. He wasn't exactly the emotional type and maintained the act of indifference right until the last moments. The last words he left Yuuri with were a reminder. If he didn't make it to the Grand Prix Finals, the Russian punk would come straight back to Japan and knock some sense into him. Yuuri didn't just have to do this for Viktor anymore. It was strange, but reassuring. There were people who believed he could do this and no matter how insecure he was, he had to put his faith in them.

Yuuri was very much uncertain of just how things were going to turn out this time. He hadn't bothered to compete in the championships last year since his skating career had come to an end. Or so he'd thought. As he entered the venue, he did notice a few familiar faces, though he couldn't quite place how he knew them. It had been a while, and these weren't quite celebrity status skaters. Not yet. Yuuri had no doubt that they had the talent for it, though. There was a particular person who stood out. Not because they were showing any amazing talents, simply because they were bounding excitedly towards Yuuri, squealing as they went. Yuuri stopped in his tracks, unsure of what to do. It was then that he realised Viktor was standing next to him. Of course there were going to be people getting overly excited at the Russian's appearance.

"Yuuri Katsuki!" The boy screamed, jumping up and down in front of him, his hands covering his mouth as though this might help him hide the excitement. It wasn't working.

"Um… yes?" Yuuri looked between the boy and Viktor for a moment, confused. He was sure the boy would be bounding to Viktor, not him. Why would anyone be excited to meet him, especially after the Sochi incident?

The acknowledgement only seemed to spur the boy in front of him on, causing him to begin a swift speech that Yuuri could barely make out as the boy made brief ballet stances, only further telling him that this boy had to be a skater. Yuuri felt like he knew him, but he wasn't sure how. Tilting his head, he took in the boy's short stature, ash blond hair with a tuft of red bangs. He had bright, animated eyes as he rambled on. Yuuri only caught a few words. 'Program,' 'master,' and something about how excited he was to see Yuuri drawing his spot.

"I um… I'm sorry, what was your name?" Yuuri smiled sheepishly, genuinely feeling bad when he saw the boy's dejected look.

"You don't remember me?" He spoke softly now, and Yuuri really wished he could say he did, because seeing this boy look so sad broke his heart. He glanced over at Viktor, wishing he could give him an answer, but knowing that one wasn't going to come.

"You look familiar, but I can't really remember. I'm sorry." He looked around the room, trying to find a way to make this better, when he realised there was one thing that might help, "I'm sure I'd remember if I saw you skating."

At the mention of the ice, the boy perked back up, grabbing Yuuri's arms and speaking quickly again, "You'll watch my routine, right!? I even have a special costume like yours from your Lohengrin program!"

"You… you do?" Yuuri was genuinely surprised. After Viktor had offered for Yuuri to wear one of his old costumes for the short program, he had been on cloud nine. Is that how this boy felt about him? Was there really someone who looked up to him like that? It didn't make any sense. Yuuri had made so many mistakes, his skating career hadn't exactly been filled with inspiring moments, so why would this kid be so motivated by him?

The boy was nodding and jumping up and down in excitement again, and Yuuri wasn't really sure what he was meant to do anymore. Glancing over, he saw the amused look on Viktor's face, and sighed softly, knowing he wasn't going to be any help, "So um. What was your name? I won't forget this time, I promise."

"Kenjirou Minami! Don't worry, my skating will make sure you remember!" Confident. It almost reminded him of Yuri, only without the poisonous bite to his words. Instead, this boy – Minami – was all excitement and bubbly energy. It was an interesting change of pace, but he didn't exactly hate it.

Yuuri offered him a small smile as he and Viktor started heading further into the venue, waving over his shoulder as he called back to him, "I can't wait to see it!"

OoOoO

The silent prayer to not go first hadn't been answered as Yuuri drew his placement. He would be the first to skate. The only thing worse than skating first was skating last. Though, he wasn't sure if he'd prefer that If he was honest. It would be good to get his skate out of the way before he got intimidated by everyone else, but he hated the idea of being the one to set the bar. Besides, wasn't the first performance usually the one that got forgotten? Then again, if it ended up being as much of a disaster as the last time he performed, that might not be a bad thing.

As he made his way back to the changing rooms to grab his skates and prepare for the practice, he noticed Viktor surrounded by press. Yuuri hadn't exactly expected to see press at the championships, but he wasn't surprised, either. Viktor was here, and that was enough. Somehow, they must've caught wind of this. Yuuri himself wasn't very good with the press and knowing how Viktor loved to bring him into the spotlight, he made a quick dash for the changing room before he could be caught.

Viktor on the other hand, was enjoying the attention. It had been a long time since he was in the eyes of the press, having hung up his skates over a year ago now. It wasn't that he was a vain person per se, he just enjoyed the buzz of energy that came with the press. Of course, there came a point when it was too much, but he had dealt with crowds much larger than this one before. Questions were fired from every direction. Why was he there, had he considered coming back to figure skating, what was he spending his time doing now that he'd retired? The questions kept coming until he finally decided enough was enough. Yuuri was a nervous performer. He didn't want to leave him alone for too long in case that came back to haunt him. Peeling himself away from the press, Viktor quickly made his way to the changing room, just in time to catch Yuuri as he was leaving.

"Oh. Hey." Yuuri glanced over Viktor's shoulder, spotting the sea of press still chattering in the hallway. He quickly grabbed Viktor's arm and tugged him towards the rink. This wasn't something he needed. Not right now. They only had a little bit of time before he had to perform, and he couldn't let the press make him nervous. Viktor raised an eyebrow but stayed quiet as he followed Yuuri. He didn't want to question him. Not right now, when he clearly needed people to have as much faith in him as possible. Yuuri could do this. Viktor had watched him in enough training sessions to know he had the potential to get so much further than this championship. This was nothing more than a formality. Yuuri would prove himself here and make his way to the Grand Prix Finals. Viktor had never been so sure of anything in his life.

As Yuuri made his way onto the ice, he quickly skated over to Viktor on the other side of the barrier, offering him a small smile. He was already nervous. How could he not be? The last time he was in a room of people, skating, he had made a fool of himself. Those thoughts just kept creeping back, telling him that he couldn't possibly do this, that he was going to make a fool of himself and disappoint Viktor. It was as though the Russian could read his mind as he reached out and took Yuuri's hand, causing a startled noise as he pulled him closer. Viktor chuckled softly, leaning closer and brushing a gentle kiss against Yuuri's knuckles. The blush crept up Yuuri's body at the gentle contact. He didn't know how Viktor always did that, or how he made something that felt so intimate seem so natural.

A moment of silence sat between them, their eyes locked together before Viktor finally spoke softly into Yuuri's fingers, "Don't rush yourself. You know you can do this, Yuuri. I have faith in you."

Yuuri wished it could be like in those stories; the handsome man's soothing words making all the anxiety fade away, but it wasn't. Yuuri was still scared. He just felt a little warmer, a slight flutter in his chest. The one thing it did, though, was help him feel like he wasn't so alone. Yuuri smiled reassuringly, gently squeezing Viktor's hand before reluctantly letting go and making his way out to the ice. He hadn't expected to feel quite so cold once he was away from Viktor, but he chalked it up to being on the rink now.

The practice was to prepare the skaters to perform their routines, and though most skaters used it as a last-minute chance to practice their programs, that wasn't what Yuuri wanted to use it for. Not this time. Instead, Yuuri began his usual routine of gentle movements on the ice, trying to keep himself calm, to tell himself that he had nothing to be nervous about. It was a gentle movement that had calmed him all his life, and today wouldn't be an exception.

"Minami, focus!" He heard from the sidelines, and a moment later the familiar voice of the excited boy was responding, not too far from him. He must've arrived on the ice without Yuuri realising it.

"But look, Kanako! Look how graceful he is! Every move so beautiful!" The boy swooned before his coach was reminding him that this was his last chance to practice and he needed to make the most of it.

Yuuri couldn't help but smile as he listened to it. Was this how Viktor felt, having a fan? Was that really what Minami was? It still felt unreal to think he could possibly have a fan, but it just made him want to try even harder. Not just for himself or Viktor, but for his fan, too. Maybe that's how Viktor had managed to get so far; wanting to impress the people who looked up to him.

The practice skate was over far too quickly for Yuuri's liking. He knew that it wouldn't be long now before it was his time on the ice. Once again, he found himself silently wishing he could've drawn anything but one. Why did he have to skate first of all things? Making his way off the ice, he still had some time before his turn. He had to change into his outfit, and soon. Though his gentle skate on the ice had helped with the nerves, they were coming back in full force. How could they not be? He had more time to think about things before he went back out onto the ice, and that was never a good thing for Yuuri Katsuki.

OoOoO

"Yuuri!" There was a faint urgency to Viktor's voice, which startled him, but had the desired effect of stopping the younger man before he reached the ice. He didn't have long now. The other skaters were leaving the ice for their practice. It was his time. Still, Yuuri couldn't possibly deny Viktor when he asked for his attention.

Yuuri looked up at the Russian in front of him, seeing the pure adoration in those eyes, and if it were possible, Yuuri would've melted right then and there. He still didn't understand this feeling he got when he was around Viktor. Yuuri had always been a fan. Viktor was incredible, skating perfection. But over the last few months, having Viktor close, learning about who he was beyond the ice… Yuuri didn't understand it. He didn't know what the feeling was. He only knew that he didn't want to lose it, not for anything. He couldn't fail now, it meant Viktor returning to Russia and possibly never seeing him again.

Viktor moved forward, closing the gap between them and hugging Yuuri as close as he could. It took him by surprise, though it really shouldn't have. Once again, Viktor was acting on impulse, was surprising him. It took a moment before the shock wore off and Yuuri's arms wound around him, letting himself relax into the embrace. Viktor was so warm and comforting. It was a feeling he really couldn't begin to describe, and he didn't want to. There were words that could do it justice. Without thinking, Yuuri rested his head in the crook of Viktor's neck, taking a deep breath and sighing softly. Everything about this man was soothing. He could feel the nerves melt away, if only for a moment. Because in that moment, they were the only ones there.

As if reading his mind, Viktor spoke softly into Yuuri's ear, sending a shiver down his spine, "Focus on me. You aren't skating for anyone else. Just me. No one else matters, okay?"

Yuuri nodded instinctively, taking a shaky breath as he reluctantly pulled away, looking into Viktor's eyes once more, "Don't take your eyes off me. Please." It was an odd request. Normally, Yuuri would've loved nothing more than to have no one watching him, but somehow, those eyes… they were calming. Something told him that if Viktor was watching, everything was going to be okay.

Viktor simply nodded, smiling reassuringly as Yuuri finally made his way onto the ice. There was no holding back now. This was it. This was his time. He had to do this, he had to prove to Viktor that this wasn't all a waste of time. The nerves were bubbling up inside of him again, but he was trying hard not to think about it, to focus on Viktor's words. He was skating for Viktor. No matter what happened, this performance was for him. As the music began to play, Yuuri began to move as he had every time they'd practiced the routine. The first half was simple enough. Step sequences were second nature to him, he didn't need to think too much about it. Instead, his mind was focused on Viktor, on thinking about what he might think of his performance, on that smile he'd display when Yuuri had done something he liked. Yuuri was determined to bring out that smile in Viktor again.

The first half of the program was over far too quickly for Yuuri's liking, and he was already taking his spread-eagle stance in preparation for the first jump. Still, he kept reminding himself that he could do this, that Viktor was watching, and he had to impress him. It was over in seconds, but landing the triple axel lifted some weight from his shoulders. He'd nailed the first jump. Just two to go. The only problem was that the next one was the one he'd been struggling with. Though he had finally landed a quad salchow in practice, it was still very rusty, and this was going to be his first attempt during a competition. It was a lot to think about, a lot to worry about. Still, he couldn't keep worrying, there was no time for that now. He had to impress Viktor. He was doing all of this for him, wasn't he? Viktor had seen him land this jump before, he could land it for him again.

Yuuri took a deep breath as he finally worked up the courage to take the leap. He had to do this. For Viktor, for Yuri, for Minami, for himself. Still, with those thoughts spinning through his head, the jump wasn't clean. Yuuri had again over rotated, his hand touching the ice to keep himself upright. It wasn't anywhere near a perfect jump, though Yuuri had never managed to land that jump perfectly, anyway. Still, it was disappointing, and it brought back those nerves, that fear. He had to keep reminding himself that he had managed to stay on his feet, that he was still moving, and he couldn't give up. Viktor was watching. He was going to be okay. He had to be okay.

The final jump; a quad toe-triple toe combination. Yuuri had landed it before. Plenty of times, in fact. Still, he wasn't completely calm, his nerves getting the better of him after his stumble. Yuuri just wanted this to be over. He wanted Viktor to tell him he did great. Nothing but how Viktor felt really mattered to him. If everyone else in the room hated his program, it'd be fine. Just as long as Viktor liked it. With nerves flooding his system, Yuuri attempted his jumps, managing to land a quad toe-double toe combination instead of what had previously been planned. He couldn't afford to lament on his second mistake of the performance, though. His jumps were over. All he could do now was finish the program and hope that he'd done enough. With the usual theatrics of the performance over, the music came to an end, and Yuuri was left in the center of the ice, trying to catch his breath. The nerves were bubbling up inside him and he really didn't know how he'd managed to do what he had, but he wasn't so sure it was a performance Viktor could be proud of.

The room filled with applause. That was the first sound that caught his attention and broke him from his daze. The second was a familiar voice screaming above the applause with enthusiasm, "That was amazing, Yuuri!"

It was nice to have a fan, Yuuri had thought at that moment.

Making his way off the ice, it was hard to read the expression on Viktor's face. He could've been thinking anything, and it was truly terrifying. He hoped he'd made Viktor proud, but he wasn't smiling. Maybe he'd made too many mistakes. He could understand Viktor not necessarily being proud of him after that performance. He'd have to try harder. Yuuri didn't say anything as he made his way off the ice, afraid to make eye contact with Viktor after seeing the lack of expression on his face. A moment later, they were calling out the results of the program.

"Yuuri Katsuki; Short program score: 94.36. He is currently in first place."

The latter part of the announcement wasn't all that encouraging, given that he was the only one who had performed so far. Still, that was the best score he'd gotten for a short program. He couldn't help but smile just a little at the thought, though he was still too scared to look at Viktor.

Before long, the other skaters were taking the ice, and eventually he caught sight of the ashy blond who had been jumping with excitement earlier that day. It was…shocking to say the least. Minami hadn't been kidding when he said he had a costume like one from his past. That wasn't just inspired by Yuuri's Lohengrin costume. That was a perfect replica. It was almost frightening to see it again, to think of all the mistakes of his past. Still, Minami wore it confidently.

The music began and again, it was a familiar sound. Yuuri promised he'd watch and he was determined to do just that, keeping his eyes focused on the energetic boy on the ice. It didn't take long before he was attempting a triple axel, landing it with precision. He couldn't help but smile. Minami's was infectious. He wasn't just trying his best on the ice. He was enjoying every second of it. Unfortunately, Yuuri didn't get to enjoy the performance for long, looking up as he heard the tell-tale hum of reporters heading in his direction. After the mistakes he'd made in his program, the nerves filling his stomach, and the lack of communication from Viktor, he knew there was no way he could handle the press right now.

Without thinking, Yuuri was rushing in the other direction, ignoring the sounds as Viktor called after him. He'd deal with it later. He didn't want to think about whatever must've been on Viktor's mind. He hadn't performed well. He was sure he hadn't. He didn't want to hear Viktor's disappointment, he had enough of that all on his own. Before he knew it, he was heading out the back door and into the chilly night air. It was night already? Yuuri didn't realise they'd been there for so long.

Still, he knew he couldn't leave. Viktor had the key to their hotel. He silently wished he'd taken up the offer to get a second key, but he really had thought they would be sticking together. Yuuri sighed, leaning against the nearby wall and sliding to the ground, his knees pressed to his chest. There were just so many things that could go wrong. Sure, he got a good score. A great score, in fact. His best. But he'd still made mistakes, and they were the kinds of mistakes that would cost him dearly if they were made during the Grand Prix Circuit. This wasn't just about him. This was about Viktor. Viktor's career was on the line. Why had Viktor put his career on the line for him? Why did he put so much faith in him? Was it that Viktor didn't believe he could do it? Did Viktor just not want to return to the ice, so he chose the person with the least talent to make a bet with? That had to be it. Yuuri sighed sadly, resting his head in his knees and hugging them to his chest. So much for a welcome return to the ice.

It was only a few moments before the door opened once more, but he didn't bother looking up. He knew exactly who it was. There was only one person it could be, and Yuuri didn't want to talk. He didn't want to think about those stumbles. It was just another reminder that whenever he got on the ice, he made mistakes. He could never be as talented as Viktor Nikiforov. "Yuuri? What's wrong? What are you doing out here?"

Yuuri didn't bother looking up. He didn't want Viktor seeing him like this, but it was too late. Instead, he mumbled into his knees, "I let you down…"

"What?" Viktor was kneeling beside him now, head tilted to the side as he watched the man in front of him, his voice soft, "Why would you think that?"

Yuuri reluctantly lifted his head just enough to look up at Viktor, tears still in his eyes, "You… you didn't say anything… and you didn't seem happy… and I messed up two of my jumps…"

"You didn't disappoint me, Yuuri." Viktor sighed softly, leaning closer and gently brushing a thumb against Yuuri's cheek to wipe the tears away. His touch was so warm and welcoming. Why was everything about Viktor so comforting? Even in moments like these, he couldn't avoid that pull in his chest, begging him to move closer so that they could be together. Why did he feel like this whenever Viktor was around? It didn't make any sense. It made his head feel so fuzzy and the fear melt away, but new fears took their place, because what was this? What was he feeling? Why was he feeling it? He couldn't understand it. "I was just worried about you."

Yuuri lifted his head a bit more, surprised. Of all the things Viktor could've said, that wasn't what he was expecting. He sniffled, wiping his tears away with his sleeve. The entire situation made him feel like a kid. This wasn't the greatest way for Viktor to see him. There wasn't much he could do about it now, though, "Why?"

Viktor gave Yuuri one of his reassuring, heart stopping, breathtaking smiles, reaching to brush some dark hair from the younger man's eyes, "You were so nervous. I could tell. You were so worried about making the jumps, it was clouding your mind. You flub your jumps when you have something on your mind. So, I was worried."

"I was thinking about making you smile…" Yuuri admitted, hiding his face in his knees once more. It was embarrassing, and he really didn't want to see the look in Viktor's eyes when he heard the admission. He continued to mumble into his knees, his voice muffled, "But you weren't smiling…"

A silence fell between them. Yuuri really wished he could tell what Viktor was thinking. He was just so hard to read. Viktor had had years in the spotlight. No doubt, that had helped him build up a mask that made it difficult to read exactly how he was feeling, but Yuuri wished he could see passed it. There were times when it seemed like all of Viktor's walls were down around him, but there were other times when he just couldn't figure out what he was thinking. It was frustrating. Then again, Yuuri wasn't exactly an open book. Maybe Viktor found him frustrating, too.

"Come on, I'm taking you to dinner."

"What?" Yuuri looked back up at Viktor, surprised. He wasn't kneeling beside him anymore, instead on his feet and offering Yuuri his hand. Yuuri wasn't sure what to do or why this was happening. Just a moment ago, he was sure Viktor had been disappointed in him. How could he not be? That performance was nothing compared to Viktor's performances. They couldn't compare, yet Viktor was expecting him to reach gold. Hesitantly, Yuuri reached out and took Viktor's hand, "Why…?"

Viktor smiled brightly as he tugged Yuuri to his feet, wrapping an arm around his waist as their chests bumped together. They were so close, but neither of them could find it in themselves to move, just staying in each other's arms. Their breath mingled together, and though Viktor had every intention of answering Yuuri's question, he couldn't help but noticed the star stuck look in Yuuri's eyes. He hadn't looked at him like that in months. Tilting his head to the side, he watched Yuuri curiously, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Without thinking, Yuuri was reaching a hand up to brush the silvery locks from Viktor's face. It was an action Viktor had done plenty of times, but never Yuuri. As they watched each other, he spoke under his breath, just loud enough for Viktor to hear, "You have really pretty eyes…" And just as quickly as the words left his mouth, Yuuri realised what he was saying, quickly pulling away as his face flushed red. He looked anywhere but at Viktor as he stammered, "I uh… I mean… I didn't, it's just uh…Y-You don't see many blue e-eyes in Hasetsu. Yeah, that's what I meant…" He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.

Viktor chuckled softly, resting a hand under Yuuri's chin and lifting his head to look into his eyes, "U tebya tozhe krasivyye glaza." He had no idea what Viktor had said, but it was said so gently and sincerely, he hoped it was something nice. Sometimes Viktor spoke Russian just to save Yuuri from all his blushing, knowing that the compliments he wanted to give might be a little too much for him to handle. This was one of those times. Clearing his throat, Viktor reached down to grab Yuuri's hand, "We need to celebrate. That was your best short program score, right? So, I'm treating you to dinner."

Yuuri smiled, reluctantly letting go of his hand, "Fine, but I can't go like this." He gestured to the skate costume he was still wearing, "Give me a minute to change, okay?"

OoOoO

Yuuri had changed back into a regular black shirt and dark tracksuit pants. He had tugged back on his Japan jacket and swapped his contacts for his familiar blue-framed glasses. After running his fingers through his hair and doing his best to ruffle it back to it's usual messy mop, he figured he was as much like his usual self as he could possibly be. With his duffel bag over his shoulder, he was heading back out to meet up with Viktor when he felt the tug on his bag.

"Did you see, did you see!?" The excitable boy from earlier was eagerly awaiting his idol's approval, something Yuuri was sure he would absolutely never get used to. This was strange. How did Viktor do this?

"I didn't get to see all of your program." He smiled apologetically. His nerves got the best of him and prevented him from watching all of Minami's skate. It was truly something to regret. He'd wanted to watch it. Still, at least he'd got to see some of it, "I did see your triple axel, though. You had wonderful form."

Minami practically screeched with excitement at the compliment, dancing around in circles on the spot as he spouted about how excited he'd been to have pulled off the triple axel and how much he had hoped Yuuri had been there to see it, and how glad he was that Yuuri had liked it. There was another thing Yuuri was starting to learn about having fans; they could be exhausting.

"I uh, I have to go, I promised Viktor we'd head out, but I'll see you tomorrow for the free skate." Yuuri practically ran out of the venue, afraid that if he'd stay too much longer, Minami would keep him there all night, and he was really looking forward to just spending some time with Viktor and not thinking about skating for a few hours. As much as he loved the ice, it was always stressful to think about competitions.

Making his way outside, he quickly fell into step beside Viktor, "So, where are you taking me?" It was strange when he really stopped to think about what was happening. Viktor Nikiforov was taking him out to dinner to celebrate his new best short program score. And the score wasn't even anything spectacular. Viktor himself had beaten that score many times over. It just seemed odd for him to want to celebrate something that for him was probably so simple.

"I saw a ramen place nearby. Figured we could try it. It's no katsudon, but it's the best I can do on such short notice." Viktor shrugged. He really would've liked to take Yuuri out for his favorite food at a time like this, but he didn't know anywhere nearby that made it. He wasn't exactly well versed in Japanese cuisine. Still, he knew Yuuri probably would've turned it down anyway, no matter how much he would've wanted it. Yuuri was so conscious of his weight, saying that he gained it so easily and that he had to be careful. Just for one night, though, Viktor hoped he could get Yuuri to relax a little. He worried about so many things, it would be nice for a single night to be carefree.

"That's alright, I shouldn't eat too much before tomorrow, anyway." Yuuri nodded, mirroring Viktor's thoughts. It didn't take long for a comfortable silence to fill the space between them as they walked. Yuuri's mind was racing, though. Why was Viktor taking him out to dinner? What was this? He kept reminding himself of exactly what this was. This was a friend congratulating him on his score. This was a friend encouraging him to never give up. He couldn't overthink things. He couldn't think about the strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. It would only confuse him even more if he focused too much on the things that didn't matter.

It really didn't take long for them to arrive at the place Viktor had planned to take them and Yuuri was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't too fancy, but it wasn't a dive, either. He knew he's feel comfortable in his casual clothes in this place. Viktor had good taste. Sometimes he seemed to just want to throw money away, but this was something nice and simple. Understated. It was exactly what Yuuri needed. Still, that didn't mean Viktor wasn't going to milk it for everything it was worth, quickly stepping ahead of Yuuri and opening the door for him. People always said Viktor Nikiforov was a gentleman. There were times when Yuuri would absolutely deny that. Then there were times like this, times that didn't always make sense, but they made him smile all the same. After confessing what he thought of Viktor's eyes, though, Yuuri was still feeling shy. The simple gesture of opening the door just caused Yuuri to blush, averting his gaze as he stepped inside.

Viktor wasted no time, getting them a table and going so far as to pull out Yuuri's chair for him. This was strange, and a little over the top, but it was sweet all the same, he supposed. As he sat at the table across from Viktor, Yuuri looked around the room. There weren't many people there, which was a little surprising, but reassuring. He could just imagine someone spotting Viktor and suddenly they'd have a crowd surrounding them. It was a nice evening considering how badly Yuuri felt his day had gone, and the last thing he wanted was to ruin it.

After ordering their food, Viktor smiled brightly at Yuuri, "So, how does it feel?"

"How does what feel?" Yuuri looked back at him, genuinely curious.

"Beating your personal best, of course."

Yuuri shrugged, "I uh, I don't know. I should be asking you. You're the one who has a bunch of world records."

Viktor frowned, shaking his head, "Don't compare yourself, Yuuri. Every accomplishment is important, even the small ones." A moment passed, and Viktor's pleasant smile was back, "Besides, I'm sure your little fan wouldn't want to hear you talking like that."

Yuuri couldn't help but blush at the mention of Minami. It still felt a little strange to think he really did have a fan, especially one that was obviously a talented skater themselves. There were plenty of other far better skaters out there that Minami could look up to, so why did he choose him of all people? "Is that what I was like? Or… am like, I guess?"

Viktor raised an eyebrow at that, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms over his chest, "No, not really. You were a different kind of fan. There are a lot of different types. After a while, you figure out how to deal with each kind. Minami is one of the exhausting types, but definitely the more uplifting. It's best to just let him talk and offer him a compliment when the moment calls for it. You're good at talking to Minami."

Yuuri took in the information, nodding hesitantly. His curiosity had been piqued. Viktor had so many fans, it really wasn't all that surprising that he'd figured out how to handle each kind. "So, um… how do you deal with me?"

Viktor's smile didn't falter. If anything, it became more gentle as he leaned closer, "You are a special case."

"What? Why?"

"Because, Yuuri. You're more than just a fan. You're important to me."

"Yeah, well… you're more than just an idol…" Yuuri spoke softly, averting his gaze and trying to hide the blush that was once against raising on his cheeks. Viktor always did this. He always knew exactly what to say to make Yuuri flustered, and no matter how many times it happened, Yuuri knew he was never going to get used to that feeling. He did however, need to figure out what this feeling actually was, and how Viktor made it happen.

As their food arrived, they ate and talked about anything they could think of. Yuuri was interested in hearing everything he could about St. Petersburg, and Viktor seemed happy to oblige, telling him all the little things, the things about Hasetsu that reminded him of his home. Yuuri knew Viktor liked Hasetsu, but he could tell that he missed Russia. As much as he loved having Viktor around, he knew that he couldn't keep him forever. It was a painful thought, but one he couldn't ignore.

The evening had been quiet and relaxing. Yuuri didn't realise how much he'd needed it until Viktor had taken him out. It was strange, having someone who could comfort him so easily. It just made the thought of not having Viktor in his life anymore even more frightening. How was he going to cope once Viktor was gone? Who was he supposed to turn to? He knew he was going to have to learn to look after himself, but it was hard to want to do that when Viktor was right there, and so easy to lean on.

The walk back to their hotel room was much too fast for Yuuri. He wanted the night to last a little longer. The sooner he went to sleep, the sooner it would be morning, and he'd be performing his free skate. It was a scary thought, but he knew he couldn't avoid it forever. He knew that he couldn't stay up all night, or he'd mess up the routine. He had made some mistakes this time, he couldn't afford to let Viktor down again.

Dropping his duffel bag to the ground by the door, Yuuri kicked off his shoes and dropped his jacket on top of the bag. He probably should've been a bit tidier, but if he was honest, he was exhausted. He wanted to stay up, but he had spent the day worrying, practicing, skating, and now spending all this time around Viktor. It was all a lot for one day. Their beds were next to each other in the middle of the floor, and without much thought, Yuuri flopped down onto the nearest one, just wanting to get off his feet. The first thought that came to mind was how soft the pillows were. He yawned, humming contently as he rolled onto his back, looking up at the ceiling. And then Viktor was hitting him with yet another surprise.

Yuuri's eyes flew open as he felt the Russian drop down onto the bed with him, his arm wrapping lazily around Yuuri's waist. "V-Viktor, what are you doing, this isn't your…" He looked over at the man beside him, but it seemed he had fallen asleep the moment his head hit the pillow, "…bed." He sighed defeatedly. There were a lot of things about that moment that didn't make much sense to him. He had no idea Viktor was so tired. He must've really been worrying about Yuuri more than he'd realised. Did Viktor really care that much? It was hard believing that Yuuri could really matter that much to anyone, let alone Viktor Nikiforov.

Yuuri turned in Viktor's hold to watch him for a moment, wondering how he had gotten himself in this situation. He was sure most people would kill to be in his position, and deep down, maybe he would have, too. But that didn't mean he had any clue what he was meant to do. Well, he knew he should probably slip away and go to the other bed. That was what he should do. But was that what he wanted to do? No. Absolutely not. Viktor was teaching him something the more Yuuri spent time around him; stop thinking and just do what feels right. It was a scary thought, but when he was around Viktor, it was hard to resist the urge to just act without thinking. After a moment, Yuuri finally worked up the courage to shift his body a little closer to Viktor's. His eyes were locked on Viktor's face. How was he even more beautiful when he was asleep? Was that even fair? Yuuri knew he was taking risks being so close. He didn't know how deeply Viktor did or didn't sleep, and this would be an awkward moment for Viktor to wake up. He really couldn't help himself, though. This was a rare moment, one he doubted he'd ever get again.

Throwing caution to the wind, Yuuri hesitantly reached a hand out, gently brushing Viktor's hair from his face. He took a shaky breath as he watched Viktor sleeping. Even with those mesmerising eyes closed, Yuuri couldn't quite stop himself looking, taking in everything. He didn't want to forget a single detail. Suddenly, Viktor huffed in his sleep and Yuuri froze. This was it. This was the moment Viktor would wake up, realise just how creepy he was and this weird little fairytale he was living in would come to an end. It was nice while it lasted. This however, didn't happen. Instead, the arm around Yuuri's waist tightened it's hold and Yuuri had to press his hands to his mouth to stifle the surprised yelp the movement had elicited. Was this heaven or hell? He really wasn't sure anymore. Maybe he was dreaming. Surely that was what it was, because things like this just didn't happen to him. Yuuri still hadn't figured out what he was feeling when Viktor was close to him, but the one thing he knew for certain was that he didn't hate it, whatever it was.

Yuuri carefully slipped off his glasses, placing them beside the bed and moving closer to Viktor until their bodies were practically pressed together. This wasn't a moment he'd get again, and as selfish as it was, Yuuri wanted to make the most of it. Throwing caution to the wind, he slowly wrapped an arm around Viktor's waist, shifting until he was resting his head against Viktor's chest. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, sighing happily. How did Viktor always smell so good? How did being so close to him always make Yuuri feel so warm and safe? As selfish as the moment was, Yuuri told himself he'd just stay like this for a little bit longer. He could slip away and move to the other bed before he went to sleep, and Viktor would never have to know. A moment of self-indulgence, a moment all his own that no one could ever take away from him. Yeah. That's what it was.

Yuuri whispered softly against Viktor's chest, listening to the reassuring sound of his heartbeat, "When the season's over… please don't leave…"

Author Note: Woo! So. This chapter was going to encompass the entirety of the championship but as you can see… it got a bit long and I wanted to deliver this to you guys sooner rather than later. In the next chapter, the free skate! I have a busy weekend ahead, so it might take some time for the next one, but I promise I'll get it up as soon as possible. As always, I hope you enjoyed!

Translation:

U tebya tozhe krasivyye glaza. - You have beautiful eyes, too.