Early morning after the Sochi Grand Prix Banquet

Victor stepped off the elevator, at the end of a long yawn. His body felt heavy, begging him to put himself to bed, but his mind was alive with his recent and worthwhile excursion into the world of Yuuri Katsuki. So many surprises in one night, Victor was finding it difficult to think straight. A public dance, a stolen kiss, an unexpected dissection of his life. He walked slowly, wishing a certain pair of hands were still on him, wishing he could spend a lifetime and then some with those velvety lips. More than anything, he wished he was still watching over Yuuri. He knew he had to leave the room but fuck, he hadn't wanted too.

He looked up to see Chris sauntering out of his own room, looking like a man who'd been satisfied ten times over. He chuckled at Victor's approach.

"Still up I see? Funny, I thought I was the nocturnal skater in the group now," Chris winked approvingly, "Dare I ask where you've been?"

Victor was all innocence and indifference, "Can't a man take a midnight stroll?"

"He can. Though I doubt it takes him three hours to get back to his room," he smiled, "It's been a long time Victor."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Please," he scoffed, "I barely keep my cock to myself on the ice, much less for off. You really think I can't see the way you're glowing? Someone made a fine dish out of you."

Victor smiled, "Some things never change, I guess."

"So tell me, how's our intoxicated Japanese skater doing tonight?"

Victor's lips twitched and Chris laughed, "C'mon Victor. I was headed downstairs for a drink. Join me."

They headed to the bar and Chris called from a bottle of their finest vodka. They took a couple shots as tradition. Chris poured the third with a curious smirk.

"Was he a good fuck?"

"Christophe," Victor sighed; he was more than used to the man's brusqueness but this hadn't been some cheap one-night stand and talking about Yuuri that way irked him, "I didn't sleep with the man. He's transcended drunk," Victor rolled his eyes when Chris stared at his lips, "He jumped me at the door."

"And, of course, you took your piece," Chris delighted in Victor's selective reticence, "Okay Victor. I'll cut you some slack if you tell me one thing."

"What?"

"Why do you look like a man who's had an epiphany?"

Victor tipped back his drink and reached for the bottle, "I've missed these talks, I really have." It was only half sarcasm.

"Well, since you went celibate, there aren't many people to talk to at this hour of the morning. My dates are usually well and fucked and sleeping like babies."

Victor shrugged, "What can I say? I got tired of sneaking out of hotel rooms."

"Yet here we are."

"It wasn't deliberate this time. Which part of 'he's drunk' don't you understand?"

"So...you would've stayed under less questionable circumstances?"

Victor poured another drink in silence. Chris studied him with a knowing grin.

"He's an amazing dancer. Gorgeous ass, legs to sink your teeth in," the possessive look on Victor's face was a thing of beauty to Chris, "Well aren't you just smitten."

Victor savored the vodka, "He won't remember when he wakes up. I don't think it matters as much as you think it does."

"Oh Victor, we've known each other for a long time. Everyone at the banquet probably thought you were resurrecting your past persona but I saw the way you looked at Yuuri. You can't lie to me," Chris was thoughtful, "Did you imagine what he would look like on the ice with that fire in his blood?"

"I'm still imagining it."

Chris nodded sincerely, a rare gesture he reserved for his and Victor's relationship, "Well, I think I've made my point," he slid off the high chair, "Goodnight Victor, always a pleasure."

"Goodnight. Thanks for the drink."

"Anytime."

Victor took a final shot of vodka for the hell of it. He ran a finger along the rim of the glass, feeling each and every crack that had formed in his heart over the course of that conversation. He sighed and looked at the...time...

"Oh fuck," Victor muttered; his watch was gone.

Present

Victor blinked awake as his alarm sounded. He patted along the side table awkwardly before he located his phone and squinted at it. Five a.m., the usual time he started his mornings in Hasetsu. The tiny, annoyed groan that vibrated along his shoulder blade clearly did not approve of the intrusive noise. He turned it off and felt the length of Yuuri's body relax against him again.

He had no desire to get out of bed today.

Can we sleep together tonight...

I...I don't want to overwhelm you...

I know...but I need to stay...

Need. He needed to stay close to Victor. The only response he could muster at that point was a nod. He'd been prepared to let Yuuri take refuge in his own room, allow him to internalize the night's developments, maybe sneak around with him in the morning for more kisses. But here Yuuri was, wrapped around Victor, their legs intertwined, his hand laying peacefully on his thigh.

He listened to Yuuri breathing, the act creating little circles of heat through his t-shirt that quickly dissipated before being replaced by another soothing one. It was a pleasant sensation, intimate, and he found himself hoping to always wake up amidst this kind of serenity.

Yuuri's hand spasmed gently against him as he shifted, cuddling closer, his lips brushing against Victor's neck before he settled back into the pillow. The connection was transient, negligible even, one of a hundred kisses they'd shared in the last few hours. But Victor's mind went still, his breathing became heavier, and his heart pulsed with a kind of maddening force. It was surreal. Victor couldn't understand how these little things were affecting him so.

'It's because he looks at you now. He kissed you. He's sharing your bed. It's more than you ever dreamed would happen.'

He reached under the blanket and laced his fingers with Yuuri's, pulling his arm around his chest, wanting to get lost in this feeling, lost in Yuuri's arms, lost in the comfort and simplicity of it all. He wondered if he could feasibly call off practice today so they could stay in this wonderful bubble. Imagine what everyone would think if they never made it downstairs.

"Mmmph..." Yuuri grumbled against him.

Victor wasn't sure if that meant he was up. He gave it a few seconds and smiled when Yuuri mumbled sleepily.

"Alarm. Too loud."

"Sorry," Victor had hoped it wouldn't pull Yuuri from sleep, "I forgot to reset it last night. I know you hate waking up this early."

Yuuri accepted the apology by placing a small kiss on his back that warmed Victor's whole body, "Morning run? I need another..." he tried to stifle a yawn and failed, "...two hours. Minimum."

"Not today," Victor turned so he could face Yuuri. The younger skater's hand went around his waist, inadvertently thumbing at the waistband of his pants. His eyes were closed, there was a faint smile on his lips, and his hair was scattered in an appealing way across his forehead. It was rather sexy, Victor decided. He felt the Sochi monster growling; it had been mild-mannered last night, allowing them both space to acclimatize, but now, as the reality of Yuuri lying next to him continued to invade his senses, his pupils dilated, he licked his lips, and his inner voice took a rare backseat. With nothing to stop him, he slid a hand to the nape of Yuuri's neck, pulled him forward, and woke the man up with a open-mouthed kiss that brought forth a moan more delicious than anything Yuuri had sounded the night of the banquet.

"Victor, god..." Yuuri breathed before sliding his tongue along his own. Victor felt a hand move under his t-shirt, leisurely and methodically mapping his skin. He felt a rush of emotions; no one had ever touched him like that, like he was something to be treasured. A fire blazed in him and he adjusted his position so he straddled Yuuri, balancing on his right hand as he drove his tongue into Yuuri's mouth with heated desperation.

Their boundary was further eroded with Yuuri ripping Victor's shirt off before pulling him back to his lips, fighting the sleepiness to enjoy the rapturous feel of Victor on top him. His silver fringe tickled his cheeks, and Yuuri ran a hand through it to the back of his head before tugging in an untamed motion so he could access Victor's neck. He felt the man gulp, experienced the soft vibrations as Victor murmured in Russian and came to terms with Yuuri's own greed. He keened at the velvety lips, the slow graze of teeth, the impatient and relentless sucking that made him forget to breathe.

The creation of a second mark on the base of his throat sent Victor over the edge. He pulled Yuuri into a sitting position with him, discarded the man's shirt in one swift motion, pressed their bare skin together, and locked him in a vicious kiss. The nails on his back were fucking glorious.

"Yuuri..." Victor combed through his hair, his breath shallow as Yuuri bit into his lower lip.

"Good morning..."

"To you too," Victor felt a familiar pressure both in his pants and below him. He glanced at Yuuri's hands running along his pants and immediately registered the way they wavered against him. He moved the hair from Yuuri's face, and found confirmation of the faint hesitance in his eyes. Oh Yuuri. With a fierce inner resolve, he promptly hushed the monster within him. The mad urge needed restraint. That restraint was wherever Yuuri drew the line. He took his hands and kissed them in turn before getting off his lap. He waited for Yuuri to settle back on the bed with him and then pulled the blanket around them. Yuuri looked mildly amazed by his intuitive movements.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry-"

Victor wasn't having it; he cut Yuuri off with a swift kiss, "Yuuri, let me be clear, I will never ask or expect you to do something you don't want to do. I'm happy wherever you're happy. If you're uncomfortable, you can tell me."

"This is fine, this morning was fine," Yuuri nuzzled his shoulder to show his relief, "It's not that I don't...I just started wondering if...have you ever been with someone?"

"Yes."

Yuuri figured that would be the answer and it wasn't so bad now that it was out in the open, "Men? Women?"

"Both," Victor said plainly; there was no reason to lie to Yuuri about this, "You?"

"Men. But...not sex."

Victor kissed his forehead, "There's no rush Yuuri. Besides, I want to enjoy getting to know this side of you."

Yuuri blushed. What was with Victor always meeting him halfway? He seemed to go out of his way to care for him, so much so that he'd left behind the only home and the only thing he'd ever known to travel to Japan and befriend him. The thought made Yuuri recall a certain question from their first early morning together.

"Victor, can you tell me something?"

"Hmm?"

"Why is all this worth more than your career?"

Well, where to start? There's you surprising me twice in the same night. Then inspiring me with Aria: Stay Close To Me. Then again with your resolve. And your lips. And us sleeping together. And waking up together.

Victor figured this was a good time to come clean a bit, "I watched you skate in Sochi. I didn't know why it made me so angry until I realized that you belonged on the podium."

"W-what?" Yuuri paled, "But...I fucked up. I-"

"No. No," Victor reached out to his distressed face, "Yuuri, it's not always about the technical you know. The body has to be in-tune with the music and you were, except it didn't reach your eyes or heart. Your mom told me about Vicchan, so I understand why you were nervous and distracted. I just...I needed you to see what I saw," he kissed Yuuri's nose, "Do you know why I chose On Love: Eros for your short program? Because I know it's there Yuuri. You have no idea the eros you possess."

"You make it sound so simple..."

Victor felt his hand tremble as he remembered the way Yuuri had latched onto him at the banquet, "Do you trust me?"

"Yes." No hesitance.

Victor trailed his fingers along Yuuri's lips, "It's the same reason you're producing your free skate. I want you to embody the music. I want to see you skate like...like your heart is on fire.

You dance...like your heart...is on fire...

"Don't you mean dance?" Yuuri said offhandedly.

"What?" 'God Yuuri, your subconscious is going to kill me.'

"Oh, never mind. Stray thought I guess," Yuuri sighed, "I've been concentrating on the quads too much haven't I?"

Victor summoned his best Yakov impression, "Welcome to the point I was trying to make yesterday."

Yuuri groaned and then yawned as his drowsiness started to overtake him again. He draped a leg over Victor's own and made a pillow out of his shoulder. Victor's hands encircled him, running along his back and through his hair, and he hummed softly as Yuuri's breathing settled. The tender motions lulled Yuuri back to sleep.

"The dreams don't do this justice," Yuuri murmured.

Victor smirked, "Dreams?" but Yuuri had dozed off. Victor gracefully archived that tidbit for future use.