(To check out some of my drawings of Osha, check out my Pinterest – daisy0754)

Previously in, "The Charms of a Nikiforov":

She held her elbows, before standing on her toes and kissing his cheek. She then ran off to her room and pulled out her phone – a large grin on her face as she sent a text to Victor...although her stomach was still wild with nerves.

It was a date! xx

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters, nor the universe of Yuri! On Ice – they all belong to Kubo 3, nor do I own any of the famous skaters, jumps, music etc. I only own my OC's and this story.

Chapter 16

Be Strong, Be Brave. Stop Your Whining and Skate with Me

***Days Until Grand Prix Final: 10***

Huh? Music? Who's playing music at this hour?

Phichit frowned as he pushed the door open into the rink. His grey eyes widened and he instantly stopped when he saw what was happening on the ice. Osha was skating. She wasn't just doing laps, she was performing a programme. Her glasses were folded on a bench with her phone, and her trainers sat on the floor. The Thai boy gently closed the door behind him, so not to attract attention and break the spell of the room, and stepped further into the room.

Osha hadn't been able to sleep, her mind was too distracted after what had happened with Phichit the day before…the kiss…she'd needed to vent out the feelings in the only way she knew how (apart from talking to her brother), she needed to skate. The skate in question had been simple to choose…the programme she had never got to skate.

I can't concentrate…my heart is racing too fast…what do I say when I see him? What will he say to me?

Her body curved to the music she had playing. Her headphones were tucked in her ears, her short hair pulled out of her face, as sound of Frederic Chopin's, Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. II - Romanza (as performed by the Slovak Symphony Orchestra) played loudly and passionately. Phichit couldn't hear the music as he laced up his skates, but he was still mesmerised as he watched her perform.

Her performance is beautiful…but it feels off with just her out there alone. She doesn't suit being alone.

His eyes trailed after her and he stood, going to the side of the rink and watching her for a long moment – her legs building up speed as she appeared to build for a jump. A triple axel, single loop, triple salchow… Her landing wobbled as her full weight landed on her recovering leg, hand touching the ice and a Russian curse leaving her mouth. Failure wasn't acceptable, perfection was necessary.

Why can't I get this…?! I've been working on this for months.

She began preparing for another step sequence, when she was suddenly up in the air, hands on her waist. Osha let out a scream and tensed up, pulling out her headphones as her body dropped a little. Her leg kicked out and her knee joint jolted in pain. Phichit didn't know why he had done that, but lifting her had seemed like the thing to do…and she was just so light and fitted perfectly in his hands.

"Hey! Calm down it's just me!"

"Phichit! Put me down! Put me down!"

He slowed as she began to panic, body seizing and eyes watering. It was blurry without her glasses or lenses to see, and she'd grabbed the boy's shirt in her panic. Surprise gripped her, though, as she was lowered, by Phichit, ever so gently to the ground, barely feeling her weight returning to the ice. His hands didn't leave her waist as she clung to his shirt, crying.

She felt stupid for panicking like this, being reduced to a mess because she'd been surprised…no…not even surprised – lifted. It wasn't the fright, it was the lift It had made her panic, and think of the accident…the failure….the pain of it washing over her as she just clung to Phichit and cried. He held her small frame, stroking her back and kissing her head as he waited for her to calm down.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

Osha slid onto the ice and sat on the cold surface, hugging one knee whilst her other leg lay out straight – strings of pain shooting up and down the limb.

"I'm stupid. I'm stupid. I'm stupid. I'm stupid. I'm stupid. I'm stupid. I'm stupid."

The girl repeated this as she wiped her eyes and retreated from Phichit's hold. The tanned boy frowned and touched her shoulder. He'd crouched down to look at her.

"Osha…what, why are you saying that? You're not stupid?"

"Da! I am. I am freaking out because you lifted me! You lifted me perfectly and I am panicking."

"I shouldn't have scared you."

"It was the lift that scared me! I was scared of the stupid lift!"

Her shout echoed in the quiet space, and grey eyes merely stared at her – confused.

I don't get it…of course she would be…

"I don't…"

"No, you wouldn't get it, Phichit. That's ok, I love that about you…you're not bogged down by my stupid inability to perform a simple programme to the highest level. You still look up to me even though I am a broken skater. You don't care that I-"

"Oh, for Christ's sake Osha, of course I care!"

She blinked. He'd never yelled at her before…she didn't think he was even capable of yelling, but Phichit wasn't done.

"Osha, you think I don't care because you don't always let me in! That programme you were doing was amazing, but all you can do is focus on the minuscule flaws! You haven't skated a full programme in what? Four years? Of course, there will be flaws, of course it's not going to be perfect! Perfection doesn't happen overnight! You even said yourself that you're out of shape as a skater. As for that crap about you being broken…you are one of the least broken people I know! You came back to the ice even after you thought your career was finished. You agreed to help me with my own programme, even though you barely knew me. I didn't even think to consider how scary it would be for you to be lifted after what happened the last time…"

He completely forgot the reason he'd started yelling at her, but she just stood and took in. This wasn't how either of them had wanted their first conversation after the kiss to go, but there was no way either of them could back out. Phichit was just mad. Mad at her because she couldn't see how strong she was, how much people admired her, how much he liked…really liked her. In the end he just stormed out, brushing past Celestino (who was walking in) with a "Practice is cancelled". Osha just watched after him…left utterly speechless.

...

Knock.

"Come in."

Why do I feel so awkward? Oh, I know, because I really like this boy and I totally fucked up today talking to him!

Her hand drifted down and touched her knee – which had had to be strapped – before opening the door. Phichit was lying on his bed, tapping away on his phone. His hamsters – the little creatures of which Osha was still very wary of seeing as she was used to Makkachin's massive size – were running around wildly in their cage, creating quite a lot of noise.

He looked up when Osha walked in and closed the door behind her. She leant back against it awkwardly and looked at her feet, clicking her nails. The Thai boy sat up and swung his legs off the bed, tossing his phone onto the mattress. His eyes fell onto her strapped up knee and guilt ate away at the back of his throat. The Russian girl edged further into the room and her blue eyes met his grey ones.

"I wanted to apologise, Peachy."

"No, I should apologise. I shouldn't have been harsh on you."

She scratched the back of her head, tugging her wispy hair and muttering, "I needed it though. I need someone to tell me when I'm being overdramatic."

Phichit shook his head and patted the spot next to him. She sat down and their knees brushed as he pulled her into a side-hug, kissing the top of her head gently. Osha closed her eyes and inhaled deeply as they sat there, like that, for a while.

"So, will you ever skate professionally again?" He asked her this, a little while later, as he played with one of his hamsters.

Osha's blue eyes widened and she shrugged, hugging her knees as they sat together on the bed. "I don't know. I've been thinking about it a lot, but…"

"I think you should." She looked round at him as he popped the fat hamster onto his shoulder and cradled another in his hand. "You just need to train and coach a little, but I think you should, and I think your brother does as well."

"Haha, da, he won't shut up about it, but I'd be too nervous to jump straight into singles skating, and I have no partner for doubles-"

"I could be your partner…"

"Eh?"

His eyes widened and he smiled, waving a hand.

"…only if you want to of course."

"It's certainly an idea." She said with a smile, scooping the grey hamster of his shoulder into her small hands and stroking its nose. "I may or may take you up on that offer one of these days."

He grinned toothily and scratched the hamster Osha was holding, meeting her eyes and causing her to blush shyly.

"I look forward to it."

How am I meant to keep a straight face when he says things like that?

The silver-haired girl turned away shyly and hugged the hamster closer to her. The mischievous little rodent then shot up the sleeve of her hoodie, causing her to squeal and leap into Phichit's side as she felt the tiny feet go up her arm, then her neck and into her hair.

"Peachy get it off, get it off!"

"Hahaha!"

"It's not funny! Where is it!"

"On your head, haha!"

"Phichit Chulanont stop taking pictures of this and get it off!"

"Haha, alright, alright…" He handed her his phone and shuffled closer. "Oshi, hold still. He's in your hair, stop wriggling."

The Thai boy lent over and plucked the cheeky hamster off the top of Osha's head, before popping him and his two companions back in their cage. She slapped his arm lightly as he sniggered, turning back to her. He raised his hands and shook his head. Osha pouted her lip as he cupped her chin and smirked at her. She rolled her blue eyes at him as he pulled her face to him and pressed his lips against hers – quickly taking a selfie as he did so. The girl grabbed a pillow and smacked his side with it as she sat back.

"What was that for?" she exclaimed as he fiddled with his phone.

Phichit smiled and turned the phone screen towards her, revealing the kiss picture as his new lock screen. This caused her to blush all the more and she quickly looked away.

"Well, I wanted to ask you out on another date, but then got a little distracted by yelling at you. So," he said quickly pecking her flushed cheek, "was to make up for it."

She smirked, rolling her eyes and pushed him a little.

"You could've just asked, I would've said yes you know."

His grey eyes lit up.

"And if I asked now?"

"Hmmmm, that all depends on how nicely you ask me, and if you don't post that picture of us kissing on social media."

His face fell, "BUT!"

"But nothing! Those are my terms, take them or leave them."

Phichit pretended to think about if for a moment, before cupping the Russian girl's cheek and kissing her again – a long, slow kiss that caused their hearts to quicken their pace and their lips to understand the feel of one another. Osha lifted a hand to hold Phichit's elbow as he kissed her, feeling the blood rush to her face causing her pale skin to turn red. When they drew away for breath, the Thai skater pinched her nose with a smirk and then stole her glasses.

"I can live with that."

…

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