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#he gets to lovingly brush viktors hair out of his eyes what in the world would he be complaining about?
arom-antix · 2 months
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As part of a two-part reverse bang-bang, here's some more Valentines art to which @probablytoooldforthis wrote an amazing fic, Sweets for the Sweet! Please go check it out, I promise you won't regret it, and keep your eyes peeled for the second chapter - and artwork, of course - coming out on White Day aka the 14th of March!
Also, I this is an unrendered version, the finished version will be posted within about a week's time (hopefully) since I don't have access to digital drawing at the moment YuY
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Meeting and Dating Ron Weasley
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(Not my gif)(Requested by anonymous)
- Technically, you and Ron didn’t meet until fourth year but the redheaded boy had been in love with you since the moment he saw you, which was during first year at the magical school. 
- While he was certainly too shy to approach you, he did do quite a bit of staring and talking to Harry about you; though he tried to pretend as though he couldn’t care less every time he realized how in love he sounded. 
- So fourth year comes around and he’s still just as infatuated with you; and just as emotionally stunted about it, as ever. But then, it happens.  
“Hey Ginny.” 
- You waved at the redheaded girl as you passed with a few of your friends, causing her older brother to stare at her as though she’d suddenly sprouted another head. 
“How do you know y/n y/l/n?!” Ron immediately asked after you were far away enough not to hear. 
- He spent the rest of their walk questioning her as to how she knew you and how you met and if you were close and blah, blah, blah. Ginny only got him to lay off after she started teasing him for being in love with you, but even then he still sent a few hesitant questions her way, all the while insisting he wasn’t all that interested. 
- Ginny is very pleased with her newfound power. It was like the cat who got the canary the first time she brought you over and introduced you to her blushing brother. Ron could have killed her yet “kissed” her at the same time; not literally.
- Even though you now know each other and are on friendlier terms, he’s still nervous and awkward around you. He’s always messing up his words, stuttering, tripping over things, staring, etc. He’s awful with women if you weren’t aware.
- And yet, you still seem to like him, and over time he does start to relax, even though he still has his moments.
- Ron never actually asks you out, you just sort of have a silent agreement. You start to spend more alone time together, you don’t date anyone else, you share awkward yet almost tender moments, etc. Your relationship status is later solidified with a; long awaited, kiss and a kiss alone.
- Ron is very much so a spontaneous “I’m just gonna kiss her and deal with the consequences later” type of person. He’s bad at expressing his feelings with words so he’ll do it with his actions, and he’ll do it quickly before he has the chance to stop himself; usually after a surge of emotions.
- So, in typical Ron fashion, he heard some guy mention how he was thinking about asking you out, and realized that you never did establish that the two of you were an item. He immediately started to think about how much he’d hate to see you with another guy and how much he cared about you.
- Because of that, he was quite distracted when he finally saw you again. He fidgeted and seemed to be lost in his own thoughts as you walked together but just as you were thinking about saying something to him, he turned and laid one on you.
- Although you were a bit flustered and certainly very surprised, you kissed back and smiled at him as the two of you pulled away.
“I’ve been waiting to do that.” He admitted, his less confident personality returning as a blush creeped its way onto his cheeks.
- It’s in that moment that you’ve realized that you’ve fallen in love with a dork. A wonderful, beautiful dork.
- Though it tends to make him flustered, Ron is definitely a fan of pda. In the beginning of your relationship, he’s a bit defensive about it, like when his friends chuckle at you kissing his cheek or make faces at him while he’s got his arm wrapped around you, but he learns to ignore it and just brush them off. 
- Handholding. 
- Leaning your head on his shoulder. Perhaps it’s because it’s you initiating a type of affection or because it shows that you’re comfortable with him, but either way, he loves it. 
- Hugs. That’s all this boy wants. Just wrap your arms around him and let him hold you close goddamnit!
- You giving him kisses on the cheek; or anywhere else? Unparalleled. Never stop. 
- Abrupt, passionate kisses. 
- Snogging. He’s certainly a bit clumsy at first but you don’t mind; you probably are too. 
- He has a few select terms of endearment that he likes to use: darling, sweetheart, woman, my girlfriend. He doesn’t mind pet names but please stick to a simple “babe” or “honey” and not something like “won won” (shudders). 
- Ron sleeps on his back most of the time so you’ll just usually lay your head on his chest while he wraps his arms around you. That being said, he isn’t particular about the position, and since he has a habit of snoring, you may want to try spooning. 
- Do you know how long he’s waited to brush your hair behind your ear or wipe something off your face? That little action is so important to him and even he doesn’t really know why.
- Bridal carrying and piggyback rides. Ron’s a strong boy and he likes showing it off, and feeling you holding onto him.
- Getting your food stolen.
- Playing chess. 
- Dates at Hogsmeade. Sometimes the two of you just wander around and get yourselves a little privacy from every bodies prying eyes; and third wheeling.
- Going to the three broomsticks. If Ginny is there, he will immediately ask to leave and you oftentimes find it too amusing to be annoyed.
- Obviously, Ron doesn’t have a ton of pocket money so the two of you don’t do anything too expensive. A lot of your dates consist of roaming around the castle and the grounds together, finding somewhere to sit and just enjoying each other’s company.
- Sitting in the courtyard together.
- Cheering Harry on at Quidditch together and later cheering him, Ginny and Harry on with Hermione.
- Exaggerated stories. He’s always trying to impress you and make himself or what he’s done seem cooler than it really is.
- You’re constantly making jabs at each other and lovingly laughing at the other person. How can you not tease him for being in love with Viktor Krum, it’s the only way you can make yourself feel better about his obsession.
- You can practically see the hearts in his eyes when you laugh. He loves seeing and hearing it so much.
- Compliments and flattery. Is it so you’ll do his homework? Is it genuine? The world may never know.
- Making sure he actually does his work and does it well. He would be lost without you.
- You and Hermione talking about your mutual struggles with the boys. Ron and Harry watch from afar, agreeing that your little gathering makes them nervous and wondering what you’re saying.
- He likes when you try to teach him things, it gives him an excuse to be close to and watch you.
- He’s always encouraging you and reassuring you that you’ll do great and that you can do it. He’s so sure of you that you almost feel sure of yourself.
- Although he tries to not let you know just how much he is, he’s very impressed and proud of you at just about any given moment. He’s never met someone as amazing as you.
- Sometimes he surprises you with just how much he listens. Oftentimes at random, he’ll mention something that you once said and surprise you with just how much he’s taken to remembering; sometimes purely because it came out of your mouth.
- He’s always a bit speechless when you give him a gift. Once he’s over the shock, he’ll give you a “bloody hell, thank you” and a kiss on the cheek.
- Ron’s taken on Voldemort and countless other dangers and yet you’ll still have to be the one to kill the spiders in your relationship.
- Showing him muggle stuff. Oh Godric, the amount of time his father spent asking you about the muggle world when you first visited....
- Spending summers at the burrow and writing to each other; even though he teasingly pretends that he won’t.
- Ron is the youngest Weasley boy and Molly’s a momma bear so expect to be sweetly scrutinized and then made into a part of the family.
- The twins and Ginny teasing the two of you; though they do tease him more when they’re alone with him.
- You should probably apologize to Harry I’m advance because this boy never shuts up about you to him.
- Lightly touching and checking on each other’s injuries. He’s very gentle with you when you’re hurt, he treats you like you’re made of glass.
- Ron has always sort of felt like he was second best to Harry and most of his brothers so he loves when you pay special attention to him. Listening to his stories, praising him, having eyes only for him, it all makes him feel so much better about himself.
- Trying to help him smooth things over with people; especially when it comes to Harry and Hermione. It’s awkward to not be able to talk to them because your boyfriend keeps you right by his side so you try to fix things as soon as possible.
- As we all know, Ron is an incredibly jealous person and when he gets jealous, he can get a bit nasty. He’ll most likely interrupt you and make you choose between him or the guy, wanting you to prove that he’s more important to you than them by going with him. 
- Afterwards, he insults the person he’s jealous of, maybe accidentally somewhat insulting you in the process, and tries his best to make you think the other person is a git. 
- Ron is constantly jumping to defend your honor and is always ready to fight someone to do it. He may act like an ass to you at times but he really does love you and your safety is his top priority. Nothing is going to mess with his girlfriend. 
- The two of you have quite a few fights, all of them varying in intensity. Ron isn’t good at expressing his feelings so that’s usually what leads to fighting: him just not being able to communicate properly. Sometimes you have quick, hushed arguments, leaning in close to each others faces. Other times, you’ll be having loud and harsh ones filled with insinuations and insults you don’t mean. 
- You usually give each other space, whether it’s out of respect or because you both refuse to speak to the other one first depends on the situation. He asks Harry how long he thinks you’ll stay mad at him and oftentimes asks the boy to talk to you for him, mainly to see if you’re still mad. His apologies are stilted but he does give them and knowing how he is, you usually accept them. 
- There aren’t a ton of I love you’s in your relationship, given how awkward he is most of the time; particularly when you’re younger, but he will occasionally blurt it out without thinking. 
“Bloody hell,” he’ll say in awe. “Godric I love you.”
- While times certainly get tough in the future, he’s been in love with you since he was eleven and there’s no sign of it stopping any time soon. You’ll stick by each others sides and when the dust settles, you’ll start to build that life he’s been fantasizing about. 
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ofviktor · 6 years
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44 + viktuuri pls (this gives me /that au/ vibes haha ★)
#44: “You’ve always felt like home.”
There are three absolute truths in Viktor’s life:
One, skating is just as essential to his life as breathing. There are no memories that Viktor can recall where a pair of skates weren’t within reach.
Two, Makkachin was the first to love him without any expectations, without needing something in return to make it worth her while. She was his first true friend when he needed one desperately.
Three, Katsuki Yuuri always manages to pull emotions up from the forgotten parts of his heart and wraps them around him like a well-loved blanket.
While the first two are incredibly important to him, it is the third truth that Viktor knows changed everything. Before he saw Yuuri skate for the first time, so many years ago now, he could never imagine a future that didn’t involve him competing or skating in some capacity. He was always alone and he was always pushing himself to a breaking point for no other reason than that’s all he knew.
The first time he watched Yuuri skate, however? Something inside him shifted, getting closer to clicking into place, because afterwards he would sometimes imagine himself skating against Yuuri at competitions, sometimes imagine himself standing on the same podium as this new and beautiful Japanese skater on the senior circuit.
He wasn’t always alone anymore.
The first time he actually saw Yuuri in person? He was so excited that they’d finally gotten the chance to skate against each other that he blurted out the first thing that popped into his mind. Commemorative photo? Sure thing!
The second time he saw Yuuri, that something inside him bloomed until Viktor was consumed by it and -
“What are you thinking about?”
Yuuri’s voice is soft yet it manages to yank Viktor back from his jaunt into the past. He blinks and shifts his gaze away from the book in his hands to Yuuri who’s set aside his DS and looks at him with that adorable pinch between his brows.
It’s in the heartbeat between registering Yuuri’s concerned and thinking yet again that he’s in love with this man beside him that he realizes he could lie, that he could say he was thinking about Yuuri’s routines and brush everything off as inconsequential. But he doesn’t want to do that, not anymore.
What he feels for Yuuri should never be hidden away or written off as nothing of importance.
So, he goes with the truth.
“About Sochi,” he starts to say and before Yuuri can even finish flinching barrels on. “And how I was excited to finally get to watch you skate in person. How you changed so much before we even got to meet in person.”
Yuuri freezes and he stares down at Viktor with wide-eyes. “W—what?”
He isn’t sure what to make of Yuuri’s surprise or the apparent confusion swirling in those beautiful honey brown eyes because surely, surely Yuuri must know by now that he’s important to Viktor.
Before he can ask what’s so surprising, Yuuri shakes his head quickly and tries again with: “You knew who I was before Sochi?”
Now it’s his turn to be confused.
“Of course I did,” he says, slowly to express his own bafflement as he sets his book aside. “I watched your senior debut. Online, of course, since I was in Russia at the time but I followed your career after that. Even back then you moved as if you made music with your body so it was impossible for me to forget you.”
There’s a long moment where Yuuri just continues to stare at him, mouth agape as if his whole world completely shifted and just as Viktor’s about to reach out to grab his hands Yuuri jolts and blurts out, “But you asked if I? It didn’t seem like you?”
There’s a beat of silence, then: “You asked if I wanted a commemorative photo that’s - that’s what you ask fans!”
It’s as if the universe has come to a screeching halt and he immediately sits up straighter in reaction to the sudden tightening in his chest. “I - what? No, Yuuri, I meant… but I guess when you put it that way I can see why you’d think that. Oh, wow I’m an idiot.”
He laughs because it’s the first reaction that bubbles up from his chest and he’s sure Yuuri thinks he’s completely lost it but suddenly some of Yuuri’s behavior since he’s shown up in Hasetsu makes sense. Why he gets so quiet whenever Viktor mentions anything about that Grand Prix Final.
It also makes sense why Yuuri walked away from him that night.
“I was excited,” he says once he’s caught his breath. “And wanted to remember the first time we finally got to compete against each other.”
“Oh.”
He cautiously peers at Yuuri through his bangs, unsure if Yuuri’s angry or not over the whole miscommunication. Honestly, he wouldn’t blame Yuuri if he is upset over it, Viktor said something carelessly, swept up in emotions he hadn’t felt for so long and—oh.
Yuuri’s smiling.
“You’re not an idiot, Viktor. Now that I…” he shakes his head. “It’s actually really sweet you wanted a picture like that. Especially after—”
This time Viktor does reach out and grab Yuuri’s hands and he watches Yuuri take a deep breath, never once letting his smile slip as he squeezed Viktor’s hands.
“I was a little bit of an idiot,” he admits, a small smile tugging at his own lips when Yuuri chuckles. “A well-meaning one but I’m sorry it seemed like I didn’t know who you were at all. That wasn’t very fair of me. I should have said something to you before we even skated. I wanted to but…”
Yuuri scoots a little closer and it sends Viktor’s heart fluttering in his chest. “But?”
“I was nervous.”
Yuuri reels back slightly, looking every bit gobsmacked yet again by Viktor’s words and he isn’t sure what to make of it so he remains quiet and lets Yuuri sort through his thoughts. “Why were you nervous? I’m just me.”
This time it’s his turn to smile, though his practically drips with affection because it’s impossible to contain. “That’s exactly why,” he says and he watches Yuuri’s brow furrow in deeper confusion.
“I don’t understand.”
And oh how he wishes he could reach into Yuuri’s mind and scoop out the anxiety that makes him devalue himself, that makes him believe it’s impossible to ever be worthy of love and devotion.
But he can’t. So instead, he smiles a little wider as he leans in to press a kiss to the corner of Yuuri’s parted lips. “You are a beautiful skater,” he murmurs and he feels Yuuri’s breath hitch when he realizes Viktor isn’t going to pull away. “But you’re also beautifully kind and I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
Yuuri lets out a shaky breath and Viktor brushes his lips across Yuuri’s to catch it and that seems to be the final straw because Yuuri surges forward so they’re properly kissing. He only allows himself a single heartbeat of surprise before he’s letting go of Yuuri’s hands so he can cup Yuuri’s rosy cheeks and tilts his head just enough to deepen the kiss.
This seems to be the right move because Yuuri let’s out a pleased little hum that Viktor is more than happy to devour by sweeping his tongue along the seam of Yuuri’s lips. And when Yuuri shifts until he’s straddling Viktor’s lap with his fingers tangled in Viktor’s hair he abruptly aware that he’s never felt this loved before.
A shiver runs down his spine when Yuuri nips his bottom lip with just enough pressure to startle a gasp from him and that seems to have been his plan all along because Yuuri wastes no time deepening the kiss further.
Viktor loses himself in Yuuri’s passion and love, greedily drinks it directly from Yuuri’s lips until they’re forced to pull away for a clearly archaic need for air. Why haven’t they evolved enough to allow him to kiss Yuuri the way he deserves to be kissed until the sun slips below the horizon without needing to stop for something as silly as breathing?
Yuuri, of course, isn’t nearly as out of breath and presses his lips to the tip of Viktor’s nose before moving onto his left cheek and then his right and then each of his eyes before finally pressing one final kiss to his forehead.
“Viktor,” Yuuri whispers lovingly and Viktor wants to cry when he hears it. His hands fall to Yuuri’s waist as he leans forward to hide his face in the crook of Yuuri’s neck. And Yuuri doesn’t even hesitate to pull him closer and press a kiss to the swirl on the crown of his head.
“You have always felt like home,” Yuuri continues and Viktor’s breath catches in his chest because how is this reality? How is Yuuri gently and quietly dismantling years of loneliness he didn’t even know existed with a handful of words?  
“Whether it’s when I watch you skate in a competition halfway across the world or when I get to lay next to you in your bed while you read another book… I have always felt like I found my home.”
Yuuri’s words rip away the last frayed edge of Viktor’s heart and the tears finally race down his cheeks. It’s obvious Yuuri can feel his tears but thankfully Yuuri doesn’t comment on them. He simply lets Viktor have this moment to sink into his happiness and Viktor loves him, loves him, loves him—
“You’re my home too.”
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somuchanemoia · 7 years
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#YoiWeddingWeek Day 1: Planning the Wedding
Day 1: Planning the Wedding with Viktuuri
"Viktor…" Yuuri whined softly as his fiancé kept nipping at his shoulder and neck lazily and lovingly, "We have to talk about this." It was around noon and finally, Viktor had allowed Yuuri a day off of training. They were currently snuggled up in their bed, wrapped up in each other's arms comfortably as the midday news played softly on the TV. At the end of the bed, Makaton was watching his owners with soft happy eyes. "I know, detka." Viktor purred softly, "Just relax."
Yuuri smiled and leaned into Viktor's warm embrace, "I know. Mom is driving me nuts though. And so Yuuko and Minako. They want all the details."
"We could have them plan for us…" Viktor murmured softly as he continued to lazily nose his lover's ear, "Eto budet men'she stressa na vas."
Yuuri smiled softly. He didn't know much Russian even after living in Russia for almost a year with Viktor, but he could understand some of the soft murmur Viktor had uttered.
With a smile, Yuuri turned in Viktor's arms so they were facing each other, "This is our special day. It's the day I become a Nikiforov."
Viktor smiled, "So You decided to take my last name huh? Yuuri Nikiforov. It rolls off the tongue nicely." He brushed a stray hair from his lover's eyes as his ocean blue eyes twinkled happily.
"I was thinking something along the lines of Yuuri Katsuki-Nikiforov." Yuuri mumbled, "But just Yuuri Nikiforov does roll off the tongue better. We're getting off topic though."
Viktor smiled, "Just six months until we say 'I do'."
Yuuri purred softly and nodded, "And we have nothing figured out. We don't even know where we're getting married."
"That's easy, Yura." Viktor's thumb came up to caress Yuuri's cheek softly, "We'll get married here in Saint Petersburg."
"But what about my family, Viktor? They don't speak any Russian and hardly any English." Yuuri asked softly, "We could get married in Hasetsu. It's more private."
Viktor nodded softly, He hadn't thought about that problem really. He had always assumed that they would be married in Saint Petersburg, in the Tavrichesky Garden (one of Yuuri's favorite places that Viktor had taken him in Russia) or possibly on the Potseluev Bridge. But now he could see where they were Yuuri was concerned, they'd have to translate everything from Russian to English and then to Japanese.
"Hasetsu would be a nice place to get married. We could get married on the beach." Viktor agreed.
Yuuri smiled, "An outdoor wedding?"
"It'll be nice. The beach is special to us."
"That is true. If we get married in Hasetsu, we could have an outdoor ceremony. If we got married here in St. Petersburg, it'd still be chilly outside."
"Let's get married in Hasetsu then moya lyubov', deal?" Viktor smiled and held out his pinky finger to Yuuri who wrapped his around Viktor's.
"Deal. A wedding on the beach of Hasetsu. Mom also wants us to come up with an estimate of how many people will be attending. I think we should just keep it really small and only invite family and close friends."
Viktor nodded, "How close are we talking about? You know most of our competitors will want to come with their plus one. And of course, you have some friends from college you want to invite right?" Yuuri nodded at this, "That's close to at least a hundred people, Yura."
"That's true. I don't want to go over a hundred though. I want our day to be more private." Yuuri's eyes met Viktor's ocean blue ones, "I want this moment with you, without the entire world seeing it."
Viktor smiled, "I know, my porosenok. I do too. We can keep it to a hundred. Nice and small, but there are enough people to make the reception interesting, especially if your dad breaks out the sake." Viktor wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at his fiancé and was rewards with a soft chuckle and a light slap to his chest.
"I'm not getting drunk on our wedding night, Vitya."
"Right. We'll save that for the honeymoon." Viktor chuckled and kissed Yuuri's blushing cheek.
"Where are we going for the honeymoon anyways? We haven't-"
Viktor silenced his lover with a soft kiss on the lips and then whispered softly, "Don't worry my love. I've got it all taken care of. It's a surprise. eto sekret."
Yuuri kissed Viktor back, "Vitya ..."
"We have more things to discuss about the wedding. Very important things." Viktor caressed his lover's cheek gently, "Like the cake."
Yuuri chuckled, "I thought I was supposed to be watching my weight, Coach. I have to stay in shape for the upcoming Grand Prix."
Viktor smiled widely, "I think I'll let you have a cheat day. If it really bothers, you though we could-"
"I take a cheat day." Yuuri said quickly as his fiancé laughed softly, "We can go to that bakery back in Hasetsu to sample some cake when we visit in a few weeks."
"Good idea." Viktor murmured as he pulled Yuuri into straddling his lap, "I think we've planned enough for today. You're starting to get stressed." Viktor reached up and brushed a finger softly over the crease between Yuuri's eyebrows.
"There just so much to plan Viktor. Six months isn't that long; 4 Tsuki wa sore hodo tōkunai." Yuuri wrapped his arms around Viktor's neck and bit his lip.
Pulling Yuuri's lip from his teeth softly with his thumb, Viktor confessed, "It is when you've been waiting for so long to marry the love of your life."
---
"Yura! Open wide." Viktor crooned happily as he held out a fork with a piece of vanilla cake balanced on it. Smiling, Yuuri opened his mouth and let Viktor feed him, "What do you think?"
"Not bad." Yuuri licked his lips, "It's not too sweet. Not to bitter."
"I love it. Sovershenstvo." Viktor took another bite as Yuuri turned to speak to the bakery consultant in rapid Japanese. Viktor had caught something about enjoying the samples, but the rest was lost on him. He was happy to simply be enjoying some relaxing alone time with his fiancé since arriving in Hasetsu. If they weren't training, Minaho, Yuuko, and Mari were dragging them both off to make wedding preparations or Yuuri was busy assisting in running his family's hot springs or Viktor was pulled away to make his final preparations for their surprise honeymoon. By the time they had both been able to spend time alone, they were both so exhausted that they would just curl up in the bed in Yuri's childhood bedroom and pass into the world of sleep.
Viktor watched as the owner bowed and said a quick, "Arigatō" before standing and leaving he and Yuuri to their taste testing.
"Hmm. Vitya." Viktor turned back to Yuuri who was holding a fork full of chocolate cake in front of his mouth. Smiling, Viktor opened his mouth so Yuuri could slip the cake onto his awaiting taste buds.
Viktor hummed, "That's good too. It's very Eros."
Yuuri smiled softly and squeezed Viktor's Hand that was nestled in his, "What are you talking about Viktor?"
"It's got the hint of Eros. Chocolate is an aphrodisiac, Yuuri. It's known to be a symbol of love because it sets the mood."
Yuuri smiled at his fiancé, "Doka. You know you're a dork, right?"
Viktor chuckled, "It's one of those things that made you love me though."
Yuuri just nodded with a smile, "Where's the agape then?"
Chuckling, Viktor lifted another piece of the vanilla cake to Yuuri's mouth, "Right here. Don't you taste the perfection of it? It's soft and light. It's pure."
"Vitya, it's cake." Yuuri, however, had chuckled softly. Viktor rolled his eyes lovingly and reached for another sample.
They both had spent the next half hour taking bites of different cakes – none of the other flavors compared to the original chocolate and vanilla cakes they had tried. They had already decided on a large three tiered cake and now came the hard part.
"Watashi no ai, I think we should stick with these two flavors. We could do two chocolate tiers and a vanilla."
"Or we could do two vanilla tiers and a chocolate." Viktor looked at Yuuri with puppy go eyes.
"Babe, more people like chocolate."
"But, the Agape is in the vanilla. We have pure love Yura. This is ridiculous. Why don't we do four tiers? Two of each."
"Vitya, we don't need to feed that many people. We'll have cake coming out of our ears." Yuuri said with a small smile.
Viktor pouted and looked at Yuuri with pleading eyes, "Please, Yuuri-chan?"
Sensing a storm was brewing, the bakery owner cleared her throat and started talking in rapid Japanese to Yuuri. They both turned to look at the small woman and Viktor smiled softly at her. She smiled softly in return and then scurried out of the room, only to return a few moments later with another small plate in her hands. She set it down in front of the couple and then in her best attempt at English explained, "Mixed. Two mixed." She pointed at the chocolate and at the vanilla cake and then pointed at the new plate.
Both Viktor and Yuuri picked up their forks and took a small piece of cake into their mouths as the baker looked on nervously.
Viktor smiled and turned towards his fiancé, "Yura..."
Yuuri smiled and nodded, "Viktor..."
The baker watched them nervously as she asked in her broken and heavily accented English, "You like?"
Both Yuuri and Viktor turned towards her and smiled, "It's perfect."
I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it. @yoiweddingweek
Check out the rest of the story: Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, & Day 7
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Deep Within My Bones Ch 18- Scarlet
Yuuri watched as Viktor left the competitor’s room, through the kiss and cry and waited for his cue to glide onto the ice. Yakov was still his coach, but had been largely absent that morning, spending his time with Yurio instead.
“It’s pretty ballsy for him to show up after disappearing for almost  a year.”
“Word is he bribed the judges to let some nobody compete with him.”
Yuuri’s mind snapped from worrying about Viktor to the chatter that picked up once he had left the room.
“So he spent the last year coaching? What a waste of talent.”
“Are you kidding me? He should have stayed out and let someone else at the gold. His glory days are over.” 
Something boiled deep inside Yuuri--- whether it was anger or nerves, he couldn’t tell any longer. He had spent so long feeling sick and tired that it had just become background noise. He stood up, marching to the doors that led to the kiss and cry. He slid past and under a camera man until he was at the gate where Viktor would skate up to after finishing his routine.  Yakov was sitting on the bench, holding a familiar looking furry tissue box case in his lap, his expression somber.
The performance was flawless. Viktor hit every jump and spin with a perfection only the God of Figure Skating could reach.
Viktor, caught up in the performance and the adrenaline was out of breath as he stepped onto the ice. Yakov had his ice guards, but Yuuri wobbled past him. Black feathery fluff fell from Viktor’s costume as  Yuuri grabbed a fistful of it and pulled him down into a fervent kiss.
“Yuuri! Save the Eros for the ice!” Viktor cooed, unaware of the flush that reached his cheeks, as if transferred from  Yuuri. He couldn’t say he didn’t like this side of Yuuri, however surprising it was.
“Good luck, my zvesda.” Viktor gave a quick kiss, taking his blade guards from Yakov. It was Yuuri’s turn to take to the ice.
Viktor seemed to glow as he walked with his coach to the bench on the kiss and cry. He had no idea what his score would be—he had been thinking of the next performance, Yuuri’s. He had five gold medals and years  of competitions behind him.  This year, it was about completing the dream of the drunk beauty that had poured his dreams out on a dark night in Sochi.
“Mr. Nikiforov, you’ve been seen with Special Olympics skater Yuuri Katsuki, who has joined you at the Cup of China. What is he to you? “
It was not the first time the media had asked him about his private life. Usually it had been for the magazines, or  if he was stupid enough to be seen with someone the night of the Olympics.
Somehow, this time, it was hard. He couldn’t brush it away with a bright smile and concomitant wave of his hand. They were asking about Yuuri. His Yuuri.
But what was he? They slept together, in the holy and the unholy sense. But they had never gone on a date or celebrated an anniversary. The word boyfriend never came up in conversation. They just had the pet names, and he was finally Vitenka… but what other title was there? Lover felt to shallow, like Yuuri was part of the group of one-night stands and dead end streets.  Boyfriend was too casual, but fiancée wasn’t official. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to commit to  a lifetime with Yuuri… It was the opposite. They merely lived, wordlessly, as if their time together would never end.
“Yuuri….. is..” Viktor could tell that the media was waiting for an answer. Even Yakov was getting irritated. “The love of my life.” Viktor  said, before escaping his head and smiling dreamily for the camera.
He let Yakov comment on the score,  after he did the obligatory smile about placing high enough for another guaranteed Gold. He hugged his coach, before leaving the camera behind and focusing on the ice,  and his everything that was stepping onto it.
The instant the cameras were back on the ice, Viktor ran to the kiss and cry.  He could tell Yuuri’s shoulder had a weight to them that made him wilt slightly, and he prayed that the judges did not know him as well as Viktor did. His heart beat faster as Yuuri’s arms rose, and he turned his eyes to Viktor, licking his lips,
If Yuuri didn’t take the podium, he would riot.
Viktor watched every jump and step and breath Yuuri took on the ice. Yuuri slid off the ice and into Viktor’s arms, immediately heavy and tired.  He smiled, out of breath to the point of wheezing. Viktor held Yuuri up and walked with him to the Kiss and Cry, secretly enjoying the cameras on them.
The same reporter was back, with the camera trained on the pair.
“Yuuri Katsuki,  you’re new to the scene. Who is all-star Viktor Nikiforov to you?”
Yuuri smiled. “The most important person in the world.” He  said it without hesitation, still breathy, sweat running down the side of his face. Viktor’s heart swelled, and he turned and kiss Yuuri back. He deserved everything he gave, returned ten-fold, after all. Yuuri laughed, embarrassed, but didn’t bat him away, only squeezing his eyes close. “Vitenkaa.” He said shyly. God, would he ever be able to return what Yuuri made him feel? He stared lovingly at Yuuri, almost forgetting that the score would be reported.  He watched Yuuri squint at the far display, hugging the makkachin tissuecase close to him. He  had seen it countless times before, but it didn’t lessen his love for it, and everything about him.
It took a few seconds for it to register.  It sounded like a good score, until the commentator went on to put the placement.
Fourth.
It placed him fourth, just behind Phichit, who had skated first.  Viktor’s dream of standing beside the love of his life on the podium was shattered by a mere two numbers.
And it angered him.
Yuuri’s polite smile disappeared when he turned his eye to Viktor. “What’s wrong?” He asked, reaching up to brush Viktor’s hair out his face without a second thought.  
“I’m sorry…” Yuuri’s voice fell at Viktor’s expression, and his gaze dropped. “It wasn’t good enough…”
“Oh Yuuri…” Viktor instantly regretting letting go of himself. “Never, never. I was.. am.. I’m angry, Yuuri. You deserved to take the podium.” He reached for Yuuri, pulling him closer into a hug. “The score is pointless.”
“Not in front of the cameras.” Yuuri whispered into Viktor’s arm. He tried to pull Viktor up, but couldn’t move freely enough to swing himself up. Viktor ended up moving them both off the bench, the next competitor already forgotten.
~~
“Viktor, you need to let it go. I’m happy.” Yuuri prodded him again, but Viktor couldn’t wipe the displeasure from his face. The rest of the skaters had not failed spectacularly, despite the evil eye and curses he had wished upon them. Yuuri held onto fourth, but did not climb any hire like Viktor prayed for. Cristophe took Silver Phichit and Phichit bronze, and Viktor couldn’t bear to wish ill will on his and Yuuri’s best friends.
“We still get to skate together.” Yuuri had done this nonstop throughout the competition, his own anxiety bubbling up. But Viktor couldn’t brush it away. Yuuri had taken the podium before, and he should have done it that day.
“Vitenka.” Yuuri said seriously, and he couldn’t ignore that. He turned to Yuuri, and looked into his eyes, now back behind his oversized glasses. “You need to focus. We’re skating together soon.”
Shame burned at the back of his throat. Here he was, stewing like a little baby, and making Yuuri worry about him, when the day before Yuuri barely dragged himself out of bed.
“I’m sorry, my Yuuri.” He said, but the bitterness didn’t fade from him. It burned his throat, boiled in his stomach and flowed through him like blood. This was not he had spent  nights dreaming of and days pulling strings and favors and making promises. This was not the fairytale he dreamed off. It had faded, tarnishing at the edges,  the corners peeling away.
“Then stop. I don’t want to remember the day I’ve been dreaming of for years as you pouting.” Yuuri’s words stung, no matter how softly he had said them.
“I’m so--.” Yuuri pressed a cold finger to his lips.  “I know.  I’m not mad.” He said, taking Viktor’s hand in his. They had changed into their exhibition skating costumes, their palms covered in matching black gloves.  His designer had been happy to make another version of the costume for his favorite season, for some reason.  He sent pictures of Yuuri, and his measurements, and the blue and purple set came back four months later. Perfect.
“Let’s go.” Yuuri said, hearing the cue that Viktor missed, his mind slipping back into the emotion that still had a twisted grip around his stomach. The staff knew of their plan, but the audience had no idea who would be joining Viktor on the ice. He met his cue on time, even though   it had only been practiced for  a week and a half. He spun slowly, arcing his arm toward the spot he knew Yuuri would sweep toward him.  Violet light flooded over them and turned the ice into some otherworldly place. Yuuri was perfect, his glasses gone, his eyes were trained on Viktor’s, warm and full of love and determination. Fuck the scores, fuck the federation, this was all that mattered anymore. He could only hear the blades carve the ice and his heart beat, as they turned together, his hands meeting Yuuri’s body as they started into the first lift.
Viktor’s eyes met with one of the judges, and they didn’t leave, the anger and bitterness he hadn’t been able to fully push back bubbling up to the service. He turned again, keeping his eyes on the judge, before moving to the next step.
His arm missed the air and hit something hard. He swung around on his skates, his heart somewhere between his toes. “Yuuri!” Any bitterness crystallized into regret. Yuuri blinked away the tears  that sprung to his eyes as blood dribbled down his nose. He smiled at him and laughed even as the tears spilled over his cheeks from the pain.   He swept his hand across Viktor’s face, cupping it tenderly, and moved into the spot where he knew they had the tandem step sequence.
He wanted to quit. Stop the show, turn off the lights and the music and cradle Yuuri until he breathed the apologies Viktor had for him. Apologies for pouting so long, for pouting on the ice, and letting his old self get in the way and distract him. Letting his old self hurt Yuuri.
The violet light turned the blood spattered on the ice into a macabre black, and Yuuri’s step sequence drew it out into spider-like lines. Yuuri pulled him through, until they finally struck the finishing pose,  Yuuri’s heart pounding enough for Viktor to feel it through his back.
“Yuuri!” He didn’t hold the pose long enough for the normal lights to return, spinning him around and catching him. Yuuri squeezed his eyes shut, dizzy, his mouth and chin covered in scarlet. The crystals glued onto his costume lost their luster under the blood that dribbled onto the front of his shirt.
It was too much.
“Oh Yuuri, I’m so sorry, I should have never..”
“Viktor, please.”
Viktor’s throat nearly closed. “Please what?”
“I’m going to ruin yours too.” He wiped off a droplet of blood just above Viktor’s own chest. “I need a tissue.”  He leaned far enough, that Viktor gave in, and went with Yuuri to the kiss and cry. Phichit was there already, with a tissue box and a handful of tissues. Yakov and his not-wife-not-ex showed up with a box of baby wipes and a mouthful of scolding as they scrubbed at their costumes. It irritated Viktor, but Yuuri merely took it, scrunching his nose and eyes shut as they scrubbed the dried blood from his cheeks. Phichit sat on the edge of the bench, his hand on the back of Yuuri’s neck, helping him lean over and forward into a second wad of tissues.
Viktor felt like throwing up.
He stayed by Yuuri’s side, until Yakov pulled him up for the medaling ceremony. The flowers didn’t seem as vibrant as the ones growing back in the Katsuki’s garden. The medal felt heavier than the many that had rested on his chest before.
It was the first time, even he, Viktor Nikiforov, the King of Faking it, could not muster a smile for the crowd.
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Ch 17-Ice
“How many stores did you go to?”  Yuuri’s voice was soft and hoarse as he sat up from his nap on the hotel bed. Viktor had decided to avoid the extra family strife and get a hotel near the airport, rather than call in a favor from the Katsuki Yuutopia van.
“Two, I didn’t think there were many flavors, and I wasn’t sure what you would like.”
“Viktor,” Yuuri laughed. “You could have asked me! There’s too much ice cream.”
“But that’s all you have been able to eat, and I wanted you to rest.” Viktor said firmly, standing behind his decision and the twenty-something types of ice cream in the plastic bag in front of him.
“I’m not picky. You could have chosen your favorite and I would eat it too.” Yuuri pulled out one of the (thankfully tiny) Hagen-Dazs container. “Do you like green tea?” He quirked his head to the side.
“From what I have had, I suppose so. Why?” Viktor shuffled through the bag.
“there’s five kinds of matcha in here. Green tea, green tea and.. mochi, green tea truffle, green tea and  adzuki bean…”
“Oh, I just looked at the pictures. Except this one. I read that one.” Viktor proudly pulled out and plopped a strawberry cheesecake flavor into his hand.
“Hagen Dazs has english on the other side.”  Yuuri said quietly, before lovingly patting the side of Viktor’s face. “Good job , katakana is really difficult.”
The two sorted through the ice cream together, pushing the tomato and carrot flavors to the side. Viktor started with one of the  versions of strawberry flavors, while Yuuri started off with a mint chocolate chip.
“What is that? It’s green?” Viktor peered over at Yuuri’s first choice after snuggling next to him on the bed.
“Mint chocolate chip. I used to get it a lot when  I trained in Detriot.”
“Ah. Very American.” Viktor didn’t know what else to say. Detroit didn’t come up much in conversation.
“It was Phichit’s favorite too, and there was a Baskin Robbins near campus. We went there first since I recognized it from Japan.” For the first time in days, he had a subconscious smile across his face from the nostalgia.
“So it’s good memories for you,right?”  Yuuri nodded in response. “It is. Like my mom and Calpis soda. What ice cream is nostalgic for you?”
“Hmmm. I would say… Crème Brulee… Very popular in Russia. St. Petersburg has a famous frozen food company. I would often get Yakov to buy me some if he was in a good mood after practice.
“He has a good mood?” Yuuri was genuinely surprised. All the media coverage and interviews, Yakov was a harsh and upright man. When Yurio had visited,  he and Viktor had talked about Yakov yelling, no matter how fondly it was recalled.
“Of course. Yakov is like a father to me. I know how to get on his good side.” Viktor smirked mischievously.
“Vitenka…”
“Mmm?”
“If I get better..”
“When.” Viktor corrected.
“When I get better… we should go to Russia.”
Viktor’s  mouth dropped open.
“I… I’m sorry for bringing it up suddenly..” Yuuri stuttered before Viktor pulled him into a bear hug.
“Oh Yuuri!” Viktor could only  put that to words, wondering if Yuuri had been anxious over the long months spent in Russia, that he was worried he missed Yakov.. it could be anything. But the guesture meant everything.
“I can show you my favorite places, and see you in my apartment..”
“You still have an apartment?” Yuuri squeaked. It had been way too long that any rented place would have been filled, even in sleepy Hasetsu.
Viktor waved his hand vaguely. “You could train with Yurio, he’s a big fan of you, and maybe he would listen better.” Yuuri flushed as Viktor rambled on.
“But first,” Viktor said firmly,  “We have the Cup of China. And you getting healthy.”
They woke up in the same bed, the choice natural and easily made when they had booked the room. Viktor gathered what little they had pulled from the suitcases while Yuuri slowly woke up at the rate of the undead. He woke up enough to insist on pulling his luggage to the lobby, and down the street to the train line that would take them directly to the airport. He fell asleep on the train ride, leaning into and drooling a little on Viktor’s shoulder, his arms looped around the backpack on his lap. He missed seeing Yuuri’s whole face—even before the chemotherapy he had taken to wearing flu masks during travel, but now it was required. Any cough or sneeze from a stranger could take down his fragile immune system and bring him back to the hospital—or worse. Viktor thanked his lucky stars that this was a norm in Asia, otherwise Yuuri’s chance at being fit enough for the competition lowered drastically.  He had pulled too many strings to give up now.
Moreover, he refused to disappoint Yuuri.
~~~
Viktor had been to event venues many times before. There was no reason for nerves to creep up his back and settle into his stomach. But something about this year felt different. His disappearance from Russia had popped up in the media after all, but he had been able to keep his stint in Hasetsu quiet. Nagano had sparked up a new frenzy, and the sheer amount of media for the Cup was making him nervous. He felt like Yuuri would be a wreck too, much like he had been before Nagano. But he merely followed Viktor like a duckling, looking tired and a little dreamy. Neither of them noticed it until it was too late- Phichit ambushed both of them, pulling Yuuri and Viktor into a group bear-hug.
“Swasdi, my favorite couple!” He cheered. “Ready to rumble?”
“Phichit, please…!” Yuuri’s tone was caught between pleading and laughter. “The whole world can hear you..”
“Literally. Everyone is here, even that crazy Canadian dude.” Phichit looked like the cat who got the mouse, swallowing back a smile. “I’ve missed you, Yuuri. Skype just isn’t the same.” Yuuri moved into the prime selfie pose with the ease that spoke of years of experience. Phichit had his phone at the ready, shuffling to get Viktor in the background.
“You should have your honeymoon in Thailand, my aunt has a condo by  the beach, and I can show you all the good places to eat.” Phichit chattered as he tapped at his phone, uploading and tagging as words spilled out of his mouth.
“Phichit!” Yuuri said sharply, and said man looked up and offered a bright smile. “I know, I know. I’m just thinking of the future! I’ll save it for dinner.”
“Did I hear dinner?” Phichit brightened, waving at the source of the sensual voice. Viktor merely looked over, watching as Yuuri freaked out at the hello butt-touch from Christophe. He stepped over, working an arm around Yuuri,  which helped him relax slightly, but he still watched the Swiss skater with wide eyes and pink cheeks.
“Yes! Let’s make it a reunion! I am feeling hot pot!” Phichit chirped. “I did some research for my vlog about some great spots for food, remember Yuuri? There’s a dog café in the next neighborhood with some cuties ready to get cuddles.”
Yuuri smiled sweetly. “Sounds great, Phichit, but we have the competition to worry about first.”
“Are you worried?” Phichit brows furrowed. “Because we can work on that.  It’s totally natural to do that, but I am here for you if you feel another pan---“
Yuuri smushed his hand against Phichit’s mouth. “Not here, please.  They’re already going to think I’m going to lose with my legs. I don’t want them to get any more ideas.”
“Psh! Let them get new ideas and get blown out of the water!” Phichit rolled his eyes. “You only have the worlds BEST figure skater as a coach!”
Viktor smiled and winked at Yuuri, glad that for once, he wasn’t the one making Yuuri embarrassed.
~~~
Viktor, in a fit of late-night anxiety in the early months of Hasetsu, had worked himself into a knot. He had spent too long thinking about Yuuri and the costume he had chosen for Eros.  The hundreds of euros he had spent on sending the boxes from Russia had been worth it. Yuuri had spent hours, sparkly-eyed and slack-jawed, recalling each award and competition and routine each costume belonged to. That wasn’t what bothered Viktor. What bothered him was the little thought that had wormed into the back of his mind—wasn’t he being selfish?  He looked forward to every time he saw Yuuri wear it, and caught himself imaging moving under the fabric, the layered straps and tight lycra. The whole Eros routine he had made Yuuri,  under the guise of pushing him out of his comfort zone, was entirely for Viktor’s own profit.  Yuuko had only seen it on accident as owner of the rink.
The anxiety that gnawed at the back of his mind had stayed there, but during the competition it reared its vicious head.
Viktor had no idea if the judges would love the Yuuri  that Viktor had pulled into this indulgent world.
He went to Japan to see  Yuuri. He choreographed Eros to see Yuuri’s body move in beautiful ways. He pulled strings and cashed in favors to have his Yuuri join him  in competition.
Staring at Yuuri now… he hated how his tunnel vision had affected what he had built up for so long.
He barely ate breakfast, even refusing the ice cream Viktor ordered from room service while Yuuri took a post-breakfast shower to wake up. He had two coffees, and took twice as long to notice when someone called his name.  He let Viktor help him into the costume,  blank and tired when Viktor’s hand brushed over his butt and  later smoothed the fabric over his biceps
“Let’s show them your beautiful face.” Viktor hummed, pulling out the jar of hair wax and dipping his fingers into it.  Yuuri let him smooth his bangs out of his face, his eyes staring at Viktor’s chest, finger running down the lanyard that held his event pass.
“Yuuri, if you aren’t feeling well…” Viktor frowned, keeping his voice low and private.
“I feel great!” Yuuri smiled, and although he knew it wasn’t true, Viktor let it tug at his heart strings. Yuuri knew how to make it hard to say no to him.
An awkward silence fell between them. “I’ve never seen this one.” Yuuri said softly, moving his touch from the lanyard to the fabric of Viktor’s outfit. It was all black, the darkest black, some of the edges bleeding into feathers.
A few months ago, Viktor had contacted the designer and asked for a new image for it. Scattered within the soul-sucking black and soft feathers, were small mirrored pieces flowing out from the center of his chest.
Viktor liked to think that it evoked Eros.
Much better than the painted despair black he had been planning the year before.
“The order is out!” Phichit interrupted the moment, already changed into rich red brocade and excitement. “Guess who is back to back! Or butt to butt!” He snickered, and the corner of Yuuri’s mouth twitched. “Viktor and Yuuri!”
“Oh.” Yuuri flushed. “Lucky, huh?” He turned and looked up at Viktor, and he melted.
He pulled Yuuri into a tight hug, squeezing the air out of him, overwhelmed by emotion. Yuuri didn’t complain, only tapping him on the shoulder when he needed air back in his lungs.
“You can do it, Yuuri.”
“You can do it, Viktor. You go first.”  Yuuri tilted his head to the side, and the sweetness was tinged bitter by the shadow it cast under his tired eyes.
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Ch 18- Scarlet
Yuuri watched as Viktor left the competitor’s room, through the kiss and cry and waited for his cue to glide onto the ice. Yakov was still his coach, but had been largely absent that morning, spending his time with Yurio instead.
“It’s pretty ballsy for him to show up after disappearing for almost  a year.”
“Word is he bribed the judges to let some nobody compete with him.”
Yuuri’s mind snapped from worrying about Viktor to the chatter that picked up once he had left the room.
“So he spent the last year coaching? What a waste of talent.”
“Are you kidding me? He should have stayed out and let someone else at the gold. His glory days are over.”
Something boiled deep inside Yuuri--- whether it was anger or nerves, he couldn’t tell any longer.    
He had spent so long feeling sick and tired that it had just become background noise. He stood up, marching to the doors that led to the kiss and cry. He slid past and under a camera man until he was at the gate where Viktor would skate up to after finishing his routine.  Yakov was sitting on the bench, holding a familiar looking furry tissue box case in his lap, his expression somber.
The performance was flawless. Viktor hit every jump and spin with a perfection only the God of Figure Skating could reach.
Viktor, caught up in the performance and the adrenaline was out of breath as he stepped onto the ice. Yakov had his ice guards, but Yuuri wobbled past him. Black feathery fluff fell from Viktor’s costume as  Yuuri grabbed a fistful of it and pulled him down into a fervent kiss.
“Yuuri! Save the Eros for the ice!” Viktor cooed, unaware of the flush that reached his cheeks, as if transferred from  Yuuri. He couldn’t say he didn’t like this side of Yuuri, however surprising it was.
“Good luck, my zvesda.” Viktor gave a quick kiss, taking his blade guards from Yakov. It was Yuuri’s turn to take to the ice.
Viktor seemed to glow as he walked with his coach to the bench on the kiss and cry. He had no idea what his score would be—he had been thinking of the next performance, Yuuri’s. He had five gold medals and years  of competitions behind him.  This year, it was about completing the dream of the drunk beauty that had poured his dreams out on a dark night in Sochi.
“Mr. Nikiforov, you’ve been seen with Special Olympics skater Yuuri Katsuki, who has joined you at the Cup of China. What is he to you? “
It was not the first time the media had asked him about his private life. Usually it had been for the magazines, or  if he was stupid enough to be seen with someone the night of the Olympics.
Somehow, this time, it was hard. He couldn’t brush it away with a bright smile and concomitant wave of his hand. They were asking about Yuuri. His Yuuri.
But what was he? They slept together, in the holy and the unholy sense. But they had never gone on a date or celebrated an anniversary. The word boyfriend never came up in conversation. They just had the pet names, and he was finally Vitenka… but what other title was there? Lover felt to shallow, like Yuuri was part of the group of one-night stands and dead end streets.  Boyfriend was too casual, but fiancée wasn’t official. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to commit to  a lifetime with Yuuri… It was the opposite. They merely lived, wordlessly, as if their time together would never end.
“Yuuri….. is..” Viktor could tell that the media was waiting for an answer. Even Yakov was getting irritated. “The love of my life.” Viktor  said, before escaping his head and smiling dreamily for the camera.
He let Yakov comment on the score,  after he did the obligatory smile about placing high enough for another guaranteed Gold. He hugged his coach, before leaving the camera behind and focusing on the ice,  and his everything that was stepping onto it.
The instant the cameras were back on the ice, Viktor ran to the kiss and cry.  He could tell Yuuri’s shoulder had a weight to them that made him wilt slightly, and he prayed that the judges did not know him as well as Viktor did. His heart beat faster as Yuuri’s arms rose, and he turned his eyes to Viktor, licking his lips,
If Yuuri didn’t take the podium, he would riot. 
Viktor watched every jump and step and breath Yuuri took on the ice.  Yuuri slid off the ice and into Viktor’s arms, immediately heavy and tired.  He smiled, out of breath to the point of wheezing. Viktor held Yuuri up and walked with him to the Kiss and Cry, secretly enjoying the cameras on them.
The same reporter was back, with the camera trained on the pair.
“Yuuri Katsuki,  you’re new to the scene. Who is all-star Viktor Nikiforov to you?”
Yuuri smiled. “The most important person in the world.” He  said it without hesitation, still breathy, sweat running down the side of his face. Viktor’s heart swelled, and he turned and kiss Yuuri back. He deserved everything he gave, returned ten-fold, after all. Yuuri laughed, embarrassed, but didn’t bat him away, only squeezing his eyes close. “Vitenkaa.” He said shyly. God, would he ever be able to return what Yuuri made him feel? He stared lovingly at Yuuri, almost forgetting that the score would be reported.  He watched Yuuri squint at the far display, hugging the makkachin tissuecase close to him. He  had seen it countless times before, but it didn’t lessen his love for it, and everything about him.
It took a few seconds for it to register.  It sounded like a good score, until the commentator went on to put the placement.
Fourth.
It placed him fourth, just behind Phichit, who had skated first.  Viktor’s dream of standing beside the love of his life on the podium was shattered by a mere two numbers.
And it angered him.
Yuuri’s polite smile disappeared when he turned his eye to Viktor. “What’s wrong?” He asked, reaching up to brush Viktor’s hair out his face without a second thought.  
“I’m sorry…” Yuuri’s voice fell at Viktor’s expression, and his gaze dropped. “It wasn’t good enough…”
“Oh Yuuri…” Viktor instantly regretting letting go of himself. “Never, never. I was.. am.. I’m angry, Yuuri. You deserved to take the podium.” He reached for Yuuri, pulling him closer into a hug. “The score is pointless.”
“Not in front of the cameras.” Yuuri whispered into Viktor’s arm. He tried to pull Viktor up, but couldn’t move freely enough to swing himself up. Viktor ended up moving them both off the bench, the next competitor already forgotten.
~~
“Viktor, you need to let it go. I’m happy.” Yuuri prodded him again, but Viktor couldn’t wipe the displeasure from his face. The rest of the skaters had not failed spectacularly, despite the evil eye and curses he had wished upon them.  Yuuri held onto fourth, but did not climb any hire like Viktor prayed for. Cristophe took Silver Phichit and Phichit bronze, and Viktor couldn’t bear to wish ill will on his and Yuuri’s best friends.
“We still get to skate together.” Yuuri had done this nonstop throughout the competition, his own anxiety bubbling up. But Viktor couldn’t brush it away. Yuuri had taken the podium before, and he should have done it that day.
“Vitenka.” Yuuri said seriously, and he couldn’t ignore that. He turned to Yuuri, and looked into his eyes, now back behind his oversized glasses. “You need to focus. We’re skating together soon.”
Shame burned at the back of his throat. Here he was, stewing like a little baby, and making Yuuri worry about him, when the day before Yuuri barely dragged himself out of bed.
“I’m sorry, my Yuuri.” He said, but the bitterness didn’t fade from him. It burned his throat, boiled in his stomach and flowed through him like blood. This was not he had spent  nights dreaming of and days pulling strings and favors and making promises. This was not the fairytale he dreamed off. It had faded, tarnishing at the edges,  the corners peeling away.
“Then stop. I don’t want to remember the day I’ve been dreaming of for years as you pouting.” Yuuri’s words stung, no matter how softly he had said them.
“I’m so--.” Yuuri pressed a cold finger to his lips.  “I know.  I’m not mad.” He said, taking Viktor’s hand in his. They had changed into their exhibition skating costumes, their palms covered in matching black gloves.  His designer had been happy to make another version of the costume for his favorite season, for some reason.  He sent pictures of Yuuri, and his measurements, and the blue and purple set came back four months later. Perfect.
“Let’s go.” Yuuri said, hearing the cue that Viktor missed, his mind slipping back into the emotion that still had a twisted grip around his stomach. The staff knew of their plan, but the audience had no idea who would be joining Viktor on the ice. He met his cue on time, even though   it had only been practiced for  a week and a half. He spun slowly, arcing his arm toward the spot he knew Yuuri would sweep toward him.  Violet light flooded over them and turned the ice into some otherworldly place. Yuuri was perfect, his glasses gone, his eyes were trained on Viktor’s, warm and full of love and determination. Fuck the scores, fuck the federation, this was all that mattered anymore. He could only hear the blades carve the ice and his heart beat, as they turned together, his hands meeting Yuuri’s body as they started into the first lift.
Viktor’s eyes met with one of the judges, and they didn’t leave, the anger and bitterness he hadn’t been able to fully push back bubbling up to the service. He turned again, keeping his eyes on the judge, before moving to the next step.
His arm missed the air and hit something hard. He swung around on his skates, his heart somewhere between his toes. “Yuuri!” Any bitterness crystallized into regret. Yuuri blinked away the tears  that sprung to his eyes as blood dribbled down his nose. He smiled at him and laughed even as the tears spilled over his cheeks from the pain.   He swept his hand across Viktor’s face, cupping it tenderly, and moved into the spot where he knew they had the tandem step sequence.
He wanted to quit. Stop the show, turn off the lights and the music and cradle Yuuri until he breathed the apologies Viktor had for him. Apologies for pouting so long, for pouting on the ice, and letting his old self get in the way and distract him. Letting his old self hurt Yuuri.
The violet light turned the blood spattered on the ice into a macabre black, and Yuuri’s step sequence drew it out into spider-like lines. Yuuri pulled him through, until they finally struck the finishing pose,  Yuuri’s heart pounding enough for Viktor to feel it through his back.
“Yuuri!” He didn’t hold the pose long enough for the normal lights to return, spinning him around and catching him. Yuuri squeezed his eyes shut, dizzy, his mouth and chin covered in scarlet. The crystals glued onto his costume lost their luster under the blood that dribbled onto the front of his shirt.
It was too much.
“Oh Yuuri, I’m so sorry, I should have never..”
“Viktor, please.”
Viktor’s throat nearly closed. “Please what?”
“I’m going to ruin yours too.” He wiped off a droplet of blood just above Viktor’s own chest. “I need a tissue.”  He leaned far enough, that Viktor gave in, and went with Yuuri to the kiss and cry. Phichit was there already, with a tissue box and a handful of tissues. Yakov and his not-wife-not-ex showed up with a box of baby wipes and a mouthful of scolding as they scrubbed at their costumes. It irritated Viktor, but Yuuri merely took it, scrunching his nose and eyes shut as they scrubbed the dried blood from his cheeks. Phichit sat on the edge of the bench, his hand on the back of Yuuri’s neck, helping him lean over and forward into a second wad of tissues.
Viktor felt like throwing up.
He stayed by Yuuri’s side, until Yakov pulled him up for the medaling ceremony. The flowers didn’t seem as vibrant as the ones growing back in the Katsuki’s garden. The medal felt heavier than the many that had rested on his chest before.
It was the first time, even he, Viktor Nikiforov, the King of Faking it, could not muster a smile for the crowd.
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Text
Deep Within My Bones Ch 17- Ice
“How many stores did you go to?”  Yuuri’s voice was soft and hoarse as he sat up from his nap on the hotel bed. Viktor had decided to avoid the extra family strife and get a hotel near the airport, rather than call in a favor from the Katsuki Yuutopia van.
“Two, I didn’t think there were many flavors, and I wasn’t sure what you would like.”
“Viktor,” Yuuri laughed. “You could have asked me! There’s too much ice cream.”
“But that’s all you have been able to eat, and I wanted you to rest.” Viktor said firmly, standing behind his decision and the twenty-something types of ice cream in the plastic bag in front of him.
“I’m not picky. You could have chosen your favorite and I would eat it too.” Yuuri pulled out one of the (thankfully tiny) Hagen-Dazs container. “Do you like green tea?” He quirked his head to the side.
“From what I have had, I suppose so. Why?” Viktor shuffled through the bag.
“there’s five kinds of matcha in here. Green tea, green tea and.. mochi, green tea truffle, green tea and  adzuki bean…”
“Oh, I just looked at the pictures. Except this one. I read that one.” Viktor proudly pulled out and plopped a strawberry cheesecake flavor into his hand.
“Hagen Dazs has english on the other side.”  Yuuri said quietly, before lovingly patting the side of Viktor’s face. “Good job , katakana is really difficult.”
The two sorted through the ice cream together, pushing the tomato and carrot flavors to the side. Viktor started with one of the  versions of strawberry flavors, while Yuuri started off with a mint chocolate chip.
“What is that? It’s green?” Viktor peered over at Yuuri’s first choice after snuggling next to him on the bed.
“Mint chocolate chip. I used to get it a lot when  I trained in Detriot.”
“Ah. Very American.” Viktor didn’t know what else to say. Detroit didn’t come up much in conversation.
“It was Phichit’s favorite too, and there was a Baskin Robbins near campus. We went there first since I recognized it from Japan.” For the first time in days, he had a subconscious smile across his face from the nostalgia.
“So it’s good memories for you,right?”  Yuuri nodded in response. “It is. Like my mom and Calpis soda. What ice cream is nostalgic for you?”
“Hmmm. I would say… Crème Brulee… Very popular in Russia. St. Petersburg has a famous frozen food company. I would often get Yakov to buy me some if he was in a good mood after practice.
“He has a good mood?” Yuuri was genuinely surprised. All the media coverage and interviews, Yakov was a harsh and upright man. When Yurio had visited,  he and Viktor had talked about Yakov yelling, no matter how fondly it was recalled.
“Of course. Yakov is like a father to me. I know how to get on his good side.” Viktor smirked mischievously.
“Vitenka…”
“Mmm?”
“If I get better..”
“When.” Viktor corrected.
“When I get better… we should go to Russia.”
Viktor’s  mouth dropped open.
“I… I’m sorry for bringing it up suddenly..” Yuuri stuttered before Viktor pulled him into a bear hug.
“Oh Yuuri!” Viktor could only  put that to words, wondering if Yuuri had been anxious over the long months spent in Russia, that he was worried he missed Yakov.. it could be anything. But the guesture meant everything.
“I can show you my favorite places, and see you in my apartment..”
“You still have an apartment?” Yuuri squeaked. It had been way too long that any rented place would have been filled, even in sleepy Hasetsu.
Viktor waved his hand vaguely. “You could train with Yurio, he’s a big fan of you, and maybe he would listen better.” Yuuri flushed as Viktor rambled on.
“But first,” Viktor said firmly,  “We have the Cup of China. And you getting healthy.”
They woke up in the same bed, the choice natural and easily made when they had booked the room. Viktor gathered what little they had pulled from the suitcases while Yuuri slowly woke up at the rate of the undead. He woke up enough to insist on pulling his luggage to the lobby, and down the street to the train line that would take them directly to the airport. He fell asleep on the train ride, leaning into and drooling a little on Viktor’s shoulder, his arms looped around the backpack on his lap. He missed seeing Yuuri’s whole face—even before the chemotherapy he had taken to wearing flu masks during travel, but now it was required. Any cough or sneeze from a stranger could take down his fragile immune system and bring him back to the hospital—or worse. Viktor thanked his lucky stars that this was a norm in Asia, otherwise Yuuri’s chance at being fit enough for the competition lowered drastically.  He had pulled too many strings to give up now.
Moreover, he refused to disappoint Yuuri.
~~~
Viktor had been to event venues many times before. There was no reason for nerves to creep up his back and settle into his stomach. But something about this year felt different. His disappearance from Russia had popped up in the media after all, but he had been able to keep his stint in Hasetsu quiet. Nagano had sparked up a new frenzy, and the sheer amount of media for the Cup was making him nervous. He felt like Yuuri would be a wreck too, much like he had been before Nagano. But he merely followed Viktor like a duckling, looking tired and a little dreamy. Neither of them noticed it until it was too late- Phichit ambushed both of them, pulling Yuuri and Viktor into a group bear-hug.
“Swasdi, my favorite couple!” He cheered. “Ready to rumble?”
“Phichit, please…!” Yuuri’s tone was caught between pleading and laughter. “The whole world can hear you..”
“Literally. Everyone is here, even that crazy Canadian dude.” Phichit looked like the cat who got the mouse, swallowing back a smile. “I’ve missed you, Yuuri. Skype just isn’t the same.” Yuuri moved into the prime selfie pose with the ease that spoke of years of experience. Phichit had his phone at the ready, shuffling to get Viktor in the background.
“You should have your honeymoon in Thailand, my aunt has a condo by  the beach, and I can show you all the good places to eat.” Phichit chattered as he tapped at his phone, uploading and tagging as words spilled out of his mouth.
“Phichit!” Yuuri said sharply, and said man looked up and offered a bright smile. “I know, I know. I’m just thinking of the future! I’ll save it for dinner.”
“Did I hear dinner?” Phichit brightened, waving at the source of the sensual voice. Viktor merely looked over, watching as Yuuri freaked out at the hello butt-touch from Christophe. He stepped over, working an arm around Yuuri,  which helped him relax slightly, but he still watched the Swiss skater with wide eyes and pink cheeks.
“Yes! Let’s make it a reunion! I am feeling hot pot!” Phichit chirped. “I did some research for my vlog about some great spots for food, remember Yuuri? There’s a dog café in the next neighborhood with some cuties ready to get cuddles.”
Yuuri smiled sweetly. “Sounds great, Phichit, but we have the competition to worry about first.”
“Are you worried?” Phichit brows furrowed. “Because we can work on that.  It’s totally natural to do that, but I am here for you if you feel another pan---“
Yuuri smushed his hand against Phichit’s mouth. “Not here, please.  They’re already going to think I’m going to lose with my legs. I don’t want them to get any more ideas.”
“Psh! Let them get new ideas and get blown out of the water!” Phichit rolled his eyes. “You only have the worlds BEST figure skater as a coach!”
Viktor smiled and winked at Yuuri, glad that for once, he wasn’t the one making Yuuri embarrassed.
~~~
Viktor, in a fit of late-night anxiety in the early months of Hasetsu, had worked himself into a knot. He had spent too long thinking about Yuuri and the costume he had chosen for Eros.  The hundreds of euros he had spent on sending the boxes from Russia had been worth it. Yuuri had spent hours, sparkly-eyed and slack-jawed, recalling each award and competition and routine each costume belonged to. That wasn’t what bothered Viktor. What bothered him was the little thought that had wormed into the back of his mind—wasn’t he being selfish?  He looked forward to every time he saw Yuuri wear it, and caught himself imaging moving under the fabric, the layered straps and tight lycra. The whole Eros routine he had made Yuuri,  under the guise of pushing him out of his comfort zone, was entirely for Viktor’s own profit.  Yuuko had only seen it on accident as owner of the rink.
The anxiety that gnawed at the back of his mind had stayed there, but during the competition it reared its vicious head.
Viktor had no idea if the judges would love the Yuuri  that Viktor had pulled into this indulgent world.
He went to Japan to see  Yuuri. He choreographed Eros to see Yuuri’s body move in beautiful ways. He pulled strings and cashed in favors to have his Yuuri join him  in competition.
Staring at Yuuri now… he hated how his tunnel vision had affected what he had built up for so long.
He barely ate breakfast, even refusing the ice cream Viktor ordered from room service while Yuuri took a post-breakfast shower to wake up. He had two coffees, and took twice as long to notice when someone called his name.  He let Viktor help him into the costume,  blank and tired when Viktor’s hand brushed over his butt and  later smoothed the fabric over his biceps
“Let’s show them your beautiful face.” Viktor hummed, pulling out the jar of hair wax and dipping his fingers into it.  Yuuri let him smooth his bangs out of his face, his eyes staring at Viktor’s chest, finger running down the lanyard that held his event pass.
“Yuuri, if you aren’t feeling well…” Viktor frowned, keeping his voice low and private.
“I feel great!” Yuuri smiled, and although he knew it wasn’t true, Viktor let it tug at his heart strings. Yuuri knew how to make it hard to say no to him.
An awkward silence fell between them. “I’ve never seen this one.” Yuuri said softly, moving his touch from the lanyard to the fabric of Viktor’s outfit. It was all black, the darkest black, some of the edges bleeding into feathers.
A few months ago, Viktor had contacted the designer and asked for a new image for it. Scattered within the soul-sucking black and soft feathers, were small mirrored pieces flowing out from the center of his chest.
Viktor liked to think that it evoked Eros.
Much better than the painted despair black he had been planning the year before.
“The order is out!” Phichit interrupted the moment, already changed into rich red brocade and excitement. “Guess who is back to back! Or butt to butt!” He snickered, and the corner of Yuuri’s mouth twitched. “Viktor and Yuuri!”
“Oh.” Yuuri flushed. “Lucky, huh?” He turned and looked up at Viktor, and he melted.
He pulled Yuuri into a tight hug, squeezing the air out of him, overwhelmed by emotion. Yuuri didn’t complain, only tapping him on the shoulder when he needed air back in his lungs.
“You can do it, Yuuri.”
“You can do it, Viktor. You go first.”  Yuuri tilted his head to the side, and the sweetness was tinged bitter by the shadow it cast under his tired eyes.
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