Made this one a really long time ago, I'm not sure the old link to it still works, so reposting. DoomReed ship, comics specifically, "Love & War" by Flerie as the song.
Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz 1997 FD “Riverdance”
music: riverdance by bill whelan. choreography: colin dunne.
“This is going to be an energetic program. Celtic dancing is all about endurance... as you can see, that sort of origin of music is playing very well here on the east coast of Canada.”
“I’m thinking of retiring after next season. Officially.”
The words are said quietly, carefully, Victor’s voice barely audible in the space between them, and Yuuri feels like a rock lodges itself in his throat. “What?” he asks, and wishes they weren’t lying in bed in the dark, wishes he could see Victor’s face, wishes- He swallows down the urge to just grab Victor and shake him.
Victor sighs, something that sounds weary, and more tired than Yuuri’s ever heard coming from him. “I’m turning thirty in December. I just think it’s about time for it. My knees and ankles will thank me for it. They’re already protesting enough as is now.”
And okay, Yuuri gets it. He does, because he, himself, is twenty-five, going on twenty-six, and he can barely keep up with the young generation coming up from behind at full speed. Hell, he’s been on the verge of retiring once, too.
But it feels strange, feels absolutely heartbreaking, to hear Victor talk about it like this.
Still, Yuuri cannot begrudge him this, not after the career Victor has had, not after getting to skate side by side with him on equal footing like he’s dreamed of doing since childhood. “Then, we better make sure your last season is one to be remembered,” he says, trying to bite back tears that he knows Victor can tell are falling.
Victor smiles (Yuuri can’t really see it, but he knows), and pulls Yuuri closer, buries his nose into Yuuri’s hair. “Yeah.”