Chapter Text
This was it. His career was over. Damn it all. Everything he had longed for, down the drain. His biggest wish, to skate on the same ice as his childhood idol, over in the blink of an eye. All his life. he had struggled with the fact that he was extremely shy, anxious and never managed to clear his head when he was skating. He was scrolling through the news, something he never really should do. His coach always scolded him for it. Was this really his last season? Had he tried his best? He decided to think about this at a later time and headed for the toilets.
Safes inside a stall, he dialed the number he knew so well. Home. The place he had not seen in 5 years since he left for Detroit. He couldn't keep his tears back. The reality of everything came crashing down like the heavy rain during a thunderstorm. He hung up, barely managing to keep himself upright, as some hoodlum kicked on the stall door. "Sorry" he said from the inside, opening up the door, thinking it was someone who needed the toilet. But in stead, he was facing the junior Grand Prix gold medalist, Yuri Plisetsky, the Russian punk was looking at him like a piece of trash. " Hey, you. I' competing in the senior division next year- We don't need two Yuri's in the same bracket. Incompetents like you should just retire already. Moron!" With those words, Yuri Plisetsky turned his heel, and left Yuuri Katsuki alone to his thoughts.
Airport, ready to leave for Detroit, Yuuri hears someone call his name, so he turns. Just to see Victor Nikiforov there. Of course. Victor was not calling out to him. But Plisetsky. Even now, he felt like an idiot to even think that Victor would notice him. He was a nobody. But to his surprise, Victor came over to him, waving. "Yo!" Yuuri could to little else than to just stare. His lifelong idol was talking to him. Him! The biggest failure in history. "I'm glad i finally got to meet you, Yuuri". Yuuri blushed and hid his fave inside the scarf, but took Victor's outstretched hand. He mumbled a "Likewise", and withdrew his hand like it was on fire. Victor smiled at him, and Yuuri could have sworn that the ground was shaking. "Victor!" Someone, Most likely his coach yelled at him. "Ah, Yakov is calling, so i have to go. But I'll see you around?" Did he hear right? Victor wanted to meet him again? Afraid of his mouth betraying him, he just nodded. As Victor was leaving, he stopped dead in his tracks. "Oh! I nearly forgot." He turned around, grabbed Yuuri's shoulder and dragged him into a half embrace. "Say cheese!" Victor took a picture of them both, then he grabbed Yuuri's phone and saved his contact info. "If we are to stay in touch, you'll need my number". he said with a bigger smile than Yuuri had seen him wearing. "Don't worry, I have yours already". he said and tossed Yuuri his phone. "I sent a text to myself". He winked and ran of.
It was late, Yuuri was tired, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't sleep. All he could think of was the heat of Victor's body at the airport. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't see Phichit peering at him at a very close distance. "Penny for your thoughts". With a very manly squeal, Yuuri threw himself away from the sound, only to bump his head in the wall. "Phichit! What the hell? You almost gave me a heart attack!" The perpetrator just snickered. Yuuri stroked the newly made bump on his head. "You were the one who was gone... Somewhere. I want to know where". Yuuri looked at his friend and wondered how much he should tell him, and in that instant, his phone rang, and who other than Victor could it be. Phichit saw the caller id and his eyes went wide. "No way!" "Yes way", Yuri said. "First phone, explain later", Phichit said and left the room so Yuuri could have a little privacy.
"H..hello?" Yuuri answered meekly. "Yuuri! I hope i didn't call at a bad time?" Yuuri found himself smiling. "You didn't. You just saved me a little time, that's all". He could almost hear Victor grinning at he other end. "Yuuri, how much do you remember from the banquet?" Oh no. He had done something. He was sure of it. He was so nervous that he had downed an unimaginable number of champagne flutes, and he had no recollection of his actions. At all. Celestino had looked at him with badly hidden amusement the next morning, but he wasn't told why. "Uhm...I...You see... I mean". " So, nothing?" He was blushing up til his ear. "That...That is a correct assumption", he finally answered. Victor laughed. It was a heavenly sound, and Yuuri could listen to it forever. "How about I enlighten you then? I have sent you an email containing a video file". Yuuri took up his computer and started the video. He dropped his phone and hid his face in his hands. He had really screwed up. A dance battle. Not just one, but several. Wit Chris, Yuri Plisetsky. And of course, Victor himself. Faintly, he could hear the sound of Victor's voice. The phone. He had dropped the phone. "I'm here!" Another laugh. "You really are a different person when you drink". " Please tell me that it hasn't gone viral! I don't think I can take anymore." "Don't worry. The public will never know. But you know", Victor took a brief pause. " There was something else too. You asked me something, and I have a hard time finding an excuse to reject it". Yuuri's pulse sky rocketed. "Whatever it was, I am sure it was some drunkards foolish babbling!" "Really? So you asking me to coach you was just in the heat of the moment?" Yuuri took a moment to take in the information. "I did what?! Oh my god, I am so sorry. It must have been really creepy!" "When do you go back to Japan?" " In 3 months, why?" "You'll see. Talk to you later Yuuri. Can't wait to see you again", then he hung up.
"Yuuri? Are you done on the..." Phichit stopped mid sentence, eyes glued to the computer screen. There was his best friend, hanging from a stripping pole, half naked with the hottest man he had ever laid his eyes upon. Well, he knew who he was, he did after all follow him on Instagram, and he had met him on competitions before, but it was like he had seen him for the first time. "Phi!" Yuuri was about to close his laptop but Phichit stopped him. "Wait! Isn't that Chris?" Yuuri looked at the screen and sighed. "Yes. It is". Phichit put a finger on the screen. "Has he been this... hot all this time? Why haven't I noticed?" The last came as a whisper. One of Yuuri's eyebrows rose almost into his bangs. "Chris?" He looked at the screen again. He was indeed really good looking. "I guess. He's not my type, but he certainly is.. In your words, hot. Why?" There was a faint blush to Phichit's cheeks. "I..I think...There is something wrong with me. Why haven't I noticed before? The perfect guy has been in front of me this entire time!" Yuuri tilted his head a bit. "Maybe because we always dismiss him since he flirts with everyone? Because he's a friend?" Yuuri tried, to which Phichit snorted. "And how did we end up together then?" Yuuri didn't have an answer for that. He just smiled. "I'm going to up my game I think. I'll head to the rink!" Phichit left in a hurry, and all Yuuri could do was shake his head.