Chapter Text
March 2016
_______________
Victor found himself in the southern seaside Japanese town of Hasetsu purely by impulse. He had auditioned for a traveling ballet troupe on a whim a couple years prior desperate for change and on the verge of retirement. The change in scenery every weekend had been just what he needed but after their closing show in Tokyo, Victor dreaded returning home to his lonely and desolate flat. So instead he hopped on a train and rode it until the end of the line. Once he made it to the quiet town he asked the first local where the nearest inn was located. That was how he found himself at Yutopia Katuski, a small family-run hot springs inn. It was exactly what Victor had needed.
The woman running the inn welcomed him in with a hearty meal and all but pushed him into the springs. He had sunk down into the heat of the bath, alone at his late arrival, and felt all the stress he’d brought with him melt away.
He took a couple days to fully decompress in his small room before the itch to dance returned and he asked the woman if there happened to be a local ballet studio. She beamed as she nodded and gave him the address for a woman named Minako Okukawa. Victor thanked her with a bend of his waist and quickly followed his google maps to the location. Minako was not an unfamiliar name nor face. She wasn’t famous but she was talented enough that Victor had heard of her and even seen a few of her shows when he was much younger. She was retired now and returned from the buzzing city of Tokyo to her quiet hometown.
She welcomed Victor with a polite smile and a vow of recognition, promising him a place to dance whenever he would need it. Victor thanked her as she closed the door to the smaller studio down the back hallway. Alone with the barre, Victor let instinct take over, losing himself in the music playing from his phone speakers. He hadn’t realized so much time had passed until he finally came to a rest to see dusk had fallen outside the small windows at the top of the far wall. Feeling satisfied and achey, Victor packed up his things and made for the exit. As he stepped out into the darkened hall, he realized he wasn’t alone. A few doors down, one light remained on in a studio. As Victor walked by he expected to see Minako running through choreography for her classes or perhaps a janitor cleaning. What he saw instead made him freeze in his tracks, mesmerized.
In the studio a boy who couldn;t have been much younger than Victor was moving across the floor. There was no music, only the sound of his body weight as he landed gracefully out of a Tour Jete but Victor swore he could hear the all too familiar strings of Desiderare Te, his less received solo performance that was more a prelude to his leading role in Stammi Vicino than anything substantial.
Still the other man danced to it as if he meant to answer Victor’s call.
His performance wasn’t free of critiques. His technique could use some sharpening, and though graceful, his above average weight kept him from gaining the air encouraged by professional stages. Still, none of that mattered because his body sang the very song it was meaning to accompany, something not many others could recreate.
The man landed in a grand plie before coming up into the final pose. He held it for only a second before bending over to his knees to catch his breath. Victor’s hands were moving before he even realized and he was clapping. The noise startled the man as his head shot up and he met Victor’s eyes in the mirror. Fear turned to panic and he whipped around as if he wasn’t believing his eyes.
“V-Victor!? What are you doing here??”
Victor pushed the door open and stepped into the studio, “Same as you. To dance. You were magnificent.”
“Me,” The man laughed, “No. I’m just a dime a dozen dancer. I mean I’m hardly in performing shape.”
Victor flailed his hand, shooing off his negative talk, “I have seen a lot of dancers in my day and none of them can move the way you do. It is as if you are making the music with your body, and that routine… I’ve never seen anyone recreate it, much less the way you do.”
The man’s face flashed bright red and he turned away, “I don’t know…”
“You have obviously seen me dance. Are you questioning my understanding of the art?”
“What!? No, of course not, I just-”
“I’m kidding,” Victor smiled. He stretched out his hand, “I’m Victor Nikiforov.”
“I know,” The man said quietly before retracing himself, “I mean, Katsuki Yuuri,” He bowed lightly. “I am a fan of your routines. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine. Do you happen to be related to the Katsuki’s from Yutopia?”
“Uh… yes. My parents run the inn.”
“Oh! What a surprise. I am staying there while I’m in Hasetsu. I don’t recall seeing you.”
“I just returned home today. I came to dance to clear my head.”
“A great way to do that if I must say. Where are you returning from?”
“America. I just graduated college there.”
“Ooh, I didn’t go to college, that sounds impressive.”
“I don’t know…”
Minako appeared in the doorway behind Victor, making her presence known with a few short knocks.
“I’m closing up. Are you leaving or do you have your keys.”
“I was just finishing up,” Yuuri replied.
“Me too. Perhaps we could walk together, Yuuri?”
Yuuri’s face turned bright red but he responded with a polite nod.
“Alright, well. Lock up behind you. Have a good night you two,” Minako waved before stepping back into the hall.
Victor turned to face Yuuri again, “Well. Shall we?”
Yuuri politely nodded before packing up his things and following Victor out of the studio.
The walk back to the Inn was short and quiet before Victor spoke up.
“Do you dance professionally?”
“Me,” Yuuri asked incredulously. “No way. I’m not- I can’t…” Yuuri sighed before trying again. “I tried. In America, that is. I had a really good instructor and took classes but… I had an audition and I choked, twice. My chances at a career are over.”
“That’s not true, you can always try again!”
Yuuri shook his head and Victor didn’t press. When they reached the inn Yuuri bid Victor goodnight and disappeared down the hall to the family’s quarters.
_______
Victor only saw Yuuri in fleeting moments after that day and it was… frustrating. He thought they had bonded in the studio but now he was starting to think otherwise. It wouldn’t have been a problem if Yuuri hadn’t been the single most beautiful and authentic man Victor had ever met. He desperately wanted to get to know him more but was short on chances to do so. Anytime he ran into Yuuri in the Inn their conversations were short, Yuuri always had somewhere else to be, and anytime Victor visited the studio, Yuuri was conveniently gone. It felt vaguely like he was being avoided and Victor racked his brain for anything he might have said to scare the younger man off.
Still, Victor would remain patient. It would do him no good to pressure Yuuri into spending time with him. He would have to give it time.
And if there is anything Victor is good at, it is definitely being patient….
_______________
Late April May 2016
_______________
His first opportunity presented itself in late April. Hasetsu was hosting an festival and the Katsuki’s Inn was setting up in preparation. No matter how hard he tried, Hiroko would not allow Victor to help in set up, instead she sent him off to Kyushu to get a Yukata when he asked about traditions in the town.
When he returned, festivities were underway. Victor was shooed off to his room to get changed but he struggled greatly. He wandered into the hall in his half tied robes and ran straight into Yuuri.
“Oh, Victor! Sorry, I…” Yuuri’s voice trailed off as he took in Victor’s attire. Victor could tell he was stifling a giggle as he shyly asked, “Do you need help?”
Victor shoved his ego down and met Yuuri’s eyes, “Please.”
Yuuri nodded, “Let me finish preparing the rooms real quick and I will be right in.”
Victor nodded and returned to his room, stripping off the layers of his Yukata as he waited. He was standing in just his boxers when Yuuri knocked.
“Come in!”
Victor watched as Yuuri paused in the doorway at the state of his undress, blushing and bowing in apology, “Sorry. I- I’ll just-”
“Yuuri, it’s fine. I told you to come in. Please help.”
“Yes, of course.”
Victor watched in silence as Yuuri sorted through his garments and handed him things to put on. When it came time to tie the Obi, Yuuri stepped up and reached around Victor to attach it in the back while keeping it held to the front. Victor could tell he was trying to maintain a socially appropriate distance but he could still smell Yuuri’s shampoo wafting off of him and it was making him dizzy.
Once it was properly attached he had Victor turn to face the mirror and tied it in the back.
“There,” Yuuri smiled at him in the mirror and he stepped to the side to examine his work.
“Looks good.”
“Thank you, Yuuri,” Victor beamed and hugged his shoulders.
“Oh. You’re welcome, Victor,” He replied lightly, hugging back. “Festivities should start soon. I’m going to go see if Okaasan needs help.”
Victor nodded and Yuuri was gone. He let out the breath he had been holding and turned to look at himself again. He had let the shop owner pick out the Yukata he rented and they had chosen a royal purple and gold that made his eyes stand out. Victor took a deep breath and prepared himself for a night of traditions and pining.
—
He only wandered the streets for about an hour before growing bored on his own. When he made his way back to the Inn the dinner rush was over and a few patrons remained drinking and watching TV. Yuuri was there in the back with Minako and his friend Victor had met only once, Yuko. They were all chatting over a bottle or 3 of sake.
Minako caught Victor’s eye first.
‘Victor! Over here,” She called and Victor made his way to the table and took a seat at the empty side. “We were just talking about you.”
“Oh really,” He said, eyes darting to Yuuri.
“Good things of course. Your presence here in Hasetsu has brought attention to my studio, you know.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” He replied as Hiroko set an ochoko in front of him for sake. He thanked her and tuned back into the conversation. They seemed to have moved on from Victor and were talking about things Yuuri missed while he was abroad. Yuuri’s cheeks were flushed from the alcohol as he poured some more before motioning for Victor’s cup as well. Victor let him fill it and sipped from it as they talked. They would occasionally rope Victor in but he enjoyed just listening and learning more things about Yuuri, Hasetsu and the family that was offering him hospitality. Eventually Yuko had to go, leaving just Minako, Yuuri and Victor until Minako left as well.
At that point Yuuri had drunk an indeterminable amount of sake and insisted he and Victor return to the streets to find a place to dance. Victor, veins alight with alcohol as well, let himself be pulled along.
Yuuri, as he proved, was a well rounded dancer, skilled in more than just ballet. He danced through style after style, sometimes pulling Victor along with him and when Victor commented on his versatile skill, Yuuri leaned in and whispered, “I can pole dance too,” before leaning back and giggling.
If Victor wasn’t pining already, he was now.
As the festivities died down, Victor led Yuuri back to the Inn. Hiroko held the door as Victor all but carried Yuuri to his bedroom. He sat him on the bed and disappeared down the hall to get some water. When he returned, Yuuri had moved to his back and stared up at Victor in wonder.
“You’re really here.”
“I am,” Victor smiled.
“Wow…” Yuuri said before bursting into giggles.
“What,” Victor asked, thoroughly lost.
“Nothing, just a little joke I had with Phichit.”
“Phichit?”
“My roommate in Detroit. One night he dared me if I ever met you, that I had to ask you to kiss me. Just once. Or I owed him 100 bucks.”
“Oh?”
“I agreed thinking that would never happen and yet, here you are,” Yuuri laughed again. The alcohol in his system was wearing off but he was very clearly still drunk.
“Here I am.”
“I guess I owe him a hundred bucks,” Yuuri sighed and closed his eyes.
“Or you could ask,” Victor replied quietly.
“What,” Yuuri responded, peeking one eye open to look at Victor.
“You could ask. That’s all the dare was right? I’m standing right here.”
Yuuri opened both eyes to stare up at Victor, that look of wonder returning, “You make a good point,” He giggled again before sitting up. “Victor Nikiforov,” he said, laughter gone now.
“Yes, Yuuri Katsuki?”
“Would you kiss me, just once?”
“Would you like that?”
Yuuri looked away but nodded his head.
“Then yes,” Victor leaned over and turned Yuuri’s head to face him, cupping his cheek. He leaned closer and Yuuri closed his eyes. Victor pressed his lips to the top of Yuuri’s head. “When you are sober, come find me and I will give you a proper kiss, okay?”
Yuuri opened his eyes and met Victor’s with a smile, “Okay.”
“Okay,” Victor replied, smiling back. He grabbed the water off of Yuuri’s desk and set it on his bed side table. “Be sure to drink some of that, you’re gonna have a nasty hangover… Goodnight, Yuuri.”
“Goodnight, Victor.”
Victor returned to his room and stared at the ceiling for hours. He knew he did the right thing waiting for Yuuri to ask him sober but he still wished he could have kissed him properly. Yuuri Katsuki was an enigma, giving Victor constant whiplash but it was exciting. Victor was used to people falling at his feet, chasing after his money and fame but not Yuuri.
Yuuri was different.
_______
Things with Yuuri didn’t change after the festival and Victor was… heartbroken.
Yuuri hardly met his eyes and still it was only Victor that initiated conversations. He hadn’t expected things to magically change overnight but he had expected some progress at least.
Did Yuuri regret what he’d said to him?
Victor didn’t really know what to do. Talking to Yuuri felt like the obvious move but if Yuuri regretted it, what good would it do to bring it up again. Wouldn’t it be better to just pretend it didn’t happen. Victor had insinuated he only wanted to kiss Yuuri if sober Yuuri wanted it too, so obviously his alcohol-addled brain made the right call. The kiss was only a dare and Victor saved his own heart by maintaining his head.
In just a few days, Victor’s relaxing vacation turned sour and he just felt miserable all over again. He tried not to let that familiar feeling spiral but old habits died hard. He felt absolutely pathetic. All this over a man he hardly knew.
But he knew it was more than that, this heartbreak was deeper than just Yuuri. It was the result of a loveless life in the spotlight, chasing a career that could never love him back. It wasn’t only romantic love he was lacking either, he had no friends or family either. He was truly alone.
Well, besides Makkachin, who he had abandoned the first chance he got.
Victor hadn’t spiraled like this in years. He’d preferred to shove it all down and pour it out into his performances but he didn’t have those anymore and he couldn’t even drag himself to the studio. He felt hopeless before Yuuri and this rejection just shattered his already weakened heart.
Yuuri really was different. At least all the men of Victor’s past wanted some semblance of him. It felt like Yuuri wanted nothing.
_______
Victor only let himself mope a few more days before he forced himself back to the studio. It wasn’t an easy feat to drag himself out but he knew once he did he would feel better. It didn’t really matter that it was nearly midnight when he got to the studio, Minako had given him free access a long time ago.
All the lights were off as he made his way to the back studio. He set his bag down by the mirror and moved to the middle of the room. Like Yuuri that first day they met, Victor didn’t play any music, instead he just let his body move how it called. The space filled with only the faint sound of the light humming overhead and the weight of his feet hitting the floor. He danced and spun and leaped until his body felt like it would give out underneath him and then pushed on. He was so focused on releasing his feelings that he didn’t notice the other person enter the room until he hit a final pose, arms outstretched as if he was reaching for something or someone. He opened his eyes and met Yuuri staring back at him in the mirror’s reflection. The younger man stood just inside the door, hand pressed to his chest.
“Victor,” he whispered. His eyes shone with adoration and another unnamed emotion.
Victor was frozen in place as if any sudden movement would scare Yuuri away.
Suddenly, as if coming back to himself, Yuuri's face flushed a violent red, “Sorry! I didn’t mean to intrude, I just came to dance and saw the light on and I’m a huge fan of yours and you looked so… sad,” Yuuri trailed off and looked away. Victor didn’t know how to respond to that so he went for what came easiest, offering Yuuri comfort.
“It’s quite alright. I am used to being watched when I dance. What did you think?”
“Me..?”
“Yes, you,” Victor smiled faintly. “I was just kind of letting my body take over,” Victor shrugged.
“I think it’s the most authentic you’ve looked while dancing in years..” Yuuri caught himself and backtracked, “Wait I didn’t mean-”
“It’s okay. You’re probably right. That’s why I am here afterall,” Victor made his way to his bag to fetch a water bottle.
Yuuri took a step farther into the room, “Why did you take a break…?”
Victor let out a breath and moved back to the center of the floor to sit, motioning for Yuuri to join him. He did, but sat a couple feet away, tucking his knees under his chin and watching Victor intently.
“I guess I was tired. Tired of pretending. Tired of people always wanting someone I wasn’t. It was so exhausting, I just needed out,” Victor answered honestly.
“Oh.”
“I’m sure I’ll return to it one day. I don’t have much choice, it’s all I am, really.” Victor said it with such acceptance, because deep down he truly did believe that. He’d never been without dance for long, he didn’t know who he was without it.
Still….
“That’s not true!” Victor looked up to Yuuri who looked… frustrated. “You’re more than just a dancer, you’re Victor.”
“I’m not sure there is much of a difference,” Victor laughed.
Yuuri didn’t.
“There is. I’ve seen it. Before you came here I thought you were some elegant playboy. Nice to his fans, but out of politeness. I thought you were a socialite incapable of slowing down even for a second. I thought your smile never left your face unless you were playing a role in a show. But now… now I see all of that was the role. All this time…”
“What do you mean,” Victor asked, hoping Yuuri wouldn’t shut down on him now.
“Well, I…”
“Please,” Victor asked and Yuuri nodded, steeling himself.
“I see now that you are passionate. You enjoy time to yourself to just relax but genuinely love being around all kinds of people. You genuinely care about them, not just in a polite way. You’re playful and silly but know when to be serious and …” Yuuri hesitated before saying in a quieter voice, “You’re so sad.”
Victor felt himself lose his breath and Yuuri looked up frantically, “Victor, I’m sorry, I-”
Victor shook his head, fighting back the tears that stung his eyes. He didn’t think he had genuinely cried in front of anyone since his father died. He didn’t really want to start now, but he supposed if it was anyone, he would prefer it be Yuuri.
“I guess I didn’t really know those things about myself. I mean… you’re right. I probably am sad but I just never really let myself believe that was the real version of me. I don’t know.”
“That’s okay. You don’t have to know. I mean we all have a million faces, right? Like me, I want my family to think I’m strong and willful but I know that really I’m weak…”
“You’re not,” Victor replied kindly. “You moved across the world to dance, Yuuri, it takes a lot of willpower to leave your entire life behind to chase your dreams.”
“You did it.”
“I wasn’t leaving anything behind. For me, traveling all the time gave me something to move towards, not away from. I wasn’t making any sacrifices,” Victor paused for a moment and added, “No one who knows you would ever think you’re weak.”
“I failed all my auditions…”
“I failed 20 auditions before I made my first major role. Failure is a part of growth. You have the skill to dance on the world’s stage, you just have to keep trying.”
“You said that once already. When we first met.”
“And I meant it then too. You just aren’t reaching your full potential, that’s all.”
“I don’t know.”
“I could teach you.”
Yuuri laughs, head tilted back, mouth open, and it’s the most beautiful laugh Victor has ever seen, except… Victor hadn’t told a joke.
“I wasn’t kidding,” Victor adds near incredulously and Yuuri looks at him again, all but wiping the tears from his eyes until he realized that, yes, Victor really was serious.
“Victor, look at me.”
“I am?”
“I am far from top ballerina shape. I haven’t trained properly in months. You have your career and-”
“To hell with my career. I was miserable anyways,” Victor shoos his hand. “And as for your figure, that’s all systemic bullshit. I have seen you dance better than the fittest of Bolshoi ballerinas. If you’re really worried about it we can train together, but otherwise I think you’re fine how you are and-” Victor wasn’t done, but Yuuri was flailing his hands out, urging Victor to stop his rain of praise.
Victor sighed but complied.
“So? Will you give me a chance,” Victor asked, extending his hand to Yuuri.
“If you’re willing to give me one,” Yuuri replied, grasping Victor’s hand in an arbitrary handshake they both hesitated to release from.
And just like that, the clouds parted and the sun returned.
_______________
May - June 2016
_______________
Victor quickly discovered fostering any relationship with Yuuri, professional or not, would always require one step forward and three steps back.
Even after their heartfelt talk in the studio, Yuuri seemed to shy away from Victor’s attempts to teach him. He listened in the studio but when Victor offered to assist in corrections, Yuuri insisted he could do it on his own. The most frustrating part wasn’t that Yuuri refused to let Victor touch him, even if to help (Victor would never want to push Yuuri in that regard), but that Yuuri very clearly couldn’t make the required adjustments on his own.
Yuuri must have realized this as well because after a couple of weeks of training together, Yuuri asked Victor directly to help him with his layout posture.
Victor nodded and crossed the room. He let Yuuri fall into position before placing one hand on the small of his back and the other in the bend of his outstretched leg.
“Good, keep your arms straight out and lift your leg a little more.”
Yuuri did as instructed but his leg began to bend.
“No, you’re losing your straight leg. I’ll be your support, focus on straightening that leg.”
Victor let his hand move to Yuuri’s upper thigh, supporting the leg as Yuuri straightened it.
“Perfect, now hold it. Feel the lines of your body. Focus on your knee and your shoulders, strengthening these areas will help you gain that muscle memory.”
After a few moments, Victor releases Yuuri and lets him hold it on his own.
“Do you feel it?”
“Yeah,” Yuuri replied tensely. “Can I-”
“Yes, of course.”
Yuuri let out a breath as he dropped the hold. His cheeks were flushed and Victor knew despite not having done any exertion himself, his were likely just as pink.
“How did that feel?”
“Good, I think I understand now.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Victor smiled.
Victor passed him a water bottle before encouraging them to move on to spins.
Yuuri asked for more physical assistance from Victor after that day. He still sometimes insisted he could make the corrections on his own, and did, which was the intention all along. By the end of the week, Yuuri could hit a quick layout, graceful and strong, with no assistance.
After a particularly grueling week of training, Victor encouraged them to run a routine together for fun while focusing on the adjustments made to Yuuri’s technique so far. Yuuri agreed under the pretense he could pick the routine. Victor nodded and stood patiently as Yuuri sifted through his music for a song. The entry notes of the piano started as Yuuri took his place beside Victor.
It was his Stammi Vicino aria, a dance choreographed for one but made to look as if the partner was missing. It was something Victor had arranged himself entirely and performed as a solo act. He fell into the rhythm of it easily as if the routine was etched into his bones and Yuuri joined, fitting into the empty role seamlessly and changing it to a duet.
Victor easily adjusted as well, shifting the jumps to lifts and the spins to twirls and Yuuri followed without missing a beat.
The ending pose consisted of the dancer on one knee, arms reached up as if they had fallen in front of their partner. With Yuuri here, Victor didn’t need to mime it. He ended on his knee, Yuuri’s legs pressed against the inside of his thigh, arms reached up to hold his upper arm, the other wrapped around his waist. Yuuri looked down at Victor, breath racing with exertion and his hands pressed to his shoulder. They held this only for a moment before Victor reached to be helped up and they stood face to face.
Victor could feel Yuuri’s breath on his face, warm and inviting only for a second before it was gone. Yuuri had pulled away and was already at the mirrors grabbing his water bottle. In the mirror, Victor could see Yuuri’s blush and he smiled to himself as moved to get his own bottle.
_______________
Victor and Yuuri were watching tapes on the bed in Victor’s room one night when Yuuri asked, “Did you really mean it when you said I could dance professionally… as I am?”
Victor was taken aback by the question for only a moment. He turned to look at Yuuri who was staring down at his hands.
“Of course. Not only do you have the skill and passion, but your physique fosters incredible stamina and strength. I’ve been down the road of picking yourself apart in order to be good enough for the stage. I don’t want that for you.”
“It’s not that, I just understand expectations, you know.”
“I’ve never been one to do what is expected of me so why would I teach my student something that goes against everything I’m known for,” Victor smiles softly. “I want you to be confident.”
Yuuri smiled and shook his head. “You don’t have to worry, I’m not self conscious. Well, not about that anyway.”
Victor nodded, “Good. That confidence will be the most important thing when you dance, well… after your technique.”
Yuuri nodded and turned back to the 1998 ballet they were watching.
_______________
Early June 2016
_______________
“Yuuri, have you seen this!”
Victor came rushing into Yuuri’s room, forgetting to knock all together. It was their rest day so Yuuri was still asleep. He groaned as he sat up and chastised Victor for just bursting in.
“Sorry, sorry. But… look!” Victor shoved his phone at Yuuri and Yuuri took it, squinting at the screen since his glasses were on his bedside table.
“What am I looking at?”
“An audition! I reached out to some places in the nearby cities and got a few responses about future open calls, but this one in Kurume is having open calls next month.”
“Victor, I don’t know if I’m ready for a role.”
“You don’t have to accept it if you get it, you can just audition for practice, but don’t you see how much progress you’ve made? Just 3 months ago you were telling me you never thought you’d perform again, now you’re assuming you would get the role.”
“Well. I…” Yuuri tried to backtrack but Victor knew he was right.
“So? I’m signing you up!”
“Victor!”
“Nope. You need to step out of your comfort zone if you’re ever going to dance professionally again. I’m filling out the form right now.”
Victor sat on Yuuri’s bed next to him and opened the audition form on his phone but he hesitated. It was entirely in Japanese. Though Victor had been in Japan for nearly 4 ½ months now, he was much better at speaking and listening than he was at reading and writing.
“Need help,” Yuuri teased.
“Don’t make fun of me, I’m still learning,” Victor pouted.
“You’re right. Let me get you a picture book to practice while I fill this out.”
“Yuuri…” Victor whined.
Yuuri smiled and pulled Victor’s phone out of his hand. Victor leaned over to watch as Yuuri filled out the information.
“What is the show anyways,” Yuuri asked.
Victor shrugged, “It was written by a local, so it’s a surprise.”
Yuuri sighed and passed Victor’s phone back to him, “There. Now let me sleep.”
Victor nodded and quickly left Yuuri’s room. He laid on his own bed staring at the ceiling with a big grin on his face. Yuuri was really going to an audition and Victor couldn’t wait.
_________
With a professional opportunity on the horizon, Victor amped up Yuuri’s training. Yuuri complied without complaint, following every regime and technique critique Victor threw his way. It made Victor happy to see Yuuri so determined but also sad that he spent so long feeling like he wasn’t good enough for this.
On the day of the audition, Victor and Yuuri made a day trip out of it. They booked Yuuri for an early audition slot so his anxiety wouldn’t simmer all day. Victor had to wait outside while he performed and when Yuuri was done, Victor just smiled at him and led Yuuri back out of the studio. They toured around the city, Yuuri filling Victor in on everything he knew, though it wasn’t much since he often went to Fukuoka instead. They had dinner at a small cafe before catching the last train back to Hasetsu. Overall, it had been a really good day, something akin to a first date and that made Victor’s stomach swirl until he reminded himself the real reason they had gone to Kurume. He needed to remain professional, for Yuuri’s sake.
_______________
Late July 2016
_______________
After not hearing back from the studio in Kurume for a while, Victor could tell Yuuri assumed the worst. Victor wanted to discourage this, but he felt the same. It had never taken that long for a studio to get back to him, even with rejections, but he had been ghosted by some as well. He knows how much it hurts more than just being told you weren’t picked.
Yuuri danced his frustrations out, but Victor was starting to notice when Yuuri danced as a means to vent, his technique suffered. Channeling his emotions was one thing but this was an emotional release. Still, Victor didn’t say anything, allowing Yuuri the reprieve he needed to keep going.
A week or so later, Victor found another audition and once again had to convince Yuuri to go. This one was in Fukuoka and they sent their rejection two days later. The next time Victor saw an open audition call, he let it pass. Too many rejections in a short time would tear down Yuuri’s confidence, and Victor really couldn’t have that.
_______________
Early August 2016
_______________
Yuuri was running through his audition routine when the music cut off from a call. It had been nearly a month since the first one in , so they were doing fine tuning and adjusting the elements.
“Keep working on your Cambre Back on Releve,” Victor called. “Keep your arch smooth but strong. Use the mirror.”
Victor stepped out into the hall as he answered the phone call on the last ring. The number was Japanese so he said a quick, “Moshi moshi,” before adding, “English?”
“Hello,” The other person responded, their accent softening the words. “Yuuri Katsuki?”
“Ah, No. This is Victor Nikiforov.”
“Hello, Mr. Nikiforov-san. This is Kaoru from Lily Studio, Kurume. Is Katsuki-san there?”
“Hello, Kaoru-san. I am his instructor.”
“We would invite Katuski-san for a call back. The studio offers sincere apologies for our delay.”
“Yes!’ Victor responded, a little too enthusiastically. “We accept. When would you like to see him?”
“As soon as possible to make up for lost time.”
“We can be there in 2 days?”
“Good. We will see him then.”
“Arigatou,” Victor said before hanging up the phone and bursting into the studio so abruptly, Yuuri stumbled out of releve.
“Jesus, Victor. What is it?”
“You got it!”
“Got what?”
“A call back!”
“A call back for what?”
“The show in Kurume. They had a delay but they want you to come back! Yuuri, you did it!!”
Victor was across the room, arms wrapped around Yuuri’s waist as he spun him.
“Okay, okay. You can put me down.”
“Sorry, I’m just so proud of you!”
Yuuri blushed, “It’s just a call back.”
“Sure, be Negative Nelson. I, however, will be celebrating!”
Yuuri rolled his eyes, but Victor could see it. That spark was back and Yuuri was proud. Victor chatted animatedly the whole way back to the inn. He booked the tickets over dinner as Yuuri shared the news with his family.
The excitement finally died down as Yuuri and Victor soaked in the onsen after dark.
“Are you nervous,” Victor asked.
“Of course I’m nervous. I haven’t had a call back in years.”
“You’ll do fine. Just dance like you do for me,” He smiled.
Yuuri blushed but nodded, letting them fall back into comfortable silence.
–
Victor changed their training schedule for the next day, wanting to fine tune Yuuri’s choreography without overworking him. Since this was Yuuri, Victor had to nearly drag him out of the studio when it was time to call it quits and make him give Victor his key to the studio so he would actually sleep.
–
They had less control over Yuuri’s audition time for the call back and he unfortunately was scheduled for mid afternoon. Victor did his best to keep Yuuri’s mind on other things but he saw the inevitable bounce in Yuuri’s leg and doubt in his eyes the closer it got to his slot. There was 15 minutes left as they sat in the lobby of the studio. Yuuri’s leg had been tapping the floor since the music for the person ahead of him started. Eventually, Victor made him stand, pulling him out of the lobby and into the fresh air of the street outside and around the corner to the alley for some privacy.
“Victor, I’m up soon…”
Victor placed both hands on Yuuri’s cheeks and turned to Yuuri to face him.
“Breathe, Yuuri. You’re going to do fine. You are going to go in there and you are going to imagine it’s just me you’re dancing for. You’ve done that a million times, it’s nothing anymore. When you are done, we will go home and let fate take over from there. Okay?”
Yuuri nodded.
“Say it.”
“Say what…”
“All of it.”
“Victor…”
“We aren’t going back in until you do. Do you want to have come all this way just to lose by omission?”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I’m dramatic and stubborn,” Victor smiled. “Try me.”
Yuuri decided not to call his bluff anymore and responded with, “I will go in and dance like I am dancing for you. I will do my best because that is all I can do.”
“Good.” Victor dropped his hands and followed Yuuri back into the studio with a hand on his shoulder. Just as Yuuri sat down the dance before him came out. There was a short buffer period before Yuuri was called back.
He was only gone for half the time of the dancer before him and Victor couldn’t read on Yuuri’s face how he felt about that. Still as promised, they didn’t talk about it. They went home and they waited.
_______________
Late August 2016
_______________
This time, Yuuri got the call about his audition.
Victor was eating breakfast alone, Yuuri wouldn’t usually have been up this early but he padded into the room just a little after 8. His eyes were glistening and his face unreadable. Hiroko saw him first, they spoke and she pulled Yuuri in for a tight hug. Yuuri’s shoulders shook a bit and Victor was overcome with worry. He was across the room in record time.
“What happened? Yuuri, are you okay!?”
Hiroko let go of Yuuri and patted Victor’s shoulder as she walked away. Yuuri wiped his tears and met Victor’s eyes.
He was… happy?
“I got the role.”
“What?”
“For the show in Kurume. I got the part. Rehearsals start-” but Victor wasn’t listening anymore. All his brain power was focused on not grabbing Yuuri and kissing him in excitement and pride. Instead, he pulled the younger man in for a hug.
“This is amazing news! I knew you could do it!”
“Okay, okay, you’re crushing me!”
Victor let go and they smiled at each other for a beat.
“So, when do rehearsals start?”
“Once all the paperwork is sent over and signed they will send the choreo. I have about 2 months to learn it, about a month of rehearsals and show weekend is late December.”
“I’m so proud of you!!”
“Okayyyy,” Yuuri blushed. “You sound like my mom!”
“Did you tell Minako?”
“Not yet… I wanted to tell you first and to… thank you. For Everything. I don’t think I could have gotten here without you.”
“It was nothing at all. Believing in you comes naturally,” Victor smiled and Yuuri’s face blushed.
“I’m gonna go tell her now,” Yuuri hurried out and disappeared. Victor returned to his breakfast, heart full of pride and love.
_______________
September - November 2016
_______________
Yuuri received the choreography nearly two weeks after he got the call and he and Victor started on it immediately. Yuuri also got his character role. He was playing a gender ambiguous seductress, scorned by past lovers and now lives as a siren to lure passerbys to their death. They meet someone who is unphased by their songs. Lured in but not seduced. The seductress becomes fixated on this, accidentally falling in love with them in the process. However in the end, their past comes to haunt them. The broken lovers of those he had brought to death come seeking vengeance. The seductress’ lover throws themselves in the line of fire and is mortally wounded. In their last song, the siren calls to be with their lover again in a fade to black, ambiguous ending. Victor couldn’t agree with the casting team more. Yuuri was perfect for the role.
However, Yuuri didn’t seem to agree. The hardest challenge he faced was tackling the role of a seductress. Anytime Victor brought it up, Yuuri blushed and looked at his feet, the conversation going nowhere. Victor just sighed to himself, deciding to focus on the technical portions instead.
A week before studio rehearsals began, Victor could no longer push the conversation away.
“Yuuri! Dance more like you’re trying to seduce someone. You look sad!”
“My character is sad.”
“Your character is angry. Their heart was broken and they want vengeance.”
“I just don’t know if that’s me. I don’t know why they-”
“Nope! They wouldn’t have cast you if they didn’t see your potential and I agree with them. You have the skill.”
“I just don’t have a whole lot of confidence in my ability to…” Yuuri trailed off, looking away.
“It’s my job to help you find that confidence and embrace it,” Victor stepped forward. “Think about an ex lover.”
“What!?”
“... or someone that broke your heart.”
“No, I got that… I’m tired, I think I’ll head back on my own,” Yuuri gathered his things and left before Victor had the chance to finish changing his shoes. He rushed to catch up with Yuuri but he was gone. By the time he made it to the Inn, sweaty and short of breath, Yuuri was nowhere to be seen there either. Victor tried his phone but he didn’t pick up.
Yuuri didn’t return back to the Inn until after the dinner rush. When Victor tried to ask where he was, Yuuri just mumbled something under his breath and disappeared down the hall to the family’s quarters.
Yuuri proceeded to ignore Victor the following day, insisting he could complete his calisthenics training alone and avoided all of Victor’s advances to spend time together. On the second day, Victor burst into Yuuri’s room just after his alarm went off.
“We should skip practice today and go to the ocean!”
Yuuri reluctantly agreed and after a light breakfast they walked to the coast side-by-side in uncomfortable silence. When they reached the sand, Victor found a nice spot to sit. It was overcast and chilly so they were relatively alone save a few fishers near the docks.
“Sometimes, early in the morning the birds remind me of St. Petersburg. I didn’t think I would miss it much, but some days I do… have you ever felt like that?”
Yuuri shook his head, “I always missed home but I guess sometimes I miss Detroit and the friends I had there. I don’t think I fully appreciated them.”
Victor nodded in understanding, “And did you… have anyone special?”
Yuuri pulled his knees to his chest and rested his chin on them, staring out at the water before shaking his head.
“I had no time with dancing and there was no one around me that I was really interested in… it’s pathetic I know.”
“No, not at all.”
Yuuri scoffed.
“Truly. I think it is better to have waited for something genuine than to throw yourself to wolves who just want you for your status, or body, or whatever it is wolves are after… but I suppose grass is always greener.”
Yuuri made a noncommittal noise.
“Still, you don’t have to draw from relationship experience, then. What about someone you just felt like that about, even in passing. Someone you’ve wanted to look at you, but didn’t?”
Yuuri flushed and looked away, “I don’t know but… I’m sure I could come up with something.”
“Good! That’s what I like to hear,” Victor smiled. A deeper part of him hoped Yuuri would think of him. God knows he’s already done a fine enough job seducing Victor on his own, who knew what power he’d have if he was intentional about it. However, Victor shoved these thoughts deeper down, this wasn’t the time nor place and definitely wasn’t fair to Yuuri.
Yuuri smiled at him, though shy it was genuine.
“Wanna swim,” Victor asked after a moment. He flashed a wicked grin before taking off towards the water.
“Victor! It’s freezing, you're crazy,” Yuuri shouted behind him.
Victor kicked off his shoes as he ran into the water, it was cold but nothing he wasn’t used to. He heard splashing behind him and Victor turned to face Yuuri. Victor had ventured out to his mid calves but Yuuri stayed where the water hit his ankles.
“It’s so cold,” Yuuri shouted.
“Much different than the onsen,” Victor agreed. “It would feel refreshing to just sink in like an ice bath.”
“Don’t you dare! My mother would kill me.”
Victor laughed and stepped closer to Yuuri, leaning over to splash at him.
“Victor!” Yuuri laughed and took a few steps back, hands up in defense. Victor splashed him again and Yuuri kicked his leg out to splash Victor back.
“Freezing water doesn’t affect me, Yuuri, don’t you know Russians are cold blooded,” Victor splashed him back, successfully landing on Yuuri’s jacket and face and he squealed in response. Victor’s heart felt so light at their playfulness, a trait he hadn’t allowed himself in so so long. It felt good to just let go and the wide genuine smile on Yuuri’s face was the reward. Having completed his goal of raising Yuuri’s mood, Victor walked toward him, wrapping an arm around him as they made their way to the shore.
“You’re insane, you know that,” Yuuri smiled.
“If I’m insane, you’re absolutely mad,” Victor teased back.
“Maybe I am, but that’s okay. I prefer this Victor anyways.”
Victor fell out of step for only a second, Yuuri’s words hitting him deep. He shook his head lightly and caught back up. A real, genuine smile stuck on his face.
_______________
Late November 2016
_______________
Things eased up after the day at the beach. Yuuri was still struggling with his ‘Eros,’ but Victor could see the improvement. He just continued to encourage Yuuri, the director could critique the rest when it was time.
Once official practices started, Yuuri spent nearly 12 hours out of town 5 days a week, leaving Victor with not a whole lot to do. He tried to fill his time with dancing but he was far out of his typical season shape and found himself growing tired and bored. He helped out around the inn when he could, Hiroko finally letting him help her in the kitchen. He watched football with Yuuri’s dad, the two of them finding a way to communicate enough to bond despite their language barriers. Victor truly felt at home in Hasetsu. He had no idea what the future looked like and he knew he would have to return to Russia at some point but every day that passed he felt more sure that this sabbatical was the best decision he’d made since moving from Moscow to St. Petersburg when he was 16.
Victor didn’t completely step away from his role as Yuuri’s coach while the rehearsals took place, he didn’t think he was physically capable of that anyways. He accompanied Yuuri on a few of his trips to rehearsals to pull some strings with the show runners. His work came to fruition when a box expedited from Russia arrived.
“What’s this,” Yuuri asked when Victor called him to his room that night.
“Your costume,” Victor smiled and passed the garment bag to him. “It will likely need some alterations but it should fit okay.” Yuuri hesitated, likely sensing something suspicious with Victor’s involvement but he didn’t comment. “Go, try it on,” Victor urged, “Let me know if you need help.”
Yuuri nodded and disappeared down the hall. He returned five minutes later as a vision. Victor had to pick his jaw up off the floor as Yuuri stepped shyly into the doorway.
“Victor, this is-”
“Amazing? You look beautiful, Yuuri.”
Yuuri flushed, “How did you… where?”
Victor fanned his hand indicating it was nothing, “I commissioned my seamstress that made the original costume. When I saw you dance, I knew this was what you needed. It was a bit forward of me, but you said you’re a fan…”
“I love it. You shouldn’t have. Really…”
“It was nothing. Completely worth it. Do a spin.”
Yuuri flushed again and did a slow turn showing off the full outfit. It was a near exact copy of Victor’s Lilac Fairy costume from when he was 16, his first major role. It had been commissioned to be androgynous and with a few tweaks to the design it now had an air of sensuality to it as well. One half of the body was a see-through mesh material. Victor had them drop the opacity of the material they chose just a bit and lower the waist to show off more of Yuuri’s lovely hips. The gemstones and half skirt remained the same, but Victor had them carve out fabric up Yuuri’s leg and around his thigh to expose more skin. Yuuri wore it incredibly well and Victor knew he had made the right choice.
Yuuri squirmed a little under Victor’s gaze but not from discomfort. Victor shook himself free of his adoration to check for any alterations that were needed. Yuuri stood perfectly still as Victor pinched the fabric at his waist and lower thighs.
“Does it feel too tight or too loose anywhere,” Victor asked looking up at Yuuri from where he was crouched in front of him.
“Uh, maybe just the thighs,” Yuuri said looking away.
“Can I…” Victor asked, holding a fabric pen up to indicate he wanted to mark the fabric.
Yuuri nodded, still not meeting Victor’s eyes.
Victor had Yuuri hold the skirt as he pulled at the fabric of Yuuri’s thick tights, asking Yuuri with a glance if where he was pulling was tight and marking it accordingly.
When Victor reached the inside of Yuuri’s upper thigh, Yuuri jumped. Victor pulled back immediately and looked up to Yuuri. The younger man had already been blushing but now he was incredibly red in the face.
“S-Sorry, you can continue,” Yuuri mumbled and Victor hummed as he very slowly trailed his fingers up Yuuri’s thigh so as not to make him jump again. When Victor was done he sat back on his heels.
“And does everything feel okay in the groin area,” Victor asked.
“Uh, it’s-”
“Bit snug?”
Yuuri nodded, “Yes, sorry.” Victor smiled softly.
“It’s okay. It’s a bit awkward, I know. You get used to it over time.” Yuuri nodded again. He had told Victor before that he usually just wore whatever he had, he’d never had anything custom made or altered. To experience it for the first time with Victor was probably incredibly weird for Yuuri. “You can take the pen with you to change. Just put a small mark anywhere you could use some more space. Remember though, you will have your belt on as well so that will help.”
Yuuri nodded again as he took the pen from Victor, “Thank you, Victor.”
“Of course,” Victor smiled and Yuuri disappeared down the hall.
He returned a short amount of time later with a knock at the door, “Victor? Can you unzip me?”
Victor held his breath before responding with a yes. Yuuri stepped in and turned away from him. Victor felt his hands shake as he reached up and carefully unzipped the costume. Yuuri’s skin was so warm and for the first time since Victor arrived he was really struggling to choke down his want. He had remained as professional as he could, he denied Yuuri’s drunken request for a kiss despite initiating it, and he’d kept all touches to Yuuri’s shoulders, arms, and waist, short, but now he wished he could throw all that to the wind. He wished he could let his fingers trail down into the dips in Yuuri’s back, kiss the line where his spine laid under his skin and every mole that littered the expanse of him. Still, he couldn’t. He had made little progress in his relationship with Yuuri and so these kinds of touches were not yet allowed. He didn’t know if they ever would be and it made his heart sink into his stomach.
“Victor?” It was soft, nearly a whisper but it shook Victor from his thoughts. He hadn’t realized he stopped half way down Yuuri’s back. Yuuri’s head was turned to look at him, close enough he could feel Yuuri’s breath on his face.
“Sorry,” Victor replied, his face heating up as he finished pulling the zipper down to Yuuri’s tailbone.
“It’s okay,” Yuuri replied, hesitating for a moment before adding even quieter, “You can touch me… if you want.”
Victor felt all the breath leave his lungs and he looked to Yuuri to see if he had misheard. Yuuri’s cheeks were still flushed and he looked away from Victor so fast, Victor knew he hadn’t. Victor let his hands lightly trail up the expanse of Yuuri’s back, hesitant at first until Yuuri’s entire body relaxed under his touch.
“You’re so strong,” Victor said, pushing his fingers into the meat and muscle of Yuuri’s shoulder blades.
“It’s from helping Okaasan around the inn,” Yuuri shrugged.
“Still,” The muscle flexed and moved under Victor’s skin and as he moved to trail his fingers down Yuuri’s spine, his back arched. “You’re beautiful…”
Before Yuuri could reply there was a knock at the door, scaring them both into pushing away from one another.
“Vicchan, dinner is ready. Can you tell Yuuri, too.”
“Um-” Victor’s voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “Yes, Mama. Thank you, I will let him know. We will be down shortly.”
The two of them waited in frozen silence before bursting into quiet and short laughter.
“I’ll, uh, see you at dinner,” Yuuri said as he made his way to the door.
“Yes, see you there,” Victor responded and Yuuri disappeared down the hall again.
_______________
December 2016
_______________
This time, Victor saw major changes in he and Yuuri’s relationship after that day in his room. Yuuri shied away from Victor’s casual touches less frequently than he used to. He also initiated contact he hadn’t before. He let his thigh touch Victor’s on the train, or rested his hand on his shoulder. He let their fingers touch when passing things and shoulder brush as they ate meals. Victor knew they should probably talk about it, but he was so happy to have made some kind of progress that he was too scared of pushing Yuuri away. He figured Yuuri would bring it up when he felt like it.
Except Yuuri, never brought it up.
The remaining weeks passed and they grew milimeters closer to the point that Yuuri leaned into Victor’s touches and sometimes when they were out walking, Victor would place his hand at the small of Yuuri’s back and watch as Yuuri’s lips quirked into a fleeting smile before he forced himself to ‘remain cool.’
Soon, opening night was upon them. Yuuri would perform Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and a Sunday matinee. He had opted to spend the week in Kurome to make travel for the late tech nights easier and Victor stayed with him, booking a double room for them.
The day of the opening show was intense. Yuuri’s anxiety was through the roof and it felt like nothing Victor did was helping. Yuuri was in his costume, hair and makeup done when it finally broke. Victor had tried to reassure Yuuri that he had practiced for weeks and knew what he was doing. When that didn’t help, he desperately tried a different approach.
“Yuuri, if you go out there and fail, I will take full responsibility and step down as your coach.” He had meant it to shift the pressure off Yuuri but it backfired as tears welled up in Yuuri’s eyes. “Wait, Yuuri- I didn’t mean it.”
“I know!” Yuuri shouted, the tears pouring over onto his face. “but…I’m so scared of my mistakes reflecting back on you! Sometimes I’m scared you secretly want to quit.”
“Yuuri, how could you think that I want to quit?”
“I don’t, not really. I just…”
“I don’t know how to help you. Should I just kiss you or something?”
“No. Just… have more faith in me than I do. You don’t have to do anything, just… stay close to me. Please.”
The ‘please’ came out so broken that it felt like a stab straight to Victor’s own lonely heart. He was a shell before he met Yuuri and he knew that he couldn’t put all his meaning in another person but Yuuri helped him see the light life had to offer. He made Victor excited again. He wanted to offer that same hope to Yuuri.
“Of course, Yuuri.” Victor grabbed a wipe from Yuuri’s dressing room table and stepped forward. “I will always believe in you.” He used his thumbs to wipe away Yuuri’s tears before dabbing at the streaked makeup. “It comes natural, remember.”
He was halfway done when there was a knock at the door. Yuuri called out to answer and someone responded in Japanese.
“They said places in 5 minutes,” Yuuri translated, eyes wild with worry. “My makeup-”
“Don’t worry, Yuuri. I’m your coach aren’t I? Leave it to me,” Victor smiled. He finished dabbing at Yuuri’s cheeks and grabbed the makeup bag off the counter. He reapplied Yuuri’s foundation, blush and highlighter. His eyeliner was fine on his lids but was smudged to hell under his eyes. Victor had no hope of working with it in such a short time so instead he incorporated it into the look. “Okay. There!” Victor turned Yuuri toward the mirror and his eyes grew wide.
“Wow. I look…”
“Beautiful… stunning…sexy?” Victor said, stepping up behind him.
Yuuri met his eyes in the mirror and shocked Victor with a solid, “Exactly.”
Victor smiled at him before shooing him off. Yuuri took two steps away before turning back. He raised up onto his toes and pressed a searing kiss to Victor’s jaw, undoubtedly leaving a lipstick stain when he pulled away. He looked at Victor through lidded eyes, "Watch me, Victor. Don’t take your eyes off me.” He turned around and scurried off to his starting place, leaving Victor shellshocked in place.
Someone was speaking to him in Japanese and when they got no response, switched to English.
“Sir? The show is about to start. You better get to your seat.”
“Yes, of course,” Victor nodded and he turned to make his way to the box reserved for coaches and trainers not included in the production, fingers lingering where his skin burned from Yuuri’s lips.
Yuuri was a dream on stage. He stepped into his role beautifully. He had shut Victor out of technicals and it was the first time he was seeing him in full makeup, costume and character and all Victor could think was wow.
Yuuri performed the final dance to the show, an ode to his character’s lost lover, reaching out to them in the beyond. Victor’s breath caught in his throat as Yuuri completed a fouette, adding additional spins, totaling at 7 to be exact. The number of months Victor had spent by Yuuri’s side. He came out of the turns on steady feet, skipped over minor footwork to make up the lost time, and moved into his final pose. His hands outstretched, meant to point directly to the center, but instead he had shifted to the left, hands graceful and reaching… directly at Victor. Yuuri was sharing his feelings to Victor through dance and the message was received, it was Victor’s move now and he knew what he needed to do. The only thing he had wanted to do for months. The only thing that could surprise Yuuri more than he’d surprised him.
Yuuri received a standing ovation before exiting the stage for bows but Victor didn’t stick around after that. He used broken Japanese and his role as Yuuri’s coach to get backstage. He reached the wing just as Yuuri was taking his final bows. He could see the other man searching for him in the audience. As he turned to move off stage, Victor pushed forward and threw himself at Yuuri. Their lips met briefly as they tumbled backwards, Yuuri’s head protected by Victor’s hand as they hit the ground. Victor lifted up to meet Yuuri’s eyes.
“I wanted to surprise you more than you’ve surprised me.”
“It worked,” Yuuri smiled softly before pulling his hands from Victor’s back to his cheeks. He pulled him down to kiss him back, just once before leaning back again. Victor tried to chase his lips but Yuuri stopped him with a light laugh. He brushed his thumb along the faded lipstick on Victor’s jaw.
“Victor… we need to get up.”
“Right, right,” Victor replied, forgetting where they were for a moment. Victor stood first and helped Yuuri up. They had gained quite an audience and Yuuri blushed profusely before pulling Victor to his dressing room. Nearly everyone Yuuri passed praised his performance and Victor felt so proud of Yuuri. He really had done magnificently and Victor knew this was only the start.
Yuuri entered the dressing room first and crossed the room to start taking off his costume. Victor crossed behind him and began laying soft kisses along his exposed shoulder. Yuuri allowed it only for a moment, tilting his head to give Victor more room, but when Victor’s kisses moved inward and he felt the shiver run up Yuuri’s spine under his fingers, Yuuri pushed away lightly.
“Not here.”
Victor pouted playfully but stepped back, instead making himself useful and grabbing Yuuri’s clothes from the chair along the wall.
“I had a fancy dinner planned to celebrate but now I just want to go back to our hotel,” Victor said as he watched Yuuri pull on his sweater.
Yuuri laughed and rolled his eyes, “A bit presumptuous of you to think I’m not going straight to bed.”
“Maybe that was what I had in mind, too. What kind of man do you think I am, Yuuri!” Victor feigned being hurt and Yuuri laughed again.
“You’re like me…a man who knows what he wants,” Yuuri teased, “Let’s go.” Yuuri reached out his hand and Victor quickly took it. He and Yuuri may have just had their first kiss but it felt like they’d been together for ages already. He knew they would need to talk about it but for now he wanted Yuuri to bask in the afterglow of his first show as a leading role.
Yuuri hailed a cab with the hand that wasn’t holding Victor’s and they climbed in. Victor showed him where they needed to go and Yuuri informed the driver.
The restaurant was nice but not overly expensive since Yuuri wasn’t yet comfortable with Victor’s spending habits. The conversation was nice, dancing around the topic Victor knew they both wanted to discuss.
The ride back to the hotel was quiet. Yuuri laid his head on Victor’s shoulder nearly the entire way and they held hands again as they made their way up to their room. They didn’t speak as they shed their coats and shoes by the door, but when Victor turned around, Yuuri was on him.
Their lips collided in a rough kiss before softening to something slow but desperate. Victor let himself get caught up in it, his hands on Yuuri’s waist, but when Yuuri began to pull him backward, Victor pulled back.
“We should probably talk first,” He said reluctantly.
“Yeah, talk. We should.”
Victor smiled and kissed Yuuri’s cheek before pulling him to the bed to sit side by side.
“Was kissing you…” Victor started, shy all of a sudden about his brazen display of affection.
Yuuri laughed, “Are you really asking me that?” Victor’s face didn’t change and Yuuri realized he had meant it. “Yeah, it was okay. I was a little shocked and it was in front of a lot of people, but I’ve wanted that for ages so….” Yuuri trailed off nervously.
“Me too and when you hit that final pose and reached out to me, I just… I couldn’t hold back any longer.”
“I’m glad you couldn’t,” Yuuri placed his hand on Victor’s thigh before looking up at him through his eyelashes. “Are you still holding back, now?”
Yuuri Katsuki was a dangerous man.
Victor swallowed, unsure of how to respond, skin ablaze under Yuuri’s touch.
“Because…” Yuuri continued shyly, “You don’t have to anymore. I… I want you to let go… if you want.”
“Yuuri,” Victor croaked before starting again. “Are you sure?”
“100%. I… I like you, Victor. A lot. I feel like you like me too,” he added sheepishly. “If you’re waiting for me, you don’t have to anymore. I’m there with you.”
Victor turned to hold Yuuri’s face in his palm, tilting his head up to kiss his lips before trailing down his jaw and into the crook of his neck, whispering against his skin, “What do you want?”
“You…whatever you want to give me…maybe everything,” Yuuri sighed, turning his head to give Victor more space.
“Then everything you shall have.”
////////////////////////
Victor pulled back and fell down onto his knees in front of Yuuri. He slid his hands up Yuuri’s thighs. “This is probably my favorite part of you,” Victor whispered. “Well, physically,’ He smiled up at Yuuri, hands coming to a rest and squeezing. Yuuri let out a quiet groan, likely from the pressure on his sore muscles but also from arousal. His legs fell farther open as if to grant Victor more room, and Victor took it. He slid his hands up to Yuuri’s waist band. “May I?”
Yuuri nodded and Victor smiled, unbuttoning his jeans and allowing Yuuri to lift his hips to pull them off.
Victor tossed Yuuri’s pants somewhere behind him, earning a small laugh out of Yuuri. Victor’s hands returned to Yuuri’s thighs like metal to a magnet. He lavished kisses up the inside of them and Yuuri let out a sigh, gently carding his fingers through Victor’s hair. When he lightly caught on a stand, Victor let out a quiet whine. He pulled back and looked up to meet Yuuri’s eyes.
“Can I put my mouth on you?”
“Yes,” Yuuri gasped. “Please.”
He helped Victor pull off his briefs and Victor heard himself groan at the sight of Yuuri in front of him. He was more fit than when Victor first arrived but instead of the lean figure of a dancer, he had the strength and build one may find in a linebacker or lower weight wrestler and Victor found it incredibly attractive and so uniquely Yuuri, but if he was honest, he would be attracted to Yuuri no matter what he looked like.
“Victor, you’re staring…”
“Sorry, Solnysko, you are just so beautiful, truly.” Yuuri flushed and Victor smiled. “I love the way you blush so easily.”
“Victooorr,” Yuuri whined, bucking his hips slightly.
“Right, where was I?”
“Between my thighs,” Yuuri asked playfully.
“Yes, of course.”
Victor kissed a trail up Yuuri’s thighs, gently sinking down on him and Yuuri let out a moan, lightly bucking his hips into the heat of Victor’s mouth before hissing a quick, “Sorry-”
Victor pulled off, “It’s okay, here…” Victor pulled back and urged Yuuri to stand. “Use me,” he gasped before sinking back down on him.
“Victor,” Yuuri groaned. “Are you sure?”
Victor didn’t pull off again, just took Yuuri’s hands and tangled them in his hair. Yuuri took that as the sign it was.
“Yeah… okay. Just tap me twice if you need to stop.”
Victor nodded and closed his eyes. Yuuri tangled his hair into Victor’s hair and began to move his hips. Victor groaned in response, reaching his hands up to grab handfuls of Yuuri’s ass. Yuuri was hesitant, moving in shallow slow movements but the way he shook told Victor he was holding back. Victor used his leverage to push Yuuri’s hips forward, pushing him into Victor’s throat. Yuuri gasped and thrust forward. Victor swallowed, tears welling in his eyes but he remained sturdy. Yuuri took the hint and began to use Victor, seeking pleasure from him without restraint.
“Victor, Victor, I’m close,” Yuuri whined after a short while.
Victor pulled Yuuri impossibly closer, urging him to finish inside Victor’s mouth. Yuuri grew rougher, and Victor held on as Yuuri teetered over the edge, spilling into his mouth. Yuuri slumped over, carding his hands through Victor’s hair as he pulled out.
“Victor, you’re so…” He trailed off, sitting back on the bed and pulling Victor up to him to kiss him again, wiping the remaining tears from Victor’s eyes. Yuuri’s hand dropped to where Victor pushed against the fabric of his slacks. “This must be uncomfortable. How can I help?”
“Can I fuck your thighs,” Victor asked against Yuuri’s lips. Yuuri nodded and kissed him. Yuuri pulled his shirt off over his head before reaching down to unbutton Victor’s dress shirt. He pulled it free and slipped it over Victor’s shoulder before reaching down and unbuckling his belt and pushing his slacks down.
“Can you take those off for me,” Yuuri asked and Victor nodded, tucking his thumbs into the sides of his underwear and slowly pulling them down. “Wow,” Yuuri whispered as Victor stepped out of them. Yuuri pulled Victor back in to kiss him again, pulling him back onto the bed until the reached the pillows.
Yuuri turned over and pulled Victor against him, “Like this?”
“This is perfect,” Victor responded, kissing Yuuri’s shoulder. Yuuri gathered some spit into his hands and reached down to spread it between his thighs.
“Use me, Victor,” Yuuri sighed, repeating Victor’s words back at him.
Victor nodded, adjusting himself between Yuuri’s thighs before wrapping his arms around Yuuri’s waist and pushing himself forward. Victor had had sex before but nothing was like this and it was only Yuuri’s thighs. It was a close mimicry though, Yuuri was warm and he crossed his ankles to apply more pressure. Victor groaned and pushed forward. Yuuri sighed and Victor watched with amazement as Yuuri grew hard again.
“You feel amazing, love,” Victor sighed. “And your stamina amazes me.” Victor trailed his hand down Yuuri’s stomach and over him, slowly moving his hand in time with his hips. Having Yuuri like this was a fruition of Victor’s long term desires and he felt himself growing close after only a few minutes. Yuuri, the ever generous and curious lover, trailed his hands back, pushing his fingers against Victor and he finished in seconds with a gasp against Yuuri’s neck.
Victor didn’t stop moving his hand until Yuuri finished shortly after him. They laid quietly in the afterglow, the only sound their breaths slowing down and their twin hearts beating in their chests.
Yuuri turned in Victor’s arms, kissing him senseless and showing off his incredible stamina 10 minutes later when Victor informed him he always carried protection on him “just in case.”
Victor swore nothing could compare to the feeling in his chest as Yuuri kissed him and pushed into him for the first time, the weight of his strong body over his.
He fell asleep that night feeling satiated and loved with Yuuri’s head laying softly on his chest.
////////////////////////
Victor woke up in the morning, warm. He turned and wrapped his body around Yuuri’s, kissing him everywhere he could reach, simply because he could now. His heart felt light, his body pleasantly sore, and his head clear. He didn’t think anything in his life could compare to this moment.
He eventually gave up Yuuri’s warmth to order breakfast. He sat on the rumpled second bed, glad he had the will the night prior to move them to the cleaner one. He would need to remember to strip the bed when they left that day and tip the cleaners well. He contemplated showering but held off, hoping Yuuri would be interested in saving water. Instead he looked up photos of the prior night’s performance online and saved every one of Yuuri to his phone. He woke the younger man up when food arrived and successfully managed to ‘convince’ Yuuri to shower together (Yuuri had instantly agreed, though he was shy about it). Victor worshipped Yuuri once more in the hot steam of the shower and declared they would rest in bed until the show that evening.
The rest of the weekend went by in a similar fashion, though the director had been so pleased with Yuuri’s makeup he requested Victor repeat the look for the following shows.
Yuuri and Victor happily joined the cast and crew for a group dinner after the closing show on Sunday before heading back to Hasetsu. Yuuri intertwined his and Victor’s fingers on the train and slept peacefully on his shoulder during the longer leg of their ride.
They walked hand in hand into the Katsuki’s Inn and we were immediately surprised by Yuuri’s family. They congratulated Yuuri and celebrated his first professional show. Victor felt content to stand back and let Yuuri be showered in praise, sipping sake alone at a table. Yuuri returned to him sometime later, hands tucked behind his back, his family close in tow.
Victor looked up at him curiously and Yuuri smiled.
“Don’t think I forgot, Vicchan,” Yuuri smiled, using Hiroko’s name for Victor. He brought out a cake with lit candles from behind his back. “Happy Birthday!”
Yuuri’s family joined in with their heavily accented English and in that moment, Victor realized this was what it felt like to be truly loved.
Yuuri sat the cake down in front of Victor and dropped to sit beside him. Victor blew out the candles and as Hiroko cut the cake, Yuuri leaned into Victor’s shoulder.
“What did you wish for?”
Victor leaned in closer, “Nothing. My dreams have already come true,” and he kissed the blush right off Yuuri’s cheek.