deepwithinmybonesfic
deepwithinmybonesfic
Deep Within My Bones
35 posts
A Yuri on Ice AU fanfic by creme13ruleeRead on AO3 and Fanfiction.net
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 6 years ago
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Hello Angst Lovers! A very exciting announcement, we are going to do a Giveaway! Starting April 1st, and running through May 1st, enter to win one of four prizes!
The prizes will be
3 winners- choice of one of 3 PDF volumes
1 Grand Prize- one Print Bundle! Over 600 pages of fan fiction and art printed in full color.
Entering is as easy as hitting Reblog/Retweet on this post! Reblog/Retweet as many times as you want, but each person will only receive a max of two entries. (for a  reblog on Tumblr and retweet  on Twitter)
We will be putting the entries into a random generator on May 2nd and announcing on the official accounts who won which Bundles! Please make sure we can contact you through Tumblr or Twitter!
Just as a reminder, Namida an inclusive, non-profit zine benefiting  The Trevor Project  @trevorproject and LGBTQIAP+ suicide prevention. It consists of 3 volumes and has the theme of Angst and Hurt/Comfort in Yuri!!! On Ice!. Namida will be released in both PDF and Printed form on May 1st @yoiangstzine​
Happy Sharing! Let’s get the word out and win some Prizes!! @yoizine-n-doujin @zine-scene @yoievents
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 7 years ago
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[Image: a blue and purple starry background with the title: Isekai Another World - a Yuri!!! on Ice AU zine, followed by a preview of the following promotional text by mod SakuraWindChime]
The Coincidence - Slice-of-life AU
By @sakurawindchime
The modern day, slice-of-life AU where the protagonist crashes into their love interest and their relationship develops from there. Full of slow burn deliciousness, falling in love, and perhaps a small side order of drama.
-
That extra five minutes was the worst decision he had ever made. Well, perhaps not ever, but it certainly had been that morning. Not only had Yuuri given in to the urge to close his eyes for those innocent five minutes, but his traitorous body had swiftly fallen straight back into glorious sleep.
Until Phichit rapped on his bedroom door and called a too cheerful reminder that he was going to be late for work if he didn’t get his ‘sweet ass’ out of bed.
Now, Yuuri hastily combed his fingers through his short hair, fretting over straightening the cowlicked curls he always woke up with, while he swept and weaved through the rush-hour crowd. He had long mastered the art of making it through the heaving bodies without bumping an arm or tripping on uneven paving. Those first weeks of early morning commutes in the bustling city were ones Yuuri hastened to forget.
Taking the subway stairs two at a time, he emerged into a fine drizzle for which he was wholly unprepared. Umbrella forgotten on his desk and greatly missing the ease of obtaining one in a Japanese konbini, Yuuri sighed. He hoisted the duffle bag higher on his shoulder to continue on, accepting the fate of his soon to be damp work clothes.
And crashed straight into the shoulder of a stranger.
The disrupted momentum pushed him back, sending his body teetering off balance. Danseur poise and nimble feet were the only things that saved his backside from painfully meeting the asphalt. A high trill of a bell rang ahead of him, above the sound of the traffic, Yuuri’s gaze whipping up to witness the cyclist hurtling toward him. There was no way he was going to avoid it on time; they shouldn’t even be on the pavement.
A firm hand wrapped around his upper arm, yanking him out of the way and straight into a suited chest, the cyclist speeding past them.
“You could’ve hit him!” An accented voice shouted over his head, probably falling on deaf ears.
“Thanks for the save,” Yuuri said slightly dazed, putting a gentle but firm hand on a black lapel to create some distance between them.
The man took a small step away. Yet his hand remained on Yuuri’s arm, spreading welcoming warmth through his damp clothes.
“I’m so sorry for bumping into you,” the stranger began.
Yuuri gripped the strap of his bag, willing his beating heart to calm, and raised his gaze away from the lilac, silk tie.
“I wasn’t paying attention to where-.”
The most startling azure eyes Yuuri had ever seen stared back, widening slightly as they seemed to flicker over him. Sweeping silver hair fell over the left of his face, styled with a small flick. Yuuri was pretty sure his mouth had fallen open in wonder.
“Wow…” The man sounded almost breathless.
Yuuri’s sentiments exactly. He was so beautiful, almost ethereal with his pale skin and moonlight hair. Even under the shade of the umbrella and the dreary sky, the man before him seemed to shine. He could almost hear Phichit screaming from across the city to ask for his number.
No-one just asked for someone’s details out of the blue, especially after bashing into them and then being saved like a damsel-
“Have coffee with me,” Yuuri blurted out.
What? That was absolutely not supposed to happen. It was the second time that day his body had betrayed him.
Yuuri watched in horror as the man’s mouth widened into the most beautiful smile, his Cupid’s bow lips almost resembling a heart.
“I would love to!” His eyes glistened with the reply.
Though this time it wasn’t a mistake.
-
Notes:
Konbini (Japanese): A convenience store found in Japan.
Danseur (French): A male ballet dancer.
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Follow @sakurawindchime on Tumblr and read her work on AO3!
Click here to learn more about Isekai: Another World, our YOI AU Zine!
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 7 years ago
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Applications are open!
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Greetings from another world!
We would like to remind everyone that in 6 days, applications for Isekai: Another World AU Zine closes on October 14th. If you haven’t applied already, don’t miss your chance!
Get hyped everyone! Isekai: Another World is coming!
🌎
Interested in signing up as an artist or showing off your cosplay? Click here!
Are you a writer, itching to let those words flow? Click here!
Best wishes!
FAQ 🌎 Schedule 🌍 Charity
Elf Prince Yuuri art created by our mod @sakurawindchime
@yoizines @yoizine-n-doujin @zine-scene @fandomzines @zineapps
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 7 years ago
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Greetings from another world, everyone! 
After a small recalibration to align the different universes the Isekai: Another World AU Zine team would like to announce our new schedule that just arrived from outer space!
October 14th: Zine Applications Close  
October 14th-20th: Judging period 
October 20th: Notice Emails & Discord Channel invites sent
November 10th: First Check-In December 10th: Second Check-In January 10th 2019: Third Check-In
January 25th 2019: Soft Deadline
February 10th 2019: Hard Deadline
March 1st 2019: PDF Release
March 1st – 31st 2019: Print zine and merch ordering period
So ready your horses, buckle up in your space rockets, calibrate your time machines, send your enforcers, or call on your butlers! Don’t hesitate to join from wherever you are~ 
Best,
The mods
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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Ch 16- Nagano
The dread and stress did not go away, no matter how hard Viktor wished it away.  Even  an intimate night ended with pain, and a trip back home to their family—the most supportive Viktor had ever met—ended in  sharp words and hunched shoulders. Viktor had never hated the concept of Babel more than now—sitting and watching his Yuuri close up, talking to his mother and father, every party in the discussion tense. Viktor didn’t dare interrupt asking for translation when Yuuri looked ready to cry. His time would come. When the conversation came to a lull, Viktor took Yuuri’s chin  in his hand and lifted it, going for a kiss. Yuuri turned his head, his eyes downcast.
“Yuuri, what is it?” Viktor sounded on the verge of tears himself. He didn’t expect the man who made him the happiest would bring tears to his eyes too.
In a different way than in his past.
“My parents want me to start treatment.”
“Of course Yuuri—we are going to fight, right?” Viktor had to force a smile.
“Yes, Vitenka…” He still blushed saying that name. “It would keep me from the  Cup of China with you…”
“Oh.” The reaction slipped from his lips before he could control the tone. It wasn’t good—he could see Yuuri already begin to fidget anxiously and draw back.
“My parents won’t let my delay it, but I want to try anyway. You worked so hard getting me into the competition, and we’ve trained for so long.” His words were faster,  crashing together.   Viktor could see his heart beat faster through his neck, He was panicking.
“Yuuri… I want you to be healthy. If we only have Ice Castle together, that’s all that matters.” He watched as Yuuri’s worrying mouth hardened into a straight line.
“No. It’s been my dream since I started skating to skate on the same ice as you.”
“But you have—“
“ Not  just Ice Castle.” He sighed, exasperated. “Competing. Across the world.  Giving you a run for your money.”
“But you need to get treatment…” It was hard to balance the worry for the love of his life, and Yuuri’s apparent need to compete against him.
“I know. But I would feel stupid if I gave up on the Cup, and didn’t make it through treatment. I’m  so incredibly close, it would be laughing in God’s face to give up now.”
“But Yuuri,” Viktor stammered—a whirl on conflicting emotions. “If you delay treatment, you can get worse, it’s not worth risking your life over.” Yuuri had slipped out of Viktor’s grasp, and was now staring at his hands, picking at them.
“Everyone says that.”  He said softly. “As if they know it.”
“Yuuri, please.” Viktor’s voice broke. Pulling strings to get a new competitor at the Cup was no easy feat, and he had not done it as a last wish—he had done it for himself, to show off this treasure of a man.
“I’m not stupid.” Yuuri’s voice was hoarse “I’ll get it early in the week, and sleep until competition. I’ll…need your cooperation.” He bowed slightly, and it kind of stung.
“Yuuri, if you hurt yourself again, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.” Viktor said gravely.
“It’s my decision, Viktor. It doesn’t reflect on you. I need to do this.” He fidgeted, pulling on his clothes, before he fell forward, burying his face into Viktor’s chest.
How could anyone refuse that?
~~~
Mari took the weekend off and traveled up to Nagano  with them the day before the competition. Viktor began the long trip tense and bitter that she was stepping on their toes… but he kept quiet. It was his family, after all. None of them had made it to Sochi, and seeing Yuuri’s sweet smile soothed him. He felt worse when they actually made it out of Hasetsu, and the day-long photoshoot began. Mari had them constantly posing for pictures- with ekiben lunches, in front of station signs, at the venue. He avoided telling Yuuri, but relished checking her Instagram and finding sneaked pictures of the pair staring out the window, sharing a juice box. The Katsuki’s were angels.
Although Viktor had no business in Nagano—he easily had placed into the Cup, and had no need to compete as a finalist in Japan—he felt welcomed.  Skating fans rejoiced… but the most refreshing was seeing Yuuri. Senior skaters and coaches from the JSF came in waves, greeting Yuuri like an old friend. He smiled, always looking humble. The best was when he subconsciously leaned back into Viktor.
“Ne, Viktor, can we take a break?” Yuuri turned to him as the hundredth coach something-or-other left to talk to another competitor. “Mmm?” He turned back to Yuuri—this was old hat, after all.
“My legs hurt… and I just…” He trailed off, looking drained. “Want some time with you?”
Viktor smiled and nodded enthusiastically. He wrapped an arm around Yuuri’s waist, leading him outside and calling a cab back to the hotel. Yuuri dragged his feet to the bed, immediately going to pull off his prosthetics.
“Where’s Mari?” Viktor asked cautiously. There was only one bed, however large, he didn’t know if he was that close to the family yet.
“Staying downtown. She has some friends from college here.” Yuuri sounded exhausted, and he immediately flopped backward onto the mattress once he was free of his legs.
Viktor played with the black tray on the table, peering at the packaged rice crackers and tea bags laid artfully out.
“Oh, there’s a hot water pot in the cabinet.” Yuuri said, rolling onto his side, plugging his phone in to charge.
“Do you want tea? Viktor perked up, looking back at Yuuri.  The memory of their night in Fukuoka crept back from the recesses of his mind. “How are your legs?”
“Same as always.” Yuuri looked up as the mattress next to him sunk under Viktor’s weight. “It happens. Don’t be worried.” His eyes widened slightly as he rolled into Viktor’s body.
“Do you feel dizzy?” He felt like a doting housewife, but without Hiroko there to nag him, he worried he would have a repeat of the fall.
“No.. just tired. Talking to so many people… I don’t remember many names. It was hard.” Yuuri’s voice softened, his hand resting between them near Viktor’s heart. “I needed this.”
~~
After a forced full breakfast at the hotel, Yuuri went on to take the podium in bronze. Viktor watched from the kiss and cry, falling in love all over again. His anxiety of the past week about whether Yuuri would be healthy enough, and as open and cuddly as he was in Hasetsu was soothed by the beautiful performance. His heart stuttered when Eros locked eyes with him, and when Yuuri landed a quad with a locked ankle.  The brightness that had been missing at Sochi sparkled in Yuuri’s eyes and in Viktor’s heart.
They celebrated that night with katsudon at a small mom and pop restaurant a few blocks from the hotel.  Mari joined them, hugging Yuuri and slapping him on the back in between mugs of celebratory beer.
Viktor ended up saving photos from that weekend on his phone, staring at them to burn them into his memory.  He committed every light and shadow to memory, just in case he needed to replace the image before him with a healthier one.
Yuuri refused to allow Viktor to accompany him to his chemotherapy appointment. Having done it before, he said that he would only be asleep, attached to an IV for a few hours. It was a day he didn’t dare wish on anyone else. So Viktor was ready, waiting with Makkachin and Vicchan in his lap when the Katsuki fan pulled up in the early darkness. Viktor carried Yuuri up to his bedroom, letting his angel sleep, hoping the grey circles under his eyes would disappear soon.
Viktor ended up packing for Yuuri, under duress at the perfect puppy-doe-eyes. Whatever food Yuuri managed to eat didn’t last long, which meant he didn’t make it far out of bed. After the second day, Viktor carried him downstairs into a fort of blankets in front of a TV and more company than a Russian and two panting dogs. He was too tired to protest.
The day Hiroko took Yuuri’s suitcase and unpacked it, was the first day Yuuri kept down food. After a second meal, he re-packed himself and printed their plane tickets on the computer.
“Yuuri..” Viktor glanced back into the living room as he helped Yuuri put on the prosthetics he had been unable to fit into for the past few days. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” Yuuri said with such certainty, Viktor was taken aback by this new  Yuuri.
“But your parents…”
“Were like this before, too.” Yuuri said softly, the click of the prosthetic lock punctuating his statement. “ This time, I can’t give up.”
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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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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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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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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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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Ch 19- Gold
It took an hour to fight through the media and the fans. By the time he reached Yuuri, he was out of his costume and in a wheelchair. A new tissue box was on his lap, his fingers tangled in the soft fabric as his head lolled back in his sleep. Phichit was next to him, keeping the headphones on Yuuri’s head, blocking out the noise of the crowd.
It felt wrong.  Not the kind of wrong where it felt like everything in the world had shifted an inch to the left. Not the kind of wrong where they had a fight and left it hanging in the air without dealing with it.
The kind of wrong where Viktor should have been the one taking care of Yuuri. Instead, he had a heavy medal hanging on his chest over an even heavier heart.   He had worked so hard to make sure Yuuri got to fulfill his dream of skating on the same ice as his childhood idol that he let his mind get clouded with anger.  The anger at the judges had solidified, lashing out and hurting Yuuri.  The fact that Yuuri didn’t get mad or spill a single tear, made it sting a hundred times worse.  This was supposed to be a high point in Yuuri’s life, a taste of a life he could have if he kept fighting… not another cross to bear.
Phichit looked up from his phone, finally noticing Viktor’s presence. Viktor expected him to recoil, or chastise him for hurting Yuuri, but he just stood up. “He’s a little woozy.” He said, gesturing to the now empty spot besides Yuuri. Viktor immediately sat, stroking the side of Yuuri’s face. His hair had grown longer since  they had first met, and it was now curling around his ears.  He tucked a curl behind his ear, pink from the chill of the rink. It probably wasn’t a good idea to keep him in the cold, but Viktor knew that Yuuri would have refused to leave. His eyes opened at the touch, blinking slowly.  Viktor had stared at the dark lashes, admired them against Yuuri’s cheeks before, but this time in particular made his heart ache.
“Vik…Vitenka.” He whispered sleepily, his voice thick. His hands left the tissue box in his lap and went up, the weight of the medal lifting off of his chest. He stared at Yuuri kissed it, and then as Yuuri  smiled as he pressed a kiss to Yuuri’s cheek.
“Congratulations, Vitenka.” Yuuri turned pink at Phichit’s excited clapping. He must have forgotten the  Russian lessons back in Detroit, or maybe he was more obvious than he thought.
“How are you feeling?” Viktor looked down  Yuuri’s chest, to the tissue box, and to his prosthetic-less legs.
“Gold.” Yuuri said simply, setting the medal back onto Viktor’s chest with a forced smile. “Maybe a little hungry.” He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, swallowing again.
“Yuuri.” Viktor said, his voice  becoming thick as well. Yuuri looked up at him, the smile replaced with confusion at the Russian’s unreadable expression.
“Yes?” He said uneasily, watching as Viktor slipped the ribbon over his head and held the ribbon out to Yuuri. “That’s yours, Viktor…” He sounded uncomfortable, looking from the medal, up to Viktor’s face, and back.
“I know. But it is the only round and gold thing I have right now. “ He melted at Yuuri’s incredulous expression. “Yuuri, will you marry me?”
Phichit made the sound of a dying raccoon.  Yuuri choked.
“You… what?” He stuttered, nervously picking at the tissue box cover. “Don’t joke like that, Viktor…” His voice wavered.
Viktor knew that it wasn’t meant to be a knife slid perfectly into his heart, and that it was Yuuri’s own monster speaking… but it still hurt.
“I know that it comes out of the blue, and that it is strange when there’s no name to what we are, Yuuri… but please…” Viktor swallowed back the emotions pushing at the back of his throat. “Answer me.”
Yuuri stared  wide-eyed at his lap, tears threatening to spill over his red cheeks.
“O…okay.” He bowed his head as  Viktor slipped the medal over his neck. “I mean—yes—“ Viktor cut him off with a kiss, much softer than he expected from such an emotionally charged moment.
The camera-click sound effect broke the silence.
“Not for Instagram!” Yuuri squeaked, waving his hand as Phichit clapped vigorously.
They called a taxi , returning to the hotel for a much needed break.  Yuuri fell asleep before room service arrived with an early dinner, the gold medal still resting  over his heart.
Viktor debated waking Yuuri up, enjoying watching sleeping beauty breathe and snuggle into their shared bed.  But logic took over, and Viktor didn’t dare risk letting Yuuri go any longer without any food in his already weakened body. He leaned over, kissing his spur-of-the-moment fiancée on his lips. He relished the Yuuri that existed momentarily before his brain took over, the  Yuuri that kissed him back automatically.
However sweet he thought Yuuri, it didn’t transfer. He tasted metallic, as if he had kissed a metal instead of his fiancé. It didn’t sit well, but the thought was banished the moment Yuuri opened his eyes.
“Are we late?” He yawned, before setting his eyes on the tray set on the end of the bed. It wasn’t hot pot, but it what the hotel had.  Viktor had ordered the fruit sherbet just in case.
“No. Another two hours or so.” Viktor said softly, moving the tray closer to Yuuri. He poked around at the food, before settling on a bowl of plain rice.
“Are you still….?” Viktor  trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence. Yuuri didn’t answer,  adding a pile of bok choy and marinated meat on top of the rice. He ate slowly, but still struggled to eat. Half of the bowl remained when he set it down, sinking back into the pile of pillows set against the headboard. Yuuri thought Viktor would let it slide again, closing his eyes, before he felt cold metal pressed against his bottom lip.
“Vi—“ the spoon slid into his mouth as soon as he opened it, and he choked back the sherbet.  He opened his eyes, narrowing them, but Viktor only smiled sweetly.
“Open up.” He sang, the smile cracking at the corners, scooping up more sherbet.
“I’m not that tired.” Yuuri mumbled, lifting his hands  to take the spoon. Viktor scooted, almost too close, reminding Yuuri of his missing limbs and the phantom ache that had plagued him all day. “Viktor,” Yuuri huffed, leaning forward and taking the next bite of sherbet before it melted onto the sheets.
“It’s not funny.” Yuuri  pouted, Viktor stabbing the rest of the sherbet with the spoon.
“No, it’s not. You said you wouldn’t compete if you weren’t up to it.” Viktor said coldly.
“I did. I was. Up for it.” Yuuri’s fingers tightened around the sheets, his anxiety beating against the back of his throat and the pit of his stomach.
“Eat. Please.” Viktor held out the spoon, holding it delicately enough that Yuuri could take it from him. He breathed out a long sigh of relief. The ice cream wasn’t so bad, after all. It didn’t help for long, but it disguised the thick copper taste that coated his throat better than the rice.
Finishing the  sherbet seemed to satisfy Viktor enough to ease off of nursing  his brand new fiancé. They laid on bed,  Viktor playing with Yuuri’s hair as he caught up on social media.
“Mmmm. Don’t you want a shower?” Viktor mused, Yuuri immediately shrinking away. Damn. Way to go, Viktor. “I just remembered the hair wax we put in this morning…” He added, trying to smooth over the faux pas.
“Yeah… but I haven’t felt like getting back into my legs just to take them off again.” Yuuri said in a small voice.
“I could carry you.” Viktor smiled, tracing a circle on Yuuri’s cheek. He frowned, batting his hand away.
“Please, Viktor. I’m not a baby. I’m just tired.”
Viktor’s smile dissolved. He could feel the soil pile up behind him as he dug himself a deeper and deeper hole.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I was thinking, we could shower together..”
Finally, that familiar blush was back.
“What Yuuri, is that too much?” He teased, moving to trace a finger around the medal around Yuuri’s neck. “We’ve bathed together so many times, what’s the difference?”
“Those were hot springs..” Yuuri muttered. “This is a hotel room, and I could do it myself.. I’d just rather…”
“Rather what?” His eyes shone and his smile curled into a mischievous one. He waggled his eyebrows at Yuuri, who sighed.
“Stay in bed with you.” He  mumbled, hiding his face.
“And?” Viktor pushed closer to Yuuri, hovering over him.
“ And… celebrate?” Yuuri dropped his hands, reaching deep inside himself for the Eros he’d brought out on the ice earlier that day. He lifted the gold medal from his chest and pressed it against Viktor’s lips, lifting his head and pressing his own lips to the other side.
Mission accomplished. Viktor melted, collapsing against Yuuri and cuddling into him, hugging him tightly.
They pulled apart only when the reminder alarm rang on Yuuri’s phone. Viktor’s nursing tendencies did not stray far. He helped Yuuri slide on the socks and prosthetic liner, resting his hand on Yuuri’s thigh a second longer than he needed to. Viktor watched Yuuri, his heart full, as he kept the medal on even after pulling off the rest of his clothes to scrub his face clean and freshen up. He was so enamored with it, he had no peace of mind to worry about Yuuri’s fidgeting and slowness.  He was nearly humming to himself, leaving the bathroom to get dressed, when Yuuri finally reached for his toothbrush. He brushed, rinsing his mouth, before looking heavenward and trying to gargle as quietly as he could. He watched the door, before spitting into the sink, turning on the faucet before the  thick red liquid could cling to the porcelain for long.
--
“Why aren’t you wearing it?” Viktor whined, when Yuuri finally had the new suit Viktor had bought him buttoned properly.
“There’s no way, Viktor!” Yuuri turned tomato red. “I’m not wearing your gold medal to the gala.  People would think I’m crazy!”
“Then I’ll tell them it’s for our engagement.” Viktor crossed his arms. “How else will the world know?”
“Usually by rings.” Yuuri muttered under his breath, playing with the ribbon in his fingers.
“Then I’ll find someone to melt it—“
“Viktor!” Yuuri squeaked, then cleared his throat. “Phichit knows, and that’s all that matters right now.”
“What about your family?” Viktor sounded a little wounded. Yuuri hesitated.
“Mari-nee-chan would just say she called it, and my parents wouldn’t understand.”
“Understand what? They’ve been okay with what’s been going on for the past year. Are you saying they wouldn’t approve?” Viktor’s heart started stuttering, beating fast between skipping a beat.
 Yuuri rubbed his thumb against the round edge of the medal. “They  don’t understand what it means to me. “ He said quietly. “I want to tell them in person. “
“Yuuri, why do you do this to me?” Viktor sighed, dragging his hands down  Yuuri’s body as he sunk to  his knees.
“Do what to you?” Yuuri asked, the emotion of the moment dispersed by the placement of Viktor’s hand. “Vitenka, we’re going to be late. “ He whined, setting the medal down on the nightstand.
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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me asking my friends to beta my writing
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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warning: long post
so, maybe this has been discussed before…but here we go anyways. 
a lot of us love yuri on ice because of it’s pure hearted love, realistic depictions of characters, teaching us about a beautiful sport…the beautiful story itself. and something i’d like to talk about is how it approaches things many of us struggle with;  anxiety
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and depression.
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now, we know that katsuki yuuri struggles with anxiety (and depression, as well) but he is mainly known for his anxiety. and, at least for me, for many of us, it has become one of the reasons we really relate to him. 
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it even made me, personally, feel better at times. they did a good job of showing just some of the…mannerisms, that can come with having anxiety. 
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it also shows how he overcomes it and works through it in a very inspirational and amazing way. he was at, what felt like, rock bottom and, from there, (you can say) he rose from the ashes. 
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so, let’s talk about viktor nikiforov for a second. i’ve seen several posts talking about this and maybe i’m just missing others, but i haven’t seen many people touching on this…that, in my opinion, viktor had depression. we talk about yuuri, for good reason. but viktor…always smiling, joking, charismatic viktor. he wasn’t happy anymore. 
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he lacked inspiration…but, not only that, something he loved, his passion, he lost an interest for it, his reason for it. isn’t that one of the biggest symptoms of depression? he felt isolated and alone. lacking life. lacking love. another fact is that it is usually the people who are so charming, smiling the brightest, laughing the loudest…are who’re hurting the most. 
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and so many people talk about the “face” viktor puts on for the public and other people…could that be because of how unhappy he was inside? 
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(also, side note, about that one post that confirmed that when “yuuri laughs it’s not always from his heart”… could this be why yuuri sees viktor as he is and wants him to “just be viktor” and why viktor feels such a bond with yuuri? cause he is finally understood and seen as himself. just as he understands yuuri.) 
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and, i mean, makkachin can even be looked at as an emotional comfort dog with how viktor clung to him…he is. (and, also, with how yuuri clung to vicchan. how he was so distraught when he died that it affected his program and emotional stability. it’s the same thing. that connection.) and so when makkachin was in trouble, yuuri knew how viktor would react if something happened to him cause they both have/had strong connections with their pets. hence, why he sent viktor back to japan. and why he even is attached to makkachin too. 
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and both these characters were strong on their own. we’re inspirations on their own. but…that’s the point, right? they were on their own. they felt alone. and they came into each other’s lives right when they needed each other the most.
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yuuri showed viktor the life and love he had been missing. and viktor came right when yuuri was the most lost and didn’t know what to do. they pushed each other and relied on one another.
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they inspired each other to find their love again. love for their passions and career. and a love for life. all through a love for each other. 
and it wasn’t explicitly said but… yuuri did help viktor through his depression. 
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and viktor did help yuuri overcome his anxiety. 
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and, also, i think that’s one of the reasons why it hurts both of them (and us) so much when we even think about them separating.
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and, i think, that shows something so beautiful, something deeper in this show. something that really touched all of us. a genuine love that saved these two people. a love we all wish to find. 
they will always go through their struggles. life just works like that. but they will never be alone. and that makes all the difference. 
this show inspires me.  
they are soul mates. 
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“we call everything on the ice love”
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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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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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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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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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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Deep Within My Bones Ch 16. Nagano
The dread and stress did not go away, no matter how hard Viktor wished it away. Even  an intimate night ended with pain, and a trip back home to their family—the most supportive Viktor had ever met—ended in  sharp words and hunched shoulders. Viktor had never hated the concept of Babel more than now—sitting and watching his Yuuri close up, talking to his mother and father, every party in the discussion tense. Viktor didn’t dare interrupt asking for translation when Yuuri looked ready to cry. His time would come. When the conversation came to a lull, Viktor took Yuuri’s chin  in his hand and lifted it, going for a kiss. Yuuri turned his head, his eyes downcast.
“Yuuri, what is it?” Viktor sounded on the verge of tears himself. He didn’t expect the man who made him the happiest would bring tears to his eyes too.
In a different way than in his past.
“My parents want me to start treatment.”
“Of course Yuuri—we are going to fight, right?” Viktor had to force a smile.
“Yes, Vitenka…” He still blushed saying that name. “It would keep me from the Cup of China with you…”
“Oh.” The reaction slipped from his lips before he could control the tone. It wasn’t good—he could see Yuuri already begin to fidget anxiously and draw back.
“My parents won’t let my delay it, but I want to try anyway. You worked so hard getting me into the competition, and we’ve trained for so long.” His words were faster,  crashing together.   Viktor could see his heart beat faster through his neck, He was panicking.
“Yuuri… I want you to be healthy. If we only have Ice Castle together, that’s all that matters.” He watched as Yuuri’s worrying mouth hardened into a straight line.
“No. It’s been my dream since I started skating to skate on the same ice as you.”
“But you have—“
“ Not  just Ice Castle.” He sighed, exasperated. “Competing. Across the world.  Giving you a run for your money.”
“But you need to get treatment…” It was hard to balance the worry for the love of his life, and Yuuri’s apparent need to compete against him.
“I know. But I would feel stupid if I gave up on the Cup, and didn’t make it through treatment. I’m  so incredibly close, it would be laughing in God’s face to give up now.”
“But Yuuri,” Viktor stammered—a whirl on conflicting emotions. “If you delay treatment, you can get worse, it’s not worth risking your life over.” Yuuri had slipped out of Viktor’s grasp, and was now staring at his hands, picking at them.
“Everyone says that.”  He said softly. “As if they know it.”
“Yuuri, please.” Viktor’s voice broke. Pulling strings to get a new competitor at the Cup was no easy feat, and he had not done it as a last wish—he had done it for himself, to show off this treasure of a man.
“I’m not stupid.” Yuuri’s voice was hoarse “I’ll get it early in the week, and sleep until competition. I’ll…need your cooperation.” He bowed slightly, and it kind of stung.
“Yuuri, if you hurt yourself again, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.” Viktor said gravely.
“It’s my decision, Viktor. It doesn’t reflect on you. I need to do this.” He fidgeted, pulling on his clothes, before he fell forward, burying his face into Viktor’s chest.
How could anyone refuse that?
~~~
Mari took the weekend off and traveled up to Nagano  with them the day before the competition. Viktor began the long trip tense and bitter that she was stepping on their toes… but he kept quiet. It was his family, after all. None of them had made it to Sochi, and seeing Yuuri’s sweet smile soothed him. He felt worse when they actually made it out of Hasetsu, and the day-long photoshoot began. Mari had them constantly posing for pictures- with ekiben lunches, in front of station signs, at the venue. He avoided telling Yuuri, but relished checking her Instagram and finding sneaked pictures of the pair staring out the window, sharing a juice box. The Katsuki’s were angels.
Although Viktor had no business in Nagano—he easily had placed into the Cup, and had no need to compete as a finalist in Japan—he felt welcomed. Skating fans rejoiced… but the most refreshing was seeing Yuuri. Senior skaters and coaches from the JSF came in waves, greeting Yuuri like an old friend. He smiled, always looking humble. The best was when he subconsciously leaned back into Viktor.
“Ne, Viktor, can we take a break?” Yuuri turned to him as the hundredth coach something-or-other left to talk to another competitor. “Mmm?” He turned back to Yuuri—this was old hat, after all.
“My legs hurt… and I just…” He trailed off, looking drained. “Want some time with you?”
Viktor smiled and nodded enthusiastically. He wrapped an arm around Yuuri’s waist, leading him outside and calling a cab back to the hotel. Yuuri dragged his feet to the bed, immediately going to pull off his prosthetics.
“Where’s Mari?” Viktor asked cautiously. There was only one bed, however large, he didn’t know if he was that close to the family yet.
“Staying downtown. She has some friends from college here.” Yuuri sounded exhausted, and he immediately flopped backward onto the mattress once he was free of his legs.
Viktor played with the black tray on the table, peering at the packaged rice crackers and tea bags laid artfully out.
“Oh, there’s a hot water pot in the cabinet.” Yuuri said, rolling onto his side, plugging his phone in to charge.
“Do you want tea? Viktor perked up, looking back at Yuuri.  The memory of their night in Fukuoka crept back from the recesses of his mind. “How are your legs?”
“Same as always.” Yuuri looked up as the mattress next to him sunk under Viktor’s weight. “It happens. Don’t be worried.” His eyes widened slightly as he rolled into Viktor’s body.
“Do you feel dizzy?” He felt like a doting housewife, but without Hiroko there to nag him, he worried he would have a repeat of the fall.
“No.. just tired. Talking to so many people… I don’t remember many names. It was hard.” Yuuri’s voice softened, his hand resting between them near Viktor’s heart. “I needed this.”
~~
After a forced full breakfast at the hotel, Yuuri went on to take the podium in bronze. Viktor watched from the kiss and cry, falling in love all over again. His anxiety of the past week about whether Yuuri would be healthy enough, and as open and cuddly as he was in Hasetsu was soothed by the beautiful performance. His heart stuttered when Eros locked eyes with him, and when Yuuri landed a quad with a locked ankle.  The brightness that had been missing at Sochi sparkled in Yuuri’s eyes and in Viktor’s heart.
They celebrated that night with katsudon at a small mom and pop restaurant a few blocks from the hotel.  Mari joined them, hugging Yuuri and slapping him on the back in between mugs of celebratory beer.
Viktor ended up saving photos from that weekend on his phone, staring at them to burn them into his memory.  He committed every light and shadow to memory, just in case he needed to replace the image before him with a healthier one.
Yuuri refused to allow Viktor to accompany him to his chemotherapy appointment. Having done it before, he said that he would only be asleep, attached to an IV for a few hours. It was a day he didn’t dare wish on anyone else. So Viktor was ready, waiting with Makkachin and Vicchan in his lap when the Katsuki fan pulled up in the early darkness. Viktor carried Yuuri up to his bedroom, letting his angel sleep, hoping the grey circles under his eyes would disappear soon.
Viktor ended up packing for Yuuri, under duress at the perfect puppy-doe-eyes. Whatever food Yuuri managed to eat didn’t last long, which meant he didn’t make it far out of bed. After the second day, Viktor carried him downstairs into a fort of blankets in front of a TV and more company than a Russian and two panting dogs. He was too tired to protest.
The day Hiroko took Yuuri’s suitcase and unpacked it, was the first day Yuuri kept down food. After a second meal, he re-packed himself and printed their plane tickets on the computer.
“Yuuri..” Viktor glanced back into the living room as he helped Yuuri put on the prosthetics he had been unable to fit into for the past few days. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” Yuuri said with such certainty, Viktor was taken aback by this new Yuuri.
“But your parents…”
“Were like this before, too.” Yuuri said softly, the click of the prosthetic lock punctuating his statement. “ This time, I can’t give up.”
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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No matter how far you go, never forget where you came from. Happy Mother’s Day to all. ❤
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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Deep Within My Bones Ch 15 - Ghost
Something was wrong.
It felt wrong, which is what pulled Viktor from a blissful sleep after one of the best days he had in his life.  The bedside lamp on the nightstand in the anonymous hotel they picked in the city was still on. It was the perfect backlight to Yuuri’s profile, his face crumbled in pain, quiet tears sliding down his cheeks and soaking into the sheets.
“Yuuri…” Viktor breathed, immediately sitting up. By habit, he reached for the blankets to cover himself, before remembering he didn’t have to…. Yuuri hadn’t… but it wasn’t a good idea to think of that.  He had a good reason to not bother. He touched his zvezda’s shoulder. It was unnerving how quiet  Yuuri could get.
“Whats wrong…? Did I do something…?” Acid built up in his stomach at the thought—had he pushed Yuuri too fast? Was this too much? It had been years since Victor had bothered to put any thought to the matter. Even then, he had been empty, and something like society’s concept of virginity was meaningless to him. But this was Yuuri. This was the man who had slept on the floor when Makkachin felt unwell, making sure she was okay and eating enough. This was the man who completely shut down at any talk of relationships—even when Mariko and Phichit (over Skype) joined in. It had been Phichit who had put the nail in that coffin, and reassured Viktor that this was new ground with Yuuri.
But no, this was worse. The news that Viktor had swept to the back of his mind, and the fall at the rink… this had a much deeper, darker shadow to it than an overwhelming, intimate night.
“Mmn?” A  pained noise escaped from Yuuri, and he shifted gingerly toward Viktor. “Oh, no… its…” He blinked, his dark eyelashes wet and sticking together with heavy tears. “It happens.”
“We should go to the hospital.” Viktor reached over Yuuri for his glasses on the nightstand, their skin golden in the cheap lamplight.
“No!” Viktor froze. He was not in the mood to argue—he had listened to Yuuri, obeyed his requests for savings it for outside for the rink—not now—not at home. He was avoiding it. But he wasn’t going to sit by and let something eat Yuuri from the inside out.
“Yuuri. We’re going.”
“No, I don’t need to. They can’t… it happens, okay?” His tears were in freefall now. “It’s my feet.”
Viktor cast a glance to the metal prosthetics that lay haphazardly on the carpet next to the bed.
“It’s… um…” His fingers pressed against his forehead, his tshirt balled in his lap, wet. “Ghost pain… it  happens… they tell you about it.”
Viktor reached up and pushed Yuuri’s hair  back tenderly. “Shall I get some medicine?” His star shook his head.
“It won’t work…the nerves aren’t there. It’s the brain.” Yuuri fell into Viktor’s side, the familiar touch he had grown to love ever since the night watching the fireworks.
“I want to help..” Viktor caught himself pouting. Now was not the time to manipulate  Yuuri into doing what he wanted.. the acting was so automatic, he hated it.
“You are…” Yuuri breathed, the sound ragged and worn sounding. He looked up at Viktor, with a heartbreaking smile. “Distractions help a lot.”
“You should have woken me up, Zvezda.”
“I’m too tired for Russian.  English is enough.”
He was stunned. That was the most direct and dull Yuuri had been in months.
“Then we can try Japanese.” Viktor chirped, grabbing his phone as the surprise and horror spread across  Yuuri’s face.
“Ai-shi-te-ru.” Viktor pieced out after tapping through a few apps. Yuuri immediately buried his face in his hands.
“Oh god..”
“That bad?” Viktor pretended to be wounded.
“No! No… Just very strong. No one really says that.”
“But I love you.” Viktor’s tone fell at the end. By now, it had to be obvious. What more could he do?
“I know.” Yuuri turned tomato red, hiding his face in his hands. “It’s just…”
“What. Not Japanese?” He had heard this before—hugging, perfume, eating fruit with the skin on. Not Japanese.
“Very Viktor.”
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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I am The Worst at keeping two blogs
If you see anything other than the chapters that's because I reblog dangerously and it belongs on my main blog @creme13rulee
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deepwithinmybonesfic · 8 years ago
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Yuuri and Viktor are so gentle……..
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