you are the ocean′s gray waves (yoi bb 4/5)
The morning after that, the weight of Viktor’s stare felt different. Yuuri glanced over to him as discreetly as he could. But nothing looked like it changed. Viktor’s eyes were just as blue as always, a colour clear as crystal. The second Viktor caught him looking back, he smiled sunnily. As carefree as usual. Yuuri turned back around and frowned to himself. Maybe he was imagining it. It was fully possible. After all, Minako was the one he talked to the most. So he didn’t really know Viktor well enough to know if something had changed. Even if he’d started watching him back just as much. He shook his head and decided to ask Minako later. Their practice would start soon; Yuuri wanted to find a place to watch it after he dragged more water up from the stream.
“Does Viktor seem weird to you?” He asked Minako after practice was over when he handed her a towel- doing it last, so they could talk without anyone hearing. Yuuri… really didn’t want anyone else hearing this. “Like, lately?”
“Viktor always seems weird,” Minako said. He frowned at her and she blinked. “Oh. You’re serious.” Discreetly, way more discreet than Yuuri ever could, Minako looked over at Viktor. Looked him up and down, tilted her head. Then she looked back at him.
“Nope. Not any weirder than he’s been since you got here,” Minako said.
“Since I’ve been here?” Yuuri asked. What did he have to do with how Viktor was acting? Maybe Viktor had hated him since the beginning and that was why he stared all the time. Except… he was the one who asked to ‘keep’ him. Minako hummed.
“Yeah. You’ve had quite the effect on him, Yuuri,” she said with a knowing smirk and left him to stew in whatever that meant until Yakov yelled, breaking him out of his confused stupor.
The dance the group was performing was a tale of lovers. Where one was cursed into a monster and the other had to get them to remove layers until they revealed the human underneath. Mila had told him the monster was a snake-like youma. Georgi called it romantic. And Yuuri didn’t really disagree. A story about a person, cursed into forgetting who he truly was, saved by one who’d grown to love him despite that.
Yuuri danced through the moves of the story, picturing himself as the creature. He knelt before his sister, who’d wanted to marry a bride, and smiled at her with a hint of cruelty behind it. To tell her “a bride for me before a bride for you”. The words slipped from him, whispered into the air, intent woven in them. Eventually someone would come and they’d trick him into time together and then on their wedding night they’d trick him out of layers of skin until only the person he had been lay exposed. And though the play ended soon after that, Yuuri liked to believe the two lovers had a long and happy marriage after that.
But for now Yuuri danced without a partner. A beast that simply wanted. Wanted love, wanted the place it was supposed to have in the world. Wanted to be a prince again. He held the final position of the set, breath coming heavy, a sense of right singing in his muscles. A sense that only really came here . With the adrenaline of the dance, the visions falling away in the aftermath. The cave of an empty room to be replaced with grass. He breathed in and opened his eyes. Only to register something human shaped. Suddenly the entire scene shattered and Yuuri dove for his glasses, already apologizing. When he got them on he could see night-darkened blue eyes watching him.
“How long have you been watching me?” Yuuri asked.
Viktor tapped his lips with a finger. A smile spread out. “A few days now.”
A few days ?! Yuuri felt himself flush. Heat spread throughout his body. He didn’t think anyone ever watched. That was kind of the point. Everyone was supposed to be asleep so he wouldn’t be watched. Except, Viktor did, just as he watched Yuuri throughout the day. Apparently this was what happened when you got used to someone’s stare. Yuuri bit his lip and looked down. There was a choice to make here. An apology or- Taking a breath to gather courage he rushed out, “Will you teach me the other dances? The ones with you. I mean, obviously only if you want to! I just thought yo- they looked cool and wanted to learn.”
Silence lingered for long enough he actually looked back up. Viktor was looking at him, seeming surprised. As he watched it turned pleased. “I’d love to.”
Yuuri got to know Viktor better, little by little, after that.
Viktor wasn’t the best teacher. But they fumbled and laughed together and it was okay. For what felt like the first time, Yuuri felt truly comfortable with someone dancing at his side. There was no awkwardness. Because they were both awkward. (They certainly stepped on each other’s feet enough to prove that.) His heart beat a little faster, a little harder, as the nights went by and Yuuri began to question whether or not it was actually the exercise and adrenaline.
“Something’s been bothering me,” Yuuri said later into what had to be his fourth week. Minako looked over. “What did you mean a few weeks ago, when you said the new ruler would get us on track to ‘actually being better’?”
With a sigh, Minako put down the costume she’d been looking at. Their first performance was coming up. Minako had to check to be sure all their costumes were okay and then she’d give them to Yakov for a double check and okay. “When the heavens pick a ruler, they pick the person they think will be best suited to serve their kingdom. When the ruler is good and just, the kingdom flourishes. But when a ruler becomes corrupt, the land starts to suffer. Droughts, youma, sickness. It all happened to Kou because of Saku-ou. Now that he’s dead, though, the heavens will pick a new ruler. And hopefully they’ll do better,” Minako told him.
“Oh,” Yuuri said. “So, the heavens just… reach down or something and say ‘this one here’?”
Minako snorted. “Something like that. A kirin will announce it by bowing to the ruler and swearing to serve them, showing the heavens approval.”
Yuuri nodded. It sounded weird. It sounded familiar. He had no idea what it meant.
He dreamt of dripping golden hair and fierce green eyes that night.
The second night of their performance, Georgi got sick. He snuffled miserably, voice warped with his clogged nose.
“Yakov, I can’t tonight,” Georgi said.
Yakov frowned- more than usual- at the way his voice went down pitifully. Mila clicked her tongue in sympathy.
“Georgi hates it when he can’t perform,” Mila whispered to Yuuri. “He feels bad about making us work around his role. Though usually it’s Yakov saying he can’t perform. This is new.”
“Yuuri could do it,” Viktor offered.
“ What ?” Yakov asked gruffly at the same time Yuuri yelped the same, looking to Viktor.
“We’ve been practicing,” Viktor said. “Yuuri knows his part. I believe in him.”
Yakov narrowed his eyes. Throughout his time with them, despite their quarrels- ‘quarrels’ mostly being Yakov yelling at Viktor and Viktor not really listening- Yuuri learned Yakov truly did trust Viktor’s opinion. In his own way. “Fine. Show me.”
Viktor smiled. “We will. Yuuri?”
“Uh, I- Are you sure?” Yuuri asked and Viktor nodded. With a brief look over at Yakov he reached forward and took Viktor’s hand. There were stumbles, but Yakov agreed to let them do it.
That night Yuuri was even more nervous to dance than earlier that day. It was one thing to perform for Yakov and Georgi and Mila and Minako. This was- This was an audience full of people in a house that was packed enough the air felt warm despite it being cool outside.
“Do you really think I can do it?” Yuuri quietly asked Viktor, forcing his eyes away from everyone else. Viktor nodded. He had no idea when he started to trust Viktor’s opinion, too. Eventually Minako shoved him out with a pat on his butt and a whispered ‘good luck’ in his ear.
It started terribly. Yuuri flubbed a number of turns and his anxiety felt like it melted his bones. But he was on stage and the music was playing and he couldn’t stop. But he fumbled and everyone saw. He couldn’t concentrate . It was like his mind was foggy. The scene in his head twisted and changed and felt as elusive as air. The second he could he closed his eyes. When he reopened them, he saw Viktor and he looked almost just as worried. Suddenly, Yuuri wanted to laugh. He was the one on stage. What did Viktor have to worry about? Yuuri took a breath and the next jump he actually landed.
Huh.
He took a look back in time to see Viktor take a breath. Seriously, he was on stage right now. When he fumbled the eyes would be on him. Sure, Viktor was his teacher, but nobody in the audience knew that. Plus wasn’t a teacher supposed to have confidence in their students? Yuuri had to bite his lip slightly to not actually laugh. Viktor tried his best, but even now he certainly wasn’t a teacher. He was a fantastic dancer, though.
The scene finally faded in, piece by piece, and this time it felt tangible.
Finally, Viktor entered the stage. The second they started to move together it felt like something changed. The air shifted. Their bodies moved with the precision of practice. Of knowing your partner and the way they moved. They flowed together, simple and strong. And the scene faded from a room to memories of grass and laughs and shushing each other so they wouldn’t wake Yakov. He looked at Viktor and saw the warmth he felt bubbling in his chest reflected in his eyes.
It felt like breathing.
It felt like love.
When it was over, Yuuri felt weak in the knees and giddy and he saw Viktor looked the same.
As they cleaned up, three young girls ran up to them, gushing so fast Yuuri couldn’t keep up. Mila smiled and talked back to them just as fast. Their excitement fed off of each other’s. It was clear they knew each other somehow. When they noticed him, the three let out a simultaneous gasp. “You're new!” One of them pointed an accusing finger at him.
“You were the cursed prince!” Another said.
“When did you join? Is it only for this performance or will it be for others, too? What's your name?” The last asked, rapid fire. It felt like an interrogation. Yuuri swallowed.
“Girls!” A voice admonished and the three wilted. He looked over to his saviour. She was a girl slightly shorter than him, with kind eyes and brown hair. Eyes that lit up in a very similar way to the three younger girls, who he assumed were her children.
“You were incredible !” The girl told him, practically bouncing where she stood with sudden energy. Her eyes flickered behind him. He followed her gaze to see Viktor. It stuck there. Hair still clung to Viktor’s forehead, glued with sweat. Viktor’s eyes were bright. “Both of you are! You have such good chemistry!”
“I agree,” Viktor said with a large smile. It looked like there were hearts in his expression. Yuuri’s breath stuttered in his chest. He was too focused on Viktor to notice Georgi watching them from the side with a pleased expression.
“I'm Yuuko, these are my girls, Axel, Lutz, and Loop. We've been watching their shows since a bit before they were born so we always come say hi after their performances,” Yuuko said. “Sorry for them jumping you. They were just surprised to see a new face. So am I, actually!”
“I'm Yuuri,” Yuuri said. She leaned forward and he answered another of the girls’ questions. “I joined about a month ago.”
“A month? And you've already learned the whole performance? Wow, that's amazing!”
“He'll be joining us for a few more of our performances for this one and will learn a new one later!” Viktor said. Yuuri turned to him in surprise. Because what ? No one had talked about that!
“Viktor,” he hissed under his breath. It was ignored and he suddenly knew how Yakov felt.
“We’re doing what now?” Yakov asked. Yuuri turned to see him handling one of the props menacingly as he glared over at Viktor.
“Yuuri’s going to be in more of our performances!” Viktor said. Yuuri suddenly really wished he could sink into the floor.
“Sounds good to me!” Minako yelled from the stage. “I wouldn’t mind teaching him a few new moves!”
“Yeah, it’ll be nice having an extra person,” Georgi said.
“Settled!” Mila said.
“Wait a minute-” Yakov said, but Yuuri already knew whatever he’d say wouldn’t matter. Not when the other three all agreed with whatever Viktor’s idea was. Yakov sighed, definitely knowing he was outvoted. At the sigh eight voices cheered. The other members of the troupe, along with Yuuko and her three girls.
“They just get a new member?” A man asked. He settled his arm over Yuuko’s shoulders, who looked up at him with a smile. “I still remember when Mila joined. So who’s the runt?”
“Yuuri,” Yuuko said. “And don’t be mean to this one, he seems nice.”
“You think everyone’s nice,” the man said. “Good luck,” he told Yuuri.
“Thanks,” Yuuri laughed awkwardly before being dogpiled by the other troupe members, happy that he’d joined. It was nice. They felt kind of like a family and Yuuri felt himself smile. Yakov gave them a moment before he yelled at them to get back to work and the family of fans said goodbye.
“Your hair’s gotten dark,” Mila told him one day during practice. For right now he would be Georgi’s understudy. As chosen by the group and agreed upon by Yakov. In another month they’d start to learn a new play, with enough roles for all five of them. Yuuri was excited. Even if he was nervous. He couldn’t wait to learn something new.
“It has?” Yuuri asked and tried to look, but it was too short for him to really see it. The best he could do was lean his head down and try to make out his bangs. They didn’t look any different.
“Yeah! It looks like coal now, while before it looked…” Mila hummed.
“Like night,” Georgi said.
“Yeah, that!” Mila said. “Like night.”
“Oh.” Yuuri went back to what he was doing, but his mind was whirling about his own hair now. He knew it could grey, but could black hair darken ? It didn’t seem to make sense. Though, neither did communicating (if it could be called that, he thought it could) with nature and yet that happened more than once.
“I think it’s nice,” Viktor said. Yuuri looked at him and when Viktor smiled softly, he smiled back just as soft.
They must both have been insane- Viktor and him. Heck, the whole troupe too for letting them. Three months had passed. Yuuri had fully integrated into the troupe. And Viktor and him were… He looked down and twirled the gleaming metal around his finger.
Married . After three months. It felt like he should be worried or should feel weird or something but all he felt was giddy. And he wasn’t alone. The feeling practically permeated the air around Viktor and him, and the others didn’t seem much better, as if they infected them. Even Yakov seemed pleased. Yuuri definitely didn’t expect all of this to lead here. He brought his ring to his lips. Just as Viktor had done after he’d slid it on his finger.
He was glad it did.
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In celebration of women, here are some fics centered around the great women of YOI! Happy international women's day! ♀️✨️
(Don't) Give a Damn by @forochel [T, 9K]
Mari, through the years,
an open door by tripcyclone [G, 8K]
Lilia never wanted children of her own, but caring for Victor gives her a glimpse into the life she chose to pass by.
and your feet will follow by @prinzenhasserin [T, 13K]
Lilia’s relationship with her fellow ballerinas wasn’t usually complicated. Usually, she knew exactly where she stood. Not so with Minako Okukawa who had disappeared from the ballet world some years ago to hide in the dance studio of a backwater town in Japan.
Lilia didn’t care about that, of course. Not at all. She just deserved a vacation, to Japan, incidentally.
another girl in another time by cityboys [G, 11K]
Wouldn’t it be cool if there really is another version of you out there?
Beautiful in Knowing by @val-creative [T, 1K]
Sara knew she was a girl, even if nobody else did or believed her.
She ordered Michele to call her "Lady Sara" from now on. He would roll his eyes and grumble, but never attempt to misgender her. She liked "Sara" — it meant "lady, princess, noblewoman". And she would never go back to her deadname.
if friends were flowers, i'd pick you by windupbirdgirl [G, 4K]
During the first two years of high school, Yuuko finds she barely has time to breathe. The sky seems very far away, the sea even more so. She hasn’t gone to the rink in months.
if love is king, who wears the crown by @crollalanzaa [G, 1K]
“Second is seen as nothing,” Christophe had derided.
“But that moment you glide onto the ice, that hush of the audience, and that expectation, isn’t that worth something?”
“You speak as if you know. You used to skate?"
Past tense. It still stung, even if it was expected.
Minako knows exactly what it's like to be at the top of your game, and she remembers the descent just as clearly.
if she wants me by renaissance [G, 6K]
Hiroko and Minako, then and now.
if the sea has any draw for you by weird_bird [E, 8K]
The first time Mila saw her dance in person, her power funneled down into elegance, the granite of her face transmogrified to marble, she almost gave her the password to her bank account, she’s that good.
kagura by night by seventhstar / @pencilwalla [T, 1K]
The world around her is like the mountains.
A mortal lifespan is narrow; mortals watch the mountain’s unchanging faces, unravaged by the same measure of time that takes a human from dust to dust, and think them immortal in comparison. But stone erodes, just as flesh decays. It just takes longer.
If she watches long enough, everything changes. Languages drift until all the words she learned before are meaningless. Technology changes until she ceases to believe in magic because human ingenuity is more infinite than the stars. What is beautiful, what is polite, what is wrong, what is right—time, given its way, reshapes all.
But Minako’s body remains as it has always been. That’s why she loves to dance, she supposes; it’s the one thing time cannot take from her.
Katsudon by @azriona [G, 8K]
Hiroko doesn’t need to see to coat pork cutlets in egg and panko. She has made this dish for her family for over thirty years; she’ll make it another thirty, if she’s lucky.
Now she makes it for Yuuri and Victor as they fly home from Barcelona, with silver around their necks and gold around their fingers.
keep me steady as we go by orphan_account [G, 3K]
When Isabella stood and crossed the room to where he sat she saw her notebook open in his lap, turned to the last page of their to-do list, all but three items crossed off with less than a month to the wedding date. License. Ceremony. Everything after. She saw the angle of his gaze, too, not on the words but straight ahead, staring blank and glassy and brittle into some invisible place she still wasn’t sure she could follow him to, yet. And yet she had been the one who’d promised to try—and to keep promising, forever and forever.
Kooks by BoxWineConfessions [G, 3K]
Mari clasps her right hand across her left hand and rests them both atop her growing stomach. “I guess you’re just lucky that your father, I mean your other father, my brother-“ Mari giggles. “God, it all sounds so weird, doesn’t it? Do you care? Do you care that we’re all so fucked up and we don’t care at all?” Mari laughs again. It’s all she can do when she hurts this much, and wants a cigarette this much, but can’t stop smiling despite the fact that her body seems to hate her so much. “Well he means the world to me. That’s why I have you.”
Living in the Maybe by @adrianners [T, 6K]
It wasn’t hard to spot a 180cm platinum blond in Fukuoka International Airport. Especially when he was the only person wearing sunglasses. Indoors. At night.
Mari picks Viktor up at the airport when he returns from Moscow. Without Yuuri there to play his usual role of interpreter, they learn to communicate around their linguistic, cultural, and personal barriers.
my better self by @spookyfoot [G, 1K]
Mila's the first friend Yuuri's made in Russia. Technically, Yuuri became friends with Yurio in Hasetsu, but he'd never say that to Yurio's face.
On his first day training in Russia, Mila stole Yuuri from the rink and showed him pictures of Victor and Georgi wearing Spice Girls t-shirts Victor had picked up at a consignment shop during Skate America in 2006, and a video of them skating a synchronized routine to "Stacy's Mom."
"Don't let anyone here intimidate you. I guarantee none of them are scarier than Yura." They watched Victor skate circles around Yuri on the ice, Mila's camera primed for blackmail material—just in case.
_________
Yuuri and some of the women in his life, through the years.
Variations on a Theme by BoxWineConfessions [M, 20K]
Mari doesn't like it when the past and the present overlap so easily. Mari knows the mischievous grin and the burn of eyes that linger too long. They're the trademark of girls who are still figuring out what they want, but want relentlessly. Mari is tired of letting people in, only to have to say goodbye when their vacation is over.
Mila has experienced this before, this knowing little smile that implies that they know something about her body that she doesn’t. It comes across as cocky, and arrogant on men, and gentle with Mari. Mari looks like she's just told her some kind of wonderful secret.
Together, they reshape their expectations.
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