"No, you don't understand Phichit! Ever since 'the incident', Victor's been a lot more, I don't know. Bold isn't quite the word. He's been acting like he's trying to reciprocate to the 'feelings' I apparently had when I put my drunken moves on him."

"Yuuri. Did you just use air quotes...twice? What are you, prepubescent?"

"Apparently?" Yuuri shrugged.

"And are you sure you should be using air quotes for feelings?"

"Yes. Are you trying to insinuate otherwise?"

"Well -"

"Don't answer that. Besides, even if I did, wouldn't it be unethical? A coach and his student? I don't see the ISU being very pleased about that. And not to mention potentially illegal. I don't even know what the consenting age is for Russians."

"First off, whoa buddy, didn't realize you were even thinking about going far enough to need to even consider age of consent. Secondly, you're only what, like 4 years older than him. Keep the PDA to a tolerable level, and I think you'd be just fine. It's not like he'd have a special advantage if you started dating. You're not the one that decides his score. And third, it's 14, in case you were wondering. I just looked it up."

"Phichit! I wasn't...we aren't...I-I don't...just...no!" Yuuri sputtered. "And I wasn't thinking about Victor like...like that!"

"Well if all this is indeed true, you should be happy. He's embraced the Eros! He's become the Eros! And you, my in denial best friend, are screwed."

* * * * *

Victor was busy getting his bag ready for the free skate when Yuuri's cell phone started ringing. When he saw it was Mari calling, he quickly ran to the bathroom door and knocked.

"Yuuri, I know you're showering, but Mari is calling. Do you want me to answer?"

"Please and thank you!"

Victor went to swipe to accept the call, but the screen went black. Whoops, guess I wasn't quick enough. Victor set down the phone and went back to packing, but was stopped again when Yuuri's phone started pinging with notifications.

Mari:

Yuuri, where are you?

Yuuri, answer your phone, it's important!

Yuuri!

Goddamnit Yuuri, this is not the time to have your phone on silent

Yuuri, I will keep messaging you till you feel a ghost of my presence through your phone and are compelled to look

Yuuri!

Yuuri!

FUCK!

YUURI!!

I don't NOT want to tell you in a message. Answer my messages Yuuri

Yuuri, please. Please read these messages and contact me

Call me, message me, anything?

Yuuri!

Victor felt small tendrils of unease start to wrap around him as the phone keep going off. Mari isn't the type to spam someone's phone. Something must be really wrong. As the phone lit up with another notification, Victor realized how bad that something really was

Mari:

Fine. Makkachin knocked over a plate of manjū, and Vicchan choked on them. We took them both to the vet to be safe. Makkachin is fine, but Vicchan's just toy sized, smaller throat. They cleared Vicchan's airway, so don't panic and abandon Victor in China. Vicchan was only unconscious for a little while. They're going to keep both overnight, Vicchan to make sure there are no complications due to a lack of oxygen, and Makkachin as companion comfort. Those two have really bonded. We'll keep you posted as we hear things from the vet.

Victor stared at the phone in horror. And kept staring. He was still staring by the time Yuuri walked out of the bathroom.

* * * * *

"Yuuri, just go home. I know you're panicking. I know I'd be panicking if it were Makka."

"I can't! Maybe if we were in Russia and Yuri could act as a temporary coach, but that's not the case. Am I worried? Of course I'm worried! But like Mari said, I can't abandon you here! Vicchan has my whole family there to watch over him. I'm it for you. No Yuri, no Chris. Besides Vicchan isn't dying. If I were to go home now, nothing good would happen. I'd sit at home doing nothing but worry about my dog and worry about you. So let me stay where I can actually do something. Let me focus on you."

* * * * *

"First up is Boyang Jin, China's young ace, age 17. He's in sixth place after the short program. He is skating to 'The Inferno', from the movie Shanghai Blade. His theme this year is 'bonds and violence'."

"Boyang Jin, enveloped in loud applause! His score is 168.82, bringing his combined score to 248.69. He's currently in first place."

Victor looked over at Yuuri, who was busy people-watching. Is he really ok being here right now?

"Next, in fifth place after the short program, Stéphane Lambiel, representing Switzerland, age 20. He is skating to 'Rapsodie Espagnole'. An error in the short program caused his technical score to fall below that of China's Boyang Jin, but his presentation score went well above to place him fifth. In his free skate, he has prepared three quads in the first half."

"The total for Stéphane Lambiel after the short program is 283.81. He leads Boyang Jin by a huge margin, taking first place!"

I've already forced him to change his plans so much already.

"Thailand's Celestino Cialdini, age 16, in fourth place after the short. He is skating to 'Terra Incognita' from The King and the Skater II."

"In his first event, Skate America, Cialdini finished fourth. In his second event, the Cup of China, will he score his first victory? If so, he'll be on the cusp of becoming the first skater to represent Thailand and advance to the Grand Prix Final! Oh! His score is 199.01, bringing his total score to 285.76! He took the lead over Lambiel! This is his season's top score, of course!"

He'd be at home with Vicchan right now if I didn't beg him to coach me.

"Representing the United States, Jason Brown, age 19. Brown finished the short program in third place. He is skating to 'Ombra mai fu'."

"Jason Brown from the United States is currently in fourth after his free skate with a total combined score of 247.21."

Oh god, what if I mess up, and I fail him, and I don't make it to the Final's. I know he'd probably never think it, but I'd feel so bad if I ended up wasting his time here when he could've been at Vicchan's side.

"Next on the ice is Evgeni Plushenko, age 15, representing Russia. He is skating to 'Tales of a Sleeping Prince'."

"Victor, are you ok?!"

Victor snapped out of his thoughts to realize his eyes were watering and a tear had escaped down his cheek. He looked down for a moment before looking back up to meet Yuuri's gaze. Yuuri pulled him into a tight hug.

"Victor, I can guess what you're thinking, I can see it on your face. Please don't worry. Don't feel as if it's your fault I'm still here right now. You offered to finish this event alone. You offered to let me go back home. But I made the decision to stay here with you. Not you, me. Vicchan is safe, so far no lingering symptoms of oxygen deprivation. So right now, my attention is 100% on you. Besides, it's silly to worry about me. You're the one that has to perform next." Yuuri pulled back. "Now go!"

"Evgeni Plushenko's total score is 252.44. He's currently in third place.

As the crowd cheered for Plushenko and most eyes were on the Kiss and Cry, Victor used the moment to get into his Eros mindset. Grabbing onto Yuuri's tie, Victor pulled him in close.

"Don't ever take your eyes off me. I'm the only one who can satisfy you Coach Yuuri~."

Yuuri~, I think the kabe-don that night was backwards. You're the one that needs to stop being so oblivious! Realize how much I care for you!

As Victor was getting into his starting position, Phichit did a very exaggerated, not at all stealthy side step over towards a increasingly reddened Yuuri.

"Eros again?"

"Shut up Phichit."

"Now we have our last skater on the ice. Victor Nikiforov, also from Russia, once again in first place after the short program. He is skating to 'In Regards to Love: Eros'."

I feel better after that hug. I think that's the first time I've cried before a performance. As Victor continued to skate, he touched down on his triple axel. Crap, crap. Calm down, calm down! You know he's not worried about Vicchan. You shouldn't be either. Victor found himself actively thinking less and less about the components of his routine, and getting more and more lost in the moment. Oh, I wonder how Yuuri would react if I made the last quad a flip instead of a toe loop. It was his signature move after all. As his intricate step sequence went well, Victor found his confidence building. I want to become better. I can become stronger. I can surpass Yuuri's wildest imagination. When his last quad came up, he went for it. Ugh, I fell, but I think I got in enough rotations. The audience is really cheering right now, so I'll take it. Oh...hey...I'm done. I wonder what Yuuri thought of my last jump? Victor looked to where Yuuri had been before, but didn't see him. His head turned and he saw Yuuri running towards the rink entrance. Victor immediately started skating to meet him.

"Yuuri! I did great, right?!"

As he neared the edge of the ice, Victor realized Yuuri was suddenly coming a lot closer, a lot faster. What is he -. His thoughts were cut off and his eyes grew wide as Yuuri's lips crashed against his and they both started falling backwards towards the ice. Victor winced internally, preparing for the feeling of his head colliding with the rink, but Yuuri kept his hand on the back of Victor's head to soften the hit. Victor found himself staring at Yuuri, mouth now open in shock. Yuuri smiled, his face showing nothing but tenderness.

"You always love to surprise people. This was the only thing I could think of to surprise you more than you've surprised me."

Victor felt his heart burst with devotion as he returned Yuuri's smile.

* * * * *

"We have Victor Nikiforov's scores: 174.59, for a combined total score of 284.56. Yet again he was unable to maintain his first place spot, but in both this and his last event, Nikiforov has managed to score enough points to keep the other competitors in check to win silver. He is officially going to the Grand Prix Final on his Senior debut!"