My Fanfic Side Blog

Hi there! My name's Rae and I have a basketball game tomorrow. I write mediocre fics sometimes and announce them here!

[guerrillatech]

[flowury]

i like to get inspired and then not act on it and waste away in my bed

[someobscurereference]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Part Six. Mafia AU.

Truth can be a hard pill to swallow, Revelations aren’t always simple to grasp, and Enlightenment can cast more shadows than illuminate. Still reeling from shock, Inigo, Severa, and Owain have to make choices in how to deal with their newfound knowledge in their own ways.

Ch. 1 of Part 6 is now up, folks! We’re visiting Inigo and Xander again!

[victorsporosya]

@getawaymachine 22. Choose me. (Scene from an Inception AU I have drafted). —– ‘So that’s why you took the job,’ Yuri said quietly from behind Victor, words echoing slightly in the shifting space of the dreamed Saint Petersburg apartment. The ghostly walls of the life he and Yuuri used to have. ‘To try and fix your mistake.’ Eros moved, wearing Yuuri’s face like he always did in Victor’s dreams and it pulled at Victor like a violin string. Tight melody, coiled to sing. Eros’ hand was the point of Victor’s vision, fingers trailing along the handle of the knife that rested on the kitchen island. But Victor couldn’t stop looking at the ring on Eros’ finger, exactly where Victor remembered putting it all that time ago. ‘Victor’s too afraid though. Aren’t you, Vitya?’ Eros said, bare feet swinging from his perch on the barstools Victor had picked before he’d even known Yuuri. Before there was anyone to share the kitchen with. ‘Too afraid to come home and make a decision. Which is funny, isn’t it? You weren’t so afraid to kill me the first time.’ Eros tilted his head like Victor were some particularly interesting novelty. It hurt where it always did- a bruise deep in Victor’s heart. ‘I didn’t mean to, Yuuri,’ Victor whispered, thunder shuddering outside the windows. Empty dreamscape crackling outside where Victor had no memories to cage. Eros took the knife into his hand, body easing off the stool in perfect remembrance of the way Yuuri had done in their life before. ‘I know,’ Eros said gently, t-shirt slipping off his shoulder the way Yuuri’s always used to do in those early mornings. He padded across the floor, the hairs on Victor’s arm raising with instinct to run. The same skittering, insidious guilt screaming at Victor to throw Eros and his stolen face back behind the cage Victor had tried to build for him. But it was all breaking down now. Victor’s resolve, his certainty, chipping like paint beneath the incessant scratch Eros gave with his words. His presence haunting Victor’s mind like the empty house Victor had up above, in the reality Victor’s arrogance had created for himself. The prison Victor had no escape from. The gun fell from Victor’s hand, Yuri crying out but Victor could barely hear it over the thunder of his own heart. Victor stepped forward, drawn as he always was the movement of Yuuri’s body. Eros moved like Yuuri always had, hips in a sway and arms loose at his side. Waiting for Victor’s guidance. Yuri itched behind Victor, calling out to stop him but Victor kept going, ignoring it. Victor and Eros met in the centre of the room, the inbetween space of kitchen and living room. Eros looked up at Victor, the brown eyes Victor so adored roaming over Victor’s face from behind Yuuri’s glasses. Eros reached out with his free hand, fingers tracing the line of Victor’s hair, down Victor’s cheek in a touch that tickled. Victor closed his eyes, the darkness gifting him the feeling of Yuuri’s hand on his face. ‘But now’s your chance to make it right,’ Eros said, lowering his voice for the small, breathless space between them now. ‘Let’s end this, Victor. Decide. Go back. Or stay.’ ‘Yuuri,’ Victor said brokenly, looking at Eros and unable to stop himself from reaching out. Victor took Eros’ waist, feeling the worn cotton of Yuuri’s pyjama shirt beneath his fingers. ‘I don’t… I don’t know…’ Eros’ eyes slipped closed. He leant up, further into Victor’s touch. Their chests coming together, bodies falling into the bends they had for each other. Victor bent his head, Eros’ nose brushing against Victor’s. They were so close that Eros was blurred to Victor, dark lashes and pale cheeks. ‘Choose me,’ Eros whispered, almost kissing Victor with the words and cupping Victor’s cheek. Victor eyes slipped closed, grief a hole inside of him that echoed. ‘You know there’s a place you just can’t reach unless you have a dream too large to bear alone. So don’t be alone, Victor. Be with me. Stay close to me.’ ‘Victor, you can’t!’ Yuri snapped, his voice a whipcrack. Victor held onto Eros tighter, mind a scrapbook with the torn images of what was real and what was not coming together, trying to meet along the frayed edges. ‘Oi! Snap out of it!’ Eros wasn’t what Victor remembered of Yuuri, not completely. But he was enough and Victor knew that the danger was not in the knife he could feel against his waist where Eros was trying hold both it and Victor with his other hand. Eros would wait, wait for Victor to decide. And it was the decision that was a cliff face, Victor standing on it’s precipice. Afraid. ‘Will you let Yurio and the chemist go if I stay?’ Victor asked, pressing his forehead against Eros’. ‘Yes,’ Eros replied instantly, conviction obvious and so vividly Yuuri it stole Victor’s breath. ‘Will you stay?’ ‘Yurio,’ Victor said, breathing in what he dreamed Yuuri would smell like. Salt from the sea, sting of cold snow in the morning. ‘Go get the chemist. He’ll be in the bedroom. Through the doors on the right.’ ‘No,’ Yuri said, anger curling hot around the word. ‘No, no, you don’t get to do this, old man. I won’t let you!’ Victor pulled back slightly to take Eros in. His dark eyes were closed, face tilted up towards Victor’s with his lips barely parted. His whole body hanging on the hook of Victor’s answer and he looked so strikingly like Yuuri in that moment, that Victor suddenly knew with perfect clarity what he had to do. Doubt snuffed out like a breath. ‘Yurio, do as you are told,’ Victor said sternly. ‘No way,’ Yuri said, frustration pulling his voice tight. ‘You can’t stay here to be with him.’ ‘I’m not,’ Victor replied and Eros’ eyes snapped open. Catching the light in an amber flash. Limbo shuddered, as though an earthquake was running underneath it. Dust fell from the ceiling, doors of their old apartment rattling in their frames and the glass of the windows singing in high pitch. Lightning split the dream like a fracture from outside, casting sharp shadows around them. ‘What?’ Eros asked, tears a gloss over the eyes Victor dreamed of every night. ‘I can’t stay with you because you don’t exist,’ Victor said, words heavy. Eros’ face contorted, the way Yuuri’s always did when he was about to cry. The hurt too sharp too look at, breaking Victor’s heart in two. ‘Love an-and life,’ Eros said, words shaking with emotion in almost perfect imitation. But there was a mania there, a stammer Victor couldn’t remember Yuuri ever having. Eros’ free hand fell from Victor’s face, gripping onto Victor’s shirt at his chest. Tugging Victor closer. ‘You always say that’s what I give you.’ ‘I wish. I wish more than anything that were true,’ Victor said, tears cracking his voice like ice. Eros shook his head slowly, watching Victor with wide eyes. ‘But it’s not. It’s what Yuuri gave me. And you’re not him. You were the best I could do, but you’re just not good enough.’ Eros’ grip on Victor’s shirt got tighter, the collar pulling on the back of Victor’s neck. Victor could feel Eros’ right hand move, his wrist bend the angle of the knife in his hand. Victor reached up, taking Eros’ face into both hands. Cupping his cheeks, fingers skimming the edges of his ears the way Victor remembered doing to Yuuri when he would get too upset. ‘Look at you,’ Victor whispered. ‘You’re just a shade. A shadow of my real husband.’ Eros stared up at him, tears dropping. ‘I could never believe you the way I believed in Yuuri.’ There was a crack around them, Limbo seemingly shattering like glass and then Eros’ knife was plunged into Victor’s stomach, pain twisting Victor’s gut into a spiral. White burned behind his eyes, Victor’s voice stolen with pain but then Victor’s ears exploded as a gunshot burst. He felt the hot spray of blood, Eros collapsing forward as Yuri screamed.

[handsingsweapon]

UM. how dare u

[kazliin]

31 😊

31) things yousaid while I cried in your arms

Part 4 of my Fake Dating AU  

[Part 1] / [Part 2] / [Part 3]

Kissing Viktor was indescribable. Assoon as his lips touched Yuuri’s, the entire world melted away, leaving onlythe two of them. Both of them caught in a vortex of swirling emotion andsensation, so lost in each other that nothing else seemed to matter. Yuuricould have stayed there kissing Viktor forever, Viktor’s arms around him theonly anchor he ever needed to tether him to the present.

He didn’t ever want to stop kissingViktor. And so he didn’t.

A small part of Yuuri recognised that they hadbeen kissing for far longer than was appropriate, but the larger part of him didn’t care in the slightest. Instead, he allowed Viktor to pull them off thedance floor and to a quiet, dark corner of the room. Allowed Viktor to push himup against the wall and keep kissing him like their lives depended on it.Hidden away as they were, there were few guests around to see them and the feebleexcuse of it all being for show began to crumble around them.

Yuuri ignored it. As long as Viktor keptkissing him, he was willing to ignore logic and sense and propriety and anyother boundary that was keeping them apart. All that mattered was Viktor.Viktor, and keeping him close for as long as Viktor would allow. Stealing momentsand making memories that Yuuri had no right to have, but wanted anyway with adesperate craving.

“Get a room you two,” one of the guestssnorted as they wandered past, glancing at Viktor with a fond sort ofexasperation.

Yuuri almost backed away, feeling theflush of embarrassment rising in his cheeks. But instead of pulling apart,Viktor instead pulled him closer, arms curled possessively around Yuuri’s back.

“We should go back to my room,” hemurmured, just loud enough for the other guests to hear, and Yuuri almostlaughed. It was a lot to do for a simple show for the other guests, but Yuuriwasn’t complaining. Any excuse to keep holding Viktor for longer, he wouldtake.

Instead of protesting, he allowed Viktorto take his hand and drag him out of the busy ballroom. Several eyes turned towatch them go but Yuuri paid them no heed. Too focused on Viktor and the spark ofconnection between them.

Somehow, they ended up in Viktor’s roomtogether, still pressed close. Not another word had been spoken and Yuuri was gladof it. Anything Viktor might have said could have shattered the illusion, andall Yuuri wanted was to be able to pretend. For one more minute. One more hour.One more night.

He didn’t know why Viktor was still kissinghim, with no eyes left to see them. But Viktor backed Yuuri against the wall, kissinghim like it was a game he played to win and Yuuri had never been one to back downfrom a challenge.

“Tell me you don’t want this, and I’llstop,” Viktor murmured, the words brushing against Yuuri’s lips.

Yuuri said nothing, pulling Viktor backto him and letting passion carry them both away into the night.

Viktor was silent when it was all over.

They lay together, limbs tangled in a messyheap. Both of their bodies were still coated in a thin sheen of sweat and Yuuricouldn’t bring himself to regret it, no matter how much he knew he should.

“Yuuri,” Viktor began, voice hoarse.

Yuuri looked up from where his head hadbeen lying against Viktor’s chest, relishing in the warmth of his skin and listeningto the steady beat of Viktor’s heart.

“What just happened…” Viktor triedagain. His voice was steady but there was an undercurrent of vulnerabilitythere, something Yuuri had never expected. “This…it doesn’t have to meananything if you don’t want it to.”

“But what if I want it to?” Yuuriwhispered, before instantly regretting the words. There was something about theway they were lying together, intimate in a way they had never been before,that ruined the filter that he had so carefully constructed between his mouthand his brain whenever Viktor was near.

Viktor jerked into a sitting position,dislodging Yuuri from his spot resting on Viktor’s chest. Yuuri sat up too,praying that he wasn’t about to get thrown out of the room for broaching theone subject that should never be mentioned.

“What do you mean?” Viktor asked,sounding astonished.

“You have to know by now,” Yuuricountered. Logically, he knew that Viktor couldn’t have failed to have missed whatwas now so embarrassingly obvious. “That the things I feel for you aren’t…entirelyplatonic.”

That was the understatement of the century.But it was true all the same. There was no way after everything they had donetogether that Viktor could have missed the desperate way that Yuuri clung tohim. The greedy way he kissed and the selfish way he took everything that Viktoroffered in the hope that it would somehow appease his aching heart.

“Yuuri,” Viktor began, and he soundedincredulous. As if somehow, Yuuri had flipped his whole world upside down inthe space of a single sentence. “The things I feel for you have never been platoniceither. But it was always you that turned me down.”

Now Yuuri was confused. So, so confused.

“Viktor,” he began, choosing his words carefully.Viktor’s words had hit him unexpectedly and he could feel the burn begin in theback of his eyes. Feel the tears begin to build, threatening to fall now thatso much pent up emotion was finally spilling free. “I’ve loved you for years. Years.”

“Do you mean,” Viktor’s voice sounded alittle strangled. He reached for Yuuri, pulling him closer until Yuuri was heldin the safety of his arms once again. “That we’ve been missing out on all this time?”

“Viktor are you trying to say that youlove me too?” Yuuri just about managed to choke out. It was so unexpected, so farfrom what he had anticipated the day he had agreed to Viktor’s ridiculousscheme that he could barely comprehend it.

“I’ve done nothing but love you. From themoment we first met.” Viktor admitted and suddenly, it was like a dam had burstand all of Yuuri’s emotions were pouring out of him in one gushing wave,moisture spilling from the corners of his eyes.

“I always wanted it to be real,” Viktor added, voice barelyabove a whisper. As if he were admitting to some secret, meant only for Yuuri’sears. “Ever since I first asked you to pretend to be my date.”

“So did I,” Yuuri confirmed, finally allowing the tears tofall. But they weren’t tears of sorrow. They were tears of happiness. “And now Iguess we know that it was.”

[kazliin]

Number 38 for the prompt game! (PS. Hope you feel better soon, Kaz! I'm so happy whenever I see you on my dash :'))

Sorry this prompt is so late anon! 

This ficlet is the fourth part of my ‘Forbidden Love AU’.

First part / Second part / Third part

Prompt no.38 - things you said while holding my hand

Every part of Viktor’s body ached.

The bruises from the most recent battle were painted blackand blue into his skin and he could still feel the unpleasant sensation ofdried blood knotting his hair together. His shoulders burned with the strain ofbeing chained behind him for so long and the manacles around his wrist hadalready rubbed painfully raw, red marks into his flesh. It had only been a fewdays since he had been taken captive, but he could already feel the toll theordeal was beginning to take on his body.

Although, he sighed to himself, it would likely only getworse from here. Being the son of the people who had declared war on a formallypeaceful country was never going to stand him in good favour, and he dreadedthe day when he was finally taken back to the capital. Yuuri’s parents weremerciful, that much he knew at least. But, unless a miracle happened, it wasunlikely that he would ever see his freedom again once he passed through thosecity gates.

And without his freedom, he would never be able to be withYuuri again. And that was the one thing above all others that Viktor couldn’tbear.

Even the thought sent his heart racing in his chest and asick feeling twist in his gut. Yuuri had been his everything for so many yearsnow, the light which he was drawn to time and time again, no matter how much itburned. Ever since their first dance, Viktor had been lost to the depths ofYuuri’s eyes and ever since their first kiss, he had been bound to Yuuriforever. Being parted from him would be agony, far more than any of thephysical aches still clawing at his skin.

Not for the first time, Viktor wished that things had beendifferent. That they had both been born simple people living simple lives, withnothing as complicated as the politics of war standing between their love.Maybe he could have been a farmer and Yuuri the miller’s son, who’s heart hewould set out to win. Or he could have been a dancer, the way he had oncedreamed of, and Yuuri one of the awestruck crowd who would seek his favour.Anything but what they were, separated by duty and yet bound together by loveregardless.  

There was a shuffling noise outside of his tent and Viktorlooked up, hopeful. But it was only the noise of the guards changing shift asthe evening faded quickly into night and he felt his heart sink again. Come morning,the camp would pack up and move on and he would be one step closer to his fate.And one step further away from Yuuri and the place where he had left his heart.

For a few more hours, Viktor drifted in his thoughts. Therewas nothing else to occupy him except the chaffing of the chains around his wristand the coolness of the ground beneath him. Instead, he focused on a happiertime. Memories of love and laughter, when he had promises to put a ring onYuuri’s finger and truly believed that one day it would become a reality.

A noise from outside his tent had him jolting out of hismusings again however, suddenly on high alert. From the slim slit of the skythat he could see through the doorway of his tent, he could tell that it wasstill night-time. The next shift change for the guards shouldn’t be until firstlight. There was another rustling from outside his tent and Viktor tensed…

Only to relax when a very familiar dark head appearedthrough the tent flap.

“Yuuri,” Viktor sighed in relief, only to cut himself offwhen Yuuri held a finger to his lips, eyes darting around the tent warily.

The urge to ask Yuuri what was going on was strong, but Viktorkept his lips sealed as Yuuri tiptoed over to him, glancing warily over hisshoulder to the entrance of the tent as he did so. As he approached, themoonlight falling through the entrance of the tent bounced off a ring of metalin Yuuri’s hand and Viktor realised that it was a ring of keys. The same ringof keys that the guards assigned to his tent usually wore.

“Yuuri?” Viktorwhispered again as Yuuri approached but Yuuri just shook his head again, fingerstill pressed to his lips and urging Viktor into silence. On light feet, he slippedbehind Viktor and seconds later, Viktor felt the tug and sting of his chainsbeing pulled taught. There was a few seconds of hesitation as Yuuri fitted thekey into the lock and then the manacles were falling away, leaving Viktor’s wristsfree and unbound at last.

Viktor whipped his head around to look at Yuuri, eyes wide,but Yuuri just placed on hand lightly over his mouth, eyes pleading for hissilence. Viktor obeyed, albeit reluctantly. The need within him to ask Yuurijust what he thought he was doing was growing every second, almost too much toresist.

With a single sharp movement, Yuuri gestured for Viktor tofollow him. Together, they slipped silently out of the tent, the moon abovethem casting Yuuri’s face into an ethereal silvery light.

Viktor was so focused on Yuuri’s face that he almost trippedon the body lying on the ground before him. It was only Yuuri’s quick reflexesthat dragged him back and he glanced down, recoiling when he saw a man in asoldier’s uniform lying slumped at the entrance of the tent. Nearby, two more soldierswere lying sprawled out on the ground, unmoving.

“Are they…?” Viktor mouthed and Yuuri shook his head,looking scandalised. As though killing his own people was an unforgivablethought, as though he hadn’t just released one of their most notorious enemiesfrom right under their noses.

“Sleeping,” Yuurihissed, speaking for the first time, although his voice remained hushed. “I drugged their wine.”

With that, he turned away again, taking hold of Viktor handand pulling him to follow. Viktor trailed after him obediently, ducking behindtents when Yuuri pulled him down and hurrying through the shadows away from theprying eyes still stationed throughout the camp.

When they were finally on the outer edges of the camp, farfrom the view of the guards, Yuuri turned to him again. His eyes were brightand his face set, determination carved into every feature.

“Yuuri, why…?” Viktor began but Yuuri cut him off, handsgrasping the front of Viktor’s shirt and pulling him into a bruising kiss thatstole Viktor’s breath in a single instant.

When they finally broke apart, Yuuri was panting, eyes stillfixed on Viktor’s face.

“I couldn’t do it,” he admitted, fingers still clutching atViktor shirt and holding him close. “I couldn’t watch them take you away.”  

“But…” Viktor began, then swallowed, the magnitude of whatYuuri had done finally hitting him.

“This is treason,” he finished, watching as Yuuri nodded,the look of determination never once leaving his face.

“It is,” he confirmed, and Viktor sucked in a breath, joyand panic welling up within him in equal measure.

“Yuuri, you can’t stay here,” he began, praying that Yuuriwould see sense. “Once they find out I’m gone, they’ll know it was you who didit. Being a prince won’t protect you Yuuri, not after this. You can’t…”

“I won’t.”

Yuuri cut him off, entwining his fingers securely withViktor’s again.

“I won’t need protection because I won’t be here Viktor. I’mcoming with you.”

“What?” Viktorbreathed. Part of him wondered if he had misheard, while another part hardlydared to believe.

Once upon a time, he had begged Yuuri to run away with him.Had returned to him time and time again and pressed the plea into his skin asthey rocked together, praying that Yuuri would accept. But he never had. Hisloyalty to his country had been too great and so Viktor had stayed and watchedas their future darkened with every day that passed.

But now Yuuri was here. And everything, it seemed, hadchanged.

“I’m coming with you,” Yuuri repeated, words as clear asever.

“But your people…” Viktor began but Yuuri cut him off, castingthe words away.

“They don’t need me anymore,” Yuuri told him and his voicesounded entirely sincere. “We’ve won the war Viktor, it’s only a matter oftime. They’re not in danger anymore and neither are my family. I’ve done myduty to them. Fought for them. Offered up my life for them. But I can’t standby and watch as they take my heart too.”

Viktor remained silent for a few seconds, too stunned tospeak. Gradually, Yuuri’s expression of determination began to falter, each searchingas he stared into Viktor’s face.

“That’s only…if you want me,” he faltered, expression suddenlyfalling. “We’d have to run far from here, and never come back. If you don’t…”

Viktor cut him off with a kiss, pulling Yuuri to him and drowningthe words from Yuuri’s mouth with his lips. When they finally parted he continuedto hold Yuuri close, barely able to get enough of the feeling of Yuuri pressed againsthis chest. Together again at last.

“I do,” Viktor insisted, elating rising in his chest like anunstoppable wave. There was so much they would be leaving behind if they fledtogether. But they had tried their best to prevent the war and they had failed.They had tried their best to end it quickly and they had failed in that too.The cards were stacked against them from the start and they had only ever beenpawns, manoeuvred across the board but ready to be sacrificed in a much greatergame.

Now it was time to leave the game entirely. It was time tomake their own destinies.

“I have horses waiting for us with enough food to get to thedocks,” Yuuri told him as they began to move again, still sticking to theshadows as they skirted around the edges of the camp. “From there, I haveenough funds to get us across the sea and after that we can…”

Yuuri froze mid-sentence, all the air suddenly punched outof his lungs as his eyes widened in shock. A few meters away, a pair of horsesstood, their saddlebags bulging with supplies. And in between them stood a cloakedfigure, blocking their path to freedom.

Viktor’s hand went instinctively to his dagger, only to bemet with nothing but thin air. Cursing his lack of weapons he took a stepforward, prepared to do whatever necessary to protect Yuuri from this new andunknown threat.

Then the figure stepped out from the shadows, lowering herhood, and even Viktor couldn’t hold back the gasp of surprise that fell fromhis lips.

“Mari,” Yuuri whispered, horror coating his every word. “I…”

“I never thought I’d see the day that my little brotherturned traitor,” Mari said, voice strangely emotionless as she continued towalk towards them. “But here we are.”

“I’m not a traitor,” Yuuri spat, suddenly bristling by Viktor’sside. “I fought in this war, just like you. I protected our people. I servedour family. But I have to save him too.”

When his words were met with icy silence he shook his head,gazed still fixed on his sister.

“I love him Mari,” Yuuri insisted, tone final. “More than myown life. You wouldn’t understand.”

“I do understand,” Mari said, voice unexpectedly softening asshe gazed at them both. Then she reached into her cloak and both he and Yuuritensed, expecting a knife. But instead, Mari withdrew a drawstring pouch, the coinsinside clinking together as they moved. She tossed it over to Yuuri and hecaught it on instinct, looking back up at her in surprise.

“It’s why I’m letting you go,” Mari told them, eyes stillfixed on Yuuri. “Use that to get yourself somewhere safe, little brother. Becauseonce you leave here, you’re on your own. You can never come back, do you understandthat?”

“I do,” Yuuri told her and, as Viktor watched, some sort ofunspoked understanding seemed to pass between them. Then Mari reached out,pulling her brother into a crushing hug.

“You have until dawn,” she mumbled, the words muffled as shespoke into Yuuri’s hair, still holding him close. “I’m no traitor. I will setmy soldiers to hunt you both down. But for you Yuuri, I’ll give you the night. Begone by the time the camp wakes, because you won’t get a second chance.”

Yuuri nodded and when he pulled away, Viktor could see thathis eyes were damp. Both the siblings regarded each other for a moment and thenMari turned away, gaze focused on Viktor now.

“Take care of him,” she said, eyes burning into Viktor anddemanding a response. “Promise me that you will.”

“I promise,” Viktor swore and saw the tension in Mari’sshoulders lessen a fraction. Then she turned her back on him and began walkingback towards the camp, never once looking back.

Yuuri’s eyes were still fixed on his sister’s retreatingfigure, gazed misted. Viktor wished that there was more time to allow Yuuri tomourn the life that he was leaving behind but there was none to be spared. Ifthey wanted to be free they needed to leave now, and never look back.

Viktor wrapped his arm around Yuuri’s shoulder lightly,guiding him over to the two horses. When they were beside the animals, Yuuri finallyseemed to shake himself out of his trance, untying one of the horse’s reins andswinging himself into the saddle. Viktor followed suit, mounting his own horse besideYuuri.

When Yuuri made no move to leave, Viktor reached out,crossing the distance between them to take Yuuri’s hand in his own.

“Are you ready?” he asked and Yuuri nodded, eyes still fixedon the camp and the home that he was leaving behind forever.

“I’m ready,” he said, eyes gazing at the lights of the campone last time. Then he turned to Viktor, fingers holding tight and refusing tolet go.

“Let’s go and find our freedom.”

Together the spurred their horses on, riding side by side asthey disappeared into the night.

The End

[kazliin]

9) Things you said when I was crying

9 Viktuuri?

9 or 10!! ❤️

Sorry it has taken so long to fill this prompt! 

This the third part of my ‘Forbidden Love AU’. 

First part / Second part

(warnings for mentions of imprisonment and very brief mention of execution)

Prompt no.9 – Things you said when I was crying 

When Yuuri arrived at Mari’s camp, the air smelled like death.

Her army was situated a few miles from the battlefield, butthe stench of blood and fear still lingered on the breeze. Yuuri had receivedword only a few days previously that his sister had secured another hard-wonvictory, and he had been summoned to assist in the strategic planning thatwould follow. With the opposing armies being pushed further and further backeach passing day, their victory was now almost assured. If Yuuri knew his sister,she would suggest they march on the enemy capital in a matter of months and endwhat had been a long and bloody war.

A few soldiers rode out to greet him and his retinue as heapproached, guiding him into the heart of the camp. Everywhere was abuzz withactivity, soldiers sharpening swords, tending to the horses or caring for theirinjured comrades. Cries of pain and elation filled the air as they celebratedtheir victory and mourned their losses. The atmosphere was heavy and Yuuri couldsee the battle weariness in every eye that he passed.

“This way your highness,” one of the soldiers gestured whenYuuri finally dismounted, feet sinking into the muddy ground beneath him. “Yousister requested your presence as soon as you arrived. She wishes to discus theprisoner.”

“The…what?” Yuuri asked, confusion flooding through him atthe soldier’s words. “What prisoner?”

“I apologise, your highness,” the soldier bowed deeply. “Iassumed you had been informed.”

He looked back up at Yuuri and there was a hint of pride inhis voice as he spoke again.

“During the most recent battle, your sister captured the enemyprince.”

Yuuri was not prepared for the sight of Viktor as aprisoner.

He had demanded to be taken to see Viktor immediately,ignoring the soldier’s protests about Mari’s orders. Yuuri couldn’t care lessabout orders right now. Had one of the soldiers not finally agreed to escorthim to Viktor, he would have cut a bloody path through the camp to find his ownway there.

When they finally reached the tent where Viktor was beingheld, Yuuri tried to brace himself. In the presence of the soldiers, it wasparamount that he remain emotionless, no matter what he saw upon entering.Officially, he had cut Viktor out of his heart when the war began and neverlooked back. No-one could know otherwise, for both of their sakes. It would betreason, should anyone find out about the promises he had made to Viktor. The secretmeetings between battles during whatever time they could steal to be together.The nights when Viktor had touched him like he never wanted to let go and swornthat they would somehow find a way.

No-one could know that he still loved Viktor. But even withthat knowledge, Yuuri still couldn’t help but gasp when the tent flap was drawnaside and he saw what awaited him within.

Viktor was chained to a wooden stake in the centre of theroom, sitting slumped on the ground. His hair was stained brown with dirt and driedblood and his armour was gone. In its place was nothing but a thin shirt, doinglittle to protect him from the chill of the air around him. But when Viktorglanced up, his eyes were as bright as ever and full of fire.

Those same eyes widened when they fell on Yuuri’s face, everymuscle in Viktor’s body tensing.

“Yuuri,” hebreathed, and Yuuri felt the soldier at his side go for his sword. It was theutmost disrespect for a prisoner to refer to a prince as anything but their title,but titles were the last thing on Yuuri’s mind.

“Leave us,” he commanded and the soldier stopped, lookingtaken aback.

“But your highness…” the soldier began. Yuuri’s sharp scowlcut him off.

“I said leave us,”he demanded, voice icy and barely restraining his cold fury.

“But it isn’t safe…”

The soldier made one last attempt to protest and Yuuri’shand twitched for his own sword at his side.

“Are you implying I am so weak as to not be able to protectmyself from a bound prisoner?” he spat, and the guard paled considerably.

“No, your highness,” the soldier mumbled, before fleeingfrom the tent. Yuuri knew that he would remain outside with the other guardstasked with ensuring Viktor’s captivity, but his absence gave them at least a semblanceof privacy.

As soon as they were alone, Yuuri rushed to Viktor’s side.

“Viktor,” he whispered, trying not to be heard by anyone waitingoutside. His voice caught on the words and he could already feel tears beginningto build in his eyes.

“Yuuri,” Viktorbreathed again. He still looked at Yuuri like he was something precious,despite everything, and that did nothing but make the tears come faster.

“Are you hurt?” Yuuri asked, reaching out to run his handsover Viktor’s body, desperately checking for injuries.

“No,” Viktor insisted, but when Yuuri’s hands reached his head,he winced. His temple was a bruised and bloody mess, undoubtedly the injurythat had allowed him to be taken captive.

“You were supposed to be at home,” Yuuri choked out, fingers still running over Viktor’s skin. Reassuringhimself that Viktor was alright. But he wasn’t. Nothing about this situation was.“You were supposed to convince your parents to surrender!”

‘You were supposed tobe safe’ was the thought he didn’t voice out loud, but the unspoken wordshung heavily in the air regardless.

“I tried.”

When Yuuri looked at him, there was a sadness in Viktor’seyes that cut straight to his heart.

“They sent my troops and I back out here.” Viktor explained,voice full or sorrow. “Said that we would fight to the last, no matter what.That they would rather see me die nobly on the battlefield than surrender.”

Yuuri’s hands faltered, coming to rest on Viktor’s face.Thousands of emotions were crashing through him but all he could focus on wasthe horror at Viktor’s words.

“But you can’t win,” he whispered, and Viktor nodded. “Theyknow you can’t. Every month Mari’s armies push further into your territoriesand it’s only a matter of time. Why won’t they surrender peacefully and sparemore pointless death?”

In the first year of the war, neither he nor Viktor had spokenof the outcome. Neither could betray their countries, but neither could theystay away from each other. Instead, they had stolen nights together and refusedto speak of the battles that was waiting just beyond their tents. But as thesecond year of fighting had dragged on and the favour had swung to Yuuri’sside, talks had turned to strategy. Viktor was a soldier at heart, but even hehad seen the inevitable defeat as it loomed ever nearer. Better to convince hisparents to surrender and sign a peace treaty than be overrun altogether. And ifthey had both secretly hoped that maybe that peace could be secured withmarriage, they had never spoken it out loud, the future ahead still too uncertain.

But now, even those fragile plans were crumbling aroundthem.

“Their pride won’t allow it,” Viktor sighed, shouldersslumping again. “They began this war. They won’t concede it, not even now.”

“So they sent you to die?” Yuuri hissed, fury still burningin his veins for the unfairness of it all.

“No, they sent me to win,” there was the hint of a smile onViktor’s face but Yuuri knew him far too well to miss the pain behind it. “Unfortunately,your sister had other plans.”

“I’ll speak with her,” Yuuri insisted. There must still be away to fix what had happened. To free Viktor from his chains and salvage thefuture he still so desperately wanted. “I’ll get you out of here, I promise.”

Viktor smiled again and this time, it was full of affection.

“How many times have I told you Yuuri,” Viktor murmured. “Don’tmake promises that you can’t keep.”

Gently, he leant up and pressed his lips against Yuuri’s,soft and light as the brush of a butterfly’s wing. It was nothing like theirkisses of the past, full of passion and promise. Just the feeling of Viktor’slips against his and the taste of bitter regret in Yuuri’s throat.

When Viktor pulled away, there was a wetness smeared acrosshis cheeks that Yuuri realised had been falling from his own eyes.

“Don’t kiss me like that,” Yuuri begged, feeling his heartconstrict in his chest. His world was crumbling apart around him, and it hurtmore than he could bear.

“Like what?” Viktor asked, voice still full of heart-breakingaffection and eyes full of sorrow.

“Like you’re saying goodbye.”

“No,” were Mari’s first words as soon as Yuuri stepped intoher tent.

She was standing by the map table, gazing intently at themarkers indicating where their armies were stationed. Regal in her armour and alreadypreparing for another battle. She was the crown princess, the leader of thearmies, the future empress, and when tales were told and songs were sung of thewar, it was her name that would be praised.

Yuuri didn’t want to know what they might say of him, ifthey knew the truth.

“Please Mari…” he began but a sharp gesture from her cut himoff in his tracks as she turned to face him.

“You’ve come to ask for Viktor’s release,” she said bluntlyand Yuuri nodded.

“Then you know why I can’t give you that.”

Mari sighed, running one gloved hand over her face. Shelooked tired, more tired than Yuuri had ever seen her. The lines on her facecut deeper now after years of war and Yuuri knew how desperate she was for aquick and decisive victory.

“I know how you feel about him Yuuri,” she said, lookingback at him again with pity in her eyes. “But he’s the enemy. And I am notraitor. It’s my duty to take him back home to our parents and you know it.”

“There must be another way!” Yuuri insisted but Mari justshook her head, reaching out to clasp him by the shoulder.

“I’d advise than you say your goodbyes tonight Yuuri,” shesaid softly, pity still clear in her gaze. “We move at first light.”

“I am not saying goodbye,” Yuuri insisted, stubborn refusalto accept what was to come to much to accept her suggestion. Viktor and he hadcome too far and suffered too much for him to accept defeat now.

“You’d be a fool not to,” Mari snapped, suddenly soundingfrustrated. “How do you think this will end Yuuri? Because let me tell you. Viktorhas royal blood in his veins and that means he will never stop being a threat. Theminute we get back home, our parents are going to have him dragged to thedungeons, where he’ll spend the rest of his life. If they don’t decide toexecute him instead.”

Her grip on Yuuri’s shoulder tightened, almost bruising. Hereyes were imploring, as if trying to force him to see sense.

“Say your goodbyes now,” she warned him again, but there wasno harshness in her voice. But somehow, the sympathy that had replaced it was evenworse. “Because come tomorrow, you’ll never see him again.”

TBC

[kazliin]

32! Please

Prompt 32 – Things you said I wouldn’t understand

(This ficlet is a continuation of this ficlet in the ‘Forbidden Love AU’)

When Yuuri woke, it was to find a hand clamped firmly overhis mouth, preventing him from screaming.

In an instant he was alert, adrenaline pounding through hisveins. The attacker was leaning over him, body weight pinning him down andYuuri moved before he had even opened his eyes, instinct driving him on. Onehand shot out, grabbing for the knife he always kept hidden under his robes andthe other reached out to grab the man above him, forcing him away.

Yuuri flung himself out of bed, eyes snapping open as hisattacker stumbled to the floor. He was on the other man in seconds, pinning himto the ground with the cold steel of the knife at his throat.

It was only then that Yuuri realised just who he was lookingat.

“Viktor?” hegasped, stumbling back and tossing his knife to one side. There was a thinstreak of blood trickling down Viktor’s neck where the knife had nicked hisskin, but he barely seemed to notice. Instead he was staring intensely at Yuuri,as though he were drinking in the mere sight of him.

“Is that any way to greet your fiancé?” Viktor asked after afew seconds, face finally breaking into a grin. Yuuri could do nothing butstare.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, still trying tocomprehend the enormity of what had just happened.

Viktor shouldn’t be in his tent. Viktor shouldn’t beanywhere near him. Viktor should be somewhere in the enemy camp across theother side of the battlefield, where his armies were camped out until morning beforepreparing to meet Yuuri’s in battle.

“I had to see you,” Viktor said simply, and the intensity inhis gaze was back. His eyes raked over Yuuri, as if memorising his face.Savouring the sight of him again after months of forcibly being kept apart.

“It’s too dangerous,” Yuuri insisted, fear still burningthrough his veins. Not fear for himself now, but fear for Viktor. “What if youhad been caught?”

Yuuri might be there to represent the royal family on thebattlefield, but his life had been deemed far more valuable than a commonsoldier. His tent was at the heart of the camp with guards at the entrance andan army between him and the enemy. For Viktor, the prince of an enemy kingdom,sneaking into Yuuri’s tent at night was tantamount to suicide.

“It’s not like your royal guard ever caught me when I usedto sneak into your rooms at night before,” Viktor joked, a teasing smiletwisting his lips.

Yuuri shot him a disbelieving look.

It was true that Viktor had used to be very adept atsneaking into his room at night during the long summers of their courtship thatYuuri had spent at his castle. Neither of them had been particularly interestedin preserving their chastity, and Viktor had become very adept at scaling thepalace walls to reach Yuuri’s window. But the most Viktor had risked back thenhad been Yuuri’s disgruntled royal guard throwing him out of Yuuri’s rooms forattempting to sully their prince’s virtue.

Now, with their countries at war, Viktor risked death. Orworse.

“It’s different now,” Yuuri pointed out, making sure to keephis voice low so as not to alert anyone still standing watch outside his tent.

“I know,” Viktor sighed. He reached out hesitantly, as ifexpecting Yuuri to pull away. When Yuuri remained motionless, Viktor cupped ahand around Yuuri’s face, one finger stroking his cheek reverently. Exactly theway he used to. Back when their love had been simple and they both believed it wouldbe strong enough to stop a war.  

“But still, I had to see you.”

Yuuri leant into the touch, relishing the feeling of Viktorhand on his skin. He took a step closer, drawn to Viktor by an invisible forcethat he had never been able to resist. Viktor hand was still warm against hisface and Yuuri reached out for Viktor in return, pulling him closer.

He didn’t know which of them moved first. All Yuuri knew wasthat they came together like two halves of a whole, Viktor’s lips meeting hiswith a feeling of perfect rightness. The kiss was all consuming and it droveevery thought out of Yuuri’s mind until there was nothing left but Viktor andthe perfection of his touch.

Viktor’s hands slid into his hair, urging him closer andYuuri kissed back harder, desperate after being deprived for so long. Everymonth he had spent away from Viktor had been agony, locked away in a castle farfrom the one who held his heart. And now they were together, but the battlefieldloomed before them. Their duty dictating they stay on opposing sides and theirhearts drawing them together regardless.

“Run away with me,”Viktor breathed unexpectedly, words brushing gently against Yuuri’s lips.

Yuuri jerked away, eyes wide. But Viktor’s face remained setin a mask of conviction as he spoke again.

“Run away with me Yuuri,” he pleaded, reaching out and drawingYuuri back to him. “Let’s run far away, where no-one will be able to find us.Away from this war, away from our kingdoms. Away to somewhere where we can bothbe free.”

“What?” Yuuriblurted out, still staring at Viktor in shock. He would do almost anything tobe with Viktor, of that there was no doubt. When the alliance between theircountries had begun to crumble, they had both done everything they could topreserve peace. But that had failed, and their betrothal had been broken along withit. Now Yuuri’s duty bound him to support his family and fight for his kingdom,no matter what his heart felt for the enemy prince.

“Run away with me,” Viktor insisted, his expression painfullyhonest. “Neither of us believe in this war. Neither of us want to fight in it.Don’t let them make us enemies. Not when you know that my heart will alwaysbelong to you.”

“Viktor, I…” Yuuri began but the words stuck in his throat,choking him. He wanted to say yes. He wanted to so badly it was like a physicalpain in his chest, an ache centred around his heart. But he couldn’t

“I can’t,” he whispered, watching as Viktor’s face fell.

“Why not?” Viktor asked, voice still pleading and Yuuriheart broke even more at the words.

“You know why not,” he told Viktor, forcing himself to speakeven though the words felt like shards of glass in his throat.

“I don’t understand,” Viktor said, voice sharper now. “Ilove you and you love me. Why is that not enough?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Yuuri snapped back, feelingsuddenly defensive. “You’ve always hated your parents, hated being a prince. You’vealways wanted to leave it all behind. But I have a duty to my country, and tomy family. Your parents declared warViktor. I can’t abandon my people now, no matter how much I want to.”

“I do understand,” Viktor replied and his voice sounded suddenlysad, full of a weariness that seemed to reach all the way down to his bones. “Iunderstand duty and I understand loyalty. I am loyal to my people. But I’m alsoloyal to you. Both of us know that this war is pointless and we both dideverything we could to stop it. But we failed. We were never going to succeed, itwas doomed from the start. So I’m begging you Yuuri, don’t doom us both with it.Let’s leave now, while we still have the chance.

It took everything in Yuuri to step away. To shake his headand watch as Viktor’s heart broke.

“I love you,” he murmured, feeling tears begin to sting athis own eyes. “But I can’t.”

Viktor turned away, as if you leave, but Yuuri caught hisarm and pulled him back, not able to let him go without making sure that Viktorunderstood where his heart truly belonged.

“I’ll find a way to fix this,” Yuuri promised, fingersdigging into Viktor’s skin, as though force along could make him stay. “I’llfind a way to end this war and we can be together again. I promise.”

Viktor stared at him for a long second, eyes filled with a fondnessthat was tinged with an aching kind of sadness. Then he leaned down and presseda final, soft kiss against Yuuri’s lips, stealing one last moment together.

“Don’t make promises that you can’t keep Yuuri,” Viktor murmured,before turning and slipping out of the tent and away into the night.

[kazliin]

can u do 15 for the things u said… prompts? thank u! i love your writing so much

Prompt 15 - thingsyou said with too many miles between us

Yuuri stared out across the ocean, the rolling wavescrashing against the shore beneath him as he stood on the palace balcony. The taste of salt was heavy on the air and the sea breeze tugged furiously at the loose fabric of his clothing. Abovehim, the seagulls cried, their voices sounding strangely mournful.

Viktor had always loved the sound of the gulls.

Shaking his head, Yuuri turned away, forcing himself todismiss the thought. It did no good to think on the past. Nor of a future thatwas now lost. The silver haired man might haunt his dreams but in the wakinghours, Yuuri had been instructed to banish Viktor from his mind. His tutors at thepalace had forbidden even the mere mention of Viktor’s name.

Making his way silently through the palace halls, Yuuripaused for a moment as he approached the doors of the war council room. Hisparents were in there now, as was his sister. Planning their first strike in what was surely to be a long and bloody war. As the second child, Yuuri also had aright to sit at the table of the war council, but it was not an obligation for him asit was for Mari. Once maybe, Yuuri would have been thrilled at the opportunity tojoin in the strategy planning for the upcoming battles. But now the thought ofwar left nothing but a sour taste in his mouth and a sick feeling in his gut.

Instead he turned away, leaving the doors behind him. He had no wish to look on them anymore. 

For so much of his life, his sole purpose had been toprevent war. It was why he had been sent to the neighboring kingdom everysummer as a child, to spend time with the young price who lived across the ocean. Bothhis own parents and the foreign king and queen had hoped a match between theirchildren could solidify the fragile peace between their two countries that seemed to crumble more and moreas the years past and political tensions rose.

At first, Yuuri had been in awe of the foreign prince. Hishair had been silver like the moon and his laugh as bright as the morning sun.They had grown up together, spending the long lazy days of summer in each other’scompany and biding regretful goodbyes when it was time for Yuuri to return home.Then one summer, Viktor had kissed him on the shores of the ocean and promisedto one day put a ring on Yuuri’s finger. And from then on, their love had only grown. 

But had come to war before it had come to wedlock.

Now Viktor was an ocean away and bloodshed was looming onthe horizon. Both of them had begged for peace, but the tensions between their countrieshad reached breaking point and everything that Yuuri had wished for had beensnatched away the minute Viktor’s parents had declared war.

Now he was at home, a prisoner in his own castle. Barredfrom the one he loved not by walls, but by duty. Viktor was his enemy now, ashis tutors were so fond of reminding him. Any feelings must be put aside so hemight best serve his country and help lead them to victory.

When Yuuri finally reached his rooms, he dismissed theservants waiting inside and shut the door firmly behind them. All he wanted wasto be alone. When he was sure that there wasn’t a single soul left to see him,he hurried over to the chest in the corner of the room, pulling out the keywhere it was hidden on a chain around his neck and unlocking the box hurriedly.

Papers spilled onto the floor as soon as Yuuri lifted thelid. In the years that they had known each other, Viktor had written himthousands of letters. And Yuuri had kept them all. Childish scribbles to afriend. Lengthy love letters, some of which still made Yuuri blush to read them.Detailed descriptions of the politics of the foreign court, along with plans ofhow they could work together to avoid war. Spilling enough of his country’s secretsthat it was close to treason, but Viktor hadn’t cared. He had sworn that he woulddo anything to prevent war and protect their love. But in the end, it had beenout of both of their hands.

Yuuri rifled through the papers for a few minutes, fingersskimming the thick parchment. Finally, he found what he was looking for. Hiddenin the depths of the chest was a small portrait, painted several years ago insecret. A smiling face beamed back at him, eyes alight with laughter. Silverhair framed the handsome features, Viktor captured perfectly by thebrushstrokes.

It was the only picture that Yuuri had of him.

Bringing the painting up to his lips, Yuuri held it therefor a few seconds, as though the cold portrait could make up for the touch of alover’s lips.

Everyone had insisted that he forget Viktor. That theirengagement was broken and it was Yuuri’s duty to his country to cut Viktor fromhis heart. And in public, Yuuri had.

But in the privacy of his own chambers, Yuuri allowedhimself to cry.

“I miss you,” he whispered to the painting, as though thewords could carry across the sea to Viktor’s ears.

“I miss you so much.”

Thousands of miles away, another prince stood on the shoreof the ocean, looking out at the raging sea. It was there that he had proposedto the man he loved and there that he had watched him sail away for the finaltime, both of their hearts broken.

“I’ll find a way back to you Yuuri,” Viktor murmured, wordslost to the waves. “I promise.”

[incorrectpelican]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Summary:

Ash will never be able to put into words how much it means to him. For Eiji to just understand who he is, what he's been through.

Banana Fish makes me emotional and I needed to let some of those emotions out. Check out this nonsense drabble if you’d like.

**Please refrain from spoiling anything. I mean I’ve gotten most of the ending spoiled already, but I haven’t read the manga so please respect that!

[incorrectpelican]

I'm sure this has already been done before but I really want to write a Howl's Moving Castle AU for Yuuri and Viktor. I feel like it's so fitting and both are so dear to my heart that I would love to do an AU.

[incorrectpelican]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Hello! Happy Halloween!

I managed to finish this with a day so spare. I’ve always wanted to write some sort of Hinata/Sailor Moon crossover. So here’s a self-indulgent College Halloween AU. Please check it out if you’re interested.

It’s my first fic for this otp, so please let me know what you think!  

[one-time-i-dreamt]

I was a non-playable character and I met this entity who I just knew was a goddess and I told her we were in my dream, to which she replied, “No, this is my dream.”

[valtsv]

multichapter fic: *ends with a happy and satisfying resolution for everyone*

me: :)

multichapter fic: *is the first part in a series*

me:

[valtsv]

*the rest of the series is just short spinoffs about everyone enjoying their happy ending*

[littorella]

All I Want

For @wewritevictuuri weekly prompt: I can’t stand the thought of losing you. Hope you enjoy this experiment in integrated images/text :)

……….

The first time Yuuri properly skates onto the ice with Viktor as his coach, he trembles in anticipation. With each step, his heart threatens to fall out of his chest and onto the ice. His eyes are glued to every movement and expression.

Something flashes in his eyes that Yuuri cannot read. It twists up his insides to speculate.

“Let’s start with the basics,” Viktor says casually, “Show me your edges and how you approach a jump. Pick your favorite. Don’t jump, just the approach.”

With hesitant steps, Yuuri begins and goes through his eight edges before turning into the approach for a toe loop. It’s not his smoothest. He skids to a stop and looks to Viktor for approval.

“Hmm,” his coach murmurs something under his breath and announces, “Very good, Yuuri!”

Yuuri rubs the back of his neck and skates back to Viktor. It didn’t seem very good.

“You are a beautiful skater. But I think I know why jumps are so hard for you. You are directing with your shoulders and losing momentum. That is an outdated way of skating. You need to unlearn the habit and skate with your weight instead. You’ll get more power for your jumps.”

“I don’t understand,” Yuuri murmurs as he starts casting his eyes downward. The words echo in his head. Outdated. Unlearn. Wrong, wrong wrong.

“Here, watch. Lean further into your edge. Throw your weight into alignment, with your heart in the circle,” Viktor explains as he demonstrates. His blades cut with a graceful arc as he leans hard into the curve and glides backward. He switches edges and does the same on the side.

“The power you put on the edge is what directs you, not your shoulders.”

Yuuri holds his breath as he watches and listens. His heart is already falling. Viktor is here. Viktor whose edges are so clean they barely make a sound. Viktor who can glide halfway across the rink on a single push. Viktor who expects the same from Yuuri.

He glances at Viktor to see his reaction then immediately averts his eyes as to not be caught staring. Unlike his instructor, he can’t move as far or as quietly. The ice protests his blades with scrapes and scratches.

The pressure on his inside leg burns as he tries again and again.

Burning like the fear rising in his chest.

Burning like…

“Yuuri!”

The disappointment Viktor must feel to discover Yuuri is even more of a failure than he’d been led to believe… he gets up as quickly as he can and ignores the hand outstretched to offer help, as though help would only amplify his not being good enough.

“I’m fine.”

His coach takes his gloved hands into a firm grasp anyway. Viktor looks at him with growing concern as he feels the trembling against his palms.

“You’re shaking.” Mentally cursing his own two hands for betraying him so easily, Yuuri tried to will them to stillness.

“No, no, it’s okay, really.”

Viktor isn’t so easily persuaded. “What are you feeling?”

“I’m sorry, I’m a little nervous.” A lot nervous. More nervous that even when he’s in competition. This is a sensation he’s never felt before. Viktor’s presence greets him with the delight and delirium of endless possibilities. And the infinity becomes too awful to consider living without.

“Oh. Did you drink too much coffee this morning?”

Yuuri makes a surprised face. “No, I’m just…always like this.” That’s not quite what he meant to say. I can’t stand the thought of losing you.

“Then help me understand. I need to know your mindset, as your coach,” Viktor meets Yuuri’s eyes with intention, “Are you feeling ok? Am I making you anxious?”

“I um…” Yuuri waffles, evasive and frustrated, “I’ll just try again. I don’t want to waste your time.” He better get started if he was going to relearn how to skate all over again Viktor’s way. Rushing, he pulls his hands back in an attempt to end the conversation, but Viktor hangs on and grasps his hands tighter.

The running thoughts in his head stop, and Yuuri sees out of the haze of the walls caving in. It’s clear in those piercing blue eyes he believes that Yuuri can fly on the ice and breathe it as if it were air.

That he won’t give up so easily.

That Viktor wants stay.

And so Yuuri begins to believe it too.

Notes: I recently got a new coach. It really is like starting over from the beginning again, and I wanted to write that feeling down. Hope you liked it!

[incorrectpelican]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Summary:

“Did you even talk to him? What the hell, Xander!” Corrin's voice began to rise.

“I didn't have time-”

“Two seconds! That's all you needed to get his name! Well at least you got his number right? Give me his number so I can apologize on behalf of his jerk soulmate.”

--

Hey! Just posted the last chapter of my Xanlow Soulmate (kinda) AU! It took a completely different course from what I originally set out to write, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!