"Viktor... Viktor, I'm not sure about this."
Viktor took a deep breath. He was stood on the ice - his second home, in every sense of the word - with one hand on his hip and the other outstretched towards Roxas. Eleven years after their first introduction, and they were in the same position: Viktor Nikiforov (skating legend and prodigy) trying to goad Akechi Roxas (previous grand prix finalist) onto the ice. Except this time, they weren't thirteen and nine respectively, but twenty-four and twenty, and Roxas' fear wasn't due to knowing nobody and being the youngest skater... It was several months after his transplant surgery, prompted after he had collapsed on the ice midway through his free skate programme due to heart failure. But it was in his first time wearing skates again, and he just couldn't bring himself to glide again."I'm gonna go home."
"You're going to give up something you love?""I can't do it, 友人."
"Yes, you can, малютка."
Viktor's hand didn't waver, and it took a moment before Roxas finally reached forward and grabbed it. Immediately, he was reminded of that first time they spoke. He was so nervous, so scared because everybody was bigger than him, better than him, and nobody spoke japanese and his english was only limited. But, somebody approached him. Somebody with ice blue eyes and a soft smile and long silver hair, and a warm hand. A hand bigger than his but gentle and kindly pulling him onto the ice. Roxas connected with Viktor in that moment, and he viewed him as a brother ever since.Two pairs of skates hit the ice, and a button was pressed, and familiar music sounded through the speakers: in the name of love. The same music Roxas used as his free skate music the last time he competed with Viktor."You remembered.""Of course. This programme showed your strengths well. Let's use that."
They started slow, Roxas getting used to moving on the ice again with Viktor pulling him along. Everytime he pushed against the ice, he got more confident, skating next to the Russian rather than just being pulled by him. They skated to the music steadily, no fancy tricks or anything just yet. Waiting until Roxas was ready.
History Maker came on.But he was more than ready. His hand suddenly ripped away from Viktor's, the silver-haired man immediately going to grasp it again, in case Roxas was going to slip on the ice. He was ready to take him off, back onto safe ground and then home. But Roxas was gone, skating forward in time to music, spinning and then when the chorus came on, he landed a quad flip.Viktor smiled, raising a finger to his lips before he gracefully moved to get next to the blond. Light blue eyes met dark blue, and a smirk was shared between them. As the music built, their hands met, Roxas sliding backwards under Viktor's arm, then spinning the older male. Strong arms went around Roxas' waist, lifting him. It could've been an impressive lift between two figure skaters who had never pair skated before, other than the childish piggybacks and holding hands as children, and that one time they just spun in circles holding onto each other.
Roxas was placed with his lower back on Viktor's shoulder, curling backwards around the other male as they laughed. However, he shifted, and Viktor (for once!) lost his balance, both of them crashing to the wet ice in a bout of yelps and lost giggles."You ok, Vitya?"
Roas asked, leaning up onto his elbows, to look down at the Russian. Their clothes were wet."Да, are you?"
"I'm fine."
Silence for a moment, before they both burst into laughter.
