Icy Highness | Yuzuru Hanyu

7.

Athena found herself being dragged to the proximity of the ice, with her bodyguards following from a safe distance and trying to remain as out of sight as possible. As good as they were, they were still obvious in her eyes after so many years of watching them move.

Yuzuru had won, surprising no one who had seen the performances he had put on.

Two world records as if it was nothing and a big smile on his face that she could now see more clearly after he left the interviews.

Javier kept teasing him and they joked around for a few minutes. It was easy to tell that they were close.

She merely watched from a distance, ignoring most of the things being uttered in her ear. Something that she soon realized was a mistake.

"Your highness, do you understand?" The man that she had been ignoring finally asked and brought her attention back to him.

"Hum... Could you repeat it, please?"

The man then repeated the instructions slowly and patiently, not even mentioning the fact that she wasn't listening before.

She watched each medalist being called to their podium step, and Athena loved the smile on their faces, especially on the Japanese skater currently standing on the highest podium step.

When they called out her name to attribute the medals, there was a collective gasp. The princess had managed to keep her presence in the event somewhat of a secret until that moment.

She took the gold medal first as instructed and when she got closer to Yuzuru, his eyes were analyzing her closely, as if trying to confirm something.

"Congratulations. I enjoyed your performance" she told him with a polite smile, an expression she saved for the official Royal tasks.

"Thank you" was all he answered, but it still made her flush slightly at the big warm smile on his face.

Athena moved on, even if she wanted to linger for a while longer, her attention on the Japanese couldn't be too obvious.

After congratulating Javier and Shoma, the ceremony was over way too soon and Athena felt as if she had barely even seen him at all.

Even so...why did she care so much?

She had been truthful to Joanna, she didn't find Yuzuru incredibly attractive, and even if she liked him on the ice, her head shouldn't constantly be on him.

It didn't take too long after it was all done for judges and members of the ISU to come to her and thank her for being there.

That didn't surprise Athena at all, it was always like this in any sports event she ever attended with her parents.

What did surprise her was when Javier and Yuzuru came to her and interrupted the conversation.

"Your highness" Javier said with a heavy Spanish accent while dragging Yuzuru with him.

"Hello"

"I'm Javier Fernandez, this is Yuzuru Hanyu. We just wanted to say hello, I know it's not common for Royals to attend skating events and it means a lot to me that you did so here in Spain."

"I had fun. Even if I don't know a lot about the sport."

"Yuzuru, say hi, meet the princess."

"Hello." He said with a shy smile "but we already meet."

"The podium doesn't count, Yuzu!"

"Not podium" he said and Athena looked at him with a wondering look.

"What do you mean?"

"Hotel, you stay at Hilton, yes?"

It was only then that the princess connected the dots and realized that the man in a mask that she saw almost every night that week was in fact, Yuzuru.

"Oh... I didn't recognize you with the mask."

Yuzuru smiled, obviously proud of himself.

"I know. It good. I want it like it."

"I'm confused" Javi said, making them both laugh.

"We are staying at the same hotel and have a common habit of needing a bit of fresh air every once in a while." She joked.

"Yes. I'm sorry, I not know who you are"  he bowed profusely.

"Please... It's refreshing that you didn't. I like when people don't treat me differently because of my title."

"It nice to meet you."

Javier analyzed their exchange with predatory eyes. He had seen his friend struggle with English but he never got that flushed, especially not because of a woman.

It could be because of the power she held, this was obviously a member of a Royal family and no ordinary girl, but even still, the Japanese skater's reaction was still odd to him.

"You will come to the dinner after the gala, yes?" Javi asked.

"I believe it's in my schedule."

"Then we will have a chance to talk a bit more. Thank you, Your Highness. It was a pleasure to meet you."

"You too. Gracias Javier." She said with a soft smile and the man seemed to love it.

"Bye." Yuzuru said after Javier.

"Bye"

And just like the previous night, they parted ways with a mere goodbye and tingling running through both their bodies.

Athena had barely recovered from the sudden conversation when Joanna was by her side again.

"So... How did it go? I didn't want to interrupt"

"It was ok."

"Just ok? You're no fun. What did you talk about?"

"We just introduced ourselves and had a bit of small talk, nothing interesting."

"Why?? You could have invited them to the palace or something. Anything that kept the conversation going."

"I'm sure they are both tired from the competition. They will be at dinner either way."

In reality, Athena had hopes that Yuzuru would keep his night stroll. Maybe they would have such a big distance this time, maybe they could talk for a while longer, maybe...

At the same time, she knew it was unlikely since he needed to rest but the only thing she could do was hope.