Icy Highness | Yuzuru Hanyu

46.

Athena had to admit that after thinking carefully about her actions that she regretted texting him for a while.

Even if Yuzuru wouldn't answer, and that was the expected result, she was giving herself some blind hope that she promised that she wouldn't until the Olympics.

But then again, there was a chance he wouldn't even make it to the Olympics.

The princess had to know how he was. Her feelings for him were stronger than her will to be obedient to her mother and the rest of the royal family.

The answer didn't come for a while. It took so long that Athena started thinking that he would ignore her. She couldn't even be mad about it, not when her actions were the biggest cause for this to happen, even if she didn't have much of a choice.

It was only after she managed to fall asleep after hours of trying that her phone rang at an ungodly hour of the night.

She would've ignored it, but the call was coming to her hidden phone, the one that no one else but him had the number to reach.

Taking this call could be both a mistake and a relief, but it didn't matter because she knew how much he meant to her.

When she accepted the call, her voice was rough and sleepy from the hour, but she didn't care.

"Hello?"

"It's really you." She heard his distinctive voice come through the other line. His accent sounded heavier and she guessed it was due to not speaking as much English as he used to when they were together.

"Hey..."

"Why now, Athena? I've been texting your number non-stop without any answers, trying to call at all hours of the day... Why now?"

Athena wondered for a second, she hadn't received any of those in a long time. Deep down, the princess knew she would have taken them by now if she had received them.

"When?"

"When what?"

"When did you text and call me?"

"Huh, the day before my practice was the last time, I think."

The princess groaned at the realization that her mother was even controlling that, either by blocking his number or having more control over what happened with her phone than Athena imagined.

"I didn't get any of those."

"Come on, Athena. You don't have to say that when I know you didn't want to talk to me."

"You're wrong. All I want is to talk with you."

"That's not what your words showed me."

"You don't understand, do you?"

"What?"

"I didn't just cut contact with you willingly!" She said to her phone way louder than initially intended.

Afraid of waking up anyone in the palace, Athena went to her balcony with a warm blanket and settled on the cold surface of the ground to be able to talk with him without worrying too much about anyone overhearing.

"What happened?" He questioned her.

"My mother... She is controlling everything, you have no idea how things have been for me."

"What about me? Have you considered that? While you live in your palace full of people ready to serve and spoil you, some of us have to deal with our pain all alone, princess."

He regretted his harsh words immediately but they had already been said and Athena had heard them very clearly before tears started falling and her cries intensified.

"Yes. You're right. This was a mistake. Ignore this number."

She had to distance herself before hurting even more. It was the best for both of them.

"No no no. Thea, wait!"

She should have ignored it, but her heart was still beating for this man just like the first day.

"Be quick, Yuzuru. I'm risking too much to speak with you."

"Wait... What do you mean by risking too much?"

"It means that I fucking got a secret phone to watch your competitions and apparently listen to your insults."

He had never heard her swear, not like this. Athena was the perfect example of politeness most of the time, it could only mean that she was pissed.

If he was being honest, she had every right to be after his harsh commentary.

"They don't let you watch me?"

"They barely allow me to have contact with anything Japanese, let alone watch you."

"I... I'm sorry."

"It's fine"

"It isn't, I didn't mean those words"

"But you did and it's ok. I deserve them."

"You don't."

"I broke your heart."

"Not willingly."

"I didn't have a choice."

"I know"

"I had to protect you."

"I know."

"I miss you so much."

Athena was crying again, talking with Yuzuru felt good in a way, but it also opened a lot of wounds that she had managed to close.

"I miss you too, love."

She couldn't help but smile, he was still the same man that she had fallen for.
Their whole fight was stupid and it only made her forget about the reason behind her first text.

"How are you?"

"I'm ok."

"You know that's not what I meant... The injury?"

"It's bad"

"And the Olympics?"

"Not sure yet. They are making me rest completely and see. It feels like 2016 all over again"

"Oh... Yuzu..."

"It's not as bad as then. I've been trying to communicate with others more."

"Who are you and what have you done to the man I love?"

Yuzuru chuckled, it felt good to hear her say those words. He loved her just as much.

"He misses his princess."

"His princess can't just do as she feels like anymore."

"Tell me about it."

And Athena did, giving him a detailed review of the past months and just under how much scrutiny she was under.

"Thea... Can't you just get out of there?"

"This is my family, Yuzu."

"They don't seem to care about that."

"My dad worries but my mother has full control."

"She sounds like a bitch."

The princess couldn't help but laugh at the easygoing way that he found those words.

"Well, that bitch is your future mother-in-law."

He couldn't help but feel his heart beat faster at the way she said that. The implication was there more than ever and he knew that nothing had changed in her feelings.

"Should be an interesting wedding then."