Icy Highness | Yuzuru Hanyu

57.

Sunlight filled the hotel room that next morning.

On the bed, two bodies entangled, still unusually asleep and enjoying the small bubble that was in that hotel room.

Everything was utterly perfect and nothing seemed to be capable of ruining such a gorgeous morning.

Well, nothing except a cell phone ringing loudly.

Yuzuru groaned and brought her body closer, pulling her to him tightly, almost as if in an attempt to keep her from moving.

"Baby, I have to see who it is "

"Don't"

"It could be important"

Athena tried to reason with him but Yuzu didn't make any attempt to move.

"This is more important"

"Yuzu... Come on."

She had to almost forcefully force herself out of his warmth. It was cute, the way he tried to keep her close, but Athena knew that only one person had the number of that phone besides Yuzuru.

"Hey" she said as she answered the phone.

"Your Highness... I know I'm the last person you want to hear about and I hate to break the happiness bubble but you have to come back. They are getting suspicious."

Athena looked dejected immediately and even if the man beside her had groaned and turned his back to her, he was soon sitting on the bed and staring directly at her.

From the look on his face, she could tell he guessed what was going on.

"Yeah, I figured it wouldn't last long. Thanks, Jo. I will be back as soon as I can."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, dear. Thank you so much for all of your help."

Disconnecting that call seemed to bring all the reality. Yuzuru was looking at her with a pout and she gave him a weak smile.

"It lasted longer than I expected"

"I don't want you to leave me again."

"Baby..."

"I know, I know... Are you in trouble?" He asked, looking worried. The last thing he wanted was for Athena to lose the freedom that she worked hard for because of him.

"I don't think so. Not yet, at least. But I will be if I don't go."

"You're not going to ignore me for months again? Last time you left me..."

"I won't do any of that."

"We will see each other soon."

Yuzuru said that with all the resolution in the world. It was admiring to see all of the dedication that he had to her. This man had just won his second Olympic Gold and his priority was when he could see her again.

"We will. I will be in Japan in a couple of months. I'm sure we can figure something out."

"Maybe longer than a night..."

Athena smiled at that, she wanted nothing more.

"Yes."

"And we can maybe find a way for you to come to Fantasy on Ice?"
He knew it was asking too much, but he also knew that if it was possible, she would make it happen. "I know it's asking too much..."

"I will try. No promises."

"I love you."

"I love you too, my champion."

They kissed slowly, taking all the time to explore their mouths and hands touching everywhere they could.

Goodbyes were never easy and for them, they were a constant. Taking one day at a time was hard when they could barely see each other and when they did, it seemed like it was always for just a few short minutes.

"Please take care of yourself" she begged, knowing the man that she loved more than anything.

"You too."

"I mean it Yuzu. You have to heal."

As much as he denied it, his injury was far from healed and if previous experiences were any enlightening, the princess knew that Yuzuru didn't know how to stop and give a break to his over-abused body.

"I will."

Somehow, Athena highly doubted he would take enough time to heal properly. He never did, always eager to go back on the ice, but even so, she still tried.

It was a desperate gesture to make sure they wouldn't forget any of this.

The exchange, as desperate as it was, was still brief. Athena had to run to catch a train back to Seoul before the bodyguards started getting too suspicious about the princess being in bed for a whole day.

She got dressed in slow, unwilling motions. His bed had been such a good home that she didn't mind staying there forever.

Yuzuru merely stared, watching her with a pout on his face and a serious look that she couldn't place.

Once she was done, sadness filled the room all over again.

"You really have to go?"

"You know I do."

"Okay." It was with a defeated tone that he said that one word. Somehow it had more meaning than a whole phrase.

"We can do this."

"For the record...I hate your mother." He said and her laughter immediately filled the room.

"Sometimes I do too... But she's my mom."

"She's supposed to want you to be happy..."

"Yeah... That's not my mom. There are other priorities"

Athena pecked his lips one last time with tears on her face. They were both too sensitive for this exchange, but it had to be done.

She left the room sobbing before he managed to convince her to stay, and Athena had no doubts that Yuzuru could do that.

All alone, just like before, she went to the Korean train station, avoiding the stares of strangers that crossed her and her tear-streaked face.

It was only at the train that she decided to go completely crazy.

To be fair, she wasn't one to use social media too much, but she had a decent following due to her name alone. This account was obviously highly monitored by every PR person in the palace but she didn't care either.

A quick Google search gave her what she was looking for, the picture of Yuzuru in his Seimei costume, finger raised in the air in victory.

Athena barely even thought before she was uploading the picture to her public account with the description.

'My champion! I will always be proud of you. You are the biggest inspiration and deserve every single gold medal.
Thank you for being my light on dark days.
Congratulations, Ice Prince.'