Safe Haven | Yuzuru Hanyu

40.

They both ended up on the ice eventually with big smiles. The boots on Emma's feet weren't the best to play hero but in no time she was gliding with the same confidence that she had years prior.

When she started feeling confident, maybe a bit too confident, a waltz jump was attempted and of course, not being used to landing on her toepick for a long time made her fall almost immediately to Yuzuru's pleasure.

Yes, because instead of helping her, the idiot just started laughing uncontrollably.

"Hey! What happened to not letting me fall?"

"You were the one that jumped...Getting too confident, Em?"

"You're supposed to encourage me!"

"I am! You work better with teasing than encouraging words."

Emma hated that he knew her so well, and he said those things with that knowing smirk that managed to piss her off even further.

"Your luck is that I know I can't catch you on ice, otherwise you would be pinned on it already."

"Maybe I would let you."

"You..."

Emma got up and pretty much pounced on him. Yuzuru just grabbed her waist and held her there.

"Hey" he said with a smile.

"I was trying to make you fall on the ice." She said with a pout that he loved far too much.

"You underestimate my core strength, beautiful."

He hugged her close and Emma couldn't help but wonder just how many times they could do this together before Yuzuru realized that he actually needed the time to practice.

"You like this, right? Skating?"

"You know I do."

"You could let me help you get back to it."

She was surprised by his suggestion, it had been clear that Yuzuru was trying to get her to like it again, but she didn't expect him to want to coach her or whatever this was.

"Like a coach?"

"Something like that, I guess. Who knows, maybe you could even skate properly again."

"What for? It's not like I could ever get back to competition."

"You could, but if you don't want that you could always do shows."

"No one would pay to watch me, I'm no champion and the small amount of medals that I managed to get has almost zero international recognition."

"Then just do it for sports or enjoyment, I don't know the best motivation, but I do know your potential."

Emma considered it for a few seconds but the decision was already made in her mind. It wasn't as if there was a lot going on in her life at that moment.

Now she didn't have a job because Yuzuru dismissed the bodyguard services.

So here she was, in a foreign country without any job and prospect of a future besides being with this hard-headed man.

"Fine, but if I start hating we stop and it has to be at a different time than your session because I know us and I doubt you'll get any practice if I'm around."

"I'm sure we can manage something but more importantly, you need skates."

"Are there even shops open?"

"I don't know..."

"Well, I know what size and boots used to fit me best. Maybe ordering online is an option."

"If you think they will be ok. I don't want you uncomfortable in those skates."

"I could skate in these and be fine." She stated pointing at her feet where the clearly already worn-out boots were. Yuzuru immediately said no.

"You're getting new boots."

"Yes, Sir..."

He looked at her with a very serious expression and Emma smirked. Whatever was going on inside that head of his was probably best if she didn't know.

The girl eventually pushed him away and got out off the ice, ordering him to practice properly. The Olympics were next year after all and Yuzuru had this idea that he wanted to land the quad axel there at all costs.

Emma had seen the attempts, a few more painful than others but every single time he jumped it in front of her, she flinched.

It was completely crazy.

And utterly him.

Yuzuru wasn't one to give up, but Emma obviously worried that he would find a way to hurt himself even more than what he had already done.

On top of that, there was also the very clear problem of his asthma being more problematic than usual, and there was another competition going on in just a couple of weeks, making Emma wonder if this wasn't all a strategy to hide how he was still struggling with it now.

She kept it in her head, of course, as she always did, looking for a good moment to ask him about it.

It turned out that the moment only came hours after when they arrived home once again and he dragged her to his bedroom without any words.

"Yuzu... Your parents..."

"Know very well we're together and don't care either. Come on, I sleep better with you by my side."

And would she ever deny him?

No, of course not.

And so, they laid in bed as if it was the most normal thing in the world, acting like a true couple. Emma immediately curled up on him and asked what had been bothering her since they were at the rink.

"Have you been alright?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"I just feel like you have been taking your training quite easy in comparison to what I remember and it made me think of what happened at Worlds."

"I've been taking it easy on purpose, yes. I don't want to risk another attack."

"You could have told me."

"I don't want you to worry"

"Well, Sherlock, I always worry. And if you think you can hide things like that from me, then you're very wrong. If I'm here to be your partner, you can't expect to always do things on your own."

"My partner, huh?"

"That's all you took from that?"

"I will do my best, Em. I promise."