Icy Highness | Yuzuru Hanyu

77.

They left Tokyo on the next day with the full intention of enjoying a whole week of literal holidays.

Yuzuru was basically forbidden from doing too much ice time and Athena had zero engagements or events to attend.

They had taken a car to his childhood home and the princess was quick to dismiss her bodyguards. From the moment they were in Sendai, she knew they wouldn't need them.

Being welcomed by Yumi into his parents' house felt a bit weird.

There was this unmistakable tension about who she was and what she would think of their modest way of living.

Athena only wished she could reassure the older woman, but it was easier said than done.

She was suddenly faced with a man that she didn't recognize and it wasn't too hard to figure out who he was.

The princess bowed and the man widened his eyes.

"No, no! You're... Your Highness, please, don't."

"Sir, I will ask of you, just like I did to your wife. I'm not my title and I would prefer if you could ignore it when I'm here. Please call me Athena."

"But..."

"Please, Hanyu-san. I don't want to be treated any different than any other girl he has brought home."

"Thea..." Yuzuru warned.

"What?"

"You're the first girl I bring home." He whispered in her ear and even without seeing his face, she could tell he was smirking.

"Well, I will try. " The man said as he realized that Yuzuru had enlightened her. "I'm Hidetoshi, Yuzuru's father."

"It's nice to finally meet you, Sir."

"Please don't call me Sir either " he said with a chuckle "It makes me feel older than I already am."

"Just come in, darling. We already kept you outside long enough."

"It's okay, Yumi-san. I have all the time in the world."

The woman guided them inside and Athena merely followed Yuzuru's every step. From removing the shoes to hanging the jackets and dragging the bags inside. Well, Yuzuru dragged her bags and didn't allow her to do that part, but it didn't surprise her a bit.

"Hum... We didn't talk about it...but I assume you're staying in the same room?" Yumi asked with a red face.

"If that makes you uncomfortable, I'm sure we can..." Athena started, only to be cut off by the man at her side.

"She's staying with me, yes."

"Yuzu!"

"Princess, it's not like they don't know..."

She was now red like a tomato and he was having his fun with this. Too much if you were to ask her.

"I was just checking because I didn't prepare the guestroom. Don't be embarrassed, dear."

"Your son likes to make me flush."

"I do..."

"But doesn't like when I do the same to him."

"True."

The way he was giving short answers was purely out of an attempt to joke more than anything else. It could be funny if he wasn't doing it to her.

"Stop being a brat..."

He brought an arm around her and pulled her close before whispering in her ear "I love you."

It was disturbing how endearing this man could be, but she just allowed him to get away with it this time.

"Hum, hum..."

"Yuzu-kun, maybe you should show Athena your room while I finish dinner."

"Sure. Come on."

Athena didn't even look surprised as she entered the room and found a few pooh-bears scattered around. One that she already knew very well from all the times he carried it around, while the others were probably a few gifts he had gotten through the years.

"I have never bought you a Pooh that big." She said, realizing that maybe she should have.

"Everyone knows I like it. It's the easy gift, you were never one to go for easy stuff."

"I did buy you that small one."

"Yes... And it's on my skating bag, always with me."

"That important, huh?"

"Not as important as Pooh-san... But close. Come on, you can put your things in the closet."

Athena smiled while placing everything in the closet even if it felt counterintuitive. She wasn't staying for long after all.

In her bag, she had only brought a few dresses for any occasion that might arise and everything else was just loungewear and comfortable clothes.

It took dating an athlete for her to accept sports clothes in her closet but it has been her best choice ever.

Of course, unpacking with his eyes on her meant that she had to endure the experience of Yuzuru judging her underwear choices for the week.

He was silently watching until she pulled out a piece of lingerie that he wasn't familiar with. A bodysuit in black lace that she had been keeping for a special occasion. "What's that?"

"Nothing!"

She tried to hide it as fast as humanly possible, but he was faster than her.

"Let me see"

"No..."

"Athena..."

"Yuzuru..."

"I haven't seen that before."

"I know and for a good reason."

"You won't wear it for me?"

He was staring at her with such a playful look that she was holding back not to kiss him senselessly.

"I never said that..."

Yuzuru approached her silently and took the item from her hands.

"What about now?" He teased her, far too close for comfort.

"Now?!" She almost screamed at him "Your parents are downstairs! Your mom is finishing dinner!"

"They know not to come in uninvited..."

"Yuzu!"

He kissed her to stop her complaints and chuckled when she moaned against him.

"You're way too easy to mess with, princess."