Random one shots

Winter of our Youth

Viktor was sick and he knew it. He could feel it in his bones, that aching feeling that his body was weakening and slowly shutting down. It was okay for the first couple of months, after he met Yuuri. Viktor had been sick before you see. This wasn't the first time he'd been through this. It'd happened when he was younger, around 7 or 8. He was diagnosed with leukemia, told he wouldn't make it. His parents cried, but Viktor didn't understand. By the time he was 10 he'd decided that if there was one thing he wanted to take up before he died, it was figure skating. And figure skate he did. Viktor practiced every day, determined to become better and stronger, in and out of visits to the hospital of course. Then one day it stopped. The all too familiar ache in his bones and the constant pain, it went away. His doctors told him that he was getting better, that his body was becoming strong enough to fight back. For the first time in 18 years, Viktor smiled a real, true, genuine smile. He felt as if nothing could stop him. He could finally go out an enjoy all the things he was never able to do as a child, relishing in the delightful activities he was able to partake in. He traveled around the world, seeing sights he'd never even imagined in his wildest dreams, tasting delicacies he'd never heard of, snapping photos at every opportune moment. 

Then one day, after he came home from his travels, he saw it. The video of young Yuuri Katsuki perfectly mimicking Viktor's hardest choreographed free skate he'd ever done. Viktor was in awe. He dropped everything for this kid, forgetting all of his troubles an worries for the time being and decided that he would be Yuuri's coach. He acted on impulse he had to say, but looking back at that moment, he didn't regret a single thing. Viktor knew he didn't have much time left to live so what better thin to do than throw your life away to teach a 23 year old how to skate better? Viktor did have to admit, being Yuuri's coach even if for just a few short months was the most daring yet unbelievably fun thing he'd ever done. In that short amount of time, Viktor found it harder and harder to deny that he had feelings for Yuuri. Which made it even harder to explain to Yuuri the reason why he was in the hospital. 

Viktor was on his way to the rink in Hasetsu; Yuuri had something to show him. He had been at the hot springs where Yuuri lived and his parents worked when Yuuri called. Viktor hopped on his bike and pedaled as fast as he could, anxious to see what Yuuri needed. Then his whole world came crashing down on him. He should've noticed it earlier, what should've been the all too familiar ache in his bones. In that short moment of time before he crashed, Viktor realized it too late; He was going to die. There was no doubt about it. Viktor couldn't hide from his disease any longer. It had caught up to him and now it was going to take over his body. He was going to succumb to the cancer and let it eat him alive. 

Viktor woke to a carousel of faces. A pang of pain and guilt struck his heart at the sight of all the familiar faces; Yuri Plisetsky, a grim expression on his face; Phichit and Kenjiro, teary eyed, clutching each other tightly; Seung Gil Lee and JJ Leroy, wrapped in each others embrace, solemn expression staring off into space; Leo holding tightly a trembling guang-hong, his face too streaked with tears and his eyes puffy and red; Michele and Sala Crispino trying to fight back their tears and ultimately losing. But the worst of all was the ever so solemn and quiet Otabek Altin and the shaking, trembling, sobbing figure he seemed to be hiding away from the others, trying desperately to comfort them. Viktor could hear Otabek's hushed whispers and Yuuri's body-wracking sobs that filled the otherwise quiet room. Viktor opened his eyes and sat up. 

"Yuuri, please don't cry.." He rasped, his accent thick with sleepiness and his voice tired and worn out. Otabek turned his head and stumbled back.