Keep Me Warm

Red Light

Yuuri Katsuki, not to be mistaken for Yuri Plisetsky, was more than ever nervous over the upcoming skating competition.
He knew he should be used to the crowds and the anxiety he tended to feel while on the ice, but he was simply terrified of what was to come. It wasn't a big competition, but it would be the first time going against Viktor. Honestly, he couldn't help but feel his heart leap up his throat. He was nervous and downright anxious for the day. It was almost more than a month away, but he still couldn't help but be a bit nervous about it.
Viktor had promised him he would help him train even if he himself were competing against Yuuri. Yuuri tried to convince him not to. Told him his own training was much more important, but Viktor disagreed otherwise.
Of course, Yuuri couldn't help but be enthralled by the statement.
The two had grown closer than ever and Yuuri felt odd when he thought of Viktor no longer being his coach.
It kind of scared him.
How different would he feel without having his coach there on the sidelines to cheer him on or scold him if he messed up his routine?
Would he still get the happy smile or the welcoming hug as he used to?
With a heavy sigh, Yuuri turned the corner of an empty street. It was snowing only lightly at the moment, but he planned on getting home before the snow picked up too much. He just needed a moment to think, the song "Yuri on ice" playing through his earphones as he went over each step and glide in his head.
He planned to use the same song in his routine, but the only difference was going to be the jumps themselves along with the ending.
The ending would become far more substantial. The ending would be perfect and heart warming as he had concluded.
The ending would be about Viktor and everyone else he met that changed his life.
That included Yurio.
And, as though he had been summoned, his figure appeared not to far in the distance, staring down Yuuri with his all too familiar glare.
Yuuri only smiled and removed his earphones once he was close enough. "Hey, Yurio. What're you doing here?"
The blonde scoffed. "Waiting for you. Viktor sent me to bring you back. Something about talking I think."
"Oh." Wide-eyed, Yuuri blinked before regaining his composure. "Sorry, I just needed a walk. Cool my head a bit."
"Right. Hurry up, it's freezing out here." With that, Yurio quickly turned and crossed the road, Yuuri chasing behind.
A car zoomed past only a moment later.
"Y-Yurio?" The older skater called once he caught up. They were currently stopped at a light. The red hand blinking as several cars crossed. "Why does Viktor want to see me?" He couldn't help but swallow the lump in his throat. For some time, he had been feeling uncomfortable but wasn't sure the reason.
As the light flipped to walk and no other car was visible down the road, Yurio hurried on ahead, only stopping when he noticed Yuuri rubbing at the golden band still on his finger. The Russian was stopped in the middle of the road, Yuuri still on the sidewalk.
When Yuuri looked up he realized the blonde was fuming.
Why?
"Will you just stop with your little delusion! That ring doesn't mean anything!"
The flash of a red light appeared as the walking figure switched to a red hand.
"Viktor is skating on his own now. Forget whatever your head is coming up with, you're opponents now!"
Yuuri sucked in a breath, his eyes feeling strangely damp. Why was Yurio so mad?
"This is a competition, not some love show!"
His only saving grace from pure sobbing was the sudden screeching of car tires. Tires belonging to a car, from what Yuuri could see, that was heading straight for the blonde.
Oh no.
"Yurio!" Before he could think, he had jumped forward, pushing the other away from the road and towards the opposite side onto the sidewalk.
Yurio landed with a heavy thud against the cement, but Yuuri simply continued to roll off onto freshly cut grass down into a freezing lake beyond. His cry of terror having been cut off by a wave of stinging water.
He wasn't sure how deep it was, but he could feel his body stiffen from the horrid temperature and sink uncontrollably to the bottom of the lake. His breath having been knocked out from the fall, he choked for air only to find none. His lungs screamed and his head whirled in panic. Yet, he couldn't figure out how to unfreeze his body and swim to the glimmering surface. His brain told him what to do, but his limbs refused to work.
And in his moment of panic the only thing he could imagine was Viktor's arms pulling him close for a congratulatory hug.