Elegance [Victor Nikiforov x Reader]

|{1}| You Want to be His Coach?! |{1}|

               "(Y/n)! Can you please come out of your room? Your brother's home!" My mother calls with an exasperated sigh. My head perks up, a kitten currently laid on top of my head, wobbling from the motion. I take Khione off my head, placing her tiny silver body on my pillow. I pet her gently, scratching her cheek before heading out in my room, still in modest, comfortable clothes. It is technically my day off from work, but I always help out around the inn anyways to save mom the trouble.

     I walk down the hallway quietly, heading to the front entrance, where I heard mom's voice calling. There stood my brother, Yuuri, wearing an enormous, puffy medium brown coat. Minako stood next to him, flashing various poses and chanting about his return. Yuuri looks to me, smiling when he sees his precious little sister. 

               "Hey, (Y/n). It's been a long time." He greets with a tired and strained, but genuinely happy voice. I narrow my (e/c) eyes suspiciously, recognizing his depressed tone. He looks worried for a moment, and I sigh, trotting up to him and pulling him into a tight hug. 

               "You did your best, Yuuri-nii. Welcome home," I say softly, and he slowly hugs me back, fighting his emotions. 

               "You always know exactly how I'm feeling, don't you, (Y/n)?" He choked out, and I don't reply. He sniffles, pulling away with another strained smile. "How've you been? You've grown in the last five years."

     Knowing he needed to change the topic, I follow along.

               "Well, the last time you saw me, I was seventeen, and you were eighteen, so it's no wonder I look different. I'm still your sister, though," I lightly punch his bundled arm. "I'm still the same-old (Y/n) Katsuki."

               "So, what kind of fat are you hiding under all that jacket?" Minako inquires threateningly, gaining a judgmental gleam in her eyes. Yuuri tries to sneak away, but Minako pounces on him before he can get very far. "Off with the clothes!"

     Yuuri protested, but no one can stop Minako when she puts her mind to something. His clothes came off rapidly, revealing the poorly hidden rolls of fat my brother had acquired from binging. Minako growled, and Yuuri stretched and twisted his leg sheepishly. 

               "This is not okay! Figure skaters need to maintain a certain physique, and that's not it!" She exclaims the obvious. Minako went on to lecture my brother, who looked thoroughly embarrassed, especially when dad entered the conversation. 

     I sigh, shaking my head at my crazy family with a small grin. I decided it would be nice to go for a jog then head up to the Ice Castle skating rink to get some practice in. I change clothes in my room, putting on an entirely grey jumpsuit and sneakers before heading outside.

     Hasetsu is beautiful this time of year; the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and the world is just starting to warm up as spring begins. Even so, every hot pant I let out while briskly jogging fogged the air, and the atmosphere is just cold enough to freeze my lungs and make every breath burn.

     Jogging has always cleared my mind. When I was younger, I used to have frequent adrenaline poisoning. The best way to relax my mind of anxieties and curb the adrenaline was to exercise. So, I took on jogging, swimming, rowing, and various other sports, though never on a competitive level. But my favorite activity in the world and the best way for me to cope with life has always been figure skating. 

     Like my brother, I love figure skating. I've been on ice as long as I can remember, even before living with the Katsuki's. Of course, Yuuri was thrilled to have a sister who liked the sport he did, but I've always preferred to go at it alone. For me, skating with another person is a very intimate act. When I'm on the ice, I become a different person, less walled off and distant. Everything I am is out there in the open then, moving with me like an aura as I drift to be one with the cold. I can't trust anyone with that side of myself. 

     I ran my usual route for a while, stopping once I reach the Ice Castle rink. Walking in, I wave to Yuko, who gives me my skates. I thank her, heading to the locker rooms. I tie the laces tightly, hurrying my way to the ice. I turn on some music, softly swaying my hips to the beat to get in the zone. As soon as the blade touches the frozen surface, I feel at home. 

     For a while, I simply glide, savoring the crisp sound of the blade scratching the ice, extending my arms, feeling the air flowing under my fingertips like caressing silk and running my hands down the sides of my body, moving freely and expressively. Soon, I'm twirling in the air after using my left toe pick to jump, my heart happily skipping a beat. The clap of my blade on the ice as I land the toe loop is satisfying, and before I know it, I'm moving at the speed of a freight train and landing a triple Axel followed by a triple Lutz in a clean, graceful combination. I close my eyes, still sliding backward and focusing on the quick beating of my heart, allowing all stress to melt from my body. 

     I stiffen when the sound of clapping echoed through the rink, and turn to see Yuko and Yuuri clapping enthusiastically. A bright blush coated my cheeks, and I shyly skate over to them. Yuko's nose is bleeding, and Yuuri's brown eyes sparkle in awe of my performance. 

               "(Y/n)! That was, I have no words to describe how beautiful that was! Why don't you skate competitively??" She continued to spout praise, even going as far as to say that performance made her gay. I hid my face in my hands, waiting for it to stop, and Yuuri laughs at my predicament. He places a hand on my shoulder, and I peek at him through my fingers. 

               "That was incredible (Y/n)! You managed to perfectly land both a triple Axel and a triple Lutz right after the other! Even the best skaters in the world have difficulties with that, and you haven't even broken a sweat!" Yuuri says with a tone of disbelief. I turn my head with an embarrassed huff, stepping out of the rink and going home without a word. 

     Not long after that, the video of Yuuri trying Victor Nikiforov's program went viral. I watched the video and was filled with a rush of pride for my brother, though he's exceptionally embarrassed and feeling violated. While Yuuri hides in his room, I have to do all the chores, including welcoming guests.

     A customer walks in the inn, and I turn with a smile.

               "Hello! Welcome to the Yu~topia Katsuki Hot Springs Inn, how may I help you?" I hear a bark and open my eyes.

     I'm suddenly surprised by the glorious image of Victor Nikiforov standing right in front of me. My jaw drops unintentionally, and he smiles.

               "Hello there, I'm Victor Nikiforov. I've come here to be Yuuri Katsuki's new coach!" He announces in that husky Russian accent. I blink a few times, trying to process his words. 

               "Huh?" 

[Word count: 1236]