1. When Yuuri is practicing his combination spin at center ice at Cup of China and Phichit says conversationally, “So.” His eyeliner is honestly the stuff of legends. Victor should ask his technique. “You should know that at any given time I’m ready to commit murder for that boy.”
Victor hums. “Then,” he says, smiling, “we have that in common.”
Phichit gives him a long, low stare. Then, brilliantly, he smiles back. “Oh,” he says. “I like you.”
2. When Yuuri, leaving the banquet at Rostelecom, is driven to the airport in the Team Yakov van, sandwiched between Mila and the window. She happily, between yawns, relates anecdotes about Yakov, about Victor, along with some jokes about Yuri Plisetsky and some unnamed skater crush of his. Yuuri nods and kneads his fingers and waits for the other shoe to drop.
When they let him off at the airport, Mila gives him a fierce hug and says, “Give Vitya our love?”
“… that’s it?” says Yuuri. Who has not yet grasped that he’s capable of breaking anyone’s heart, let alone Victor’s, but knows, nonetheless, how these things are supposed to go.
Mila’s smile gets a little confused. But she confirms, “That’s it.”
3. When Minako slumps against her chair in the Barcelona hotel bar and sighs, “He’s practically my kid, so I’m biased. But he’s the easiest thing in the world to love, right? Getting him to let you, though.”
“I’m sorry,” is what Victor finally says. He doesn’t know how he feels about any of this, but he especially doesn’t know how he feels about being comforted by Minako, when she should probably be comforting Yuuri back up in the room.
“Victor. You think I haven’t been where you are?” She smiles grimly. “You’re doing fine.”
4. When Yuuri’s parents take Victor aside that last night in Hasetsu.
“That boy.” Toshiya’s smiling as he shakes his head. “He doesn’t trust his heart with many people. You know?”
Hiroko’s holding one of Victor’s hands in both of hers before he can form a reassurance. “We’re so glad it was you,” she says.
(There was a lot of crying that night, is all I’m saying.)
5. When Yuuri learned that trying to match Yakov Feltsman shot for shot is a terrible idea, no matter how nervous you are about your one-on-one dinner with him. Or maybe it is a good idea, if it gives you the courage to spend the evening monologuing how much you care about his surrogate skating son. “He’s always got a lecture in the Kiss and Cry,” Yuuri says dreamily at one point. “Just like you.”
“Katsuki,” Yakov says, sitting very stiffly in the restaurant foyer as they wait for Victor to come collect his trashed fiancé. Yuuri, resting facedown against his shoulder, doesn’t see his face. “You’ve made him very happy.”
“Aww,” Yuuri slurs, smiling into Yakov’s coat. “You too.”
“Your landing on the Salchow today was atrocious,” Yakov says.
“You too,” Yuuri says. Unfortunately, this is the one part he remembers the next day.
+2
When Yurio gives them both the shovel talk within an hour of each other.
Yuuri makes a small, distressed noise after they compare notes. “He’s so cute,” he says.
“Please go tell him that,” Victor says. (For some reason, Yuuri doesn’t.)
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