#nationals

“All the celebrating I need”



The program was still echoing in his head.

The cheers, the flashing lights, the feeling of landing that last jump clean. it all replayed on a loop as Ilia sat on the plane, gold medal tucked safely in his bag. Nationals champion. Again.

But none of it felt real yet.

Not until he saw her.

The second the plane landed, he barely waited for it to taxi before he was grabbing his bag, running a hand through his hair, already texting her “landed” even though he knew she’d be asleep. It was 1 a.m. He was supposed to be home tomorrow.

He just… couldn’t wait.

Her apartment was quiet when he slipped inside, careful as always with the spare key she’d given him months ago.

Everything felt familiar. Safe.

He dropped his bag by the door, toes already slipping out of his shoes as he made his way down the hall. The soft glow from her bedroom lamp she must’ve forgotten to turn it off guided him in.

She was curled up under the blankets, breathing slow and steady.

God, he missed her.

Ilia didn’t even bother changing. He just peeled off his jacket, climbed into bed behind her, and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into him like he hadn’t been gone at all.

She stirred almost instantly.

A soft hum, a sleepy shift… then she turned over in his arms, eyes still half closed.

“My three time world champion is home,” she mumbled, voice thick with sleep.

He smiled wide and soft, the kind he only ever gave her and leaned in to kiss her, slow and warm.

“Yes, I am.”

Her eyes opened a little more, blinking up at him in confusion that melted quickly into something softer.

“You said you’d be home tomorrow… I would’ve been at the airport.”

His thumb brushed over her cheek, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

“I couldn’t wait to get home to you,” he said quietly. “You’re the only person I want to celebrate with.”

That woke her up more than anything.

Her expression softened completely, lips curling into a small smile as she reached up, resting her hand against his jaw.

“You won,” she whispered, like she was still processing it.

“I did.”

“How’d it feel?”

He exhaled, forehead dropping to hers. “Good. Hard. Stressful. The short program i almost messed up the landing, but saved it. Free skate felt… right. Like everything clicked.”

She listened like she always did like every detail mattered.

“And the flight?”

“Long. I didn’t sleep. Kept replaying everything,” he admitted, a small laugh slipping out. “And thinking about this.”

“This?” she teased softly.

“This,” he repeated, pulling her closer.

She smiled against his lips before pressing a quick kiss there, then another.

They settled into each other, legs tangled, his arm tucked securely around her as if letting go wasn’t an option.

A few quiet minutes passed.

“Well,” she murmured, shifting slightly. “We need to celebrate. I have ice cream in the freezer, let me just”

She barely got halfway up before his arm tightened around her, pulling her right back down against him.

“No,” he said, voice low, almost amused.

She let out a small laugh as she fell back into him. “No?”

He buried his face in her shoulder, pressing a soft kiss there.

“This is all the celebrating I need.”

Her movements stilled, her hand sliding over his arm, fingers lacing with his.

“Yeah?” she whispered.

“Yeah.”

The room went quiet again, the kind of quiet that felt full instead of empty.

His breathing slowed first. Then hers followed.

made some fun lil maps because stex cannot evacuate my brain

(Note: this is from what i can find, there may be more)

I have something for them

(found in a charity shop for 20p)