You Wear Your Best Apology

Part One: Break My Heart in the Blink of an Eye

There is a soft knock on the door. Yuuri doesn't even have to open up the door to know who that is beyond the thin barrier between them.

"Yuuri," the painfully familiar voice croons as soon as Yuuri opens the door.

No greetings, no other words; they go straight to the main purpose of Viktor's visit. Yuuri lets himself be swept into Viktor's arms, wrapped up in his warm, comforting arms as he throws himself into the kiss. Viktor's lips taste of cigar and cheap alcohol, which only means that tonight is going to be messier and more passionate than their usual bout.

As Yuuri takes Viktor to his room, his thoughts fall away to the better day. When love was still in the air and the reality had not sunk in yet.

♥

"Yuuri~" Viktor crooned. He leapt across the remaining distance between their bodies and latched onto Yuuri. The other skaters in the waiting room did not even bat an eyelash as they had long gotten used to such antics from them. Yuuri turned around and pushed Viktor's face away.

"Time and place, remember? The journalists are going to storm the room soon for pre-performance interviews."

Viktor pressed his face to Yuuri's and nuzzled him. "Like I give a damn. Let them know that we're madly and deeply in love!"

Yuuri sighed. He indulged Viktor with a swift kiss on the kiss just as the door creaked open. Most of the journalists made a beeline for Yuuri. He was still getting used to all of this attention that he was receiving. He was more used to be the failed rising star, not the most likely skater to win the Grand Prix. His hands trembled as he answered the routine questions. He breathed a silent sigh of relief as Viktor's hand found his and laced their fingers together.

One more performance. One more judgment.

And then it would be over.

♥

As Yuuri landed the last time and transitioned into the spin, he knew that he had done it. He did not even have to listen for the audience's roaring cheers and thunderous applause to know the results. Feeling numb everywhere, he picked up a few roses and plushies as he glided over to the Kiss & Cry. Viktor handed a towel and his jacket over and squeezed him into a bear hug as they took their seat.

The announcer read off the score. Yuuri's heart stopped for a second as his scores are revealed. It was his seasonal best and only two points off the current world record. The rink filled with a chant of his name as the announcer declared him the new world champion.

Still feeling numb and detached, Yuuri went to the waiting room to get ready for the awards ceremony. Minako chattered about how proud she was and his mom was in tears. Minako's eyes were also filled with tears as she applied some makeup to Yuuri's face.

Yuuri was not yet ready to look at Viktor's face properly. He did not have to be as Viktor gripped his shoulders and spun him around.

"Yuuri!" Viktor exclaimed. "We did it! You're the world champion! I promised you, didn't I?"

Maybe it was a momentary lapse in judgment. Maybe he was still running on the post-performance high. Maybe he was drunk off his first ever victory.