Yuri sat alone in the back of the Cafe. His head hung low as he gripped his hair with one hand. He starred at the sheet of paper before him. He just didn't have enough money for his essentials! How was he going to pay for everything. The coffee beside him was growing cold as he heard the jingle announcing another customer. For some reason, Yuri glanced up.
His mouth fell open. There, walking in, was the most glamorous, the most fabulous person he had ever seen. That was saying a lot since Yuri made his living taking photos of star studded celebrities. He also worked a regular job as a wedding photographer and an office clerk, but he knew beauty. Nothing was more perfect than that smile! Those dashing chiseled cheekbones!
Yuri picked up the small camera he always kept with him. Muting the flash, opening the f-stop, he zeroed in on that smile. He snapped a few shots. Then he pulled the zoomed back to take in a full body shot. He had to be a little more patient at this. The guys bodyguards seemed to be milling around him. Yuri waited, he got the perfect shot! Right when the barista handed the man his coffee, then he took a sip. White foam coated his upper lip. It was the best picture Yuri had ever taken.
He wasn't sure who this man was, but Yuri was positive he was someone famous! He just knew these photos would make his bank for the month! Yuri had just tucked his camera away when the man turned. Icy blue eyes scanned the tables around Yuri. He hung his dark head. Fixing he glasses, he just couldn't meet this eyes!
Yuri sat alone back here nearly every night. Never had he had a reason to make money at it. He piled his books together, gulped down the rest of his, now cold coffee, and rushed for the door. The man had sat down at the front of the tables where Yuri had been hiding.
"Hey, wait!" A thick accented voice yelled out to him.
Yuri didn't pause. If he dropped something or left anything behind, the owners would give it to him next time. He fumbled his keys out of his pocket as he dashed up the outside steps along the building. The apartment was small, but it was two bedrooms. Even if one was the size of a broom closet. It worked for Yuri's work studio.
He set his things on a wobbly table next to the door. Jiggling it slightly got it aligned with he cardboard Yuri stuffed under one short leg. The table stabilized. Yuri leaned against the door as he flipped through the quick shots he had taken. Not knowing who the man was, wouldn't stop him from selling the photos. He knew just who to call.
Walking to his studio, he set up a collage of the shots. He emailed them, covered in water marks to the point where you couldn't really see too much of the photo, to his contact. Yuri waited. His stomach rumbled.
Getting up he went to see if he had any food left in the house. He found some rice, a lone piece of chicken and a few vegetables. Checking his bank account as they cooed he sighed. He needed to sell these prints! He decided.
Dumping everything into a bowl, he picked up his chopsticks, eating as he walked toward his studio once more. The computer was still on, opened to his email. Yuri noted he had a reply, clicking it he was nearly blasted out of his chair.
Instead of it being a typed reply, his contact had sent him a video of himself practically yelling at the camera!
"YOU GOT PHOTOS OF VIKTOR NIKIFOROV!!!" He sat back pushing his glasses up.
"No one knows where he has gone off to train! I will pay you double the normal price for every single photo you got! Triple if you're willing to tell me just where you took these!"
Yuri may be in need of money, but he had a feeling that this Viktor guy, really needed his privacy right now. He had no idea who he was still. He clicked the reply button stating that double was fine. If he can get more he would. To Yuri's shock the money was deposited in his account t within the hour! It was enough for him to make his bills for the next three months! This was great.
The best part was when he sent the photos and his contact explained he would pay the same price for every photo he could get of this guy! Yuri accepted, noting that it may have been just a one off. The contact just reiterated his pricing. Yuri signed off.
Getting up he headed to bed. He needed to know who this Viktor was. However, for the first time in weeks, he felt secure in his life. His body was exhausted. Looking into Viktor's life could wait until the morning. Yuri fell asleep almost as soon as his head it the pillow.
The morning proved a bit busier than he had anticipated. He had a wedding to do. The bride wanted him there through everything! He was even in the room when the women changed! Who did that? He did his best to make the shoot as friendly as possible. He even went to the grooms side to get some candid shots.
The wedding was beautifully done, but why wouldn't it be! Yuri's best friend was the wedding planner. Yuuko was amazing at her job! The purple and white decoration really set apart the snow falling outside. Yuri praised her, as she rushed by yelling at him to just do his job. He laughed at that!
Once the wedding was over, the photoshoot completed and things had settled down a bit for both of them, Yuri found Yuuko leaning against the wall sipping her coffee.
"Hectic day?" He grinned walking up to her.
"Aren't they always?" she responded. He nodded.
"Hey, I have a question for you?" He asked a she fixed his own coffee.
"Shoot." She eyed him a little interested.
"Have you ever heard the name Viktor Nikiforov?" he asked.
He ducked away from his friend as she spit coffee all over the floor. He swiped up some napkins to clean up the mess.
"Are you crazy?" she half shouted half hissed at him.
"What?" He demanded.
"Viktor Nikiforov is the leading contender for the Russian male figure skating league. He has won six grand Prixes back to back. There's talk that he is going to be in the Olympics this year. He won three golds eight years ago, the only other time he competed. The man is a legend on the ice. Off of the ice! Well every female in a fifty mile radius could easily become impregnated by that suave smile, amazing body and... ahah!!" She cried.
"So, you're a fan." Yuri stated sounding almost bored.
He recalled, as children how him and Yuuko had been into figure skating. He had won some junior medals for it. Yuuko had been even better, but a broken ankle had fractured any hope for her going into competition. Yuri had given it up then as well. Now he thought the name sounded vaguely familiar.
It was late in the evening by the time the married couple went on their way to their honeymoon. Yuri stayed with Yuuko making sure everything got cleaned up. This meant it was after midnight by the time he got home. No time to find out more on Viktor. He wen t to bed.
Sunday morning his mother called. She needed help at their spa. A virus had gone through the staff leaving many out sick. He went to help. Monday was his day job. He had hardly anytime between that and getting his paparazzi photos for the week in. It was Friday night again before he had the time to think about Viktor. He walked to the Café.
Coming in he ordered his usual coffee, donut and wrap. He went to his usual seat in the back where hardly anyone sat. He pulled his phone out. He fell into the rabbit hole of Viktor Nikiforov! He was right to recall the name.
Around the time of Yuuko's injury, Viktor was becoming a popular name. He debuted in the senior league and won silver his first year out. This man was impressive. His skating was like nothing Yuri had ever seen before. Sipping his coffee, he watched video after video of his performances.
Then, the bells chimed. In walked the legend. Yuri eyes bulged out. Once more he gathered his cms4t up to snap about twenty photos of the man. Now, Yuri saw that he wore the typical outfit of a figure skater's practice suit. This made the dark haired photographer blink! There was a rink not more than three blocks from here! Maybe that's where Viktor was practicing!
Once more Yuri rushed from the building with his prized photos. It was another grueling week for him. Not only did he have his normal job, his paparazzi job but he had three weddings that week alone. He was exhausted when he stumbled into the coffee the following Friday night.
Barely getting his order out he was half asleep when he heard the bell chime. Once more there was Viktor. Yuri snapped more photos, recalling just how he was suppose to have gone to checkout the ice rink. It had slipped his mind. Yuri stood to walk out.
"Oh, Yuri, hold up." He paused.
Viktor's head had come up. The female owner of the shop rushed out to hand Yuri a package.
"This arrived this afternoon for you." She smiled at him. He thanked her before leaving.
This next week wasn't so busy, until his collage roommate came into town. Phichit was a force to be reckoned with they rushed everywhere. By Friday, Yuri was glad his friend had gone back to his own town. He was late coming into the café. Not wanting to take up his normal seat, he sat at the counter.
"Yuri, was it?" A thick accented voice broke into his fogged brain.
Yuri lifted his eyes. There stood the God of figure skating. One hand was tucked into his track suit pocket, the other held his coffee cup. A smile splayed over those perfect lips. Yuri gapped at him, like a fish out of water.
"Ah, it seems you figured out who I am." Viktor sat down beside him.
He looked almost sad that Yuri knew.
"Actually, my friend has followed you're career since we had been into figure skating."
This seems to perk Viktor up. "You skate?" He asked looking delighted.
Yuri chuckled. "Not like you, not in a few years anyway." He muttered.
"Maybe we could skate together some time." Viktor beamed.
Yuri smiled. "You know, I have lived here for two years, I haven't gotten to the ice rink once in that time! I would love to." Yuri accepted.
"You're a delight!" Viktor's hand was soft against his cheek as he trailed it along Yuri's jaw line.
"I heard you were in need of extra cash." He purred leaning forward.
"I, uh, well yeah. I've been sneaking pictures of you..." He blushed.
"But not telling people where you found me? A delight." Viktor beamed.
"How about we do something else?" Viktor arched a silver brow over his cup. Yuri waited breathlessly.
"I will pay you to be my companion." Viktor offered.
"Companion?" Yuri asked.
"To the world it will appear as we are dating." Viktor clarified. He placed a card on the table before Yuri.
"Come to the rink at 6 am. Let me know your decision. I will have a detailed contract." Viktor smiled then, for the first time, walked out on Yuri sitting alone.