“how about a game?” victor says, while yuuri refuses to look at him.
bent in half over himself, his arms rest against the rink board in an expression not only of exhaustion - which, to those that know him, are already telling enough - but also of defeat. for yuuri, whose monster stamina and stubborness are already a legend of their own, to look this way… victor can’t stand it.
no one ever said landing jumps would be easy. as a coach, he might know a way to better motivate his student.
he doesn’t touch yuuri, knowing that at moments like this, yuuri is far from wanting to be coddled. instead, he stops beside him and leans against the boards - close, but never oppressive.
“for every jump you land, you can order me to do one thing,” victor offers. yuuri still hasn’t looked at him. his head is bowed, neck glistening with sweat, and his shoulders shake with frustrated breaths. “it can be anything, and I won’t refuse.”
“anything,” victor confirms, then grins when yuuri lifts his head to peer at him. “anything at all. whatever your heart desires, my yuuri. are you in?”
yuuri considers it for a brief moment, but then he pushes away from the board without a word. he doesn’t have to say a thing, victor knows his answer by the straightness of his back and the angle of his shoulders. he smiles to himself as he watches yuuri make a run around the rink, and then prep for the lutz.
the rotations aren’t enough and he botches the landing, barely missing the ice with his chin when he falls. victor hisses under his breath at the pain yuuri’s hands must be experiencing today. but yuuri braces his palms on the ice and pushes up, then takes a round around the rink, and tries again. then again. and then-
victor gives in and shouts: “yes! that was perfect, yuuri! well done!”
he claps, but yuuri doesn’t pause. he jumps again. he fails, but he doesn’t pause. his face is drawn in concentration, that famed stuborn edge victor can’t help but be fond of, and he tries again. he jumps a triple. then misses the edge of his blade. but then he’s up in the air again, two, three, four rotations completed and touches down - but with only one hand on the ice.
“good, you’re getting the hang of it,” victor praises as yuuri skates past him to take another jump.
he’ll be dead tired by the time they get home. he doesn’t feel it now, though. he takes another jump and lands it almost perfectly. then another, and one more. for all of them, victor is willing to do whatever yuuri wishes. for him, he’s always ready to do anything.
“perhaps that’s enough for today?” he asks when yuuri stops, hands on his knees and panting. “we can pick up tomorrow when you’re fresh.”
but yuuri wouldn’t be yuuri if he didn’t say: “one more.”
and this one he jumps as if there was a full gallery watching and judges taking note of every insignificant detail - it’s his best yet.
“that was brilliant,” victor says, smiling. “you’ve done such a good job today, yuuri. as your coach, I couldn’t be more proud.”
he waits until yuuri calms his breathing a bit more. “what would you like for your prizes? I counted five.”
“for starters,” yuuri straightens and looks at victor with a little grin, “you’re taking makka for her walk today and you’re making dinner, while I take a nap.”
“okay, that’s two. what else?”
“I want to eat chicken fried rice. it’s been on my mind for days now.” yuuri makes a face and victor chuckles.
“fine, I’ll give it a try,” he agrees. “and then?”
“a foot massage.” yuuri hums. “I think I’ll need it.”
victor nods. it’s true enough.
but before he can ask for the last wish, yuuri skates closer. his blades skid over the ice and the shavings scatter around them. yuuri’s hand rests on victor’s chest as he looks up, his lip bitten and head cocked to the side in a picture of utter seduction.
then, to victor’s already growing hope, he says:
“and now, take me back to the changing room and let me have the main prize.”
“and that is?”
yuuri only smirks. “you.”
he skates away before victor can do much more than blush and smile in delight. suffice to say, he’s even more eager to play this game. especially when yuuri looks over his shoulder and beckons him with a finger, a hunger in his gaze that victor can’t possibly refuse.
