Chapter Text
At 17, Viktor Nikiforov was almost on top of the world. He had won so many gold medals throughout his years in Junior that he didn't even count them anymore, not to mention that he had won a bronze medal in his first Olympics.
So needless to say, it was a bucket of cold water for him to have placed fourth at the Grand Prix Final of Beijing, on his first year as Senior.
The Final Grand Prix of 2004 was supposed to be the best day of his life.
But it turned out to be the opposite.
Viktor was so upset with himself, so upset with the press and their ironic comments about how they lamented not seeing the silver-haired boy on the podium, about how Viktor had disappointed Russian by "allowing" a Chinese skater to take the bronze at the same time they filled their mouths with praise for Plushenko for getting the gold once more; and so upset with Yakov for having filled him with criticism at the Kiss & Cry and then end it with a simple 'you did well' and a pat on the back.
The worst part is that it was obvious that Yakov knew he would ruin his chance to reach the podium, and he didn't even tell him!
It was really humiliating for Viktor to have to skip the press conference and faked a smile for the journalists who kept asking him why he had done so badly.
That night Viktor ran into his hotel room and screamed against his pillow, refusing to come out when other skaters knocked on his door. He didn't expect his debut year to be a disaster.
He believed that he was ready for the big leagues, that he was ready to be the best in the world. But no, he was just the Russian rising star that no one took seriously.
Would he ever be better than Plushenko? Would he ever manage to end his winning streak and have more gold than him?
Probably not.
Not if he was going to keep failing triple jumps at the most critical moments of his routines. Not if he couldn't be the first one to nail that elusive Quad flip.
Viktor was so ashamed of his performance that he didn't even dare to call that sexy hockey skater, Alexei (one of his rink mates), who promised him a date at the banquet if he won gold.
Never! Surely the guy would rather date the gold-winning Female Senior skater. He had seen them flirt during practices.
Viktor was so tired that he simply took a shower, called his old lady neighbor to ask about his new puppy, and stretched out on the bed while wondering if it was worth keep skating...
O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O
When Viktor opened his eyes he obviously expected to see the ceiling of his hotel room and wake up on the bed, however, what he saw was the ceiling of a skating rink, more specifically, the ceiling of the Skating Sports Club in San Petersburg.
And the floor was freezing.
Because he was still a bit sleepy, it took to Viktor several seconds to realize someone was desperately calling his name, which echoed on the walls, and when he looked up he could see a black-haired man approaching him… skating.
Oh. He was lying on the ice.
He blinked.
How had had gotten there?
Viktor had no idea why he was sleeping on the ice or who the man was (or why he was looking at him as if he had just seen a ghost), but it was more than obvious that the guy did know him.
Maybe he was a fan?
"Hello, what can I do for you?" He inquired with his best smile, in Russian, after managing to sit on the ice.
The man stopped in front of him and blinked, and for a moment he looked hurt. Viktor then wondered if the man in blue glasses was a sponsor or someone who had already been introduced to him before but who he simply forgot about and then had hurt his ego.
Although he doubted that was the case. The man was clearly a foreigner, perhaps… Asian? He would remember. So he asked him again what he wanted, this time with the best English that his three months of English courses allowed him. Most foreigners spoke English, right?
"N-no, it's okay. I understood you the first time." The Asian answered with a decent Russian, then continued cautiously. "Um, Viktor. Do you know what year is this?"
"Uh?" Viktor touched his head, thinking that perhaps the reason he didn't remember the man (and when he had returned to St. Petersburg) was due to a concussion caused by a fall on the ice. But nothing hurt. Then he proceeded to reply with a snort in hoping that the guy would stop staring at him in terror. "It’s 2004."
"Uh... Viktor... Actually... it's 2020."
"... Oh." The silver-haired boy would have sat up in shock if it weren't for the fact that he was already sitting. His butt was freezing. "And... who are you?" He asked with another smile, ignoring the hand the man tried to offer him. He didn't need help.
Viktor somehow knew that the man wasn't lying, that he had indeed traveled to the future, that he had somehow switched places with his other 'me' of 2020. He had heard of "Time Travel" before.
In fact, one of his rink mates insisted that it had happened to a friend of a friend and that they met their future children, but Viktor never stopped to think about whether it was true or not, because he didn't expect it to happen to him.
At least that explained why he had suddenly appeared at his rink, skates on, and why the interior of the club looked so different, including the hole Georgi had accidentally made a few days ago in one of the fences was already repaired.
The man, who said his name was Yuriy Katzuyi or something like that, asked him some questions about whether he was feeling alright, but Viktor, still disoriented, completely ignored him. He got up from the ice, wiped some frost off his clothes, and took advantage of the empty rink to skate for a while at the same time he began to think.
God...
If he was really in 2020, that meant that his current 'me' must be... 33 or 34 years old?
Ugh, he must be a retired old man.
He at least keep skating?
Was he married?
Does he had children?
Would he had goes bald?
Speaking of bald old men, would Yakov still be alive?
Viktor stopped skating and looked at the ice floor.
Maybe... there would be nothing wrong with asking about his future, see how many medals he has, because time travelers used to say that they didn't remember much of the trip, only small details that would take years to make sense. There was no real danger of changing the future. Besides, it was evident that he was still skating, since this man seemed to have recognized him even with his young appearance.
That man…
"Yuriy, right?" He asked approaching the protection fence. The black-haired man had already taken off his skates and seemed to be typing something very fast on a very strange calculator. Looking at him closer, Viktor could see his shaking hands and the expression of contained panic on his face.
"Oh, yeah! I'm sorry, Vity-Viktor. I was just… searching the internet for information on time travelers and texting… And it's pronounced 'Yuuri', by the way." He said, a little calmer, apparently not being the first time he had corrected his name.
"What?... Texting?" The silver-haired boy, confused, looked around but didn't see any computer, until his gaze fell back on the strange object in the man's hands. "What is that?"
"... Oh." The man, Yuuri, blinked several times before handing him the item. Viktor took it carefully. "It's my smartphone… Uh, my cell phone. I guess in your time they aren't a thing." He said with a chuckle, but Viktor just held the object, not knowing what to do with it.
If it was a cell phone, where was the keypad and the speaker?
And before he could ask that question, the supposed cell phone started ringing. Viktor, scared, throw it but Yuuri caught it in time.
"Coach Yakov?" He asked immediately, relieved. Viktor could only watch in surprise as the foreign man exchanged cordial words with his coach as he explained the situation between stutters. It was definitely Yakov, the screams confirmed it. "Yeah, he's from another time. I think he's 17 or 18 years old. Wait a minute… His hair is still long, he's 17." He said after looking at him for a moment. "Don't worry, I'll take him home right away. I don't want anyone to take pictures or get the press."
Viktor's chin dropped. Short hair? Why on earth would he cut off his hair? Everyone loved his long hair, it was his identity. In 2 weeks he would be 18 years old. Did something happen during that time that made him radically change his mind?
However, another question escaped his mouth.
"Hey... You and I... are we friends?" He inquired cautiously when Yuuri hung up the call. That was the only possible explanation that he could think of since the man seemed to know in which year he was supposed to get his hair cut, also, he acted really concerned about him. If he were a simple fan, Yakov wouldn't have answered him...
And yes, apparently that object was indeed a cell phone. So... he had actually traveled in time. Now that he had a physical confirmation of the timeskip it felt more real. Viktor didn't know how to feel about it.
"Oh, umm... Yeah, something like that ..." Yuuri looked around nervously before looking back at him, but seemed hesitant to answer the question. "I don't know how much you want to know about your future..."
"I just want to know who you are." Viktor said, a little impatient. He seriously doubted that his relationship with that guy was going to surprise him. He sighed loudly when Yuuri still didn't answer. "Say it! Don't worry about me. When I go back to my time I'm sure I won't remember any of this."
Yuuri looked at him with wide eyes for a moment. Viktor feared he had offended him or something. People used to admonish him for being so rude when speaking. But he was surprised to hear the dark-haired man laughing.
"I-I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you..." He said right away, waving his hands. "It's just... you reminded me of Yurio right now." And before he could ask who the hell Yurio was, Yuuri continued. "I am, uh ... your husband." He raised his right hand and showed his wedding ring, which gleamed when reflected in the artificial light.
Viktor was silent for a moment, trying his best not to yelling 'liar' at the foreign man.
Yuuri didn't seem to be the type of man he liked at all. Big, strong, with a tough face and explosive personality...
In fact, Yuuri seemed to be the opposite. They were both almost the same height, almost the same body type, although Yuuri was rather languid and his back hunched over, as if he were a shy and complacent person; He looked a lot like the stereotype of a Japanese office worker that he always saw on TV shows.
No. No. Nope. It wasn't definitely his type.
Maybe… Viktor just changed tastes when growing up. Maybe he stopped liking handsome and extrovert boys. Maybe now he was a bored, conformist and… a responsible adult.
Eww...
"I see..." It was all he said. An awkward silence surrounded them. Yuuri wasn't ugly... but he wasn't attractive either, rather, he seemed to be an ordinary man. But Viktor wasn't going to say it out loud and cause marital problems for his future self.
If there is one thing Viktor knew very well about himself, it is that he would never commit to something as sacred as marriage without a compelling reason. Surely his 'me' from the future was truly in love with this man, even if he didn't know why.
Viktor was about to turn around and keep skating until he realized one thing.
"Wait, married…? Legally married?" He inquired hopefully. Maybe he didn't know what to make of his choice of partner, but he always thought that he would end up married to some random model and pretend to be heterosexual for the rest of his life.
"Yes." Yuuri said more animatedly, his eyes shining. “Our marriage is legal in many countries. People in the future is more understanding and tolerant, Viktor. And don't worry, Yakov accepts you just the way you are."
"Ah…" Viktor felt a lump in his throat. If he feared something more in the world, is that his coach also turned against him just because he preferred men as bed partners. He actually felt relieved. "What about… my parents?"
"Oh… They…" Yuuri lowered his gaze and played with his hands. "You haven't talked to them in years… Well, last year they asked you for money, but you hung up the phone and blocked them when they… uh." Yuuri fell silent suddenly, as if realizing that it wasn't something appropriate to say, but that only raised Viktor's curiosity.
"What did they say?"
"Umm… They said things about me that I don't want to repeat."
Viktor tensed up. Maybe he didn't know Yuuri and maybe he didn't understand why he married him, but he didn't like at all that his parents insulted him.
"Don't believe anything they say and forget them. That pair only want to make my life bitter from the day I was born." He snapped seriously and more annoyed than he expected. Everything that his parents didn't approve was fuel to him.
"Yeah... that's what you said that time." Yuuri smiled, and Viktor froze at how genuinely happy and relieved he looked, as if he hadn't believed 33-year-old Viktor but 17-year-old Viktor.
It was strange, but at the same time it felt good to be able to see a Yuuri finally relaxed. He looked less taciturn.
"Oh…" Viktor just looked at him, not knowing what else to say.
After a few seconds of looking at each other, Yuuri cleared his throat.
"I think… we should go now. The skaters will start arriving in an hour and it would be the best if they don't see you.. Yakov said we could come back at night when no one is around, in case you want to continue skating."
"Uh? Is it 6 in the morning? What are we doing here so early? I thought it was night." He asked as he left the rink, Yuuri turned away from him to look for something.
"Ah. Well… Sometimes we like to come skating with no one looking at us, just to have fun ourselves." He murmured with his cheeks turning red, and now he looked cuter, even younger... Was his husband a 20-year-old boy? "In that way we don't affect the others skaters training schedule… and… Ah, you're retired from skating, and the Japanese nationals are in two weeks… Uh. You-You're my coach… By the way, here." He casually said as he handed Viktor a pair of sneakers with hideous animal print motifs. "These are Yurio’s, but they will fit you."
"What?" Viktor automatically took the shoes, but continued to stare at Yuuri with his mouth open.
Now he was surprised.
Coach? Had he become a coach? That… didn't sound so bad. It meant he had enough medals to coach other skaters without feeling like a loser. Yakov was also a great skater in his day. But…
Coaching his husband? Was that possible? Wasn't there a conflict of interest since they were both of different nationalities?
"So… you are a skater." He must have guessed when he saw him skating toward him in that graceful way a few moments ago. "How good are you?" Viktor knew he had asked the wrong question when Yuuri looked down at the floor. "Ah, I, I meant… you must be very good if I am your coach… right?" He inquired nervously. He really had no idea. As far as he knew, his only important medals were those he had as a Junior and an Olympian bronze. How could you coach someone without a significant achievement?
"Uh. I… I just know that…" Yuuri began to say before staring hard at him. Viktor was startled. "... you asked me to win a gold medal in a Grand Prix Final to get married, so I won four, and another two gold at World and one gold at the Olympic Winter Games. Today is our fifth anniversary, by the way." He smiled again, though his smile now gave off confidence, even look a bit arrogant, but that was okay.
"Oh… oh! That's fantastic!" Viktor exclaimed cheerfully, and strangely pleased. "So I'm married to an Olympian…" Alexei's hockey team hadn't won anything big lately. One point in favor for Yuuri.
"Oh, uhm. Yes." Yuuri looked puzzled for a moment, but his cheeks were still flushed.
"Something happens?" He asked after taking off his skates and putting on the ugly shoes. Yuuri also gave him temporary guards for his skates.
"We-well. I was just thinking… It's so strange to meet you like this, at this age. I… have admired you since I was 12 years old, when I saw you skate for the first time…"
"Twelve years?!" He exclaimed, stunned. Had he really become a pervert and dating someone much younger than himself? "Yuuri. How old are you?"
"Eh?" Yuuri blinked, confused after hearing the uncertainty in Viktor's voice. "I recently turned 30 years old. You're 4 years older than me… Ah, well, I guess right now I'm the oldest here." He laughed a bit.
"I see…" Viktor said more calmly and with a sigh. Yuuri was obviously an adult, but he looked really young. For a moment he thought very badly of himself. Viktor was about to get up from the bench until he realized something else... If Yuuri had known him since he was a child, which meant... "So... you saw me lose..."
"Lose?" Yuuri asked with widened eyes and sat down next to him. "What do you mean?"
"The Final Grand Prix of 2004. You may not remember it or haven't seen it, but for me it was only a few hours ago. I was in fourth place..." He said with a deep and pitiful sigh. He wasn't proud of his performance.
"For me you were great." Yuuri said without hesitation. Viktor immediately looked at him and was surprised by his sincerity. Yuuri wasn't trying to cheer him up, he just said what he really thought. "My 14-year-old self was in awe of your performance regardless of not seeing you on the podium. You… inspired him to get serious about figure skating." He said, and his face reddened completely. "And... you made him to get a big collection of posters of yours and official dvds of your ice shows over the years..."
Viktor felt his face burn as well. He had dealt with adult fans before and usually found them creepy. But the idea of his future husband, being his fan since childhood, was adorable.
"If you're my fan… it means I'm a good skater, right?" He inquired in a low voice, with some shyness.
He had never cared much about the opinions of others, but after the humiliation of a few hours ago, he realized that he needed someone sincere like Yuuri to talk, and not people, like his fans and fellow skaters, to tell him what they really thought, not what they think he wanted to hear.
"For me you are the best skater in the world!" Yuuri exclaimed aggressively, as if the idea of the contrary was offensive, and his brown gaze flashed with determination. Viktor gasped. Yuuri seemed to realize what he did and nervously returned to his shyness. "Maybe… you would like to know how many gold medals you have." He said with a sideways smile, as if he already knew the answer.
"I… No… I don't want to know." He smiled. He didn't need to know, he liked surprises. Then he cocked his head to look closely at the Japanese man. "By the way, I'm sorry I ruined your anniversary with... my other 'me'."
Yuuri shook his head and showed a genuine smile.
"Believe me, meeting you has been the best gift you have given me."
Viktor always believed that cheesy comments were for losers, but hearing the dark-haired man say that made his heart decide to beat faster and his cheeks to redden more and more.
Maybe that's why he decided to marry Yuuri.