mixingbowl | We will go where our dreams come true

We will go where our dreams come true

[Time passes by so quickly, Yuuri muses as he steps off the train and joins the crowd making its way toward the station's nearest exit. It's true that he'd seen Minami at Nationals just the week before, but between the practices and the interviews, a competition is hardly the place for doing much catching up.

A few other familiar faces had been amongst the competitors, too--ones that Yuuri recognized from the regional championships. Minami and his friends had made a point to seek him out when they could at the time, and it had been...nice to be included in a group again, especially when Viktor wasn't there to ground him.

I'm here. His cell phone goes right back into his pocket as soon as sends the text to Minami.

The simple hotel he'd booked for a couple nights is only a short distance away from Minami's home rink, which makes it easy for him to drop off his sparse luggage and head right over. The building's lobby is strangely empty when Yuuri arrives, duffel bag slung over his shoulder. No one seems to be stopping him from going right in, though, so that's exactly what Yuuri does. The rink is easy enough to find from there.]

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[Watching as carefully as he is, Yuuri manages to spot that little detail, though he isn't confident enough in his coaching abilities to speak up right away.

Touching his lip as he thinks--a habit he's picked up from Viktor--Yuuri plays it over in his head.]

Why do you think you keep over rotating?

[He's curious to hear Minami's thoughts on his jumps--sometimes the skaters have better insight on their own forms, after all.]

I'm really not sure... let me try again!

[Before Yuuri can say anything, Minami's charging around. Throwing himself into the jump. He's done this, he's landed it before, so this time, this time -

If anything, the extra acceleration makes it worse. Minami stumbles out. Can't hold back the yelp as he spills on the ice.]

Minami! [This time, Yuuri immediately skates over to him and leans over him, eyes already scanning him for injuries.]

That looked like a bad fall. Are you hurt?

[Under the worry, though, Yuuri's already amending his mental notes, thinking he had been right about the speed after all.]

[Well, one good thing about their sport - you learn to roll with falls. Minami pushes up to sitting. He can tell he's going to turn interesting colors in some interesting places, but nothing more serious.]

I think I'm okay.

[You know. Except for his heart deciding to take off at 3000 miles per second, with Yuuri leaning over him like that.]

That's good. [Falling is something they're all used to, of course, but it never hurts to be careful. Their sport has resulted in some very serious injuries before, after all.

Without thinking, Yuuri offers him a hand up, looking pleased now that he knows Minami's not in any danger.]

Okay, I think I know what the problem is.

[The problem is now Minami's pretty sure his heart's going to explode if he takes Yuuri's hand. That is a real thing. It is actually going to happen. But not taking it is going to look pretty weird???

He scrambles up, yanking his hand back as soon as balance is restored. Maybe sort of resolving to never wash it again. Or at least as long as possible.]

Ah - Really? What?!

[Bizarre coronary effects aside, he hasn't forgotten there's something to solve here!]

[Oblivious as ever, Yuuri simply lets Minami snatch his hand away with a shrug. Knowing what he does of Minami, Yuuri assumes he's just excited to give the triple axel another attempt.]

You're going a little too fast at the end. [It can be a problem when skaters are trying to get all the rotations in, he knows.] If you slow down a little and give yourself some more time to prepare for the landing, you should be able to get it.

[Skating back a little to give Minami some room.] Ready to try again?

Ah -

[No. He isn't. His whole life is going too fast at the moment. How can he be expected to slow anything down?!]

Can you show me?

Oh, that's a good idea. [Yuuri brushes a hand through his hair, smiling ruefully.] Probably should have just done that in the beginning. Sorry, I'm not usually playing coach or anything like this.

[From there, it's easy to glide into motion, doing an easy circle around Minami before he speaks up again.]

This is how you were doing it just now. [Yuuri skates another circle around him, preparing himself to botch the jump--something he doesn't normally do. Then, he's gaining speed and then leaping into the air, trying to put too much speed. The landing doesn't feel great of course, when he ends up over rotating, even though that's what he wanted. He stumbles a little before he manages to regain his balance and come to a stop beside Minami.] Did you see how things went wrong right before I landed?

You're doing great!!

[That only comes out a little screechy. Wonderful.

Minami follows intently. He's spent hours analyzing the form in front of him. Watched Yuri nail this jump, over and over. Seeing it go awry jars him. Like hearing a wrong note in a familiar song.

Oh.

He gapes, shakes his head, and grins.]

Yeah. Yeah, I see it! The entry was way too sloppy, your limbs were all over the place! Not like normal, when you're so graceful! Like a swan on a lake, just perfect and - Um! Um. Watch me, please!

[Minami pushes off before his mouth spills out any more Unhelpful Observations.]

[Slightly bemused by that comparison, Yuuri turns in place to watch Minami prep for another attempt. All the rambling aside, Minami sounds like he understands what Yuuri tried to tell him, and there's an unexpected wave of pride at being able to help another skater with a problem jump.

...he's getting a little ahead of himself, though. Understanding is still completely different from doing, and Minami hasn't managed to land it yet. Yuuri crosses his arms over his chest, eyes bright and sharp.]

Okay, let's see it again!

[Minami does not immediately sprint into the jump. Instead he loops in figure eights. It's hard, not charging straight forward, but this isn't something that can be solved with speed. He lets that settle in. Breathes deep.

He's not quite aware of leaving the ice. It's more like a small step, instead of the giant heave before. Then the world is spinning, spinning, spinning -

- and he lands solid, leg back, arms straight. No wobble at all. Minami lets out a crow of triumph.]

HA!

[One solid jump doesn't mean it's fixed though. He turns to take another.]

That was a good one! [Yuuri cheered as soon as Minami's skates hit the ice solidly. Huh. He hadn't known how rewarding it could feel when someone you were helping finally nailed whatever they'd been working on.]

Do it again! If you can land it a few times in a row, that means you've got it.

[Smiling widely, Yuuri glides out of the way as Minami preps for another attempt.]

[And suddenly it all fits. There's still some wobbling - it takes a while to unlearn bad habits - but Minami hits each jump. His smile growing bigger with each landing. He's got it. He's really got it.]

[He'll hear clapping once he stops for breath. Yuuri skates over to him, smiling brightly.]

So, how does it feel to know you can land the triple axel cleanly now?

[Minami comes spinning out of his last one and sweeps into Yuuri. Probably swinging them both around a couple of times before he hugs him. There's too much surging through to not.]

Ahahahaha this is AMAZING! Thank you.

[He's too caught up in the joy of it all to press further. Or worry about things slipping out that shouldn't. Everything feels good right now, and Minami pretty much floats through the rest of the day.

He pops awake early the next morning. The thought of the triple axel still first in his head. With the that jump down, it means Minami can start relying on it in his other programs. And his Short Program's been languishing... no time like the present! He grabs his music and an apple, then it's off to the rink!]

[He sees the hug coming from a mile away, and the contact honestly doesn't bother him at all this time. Yuuri returns it, grinning, as he's swept up in Minami's joy.]

You didn't seem to need that much help, but...you're welcome.

[Though sometimes Yuuri wishes he could sleep in, his body is just too accustomed to waking up early for training, especially during the season. He gulps down a simple breakfast, makes a protein shake to take along with him, and heads out for the rink. It's pretty early, and he's hoping he can get practice a little before the regulars start trickling in for the day.

When he gets there, though, he's surprised to find the ice already occupied.]

[Maybe Minami should have waited. Worked on another piece. At least until he was sure Yuuri was back in Hasetsu. Maybe he had thought of it, deep down, and went with it anyway.]

I keep denying, begging for attention
Dropping hints, hoping for some tension
Getting tired of making all this racket

[While "King of New York" was all brash confidence, "Stop Desire" is the opposite. Still bright, with a good beat, but frustration and longing pour out onto the ice. It's an entirely different kind of program for Minami. Anyone watching could tell he feels this song. Down to his core. It's not something he could have skated a year ago.

At the second refrain, Minami circles around for the combo. The one he'd been intent on, back when he was sick. It's probably too much to put in a Short Program. But today, Minami hits it. Triple Axel-Single Loop-Triple Salchow.

Yuri's jump.]

Tonight, you're fuel for my fire
You can't stop desire, oh oh oh oh

[Somehow, Yuuri hadn't even considered that it could be Minami making use of the rink so early. When he spies the familiar figure out on the ice, his brows flick up with surprise. Instead of calling out to him, though, Yuuri drops his bag on the floor and leans against the boards to watch, knowing that Minami hasn't realized he's there.]

Oh.. [He says quietly as he listens past the bouncy music and hears the lyrics instead, matching it with the emotions pouring off of Minami as he skates. It's the jump that makes him pause. Figure skating has always been the language he's most fluent in, never exactly being good at words even when they really count. That was the combo Minami had wanted to use, the combo from his program.

Well, Yuuri knows he's been working on those jumps all this time, so it isn't exactly a surprise that he's throwing it in like this. And yet... he can't shake the feeling that there's something more to it.]

[One the last chorus Minami throws in a triple axel. Just to feel it. The one thing he's been given. It's enough, it has to be enough, it isn't enough. And he doesn't know how to fix any of that.

He finishes with hands stretching out to empty seats. Reaching for what he's never going to catch. Then he registers the space is occupied. Yuuri is actually there.

All the color drains from Minami's face.]

Ah -

[One drawback of ice-skating. No way to make a fast exit. His shoes are on the opposite side of the rink, right where Yuri's standing. Minami considers vaulting over the boards and running anyway. He considers that maybe the ice will just melt and drown him.]

[That's not the reaction Yuuri was expecting. Wavering between a tentative smile and a slight frown at Minami's obvious distress, Yuuri's there to meet him when he reaches the side of the rink.]

You really nailed that triple axel combo. [Yuuri tells him, after a beat. His instincts are telling him that something's wrong, but he can't quite figure out what it is.] If you skate like that for the Grand Prix series, I think you'll definitely make the final cut.

[Minami's automatically reached for his guards. Now he stands frozen on one foot, a guard half on the other. Staring at Yuuri.]

That -

That's IT?! That's all you have to say?!?

[It's amazing, how life keeps managing to throw new Worst Things Ever at you. First it was Yuuri seeing Minami practically skate a love letter. But oh no, this is worse - Yuuri not even understanding it.]

[The outburst almost makes Yuuri take a step back in surprise. He watches Minami uncertainly, unconsciously tensing up.]

Then... there was a reason you were skating to that? It wasn't just my imagination... [He could tell that Minami was skating his heart out, of course, but that would mean...]

Oh. There's someone that you have feelings for, isn't there? [Ah, that must be it! Naturally, anyone would feel a little embarrassed if they were caught skating like that. He'd certainly felt the same way when the triplets recorded him skating Stay Close To Me for Yuuko.]

[So close. It's so close and Minami could... probably still beat a retreat. Except then what? He keeps repeating this circle? Nothing changing?

Suddenly he's angry. All the emotions of the skate are still too close to be pulled back. It's like the Lohengrin argument all over again. Doesn't Yuuri think well of himself at all?! How can he not, when Minami's pretty sure he hung the stupid stars?

Minami slams on the last skate guard and rears up. Fists clenched, heat prickling behind his eyes.]

Is it really so hard for you to believe that someone could actually like you?!

[WHELP.]

[His eyes widen. This isn't the first time Minami's been upset with him, but it stings just as much as it did before. Yuuri exhales shakily, running a hand through his hair in a nervous habit.]

It's not that I don't... believe it. [His words come quietly, haltingly like he's trying to find the right ones to say.] It just...doesn't occur to me until someone points it out.

[With a sudden tightness in his chest as realization hits him, Yuuri looks at Minami.] Is what what it is? You like me that way?

laughs I was going to look up some info, too, but you beat me to it

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POOR MINAMI, your crush is incredibly oblivious

Being a kid is hard and no one understands.

truly