Wonder | благоговение | Viktor Nikiforov

| thirteen |

{ Back then }

Two years later

"[Name]-hime, we're here- let's make mummy proud, okay?"

[Name] smiled up at her father with delight shining within her eyes. She couldn't wait to learn more jumps and spins on the ice and today she held her fathers phone in hand with a video of a skater performing a salchow ready for [Name] to imitate. She felt adrenaline rushing through her veins as she stared up at the Ice Castle in Hasetsu and tightly grasped her fathers hand to lead him up, pulling him with her.

She revelled in the sound of her fathers deep laughter. It was so bubbly and it made the ten year old girl feel warm inside. She absolutely loved the way her fathers voice could make her smile instantly hence she felt so devoted to doing as he said, just to make him proud of her.

Originally born in Japan, the girl had moved to America for about five years of her childhood. She trained and skated there but she also loved the people she met, she really thought they were dear to her until she had to move. [Name]'s mum was a beautiful young lady and [Name] thought her smile could brighten up the whole day and shine brighter than the sun.

[Name] didn't know why she saw her mum yelling at her coach, saying things about them not being 'competent', the ten year old didn't know what that word meant but she followed without a single goodbye to her skating friends, her skating team.

They had gone back home, forcing [Name] to skate in her home rink at the Ice Castle. She had met Yuuri Katsuki there but their meeting was short-lived for [Name]'s mum wasn't satisfied.

Next they had moved to Russia to skate. The coaches were strict and the training regimens were hard, really hard for [Name]. It made the little girl sad but as long as her mum smiled, she didn't need to complain. Her mum was smiling when she skated so she wanted to skate all the time and never stop. Exceeding her own strengths to become the best- the Russian coaches always got angry at [Name] for doing this because her body was still developing and growing.

[Name] didn't care.

[Name] wanted to make her mum happy, her dad too. They were the king and queen of her world and [Name] thrived off of their happiness. The skaters of Russia were struck with wonder when they watched [Name] skate in their rink. A foreigner from Japan came in like a storm taking everyone by surprise but she didn't see them when her mum was smiling.

Without her knowledge or maybe because she didn't really care, [Name] was entered into several junior skating competitions. There was a lot of camera flashes and parents cheering on their children. It was cute, the way these Russian people watched their children with hope and delight, they saw the foreign girl too and none were intimidated until the golden medal was hanging from [Name]'s neck.

Competition after competition, [Name]'s abilities never stopped growing as her jumps grew in difficulty and her spins became much, much more precise; earning extra points. Russia became a bore consisting of gold after gold. Competitors hated [Name] and the way she skated, they hated how even they were completely entranced by her ice dancing as all that was missing was her tiara.

[Name] had heard the nicknames, 'Ice figurine' and 'Cold queen' floating around her but the gossip was too troublesome to deal with. The people that found themselves in a competition against the cold queen either promised to absolutely beat her or had already given up. They despised her but they also looked up to her and it only made them hate her more. No matter what, [Name]'s gold medal would shine so bright- but she wouldn't even pull a smile.

She didn't care about the results, [Name] would walk away before they even showed up on the screen with everyone's scores and only felt the daggers of all their stares on her back. Her dad was attempting to, but he wasn't laughing with her anymore. Her mum wouldn't bother hiding it anymore; the way her eyes boiled with undecipherable anger and remorse and deep unsatisfaction.

[Name] grew tired and the skating community in St. Petersburg almost threw a festival at the rumour that [Name] would be leaving. Leaving the country that is, the Japanese girl was still a very big threat to the potential worlds best figure skaters.

No one knew why [Name] left but a lot of people wondered why the ten year old girl left with one parent instead of two.

{ Now }

"[Name]? Wakey wakey, it's time to get up!"

"-Humffurgh"

Her voice was croaky, it sounded adorable and Viktor couldn't help but lean in closer to whisper in the girl's ear as her hair was messily placed across her face. He was so tempted to brush her hair away and kiss the top of that cute, little nose of hers.

"Come on, today is the competition with Yuuri and Yurio, aren't you excited? You're the one who suggested this after all."

Turning over stubbornly, you hadn't realised that you had flipped over to face the Russian male as he was kneeling on the bed next to you until his light breathing fanned over your face. It felt uncomfortable until you accidentally breathed in the scent of mint and relaxed further into your blankets, "[Name]? What's wrong?"

His voice was questioning but also panicked a little, it made your eyes open with curiosity as he looked down at you with a worried look on his face, his bangs covering his left eye as his brow was furrowed and that previous smile on his face; by the tone of his voice, was now turned to a grim line.

"Get out.. so I can.. change."

Despite just waking up, your body was already moving to sit up when you stopped and noticed a wet patch on your pillow. Staring at the pillow to avoid eye contact, your first thought was that you had dribbled in your sleep which was extremely embarrassing.

"Dd you have a bad dream?"

Despite Viktor's name being called by Yuuri from the living room, Viktor kept his attention on you, cupping your face immediately to wipe the tears away. In your flustered state, added with the fact that you were still not fully functioning, you only backed away and grimaced at the feeling of your tired limbs stretching.

"I'm getting.. changed."

Viktor was reluctant to leave but began to stand at the sight of your hands reaching for the bottom of your pyjamas shirt. He was on his two feet, staring as he thought of what to say before he saw something he shouldn't have; despite how much he'd love to.

"Don't cry alone.. I'll be expecting an explanation soon, okay?" Nodding, he left the room for you to think about your dream alone and endlessly.