The Reason

Summary: Ever since that fateful day at the Grand Prix Banquet, Viktor Nikifirov has found it difficult to ignore the pull on his emotions that younger skater Yuri Katsuki caused.

Chapter 1: The Banquet Battle

Viktor Nikifirov was always one to look for surprises and joys in his life. With a strict and tough career as a figure skater he'd come to enjoy the little things that gave him happiness and inspiration. It was true he was considered a very prominent bachelor, however, Viktor never gave much thought to love, or commitment to anything other than the Ice.

He had friends, mostly other competitors and rivals in the sport, but there was no one he could say he was particularly close to. Even with his coach whom he spent most of his time with had what you would call more of a distant familial relationship. Viktor respected him as a coach, but when it came to being a friend or companion Yakov wasn't particularly sociable.

Still when he skated off the ice from the Grand Prix ceremony with Gold Medal in hand, Yakov greeted him with a smile. "Well Done, Vitya."

Those three words were as good as a tight hug to Viktor. Smiling in return he tapped his medal and winked. "Another one down, eh Yakov?"

"Don't get distracted now, you need to keep this up all the way to the World's."

"No Problem," Viktor responded with his quick practiced english. "Practice makes perfect." And perfect, Viktor thought hiding a scowl behind Yakov's back, was getting dull.

Once free from reporters and fans Viktor took ten minutes to calm his mind and thoughts in his hotel room. He had to get ready for the banquet with the other skaters but he wanted a few moments to himself. He enjoyed the attention on occasion, but after being the center of attention and having all these pesky question press at him he needed the space to breathe and collect his composure. The problem with being the center of attention was everyone expected perfection. Just once he'd like to just cut loose.

Oh well, at least the press was banned from the banquet hall. He could talk with his fellow skaters, make nice with the sponsor's and heads of the skating community and just relax.

Or so he thought…

"Yuri!" Celestino, aka ciao-ciao, pulled Yuri Katsuki in by the shoulders and towards the large group of people. Looking glum from his defeat in the Grand Prix, the Japanese skater sighed and slouched through the room. Yuri had never been much of a social person. In all of his interviews he always appeared nervous and shy, except on the ice.

Still the humiliating defeat took away any energy he could have mustered. No matter what Celestino did it just made him want to curl up in a corner. When a waitress brought him a glass he sipped and sighed as the bubbles gave him a bit of a tingle and calmed his mind.

"I shouldn't have too many, don't want to end up like dad on New Years." Yuri quietly told himself as he reached for another glass. The bubbles tickled his nose and made him giggle a bit. Okay that was lots better. Ah, someone was coming his way. Grabbing another glass he tucked himself into that corner to avoid contact. The champagne made it easy to keep himself from saying or doing anything that would be further embarrassment. So every time someone came within talking distance he took a drink...and another… and another.

Sixteen glasses later Yuri not only felt comfortable, he found his party spirit. To hell with the loss, to hell with feeling depressed. This was a party! Tugging his tie loose Yuri glanced around the party his feet wobbily. He looked for a good candidate to talk to, and found Viktor talking with Chris who had placed second in the Grand Prix.

"This is a good start to the season us being together on the pedestal. However this time I plan to go for gold. I'm gunning for you, Viktor." Chris winked and raised his glass. He glanced over to see Yuri and offered a smile. "Well hello there Yuri."

Viktor glanced behind him to Yuri, those handsome Japanese looks mussed by a flushed face and tousled hair. Yuri reached up grabbing Viktor by the tie and yanked him down catching Viktor off guard and staring wide eyed.

"I want a rematch Viktor. I wasn't at my best! We should have a competition, right now!" His words were slurred and sloppy but his eyes such a rich and seductive brown drew Viktor in and had the cool comeback choking in his throat.

"S-Sorry, Yuri but uh… I don't have skates right now."

"No skating then." Yuri backed up some and pointed a finger out. "I challenge everyone here to a dance off! You too Plisetsky! I ain't taking that threat earlier without a fight!" Yuri nodded his head to Yuri Plisetsky who was standing off in the background wide eyed and furious. "I'll beat you all!"

"Go home, cry baby, you're drunk."

"Nani?!" Yuri against Yuri the two stood toe to toe. "You afraid to lose, Junior?"

"Junior?! Grr fine I'll take you on!"

"That's more like it!" Yuri grabbed a bottle of champagne and yelled over at celestino. "Ciao, ciao, record this! You be the judge who wins! Watch this! PLAY THE MUSIC!" Making sure Celestino was recording his face Yuri started off the moment the music was blared. He wobbled and swayed but stayed on his feet as he rocked and jumped guzzling more champagne down.

"You asked for it, loser." Plisetsky loosened his tie with a sneer, his teal eyes sharp and ready to take on the challenge. He jumped into the fray, literally with a split and spin his ballet training coming to play.

Watching them Viktor couldn't help himself. He started to laugh. Holding his sides he reached for his phone and started taking photos and video for himself. The crowd around them started to enjoy and clapped and cheered. Plisetsky turned and slipped on spilled champagne just as Yuri did a handstand, his shirt opening to reveal his strong abdomen. He may have gained weight but his muscles had stayed strong and apparent.

Viktor laughed and clapped and motioned Plisetsky out of the way. He spun in executing a fierce Paso Doble step with thrusting hips and flamenco arms. Yuri's eyes flashed bright and happy at the challenge. He righted himself up and spun beside his idol matching him step for step. Less playful this was more of a battle of testosterone, man against man, skater against skater.

Always one for flair Viktor flicked off his jacket whipping it like a cape, Yuri matched his eyes, and the challenge in them. Brown meeting blue with sharp and glittering admiration and excitement. The look brought on excitement inside of Viktor, an excitement that he hadn't felt in years. Together they moved now, moving in closer and closer til they were touching, using each other's bodies to make their movements flare.

Viktor kicked up a leg and arched his back. He felt Yuri's hand catch his thigh and the other slid over his face. Yuri's face lit in a smile and Viktor couldn't help but return it. The two of them grinned like idiots at each other.

"That was cute," Chris laughed and opened up his shirt. "But I think it's time for a real challenge, eh Yuri? A real test of charisma and sex appeal." He grabbed the silver pole that stood in the middle of the room and whipped around it. "What do you say?"

Without a word Yuri dropped Viktor and made a beeline for the pole. Completely lost in the momentum he turned the dance up a notch making it R rated, His pants discarded and his shirt and tie hanging loose Yuri put all his muscle and strength into lifting himself up and displaying his incredible masculine figure.

"Eh…" Viktor tapped his fingers to his lips. "I thought he was a bit chunky for a skater, but his physique is actually rather attractive."

"Why the hell are you commenting on that, It's disgusting!" Yuri Plisetsky scowled, flushed embarrassment not only from his humiliating loss in the dance off, but at the very risque' display happening in front of him.

Viktor chuckled and whistled watching the former shy boy flash off raw fresh sex appeal. Chris was known for his innate sexual attraction, but Yuri was giving him a run for his money, using strength and those fierce brown eyes to heat up his performance.

Celestino saw that things were getting a bit out of control and stopped recording. He promised himself he'd look at the pictures later before deleting them forever. Who knew what the press would do if they found out about this display. "I think that's enough Yuri."

"Did I win?" Yuri let Celestino pull his shirt back over him. "Tell me Celestino did I beat Viktor?"

"I'll let you know after I've made up my mind." Celestino laughed. "I'll go get the car, Sorry about this Viktor, he's never been quite good at handling his alcohol."

"That's okay, I enjoyed myself. At least the party wasn't boring, Da?" Viktor laughed then jolted when Yuri's arms came around him. The attempt to put his tie back on had stopped at his head and the boy was still swirling his hips like he was still dancing.

"Tanoshi! I had so much fun! Viktor, my family runs an onsen on Hasetsu. When the seasons over you should come!" He lifted his face the flush and drunk very apparent as the heat of the dance rushed into his face. "If I win this dance battle, you'll become my coach, right?" Yuri's eyes lit with appreciation. "Be my coach, Viktor!" Yuri clung on nuzzling into him.

All the sound from the rest of the room seemed to vanish. Viktor stared down at the drunk and clingy Yuri as the words processed in his head. Him? Viktor Nikifirov… coach? No one had ever asked or brought up that particular career change. It had always been what did he have planned for next season? When was he planning to retire? When was he gonna get a real girlfriend? However this Japanese skater had jumped right to it… drunk or not he could see it in Yuri's eyes that this was something the guy wanted, had fantasized…. And it touched him greatly.

"Yuri…"

"Come on, Yuri, let's go." Celestino grabbed Yuri waving off the other skaters. Yuri turned and waved wildly back.

"Don't forget Viktor! Hasetsu Onsen! Come visit me!" Yuri yelled back at him even as Celestino dragged him out of the room.

"What an idiot." Yuri Plisetsky straightened his suit and tie and grunted. "He's going to hang up his skates the moment he sobers up."

"You think so?" Viktor murmured, his eyes still focused on where Yuri had disappeared.

"I know so. The fool was crying like a baby in a bathroom stall. He'll never make it." With that the Junior Champion winner strode off making his own exit.

"You know… I really hope you're wrong about that." Viktor murmured again and looked at his hand remembering dancing palm to palm with Yuri, despite the drunk flush, the guy had been daring and dramatic, flowing to the music so naturally and elegantly. He'd caught glimpses of his routine during practice, and Viktor knew Yuri to be a true artist in the performance details and it had showed tonight as well.

In between his own practices for the nationals and worlds Viktor watched Yuri's prior performances. It was really intriguing… the guy could rank up high scores on the performance, but if Yuri could just polish the technical execution of his routines he could become a truly frightening competitor. He'd made it to the Grand Prix finals after all.

Still there something else about his routines that were just lack luster. Celestino was a good solid coach, everyone in the skating circuit knew that, but the routines just weren't clicking with Yuri's artistic flair. The routine and the skater weren't meshing and that was part of the reason they weren't working.

As if summoned Viktor glanced at his phone readout and raised a brow. "Speak of the devil, hello? Celestino?"

"Ciao, ciao, Viktor. I'm glad I caught you. I wanted to apologize for what happened at the Grand Prix banquet. Yuri was a little upset and let the alcohol get him."

"It's no problem, but what kept you in your apology, the banquet was over a month ago." Viktor asked tightening the laces on his skates.

"Well, it was brought up in a recent conversation. The press never got wind of his little outburst and I wanted to personally thank you and Chris for not leaking any of that ugly info." There was a long pause and a sigh from the other end. "There's already been enough of that. Yuri has dismissed me as his coach."

"Eh? What?" Viktor suddenly grabbed the phone tighter in his hand. "He's not retiring is he? He's far too young to think about that."

"I don't think so, he said he has something he's going to work on, and then is gonna go back to Hasetsu to think about the next season."

"I see."Plans for the future, Viktor thought and stared down at his skates with a frown. He'd been thinking a lot about that himself. "So," deciding to lighten the mood he smiled and lounged back in his seat. "You never told us who won the dance battle. Yuri made me a very honoring proposition."

"I suggest you forget anything Yuri told you while in that state of mind." Celestino said a little bad tempered. "In fact it's best we forget that night happened at all. Ciao, Ciao, Viktor, good luck in the World's."

With that Celestino hung up. Viktor frowned down at his phone and clicked it off and tucked it into the pocket of his jacket. Folding his hands he leaned his elbows on his knees and stared at the wall of the rink. In the background he could hear his rink mates practicing and talking amongst themselves.

What had Celestino meant by that? What was so damaging about a little drinking and dancing? What would be so upsetting? Did Celestino know about Yuri asking him to be his coach? Was that was bothering him?

Viktor had never coached anyone before, he'd given advice now and again to younger skaters and rink mates but he'd never been a firm teacher like-

"Vitya!" Yakov called out to Viktor scowling. "What are you daydreaming about. You've been distracted for weeks, what's gotten into you?"

"Nothing to be concerned about, Yakov. Just studying some possibilities."

"What possibilities? We're reaching the pique of the season, now is not the time for you to get distracted by stupid things."

"Hmmmm…" Viktor shut off his phone and leaned back on the wall. "Yakov… do you like coaching?"

"Hmmm? Why do you ask?"

"Just a question, I'm wondering if you enjoy bossing me around."

"It isn't bossing around, if you aren't listening or obeying orders. Now you can either get back to practice, or I'll find better use of my time than standing here and indulging your distractions!" Yakov huffed and stalked off shouting for Georgi to stand straighter.

Watching Yakov made Viktor laugh. Perhaps coaching wasn't a good idea afterall. Viktor couldn't really picture himself being prickly and strict and walking around sour faced like Yakov and most of the coaches he'd trained with.

Over the past couple weeks he had focused only on the World's competition. He hadn't seen Yuri, but news traveled that he failed in the Japanese Nationals and his season was over. It was strange that Viktor felt a bit disappointed in that, more so it was strange that he'd been hoping to see Yuri again. The guy had barely been a blip on his radar before the Banquet Dance-off… and now he wished he'd paid more attention. He wondered if Yuri was at that onsen he talked about, relaxing in hot water and surrounded by his family. Viktor couldn't help but envy that.

That was Chapter 1! Yay! I decided to do this fic because I wanted to get deeper into what Viktor was feeling and what had pushed his decisions toward coaching Yuri. I plan to skim over the timeline of the anime and maybe even go a little further predicting what I think Season 2 has in store. Make sure to stay tuned for the next chapter.

Next Chapter: The Internet Sensation