Chapter Text
Yakov scoffed, rolling his eyes. "I can't believe they made us evacuate for a gas leak. It probably wasn't even a harmful gas."
Viktor smiled at his coach, he knew he was just worried. When a strange alarm went off, he and Chris had just gotten onto the ice. One of the ice skating rink staff told everyone they had to evacuate the building, as it was a gas alarm.
Yakov had been grumpy about it but complied immediately. Viktor and the rest of the skaters there took off their skates quickly, their respective coaches bringing all their stuff outside. The rink staff had advised everyone to find a temporary rink to practice at, as the firemen would need to run tests on the air quality and what gas was leaked into the air once they got there.
Especially if the gas was dangerous. That was a risk no one was willing to take, no matter whether Viktor was a gold-winning figure skater right before a competition or not.
Yakov was protective of all his skaters, and any risk of harm to them was taken seriously. So with that in mind, Yakov and the other coaches had found a local ice rink that was willing to open up the rink specifically for them to practice in. When all the coaches were talking outside the gas-leaked rink, Viktor, Chris, and the other skaters were standing off to the side, talking in a group as well.
Other than Yakov and Chris' coach Josef, there were four people Viktor didn't quite recognize. Viktor had initially assumed that each of his four other competitors had one coach each, but Viktor knew John-Jack's or whatever his name is coaches were his parents, and both of them were there.
Cao Bin and Michele Crispino each seemed familiar with one of the two other coaches, which meant one skater's coach wasn't here. Viktor looked around their group and realized one of the skaters wasn't there either.
Now, Viktor wasn't judging. Other skaters may perform better without practice before a competition, and it's up to them and their coaches what they do. But, at the same time, Viktor would never advise anyone to do it.
Considering Viktor didn't remember who the last competitor and coach were, it very well might be their first Grand Prix Final. Though all his competitions sort of blended together now, Viktor still at least attempted to know who he was competing against.
Chris was one of his closest friends and almost always his closest competition, so it was often that Viktor competed against him. His other competitors traded out so frequently- it was hard for Viktor to keep track. All the skaters and coaches at the Saint Petersburg rink knew of his forgetfulness. There had been a couple too many incidents where Viktor had forgotten vital information about an upcoming competition, so Yakov or whoever was traveling with him always made sure to remind him of whatever it was.
Usually, no one bothered to remind him who his competitors were, and just this once Viktor wished someone had. He didn't know why, but Viktor had a gut feeling.
A gut feeling something was wrong.
Everyone else was talking about what rink they might be relocating to, and Viktor spoke up, "Whose the last competitor? Who's not here?"
Chris gave him an odd look, but answered him anyway, "Yuuri Katsuki isn't here. Neither is his coach, Celestino Cialdini. I don't think you two have met before, but he's really good."
[Viktor's POV]
Then it hit me like a flash. I don't know what happened, why it happened, or how I could feel it, but it was like my body had a mind of its own. One moment I was sitting on a bench, talking with the other skaters, and the next I was hopping out of my seat, practically sprinting around the building.
I had no idea what was going on except for the instinctual urge to run. I had to get away, but to where? I couldn't go back in the rink, there was a potentially dangerous gas leak. One which, weirdly enough, the firefighters had not yet come to help with.
I ran all the way to the street, someone calling my name behind me. I didn't acknowledge it and kept running. I didn't even check to see if the light was red as I ran across the street, and judging by the shouts of alarm and honking of horns, it probably wasn't. But I didn't care. I just had to get out. Get away.
[3rd Person POV]
Yakov looked up in alarm, all of a sudden people were shouting, yelling at someone running away from them. A someone that Yakov was all too familiar with. Chris in particular was yelling at Viktor, asking him what was going on.
Yakov wanted to know what was going on as well. Had someone said or done something? 'Even if they did, that wasn't a normal reaction for Vitya.' Viktor didn't usually run away, whether it be from his competitions or his personal matters.
The other coaches noticed the commotion as well, and Yakov half-walked half-ran to Chris. "What just happened? Where is Vitya going?" The Swiss skater shook his head, mouth open slightly. "I have no clue. He wasn't really saying anything to anyone. Then out of the blue, he asked about the skater who is missing- Yuuri Katsuki- then he just ran."
He swallowed, shaking his head again, "I don't know why he would run. I wasn't even able to react to it before he was already fifteen yards away."
Yakov was used to Viktor making spontaneous decisions, but this was a whole new level. Today was full of weird surprises. First the gas leak, and now Viktor running away. 'What is going on today?'
Yakov looked at where Viktor's stuff was sitting next to the bench and noticed he had taken his phone. So, Yakov pulled out his own and dialed his student's number.
Viktor didn't pick up on the first, second, or third ring, and Yakov was close to hanging up and calling again when he picked up. He was panting into the microphone, sounding out of breath.
"Vitya, what the hell is going on?" He shouted into his phone, not caring how loud he was being. He needed to know a) if Viktor was alright, and b) why he ran all of a sudden. "I- I don't know."
It was also out of character for Viktor to stutter, but Yakov didn't mention it. It was not the most pressing thing at the moment. Yakov softened his voice, "Are you okay, Vitya? What happened?"
Viktor took a deep breath, "Yakov, I- don't really know. I'm not too far from the rink. I don't know why I ran, I just felt so trapped all of a sudden. I needed to get away, but I'm walking back now." Yakov nodded, despite Viktor not being able to see him. "Okay, be careful, Vitya. Me and the other coaches were just able to get another rink before you ran off."
Yakov sighed, "It obviously won't have as much room on the ice as this one does, but considering there are only five skaters compared to six, we should be able to make do."
Being reminded of Yuuri Katsuki made that feeling come back. He didn't know why, but Viktor just felt like he needed to check on Yuuri. The only problem was, Viktor didn't know Yuuri or his coach, Cialdini at all. Though maybe Yakov or Chris had one of their numbers...
He would just have to ask one of them once he met back up with them at the rink.