#wwfms: toccata

[rayraywrites]

Chapter 5: Toccata

Pairing: Yuuri Katsuki x Viktor Nikiforov

Characters: Viktor Nikiforov, Yuuri Katsuki, Yakov Feltsman, Yuuko Nishigori, Nishigori Triplets, Phichit Chulanont, Makkachin, Christophe Giacometti (minor), Yuri Plistesky (minor)

Rating: General Audiences

Total Word Count: 8353

Chapters: Lament || Waterfall || Sunshine|| Revolutionary || Toccata || Tristesse || Arpeggio

Bang: @yurionicebigbang

Partner: @uchiyin

       link to art (to be added once art has been posted)

Beta: @emeraldwaves

AO3 (Links/Other Notes included)

Summary:

Music is the language that unites those who cannot speak their feelings. It fills the holes in our heart from living. It soothes and burns.

When the spoken word of man fails, the ancient language stirs from the depths to be heard above the loudest of howls

However, there was a small thing that had been forgotten. Viktor had promised to help Yurio with his time through the competition. He forgot. Yurio however, had not forgotten this and had flown after Viktor to drag him back to Russia. Luckily with some cajoling, Yurio, as he was soon called, agreed to a small contest: if Yurio won Viktor returned to Russia, but if Yuuri won, Yurio would head home alone and work with Yakov just as Viktor had done for years.

Standing in Yuuri’s practice room, the two of them had waited for Viktor to begin speaking, but the showman that he was, he paused for an infinitely long second before speaking.

“The Chopin Competition, or specifically the Frederic Chopin International Piano Competition. It is a very renowned event, and very difficult to get to the finale, let alone win.” He clapped his hands together, the serious expression on his face briefly changing into an excited one. “I believe the two of you have the potential to win this, and regardless of who, one of you must win.” His facial expression was happy, however there was an underlying tone of seriousness in his voice.

“There are three initial rounds to the Chopin Competition, and then the grand finale where you must play one of the two famed Chopin pieces. The three rounds are open for any classical piece.” He headed over to the piano, sitting down gracefully in front of the black and white keys. “I have chosen two songs, one for each of you play your first round, and as a nod to the famed composer, they’re both Chopin.”

Yuuri’s eyes had closed as he listened to the lilting tones of the first piece, hesitant and light at times yet it slowly grew in power. Always coming back to the standard it began, he found his ears were never displeased. But the second piece, was one of dissonance, of causing the most impact upon the listener, dragging them in only to shove them back. The two pieces contrasted each other greatly - Chopin’s Raindrop Prelude versus Chopin’s Winter Wind.

Naturally, Yurio had demanded to play Winter Wind, yet instead of catering to their wishes, or even their personalities, Viktor assigned Yuuri the Winter Wind, and Yurio, Raindrop Prelude.

Months later, Yuuri stood in the wings of the concert hall, waiting for his number to be called so he could walk on stage. Winning that small contest against Yurio had not been easy, yet he knew this competition would never be easier. He had changed since the day he met Viktor, both in his music but also simply who he was. He glanced behind him and saw Viktor standing near the door to the backstage, a soft smile on his face.

When he saw Yuuri glancing at him his smile widened as he crossed the distance between the two of them. Yuuri’s tense shoulders relaxed as Viktor simply squeezed one lightly before giving him a nudge to the stage. It was time for Yuuri to perform.

A nervous chuckle escaped Yuuri’s lips as he began to walk onto the stage but paused when he felt Viktor’s hand tighten briefly on his shoulder.

Quirking an eyebrow he watched as the man who he’d come to cherish from his childhood, but moreso from the past few months, struggled to say something. However, he finally made his decision and let out a deep breath before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to Yuuri’s cheek. “Davai Yuuri.”

His eyes were full blown, shock coursing through his body, but he felt himself begin to center when the grip on his shoulder tightened once more before he was pushed towards the exit of the wings. Only years of walking on stage to a piano helped him settle down on the bench for his mind was still numb. Yet once he sat down it was as if all the worries disappeared, leaving only the desire to play.

His fingers barely grazed the piano as he pressed down lightly to begin the piece. Each press was a calculated decision, gentle as he stroked the piano. The slow, almost lulling beginning slowly gave away to the powerful gale of the middle. His fingers flew up and down the piano, cascading down through the tuplets. He lost himself in the repetition of the complicated piece, only hearing the piano and his own heavy breathing.

His fingers stretched to reach each key, touching briefly before flowing into the next one. As he approached the ending, his left hand leapt through the hoops the piece demanded of it while his right remained ever consistent.

Finally the coda approached and he arched his back in anticipation of the final semi-quaver tuplets. As the last note was held it quavered in the air, holding onto the pain and power of the music, as if it never wanted to end. Yet the satisfaction of completing the song was unavoidable.

As his eyes opened for the first time in the four minutes he’d been on stage Yuuri did not look at the audience, nor did he look at the judges. He only gazed at Viktor who stood in the wings, hands clasped together as if to prevent him from reaching out for Yuuri. A beautiful smile had bloomed on his face, one Yuuri had never seen in the twelve years he’d listened to Viktor play and one he knew was reserved only for him.

He returned it, shaky and tired as he was before he stood up from the piano bench. As he rose, the audience saw the change occur before their eyes. From the one who blew the winter wind into their hearts to the one who was guided by the warm summer breeze. Hugged by the crisp autumn zephyr and smiled at by the spring dance. It was clear to the audience this love did not come from them, but someone much closer.

They were anxious to see how the shy and loving pianist would advance in the competition, especially under the tutelage of their beloved pianist. Two stages to complete before the finale. Breaths were held in suspense for the inevitable passion soon to be seen.

It would only be the demand of the propriety of performing that would prevent Viktor from jumping Yuuri on stage, but when Yuuri stepped into the wings after a stunning standing ovation he was quickly slammed against the wall by an eager to please Russian.