"Yes, yes.." You drawled out in a lazy tone, gesturing to Masaru who gave you a short glare, "Yuuri, this is the woman whom I have the displeasure of calling my biological mother, Masaru."​​​​​​

She opened her mouth to reply and you almost stopped her, huffing deeply when her eyes strayed on you playfully before focusing on the Japanese male, "My, my, Katsuki Yuuri!" She clapped her hands together in a prideful way, he flinched and blushed at the attention, "You're so much more handsome in person! I have to admit, the television never does your good looks any justice!" Her sickeningly sweet tone only aided in making you feel sick.

Viktor had been silent the whole time as he was aware of this woman whom you had no qualms about showing how much you despised her. Yuuri grew increasingly nervous as so many eyes watched him for a reaction or a reply, he took a glance at you and then another when you hadn't made a sound and he almost flinched at the glare you held. The glare that you looked at him with though the bitterness in your face was only meant for your mother.

She seemed ignorant of your hateful attitude; that's what Yuuri thought in his mind, but she was really teasing you, feeling somewhat accomplished as she had managed to rile you up so easily. You were always a girl known to show little to no emotions though so it wasn't a surprise when you hadn't acted out as wildly as she wanted you to.

"Viktor, sweetie-"

"Don't speak to him like that, you hag."

Your quick words shut her down and she was surprised before covering up her shock with a smile, Viktor simply watched her, narrowing his eyes before moving onto you. You were still standing on the ice, having relaxed after racing around the ice carelessly but just her presence alone was enough to make your heart race with unadulterated rage and frustrations. She was so carefree and ignorant of your inner turmoil, such a woman didn't deserve to walk in here as joyously as she did.

"[Name].. are you alright?"

"S-she's fine!" Kanako yelled, unexpectedly and Viktor's eyes found the little girl after having asked you. Her expression seemed saddened and you thought it was odd. You had insulted her mother and clearly stated how much you loathed her and yet the child still looked determined to become your friend or to be closer to you, "She's [Name], after all! She's amazing!"

You sighed, "How troubling, Kanako... don't get yourself involved in affairs you don't understand. I'm fine, Viktor."

"Amazing?" Another voice broke the silence right after you'd answered Viktor with a reassuring glance. That glance alone seemed to make him soften up and his gaze turned soft, it was a sight for sore eyes and rather than unexpectedly wanting to go near him and see more of it, you turned your attention to Alexei. His brows furrowed, he was surely upset over the words you spat towards the woman he admired - the woman who had raised him.

"Kanako, you know [Name] just said bad things about mum, right? How can you still say she's amazing?" He looked up at you know when his dear little sister had subconsciously backed away from his condescending glare, "And you! I want you to apologise to my mum!"

"Don't be mean to my big sister, brother!"

The silence after the little girl had yelled so defiantly was unnerving. Your eyes widened and you were too scared to look at Masaru, to see her reaction and to see what kind of expression she had on her deceiving face. The only thing you knew for sure, was that you had sucked in a breath of shock and as a result, the silence dragged on until Alexei replied quietly.

"Sister? We only found out minutes ago and you're so pridefully announcing you have a sister, so much for loyalty." He spat his words to his sister and she cringed in sadness, she honestly wanted to rejoice at the new-found information and her lack of consideration and awareness of the atmosphere caused her mother to glare at her like she was some sort of diseased creature. You wanted to stop it, to keep Kanako away from that but instead you opened your mouth and the words came out on their own, "Kanako, don't be afraid to oppose your mother whenever you think it's the right thing to do."

She looked at you, you walked slowly along the ice and neared her, offering her a rare short smile when you saw her tense shoulders lower as she smiled back at you. Her eyes were so bright, she was so small and beautiful and it scared you to think the same thing might happen to her when recalling your cold and lonely childhood.

"Don't disrespect your mother, though." She nodded obediently and the silence brought your attention to your most dearest friends, the people you love. Yuuri stared at the smile on your face in awe and Viktor smiled at you, a look akin to pride on his face and it comforted you. You liked it, you enjoyed the thought of having the Russian male proud of you.

It made you feel tingly around your waist, your spine.

"[Name], show okāsan spin on the ice, ne?"

Masaru spoke teasingly, her eyes gleaming with a certain evil you were disgusted by and it only brought back painful memories. Memories of when she'd accompany you and your father to the skating rink so you could make your parent proud. Memories of when you were so stupidly happy, all those smiles gone and wasted on the people who brought misery to your life.

And yet, she stayed on the other side of the rink and the environment was so familiar. It was all coming back to you, so hard and forceful that you couldn't help feeling that infuriating stinging behind your eyes when your vision threatened to become blurred by those salty tears. You refused to show such a pitiful stance before you angered half-brother and your younger half-sister and you'd be damned if you would even think about letting that conniving woman see such a face on you.

Viktor had picked up on your internal affairs and sensed the despair radiating from you, he was at a loss, wondering if he should join you on the ice or if he should tell Masaru to back off. He felt protective, he felt territorial and he felt at a loss all at the same time. The thought of protecting you from such an antagonistic figure made him think it would soon be okay but you weren't easy to read at all.

Yuuri walked to the skirting, his hands gripping the freezing wood as his frown deepened, "[Name], people can only hurt you if you give them the power to." So gentle.. his tone, it was so soft and kind. You couldn't help closing your eyes and when you opened them, you found Yuuri. He smiled, it was so beautiful. So loving, you couldn't help melting inside when you lips almost twitched upwards, you almost smiled and you wanted to.

If only the woman before you had disappeared, maybe you could. But her almost traumatising words had been enough to make you soundlessly consider obeying, readying yourself to move away from the skirting in front of Kanako (who had been watching with a saddened gaze) when her mother spoke up, her tone ice cold.

"People? Oh, please. Yuuri, I'm her mother - you have no business in meddling with family business."

"You're an abominably troublesome woman, aren't you? I'm extremely glad my loving childhood made me the person I am today." Sarcasm dripped from your mouth like a liquid and you revelled in the look of annoyance on Masaru's face, "Hey, hey.." Viktor attempted to ease the tense atmosphere but you continued, shooting at the woman who seemed oddly tenacious to make you bow down to her.

"Yuuri knows exceptionally well.. how cold, irritated and closed off I've become. How I know relationships are troublesome, unnecessary and how weak they are, how the fickle relationship between a mother, father and only child can be broken apart as quickly as the snap of my fingers. It disgusts me, I won't do as you sa-"

"I'm the woman who gave birth to you and you will respect me."

"Respect is earned not given, you ugly hag."

She was angry, oh god, she was so angry. Masaru had a fire lit up in her eyes and if looks could kill, you were sure your body would melt into the result of acid making contact with skin. Melted away, burning into nothing, it was how she saw you that caused this. She knew you held a facade and she was so damn confident in her skills to tick off everything you hated about yourself and everything you loved.

She knew of your affections towards Yuuri, aiming her targets at him was only the tip of the iceberg but you wouldn't let her insult him further.

"I told you, show me how you spin." She was deathly quiet after that and it made you think of when your father used those words so lovingly to you. Now you didn't even know where he was, too scared to make contact after scarring you so frighteningly. He used to be so angelic and gentle, happy,

'We have skating practise [Name]-hime, show okāsan how you spin on the ice, ne? Make us proud.'

He said that to you during a time that was so far away, it was nothing but a memory buried in your mind and Masaru brought it out; using the words of the man you thought of as a King, the man who cared and loved you, to make you do as she commanded. It frightened you and suddenly Yuuri and his reassuring words, his kind and loving face, was gone.

"I- I won't do anything you sa-"

"Make us proud."

It was the last straw. Us. As in plural, as in more than one, more than one person, not singular and not only referring to herself. She had left you with the man, your father, and the both of you cared for each other but now, she was using your strained and broken relationship with him to make you do as she wanted.

The pain in your heart - the scars - they were ripping apart and so many people were present to witness your downfall. You'd be damned if you let them see just how weak you really were. You couldn't let them know but you had no choice. What was the point, though? Right, what was it?

Now, it was all mixing together, it was blurry. Why were you fighting it anymore? Your eyes glazed over and Viktor grew alarmed, Yuuri saw and perked up, stuttering a hushed warning to make you come back to him. It didn't matter anymore. You just felt pathetic and maybe you should just listen to her. Maybe she was right, maybe you had no purpose other than the one she had drilled into you all those years ago.

To be nothing but the best.

This performance was flawed. You'd show her. She'd correct you and tell you how to be better. You just wanted to make her proud.

"Okay.."

Tears fells from your monotonous eyes, your neutral expression scared Yuuri and Viktor was angry, he was enraged but you skated towards him, you held Yuuri's hand and gestured for Viktor to come closer and your arms were outstretched towards him. Like you needed him, like he could provide you strength. Yuuri's chilled hand ignited another tear from your eye and Viktor silently made his way to you, taking you in his arms lovingly.

He breathed in your scent and relaxed when you hugged him back, "Don't speak.." Your timid voice broke something inside him and his shining blue eyes narrowed in sadness though he obeyed. You pulled back to cup his face, bringing him forward by his jaw to place your soft, cold lips on his forehead.

You released him and skated slowly, standing in the middle of the ice with the same sad look. One that didn't even look like you were present, like you were a shell while your real self was crying, sobbing and begging to stop on the inside. You shut her up and got into position while Masaru's calculating and smug stare never left your woeful figure.

It was fitting for the performance after all.

By the end of it, you were in tears. Panting, sweating and breathing heavily but your lips were closed tight to keep yourself from making a sound and once you looked at your mother again; you weren't sure why but you felt as if you gotten punched in the gut when Ryoto wasn't watching from beside her.

It wasn't right, it was broken and you could never gain the feeling of being praised by your parent ever again. It was pathetic of you to cry over it so Masaru actually ignored it, she appeared nonchalant to the sight of your tears and scoffed to herself and it made Kanako tear up as well.

She didn't like this, it was scaring her. She didn't like that the girl she'd quickly admired was being shot down and bullied by her own mother. She was frightened and even Alexei appeared scared too. He didn't know what to say, he didn't know if he could even speak as neither of the siblings did.

Yuuri had tears in his eyes too. He was so angry, he was so disappointed in himself, he felt disgusted by the mere presence of your mother and he felt as if he finally understood so much more about you. Viktor remained impassive, he was unimaginably enraged and no words could do justice to you when you displayed yourself so small to the woman you once thought of as a queen, the woman you pledged to make proud once upon a time.

"Something is missing but I must admit, it wasn't all that... poor in regards to quality." She spoke harsh, like a coach and unlike what Yuuri would expect when thinking of your child self enduring this tone so young. This criticism had shown no signs of being elaborated nor helpful so you could improve.

Improve. No one in the skating rink believed you needed to improve, Viktor especially, believed you were perfect as you were. He was sure that you were flawed in all the most perfect ways, "This, though," a lustful look took over her eyes and your dishevelled hair, laid in front of your eyes like a curtain, the only sounds of life coming from you were your small sniffling.

"... has the potential of being your best work yet."

She smiled, grinning and uncaring to all the frowns and distress surrounding her. Her only goal was to win, her only dream was to hold wealth on her name, to carry some sort of legacy and you could do that for her. She could rest easy knowing she was successful, it was a dream come true.

She indulged in the fantasies her toxic mind created and you walked off the ice, standing before Kanako as she failed to wipe her tears away. She was unknowingly keeping her sobs to herself and no one came to her to console her. She was scared and hesitant to make a sound or to call for help and you said nothing but leaned down before her.

Something so natural, so seemingly beautiful happened and she didn't even realise she was doing it. Kanako, with her red eyes and sniffling nose with snot coming from it, her semi-dried tears running down that round, youthful face, she reached over to you and moved your hair from your face to behind your ears.

She forgot to tend to her ridiculously filthy face and wiped your tears away. She even hesitantly used her sleeve to wipe your nose and it prompt a small, dismal smile to your lips. At the sight, her choked sob came out as a crooked laugh, broken and incomplete. A silent exchange finished when she stepped into your arms, you embraced her and she embraced you tighter as if trying to mend you back together.

"Don't become like me.."

She heard you, barely knowing the pain you held in your heart and it shattered your heart because she was so small and so young. She nodded and backed away when you let go. You stood up and groaned lowly as the pain in your feet. You approached Viktor and Yuuri, they had recomposed themselves but your crooked smile was enough to make them move. They grabbed you on each side and brought you to the changing rooms.

Your skates stayed in the first locker and your blisters pained you deeply. You sat on the bench in the changing room and it was as if no one was even breathing. You didn't like the atmosphere between the three of you. Viktor was normally happy and cute, selfishly charming while Yuuri was so considerate and kind. You wanted to experience it again, or maybe it couldn't happen? Could you be the reason it was gone?

"As much as I don't want to talk about this, we might have to... but not now." Yuuri spoke hesitantly, nervous when gaining Viktors and your attention. He finished quickly and you sighed in relief. He noticed, sighing as well and Viktor smiled too but it was a boyish grin, one that could make your worries disappear, even for a moment.

"I'm hungry."

"I was thinking the same thing! Let's have some traditional Japanese food, it's all so delicious!" Viktor agreed with you, speaking out loud with glee written all over him. You huffed and felt glad, content when he let you forget about what happened. How something so innocent and fun could've turned so dark and angst-driven.

"Let's go out then. Viktor, do I look okay?" Yuuri looked down at you as he stood by the door. You had turned to the silver-haired male with a nonchalant expression though he could see the effects of your crying when your eyes were still red and your cheeks were flushed, he couldn't deny it though, y-

"You look absolutely beautiful! Ангел!."

His eyes were shining and your eyes widened quickly before returning to normal. Turning away, you felt a heat in your cheeks as you stood to walk towards Yuuri. He watched the exchange with a chuckle and replied easily when you asked him the same question as you completely ignored Viktor who appeared to be whining to himself on the bench.

"You look fine, you just look a bit tired." You nodded gratefully and left through the door that Yuuri pulled open. Viktor yelled out loud when you left him and he kept going, "But honestly, [Name], you're breath-taking! No matter what happens." His fingers grabbed your jacket sleeve after you had grabbed your jacket from the locker and Yuuri walked on the other side of you. You hummed, feeling something tingly in your stomach and avoided eye contact with him.

He didn't let go of your sleeve though, he only wanted to praise you and shower you with compliments because your shyness only made you that much more adorable! He was ecstatic to be able to talk like this after what happened and in the midst of recalling your flustered state after he had called you beautiful (absolutely beautiful, to be precise) he didn't even notice that you had lightly yanked your wrist from his hold to grab his hand and entwine his fingers within your own.

Whether it was for comfort or for your craving of affection, Yuuri saw this and chuckled to himself when he realised Viktor didn't even notice. You saw this, smiling at Yuuri with red cheeks as he led all of you to town to eat something traditional and Japanese.

Ангел! = Angel!