The audience's roar of approval for Yuuri Katsuki's short program performance is full-throated, strong enough to completely drown out the music in Yuri's ears. So he shuts it off, removes his headphones, lets it wash over him like waves crashing against the rocks. The only comfort he can take is that there's one person who isn't here to see it or hear it...but that's hardly a comfort at all, with the way his thoughts are running ahead of him. Shit. And here I thought I'd be able to perfect Agape by having Dedka here to watch me. His own fault, his own weakness, to pour so much of his hope and anticipation into this one moment --

But the clock is ticking, and there's no more time for regrets. Without another word, he lets Lilia take off his jacket and gives her his skate guards. As he sheds his outer garments, he lets his training take over, and he rolls back his shoulders and lengthens his spine to carry himself with dignity and grace out onto the ice.

Except that there's someone blocking his way as he reaches the gate.

Eros. The seducer. The betrayer. The deceiver.

Something in Yuri's expression shifts, studying his opponent. It's no longer the look of a young prince steeling himself to face his execution with determined composure, but that of a swan queen prepared to banish her dark double and break the sorcerer's thrall. So he lifts his chin -- calm and regal, faintly contemptuous -- and issues the only command that he knows will be obeyed:

'Out of my way, pig.'