Chapter Text
Yuuri jumped as a mug of coffee was set on his desk, right next to the papers he had been grading for the past hour. Essays on the impact of Shakespeare on modern society. Looking up, he blushed as he saw Professor Nikiforov, the math teacher at Riverside Academy, smiling expectantly at him. “I saw your light on on my way to the kitchens and thought maybe you’ld like a hot drink”
“Oh, thank you”. Yuuri blushed under the Professors intense stare “essays” He offered as his only explanation, glancing down.
“I saw” Nikiforov said as he grabbed a green plastic chair from the desk nearby. The scrape of the legs on the linoleum tiles woke him further from his grading stupor. “Are they any good?” he asked with a tilt of his head, eyes flitting down to the desk where stacks of essays lie.
“Some. Most are hastily written, all talk about how Shakespeare shouldn’t be taught in schools anymore because his writing and ideology doesn’t show equality. I think that Shakespeare needs to be taught because of that exact reason, show kids how far we’ve come and how far we have to go, all while reading poetry of a genius... anyway” Yuuri clears his throat and takes a quick sip of coffee, blushing.
“Do you always stay this late grading okay essays on Shakespeare?” Nikiforov asked with a quirk of his eyebrows.
“Late? What time is it?” Yuuri asked reaching for his phone, facedown on his desk. “8:05!? I was supposed to meet my sister for dinner half an hour ago” He exclaimed, frantically unlocking his phone to respond to the dozen texts from his sister, all increasing in anger and usage of caps lock.
“Did you really lose track of time grading papers? Most teachers are counting the minutes until they can go home”. Yuuri blushed again as Nikiforov chuckled up at him, still calmly seated, sipping his coffee. Looking around, Yuuri embarrassedly looked around, in his frenzy he had stood up hastily and knocked some books off his desk...books that Nikiforov was now walking around the desk to pick up.
Yuuri swallowed as he slowly leaned down, glancing up at him and holding eye contact with him as he rose, and as he reached out and set the books back on the desk. “I guess you’re just passionate” He said in a low voice, now standing directly in front of Yuuri. Jumping back, Yuuri ran a hand through his hair, breaking their endless eye contact as he grabbed his jacket from the hook that hung behind his desk.
“I’m sorry Professor, I really have to go”. Was it just him, or did Nikiforov look disappointed for a flash, his usual confident gaze replaced by a downcast pout. Must have been his imagination, as the look disappeared as quickly as it came. “Thank you very much for the coffee”
“Viktor, please, and you’re welcome” Viktor smiled “and we haven’t been formally introduced yet, I’m Viktor Nikiforov. I teach tenth grade math”
“I know.” Yuuri said. As his words catched up to him, he violently blushed and stammered “I-I mean I know of you, i’m not a stalker or anything. I’ve just heard of you”
“So people talk about me” Viktor said, still smiling gently.
“No no no, I-I… I’m Yuuri Katsuki” he said softly, giving up on explaining himself in any way. Truth was, Yuuri knew exactly who Viktor was, he had seen him in the halls, and had heard about him prior to teaching at Hot Springs, the man was an award winning teacher, renowned for his teaching methods and passion for education, and was one of the reasons he loves teaching. “ I teach tenth grade english”
“I know”. Viktor said. Yuuri gaped at him, fishing for something, anything to say. Chuckling at his expression, Viktor replied slowly “It’s a joke Yuuri, relax”
“Oh yeah, of course”. They walked towards the door together, Viktor holding the door for him on his way out of the classroom
“Good luck with your sister” Viktor said.
“My sister?” Yuuri questioned.
“The dinner, you were late”.
“Oh yeah... “ Yuuri had completely forgotten about that, remembering his reason for leaving immediately ”I had better go” he said
“Until next time” Viktor said, raising his mug slightly and winking before turning to walk back down the hall towards his classroom. Yuuri watched him leave, his mouth slightly agape as he blushes at Viktors back. Realizing he was standing there like an idiot, he quickly locked his classroom door and headed into the parking lot.
“Until next time” he whispered to himself, smiling slightly as he started his car.