Chapter Text
Aliya’s POV
Walking into the gym everyday and not being able to train was the worst part of her knee injury. Not the pain, not the physiotherapy but the yearning to be out there with her teammates. She was finally allowed to walk without her crutches but she still had to wear a knee brace, although a much more discrete one.
The only thing you wanted more than to be out there training was the little pixie like angel on beam. Just as she noticed you, she loses her footing and falls on her back. You walk over as fast your crippled self can.
“Vika are you okay?” you ask as you give her a hand and help her up.
“Im fine, but my pride isn’t. WAIT they finally let you off crutches?” Viktoria’s eyes lit up as she asked the question. You noticed a little glimmer in them.
As your about to respond, Gennedy barks at her to get back on the beam and finish her routine.
“Come to my room when training is over. We can talk then.” You tell her. She mounts the beam with slightly more energy than when she had fallen.
You head over to your physiotherapy appointment for the day. By the time you’re done with your appointment, you feel like you’re about to pass out. The doctor worked you so hard, you think you might be re-injured. He assures you that this is normal after no longer having to use crutches and that you should start to feel normal again in a couple of days.
You start to gather your stuff to leave, when you sense her behind you.
“Hey, what are you doing here? I thought we were going to meet up later?” you ask out of genuine curiosity since practice doesn’t end for another hour.
“Gennedy let me out early since my ankle was sore and I couldn’t stay on the beam. He wants me to go ice it and I figured you would probably need to ice as well after therapy. I figured we could do it together, you always make things more interesting Alka” She says.
Your heart begins beat rapidly as she says this. You’re secretly ecstatic at the fact that she wants to spend time with you. You both head for the ice baths. She notices you limping more than you should be.
“Are you ok Alka, your limping an awful lot? More than you should for someone injured” she asks concern evident in her voice.
You finally reach the baths and you both submerge your legs in it while sitting on the sides.
“I’m fine” you tell her. “I’m just sore from all the therapy. I swear Valentina gave the doctor orders to kill me. To answer your question from earlier, yes I’m off crutches but I still have to wear a stupid knee brace. I’m allowed to start conditioning and bars training next week.” You reveal.
Viktoria squeals in delight and crushes you in a hug. It takes you by surprise as you’re not a touchy person, but you hug her back with as much force as your body will let you.
Seeming to notice how uncomfortable you got, she lets go.
“Sorry, I forgot you don’t really like to be touched, I’m just so happy your finally coming back to training.” Her eyes are gleaming like you’ve never seen before. You suddenly feel the butterfly’s in your stomach. You’re surprised at the reaction your body is having because of her.
“So how are things with you and pavel?” she asks. You notice a slight hint of sadness in her voice but you brush it off.
“Oh, um things are good I guess.”
She cocks her head to the side indicating you to continue.
“Well, things are a little different since the injury.”
“How so?”
“I don’t know, he seems different or I’ve just changed.” You know it’s a vague response but you just can’t put your finger on what it is that’s different.
“You’ve been through a serious injury Aliya. That’s something that changes you. But you’re still the same old awesome Alka in my eyes.”
She clearly wanted to hug you at the end of that statement but refrained from doing so and you find yourself wishing she had. Your time is up so you tell Viktoria that you need a shower but you guys will talk later. You smile at her and head to your room. As you get there you see Pavel leaning beside your door. He smiles when he sees you and you reciprocate as much as you can. You open the door and walk into your room with Pavel on your heels. You lay down on your bed and he lies down next to you.
“How was your first day of serious therapy babe? Did they tell you when you can start to train with the rest of the girls?” He’s pretty enthusiastic which takes you by surprise.
“It was long and painful but it’ll be worth it when I’m on top of that podium in London. And I’ve been cleared to start stretching, conditioning and bars training next week. I just can’t do anything that requires a landing.” Your frustration comes out I that last sentence even though you tried to stay calm.
He notices and envelopes you in his strong arms and whispers reassurance while being careful not to touch your knee. You hate showing vulnerability but today you needed the comfort of someone else. This is the closest you guys have been in a while. He lies on his back and puts your head on his chest. You can feel his heart beating faster and his breath on your head. You know what’s about to happen and Pavel is a good guy so you let him. He bends down and starts kissing you. He is tender at first but he starts to get more aggressive. You kiss him back but something in your mind is telling you that this isn’t right. His hands start to run down your side that’s when you’ve had enough. You break away.
“I can’t Pavel. I’m sorry.” You’re genuinely apologetic.
“What now, Aliya? You barely pay any attention to me lately. Am I so repulsive to you?” The hurt and anger is clear in his voice but his eyes only show pain. For some reason, what he has said has angered you as well.
“Are you serious Pavel? I’m the one injured and might not be able to come back and you make this all about you.” You’re fuming at this point.
“Aliya, I’m sorry that’s not what I meant.”
“Well it’s what you said so there must be some truth behind it.”
“You know what Aliya, I’ve tried to be there and help but all you’re doing is pushing me away.” He yells, you don’t remember ever seeing him this angry in the 2 years you’ve dated.
“You know what, I can’t do this anymore. I’m done aliya!” He slams the door as he leaves. You grab the nearest lamp and throw it at the door as hard as you can. It shatters on impact.
You sit on your bed and cry as much out of anger/frustration as of sadness. You truly liked Pavel and felt bad that he was hurting. You hear a light knock at the door and get up thinking Pavel must have forgotten his phone as usual. You’re shocked to see Viktoria standing there.
“I heard shouting and the door slam and I saw Pavel storming down the hallways, is everything ok?”
You let her in and you both sit on your bed.
“Pavel and I broke up”
“Aliya, I’m so sorry to hear that” her eyes are genuine but there is the beginning of a slight smirk at the corner of her mouth.
She goes to hug you but shows that same hesitation. However this time you lean in because you need her. She envelops you in her small but strong arms. You rest you’re head on her shoulder. She smells amazing. You once again feel the butterflies in your stomach and that’s when it dawns on you. You love Vika. You don’t know when or how it happened but somehow the girl in front of you captured your heart which is now beating incredibly fast.
You pull back just enough so you can face her and she smiles at you and her eyes are twinkling. That is when you decide to kiss her. You meant it to be tender but she makes you lose control like nothing else can. Soon your hands are in her hair as her find you’re back and you lick her bottom lip begging for entrance. She grants it and soon your tongues are melting together. You push her onto her back on the bed. Your hands wander on her body and hers land at the hem of your shirt and tries to take it off. That’s when you start to panic. It’s not that you don’t want her. You do so badly but you just can’t be that close to someone who could easily destroy you. You break away as fast as possible.
“I’m sorry, I just can’t” you mutter as you run out of your own room leaving behind a confused and hurt Vika.
You run aka gimp walk to the gym since it’s the only place in the world for you that everything makes sense. You sit in the middle of the floor mat. Alexandrov see’s you but doesn’t say anything since he knows you’re not foolish enough to try to train.
“Just make sure to turn off the lights as you leave the gym Alka” he says sweetly with a smile as he walks out.
You start to kick yourself for leaving Viktoria like that. You know you hurt her and left her confused much like you were at that moment. You know that you will have to talk to Vika and explain and you’re dreading it.Since you don’t actually start training until next week you’re easily capable of avoiding Vika. But as you walk in on your first day of training, she notices you out of the corner of her eye on bars and her feet hit the low bar and she falls onto the mat. It looked painful so you walk over to her and offer your hand to help her up. She just glares at you and gets up on her own and heads to the chalk bowl to put more onto her grips.
You try to talk to her but all she does is ignore you.
“Will you please just talk to me Vika! You can’t just ignore me.”
“Oh like you did to me all last week” she yells in a whisper so no one else hears. Her eyes are blazing with fury.
“I’m sorry but please give me a chance to explain.” You plead.
“Just leave me alone” she yells and this time everyone in the gym heard her. She runs out of the gym, something she has never done before.
Ksenia who was on the beam set right beside the bars comes up to you.
“What the hell did you do to her?” she’s angry. As team captain she has to worry about team moral so you let her rudeness slide.
“I didn’t do anything and even if I had it would be none of your business.” You give her the glare that you’re known for to make sure she knows not to cross the line.
“Well whatever happened, just fix it. NOW!” as she walks away.
Alexandrov walks over to you and tells you to go after her and resolve whatever it is that happened. You walk out of the gym and start searching for Vika. You search everywhere and can’t find her so you give up and head back to your room. As you get closer you can hear someone crying and sure enough there she is leaning against your door crying. You help her up and you open the door letting her in first. You indicate the bed meaning for her to sit on it. You take a place beside her and hold her until she is done crying.
“I’m sorry Vika. I’m so sorry I hurt you.” Your lips tremble as you speak.
“That’s the last thing I would ever want to do. I care about you so much. I” you stop there because you can’t bring yourself to say the words.
“You what, Aliya? You can tell me anything” Her eyes are pleading you to continue.
The raw emotion is killing you inside. You can’t even bring yourself to look her in the eyes so you get up and head to the window. It’s a beautiful day outside, the sun is shining and the birds are singing. You did not realize Viktoria had gotten up and was behind you until she puts a delicate hand on your shoulder.
“What’s wrong Aliya? I just want to help”
“I love you” you mumble
“What did you just say” as she clearly didn’t hear you.
You take a deep breath and turn around and look her in the eyes and say “I love you”. There are tears in your eyes from the overwhelming feeling of declaring you’re emotions. Seeing your vulnerability she hugs you and you respond back fiercely.
You whisper into her ear “That’s why I ran away. I couldn’t help being so close to you. I got scared at how much you truly mean to me. I’m still scared but I need you Vika, I can’t stand to be away from you.”
She kisses the side of your head and pulls back to look you in the eyes but leaves her arms around your neck.
“I love you too Alka. You don’t have to be scared. I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be there to support you, to cheer you up or whatever you need me for. I can’t promise I’ll never hurt you but I promise to never do it intentionally or deliberately.” She is crying again but this time its happy tears. You know this because you are crying as well.
She kisses your forehead, then your cheek and finally your lips. You take her to bed and she rests her head on your chest as you lie on your back. With your arms around her and hers around you, you finally feel at peace. You finally feel at home. Just as you’re about to fall asleep she nuzzles into the crook of your neck and whispers in your ear:
“I love you Alka. Always & Forever. That is my promise to you.”