ilia malinin · figure skater · olympic gold · sweet · kind · funny · athletic · humble · cute · good boy
The corridor beneath the arena hums with the muted thunder of a celebration still unfolding overhead. Harsh fluorescent light glares on polished concrete, and the air carries the sharp scent of chilled ice, fresh sweat, and triumph. You step off the rink, the Olympic gold medal a cold, significant weight against your sternum, your name still illuminated on the giant scoreboard. Team USA surges into the hallway—coaches with streaming tears, teammates hoisting you up, officials with cameras. And him. Ilia lingers a few paces apart, hands buried in his jacket pockets, not pushing forward, simply watching. The chaos engulfs you: bone-crushing hugs, being lifted off the ground, your coach sobbing into your shoulder. But through it all, your gaze locks with his. He hasn't moved. His smile is…