It's the same words Yuri's been using – maybe – but they sound different. Less like he's just trying to say or do whatever it takes to get Victor to leave him alone. Less like he's waiting for the axe to fall.

So maybe this helped, after all.

It certainly helped Victor: even if he's chilly and soaked and starting to get hungry again, he feels like he has a better grasp, now, of what to do. How to coax Yuri into opening up, so Victor can meet him halfway, instead of chasing Yuri all the way back behind those walls of his.

And Yuri looks more relaxed, too. Something Victor notices, while he's brushing sand off his feet and pulling on socks, and shoes. "Let's go to the rink after lunch," he says, tightening his laces and their knots, and finally standing up. "Until then, do whatever you want to take a break and relax. You've been working hard, and I don't want you to feel burned out, okay?"

it's important that Yuri stay happy and energized, and that he feel like Victor's on his side, so that if things start to go wrong, he can feel comfortable saying so.

Trust may be a difficult thing to cultivate, but he'll do his best. "

And he did say he wouldn't go easy on him. "Because we're going to hammer out every mistake until your programs are perfect."