Timothy Goebel: 
Alexei Yagudin: 
Disclaimer: This is fake, fiction, not real. I'm not implying anything about
the values or orientations of those involved. It all originates in my
overactive imagination (comes from not having television as a child).
"Congratulations on bronze. It has been ten years since American medallists,
yes?"
Tim Goebel looked at the Russian gold medallist, who had come up beside him
and was smiling slightly. "I never expected a medal. I was just here to-"
"To compete, yes. As we all are." He fingered the medal around his neck. "This
is nice, though."
Tim laughed. "Yes, it is." His eyes were drawn to the gold around Alexei's
neck. "Do you mind if I-"
Before Tim's sentence could be completed, the Russian pulled the medal from
around his neck and placed in the American's hand. "I do not mind."
"You should quit reading my mind. That's the second time you've finished my
sentence." He started to hand the Gold back, but at the last minute, he
slipped it back around his neck, instead.
Alexei smiled, his eyes glittering. "Oh, but I do know what you're thinking. I
was in Nagano, you remember."
"I remember." Tim took a deep breath, tearing his eyes away from Yagudin's
piercing gaze. "Anyway, you were really, really good tonight. Beautiful."
"Ah, so you see that artistry does matter, yes?"
"Yeah, well. When you do 3 quads artistic marks aren't quite as important.
Usually, anyway. I'm working it, though."
"You are improving. And the quads were beautiful as well."
"Thanks," Tim smiled. A shudder ran through him as their eyes met
again. "You've really got to stop that."
"Stop what?" Alexei was genuinely confused.
"Looking at me like that. It's - I-"
"I am sorry. I did not mean to make you uncomfortable."
"No! It isn't that, Alexei. It's just...you're...well, I like you, and your
eyes are beautiful, and I don't want to make you comfortable."
He laughed, eyes sparkling again. "You do not make me uncomfortable. I think
you are nice, too."
They were both quiet for a moment, their breath easily visible in the cold
night air in Utah. "Ok, so, I have no idea what to do now, except maybe
say I've sort of had a crush on you for a long time."
"I know what to do now," he replied, stepping a bit closer to Tim.
"What's that?" the American said, suddenly breathless.
Alexei didn't answer, just put a hand on the young Californian's neck and
kissed him.
Tim stepped forward into an embrace. Their medals clinked together, causing
both men to break their kiss and laugh. Alexei kept his arms around the
American, smiling. "It could be nice second week, yes?"
Tim kissed him again in reply. "I think it will."
"I should go now. My team will wonder where I have been."
"Yeah, ok." Tim stepped away. "I'll see you tomorrow, right? Or sometime soon?"
"You are on that Today Show in the morning?"
"Yeah," said Tim, smiling at the novelty that associated that honor.
"Well, I will see you there." Alexei nodded to him and smiled again before
disappearing into the party. The young American skater stood leaning on
the rail, watching his breath appear in the air, a smile spreading across
his face.