Work Text:
Rin deeply regrets agreeing to come here.
Scratch that, he didn’t even agree. It’s not like he could’ve known of the consequences when information was purposefully withheld from him—Karasu’s a sneaky bastard, and Nanase’s wet eyes have more sway on him than he’d like to admit, and Shidou would have shown up at his house to drag his unwilling ass over either way—
Well, the point is, Rin is here. And he doesn’t think he has a way out.
It’s supposed to be, in Karasu’s words, a simple PXG hangout. Rin thinks everyone’s just been bored from their break from Blue Lock, desperately looking for something to do. Considering how they were constantly busy with practices and vigorous training, he can see why the free time they were given doesn’t sit right with any of them, but still. Isn’t an entire group meetup unnecessary?
More than that, it isn’t even just PXG. The whole fucking team is here.
Rin feels a little betrayed as he watches Isagi, Bachira, and some other ridiculous bastards show up to their meetup point. He digs his hands into his coat’s pockets, glaring into the distance with a frown that could scare off the darkest entities.
“Okay, is everyone here?” Karasu asks, who has also just arrived, Hiori in tow. Rin eyes the duo. It seems like they planned the whole thing.
Tsk. Annoying.
He doesn’t know what activity they have chosen, but as they enter the mall together and start heading up the escalators, the attraction comes into view, and Rin is able to take a guess.
The ice rink is massive and surprisingly empty despite the peak holiday season. The mall itself is pretty niche, though, with many empty stores and only a few places to eat, but maybe that's why it was chosen as their destination. And someone must have already called them in advance to let them know that such a big group was coming, because when they approach the rink, they're immediately allowed to go get skates their size.
Rin ends up somewhere behind, only following so he doesn't have to deal with the consequences of not. He stands in the corner while everyone fights over shoe sizes, knocking into each other, and—
"Rin-kun?" a gentle voice comes from behind him. "Is it your first time skatin'?"
Rin turns his head. Hiori looks back at him, hands clasped behind his back and a curious glint in his eyes.
Rin doesn't really have a problem with Hiori. He's not amazing by any means, but he makes for a good field partner. Plus, he's much more calm and collected compared to some of the other buffoons, and he isn't always pestering Rin with his incessant conversations.
Except for now, but that's…
"No," he replies curtly. "I've been skating before."
That technically isn't a lie. Rin has been skating, but only once, back when he was a toddler. He still remembers it vividly, though. It was his first time seeing snow, and Sae took him out to this frozen lake near their house. Rin had stepped onto the ice with Sae's old skates, still a size too big for him back then, and instantly slipped.
Which sums up his skating experience. Not that he's going to say that.
"Oh, great!" Hiori smiles, pointing at some of the other boys. "Karasu-kun was worried that ice skatin' was too difficult to bring everyone to, but from what I've asked around, most of us can skate. Except—"
Right on cue, Rin watches Nagi step onto the rink and instantly fall flat on his face. Chigiri lets out a loud laugh, trying to haul him up, but it just serves to make the situation worse.
Rin hides a grimace behind his palms. That's going to be him if he's not careful.
He walks away from Hiori, trying to seem like he at least knows what he's doing. Luck must be somewhat on his side today, because when he picks up a pair of skates at random and puts them on, he finds that they fit comfortably.
Good. Great, even. Rin is stronger than some stupid ice in the ground. It's not going to kill him. He will not embarrass himself today.
Most of the other boys are already inside the rink, skating around. Some are trying to push each other into the ground—he can see Otoya getting the brunt of it, though he's skating away just quickly enough to avoid being caught. Someone else is doing spins and tricks like a fool. Some others are clinging onto the railings, knees shaking with every slide.
Rin clicks his tongue. There's only one other person not on the rink yet.
He glances at Hiori, who is still tying on his laces. Maybe it's the way he's moving, not a single rushed or messy action, but Rin gets the feeling that Hiori is, well. Familiar. With skating.
Just then, Hiori meets his gaze, making it too late for Rin to turn away in time. He arches an eyebrow. "D'ya need something?"
Rin feels a bit of heat rise to his cheeks. He bites his tongue and chooses not to reply, instead standing up.
The first thing he notices is how unstable it feels.
The blades are thin, obviously, but Rin doesn't expect to go careening sideways the moment he straightens. A hand shoots out, slamming on the wall, and he lets out a surprised breath.
"Stop looking at me," he hisses when he feels Hiori's eyes on him.
When he manages to steady himself, he takes small, hesitant steps towards the entrance of the rink. There's a little ledge, and he grips the wall so tightly his knuckles turn white, lifting one foot over—
"Yer gonna fall if ya step in like that."
Rin grits his teeth. "I didn't ask for your opinion, Snowflake."
"Snowflake?" Hiori repeats with a laugh. "Is it because of my hair?"
It's more than that. It's the way every word leaves Hiori's tongue, so cool and soft, like snow incarnate. It's almost unnerving, the way everything seems to stop when it's Hiori. Like the grey morning skies after a winter storm. The air around him feels still. Frozen.
Hiori appears by his side, stepping past him. He tilts his foot slightly, sliding against the ice so naturally it's like breathing. "Like this," Hiori says, pointing to Rin's toes. "Don't keep them so straight. You'll end up fallin'."
"Shut up," Rin replies, a little weaker this time. Still, he follows Hiori's instructions, trusting that that would make him look less like an idiot. Rin manages to get both feet on the ice, though he's still gripping the side like his life depended on it.
Hiori skates a little further, giving him a polite round of applause. "Yer good, right? Need me to hold yer hand?"
Is he— Is he teasing Rin? Is it really that obvious that Rin can't fucking skate for his life?
"I'm fine," he insists, pushing himself off the wall with his hand to prove his point. Except, the moment Rin lets go, he feels the world give out beneath his feet. One leg slips—he's not even sure which one, and in a flash, his stomach churns and his limbs flail.
Before Rin can hit the ground, he lands in a steady pair of arms.
"Gotcha," Hiori says with a small, amused smile. He's holding him by the elbows, somehow not falling over despite the sudden weight, and Rin takes a moment to curse all the ice gods in the world for not being on his side.
In one quick, smooth motion, Hiori rights him back up. His hands slide down to Rin's wrists, still holding him steady, but Rin's too busy trying to stop the wobble in his knees to focus on that sensation right now.
"It's okay if yer rusty," Hiori says. He's still taking Rin's word for it, assuming he can skate. Rin's not sure if it's to spare his dignity, or if Hiori just genuinely believes him. "I'll help ya."
"I don't need help," Rin mutters, rather petulantly. This is the worst thing to ever happen to him. If anyone else spots them, he'll dig a hole into the ice with the skates' blades and crawl inside forever.
"Don't treat it like walkin'. Bend yer knees a little," Hiori instructs, ignoring him. When Rin doesn't immediately comply, he loosens his hold, and the panic that sets in has him kicking into action immediately. Hiori's smile widens. "Good. Come on. I'll bring ya around one round."
"What?" Rin asks, but he doesn't get much longer to question it before Hiori begins dragging him.
It's horrible at first. Everything feels unsteady and unbalanced, all of Rin's weight held up by measly metal plates and Hiori's hands. He stares at the ice warily, watching their skates cut lines through it, until Hiori tells him to keep his eyes ahead.
Instead, he finds himself looking at Hiori's face. Hiori isn't looking at him, for he's keeping his eyes over his shoulder to make sure they don't crash into anyone, but that makes it easier for Rin to stare unabashedly. He watches the quiet concentration etched in Hiori's features, his crystal gaze sharp and focused, his delicate nose and lips against his pale features…
He really is like the winter, Rin thinks.
They do one loop around the rink, as Hiori said. Rin isn't sure if anyone saw them. He was too busy looking at—
"Okay!" Hiori says cheerfully. "Now, I'm gonna let go!"
Wait. Huh?!
"Don't you dare," Rin blurts out before he can stop himself. He twists his arm, grabbing for Hiori's wrists on his own accord, and Hiori lets out a delighted laugh.
"I thought ya said ya could skate?"
"I never said that! I just said that I've been skating."
"I know." Hiori rearranges their limbs so that he's facing forward and just holding onto one of Rin's hands instead. It makes him wobble a bit, but he ultimately doesn't lose his balance. Hah. Never let it be said that Rin isn't a fast learner. "I could tell just by the way ya dressed up today."
Rin squints, looking down at himself. What the hell is wrong with his outfit?
"Your pants don't allow for much mobility. Everyone else is wearing more flexible clothing," Hiori explains.
Oh. Rin didn't even think that was a concern.
"Whatever," he sighs. They're skating another loop around the rink now. To his surprise, his movements have grown a lot more natural. He didn't even realise it, too busy arguing with Hiori.
What he also didn't realise, at least not until now, is that they're holding hands.
He stiffens, grip tightening ever so slightly around long fingers, but Hiori either doesn't notice it or pays it no mind, continuing, "It snows pretty heavily where I live. Ya can't really play football when there's so much ice around, but I liked the excuse. I'd go out skatin' instead and say I was trainin' my mobility."
Rin takes a moment to reply. "It shows."
"Hm? What does?"
"Your mobility." He can't help the flush on his cheeks, but he'll put the blame on the cold. "In your passes and such. It's… decent."
A few seconds of silence pass. Rin doesn't dare to look at Hiori. He's already wasted so much time today just being here, and now he's wasting his dignity? Maybe he really should've stayed home.
Before he can agonise over it even further, Hiori tosses his head back, twinkling laughter spilling from his lips. Rin whips his head back up, stunned, and for a split second, finds his attention completely captivated.
Not by the stinging cold on his skin or the stiffness in his joints or even the people around them, laughing and making so much noise. No, Rin's world zeroes in on this tiny, insignificant moment, of the apples of Hiori's cheeks and the crinkle by his eyes and the sound of his sweet laughter.
Rin may think of Hiori as a winter morning, icy and sharp, but in this moment, with Hiori's hand in his, this is the warmest he's ever felt.
"Oh, shit," Hiori says, breaking him out of his stupour. "Rin-kun, watch out!"
Rin turns his eyes back forward and promptly crashes into the wall.
His hold on Hiori's hand finally lets go as he slips, dropping to the ground with a groan. A sharp pain rattles his bones. Disorientated, he rubs his head, waiting for his view to stop spinning.
"Rin-kun? Are ya okay?"
Rin blinks, his vision clearing up. He sees Hiori kneeling in front of him, one hand hovering in the air, and way, way too close.
Rin gulps, leaning back a little. But still, he can see every fleck of blue in Hiori's eyes and map out the exact shape of his lips. His heart thunders in his chest even as Hiori stands up, offering him a hand to get him back on his feet.
"This is why I told ya to keep yer eyes ahead," Hiori snorts.
Rin's cheeks burn harder. "Quiet, Snowflake."
Hiori just smiles again. There's a pleased look in his eyes, though Rin can't quite figure out why.
"On the bright side," he says, once again ignoring Rin's words, "look! Yer skating just by yerself!"
Huh. Indeed, Rin isn't holding onto anything anymore, but he's moving, practically gliding across the ice. He huffs. It feels stupid to celebrate such a minor achievement, though he will admit, a bit of pride swells in his chest. Even more so when Hiori beams, as if he's just as proud of Rin himself.
They continue skating together, this time without any more mishaps. The other Blue Lock boys are still causing chaos—Rin spots Shidou trying to carry Nanase as they skate, and also sees Nagi still falling all over, with Barou barking at him to get up and stop blocking the way.
But even amidst everyone, Rin is satisfied to stay in his little corner, with Hiori humming peacefully by his side. His presence, as Rin has come to realise, is much more bearable than the rest.
Perhaps ice skating isn't so bad after all.