Hearts on Ice

Klaire.

The morning sun swept in softer than expected…slow and calm…just warm light slipping through the curtains and settling across the room as it had always belonged there and Lukas woke up first.

He still wasn't used to waking up without his nightmare. Dreams that tormented him for years…vanished like they never existed. He lay on the bed, remaining still…eyes fixed on nothing in particular, like half of his mind was here and the other half had wandered off. He remained lost in thought until he felt his, weight, on his chest breathing softly.

Viktor.

He lay there, arms thrown lazily across Lukas's chest and his breathing slow and steady like he had nowhere else to be. His face turned slightly into the pillow and for once, Lukas thought of nothing else. Not training, the coach or the ice. He looked at Viktor like a memory he didn't want to fade away…like he was his.

“You could stare a hole into my head” Viktor's voice came out, low and rough from hours of uninterrupted sleep. He stretched slightly, kicking Lukas in the foot.

“And you talk too much,” Lukas snapped back, ignoring his attempt to annoy him.

Viktor shifted slightly, stretching properly before pushing himself up just enough to look at Lukas and a slight pause followed. Not awkward, just full.

“I'll be going back today” Viktor said finally,

Lukas frowned, “To?”

“My apartment, Lukas…”

“Oh.”

Lukas didn't speak anymore…he just looked away.

Viktor sighed, “I can't keep staying here every day…” Viktor added, “I'll feel too much…”

“Too much?” Lukas added once and nodded, “Fine.” His response was too simple and vague…like he wanted to end the conversation quickly.

“I'll still come weekends though…” he added even quicker, “and sometimes after training–” Lukas cut him off as he sat up.

“You don't have to explain anything.”

“I'm not explaining”

“You are.”

Viktor huffed softly, shaking his head softly, “You're very annoying in the morning.”

“And you're still here.” and that somehow shut Viktor up. For a second, he laughed under his breath before he got off the bed.

“I am…”

The mood wasn't ruined but it shifted like a barrier was suddenly dropped between them and they left for school.

The walk to school was normal…to an extent. They walked side by side, close…but not touching and Viktor talked more than usual. About pointless things, random things, a bug.. music, a building…everything and Lukas listened. He didn't respond much but he didn't ignore him either. It felt easy…too easy.

When they got to the gate, noise filled the air. Students everywhere, noise and chaos, conversations blending with each other. Viktor slowed down slightly…just enough and smiled.

“I'll be heading to my class now…”

Lukas nodded and a pause followed, where none of them moved, just maintaining eye contact.

“So…see you later?” Viktor asked

“Obviously,” Lukas responded flatly as he watched Viktor walk in then he turned in the opposite direction and walked away until he heard,

“Reiner?” The voice was soft and welcoming. New. He paused to look at her and she stood there like she had been there the whole time. Her face didn't ring even the slightest bells but she looked like someone who wanted to be recognized.

“Yes.” He answered flatly. She stepped closer, but not too close.

“I've seen you around…” she continued calmly, “you're very hard to miss.”

Lukas ignored her. He didn't respond immediately and she smiled softly…not forced or wide.

“I'm Klaire…”

“Okay.”

“Is that all I get?” She asked as he moved closer. Lukas stood still hoping it would end soon.

“You introduced yourself.”

“And you're not going to introduce yourself back?”

Lukas tilted his head softly, “You already know who I am.”

Another smile slid across her face, “I like that…”

“Like what?” Lukas asked, genuinely confused.

“How do you not try”

Before Lukas could react, she closed the gap totally and reached out, her fingers brushed against his arm casually…and Lukas…didn't move. To him, it meant nothing but across the hallway, Viktor saw it. He had forgotten a notepad with Lukas and came out of the class to pick it up…he didn't know why he stayed so long, he didn't know how to feel but he saw every bit of it. Her hand on Lukas and how he didn't stop her and acted like it was nothing.

Something broke in Viktor, he didn't go closer or interrupt, he just stood on the side, watching.

“You don't talk too much?” Klaire said, still resting her hands lightly against his arm.

“No.”

“That's fine…I can talk for both of us.”

Lukas looked at her briefly and turned away, “I can tell.” And that made her laugh again.

“You're interesting.”

Lukas still didn't reply or react but Viktor, who was boiling in the corner, did. He looked away before they could notice him and he walked past them…not stopping or slowing down but as he passed, his eyes flickered towards Lukas and this time, Lukas saw it. The look…it wasn't soft or teasing, it was cold. Lukas didn't understand immediately and by the time he turned back, Viktor was already gone.

Klaire tilted her head a bit and followed his gaze.

“Friend of yours?” She asked but Lukas didn't answer. Even he didn't know what they were.