Hearts on Ice

Their Routine Again.

“I thought you said no training?!” Lukas grabbed onto Sam's shirt, the teammate who had told them there was no training today, pulling him slightly forward. There was no real anger behind it but he had to let off some steam.

“You look funny when you're mad” he said, completely unbothered.

But Lukas was playing. He clenched his fists but released him immediately like it didn't matter, but it did…everything did.

Viktor stood in the corner, along with other players, his stick resting loosely on his shoulder as his eyes wandered around…waiting for the training with the coach and he looked calm, like he wasn't fully there yet. Lukas looked at him a little too long and looked away, skating away from him as though not to avoid suspicion and questions. The distance was to keep things normal….at least try.

The rink was suddenly alive. The air wrapped around them, cold and thin, the blades against the ice sounded like music along with the quiet chatter. This was the rink when the capacity was at its brim. It was perfect for training but terrible for idleness and Lukas hated idleness.

“Now boys! We'll be playing in twos.” The coach's voice tore through the quiet of the rink. “Now, go on! Pick your partner!”

Everyone hurried to pick their partners.Movement everywhere, voices rising, players calling out to each other, pairing up quickly like it was instinct. Everyone found someone…except…

Lukas noticed before he could stop himself.

Viktor.

Still standing there, alone. Not picked, not calling out, just… waiting as he played with his stick.

“Reiner! Over here—”

“Play with me—”

“Captain!” Lukas was covered in people who he wanted nothing to do with.

He ignored it all and skated over to Viktor, with no hesitation. He stopped right in front of him, making Viktor look up slightly and bow. He put his hands around the back of Viktor's neck as if claiming him.

“I'll take him.”

Viktor didn’t move or react immediately, but Lukas felt it. The slight tension in his shoulders, the way he went still for just a second before falling into step beside him…he felt it all but chose to ignore.

Slowly, the voices in the rink died down. The rink was huge. Enough for 50 grouped members to go on at once, not getting in the way of the other players.

“Don't you think we shouldn't train together?” Viktor muttered low, barely audible as they skated into position.

“None of these members play as good as you.” He responded flatly and skated ahead. “You said we'd meet at the top, yeah?” He laughed. “This is your chance to meet me at the top.”

Viktor boiled, his ears rang and his hands tightened around the hockey stick as he moved into position “Okay Reiner. Let's play!” And just like that, training started.

It started fast. There was no warming up, no easing into it…just fast movement, sharp turns, quick passes and close misses. They moved like they knew each other too well…like they had played together—anticipating, reacting, adjusting without needing words.

Lukas pushed harder, faster…like he had something to prove to prove to not just Viktor, but himself and Viktor matched him. He never fell behind and not once did he hesitate.

“Focus,” Viktor muttered as Lukas cut past him.

“I am.”

The response came just as quickly as he moved. The puck slid between them, and for a split second, they both rushed for it at the same time. Their shoulders collided lightly before separating again but neither of them stopped…they had to prove to each other. From the sidelines, the coach watched…his arms folded and eyes narrowing down to them. He wasn’t watching the training anymore..he was watching just them.

Viktor moved again, quicker this time… still on his feet, skating backward before pivoting cleanly and pushing forward then his blade slipped. It wasn’t dramatic or dangerous. Just a shift in balance… like a misstep and he went down. The sound was soft but it tore through everything.

Lukas reacted instantly, no thought, no restraint…no pause. Just pure concern. He dropped his stick and skated straight to him, crouching down almost immediately.

“Are you okay?”

The words came out louder than he intended..closer and more urgent. Viktor blinked up at him, slightly startled.

“…I’m fine.”

But Lukas didn’t move or pull back. His hand hovered just slightly over Viktor’s arm before finally gripping it, helping him up with more force than necessary. Their faces ended up too close to each other…too close for something that was supposed to be nothing and for a second, they just stood like that.

Then Lukas let go quickly, stepping back like he’d just remembered where they were and what they were doing.

“Watch your footing,” he muttered, turning away and Viktor responded with a simple

“Hmm”

Across the rink, the coach’s gaze didn’t shift…his eyes were still locked on them both.

“Focus!” Lukas yelled even louder and like that, training continued but something had changed.

By the time it ended, the rink had slowly emptied out…the voices faded and footsteps disappeared until it was just them. Lukas leaned against the barrier, catching his breath, eyes fixed on nothing. Then, he heard the sound of blades approaching before he saw him…Viktor stopped right in front of him, close again. Neither of them spoke, until–

“You didn't have to do that, you know?”

Lukas frowned slightly, “Do what?”

“Rush in like that…” silence followed.

Lukas exhaled, “you fell.” He responded simply.

Viktor maintained eye contact and stepped just a little closer. Lukas didn't move or stop him and just like that, the space between them disappeared naturally. Viktor leaned in, Lukas could have stopped him or resisted but he didn't and their lips met…soft and simple almost like they hadn't spent days pretending they didn't exist. Lukas froze just enough to feel it before he pulled by his waist. He grabbed onto him like he'd disappear in any moment and the kiss deepened, like they had been holding on for too long.

Then they heard it. Footsteps. They broke apart immediately, awkwardly and the door creaked open. The coach stood there, staring at them both, his eyes moved from one to the other.

“Training is over.” He finally spoke. “Leave.” And they both walked out.