Work Text:
Ed had maybe underestimated Stede’s ability to balance on thin metal blades and possibly overestimated his own. Which is why he was sitting on a bench next to the ice skating rink with his leg propped up and a heating pad on his knee.
It really wasn’t Stede’s fault for grabbing onto Ed for balance, causing them both to take a tumble. It definitely wasn’t Stede’s fault that they had landed in such a way that Ed’s bad knee had screamed and absolutely refused to support his weight. That snotty kid had come out of nowhere and sideswiped Stede without warning.
Stede had said they could just go home, but they had only been at the rink for twenty minutes. Alma and Louis were only visiting for a few days, and ice skating was the one activity Alma had insisted upon. So, after Ed had gotten settled on the bench, he waved Stede off, telling him he’d be just fine, and encouraging him to go spend time with the kids before they went back to Mary and Doug’s.
“I got you some hot chocolate, Ed.” Louis stood next to him holding a cup of cocoa in each hand, “I thought you might be getting cold just sitting here.”
“Thanks, Lou,” he took the cup and swallowed a mouthful, “Mmm perfect.”
Louis plopped down next to him on the bench. “I made sure they put a ton of extra marshmallows in it for you.”
“See? You get me, kid.” Ed leaned in conspiratorially and lowered his voice, “that’s why you’re my favorite. Shh, don’t tell your sister.” That got a smile out of Louis.
“I couldn’t get them to add any chocolate syrup though.”
“Eh. You win some, you lose some. Appreciate you trying though. So, you taking a break from skating or are you done for the night?”
“I’m done. Ice skating is really more Alma’s thing. I mean, it’s fun for a little while, but I’d rather be somewhere warm… with fewer people.”
“I hear ya. I’m freezing my ba–, uh, butt off here.”
“Ed,” Louis laughed, “you’re the one who decided to wear leather to the ice skating rink. We all tried to talk you out of it.”
“Sometimes sacrifices must be made. I regret nothing, kiddo.” He took another sip of the cocoa. “Those two are out there having their ‘Ice Princess’ moment with their little spins and whatever, so how about when we get home, we play a game, just the two of us? No sisters or dads allowed.”
“Except for you.”
“What about me?”
“You said ‘no dads allowed,’ but you’re my dad too.”
Ed swallowed the lump in his throat, and nodded, “How about ‘no sisters or Stedes’ allowed?”
“That sounds better, I guess.”
Ed was blinking back tears. He and Stede had been together for a couple of years, but it still pierced him right in the heart every time one of the kids called him “dad.”
Louis looked thoughtful, “I wanna play Hive.”
“Better start preparing your loser’s speech now because I’m gonna take your queen bee in like ten moves!”
Ed and Louis were still happily trash talking each other as the group headed home an hour later.