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Coldfront was Engie’s least favorite place. He didn’t like the cold, never had. Oh sure, he put up with it – it was his job, after all. But that didn’t mean he had to like it.
He took a deep breath, noting how the frosty air burned his lungs from the inside, pushing whatever warmth had resided there into the air and causing steam to rise up. He watched it dissipate, far too quickly for his liking, and asked himself for the hundredth time what in the Sam Hill he was doing out here.
“Are you ready?”
Engie turned to see Spy, still immaculately dressed in his mask and designer pinstripe suit, but wearing a thick dark coat and a matching scarf and glove set.
Ah yes. There was the reason he was here.
How he’d let Spy talk him into this, he may never know. Here they both stood, all bundled up, several inches of snow crunching beneath their boots as they walked to the small lake that was situated just outside their base. Engie still found it difficult to breathe in such low temperatures, despite having been outside for a while now, and he constantly sniffed to deal with his running nose. He glanced over at Spy, who seemed to be making his way through the snow with ease, his familiar gait still present. Dell, for his part, felt like he was trudging along, lifting up his feet comically high just to be able to move forward.
They finally arrived at the lake, well frozen over, and Spy laid down the parcel he had been carrying. He produced two pairs of ice skates, and handed one to Dell, who took them, hesitatingly. He’d only been ice skating once before in his life, as a kid at a rink his father took him to. He hadn’t done so well, feeling as wobbly as a newborn colt as he’d made his way across the ice. The other kids had glided along, getting the hang of it right off the bat, but young Dell had struggled. He had felt ashamed of himself – here he was, the smartest kid in school, and he could barely make one lap around the rink while his peers had no trouble at all. He’d gone around a few more times, then pretended to twist his ankle as an excuse to sit out the rest of the afternoon, sulking on a bench. He’d never gone ice skating again.
Until now.
The lengths to which Engie was willing to go just to please his partner were nearly limitless, and this was proof. Spy had regaled him with childhood tales of sledding and ice skating, of making sculptures out of snow and skiing from one Alpine village to another. He had made it sound so idyllic, so charming, that Dell had started to reconsider his whole opinion on the season. After all, he was an adult, now, an accomplished man with eleven PhD’s under his belt. Maybe it was time to overcome that years-old shame of failing at something, and give it another shot.
Of course, he was now debating whether or not that had been a good idea. He fumbled with taking off his boots, and struggled even more to put on the ice skates, falling over not once, but twice, into the snow. Spy had patiently helped him up both times, and Dell could see him trying to hide a smile each time he extended his hand to help him up.
“Balance is required for this sport, you know,” Spy said after the second time, cheekily. Dell shot a glare his way, but neither of them were completely serious. Humor played a big part in their relationship, and Engie had to admit that Spy did have a point.
Dell finally got the skates strapped on, and got to his feet. That newborn colt feeling immediately came back to him, but he found that making his way to the lake wasn’t that bad – the blade of the skates sunk into the snow underfoot, creating a more or less even surface for him to walk on. He actually allowed himself a small smile. Heck, maybe this wouldn’t be so bad, after all.
He let Spy go first, effortlessly stepping out onto the frozen surface with one foot, and pushing himself forward with the other. He glided silently across the ice, just as gracefully as he carried himself on land. Dell paused for a moment, enjoying the sight of his beloved making his way, smooth as butter, across the lake. Spy turned, almost pirouetting, and skated his way back to Dell. He wordlessly held out his hand, and Dell took it.
Well, here goes nothing.
Engie gingerly stepped out onto the ice, and immediately began to slip. He grasped onto Spy, knowing that Spy would either somehow miraculously keep them both upright, or that he was going to bring his lover crashing down with him. Fortunately, Spy managed to keep his balance and prevent Dell from falling, however undignified he may have looked in the process. But for his Dell, he was willing to do it.
“Keep your ankles straight, mon couer,” he instructed. Dell struggled to find his feet, and to follow Spy’s advice. Easier said than done. He took a step forward, and again, had to cling to Spy to keep from falling. Spy stifled a sigh.
“Do not pick up your feet to take a step. Simply slide one foot forward while pushing from behind with the other. You lessen the chance of falling, this way.”
Dell did as he was told, still managing to cling to Spy as he did so. Sure enough, it did get a little easier, but he was having the dangedest time preventing his ankles from flopping side to side. A few halting glides towards the center of the lake, and he found himself falling again. He gripped Spy’s hand tightly with the Gunslinger, while pinwheeling wildly with his other hand in an attempt to stay upright.
Somehow, he righted himself, then glanced over at Spy, embarrassed. Spy was staring at him, a confused expression on his face.
“How is it that you can ride a bucking mechanical bull, but cannot stay upright in ice skates?”
Dell flushed. “It’s just different, all right? Like to see you riding a bull, see how it is …” he muttered. He let go of Spy’s hand, determined to move forward and make progress on his own.
Spy shook his head as he went gliding after his partner. “Dell, you know I would die.”
“Well, what do you think I’m doin’ out here? In case you haven’t noticed, this ain’t exactly comin’ easy.”
Spy skated ahead of Engie, and expertly turned to face him. Dell stopped, managing to not fall in the process. Spy’s expression was soft, and full of patience.
“Dell. I know you have come out here for me. But perhaps you can find some reasons for yourself, hm? You are already improving in the short time we have been here. Your balance will come with time and practice. And it is exquisite out here,” he continued, gesturing around with his arm at the nature around them. “Enjoy the view.” He once again took Dell’s hand in his. “And the company.”
Engie allowed himself to look around, really take a good look, for the first time since they’d arrived. Several inches of soft, powdery snow covered the landscape. The fir trees looked as though they’d been frosted with icing, and the lake itself glistened in the light of the afternoon sun. It was still, with no wind, and perfectly quiet – a rare luxury, given what they did for a living.
It really was beautiful.
Engie allowed Spy to gently coax him forward, and the two spent the next hour making their way around the lake again and again. Just as Spy predicted, Engie did get better. The bitter memories of sitting on that bench at the ice rink began to fade, replaced by warm ones that were being made in the present moment. Once Dell felt he’d really gotten the hang of it, he and Spy skated, hand in hand, in companionable silence, just enjoying the winter sights around them, and each other’s presence. Dell couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. Spy looked over, one eyebrow raised.
“What is so funny?”
Dell glided to a slow stop, and turned to fully look at Spy.
“You know, I still don’t know how you talked me into this.”
Spy frowned. Things had been going so well – what could Engie possibly mean? But then the Texan continued.
“But I’m sure glad you did.”
Engie leaned forward, placing a peck on Spy’s covered cheek. He could see the rogue blushing, even from underneath the balaclava. Before Spy could say anything in reply, Engie began to skate on, with Spy following right behind, catching up quickly and grasping Dell’s hand. Suddenly, Engie thought of a way he could repay Spy for the wonderful day.
His mind was already racing with plans to construct a mechanical bull.