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“Your first date and you choose this place? Maybe I taught you guys something about good taste after all,” Alix says, tightening her shoelaces. Her skates look much nicer than the old, brown, four-wheeled skates the rink had given them, but skates were skates as far as Marc was concerned.
He looks over to Nath. His boyfriend seems to only be half-listening, watching the cheap disco balls spatter multi-coloured lights over the rink, where pretty much everyone but tired moms and too-small kids are gliding along the oval path.
Did it count as a date since Alix was there? Did they need to do something official to count it as a date? From what Marc had read, most dates seemed to involve kissing, but the skating rink didn't really feel like the kind of place where people went to eat face. "I don't know," Marc says. "It was Nath's idea."
"Yeah, an idea that he probably got from me." Alix crosses her arms smugly. "Goes to show you don't have to play the game to be a hell of a coach."
"You? Teaching something about dates? Impossible." Nath waddles past her on his skates like a puffed penguin. "Jesus, how do you walk in these things?"
"You don’t walk, dumbass, you skate. Which is what your whole date is about. You guys coming or what?”
Marc can feel his knees locking up. “Maybe I should just sit here,” he starts, quietly. “Watch you two skate.”
Nath stops, slowly rolling his way back to Marc's table. “That doesn’t seem like much of a date at all,” he says, sitting down next to him. "What is it?"
"It's stupid."
Nath places a hand over his. "Not to me."
“Well…" Marc hesitates. "I've never skated before. What if I fall and break my arm or something? Alix keeps telling us all those stories of guys that get injured on the rink. Like that one girl who fell over the half-wall and slammed her head into the table, or the guy that twisted his leg really badly...” his ankle hurt just thinking about it.
"Popped right out of his joint," Alix adds.
Nath shoots her a stern look. "You're not helping."
"It's just…it's a little scary." Marc could easily visualize himself in any of those situations, lanky limbs sprawled across the skating rink floor in a tragic fall, all his bones ruthlessly shattered by the surging sea of skaters as their wheels catch and tear into chunks of his hair, sending them all crashing, and his poor, broken, bald body trapped at the bottom of a pile of injured skaters. Man, that would be a nightmare.
Alix sighs, moving away from the rink’s entrance and back to his side. “Marc, I know you. You’re super careful about being safe. The only people who get injured are reckless dumbasses who don't look where they're going. You’ll be fine.”
"Hey." Nath smiles gently at him, the kind of smile that doesn’t shine with the glare of a thousand beaming suns and radiates the world with its shine, but the soft smile that barely peeks, like a dim flashlight under blanket covers. A warmth that doesn’t announce itself to the world, but doesn’t need to.
“I’ll hold your hand the whole time,” Nath assures. “I’m not a pro skater like Alix, but I can at least keep you from falling over.”
Marc doesn’t need the light of the sun to melt in Nath’s smile or feel the heat rising to his face. “Thanks,” he murmurs, squeezing his boyfriend’s hand.
"Hold my hand tight," Nath instructs, gripping the guide rail as he helps Marc to his feet.
"Oh, god." Marc's knees are locked together but his feet are sliding in different directions, slowly pulling him into the splits. "Oh, no!"
"I've got you, I've got you." Nath digs his brakes in, anchoring in place.
"It's easier once you're actually skating, and not just standing there," Alix mentions, easily gliding past. "See you on the rink."
"Don't let go," Marc begs, staring into Nath's eyes. "I can't do this without you so please don't let go."
Nath holds his hands tight. "Never."
And then Nath is pulling him into the rink, under the sea of disco lights. Marc keeps a knuckle-white grip, struggling for balance as they start to merge into the crowd.
"I'm gonna fall. I'm gonna fall. Nath, Nath help-"
"Bend your knees," Nath says. "Don't panic. Keep your posture up-don't-stop leaning back!"
"I'm not trying to lean back!" Marc pulls himself back upright with Nath's arm. Nath wobbles, trying to keep balance for both of them. Marc can see the other skaters starting to swerve away, giving them a wider berth.
"Just follow my lead," Nath says, helping him back into balance. "Okay?"
"Oh, god."
"Push off with your left foot. Now your right foot. Just like that."
Marc follows his instructions, eyes glued to his feet, heart pounding hard and fast to the rhythm of the song soaring overhead.
"Keep going. You're getting the hang of it."
Slowly, the stumbling starts to feel more like gliding. The nerves in his bones start to feel more like thrill. Nath keeps his hand firm, no longer supporting, but guiding.
"I think I've got it." Marc looks up. The wind blows past his face, cool and exciting. A laugh escapes his lips, quickly lost behind him at the speed. "I'm skating!"
Nath's eyes are shining. "You are!"
He's doing this. They're doing this. Marc shifts his grip to interlock their fingers. They move together, shifting balance and weight as though they were one body. When Nath turns into the tight inner circle of the rink, Marc locks his grip and swings with his momentum, the wind whistling in his ears.
"Well, look who's a fast learner," Alix calls as she zooms past, easily skating backwards through the crowd.
"You're not supposed to do that," Nath calls, but she's already darted away, a shock of pink lightning around the rink.
"How is she going backwards?"
"She's gonna injure herself," Nath comments, shaking his head. He pulls Marc a little closer. "My legs are getting tired."
"Really? I'm feeling great." More than great. Incredible.
Nath points over to some foam-lined wooden platforms on the far corners of the rink, where a few people are sitting. "I'm going over there. Do you want to join me or keep skating?"
"I want to try going for a bit longer," Marc says, unlinking their hands. "I'll join you in a bit."
Nath makes his way away towards the seats, swerving around a small five-year old on the outskirts of the crowd as he leaves.
Skating without Nath is scarier. Still, Marc can't help but get lost in the flow of speed, the weightlessness of movement. Is this how Reverser had felt, flying across Paris with the wind whipping across his face?
He catches a glimpse of Nathaniel out of the corner of his eye, sitting on one of the platforms, watching. He blows a kiss in his direction when he notices Marc looking back at him.
"You looked to be enjoying yourself," Nath says, once Marc eventually skates his way over.
"It's fun." Marc wobbles to an unsteady stop, plonking down next to his boyfriend.
"You looked like a natural out there."
Marc lets out a breathless laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. "Did I?"
"You sure you've never skated before?"
"I think I went to the ice rink once when I was like, nine." Marc fans his face. "Maybe we do that for another date. It's probably colder there."
"Gosh, yeah." Nath pushes away the strands of red hair that have started to stick to his sweaty face and neck.
Marc waits to catch his breath, watching some of the other people skating. There's that five-year old kid again, arms flailing as he catches the turn off-balance and falls forward with a thump on the ground.
Nath snorts.
"Nath," Marc chides.
"What?"
"That's mean."
"But it's funny, though."
Marc pouts at his boyfriend.
"Look, he's getting up, he's fine. Kids fall all the time."
"I guess." Marc rests his chin in his hands. "How long is Alix gonna keep skating for?"
"As long as we let her." Nath sighs, looking up at the disco ball. "I don't know how she does it. Skating's actually a bit of a workout."
"Eh, it's pretty easy."
Nath huffs. "Alright, Mister Athlete. I see how it is."
"What kind of a name is 'Mister Athlete'?"
"A name for someone who says skating is easy after his first try. I'm jealous."
"Well, now I need a nickname for you. Gotta make it equal."
"Go for it."
"Hm…Mister Sleepy."
"Oh, that's just rude."
"Eepy boy." Marc pokes him in the ribs. "Master of the naps."
Nath lays down on the wooden platform, stretching. "Y'know, it's actually quite comfy right here. I could take a quick fifteen."
"It's not that comfortable." Marc shakes his head. "You're joking."
"You underestimate my 'Master of naps' title, then." Nath grins impishly. "I could do it."
"With all the noise? And the disco ball?"
"Look." Nath closes his eyes. "I'm sleeping."
Marc stifles a snort.
"I'm snoring."
"Sure."
"I need a kiss from a handsome prince to wake me from my slumber." Nath cracks an eye open, biting his lip in an exaggerated smolder.
"Is this your way of trying to have our first kiss?"
"A big ol smoochy. Sloppy style."
"Alright, that's enough, you dork." Marc rolls his eyes. "If you're gonna sleep then I'll just go back to skating."
"Haha Marc noo, don't leave me," Nath clings to his arm as he starts to get up. "You're so cute don't leave me here."
"Then come with me!" Marc grabs Nath's other hand, digging his brakes into the floor to pull his boyfriend up.
Nath resists for just a moment before he lets Marc drag him back into the rink, hands connecting like they've done this forever.
Alix skates to their side, grinning. "Told you he'd get the hang of it. He's already doing better than you."
"Yeah, yeah." Nath rolls his eyes.
"Hey, Marc."
"Hm?"
"I dare you to skate backwards."
"Ha! No way." Marc brushes her off. "I like being not-injured, thanks."
Alix sticks out her tongue. "C'mon, it's not as hard as everyone says." She turns on one heel, demonstrating. "You just gotta do this. Go all 'reverse'."
"Ooo, she said the buzzword," Nath teases.
"Psh, come on," Marc huffs. Then, quieter: "Do you really think I could do it?"
"With how you picked up skating? I wouldn't be surprised," Nath says. Alix nods.
Their honest faces make Marc go red. It's a little embarrassing that they believe so much more in him than he does in himself.
"I don't wanna cause an accident in the rink," he starts.
"We'll go off to the side," Alix assures. "Along the wall."
"…I'll try."
Marc doesn't let go of Nath's hand as they separate from the central rink.
"Now you know how you've been figuring out how to go forwards?" Nath says, moving to stand in front of him.
"Yeah?"
"You just do that but opposite."
"That's not very helpful."
"I'm not here to be helpful, I'm here to hold your hand and look cute."
"I'm here to be helpful," Alix says, standing behind Marc. "So. Put your feet in a 'V' position, toes together. Nath is gonna hold you so you don't have to worry about slipping."
"Really?"
"I promised you I wouldn't let go, didn't I?" Nath says, smiling.
His face feels warm all the way to the tips of his ears. "Yeah. You did."
"Push out to gain speed, keeping your toes pointed in," Alix continues. "Make sure to check over your shoulder so you don't run into anything, but never lean back. That's the number one way to fall on your ass. You ready?"
Marc hesitates. "…No?"
Alix gives him a hearty clap on the shoulder. "You'll figure it out. I'll stand over there so you can't roll over me. Just scream if you need help."
"Can I start screaming now?"
"Nah. You'll be fine." Alix is already skating away.
Nath squeezes his hands. "What is it?"
"My brain is already guessing hospital bill numbers."
"I know you're capable. Just be confident in yourself."
"I am incredibly confident that I'm about to injure myself."
Nath shakes his head, smiling. "I'll keep you steady. And if we both somehow screw up and you do get injured, I promise I'll kiss it better, okay?"
Marc gives a little huff and looks away so Nath can't see the red flush in his cheeks. "How do you keep doing that?"
"Hm?"
"Being all…I don't know, sweet and stuff."
Nath chuckles at that. "I've got someone that I like being sweet to."
"You're doing it again."
"You can't stop me." Nath sticks out his tongue. "You signed the boyfriend contract."
Marc would bury his face in his hands if Nath wasn't holding them so tightly. "Guess so."
"Ok, like Alix said." Nath starts to slowly push forward, letting Marc roll backwards.
Carefully, Marc pushes out with his heel, shifting his weight to his other foot. Then the other. His foot lands wrong and he stumbles, but Nath is quick to dig in his brakes and pull them to a stop.
"That was good," Nath says. "Try again."
"I think I get it now," Marc says, pushing off. "You were right, it kind of is like skating forward but…opposite."
"Right?" Nath laughs. "I never could get the hang of it. Honestly, I'm impressed that you're picking it up so quickly. Oh, the wall's coming up, we gotta slow."
Marc gives a soft grunt as his back hits the wall. His boyfriend gently bumps into him. Marc is all too aware of Nath's chest pressed against his, faces so close that their noses would knock together if either of them were to turn.
He thought he'd felt hot all over before. Now is an entirely different matter.
"Should we go again?" Nath asks, eyes glittering.
"Yeah," Marc responds, breathless. He's not sure when the breath left his lungs.
Nath circles them around so Marc's facing backwards again. "You push," he says. "I'll hold on to you."
Marc pushes, feeling the momentum pulling him backwards. He's starting to get a feel for the rhythm now, enough that his feet move more instinctively, letting his attention focus more on Nath in front of him, staring into each other's eyes, like they're floating in a dream.
Nath glances over his shoulder and his smile drops. "OH SHIT! THE KID!"
Marc looks back. The five-year old! The kid looks up at him and easily swerves away.
"Thank goodness," Marc starts.
Until he realizes he's leaning backwards.
Falling.
Shit.
"Don't lean bACK!" Nath shrieks as his skate collides with Marc's leg.
Marc feels his feet leave the ground. He clings to Nath, the two of them falling, their terrified eyes meeting, closer-
Marc barely registers hitting the floor before Nath's face collides with his. Hard.
"Agh!" Marc's head slams against the wood, white pain flashing in his vision.
"Shit!" Nath scrambles off him, one hand over his mouth. "Marc?"
Alix is by their sides in an instant. "Are you okay? Is anything broken?"
"Augh, god." Marc cracks one eye open. "I taste blood. In my mouth."
"Me too." Nath winces, pulling his hand away to look at it. His bottom lip looks split. "We should…we should get off the rink."
"Yeah. I need to sit down," Marc says. The inside of his cheek stings where he bit down by accident, the taste of copper painful on his tongue.
"Okay. Okay, I'm gonna get ice for you two." Alix guides them back to the tables, thrusting a few napkins into their hands before zooming away. "Stay there!"
Marc lets his head drop on Nath's shoulder, pressing the napkin to his mouth to soak up the blood. "That was fun for…a bit. Until we fell."
"I should have been paying more attention."
"It's okay." Marc rubs his scraped elbow. "Looks like it was just some minor scrapes, so that's good."
"Yeah." Nath pauses. "Sorry for crashing into your face with…my face."
Marc chuckles at that. "I think my teeth got your lip."
"Mhm." Nath wraps an arm around Marc's shoulders. "Come to think of it…did we kiss?"
Marc blinks. "Huh?"
"Our lips met when we fell. Does that count?"
Marc can't help it. He starts laughing.
"Marc?"
"If that counts," Marc shakes his head, giggling through his mouthful of blood and napkin. "That's a really shitty first kiss."
Nath gives a little snort. "That's fair."
"It's okay." Marc snuggles closer to his boyfriend. "You can make it up to me later."
"Huh?"
"You said if I got injured, you'd kiss it better, right?" Marc points to his mouth. "I am very injured."
"You got injured in a few places," Nath notes, lifting Marc's arm. "Guess I'd better get started right away." He kisses the scrape on Marc's elbow. "Where else?"
Oh. He's really doing this. Marc's heart skips a beat. "The…the back of my head."
Nath leans behind him, burying his nose in Marc's curls. "Here?" He murmurs against the skin.
Marc's face feels like it's burning. "Yeah."
Nath pulls back. "Any other places?"
Marc shakes his head, pulling the napkin away from his mouth. "Just one."
Nath leans forward gently. Softly. Marc follows his lead. He can feel Nath's hot breath against his face. He lets himself fall against Nath's lips, the taste of sweat and blood shared between them. He tastes like reality. He feels like a dream. Marc can't imagine waking up.
When he slowly pulls away, Nath smiles. "Does it feel better now?"
Marc can only feel the buzz in his stomach and the flush in his face. "Yeah."
Guess this was a pretty good date after all.