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The ice pikmin sparked more curiosity in Olimar compared to the other pikmin. Creatures that could sustain such a low body temperature were always interesting to him, especially considering they kept their frostiness constantly even when exposed to sunlight.
Olimar also noted their strange habits of observing the two captains, that being him and Louie. Whenever they were idle, the ice pikmin would glance quickly back and forth between the two and narrow their eyes, like they were trying to figure them out.
On one hand, Olimar loved any new behaviour the pikmin displayed. It was always intriguing to learn more about their traits and note them down in their biographies. But on the other hand, it was kind of unnerving - these small freezing plants staring directly at him and Louie with huge black eyes. No other pikmin type did this, so Olimar always wondered why it was them specifically.
A small insignificant part of him wondered if they knew about his feelings towards Louie. Although he hadn't outright done or said anything that would give him his true feelings (and Louie couldn't take a hint even if he did), Olimar couldn't deny the uplifting feeling in his stomach whenever Louie looked at him.
Louie was far from a model employee/explorer: he was lazy, unbothered and barely uttered a word. At first, Olimar didn't exactly like him. But over time, and a lot of misadventures the two had together, he had warmed up to him as Louie slowly began to reveal more about himself through gentle prods. Maybe Olimar had warmed up to him a little too much, it seemed.
Anyways, it was stupid. Olimar had known Louie for years - he could tell Louie didn't feel the same way. And the ice pikmin couldn't speak Hocotatian or understand him at all outside of the whistles: how would they know about his true feelings towards the other man?
Olimar tended to dwell on this too much, especially considering he was stood watching the ice pikmin twirl on a frozen lake of ice in such a mesmerising way. He and Louie, who was stood taller besides him, had finished up for the day on PNF-404.
Neither really felt the urge to leave the area, so they had decided to let the pikmin play around for a short while until night set in.
Well, Olimar had decided. Louie just kind of shrugged and went along with it, as he always did.
Olimar coughed. He could sense it was getting colder on this planet, even if he couldn't feel it through his spacesuit. He could see it through the way more and more places seemed to get frostier, and the pikmin that weren't ice shuddered whenever they weren't around a firestarter.
They must love this time of year, Olimar thought, idly watching two ice pikmin holding hands and spin rapidly in circles across the ice to the encouraging chirrups of the other pikmin.
Suddenly, two ice pikmin departed from the little dancing squad, one skating to Louie and the other skating to Olimar. They extended their tiny branch-like arms to the captains separately, as if urging them to take their hands.
Intrigued, Olimar was about to take his pikmin's hand when he saw Louie hesitating out of the corner of his eye.
"It's likely harmless, Louie," Olimar reassured him with a smile. Louie averted his gaze from the pikmin to the other captain. Olimar felt his heart becoming really light all of a sudden.
"Mm..alright," Louie responded in his low, subdued voice and turned back to the pikmin, taking its hand. Olimar followed suite, and took the small fingered stick that was the ice pikmin's hand.
Immediately the ice pikmin led them out onto the ice, much to his surprise. And apparently Louie's, from his out-of-character yell.
Olimar could feel his feet lose all grip, and his legs slid apart as he stood on the ice. Relying on the ice pikmin's hand for support, he straightened his legs as his eyes bulged out of their sockets. The icemin, sensing his distress, slowed its pace to steady the larger man.
This was...strange, to say the least. It was like skating with his family back on Hocotate, but without the skates and the only support was a smaller plant-like creature instead of the walls or his wife.
Eventually, Olimar came to a somewhat consistent rhythm as he skated besides the ice pikmin. The icemin was patient with him, leading him along gradually with small chirps.
The other ice pikmin, seemingly excited to see their leader indulging in their favourite hobby, chirruped and began following him at either side. This unusual behaviour reminded him of his kids in some way, except if his children were leading him instead of vice versa.
A loud thump down on the ice near him caused Olimar to flinch and turn his head towards the source. Louie was sitting with his legs spread out on the ice, presumably fallen, with the ice pikmin crowding him and attempting to help him up. Louie himself was unharmed and looked unbothered as he slid around on his ass.
Olimar couldn't suppress a snort as he watched this absurd scene. Louie averted his gaze Olimar's way as he probably heard his not-too-subtle laughter, and he raised his brows, the most expression Olimar had seen from him in a while. He would've felt bad, but it was too funny a scene not to giggle at.
Eventually the ice pikmin helped Louie back up (although it did take five of them: Louie shouldn't have had seconds this morning) and the two captains got back to ice-skating with the pikmin guiding them.
The way Olimar and his teammates glided so gracefully across the frozen area was almost calming in some strange otherworldly way, despite the fact he could fall any minute. Maybe the original residents of this planet had calming pastimes like this, too. What an intriguing thing to think about.
Olimar was violently pulled out of his thoughts by the pikmin holding his hand quickly swerving to the side and releasing its grip from him. Unable to stop, Olimar continued to slide across the ice, his stomach dropping as he realised he was heading straight for Louie.
Neither Louie nor Olimar was going very fast, but it still caused their helmets to collide together with the force of a tusked blowhog. Olimar flailed his arms out with a yelp, losing all balance that he had on the ice.
He made a vague attempt to rebalance himself, but ultimately he couldn't find a good grip on the ice. Over the span of a second or two, Olimar accepted his fate and plummeted down backwards, bracing for his helmet smashing by squeezing his eyes shut.
Until a pair of hands grasped onto his wrists.
Hesitantly, he opened his eyes and glanced over his chest to see Louie staring down at him, face glazed a pale pink and amber eyes wide. His golden hair was radiating in the setting sun, and the rugged yet somewhat soft peach fuzz on his face was highlighted in the sun.
In this light, he almost looked ethereal.
Not almost.
He looked ethereal.
Louie kept a firm grip on Olimar as he pulled him back up. As the smaller Hocotatian found his feet, Olimar's eyes soon linked with Louie's. They had a brief moment of silence, basking in each other's gazes.
Their helmets tapped against each other. Gentle as ever unlike the violent collision before.
Olimar felt like he could stare into those eyes forever.
Strange how a single accident can confirm your feelings for another.
With Louie still holding his wrists (albeit much lighter), Olimar apologised for crashing into him. Even though he didn't regret the outcome one bit (and he was kind of relishing the other's touch) he still felt it was polite. Louie didn't seem at all bothered by his apology nor the outcome of the incident.
In fact, he seemed more attentive to the ice pikmin who had been watching on eagerly, regarding them with a slight frown. The one that had been leading Olimar whirled around in a circle with a chirrup of glee, satisfied with whatever it had done. The others jumped around doing pirouettes ecstatically.
It didn't take the two Hocotatians long to figure out who was responsible for the incident between them.
That explains why they keep staring at us, Olimar thought with a half-embarrassed, half-irritated sigh, shaking his head. He wasn't really mad, but this did give him a little more awareness that the pikmin knew more than they were letting on.
As for Louie...well, if the end-of-day bells didn't ring just then, he suspected Louie would've turned those ice pikmin into leaf-topped popsicles.