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The snow was flurrying through the city, creating a foggy film over the bright-colored signs and bustling crowds. Matt had grabbed Vladimir’s hand and set off in seemingly a random direction. It wasn’t until they arrived at the outdoor ice skating rink that Vladimir realized where this was going.
“Absolutely not,” Vladimir deadpanned, planting his feet in the shallow snow. Matt tried to pull him but he wouldn’t budge.
“C’mon, it’ll be fun!” Matt insisted.
“I do not enjoy making a fool out of myself. Especially in public,” Vladimir shot back, unfazed He glanced over at Matt and saw his cheeks were already rosy from the cold. On instinct, Vladimir reached over and fixed his scarf, fuffing it and pulling it back up around his ears and nose. “Besides, how will you even know where you’re going?”
“I’ll have you on my arm steering,” Matt answered with a smile.
“How will I steer us if I’m on my ass the whole time?” Vladimir pointed out. “I have terrible balance.”
“I’ll hold you steady,” Matt assured him, “Now, let’s go get our skates!” He began leading the way, white cane tapping along the sidewalk as he went. Vladimir rolled his eyes and caught up, looping his arm through Matt’s.
“I hope they’re out of my size,” Vladimir grumbled.
They weren’t.
“These are so stiff!” he complained as he laced up the skates. Matt made quick work of his and was standing at the ready in seconds. “What is this, a race?” Vladimir said sarcastically as Matt folded up his cane and stuffed it in his pocket. He finished tying his skates and tried to stand, but immediately fell back down onto the bench.
“Already starting off strong,” Matt said with humor in his voice. Vladimir scoffed and stood up successfully. “Lead the way.” Vladimir grabbed Matt’s hand, causing Matt’s heart to do a little flutter as if they hadn’t been walking arm-in-arm the whole way there. He let Vladimir slowly lead them out of the locker room with unsure steps. It took a minute for him to carefully pick his way outside without twisting an ankle.
“This is going to suck,” Vladimir sighed. Matt couldn’t help but laugh.
They stepped out onto the ice with Matt leading the way. He turned around and held out his hands waiting for Vladimir to take them. The Russian hesitantly put one foot on the ice.
“You’ve got this, just take it slow,” Matt reassured him. Vladimir’s face began to grow warm from embarrassment, so he tried to speed things up and step fully onto the ice. His feet instantly began to slide out from under him and he tilted over, nearly falling until Matt caught him and set him upright. Vladimir had a death grip on Matt’s biceps, too scared of falling over to appreciate the firm muscles under his coat.
“I’m going to die out here,” Vladimir whined.
“Just hold on to me and gently pull me when we need to turn,” Matt said with a silly grin on his face. Vladimir scowled but said nothing. “I can practically hear you sulking.”
“I do no such thing!”
“Then start moving, we’re blocking the entrance to the rink.”
Vladimir peeked behind them and saw a small line of four to five people patiently waiting. He flushed and shuffled his feet slightly so Matt could pull him to the side. A middle-aged woman with her daughter shot him an apologetic look.
The two men set off on the ice, skating slowly and close to the wall. Vladimir was on Matt’s right side, one hand at the ready to grip the railing that ran along the wall at a moment’s notice, and the other holding onto Matt with a vice grip.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Matt teased. Vladimir nudged him and they turned slightly, Matt leading the way with sure movements and the Russian trying to copy his footwork.
“I will fall if I let go,” Vladimir retorted, face warming once more.
“Relax, stop locking your knees, and remember to breathe,” Matt instructed. He slowed his pace as they skated along the straight stretch, giving Vladimir time to adjust. “It’s easier when you’re not as tense.”
“Isn’t everything?” Vladimir deflected.
“Perhaps,” Matt said with a shrug. Vladimir tugged him slightly and he shifted to turn. Vladimir’s feet began to glide with more confidence with each lap they completed. He still refused to loosen his grip on Matt’s arm and was utterly convinced the moment he stopped ghosting his hand along the railing he would immediately fall face-first onto the ice.
The wind picked up, billowing their scarves and catching the underside of Matt’s warm cap, tugging it off and carrying it into the center of the rink.
“Oh, my hat!” Matt exclaimed, twirling around and missing it by a mile. Vladimir laughed.
“I’ll get it for you,” Vladimir chided. He steeled his nerves and released his grip on Matt, carefully picking his way across the ice as other skaters sailed past. When he reached the hat he paused, unsure how to lean down and pick it up without falling.
“Go down on one knee, it’s easier!” Matt called over to him. Vladimir took his advice and sank down onto his right knee. He snatched the cap and planted his hands on the ice to try and push himself back up. It didn’t go as planned and his foot slipped, sending him tumbling backward onto his ass.
“Fucking hell,” he grumbled.
“Here,” Matt said, skating over slowly and offering his hand, “I can help.”
“I don’t need your help,” Vladimir argued as he tried to stand again and couldn’t get his feet planted under him. Matt crossed his arms and waited for a few seconds until Vladimir caved. “Fine,” he griped, reaching out for Matt. The other man pulled him swiftly to his feet, nearly causing him to lose balance a second time.
“Time to go?” Matt asked.
“One more lap?” Vladimir countered. Matt laughed and nodded, pulling Vladimir along until they fell into step skating around the edge of the rink. “We should get some hot chocolate after this.”
“Mmm,” Matt hummed in agreement. “I know a place nearby. They do whipped cream instead of mini marshmallows if that’s not a deal breaker.”
“I think I’ll survive,” Vladimir said sarcastically. They came around to the exit of the rink and stepped out. Vladimir nearly lost his footing again and let out of string of Russian curse words that may have startled a small girl trying to enter the rink.
They changed back into their regular shoes and set off.
“It’s just around the corner…” Matt trailed off as he tugged Vladimir along. “Just a little window in the side of this brick building up here.” He had kept his cane in his pocket, choosing to latch onto Vladimir and allow him to steer them through the crowds.
The Russian set a steady pace, gently tugging Matt out of the way as people brushed past them. At the end of the block, he found the window. It had a red awning over it and the glass slid open as they approached.
“Aye! Matty! What’a ya doin’ out in this shitty weather?” a burly man called out to them. Matt laughed, his shoulders shaking softly and bumping against Vladimir.
“Hey, Benny! We’re enjoying the snow. How are you? How’s the wife?” Matt shot back warmly.
“Keeping me sane during this holiday season of hell. How’s yours? He looks a little less than happy to be out on this damp day,” Benny laughed. It was a full-body chuckle that filled them with warmth. Vladimir had never met the guy, but already felt himself growing slightly more comfortable.
“I made this guy go ice skating so everyone could watch him fall on his ass–”
Vladimir smacked Matt’s arm with a little too much force.
“–and so I didn’t have to use my cane on the ice.”
“Stop acting like you didn’t beg me to go,” Vladimir ground out. Benny’s laughter boomed through the small window, hand slapping the counter.
“Alright, alright, I’ll admit I was a bit eager–”
“Eager? You shoved me out of bed this morning and tossed a pile of clothes onto me without so much as a ‘good morning.’ You were one-track-minded,” Vladimir clarified.
“Just like I am with this hot cocoa. Would you mind grabbing us two, Benny?”
“You got it, pal,” Benny said with a smile before disappearing into the shop. Matt slid his hand down Vladimir’s arm and intertwined their fingers. It only took a few moments for Benny to return with two steaming cups in hand.
“They’re on the house,” Benny said with a friendly smile. He handed them their drinks and waited expectantly as they took their first sip.
Vladimir couldn’t deny, it was delicious.
“You two have a happy holiday, alright?” Benny said firmly. Vladimir slipped his hand into his pocket, thumbing out a few bills discreetly. “And stay warm!”
“Same to you, we’ll see you around Benny,” Matt replied. He turned to leave, but Vladimir stepped up to the counter.
“You have a happy holiday as well,” he said smoothly before sliding two twenties over to Benny. The burly man had the gall to look surprised and then fixed Vladimir with a sly smile.
“I can see why that one took to you so quick,” he teased, gesturing to Matt.
“He is quite the charmer,” Matt chimed in with a shit-eating grin. Vladimir ducked his head slightly to hide the blush spreading across his face. “But we’ll get out of your hair. Take it easy, Benny.”
The shop owner nodded as the two men left, and the window slid shut behind them. They walked down the sidewalk, meandering back to their apartment. Vladimir waited a few minutes for his hot cocoa to cool off before taking another sip.
“This is fucking delicious,” he commented. Matt’s hand squeezed his lightly.
“I know.”