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This was the most ridiculous thing Touya had ever agreed to.
Drumming his fingers against the worn leather steering wheel, he watched a couple make their way up the freshly shoveled sidewalk to a warming house, hand in hand. She was laughing at whatever her date had just whispered in her ear; he was making puppy-eyes and adjusting her scarf to keep the slow falling snow out of her coat.
Touya was sitting in his truck, brooding over the mountain of homework back in his dorm room.
Why had he let Fuyumi talk him into going on a blind date?
Unlike his siblings, who couldn’t resist weighing in on his lack of a love life, Touya was perpetually single. Fuyumi assumed he was ‘emotionally constipated’, Natsuo chalked it up to a simple fear of commitment, Shoto figured no one was good enough.
Shoto had been closest to the truth.
Touya’s feelings weren’t tucked so far down that he couldn’t share them, if he wanted to, and he’d committed to plenty of things in life – coaching, school, driving Shoto to the pet shelter to volunteer on summer weekends.
He didn’t want to be single. Through his fair share of awkward first dates, one-night stands, and short flings, he’d skimmed the surface of serious relationships, but had never found someone interested enough, or interesting enough. No one worth diving deeper with. And if he couldn’t find that elusive someone on his own, he doubted he’d find them on a blind date.
He’d said as much to Fuyumi last week during the hell that is The Todoroki Christmas gathering, but still she made such a fuss that Touya had finally agreed, just to shut her up. Apparently, seeing her oldest brother turn up dateless, when even Shoto managed to bring an obnoxious blond boy from school, had set Fuyumi off on a matchmaker mission.
And Todoroki’s were nothing if not determined, because here he was, sitting in the parking lot of an outdoor ice rink across town from campus, forgoing homework for a night that probably wouldn’t amount to more than dipping his toes in the water and finding it too cold to take the plunge.
He sighed, breath fogging the windshield, and pocketed his keys. At least he was good at skating, very good, actually. And he had been itching to get back on the ice. Between classes and homework and his small social life, he hadn’t made it out yet this winter. With that in mind, he grabbed his skates from the back seat, hopped out of his truck, and headed up to the warming house.
Even a week past Christmas, the holiday was still in full swing here. Garland and colored lights hung in neat arches off the roof. Laughter, the rip of shredding ice, and the occasional squeal of a falling skater rang out from the rink behind a barrier of pine trees, their green boughs blanketed in sparkling snow. Smoke billowed out of the chimney, joining the heavy gray clouds above. His boots crunched the salt scattered across the porch, where a group of girls used the log cabin siding as a backdrop for selfies with their steaming cups of cocoa and rosy cheeks.
It was horribly cliché, like stepping onto the set of a Hallmark movie. Any moment now, he expected someone to drop down on one knee and propose.
Welcomed by the jangle of a bell hanging off the door wreath, he stepped into an embrace of woodsmoke and pine. Christmas music hummed from speakers in every corner, playing classics his mom adored. He took a seat on one of a dozen benches in the middle of the room and unzipped his jacket. Large as the room was, it was stifling with the fire blazing. His blades clacked together as he set his skates down to untie his boots; the sooner he was back outside, the better.
Except… he sat up and looked around. Except he had no idea who the hell he was meeting, or if he was even here yet.
Fucking blind dates.
Foot bouncing, he tried to remember what Fuyumi had said about the guy. She hadn’t given a name, but had she said they go to the same school? Or had a class together? Dragging a hand through his hair, Touya searched the room.
A few kids too young to be his date were lined up at the counter to return skates and order snacks from an older man who, with his red flannel and long, white beard, fit right in with the rest of the décor. An elderly couple warmed their hands by the hearth as they admired the garish Christmas tree in the corner. Trading stories about sorority girls and unpacking their gear, a trio of guys he vaguely recognized from a rival school huddled together a few benches away.
He fidgeted with his half-untied laces; he was pretty sure Fuyumi said he’d recognize the guy; she couldn’t have meant-
“Touya?”
Soft as the voice behind him was, he still jumped. Dropping the laces, he turned. “Yeah, that’s…”
Holy shit.
Keigo Takami was his date?
Of course, Touya recognized him; how could he not? He may not venture far from his social circle, but he didn’t live under a rock. Keigo had been some kind of hotshot track and field runner destined for the Olympics until last year, when an injury stole his dream. It was the kind of tragic story that students spread like wildfire, and Touya hadn’t been able to go anywhere on campus without catching embers of it.
And renown aside, it was impossible not to notice Keigo. With golden blond hair always styled in that windswept to perfection look, flawless skin, a body that put Greek Gods to shame, and a radiant smile, he was the kind of guy who checked everyone’s box.
And… Touya may have had the tiniest crush on Keigo, not that he’d ever admit it out loud.
“Heya, I’m Keigo.” He offered his hand eagerly. “We go to the same school, but I’m a couple years younger than you, and in the busi…”
Keigo’s words were lost in a whirlwind of Touya’s thoughts. Was he dreaming? There was no reality where Keigo Takami was interested in him. Touya wasn’t some great catch, not for a guy like Keigo, who was the life of every party, the sun at the center of every social circle. Keigo was bubbly and kind and charismatic, and entirely out of Touya’s league.
So, was he here as a favor then? A bribe? Touya wouldn’t put either past Fuyumi when it came to family and her version of their happiness.
“…alk to you, so you probably don’t know who I-“
“I know who you are,” he blurted out, and instantly regretted it. What the heck was wrong with him, he was never this nervous. Though, to be fair, he’d never been on a date with a guy like Keigo either. To soften the blow, he stood and gently shook Keigo’s hand. It was shockingly cold compared to his own; maybe that’s why he held it a moment longer than necessary. “And yeah, I’m Touya.”
“Oh good. I wasn’t sure I had the right guy.” Keigo slipped off his furry earmuffs and hung them around his neck. “I could have sworn your hair was black before we left for winter break.”
Touya’s cheeks heated; Keigo had noticed him? He’d seen Keigo looking his way on campus before, but had never let himself imagine it was anything but coincidence. “It was.”
“Trying a new color?”
“No, this is natural.” Touya rubbed the back of his neck. “I got tired of dying it, so I stripped the color and left it alone.”
Keigo tipped his head and smiled. “Well, I like the white. It looks good on you.”
Touya mumbled his thanks and hoped the blush he felt up to his ears would be mistaken for the swelter of the room. Really, why did they need such a massive fire? Even Keigo was tugging his blanket of a scarf loose.
Guiding them back to neutral ground, he nodded to Keigo’s empty hands, now tucked into the pockets of his thick, camel-colored overcoat. “No skates?”
“Uh, no. I’ve actually never done this.”
“That’s alright. Wait here and I’ll grab them,” Touya said, maybe a little too eagerly. “What’s your shoe size?”
Lining up behind a couple of girls paying for their rentals, Touya turned his back to Keigo and dug out his phone to get some answers.
Touya:
7:03pm
Keigo Takami?
KEIGO TAKAMI???
7:04pm
How do you even know him?
Fuyumi:
7:04pm
You actually showed up!?
OMG!
Touya rolled his eyes at the message and stepped up to the counter. “Men’s eleven, figure skates if you’ve got ‘em.” The old man nodded and disappeared into the back room. Relishing the cool breeze following a couple in from the rink, he responded.
Touya:
7:05pm
Duh.
Seriously, how do you know him?
And how did you get him to come?
Fuyumi:
7:06pm
He’s a sweet guy, I promise.
Just give him a chance, please?
Touya:
7:07pm
Fine.
He shoved his phone back in his pocket. Of course, Fuyumi wasn’t going to tell him anything, which probably should have cemented his suspicion that Keigo was here as a favor, and definitely should have been a sign not to get his hopes up… but Keigo had noticed him on campus, and he seemed excited to be here.
And Touya wanted a chance to see what was beneath that pretty exterior.
So, faint as it was, Touya chose to follow the glimmer of hope like a north star. He dug out a few hundred yen for the rental fee and grabbed the skates.
“Here.” Taking a seat beside Keigo, he passed the skates over and toed off his boots. “Don’t lace them too tight over the top of your foot, but make sure they’re snug around the ankles,” he instructed, sliding his feet into his own skates. Shaped by years of hockey and late-night skates to clear his head, they fit like a second skin. His fingers made quick work of the laces, and by the time he’d finished, Keigo had only just managed to wiggle a foot into one skate.
“Why are mine different?” Brow furrowed, Keigo looked from his skates, to Touya’s, to the girls lacing up their own figure skates. “Are these for girls?”
“No, they’re men’s,” Touya said with an amused smile. “Ice skates are better for beginners. The longer blade makes it easier to balance.”
Keigo’s lips made a little ‘o’ of understanding, and he bent to put his other skate on. “Rumi said you’d know what you were doing, but I didn’t realize I’d be making a complete fool of myself tonight.”
Touya almost laughed; that made two of them.
“How do you know all this?”
“I played hockey.” Touya pulled at his collar, skin prickling in the heat. “Who’s Rumi?” And how the hell did she know he’d skated?
“Classmate. Best friend. Also, friends with your sister.”
Well, that answered a few questions.
“So, you played hockey, that’s so cool.” Fumbling with his laces, Keigo rapid-fired questions at Touya. “What position? Do you still play? I don’t remember seeing you on the school team, but I’ve only been to a few games. Oh, and what are you studying? Rumi wasn’t sure, and we don’t have any classes together, so it must be outside of my program.”
Touya took a slow breath in. The air, thick with smoke, scraped down his throat. Heat festered under his skin, broiling him from the inside out. Desperate to speed this along and get outside, he knelt in front of Keigo. “Let me help.”
As he undid the laces to straighten out the twists, Touya gathered his thoughts. So many questions, all of them the standard, surface-level stuff first dates were made of. He glanced up, wondering if Keigo’s attention had already drifted elsewhere, expecting him to have asked and forgotten in the same breath like Touya’s past dates.
Instead, Keigo watched Touya’s fingers work with a clueless little smile and patiently waited for answers, like they mattered. Like Touya mattered.
Holy shit… was Keigo actually interested in him?
Touya cleared his throat. “I was a winger, but I don’t play anymore.” He adjusted the tension over the top of the foot and crisscrossed the laces up Keigo’s ankles. “And I’m in chemical engineering.”
“Oh, wow. So, you’re like super smart.”
Trying to ignore the flutter in his stomach, Touya shrugged and stood. “I dunno about that. Ready?”
“Huh?” Keigo looked at his feet and then up to Touya with a winning grin. “Wow, you’re good at that. I’m glad you’re here to take care of me.”
Certain he was blushing all the way down to his toes now, Touya held out a hand to Keigo and led them outside, craving cool air and the clear head that came with it.
An icy breeze kissed his cheeks as they stepped through the sliding glass doors to the back porch. Touya breathed the winter air greedily, appreciating the shock to his heat-muddled senses. Out here, he could do this; play it cool, not act like a middle schooler with a crush. And maybe, just maybe, he would have a shot with Keigo. With a steamy exhale, he relaxed.
Until Keigo slipped a hand into the crook of his arm, and all the heat from his head rushed to gather there.
Crap, why hadn’t he offered his arm first? Would Keigo expect a hand over his now? An arm around his waist? Shifting closer, Touya guided them across the porch and down the ramp to the ice, intensely aware of every point of contact from shoulder to elbow. Maybe he should stop and adjust Keigo’s scarf or slip his earmuffs back on. But would Keigo like that? Or would it come across as overb-
“It’s pretty out here, isn’t it?” Keigo’s excitement lured Touya out of his spiral.
As Touya took it in, the nervous knots in his stomach slowly unraveled. It was pretty. The holiday wasn’t quite as in your face back here. Soft white strings of lights spiraled around wooden porch columns and down the handrail to the ice. More than twice the size of a regulation rink, the ice was shaped like a fat tear drop and bordered by waist-high snowbanks. Tall pines stood as a privacy fence between their little winter wonderland and the rest of the world. Speakers hanging from light posts around the rink played the same music from inside, though out here, most of the sound was lost to the open air.
“Yeah, pretty,” he said, eyeing the group of guys from inside now zipping around less experienced skaters without care. He stopped at the edge of the rink. “We’ll need to watch out for those gu— hey, hold on!” Grabbing Keigo’s wrist, Touya yanked him back from the ice. Keigo thudded against his chest with a soft oomph, and looked up, brow raised in question, but the explanation stuck in Touya’s throat.
Pretty.
Keigo’s eyes, Touya hadn’t realized before, but they weren’t the amber he’d seen from a distance. Not really. Up close they were deeper, richer, like toffee spun from honey, with flecks of gold that matched his hair.
Not just pretty. Stunning.
“Touya?”
He blinked, heart pounding so hard he felt it down to the tips of his fingers, still holding Keigo’s waist to steady him.
Wait, waist? When the hell had that happened?
Dropping his hands, he looked away to hide yet another blush. “You uh, you need to take off your skate guards.”
“Oh. I didn’t even realize...” He sighed heavily. “I’m not selling myself very well, am I? Can’t tie my skates right, probably driving you nuts with all my nervous yapping, almost got on the ice with these things on,” he said, holding Touya’s arm for balance as he bent to remove the guards. “I told Rumi you were way out of my league,” he groaned.
Wait, Keigo felt that way about him? Touya’s stomach swooped like he’d slipped on the ice. Then, that meant…
Oh.
Oh.
Well, that changed everything.
“Hey, it’s only your first time.” He took Keigo’s guards and pocketed them with his own. “And you don’t need to worry, I’m already sold,” he added, buoyed by a swell of newfound confidence.
Glowing with hope, Keigo brightened. “Really?”
“Really,” he said softly. He’d been an idiot not to realize it before, but with the haze of doubt finally lifted, it was clear that Keigo was here for him, and just as eager for a chance at something real.
Flooded with relief, Touya’s worries and nerves melted away. He still didn’t know how he’d earned a chance with Keigo, but there was no way in hell he’d waste it.
Offering a hand, he nodded at the reckless trio on the ice. “We’ll need to watch out for those idiots. So, hold on tight and I’ll get us to an open space and show you some of the basics.”
Beaming, Keigo settled his earmuffs back on his head and took Touya’s hand. “Alright then, show me what you’ve got, hot stuff.”
Claiming an open spot across the rink, Touya slowly skated backwards and, still hand in hand, ran Keigo through the basics: balance, swizzles, soft knees. With every minute that passed, he felt more alive than he had in years. With the biting cold on his skin, the gentle glide under his blade, the clouds of snow dust stirred in their wake, he was back in his element. But more importantly, he had someone to share it with.
Keigo was, surprisingly, terrible. With the grace of a newborn fawn, and total lack of balance, he clung to Touya like a koala. Not that he minded. Every near fall brought Keigo deeper into the circle of Touya’s arms, a place he seemed to fit so well. Sure, Keigo would never make it as a pro, but what he lacked in talent, he more than made up for in determination, and Touya found that insanely attractive.
“You’re a good teacher,” Keigo said as they slid to a stop. His hands rested comfortably on Touya’s arms. “I’m assuming I’m not your first terrible student?”
“I used to coach kids. Middle schoolers with nasty attitudes and snobby parents.” He shuddered. “I’d much rather teach you.”
“So, you’re saying I’m better than a bunch of pre-teens?” Keigo quipped.
Touya smirked. “Your attitude, yes. Your form, not so much.”
“My form?”
“You’re a bender.”
“A bender? Like… Avatar?”
Touya laughed, clouding the air between them. “No, your ankles.” He tapped the side of Keigo’s ankle with the toe of his skates. “Stop bending them”
“Yes, sir.” Keigo gave him a mock salute and straightened.
Swizzling closer, further out of the way of oncoming skaters, Keigo asked, “why don’t you coach anymore?”
Touya sighed. “School. Life.” Setting his hands on Keigo’s waist, Touya’s new favorite spot, he slowly skated them to the edge of the rink and continued, “I haven’t played in years either.”
“Because of school?”
“Sort of.” He stopped and let Keigo slide into his chest. “I played my first year, but practice got in the way of my homework and my Dad didn’t want to cover tuition for B’s and C’s.”
He paused; he’d never told anyone that. Not Fuyumi or Natsuo, not Tomura or Iguchi. Everyone had assumed he’d grown out of the sport, and he’d never felt the need to correct them. But telling Keigo, opening up, it lifted a weight from his shoulders he hadn’t even realized he carried. “I didn’t really have much of a choice. No full ride, no time for a job. But I…” he hesitated.
“You miss it.” Keigo’s soft words were a statement, spoken from a place of understanding.
Touya nodded and skated them in slow figure eights. “What about you? You were on the track team, right?”
“Yeah. I miss it, but…” Keigo’s brow furrowed. To keep himself from smoothing the little wrinkle away, Touya clasped his hands behind Keigo’s back. “Track was never really my dream. I was good, but not-“
“You were more than good,” Touya cut in, “based on what I heard, you didn’t run down the track, you flew.”
Keigo’s cheeks, already rosy from the cold, turned the most incredible shade of berry-red.
“Okay, I was better than good. But honestly, after the accident, when the doctors told me I couldn’t compete anymore,” he leaned against Touya’s chest and whispered, “I was happy.”
“Happy?”
With a nod, Keigo continued, words spilling like they’d been dammed for years. “I wasn’t happy about the accident, of course. Hurt like hell. My side of the car took the brunt of it, and it was… it was terrifying.” His voice cracked and Touya held him tighter.
“Bed rest for a broken back wasn’t easy either,” he pushed on, “not for me, I hate staying still. And then there was therapy, and a second surgery, and don’t even get me started on Rumi’s terrible in-home care.”
He took a deep breath, chest rising against Touya’s. “But it freed me. I’m finally able to focus on the things I want, instead of what everyone else wants from me.” Keigo looked up, a shy smile on his lips, fat flakes of snow catching in his long lashes. “Does that… make sense?”
Once again, Touya’s thoughts were distilled down to just one word – beautiful.
“It does.” Touya cupped Keigo’s cheek. Burning with the desire to know more, to dive into Keigo’s depts and explore every layer, cherish every little quirk and habit, he leaned in. With the other skaters obscured by curtains of snowfall it was just the two of them, alone in the world. And he wanted, needed, to kiss this incredible, resilient, vibrant man so damn bad.
“Oi, look out!”
The shout gave Touya a single heartbeat to react. He spun them and gave Keigo a little push away from the idiot barreling towards them.
Seized by instinct, he squared his stance, dropped his knees, and drove his shoulder right into the asshole’s chest, sending him flying back on the ice.
“Stay off the goddamn ice if you’re not going to be careful,” he snapped, not bothering to help him up.
With a jam turn to pelt the dumbass with ice spray, he wheeled around, and his heart dropped into his stomach. Standing on wobbly ankles, Keigo’s eyes were wide as they shifted from the guy rubbing his chest and skating back to his friends, to Touya.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit!
“Hey, I’m sorry.” He stopped in front of Keigo, nerves on fire. “I – I didn’t mean to push you so hard, I just-“ he dragged a hand through his hair. “I didn’t want you to get hurt. And I’m sorry you had to see that. I swear, I’m not angry like that unless I’m pla-“
“That was hot.”
Touya froze. Opened his mouth. Closed it.
“H-hot?”
“I like a man who can take c-care of me.” He winked. “And l-look, I didn’t even fall!” Spreading his arms wide, he lost his balance and stumbled forward.
Touya caught him, grinning so wide his jaw ached. Keigo was ridiculous and wonderful and perfect. So, so perfect for him.
“O-okay, maybe I’m not really ready t-to be on the ice al-alone,” Keigo said, teeth chattering.
In the circle of his arms, Touya felt Keigo’s entire body shivering against him. “You’re cold?”
“I’m always c-cold.”
“Sorry, I didn’t – I should have noticed.” Touya held him tighter. “I always run hot.”
“I can tell. You didn’t even z-zip up your jacket.” Keigo slid his icy fingers under Touya’s coat. “You were k-keeping me warm b-before though. Seems like we’re a match made in h-heaven!”
“Heaven or not, we should get you inside,” Touya said, bringing Keigo’s hands to his lips to breathe warmth into them as he glided them past the other skaters and back to the ramp.
“Mmm, that feels nice,” Keigo said with a sigh of relief that woke the fluttering in Touya’s stomach again. “Hey, wait!” They stopped at the edge of the ice. “I never got to see you skate.”
Touya looked around the rink. While he and Keigo were lost in their own world, a growing crowd of shrieking children and watchful parents had packed the rink. “Probably not a good idea now, too many kids out here.”
“I’m sorry. You spent all that time teaching me and didn’t even get to skate yourself. And you said you missed it, and I took up-“
“Hey-“ he tipped Keigo’s chin up, “-I had fun, really. Don’t worry about it.”
“Well, maybe next time you can show me?” he asked hopefully.
Slamming into his chest, Touya’s heart attempted to leap right into Keigo’s hands. Smiling, he wrapped an arm around Keigo’s waist and led them up to the warming house. “I’d like that.”
Touya unlaced Keigo’s skates and returned them while he warmed his hands by the fire. On a whim, he tossed a few yen on the counter for a hot chocolate for each of them. It seemed like the kind of thing Keigo would like, and Touya was eager to keep them here longer, even if it was only until their cups ran dry.
Keigo suggested they head outside to the wooden porch swing he’d spied out front, as long as Touya sat close enough to keep him warm, and on every count Touya happily agreed. They settled on to the smooth wood, Touya with an arm around Keigo’s shoulders, Keigo with his hands wrapped around his steaming cup, and gently rocked as Keigo talked about his degree in business and plans for the future.
Touya couldn’t remember a time in his life when he’d felt so full, heart and soul. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d looked at another person and so badly wanted to discover every part of them – good and bad. It may have only been one date, one hour of their lives, but he already knew with certainty he’d dive headfirst into every part of life with Keigo.
And he had a feeling Keigo would happily do the same.
Tipping his head back for the last sip of his hot chocolate, Keigo’s eyes widened. “Oh, look!”
Touya followed Keigo’s gaze to the mistletoe hanging above their heads and smirked. “I was wondering why you were so eager for us to sit out in the cold,” he teased.
“No! That’s not – well, okay maybe…” Keigo bit his lip and ducked down into his scarf. “We don’t have to, if you’re not comfortable. I know it’s only our first date, but I thought earlier, on the ice, you were leaning in to kiss me. But really, we don’t have to if-“
Touya pulled Keigo flush against his side and put a finger to his lips. “You do ramble when you’re nervous, don’t you,” he mused.
“Sorry,” Keigo mumbled against Touya’s finger. “Is it too much?”
Touya shook his head. “Nah. It’s cute.” Tugging Keigo’s lower lip down into the smallest pout, Touya leaned in. The heat of Keigo’s breath fanned his skin, rich and chocolatey. “And I was going to kiss you then, but… I think now is better. If that’s okay with you?”
Keigo gave the smallest nod, and his eyes fluttered shut as Touya closed the distance.
Kissing Keigo was unlike anything Touya could have imagined. Like every other part of him, Keigo’s lips, soft and warm, fit so well against Touya’s. Sliding his hand up to Keigo’s cheek, Touya felt the skin beneath his fingers heat. God, this was incredible. How had he gone so long without ever kissing someone like this? Skipping beats, Touya’s heart pounded a rhythm for Keigo, and Keigo alone as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss.
Gentle, slow, their first kiss was everything Keigo deserved. But beneath it there was heat, sliding down to settle low in Touya’s belly, embers of desire flickering to life.
He pulled back, breath clouding the small space between them, and smiled at the flush in Keigo’s cheeks, the haze in those honeyed eyes.
“One more?” Touya whispered. “To hold me over until our next date.”
“Y-yeah,” Keigo said, breathless and smiling.
Knowing he’d never get enough of this man, Touya kissed Keigo again and decided that agreeing to this blind date hadn’t been so ridiculous after all.