Chapter Text
It was supposed to be quiet. No one was supposed to be there but even so the faint sound of a song playing could be heard echoing through one of the rinks.
This was Zanka's favorite time to skate. While everyone else was off somewhere else and he could be left alone to his own devices, nobody to interrupt his practice time, nobody else on his rink, his safe space, his.
Perks of knowing the owner.
His skates glided across the ice in the familiar, effortless way they always did when he was focused.
Unbeknownst to him, sat in the stands was a lone person watching intensely, mesmerized by the gracefulness of Zanka's turns as he continued to skate.
-
Skating had always grounded him, always calmed him down after a particularly difficult day.
Focusing on something that gave him routine like nothing else did.
Which was why he found himself walking towards the arena just after closing.
It had become something he did quite often now. Leaving the home he shared with his two older siblings after a meaningless fight about what he was doing with his life.
They believed he could be doing something better with his life instead of "wasting" it on skating.
But he could never give it up ever. Never drop it for something else.
Skating had been a part of his life since he was five he couldn't just give it up.
Pushing the double doors to the building open he made his way past the front desk, where there would normally be a worker waiting, and all the way to the changing room.
Taking his shoes and sweatpants off to reveal his black leggings and leg warmers, quickly getting his skates on and lacing them up.
It was cool enough that he chose to leave his sweater on for the first few minutes, as he grabbed his phone and speaker making his way out of the changing room, finally walking towards the ice.
The lights shone down leaving the ice illuminated while the stands stayed mostly in shadow.
Taking the guards of his skates he stepped out on to the ice blocking out the sound of the world around him; making a few laps around the rink.
Warming up was never his favorite part but it was necessary. Working through some quick exercises he finished up with some footwork and spins.
Now the fun part could begin.
The routine he spent hours working on, perfecting, and readying for competition.
As the music started he could feel how all his worries slowly began to vanish.
He moved slowly at first, gradually gaining speed as he spun circling around the rink moving his arms in time with the music.
-
Jabber had just finished a very intense game one his team had just barely won— everyone else had already left but Jabber wanted to get some more practice in before he followed.
As he was about to do so however the faint melody of a song flooded his ears.
Curious as to what could be causing the singing he followed the sound into one of the other rinks.
—
Entering the rink the music was much louder and to his surprise in the middle of the ice there was a male he had never seen before. He walked closer captivated making his way to the stands and sitting down.
The skater hadn't seemed to notice him yet as he executed a jump landing cleanly before he twisted again slowing in time to the music.
The man continued for a few more minutes, moving through sharp footwork and tight rotations before he came to an slow yet controlled stop facing exactly where Jabber was sitting.
-
As soon as he'd finished his routine Zanka looked up and made direct eye contact with someone he'd never seen before.
It startled him as he had thought he was the only one there.
But apparently not.
He took a harder look at the man and saw that he was wearing a hockey uniform— not unusual, he knew games went on there but they always happened in other rinks not this one. This one was his and only his especially at this time.
Not only had somebody watched him without him knowing but they had also intruded on his private skating time.
Zanka was furious, "Who the hell are ya'?!" He spat as he skated closer to the man.
The man looked slightly taken aback before smirking and responding, "Such nasty words coming out of such a pretty face."
Zanka could feel his cheeks redden at that, though he blamed it on the fact that he had just finished a difficult routine rather than the man had flustered him.
" I asked a question."
" You weren't very polite."
Zanka frowned, brow furrowing.
"Name's Jabber, Jabber Wonger. And you are...?"
"My name is none of your business," Zanka grated out through gritted teeth," I just want to know why ya' were spying on me."
At that the man, no Jabber laughed," Well, if you don't want to give me your name I'll just call you something else. So Me. Bad Adittude, I wasn't spying-"he smirked again.
"I heard music playing and I wanted to see where it was coming from simple as that, scouts honor," he said raising his hands up in the classic surrender move.
-
The figure skater looked sceptical to Jabber but he seemed to believe him. He wasn't lying so there was no reason for the man not to.
Before Jabber could think of something else to say the skater was skating away to the exit of the rink grabbing his things on the way out and walking of to the changing room as quickly as he could.
Jabber stood blinking for a second before following close behind.
" Come on Mr. Bad Adittude, just tell me your name and I'll leave it's late anyway."
The skater huffed before plopping down on the bench to remove his skates, " I already told you no! What part of that's not getting through that thick skull of yours?"
Jabber was slightly disappointed that the man wouldn't tell him his name but he didn't push anymore instead choosing to sit down on the bench beside him removeing his own skates dispute his bag being in the other changing room along with his phone...damn it! He wanted to get the skaters number!
"Well if you won't tell me, let me at least say that your skating was amazing, I've never seen anything like it before."
The skater froze skate hanging midair above his bag.
Jabber could see the blush rising up his neck all the way to his ears.
" Thanks I guess."
" No problem, anyway I gotta go see you around."
The skater watched him as he crossed to the door before he said quietly so that Jabber almost didn't catch it," My names Zanka."
"Got a last name there Zanka?"
"Nijiku"
Zanka Nijiku, Jabber liked the sound of it, " Well Zanka Nijiku I'll see you around."
And with that he left.
-
Zanka felt so stupid! Why would he give that creep his name! He'd told him no multiple times. So why did he tell him?
His stomach churned ever so slightly, not in a bad way but instead a nice way, a way that Zanka didn't like at all as he stuffed the feeling down deep in his subconscious.
He was too busy to be thinking about anything other than the competition anyway.
He decided right then and there that he wasn't going to think about that Jabber guy any longer.