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Fanart created by jaylerdoodles
The stands roared like beasts the moment the players appeared, fueling the crowd's excitement. The fact that the game had no prizes beyond competitiveness did not diminish the eagerness to see which team would be the winner of the night.
The intensity of the upcoming match was palpable.
The sun had just set, but the lights of the rink did not convey the idea that the night was going to end soon; on the contrary, it was just beginning.
The excitement was immediate. Scarves in combinations of yellow and green and purple and black danced with every jump of the most passionate fans. Groups of fans coordinated to repeatedly shout the names of their favorite players, as if by doing so they were earning points with the universe to raise their fists in victory at the end of the game.
At least this way, each team gained confidence, even if their star players didn't need it once they made their presence felt.
The two girls looked at each other at opposite ends of the ice rink. So different from each other, yet sharing the same determination in their eyes.
Not to mention the sly smile.
The steps on the cold surface were just a prelude to the explosion of the crowd waiting for the clash, the collision of two relentless forces that have built a rivalry impossible to ignore.
Second by second, the players took their respective positions as the referee laid out the rules already known to all, but the attention of the two fiercest forwards in hockey remained fixed on the confident faces they had in front of them, from the moment they closed the distance until they crouched down, waiting for the battle to begin.
The way the blonde and the brunette seemed to forget the world around them every time they crossed paths on the rink created an expectation that could only lead to one outcome.
“Let's go!”
“You can win!”
“Smash her face in!”
“Kate! Kate! Kate! Kate!”
“Ye, le, na! Ye, le, na! Ye, le, na!”
“I don't think they were rooting for you that much this time.”
“They're probably saving their voices for when they mock your defeat.”
“So young and already overconfident?”
“So mature and already underestimating your opponent?”
Yelena's amusement grew even stronger after the last comment, prolonging eye contact with her gloves as she gripped her hockey stick in a mirror image of Kate.
The red jacket contrasted with the purple outfit, matching the tips of their helmets as they almost touched.
“I hope that cage over your face protects you well from me.”
“Ironic coming from someone who doesn't cover her mouth because she knows the fate that awaits her.”
“Maybe I just like to provoke you.”
“You'd better keep wearing that helmet; I like to see how I wipe that pretty smile off your face.”
“Now I don't know if you're joking or flirting.”
“Find out soon.”
The puck between them, the expectant silence of the crowd, the game about to begin.
Blonde hair versus black hair.
Grille versus visor.
Red versus purple.
And, as expected, glances denote a healthy rivalry between two girls who secretly get along very well.
“Well, you already know what we say, Kate Bishop.” Yelena flashed a smug smile, her eyes locked on Kate's, completely absorbed in the sensations tingling beneath her skin. “If you can't take the heat, get off the ice.”
"In your dreams, Belova.”
. . .
The shoulder pads collided furiously, but neither ground.
The sticks fought for the puck sliding across the ice, but neither outmaneuvered the other.
The advances became more intense due to the adrenaline of the minutes in play, but neither team gained a significant advantage.
One team would take the lead, then it would be tied, then the losing team would take the lead, and so on and so forth.
The hockey game quickly turned into a roller coaster, with each team's star players leading the way as they competed against each other, ignoring everything else.
Not even the screeching on the ice, the clanging of physical protections, or the euphoric screams in the stands distracted Kate and Yelena from each other.
Both were willingly locked in a dance that culminated in a shot on goal followed by an arrogant gesture, whether it was a helmet with blonde hair around the edges or one with black hair falling down the side.
“Are you tired yet, Kate Bishop?”
“I could never get tired of this, and you know it.” Beads of sweat rolled down her face, but they didn't reflect the true emotion that was building in her chest with every minute she competed against Yelena on the rink. “Don't hate me if I win again.”
“You won the last one by pure luck; this time I'll dry your tears.”
“We'll see about that.”
The puck dropped again and the two forwards charged.
Yelena controlled her advance without letting Kate push her until she was able to pass the puck to someone else with a skill that continued to amaze the brunette.
The blades of the skates cut through the ice due to the speed at which everyone was moving, and it didn't take long for the team that dominated that round to score another point, followed instantly by the cheers of the crowd.
A wink was all Kate got from the blonde who glided past her without even moving, like an immovable statue.
Unshakeable.
Unbeatable.
She bit her lip as she followed her with her eyes, oblivious to all the noise and distractions, or perhaps none of that mattered to her. Her interest was focused solely on the woman's body, who now had her back to her as she left the rink for the timeout.
The hockey uniform did little to hide Yelena's hips, her curves, her grace as she skated, even if it was just to show off in front of people.
There were still twenty minutes left in the game; that last shot put the blonde's team ahead on the scoreboard, and Kate knows firsthand how dangerous Yelena Belova is once she gains the upper hand.
She felt the heat on her red cheeks, knowing full well that it wasn't just due to physical exhaustion.
Seeing her rival always makes her heart race.
Kate shook those thoughts before following her own team off the ice to drink water, splash her face, and rest her knees. Anything to help regain her focus.
She glanced at the pair of feline eyes that returned her gaze through the helmet grille. There was no malice there, no resentment, and certainly no discomfort.
Just curiosity.
The same curiosity she had sensed since the game began.
That fact brought a smile back to her face.
. . .
“Shit!”
Neither of them meant to crash into the protective glass; they simply got carried away as they fought for the puck, and their shoulders met the hard transparent surface for the second time that night.
But now they earn themselves a two-minute penalty.
Yelena clicked her tongue and Kate snorted in frustration, each going to their respective places at opposite ends of the rink. There were some boos and complaints from people displeased with the turn of events, but nothing they hadn't dealt with before in their time playing the sport.
After closing the doors, they looked at each other. Neither the distance nor the other players were obstacles to feeling the tension that had been building throughout the night.
Kate stuck out her tongue.
Yelena mimicked shooting with her finger.
And they narrowed their eyes with the corners of their lips slightly curved upward.
. . .
“Agh! ...it can't be.”
The brunette watched helplessly as the numbers on the scoreboard changed again, this time giving the other team the lead after an extraordinary shot by the blonde.
She would never deny how well Yelena plays, but losing by another point after a comeback disappointed her greatly, especially since there was only a minute left.
The chance of winning now depended on attacking as soon as she had the opportunity, which was difficult given Yelena's dominance on the ice.
Not even Kate could recover the puck when the relentless forward pushed like a truck.
“I can give you a tissue if you want, Kate Bishop.”
The latter did not respond to the provocation, just growling at her while maintaining eye contact as they both positioned themselves in the center of the rink, waiting for the next round.
The last minute.
Suddenly, an idea flashed in her mind like a beacon of light in the middle of a stormy sea.
A tactic that could lead to uncomfortable situations soon, but if it worked, it would lead her team to victory.
In addition to teasing her opponent a little.
“Hey, Belova.”
“Mmh?”
“Remember, focus on the puck, not my body.”
Her amber eyes opened wide, unaware of the referee's whistle, and she reacted slowly to the puck that Kate quickly passed to a teammate with her stick.
Yelena's legs moved on autopilot during the seconds of pursuit. Her feet and hands were still in the game, but her head flew away from the rink until only the playful voice of the girl in front of her remained.
Those last words bounced around repeatedly as she blushed under her helmet grille.
And it was then that, unconsciously, she paid attention to Kate's curves.
Her back.
Her thighs.
Her butt.
It all clouded Yelena's mind, and it was a miracle that her teammates had recovered the puck and sent it in the opposite direction.
Thirty seconds.
If they managed to score another point, there would be no way to be overtaken; Yelena clung to that prospect.
But it was in that moment of hope that Kate crossed the ice like a bullet and stole the puck before they crossed the blue line.
The brunette gained ground toward the opposing goal.
Twenty seconds.
“Damn it.”
Yelena matched Kate's speed from the other end of the rink as the latter struggled with another player, followed by the rest.
She managed to position herself in front of the goal when Kate outran her opponent.
Ten seconds.
She saw the determination behind that visor; blue eyes hungry for the same excitement that the crowd was shouting for.
Unfortunately for Yelena, her own eyes betrayed her as she scanned Kate's body with a glance that felt like an eternity. An eternally gratifying one.
Five seconds.
She experienced it in slow motion.
Yelena pressed her stick against the ice, ready to send the puck flying once it was thrown between her feet straight to the goalie, but Kate's striking movement, raising her own stick, arching her back and highlighting the curve of her butt, smiling with eye contact, left her in shock.
She was stunned to see the most beautiful and hottest painting in the world come to life before her, just a couple of meters away, with a grace that made her feel even hotter than she already was.
One second.
Unfortunately, muscle memory didn't help her this time.
The puck flew past her skate, and neither she nor the goalie could react in time to avoid the cheers of the opposing team that won at the last moment.
The crowd went wild, the scoreboard sounded, and the brunette raised her stick with both gloved hands, smiling with her mouth open in pure happiness. She glided past the blonde in that winning pose, looking at part of the audience, but soon turned around to meet Yelena's gaze.
Neither said anything, neither changed their respective smiles and surprised expressions, they looked at each other.
Kate won, but she did not convey the superiority expected of someone of her popularity. Yelena perceived the curve of her lips as a gesture of sincerity.
Healthy competitiveness. Perhaps even gratitude for another intense match that pushed them both to their limits.
In the blink of an eye, the brunette was surrounded by her teammates, all excited as they celebrated the skill of their star player. For their part, the opposing team sighed and accepted defeat with their heads held high, encouraging each other and some leaving a hand on the blonde's shoulder.
But all she could think about was how hot she thought Kate's move was before sinking the game-winning shot at the last second.
She swallowed, unable to look away from the profile of the girl who made her heart race and her cheeks flush uncomfortably.
. . .
“Do you have plans now?”
Kate turned her head from her locker toward Yelena, who was leaning against the wall next to her.
“What? But- when did you get here?”
“I walked here like any normal person. Did you really not hear me?”
“I'm sorry, I guess I'm still very distracted.”
“Twenty minutes of processing after the game is never enough, is it?”
“That's right.”
Despite her initial shock at her rival's appearance, Kate was glad to be able to talk to her in the privacy of the locker room, without the uniforms or the feeling of competitiveness. The quiet setting allowed her to appreciate the naturalness of the blonde's behavior.
The fierce hockey player was gone. The sarcasm in her voice was considerably reduced, her hands in her sweatshirt pockets conveyed how relaxed she felt, and her still-wet hair indicated that she had recently showered, highlighting the beauty of her flushed face.
Everything about her screamed authenticity, and it was very difficult for Kate not to melt into that gaze.
“Kate Bishop?”
“Sorry, I got distracted again!”
“You're very strange, in a good way.”
“I'll take that as a compliment.”
“And you're also a cheater.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I've never come across another hockey player who uses such dirty tricks to win.”
“Ohhh, I admit it wasn't my plan, but it seems to have worked.” She scratched the back of her neck, biting her lip and lowering her head, unable to contain her nervous smile. “I won't say it's my fault if I'm not the only one who gets distracted.”
“Very funny; I bet you couldn't take your eyes off me and wanted me to do the same.”
“So, what if I did?”
“I'd say you're a genius, a genius who plays dirty.”
“You didn't deny the part about looking at my body.”
“Exactly, and I won't deny it.”
A new tension blossomed in the locker room as the seconds ticked by without either of them speaking again. They just stared at each other as if they weren't two rivals who had fought each other less than half an hour ago.
The brunette held a towel with both hands at her lap while the blonde remained unmoved with her hands in her pockets.
The slight difference in height added another layer of nuance to their interaction.
“What...what do you mean by having plans?”
“You're adorable when your voice trembles, Kate Bishop.”
“I'm not adorable- well, I am, but answer the question.”
“I'm inviting you out to celebrate, just you and me.”
“Celebrate? But...”
“Celebrate your victory, of course.” Yelena took a step forward, now seeing more closely the doubt in the girl's eyebrows, who didn't seem to understand anything. “I don't propose something like this to just anyone, I think nobody, so consider yourself special.”
"But- but-
"Is it so strange that I want to get to know you better?
"No! No, not at all. I'd love to get to know you that way too.
"Then don't open your mouth as if you're seeing something completely unprecedented.
“Yelena Belova asking me out on a date is the most unprecedented thing in the world.”
“I wouldn't call it a date.”
“Then what?”
“A meeting of athletes.”
“A date.”
“Tsk.”
“Whatever you say, Belova.” She put her smaller belongings in the locker, stealing glances at the woman waiting patiently beside her. “You're lucky I don't have plans to celebrate with my team.”
“You are so boring.”
“Where shall we go? I don't know if it's too late to go somewhere interesting.”
“I have something in mind; after nine o'clock there are some fun parties to go to with company.”
“Accompanied by the best ice hockey player.”
“You're making me regret letting you win.”
“You'd only let me win in your dreams, Belova.”
Kate's confidence faltered the moment Yelena nodded toward the exit.
“Could you wait for me a minute? I haven't showered yet.”
“What?”
“I haven't showered yet, and I don't want you to smell my sweat during-”
“Are you telling me you didn't shower after the game? It's been a long time.”
“I got distracted.”
Furrowed brows and crossed arms were enough incentives for Kate to grab another towel and run in the opposite direction.
“I won't be long, I swear!”
Yelena threw her head back with her eyes closed, taking a deep breath so that her rival's clumsiness would not overshadow the tenderness of her actions.
. . .
“No way, did you really hit him with the stick before that game?”
“It wasn't intentional, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about it. That guy was unbearable.”
“Sounds like after that no one messed with your patience again.”
“Believe it or not, there are many who make that mistake.”
“Wow.”
“Like you, for example.”
“Wow.” Kate took another bite of her cotton candy, maintaining eye contact as she chewed.
Yelena rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair, one arm behind the backrest, and drinking from her glass with her free hand.
The chosen location was a fairground very close to the hockey stadium. They browsed the stalls for almost an hour, one wearing a buttoned coat that matched her black hair and the other wearing a leather jacket over a green sweatshirt.
They wandered through candy stores filled with families under the warm lights of the streetlamps.
Despite the moon overhead, there were dozens of children everywhere. It was a fun scene for both girls, who couldn't resist the temptation to take part in the games that offered prizes.
At first, it was just for fun, with no commitment, as they stood side by side in front of a childish attempt, but soon the feeling of competitiveness extrapolated to the present moment, and before they knew it, the two were giving their best to outdo each other.
Yelena threw all darts to win a stuffed rabbit at one of the stands, Kate hit all arrows in archery to win a stuffed puppy at the next one, and then there was a tie that left them empty-handed but satisfied with their hunger to outdo each other.
They don't know who was the first to exchange gifts, nor who was the first to intertwine their fingers as they walked through the rest of the fair.
In just one night, they went from bumping into each other on the ice to holding hands as they wandered aimlessly and talked carefree, the brunette carrying a stuffed rabbit and the blonde a little dog.
The only thing they know is the moment when the need to eat became too obvious to ignore, sitting down at the outdoor tables of a candy store to continue their conversation.
“I understand you have an older sister, right?”
“I do.”
“I don't think I've ever seen her when our teams play each other. Does she work a lot?”
“Something like that; it's complicated.”
Kate detected a certain discomfort in Yelena's tone of voice and quickly fell silent, drinking from her own glass, now turned away as subtly as she could.
Even so, Yelena noticed the change in attitude.
“You don't have to worry, it's nothing bad. She's just busy with her stuff and I'm busy with mine, but I assure you we get along better than people might expect. I love her so much.”
“I'm so glad to hear that.”
“Thank you.”
“I'd hate to know that the girl who asked me out has family problems and I can't help her.”
“You had to ruin it.”
“Why? I'm just being empathetic.”
“...”
“I have to be, especially after the defeat you had to endure and-”
Her words were cut short by the arm that reached out to put cotton candy in her mouth. She understood the message instantly and, with an affectionate smile, chewed the treat, leaving the matter aside.
“Would you like some?”
“I've already eaten a lot of sweets.”
“...you barely took a bite of a caramel apple.”
“That's enough for me.”
“You're so boring.”
“That's the phrase I used with you.”
“Now it's mine.”
“You're so weird.”
“Learn to share the way I do with you.” She held out the cotton candy and, seeing that the blonde wasn't cooperating, leaned closer over the table, making a pleading expression. “Please?”
Yelena grunted with a mask of boredom on her face, even though inside her chest was collapsing. It was one thing to see Kate's adorable gestures at the rink behind a visor, but it was quite another to have her a few inches away with those beautiful blue eyes, surrounded by people at a night fair.
The two stuffed animals next to the glasses judged her for her indecision, and with her cheeks slightly red and her gaze looking away, she parted her lips to take a small bite of the candy.
The sweetness on her tongue was excessive, almost forcing her to grimace, but she resisted. It was worth it for the sparkle of excitement in those two eyes and the sincerity in that smile.
“Remember, focus on the puck, not my body.”
The memory was instantaneous, and she couldn't shake the image of that incredible female figure making an equally incredible shot.
The speed with which Yelena shook her head with a frown confused Kate for a second before she realized how complex the person sitting across from her was.
A box of surprises that just made her want to get to know Kate better.
More intimately.
With a few bites left of her cotton candy, Kate spotted the entrance to a large, covered area in the distance with a sign on the doors that excited her with possibilities.
“Let's go there!”
After following her finger with her gaze, Yelena's eyebrow arched and her head tilted to one side.
“Ice skating? Are you serious?”
“What's wrong with that? It's fun and relaxing.”
“We just left one ice rink and you're suggesting we go to another; you're not the height of originality, Kate Bishop.”
“Neither are you the height of motivation.” She put the stuffed animals in the bag that was hooked on the elbow of the hand eating the candy, and the other gently pulled on the arm of the blonde who was still sitting. “Please?”
“You have to stop doing that to convince me of anything.”
“My pleas work on you.”
“I'll take that as subtle flirting.”
. . .
The bag with the prizes was placed on top of the coat and jacket resting on the bench assigned to the two girls, who were now skating slowly from the entrance of the ice rink to the center, and then to the opposite end.
They passed between novice couples and solitary individuals who showed no interest in anything other than their own affairs, allowing the hockey players to hold hands while enjoying each other's company without fear of strangers' stares.
They didn't really care, but they felt more comfortable going unnoticed after a game in which all eyes were on them.
The change of scenery felt refreshing even in a similar environment. The taller girl's light blue sweater reflected the frozen surface, and her high ponytail contrasted with the shorter girl's loose blonde hair.
“¿Yelena?”
“Tell me.”
“Will we continue as usual after this?”
“What do you mean?” She turned her head slightly, searching for an answer, but seeing that Kate's gaze remained fixed on the ice and her lips were tight, she deduced the obvious. “You mean our dynamic on opposing teams.”
“Yes.”
“It doesn't have to change if you don't want it to; we can get along off the rink and keep pretending to hate each other during games.”
“So your rivalry with me was always fake?”
“Well, maybe there's some truth to that. I love competing with you, but I never had any reason to hold a grudge against you.”
“I'm glad we think alike.”
The subtle squeeze of her hand revealed to Yelena that they were both about to arrive at the doubt that had been brewing between them since they left the stadium together.
“And what if...what if I want to change our dynamic, Yelena?”
The world melted into silence.
Everyone on the ice rink continued skating from their perspective, just as the two girls were caught in a bubble of uncertainty about the future that lay ahead.
Their fingers clasped tightly as a sign that they were together in that question, but the tremor in them revealed the fear of an answer that could put an end to what was blossoming on that first date.
The possibility of starting a new path.
A mysterious and attractive one.
Yelena sought Kate's eyes and the edge of her skates gradually slowed her progress until she came to a complete stop in the center of the ice.
“If that's what you want, then it's fine.”
Each experienced a tingling sensation under their clothes, a warm feeling spreading from head to toe during the seconds when time stood still and their breath caught. The other people skating carefree became blurred figures against a clear background.
The only thing that mattered were the dimples on the brunette's cheeks as she smiled shyly, looking at her own hand intertwined with the blonde's.
The gloves were no barrier to feeling the softness of one palm against the other.
Before she knew it, she was playfully pulling Yelena around, spinning them both in circles.
“Don't do that.”
“I can't help it; I'm happy.”
“We're going to fall!”
“And I wouldn't mind if we did!”
“Kate!” She smiled despite the adrenaline rushing through her veins, despite being winded after her date's euphoric outburst. “Kate Bishop!”
The tips of their skates touched as their arms stretched out to hold on to each other.
Until the warning words became reality and Kate's overconfidence caused her to fall backward, taking Yelena with her. The thud echoed across the ice, but it just attracted the momentary attention of a couple of heads as the brunette's body slowly slid along with the blonde on top of her.
Blood rushed to her cheeks, shivers shook her shoulders, embarrassment overwhelmed Kate, and Yelena's frustration was expressed in the growl trapped between her sealed lips.
“I'm sorry...”
“I've lost count of how many times I've heard that tonight.”
“I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for it to end like this.” She kept her blue eyes fixed on the ceiling so as not to face the fire in Yelena's gaze, her fingers trembling on her green sweatshirt. “I got carried away by the excitement of you accepting me for who I am. I promise I won't bother you again with my…”
The apology fell flat when the blonde's lips met the brunette's in a kiss. It was so unexpected that Kate took a moment to respond, wrapping her arms around Yelena's back as Yelena cupped her cheeks.
Once again, they forgot the world around them.
The tingling sensation at the corners of their mouths lingered even after they pulled away slightly, just long enough for the pair of amber eyes to gaze at the pair of blue eyes below them without saying a word, as if the surprise of a kiss in such circumstances was cause for analysis.
“Maybe I like it when you make me a little uncomfortable.”
Kate opened and closed her mouth several times, halfway to forming a coherent sentence, and even found it difficult to breathe due to the caresses of the gloved thumbs on her face.
All while she felt the heat of the body above her and the intensity of a gaze eager to continue.
And they did.
They kissed again with more confidence than the first time; they hugged and snuggled closer, ignoring the contrast in temperature between their clothes and the ice or the people skating nearby.
Nothing else mattered.
Nothing but their lips melting together in the sacred kiss of two hockey rivals lying on the very surface where they usually compete against each other.
. . .
The stands roared as usual when the players appeared, fueling the crowd's excitement, raising their sticks and celebrating the game that was about to happen.
It was just a friendly match, but even so, you could feel the intensity of a confrontation led by each team's star players.
Another face-to-face, another clash of glances, another brush of helmets.
But this time, the smiles hid something else.
“You already know what we say, Kate Bishop. If you can't take the heat, get off the ice.”
“In your dreams, Belova.”
The mischievous sparkle in the blue eyes pierced through the visor and sweetened the anticipation in Yelena's eyes, which stole glances at the lips in front of her, remembering the taste.
They both lowered their voices to a whisper that no one else on the rink could hear.
“Same time today?”
“We've been dating for a while now, you know the answer.”
“You know I like to be cautious with you.”
“I really appreciate that, even if I joke about it.”
Finally, the puck fell onto the ice, and there was nothing stopping the rival girls from colliding with each other like two unstoppable forces.
Or like two lovers who joined hands to embark on a new journey in ice hockey.
Together.