icing those hurt

Part 41

Tommy thinks he's getting used to the stick in his hands. It's a lot to think about- balance and maneuvering and speed- but Tommy thinks by now, after weeks and weeks of hanging out with the team on and off the ice, he's steadier overall.

They're playing for real now, and Tommy, as always, is on Techno's team. Now he knows he's not a hindrance, only an addition- and Techno skates backward to watch Tommy's back as he keeps his eyes on the moving puck. It's easy for him, a figure skater, and leagues more agile than any of them, to wiggle in, sweep the puck away and weave between them towards the goal.

He still loves figure skating- that's his sport, and no one can ruin that for him- but he loves a lot of other things now too. Things that he doesn't have to be perfect at, or even good . He can be bad at anything he tries and he'd know that he's still just as worthy as he was before. When he snowboards with Tubbo or bakes with Ranboo or sings with Wilbur. It's all fun.

But, still, Tommy's a perfectionist and there's no such thing as an Olympian without an ego, so, yeah, he likes being the best as things-

He skates right past Sapnap's defense and scoots past Schlatt playing keeper. When it goes in, he swoops around the goal and up the rink, whooping as he whizzes by, a huge smile on his face. He's loud and quick, but still, Phil, who's standing on the outside of the rink with his clipboard, smiles and reaches out a hand for Tommy to hit as he goes by.

"Okay," Sapnap huffs, "what was that you said about not being able to figure skate with a hockey skate? Those were not hockey moves."

"He's good," George shrugs simply.

"Proud of you Tommy!" Wilbur shouts, cupping his hands over his mouth. "Good shot!"

Tommy spins on the ice, beaming. Wilbur's proud of him. But more than that, he's proud of himself. And that's important, because he isn't his coach's, he isn't theirs, he is his own. And he is worth everything.

(word count - 363)