thin ice | childe x reader

five. the way into a hockey team's heart

"ah, the legendary y/n, is it?" a girl with blonde hair asked with a gentle smile, standing up to shake your hand. "i'm barbara. it's a pleasure to meet you. jean has said wonderful things about you."

"no need for compliments, ahaha. jean has said good things about you, too," you replied, sitting down to discuss your team.

"really? i'm flattered," she responded, finding her seat across from you. she wore her blonde hair in pig tails, and she still had her bright blue scrubs on. barbara looked strikingly like her sister, with matching eyes and tender smile. "so! tell me, how are the boys?"

"i think that they're alright. the freshmen are nice, kaeya and diluc beat each other up on a daily basis, and xiao never talks, but is great on the ice," you recounted, placing a hand on your cheek. "and then there's childe. he holds a grudge against me because i taught his younger brother how to skate."

"ah, the revered captain of teyvat's stars," she hummed, fiddling with her fingers. "you know, i find it strange that he has a problem with you. you've seen him out with his friends, or with the people on campus. he's a charming, charismatic, young man."

"i agree, but he can be a real prick," you sighed. "you know, he's been shouldering me every time we walk together. he doesn't help me learn anything about hockey, he makes fun of my every move, and–"

"well, that's what i'm here for. don't worry about anything, alright? we're just waiting for the pieces to fall into place," she laughed, reaching over for your hands. "now, let's begin with the basics."

"the basics?"

"the way to get through to the team. you and the team are acquaintances at best, but you're going to become family soon enough."

"i think family's pushing it, barbara."

"when you spend enough time with those six, twenty-something jocks, they become family. don't be afraid to let your guard down. they don't bite at all. really, the stars are more like puppies than wolves," she chuckled, before looking at you again. "the first way into the team's heart is food."

"food?"

"yup! these are athletes who are also kind of frat boys; they're going to love everything you make," barbara fished a paper out of her bag, pushing it across the table. you picked it up gently, scanning it to see a list of the juniors' and seniors' favorite foods, along with recipes. there were also small doodles of them in blue ink. "here's all of their favorite foods. i didn't have the opportunity to meet with the freshmen, so i don't have anything down for them.

"childe's favorite food is this snezhnayan soup. it's, um, a bit disgusting, but he likes it. said that i made it similar to his mother's. he also loves salad, without croutons and only with ranch.

"diluc's favorite food is a stack of steaks and a dollop of potatoes, with a honey drizzle on it as well. on the contrary, kaeya despises it, and will do everything to sabotage it. his strange shakes are comprised of spinach, collard greens, lettuce, mangos, peaches, and pineapple."

"and he likes it?"

"he certainly does. it's the only thing he'll ever order at that local smoothie shop," the former hockey manager replied with a nod. "xiao actually has quite the sweet tooth. his favorite dish is almond tofu, a dessert from liyue.

"finally, kaeya loves these kebabs that are soaked in wine. it's simple, really. just chicken and mushrooms," she capped off, smiling brightly at you. "not all that hard, is it? they'll be all over you if you present them their favorite dishes."

"you really think that it'll do something?"

"i know so! but it's not only food that gets them to feel more like family. it might be awkward at first, since you're new to hockey as a whole, but offer what you can to help them. take their jerseys, their sticks, and their pucks. while that sounds like the basics of being a manager, offering is a lot different than just expecting them to drop their equipment in your arms."