Icing Those Hurts (NOT MY STORY. READ DISC)

Part 20

Tommy leaves Sapnap and Quackity's room feeling well-rested and steady and more alert than ever. It's like every time he gets a chance to rest, he comes back just a bit stronger than before. Especially when he gets to sleep by the team. Of course, it doesn't escape his knowledge that they're huge and loud and clumsy and could probably snap Tommy in half in a second, but Tommy isn't afraid of them. They're probably the last things on Earth that he is afraid of- they're the one thing he can trust.

He's got to shake it off now- he's got to be down at the rink in ten. Tommy's about to head to his room to grab his stuff when the door behind him opens and closes again.

"Tommy." Tommy turns, blinking at Wilbur, who looks a little awkward standing there. Nervous, maybe. "Hey, sorry, I just- I wanted to ask a question."

"Yeah?"

"Uh, I just wanted to know about the hockey thing. Was there a reason why you didn't think it would work out- or..."

Tommy bites his lip.

How does he even try to explain? Sorry Wilbur, I can't bear the idea of trying something new because what if I'm not good at it? What if that's the final straw? Or, even: Hey Wilbur, I'm sorry, I just am already pretty basic at the one thing I've been doing my whole life- how could I manage trying something new?

Tommy is supposed to be perfect. That is what he is allowed. Nothing else.

(And, deep down inside, he can't help but be a little selfish. These guys don't care about figure skating- not the way Tommy's coach does. They don't make him land jumps to hang out with him. But if they find out that Tommy can't play the sport that they love? Then what? And the idea of them teaching him? Of them talking to him the way his coach does? Tommy thinks that would tear him apart. He knows that he's worthless- he doesn't need to hear it from the people that call him a friend.)

"No, I just- I don't know." Tommy lies. "It seems like a lot. All of you and the ice and-"

"That makes sense," Wilbur rushes out. "That makes sense, of course. It would be a lot. I just thought it would be fun, you know? I mean, you're teaching me your sport- I'd love to teach you some of mine."

That does sound nice, Tommy thinks. He remembers Wilbur on the ice learning how to glide- that smile on his face, the glee in his eyes. Tommy would love to feel like that when trying something new, instead of just panic and stress.

"It does sound fun," he whispers, almost to himself, and Wilbur brightens just a tad.

"Doesn't it?" He goes. "I mean, I get it if you say no, so don't feel like you have to agree, but what if it was just us on the ice? Like that first time? That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Tommy shakes his head slowly. No, it wasn't. Tommy's only got fond memories of that.

"Yeah, so we could do that for hockey if you wanted. Just to spend a little more time together."

And Tommy thinks about it. Thinks about Wilbur's goofy smiles and his careful touches and friends, and finds himself nodding in agreement. All on his own- just saying yes.

Of course, in response, Wilbur just grins, ecstatic.