(Hockey BxB) Whistle In The Wind

-𝐗𝐕𝐈𝐈-

╔══《"I just got over》══╗
being less of you."

       "Hey Ma!" Lucien cheered back, glancing up from the recipe book, a large smile overtaking his face. Footsteps sounded closer until a young woman with caramel brown hair popped around the corner.

       "How was your day, dear-" she paused, noticing the other boy in the room who had yet to make a peep. Awkwardly standing in the middle of the empty kitchen, Váli fidgeted with his fingers, meticulously cracking each knuckle before rubbing the sweaty phalanges together anxiously.

       "Oh, hello!" she beamed, bending over to slide the ballet flats off her feet. "You must be Váli," she continued, carefully placing the two shoes by the entrance of the kitchen before finally entering.

       "How did you kn-"

       "Aren't you just the cutest," she cooed, stepping closer to awe at him. "I'd recognize those features anywhere. You and your brother look so alike, the hair and eyes are a dead giveaway," Luc's mom smiled, reaching up to ruffle Váli's soft blond locks.

       "You're a lot softer though. Aksel's a bit scruffier," she assessed, scanning Váli's shifting body with her eyes.

       "Thanks?"

       "You ice skate right? That's so cool, you must be very good!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.

       " Yea-"

       "You practice at Luc's rink, right? I should come visit and watch you ska-"

       "Ma," Lucien interrupted, stepping forward to stand half-way in between his mother and Váli. Immediately becoming flustered, Luc's mother stepped back and put both her hands in the air.

       "Sorry dear. I get ahead of myself sometimes. Lucien gets it from me," she nudged her son, smirking.

       "Maaa," Luc groaned, throwing his head back. Váli remained quiet, smiling to himself at the interaction. "How was the hospital?" Lucien asked, sauntering back to grab the thick book he previously placed down.

       "Oh, good! They were all so lovely today," she answered, humming to herself. "Wheres Aksel?" she looked around curiously, noticing the unusual absence of the teen.

       "He's at hockey practice."

       "Ohh," she dragged out, returning her gaze to Váli. "Why aren't you at the rink practicing too? I remember someone mentioning that you all had practice at the same time," she queried.

       "I hurt my ankle, so I'm taking a week off."

       Flinching, the woman replied, "Ouch, hopefully you start to feel better. You're always welcome in our house."

       "Ma, you're gonna scare him off at his first time over," Luc groaned.

       "Sorry," she smiled, "It's nice to see someone besides Aksel over, even though I adore him too," she beamed. Váli admired the older woman. Her curly hair was frizzy in a way that seemed effortlessly messy. Gazing at the freckles skin, Váli instantly knew Luc got them from her.

       They were identical on both people, large splotches near the nose and cheeks, then diffused splatters covering every other surface. Her eyes were the same amber as her son's. However, where Lucien's nose was completely straight, his mother's was flat besides the very tip, sphering out.

       As their background chatter became mindless noise, Váli rested back against the counters. The white marble tops matched nicely with the rest of the room, and with Lucien's mom's vibe itself.