The Nights We Stay Awake (TemperancexReader)

54. "The ice rink"

Y/n pov

The cool air nips at my face as i stand at the edge of the ice rink, staring down a the blades strapped to my feet. I've never been ice skating before, not seriously anyway. I've gone once or twice when i was younger with my parents, but i spent more time clinging to the wall than actually skating. I glance over at Temperance, who is already lacing up her skates like it's second nature to her. She looks so at ease, so confident, and i can't help but feel a bit nervous.

"You sure about this?" i ask, my voice wavering slightly.

Temperance looks up at me with a small, reassuring smile. "I promise, i won't let you fall: I'll be right there with you the whole time."

I nod, trying to mask my nerves. "Okay, but if i break something, you're the one explaining it to the doctors."

She chuckles, standing up and gliding effortlessly onto the ice with grace. "You won't break anything. Just trust me."

I shuffle closer to the edge of the rink, holding onto the rail as i try to balance myself on the ice. I feel wobbly, unsure, like i could fall at any moment. But Temperance skates back toward me, holding out her hand.

"Come on, Y/n. Just take it slow."

I take a deep breath and grab her hand, letting her guide me onto the ice. My feet immediately feel like they're slipping out from under me, but she steadies me, her grip firm and sure.

"You're doing great," she says, her voice soft and encountering. "Just relax your knees a little and let your body follow."

I try to do as she says, bending her knees slightly and taking tentative steps froward. I feel clumsy, uncoordinated, but with her hand in mine, i don't feel as scared. She skates backwards, facing me, leading me gently across the ice.

"See? You've got it," she says with a proud smile.

I laugh nervously, still unsure of myself. "You make it look so easy."

"I've had practice," she replies, her eyes twinking. "You're doing great, though. Just keep moving."

We glide along slowly, and i start to find a rhythm, trusting her to keep me balanced. The rink is filled with other skaters, but in this moment, it feels like it's just the two of us. Her focus is entirely on me, and i can't help but feel a warmth spread through me, despite the cold.

As we move across the ice, i feel the pull and ache in my body from my injuries, but i refuse to let it ruin the moment. The more we skate, the more the pain seems to fade into the background. It's there, but manageable.

"I'm okay," i say, giving her a reassuring smile. "I'm not going to let a little pain ruin this."

Temperance looks at me, her brow furrowed with concern. "If it hurts too much, we can stop."

"No," i insists, squeezing her hand. "I want to do this. With you."

She nods, though i can see the concern still lingering in her eyes. But she doesn't push, and we keep moving, her hand never leaving mine.

After a while, i start to get the hang of it, my movements becoming more fluid. I'm still far from graceful, but at least i'm not stumbling as much. Temperance watches me with that same proud smile, and i feel a surge of confidence.

We skate around the rink a few more times, and then, as we slow to a stop near the edge, she pulls me close. Her hand moves to my waist, and i lean into her, the world around us blurring as i focus solely on her.

"You did great," she murmurs, her breath warm against my cheek.

I smile, still catching my breath. "I had a pretty good teacher."

She leans in, her lips brushing mine in a soft, tender kiss. My heart races, and for a moment, the cold, the rink, everything else disappears. It's just her and me, standing on the ice, lost in each other.

The kiss deepens, and i can feel her hands holding me tighter, her warmth enveloping me in a way that makes the cold seem distant. I kiss her back with just as much intensity, letting myself fall into the moment, letting go fo everything else.

When we finally pull back, both of us breathless, she looks into my eyes, her expression soft and full of emotion.

"I love you," she whispers, the words so quiet, but they send a shiver down my spine.

I smile, leaving my forehead against hers. "I love you too, my Temperance."

We skate for a little while longer, the rest of the world fading away as we glide across the ice together. And by the time we finish, i don't even care about the pain in my body. All i care about is that i'm here, with her, sharing this moment.