On Thin Ice

Chapter 29- one rises, one falls

(Y/N) POV:

4 days ago, Seocho-Gu Sports Arena, Kiss and Cry

The scores flash up on the screen, the roar of commentary and the audience is drowned out by the sound of Kook's voice in my ear, loud and giddy.

"We did it—we're in the top 3 scores! Do you know how brilliant this is?" cheering, exuberant, yell pressed against my ear, against my skin, hand tugging at me eagerly. A yank of his arm tugging me into him, limbs tangled, gripping him back just as tightly, just as fiercely, eyes pinned onto the score, disbelieving.

"We did it—you beauty look! Look at that score for a comeback!" Kook cheers.

And my eyes tug away from the scores flashing up to look at Koo instead, face scrunched with delight, beaming as he grins at me, face flushed with excitement.

A tangle of limbs as he tugs me into a tight hug, arms wrapped around his shoulders, a broken litany of words on loop, laced with breathless laughter.

"I can't believe it, oh my god I can't believe it!"

"Top 3 scores—the advantage this is going to give you going into the competition for the Asian Cup—well done you two." Arms wrapping around the two of us, words ringing with exuberance, hug tight, proud, congratulatory. Coach Seo's eyes shine with pride, hands squeezing our shoulders before stepping back, laughing as we stumble up, balance not righted before it's topsy-turvy and spinning. A whirl of colour, of the official backdrop of the kiss and cry, Kook's performance costume a blur of deep red mesh, arms strong and squeezing—the world around us twirling alongside us, laughter ringing in my ears, tangling alongside mine, lips peppering quick kisses across my skin.

It's a score way more better than I could've anticipated. It's a score way more better than I could've dreamed of getting on the first official competition back this season.

Every worry, every fear and doubt spins away in the breathless twirls of Kook spinning the two of us around, arms wrapped tight, forehead pressed to his, drinking in the sight of shining, sparkling eyes peering up at me.

"Well fucking done icicle."

"We did it Koo."

"You did it."

"Never without you."

"Gagged everyone with the comeback." Words proud, brimming with elation.

And he's barely slowed, barely tilted me back down towards the ground, arms still wrapped around one another when two bodies come barrelling into us, a sudden weight that tips into us. A tangle of bodies, limbs, arms, eyes bright and smiles glowing.

"I fucking knew you had it in you. You did amazingly aegis!"

"Welcome back to the ice, princess." Jin grins at me, eyes shining.

Such warmth, such pride and such elation in both of Hobi and Jin's faces as they tangle themselves tightly into the hug.

Any fear I'd had before stepping onto the ice has faded into nothingness, leaving nothing but a soaring feeling as if still in flight, still airborne, still weightless.

"Dinner? On me?"

"We've got to get to the stands for the rest of the performances."

"Not gonna join us superstars?" Hobi teases, lips stretched wide, the same giddiness mirrored in the wide disbelieving smile stretched across my face.

"Let me get the skates off."

"And something to cover up with." Kook adds.

"Not a fan of blinding the crowd from within the crowd?"