on thin ice [karen/frank - marvel]

nine: i won't let you fall

"Can I hold your hand, Karen?"

She turned toward Frank in the street, frowning slightly as her hands remained firmly in her pockets. The cold air whipped at their cheeks, Frank leaving his jacket open being a mistake. His hope died slightly. Her hair blew wildly in the wind and she kept her eyes trained on the ground.

"Bit eager aren't you? Little early on in a date for hand-holding" Karen replied briskly.

Frank laughed, the gap between them enclosing slightly. Karen looked back at the pavement when her cheeks flooded red a little. Luckily, it wasn't all too light. "I'm just warning you for when you go to fall and I grab your hand to stop you. I don't want you overreacting and hitting me over the head again"

Karen sighed, "Are you going to bring that up at every possible moment? Firstly, it was a perfectly normal overreaction because I had no idea who you were. Secondly, why am I going to be falling? Was that a cheap excuse for a pickup line?"

The two of them turned the corner and the bright luminous lights hit them. Karen squinted slightly and Frank could tell she hadn't been around town much since she moved. He looked up at the lively street in front of them, feeling out of place but also right at home. You could never be out of place in a city so full. Frank turned back toward Karen, a smile on his face. "Because,"

She sped up slightly when he crossed the road ahead of her, before looking at the building behind him. "Because what?"

He stopped outside of "Lola's Ice Rink".

--

"I can't believe you're making me do this" Karen said, shoving her foot into one of the skates. She sighed, looking down at her quite obviously shaking hands. She rubbed them on her knees, feeling the cold air from the ice rink nipping at her skin. "I can't believe you're making me do this, Frank"

Frank just smiled at the floor as he laced his skates up, before standing and watching Karen struggle to get her left foot into the boot. She couldn't knock her pride so she continued struggling alone and Frank crossed his arms. He had rolled his sleeves to pull his boots on but had gradually gotten colder as he cooled down.

"Need help?" He asked, knowing full well what the answer would be.

She shook her head, pulling an odd face as she struggled some more but sighed as she began lacing up. Karen pushed herself off the bench, wobbling as she stood up too quickly. Frank grabbed her by the elbows, steadying her and noticing the fear on her face as she locked eyes with him. "You good?"

She pulled away after a second. "Yeah. I'm fine. I'm good"

"Ready?" he asked, holding his hand out for her to take. He had forgotten his gloves and by the looks of things, so had she. Her hand graced his as she held on, gripping tighter than he expected. Her hands were so smooth, Frank's so rough and generously dirty. He did not hold on tight, figuring he would stain how pure she was with his jagged edges. She was so perfectly shaped with no edges untucked - Frank was a mess.

She nodded, trying to smile. "Yeah"

Frank stepped onto the ice before her, people stepping around her to get on ahead. Karen watched them anxiously as they either skated off freely or fell over onto the ice. Frank was a skilled skater, gaining his balance easily and shoving his hands in his pocket. Why was she not surprised? Why else would he pick this place?

He held his hand out toward her, the other one still in his pocket. Karen felt mocked at his skill, how controlled and calm he looked. She frowned, glaring at him almost, and Frank just laughed whilst beckoning her forward. She eyed his hand before gulping. "Come on"