Off Axis

Ao'nung watched as Neteyam skated toward the exit, dodging the flowers. He looked... lonely. That was the only word for it. Surrounded by thousands of cheering fans, burying his face in a tissue his coach handed him, Neteyam Sully looked like the loneliest person in the room.

Ao'nung felt a weird tug in his chest. He wanted to know him. Not the poster boy, but the guy who looked like he was carrying the weight of the entire world on his sequined shoulders.

Ao'nung finally blinked for the first time since the performance started, looking down at his phone. He in fact forgot to record at all. But he didn't care, as his eyes quickly flicked back up to the star. He watched Neteyam disappear into the tunnel, the cameras flashing blindingly around him. A grin tugged at the corner of Ao'nung's mouth, chaos bubbling up again. Maybe figure skating is a little more interesting than he thought.