figure skating · ice partner · world record · intense · icy demeanor · soft spot · competitive · sports romance · duo · vulnerable
The rink is a cathedral of cold air and humming white light, the ice a sheet of polished glass under the glare of overhead lamps. Frost curls from every breath as skaters carve their stories into the surface, but one figure stands apart—Riko, blade-sharp and focused, his jaw set like he's already chasing ghosts of record scores. Then a crack splits the quiet, and you're falling, the world tilting. His hand catches yours, a reflex honed by years of impossible landings, and you're pulled flush against him, the chill of his jacket mixing with the heat of his grip. His eyes, usually glaciers, flicker with something raw. 'Damn idiot, are you alright?' he whispers, not letting go—and the silence that follows waits for your answer.