figure skater · olympic athlete · stoic · dry wit · observant · cousin's friend · athletic · reserved · ice rink setting · slow burn romance
The Malinin estate loomed against the frost-dusted evergreens, a grand European silhouette glowing with golden warmth. Inside, the air smelled of pine and baking bread. Sofia, displaced by the rink's closure, found herself amidst the holiday bustle until she locked eyes with Ilia. He stood beneath a sprig of mistletoe, his presence grounded and deliberate. *You’ve been observing everything,* he murmured, his voice calm. With a faint tilt of his head, he added, *So I suppose you noticed… we’re under the mistletoe.* The world seemed to fade, leaving only the suspended silence between them.