A/N: Inspired by a tumblr post about a figure skater beginning their program with "watch this shit motherfuckers!" Also thanks to nicayal for all your help with figure skating things!

Waiting at the Boards

Part One

Axel was probably one of the tallest skaters, and maybe it left him at a disadvantage, but for him, it was just an excuse to show everyone how much better he was. And anyway, he couldn't rightfully claim his name if he wasn't the best.

He was pretty certain his triple axel jump was the best.

"What's a beanpole like you doing here? Don't you think you're above the height requirement?"

Axel glanced over at the petite blond man, blue eyes derisive. He lifted an eyebrow and grinned. "Roxas, I gotta say, I'm surprised to see you here. Didn't think you'd make it past regionals."

"Tch." Roxas scowled and turned his attention to tugging at his windswept spikes. "I'm surprised they let old men like you compete still."

Axel narrowed his eyes. "I'm not that old."

"You sure about that?"

Axel ignored the dig. "Saw you're going in before me. I suppose it's lucky for you, since it'll be impossible for you to follow my act, yeah?"

"Don't get too full of yourself, Flutzer."

"Hey, that was once. And you only beat me by one point."

Roxas opened his mouth to retort, but was cut off as their group was called out for warm-ups. Still, he couldn't help a parting remark before stepping onto the ice. "Catch an edge, asshole."

"Right back at ya, blondie!" Axel smirked and followed him on, getting a feel for the ice.

They talked a lot of shit to each other, something that went way back, since they'd started seeing each other in competitions. He wasn't sure what Roxas thought of it, but for Axel, an event wasn't worth winning without Roxas there to swallow the defeat. And if Roxas won, well, that wasn't as common an occurrence, but he certainly wasn't bad, no matter what Axel said.

But the playful banter fell away once the ice was under his blades. It was all about showing, instead of telling. His face fell into an expression of concentration as he waited for an opening, and then pushed straight into a triple. As he came out of the jump, he caught a glimpse of Roxas, twirling a mocking finger as if to say whoop-de-doo. Axel's mouth opened in a toothy grin.

"Skaters, you have one minute remaining," a voice called over PA system.

Roxas, the first skater of the group, skated to one side of the rink, while Axel and the others in the group squeezed in their last-minute spins. At the end of the minute, he was alone on the ice, waiting to be called into position.

"Roxas Strife!"

Axel waited at the boards, rolling his eyes as a classical piece came over the sound system. It was graceful and elegant, and Roxas's program was a perfect match to it. Almost. Axel snorted as Roxas fell out at the end of a jump, botching the landing.

Still, the girls in the audience loved him, and Roxas skated to pick up a couple stuffed bears that had been thrown on the ice in appreciation. That perfectly cute smile on his lips as he skated over to the judges. They awarded him a high score, and Axel grit his teeth. There was another competitor before Axel, and he stood by, waiting his turn.

"Axel Cendres!"

Axel's eyes were sparkling with mirth as he took position. "Watch this shit, motherfuckers!"

The opening chords of an Imagine Dragons song came through the speakers, and Axel launched into his program.

It was flawless. He was showing teeth as he landed his final jump. Perfect. He had it. He circled around and gathered his own collection of stuffed animals, giving the audience a wave on his way to the kiss & cry.

The judges were deliberating more than usual, and Axel's grin faltered a little. Then fell altogether as they showed his score.

"Looks like I'll be taking this one," Roxas murmured from behind him.

Axel spun. "You got lucky. That jump you landed was shit. Not to mention your poor axel technique."

Roxas raised his eyebrows. "You were watching? Ballsy."

Axel's eyes darkened. "I'll show you ballsy." They were interrupted by Axel's coach giving him a stink-eye. "We'll continue this later."

Roxas gave him a cold look before turning away.

Larxene cuffed Axel on the head. "The routine was good, but they probably deducted points for your little announcement at the start. That was bad form, Axel."

"Hey, ow!"

"How many times do I have to tell you not to get cocky?"

"But the audience loved it!" He shoved a stuffed bear at her. "Isn't it cute? Looks kind of like Roxy, yeah?"

Larxene pushed the bear away. "The audience aren't the ones who give you points, dumbass. And stop making eyes at Roxas."

"I'm not making eyes, he's my rival!"

"Could've fooled me!"

Despite Axel's protests, he lingered in the locker room after they'd collected their medals. To continue their earlier exchange, as promised, or at least, that was the excuse.

"Looks like we'll be competing again at Nationals." Axel leaned against a column, arms crossed, watching Roxas pull his street clothes out of the locker.

"Do you think you'll live that long?"

Axel waved the comment off. "I thought I'd offer to help you with your axel technique."

Roxas lifted an eyebrow, peeling off the top half of his costume. "I have a coach already, thanks," he said dryly.

Axel's smirk was lopsided. "Not a coach like me."

"I doubt your…technique…would work with my style."

Axel pushed away from the wall and moved towards Roxas. "You sure about that?"

Roxas propped his hands on his hips. "Yeah, I am. Your tall-ass technique ain't gonna work for me."

"Roxas," Axel's voice dropped, and he moved into Roxas' personal space. "Stop fucking around." He grabbed Roxas's chin and bent close, studying blue eyes. He nodded, satisfied with what he saw there, before capturing Roxas's lips in a kiss. Roxas pressed a hand against Axel's chest, a half-hearted attempt to resist, before he was returning the kiss in full force, teeth pulling at Axel's lips, breaths coming faster as their tongues twined together.

A small squeak at the entrance to the locker room drew them apart, Roxas's face paling and his eyes going wide. "Shit." He pushed Axel away. "Namine, what are you doing in here? This is the men's locker room."

Axel only chuckled and plopped down on a bench and watched Roxas try to talk to his sister, who'd covered her mouth with a hand. Shell-shocked.

"You were taking a long time," she finally managed. Roxas hissed something to her and shooed her out.

"The fuck do you think you were doing!" Roxas turned his ire on Axel, whose chuckle turned into a laugh.

"What did you think I was doing? Teaching you a little bit about Axel technique." He chortled and stood, catching up his duffel bag where he'd left it. "See you at Nationals, blondie."

Axel couldn't help the swagger as he left the locker room.