S - Ski
From ocgirl on AO3:
On a weather related request, I've always wanted to read a fic where Neal goes skiing. Bryce being a super-spy, it would seem logical that he's a expert skier. One way or another we would have the gang go skiing or required to ski, and found out the twins skiing level. (or maybe Bryce would have to teach Neal, whatever floats your boat).
Neal looked out at the blanket of white and tugged his toes back under his warm blanket. A warm mug sat in his hands and he was listening to the crackle of the burning wood in the fireplace.
"I know this was your fault," he muttered to his twin.
A mirror image of Neal with his blanket and mug of hot chocolate, Bryce was smirking.
It was, as Neal put it, his fault. Neal was the only one treating it like a bad thing.
Bryce had treated Peter, El, Jones, Diana and Neal to a holiday at a ski resort and somehow managed to get permission to allow Neal's radius to be moved for the duration of the trip.
Neal knew this had been to torture him. But, Peter and El had been overjoyed at the news, Diana hadn't threatened anyone in days and Jones was putting aside cases to come out here.
Peter stared out the window like a kid at Christmas with El curled into his side.
"So, skiing tomorrow?" Bryce suggested.
"Of course!" Diana responded first.
"I'm in." Jones.
"Sounds like fun," El said while Peter nodded, trying to look serious but a moment away from bouncing in excitement.
Neal sunk deeper into his chair and blanket and pretended not to listen. Maybe if he closed his eyes, they would think he was sleeping.
Snow was not soft. It was not fluffy. It was hard and cold and wet and Neal wanted to go back inside where his nose and cheeks didn't burn.
And he was sinking.
"Why didn't you say something?" Peter asked as he waddled over to help pull Neal up.
"I can ice skate," Neal quickly pointed out. "It's just skis are cumbersome." He tried to take a step and almost fell again. If Peter hadn't supported him, he would have hit the ground. "I hate skiing."
"And Bryce knew that," Peter sighed, realising he had been played. Of course, Bryce was off skiing with his friends, Chuck and Sarah. A 'Casey' was supposed to come but apparently stayed back because of work.
"Yep," Neal stated. He reached down and unclipped his skis. "And now that he's watched me fall on my behind, I'm going to do something else."
"I'll come with you," Peter said. Neal stopped him.
"I'll be right back out."
Peter raised an eyebrow but noticed the smirk on Neal's face. His CI was planning something.
Chuck noticed Neal trudging back to the ski hire with the skis under his arm. He pointed it out to Bryce who shrugged.
"Neal can't ski. Although, I expected him to last longer than this."
"You sound disappointed."
"I've been trying to teach him for years."
Sarah pulled up and stared at them.
"Why are you just standing around?" she asked. Chuck sighed and flashed on his skis so that he could ski like a master.
Jones set up a race. The person who reached the bottom last would pay for dinner. Of course, everyone agreed and they all lined up on one of the paths down.
"Ready!" El called out. "Set! Go!"
The world was a blur, except for those they were competing against. Bryce gained some air in order to put some distance between him and Diana. Despite his Intersect, Chuck was lagging behind them with Sarah on his heels.
Jones slid her way before Chuck, cutting him off and taking his position. Sarah skied past her husband without a word of apology.
They caught up to a guy in dark clothes on a snowboard. He watched them past and quickly caught on.
He slid after them. Snowboards weren't as fast as skis but he managed to catch up to El and then Peter after her.
And so they travelled down the mountain, Neal nipping on their heels, until they reached the end of the run.
"Uh, Neal?" Bryce questioned.
"You know, you really should check if anyone else is doing the run before racing," Neal pointed out. "I think Diana almost clipped me."
"Opps."
"Snowboarding?" Bryce questioned.
"Much better than skis," Neal nodded.
"Show off," Peter said. Neal had shot him a salute back when he passed him.
Neal just shrugged and slid away.
