October, 2002

"Lehnsherr! Get your head out of your ass, and start shaving some ice!"

Erik started at the voice, wincing immediately after when his headache flared behind his aching eyes. He took a deep, steadying breath and pushed himself forward. The hard rubber flooring easily gave way to slick ice as he coasted toward his usual position.

"Fuck," he groaned. His headache was only just beginning to gain a foothold, and the constant buzzing, cheering, and glass rattling wasn't doing it any favors. He almost wished he could beg off the match, but he had already been benched the last two. He ground his teeth and dug the blades of his skates in as far as the thick ice would allow.

Officially in position, with the puck ready to drop in any second, a burly player from the opposing team nudged his shoulder and raised a brow. Erik ignored the first jab. He bent over at the waist, ready for the referee to start the match when the other man nudged him again. Erik hung his head and sighed in resignation.

"Fine," he muttered.

The other man, Berg according to the back of his yellow jersey, grinned enthusiastically.

A whistle was blown, the puck dropped, and hockey sticks clashed furiously as the two teams fought to gain the upper hand. Erik, however, had tossed aside his stick and shifted his weight into more of a fighting stance as Berg mimicked his movement.

Their mitts were easily flung to the side as they pulled up their fists and drifted expertly round one another. Erik jerked and shook his wrists as he attempted to work the tight fabric of his jersey a little further up his arms. The previous din of the crowd erupted and surged forward in the palpable excitement. It washed over Erik as he took another steadying breath, and narrowed his tired eyes to nothing else but the man before him.

Berg made a lunge for the front of Erik's jersey. He easily dodged the grab with a simple twist of his body, bringing his right skate a little too far behind his left for his liking, but at least he wasn't in the larger man's embrace. He attempted to even out his precarious footing and simultaneously counter the man's move by swinging his dominant left arm around and clubbing Berg upside the head.

The forward momentum of the movement had Erik coasting a little closer to the opposing member, and Berg made use of it by effectively hooking a finger into the v-neck collar and jamming a meaty fist into Erik's cheek. He managed to pull back and land another particularly hard blow before Erik raised his right arm and got in a solid punch to the man's eye.

He was vaguely aware of the Swedish announcer shouting things like "punch for punch!" and "neither giving an inch!" but he couldn't be sure if that was what he was even saying. Erik wouldn't have been surprised if it was blood welling up in his ears and causing his hearing to erupt in an odd hum or if it was just how he compartmentalized his surroundings when he was in his element.

This was his job.

This.

Erik bared his teeth, blood slicking the shark-like fangs, and felt a renewed vigor spark in his weary bones. He allowed Berg to pull him even closer, their thick protective gear keeping their odd position from looking weirdly intimate before he worked loose his left arm from between their bodies and rammed a closed fist repeatedly into Berg's side. It wasn't as effective as a face shot, but it was strong and powerful enough to have Berg try and push away.

Berg's clumsy movement in his avoidance of Erik's southpaw easily allowed Erik more room to use his dominant hand. A position that Erik had been seeking. His bloody grimace widened into nothing short of an exultant grin as he pummeled Berg's unprotected face with his freed hand. The other man stumbled to the side, unable to get his skates underneath him, and finally fell when Erik released the white-knuckled grip he had had on the others bloodied jersey.

Erik was instantly swept up by two referees, who ushered him toward the penalty box. He couldn't help a wink and nod toward all the rolling cameras. He looked downright maniacal, bright red blood dripping from his jaw, but he absolutely lived for moments like these.

TBC...