Ice Skating
I flop down onto the bench and glance over at the sole person from our group who isn't enthusiastically putting on his ice skates. M-21 only looks up at me for a second before returning his eyes to the ice skating rink once again. Following his gaze, I sigh. There are many couples holding hands, sticking close to each other as they slowly glide across the ice. A group of rowdy children cuts between one of the couples, breaking them apart, and the kids cheer as if they have just won a game. No wonder M-21 doesn't want to step out on the ice. I'm not too eager to join the mayhem myself, and I can't hold it against him if he's not overjoyed about it either.
Frankenstein is glaring at us from across the arena, and I know that I should make a show of putting on my skates just to appease him. After the way the children described this place to his master, it was inevitable that we would all be forced to tag along. It was only with reluctance that I agreed to this, and it took an unspoken threat to convince M-21. And then there is Tao. He hasn't stopped talking since he first heard the idea, and his confidence is as astounding as always. He has already memorized several tricks and is dying to try them out.
The boss is still watching us, and even though he is smiling for the children, I can see the command in his eyes. I look over to the skate rental booth as if waiting for Tao. He's near the back of the line, and judging by his exaggerated motions, he still hasn't stopped bragging about his skill to Ikhan. I don't know how that boy puts up with him, but I sometimes wonder the same thing about myself.
I feel M-21 tense beside me, and I immediately spin back around. Frankenstein has shifted his gaze from me to him, and unlike me, M-21 is determined not to give in. I grab both of our skates from the ground and set them on the bench in between us. This is enough to satisfy Frankenstein for now, and he once again focuses on his master.
For a few more seconds I, too, watch Rai slowly skate over the ice. Even as a beginner, his movements are graceful, and although he has done nothing to draw attention, I have noticed others watching him as well. I don't know when, but I would bet that Frankenstein showed him how to ice skate.
"We really should put on the skates," I say, but I make no move to do so.
M-21 snorts at my suggestion, and I turn my head toward him just in time to see him cross his arms over his chest. He's glaring at Frankenstein's back, and I should say something before the boss notices. If he hasn't already noticed.
"I think it would mean a lot to the children if we participate in this."
"I'm content with watching at the moment."
His eyes softened a bit, and his arms drift into a somewhat less defiant position. Even his voice sounds lighter. I would be pleased with the change if not for the sudden smirk on his face. I follow his gaze to Regis. The boy is clinging to the half wall with both arms flung over the side. His face is burning with embarrassment, and I can imagine him muttering about elegance under his breath. Shinwoo is next to him, gesturing wildly in what must be a vivid explanation. With that boy teaching him to skate, Regis would be better off on his own.
I slide on one of my skates and slowly tighten the shoelaces until the boot is snug against my ankle. I still don't want to do this, but after seeing Regis, I at least can't be that bad. "Have you ever done this before?"
M-21 doesn't answer, but his head moves slightly. Of course he hasn't.
"Yeah, me neither." I pull on the second skate. The blades on the bottoms of each skate feel unstable beneath my feet, and I'm starting to doubt my evaluation of Regis. I lean forward, putting pressure on the blades, but I don't stand up. Frankenstein's preoccupied right now. I can hold out a little longer. "The girls look like they're having fun."
Yuna and Suyi both take one of Seira's hands in their own although she doesn't appear to need the support. Bright smiles light the girls' faces, and even Seira's eyes sparkle as they circle the arena. Neither of the nobles have been ice skating before, but unlike Regis, Seira's movements are natural and graceful.
"Seira doesn't seem have any problems." M-21 whispered quietly to himself.
So that had been on M-21's mind, too. My attention immediately shifts back to him, and I chuckle softly. "As long as you do a better job than Regis, you can make fun of him, right?"
To tell the truth, I'm more concerned with Tao than Regis. If we disgrace ourselves on the ice, he isn't going to let us live it down, and unlike Regis, he will be hard to outdo. He has done nothing but study tricks since we first decided to come here.
Tao's laughter cuts through the air in a high shrill, and he's prancing about with his skates in his hands. It's obvious that he's excited, and I'm growing even more reluctant. I wish that I hadn't put on my skates yet, but even if I hadn't, Frankenstein would have dragged me out onto the ice before long. And I should be grateful. With Tao making a scene, everyone's attention is on him. I'm safe for a little longer.
Tao sits down next to me, shoving me into M-21's ice skates so that there's enough room for him and Ikhan. I'm amazed at how he can put on his skates without a moment of silence, and even Ikhan is now more amused than awed by Tao's eagerness. I meet M-21's gaze and shake my head in disbelief.
Trying to ignore Tao, I look back at the crowded rink. The rowdy kids have linked arms, using the momentum to whip the last child around the curve. The kid rockets pass Rai, and I swear I have never seen Frankenstein look so threatening. Unaware how close he came to losing his life, the child makes another lap and rejoins his friends. I hope Tao hasn't learned that trick.
"Why aren't you on the ice? You finished putting on your skates."
I almost missed Ikhan's question, and I pry my eyes from the rink to glance over at him. "I'm waiting for him to finish."
M-21 outright glares at me as I casually point at his neglected ice skates. He has enough sense not to show his temper in front of the children, but I can tell he's annoyed with me. He takes the skates from in between us and gruffly shoves his feet inside. They must feel as uncomfortable to him as they do to me.
Tao jumps up from the bench and saunters over to the half wall that divides the ice from the outside world. He stops at the entrance and waves for us to follow. Neither M-21 nor I move, but Ikhan quickly rushes after him.
My eyes follow Ikhan as he steps out on the ice, and I decide that it can't be that bad. Sure, the boy is hobbling and stumbling, but he is keeping himself upright. So, I assume, an enhanced human developed for agile movements should be at least to do that, too. Maybe I am able to handle it. I still have half a minute to work up my courage to try to stand up since I still have to wait for M-21 to tie his second shoe. Enough time to take a look at how Tao's first steps on ice will be.
He's confident enough not to hold onto the railing. Tao skates out to the center of the ice, to the center of attention, and swirls in an easy circle. I'm jealous already, and M-21 is watching with his shoelaces wrapped around his fingers as if in mid-knot. Tao waves to the crowd, vying for their focus, and once he is sure that he has enough eyes upon him to make a spectacle of himself, he begins to show off. He takes a lap around the arena, backwards, and recklessly darts around the spectators. He jumps into the air, leaping over a fallen child, and lands on one skate. Instantly, he spreads his arms like a bird in flight, and I can't believe that some people are even clapping for the hotshot. He looks back at the clappers, flashing a showy smile, and by the time he looks forward again, it's already too late to avoid the half wall. I unconsciously stand as Tao strikes it with enough force to throw his upper body forward, and he flips head first over to the other side.
I sink back down into my seat. After seeing that, I don't even want to stand in these skates. Most of the skaters are frozen in shock. The rowdy children have gathered around the portion of wall Tao had hurdled, mockingly clapping for his performance, and Ikhan is fumbling to shove his way through them. Shinwoo darts across the ice to help, leaving Regis attached to the wall near us. The girls are standing with their hands over their mouths although Seira is unconcerned, and I swear Frankenstein looks like he's laughing.
From my side, I hear a low chuckle, and I turn in time to see M-21 shake his head before bowing down to finish tying his shoelaces. Trying to fight back my own grin, I turn back around to our fallen comrade. Tao's head appears over the low wall. His face is flushed in a shade of red that I haven't seen on him for a long time. He is trying to laugh it off by gesturing and waving at the audience. By now Ikhan and Shinwoo are at his side, helping him back on the ice. Tao is skating far more carefully, now, but I'm sure that's not going to last long.
"We can't do any worse than Tao." I stand up again, but there is a shallow confidence backing the action this time. Balancing on the slim metal blade isn't too hard of a task, but Tao had done well, too, until he got on the ice. M-21 gives me an irritated look, but with a glance to Regis still clinging to the wall, he stands as well.
"Not a word." Regis says as soon as we reach the wall. His hands grip it tightly as he pulls himself forward with his arms more than pushing with his feet.
"I didn't even say anything." M-21 grins and tentatively steps out onto the ice. He's holding onto the wall, too, but he still manages to superiorly glance back at Regis. "Not yet."
"It's about time you guys got out here." Shinwoo skates up to us, dragging Tao and Ikhan unstably behind him. He releases Tao next to the wall and grabs my arm, pulling me recklessly onto the ice. "Come on!"
I stumble forward, using him for support more that I'd like to admit, but at least I don't fall. We make a turn around the rink, and Ikhan latches onto my other arm the second time around. I'm faring better now, and I look over to see how the others are coping. The girls are trying to coax M-21 away from the wall, but as long as Regis is still attached to it, he'll stay there to gloat rather than risk falling before he does.
Slowly, I begin to feel more stable on my skates. My reliance on the boys is gradually lifting, and by my third time around, I am comfortable with the basic movements. I may not be that good, but at least I'm not stuck to the wall. Passing M-21, I smirk to myself. Maybe I could boast for once.
"You're doing well, Hyung. I'm going to let you go, now."
I feel the weight of Shinwoo's hand lifting from my arm, and all thoughts of bragging fall along with my pride. I start to panic. With the boys' support, I could stabilize myself, but alone? I throw my arms out for balance, waving them ridiculously, but even this is for naught. My skates begin to slip out from under me, and I reach out for one of them.
"Maybe it's a little too soon." Ikhan's at my side again, struggling to keep me upright.
"I guess so." Shinwoo sounds disappointed, and I can't tell whether it was because I didn't do as well as he had thought or whether he had hoped I would fall.
"Just take me back to the wall." I manage and look around to see who has witnessed my feeble display.
Frankenstein is staring right at me with a devilish look in his eyes. No, he's looking behind me. I turn just in time to see the rowdy children that had cut off his master before. They're speeding at a pace far too fast to dodge around us, and then I realize that they have no intention of missing us. They're going to break through our hands just like they did to the couples. I let go of both immediately. I would rather fall on my own than take them down with me, but Shinwoo's grip only tightens on my wrist.
"Red Rover!"** He shouts. I don't know what this means, but I instinctively twist my hand to grab his wrist as well.
One of the children smacks into our arms. His skates fly out from under him, and he lands on his back, sliding several feet before coming to a stop. The next boy ducks under our arms only to trip over the first child. The other children are clamoring, but it's too late to stop. This time they strike us head on, and we all go down.
Tao's hooting from the sidelines. Some comrade he is. I think he's glad that he's not the only one that fell. Shinwoo is on the ground beside me, still holding my wrist, and I'm a little proud that we couldn't be broken apart. He grins at me mischievously, and I know he wants to do that again. It's only a matter of time.
"You okay?" Ikhan's voice drifts down to us. He had been able to stay standing.
"I'm great." I sound breathless as I reach up for his support. "Just help me get to the wall."
**Redrover is a children's game where the kids split into two lines and lock hands. One side will sing, "Red Rover, Red Rover, send *child's name* on over!" The called child will then run across the distance and try to break through the arms of the children on the opposing side while they try to stop the child from making it through.