Chapter Text
Eren Jaeger “Bombasic” was a prodigy on the ice. He first learned to skate shortly after learning to walk, and was training under an internationally recognized coach by age six. His life revolved around the rink, around lifts and jumps and turns and technical footwork. He loved all types of skating, although his favorites were the pairs routines he got to do for a competition. By age fourteen, he had gained national recognition as a champion. By eighteen, he and his partner Mina were favorites for the winter Olympics that would be occurring in a year’s time.
Yes, Eren Jaeger’s life was perfectly fine. But on Sunday, March 18th, he received a grim reminder of his past. An older ice skater named Levi.
Levi and Eren were in the same program for a total of one year. They’d met after Eren had been in the program eight years and Levi had transferred from a clinic in Aspen to train specifically with Pixis. At the time, Levi was shooting for Olympic qualification and was famous in the skating world. He was Eren’s idol, the man he looked up to most in the world of skating.
Levi thought Eren was a pretentious brat and ignored him whenever possible. After all, he was aiming for the most prestigious award an athlete could earn and had zero time to play celebrity. It was also just not in his nature to be friendly, nice, or smile. In that one year, Eren had said no more than thirty words to Levi, and he’d never seen him smile.
Except once- when everyone else had gone home and the rink was deserted. Eren ran back in to find a scarf he’d left behind, and as he knelt behind the bench, he was surprised to hear the sound of skates on ice. He peeped his head over the bench, and his jaw nearly hit the floor.
Levi was gliding gracefully around the ring, eyes closed, a faint smile on his lips. The muscles in his legs tensed, and he flung himself up into a double axle, landing on one skate like it was the most natural thing in the world. Eren lost track of time, watching Levi skate like there wasn’t a care in the world. Unlike practice, he seemed genuinely at ease and relaxed. It was the way he danced his routines, on the tv, his eyes closed, his feet and his body knowing exactly how to move and react.
The magic ended the second Eren, unconsciously leaning forward, fell into and knocked over the bench with a loud, echoing crash.
Equally loud were the sound of Levi’s skates screeching to a halt on the ice. Eren froze, before clearing his throat and picking up the bench.
Levi had exited the ring and removed his blades, and was staring directly past Eren’s head.
“I’m sorry to disturb you.” Eren stammered, face flushed. “I just, forgot my scarf?” He held up the offending red article of clothing. Levi said nothing and did not acknowledge his existence. “You, you looked really good on the ice!” Eren blurted. Levi paused, and turned to face him, eyes impassive. “I mean, it just looked so natural, and you looked like you were having fun. Sometimes I wish I could skate like that again.”
The corner of Levi’s mouth twitched, and he actually smiled at Eren, who froze again.
“I always have fun when I skate.” It was the longest sentence he’d ever uttered in Eren’s presence in five months of practices. “If I didn’t, what would be the point?” With that, he turned and walked out of the rink, and Eren was left with a pounding heart and a hero worship destined to crash like the Titanic.
But at the time, nearly five years ago, Eren would have given anything to skate with Levi just once.
Five years and many competitions later, he’d finally get his chance.
He just never imagined it’d become so famous.
That Sunday, he went to the rink as per usual. He stretched, then glided out onto the ice to wait for Hanji and Mina to show up, lazily skating around the rink. Eren was always early, and the other two teased him for his complete, wholehearted dedication and determination. He closed his eyes and listened to the soft swish of the skates, losing himself in the one thing he loved more than anything.
He nearly fell on his face when he heard the voice of another male.
“Shitty glasses, you can’t be serious.” Eren remembered that slightly pissed voice. The dead-pan expression, the glaring eyes, the French-looking bowl cut. It couldn’t be. What was Levi doing here? He spun around on his skates, his eyes focusing on three people. One was Mina, biting her lip and looking unsure. One was Levi, as Eren had expected, looking blank and annoyed. And there was his coach, Hanji, beaming from ear to ear.
“Levi, don’t be so rude!” Eren could almost hear the sunshine dancing in her voice. “This is a GREAT idea! Mina thinks so, don’t you?”
The girl nodded sheepishly, tugging at the hem of her shirt. Eren frowned, and slid over to the trio. “Um, Hanji? What’s going on?”
Hanji turned as if she’d just noticed him, glasses flashing and smile widening, if it was possible. “EREN!” She cried, flinging her arms around his neck. Eren flailed, trying to support his mentor and coach without falling on his ass.
“C-coach!” He responded, trying to pry her off of him. “Why are you acting so weird?”
“Because!” Hanji pulled back and smiled triumphantly.
“You and Levi are going to do the pairs competition in the Winter Olympics!”