Chapter Text
He wondered what it felt like, this requited love business.
Sitting in the stands at the ice-skating rink, boots strapped on but as yet untested, he watched the couple smile together. The taller one was dark, with a mess of hair peeking out from under his dark plaid trapper’s hat. The shorter was fair, his hair curling over the tops of his ears. Around his neck was wrapped a thick blue scarf that looked quite familiar to the observer. His lips were pink in the cold and his hands were covered in ridiculous gloves. Together they looked quite the pair. The taller one grinned as the other moved testily on the ice. With lips tight and a slip of pink tongue peeking out, he shuffled along towards his partner who moved with much more confidence. The taller one spoke, holding out his hands before bending over in laughter as the shorter man windmilled his arms for a moment before falling comically on his behind. Though he looked to be grumbling as he was helped to his feet, a smile spread across his face and he dusted his bottom off in the safety of his partner’s embrace. Thorin couldn’t take his eyes off of the fair man.
Moments later, two boys whizzed past hollering.
“Uncle Thorin! We’re racing! Look!”
“Fili’s gonna to get creeeeeeeeeeamed!”
As soon as they were in his sight they were gone, gliding and pushing over the ice.
His nephews were the sole reason that Thorin was even at the sodding ice rink. He hadn’t skated since he was young, had never been much good at it. But his sister had called and begged reprieve from her much loved sons for a week so that she may try to complete her final thesis before she and her supervisor went completely mad, and Thorin had gruffly agreed.
The boys arrived on his door step with chocolately grins and far too much baggage for a week’s stay.
His sister apologised, claimed she had forgotten to pack the Wet Ones and sent her boys straight to the bathroom to wash up. With a kiss to each cheek and a long hug for her brother, she hopped back into her car and drove off with a grin and a toot-toot.
An hour later, Thorin was packing the boys into his own car and away from his house to the safety of the ice-skating rink.
“Uncle Thooooooooriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!”
Fili whizzed by, followed by Kili who was shouting what sounded to be mild obscenities at his brother.
“You’re a stinkin’, cheatin’ turd Fi!”
Thorin sighed and looked at his boots. He knew he should get out onto the ice before the boys returned to harass him – that, or beat each other up. He just wasn’t sure that he had it in him to slide about without a care in the world.
He looked back at the couple on the ice and blinked when he realised that the shorter one was staring back at him. Not smiling nor blinking, just staring. Thorin continued to stare, feeling a warmth rise in his face. Neither broke their gaze until Fili slammed against the wall of the rink, shouting “Come on Uncle Thorin, what are you waiting for?”
He grunted something at his nephew and turned back to the couple on the ice, but they were talking again. Thorin sighed and stood. “Alright then, you cheeky sods. Time to get schooled by a pro.”