44: Ice Skating

A few hours after Virgil had run off, Roman invited Patton out for ice skating. The lake had frozen over again, and with a little meddling from some students, the lake was safely frozen while the air was warm enough to just wear a sweatshirt. Or a tank top, if you're Remus.

"Funny seeing you here, Ro-Ro." Remus skates over to the edge of the lake where Roman helps tie Patton's school skates.

"You know I'm good at ice skating. Why wouldn't I be here?" Roman snaps.

"Hi, Remus!" Patton says happily, ignoring what Roman said.

"Oh hey Pat," Remus says.

Roman looks between them. When did his best friend get so... friendly with Remus? No no- he should keep his mouth shut this time. Remus can't replace him. Patton will still be his friend.

"It's really been a while since I've been on the ice," Remus says.

"Oh really? How long has it been?" Patton asks.

"Three years," Remus and

"Ooo! That sounds cool! Can you guys show me?" asks Patton excitedly.

"Well-" Roman starts.

"Of course. Unless you lost your skill, Roman," Remus says, playfully taunting him.

"I haven't!" Roman says quickly. "I still know how."

"Alright then let's go!" says Remus, grabbing Roman by the arm.

"Hey careful I'm gonna-"

Roman then proceeded to faceplant into the ice.

He then gets up like nothing happened, ignoring the bruise forming on his cheekbone.

"Uh- you alright there kiddo?" Patton asks.

"Yep! Totally fine!" Roman says.

Remus skates around Roman, waiting for him to start. The two of them had been made to do the same routine for several years in a row because their moms wanted them to. Didn't matter that when they were little kids they had no interest in skating or dance in any way, shape, or form.

They got through their skating routine, a short but impressive-looking one. Patton's jaw drops a little as he watches.

"Roman, Remus, that's amazing!" he says.

They both nod and slide to a halt.

"My mom and his mom are really good friends and they love ice skating. You should see Remus in his sparkly leotard from his figure skating years," Roman chuckles as the two skate back over.

"Hey! I totally slayed in that!" Remus interjects. "And yours was even sparklier!"

"That's because I'm a queen," Roman says, flipping his hair.

"Tch." Remus rolls his eyes.

"So how long have you two skated?" Patton asks.

Remus shrugs.

"Uhh- probably four or five years?" he says.

"Yeah, sounds accurate. Any other time of the year I did theatre while you did... whatever it is you do," Roman says.

Remus rolls his eyes. "Track. To learn to run faster from people I piss off. C'mon, I know we barely talk at school but geez."

Roman shrugs innocently.

"Not my fault I focus more on theatre."

Patton skates himself in between the two.

"Alright, why don't we just go skate instead of getting into a fight?" he suggests.

"Yeah yeah. Want me to teach you crossovers?" asks Roman.

"That's way too advanced," Remus interjects.

"He can handle it!" Roman objects.

"Hey! Rem!" Janus calls out.

Remus turns around and skates away, eager for the excuse to get away from Roman. Patton and he are okay now, but he had no clue what caused Roman's ego to grow faster than someone who got hit by the puberty truck. Maybe it was the truck- he was nicer before highschool.

"So- what's a crossover?" Patton asks.

"This!" Roman demonstrates, skating forward.

Patton tries to follow, but his skate blades collide and he loses balance, waving his hands around trying not to fall.

"AaaAAaAAA-"

He falls to the hard, cold ice.

"Owie."

"Patton? Are you okay?"

Roman skates over to Patton and holds out a hand.

"Maybe I should teach you the warmups first," he admits.

"Maybe! But I didn't really commit to the step- you could say I got cold feet," Patton jokes.

Roman laughs as he helps Patton up.

"Well, crossovers are still kinda hard for beginners," he admits.

---

The sunny day and open lake attracts many of the students to it, and soon a fourth of the school is there. So in the thought of kindness, Patton takes Roman off the ice and both of them leave so there is room for more people.

"That was really fun! We should do it tomorrow too!" Patton says.

"Oh just wait. Your legs are going to feel like someone smashed them with a hammer later," says Remus.

"Oh well. It's worth it!" Patton shrugs. "I only fell a few times anyway."

"That's also going to hurt later," Roman says.

"Yeah, this is an unexpectedly painful sport. But we get foot-knives so I'd say it's worth it," Remus says.

"Foot... knives...?" asks Patton, trying to process what Remus had just said.

"Yeah. Just tape some knives to the bottom of heels and you get skates!" Remus says.

"I mean I guess?" says Patton.

Remus grins proudly at the puzzled looks of Patton and Roman.

"Alright, I'm gonna go bother Jannie!" he says, skipping down the left corridor while Patton and Roman go down the right.

"See ya later!" Patton waves.

Roman just gives a half-hearted wave.

---

Virgil breathes heavily, hot tears pouring down his face. His arms sting and feel like pure pain.

"Owww," he whispers.

But soon there's a sense of relief. Whether that's because of endorphins or something or his nerves just noping out, Virgil doesn't know.

Virgil looks down at his hands with this sudden sense of calmness. Could he do it again? From what he remembers seeing through blurred tears, the bolt of lightning wasn't that big, but still about the size of his laptop, maybe.

He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and tries to think of what anime characters do in these types of situations. Focus on the energy and spirit deep within, maybe? Well, the basis of energy manipulation is focus, so maybe he isn't too far off.

Just as Virgil is about to try this newfound ability again, he hears footsteps and voices coming near.

"Yes, I am certain I saw it. I just hope whoever cast it isn't dead..."

"But seriously. Lightning manipulation? I don't think any student could do that. Except maybe that new 3rd year... he seems to have a lot of raw skill. I saw that when he picked up light manipulation so easily."

Virgil's eyes widen. He needs to run. How could he have forgotten how freaking illegal this is?



Ok, so I know this is late and I know it's not as good as my usual chapters. But because Christmas just happened I've been spending a lot of time with my family doing things, so I haven't had the time or focus to write. I hope y'all still enjoyed this little bit of fluff, though! Feel free to leave any thoughts or feedback in the comments and have a merry day/night you magnificent peep!

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