phichitchu Love has no comfort zone, Love is the sweetest strange

[huggingcompetition]

He'd been planning it since he'd realized he'd be able to have Phichit for his birthday. Now, finally, they had the time, in the off-season before they had to start training again.

"Ok, now you can look," he said quietly, after having led Phichit into what was obviously an empty rink, holding the typical chill and echo of footsteps muffled by the padding around the rink proper. He'd trusted Phichit not to look and spoil it, but...well. It was a pretty predictable surprise anyway after a point. But it still stood that he'd rented one of the rinks in Prague and invited his lover along with him, just so that they could share it all by themselves. He had his duffel with him, carrying their skates and training clothes with him, packed in secret.

They'd discussed it once, as a possibility they hadn't really had the time for when it had first come up: a pair skating routine, something they could do together as an exhibition, or purely for fun. Now they could spend the day making one up, tossing music back and forth until something really felt right. They'd find their rhythm, just as they had through the rocky parts of their relationship so far.

He had something else stashed away, tucked down deep in his belongings to be brought out when they'd exhausted themselves and were ready to retire for the night to the hotel in the city he'd blocked not too far away. He wouldn't listen to any argument about it being his birthday, either. After all, he enjoyed doing things for Phichit, and this was, more or less, his gift to himself. The other's presence was really all he needed for his day to be perfect.

So he stood back, cheesy grin on his face, arms open wide to indicate the whole of the open rink that they would be able to carve up as much as they saw fit.

Comments

[huggingcompetition]

"Oh no you're safe, she likes you well enough, but I know what she's gonna say to me." He sighs and puts on a close approximation to his sister's voice, his hands going up in frustrated gestures. "I told you that you've been moving too fast, bratříček. You should be focusing on your career or at least waiting until you've found a place of your own, what are you going to do when he goes home? Well I can tell you what I'm not going to do, I'm not going to spend all my time grousing just because it isn't ideal. Because I want this." He turns on the spot with a small frown, stopping himself before he can drift too far away from Phichit. "You're lucky, I think. Your family likes me. What are they going to say about this?"

[phichitchu]

Phichit laughs into his hand in spite of the seriousness of the conversation. "Your voice is too deep for you to convincingly play a woman, for the record. And the beard really doesn't help."

He bridges the space between them and fondly rubs the fuzz on Emil's cheek. "My mom is probably going to hang her head and sigh, because she's used to me rushing into things and she doesn't want me to get hurt, but she also can't say anything, because even though I rush I've never regretted anything. Least of all you." He grins. "Besides, I flew out to another country to stay with you in the hospital for a week in the middle of training season. She knows I'm serious about you. I think it'll be nice for her to see you're serious about me, too."

[huggingcompetition]

"If I manage to really hurt you at all, she can do whatever she wants to me for it," he says gravely, his cheek tilting briefly into Phichit's hand. "But...you know, I really don't think I've ever been so serious about anything. I think mom will realize that. Without my brothers' help this time, even."

[phichitchu]

He pets Emil's cheek quite contentedly. "I know, babe. I know how much I mean to you. And I hope you know how much you mean to me. Even if our parents don't get it now, they'll get it someday."

Phichit brings his other hand to Emil's waist and squeezes, arching up for a quick kiss. "So is this what manžel means? Fiancé?"

[huggingcompetition]

"I'd have thought that maybe they would understand it because they're married too," Emil sighs, draping his arms around Phichit and returning the peck then backing up with the other's hands held in his again. He smiles at the question though, tipping Phichit a wink. "Almost."

[phichitchu]

Phichit mewls playfully and tries to swat at Emil, which is difficult when his hands are being held. "Tell me, then! Is it husband?"

He squeezes his lover's hands. "Don't worry about our parents. They didn't gay marry someone from a different culture, they're just worried. But we'll prove that this is the real deal! In a spectacular ice show!"

[huggingcompetition]

That little shit-eating grin stays firmly in place as he continues to drift. Clearly he still isn't inclined to say that yes, this time Phichit actually guessed right.

Of course, the smile fades a bit as the other continues.

"My father's not quite inclined to be swayed by something like that. Mom...well. she likes you but maybe approaching it with them a little more traditionally would be safer." Words he really never thought would come out of his mouth, but he doesn't want to ostracize them both with this. He perks back up after a moment though. "We can announce it to the rest of the world with a show though!"

[phichitchu]

Phichit definitely notices that Emil doesn't answer, but the playful mood dissipates along with Emil's answer, and he needs to fix that immediately. He pulls his hands out of his lover's to wrap them around his waist firmly, and lays his head on Emil's collar.

"I was joking. I promise, I'll be on my best behavior when we decide to go talk to them. I'll be everything I'm usually not: quiet, polite, disciplined, responsible..."

He giggles and kisses Emil's shirt over his heart. "I know how important having their blessing is for you, I won't mess things up."

[huggingcompetition]

Emil's fingers comb back through Phichit's hair with the kiss, nose wrinkling at the reassurance. He doesn't want Phichit to have to act or pretend like he's anything he normally wouldn't, even if it was for a good reason. He loves Phichit just as he is, and he at least knows that his family likes Phichit too. Just not their relationship. Which they could work on one way or another.

"I definitely want to be there in person when we tell yours though. I bet your sister will be just as excited as we are." He noses against the top of Phichit's head, the toe of his skate digging into the ice to keep him in place.

[phichitchu]

"I bet," he agrees with a grin. "She's going to scream, and then ask for a gorgeous dress to wear, then ask if she can get me a gorgeous dress to wear because you're the one with facial hair so I'm definitely the girl." Phichit hums in thought. "I bet she's the first person who will be nothing but happy for us."

[huggingcompetition]

"We could get you a silly stick-on mustache," he suggests with a quiet laugh, sliding back once more just far enough for his hand to have to tighten around Phichit's to keep from drifting too far. "She'll have to fight the boys for title of Most Excited , I think. I can just see it now, the three of them colluding to be as extravagant about this as possible even without a show involved."

[phichitchu]

Even if Emil has the best of intentions putting some space between them, Phichit isn't quite ready to be apart from his shiny new fiancé, so he closes the gap right back with a nod.

"We'll have to monitor their Skype calls to make sure they're not planning anything too crazy," he jokes, sliding his left hand with the new hardware over Emil's cheek, caressing his jaw and sideburns fondly. "Those kids are all born troublemakers. As opposed to us mature, responsible-type adults."

[huggingcompetition]

"I did not sign off on this 'becoming an adult' thing, where do I complain to a manager?" Emil looks serious for all of three seconds, before stopping so that Phichit bumps right into him, allowing him to wrap his arms around the other's shoulders and kiss the center of his forehead. "At least they mean well. I'm glad we have them in our corner."

[phichitchu]

Phichit wrinkles his nose and beams at the tenderness of Emil's intimacy. God, he loves his sweet, gentle giant of a fiancé more than words can express. He slides his hand further up to gently brush out Emil's fluffy hair with his fingers.

"I'm glad, too. I love your brothers. And I've obviously never had an older sibling, so I hope someday I can be close to your sister." He isn't too daunted by the task; he's found a way to make it as a figure skater coming from a tropical country. "And I can't wait until we tell our friends, and Michele gives me the stink eye whenever you're not looking. Maybe even another shovel talk!"

[huggingcompetition]

"It'll happen in time, Chula. She's never been malicious to me or my friends in my life." In fact, there was a lot of evidence to provide that Karolina only had his best interests at heart, but...well. That was not exactly talk for the here and now. They were happy, after all! They were engaged! Emil catches himself staring down at the glinting silver band around Phichit's finger and grinning giddily. He laughs at the idea of Michele keeping an eye on Phichit. "Mickey's gonna do that 'I'm watching you' fingers thing every time he sees us together and thinks I'm not looking."

[phichitchu]

He chuckles softly and gets up on his toe picks to gently kiss Emil. "I'm not worried. I know your sister loves you, so it's okay if she wants to protect you. I think it's cute." Phichit beams further and nods. "But when Michele does it, then it's funny. Still kind of cute, but mostly funny. He tries so hard to pretend he's not invested when you're around, but this one time he implied he'd castrate me if you ever told him I "fucked up." Sara overheard and she tugged on his ear as punishment. She's probably going to be really proud of you!"

[huggingcompetition]

"Mickey's a lot...hm. Softer, I guess, than he likes to show a lot of people. But don't let him know I said that or he might get defensive and insist that he's still the stoic knight of valor protecting his own from all would-be suitors." Emil laughs quietly and tangles his fingers with Phichit's as he starts to move again, enjoying the simple motion of going around the rink with their hands intertwined. "Who knows though, in time he might become protective of you too since you're mine. Start getting all puffed up when someone says something improper to the selfies you post."

[phichitchu]

The idea of that makes Phichit laugh out loud, and he belatedly smothers his giggles with his free hand because it's not right to laugh at his boyfrie-- fiancé's best friend.

"If a day ever comes when I'm accepted into the special fold of people Michele Crispino wants to protect, I'll... Well. I'll probably think I'm dreaming! So you'll have to wake me up." He grins. "I really like it when you call me that."

[huggingcompetition]

"Well, it's true, isn't it?" Emil switches the hand that's holding Phichit's and turns on the spot to glide backward while facing his love. "Give it time, laska. He'll realize how special you are, and then we'll both stand with you like bodyguards." He winks with that one, enjoying the levity now that the really serious part is over.

[phichitchu]

"Yeah, it's true, and it's also really sexy when you get possessive." He beams, gazing up at Emil. "And I really don't think I need two bodyguards. All I need is you."

It's super cheesy, but he's kind of a cheesy guy, so he's not going to apologize for it. He kisses Emil's hand, then lets it go and turns into a simple scratch spin, full of excited energy that needs burning off.

[huggingcompetition]

"As long as you're ok with me not actually knowing how to fight for your honor," he laughs, grinning back and letting his hand fall away, just watching Phichit spinning in place. He continues backward, picking up speed until he can move into his own spin. His leg comes up behind him, though it's not quite high enough for him to be able to grab hold of the blade. He just isn't as flexible as some of the other skaters.

[phichitchu]

Phichit eases out of his spin into a backwards glide on the ice so that he can appreciate Emil's attitude spin, even if he can't bend enough go for something flashier; even Phichit himself can't pull off a layback or Biellmann spin, not since he outgrew his baby fat.

He whistles at Emil like he's eye candy, which he totally is. "Are you showing off for me? Because watching you spread your legs is giving me dirty thoughts."

[huggingcompetition]

Emil hops to the opposite skate and straightens up into a tight, fast spin that he releases from with a flourish just for Phichit. He almost regrets only having brought his standard training clothes, even as clingy as they were out of necessity.

He continues to move in a slower arc, just practicing a step sequence and accompanying gestures. "After this, let's go for supper. Then it's anything you want." He has a feeling he knows what Phichit is going to want to do, and had ensured that he had the time tonight to carry it out.

[phichitchu]

Phichit is immediate with the applause for Emil's beautiful spin; he maybe be known for his powerful jumps, but Phichit finds all of his fiancé's skating to be strong and beautiful.

He skates up to Emil's side and tries to mirror his footwork, beaming.

"Right now the only thing I want is to be with you," he confesses. "Maybe to get you some matching bling so everyone knows you're a taken man."

He slides forward so that he bumps into Emil, then kisses him again, helpless to the love bubbling up in him.

[huggingcompetition]

Emil is quick to return the kiss, his hands at either side of the other's neck and keeping him close.

"Then let's go do that! We can work here some more then head further into the city and find the most perfect ring."

When he glides away again he pulls Phichit along with him, stepping into a simple sequence that his fiance could mirror. As soon as they found their sync, they could come up with more full ideas for their future pair skate.