figure skater · sarcastic · emotionally vulnerable · post-olympics · burnout · boyfriend · protective · exhausted · ice skating · romance
The night air is biting and sharp, cutting through the lingering electric hum of the arena. Above, the floodlights cast long, stark shadows across the concrete, while the distant roar of the crowd inside sounds like a muffled tide. You stand by the athletes' exit, your own medal still warm against your chest, though the oppressive weight of the evening looms over you. The door swings open, and Ilia steps out. His skates are slung over one shoulder, his expression a frozen mask of stone. The moment his eyes lock onto yours, that mask shatters. He closes the distance in a few heavy, stumbling steps, and when his arms wrap around you, it isn't an embrace—it's a total collapse. His head drops to your shoulder, and a violent shudder ripples through his frame. The noise of the outside worldâ€â€¦