Will You Catch Me If I Fall?

~ For any italicised/asterisked words, refer to the guide below, as the pair are using Kantan words~

Viktor was, firstly, an excellent soldier. He'd been born and raised in Kanta, a place known for its unforgiving heat and its vast sands. He'd served in the Royal army, and had even taken shrapnel to an eye to defend the Prince. He was good at his job.

Viktor was, secondly, an excellent husband. Whenever Koneko batted those pretty eyelashes at him, he melted and gave her whatever her heart desired. Sometimes it was new paints, other times a nice book to read. No matter what it was, he provided. He was good at that job too.

Right now, Viktor Sabrell was afraid.

Staring out at the frozen lake, the half-orc didn't like looking into the unknown. He was still not used to snow; he'd been at Thorngold's Keep for 3 years now, and every year the heaven's released a flurry without fail. If he'd had realised that the South Isles were this damn cold, he would have refused this position... Though his other eye may have been plucked from the socket if he did. The Tyrant was an unforgiving master, even to his War Captain.

"Come, Viktor. Surely you aren't scared of a little ice?" His elven wife had teased him profusely the entire journey, and if she wasn't so cute in all those layers of fur, he might have cussed her out in a multitude of languages. As it was, he was trying his hardest to not turn around and stomp back to their carriage.

"Koibito*, I am not going to be very graceful-"

"I was not my first time either. Should I go first, so you can watch me and learn?"

"Please."

As she stepped onto the ice, the Captain watched carefully. He wished to memorise everything she did, so that he could try to learn passively. It was a technique often used on recruits; it was best to let them play-fight with wooden weapons to start, lest they stab their comrades with a wobbly stance. It was only when they'd watched their higher ups to the point of being able to do it in their sleep did they get a sharp blade.

Now, one may be wondering how such a graceful swan, who also comes from Kanta, can skate. The thing was, Koneko was originally a noble, before she married into the Sabrell line. This meant that she'd been ice-skating before, either on fancy holidays paid for by her inheritance, or from owning multiple mages that could enchant a lake to remain frozen in blazing temperatures. Viktor had never had that opportunity; he was a soldier, a walking weapon. His training made him proficient in multiple weapons, yes, but never had he once thought it'd be smart to wear blades on his feet.

As she pushed herself across the pond, her husband sighed on the side-lines. That ice did not look very safe. Sure, it looked pretty, but there were many things that looked pretty which could kill you: flowers, fish, and fruit, for example. He was not the sort to go rushing into a situation unprepared. Koneko was as light as a feather, and the absolute opposite of himself; while he was not wearing his typical armour, the man was a wall of muscle, definitely weighing more than what that thin sheet could probably handle.

“I think it is best if I stay here, Amai**. I believe I am too heavy.”

“Nonsense. You’ve moped for long enough, Otto***, time to join me.”

His words had the opposite effect to what he had intended, and as the dainty elf danced towards him, kicking up a cloud of ice in her wake, he slowly stood. Gods hear him, if he fell in the freezing water below, please give him the strength to crawl out. Or better yet, have his beautiful but stubborn wife change her mind over this matter.

As her wrapped hands take his scarred ones, Viktor swallows his nerves and slowly follows her onto the lake. His steps were slow and unsteady, like a new-born faun trying to find its way in the world. The snow-laden grass wasn’t too much of a problem, even when his ankles shook on the thin blades. It was when he touched the ice did fear cloud his vision, and he couldn’t hold himself up anymore.

His fall was far from graceful. The half-orc was only thankful that he had no tusks to fall on, else it would have made the landing far more painful. All that was bruised was his ego. He was too old to be frolicking in the cold.

“Ohh, you fell so easily. Come, stand and try again. I’m here.” Bending some, Koneko went to help him up. She wasn’t very strong, bless her, but he appreciated the gesture.

“It is okay, Koibito*. You go and enjoy the ice, I can stand by myself.”

“But-”

“Shh. Go, I’ll join you.” He smiles at her grumbling, and with little more persuasion she was off. He could truly appreciate how exquisite she was from here.

Right, he was no quitter. Placing both hands firmly on the frosty floor, Viktor began to haul himself to his feet. There was a lot of huffing and swearing, but finally he was upright again. This was short-lived as he took a step, and promptly fell on his rump again. Kuso, kuso kōri!****

Over and over he tried and failed, over and over he felt the urge to give up. But he wouldn’t; he wanted to be able to make his way over to his wife and skate with her on this death-trap. She seemed so happy, free as a bird dancing across the pond, and dammit all if he wanted to taste a little of her joy.

After a lot of determination, the Captain was finally able to stand and move without the ice rushing up to give him painful reminders of his failure. He was sure that this experience had caused him more pain than his first ever training session, but that was nearing 20+ years ago. Maybe his memories were failing him; he couldn’t surely say that a pond was his worst enemy so far. It was just embarrassing.

Creeping across with tentative pushes, Viktor’s heart nearly burst when he saw the beaming smile Koneko gave him. As a small hand is held out, he takes it and pulls her close to him in a lazy (and quite uncoordinated) spin. He’d seemed to have found his centre of balance on the thin blades of the skates, which was a feat considering how small it must be compared to the bulk he was carrying.

“You make it look so easy. If I am covered in bruises tomorrow, Tsuma*****, you are going to be massaging them away.”

“You make that sound like a chore.” She giggles quietly at his light complaining; to anyone else, the thought of the War Captain being annoyed was enough to want to get far, far away from the end of his whip. To her, it was the same as a puppy getting irate with its tail. Viktor was her big teddy bear, and wouldn’t harm her for the world.

As they sway awkwardly on the ice, he can see the sun beginning to sink below the treeline. Had it really gotten so late so quickly? They’d arrived after lunch, which in summer would have given them many, many hours to frolic amongst the flowers. Winter was less forgiving for sloppy time frames, he forgot.

A shiver suddenly rippled through Koneko, and on instinct Viktor held her closer.

“You should have told me you were cold.”

“But I wish to stay longer. You are finally enjoying yourself.”

“Ah, Amai**, you shall be the death of me. I was enjoying myself earlier, seeing you take pleasure in skating for me. We will come back tomorrow, if you want?”

Shrugging off his outer layer of fur, the half-orc wraps it carefully around his wife and fastens it to make sure no stray wisps of wind find their way inside. He was a tough boy; he could handle the nip in the air. He daren’t say the same for his precious kitten.

“Are you sure? I know you aren’t fond-”

“I want to. With you. Maybe I can become as good as you, and we can dance together.” As they approach the edge, and Viktor changes from his skates to his walking boots, Koneko can’t help the stray tear of happiness that trickled down her cheek. She had been very lucky with her husband.

Swooping her off her feet, the Captain starts their walk back to the carriage with renewed vigour. When they got home, no doubt there would be something hearty over the fire, and they’d be able to warm their frozen fingers snuggling under blankets. The warmth was where they thrived, after all. He was surprised at the sudden kiss to his cheek, followed by gentle fingers tucking stray strands of his hair behind his ear.

“I’d like that. For now, I will catch you if you fall.”

~~~

* = Koibito - Sweetheart

** = Amai - Love

*** = Otto - Husband

**** = Kuso, kuso kōri! - Fuck, fucking ice!

***** = Tsuma - Wife