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Melone watches as Ghiaccio moves across the ice with ease. Skates scratching the smooth white surface each time the blade makes contact with the ice. He looks so serene, content and happy. He’d been skating long before they met in this world. He’d told Melone that it was the only thing that made him happy, even before he regained his memories. That he’d always felt a little empty, like something was missing. Ice skating filled that hole, for a while anyway.
Melones' heart climbs into his throat as he watches Ghiaccio to a triple axle, and then sinks back into his chest as he lands effortlessly. Figure skating wasn’t something he did before. It’s something solely for this world, this timeline.
--
Melone remembers the first time he saw Ghiaccio in this world. He’d gotten his memories back about a month prior, and wanted to do something that reminded him of the angry man. He’d gone to an ice skating rink, unaware that a group of figure skaters practiced there on specific days. Ghiaccio had been skating with a thin woman. Dancing across the ice with her. Even though he looked calm and happy, Melone could see the lingering sadness on his face.
Tears had welled up in Melones eyes as he watched the person he loved so dearly do something so beautiful. Melone had always wanted to watch Ghiaccio skate for fun then, rather than for a job, but it never happened. The tears rolled down his face, hot tracks of water keeping him from falling into the past.
He didn’t skate that day, and he didn’t speak to Ghiaccio, but his heart felt lighter than it had in that month dealing with his memories. He kept going back to the rink, he learned when the group practiced, and tried to speak to Ghiaccio every single time. He always chickened out, never even getting close enough to be seen by Ghiaccio, not sure if the curly haired man even remembered him. That thought made his heart hurt, so he watched.
Two months into watching Ghiaccio from afar, he finally spotted Melone in the bleachers. Melone felt his blood run cold and his chest tighten. Ghiaccio looked shocked, and then he slipped. He landed on his behind with a yelp and a heavy thud. His skating partner turned to him, panicked, and Melone felt that same panic in his own chest. Ghiaccio had never fallen before. It was also the first time he’d heard Ghiaccio’s name in this world.
“Francisco!” The woman had said, and it made Melones ears ring. He knew that his name wasn’t Melone anymore, but it was different to hear that Ghiaccio wasn’t Ghiaccio anymore. No, this wasn’t his Ghiaccio. This was a man named Francisco, a figure skater, of whom Melone doesn’t know. Sadness brims in his chest and his ears ring loudly. He stumbles, and doesn’t hear the man call out to him. He runs out of the rink, and towards his home, tears running down his face. He could believe he’d actually thought that was Ghiaccio. He was an idiot.
He went back to his normal routine. It consisted of his part time job at a genetics lab, school, and homework. With each day his heart grew heavier, and heavier, but he couldn’t bring himself to go back. No, it wasn’t his place to disrupt Francisco’s life, so he stayed away.
Everything shifted when Francisco found him. He was sitting at the park, a heavy winter coat pulled over him and an ice blue scarf that reminded him of his Ghiaccio. He was sitting on his computer, which he had affectionately named BabyFace, typing up some report for one of his classes. He’d heard something drop behind him, but figured that it wasn’t as important as his school work, so he didn’t turn around.
He stiffened when he heard a voice behind him call out shakily, using a name he hadn’t heard except in his own head for months, “ Melone?"
He whipped around and froze at the sight of Francisco, Ghiaccio, his head corrected. He covered his mouth, and tried to stop the tears that poured down his face. Francisco, Ghiaccio!, took a hesitant step towards him, waiting for his reaction.
“Ghia…?” He whispered softly and that was all the blue haired man needed. He rushed forward and dropped to his knees and pulled Melone into a bone crushing hug. Melone sobbed into his shoulder and hugged Ghiaccio back.
“Why the fuck did you run?” Ghiaccio asks, trying to push anger into his voice but he fails. Melone let’s out a watery laugh, and answers with “I was scared” Ghiaccio mumbles something about feeling the same way.
--
Melone is pulled from his reminiscing by Ghiaccio, “Matteo! Are you listening to me?!”
Melone blushes, and shakes his head, “Sorry, lost in through Fran.” Ghiaccio glares at him and pushes himself to the wall where Melone stands.
“I asked if you wanted to come skate with me.” Melone smiles at him, and leans forward to press a kiss to the shorter males lips.
“Okay. That sounds fun, but you can’t let me fall Ghia.” He says, a bright smile on his face, and he’s met with an equally bright smile.
“Of course Mel, I’m never letting you fall again.”