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If there was an award for showing up to watch something that doesn't entertain you at all for an umpteenth time, Rimuru would like it framed in gold and delivered right on his doorstep.
He slumped against the uncomfortable red bleacher chair with pursed lips and drooping lids, lazily following the puck’s direction as it got brutally passed around from one stick to another. He stopped caring that he would inevitably experience a stiff back after the first two months of weekly rotting in this plastic abomination of a seat, shivering in two layers of jackets at the freezing temperature from the combined emitted coolness of the ice rink and the blasting air-conditioning near his station.
Rimuru chugged the remaining soda from his bottle, and shoved the remaining fries in his mouth, careful not to look away for too long lest his brother caught him doing so. He spent the last twenty minutes blinking rapidly and pinching his thigh to wake himself up so that Veldora would not spend the entirety of dinner time huffing and pouting like a kicked puppy later and he would be damned to let that effort be wasted now.
He let out a heavy sigh as he convinced himself that he was not regretting using one of his free days to watch his brother and his equally brute friends practice for their upcoming hockey match. He definitely didn't, much like he didn't regret showing up for his brother to support his passion countless times before but boredom could do interesting things to the mind and soul.
At first, he thought he would love to witness a game of ice hockey every week but after 2 months, the glamor of the sport came off and it went downhill from there. To this day, he didn't know if knowing the rules and the overall flow of the game had been the reason or if it had been the gritty sounds of blades slicing the artificial ice along with sharp thuds of the pucks and the yells from the players that turned him off.
A loud, familiar buzzer pierced through the air, interrupting his musings. Rimuru perked up, leaping to his feet at the gratifying sound of the practice ending and excitedly gathered his things with a relieved smile. He swung his small black messenger bag over his shoulder, and picked up his trash and jogged down the stairs, keeping his eyes peeled for a glimpse of the categorized bins. They were usually situated somewhere at the bottom of the stairs but they got removed for some reason.
He waved to Veldora, who was patting the backs of his friends for a job well done, to catch his attention, and gestured towards the exit. His brother grinned at him with a nod, and just when Rimuru was about to turn around, he noticed Veldora mouthing something through the grates of his helmet.
"Go on without me, coach said he'll have some things to say.”
Rimuru grimaced, which Veldora obviously snorted at as he went back to congratulating his teammates like the supportive captain he was. There are many things guaranteed in this world and unfortunately, one of them was that whenever Veldora's coach has something to say after a game, it will take long enough for Rimuru to get married, have kids and die of old age.
Maybe not. But Rimuru would not put it past the old stout man.
He treaded towards the exit, fully intending to wait for Veldora in his car anyway. Veldora had his own car so he was not being held back from actually leaving but there was no point in getting ahead if they would be going at the same place and have dinner together. This was his brother's final practice before the big game and as per tradition he established ages ago, that would mean a trip to Veldora's restaurant of choice. Veldora had been talking about this place called 'Shuna's Diner' recently so it would not surprise Rimuru that would be their destination tonight.
Rimuru walked in the beige white hallway of the stadium, quietly whistling a song he didn't know the name of but heard Veldora play in repeat the last few days. He glanced around, trying to find the trash cans that were supposed to be here, but it seemed that too were removed. Was there a new policy or were all the bins simultaneously washed for the upcoming winter games? It is a Saturday after all, and the ice rink was reserved for players practicing their sports for this weekend.
A normal person would probably just shrug and take the trash with them to dispose of at home but for some reason, Rimuru decided to hunt for one because surely, the place would leave a bin for the players, staff and spectators like him. He prattled around the halls, venturing to places he had never been to even with all the visits he got under his belt.
After many random turns, his ears picked up a faint hum of an ice resurfacer. He halted, and looked around his vicinity. He's nowhere near the rink Veldora and his team used so that couldn't be that.
Could it be that the gossip he heard in passing about the stadium opening up a once-abandoned rink was true after all?
Curious, he quietly followed the sound. He had time to kill, and checking out a new spot seemed better than waiting in a car. He could tell Veldora about it too, his brother would be excited at the thought of a brand new icy field he could demolish with his team.
Rimuru didn't know if he'd be allowed back here so the absence of security personnel eased his nerves a bit. He spotted a bright, neon green, capitalized entrance sign by a wall just next to black door and promptly scurried over to push it open.
He knew what to expect since ice rinks tend to look the same but he was still blown away at the sight that welcomed him. The field of freshly smoothed out ice bathing under the overhead lights was breathtaking. The seemingly glowing sheet of ice encased by a relatively high layer of plexiglass had him considering putting on his barely used skating boots far more easily than Veldora's pleas to skate with him occasionally ever did.
Before he realized it, he was stepping further in. He was captivated, and it took him too long to find other things to admire at this new arena. He noted the far more comfortable looking seating. He wished Veldora's coach booked this one. The padded chairs seemed luxurious compared to the ones he had to endure just minutes before. There's a trash bin near the wall a couple steps away but he didn't have the heart to dispose of his food wrappers and bottle in it. It looked new.
Looking around one last time, he turned back to where he came from in a mellow mood. It had been a long time since he had the urge to skate and he doubted something like that could happen soon. He used to love skating, probably more than Veldora ever did but ever since the accident a few years ago, he stored his skating boots away, only getting them out a few times a year to skate with Veldora.
If only—
The hidden speakers hummed to life, startling him out of his thoughts. He covered his mouth to muffle his squeak, frantically looking around for a security guard that would haul him away and ban him out of this arena for the rest of his life. He didn't find anyone worth running from but he did see a tall, lithe figure clad in black skating wear about to enter the rink.
He blinked in confusion. Was this ice rink already open to the public? He didn't see any announcement around the stadium or online. He welcomed the relief that flowed through his veins. It looked like he wouldn't get escorted out the premises then.
The mysterious figure pressed something on their wrist, and the song restarted, and harmoniously, at the first note, glided on the ice. It had been a simple move, the bare minimum of skating that should not commend any further praise but Rimuru found one on the tip of his tongue.
That was the most elegant entrance he ever witnessed.
He stumbled a little closer, careful not to draw attention to himself but still wanting to be nearer to the graceful person. It felt a little sinful to spy on someone because you loved how they started the performance but his guilt was quickly buried under awe as he continued watching just a few rows from the entrance. He would prefer the front seat but he's afraid the performer might stop.
The man, judging from his broad shoulders, lean waist, sturdy thighs, and a very apparent crotch guard, drifted on the ice with spectacular smoothness. His short navy hair flowed with the wind of his own making as he pushed through the air with combined fluidity and sharpness Rimuru didn't know was humanly possible.
He leaned forward as the man effortlessly did a series of difficult moves, matching the theatrics of the song. He spun, jumped, glided and on the ice on one leg, mesmeringly moving his arms to fit his choreography. Rimuru's mouth parted open in astonishment. There was not a single movement that was off, everything seemed so perfect that he briefly wondered why that man was not performing in a crowd right this moment.
Far too soon, the song was over. It was melancholic, slow and dark. He didn't recognize it, nor the female singer, but he vowed to commit some lyrics to the memory so he could search for it later, just so he can relive this moment once more. He doubted he could find it though, not when his attention had been only on the man.
Speaking of, the man stood in the middle of the rink, looking at his watch with nonchalance like he didn't just give a mind blowing performance. After a few seconds, he glided on the ice again, just doing some random moves but Rimuru was as enchanted anyway.
He had to know who this man was.
He stood up, and with bravery he didn't know he possessed, put down his trash on the floor and walked right over by the pixie glass entrance of the rink and knocked. He clenched his other hand into a tight fist, willing himself to not run away as the man, who had been just swerving on the other side, cocked his head at him and drifted towards where he was.
And oh, he was gorgeous.
Rimuru failed to see it when he was performing but this man has the face carved by the gods. His eyes were navy, framed by voluminous eyelashes. His cheeks were supple, his jaw was strong, and his lips were of a supermodel's. Rimuru would not be surprised if he walked on fashion runways on days he wasn't in the mood to be a spectacular performer on ice.
“Can I help you?” The man asked when he had been close enough for Rimuru to note their height difference. Great, his voice was in a perfect pitch too. It was deep and smooth, reminding Rimuru of a cup of a perfectly black coffee. He didn't like black coffee or anything relatively not sweet, but if it sounded like this man, he'd be ordering one every hour.
“Uh,” he began marvelously. He briefly wanted the floor to open up to save him from an imminent embarrassment but then his words came out surprisingly in a steady manner. “You were amazing. If you had been competing against Olympians I would crown you champion right away.”
The man's eyes widened a tiny bit, and then he let out an amused snort, shaking his head with a small, beautiful smile. The sight of those curved lips brought Rimuru an immense sense of accomplishment.
“Thank you…” the man trailed off, raising a full eyebrow in curiosity.
He eagerly filled that in. “Rimuru.”
“Rimuru,” the man acknowledged, coiling his tongue around his name like a snake would his prey but Rimuru was far from afraid. He wanted to hear his name like that again. “I'm Souei, and I appreciate the feedback, truly.”
“Souei,” Rimuru breathed out, giddy at the fact he was actually successful in getting the name of a talented, gorgeous man.
“I don't hear compliments often,” Souei shared with a hum, eyes dipping down his body and running back up his face with a glimmer of something Rimuru hoped was interest. “Not from a dashing man like you, anyway.”
Heat crept up his cheeks. He's a charmer too, damn. Rimuru should have expected a face like that could flirt. He definitely does it often, probably just behind getting paid to pose in front of cameras modeling luxury branded items.
He cleared his throat, hiding his giddy smile behind his fist as he willed his blush to go away. He sought deep within his soul for that boldness that enabled him to approach Souei in the first place. He was not going to be outdone, not when Souei looked like someone who appreciated good banter.
“Please,” Rimuru gestured to Souei's direction, proud of himself for sounding unbothered. He dragged his eyes over Souei's impeccable form to help emphasize his point. He's so attractive. “Coming from you?”
Souei's eyes sparkled, dangerously boosting Rimuru's confidence. The skater glided closer, and now Rimuru had to really crane up his neck to maintain eye contact. Something about this man just drew him in like no one ever had. He found himself wishing this man was single and was into guys like him.
“I had the entirety of this place reserved and I certainly didn't order a darling like yourself to charm me.” He tilted his head, his silky hair perfectly falling over to his right. “Where did you come from?”
Rimuru swallowed down a flustered squawk that threatened to come up his throat and embarrass him beyond saving. He filed the first half of that sentence to dissect later and just focused on the fact that Soue more or less confessed he found him charming.
Darling.
If that wasn't a blazing siren to shoot his shot, Rimuru didn't know what was.
Rimuru found himself inching forward in response. He fidgeted with the ends of his hair, a classic move in the battle that is flirtation, batting his lashes for the maximum effect. “From the wrong arena, apparently.”
He mentally patted himself on the back, proud of his reply. He never was a flirt, he never had the urge to until this moment, until Souei.
Gods, he hoped he wouldn't mess this up.
“Pretty face and a smart mouth,” Souei murmured lowly, peering down at him with a smirk that made Rimuru's heart skip a beat. “My dream, may I take you out tonight?”
Be cool. Be cool. Be cool.
Rimuru hopefully made his show of considering the offer like it was beneath him believable because internally he's doing a celebration dance that would put professionals to shame. He got it. He actually managed to be asked on a date by a man miles above his league and all because he had played the right cards.
And being called a dream by a dreamboat on top of that, Rimuru would live this high for weeks.
He was about to ask where he would be taken when he remembered one crucial detail — his dinner with Veldora.
“Actually,” he sighed in disappointment and with a heavy heart, broke the news. “I'm already booked tonight,” he said, hastily following that with an explanation when Souei's smirk fell into a flippant frown. It's unfair how he still looked gorgeous like that. “I have dinner with my brother.”
Souei thankfully lit up again, breathing out a sigh that sounded like relief but that might just be Rimuru's imagination. “Is that so? Too bad for me then.”
Silence descended upon them because Rimuru didn't know what to say back to that. This is one of those moments where he needed the experience he didn't have. He didn't know where to get from here. He never rejected a guy, let alone someone he really would like to go out with.
He ruined it. Rimuru mourned the loss of what seemed to be a blossoming between them. He looked around awkwardly at loss on what to do. He simultaneously wanted to bring back the moment and run away to grief what could have been if he ditched his brother—
“If I can't take you tonight,” Rimuru's spiral halted at the sound of Souei's voice. It pierced through his saddened soul, and hope flickered in his heart. “How about next Saturday?” Souei ran his fingers through his hair with a sheepish smile. “I'll ask for your number but I don't have my phone at the moment. If you don't mind…”
Holy shit.
“Absolutely, yeah,” Rimuru blurted out, crumbling his flirtatious persona but he couldn’t really care, not when this handsome man gave them a second chance to see where this could lead to. He met him halfway, taking out his phone and swiped to his contacts before shoving it in Souei's already expecting hand. “Here.”
Souei blessed him with a lopsided grin as he gave back his phone after typing in his number. In that fleeting moment, however, Rimuru found another thing to admire. His device was significantly smaller around the skater's fingers. Souei would certainly effortlessly cover his own if they ever held hands.
He's even more excited for next week. Maybe, hopefully, Souei would be a totally romantic person on their date and swoon him even more off his feet. He barely knew the guy but he had an inkling that Souei was more of a traditional person. He asked for his number, not any of his socials, after all. In this day and age, that's almost unheard of.
“I'll call you later,” Rimuru said, putting his phone back in his pocket, but not before checking the time. He had to go back. “Until then,” he waved goodbye, turning on his heels and began to walk up the stairs as fast as he could without seeming too eager to leave. He was wearing his ugly pants that made his ass flat for goodness sake.
“Isn't it a common practice to make a phone call to verify one's number?” Souei's slightly raised voice filled the empty arena just when Rimuru was push the door he snuck into from open.
Rimuru paused, turning his head over his shoulder, glancing down at Souei's significantly smaller figure. He couldn't see his face clearly but he just knew that the skater was wearing that dangerous smirk again.
In all honesty, Rimuru forgot about that but he found himself wanting to be a little sassy just to make an even more lasting impression. He summoned his coquettish personality again. Now that he secured a date, it got easier this time around.
“If you gave me the wrong one, that's your loss,” he shouted back before blowing him a kiss and strutted out. He didn't see Souei's face but based on their little moment, he knew he loved that response.
Rimuru dashed through the halls, feeling lighter than he did in years. He kept replaying their coy exchanges in his head as he skipped through the mostly barren garage and got in his car. Once he was in the vehicle, he reached for his sizable slime plushie and allowed himself to let out the extreme elation he's feeling in the form of a muffled scream onto the toy.
Next Saturday could not come fast enough.