Chapter Text
Firm hands grabbed Eren’s waist and the boy yelped in surprise as he was lifted onto the dressing bench behind him. He looked around in confusion, glad that the warm-up space was empty before he glared down at Levi from where he stood.
It was only the two of them. What was this man doing? They had only just met. Erwin - Eren’s coach - had literally introduced them five minutes ago. Sure, he had told Eren, that Levi was a strange case, taciturn and strict.
But he never said that humanity’s greatest figure skater was obtrusive or touchy. Eren honestly didn’t like touching outside of training, and Levi and Eren weren’t even partners yet. They would form a contract after the test run, for which they wanted to practice at this arena.
“Turn around,” Levi ordered, face and voice blank.
“I beg your pardon?” Eren hissed, but the alpha’s hands were already on his hips again, sinking into his elegant curves as if they belonged there, tight and secure as Levi spun him around so the boy’s back was facing him.
“Close your eyes,” Levi murmured hoarsely, giving Eren's sides a reassuring squeeze before taking a step back. “Now let yourself fall.”
“And why should I do that?” the younger snapped, crossing his arms stubbornly.
“If you want this to work, you’ll have to trust me first. I can’t go out on the ice with an omega that doesn’t trust me.” Levi upheld his patience for the brat whose light form he was scanning with mild interest, his gaze stopping to hover over Eren's thin neck, which had a perfect angle to show off its smoothe skin to Levi. The alpha's voice morphed into an even lower rumble that caused Eren to bite his lip in uncertainty. “Out on the ice I’m the only barrier between you and that cold, hard surface... I’ll be the one to catch you if you fall. I’ll do so as many times as you need, but you’ll have to trust me.”
It wasn’t that high a price to pay, Eren debated thoughtfully, but his severe trust issues were gnawing at him again. He couldn't help but shrink a little, his crossed arms now rather hugging him in a helpless pose instead of defensively covering his chest. This man seemed trustworthy to Eren, he knew Erwin would've never picked him otherwise. However, just the thought of alphas and them touching him made him incredibly nervous for whatever reason. Hadn’t Erwin told Levi that when he arranged their meeting? In fact, it was the reason he had arranged this meeting in the first place. Maybe Levi knew, but just didn't care, and the thought made Eren frown in annoyance. Those bossy alphas, thought they knew everything better.
Eren was 17, a professional figure skater known as “Greatest Hope” for how inspiring and purely beautiful his performances were. He was a unique and promising talent, and since he had reached an age at which omegas often got partners for their figure skating career, his Coach had introduced him to one of the most famous ice skating legends on the planet.
In a world where body–arts of all kinds were treasured and talents cherished more than anything, the man standing behind him - Levi Lance Ackermann - was also known as “The Wings of Freedom."
Out on the ice it looked like he could fly, faster and freer than anybody. He was like a frozen tornado with the elegance of a breeze. He was like a perfected statue, no, an ice sculpture that had come to life. But most of all, the alpha was a stranger to Eren.
All he knew about this intimidating and mysterious person was that he'd had a lot of success with all of his former partners.
No matter if they were rather skilled and popular, or just unknown rookies. Eren had always admired his perfection on the ice. However, the moment he met him for real, Eren had only gapped at how surprisingly short the alpha was without healed skates. And his first impression of Levi was; 'I do not want to piss this guy off!'
Erwin, who was also Levi’s former coach, was aware that Eren often had problems with letting go out on the ice. He was constantly determined on doing everything perfect and was very tense, too fierce for his own good.
That should come to an end, Levi was an expert in self-control. His job would be to teach Eren everything he knew, especially the practical parts. His partners could be as uptight as a serious case of constipation; he always managed to relax them despite his questionable personality and his odd methods.
Eren had heard some rumors.
He still stood on the bench, brows knitting together as he disputed with himself whether he should take this step. He’d never had a partner before, not really. Eren was sure Erwin would understand if he told him that he needed more time. It was a big decision concerning his career after all.
But this was a rare chance, Eren did not want to be that loser who just let those slip away. It was the fucking Ice King behind him, The Wings of Fucking Freedom, a legend, and the very man that had been Eren’s idol for more than 10 years now. He was asking Eren to trust him, and it was slowly causing sparks of excitement and determination to glow within him. He wanted to show that alpha what he could do, that he was not just some pretty face people could toss around.
Something about that silver shimmer in those narrow eyes - that gleam which the omega suddenly remembered out of nowhere - was telling him he wanted to trust Levi. It tempted him even.
And he fell. He let himself go; eyes pressed shut, hands balled to fists against his chest.
Eren gasped as strong arms caught him softly, right above the floor. His eyes flew open to meet with Levi’s half-lidded ones. The omega had finally wiped that glare off his face and was now innocently staring up at the shorter male.
Was his heart hammering so hard from the shock just now, or was it something else?
“If figure skaters are supposed to be like feathers, you’re a rock," Levi’s deep voice suddenly mumbled, ripping Eren out of his daze, and not too gently.
The glare was back on his face. “How dare you? You nearly dropped me; that was fucking close! Let go of me!” Eren stemmed his hands against Levi’s chest, struggling to get away from the alpha even if it meant he’d flop to the ground like a dead bird.
“I didn’t mean your weight, brat. I meant your posture, you have to lighten up. Be flexible, not stiff.” Levi frowned, and pushed Eren back into an upright position with ease. “Greatest Hope, you gotta be shitting me. More like Bird in a Cage.”
Eren backed away with gritted teeth. He decided he hated the way Levi looked at him from now on. The man intensely gazed back at the younger, focusing the boy before him with a thoughtful expression.
“I’ll have to change that," the alpha whispered, thinking out loud.