#kdn

No Keeper nonsense. No Frostbite, no magical politics or nymphs, nothing about his past or her stress. Just Annelise and Yacov. For a few hours, before they rejoin the others.

"That's a good plan," she says, gives a matching smile when his lips curve in relief. "Far as it's in my power, we can be ordinary college students, taking advantage of ordinary free time to go on an ordinary date." Not Keeper and Wraith, not anything shaped by who--what--they are, just ordinary. Normal.

"Thank you, Annelise," he says softly, leaning his forehead against hers.

She stifles a giggle at how far he bends to do it. "Of course." Even if it wasn't something that sounded appealing, it's for Yacov. She likes him quite a lot. (Honestly loves, but since she isn't a normal ordinary college student, she's more than a little afraid of what labeling it with that l-word will mean.) "We should get going," she murmurs, "or the line will be absurd."

Yacov chuckles, "Thank you," whispering again in her ear as his lips just brush her skin when he pulls back.

Annelise shivers, pretty sure it's not the wintery breeze, as she nods. She draws up their joined hands, kisses his knuckles, both hands, before letting go of one and tugging him into motion again by the other.

Yacov's cheeks are faint pink and she's pretty sure the cold isn't responsible for that, either.

They walk, holding hands, in companionable silence. The rink isn't overwhelmingly busy, which is a relief. Annelise wonders, as she laces up her skates, what they'll talk about with all the usual subjects off the table.

"Have you done this before?" Yacov asks, watching her. "Gone ice skating?"

"Once, when I was maybe five or six?" Annelise wrinkles her nose. "Nothing recent enough to count as experience. How 'bout you?"

"Quite a bit when I was younger. For... agility." When he doesn't elaborate, she knows it's tied to one of the things they're Not Talking About.

"Does this mean I can ask you for pointers?" Annelise jokes, grinning up at him after tying the second lace.

"Whatever you need." Yacov holds out a hand, sincerity and a depth beyond the actual words shining in his clear grey eyes.

Annelise takes his hand and lets him help her balance as she gets to her feet. She teeters, stumbles, shuffles as she starts off, and his long slender fingers grip her hand, firm and steady, quiet reassurance and suggestions murmured so only she hears. Once she has some sense of what she's doing, he lets her go to try on her own, though near the wall so the rail is within grabbing distance. Smart man.

She's distracted from her concentration on shifting her feet, the timing to coast on momentum, when she looks up and sees him.

Moving on his own(and not slowed by his skating-novice-girlfriend), Yacov looks angelic he's so graceful. Annelise is entranced--and pretty sure 'quite a bit' was downplaying. But she can't ask without breaking her promise for now, so she just... watches. Enjoys seeing him even sort of relaxed.

Until a large shadow rears in her peripheral vision and she flinches away from the support column her slow coast almost ran her into. She loses her balance, of course. Sits down hard. She's struggled halfway back to her feet--with help from the rail--by the time Yacov reaches her.

"Are you alright?" His hands is on her arm to steady her the rest of the way.

"I'm fine, Yacov," she promises, though she can feel the sting of scars from the latest hellhound attack; almost-healed but protesting at stretching too far. "Nothing hurt but my pride."

"Good." Yacov tugs her hat straight, golden yarn against dark blue hair that's starting to frizz.

Annelise smiles her gratitude. "Maybe I need help a little longer?" Why is it so easy to ask for help in this, but insist on shouldering everything else alone?

His hand is around hers again almost before she finishes asking. He holds it differently this time, his palm to her knuckles, their gloves making it awkward when his fingers settle between hers. But Yacov pays it no mind, his arm coming to rest around her waist. "As long as you need."

Annelise knows he means it, for more than skating, and it makes her l... like him more.