All you need is love... actually
Fanfiction Frozen modern AU, Disney crossover (my first go)
Pairing: Kristoff/Anna (main), Sven/Honeymaren, Mathias/Halima, Ryder/Merida
Rated M (for some nudity)
I owe nothing but my headcanon - which is loosely based on the Christmas movie "Love actually"...
Hope you have fun!
Find the fic on AO3
Chapter 14 / 28
Love lends wings
Another few days later….
Sven was working on early cutting and trimming of the bushes and trees around the sportsground.
Stepping onto the ladder he'd pay double attention this time. Still, the distraction was overwhelmingly close when the afternoon training began, and some kids from the athletic team started the warming up jogging around the running track. This itself would not be that spectacular, if it was not for the instructor who got them through the activity.
Honeymaren stood with her clipboard and checked on her pupils and the plan she held for the hour of sprint training. She scrolled her pencil along the list of names and looked around occasionally to figure out her group being complete. Upon glancing around the sport´s yard, the young woman detected the caretaker in the tree and her eyes grew wide. She did not intend to disturb him in his work but there was this unsettling feeling at the pit of her stomach.
The thought of running to first aid was on her mind and upon that her belly flipped and her heart accelerated mysteriously.
And that was very confusing…
The sport´s instructress shook her head to clear her mind and then blew into her whistle to get the kids back to her attention. She seriously needed to focus on today´s goal, rather than drool over the good looking and friendly man across the yard!
Sven decided it might be better to tend to the branches some other time, when there were no kids around, due to safety reasons. He got down from the ladder and went on to trim the bushes, staying safely close to the ground for today.
A familiar figure flitted past him with gasping breath and unequal steps, and Sven lowered his pruning shears, looking after the brave boy.
What was Olaf doing in the athletic team? He didn´t like running of that sort. That was odd, but for sure there must be a reason. Good grief, hopefully Olaf's parents hadn't condemned the poor boy to sign up for the sport´s team? Sven suddenly felt so sorry and a certain anger building up within him. It was not fair to throw poor Olaf into such excruciating torture.
He could not help and put down his tool and then walk over to Honeymaren who stood now further up along the running track and even closer to his working spot than before.
“Hey Honeymaren!” he cheered in the most nonchalant way.
“Hi, Sven!” Honeymaren quickly smiled his way and then turned her gaze back to the kids on the running track.
“That´s it, Gale, not too fast, steady, and even and watch your group. Don´t lose the others. This is warming up and no race yet!”
She bit her lips and stared at the kids who came passing them now, and she leaned her head a bit closer to Sven but was still watching the track.
“Everything alright?”
“Yeah,” Sven shoved his hands into his pockets and watched the sportive group passing by, “I was just wondering about something. Maybe you can tell me?”
“What´s that?” Honeymaren asked still not looking at him, but then shouting some encouragement to the stragglers behind the leading group, “okay you three, don´t worry, you´ll get there. Just keep going in your own speed and keep breathing evenly, right? That´s it! Olaf, don´t stress yourself, it´s your first go, that looks pretty good, already!”
“That´s exactly what was puzzling me.” Sven looked after the group who had already moved on to the other side of the running track.
“What do you mean?” Now Honeymaren turned around once they had a bit of a free moment.
“Olaf! What is he doing in the sprinting group? He hates sports!” Sven nodded towards the kids with a concerned glance. On that, Honeymaren pursed her lips and then chuckled with a warm smile. Only that this left the man confused even more.
“Oh, there is a very simple explanation to that. Just hang on a second, okay?” She put a calming hand to his arm and then turned to stop the group for further instructions.
Her hand was so soft and yet so strong… If she did that again, Sven was not sure if he would do the same and simply pull her flush into a hug…
Kristoff had been right… he was doomed…
The kids got the order to repeat the track but this time jogging in pairs, nicely next to each other and not running off, but watching out for the other. The faster took care of the slower. That was an exercise to train teamwork. Then, Honeymaren set up the kids by her orders, so they´d mix with someone else each time. And for the first round, Olaf was set up with Gale, the leading girl of eleven years. She was very sportive and talented but then a good coach, too. Honeymaren intended to get her on the junior instructor team to help the younger kids in motivation and training skills.
Upon setting up the groups, it almost looked as if Olaf had grown a few inches. He stood there so proudly, with his pale taint, red cheeks, and sparkling eyes.
The kids started on their runs in terms, according to Honeymaren´s commando. Once all six groups were on the track, the young woman turned to face her companion again.
Sven stared after the cute pair, when Gale indeed seemed to take care of her younger team member, obviously jovially shoving, and encouraging him to keep going when he looked like breaking down any second. And then, Olaf made it over the finish line.
They were meant to repeat the round and this time talking was not allowed but nonverbal team play requested.
“See the reason why Olaf wants to improve his sportive shape?” Honeymaren asked quietly and softly.
“That girl….?”
“Gale.”
“Yes… Goodness… She´s the reason?” Sven stared in disbelief and didn´t realise his own goofy grin lending him the most endearing look ever.
Honeymaren chuckled and shrugged, “well, looks like that love lends wings, right?”
She then turned and put her attention back to her pupils.
Sven still stood with a strange feeling taking over his chest. He was not sure what gave him more thrills. Olaf now running steadily alongside that swiftly and refreshingly kind smiling girl, or the fact that Honeymaren made him join this group with an equal chance like any other kid. Olaf was the least sportive boy he could imagine, but that woman integrated the lad with such naturalness.
Sven felt as if she were embracing the world.... and him just the same...
He turned and went back to his work, but could not restrain a glance occasionally to the kids and their active exercising and of course the captivating coach…
After a while, they were granted a break and Olaf sat a bit aside with his snack box and bottle. Sven strolled along with his tools and stopped shortly to inquire after his friend´s wellbeing.
“Hey, Olaf! What a surprise. You on the athletic team? I am impressed!”
“Thank you, Sven!” Olaf beamed and his flushed cheeks proved his hard work of the past half an hour.
“What made you turn to that torture?” Sven tried to sound as casually asking as possible. He did not want to expose the boy but was genuinely interested in hearing his own explanation.
“Oh, Sven!” the boy gasped and then sighed importantly, “I definitely need to do something about my shape, and therefore for my health, you know.”
That was wise!
“And then…” Olaf´s eyes grew wide, and he bit his lips, beckoning Sven a bit closer and the man put a foot onto the bench that Olaf was sitting on to lean in closer, when the boy continued with the most conspirative voice.
“Have you seen the girl running with me?”
“Uhm… yes… what´s her name again?”
“Gaaaale…” that had been a mere dreamy whisper, “she´s so wonderful and I didn´t dare to tell you before, but she´s my lucky star.”
“Oh… she is, then?” Sven smiled, appreciating to be the one Olaf wanted to confide in, “does she know that?”
“No!” Olaf shook his head, “are you nuts?! She´d laugh at me. No, I rather prefer running next to her and having her telling me how to breath and make my feet evenly running, than making some romantic fool of myself.”
That was not wise, that was epic…
“I see.” Sven put a reassuring hand on Olaf´s shoulder, “good luck with the course and who knows, maybe she enjoys your company just the same?”
“Oh, that would be my dream. But rather dream than crash on reality. Or what do you think, Sven?”
That was a wise question….
“Time will show, Olaf. Some things need a while to blossom and show if it is the right thing. But if you like to talk about it, you know where you find me. Alright?”
“Thanks, Sven! Oh… reminds me… uhm… I am so sorry, but do you mind if I might not have that much time this year with helping you setting up the scenery for the school´s play? You know… to get back into shape…”
“Of course not, Olaf. That´s totally fine. I understand that completely.”
“Thanks, you´re such a friend.” And on that, Olaf jumped from the bench and flung his thin arms around Sven´s neck.
The man could not help but hug the boy back heartily. He liked him so much.
Little did he know that his genuine gesture didn´t get unnoticed and left a fond smile on a certain young woman´s heart…
