So sorry this chappie took so long to come out, school is coming to a close for me. 5 more weeks, but that means I kind of need to concentrate more on what I'm doing. This chapter is mostly some fun interactions, not too much ice skating. Just some humor. I'm already working on the next chapter so it will come out a lot sooner.
Sorry again!
I hope you enjoy and please review!
Obviously, the week came to an end too soon for Alfred as he realized that he spent most of it either figure skating or studying. He felt a bit sorry for his neglected video games, but at the same time, he didn't. He felt very accomplished; maybe it was the fact that he was going to be seeing Arthur regularly, and also because he hasn't quit figure skating yet. Usually by this time in the game, he would be trying to weasel out of whatever he was put in. He couldn't even count the number of things he tried out for a month and just ended up leaving. He had some reasons, but they were all just excuses like, 'I don't like the coach', 'the other kids aren't supportive.', or 'it takes up too much time.' All these excuses were vastly used, but they did not matter this time. This time, he had to stay.
For some reason, though, it didn't bother Alfred as much as before. He kind of liked figure skating, besides the fact Ivan was in it and was going to be his partner; figure skating was actually pretty fun.
Getting up early wasn't as grueling, and when he met Ivan for the run, there wasn't this instant animosity between. Their runs were getting longer, but Alfred was pleased to notice that his body was getting used to the run. He wasn't a panting mess as he was earlier on in the training. He kept up with Ivan, and the two helped push each other. It was strange, but when Alfred thought about if it were any other person he was running with, this would seem like a good rival/ friendship. It was Ivan though, so they had to stay in rival territory.
After their long run, they came back to the rink to do some stretching. Alfred noticed that his body was becoming more flexible, and he was losing the some of his pudgy love handles. He noticed he was also losing quite a bit of weightaround his neck and arms. He was feeling a lot healthier too.
He chuckled when he realized it's true what people say; your body feels better when you eat healthier, even if it doesn't taste good.
"You seem to be in a good mood." Ivan humored with a little smirk, as he relaxed from his stretch.
A pout formed on Alfred's lips, but he kept stretching. He was bending down to touch his right foot, so he just moved to reaching for his left.
"I am?" He asked innocently.
"Da, especially for getting third place, nana."
"Hey! That was my first competition!" Alfred snapped and stood up. He needed to be at his full height to glare at the other.
"Then what will your excuse be at your second competition?" Ivan questioned.
"Dude, I'm still getting better." Alfred was really hoping that they wouldn't get into a fight, but Ivan was start to bring down his good mood.
"Good. Just remember, you should never be satisfied with where you are, лапа."
Alfred blinked, and he thought that the comment was mostly directed to Ivan himself, not just to Alfred.
"...Is that why you look so down when you practice? I mean I'm not world class judge, but like...you do everything perfectly. It's pretty scary." Alfred stated with a curious gaze.
"..." Ivan wasn't sure how to respond, so he just started to stretch his arms a bit. "...What do you mean?"
"Dude! At practice you're like a robot on the ice! You do every move spot on, but then you look pissed off at yourself.
"You notice?" Ivan asked, using a more gentle, amused smile.
"...Not all the time." He was not going to let Ivan make him out to be a creep who watches him.
"Hu~, but you do watch."
"Sometimes, if you're doing a cool move that I want to learn." Alfred retorted.
"I see... well to answer your question, the reason I never look satisfied with my performance is because I am not."
Alfred sighed and gave Ivan that 'no-shit-sherlock' type look. "Yeah...but why?"
Ivan seemed to tug at his scarf, a nervous habit Alfred's noticed from the all the time they've been spending together.
"I have a goal in mind...which requires that I never be satisfied."
"What? Like the Olympics?" Alfred furthered.
"Nyet, but it is just as important." Ivan answered.
"Well? What is it?" Alfred asked leaning closer.
Ivan chuckled and pushed Alfred's head away by the forehead. "Another time. Lets go back."
Alfred quirked an eyebrow, but agreed. School was going to start soon, and he did not need his mom on him about being late. Still, he was curious; he wanted to know what Ivan was hiding. He always seemed like he was hiding things. Maybe he was a mass murderer? No, that's just his imagination getting the best of him again. The thing is, there are so many mysterious things about Ivan, he was like a UFO; you never know if you really see it.
At school they kept to themselves, and Alfred got time to think about what exactly happened to that clingy Ivan from the weekend. Ivan seemed normal now... well, normal for Ivan, and Alfred couldn't understand where that overbearing side of Ivan came from. It was odd, because Alfred was sure Ivan only thought of him as some figure skating partner to fill in, so the rink wouldn't close.
Alfred had some ideas, but he was sure that whatever the reason, it was just a fluke and didn't mean anything personal. Ivan was probably just treating him as some item.
When lunch finally started, Alfred went over to his small group of friends and sat down with a happy sigh.
"I heard about your competition Alfred, good job." Toris said with a kind smile.
"Yes, I'm sorry I wasn't able to make it. There was a...family dinner." Kiku said, and seemed to pale.
"What's wrong with a family dinner?" Eduard asked.
"Haha, well Kiku has one of those huge Asian families and-" Alfred's cowlick was pulled harshly, and he suddenly went very quiet.
The tamer was Matthew, who smiled softly and decided to help fill in the gaps. " Kiku just has a large family with some eccentric personalities."
Kiku nodded. "Well said. They tend to be too loud and just...obnoxious."
Eduard seemed to get the basic jest, and gave a sympathetic smile. "It seems a bit stressful. How many siblings do you have?"
As Kiku and Eduard chatted, Toris decided to pipe up a conversation with Alfred. "How are things with you and Ivan?"
Alfred blinked a few times to register what the other just asked, and wasn't sure how to respond. Well, he could complain about him. That was what he always did anyway.
"Man! I just can't understand that guy. He's got multiple personalities I swear! Like, he's acted clingy, then he acts normal, then his usual weird self." Alfred groaned.
Toris chuckled a bit. " He is changing, yes?"
Alfred hummed a bit and tried to compare last year's Ivan to this year, and it was true; he could see a difference. First, they haven't tried to kill each other... well, from what Alfred knows. Maybe Ivan has tried, but for some reason wasn't able to pull it off.
"Just a little, he's still a commie freak, and it's going to suck when we start figure skating together." Alfred said with a huff.
Raivis's shaking seemed to take it up a notch, and Toris paled. Both gave each a glance before locking their eyes on Alfred. That didn't seem like a good sign.
"Guys?"
"Alfred, I think it's best you know something about paired figure skating with Ivan." Toris started out.
"What? He's a perfectionist? I already know that-"
"No. You see, Ivan seems to be put into a trance when he starts ice skating, and nothing can break him out of it. He skates with all he has no matter what."
"So?" Alfred asked. He assumed something like that would be a good thing.
"Well, you see... Eduard, Raivis and I were all once figure skating partners of Ivan's." Toris clarified.
"And the reason we're hurt, and can't ice skate is because he threw us." Raivis added.
"Raivis! Ah, what he meant was that Ivan was the one performing the lift, and he would put all his strength into it." Toris clarified.
Toris's outburst got the attention of the rest of the group. Matthew looked at the brothers, confused, because even if Ivan was strong, how could he lift them up in the air with enough force to hurt them.[?] How high up were they going?
"No way, he's not that strong." Alfred retorted.
"When doing the lift he goes all out. Eduard injured his knees from trying to land. I fell on my arm, and Raivis-"
"I think he just wanted to see how far he could throw me." He said sadly as his shaking grew worse.
The group was silent. No one really knew what to say to that kind of information. Alfred looked to Matthew.
"You owe me...big." He said, then let out a laugh.
Matthew's eyes widened in shock, but he smiled softly in return and handed his brother the rest of his sandwich. "Thank you."
"Well, he's changed. Maybe he'll learn to control himself." Toris offered.
"You are his last chance, Alfred-san. He needs to take care of you, if only for his own sake." Kiku said, offering a little pearl of wisdom.
It was true. Ivan would need to be a little bit more considerate of his partner since he was on his last leg. Alfred smirked; Ivan did need him, and he could obviously take advantage of that. Maybe he could get some information about why he's so weird. Maybe divulge the secrets of the scarf.
It wasn't his place, but he was too curious not to try and find out more.
It was strange though. Why would Ivan ruin his chance by throwing his partners too high? Was he that entranced with ice skating that he forgot that he was putting his partners in danger? Could all he think about was doing everything with all he had?
Honestly, Alfred couldn't think of Ivan being the type to lose control and overpower things. That was more of Alfred's deal, not Ivan. Ivan was supposed to be perfect in every way when it came to figure skating, and that's all that Alfred would give him credit for.
Then Alfred had a thought he never thought he would have. He hoped he was still heavy enough for Ivan not to lift. Can't throw something you can barely pick up, right?
Short I know...sorry, but I do promise the next chapter is coming out soon, and and and ...I will introduce Ivan and Alfred skating together~
Special thanks to Eva Hazuki he deciphers my crap into a story.
