Chapter Text
Felix slipped the clean white strings together, gently pulling them into a neat knot. He pulled himself to his feet, perfectly balanced on the thin blades. Gently leaning on the rink wall, he managed to get himself to the entrance. A small opening in the enclosure where the cold ice began, spreading throughout the entire rink.
Felix stepped onto the ice. Step, step, launch. In no time, Felix had himself rushing across the rink, each movement precise. No more than perfection, that’s all I ask. His father’s voice echoed in his mind. Felix never lost a competition, he never faltered in his glides, each movement precise like a blowing ribbon in the window, smooth and calm.
“Felix.” Amelie’s voice called, echoing through the empty room. Felix jumped, his skates slipping beneath him and he fell onto the ice.
His fingers stung from the impact, the frost creeping through his skin. It was cold. Like everything else in his life. Like his father had been. Like his home was. Like his personality. Like the way he had been forced to act. If he had been given the chance a little sooner, the opportunity, Felix could’ve been the person he wanted to be. He would’ve looked at his father, and been the opposite. But he couldn’t. Because at sixteen years old, he was still trapped in his father’s cold grasp, despite the fact his father had been dead for over a year. Someday, he’d escape from this mental prison of his. Someday, he’d be free. But for now, he needed to get off the ice.
“Yes?” He asked as he glided towards his mother.
“Your skating instructor couldn’t attend today, but he asked me to introduce you to your new partner.” She smiled sweetly. Felix wasn’t surprised. The instructor was little more than a formality. Felix already knew everything he was expected to, plus the instructor had been expecting an addition to his family. Felix was more grateful that his instructor hadn’t seen him fall on the ice when Amelie called, that would’ve been horribly damaging to his ego to say the least.
“Where is he?” Felix asked. Amelie held out one hand and the other boy walked over. As everyone was, he was awkward walking on skates, but even so, Felix could sense a great elegance and some poise in the boy. He had shocking blue eyes, black hair with blue tips, and a navy sweater over his white t-shirt and ripped black jeans.
Felix disapproved. The boy was clearly interested in rock, and not very formal. Felix predicted a lack of etiquette and manners and was beginning to doubt his original sense of elegance and poise.
“Felix, this is Luka Couffaine.” Amelie introduced. Couffaine? Ah, yes, Jagged Stone’s ex-wife, Anarka Couffaine. This must be his seventeen year old son. No wonder he has a Jagged Stone™ t-shirt… Felix thought, pulling the info dump from his mind.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr Couffaine.” Felix said politely, holding out his hand. He expected the boy to shrug it off, or force Felix to participate in a modern gesture that involved striking two palms or fists together.
Instead, Luka took Felix’s hand, smiled gently, and shook it.
“No, the pleasure is mine, Mr Fathom.” He said. Felix winced. He hated that name. Luka’s voice was smooth and calm, like the deep ocean, swimming with secrets, yet alluding to an open book. Impressed, Felix let go and nodded politely as Luka stepped onto the ice to work out his routine.
“He’s been practicing the same routine as you have for almost a week since your instructor assigned it, and he has advanced faster than anticipated.” Amelie said with a smile.
“I can see that, though I wasn’t prepared to meet him until next week.” Felix replied. Amelie nodded with a sympathetic smile, then turned and left, leaving Felix alone with the blue haired skater.