Chapter Text
Blaze
Blaze stood on the ice, her tail flicking back and forth as she reviewed her last jump in her mind. The landing had been subpar, a result of the loss of half her final turn in the air. She tried again, getting one, two, and a half turns again before she landed off-balance on her skate, just barely righting herself before her ankle buckled. Her entire body ached, her legs burning from exertion, but she wanted at least one good jump before she ended practice for the day. Comp season was still several months off, but still, she had so much work to do before she was ready.
A black and red hedgehog stood at the edge of the rink, leaning against the wall as he watched her intently. “That’s enough,” he said. “We’ll keep going on Monday.”
Blaze groaned. “Come on, just one more. I feel like I’ve got it.”
Shadow shook his head. “If you keep going you’re gonna break your damn ankles. Stop.”
Blaze’s tail flicked again, but she said nothing, scowling as she glided over to the rink’s exit. He was right, and she knew it, but the temptation to turn right around and do that last jump was almost too much to resist. He seemed to almost read her mind, scowling right back. Though that also could have just been his normal resting scowl.
The first step off the ice was jarring, and it took her a moment to readjust how she walked as she made her way over to the bench. She sat down, grabbing her water bottle and taking a few gulps before unlacing her skates. “So when do the qualifying comps start again?” she asked.
“May,” Shadow said. “You’ve still got a few months.”
Blaze nodded. It was January now, just a few days after the new year. She had more than enough time to perfect her technique before then.
“There was something I wanted to discuss with you,” Shadow said.
Blaze looked up, raising her eyebrows in a signal to continue.
“I was wondering what you thought about potentially competing in pair skating this year.”
Blaze didn’t even hesitate. “Absolutely not,” she said. Then she got up, grabbing her bag, and started towards the exit.
Shadow stepped in front of her, cutting her off. “Why?” he asked, and Blaze didn’t miss how his scowl deepened slightly.
Blaze sighed. “I don’t need help. I can win by myself. I just need more time to practice.”
“It’s not about that,” Shadow replied. “I thought it might be good for you to learn how to skate with a partner. It’ll give you different skills to learn so you’re not skating yourself into the ground doing the same thing over and over.”
“I don’t want a partner,” Blaze said firmly. “I don’t have time for this.”
She stepped past Shadow, but not before she caught him rolling his eyes. She pursed her lips as she walked through the doors. Shadow was a very skilled coach, and she knew she wouldn’t be where she was now without him, but there were many days when she was tempted to fire him. He was just so annoying sometimes.
Especially when he was right.
She shook her head as she left the building, stepping out into the frosty mid-winter air. The sky was dark, the sun having set a couple hours ago. The street lamps glowed a warm yellow as flakes of snow fell past them, collecting in drifts on the sidewalk. She made her way out of the parking lot and down the street to the nearest bus stop. Her tail flicked impatiently behind her as she waited.
“Aren’t you cold?” asked a voice next to her. She turned to find a blue hedgehog with bright emerald green eyes, an amused smile tugging at his lips.
Now that he mentioned it, the full force of the winter chill bit into her shoulders, and she clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering. She reached up to rub her shoulders, finding nothing but the straps of her tank top. She must have forgotten to put her coat on before she’d left the rink.
Her stomach dropped as she realized she’d left it there.
“Oh no,” she said, hurrying back down the sidewalk.
“Whoa, wait, where ya goin’?” the stranger called back, but Blaze didn’t answer, her lungs already burning in the frigid air as she sprinted back to the rink. She prayed that it wasn’t closed yet, that maybe Shadow had thought to grab it before he left. She couldn’t lose that one.
A familiar figure met her half-way to the rink, and her shoulders slumped with relief as Shadow stopped and held her jacket out for her. “Thank you,” she said, panting as she tried to regain her breath.
Shadow gave her nothing more than a grunt in reply, and she turned around to hurry back the way she came. Though she had her coat now, she couldn’t put it on and run at the same time, so the cold bit even deeper into her as she reached the bus stop. The bus was already there, the lights shining brightly in her face as she turned the corner. The blue hedgehog from before was waving from the doorway.
“There she is,” she heard him say to the driver. Then to her, “Hey, come on!”
I’m trying, Blaze would have snapped back, if her lungs and throat didn’t hurt so much. When she finally reached the bus, the stranger extended a hand for her, still wearing that same smile, like he thought she was funny somehow.
Blaze ignored the hand and stepped on board, annoyed when she found her favorite seat closest to the door already taken. She settled for one closer to the back closest to the window. Unfortunately, the stranger followed her, taking the seat next to her as she shrugged awkwardly into her coat.
“I kept the driver waiting for you,” he said.
“You didn’t have to,” Blaze replied.
“Well, you looked like you were in a hurry so I thought you wouldn’t want to wait for another bus. It wasn’t a big deal.” He smiled again, then pulled his phone out. “Besides, you just seemed a little frazzled. I mean, you forgot your coat in freezing weather. I just thought the least I could do–”
“I didn’t need you to help me,” Blaze interrupted, looking pointedly away from him. “I could have managed fine by myself. Please, mind your own business.”
Even though she wasn’t looking directly at him, she could see his reflection in the window as his ears drooped, his smile fading. “Oh… Okay… sorry to bother you.” Then he pulled out a little case with a pair of bluetooth earbuds and put them in his ears.
Guilt squirmed in Blaze’s stomach, but she made no attempt to apologize. Besides, it wasn’t like they were ever going to see each other again. One awkward bus ride wouldn’t be the end of the world. Besides, he was too chatty for her liking, and she had more important matters to think about.
Like making it to the family reunion on time.
Why they'd all decided to do this right after the winter holidays, Blaze had no idea. Most of those holidays were spent with family anyway, or so Blaze thought. Why not just do it then? Then she would have already gotten the "why aren't you married yet"s and the "have you won gold yet"s over with. If that hadn't been the case, she could have gone home, plopped down on the couch and rested her exhausted muscles. Instead, she was stuck on an awkward bus ride with a stranger, heading to an event that had her hackles up just thinking about it.
It would have been a little easier before the accident. At least her parents would have shielded her a little from the onslaught of curiosity, just like they had during competitions when reporters had wanted to interview her. Now... It felt like she was forced to take their place.
She sighed as she continued to look out the window, rubbing the sleeve of her coat between her thumb and forefinger. Was there any way to get out of it? Reasonably? Without landing herself in the hospital?
Nothing came to mind.
In the window reflection, she caught a flash of the blue stranger's phone, and her eyes widened as she recognized the album cover on the music app.
"You listen to Sound Rush?" she asked.
The stranger looked a little startled as he took out an earbud. Then he smiled. "Yeah," he said. "I like the occasional ska here and there. I think my fave is Right On. Yours?"
Blaze shrugged, "Maybe Vela Nova?" she said. "I've been thinking of trying to choreograph something to that one, but my coach hasn't been too keen on it..."
The stranger tilted his head. "You some kinda athlete?" he asked.
"Figure skater," Blaze said.
The stranger grinned. "Me too!" he said. "I guess you're in the women's singles then?"
Blaze nodded. "Men's?"
The stranger nodded, then held out his hand for her to shake. "I'm Sonic," he said. "You might have even heard of me."
“Blaze,” she replied as she shook his hand and narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, trying to remember if she'd ever heard that name before. "I don't think I have," she said. "I don't have time to pay attention to the other competitions most of the time."
Sonic laughed.
Blaze scowled. "What's so funny?" she demanded.
"Nothing," Sonic replied. "You just look so serious, it's a little funny. Kinda cute though." Blaze blushed, and the stranger seemed to realize his mistake. "Oh, wait... Uh... Sorry. Anyway, yeah, how high have you placed in comp?"
"Third in regionals," Blaze said. "Not great. But I think I have a real chance this year."
Sonic smiled. "Good luck then," he said. "I hope you succeed."
Blaze smiled a little. "Thanks," she said.
The conversation lulled to a stop, and Blaze turned her gaze back out the window. The bus was getting close to her stop, passing the bowling alley they'd chosen as a venue. Blaze wasn't looking forward to dealing with the screaming children inside, nor the greasy food.
The moment she thought of food, her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten anything since before she'd left for practice, and that had been hours ago. Oh well. Maybe she could hold out until she got home.
When the bus reached its stop, Sonic stood up, offering her a hand to help her up. She refused it, scooting out on her own. She inclined her head in a silent goodbye, then made her way off the bus and down the sidewalk.
The moment she stepped into the bowling alley, she was assaulted by the smell of pizza and the hum of conversational chatter. Bowling pins crashed in the lanes, and children were running around screaming. She made herself take a deep breath before she made her way in. She could probably get away with just staying for an hour or two right?
Her stomach growled, and she looked over at the snack bar. It was tempting, but she knew the food was greasy, and with how little grease she had in her diet overall, it would make her sick anyway. Not worth it. She'd just be hungry for a little while longer then, she decided.
Her uncle Big--her father's brother--caught sight of her and waved, his eyes crinkling in a smile. Blaze couldn't help but smile in return as she waved back. Unfortunately, this garnered the attention of her aunt Ivory, her mother's sister, who shouted, "Blaze made it, everyone!"
There went her quiet entrance.
Suddenly there were cousins and grandparents swarming around her, demanding hugs and asking the dreaded Questions so fast and in so many different directions that Blaze could barely hear her own thoughts, much less come up with suitable answers..
"Oh, give her some air!" shouted Ivory, pushing through the crowd with her elbows before looking Blaze up and down. "Have you been eating enough?" she asked.
Blaze managed a nod then. "I think so," she said carefully.
Aunt Ivory smiled. "Good!" she said. Then she leaned in close. "I snuck in some of those mango candies you like," she whispered. Then she deposited a handful into Blaze's hand. "Have you been working hard?"
By now everyone was going back to their bowling games, except for Uncle Big, who was just sort of standing off to the side, staring off into space like he always did. Blaze nodded. "I think I've got a chance at nationals," she said. "I've been working my tail off since last season."
"That's good!" Ivory said with a smile. Then the corners of that smile softened. "Ember would be so proud of you."
Blaze wasn't sure she agreed with that statement, but she made herself smile and nod anyway.
Ember, Blaze's mother, had been an international skating champion back in her day. She and Blaze's father, Pallas, had both dominated the men's and women's singles comps. As Blaze had grown up and shown an interest in skating, the family seemed to expect the same from her. Her parents had said they'd be willing to pull her with no judgment, but she didn't want that. She'd kept going. Even after they died, she kept going.
But she still hadn't even made it out of regional comps. She hadn't been good enough to get through, and she wondered if maybe she still wasn't good enough, no matter what Shadow told her in practice.
And even then, she could still never be sure.
Aunt Ivory patted her on the shoulder. "Come, sit." She gestured to a table near where Ivory's husband was bowling with their four kids. Blaze eased herself into the chair, her muscles shaky with hunger and exhaustion. "So," Ivory began, and Blaze sighed with resignation. "Have you been seeing anyone?"
Blaze leveled her with a look that made her roar with laughter. "No," she said. "You know I'm too busy for that."
"I was mostly teasing," Ivory said, wiping tears from her eyes. "You should have seen your face. No, I know. I just worry about you, all on your lonesome. Have you thought about getting a pet at least? Or a roommate?"
Blaze shook her head. "I'm fine," she said. "Besides, my apartment doesn't allow pets. And a roommate just... I've heard too many horror stories."
Ivory rolled her eyes. "Don't believe everything on the internet, honey," she said.
Blaze's ears flattened. "I'm just saying I don't want to have to fight someone to get them to do dishes or keep me up if they bring someone over. My upstairs neighbors are bad enough."
Ivory laughed. "Do you have any friends at least?" she asked.
Her smile faded when Blaze hesitantly shook her head. "I don't have time for that either."
They lapsed into silence for a while. By that time, Uncle Big had shuffled over and sat down with them. "If you ever need a fishing buddy, just give me a call," he said in his slow, careful way.
Blaze smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Big," she said.
"I think you should try and get out a little more, honey," Ivory said. “I know you’re working as hard as you can for competitions, but I don’t think it’s good that you don’t have anyone to talk to.”
“I’m fine, really,” Blaze insisted. “I’m too busy to be lonely.”
That was a lie, but Aunt Ivory either didn’t notice, or chose not to say anything about it.
Just then, Ivory’s youngest—a little six-year-old named Sunbeam—came up to them and announced she had to go to the bathroom, so Ivory got up and escorted her, leaving Blaze and Big at the table. It was quiet—neither of them were very chatty people—but Blaze found a little bit of comfort in the silence. There was no need to try to reassure anyone that things were okay. She could just breathe.
“Froggy says hello,” Uncle Big finally said. Then he pushed himself to his feet. “Don’t forget to take it easy.”
Blaze nodded as he walked away. She pulled one of the mango candies out of her pocket, carefully unwrapped it, and popped it in her mouth as she watched Ivory’s husband play with the kids for a while.