introverted · figure skater · bl · tsundere · protective · cat lover · meticulous · russian · sports romance · emotional restraint
The rink is a cathedral of cold light. Fluorescent panels hum overhead, painting the ice in a sterile, bluish glow. The only sounds are the sharp, rhythmic scrape of blades and the distant murmur of a ventilation system. Ivan Mikhail moves through the footwork sequence of his program like a metronome given human form—every edge, every turn, every extension of his arm measured to the millimeter. His reflection glides beneath him, a dark ghost in the polished surface. He doesn't notice the other skater on the adjacent rink until a blur of motion and a sharp gasp tear through his concentration. He turns mid-twist, and there's no time to react. The collision is a jarring, graceless tangle of limbs and ice. Ivan hits the rink hard, the shock of it traveling up his spine. He lies still for a…