Chapter Text
The hum of the rink’s lights buzzed above the crowd of figure skaters gathered for the announcement. It was the moment they had all been waiting for—the pairing list for the upcoming National Championship. As the head coach pinned the sheet to the board, a wave of murmurs spread through the crowd, each skater straining to catch a glimpse of their partner’s name.
Carlos Reyes stood off to the side, arms crossed tightly over his chest. He was not one for unnecessary socializing, especially not now. His sharp brown eyes scanned the room, sensing the nervous energy in the air. Everyone wanted to know who they’d be paired with, who they’d have to trust on the ice for the next few months.
Carlos had always prided himself on his discipline and control, both on and off the ice. He had worked tirelessly to get to this point, meticulously doing every jump, every spin, every intricate step sequence. For him, skating was about precision and perfection.
He slowly made his way toward the announcement board, already dreading what he might see. The last thing he needed was to be paired with someone who didn’t share his work ethic, someone who was more about showmanship than skill.
And then, his worst fear came to life.
There, right next to his name, was a name that made his stomach drop.
TK Strand.
Carlos felt the blood drain from his face. His fingers clenched at his sides as he fought to keep his composure. Of all the people—of all the skaters—it had to be TK.
“Looks like we’re going to be spending a lot of time together, Reyes.”
Carlos turned to see TK leaning casually against the wall, a devilish grin spreading across his face. His brown hair was messy, as though he hadn’t bothered to fix it after practice, and his bright green eyes sparkled with mischief.
TK Strand was everything Carlos wasn’t. He was reckless, carefree, and far too fond of improvisation. While Carlos stuck to his carefully planned routines, TK seemed to thrive on chaos, always pushing the boundaries of what was expected. He was the kind of skater who drew in the crowd with his charisma, but often left his coaches tearing their hair out.
And now, Carlos had to work with him.
“I guess we’ll see how long you can keep up,” TK added, his grin widening as he saw the irritation flicker in Carlos’s eyes.
Carlos took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. “We don’t have a choice, Strand. Let’s just get this over with.”
TK’s smile didn’t waver. He was used to getting under people’s skin, and with Carlos, it was almost too easy. “Relax, Reyes. This might actually be fun.”
“Fun?” Carlos echoed, his tone dry. “This isn’t about fun. It’s about winning.”
TK shrugged. “Same thing.”
Carlos stared at him, trying to comprehend how someone could be so infuriating. He shook his head, turning away from TK to hide the frustration that threatened to boil over. This was going to be a nightmare.
-
Their first practice together was tense, to say the least. Carlos arrived early, as always, already warmed up and ready to go by the time TK strolled in, ten minutes late. TK didn’t seem the least bit apologetic, throwing his bag onto the bench with a carefree attitude.
“You’re late.” Carlos said, his voice cold.
TK shrugged, lacing up his skates. “Relax. It’s just a few minutes.”
“A few minutes here, a few minutes there—it adds up,” Carlos shot back. “We need to take this seriously if we want to win.”
TK stood, rolling his shoulders. “Don’t worry, Reyes. I’m here now. Let’s skate.”
Carlos gritted his teeth but said nothing. They had work to do, and arguing with TK wasn’t going to get them anywhere.
They started with basic drills, testing each other’s timing and synchronization. It quickly became apparent that their styles were vastly different. Carlos moved with rigid precision, each step carefully measured. TK, on the other hand, was fluid and spontaneous, his movements almost unpredictable.
“You need to follow the rhythm.” Carlos said, his frustration mounting as TK spun out of sync for the third time.
“I am following it.” TK argued. “You’re just too stiff.”
“I’m precise.” Carlos corrected sharply. “There’s a difference.”
“Sure.” TK said, smirking. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
Carlos took a deep breath, trying to rein in his temper. This was going to be harder than he thought.
-
After practice, Carlos stayed behind to work on a few more routines. The rink was quiet now, the other skaters having gone home for the evening. Carlos appreciated the silence. It gave him time to think, to strategize.
He wasn’t sure how they were going to make this work. Their styles clashed in almost every way. But there was something about TK’s skating—something raw and powerful—that Carlos couldn’t ignore. If they could just find a way to blend their strengths, they might actually have a shot.
As he stepped off the ice, Carlos saw TK sitting on the bench, still in his skates, watching him.
“Why are you still here?” Carlos asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.
TK shrugged. “Wanted to see how you train. You’re impressive, Reyes. I’ll give you that.”
Carlos frowned, suspicious of the compliment. “What do you want, TK?”
TK stood, stretching his arms above his head. “Nothing. Just trying to figure out how to make this work. We’re stuck with each other, so we might as well try, right?”
Carlos studied him for a moment, unsure if TK was being genuine or just playing games. But then he saw something in TK’s eyes—a glimmer of determination that mirrored his own.
“Fine,” Carlos said finally. “Let’s make it work.”
TK grinned. “Now that’s the spirit.”
-
As Carlos left the rink that night, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this partnership, as rocky as it was, might just be the push he needed to become even better. And, perhaps, in the process, he’d learn something about himself—and about TK—that he hadn’t expected.
TK watched Carlos leave, a thoughtful expression on his face. This wasn’t going to be easy, but then again, nothing worth having ever was.