Chapter 5
The flight was due to part at 4 PM. Regulus glanced at the watch plastered above the airport gates. The plane was set to leave in approximately 20 minutes and Sirius was not here yet! Leo meowed from her cage besides Regulus’ black shoes.
“I know Leo, just a few more minutes and we’ll be on our way.”
An array of anxiety and elation brewed within Regulus. He could hardly wait to start a new life, but would he be able to adapt? The skater was not one for drastic changes and moving across the world was definitely a big reconstruction of his reality. Sirius was the one most likely to take up moving countries in an effortless stride. How would Viktor and Yuuri mentor him? How different were they from Yakov? The old man had told Regulus to be open with them, that if he shared his emotions, his skating would reach a new level. But could he when running away from all emotion was one of Regulus' priorities? The athlete caught a glimpse of his brother strutting down the gate’s path, just in time for the speakers to announce group A’s entrance to the flying vehicle, first class.
The seats were not uncomfortable but Regulus despised flying. The noisy children, long hours of constricted limbs and the cold biting at his toes were some of the plentiful reasons the boy avoided traveling as much as he could -not that he could do much, most of his skating events were held outside of the United Kingdom. The athlete pursed his lips as he squeezed his eyes shut, this was about to be a long flight. Besides the skater, Sirius’ smile twitched as his gaze fell upon his already irritated brother.
“Do you want me to throw you out the window?” He started. “Your face looks constipated,” A corner of Regulus’ mouth lifted before he rapidly scolded his features into a dry look. “Very funny, Sirius.” At least he had his brother as entertainment. “I’d rather be constipated than having you touch me with your sticky hands.” Sirius started blubbering protests in favour of his ‘Lack of sticky fingers’ but was cut off when the plane finally started moving, Regulus ignored his brother’s ongoing rant in favour of preparing emotionally for the next eight and a half hours.
When the food arrived it was too hot and bland-looking. During hour 3 Sirius got too restless and started prodding at his younger brother’s patience. On hour 4 Regulus’ ongoing nerves got the better of him, thus, he reluctantly popped a melatonin pill -melatonin is bad for athletes of such high performance as him. With the effects of the pharmaceutics in his body, time flew quicker than usual and before he knew it they had landed in Detroit.
Regulus thought the apartment was close to perfect, grey and white walls decorated the minimalist design of the previously furnished rental.
“Feels like we’re missing something, doesn’t it?” Sirius grunted as he attempted carrying his three suitcases to his room, all at once.
“Sirius, you idiot!” Regulus hissed. “Take them one at a time! You’re going to stab your toe, cry and then blame it on me. What do you mean ‘ missing something’ ?!”
Regulus proceeded to let Leo out of his cage, the cat despised confined spaces, much like his owner.
“Well how would I know!”
“Probably forgot your dignity back home” the boy muttered in an almost whisper. “Why you wear fucking leather to an international flight is still beyond me”.
“Always got to dress to impress Reg,” His brother started as he threw a wink “specially with a celebrity on board!”
“I’m no celebrity, prick. Not outside of the bloody skating community at least.”
“You all should get more recognition, I’d never willingly throw myself to a jump above ice.”
The skater huffed, he was used to it but blimey how hard it was to grow confidence to jump in the first place.
“The woman’s division gets more viewers, it’s not fair but it’s what we’ve got.”
Sirius left struggling -with the three bags- and then returned groaning to throw himself towards the ground in exhaustion, it had been an exhausting couple of hours. He turned his head to catch a glimpse of his retreating brother -carrying one bag at a time- and started loud enough for Regulus to hear him.
“Are we going out later?”
“Going out? Sirius, we just arrived! Have some practicality, for fuck’s sake.”
“But… but we have to familiarise ourselves! New territory and all, you know.”
“We can do that tomorrow.”
“Nuh-uh.”
“Yes-uh.”
“Nuh-uh! Tomorrow is meant for groceries and that other shite for this boring place,”
“It’s not boring, it’s minimalist .”
“We’re heading out after we sleep,”
“No.”
“Yes!”
“ No.”
“Yes!”
“NO.”
“Coin flip! I lose, I give you 100.. what do they say here, bucks? I give you 100 bucks , you lose, we go out.”
“… Fine”
“Ayeeee!”
Sirius reached for one of the few coins left from their natal currency. “You heads, me tails.” As the pound flipped, Regulus begged any greater power out there to let him stay in his new apartment. There was no need to go sightseeing, he was here to train and study. Heading into the heat in the midst of august for the sole purpose of-
“AHA!” Sirius shouted. “Tails! We’re leaving!”
“What? No! Let me see you arse,”
Sirius erupted into one of his rants as Regulus approached in search of the authenticity of Sirius’ words.
Fuck.
“ We can see if any cafeteria has at least one type of doughnut! Or search for the nearest bar. Oh, let’s pick up Thai food on our way to eat here, inaugurating our dining table! Do you think we have nice neighbours? We can even visit the rink! Surely people must be gone by the time we arrive, it's Bloody Sunday.”
Okay, now that interested Regulus’ selective hearing. He had thought of getting acquainted with the rink before showing up on Tuesday morning, to adapt faster and that shite.
The athlete cut off his brother’s excited chattering with “We visit the rink first,” and left to unpack and hopefully nap as well.
Sirius tiptoed carefully through his apartment in search of Leo. The feline loathed the older boy and that was just what Sirius needed right this moment.
“There you are filthy cat”
The black brother seized the cat as it writhed beneath his fingers, hissing and reaching to leave scratch wounds around Sirius’ forearm. “Ouch” he whispered to himself before hissing a response back to the animal. This is why Regulus calls him a furry , he absentmindedly tells himself.
Sirius entered his brother’s open bedroom and there he was! Lying on top of his covers, on his back and features as relaxed as they would ever look in the presence of another being. He knew Regulus was a heavy sleeper, otherwise he wouldn't be doing what he was about to do now!
Regulus felt a warm presence on his face, fur itching his nostrils and invading his mouth. What the fuck? Was this Leo? he’d never done that before.
It is Leo.
Regulus opened his eyes.
“Sirius, what the fuck?!”
Regulus sat up in his bed at lightning speed, the cat running off in frightened desperation. His face was contorted into agitated fury while Sirius cracked up so painfully in laughter he was doubled over in an attempt to ease his ache.
“Well what are you waiting for? Don’t just sit there you bloody toe rag, go get dressed!”
The assaulted skater looked at this brother straight in the eyes, anger burning behind grey irises. This kind of assault? He definitely did not miss from living under the same roof as the elder sibling. He sent a last dirty look to his brother before aggressively reaching for some already unpacked clothes, resigning himself to yet another one Sirius’ antics. He could not be bothered to deal with him, he had no energy left.
“Rink, walk and we’re back in 60.” He snapped as he stood up for the bathroom.”
“Brilliant! I’ll head down.”
They were a few kilometres from the rink. This is the perfect distance for a warm up run from the apartment, Regulus thought as they got closer to the establishment. Always the mind of an athlete first. From afar, the Black brothers could see the sizable arena, outstanding construction clashing against monotonous buildings. Blue concrete erupted from the pavement and circled around the window panelled dome, it was mesmerising. Well-kept gardens decorated its perimeter, barring a paved path for visitors to access its main entrance. It truly was a sight to behold and he couldn’t wait to skate on its ice.
The moment they made it through the principal glass doors, a rush of cold air coated Regulus’ face, too bad he’d left his skates back in the building, Regulus experienced a sense of belonging inside this arena already.
“Reg bloody hell, this rink is so much better than London’s,”
The skater silently agreed. It was finer and its maintenance unquestionably surpassed Lee Valley Ice Centre, his previous homerink.
“Should have let mother kick me out of the house with you a while ago…”
As the brothers entered the iced arena, admiring the pleasing architecture, they failed to notice the exact contents of the countless posters surrounding them.
“Welcome to Ice Castle Detroit Arena! How can I help you b-”
The fiery red haired receptionist stopped abruptly, too stunned to utter a word. What was Junior Gold medallist Regulus Black doing in the rink? No one told her he was coming in the middle of the afternoon, much less on a Sunday. She rapidly composed herself, she was better than this.
“Regulus Black! And…”
“Sirius. Sirius Black,” The brother grinned as he threw a wink at the young lady. Honestly what was it with Sirius and his left eye? Regulus thought as he internally rolled his eyes. Anyone would think he had a tick or something.
“Sirius Black, what a pleasure. What brings you both to Detroit? It's the off-season, shouldn’t you be in the U.K preparing programs?” She directed the question at Regulus in her midwest American accent.
“Oh, um…” This was so awkward for the athlete. Did no one tell her this would be his new homerink from now?
“Just visiting..”
“He’s starting here on Tuesday! Did no one tell you?”
Lily’s calculating frown unnerved Regulus. What?
“Im going to cut those boy’s testicle’s off,” She silently murmured to herself before plastering a smile on her face yet again.
“My colleagues are assholes, you see. So they didn’t tell me, no. But that’s amazing! Welcome Regulus.” She didn’t dare ask why the change of location, most of the time when there was a change in arenas and coaches at the same time -especially from a coach as distinguished as Yavok- it turned out to be a personal situation for the skaters. She regarded the young boy’s quiet demeanour, so different from his elegant and commanding performances.
“You’re being coached under Yuuri and Viktor, right?”
“He is!” Sirius answered for him, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
“I bet you’ll totally get on with Remus,” She continued while nodding “James too, maybe, he can be too loud sometimes.”
Wait. James.
Regulus stopped in his tracks, mind reeling. Did James Potter, his soulmate , train here? He knew James trained in the USA, but here. What the fuck?! No no no… They were supposed to meet on the ice, on a competition, on the podium with colored medals wrapped around their necks and flower bouquet crowns decorating their heads. Not here. Well, it was technically also ice, but what . Then it suddenly kicked in, he was going to train with James Potter.
James Potter.
His soulmate.
James
“J- James?”
“James Potter?” She said as she nodded in the direction where Regulus’ back was turned.
Regulus’ jaw dropped as he looked around, suddenly spotting the clear contents of each poster.
The sky blue poster highlighted a skater, tall and slender body posed with both arms raised in a final pose. Golden caramel curls bouncing off a scarred face dusted with light freckles. That’s Remus Lupin, James’ second on the podium since the beginning of their careers. The silver poster exhibited a blonde woman, high ponytail revealing her sharp cheekbones and sheer determination. Her back turned to the ice and arms crossed in her torso. That's Marlene McKinnon. And finally, the golden poster is the one that caught Regulus’ breath. There he was. The paper displayed James Potter in the final pose of his winning program from the last Olympics. One arm slightly raised in front of him, as if reaching for someone too far out of his grasp, the other hand hugging his tight abdomen and legs crossed diagonally. It was a beautiful stance, mesmerising. His messy array of curls and hopeful melancholic smile melted on his features made the poster all the more endearing. That was James Potter.
Meanwhile, Sirius’ eyes bulged out of his eyes in sheer elation. The skater in the blue background was so fit, but his brother’s soulmate was here? The universe was surely playing a big joke on them all. The Black disowned heir could sense this was going to be so much fun.
“So… James. ” Sirius started while looking at his brother with a raised eyebrow. They were seated at a night cafe that -fortunately- selled doughnuts. The older then burst laughing.
“I can’t believe this! Merlin, Yavok!”
“Yeah…”
Regulus let out the breath he was holding, loudly. The shock had worn out a bit after the tour of the dome arena’s facilities by the girl whose name was Lily. Apparently, she had been part of the staff since her own career ended due to an injury. She looked Sirius’ age, what a shame. Its not that he didn’t want James there, he was his other half for fuck’s sake, but how would he concentrate knowing that charming smiles and sunshine of charsima was in suck proximity? They had their own ice times, of course, but they would surely bump into each other. He did want to bump into him. What was the problem, then?
He was nervous. Regulus couldn't continue to lie to himself, he was nervous and this was happening too soon. He had not planned it this way and he was going to meet James sooner rather than later.
Regulus was scared. He reckoned he had been close to falling for the joyous boy for a long time, looking at interview after interview. Memorising every single fact about him that he could get his hands on, there was not much but the smaller version of Regulus had been desperate to know more about his potential significant other. Interview after interview, conference after conference, Regulus followed his soulmate.
But what if James discovered their apparent connection? It was known that James adored the concept of an inexplicable soul connection, but Regulus didn't want the older skater to fall for the idea of a soulmate Regulus was, but Regulus himself as a human and a partner of his own being. A love between soulmates isn't guaranteed, it sometimes failed, didn't work for unknown reasons, but Regulus will make it work. He knew that when he met James Potter, it was all going to be just fine, his gut told him so despite his rational fears.