This Is Me

Part 43

Mark jerked his hands off Sean's shoulders. He watched Sean with concern as he eyed Rasputin with a sudden spooked look. Mark reached out to touch his arm, asking him curiously. "Jack? What's wrong?" Sean turned back to face him after Quintin led Rasputin out toward the rink. Anxiously shuffling his feet, Sean answered him with a shaky voice. "Mark, something is going on. I saw Rasputin's tattoo in the hallway... and just now... He didn't have it anymore." Mark shrugged, trying to calm Sean down as he told him gently. "Jack, he could have covered it in make-up for the routine. You shouldn't be worried about-" Sean put his hands on Mark's chest to silence him, looking deeply into his eyes as he pleaded to him in a whisper. "Mark, don't act like I'm seeing things... I know what I saw. Mark, that tattoo was fresh! You don't put make-up on a fresh tattoo." Mark sighed, putting a hand against Sean's face to comfort him. Sean only calmed down a little bit.

Removing his hand, Mark firmly whispered to him discreetly. "Alright. I'll check it out. Stay here." Sean nodded, dropping down onto the bench. Mark ran a hand through his green bangs, telling Nate and Felix sternly. "Keep an eye on him. Don't let anymore get too close." Felix saluted playfully, while Nate just nodded his understanding. Heading out of the locker room, Mark crept out toward the rink. He didn't know what he was looking for, but he tried to keep his eyes open for anything. Quintin helped Rasputin onto the ice, removing his robe to reveal his outfit. A black sequined jacket with black velvet pants and a silk blood red button up shirt. Only the shirt was unbuttoned A LOT to reveal Rasputin's muscular chest. Quintin then put a black fedora hat on him with a blood red band. Quintin was heatedly talking to him in low inaudible tones. Rasputin nodded, taking a toy tommy gun from Quintin. Just before he headed out onto the ice, Quintin removed his fresh cigar to hand to him too.

Mark raised an eyebrow. He didn't know that Rasputin smoked cigars. He brushed it off though, thinking it was just for his routine. Rasputin puffed the cigar as he made his way casually to the center of the ice, letting the announcer introduce him with her lusty flare. "Next up, for his first Reginal debut. Joining us all the way from Russia. Rasputin Nabokov! Starting off his theme for this year. Smooth Criminal." The women in the audience whistled for him to look in their direction and he tipped his hat to them. Mark rolled his eyes, when Matthew stepped up next to him to say discreetly. "Befitting, isn't it? I don't think the guy could be trying any harder to build a 'bad guy' reputation for his career..." Mark snorted, chuckling back. "Well, he doesn't have a lot of options. With a name like Rasputin..." Matthew smirked, then looked him over closely before asking bluntly. "Shouldn't you be with Sean? Why are you watching this self-righteous pain in the butt?" Mark crossed his arms over his chest, leaning in slightly to inform Matthew cautiously. "Sean thinks they're up to something... I'm trying to see for myself."

Matthew nodded in understanding, before asking him discreetly. "Tell me what his theories are. I'll help you dig around." Mark waited until the music began to play, then whispered discreetly into Matthew's ear. He didn't have a lot to go on, but Matthew's interest was piqued with what he had. Mark straightened up to watch the routine casually, listening to Matthew tell him lightly. "I'll check it out and see what I find. Fair warning though... Keep an eye on some of the new skaters. I've been hearing rumors that Quintin is feeding them false information... Keep Sean close." Mark nodded without looking at him. Matthew patted his back, slipping around him to leave. Mark saw Quintin turn briefly away from the rink to see who was watching. The second his eyes found Mark standing in the back, a devilish grin spread over his face. Mark lifted his chin casually, forcing his eyes to go back to watching Rasputin spin and twirl around the ice with enough sexuality to make the women in the stands cheer and cat call him.

Mark had to admit that Rasputin was talented enough to make being bad look good. He could sway his hips and knew how to use his props to their full potential. The fact that he could make his jumps with them was impressive. Rasputin had a lot of expression and knew how to keep the crowd watching his every move. Just as Sean pointed out to him, Rasputin went into all these jumps on his left foot and handled his props left-handed. Mark still wasn't convinced that this was unusual behavior. Most skaters spiced up their routines in different ways. Mark scanned the crowd by the rink and in the stands. He was looking for anyone suspicious or that looked out of place. No one. Leaning back against the wall, he watched as Rasputin ended his routine by holding up his tommy gun and firing off a few blank shots in rapid session. Mark clenched his jaw in frustration as the people stood to cheer for him. His routine would certainly be hard to beat. He didn't fuck up any of his jumps or spins... and he put a lot of them into the opening routine. A risky but highly intimidating move.