This Is Me

Part 46

Sean wrapped his arms around Mark's neck, leaning into him to kiss him. Mark's hands drifted up his back, slipping under the crop top to slid over his smooth skin. Sean shivered from the contact, breaking the kiss to tell him a bit breathlessly. "Don't. I'm anxious enough as it is. I don't know if my heart can bare to beat any faster." Mark lowered his arms to wrap around his waist instead. Sean rested his chin on Mark's shoulder, closing his eyes to try and relax. Against his ear though, Mark growled to him playfully. "I am VERY jealous of him now... You owe me for putting those images in my head." Sean chuckled, opening his eyes to rub Mark's back comfortingly. Nate slid up to the gate, fanning himself with his hat and using his bandana to wipe sweat off his face. His coach gripped the back of his neck, pulling him in close to tell him something with a brilliant grin. Nate nodded, raising his feet for his coach to put his skate guards on him. Once they were on, Nate made his way toward the Kiss & Cry with a plushy of an electric guitar that he got off the ice.

Sean pulled away from Mark to see the board. Mark slipped behind him, holding his hips. Sean didn't know why he was so anxious. He wasn't afraid of losing to Nate. Nate was an underdog and his friend. Mark kissed the back of his shoulder, reminding Sean to take a deep breath. Sean inhaled slowly, then huffed it out as he spotted Quintin out of the corner of his eye. Glancing in his direction, he watched Quintin grip the rink wall tightly. Quintin's face was twisted up into a scowl. Nate's performance really got under his skin. Quintin looked over his shoulder and then did a double take. Sean followed his eyes to Rasputin who stood a few feet away. Sean blinked in just as much surprise. Rasputin was leaning on the bars to the audience seating and chatting nicely with Stacy. Stacy took Rasputin's hand, moving in to whisper something into his ear. Sean stiffened as he saw Quintin rushing across the distance to him. Stacy noticed too but acted casual as she let his hand go in a weird way.

Rasputin curled his fingers into a tight fist, then turned around to face Quintin. Quintin grabbed Rasputin's arm tightly, shooting Stacy a dark glare before practically dragging Rasputin through the crowd toward the locker room. Sean thought about following him but stopped himself when he saw Stacy beckoning him over. Sean tapped Mark's leg to get his attention and then made his way over to Stacy. Leaning over the bars, she told Sean over the music. "Girls locker room. Meet us there." Stacy then quickly made her way out toward the woman's side of the rink. Sean looked at Mark who shrugged but led the way around discreetly. The scores came up on the board and excitement roared through the stadium. Nate had first place so far. Felix was going up next. Walking up to the women's locker room, Sean hesitated. There were no female skaters here... but it still didn't make walking in there ok for him. Mark knocked on the door just to be safe. Stacy opened the door, gesturing them inside.

Sean dragged his feet, until Stacy grabbed him to yank him inside faster. Finding the first bench, Sean sat down to immediately ask her. "What happened? Is everything alright?" Stacy nodded, but Matthew stepped out to answer seriously. "Depends on how you look at it." Mark crossed his arms, leaning back against a locker as he grimly mumbled out. "Oh great... What now?" Matthew raised a folder, dropping it onto the bench as he stated out casually. "After recording Rasputin's little stunt on the ice... I noticed something. After some research, I printed off some images you might find VERY interesting." Sean picked up the folder to look over the printed pictures inside from Nationals and places he didn't recognize. However, he didn't recognize the person in these pictures. Matthew pulled a paper from the folder of a social media screenshot and handed it to Mark, saying almost in disbelief. "You wanna know why no one knows that Rasputin has a twin? How his twin is able to come and go without being caught?"

Matthew gestured to the paper, telling them all bluntly. "Rasputin's twin identifies as a woman. At the age of fifteen, Ralph officially changed his name to Roslyn. No one has noticed because if he's not on the ice... He's dressed as a woman. The ISU has him registered as his sister. Roslyn has been to every single event that Rasputin has been to." Matthew paused for just a moment to catch his breath, then added excitedly. "It gets better. Roslyn is the one with talent. NOT Rasputin. Look." Matthew pulled more pictures from the folder to lay them out over the bench, before saying a little rushed. "At their first Nationals, Roslyn was the center point. However, having a woman's name in a male sport..." Stacy interjected quickly for him. "The ISU wouldn't allow it. So, they used Rasputin's name in order to compete. But why use her brother at all? Why not use her old name?" Matthew pointed at Stacy with a smirk, replying just as quickly. "I wondered that myself. Turns out that Quintin is the one that got them into the sport. He's their uncle."