Chapter Text
Seven A.M and Will's already pissed.
A couple of his mates, footballers, had already made six jokes about his ex and another four about love tropes about that idiotic, graceless pianist.
Wil's phone chimed again,
Midgy
Could call them the quartet
Followed by a ton of reactions, Will didn't need to scroll down further to know who Chris was talking about.
James Fucking Marriott.
The very pianist who'd cost Will a solo last year.
The pianist who wasn't paying attention to the shest in front of his goddamn eyes so he'd fucked it up, made Will fall out of his axel.
The company Will works with doesn't begin training until eight, ten on weekends but Will likes the theatre. It's beautifully designed.
Deep red, velvety seating, deep polished oak, divinely high, stained glass ceilings, the rink itself is even nicer.
There's plasticy glass from about his hip, beneath that it's a sort of polished honey brown marble.
Though, it seems Will's attempt at a slow morning was ruined.
James was at the grand piano, seemingly going over some chords, tunes, when he did something wholly unexpected?
He
He started singing.
His voice was soft, melodic, pronouncing every syllable clearly, his voice was, to put it lightly, angelic.
That doesn't mean he's suddenly forgiven.
Will turned on his heel and practically ran out the room, James being none the wiser of anyone else being in the room.
Will found himself in the theatre bathrooms, his hands gripping the sink as he stared into his own eyes, flashes of past arguements with James appearing behind his body.
//
"You have ruined my entire career!"
"It- I'm sorry! It was an accident!"
"No YOU are the accident here! You sabotaged me!"
//
"Missed that note on purpose did ya?"
"Fell on your arse for fun did ya?"
//
"This is ridiculous, anyone can sing." Will reasoned to himself, splashing water on his face and shaking like a dog.
Will strutted out the toilets and went to the office, in search of his choreographer.
As long as he's early, might as well make use of it.
This year, they're performing an original story based loosely off The Black Swan.
In the first half, Alik is conscripted for war, he tries to outrun soldiers only to be captured and taken from his family. He is forced into army service only to manage to hide in shrubbery and befriends an injured enemy soldier, there's a brief moment where life is blissful and they move gracefully together, share a kiss, only for Stefan to be shot from afar, a stray bullet catching his heart.
The curtains will close for a brief intermission,
The second act opens with Stefans family being informed of his passing. (Will's been asked to choreograph that scene and he's mad excited) It flows to Aliks family, his brother Damir signing up for the army and rising the ranks quickly. Eventually the brothers are reunited, Damir being his superior officer. Damir is excited to see Alik but they are torn emotionally, Damir is fighting in the war because he believes in their country, Alik is in the war because he was conscripted. The brothers fight, only to kill each other, collapsing side by side. The scene goes back in time, showing the brothers as children playing and laughing, getting home the scene splits to Damir and Alik, dead and their family being informed.
Will made himself useful, chatting with Aby. She's one of the many stagehands/instructors in Iced Artistry, they'd been paired to teach the eight to ten year olds class twice a week for this year.
"Right, so we're goin with eight to tens, they've likely never been on ice properly so we should focus on the basics."
"Yeah that's good, we'll just focus on keeping them comfortable on the ice." Will replied, glancing at the now empty piano.
After deciding on a few warm up ideas for the kids, it was time for his own rehearsals and Orla was whisked away to brainstorm costume ideas.
Elliott clapped and the ice skaters scrambled into a line. "Good. Now when I call your surname, step forward."
"Lamb."
Will's mind went fuzzy, Mikey was one of the strongest dancers in their entire company, with his name being called it had to be a good thing.
Elliott went through a few more names before finally "Lamb, Lenney,"
Will sighed in relief, stepping forwards. He was at the very least cordial with everyone called. Mikey, Becky, Mia, Reev, Liv, George, Yas, Sab, Arthur Hill.
"If your name was not called, then you simply haven't proved yourself yet. If it was, you are to audition for any of the following; Alik, our main character, Damir, Alik's brother, either of Alik's sisters Alina and Kalina, Alik's mother Veera or his father Ivan. Auditions are Monday next week starting from one in the afternoon. Prepare your own choreography to the Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake Act Two Number 10 Piece."
"Elliott?"
"Yes Dimartino?"
"Why is the music so specific?"
"It's the only CD I have."
The rest of the ice part of their session was spent doing fun warmups and playing about with tricks.
Will was silently grateful to hear he wouldn't be relying on that idiots ability to play an instrument he's professionally trained in.
He wasn't so silent about it when they were off the ice and in the acro training room.
"I mean cmon! No wonder Elliott switched it up this year!"
"Lad, relax."
"It was cos he were checkin' you out." Mia had unhelpfully interrupted.
"He absolutely was not!"
"Oh but he was!" George had joined in
What a pecuialr joke to have both of his ex's in on? The idea of their companies pianist liking the look of his arse.
The oddity didn't take away the pink flush on his cheeks though.
Which was obviously pounced on immediately, naturally, why wouldn't they.
"You two are sick in the 'ead I tell ya. Sick."
"Well you've dated both of us." George pointed out
"Maybe you should take a break from nutcases and shag the pianist."
"Maybe I should wind y'er bloody tongue through y'er ears instead."
Instead of being intimidated, Will was once again laughed at (with, his insult made no sense and was of no malice)
Mia was called away to demonstrate a position and George moved to scamper for some water, but he turned back "Honest though, you'd like him." He winked, and disappeared.
Not really, he just wandered off to the benches.
Will spemt thr next week breaking down the hours to perfect his audition.
He really wanted Alik.
The showcase of the emotions, the moves he'd surely perform, the thunderous applause.
It was Will's for the taking.
Awake at half six, scran overnight oats, get changed, brush his teeth, get the fuck out the house, run to the rink, a few quick run throughs before class begins, wrap and an iced coffee for lunch, slow stretches at 1, acro an hour later, sometimes a private with Aby, if not he'll work on his audition piece until the whole buildings shut off.
Then it's walk home, order takeaway, shower, eat whilst he's half awake and prepare his breakfast for the next day with silly youtube videos in the background or stupid tv shows.
The CD played perfectly.
Sunday came and went and Will felt as prepared as he could be.
Some sick bastard put his name as the last.
He must be cursed.
Honestly.
He was performing, arguably excellently.
His movements were sharp but graceful.
Impressive (so he'd say) but perfected.
Only in the crescendo, the height of his solo, the CD cut.
The sudden silence threatened to break him.
But it didn't.
Live notes scrambled to build tension, using only a piano and his hand-eye coordination, James fucking Marriott recreated the ending and Will finally performed the dreaded triple axel.
Landing back on the ice and slowing, James caught the hint to slowly trail the volume off.
Panting, Will stepped off the ice to applause, only a taste of what he hoped to get.
Elliott and Orla looked kinda pissed though.
Not great.
If James got him kicked out the company for that stupid stupid stupid act.
Will might kill him.
It was agonising, waiting for the final decisions.
Elliott and Orla were maddeningly low voiced in their discussions.
Finally, everyone was beckoned over and they stood in a line, awaiting their assigned roles.
You fucked it with that stumble
You hesitated
Again
Worth nowt more that pause
"Lenney, Alik."
Will's jaw DROPPED.
"I did it."
"We on for Saturday?" Mikey checked, nudging Will's side as he packed away his skates. Mikey got Damir, which was ironic cos they're as close as brothers.
"You'd better thank that guy on the paino."
"James?"
"Thank him, go find him right now and thank him." Mikey said, his voice low but firm. Will felt compelled to express his gratitude to James.
He hadn't needed to help, but he did.
So, Will went looking for James.
It did not take long at all to find James, a dark haired woman was right beside him, upon locking eyes, she immediately death glared him.
"James!" Will called out, jogging over.
"Will."
Will swallowed thickly, slowing down next to them. "Th- I, um, I wanted to- I, I I wanted to say thank you, for earlier."
James looked surprised. "Oh?"
"You didn't needa help, 'specially with how, um, yeah, bu' you proper saved my ass, thanks lad."
"Nah, you're all good man."
Will smiled, locking eyes with James, he felt a strange flutter in his heart.
Their moment was shattered when James' phone started ringing, he physically deflated and turned his phone over. "Sorry, I-"
Will shook his head "Nah go on, I'll see you tomorrow lad."
"Yeah."
Realising the time, Will practically ran from the cafe area back over to Aby, apologising again and again.
"Aby! I'm sorry, I was- I'm sorry."
"I like that you were about to say where you were and then decided better of it."
Will huffed. "When do the kids get here then?"
"Literally fifteen minutes."
"I'm sorry Abs."
"Make it up to me then."
"I will."
"No I'm Aby."
Will rolled his eyes.
About twenty minutes later and parents were nervously shuffling in with their kids in ridiculous galaxy leggings and school jumpers.
Thankfully, training went smoothly. The kids were excited to be there, receptive to what he and Aby were saying and confident to try out on the ice.