Work Text:
Pavel Mintyukov: Tragedy on Ice
Presented by CCN
March 3, 2022
Pavel Mintyukov, barely sixteen years old, performed one of the most tragic free skates in the history of the Olympics. He was under the pressure of the world, judgmental eyes scrutinizing everything he was doing. Throughout the routine, Mintyukov grows visibly frustrated with himself, his movements becoming more erratic. Around the three minute mark, he lost his footing after an attempted Triple Lutz jump, resulting in a fall that broke his arm. Despite this, his performance was graceful and he ended up just short of the gold, in second place.
After getting off the ice, it was mere seconds before Mintyukov, crying and holding his arm, was shoved into a different room by his coach, Alexander Sokolov. Yelling was heard from the outside, and a few minutes later, Sokolov walked out of the room. The sixteen year old was left alone at the time he needed someone the most, sobbing and injured.
"I've never seen such a beautiful disaster." A judge remarked, "Truly, Mintyukov's performance was spectacular. Regardless, it was heartbreaking to bear witness to the crumbling of that poor boy."
Another judge said, "It was something you couldn't have looked away from if you tried. Mintyukov made everything look effortless, such beauty and grace. An amazing routine, damped by abusive coaching and the pressure from the whole world."
When it came time for the medal ceremony, Mintyukov skated solemnly out onto the ice. His eyes were still red and puffy, cheeks glistening from the tears. He accepted his medal and gave a sad smile, quickly skating off as soon as he had the chance.
Mintyukov declined answering all media questions, remaining on his own throughout the entire competition.
"It wasn't getting second place that upset Mintyukov, it was the crushing realization that he let down the world."
January 12, 2024
"Pavel?" Leo asks, plopping down on the couch where his boyfriend is sitting. "Yeah?"
"Do you remember that family event I was telling you about?"
Pavel looks at Leo through the corner of his eye, "Yeah. Why?"
Leo bites at his lips, unsure of how to tell Pavel that he really, really wants him to be there. He's aware of Pavel's past with figure skating; despite Pavel's love for skating, skating has never been kind to him. Rather it was coaches or injuries, there are few times that figure skating was ever nice to Pavel.
After enduring the abusiveness and competitiveness for thirteen years, Pavel placed his skates and medals in a box, burying his Olympic Silver at the very bottom, and closed it. He hasn't looked back since, despite having a hockey player boyfriend.
"So, I was thinking-"
"Don't hurt yourself." Pavel smirks at his own stupid joke.
"-maybe you could come with me? You could be at the event?"
Pavel turns to Leo, eyebrows raised. "I don't skate anymore. You know I don't skate anymore."
Leo nods, he does know that Pavel does not like skating anymore. Despite Leo being a professional hockey player and Pavel being a former figure skater, they've never been on an ice skating date. Leo understands why Pavel doesn't skate anymore; they started dating three months after the 2022 Olympics, and Leo witnessed the horrible affect that figure skating had on Pavel, both mentally and physically. He still can't straighten his arm all the way.
After watching Pavel's performance, seeing how terribly he was treated by everyone during the Olympics, Leo wouldn't skate again if he was Pavel either.
"I know! But, hear me out, I was thinking that we could just go skate for a little while at the practice stadium and see what happens. If you hate it, then you don't have to come." Leo explains his thinking. He knows that it's easier said than done, and he wasn't in Pavel's shoes, but it doesn't sound horrible to Leo.
Pavel scoffs, "Oh yeah, let me just go dig my skates out and we'll go right now."
"Really?"
"No."
Leo should've seen that coming.
Neither of them mentioned it for a few days. Leo doesn't want to force Pavel to do anything, so he isn't going to keep bringing it up. When Jackson asks about how the conversation went at practice, Leo changes the subject to the weather of all things. Jackson gives him a weird look, but goes with it.
When Leo gets home, he sees a pair of black figure skates sitting on the table and Pavel sitting on a chair, playing with the laces. "Is your offer still good?"
"Yes." Leo says quickly, throwing down his bag and pulling his own skates out of it. "Do you wanna go now? A few of the others are still there."
Pavel stands up, holding his skates by the blade and nodding. "Let's go then."
They only live ten minutes away from the practice arena, which gives Pavel just enough time to start overthinking his choice. At a red light, which Leo could've definitely sped through while it was still yellow, he asks, "What if I forgot how to skate?"
Leo exhales a laugh, "You were one of the best figure skaters at the Olympics two years ago, I highly doubt you could ever forget how to simply skate."
"But I haven't even been to an ice rink since then!"
Leo knows it would just be easier to reassure Pavel than to try and argue that he definitely didn't forget how to skate. "Fine, if you forgot how to skate, then I'll teach you again. It's no problem."
The light turns green, "What if I can't even do a toe loop?"
"You know that muscle memory is a thing, right? Like, your body just remembers how to do things."
"But it's been years!"
"It's been years since I've rode a bike and I still remember how to do that."
Pavel huffs, sinking into the passenger seat and turning his attention to tying and untying the laces of a skate in a knot.
"What if-"
"Don't. You're only gonna get more nervous." Leo says, pulling into the parking lot of the Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena. He can hear Pavel's accent getting thicker, a tell-tale sign that his nerves are getting the best of him. Leo parks right next to Jackson's car. It's their little routine for practice and games, or as Olen calls it, their superstition, which is probably a more accurate word.
Leo looks over at Pavel, "You ready?" Pavel nods, biting the inside of his cheek.
The walk to the rink is mostly Leo trying to soothe Pavel's nerves. Although, he's sure that nothing will actually make his boyfriend feel any better, but it's worth a shot. Pavel can appreciate Leo's effort.
"Who's still here?" Pavel asks, attempting to distract himself from his self-deprecating thoughts.
"I think just a few of my friends. Jackson and Olen, I think Tristan too."
"Do they know that I'm coming?" Leo nods, holding the door to the locker room open for Pavel.
They sit so close to each other that it's actually hard to put their skates on, but they manage. It's a strange feeling for Pavel, lacing up his skates without hearing his former coach nagging him about something he did, or without feeling the weird emotion somewhere between wanting to throw up or wanting to cry until he can't breathe.
Of course, Pavel didn't always feel that way about figure skating, but it's how he felt before his performance in the Olympics. That experience is ingrained into his memory better than any other, it's the feeling he associates with skating. Panic, hurt, anger, disappointment.
Pavel takes the hand that Leo has held out, letting the blond lead him to the rink entrance.
Laughter and the sounds of skate blades moving across the ice fill the air. Jackson looks over at the couple, smiling widely when he sees Pavel stepping out onto the ice, then turning his attention back to his friends.
"See, you didn't forget how to skate!" Pavel grins at Leo's words, squeezing his hand a little tighter. Pavel thought he would feel panicky, or be brought back to his traumatic experience two years ago, but he felt free.
It felt like he was finally letting go of the past; he could finally glide around just for the fun of it, no pressure or a coach yelling at him for everything he was doing 'wrong.'
"Are you okay?" Leo asks, turning so he's skating in front of Pavel, now holding both of his hands loosely. Pavel smiles, "Yeah. I'm good."
Pavel lets go of Leo's hands, eager to see if he can still do simple jumps and spins.
He's soon immersed in his own blurry world, everything blending together smoothing like he's performing again. Except, he's not nervous. He isn't trying to push down his nerves or anxiety, he's just performing, like it's the most natural thing ever.
Jackson skates up to Leo, who had stopped as soon as Pavel let go of his hands and hasn't moved since. He's never seen Pavel skating in person, never seen him so in his element. The Russian looks like he is meant to be flying on the ice and spinning so fast it's making Leo dizzy just watching.
"What changed his mind?" Jackson asks, joining Leo in gawking at Pavel. Leo shrugs, "Dunno. Just came home and he wanted to come."
"Have you ever seen him do this?"
Leo shakes his head, "I've never even seen him in skates. I've seen videos, but not like this. Never in person."
Jackson looks at Leo's face, his slightly parted lips and wide eyes, "You're so gone for him."
"Maybe. But look at him!"
Leo does have a fair point. It's impossible to look away from Pavel.
Pavel closes his eyes and throws himself in the air, spinning in the opposite direction he was facing. Leo isn't sure how many times Pavel actually spins, but he knows that it was a lot. It was impressive, and Pavel made it look effortless, like it took absolutely nothing out of him!
He lands perfectly, eyes shooting open in surprise.
The Russian stops suddenly, almost falling over in his own shock.
"I've never landed that before." He says, the noise echoes through the now silent arena. Everyone had stopped what they were doing to watch Pavel, Leo felt a sense of pride knowing that his boyfriend could capture peoples' attention that quickly. Pavel hasn't seemed to notice, though Leo's sure if he found out, he'd turn a concerning shade of red.
Pavel skates over to Leo, "That's what I tried doing in the Olympics when I fell. A Triple Lutz, and now I di-"
Leo doesn't let Pavel finish he's pulling him in for a suffocating hug, sending them both tumbling to the ground. "You were so worried about not even being able to skate, for what? You were amazing out there!"
Pavel grins widely, pressing a soft kiss to Leo's forehead.
"That felt really good." He admits, "I wish I had done this sooner."
"So you'll go with me to the event, right? I'll finally get to show off my boyfriend?" Leo asks, a blinding smile present on his face.
Pavel laughs, "I guess I'll go." He tries to sound reluctant, but Leo can hear his excitement at both going and being back on the ice.
"Oh my God! Get a room!" Tristan shouts from across the ice, but he too is smiling like an idiot.
"Nervous?" Leo looks over at Pavel, who can't keep his legs still. He bends his legs at the knee, straightening it out, then bending the other and repeating his cycle. It was what Pavel used to do before all his performances, trying to 'shake' the nerves out of him.
Sometimes it worked, but most times it was just something to keep himself busy.
Pavel shrugs, "Maybe a little."
Leo knows that the anxiety is going to eat Pavel alive if the announcer doesn't call them out soon. It's the first time in a long time that Pavel's been in front of so many people. Though, Leo knows that as soon as Pavel's skates hit the ice, he'll be fine.
Leo thinks it's fascinating how different Pavel is off the ice, very quiet and reserved, not wanting to be the center of attention. On the ice, though, he demands attention, amazing the audience with his angelic-like presence on the ice. He's bold, confident in his abilities.
It makes Leo wonder how different the Olympics could've gone if Pavel had been under different coaching or less pressure.
He's sure that Pavel would've wiped the floor with everyone else.
"Now welcoming, Leo Carlsson and his boyfriend, former figure skating Olympian, Pavel Mintyukov!"
Leo takes Pavel's hands and leads him onto the ice of the Honda Center, in front of eighteen thousand people in utter shock that their Second Overall draft pick has an Olympian as a boyfriend.
"The hockey world is going to have a field day with this, y'know? Mr. First Overall having a boyfriend?" Pavel whispers through quiet laughter. Leo smiles and nods.
"I'm well aware, Mr. Olympian."
Second Overall Pick Leo Carlsson Has a Boyfriend? - Featuring an Exclusive Interview!
January 22, 2024
The Anaheim Ducks' star rookie, Leo Carlsson, brought former Olympic silver medalist Pavel Mintyukov to an event meant for the players' significant others and family just two days ago. This news shocked the hockey world, both of their names trending on social media for well over a day. Carlsson and Mintyukov emerged from the rink doors hand-in-hand, smiling brightly and waving to the crowd, silencing the packed Honda Center, before earning a spectacular round of applause from the crowd.
See below for an exclusive interview with the two lovers!
"So, Leo and Pavel, how long have you two been dating?"
Carlsson: Almost two years. I started talking to him a few months after the Olympics.
"How did this relationship come to be?"
Mintyukov: He DM'd me on Instagram, I think the first thing he said to me was asking how my arm was, since I had broken it at the Olympics. It just evolved from there.
Carlsson: Actually, the first thing I said to you was 'hi' and then I asked about your arm.
Mintyukov: (scoffs) Whatever, same thing.
"So, since both of you have had careers on the ice, who is the better skater?"
Carlsson: Pavel, and it's not even close. He's like an angel on the ice, it's so fun to watch him do all his jumps and stuff.
Mintyukov: Leo is the faster skater, though. I look away for a second and he's at the other end of the ice.
Carlsson: Yeah, and I look away for a second and you're five feet in the air!
"So do you two live together?"
(Both nod)
"Who does more chores? Who is more messy?"
Mintyukov: I do most of the chores because I'm picky about how they're done. Leo doesn't do them right.
Carlsson: I was not aware there was a wrong way to wash dishes before living with Pavel.
Carlsson: Neither of us are very messy, though, we're both kind of clean freaks.
"One last question, what is the dumbest fight you two have ever been in?"
Mintyukov: There's been so many, he's really petty.
Mintyukov: He didn't talk to me for two whole days because I ate the last strawberry. He only started talking to me again because I bought him more.
Carlsson: F*** you, I told you I was going to eat that and you still ate it!
Mintyukov: It's a strawberry.
Carlsson: It was my strawberry, Mintyukov.
Mintyukov: You didn't eat it quick enough, Carlsson.