Page 48 of Enticing the Elf
I shake his hand, and some of his tension eases. He offers it to Ari too.
Ari hesitates.
Even as I glance at him in surprise, mortification flashes across Ansas’s face and he drops his arm.
“Let’s take this to the conference room,” I suggest, eager to distract from the awkward moment. “Down this hallway, gentlemen.”
As we find places around the big table, I give Ari a “what the fuck?” look, and he pulls a slight face in return. Whatever it was, he regrets it.
“We won’t take up more of your time than we have to,” I say, then nod to Ari, who casts the photos from the enforcement report onto the big screen at the front of the room.
“Our concerns stem from this incident, which led to charges of aggravated assault and destruction of property,” he says calmly. “Mr. Ansas, could you cast some light on what happened?”
Erik jumps in. “The assault charge was dismissed.”
“We’re aware, and we’re in no way implying it shouldn’t have been, but we want to understand why Mr. Ansas was even in a position for the charge to be laid.”
Felix clears his throat. “I regret everything that happened that night. Tony and I had an argument earlier that day, and I’d been wallowing over it… It was poor decision-making on my part. I’ve never done anything like that before or since.”
I study his face. This was the only reported incident of violence Ari found, but “we argued and I was mad” is a lackluster reason for the level of damage that was caused. The kind of rage needed for this is usually caused by one of two things: a deeply triggering event, or a propensity for violence.
It’s the latter that we’re worried about.
“We know that this was an isolated incident,” Ari agrees, “but you do have a reputation for being short-tempered on the ice also. We’re concerned by your inability to control your anger.”
Not the most diplomatic way to have phrased it. Ari’s really not on his game today, and I make a mental note to follow up with him. He seemed fine before.
“I’mpaidto be aggressive on the ice,” Felix answers with a hint of heat. “Aside from that one time, I’ve never been physical off it.”
Ari raises a brow. “You’re paid to assault your own teammates?”
“Getting back to what happened that night,” I cut in, stomping my foot down on Ari’s. What the fuck is wrong with him? “You mentioned that you’d been ‘wallowing.’ Do you mean that there was alcohol involved?” Alcohol-fueled crimes are rare in the community, since high metabolism makes it hard to remain drunk for long, even with specialty liquor, but they do still happen.
He shakes his head. The nerves are gone now, and he looks pissed. Probably with Ari. “No, I wasn’t drinking. I had a gamethe next day, and I never drink the night before a game. I was just so mad.” His gaze drops to the tabletop.
“I’m sorry, we need to know why. We need to be sure it’s not something likely to come up when you’re in the company of the king.”
Felix shakes his head. “It won’t.” He looks so uncomfortable that I want to take his word for it, but I’ve never let anything slide when it comes to Raðulfr’s safety.
“I’m sure you’re right, but we need?—”
Coach Franks bangs his hands on the table. “For fuck’s sake, it was just homo drama! The gays always make a big deal of shit.”
Erik closes his eyes, and Felix’s face flushes with angry color, but even as I process the fact that he really did say that, Craig snaps, “That’s enough, Coach.”
“I’m just clearing shit up so?—”
“Enough.”
I meet Erik’s gaze. “Neither the DEA nor the king personally will agree to be associated with any organization that condones homophobia.” I’m surprised I even need to say it. I’ve been told that homophobia is something humans invented after the species wars, but it’s not widespread in the community.
Erik nods and starts to speak, but Craig steps in. “The Warhammers are committed to being inclusive. Homophobia isn’t tolerated.”
Felix’s jaw tenses in a way that tells me his experience hasn’t reflected that, and I make a mental note to follow this up before I sign off on anything.
Of course, it might be a moot point if we don’t get the violence issue resolved. I look him in the eye. “Would you be more comfortable if we continued this conversation privately?” I need the answers, but that doesn’t mean he has to share them with everyone in this room.
He shakes his head. “Thanks for the offer, but it’s… fine. Tony and I had been together for a few years, and I found out that day that he’d been seeing other people too. That’s what we argued about. I never meant to hurt him, I swear. He jumped between my stick and the window, and I couldn’t stop it in time.”