Chapter Text
Figure skating was a universal sport so it wasn’t a shock to find a skating rink in the center of Seoul. In the cold metal building, a boy launched himself into the air and tightly wrapped himself into the jump.
He felt the tip of his right blade make contact with the ice. All that was needed to be done was to simply let the rest of the blade down and hold himself up. His body was to stay straight and arms unfold from it crossed position against his toned chest.
Instead, his blade rocked to its left side throwing the boy down against the ice, sliding on his left side closer toward the boards. He brought his arms up quickly as his hip slid him closer. The palms of his black gloves hit the plastic boards with a loud thump.
Sweat poured off his face which he tried to wipe off. Pulling himself upward, he finally noticed where had fallen.
LEE DONGHYUCK 'HAECHAN'
2018 ISU WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPION
To match the word were his smiling face with the gold medal held up proudly. His sparkling blue shirt reflected off the camera. The swirls of white highlighted his arms along with his forehead was shining with sweat.
It was corny, but there was no way for him to stop the rink for putting more banners of his achievements.
He was the pride of the rink. Who knew a small rink in Seoul would come to raise the Junior World Champion?
Donghyuck would have never believed himself if he was told he would land a quad. Winning a World Championship was beyond Donghyuck's dreams.
"Are you okay, Hyuck-ah?"
Donghyuck snapped from his daydream toward his coach.
Coach Lee stood with her navy puffer jacket with her name across her heart. Her pale hands were on the boards, hugging her pink water bottle. Her brown hair was tied into a messy bun with a heart-shaped face with small facial features.
"I am fine," He responded as he got up slowly, "Nothing like a fall in an early morning session."
"I told you that you didn't have to come," Coach Lee's disapproving face made Donghyuck smile.
"I am a senior male now," Donghyuck straightened his back as he effortlessly stopped at the boards where his coach stood. "If I am going to compete against Nathan Chen, Shoma Uno, Yuzuru Hanyu-"
"Are you just listing your role models, Donghyuck?" Coach Lee asked with a smile.
His eyes shifted toward his black skates. They were slight beaten up with ripped out leather all over the boot. Donghyuck knew he was getting new boots soon, so he wasn't worried. He shifted his right blade to form a small curve and continued to go forward and backward on the outside edge.
"Yes," Donghyuck crossed his arms. "If the rumor is true that I am going to be getting Grand Prix assignments, I will have to work hard."
"Well, Hyuck, the rumors are true."
The young boy's eyes shifted from the ice to his mentor's dark eyes. He shook his head in disbelief while his coach counteracted his actions.
"NO WAY!!!" He screamed as he launched his body over the boards and hugged his coach.
Coach Lee smiled at the boy's excitement as his arms wrapped around her tightly.
"We made it, Hyuck."
-
"That is my best friend!" Jeno pushed Donghyuck's arm lightly. "I already had a famous friend but now I have an even more famous best friend!"
"What about me?" Jaemin pouted.
"Just because you aren't famous doesn't mean I don't like you, Nana!" Jeno pointed out.
Donghyuck snorted as he avoided a group of girls walking their way on the way to homeroom.
Even though Donghyuck was a competitive figure skater, he still had to attend high school like every normal person of society.
Donghyuck was famous, but he really only had six friends in his school that weren’t fake.
With Jaemin in a blue uniform and Jeno in a red uniform, Donghyuck tried to make his green look for presentable as more students seemed to be bumping against him to meet with friends.
"I swear you two-" Donghyuck started as they went into their classroom.
The teacher sat at his desk in the furthest corner near the windows while empty tanned desk lined up in rows across the hardwood floor.
"So, what competitions were you assigned to?" Jaemin led the other two toward the back of the room after they greeted the teacher.
"Skate Canada and NHK Trophy," Donghyuck sank into a seat with the two by his sides. "They are one week apart."
"Where is NHK Trophy?" Jeno shifted to his left to see Jaemin and Donghyuck.
"Japan,” Donghyuck rubbed his hands together.
"Canada to Japan?" Jaemin licked his lips. "Are you going to get any sleep?"
"I don't know but I will try," Donghyuck tapped his fingers against the desk lightly. "Plus, I think I'm getting school work since it is in October."
"Donghyuck, look here!" Jeno turned his laptop to face the two boys.
Raising an eyebrow, Donghyuck got closer to see The ISU website was opened. Jeno had the page of Skate Canada’s men’s entries.
"SHOMA UNO?" Donghyuck's eyes widened. "Silver medal at the Olympics Shoma Uno? Do I have to compete against him?"
"Junhwa-shi is there!" Jaemin ignored Donghyuck’s whining. "You can talk to him while you are there."
"Yeah, but-"
"I get it," Donghyuck wanted to punch the sarcastic nature Jeno was having. "One of your figure skating idols is going to be your competitor. I wish you good luck."
"Just look at NHK Trophy," Donghyuck waved his right hand at Jeno which almost hit him.
Jeno moved his head as he changed the screen. Donghyuck looked up to notice more of his classmates were coming into the room.
"Hyuck..."
Donghyuck snapped his head back to the laptop screen.
"Shoma is competing at both of your events," Jaemin took Jeno's words right out of his mouth.
"Fuck me."
-
Out of all places in the world, you could bet that there would be an abundance in Canada. With hockey as one of the national sports, early morning practice was a pain.
The boy in Vancouver groaned slightly as the weight of the boot was taken off his left foot.
Dropping his second skate next to his duffel bag, the boy sighed as his back hit the blue brick wall. Sitting in a grey tank top and black sports shorts, he played with the lime green tape wrapped around his hockey stick.
"Mark! Are you changing in there?”
His stick dropped to the ground with a small clatter as Mark almost hit his head against the brick wall in shock.
The boy wiped his face of sweat and massaged his sore legs. Skating for two hours straight doing drills made him ready for a long shower at home and sleep that wouldn’t be granted until that afternoon.
"No, I am done,” Mark shouted in response. “C’mon in!”
The door flung opened to hit the brick wall with force.
The tall Chinese boy who stood with his glasses on which were usually replaced with contacts. His dark brown eyes watched Mark as his body leaned to the right side of the door showing off his biceps. He wore an all-black outfit with only white stripes on the sides and the Adidas logo on his left chest.
“The fuck, Gabe?” Mark raised an eyebrow.
"Johnny is waiting for you,” Gabe looked at Mark panting. "Don't be such a fucking drama queen. You were put through worse shit."
"You and your sharp tongue," Mark scoffed as he pressed his hand against the bench and got up to meet the boy at the door.
"I don't see what you were excepting me to do when you cursed before me," Gabe said. "Not curse?"
"Oh, the horror," a voice with a slight American accent arose from the right side of the door.
Wearing the team's hoodie with his number and last name on the back and matching black shorts as Mark, Johnny ducked his head to avoid hitting the doorway of the locker room.
"I know that school is like almost across the street, but we still have to go," Johnny avoided Gabe attempt to hit him. "Unlike you two, I have PE for first period."
"Lucky!" Mark groaned as he sorted out his belongings.
“This bitch is gonna be here practicing while I struggle with Chemistry-"
“I thought we established that I had the best schedule here, Gabe?” Johnny led them out of the locker room down the hall.
“Doesn’t mean you have to rub it in our faces every time we-"
"Hey, you three!"
The three males looked to see one of the janitors with his cart of cleaning supplies walking around.
"Practice is moved to the rink 1," his blue hoodie bounced as he spoke. "Rink 3 is being cleaned."
"Why?" Gabe seemed to forget his rant against Johnny, making Mark snort silently.
"Redoing the lights for later in the year," the janitor informed the trio. "Some major figure skating competition is coming to Vancouver. The rink is a sponsor and letting them have some practice session here."
"I'll move my stuff later, thanks though," Mark said with the other boys repeating their gratitude.
"What major competition is coming up?" Johnny asked Gabe.
"Grand Prix Final is coming to Vancouver along with Skate Canada in Quebec," Gabe answered.
“Can you put that in simpler terms, Figure skater?” Johnny’s voice had a touch of sweetness.
“Big international competitions,” Gabe said.
"Anyone that is good?" Mark asked as they went into the main lobby.
The lobby had carpet flooring with a faint smell of bleach. The walls had banners of different hockey teams and the skating clubs that were housed. The walls were light blue and tall pillars stood proudly holding the tall roof. In the middle, two doors stood across housing two rinks and the third was down further in the hall.
"Shoma Uno is coming to Skate Canada," Gabe shrugged. "He is the silver medal from the Olympics. Lee Donghyuck is also coming to the Senior level and he is going."
"Lee Donghyuck?" Mark questioned; the ring of the name was familiar and felt nice on his tongue.
"He represents Korea and won a lot of competitions when he was a junior," Gabe rattled off as he waved his left arm. "People are expecting great things out of him. He is also known as Haechan-"
"Full sun," Mark translated.
"Can you bring up a picture?" Johnny crossed his arms.
Gabe nodded as he brought his phone out. He typed furiously before he showed his phone to Johnny and Mark.
Donghyuck was standing on the ice with black pants and matching shirt. He was leaning over the boards with looking at his coach which had a smile on her face. Sweat made his face shine while his mouth was open in laughter.
The next photo had Donghyuck during one of his competitions. He was gliding with his eyes and left arm outstretched. He wore a dark blue and green faded shirt with lines of glitter across his torso and black pants.
"MARK!" Johnny yelled, "You have been staring for such a long time, man."
"Sorry," Mark mumbled before his eyes sparked to life. "Wait, I forgot my backpack in the locker room!"
Mark quickly ran away from Gabe and Johnny in a flustered manner.
"What are we going to do with him?" Gabe asked Johnny as he readjusted his grey backpack.
"You are younger than him?" Johnny laughed.
"Well, I am not a panic gay," Gabe stated, "I am a panicked bisexual!"
Johnny rolled his eyes at the younger boy as they waited for Mark.
Later that day, Mark was fiddling with his phone as he waited for Gabe outside of his History classroom.
His curiosity suddenly peaked, remembering earlier in the day. He couldn't help but look up a name that he remembered so clearly from Gabe's voice.
'Lee Donghyuck'
What could wrong with some curiosity?