Chapter Text
Minsung skated around the ice rink. His pastel hair whipped around as the ice dancer spun effortlessly in the air. His brother may have chosen to pursue contemporary, but the frozen kingdom was where Minsung reigned. The whoosh of his skates on ice sounded like flapping wings. It was fitting with how Minsung managed to glide through the air. He was slightly warm and moved to the side to shed his jacket.
A tall dark-haired boy was sitting on the bench near his things. His knuckles were white and his body trembling with fear. Minsung looked to the sides. The coach was walking towards them, smiling. The dark-haired boy smiled a little. Coach gestured for Minsung to come closer. Minsung stepped off the ice to sit by the stranger.
"Minsung, this is your new partner. Kang Dongho." Minsung was surprised. He hadn't had a partner since Minsoo quit. Competitions were always solo. Furthermore, Kang Dongho was a familiar name. It was a name that had littered the headlines of every sports magazine.
"Kang Dongho Scores Perfectly Again"
"Is He The Next Kim Jin-seo??"
"Kang Dongho Set To Be The Youngest Olympian"
"Korea's National Treasure, Kang Dongho."
"Exclusive Interview With Kang Dongho, Korea's Youngest Olympian."
"Kang Dongho Won A Gold Medal At The Olympics"
However, the further you dug into all the news, Dongho was stressed. He was depressed. Girls were throwing themselves at him. He wasn't comfortable with all the attention. Skating became a chore and keeping his title the most agonizing of work. He had no time for rest, his body littered with bruises from falls. He had been Minsung's idol. They were the same age, same height, and were doing the same sport. Minsung had never expected to meet his idol, and certainly not like this. Not after the headlines.
"Kang Dongho Suffers a Broken Ankle. Will He Skate Again?"
"Allegations Kang Dongho Has Been In Several Scandals"
"10 Reasons Kang Dongho Should Be Canceled"
"Korea's National Treasure Turns Out To Be Fool's Gold"
"Broken Ankle, No More Playing. Good Riddance To Kang Dongho."
Minsung had been angry. He and hundreds of Korean citizens didn't see the lies in the news. Dongho, the sweetest skater was buried under scandals. He was too perfect. Too nice. Minsung didn't know that. When Dongho had vanished from the skating world, his own career had started to pick up. Minsung became a well-known skater, but even he was frustrated by the amount of talent his idol had.
But here he was. He was sitting right in front of him. He looked so innocent and small. Minsung didn't understand. Where was the idol wreathed in scandals? Where was the famed skater who held himself with confidence and had a confident gaze? This wasn't the idol who flowed like water to beats. This was a boy.
"He had an accident, but he's ready to skate again. I trust you'll help him?"
Well. That confirmed it. It was Kang Dongho. The famed skater. Minsung nodded and the coach turned to leave. Dongho was lacing up his skates. Instinctively, Minsung crouched to help him. There was no reason he did, or shouldn't have. He just liked helping others.
The two skated around for a while, Minsung performing his routine. He waited for the music to play before starting. His opening pose was held at the ready. Dongho skated out of his way to watch. A song poured out of the speakers. It was unlike anything Dongho had heard before. Minsung, however, looked completely at ease.
He pushed off, a triple toe loop landing perfectly on beat. Slowly a piano started to play and a soulful voice rushed into Dongho's ears. He registered the Lutz and was shocked. Minsung had flawless form.
"Skating a figure 'round a star"
"Don't know whether to go near or far"
"In this land I see, baby you just best believe"
Minsung spun in the air. His white beanie shimmered with frozen beads of sweat. The dramatic excess of ballet-like movements amused Dongho. He too had been like that. He too had worked very hardest until he felt every muscle break. There was so much beauty in the art of ice dancing. Lines were left in the wake of Minsung's skates, evidence of his masterpiece. Dongho was impressed with the smoothness of his movements.
"I'm cutting diamonds in the sky"
"Streaking flames across the night"
"Baby I'm just dreamin' for greater things"
Dongho had dreamt. He had accomplished greater things. It wasn't enough. It was never enough. The rumors, his injury, the lack of love for the sport, Dongho was tired of it all. It was easy to start and easy to climb. Staying at the top when the entire world was against you was the hardest thing. He had carved the most intricate of pictures on the ice. Silver skates were his silver linings. Minsung bounced up, into the air. It was clear he was spinning for a triple loop, but the momentum was lacking and he only did a double.
Dongho heard a muttered curse from the skater. He understood the feeling all too well. Maybe, like Minsung, he could learn to love the sport again. What drove Minsung forward to skate? What motivated him to get on the ice in freezing weather and practice? What had driven him to do that all those years ago? Minsung arched a hand above his head. Without his jacket, the skater was ethereal on the ice.
"Like a snowflake on the wind"
"I'll watch the stars align"
"Tonight"
"When they"
"Are bright"
"I'll try"
"And find you"
Dongho liked the song choice. he found it beautiful and intimately written. It wasn't a song about lovers; as a competitor, he and Minsung had no room to love another person. It was a love for the sport, a love Dongho had lost. He ran his fingers through his hair, lost in the beauty of the skating before him. He forgot the technical aspects of the sport and just watched an angel dance.
"Together we'll skate around the stars."
"Figure eights, triple axles"
"We'll become a constellation"
"Ingrained forever"
"In the Heavens"
Minsung finished his routine with heaving breaths. There was nothing left to do but do a quick stretch and he'd be done for the day. He watched Dongho hesitantly push off from the wall. His skating was as graceful as ever. Talent and natural gifts were smiling down on the more experienced skater. A wave of jealousy coursed through him. All the scandals, all the schools, all the rinks and it had to be him. Kang Dongho. He turned to leave when a strained voice called him back.
"The rumors aren't true." It was a paper-thin voice, but it was one Minsung knew well. "They aren't true."
Minsung turned. "What do you mean?"
"When you're at the top, everyone will try and tear you down. I broke my ankle and then the rumors started."
"You let them do that to you?"
Dongho gave an ashamed nod. "I didn't know what to do."
Minsung's face softened a little. Maybe Dongho deserved another chance. Maybe he needed help loving the sport again. Minsung didn't need to worry though. Dongho was already entranced by ice skating again. It was Minsung's performance that had made him rethink his decisions and questioned why he was even at the rink. The two shared a small smile.
Minsung left Dongho to practice, the former champion etching a masterpiece in the ice.