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It had been too long, Vincenzo thought looking at a closed door of a room at the end of the corridor.
He made a short call to Luca instructing him on a matter he should have probably done sooner. Yet, he thought it was too soon, considering.
Vincenzo was back in his study, finishing up on some documents, when he received a call from Luca, telling him everything was ready.
He stood closing all the documents, shutting down the computer. Leaving his office, he turned to the right and walked straight to the room at the end of the corridor.
At first, he wasn't bothered to knock, however, he thought better of it and rapped lightly on the door.
After a short minute, the door opened. A tired face of a man emerging through the crack looked up in light confusion.
"Vin-hyung?"
"Get ready, we're going out," Vincenzo said and turned to leave.
"Huh? Wha- Where? Vin-hyung?" Han Seo fumbled out the room, but the other man did not stop to wait.
Han Seo returned to the room, hastily changed his sweatpants and a simple t-shirt into slacks and a shirt and rushed after his hyung.
Vincenzo was already seated in the back of a black Mercedes, nonchalant, checking the time on his fancy watch. He hesitated a moment when Luca opened the other side doors for him, motioning to get it.
Still a bit lost, Han Seo got on and they drove off.
He didn't ask where they were going since Vincenzo seemed to be busy speaking on his phone. Something about a painting, but he wasn't very sure. Instead he looked out the window.
The scenery was green at first, since they lived in the outskirts of Florence. But the further they went the more trees turned to buildings, the grass to pavement, and wast vineyards to public squares full of people.
Han Seo wondered if Vincenzo brought him to attend one of his meetings. However that would be unlikely, the man didn't want him getting involved with the Family business.
The car came to a stop at an inconspicuous parking lot, the buildings around didn't look like a tourist attraction, more like a shopping center or something of the sort.
"Let's go," Vincenzo said and got out the car.
Han Seo followed close behind. "Hyung, where...?"
When they entered through large automatic door, Han Seo felt a light cold breeze brush over his skin. It was chilly inside, but it was comfortable. It was so familiar, he felt his heart speed up a little.
The entire building was empty, save for the counter worker who silently put down two pairs of skates on the countertop.
Han Seo smiled despite himself. Vincenzo brought him out to the ice rink. If the older man would allow it, he'd probably had hugged him already and jumped up and down, yet he contained his glee. Only showing the brightest of smiles and barely no eyes to the other man.
"Well, what are you waiting for? A written invitation?" Vincenzo grouched.
Han Seo grabbed the skates, pulling them on without delay. They also got the ice hockey sticks and the padded gear for their bodies. It was game on. Like the old times. Han Seo couldn't help but feel nostalgic.
They skated around the rink for a while, getting used to the feel of the ice, adjusting to the press of the skates. Only the two of them. Just like before.
They played around with the puck, making goals, clashing with each other. Han Seo couldn't remember the last time he felt this at ease. Just messing around with his hyung. And Vincenzo seemed to be more relaxed, less grumpy, more playful.
Han Seo even managed to pull a goal over him and tease Vincenzo for being careless.
It earned him a threat of being swated with the stick, but while threatening, Vincenzo was laughing.
Han Seo felt like everything was back to normal, up until his lungs decided they had enough. His breathing hitched, he became lightheaded. He swayed slightly just at the moment when Vincenzo sent the puck flying. The heavy object missed the goal by an inch and slammed hard at the side of the rink. The bang echoed through, like a gunshot.
Han Seo flinched, in his terror dropping the hockey stick down. He grabbed for his head and fell to his knees, breathing labored, struggling.
"Han Seo-" Vincenzo saw it instantly.
He was right there the next moment, seizing Han Seo's face in his bare hands, making him look up.
"Breathe," he urged. "Just breathe. In. Out. Slowly."
Han Seo tried. He tried to swallow the panic, he tried to breathe, just as his hyung said, and yet, he felt like there was no air coming in.
He felt like he was choking, drowning. Han Seo felt his chest in pain. He saw blood, he couldn't breathe. He was dying. He was-
"Han Seo," Vincenzo called out. "It's okay. You're safe. I'm here."
There was no reaction from the younger man. Just labored, panicked heaving. Sweat gathering on his face and neck.
"Han Seo, look at me," he commanded trying to keep it cool, hands still on the sides of the other's face.
His eyes finally focused. What he saw in front of him was not the face of an angry, always displeased, never predictable man, but the one who was calm, the one who always supported him, taught him more than anyone ever bothered.
He finally managed to take in a deep breath. He looked around. There was no blood. He was not in pain. He was not hurt. He was okay. And he was safe. And most importantly, his hyung was right there, worried and in a bit of a panic.
"Vin-hyung... I'm sorry."
"Don't- Don't apologize," he said, exhaling a breath he was holding without noticing. "I should have not-"
"No, hyung. It's okay. I'm fine." He smiled despite the tears threatening to escape. He did not know why. "I lost my breath for a moment." He assured rubbing at his eyes.
Vincenzo was still looking at him with worry, his hands still on the other's face. After a moment, when he was sure Han Seo was breathing properly, he dropped his hands and stood up.
"Want to go another round? Or should we go home?"
"Another round," Han Seo smiled. "I'm not leaving until I beat your ass."
He made fast of grabbing his stick and retrieving the puck. His legs wobbly on the way. Vincenzo following after him, not really trying, yet not willing to give in either.