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“I’m going to hurt you.”
“You’ll hurt yourself before you hurt me,” Yeosang offered to a snickering Mingi, wearing half the amount of padding as usual.
Mingi couldn’t help but laugh at the truth Yeosang so easily spoke. It wasn’t their first time attempting to try a trick reserved only for professional ice skating couples, but it was the latest in failed attempts at Mingi’s home rink.
“Now, stay in place and pick me up,” Yeosang instructed, preparing himself to be lifted by the other.
“Like… normal?” Mingi questioned, clearly nervous about the entire situation.
“Like normal.”
Even with years of experience on skates, Mingi wasn’t sure if he had it in him to lift Yeosang while also retaining his natural balance on the ice. What had started as a joke had gone too far and Yeosang was incessant about fulfilling Mingi’s silly wish.
“You’re right, I am gonna hurt myself,” Mingi sighed. “You guys make it look so easy.”
“Us guys?” Yeosang raised a brow. “How often have you seen me get lifted up on the ice?”
“Uh,” Mingi cleared his throat. “I just assumed… you all tried it at some point.”
“It’s not worth the risk,” Yeosang explained, hands on his own hips as he gently skated backwards towards the rink’s ledge. “Unless you’re actually training for it, it’s a bit unnecessary.”
“Then why try it with me?” Mingi asked dumbly, slowly following his boyfriend’s path.
Yeosang leaned into the wall, a smile gracing his gentle face, eyes sharp and lips pursed.
“Because you are worth the risk,” Yeosang spoke softly. “Got it?”
A rush of pride flowed through Mingi’s body, lips easily spreading from cheek to cheek. Yeosang trusted him.
“Got it.”
As the two took their usual casual ice skating scroll around the edge of the rink before they’d inevitably cool down and be ready to head out for dinner (or go back to Mingi’s home for a night in), their hands casually brushed against one another’s, Mingi taking the initiative to grasp Yeosang’s hand within his own, earning him another fond glance from the blond.
After meeting a few short months ago, Mingi and Yeosang had fallen into a comfortable pattern that they quickly labeled as a real relationship. While they were both busy with their practice schedules and Yeosang’s upcoming competition, their inevitable proximity to each other at the rink helped them connect when it would have been otherwise impossible. In the spare time they had together, they would act just as they were, goofing around on the ice, Yeosang appeasing all of Mingi’s wildest dreams of being able to someday join an amateur ice skating couples contest. It was all in good fun and lended itself to adding a bit more agility and grace into Mingi’s usual moves.
Once they had finished their lap around the rink, they made their way to the bench where they sat to remove their skates, Mingi sneaking a kiss or two to Yeosang’s lips in between each movement. As they flirted on the bench, Yeosang heard the ring of his phone from his duffle bag under the bench, quickly grabbing the device.
“My manager,” he smiled. “Should be quick.”
Mingi nodded as Yeosang answered, focusing on getting his equipment off and organized to put it away. He had realized in their time together that Yeosang was usually only bubbly and talkative when it was a conversation between the two of them, everyone else getting a shorter, more serious version of the skater. Mingi enjoyed being the one to see this side of him, Jongho getting glances when he would linger around their practices as well. The conversation seemed simple and before it had barely started, Yeosang was ending the call, phone placed back in his bag.
“Mingi.”
He didn’t like the tone of Yeosang’s voice.
“What’s up?”
“My rink… it’s opening for practices again.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
Unsure of how to feel, Mingi was excited for his boyfriend to be able to practice on his own terms without having to travel all the way to the current rink in order to do so. However, it meant less time together, less accidental meetings, less casual strolls around the rink. With Yeosang’s competition quickly approaching, Mingi knew that he’d be adding extra hours to his time on the ice, leaving little time for them to connect.
“I know it’s been convenient, but this is good news for you,” Mingi explained. “You’ll feel so much more comfortable back there, like home ice advantage.”
“I guess,” Yeosang shrugged. “This place was starting to feel a lot like home, too.”
Mingi felt an unusual ache in his chest, looking over at what he hoped weren’t tear-rimmed eyes.
“I can visit you,” Mingi rushed out. “You can still visit me, too. My door is always open for you.”
“Like it’s been every day so far?” Yeosang smiled. “Or rather, every night?”
“Something like that,” Mingi chuckled under his breath. “We’re gonna make it work. We’re busy people, but it’s always worth it.”
“That’s a good point,” Yeosang nodded in agreement. “We’ll be fine.”
“Exactly,” Mingi kissed the top of his head, squeezing his side as he tamped down the unsure bubbling of his stomach. “Just fine.”
***
Things were not fine.
Well, maybe it all was simply different.
While the effort to see each other was there, Mingi felt like everything had changed quicker than anticipated. Yeosang would let him know what practice he’d be able to attend, then yet another practice of his own would be added to his schedule. When Mingi would find time to head over to Yeosang’s place, they’d both be too exhausted to do much more than eat, relax and sleep, leaving them both a bit tenser than when they both met.
Mingi couldn’t help but glance over to the wall of the rink when he’d finished practice, half hoping a mop of platinum blond hair would be waiting to greet him with a blinding smile and kiss, his own skates ready to be put on for a relaxing cool down on the ice. His own routine had been turned upside down by the surprise visitor, the beautiful ice dancer that could captivate anyone with a leap through the air.
“Coming out?” San would always ask, changed into street clothes and packed up from their practice before Mingi could even pry himself from the bench.
“Nah,” Mingi would shake his head, staring out into space as the Zamboni would begin to clear the ice without anyone on it. “Not today.”
San had the best intentions at heart, but Mingi didn’t really feel like opening up to anyone about the inner turmoil he was dealing with every day. Beyond the close proximity that he and Yeosang had shared over their weeks together, Mingi missed the routine of having something to look forward to. He could win games, practice until he was out of breath, help his team reach new heights and still, something rang hollow within his chest. Being an adult about the situation meant accepting simple phone calls and short visits, giving Yeosang the room he needed to perfect his routine before the big day.
Things were different, but maybe that was fine. After all, he had faith that Yeosang’s feelings were a mirror image of his own.
***
“Sangie,” Mingi smiled into the front camera of his phone, lounging back into his bed that seemed a bit larger than usual ever since Yeosang’s home rink reopened. “Hey.”
“Hi,” Yeosang smiled, a slight blush warming his bare face. “How was your day?”
“S’fine,” Mingi shrugged. “Went to the gym in the morning, had lunch with San and then went to practice in the afternoon. Our game tomorrow is supposed to be tough, so I'm trying to make sure I’m ready.”
“The other team should be worried about you, not the other way around,” Yeosang giggled softly. “You’re terrifying when you’re in the zone.”
“Terrifying? Good,” Mingi grinned proudly. “Nothing better than proving the rumors true.”
“Always do,” Yeosang nodded as he smiled back.
“How’s yours?” Mingi asked, adjusting his pillow. “You look tired.”
Sighing, Yeosang rubbed his face and returned his glance to the camera with a smile, “yeah?”
“Not in a bad way,” Mingi explained in a slight panic. “Guess I’m not used to you looking so worn out from your practices.”
“There’s a lot of pressure to live up to,” Yeosang sighed. “Trying to not let it get to me, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.”
“I get it,” Mingi nodded. “You can prepare with every spare minute and it doesn’t always add up once you’re on the ice under those lights.”
“At least you have a team behind you,” Yeosang chewed his lip nervously. “Heading out to the center of the rink by yourself… it’s different.”
Mingi blinked slowly, letting his partner’s situation sink in. They had always compared their chosen careers, the similarities and differences ranging from brawn to grace. Yeosang usually took it all in stride, building Mingi’s confidence up while allowing him to return the favor. Watching the exhaustion rest heavy across Yeosang’s face made Mingi’s heart sink, realizing that the physical distance apart, seemingly so small, had a larger impact than originally expected.
“Yeosang,” Mingi sat up a bit straighter, looking directly into the lens to emphasize his words. “There’s no one that can skate like you. I’ve seen the way you pour every emotion into your performance, from your head to your toes. Your performances leave the crowd speechless.”
“Mingi…”
“I mean it,” Mingi implored. “There’s no one better than you.”
Ducking his face behind his hand, Yeosang took a moment to compose himself, closing his eyes as he faced his phone again, a smile on his face despite his misty eyes.
“Tomorrow,” Yeosang stated. “Tomorrow… mind putting me on the list for a ticket?”
“Really?” Mingi lit up, eyes wide. “You’ll have time?”
“I’ll make time,” Yeosang nodded. “I miss you so much.”
Mingi felt his heart sink even lower.
“I miss you, too,” Mingi sighed. “I’ll make sure you’re on that list.”
“Thank you,” Yeosang smiled shyly.
“Anything for you,” Mingi smiled back, forcing a visible dimple.
“Oh, and um,” Yeosang licked his lips nervously, Mingi sensing a strange shift oncoming, “mind adding another ticket to that?”
“Yeah, sure,” Mingi nodded, making a note in his phone to ask Jongho when he arrived at the arena. “Bringing a hot date?”
“Unfortunately, he’ll be busy playing an important role in the game,” Yeosang laughed. “I’m gonna bring a friend.”
“A friend?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“So San stops texting both of us about it.”
Mingi laughed, mouth hanging open at the reel of memories flipping through his mind of San lingering around to pester Yeosang into bringing one of his buddies to the rink for San to ogle.
“Oh, yeah,” Mingi laughed again, head tilted back. “He’ll appreciate it.”
“And I’ll get a free ride to and from the arena,” Yeosang giggled at his master plan. “Works for everyone.”
“Right,” Mingi smiled. “I’d give you a thousand tickets if it meant you’d come.”
“Mingi,” Yeosang giggled, charmed by the grandiose idea. “I don’t even know that many people.”
“Don’t care,” he smiled. “I’d play an entire game at my peak power if you were the only one in the stands.”
The two sat in comfortable silence as they soaked in their mutual admiration for each other, Mingi eager to make everything better than it had been the last few weeks. From feeling like Yeosang was completely out of his league, to being the recipient of the other’s quiet affections, Mingi had never experienced a relationship like the one with Yeosang.
“Hey,” Mingi cleared the silence as gently as he could. “I love you.”
Yeosang tried to not let his smile show too easily, blinking slowly as he replied, “I love you, too.”
***
Mingi doesn’t take the challenge of the next night’s game lightly. After Jongho teased him for asking for two tickets on Yeosang’s behalf, Mingi made it his mission to bring the same level of focus to the game that he had the first game Yeosang attended. He intended to make it his game of the season, leaving it all on the line and proving the critics wrong. His team was ready and wouldn’t go down without a fight.
The game’s pace went by at a breakneck speed, Mingi hardly having the time to even glance in the stands. His teammates praised his determination in between periods, strategizing on how to leverage his intensity to win. Even after a visit to the penalty box for a call he didn’t even feel the need to dramatically contest, Mingi kept a steady level of involvement every moment he was on the ice, winning the game and earning the title of Player of the Game.
It wasn’t until he was giving his after game interview to the local media that he took the chance to search the stands for his boyfriend, spotting him as he walked closer to the ice with a dark-haired man trailing close behind. Mingi answered the last few questions with a smile into the microphone, lifting his stick to thank the fans left in the arena for their support throughout the final period. As he moved away from the media, Mingi set his sights on meeting Yeosang near the bench, quickly rushing over to exit the rink to lean over the half wall for a kiss.
“You came,” Mingi smiled with a sigh.
“I’m a man of my word,” Yeosang grinned. “You were unstoppable out there.”
“Thanks,” Mingi tried not to blush, keeping his cool demeanor around anyone in the stadium. “All ‘cause of you.”
“Stop it,” Yeosang nudged his arm, earning a groan from the friend that tagged along for the night.
“Is this your friend?” Mingi asked, holding out his ungloved hand to introduce himself. “I’m Mingi.”
“Wooyoung,” the other man replied as he shook Mingi’s hand, a toothy smile easing any unsure tension. “Looks like I finally wore him down enough for an introduction. We’ve been friends for a decade and he’s never been like this in a relationship.”
“Huh?” Mingi’s face twisted in confusion, Yeosang’s eyes insisting that Wooyoung watch his mouth.
“Anyway, I heard you have hot friends,” Wooyoung continued, unaffected by the daggers Yeosang’s glare shot his way. “Well, Yeosang hasn’t called them hot, per se, but I looked up the roster photos of your entire team and there’s quite a few that check all the boxes.”
“Glad we’re meeting your expectations?” Mingi answered cautiously. “You can probably meet some of them if you’d like, Yeosang sometimes likes to tag along with us for an after-game bite.”
“That sounds perfect,” Wooyoung replied on behalf of both of them, Yeosang waiting to get a word in otherwise.
“We can wait here for you to change,” Yeosang interjected calmly, his warm smile returning. “It’s been too long since I’ve had a night out.”
“Cool,” Mingi nodded, kissing Yeosang’s cheek before heading back towards the locker room, watching Wooyoung immediately turn to Yeosang for what Mingi assumed was a Boyfriend Introduction Debrief.
As quickly as he could, Mingi wove his way through his teammates in various states of undress, taking compliments as they were spoken. Like Yeosang, Mingi hadn’t been out after a game with the rest of the team in quite some time, finally in the mental space to be able to unwind and enjoy himself. It wasn’t exactly a date, but he was going to make the most of their time together even if it was in some dive bar with cheap beer and greasy appetizers.
Taking off his uniform and gear, Mingi packed up the items he’d need to take with him and left anything he could overnight in his locker, dressed in detergent-fresh clothes. He’d worry about a long shower when he’d get home later that night, preferring to have more time with his boyfriend than be as clean as possible. With his damp hair pushed back, Mingi double checked his belongings to make sure all was accounted for before leaving the locker room, following the hallway back to where he had met Yeosang and Wooyoung.
“Ready to go?” Mingi smiled, bag slung over his shoulder.
“Sure,” Yeosang nodded, taking Mingi’s hand in his own only to be stopped a few steps away.
“Wait!”
Turning to glance behind his shoulder, Mingi watched as San darted down the hall, avoiding other players who had mistaken the command as something intended for them. Unlike Mingi, he had returned to the locker room immediately after the game’s conclusion and had time for a shower and refresh, looking pristine and energized for the team’s plans.
“Hey, San,” Yeosang greeted, receiving a dimpled smile in return.
“Glad you made it to another game,” San replied, hand clapping on Yeosang’s shoulder. “This one’s been a mess without you.”
“Hey! I wasn’t…” Mingi began his argument, words failing as he realized San had completely shifted his focus to someone else.
“New friend?” San’s sights were locked onto Wooyoung who, for the first time that entire evening, suddenly didn’t have much to say.
“Yeosang’s friend,” Mingi clarified to little reaction from either man. “Wooyoung, this is my teammate—”
“Choi San,” Wooyoung’s dazed expression shifted into something softer, the dark haired man stepping closer to the other player. “I recognize you from your photo on the team website.”
“You were looking at my photo?” San asked, oblivious to Wooyoung’s previous research.
“He was plotting—” Yeosang’s mouth was quickly shushed with Wooyoung’s bony fingers covering it tightly.
“I’m a fan,” Wooyoung smiled wider, the few words lighting San up like fireworks in the sky. “Huge.”
“Are you… joining us?” San motioned between their little group. “Maybe I could buy my fan a drink?”
“Yes and yes,” Wooyoung nodded, starting to walk with San tagging close behind, the pair making immediate conversation as Mingi and Yeosang simply watched in awe.
“Is he always like this?” Mingi asked.
“Sometimes,” Yeosang shrugged. “However, he’s usually not so… easily swayed.”
“And I’ve never heard San say a pick-up line so smoothly in my life,” Mingi chuckled.
“Are we in trouble?” Yeosang asked earnestly. “Will I have to find my own ride home?”
“You can always crash at my place,” Mingi offered, kissing him on the lips once more before resuming their walk. “Come on, I want to make sure we make the most of the time we have.”
“You don’t have to say that twice.”
After stashing his items in his car’s trunk, Mingi made the quick walk to the bar with Yeosang to meet the rest of the team, their entrance bringing another round of cheers and applause for Mingi’s excellent performance. Before they could even find a table to occupy, a beer was thrusted in his hand, San pulling him into a booth that Wooyoung had been saving for their arrival. Flagging down another member of the waitstaff, Mingi placed an order for food to share, making sure Yeosang had whatever he needed to drink.
“This is wild,” Wooyoung giggled, glancing around the small space. “Can’t believe you all can fit in here.”
“You should see it when we have reunions with past players,” Mingi grinned. “We shut the place down.”
“I didn’t know what to expect when he first invited me out to one of these,” Yeosang explained with a smile. “I guess I don’t really see myself as part of something like this.”
“You’re like family with us,” San's arm wrapped encouragingly around Yeosang’s frame. “Always welcome.”
Mingi shared Yeosang’s gaze across the table as San occupied himself with whatever questions he couldn’t help but ask Wooyoung. Unlike the room around them, Mingi didn’t need to say much to ensure that Yeosang was being heard, lingering glances and sweet touches of the other’s hand across the table saying enough. Even as their food and drinks were delivered, Mingi found himself much more content sharing everything with his partner rather than needing to eavesdrop on San's conversation with Yeosang’s friend or catch up with teammates he saw every day.
Yeosang loved Mingi for who he was, never expecting anything else but his authentic self. In return, Mingi found a place for Yeosang in every part of his life. Hoping that someday, when things could settle down during the offseason, after Yeosang had finally won his well-deserved gold medal from his competition, moments like this could last days and weeks instead of mere hours. Mingi understood that there was so much left to explore and build upon in their relationship with immeasurable room to grow.
“Are you going to be at Sangie’s program?” Wooyoung asked, sipping on what seemed to be his third brightly colored cocktail of the night.
“Of course,” Mingi replied indignantly. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Different from a game like this, huh?” San asked.
Mingi had already processed and packed away the insecurities that initially showed themselves when he and Yeosang first met, the idea that someone as graceful and cunning and wonderful as him could see the same beauty in Mingi’s strong, yet somewhat clumsy, persona. Sometimes those traits could seep into their personal lives, moments at home or in public, but the time spent together created a new version of each of them, one that was strictly for the other to see, shrouded in what bystanders might consider awkwardness. Mingi didn’t care if others didn’t see what he and Yeosang saw within themselves and each other. It all somehow clicked and worked despite all of the signs that say they couldn’t.
“A bit,” Yeosang nodded.
“But just as tough,” Mingi was quick to add. “Yeosang is brave as fuck for doing what he does.”
“Okay, enough,” Yeosang blushed, attempting to disguise his face by drinking the rest of his beer before ordering another.
“You guys are… sweet,” Wooyoung narrowed his eyes suspiciously before softening them with a grin. “Maybe you’d like some alone time?”
“Wooyoung, that’s not—”
Without an argument, Mingi stood up quickly, allowing Wooyoung to exit the booth despite Yeosang’s protests.
“Yeosang,” Wooyoung crossed his arms as he continued, “I will not stand in the way of your one night out. I’m giving you every second possible to spend with your boyfriend. Got it?”
“Okay, okay,” Yeosang held a hand up to stop any further discussion. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Wooyoung nodded towards San, the man pretending to drink out of a clearly empty beer bottle. “You, out. Let's go load up their jukebox with songs and dance.”
With a slight whoop, San didn’t bother to ask Yeosang to move, merely lifting his butt up and sliding across the other’s lap to link his arm with Wooyoung’s guiding him to the digital music player fastened to the wall. With his side of the booth a bit emptier, Mingi joined Yeosang to his right, giving him another immediate kiss.
“Thank you again for coming,” Mingi stated, hand finding Yeosang’s easily in his lap. “That game… that was for you.”
“You didn’t… it’s no big deal,” Yeosang remained close, their sides pressed together. “I should go more often.”
“Your practices are more important right now,” Mingi replied, squeezing his hand gently. “I’m always gonna be here and once it’s over, we’ll have so much more time.”
“Even more once your season is done,” Yeosang added with a grin. “We’ll have to make some really good plans.”
“Any plan with you is good,” Mingi cornily returned, earning a groan from the blond, both breaking out into a soft round of laughter.
“Right back at you,” Yeosang leaned in for his own kiss that time, ignoring whatever obnoxious dance track had started blaring through the speakers as Mingi’s heart felt lighter than it had in days.
***
In between the team’s schedule, catching Yeosang for a chat any free moment he could and lending an ear to listen to San’s ramblings of his budding romance with Wooyoung, Mingi made a critical error. Overwhelmed by the longing in his heart (or fooled by his lack of attention to detail), he had read the upcoming schedule incorrectly, a mandatory practice scheduled in the middle of what would be Yeosang’s vital competition. It was all feeling too easy, he considered as he stared at the large calendar in the team’s office. Life wouldn’t make it as simple as being available to see his boyfriend’s most important moment of the year, his own ambitions getting in the way. The idea of telling Yeosang what happened made his stomach turn; Mingi knew that Yeosang would put on a brave face and tell him it’d be alright. He didn’t want to see the devastation flash in the other’s eyes, determined to make it right before he could let his boyfriend down.
He considered playing sick. It wasn’t unheard of for a player to come down with something quickly or even have an old injury flare up. A fib like that could put the remainder of his season at risk, leading to more missed games and chances to shine on his own. Mingi debated the pros and cons of giving whatever it could be up to that moment to see Yeosang shine, but ultimately decided against it, figuring there had to be a better way than appearing as a poor teammate. Besides, there was no way of getting around San noticing as he had quickly intertwined himself into all of their lives even further by dating Wooyoung.
Ruling out being honest with his coach about previously miscalculated personal commitments, Mingi decided to get creative. Putting his thinking cap on, Mingi sat in the stands as he watched the teen players have their practice after the other team’s way complete, pondering every possibility carefully.
“What’s with the face?” Jongho asked, plopping down in the chair next to Mingi.
“I fucked up,” Mingi sighed. “Trying to fix it before I upset anyone else, but I think I’m only going to upset myself.”
“We’ve all been there,” Jongho kicked his feet up on the backs of the empty chairs in front of them. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Unless you can convince my entire team to move a practice so I can see Yeosang’s competition, probably not,” Mingi groaned, head hanging low. “I don’t want to let him down.”
“Huh,” Jongho pondered aloud. “Just a single practice, eh?”
“Yeah, a mandatory one,” Mingi peered over at him from his sulking state. “Why?”
“Nothing,” Jongho shrugged. “Just that I manage this rink.”
“Okay, so?” Mingi rolled his eyes, annoyed at the tone the employee used. “You can’t control our schedule.”
“But I can control the rink,” Jongho smirked, pulling out his phone and checking the calendar. “Wow, there’s an event at the main rink that day, too. Wouldn’t be able to have that mandatory practice if something were to happen to the practice rink.”
“That’s true,” Mingi solemnly nodded. “Wish something could happen to it. That’d solve all my problems.”
“If only you knew someone,” Jongho deadpanned. “If only.”
Too long of a silence stretched between them before Mingi was jumping out of his seat, looking straight down at the conniving man.
“You,” Mingi spoke, covering his mouth before crouching down and lowering his voice to a whisper, “please tell me what you have in mind. Please, Jongho. I’ll owe you my life.”
“As appealing as that sounds, I’ll pass,” Jongho cleared his throat, standing up and replacing his sinister expression with a smile. “It’ll be cleaner if I leave you out of the dirty details. Just show me which day the rink needs to be suddenly unusable and I’ll handle the rest.”
As quickly as he could, Mingi peered over Jongho’s phone to point out the date on the calendar, showing the time of the extended practice.
“This one,” Mingi explained. “Jongho, I’m serious… if you can pull this off, it’s beers on me forever.”
“That’s more my speed,” the manager replied, typing something into his phone before pocketing the device. “Don’t say a word. Tell Yeosang you’ll be there. Thank me later.”
Squeezing Jongho into a quick hug, Mingi thanked him profusely before picking up his things, the problem’s solution clearing his way to experience one of his boyfriend’s most important events.
***
Practice canceled. Rink’s temperature is off - ice isn’t safe. See you next week.
The urge to cry from happiness was immediate. Mingi knew Jongho would come through on his promise to make the practice practically disappear from the schedule, but he hadn’t expected it to feel so seamless. Yeosang hadn’t been quiet about how excited he was for Mingi to attend the program he had been practicing so hard for, ready to share this part of his life with him just like Mingi had accepted him in the stands of his games. It would be a full circle moment for them as a couple and Mingi couldn’t wait to see how it all played out.
My Yeosangie - can’t wait to see you later. You’ve got this. xo M
Mingi smiled as he sent the text, hopping out of bed to get ready for the day. He didn’t have to dress up in anything special, but he wanted to look the best he ever had for his other half seeing as he’d most likely be introduced to others that Yeosang considered close friends. Settling on form-fitting khakis and a sharp button-down shirt, Mingi spent extra time in the mirror to get his hair just right, factoring in extra time to stop for flowers on the way. Having another bright idea knowing that Wooyoung would be in attendance, Mingi texted San to invite him along, the other player quickly accepting the invitation to join him at the show.
Taking a look in the mirror before he exited his home to his car, Mingi straightened his collar, making sure any lingering scrapes from his tough playing style weren’t visible to the average person. Once in his car, Mingi picked up Yeosang’s much deserved flowers before setting out on the road, listening to a playlist that he and Yeosang enjoyed to freeskate to when they shared the practice rink.
The parking lot was annoying to navigate with families walking wherever they wished to get into the arena, Mingi pulling into a space where San could easily spot him. Once his teammate had arrived, he led them both into the arena, following the steps Yeosang had instructed him to take upon his arrival. San grinned at the colorful bunch of flowers in Mingi’s fist, knocking his elbow into his side.
“Lucky that practice got canceled, huh?” San wiggled his eyebrows. “Like it’s fate you could be here.”
“Y-yeah,” Mingi cleared his throat, walking down the concourse to find their seats. “Fate. Totally.”
“Uh huh,” San smiled. “Yeosang had no idea, did he?”
“I said I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Mingi paused, smiling at his friend. “I never lie.”
“You sure don’t,” San patted his back with a knowing smile, following him to their row.
The arena wasn’t as packed as the one where Mingi’s team played their games, but the competitive tension still lingered in the air. San spotted Wooyoung first, quickly rushing to meet him near the section he had chosen, surprise turning to pure joy on the other’s face as San tackled him into a huge hug. Mingi joined the row shortly after, nodding to Wooyoung.
“You made it, Hockey Boy,” Wooyoung giggled, letting San sit to his right while Mingi sat on the left. “You’re gonna love it.”
“I know,” Mingi beamed. “I have been waiting to see this for months now.”
“It’s worth it,” Wooyoung nodded in response. “He’ll blow you away.”
Mingi couldn’t argue with that, taking a look at everyone warming up and preparing for the day ahead. Yeosang was easy to spot, jewel-toned spandex hugging his slender frame perfectly. His blond hair always made him stand out in the best way, like a lightning bolt making itself known across the ice. With a single tilt of his head to the side, he locked his line of sight on Mingi, sending him a subtle yet confident smile, nodding as he finished his last few moves before it was time to get off the ice.
Yeosang had warned him to be patient. With the number of competitors and length of each of their choreographed performances, Mingi would have to watch most of the skaters go before Yeosang before the order would repeat again, offering another chance for Yeosang to dance to a second track. Inviting San turned out to be a blessing, the other man easily keeping the conversation flowing between the three of them, even if things sometimes took a slight left into corny flirting with Yeosang’s best friend. It made the event comfortable in a way Mingi hadn’t expected, all leading up to Yeosang’s first round.
Striking his beginning pose in the center of the rink, Mingi listened for the familiar first notes of the song he had chosen, watching as his limbs snapped into immediate action. Yeosang skated like poetry, flowing and free, emotional and powerful. He recognized a few of the turns and jumps Yeosang had been teaching him in their spare time (by sight only—Mingi still couldn’t figure out the trick to make it look as effortless as Yeosang did). Everything he witnessed Yeosang execute since the day they met all came together in a flawless performance, a beautiful sight that made everything feel worth risking.
As promised, Mingi didn’t hold back once Yeosang completed his performance, cheering and making his presence known to all of those in the arena’s seats. That was his Yeosang, his boyfriend, his star performer—no one was going to shame him into holding back his celebration of a beautiful first run. Yeosang shyly accepted the praise, waving to their section as he exited the ice, waiting for the scores to be calculated.
Mingi didn’t know what to make of the numbers and Wooyoung did his best to interpret them, letting him know that it was even better than Yeosang had expected—one of the best of the day. Wooyoung also suggested that Yeosang’s second performance would beat out the first in the judge’s eyes, getting Mingi’s hopes up that he would be able to witness Yeosang earning the best reward for all of the blood, sweat and tears poured into his career.
Fidgeting with the flowers, Mingi felt the nerves he usually felt during his own games creep in, crawling on his skin as he waited for Yeosang to skate again. He wanted to be strong for Yeosang even if he couldn’t see him, pushing the bad possibilities and unnecessary what-ifs so far out of his mind where no one would reach them. He believed in Yeosang with his entire being and as he watched the second performance start to a song that Mingi considered his favorite, all doubts were shoved aside as he realized what it all meant.
It wasn’t about skating. It wasn’t about Mingi’s games or Yeosang’s lutzes. It didn’t matter if Mingi could lift Yeosang while also propelling himself forward before placing him down again. Their connection had grown so deeply outside of their shared understanding of the unique terminology and harsh training that it took to reach the top of their careers. Mingi didn’t necessarily crave Yeosang’s presence at the rink; he needed Yeosang’s presence, period. They weren’t only cheering each other on to win and be the best they could. They were cheering for each other, as individuals and as a unit, two halves of something that had grown whole.
As Yeosang spread his arms triumphantly as his final move, Mingi leapt to his feet once more, cheering at the top of his lungs, not just for the performance of a lifetime, but for the man he felt he didn’t deserve, the one that understood him when no one else could.
After the final scores were revealed, Mingi wasn’t surprised a bit when Yeosang came out on top. Wooyoung encouraged Mingi to head down to the edge of the ice as he blinked back tears, waving the flowers in the air to get his attention. Caught up in his own emotions, Mingi watched as Yeosang let a few tears fall before skating over to grab his well-deserved bouquet, placing a kiss to Mingi’s cheek as a promise for more later. After the awards were distributed and photos taken, Yeosang headed back to the locker rooms, Mingi automatically following the flow of families heading to the same place. Before he could figure out which room belonged to Yeosang, a strong arm yanked Mingi into a nondescript closet, a dim bulb clicking on as Yeosang materialized in front of him.
“Hi,” Yeosang whispered, cheeks lined with wet trails from previous tears. “You’re here.”
“Of course,” Mingi engulfed the other in his arms, hugging tightly. “You were breathtaking. Magnificent. So fucking cool.”
With a small laugh, Yeosang hit Mingi’s chest playfully, wiping his eyes again, “stop it.”
“I knew you were the best,” Mingi stated softly, leaning in and capturing Yeosang’s lips in a deep kiss. “My Yeosangie.”
In a moment that felt completely earned, Mingi selfishly kept Yeosang all to himself as long as he could, accepting that a closet was as close as they could get to a private room for the foreseeable future. Each kiss said something different, something shared and accepted. Yeosang pulled away in order to take a quick breath as Mingi shifted closer, fingers gently tilting the other’s face up by his chin, their gazes clicking into place.
When one of us wins, we both do, Mingi said without words, watching as Yeosang’s eyes shined like never before. Now the whole world can see you like I do.