Archive of Our Own

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Johnny has always dreamed of representing his country in the Olympics, wanting to show the world the skills he acquired practicing Taekwondo since he was 5 years old. Recently turning 21, and with the 2016 Summer Olympics coming up, he finally saw his chance to do so. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Practicing more and more, forgetting to give his body enough time to rest and recover, his dream seemed to shatter right in front of his eyes when one night, during practice, he fractured his knee. The pain on his leg was easily forgotten within minutes, as it downed on his conscience that everything he dedicated his life to was now, almost certainly, out of reach. With the Olympics coming up in 6 months, recovering, going back to practice and being ready to compete seemed almost impossible, but he wasn’t giving up on his dream. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Or so he thought, until his mom told him there was no way she’d let him go back to practice after this incident. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Johnny tried arguing that “anyone can get injuries at any point in life”, but she wasn’t having any of it, as “yes, but practicing Taekwondo increases your chances of getting one.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He never felt so defeated in life, trying to explain to his mother that this is all he ever wanted. After 15 years of practice, to have his dream taken away in the blink of an eye seemed, at the very least, unfair. A big joke played by the universe. Johnny wanted to disintegrate then and there, his mother wasn’t backing down. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Johnny’s life was turned upside down, the usually active and extroverted boy was now isolating himself in his room except for when he had to leave the house for physiotherapy. He could barely look at his mother’s face, it’s not like she was trying to talk to him anyway, even knowing he was going through the hardest moment in his life. Johnny finds himself missing his dad more than ever, the man always knew what to say when he needed to be comforted, and he would’ve convinced his mom to not force Johnny to give up his dream. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ His friends kept ringing his phone with worried texts, but he didn’t find any energy within himself to type an answer to any of them and at some point not even the energy to open them. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It was one of those worse days for Johnny, he was going back home after physiotherapy, his first time walking alone ever since he got injured. Johnny walked at such a slow pace he was annoying himself, but for now it would have to do. Taking a deep breath, Johnny’s eyes fall to a park on the other side of the street, and he changes directions. After apologizing with his hand to a driver that had to stay stopped for longer than the traffic light indicated, he finally walked into the park.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Finding almost every bench occupied, Johnny settles for laying his sweat on the grass and laying down with his head on it, eyes fixed on some clouds moving slowly, with no worries and no place to go to. For a brief second, Johnny wish he could just be a cloud.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ With a temporary sense of calmness washing over him, Johnny let his eyes close to appreciate the brisk breeze, whistling in his ears. It made pleasant chills run through his arms, and this was the calmest Johnny felt in the past two months.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ A fractured knee isn’t a quick thing to recover from, it’s not easy either, but Johnny knew he could do it. He wouldn’t try to speed things up and be careless again, but he’d still recover in time for the Olympics. He was sure of it. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He had to.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He knew his mother would get mad hearing his thoughts, settled in her decision of keeping him away from the sport, but she didn’t need to know he was just as resolved in not backing down either. It was his life, and he’s 21.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ His thoughts were interrupted with the sound of footsteps closer and closer to him, and as he opened his eyes, the most beautiful face he’d ever seen was occupying his field of vision. It was a very familiar face, a mix of emotions passed through Johnny, he was sure all of them were noticeable on his expression by the grimace on the other man’s face.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Hey.” Taeyong started, the strain on his voice a bit too obvious. He was nervous.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ But so was Johnny. “Uh, hi.” he cleared his throat, “I didn’t expect to see you around.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ A breathy humorless chuckle left Taeyong’s lips, his tongue running through his bottom lip before speaking again “Yeah, I didn’t expect to come back so soon either.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The two let silence fall between them, Johnny looking up to the sky again, which was now changing colours, Taeil stayed concentrated on the way Johnny’s brows were furrowed for an instance before allowing peace to wash over his face. They hadn’t seen eachother for 8 years and Taeyong never thought he’d be back before getting his master’s degree, but when he heard about what had happened to his childhood bestfriend, he couldn’t stay away. Taeyong knows he’ll do well on his exams, even if he misses some classes, but he can’t be sure Johnny will be fine knowing just how much the Olympics mean to him.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Next time Johnny moved to check his phone, it was 9pm, he knew he had to go home eventually, so he got up, struggling a bit but thankful that Taeyong didn’t move to help him, only standing by his side in case Johnny lost balance. “Do you mind if I walk you home? It’s late.” Johnny let Taeyong walk him home, he missed the older’s presence and how calming and right it felt.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It took less than 30 minutes for them to reach Johnny’s doorstep, and the welcoming and warm silence suddenly felt like a more awkward one, not knowing how to say goodbye to eachother. Taeyong took the initiative “See you tomorrow?”, he asked, hoping the younger would like to meet up again. Johnny gave him a light smile and agreed, bidding goodbye.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ For the first time in months Johnny finally didn’t mind going out and talking to someone. Using this change of mood and the burst of energy, Johnny texted his friends back, letting them know he was fine and that he could finally take small walks without any help. He was slowly but surely recovering.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ And for the first time in months, Johnny finally had something to look forward to.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Taeyong was waiting for Johnny at the park, knowing he most likely wanted to walk alone and feeling accomplished that he could do things by himself again. He couldn’t imagine the pain of your dreams being taken from you in a second, but he knew Johnny would be able to recover and be ready in time for the Olympics. It’s Johnny after all.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Hi”, Johnny sat next to him on the grass. Taeyong looked his way for a few seconds, diverting his gaze back to the kids playing “Hey”. The two fell into a conversation about how life was going for each of them, catching up on everything they’ve missed in the past years they were apart. Taeyong was doing great, accomplishing everything he wanted, his love life remained inexistent, claiming he was just focused on his studies, when in reality the person he wanted was just missing from his life, but not anymore. Johnny was finally back to his old self, more energetic and confident than ever, ready to heal properly and hopefully have enough time to perfect his technique again to go and win the Olympics. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Taeyong trusted him to do so, and Johnny knew that even without it being said.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ In another month Johnny was able to jog, and he’d go out with Taeyong at night three times a week to do so. Three months until the Olympics, Johnny was hoping that another month was enough for him to go back to practice. His mom still didn’t know about it, and he wasn’t planning on telling her either. She didn’t even seem to notice his mood was back to normal, since they didn’t cross paths even at home, Johnny always having dinner anywhere but his home and spending his days with Taeyong, sometimes his other friends joining them. Life seemed to be perfect again, Johnny feared it wouldn’t last.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Eventually Taeyong would go back to finish his master’s, he knew the older would come back afterwards, but it was still a few years without his presence. Johnny couldn’t tell why the other’s presence made such a difference in his life, but he didn’t need to know why, he just acknowledged he needed him. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Taeyong promised he’d go watch him at the Olympics after his exams, and that’s how they parted ways after two months of seeing eachother daily. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The younger was excited, as he planned on confessing his feelings after getting his Olympic gold medal.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ But now Johnny had something to take his thoughts from the matter, with the competition in mind and ready to give it his all these next two months, still making sure to be careful this time around. His friends made sure to keep an eye on him while the older was gone, making him go out at least once a week to relax and take his mind off the practice. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Everything seemingly aligned.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Taeyong was up studying until 3am almost daily, catching up to everything he missed. He felt more than ready to ace his exams and go see Johnny in Brazil. Every time he thought of the younger, a smile would appear on his face, one so big it could almost rip it.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ His university friends were happy to see him smiling more since he came back.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Johnny’s phone rang the week before the Olympics, he had been a bit more nervous lately but he knew the nerves would be gone when he competes, just like whenever he had any other competition. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “How have you been?” Johnny heard Taeyong’s voice for the first time in two months and just then he realized how much he missed it. “I’m doing well, ready to compete.” he smiled, “How did your exams go?” “Aced them all, as always!” he could hear the older’s cheeky smile in his voice, Johnny rolled his eyes playfully, Taeyong knew it even if he couldn’t see Johnny, he knew the younger’s habits too well. “So, ready to start your master’s next year?” Taeyong groaned, “Don’t even mention it, I just got done with university two weeks ago, don’t wanna hear anything about it during summer.” “When are you flying to Rio?” “Only the night before, I’ll get there in the morning and go straight to see you.” Johnny had a sad smile on his face, he wouldn’t be able to see the older before combat, “Make sure to rest before the flight, hyung.” “Don’t worry, I always take care of myself, unlike someone else I know.” they both laughed, and the call went on for nearly 3 hours.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It was the night before the competition, Johnny had talked to Taeyong before he got on his flight and was now trying to get a proper night of sleep. However he couldn’t shake away this feeling that something was gonna go terribly wrong.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Johnny got up and ready at 6am, he ended up managing to fall asleep and get enough rest to feel like he already won the gold medal. He was confident, and that was good. He hadn’t heard from the older yet, maybe he was stressing trying to get to the place in time, Johnny wasn’t really worried since Taeyong always planned everything out precisely and always went through with his plans.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The feeling before getting in was indescribable; Happiness, exciment and fulfillment flooded Johnny’s body and even though he wasn’t smiling, you could see it all in his eyes.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Johnny’s mother couldn’t believe her own eyes when she saw her son on TV, she didn’t know how to feel. In the bottom of her heart, she was happy for him, but worried. She knew he would do something like this, but didn’t try to stop him, knowing she couldn’t even if she tried, but she also couldn’t stay close and supportive with fear weighing on her heart. Maybe she should’ve tried doing so for him. But regretting wouldn’t fix their relationship.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ At the end of the day, Johnny was the winner of the gold medal in Taekwondo. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ In the middle of crying, sweat, hugs from his close friends and words of congratulation, his dream was reality now. After years and years of practice, giving his life to this moment. It felt validating, fulfilling, it felt like home even. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Striving for the next Olympic medal wasn’t so unrealistic now, and he smiled even bigger.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ But suddenly, something was missing. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Him. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ His other friends hadn’t seen Taeyong yet, neither did they hear from him. Worried, Johnny ran to the back to check the phone he left on his locker since morning.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 5 missed calls, one from the hospital and the rest from Taeyong’s mom.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He called back to the older’s mom immediately, but she didn’t pick up at first, his anxiety rising and the happiness of his achievement long forgotten.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He felt his heart fall when he looked to the side and on the news was a plane crash, “DOZENS OF DEAD AND CRITICAL CONDITION ON A FLIGHT TO RIO”.