Chapter Text
The locker room was a familiar cacophony of slamming sticks, heavy breathing, and the rhythmic thud of gear and equipment being dropped into lockers. Mingi was already asking for tape as he dug through his bag, his familiar yell filling the chaos as Wooyoung 'accidentally' hit his head with the fresh roll of tape. Seonghwa was confronting a laughing San about the pairs of socks thrown across the room and Yeosang was muttering about the cold water in the showers. The loud thrum of obnoxious music filled Minho's ears as he sat down on the smooth, cool wooden bench in front of his locker, the humid air stuffy with the heat of ten players.
"You two are a lot of work." Yunho's voice rang out beside him. Minho glanced up at the older man, accepting the offered bottle of water with a slight nod of his head, the metallic clink of Yunho's locker door beside him going unnoticed by the familiar energy of the room. "I wouldn't be surprised if you give Coach a migraine this early in the season."
Minho scoffed though there's no real heat in it as he takes a long sip of the cool liquid. His gaze drifts to Chan across the room, where he stands chatting with Hoongjoong and Jongho who both looked mildly amused. Minho wasn't sure what was more irritating-that Chan was loud enough for his voice to be heard over the current music blasting from Wooyoung's phone, or that even Jongho seemed perfectly willing to listen.
"Mm. I wouldn't be surprised if he does." Minho muttered, capping the plastic bottle as he carefully peeled his gear off piece by piece.
"Alright," Hoongjoong's voice rang out as he clapped his hands together. "We're leaving for dinner in 10 minutes. Whoever's not washed up by then gets the scraps."
That got most of the team moving. Shouts rang out as Mingi and Chan scrambled together to get the first call for the stalls, shoving each other into the walls as their laughs filled the small room.
Reluctant to step foot into the sure chaos of the humid bathroom, Minho took his time packing his gear bag, the harsh sound of water from the wash rooms muting some of the voices from inside. Eventually, towel and clothes tucked neatly under his arm, he slipped into the steam filled room. Voices bounced off the white tiled walls as he found an empty stall.
The hot water felt good against his aching muscles as he carefully washed away the grime and dirt of the day, Wooyoung's signature laugh bouncing off the walls as Hoongjoong shouted about stealing towels.
Surprisingly, it only took thirteen minutes for everyone to clean up in time before they moved into the long corridors. Hoongjoong never walked at the back, captains rarely did, uttering something to Seonghwa beside him as he stared down at his phone.
Minho glared as Wooyoung shoved past him with a laugh, running up to throw a more or less aggressive arm around Chan's shoulder as he pulled him into the group of San and Mingi.
"Hey, Lee!" Wooyoung called out to where Minho was walking quietly a few meters back from Yeosang, damp hair curling faintly against his temples in the cool nighttime air. "Better hurry up or we'll eat all your portions." He ruffled Chan's hair with a bright grin as Chan yelled out at Mingi, who was already running toward the shopping plaza near the arena's parting lot.
Glancing up at Yeosang ahead of him, who muttered something about Wooyoung being 'dramatic' to Jungho, Minho ignored the teasing, rolling his eyes as he shoved his hands back in the pockets of his hoodie.
The restaurant was a familiar one. A warmly lit and old fashioned styled family run business with enough food to feed ten starving hockey players. The owners, Mr and Mrs Park, were old but kind and smiled from the small view in the kitchen as Mingi and San stormed inside, already scrambling into the giant barbecue booth.
"Yah! Wait for everyone to sit down before you order!" Hoongjoong shouted as he moved to catch up with the younger members though Wooyoung ran past with a bright laugh, dragging Yunho and Chan behind him.
Seonghwa sighed though Minho could tell it was one of fondness as he stopped to hold the door open for the rest of them. The moment the savory smells of garlic and searing fats, Minho's stomach growled, and he found himself grinning as he slid into the booth beside Jungho, the sounds of clinking glasses, simmering meats, and boisterous voices filling the small restaurant.
The side dishes covered the table in minutes, though the meat was the only thing anyone was entirely focused on. Seonghwa and Jungho were in charge of flipping the meat on both grills after Wooyoung nearly burnt the first potions of meat, and Minho meticulously set up his plate while conversations swirled around him.
"It's done-" Minho's head snapped up at Seonghwa's words, hand already shooting out. He wasn't surprised when Chan's chopsticks settled right on the best cooked piece on the grill.
"Move." Minho muttered, already moving to grab it but Chan had already trapped the piece underneath his sticks.
"Really? You're fighting over meat, Lee, it's not that serious." Chan hummed as he moved to fumble with the side dishes, grabbing a fresh piece of lettuce before effectively sliding the meat into the wrap.
Minho clenched his jaw as he grabbed a different piece of pork though the bickering didn't diffuse his hunger. The table was silent, or at least as silent as the team could get, as everyone stuffed their faces with meat and rice, a proper end to a day filled with exertion.
"You know," Mingi said between the bites of food in his mouth. "I don't see why we can't go out for meals more often."
"You don't see because you don't pay," Hoongjoong muttered though Minho knew he would decline if someone else offered. "Beside, be glad Seonghwa cooks for you brats."
"I'm just saying-"
"No, you're complaining."
"No I'm-"
"Can someone pass the pickled radish?" Yunho interrupted, yelling and swatting at Wooyoung's shoulder as the younger smiled and shoved the rest of the side dish in his mouth.
Chan snorted, grinning despite another wrap in his mouth as he added, "I'm sure we could cook. It can't be that hard, you just have to follow instructions."
"I'm sure you couldn't." Seonghwa hummed as he took a sip from his glass.
Chan looked offended, opening his mouth to retort though San was already reaching across him to grab the glass of water.
The restaurant was filled with the sounds of voices and clinking dishes. Minho loosened the drawstring of his sweatpants and decided one more bite probably would kill him though he ate one last bit of pork as he leaned back in the booth, watching Seonghwa's smooth features illuminated by the warm lighting as he spoke, gaze shifting in amusement to Mingi and Wooyoung arguing over the last bits of meat.
The conversation shifts and turns over naturally and easily, a steady and constant rhythm as smoke curls through the air, smelling of smoked meat and spices. Minho watched absentmindedly as Chan flipped a burnt piece of meat, the char dark enough to earn a grin from him.
"Cooking, hm?" Minho muttered dryly across the table.
Chan glanced up, rolling his eyes as he picked the meat up. "Why does it matter? It's not like you can do any-"
Minho smirked as he grabbed a fresh piece of pork belly from the tray. "I'm sure I can do it better than you."
Scowling, Chan quickly lay down his own piece of meat. "Fine. Whoever's is better gets to make the other run laps."
Minho didn't agree though he was focused intently on his small slab of meat.
San laughed as he watched their bickering, nudging Mingi beside him as he cut off their conversation about a convenience store run later. They both bursted out laughing as Wooyoung absentmindedly grabbed Minho's slice of meat, unknowing about the bet, and earning two familiar groans from the young men at the end of the booth.
Hoongjoong simply sighed, leaning back against the booth as he stared up at the ceiling. "If you two don't stop arguing, you'll be rooming together for the game in Hong Kong."
Chan looked horrified despite the laughs from the others. "I'm not sharing a room with him."
"I'm not sharing a room with you." Minho shot back.
"Good."
Hoongjoong pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fantastic. You're already arguing about a room you don't even have yet."