Forever - Labyrinth

The wind is cool as it breezes against Jeongguk's cheeks, tenderly caresses his skin as he strays behind his teammates while he walk around the city to celebrate the Christmas spirit. Typically in this day, his teammates don't really have any other places to go to in order to celebrate the holidays. Either some sort of family issues or the preference to just being away from home, so they spend it together.

The tradition is to usually go to as many skating events as possible, show off a little, spend the whole day outside, eat and drink a little before going for a stroll around the city.

And it's a never ending tradition.

It feels nice though, having people to spend a nice time with on a very special time of the year. Initially Namjoon did invite him over, to their parents house, saying that their parents invited him for dinner. As you could see, Jeongguk didn't go.

He's just not ready to face them yet, even though it's already been eight years.

So he's here with his team, spending a nice time together while enjoying the holiday. Taehyung and Seulgi also tagged along as well, with mostly Karma and Taehyung being like glue sticks next to each other along with Minho and Seugli. Coach Hoseok couldn't join us since he went home for the holidays, but he did warn the team to not get ahead of themselves because they do have practice after New Years.

Not like they'll listen to him either way.

Lately Jeongguk has been juggling a lot between speed skating practice and ice skating, finding himself sometimes during speed skating he would do positions or gestures that he learned from figure skating just coming in naturally. As him and Jimin promised, he did have to work hard in regards to dancing. Jackson has been giving him lessons on ballet that would tie with figure skating, so he's been practicing that to have some muscle memory.

Clearly that's been affecting him often, but he feels somewhat that relief whenever he practices with Jimin and ends up doing a move properly to not receive a scowl from the other man, so that's definitely a sign.

Lately the two have been on somewhat better terms. Jimin does at times lose his temper but catches himself before he says anything offensive, which shows how he tries to keep his end of his word. At times like that, Jeongguk has learned to leave him be and only lets him cool down by practicing. It's become a wordless exchange, and it seems like Jimin has found some calming technique in correcting Jeongguk's moves when he's frustrated.

Not like Jeongguk minds, after all he wants to get this done perfectly fine.

Today they didn't have practice since it's Christmas Eve, nor will they have practice tomorrow either. This could be a useful time for either of them to reflect and hopefully be more motivated when practice does come around.

"Lost into thought?"

Jeongguk blinks from his trance of thought, looking to the side to see Hongjoong walking along his side with a hot chocolate in hand. Immediately Jeongguk relaxes to the sight of his captain, shaking his head dismissively but of course Hongjoong likes to look after the better care of his teammates.

"How's it been with the pair skating program? Feel like it's something you find joy doing?"

Honestly, as strange as it is, it has been something Jeongguk actually looks forwards to after his speed skating practice. Despite not really extinguishing the pair part of it, learning to figure skate has definitely been an experience. It brings that same feeling when he was first learning to Speed Skate, that sense of pride whenever he did well because of his hard work.

That's why he feels confident that him and Jimin will do well for this event together as a team.

So Jeongguk signed that out to Hongjoong, the captain slowly smiling from ear to ear just by seeing how happy Jeongguk slowly starts to seem to appear with every word he signs out. It's usually a massive wave of joy whenever Jeongguk shows a glimmer of that sparkle in his eyes with that twitching smile. The team really adores seeing him happy, and it's always a sight to see when he is.

By the time he finished, Hongjoong is smiling so brightly that the christmas lights would be jealous of the sight, linking his arm with the ravenettes, "That's what I like to see. I'm glad you're liking it."

Yeah, he really does. Hopefully Jimin isn't finding it a waste of time as of now because Jeongguk sure hasn't been feeling that way.

Now walking through these city streets, hearing the bickering of Taehyung and Minho up ahead while the others cheer to the idea of going to a bar, Jeongguk's mind began to trail off to those lonely hearts out there who most likely doesn't have anyone to share today with.

What could they be doing? Have dinners on their own? Watch Christmas movies and laughing to themselves with only a lonely ghost beside them?

The thought only drained a bit of Jeongguk's smile, now staring at his friends with a bit more gratitude that they have each other because Jeongguk would've probably been alone if it wasn't for the team.

He really is lucky.

"Shit," Felix suddenly curses as the rest of the team were about to head into a bar, "I forgot my wallet in my locker. Erm... You guys go in and save a table, I'll be back!"

Ten immediately steps closer to him, "I'll go with you."

The star player only chuckles and pats his arm, "I can handle it alone. Just go in, I'll be back quick."

Without anymore room to fight over, Felix runs quickly down the busy streets of the city to the rink that's thankfully not so far from where they are. Jeongguk only watches him, feeling a little bad that he had to go alone.

So just as everyone went through the door, Jeongguk thought about it for a second before turning around and walks off to where Felix ran off.

"Jimin, arms needs to be more wide- Johnny hold the position and... Yes! Perfect- oh no."

Jimin nearly collapses to the ground completely but drops to his knees instead when Johnny's grip loosen after guiding Jimin through the fifth pirouette and a jump, resulting with Jimin having no stability to rely on and dropping on his knees to the ground.

Dark spots flooded Jimin's vision, the air escaping his lungs to the impact with a major blur coating his eyes. Everything appears double than it already is, feeling numb yet so weak at the same time.

"We talked about this Johnny! Your grip has to be secured!"

"I'm sorry sir, won't happen again!"

Jimin forcefully gathers his composure, despite how breathless he feels right now, and gets to his feet while trying not to show his lack of balance with the dizziness.

Raging eyes now turning towards Johnny, "The fuck is your problem! This isn't the first time Taemin tells you this shit!"

"Jimin please-"

"No I'm not going to stay quiet!" Jimin roars over Taemin's words, forcing him to fall silent, "If we're going to be doing this shit you've got to stop being so fucking dense and listen to instructions!"

Johnny blinks at him, breaking off an offended smile with arms to his hips, "Wow okay, not my fault we've been practicing for ten hours and most of that time is you telling me what the fuck to do! You told me not to hold on tightly to your body, and now you want to act up!"

"Not to the point where I'll have to do the fucking work all by myself!"

This really twitched onto Johnny's nerves, slowly moving to stand in front of Jimin that would intimidate anyone but obviously not Jimin.

"You know princess this is your problem," He says lowly, sending an unease shiver down Jimin's spine, "You never notice anyone's efforts but your own and get mad when they don't excel how you'd like it to. You're a narcissist psycho who only cares about himself, that's why you will never find a suitable partner to stand your arrogant ass!"

Ouch, his poor heart.

Was that suppose to ache?

Now Jimin chuckles, narrowing eyes. "You think that's suppose to hurt me? Yeah, maybe I'm a little narcissistic," And he gives a one eye over Johnny, "Seems like it works on charming men by how desperate you were to have me bent over that locker room-"

A loud slap echoes the room.

Gravely loud, and it burned.

Jimin's cheek burned.

Face flying to the side, skin pulsing in fire to the heat, Jimin remains in shock to what just happened.

Johnny slapped him.

He just slapped him.

"Johnny! Get out! Both you need to- Jimin!"

Jimin was already storming out the room with bag in hand before Taemin could finish what he wanted to say. Tears burned his glossy eyes, refusing to let it escape his eyelids as he storms out of the building in desperation to leave this damn studio.

Many thoughts rushes his mind, all revolving around this profound pain and rage coiling his better judgement. Jimin didn't even feel the cold air brushing his bare arms by his burning frustration as he goes to his car and slams himself inside.

He grips the steering wheel and screams.

He screams so loud. Angrily, frustrated, and fragile while slamming his hand against the steering, yelping to the pain on his palm now with quivering lips and a deep inhale through the nose to ease the knife in his throat stabbing his chest, increasing the ache profoundly.

He's such a fucking jerk!

People never fucking learn, they never do!

That's why they're so damn useless!

Every single one.

Even Jimin himself.

Unable to hold back the tears anymore, he tries to sink in his breath to keep himself stable. It took him a while, especially with the burning sizzle on his cheek being a constant reminder that it exists.

Rolling his eyes now, he brushes his nose with his hand and turns on the car engine, glancing at the review mirror to see something on the back seat.

His ice skates.

The white shoes stares back to him, glimmering to the street lights with this pleading comfort to Jimin's overwhelming emotions.

So quiet.... Yet so present.

Jeongguk suddenly crossed Jimin's mind at that moment, twitching a frown to his lips. Silent lips but a determination with every single day that they practice together. Presence that's there, just forced to be reckoned with, but quiet as though it would make him disappear from people's longing stares.

But Jimin sees him, he always does.

Even if he tries to hide from the world how much he wants to get better with this program, Jimin sees it. He would see him practicing once their sessions would finish in the training room, poses and moves that Jackson has taught him and repeating them over and over again until he gets it right.

To improve his dancing, just as he promised.

If he's doing his part, Jimin has to do his too and it's to work harder.

With a pitiful longing stare to the skates, Jimin only starts his car and moves out of the parking lot. He didn't have to drive for long before reaching the ice skating rink, that's open for skaters of the building who wants to practice despite it being a holiday.

Without debating it over, Jimin parks the car and gets out with his skate. He doesn't care if he's walking on his ballet flats right now as he storms to the front doors, instantly be coated by warmth despite the jacket over his shoulders. The security guard instantly recognized him, letting him pass with a smile that Jimin tried to mimic back while focusing on getting to his destination.

Thankfully for him, the rink is empty. Perfect for practicing.

So he goes to the locker room and just as he sat down on one of the benches to change his shoes, something happened.

His vision blurred.

Blinking a few times and rubbing his eyes, that blur didn't go away- and it definitely wasn't from crying because he already stopped. Anxiously he looks around, his breath faltering heavier and heavier with his hands trembling as they grip the skates.

That suddenly slips past his fingers and drops to the ground.

Just like how Jimin did not too long afterwards, slipping from the bench with a head slamming to the locker on the way down into complete unconsciousness on the floor.

________________

A/N:

Uh oh....

Let's see if someone finds him..

I PURPLE YOU! <33