No. 1 Party Anthem - Arctic Monkeys

"Aw you're going to be a little ice prince! That's so cute!"

Jimin scowl deepens, staring at the girl sitting across the island from him as he makes himself his usual warm tea. He really thought calling Jihyo would help ease him out of his frustration about this whole ice skating thing, but of course it's been the total opposite.

Typical for her behavior.

Even if he is annoyed with her, he can never be angry at her. They started together in the ballet academy when Jimin was only seven and she was six. They practically saw each other grow up and go through the toughest obstacles through teen years. She's actually the only person who Jimin trusts dancing with and - on a more personal level - with the fact that he's gay, and at first she was spectacle but more so because of worry if the media ever found out about this.

Not only would Jimin's career be completely destroyed, but maybe not even be accepted anywhere else to work. The traditional public would definitely have this be frowned upon, he would be judged everywhere he goes, so it's something he really can't afford to be obvious about if he does have a partner.

With Namjoon he got luckily because they had a mutual friend, Jisoo- who's in the hockey team, and she's also friends with Jihyo. So when the four would go out, it wouldn't seem so obvious, not even Jisoo noticed the secret relationship either. Once the public got use to spotting the duo, it was easier for Jimin and Namjoon to go out alone without a problem.

The media referred to them as 'The Starring Friends' since they would always support one another whenever they had an event, not like they minded it at all.

That just cares to show how careful Jimin must be, especially with being one of the star dancers in the country. Eyes are always peering at him, that's why he's just given up the idea of a relationships to focus on dancing. Well that being one of the reasons tagging along the list of reasons he has pointed out.

Anyways, Jihyo has been supportive with him through his dancing career and relationship life, so she's really the only one he can trust.

So that's how Jimin calmed down his annoyance and leans over the island with a sip of his Jasmine tea, "Not an ice prince, thank you. I'm trying so hard to get Jackson to find me useless but no! Now- in two hours to be exact- he wants to take me and Nayeon to this public skating shit in town in order for us to bond and whatever."

Jihyo has a palm to her lips, giggling softly to her friend's frustration before gathering her composure to reach over and clasp his hand, a reassuring smile twitching her mouth, "Well you do practice like crazy, maybe take this event as a day off? I don't know, just don't think of this as a bad thing. You're not obligated to do this either way, so you don't have to do it."

Oh Jimin knows that.

He knows he can call it quits whenever he wants if he wanted to, not dealing with this bullshit any longer. So why hasn't he? Maybe he is curious of the skills he can develop on the ice. He already can properly skate without tripping over the pick, not in front of Jackson obviously, and he's impressed by how fast he's picked up on it. If he learned how to skate this quick, with his own efforts to learn, he can only imagine how amazing it would be to twirl and do jumps like how that guy did back at his performance.

Of course that's not the only reason.

Lately he feels as though he's been a disappointment to Taemin, with him not being settled on a partner and making him always find someone else. It gets tiring, of course it does, and Jimin wants to learn to adjust to what he has instead of complaining all the time. Taemin really believes this ice skating program will be good for him, as an experience, before he has to practice for his show in five months.

So far he's been practicing that too but he will officially rehearse in three months with his partner, Johnny, for their roles. Jimin still doesn't like Johnny, even after they've practiced more trusting exercises with Taemin before practices officially begin it has gotten a bit better.

It never works though, the whole trust thing, but what can Jimin do by this point?

Taemin has already sent CDs to everyone to how their roles should look like, so it's already official.

Just to Jimin's luck.

Time slowly flew by after Jihyo said those words because from there Jimin doesn't really remember much after what happened. He just spent more time with Jihyo, more so him complaining the whole time, before it came to the time for him to get ready for the ice skating event.

He didn't know exactly what to even dress up in, since he usually doesn't do these things. So he just put on a pair of black spandex with a very long and oversized white knitted sweater. Since it's cold outside, he threw on an olive green scarf with a long café lapel collar jacket. There wasn't much to do with his hair, so he only adjusts it a bit on his forehead while keeping a small gap to expose his forehead.

Eh, he tried.

With an eye roll to his appearance, he shoved his foot into combat boots and gets out of his now empty apartment since Jihyo left a while ago -with the meanest scowl on his face.

Might as well be his signature look.

When he got inside his car, he received a message from Jackson with the directions on where to go. Without wasting time and getting this over with, Jimin drove to the location that was thankfully not too far away from his current residence.

The city is filled with the holiday spirit. Not only from the handful of wins from the Olympic Winter Games, but also because the New Year is approaching. It was out of luck that the games this year was towards the end of November to December, letting the athletes spend time with their families and rest instead of just practicing all the time for the games.

After all, this year was definitely a glorious year for sporting events.

Jimin ignored it though. The flashing lights on the trees and decorated city of Christmas decorations before arriving to his destination.

And well..... There's a shit ton of people.

Great....

His annoyance piling up now, Jimin finds parking and begins to hope that no one would recognize him. Most especially dispatch. If they see him with Jackson or Nayeon alone than that would stir up so much controversy- Fuck, what did he get himself into?

Well, it's too late now.

He's already here and he can't just turn back around and risk disappointing Taemin all over again.

Sometimes Jimin hates being nice, or having a soft spot for his dear coach.

Taemin's just lucky that's all.

With an irritated huff, he only piles out of his car, putting on a black face mask, and stomps to towards the area of the event. He kept his head down, making sure to move around the people quickly while he attempts his way to look for Jackson.

It took a while, well five minutes seemed like five hours for Jimin, before he saw him standing in line with Nayeon beside him.

Unfortunately for Jimin, some people did end up recognizing him. He was polite enough to sign a few autographs and take pictures but he managed to escape it when he reached Jackson, who looked as though a weight was kicked off his shoulders the second he saw Jimin.

"And here I thought you weren't going to show up," Jackson sighs in relief, even making Nayeon twitch a cute smile in her greeting to the other man as they close into the entrance, "Ready to build some bonding exercises?"

If a nightmare were words, it would definitely be that.

This horrid dread spread through Jimin's body, not saying anything as he just waits for the line to push forward. Jackson was kind enough to pay for their entrance, maneuvering them through the crowd and finding a seat so they could put on their skates.

Jackson is a good coach, Jimin has to admit that.

Maybe that's also another reason as to why he just doesn't want to quit so easily, since Jackson has done a lot for him as it is. The first day he got him customized skates, that fitted him to utter perfection. He is patient, very hard to really anger him and best believe Jimin has tried it.

In some way it seems as though he gets Jimin, not only with the pair skating and need for a perfect partner, but also for ballet. He knew the names of warmups and positions to do while Jimin would practice, so he has knowledge on Jimin's career - or studied it just for him.

Not only that but he sends him encouraging messages to eat and hydrate every morning, trying to motivate him to get pumped up in the morning. In some way he reminds Jimin a lot of Taemin, and that definitely explains how they're friends.

They're both too kind and have a passion for the events they do, which is definitely a great support to have.

So for their sake, maybe-whatever, Jimin could give this a try.

If Jackson manages to tolerate him so much.

With wordless lips, Jimin changes to his skates and waits for Nayeon. Thankfully as they were changing, the ice was in the process of getting tidy up. So when it was done being smoothed out, the boards opened and the crowd of people were already heading into the rink.

Of course those who played hockey that were here showed off, a lot. Even a little kid was having a grand time skating past the inexperienced people clutching to the edges as they moved to the right.

When Nayeon hit the ice, she was breezing through as well, leaving Jimin behind as she adjusted herself around the area with a small smile. She looked like a little fairy, not even appearing as though she's skating but more so flying by how effortless she made it seem to be.

Meanwhile Jimin was on his own side, skating to his own pace with hands to his pocket and a cold gaze as he just follows the crowd. At first the base of his foot did aches bit and his shins were acting like a bitch, but then after a few rounds it didn't hurt so bad anymore. He only kept to his side as he avoided people speeding beside him, nearly making him lose his balance a few times.

Surprisingly though, he did catch a few familiar faces. Of course being in Jackson's program one is bound to see fellow skaters he shares the rink with. A few familiar women who are in the hockey team, along with a few other skaters from various events.

To Jimin's luck he didn't see Namjoon here, but he did catch a familiar ravenette instead.

He's coated in a warm black pea coat, followed by a white turtle neck that doesn't seem like it's suffocating his skin. Black jeans and familiar speed skates like the two males on either side of him. From behind Jimin can just see his long hair, imagining it just being brushed away from the sides to reveal his undercut like the times Jimin has seen it before during the pair skating event.

Even while being with Namjoon, Jimin never had spoken to his brother. Not like he's a social person either way and it seemed as though the brother also felt the same way, they didn't need to meet each other.

However Jimin is no fool. After that bump at the locker room, he saw the look on his face fairly well. Of course Namjoon told him about the break up and him being the sibling figure that he is hates the ex boyfriend.

Not like Jimin cares either way, he probably would be the same way too if it was to Jihyo or Taemin and they're not related to him by blood.

So indifferently Jimin just skated around the three males since they were in his way, being met by a breathless Nayeon to his side almost instantly after her warm ups. Jimin only managed to twitch a friendly smile to her since after all, she's not a bad person, but he couldn't find himself connecting to her as he wished.

If only he knew Jackson wasn't focused on them anymore, but on the ravenette haired boy skating behind them with his two friends in his side laughing with a few women hockey players popping by whenever they passed them.

Jackson observed him carefully. From his thin but muscular legs, captivating silhouette despite it not being so clear with the jacket over his body. Even his skating was perfect, not a single hesitation to every glide when at one point he raced with a hockey player around the rink and ended up winning either way.

He's absolutely captivating.

Anyone would be easily captivated by him, especially during a performance.

So Jackson glances at Jimin with Nayeon before looking at the other male, grinning widely as he sips his hot chocolate and takes out his phone.

He has the perfect idea, and this will definitely be something he won't regret.

______________________
A/N:
O.O

Ah..... This is definitely going to be something.

I'm so excited for you guys to read the chapter when they meet properly-ish

Gotta love the slow burn!

I PURPLE YOU! <33