Chapter Text
The rink was supposed to be empty.
Taehyung counted on it, relies on it actually. This silence at midnight on the ice belonged to him. He was alone, the ice was smooth and untouched. There was no one there to watch or judge him closely.
The cold seeped into his bones as he laced his skates, fingers moving with practiced efficiency. No hesitation, just familiar motion
The moment his blades touched the ice, the world narrowed to breath and balance. The lights overhead buzzed softly as he pushed off, gliding into the center, letting muscle memory take over. As the music played, he jumped and turned. His body obeyed even when his mind refused to rest.
It was only when laughter echoed through the rink that he faltered.
Taehyung stopped completely, heart dropping and thinking "Hockey Players".
He thought "at this hour, its makes no sense, why are they here"
Soon group of them clustered near the benches, gear half-off, loud and careless in the way people were when they believed they owned a space. The sharp scent of alpha flooded the air, it wasn't aggressive, but present enough to make Taehyung's shoulders tense instinctively.
He thought "great, what now"
He considered leaving. He should leave. But exhaustion settled heavy in his limbs, and the thought of going home of unanswered calls and sharp voices and reminders of everything he owed made his chest tighten.
He didn't want to deal with that so, he decided to stay. He retreated to the far end of the rink, skating harder, sharper, forcing himself back into rhythm. He refused to look at them again. He didn't notice at first when the laughter and talking quieted.
Jungkook stopped what he was doing and noticed someone in the rink. He'd been halfway through unstrapping his pads when he saw the skater land a jump so clean it knocked the breath from his lungs. The guy barely made a sound when his blade kissed the ice again no skid, no stumble. Just silence.
One of the team members said " Who's that?"
Jungkook didn't answer.
He thought there was something off about him. Not that he was weak or uncertain. If anything, it was the opposite. The skater moved like someone holding himself together with sheer will, every motion too controlled, too precise. Like if he stopped, even for a second, something would crack.
Jungkook stood there watching, almost mesmerizing. When the skater finally fell, it wasn't dramatic. Just a fraction of a second too slow on the landing, a slip of the blade. He went down hard, breath knocked clean from his body.
Jungkook snapped out of his daze, was on his feet before he realized and called out to him.
"Hey," he called, voice cutting across the ice. "You okay?"
The skater looked up, eyes sharp and guarded, already pushing himself upright.
"I'm fine," he said quickly.
His voice was calm. Too calm.
Jungkook nodded, stepping back without argument. He recognized the look, he wore it himself sometimes. The "don't help me, don't see me" look.
As Taehyung skated away, forcing his body back into motion, he felt the weight of that gaze settle between his shoulder blades.
An alpha's attention. Not hungry. Not demanding.
Just... steady.
And for the first time that night, the ice beneath his feet felt thinner than before.
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Main Characters:
Kim Taehyung - 24, Omega -- Olympic Gold Medalist Figure Skater: Known for elegance, precision, and control, The only omega (closeted to the public) in a family of alphas/betas, Emotionally neglected and financially exploited by his family, Craves Love
Jeon Jungkook - 27, Alpha -- Professional Hockey Player : Powerful, aggressive play style on the ice, Quiet, observant, and gentle off the ice, Comes from a supportive, loving family