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Minho had read once that the secret to a healthy relationship was having novel experiences with your partner. Trying new things, eating new foods, travelling to new locations, all these things create memories with your partner, and allow you to learn and grow together.
Right now, sitting outside in the cold while his boyfriend helps him put on a pair of skates, Minho wants to strangle whoever wrote that with the laces.
Jisung had been the one to propose the idea of going skating together, and Minho had agreed because he seemed so excited and thought it would be fun for the two of them to stumble around the ice together.
But then Jisung showed up at Minho’s apartment with a pair of skates (that he apparently owned?) along with a spare pair for him (seriously how many skates did he own??). He had been so happy he had a pair in Minho’s size, insisting they couldn’t trust the quality of rental skates, and this way they both had the same type of blade. Minho hadn’t even realized there were different types of skate blades.
Some quick googling has informed him that the skates Jisung has just finished putting on for him are figure skates, and they have a flat blade with spikes on the front. Minho hasn’t figured out what the spikes are for yet. Figure skating has never struck him as a very aggressive sport.
Minho watches Jisung, on his knees in front of him, efficiently lacing his skate. His fingers move with such ease it was clear he’s done this countless times before. There’s a slight furrow between his brows as he focuses, but he still looks up at Minho occasionally as he checks to make sure they’re not tied too tight.
Finally, Jisung stands up, a bit taller than usual since he’s already wearing his own skates, and admires his handiwork. “Ok, how do they feel? Tight anywhere? Can you wiggle your toes?”
Minho tests it and finds that he can in fact wiggle his toes. “Not tight. I think they’re ok.”
“Here, let me help you up,” Jisung offers his hand, and Minho takes it. He’s glad he does, because his balance is already thrown off by the skates. Jisung notices him wobble, and smiles. “Yeah, it takes some getting used to. It’s a bit like walking in heels.”
Minho raises an eyebrow. “How often do you think I wear heels?”
“Oh, uhh. It’s like walking in platforms, then?”
Minho takes a tentative step forward, getting used to the new way of walking. “No you’re right, it’s more like heels.”
Jisung makes an indignant sound and Minho laughs, walking awkwardly to the door to the rink. Jisung puts a hand on his shoulder before he can step onto the ice.
“Here, let me go first so I can help you on.”
“Oh perfect, that way we can both fall together.” Minho says, dry.
Jisung laughs and steps onto the ice. “I haven’t skated in a while, give me a second to warm up.”
“I’ll be here.”
Jisung smiles and skates off with a “Skrrt!”
Minho waves him off, not rushing to embarrass the two of them. There are a couple of families with toddlers on the ice, parents holding their kids and encouraging them to take big steps. One child falls, and Minho is expecting to hear crying, but the girl just giggles as her mother picks her up and sets her back on her feet.
He’s so distracted by this he doesn’t realize Jisung has skated away until he’s halfway across the ice. He’s moving in long, confident strides, easily maneuvering around other people and giving them plenty of space. A few seconds later and he’s completed his lap. He comes to a hard stop in front of Minho, enough that a spray of ice manages to get onto Minho’s borrowed skates.
“Ready to go?” Jisung asks casually. Like Minho’s view of him hasn’t completely flipped upside down.
“What the hell was that?”
Jisung looks confused. “Skating?”
“Why are you so good at it?”
“I mean, I’m not. That’s just basic forward skating, I’ll show you how to do it. I can try to teach you how to stop too, but I’m still working on mine.”
Nothing about what Jisung just did seems very basic to Minho, but he shrugs it off. If Jisung and the parents and the toddlers can skate, so can he.
With that confidence, Minho takes his first step onto the ice.
And immediately begins sliding.
He knew the ice would be slippery, and that was kind of the point, but he wasn’t expecting to feel so out of control so fast. He’s holding onto the wall like a lifeline. As much as he jokes, he doesn't actually want to take Jisung down with his terrible skating.
“Oh Minho, your-” Jisung begins.
Minho ignores him in favour of trying to get his second foot on the ice. Surely once he has both his feet planted he’ll get his balance back and be able to at least stand on his own.
He’s wrong. His second skate also slides right out from under him, and Minho loses his grip on the wall and lands on his butt on the ice with a soft thwump.
Well. That could’ve gone better. Minho knew he was new to skating, but he wasn’t expecting to fall within the first ten seconds. He looks up at Jisung in betrayal. “I fell.”
Jisung, to his credit, looks like he’s trying really hard not to laugh. “I can see that, baby.” He kneels down on the ice next to Minho and grabs his skate, pulling off a piece of plastic that was covering the blade. “Kinda hard to skate with guards on.”
Minho blinks at him. “Why would you wear those if they just make it hard to skate?”
Jisung takes the other one off as well. “Well you’re not actually supposed to wear them while skating. They just keep the blades safe off ice. I’m sorry, I forgot to take them off for you.”
“You’re trying to kill me.”
“Yep. You caught me. Everything in this relationship has been leading up to this moment where I try to kill you by… leaving your skate guards on?”
“By letting me freeze to death on this ice. Can I stand up now?”
Jisung quickly gets up from kneeling and offers Minho his hand. After a minute of not so graceful maneuvering on Minho’s part, he manages to stand properly on his skates this time. Jisung is holding both his hands, and Minho is leaning heavily on him, but he’s standing and that’s all that matters.
The position has left their faces very close together, and Jisung meets his eyes with a bit of concern. “Are you ok? We don’t have to do this, if you really don’t want to. We can just meet Chan and Felix later for dinner instead.”
Minho glares back and tightens his grip. “I will not be shown up by a toddler in a pink snowsuit.”
Jisung’s face splits into a wide grin. “That’s the spirit, babe.” He gives Minho a warm kiss on the nose.
Five minutes later, Jisung has managed to teach Minho how to stand without sliding, and how to move. Very slowly.
“I look like a penguin.” Minho whines, taking slow steps that look a bit too similar to how the toddlers are moving.
“You say that like penguins aren’t experts at walking on ice.” Jisung replies patiently. He’s still letting Minho hold onto his hands, and is letting himself get slowly pushed backwards as he walks. Or waddles.
It takes almost ten minutes for them to complete a lap around the ice. Minho is so focused on not falling he doesn’t realize until he hears cheers from off-ice.
“Go Minho! You got this!” Felix’s voice calls out.
Minho looks up and- sure enough, there’s Felix and Chan watching him. They were the only ones who were free to join them today, and Minho was relieved he wouldn’t be the only beginner among them today.
Apparently it’s taken him so long to finish his lap with Jisung that both Chan and Felix have their skates on, and go to step onto the ice. To Minho’s horror, both of them immediately start skating around with the same grace Jisung has.
“How the hell do they know how to skate, Australia doesn’t even get snow!” Minho exclaims.
“Some parts do. Also, indoor rinks exist. Chan used to play hockey. No idea about Felix, but he has so many random hobbies I wouldn’t be surprised if he did figure skating as a kid or something.”
Minho glares at him. “Do any of our other friends have huge secrets they’ve been keeping from us this whole time?”
“I think Hyunjin is planning on asking out Jeongin, but with how obvious those two are I don’t think it counts as a secret.”
“About time.” Minho lets go of Jisung to stand and stretch his back, feeling pleased he can do so on his own. “Let me try to walk without you for a bit. I want to show off in front of the toddlers.”
Jisung laughs. “Alright. I’m right here.”
Sure enough, Jisung stays within arms reach the entire way around the ice. Felix and Chan pass by a few times, calling out encouragement. One of the parents even smiles reassuringly when Minho makes accidental eye contact.
Minho tries to switch from walking to gliding steps, the way he sees the rest of his friends skate, but it’s awkward. The feeling of sliding is just so foreign to him, and he has to grab Jising’s arm to steady himself a few times.
“You’re doing good, babe. Really good for your first time. It’s been like twenty minutes and you’re already gliding a little!” Jisung says.
Minho huffs. “How are you not falling? I’ve seen you trip up stairs. I watched you slip on an actual banana peel once!”
“Ok first of all that was Seungmin’s fault for leaving it on the ground. Second, ice is supposed to be slippery, so once you get used to it it’s really natural.”
“Still waiting for it to feel natural. I’m too SLOW!”
Jisung smiles, eyes shining a little brighter. “Want me to pull you?”
Minho narrows his eyes. Jisung looks a little too excited at the idea. “Do I? Is that something I want, Han Jisung?”
“I’ll go slow! All you have to do is hold on to me and I’ll do all the work.”
“For once.” Minho mutters under his breath.
“Hey!”
Minho ignores Jisung’s protests in favour of grabbing both his hands. “Like this?”
“Yeah, just keep your toes pointing forward. Like that, perfect. Alright here we go!”
Jisung begins skating backwards slowly, letting Minho get used to the feeling of being pulled. It’s strange at first, but he quickly adjusts. Jisung gradually begins speeding up, glancing back to ensure he doesn’t run into anybody while also remaining alert to Minho.
God he’s so attractive. Minho thinks to himself.
Jisung catches his eye. “Are you drooling over me because I know how to skate backwards?”
“Says the one who asked me out immediately at the first performance of mine you ever saw.”
“It was a really good dance!”
“You asked for my number before my name!”
Jisung pouts. “It worked out didn’t it?”
“It sure did. I get free skating lessons from a cute boy.”
Jisung smiles, and Minho can’t help but lean in as much as he dares. Jisung seems to understand what he wants, carefully closing the distance and giving Minho a quick peck on the lips. It isn’t enough, but it’s about all they can risk considering Minho is still a bit unsteady on his skates.
“Gay!” Felix calls out, skating by hand in hand with Chan.
“You’re one to talk, yaoi on ice!” Jisung retorts.
Felix and Minho laugh, and Chan smiles, though he looks a bit embarrassed.
“Don’t be annoying, there are other people here.” Chan says, his ears a bit red.
Felix pulls him closer. “Alright fine. Let’s go be gay somewhere else.”
“Please don’t say it like that,” they hear Chan reply.
Minho and Jisung watch them go with a laugh, before Jisung turns his attention back to pulling Minho.
It’s nice, and he feels secure holding his partners hands. But it’s not enough.
“Can I try for a bit by myself?”
Jisung tilts his head in confusion, before seeing the determination in Minho’s eyes. He’s doing fine, but Minho has never been one to half ass anything.
“Of course. I’ll stay close to you.”
“No, don't. I want to do it myself.”
Jisung smiles wide, and that alone makes this whole day worth it, even with his aching feet and cold nose.
“I’ll just watch you from-“
“Go bother Felix.”
Jisung doesn’t need to be told twice, giving Minho’s hands one last squeeze before racing off towards Felix.
Minho looks away, focused on his own task, though he does hear Felix shriek and laughter from both Jisung and Chan.
One foot at a time. Minho bends his knees and tries to push back the way he saw Jisung and the others. It’s wobbly, but he actually manages to gain some momentum. He adds another push, then another, and soon he’s gliding at a respectable pace. It’s… fun. He plays around with building speed and then gliding, letting the skates do the work carrying him forward. He knows he doesn’t look nearly as graceful as Felix or Jisung, or even Chan, but he’s satisfied.
The trio look overjoyed as Minho manages to catch up to them. Jisung offers a hand, but Minho firmly waves him off.
“Is this really your first time, Minho? You’re doing really well.” Chan says warmly.
“Shut up I’m trying to focus.” Minho replies. They laugh, but he’s only half joking.
“My amazing talented boyfriend can do anything he sets his mind to. He’ll be better than I am by the end of the day.”
Minho knew he was bound to fall eventually, but his timing is truly incredible.
As he brings his foot back to the ice, he feels the spikes on his toes catch, throwing him off balance.
He’s lucky he decided not to take Jisung’s hand, because both his arms are free to fly forward and lessen the impact. The breath is knocked out of him for a moment, but that’s more because of the shock than the impact of hitting the ice.
It’s cold, and Minho lies there for a second. The others are clearly worried, as they surround him, Jisung dropping to his knees instantly.
“Shit- babe you ok? Fuck, I should’ve told you to be careful of your toepicks, I should’ve just gotten you hockey skates- I’m sorry- are you laughing?”
Minho has flipped over onto his back, looking up at the bright blue sky and taking deep cold breaths of air. He catches sight of the little girl, sitting on a bench off ice. She must’ve seen him fall, because she’s giggling and clapping her hands. And Minho feels himself laughing along with her.
Jisung looks concerned, but as he realizes Minho is ok he breathes a sigh of relief. “Come on, I’ll help you up.”
“I think that’s enough skating for me.”
“Me too. Come on, I’ll get you a hot chocolate.” Jisung says, helping him step off the ice.
“No it’s ok, I have something sweeter in mind.” Minho smiles, pulling him in for a kiss.
Standing under the weak winter sun covered in snow, Minho swears he’s never felt warmer.