Nervous - The Neighbourhood

"You?! Figure skating?! No fucking way. Coach really is losing his mind."

Jeongguk is back in the dorm now, sitting on the couch in the living room with a computer on his lap as he reviews over his previous performance from practice; Seeing how he can improve from here on out until practices start again.

While he was at it, Karma and Taehyung just so happen to be here watching My Hero Academia on the tv while Minho was somewhere in the kitchen to get something to eat. Woosung was also here just laying on Jeongguk's shoulder while he scrolls through social media on his phone, sucking on a lollipop with wide doe eyes staring at the screen.

Everyone else is just scattered all over the place that Jeongguk can't really pin point where they are. He was too focused on watching his skating while also informing the rest here of his interesting morning. Well he signed and Woosung vocally translated, which resulted with Minho squeaking a laugh from the kitchen after saying his commentary.

This made Taehyung whirl his gaze back to glare at Minho's back, lips trembling to try not to stutter with his broken Korean, "What's problem with figure skating?"

Karma only places a hand on his twin's shoulder to ease him down. It did work because Taehyung only rolled his eyes and looks at Jeongguk, a shy smile on his lips, "Solo skating? Pair skating?"

The ravenette snaps his eyes away from his video, pausing it to put his focus on Taehyung, nodding back to his question. Small glitters of excitement filled his orbs, the brightest smile on his lips twitching broadly, "So exciting! You agreed?"

Remembering how this morning went by only made him twitch a deeper frown, relaxing his shoulders a bit before shaking his head. This made Taehyung's smile deflate, lips parted in confusion and shock at once, "What? Why? Are you not free-

"Because he's smart that's why."

Jeongguk could immediately see the spark of annoyance flashing Taehyung's eyes, even making his eyelid twitch when he heard Minho's voice as the skater jumps over the sofa and sits beside Karma with a mug of ice cream. When he found himself adjusted to his seat, he looks up at Jeongguk while pointing the spoon stained with chocolate syrup at him.

"If you were to participate, they will start to call you a little princess fairy. Worse if it's with a guy you're going to be throwing into the air. One wrong move and you're cut."

Well..... He's not wrong.

However Jeongguk wasn't even given the chance to respond because Taehyung snaps his head towards him, "Liar! They don't call me a princess fairy!"

Minho flickers his eyes to him just as he shoves a spoon full of cookie dough ice cream into his mouth, blinking with a scowl, "Mind your business! This is a team business here, scoot away."

"Don't tell me what to do! I.... I figure skate! Good experience!"

"Talk to me when your Korean isn't so difficult for me to understand."

Now this forced Karma to snap his head to Minho, a murderous grim look in his eyes, "Watch your fucking mouth!"

But it was already too late. There were tears glittering in Taehyung's eyes, lips wobbling into a small pout to how much Minho's words hurt his heart. It's not his fault his French accent gets in the way that makes it difficult to understand, or that it's sometimes hard for him to communicate words.

He does try...

So with a heart cracking Taehyung shoots up from the sofa, grabs his jacket and storms out the front door while slamming it shut behind him.

Jeongguk stares off to where he left, able to sympathize with his pain because he's received similar backlash like that before from people. His teammates were kind enough to him to never find his speech difficulties a problem, that's why it was a bit shocking that Minho snapped at Taehyung the way he did.

Then again, it's no surprise that they would go at each other's necks like this all the time. They truly can't stand each other, and it's almost like this pulse that makes them get aggressively angry with each other.

Some say that Taehyung developed feelings for his ice skating partner, Seulgi, but she instead fell for Minho and the two have been at each other's heads since then. Karma just says that their personalities are different, and they can never get along no matter what they do.

However in this case, Karma lays back on the couch with arms crossed, glaring at Minho, "I'm done putting excuses for you. I will give you five seconds to get your ass off this couch and apologize."

Minho scoffs with a dreaded look on his face, about to refuse to get up until his eyes met with Jeongguk's gaze. The clear disappointment is on the youngest face, mouthing a quiet please for him to go. No one can really resist Jeongguk in the team, especially when he looks upset.

That's why with a heavy sigh, Minho puts his mug of ice cream on the coffee table and sluggishly grabs his jacket before walking out of the dorm and slamming it shut behind him.

They know nothing will really change even if he does apologize, but at least Taehyung will get a bit of closure? Maybe?

Whatever, at least it's better than having Karma beating him up and ending up stopping a fight.

Speaking of Karma, clearly he's heaving in frustration to what happened. So he gets up to his feet, muttering something about sleeping his annoyance away before going off into his room and slamming the door shut behind him; Leaving Jeongguk with his mind still in a mess to decide what he's going to do.

He hoped mentioning this situation will end up giving him some sort of clarity from different opinions, but instead he's left in a horrid disaster in his head.

Marvelous.

"So, Park Jimin huh?" Woosung hums under his breath, locking his phone and shoving it aside before reaching for Jeongguk's laptop, "Let's check him out."

That sounded a bit weird but Jeongguk didn't stop him from looking up Jimin to see his performances. What started off as one clip video ended up flying by to multiple clips, watching him dance with both men and women on various occasions, forming sharp movements yet elegant gestures that was almost as though he was telling a powerful story with every move. What was fascinating about his performances is how he was dancing in pointe shoes, which from what Jeongguk has seen most females would wear it when they performance.

Is it a gender thing?

If it is then wow, good for him for breaking through the stereotypical norms.

They even came across an interview, to which he was explaining why he started dancing and how hard it was for him growing up. Apparently he was raised by a very low class family and he got into the academy he did because of a scholarship that he earned after he sneaked into an audition.

Jeongguk narrowed his eyes as the man, who had silver hair in this time, was asked about his variety of roles he's done in his career. Maybe the question sounded a bit judgemental in regards to his feminine roles rather than sticking to a masculine role since he's a man. The question clearly nudged Jimin's confidence a bit, it was quiet obvious by the unease way he rolled his shoulders and how his lips pursed to hold back his tongue.

Maybe he did grow a bit stiff, but his elegance was still a powerful shield to hide all those emotions from the camera.

"Why, I don't see how me being a man restricts me from doing other roles as well, such as a female lead or a role which involves me taking a more feminine style. You see, I feel like us as human beings should have the right to try or express ourselves however pleases us, and if I feel like doing the characters that I do," And he pauses, make shifting a tight smile, "Then you should mind your damn business and not stick your nose into my decisions, sir."

The interview ends there, now leaving both Jeongguk and Woosung awestruck to what they just saw.

Not only is Jimin amazingly talented with his dancing, but he has a very versatile mindset. He's not entitled to the toxic masculinity that society praises men to carry, and makes sure to voice it out as well without a filter to cover it up.

It's a powerful part of his character, something that Jeongguk will never have the courage to speak up about because he does care about how the world views him as.

Even if he doesn't want to.

"He's so inspiring," Woosung mumbles under his breath, now watching his performance in the Swan Lake, "I don't know Jeongguk.... I feel like you should take on this offer to pair skate with him. You may never know, you could probably learn a thing or two."

Jeongguk didn't say anything, only lays his cheek against the crown of Woosung's head as he watches Jimin dance. There's no doubt that he can learn something from the other man, but it's the fact that he's Namjoon's ex that's a bit of a problem, and it shapes a lot of Jeongguk's judgment towards him. Already they can't stand each other on a leveled ground, especially with Jimin's sharp tongue to express his thoughts and Jeongguk's low patience for someone who can't meet him half way through.

Pair skating could possibly serve as good therapy, yes, but.... It's just so new. There's a lot to consider.

That's why.... He knows exactly what he must do in order to make a decision.

He's going to have to find some way to communicate with Jimin face to face.

There's cry baby tears streaming down Taehyung's cheeks when he pushes the main door out of the speed skating dormitory building, being faced with the frosty snow of the winter weather. Thankfully there's no one here to see the mess he's in right now or hear his hiccupping breathes stumbling out of his wet lips as he moves down the small parking lot to his car.

Stupid Minho.

He always has to say something that just crushes Taehyung on the inside somehow.

Obviously he doesn't try to take it to the heart because he knows better, but Minho's words still hurt.

Of course it does since it's directed towards one of Taehyung's biggest insecurities, and it doesn't help that he does try to get better but it just seems like it doesn't work out or his efforts aren't being noticed.

That hurts. It really does, especially for Taehyung's sensitive heart.

Annoyedly Taehyung rubs his tears away with his cold hands just as he reaches his car, but the second he was going to open the driver door a hand press against it to stop him.

And his anger fired up, "Karma I do not want to hear it-"

"Taehyung."

Almost instantly Taehyung's heart dropped upon hearing the familiar voice, slowly moving his gaze from the car and to Minho, who's staring back at him with a stern look on his face. It made him a little weak seeing him standing there, not to mention how he looks so pathetic to the obvious look that he was crying.

No, he's not about to do this right now.

Closing his eyes to gather his composure, he mutters, "Get out my way Minho."

"I didn't mean that Taehyung-"

"Well that shit hurt okay!" Taehyung explodes out, his eyes blurred with more tears that even his face began to scrunch up, "Now excuse me so I can drive home-"

Suddenly Minho grabs Taehyung's wrist and drags him back to the building. Taehyung was too busy wiping away his tears and trying hard not to cause a scene in this urge to fight him as Minho lead him far to the side of the building, taking a turn to go into a dead end but luckily there's no people or cameras so they could speak privately.

Minho walks farther down so the darkness can swallow more their bodies before turning around and places his hands on Taehyung's shoulders. Abruptly from one moment to the next Taehyung is pressed up aggressively against the brick wall, not even having time to recover from it because Minho's hands are on his jaw and he possessively slams their lips together.

That angering pit of fire in Taehyung's heart bursts into something more calmer yet passionate, an effect that he had no control but to feel so deep in his soul. The pit of his stomach whirls in thumps, forcing his skin to crawl with goosebumps to the aggressive yet much needed act to their deprive for physical contact.

It was hard to resist, it truly was and Taehyung found it difficult to even pull away, but Minho did to stare at Taehyung in the eyes.

His gaze much more softer than how it usually is.

"I'm sorry..... I really am," Minho weakly whispers, the sincerely drooling out of his tone, "I got too carried away with the situation and had to make it believable-"

"I know okay, I know," Taehyung whispers out, still gathering his breath, "Just..... Be less..... Mean. It hurts my feeling. I know this thing is to keep cover but.... Be careful please."

Minho frown deepens, giving Taehyung a much more tender peck on his lips, "I will baby, I promise. Don't worry, your Korean is great! It's just..... The more they think we hate each other, the less they'll suspect you know? But I did cross the line and I'm truly sorry."

It's hard being mad at Minho, especially since Taehyung knows that he's this way with him in public in order to protect each other's imagine. To protect each other in a more literal sense because who knows how much to extreme measure people will go to separate them, and it would literally kill Minho if something were to happen to Taehyung.

That's why Taehyung understands, staring between Minho's eyes before leaning to clasp their lips together once again in a longing kiss that they haven't shared in weeks.

Five months have they been together, in this secret relationship from the world. While everyone thought Minho was with Seulgi, he was in reality seeing Taehyung the entire time. Taehyung's skating partner knows about them, the only person who knows really, and has kept it a secret within herself. She's actually the one that came up with the idea to announce how her and Minho are dating instead, just as a cover to what is truly going on.

No one suspects anything whenever they're together because everyone knows Taehyung as Seulgi's skating partner, so it wasn't questioned so much when the three would be together. However to built a more firm cover, Taehyung and Minho decided to portray a hatred towards each other, reducing any suspicious completely from the eyes of the public and from their friends.

It's hard. It's hard not being able to go out or do something together just like any other couple, but they don't have another choice. They struggle often whenever they have to be rude to each other in front of their friends, but they still find ways to communicate it through somehow to ease the pain.

It's worth it, they know it is deep down inside, that's why they're still trying to be together.

The severity of this situation is so serious that not even Karma knows about it, but of course him being Taehyung's twin there's no doubt he suspects something, whether it's bad or good. It's something Taehyung will never speak about with anyone, no matter if it's his brother.

No one can know about this, ever.

So that's why Taehyung gently pulls away, his lips tugging to a deep frown as he raises his shakily hand after he realizes that their time is up, and Minho has to go back inside to avoid suspicion

"I'm sorry..... Have to look real."

Minho glances between Taehyung and his hand, nodding slowly and closes his eyes as he embraces himself.

A loud smack echoes the walls, followed by Minho's face flying to the side and a surprised gasp to escape his lips by the aching sting against his skin. Even Taehyung's hand burned, realizing just how hard he really did hit him.

Taehyung's heart squeezed tighter to the broken pieces, gently reaching over with a muffled sob escaping his lips and presses a multiple soft kisses against the place he hit Minho, "I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry babe, I'm sorry."

That was all he said before moving from against the wall, hands shoved in his pocket as he walks back towards the light of the world outside these walls.

Without turning back to make sure if Minho was okay.

_________________________
A/N:
Well..... Seems like tension is rising.....

Ha a little plot twist with Taehyung's character huh? Let's see how long they can keep this secret for!

I PURPLE YOU! <33