Running Back To Him || JIKOOK ✅

1.

JIMIN

Jimin lifted the sweaty foot
ball pads from his shoulders, letting them clatter to the
floor as he slumped onto
the bench in front of him.

It had been a grueling practice
in the heat but he still
managed a contented sigh as
the cool breeze from the overhead vent in the locker
room washed over him.

The familiar sounds of
snapping towels, metal
lockers and raucous laughter soothed him in a way that nothing else could.

It was good to be back.

Back with his teammates.

Back in the locker room and
on the field, one of the few places he truly felt at home.

Back in his comfort zone.

"Jimin." The coach's gruff, booming voice interrupted
his thoughts.

"In my office."

Jimin could feel every eye in
the room settle on him as he stood up and walked across
the concrete floor to the
Head Coach's office.

They knew just as well as he
did what the topic of conversation was going to
be and judging by the stern
look on Coach Cooper's face,
the conversation was likely
to be very one-sided and distinctly unpleasant.

Poor choices and bad grades
had left him facing academic probation at the end of the last semester but he'd managed to scrape by with a grade point average that left him with a tenuous hold on his athletic scholarship and his place on
the field as the university's
best running back.

He'd hoped that if he kept his head down and worked his ass off in practice, that it would
all just be water under the bridge, and he could get a
fresh start with the new
season.

"I assume you know why I
called you in here."

Jimin nodded slowly.

So much for what he'd hoped would happen.

He had the distinct impression that he wasn't going to be allowed a fresh start until
he did some ass-kissing.

"You're an important part of
this team." He continued
leaning back in his chair
slightly as he folded his arms across his expansive chest.

"I was worried about the
way you ended the spring semester."

"I understand." Jimin said.

"But this year will be better."

"I've already been training
hard, real hard busting my
ass every day."

"On the field, in the weight
room, I'm not gonna let you down."

"Good."

"I expect that from you."

"And as one of our veteran running backs, the team looks
to you to set an example."

"We can't afford any more
fuck-ups from you."

"I don't know whether it was
the rumors that went around
last year or what threw you
off your game."

"Or what the problem was
but I expect things to be different this season."

Hearing the words out loud
made Jimin flinch a little but
he didn't look away.

He'd been mentally preparing
for this conversation and it wasn't like the coach was
saying anything that Jimin
didn't already know or
hadn't already told himself.