Work Text:
~ what is happiness, if not shared ~
The crowd roared around him, the atmosphere in the stands reaching fever pitch. Taehyung could hear the loud cheers and shouting buzzing in his ears. There was a thrum of energy going round the stadium, all spectators one in their fervour to finally know the conclusion. Because it did all come down to here, now. Taehyung joined in with them, screaming his lungs out, unable to remain seated. He leaned over the edge of the parapet in front go him and shouted whatever barely sensible motivational chant he could think of. The anticipation going around built and built like an almost tangible thing.
[45:00 + 4:21] the clock counted steadily down.
“Come on boys, you got this!!! Let’s get it!!!”
Taehyung was giving it his all, he poured his enthusiasm into his lungs. It’s the least he could do, he supposed, given his boyfriend must be doing ten times that out on the actual field. The players milled about in an intense match of back and forth, fighting against the other team’s bid for victory, the ball passing hands (feet?) between the red shirts and the blues at such a pace, that had Taehyung not been paying his utmost attention, he might have lost track of it. They were all putting their best foot forward, Taehyung could see, it was some of the best football he had seen in his long experience of going to these games. It was the final, after all, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Taehyung had a pretty good view from where he was situated at the edge of the stands, premium front row seats courtesy of his special status of being invited through a player. Taehyung often liked to joke about how he had connections and inside access.
[2-2]
The tension seemed to build and build with each passing second, reaching fever pitch, pulling everyone present to the edge of their seats or to their feet.
Jeongguk had the ball now. Taehyung would have thought his heart had stopped in that moment, could he not hear it’s incessant thundering inside his own ears, deafening even over the loud sound of the crowd around him. He watched. He prayed and he hoped and he internally screamed, but all he could do was watch.
Time didn't actually slow down, it rather seemed to speed up. One moment he could see the ball rolling by the captain’s foot as he dribbled it and the next it was bouncing around the net of the goalpost. And in that moment, Taehyung could swear his heart actually did stop. It started right back up in the next one, after that skipped beat, and Taehyung leapt. He threw his hands up in the air and joined in the enthused happy cheers of all the people around him. There were arms around him - probably Seokjin’s? - but he couldn't quite register them. The feeling of pure exhilaration raced through his veins and he let it take him over, screaming and smiling so wide his face would surely split. Belatedly he realised that he was bouncing. The whistle blew and the spectators went absolutely mad.
Out on the field the team were celebrating too, and Taehyung’s eyes automatically sought the familiar figure of their star striker. He could just about spot him from underneath all the players ruffling his hair and patting his back and giving him half hugs in a tumble of limbs and teammates. The look of pure unadulterated joy on his face was unmistakable and Taehyung was so proud. He watched as Jeongguk managed to extract himself from the messy group hug and turned toward the crowd.
Taehyung almost scoffed because he knew what Jeongguk was preparing to do - give the crowd his signature celebratory pose. But he resisted, because he was too overjoyed right now and Jeongguk had totally earned this one. Jeongguk did the thing of kissing two of his fingers, touching them to his chest and then pointing out to the surrounding people at large and the crowd went wild. The resulting din of renewed cheers was proper deafening. Taehyung laughed and clapped his hands in ecstasy, his boyfriend was such a cheeseball.
Jeongguk outstretched both his hands and did a slow turn on the spot, as if scanning the audience and dedicating his victory to each and every one of his supporters. In the next moment, however, said cheeseball’s gaze met Taehyung’s and he didn't feel so goofy anymore. A different emotion altogether overtook him, completely and suddenly. A mix of pride, joy and overwhelming love flooded him and Taehyung had the not-so-small urge to run over there and give Jeongguk a very personal congratulations of his own. If only it wasn't for the barrier separating him from he field.
Jeongguk held his gaze and in that moment it was as if he had read Taehyung’s mind for he gave him one pointed smile before, in typical Jeongguk fashion, dashing over to him. Taehyung was somehow ready but also completely unprepared for what came next.
Jeongguk halted at the edge of the stands, right in front of Taehyung, in all his sweaty, disgusting glory. Taehyung loved him so fucking much. Another cheeky grin and in a movement of practiced ease, Jeongguk gripped Taehyung’s nape and brought him forward to crash their lips together enthusiastically. Taehyung came just as willingly, bending over the offending barricade and pouring all of his feelings into the kiss that he couldn't with words right now. Everything he had always tried to tell him throughout the many years of struggle, and hard work. Early mornings and gruelling training sessions. Of self-doubt and triumphant achievements. I’m proud of you, I love you. He raised his hands to cup Jeongguk’s face tenderly. He tried to ground himself, eyes alarmingly watery, but he was just so happy right now.
Taehyung could hear the shutters of countless cameras going off around them, but he could not bring himself to care. So what if they hadn't been out to the world yet - as gay, let alone as a couple. He knew there was a media team for this exact reason, he was sure they could handle it. It didn't matter right now. This wasn't even about a statement or about what it meant for anyone apart from themselves right now. This was about them, the moment was purely theirs, celebrating a momentous victory with the person they loved the most. Nothing mattered right then apart from the shared joy that was coursing through their connected bodies.
Jeongguk smiled against his lips, tilting his head the other way to kiss him a bit more. Taehyung could tell, knew from experience, that it was the smug kind. He felt Jeongguk’s other arm tightening around his waist, and all he could pay attention to was the way his lips felt against his own, the way he felt wrapped up in his lover. He was just so happy. Now it truly felt like a win.