#take my acl please i don't need it

[bluesandboos]

everything's going to be fine because xavi tore his acl and came back better and stronger and they have similar sounding names and wear the same number and by the time he's back, he'll take a year to build endurance to play two times a week so he'll be older and better able to take the load instead being a literal child and then-

#take my acl please i don't need it #the football governing bodies #you are ruining this sport and running players into the ground #and for WHAT #to line their pockets #im in shambles and im not even trying to be overdramatic #i can't even bring myself to care about how the season is gonna turn out #this is all just a vicious cycle #they increase the number of games #players start getting injured #clubs get desperate and turn to their young talent in their academies #or buying youth #they play #at fcb they'll make a splash bc we're in the business of spawning wonderkids #they play more #because why not they're good right? #their national team notices and they get called up #they play more and more and more #especially if the club is doing well and they're settling in more #and as the sport progresses and advances #players are more talented on average they get more marketable #the sport gets more marketable #and i guess that means more games because who cares what the players say #and at this point they'v 100s of games by the age of 18 #they've become an undisputed starter #the team is dependent on them #and they're literal kids so their body can't take it #and then they get injured #and whoop suddenly we need to return the academy and it starts again #gavi

[girlgenius1111]

masterlist wips last updated march 25

alexia putellas

a cure for frustration p1 make it better p2 -smut

do you want my attention? -smut

do you need me? p1 just admit it p2

tease p1 tease p2 -smut

love you anyway p1 i love you... it's all i can think p2 let me show you p3-smut

trying to be cool about it p1 we don’t have to talk about it p2 i can't hide from you like i hide from myself p3

waiting room p1 she’ll be the best you ever had if you let her p2

didn't mean to forget you

something isn’t right, babe

give you my sunshine, give you my best

got love struck went straight to my head p1 what if all i need is you p2 smut

who could stay?

talk more

didn't think that through smut

birthdays are supposed to have surprises p1 i'll be whatever you need p2

stuck with me

echoes of her

you come back with gravity

miscommunications + conversations

say it again smut

rather be anyone else

please smut please part 2

i always know what you need smut putellas!reader

when i break, it's in a million pieces chap 1 shining just for you chap 2 all i do is try, try, try chap 3

young, drunk, and alone

i'll make it through the winter if it kills me p1 i'll angel in the snow until i'm worthy p2

ona batlle

you don't have to pretend with me

that night was a mistake

that night was a mistake

is this a mistake too? [smut]

i want to be here.

pay for your crimes

the great war

sweet dream was over

it was war it wasn't fair

burning embers

maybe it's the past that's talking... screaming from the crypt

we will never go back

claudia pina

resistance & persistence

always will

misa rodriguez

to the brink

no one speaks to you like that

snapped snapped p2

jenni hermoso

homecoming

cata coll

prove yourself

leah williamson

ACL tear #4, ACL couple #2 p1 matching injuries, matching fits p2 you could see the best of me p3 smut

leila ouahabi

can she make you feel like I do? smut

patri guijarro

like you mean it p1 i know you can p2 smut

ingrid engen

i wake up screaming from dreaming

engen!reader solstråle engen - family line

all that i did to try to undo it

all of my pain and all your excuses

ingrid engen x mapí león x reader

don't doubt us

always want you

you aren’t a chore…

all the same

alexia putellas x jenni hermoso x misa rodríguez x reader [aka the orgy fic]

just let go

chapter 1

chapter 2

chapter 3

chapter 4

barca femeni x reader

you can let it go p1. you talk of the pain like it's all alright p2. you can start a family who will always show you love p3. one step forward and three steps back p4.

don't tell Leah

pop back up p1 key to recovery p2

i can take care of myself

no one should be alone on christmas

worry about them p1 learn your lesson p2

always enough for us

don't you trust me?

wrong.

adrenaline junkie p1 with a high comes a crash p2 aftershocks p3 crumbling under pressure p4

i don't know why i am the way i am

you can face this

screaming underwater p1 wavin' from the shore p2

arsenal wfc x reader

i could change up my body and change up my face

don't let this darkness fool you

you can’t keep secrets from us

who I write for

alexia putellas

ona batlle

mapi leon

ingrid engen

mariona caldentey

patri guijarro

claudia pina

leah williamson

alessia russo

leila ouahabi

jenni hermoso

misa rodriguez

jana fernandez

I would say that this isn't like a full list because I feel like i'm forgetting people, but also just ask, i'll probably write for a lot of people unless I don't feel like I know their personality at all.

#woso imagine #woso x reader #barcelona femeni x reader #ona batlle x reader #alexia putellas x reader #alexia putellas #ona batlle #arsenal wfc x reader #leah williamson x reader

[queen-of-reptiles]

𝚃𝙸𝙼𝙴 𝚃𝙾 𝙶𝙾

description: In reader's last game of her career, her wife and team make sure she understands how loved she really is

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vicky losada x female reader

disclaimer: I am in now way saying vicky is bi-sexual or lesbian, this is all fiction

warnings: language, bad google translations as per usual!

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y/n just posted

liked by losada_vicky, lucybronze and 298, 374 others

y/n spooky season... 👻

view all 11, 238 comments

username1: she is so pretty kill me now! 🙀🙀

username2: HOW CAN YOU LOOK LIKE THAT 😳😳

username3: love love love it!

losada_vicky: Jesus, I am a lucky woman... 🤯

^

y/n: proud to wear Losada on my back baby ! 🩷

username4: UGHHHHHH

username5: PLEASE MA'AM 🔥🔥

username6: Break me like a glowstick I beg

^

y/n: ya'll need to touch grass oml 🤨

^

username6: OMG OMG ❤️❤️

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Twitter/X

username1: I don't know if I can take it today - I cannot believe it 😭😭

^

username2: I am going to miss her so much.

^

username3: She is only 33, why do you think she is retiring? 😶

^

username4: She was really badly injured during her second world cup, her ACL tore, cracked two ribs and gave herself a dent in her skull, so...

^

username3: well, then that makes sense...

username5: I am so used to seeing her, I am going to miss her so much! 😭❤️

username6: I AM GOING TO CRY THEIR FUCKING STORIES GOD NO ❤️

see more comments...

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When the whistle blew, y/n couldn't believe it, the air was pulled from her lungs and as her teamed cheered in relief from the win, a tear dropped down her cheek at the idea of leaving for real this time.

Her wife wrapped an arm around her and the team swarmed her soon enough, a lot of people crying as they enjoyed a last group hug with their captain of four years.

As they pulled away, y/n looked out at the crowd who were screaming, cheering, waving Brighton Flags for her, and she laughed tearfully and waved out at them in thanks.

"Right." Vicky's voice echoes a microphone held in her hand.

"My wife has given a lot of her life to Brighton, and she honestly loves everything about this club, the players, the staff and especially the fans. I love this club because of her." Vicky says.

The crowd aww's at that, and y/n smiles sadly as she watches her wife who was looking around, proudly talking about the one she called her own.

"She may be retiring, but y/n Losada will be remembered for years as the best Brighton, fan, player and Captain because she has changed so many lives in the course of her own." Vicky finishes.

The crowd erupts at that, cheers showing such agreement to Vicky's speech that the captain covered hr face and took a deep breath, trying to stop from bursting into tears.

A microphone was somehow passed to her, and y/n shook her head, but the chants of 'speech speech speech' were telling her she was over-ruled.

"Um, wow, where to start?" She asks. "First of all, I came through the Brighton academy and played on a senior pitch at the age of 16. I am now 33, and after a brief few years at Barcelona, am honoured to have done my final game here." y/n begins, the crowd cheering for her.

"I am so grateful to every fantastic person on this team, in this club and in this crowd. Because you have made my job the easiest thing in the world." y/n smiles, her wife chuckling and wiping a tear.

"My wife is crying, though I wish she wouldn't because we both know, if I play any longer, I will be sewn back together with how many injuries I have got." y/n laughs, her hand coming up to cup her wife's face lovingly.

"I won't say much more, but thank you for your support, thank you for your love, you will all always have mine. Thank you Brighton and Thank you football. See you around!" y/n finishes and the crowd bursts into cheers.

Two loud bangs happen and y/n jumps before laughing in shock at the fireworks that had been set off from the stadium, the officials giving her a proper goodbye as people cheered.

"y/n! y/n! y/n! y/n! y/n!!" The crowd cheered, repeating her name over and over while the Brighton team piled on her one last time. y/n knew she'd enjoy being a wag, but she would miss football.

Vicky wrapped an arm around her, pressing her lips to her lover's temple as the woman sighed and relaxed in her hold, finding comfort in her wife's warmth.

"I know my love, I know." Vicky promises.

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y/n just posted

liked by, losada_vicky, brightonfc and 429, 736 others

y/n

Words cannot express the pain I have saying goodbye, football has given me a family, several teams, a wife and so much love.

I may be hurting, but I heard you all and I am so thankful for you, and the happiness you gave me tonight and always shall never be matched!

Thank you all so much, I have had such a fantastic time in this career. I will see you all soon, when I am fulfilling my WAG duties!

All my love

y/n Losada xx

comments disabled.

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losada_vicky just posted

liked by y/n, alexiaputellas and 392, 921 others

tagged y/n

losada_vicky There may have been several reasons my wife took a step back from football. We cannot wait to meet this reason. ❤️

view 11, 376 comments

username1: OMG OMG AHHHHHHH 😱😱

alexiaputellas: congratulations you two! Cannot wait! I will be favourite Tia!

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marialeonn16: No I Will Be!

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onabatlle: honestly I think I will be ☺️

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y/n: @losada_vicky baby, I am just realising how many aunts this child is going to have. 😂

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lucybronze: They're all idiots I will be the favourite aunt! 😌😌

username2: English and Spanish national teams as aunts, jesus some people just live the life I dream!

^

username3: This baby is going to be so loved holy shit

^

username4: And the entire Brighton team as well!

leahwilliamsonn: HOLY SHIT AHHHHH ❤️❤️

_bethmead: SO EXCITEDDDDD ! ❤️❤️

keirawalsh: so proud and excited !!! 💙☺️

username5: :( I miss her playing already 😭

y/n: Can't express how much I love you, I am so excited! Serás una mamá fantástica.

you will be a fantastic mama

^

losada_vicky: I love you and our baby so much

^

username6: I am not crying you are.

ellatoone: I AM CRYING OMG 🩷

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alessiarusso99: HONESTLY SAME 🩷

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mbrighty04: SAME

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racheldaly3: SAME

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khiara.k98: SAME

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lj10: same

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y/n: I love you all so much xoxo

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lucybronze: @lj10 you ruined the 'SAME' chain there mate with your lazy lowercase

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lj10: 🖕🏾🖕🏾

^

lucybronze: 😚😚

see more comments...

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END

flufffffffff

kinda love this, kinda don't

meh

-

Queenie xx

#social media woso #woso #woso x reader #woso x y/n #woso community #woso soccer #vicky losada #vicky losada x y/n #vicky losada x reader #vicky losada imagine #brighton hove albion women #lionesses x reader #england lionesses #engwnt #alessia russo #alexia putellas #mapi leon #ona batlle #spanish womens team #lauren james #ella toone #mary earps #rachel daly #millie bright #leah williamson #beth mead #lucy bronze #keira walsh #khiara keating

[heavyhitterheaux]

Through Thick and Thin

AN: I'm literally obsessed with WMCJ and keep watching it lol

Synopsis: When your long term boyfriend Jeremy first gets injured, you do your best to help take care of him. But now that he has had multiple surgeries, it all comes to a head when he realizes nothing is going to be the same anymore

Pairing: Jeremy x Reader (WMCJ)

Requested by: the gorgeous @nattinatalia 😘💕 and shoutout to @hoodharlow since these two are always letting me bounce ideas off of them 🥰

Jack Harlow Masterlist

Please Do Not Repost My Content Anywhere

You woke up with a start and glanced at the clock on the nightstand which read 2:57 am which led you to then peek over to see your boyfriend wide awake staring off into space.

"Babe, why are you up? Are you in pain?" You asked while sitting up and brushing a hand through his curls.

"Just couldn't sleep. That's all." He answered while taking your hand in his and rubbing the back of it. 

"Well why didn't you wake me up? I'm worried about you."

"I'm good, babe. I promise, just go back to sleep."

"As long as you're sure?" You asked while moving closer to him.

"I'm sure, you have to get up early for work in a few hours. Go back to sleep." Jeremy said while leaning over to kiss your forehead.

"Don't stay up too much longer, okay? I love you." You said while snuggling up to his side.

"I love you too. So much."

When he heard your heavy breathing, he pulled his phone back out to continue watching his highlight reel from when he used to play basketball and sighed. 

He tore not one, but both ACL's and since having multiple surgeries, his body wasn't nearly the same and had a feeling that him playing basketball was a thing of the past.

He was currently recovering from his latest surgery with you being his primary caregiver and this was putting a huge dent in both of your finances. 

Instead of teaching multiple dance classes a day like before, you were down to two so you could be home with him helping him recover. Deep down Jeremy knew that you didn't mind it, but he couldn't help but start to feel as if he was a burden to you. He would never tell you that seeing as how much both of you loved each other and he knew for a fact that you would never think of caring for your boyfriend as a burden. 

So in the mornings, you would set him up on the couch with food, snacks, water, and medicine while you went to work. It was only for two and a half hours, but long enough for you to worry about your boyfriend. Ever since his injury happened, they were hopeful that this first surgery would work and he would be able to play again. Now we were on surgery number four and it was beginning to look bleak. 

When you got home, you would get there in time in order to open the door for his physical therapist to come in and work with him on different exercises.

You knew how much basketball meant to Jeremy and if he never got the chance to play again, you didn't know what he would do and you were scared. 

In the end, all you wanted was for him to be okay. 

Your alarm went off at 6:30 and you quickly silenced it. You looked over to see Jeremy sound asleep with his phone on his chest. You quickly picked it up to place it on the charger to make sure it would have a full battery just in case he needed to call you for something and noticed that it was playing a video of him playing basketball and you simply turned it off and sighed.

Once you were out of the shower and dressed, you went to his side of the bed and simply placed kisses all over his face until he woke up.

"Hmm? You okay baby?"

"Hey I'm fine. How do you feel? Do you want me to help you get in the shower or do you think you have it?"

"I think I got it and I feel okay."

"Okay, go ahead. I'll just lay out some clothes for you." 

He simply nodded as he moved the comforter off of him and proceeded to swing his legs around off the bed in order to stand up. You were watching closely as you stood in front of him ready to help if he needed you. 

One thing you never let him do was move from room to room or get in the shower by himself if you weren't home to help him. The last thing you wanted to risk was him falling.

He took the crutches as you handed them to him and he leaned down to kiss you before making his way into the bathroom. 

After you made sure that he got there okay, you took the opportunity to make up the bed and neatly laid his clothes on top of it. You then headed to the kitchen to make breakfast for the two of you and decided on bacon, eggs, and fruit even though Jeremy swore up and down that he was going to go vegan. 

Him always ordering McDonald's proved otherwise.

Once you were finished with breakfast and setting up all that he would need on the couch in the living room, you went back into the bedroom to see him finishing getting dressed and you simply walked over to him and placed a kiss on top of his curly hair and all he did was look up at you and smile.

"You sure you’re okay? I can stay home if…"

"No baby, we both know how much we need the money and I'll be fine. I should be back on my feet in no time."

"Okay. Come on, let me help you up." You said as you held out your hand for him to take and made sure he steadied himself as he stood up. 

You let him walk in front of you as you held onto him from behind until he was safely on the couch in front of the TV. 

"Okay, I made you food and you have snacks. Oh and your water. Here's the remote and your phone is fully charged. I shouldn't be long, okay?"

All Jeremy did was nod and you couldn't help but to frown.

"Baby, it's going to be okay. I have to go, but you know I love you to the moon and back." You said while leaning down to give him several kisses.

"I love you too. I'll probably just go back to sleep after I eat."

"Okay, you have your phone if you need me and do not get up by yourself."

"I know, I know."

“Be back soon.”

—

You turned the key into the door, finally getting home and walked into the living room to see your boyfriend on the floor and immediately dropped your bag and ran over to him.

“Oh my gosh, baby are you okay? Are you hurt? What did I tell you about trying to get up by yourself?! Why didn’t you wait for me?! Here let me help you.” You said while holding out your hand for him to take and he immediately pushed you away.

“I don’t need your fucking help, I can do it.”

“What the hell is the attitude for? Baby you’re on the FLOOR. I don’t want you to risk hurting yourself even more, you just had surgery! AGAIN.”

“And you don’t have to remind me. Don’t you think I know that? It’s the fourth fucking time.”

“Jeremy, lose the attitude immediately because this is not okay. We don’t talk to each other like that.”

He suddenly got silent as he pushed himself up so that his back was now resting against the couch and you were sitting next to him.

“Baby, please just let me help you.” You said while tears were forming in your eyes. It hurt you seeing him this upset and knowing that the one thing he wanted to do you couldn’t help him with. 

“I’m… I’m never going to play again am I?” He quietly asked while not looking at you and you immediately sighed.

“We don’t know that, yet.”

“It’s pretty fucking clear since this is now the fourth surgery that I’ve had for the same damn thing.”

“I get that you want to play, I do, but there is so much more to life than playing basketball.”

“Easy for you to say since you can still dance and do what you love. I can’t do anything anymore. I can’t even pay for a bag of my girlfriend’s favorite chips when I go to the store because I don’t know if my card will get declined or not. I was supposed to be playing in the NBA by now and now look at me. Just a complete failure at everything including being your boyfriend. What are you even still doing with me anyway? I have absolutely nothing to offer you anymore. I had so many plans for us when I made it to the NBA. Can’t even propose to you because I can’t afford a damn ring to put on your finger.” You could slowly see the tears start to fall and you immediately scooted onto his lap and embraced him while trying to wipe them away.

“I’m with you because I love you and I have loved you since I was eighteen years old. So what if you didn’t make it to the NBA? You say you had all these plans for when you did, but we can still make them a reality. Bottom line is we have each other and I am not going anywhere and have no plans to. You mean the absolute world to me and we are in this together. No matter how much of a fight you put up or push me away, I am never leaving your side.”

Jeremy was silent as he slowly rubbed your back before hugging you tighter when you suddenly had an idea.

“Meditate with me.” You said and he looked over at you as if you were crazy.

“I’m not doing that shit and since when do black people meditate?”

“Jer, come on. You’ll feel better. Just try. I recently started doing it and it helps."

You then took his hands in yours and started to slowly inhale and exhale telling him to do the same.

“When you feel like you need to be grounded, doing meditation helps.”

Before he knew it, fifteen minutes had passed and he opened his eyes and simply looked at you.

“Like I said before, you mean everything to me and this is just a minor bump in the road. We’re going to get to a place where we don’t have to worry about where our next meal is coming from and I just thought about something that you said earlier. You want to marry me?”

“Well, yeah. I thought it was obvious.” Jeremy said while looking down and playing with your hands.

“I’d marry you in a heartbeat but first I want us to focus on you getting better. I will be here for you through it all, you understand?”

“I understand.”

“And now do you feel better after meditating with me?”

“I.. do.”

“One step at a time and we’ll get there. I love you so very much and I just wish you could see what I see in you.” You said while playing in his curls.

All Jeremy did was stay silent and look away from you.

“If you don’t say you love me back, I will be forced to tickle you and you are at my mercy.”

“NO! I love you too and do NOT do that!” He quickly answered and you immediately laughed.

“I knew I would get it out of you when I said that. You’re going to do great things, baby. And I can’t wait to see it all unfold. Whether it’s on the court or off.” You said while leaning down to kiss him. 

“But for now can you help me up?”

“Last time I checked you said that you didn’t need my help.” You responded while eyeing him.

“Well I lied and this floor is anything but comfortable.”

“Of course I’ll help you, you know that you never have to ask.”

“Through thick and thin?”

“Through thick and thin, baby.”

Taglist:

@harlowsbby

@babyharleezy

@hoodharlow

@stefansalvatoresgf

@jackiehollanderr

@primadxna-girl

@dessmxsworld

@cockslutslurper3000

@raelorns21

@variety-fangirl

@gbaabyyyy

@kamorsstuff

@harlowthot

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@haylexo10

@thinkingaboutjharlow

@fluidsentiment

@charli123456789

@moody4world

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@yana4life

@beanbagbitch

@alinaharlow

@carma-fanficaddict

@minaxcarter

@arination99

@xjup1t3r

@venusvinc

@jacksmoviestar

@jackharloww

@midnight-star47

@minkookie95

@inluvwithladybug

@exoticr0ses

@jharlowsangels

@jackierose902109

@jackmansbabymama

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@fdl305

@automaticpeachsong

@harlowcomehome

@gassyandsassy1

@babygirlwilly

@amethyst09

@harrycanyonmoonn

@toocriticalharlow

@tattered-tales

@sisiking99

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@gillybear17

@jacksdaycare

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@babyvinnie

@evansxchalamet

@chtkmyharlow​

@itsyagirljaz

@neon-lights-and-glitter

@awhore4moree

@a-moment-captured

@jackmans-poison

#jack harlow #jack harlow fic #jack harlow fanfic #jack harlow x reader #jack harlow x black reader #jack harlow imagine #jack harlow fanfiction #jack harlow fluff #jack harlow angst #jeremy wmcj #wmcj

[vanwritesfan-fiction]

Fluff for Klay!

Him coming home after a rough shooting night and he’s vulnerable to you about his future at GSW (and you too!)

Klay was a team player in every sense of the word. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for his teammates, and he knew that regardless of any shooting records and championship rings, he was nothing without the four other players on the court every night. This also meant that he felt every loss harder than most people would. If he was off his game, if his shooting hand just wasn't connecting, he knew that they were gonna lose, and he felt personally responsible.

He came home after a particularly hard game to a very quiet house. You were usually waiting for him in the tunnel after the game, and the two of you would drive home together, but you were almost nine months pregnant and on bed rest, so you were watching from home. He was glad you weren't there in person to see his bad performance, he didn't want to have to face you while feeling sorry for himself.

"Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" Klay chuckled as he watched you from the doorway of the nursery, cozied up in the rocker in the corner of the room, surrounded by piles of baby clothes. You laid the onesie in your hands on your burgeoning belly, sighing to yourself. "I was going stir crazy baby, plus, I knew you were coming home soon. I promise, I'm fine."

"C'mon, back to bed, mama." Klay held out both hands, carefully helping you to your feet before he guided you back to the bedroom. You planted yourself on the bed while he helped you take off your slippers and socks. You took in his face and how tired and defeated he looked. The exhaustion was normal, but the sadness concerned you.

"How was the game?" You asked, knowing the answer, but hoping it would help him open up a little.

"I don't know", he motioned with his shooting hand, relieving his poor field goal percentage tonight, "I just couldn't get in a good flow. Feels like its been happening more and more lately." He helped you swing your feet onto the bed, pulling the blanket over your body. Trying to prevent him from walking away and dropping the topic, you grabbed his hand, placing it on your belly.

"Stay and talk to me, babe." He leaned over, planting a kiss on your forehead. "You need sleep. I'm gonna watch some game tape before I go to bed."

"I won't sleep if I don't know you're okay." Your tone was gentle and soft. You didn't want him to think you were pressuring him or attacking him when he was already at his lowest. "Just an hour, and I'll be back." Klay raked a hand down his face, realizing how tired he actually was.

"Ouch!" You felt a tightness in your lower back that took your breath away, the pain shooting down your leg. Klay rushed to your side, helping you to sit up. "What is it, your back?"

"Yeah", you gritted out between your teeth, "I think it was just a cramp. Its too early to be contractions." You took a couple of deep breaths, trying to stretch out your back as much as you could with your belly in the way. "Can you get my heating pad?"

Klay disappeared into the bathroom, returning with your heating pad that had been your best friend throughout your pregnancy. "Can I do anything else for you?"

"Could you lay with me for a lil' bit?" Tears were brimming in your eyes, your breaths coming out shaky. Klay climbed into the bed, placing the heating pad between his stomach and your back, gently pulling you in close to him.

"Is that any better?" Klay whispered, placing a hand on your stomach. You covered his hand with your own, starting to relax. "Yes, thank you. Now please, tell me what's going on in your head. You don't have to carry the load on your own, baby."

Klay sighed, leaning his head against yours. "I always used to be so sure of myself and who I was on the court, but lately, I dunno, I just feel like a liability more than an asset to my team." You knew he was referencing his past injuries. Two ACL tears back to back, his return to the NBA was highly anticipated by fans and his teammates, but you knew he had to deal with a lot of self-doubt, and while therapy helped, nothing was truly going to make it go away.

"What do you need? More practice, more physical therapy? I hate the thought of you giving up." You stroked his jawline between your fingers, feeling your eyelids start to grow heavy.

"I don't know, babe. Maybe I need to cut down on my game time, give another player a chance to make their mark." His words started to scare you, basketball was his first love, and he was going to be one of the greats, sure to make the hall of fame years down the road.

"Klay, I know that it hasn't always been easy, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't wish you wouldn't put yourself in a position to get injured again, but you love basketball too much to not put one hundred percent into what you do. That just isn't you."

Klay was silent, your words mulling around in his head. You turned your head to look at him, cupping his cheek. "What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want to be remembered?"

'This. Us, our family. The life we build together." Klay answered quickly, never more sure of himself. You felt the baby move around, and you moved Klay's hand so he could feel the baby gently kick against you.

"Your family, baby, your son, needs to see you give your all. You are one of the best shooters in the game, and no matter how many times you have to build yourself back up, your family will be right there supporting you." Klay placed a gentle kiss on your lips, your touch lingering as he gave you a few more pecks. "Thank you, babe. I love you."

"I love you too, Klay. So much." The two of you settled in against the pillows, Klay draping a blanket over your legs.

"I thought you weren't sure it was a boy?" Klay teased, his voice low and quiet.

"I don't know," you giggled, "I'm starting to believe in the Thompson bump."

#klay thompson #klay thompon x reader #klay thompson fan fiction #klay thompson imagine #nba fan fiction

[yellowkitkieran]

I have a Kieran request🙋🏼‍♀️ hello👋🏻 could I have a fem reader who is Kieran’s girlfriend who plays for arsenal women’s team and Kieran and some of the lads from the men’s team go to watch the CL semi at the Emirates, reader is playing and has a nasty tackle put on her and she tears her ACL and Kieran goes into protective bf mode and comforts her through going to the hospital getting the ACL diagnosis and then the rehab and getting back on the pitch please. Thank you so much 😘

Support System (Kieran Tierney)

Masterlist

Word Count: 2.1k

When Kieran arrived at the Emirates with Martin and Bukayo, he'd buzzed with excitement. Watching his girlfriend play in the semi finals of the Champion's League, in front of a packed house? Hell. Yes. He is the proudest man on earth when he takes his seat in the Arsenal box, surrounded by staff, players, family and friends that had come to see the women's team take on their opponents. 

Everyone's fingers and toes are crossed for a win, of course wanting to see their counterparts through to the final. Kieran goes full fan boy when he sees you step out of the tunnel, standing up out of his seat and screaming at the top of his lungs like you could hear him on the pitch. Your hearing may be sharp, but it's definitely not sharp enough to pick out his voice from the tens of thousands of fans packing the stands. 

When you kiss your wrist four times and pin your eyes on his box, Kieran grins. He knows you see him; you're drawn to him like a magnet, the same way he is when you're watching him play. Kieran is in awe when he sees the switch flip in you, going from cheeky girlfriend to stone cold footballer in a matter of seconds as the Champion's League theme plays over the speakers.

"She's gonna score, I can feel it," Kieran says to his mates with a goofy, excited grin. 

Martin just nods, which Kieran accepts because he knows Martin is analyzing the players with a captain's eye in search of any potential weaknesses. Bukayo matches Kieran's grin, "I bet she will mate, especially with you here! She's got it all to play for. She's their leading goal scorer, isn't she?"

"Got that right! My missus has scored more than even you this season. Her left foot is incredible."

"We could use her on the men's team," Martin jokes, earning him a laugh from his teammates. The trio falls quiet as the captains trade flags and the teams fall loosely into their positions on the pitch. 

The Arsenal women's squad is a force to be reckoned with. The eleven women on the pitch are menaces from kick off, nutmegging their opponents left and right. A general sense of frustration settles over the away fans corralled in their corner, their angry chants rising above those in favor of the hosts. 

You play beautifully, just like always. Kieran shouts encouragements each time you touch the ball, heart swelling when some of your footwork puts his own to shame. God, he could learn so much from you if he had the time to sit in on some of your training sessions. Maybe that's something he'd need to bring up to Arteta-

A simultaneous gasp goes up from fans of both teams, a ripple of unease moving through the crowd as you go down hard from a rough tackle. Kieran swears he can hear your immediate shout of pain, like his senses are hyper aware of what's happened. You crumple to the pitch, fingers digging into the grass. Something tells Kieran you aren't acting, not based on the way your team rushes to surround you.

"That was bad," Martin murmurs beside him. "Like, season ending bad."

"She's still not up," Kieran notes, on his feet and craning his neck to see you on the near touchline. He's too high up, you're facing away from him; he can't judge your expression to get an accurate read on the severity of your injury. But from the way your shoulders shake, he's positive it isn't good. Not at all. You don't cry unless you can't walk it off- if you're sobbing on the pitch, something has gone terribly wrong. His stomach churns and he might be sick then and there. 

Show me you're alright, love. Show me that this is just some showmanship to get you the advantage. 

Focused as he is on you, Kieran doesn't notice the other defender being red carded until Bukayo mentions it. Truthfully Kieran doesn't care; he needs to get to you. That's all he knows. Because you still aren't up, they're bringing out a stretcher board, and that's his final straw. 

"I'm heading down," Kieran says to no one in particular. He snags his jacket off the back of his seat, feet carrying him to the door while the image of you going limp when you hit the pitch replays in his head over and over. 

You're hurt. Kieran has potentially just watched your season end. Your knee bent the wrong way when you went down… nothing about the situation gives him any sort of hope. 

No one tries to stop him as he navigates down to the belly of the stadium, swiping the id card he keeps in his wallet to gain access to the player area. His heart stops as soon as he pulls open the heavy steel door- he can already hear your sobs. 

He half runs to the medical suite, purposely averting his eyes from the changing area attached to it, focused only on you. 

Your left knee is already wrapped in ice. One arm is thrown over your eyes, your pained breathing interrupted now and again with raspy sobs. It's so much worse than he thought. The medical staff doesn't even try fixing the issue, most of them mulling about whilst one woman gently props your knee up so the swelling doesn't constrict your blood flow. 

The few staff members step back when Kieran approaches. He lays his hand on your shoulder, crouching at the head of your stretcher so he can murmur in your ear, "I'm so sorry sweetheart. I'm so sorry."

Kieran's voice only makes you sob harder. Your arms automatically reach back to find him, fingers curling in his hair to the point of pain. He lets you do it though, knowing it's nothing compared to what you're going through now. 

"It fucking hurts Key," you grit out, tipping your head back to look at him with red rimmed eyes. "I'm fucked aren't I? I'm so fucked."

He kisses your forehead, pulling up a chair to sit next to you so you can see him properly. He smooths a hand over your hair, using the other to bring one of yours up to his mouth to kiss your knuckles. 

"I'm not a doctor sweetheart… but I'm afraid I think your season is over." Panic flashes in your eyes. Kieran wants nothing more than to take away that feeling. He wishes he could tell you everything would be fine, that it was nothing more than a sprain. He knows better though, so he waits while you go through a myriad of emotions in the blink of an eye. 

"But the world cup-"

"I know, baby. I know." The last thing you need to do is dwell on what could have been. Your call up had meant the world to you. Representing your country this summer in Australia was all you had been able to talk about for months. Scotland had finally qualified, you were set to be their captain-  you were going to lead the women's team to glory, to their first major trophy. 

"It's my ACL, isn't it?" Your eyes are pained when they meet Kieran's brown ones. "It's torn, I can feel it. No one will tell me what they think, Key." He knows you're asking for a lifeline. You want him to lie. He can't do it- he can't give you that hope when he isn't certain there is anything to give. 

Kieran leans forward and kisses your cheek, lips lingering on your skin. "Whatever it is, you and I will get through it. Together."

Kieran becomes your rock. He's at your side when you're taken to the hospital and told you'll definitely require surgery to repair your ACL. He's the shoulder you cry on when you're given a timeline. The questions fall to him, and he asks all the right ones to get the answers you need. Minimum six months, likely more with rehab. 

"Together," he reminds you as often as he can. "Together, together, together."

*********

"Alright my love, ready to head inside?"

"I think so."

"Let me come get your door for you."

You've not been back at the training grounds since your injury. Silence ruled the car ride, the dewy morning clinging to the atmosphere and further dampening what should have been an exciting day. Yes, you were on crutches and no, you definitely wouldn't be training three days after your surgery, but at least you could see your teammates. 

Kieran had thought that being at one of the places you both feel at home might provide the push you need. Lately you've been plain depressed. He doesn't blame you for it, though he does want to make sure you're pulled out of it as quickly as possible. 

You don't move when Kieran opens your car door. He waits patiently to give you time to process. You stare into space for a solid minute, then jump when Kieran lays a gentle hand on your arm. 

"Sweetheart? Let's go inside and say hello to your girls."

"Oh, um- right." You take hold of Kieran's hand and swing your good leg out first, placing all your weight on it as you stand. Your braced leg comes next, and you rely heavily on Kieran to keep you steady until he can pass off your crutches. Only when you nod does he let go, allowing you to start the slow, long walk to the building. 

Your movements are stiff and awkward. The crutches are an adjustment that you're still getting used to. Kieran is nervous with each step you take, his hand hovering inches from your back so he can grab your belt if you start to tip one way or the other. He is your protector now more than ever. His job is to ensure you make it through this injury stronger than you were before. 

You pause halfway to the door, obviously exhausted. Kieran sets his hand on your lower back and gives you an encouraging kiss to your temple. 

"Take your time," he says softly. He doesn't want you over exerting yourself and causing further injury. 

"This is fucking embarrassing," you mutter, closing your eyes to stave off tears. "I can't even make it from the car park to the door- I'm a professional athlete! I should be able to run for miles and not feel a thing!"

Kieran steps in front of you, ducking his head so you're forced to meet his eyes. "Hey. Hey- you had a very tough injury only a week ago. It's affected you physically and mentally sweetheart, and I know it's a huge challenge. But I promise you, I know you'll bounce back. I'll be cheering for you every step of the way. Together, remember? I've got your back."

Kieran knows he's gotten through to you when you draw a deep, even breath. Your eyes become hardened chips of steel, determined to overcome this hurdle. 

"Alright, let's move."

You make it all the way inside and down to the women's changing room in one fell swoop, Kieran beaming with pride the entire time. He doesn't follow you inside the women's room obviously, but he does hear the immediate cheers from your team as soon as you're through the door. He smiles to himself, leaning on the wall outside and catching snips of what your girls are asking. 

"-how long? Shit-"

"-Is the pain alright? Surely they must-"

"How's Kieran been with all this?"

That's the question Kieran wants you to answer. He sidesteps closer to the door, praying he can hear you through the wood. 

"Key? He's been perfect. I don't think I'd be standing right now if not for him." Your words lift a weight off Kieran's chest. "He says we're in this together and so far he's held his word. It's easier when there's someone in your corner, you know? He helps take away the stress by reminding me what I'm working towards… being out here with all of you again. The good thing is, Kieran won't let me stop until I get there."

#kieran tierney imagine #kieran tierney fic #kieran tierney fanfic #kieran tierney fanfiction #kieran tierney #arsenal fc #jac writes #lover boy 🫶🏻 #forbidden fruit

[1super2]

alexia putellas ~ i hate him part 2

You had phoned alexia last night and it was confirmed that she had done her acl . She was going to come to the game later and then she would be staying for the rest of the tournament then you would both go back to spain for her surgery . With alexia out that meant you were to take over a job as captain and that started before the match with the pre match press conference.

Jorge walked up to you and you hadn't spoke to him since you were running yesterday.

" Don't you dare mention about anything that went on yesterday you understand? " jorge asked you

Just nodding your head you were both sent into the press conference.

" So y/n obviously devastating news about alexia putellas being out for the tournament what are your views on the " a journalist asked

You looked up at jorge with hatred in your eyes before replying

" it obviously could not of happened at worse time but as a team we need to be there to support her and make her proud " i replied

After many other questions for both me and jorge we headed into the locker room to get ready for the match .

" Hey mapi do u know if lex is out there yet ? " you asked her

" Yep i am pretty sure she is if we start warming up now i am sure you can go see her " she said as we both started walking out and warming up ,

There she was just above the sub bench with her crutches. My heart broke for her . I didn't care what jorge on anyone would say i ran up to her and pulled her in to massive hug .

" i am going to score for you " i said looking up with tears in my eyes

" I hope you do be careful with jorge though i know what you can be like sometimes " she said whilst i just laughed slightly

I had to leave her as the game was about to begin shortly . We were all about to go into the tunnel and for being the captain i had to a little speech .

" Girls we could go all the way in this tournament but each and every game we need to be at our best . No matter what happens i will be proud and we can go out their and make alexia proud " i say before we all go wait in the tunnel .

We walk out to an amazing atmosphere with loads of fans but as we are singing the national anthem i am only looking for one person . I then spot her wearing my shirt and my face instantly light up .

The euros had began .

In the first minute the has scored a goal . It was my job to get all the girls together after the early mistake and that it was i did .

I took us a little while but it the 26 ' minute i had scored the equaliser. I looked up to lex and made my hands to a heart before quickly running to get the ball so we can get started . I felt we had more in us .

Just before half time atiana got a goal to set us ahead .  There was a couple extra minutes and i was running accross the wing when i got fouled but the ref kept playing .

" Ref that was a clear foul are u stupid she took me out " i argued with

" I didn't see anything she got the ball " she replied as i started waking off

" bullshit " i said and ofcourse it was coming her whistles blew and she showed me a yellow just before half time

As we were walking through the tunnel jorge was walking next to me .

" Y/n what was that about if you carry on i will take you off "

i huffed and went to sit next to mapi in the locker room 

" i hate him " i spoke as she just laughed

Not much happend in the second half we got another goal and we were in the 6th minute of stoppage time when we got given a penalty.

I look straight at  jorge as he points at me to take the pen . I was going to do this for lex .

I did it all for her .

A/n

please request 🫶🏻🫶🏻

#barca femeni #leahwilliamson #alexia putellas #woso one shot #woso fanfics #jorge vilda

[fcbfemeni-11]

ACL

Alexia Putellas

Emma, while training for the Euros with England, gets a call from the Spanish camp which changes everything.

Today, after training, i was in the cafeteria with the team for some team bonding when my phone started buzzing like crazy. I was getting messages from all of my Spanish Barcelona teammates and Mapi called me, so i excused myself from team bonding and left the room, where i answered the call.

Mapi

"Hey" I answered in my usual positive tone.

"Emma you need to come to our camp" Mapi said, but she said it quickly and nervously which made me feel nervous.

"What's going on? Is everything okay?"

"No, you need to come Emma. Ale needs you" As soon as Mapi mentioned my girlfriends name my heart sunk.

"Is she okay?" I asked, more panicked than before.

"No, Emma i think she has tore her ACL. She is crying. She's going for a scan in two hours, i'll send you the address, please go with her"

"Shit. I'll be there, no matter what. Tell Ale i love her and i'll see her soon"

"I will"

"Mapi?"

"Yeah?"

"Hold her tightly" I said.

"I will, i promise" Mapi said before ending the call.

***

After the call ended i went back into the cafeteria but i didn't take part in any team bonding. Mapi sent me the address and i promised her i will be there. An hour later the girls turned the news on and the first thing that came up was Alexia.

'Alexia Putellas' Euros are in danger? The midfielder has suffered a knee injury and the Spanish National team fear the worst. The player will go for a scan soon and results should be known today'

"DID YOU HEAR THAT?" Meado said loudly and i looked at her.

"We all heard it" Leah mumbled in Beth's direction.

"We can beat Spain, guys! They've lost their best player! We can beat them, we can win the Euros" Beth said happily and i stood up abruptly, making everyone look at me.

"She was in her best moment. This was HER year and she was going to win it all. She was going to do her county proud, she was going to do us all proud. Shut up, Beth!" I said angrily.

"Why aren't you happy? We can win now" Ella added and i glared at her.

"We could have won without her being injured."

"You don't want to win do you?" Fran asked and i looked down.

"Of course i do, but this tournament feels a lot less special than it did an hour ago. I was so excited for this tournament and now i'm not. I want to win, i want to make my country proud, but i want Alexia to win too, it was her year, she was in the moment and now that's all been took away from her in the blink of an eye" I said sadly and Hempo put an arm around me.

"She will be back, Emma, you know that more than anyone" Hempo said.

"I do, but i can't even imagine what's going through her head at the moment" I sighed.

"I need to go" I said, standing up.

"Where are you going?" Sarina asked, walking into the room.

"Some sports hospital" I shrugged.

"No you're not, we've got a game tomorrow" Sarina said, folding her arms.

"With all due respect Sarina, somethings are more important than a game"

"Like what?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Making sure someone you care about is okay."

"You're not going to the Spanish camp! That's at the other side of London" Sarina added loudly.

"My girlfriend is in pain and i will be there whether you allow me to be or not. Alexia is more important than a game of football, and i WILL be there for her just as she is there for me" I said, not taking no for an answer.

"I wont stand in your way, but you wont start tomorrow if you go, you may not even play"

"That's fine" I said before running to the front of the hotel.

After an hour, or so, i arrived at the where Alexia is getting a scan. i entered the building and found some of the Spanish staff members who know who i am, so they allowed me to sit with them while Alexia was getting tests done.

When the tests were complete and we were allowed to see her i didn't think twice, i rushed inside and wrapped my arms tightly around her. As soon as i was embracing her in a hug she broke down. I just lay comforting her until she stopped crying and began to silently come to terms with what had happened.

"You, my love, will overcome this and when you do you will continue where you left off, you will continue to break records and change the womens game, you will continue to be an inspiration to many. This journey is one we will go through together, i will be there with you every step of the way and that's a promise. You're not alone, mi amor" I said, kissing the tip of her nose which made her smile.

"Gracias for being here" She whispered into my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

"You're more important than anything. I would rather be here with you than anywhere else in the world"

"You have a game tomorrow" Alexia whispered and i nodded.

"But i'm here with you because you're more important than a game"

"Te amo mucho"

"Te amo mucho"

"I've been blessed my whole career, and this will be hard but i trust to recover" Alexia said confidently and i smiled at my beautiful girlfriend.

"You will. You're more than the best player in the world, you're also the best person in the world. You're more than a footballer, you're a daughter, sister and family to many, not to forget an amazing girlfriend. You, Alexia, are the best person i know and you will continue to be so. You've been strong for me and gave me strength and encouragement and now it's my turn to return the favour. No matter how hard this gets, i'll be here. I'll never leave your side just like you never leave mine. We're in this together, and soon we will enjoy each other on the pitch again, but until then let's continue making memories off the pitch"

"Can i marry you?" Alexia asked and i giggled.

"You can marry me a thousand times" I said and she smiled before kissing me on the lips.

"Babe?"

"Yeah?"

"Did Mapi scare you when she called?" Alexia asked and i smiled lightly.

"A little bit, but you're strong. Did she tell you that i love you"

"She told me a hundred times. Once she got off the phone she came to me and said 'I just got off the phone with your girl and, Alexia, never let her go, promise me that you'll never let her go' and i did, i promised her that i will never let you go"

"El amor de mi vida"

I said and Alexia kissed me again.

The next day i missed the game against Austria, but the girls pulled through and we won 1-0. Sarina wasn't happy with me, but after a long discussion she granted me a few days leave from camp. I told her that when i broke my leg i wouldn't have got through it if i didn't have Alexia by my side, i was so close to calling it quits on my career, but Alexia made me pull through, she reminded me how much i loved the game and because of her i'm in the position i am right now, playing for Barcelona and England, and now it's my turn to be there for her, and help her get through this long process because if anyone deserves to come out of the other side a better player it's her, it's a thousand times her. So for the next few days i stayed with Alexia in the Spanish hotel, and they were nice enough to give me some individual training while i was there.

Alexia decided to stay and help the team, she wants to play a part in this Euros, she wants to be there helping the team the best she can, and that's what she will do. The Spanish team have another reason to fight. They've got Jenni, Vir, all of the players that didn't get called up, and Alexia to fight for.

#alexia putellas x reader #spain wnt #lionesses #weuros #alexia putellas #woso x reader #woso soccer

[jessicaaatje]

Pulling A Morgan

Preath x uswnt, preath x baby!reader

Special for this moment, my beginning of a Preath serie =)

Summary: Everybody knows Christen Press is out for an ACL tear. But what if there was more than just a tear in the ACL?

Warnings: There is most of the time chat conversations.

'Babe, let me help you', Christen said to Tobin who was getting the groceries inside of the house.

'No Chris, you stay on the couch and let your body heal', Tobin shaked her head.

'But-'.

'No, no and no, if you aren't taking care of yourself, what would happen to the baby?' Tobin asked Christen.

'Okay'.

-------------------------------

20 weeks into the pregnancy

Espn.com:

Is soccer forward Christen Press, really only out of the game thanks to an ACL tear or is it something more?

Soccer player for the USWNT (United States of America Women National Team) and Angel City -Christen Press - got recently an injury and now she is out for give or take nine months. But fans are speculating if there is more than just an ACL tear.

Another star from the USWNT - Alex Morgan - suffered also a time ago from an knee injury, but apperently she was also pregnant in that time.

Is Christen Press doing the same, if yes, who is her lover?

----------------------------------

25 weeks into the pregnancy

USWNT groups chat:

Kelley: Is it true, Preath? Is Christen Pressnant?

Alex: Kelloggs, what is Pressnant?

Kelley: You know, Press and pregnant makes...

Emily: Pressnant!!

Becky: You guys are children.

Alex: Me?

Becky: No not you, Alex.

Mallory: Wait, wait, Press is pregnant?

Emily: Haven't you read the news the last five weeks or something Mallory?

Mallory: Yes, I have but I skipped the rumors, you never know if it is true...

-----

Mallory x Preath group:

Mallory: Christen you are pregnant and never told me?

Mallory: Am I going to be a sister?

-----

Meanwhile...

'Tobs, they figured it out, what should I say?' Christen said to Tobin while reading her messages at her phone.

'Nothing yet, we are going to let them in the dark for a few more minutes', Tobin replied while smirking a little bit.

-----

USWNT group chat:

Emily: PREATH!

Emily: ANSWER US!!

Emily: NOW!!

Lindsey: Sonny don't send one word in every message please, it's annoying.

Emily: But they need to answer!

Lindsey: Let them be

Alyssa: Guys, it's literally night time, why are you awake?

Kelley: Just because!

Emily: We let Preath live 5 more weeks!

Emily: Now they need to tell us!!

Tobin: SHUT UPPPP!!!!

Kelley: Where is the chill Tobito??

Christen: I'm pregnant.

All members: Congrats!

Kelley: FINALLY!

Emily: FINALLY YOU TOLD US

---------------------

30 weeks into the pregnancy

Espn.com:

It appears the fans were right, Christen Press - soccer star- is indeed pregnant. Congratulations from us.

It also appears that Press took her best friend Tobin Heath to the ESPY's as her date. In an interview, she viewed her and Tobin Heath into a power couple. So Preath shippers, you ship has sailed!

-----

Fox News:

It appears that Christen Press is pregnant and dating her fellow teammate Tobin Heath. Not only had Christen Press an ACL tear, but she pulled an Alex Morgan with turning pregnant in the recovery time of this injury.

But congratulations Christen Press and Tobin Heath, I wish you guys many happy years together!

-----------------------

35 weeks into the pregnancy

'Welcome girls, family members, and friends', Tobin began.

'This is the time for the gender reveal' Christen continued.

'Only five weeks left and this little person', Tobin says, looking at the belly from Christen, 'comes in to the world'.

The mother from Tobin and the father from Christen walked together with two confetti poppers. At the count of three the gender would be revealed.

'1'

Everybody gathered around.

'2'

Christen and Tobin holded eachother.

'3'

The confetti was all pink and white. Meaning it was a girl.

'We have a girl', Christen said.

'WE HAVE A GIRL!!!', Christen yelled.

While others yelled: 'IT'S A GIRL!!'

'Kelley, Alyssa, can you come up for a sec?' Tobin began.

'We couldn't choose one godparent out of all the awesome friends and family members we have, so here we have two' Christen finished the sentence.

'Alyssa, if anything goes wrong, you are the most collected person and I trust you with my life and now also with my daughters life', Tobin said, 'Kelley, however I just think sometimes, why are you making these decisions, and I would never trust you with a small child because you will make a terrible influence, but Christen trusts you so I need to trust you too, so I trust you with my daughters life'.

Tobin took a deep breath and continued: 'So hereby I say officially you two will be the godmothers of this sweet child'.

-------------------

40 weeks into the pregnancy

'Toby, the baby she's coming', Christen said while laying her book down.

'What?' a confused Tobin asked.

'The BABY is COMING'.

'Ohh okay, let's get you to the hospital' Tobin replied still not realizing the severe of the moment.

'OHHH SHIT THE BABY IS COMING', suddenly Tobin yelled.

While running to the car while helping Christen, Tobin called Alyssa, one of the godmothers of the baby: 'ALYSSA SHE IS COMING, CALL KELLEY'.

-----

Instagram

~christenpress:

Posting a picture with Christen in the hospital bed and Tobin next to her inbetween is a little baby.

Caption: We welcome our new daughter, y/n, to this world

~tobinheath:

Posting a picture with Tobin holding y/n for the first time.

Caption: My favorite girl after ~christenpress

-----

All news channels:

Congratulations Christen Press and Tobin Heath, with a healthy baby girl.

-----

#christen press imagine #christen press x reader #uswnt imagine #uswnt x reader #preath imagine #woso x reader

[sweet-babyrose]

Worst Day (Alexia Putellas x Reader) ficlet

😣

a short ficlet about Alexia’s busted knee. It’s a comfort fic but not fluff.

"Baby, I'm just walking into a meeting, can I call you back?" you asked, cradling the phone between your shoulder and ear as you walked into the conference room.

"Y/N, it's Mapi."

"Mapi, why do you have Alexia's phone?" you asked, straightening your head. "What happened?"

"I don't know exactly. But it's not good. They're taking her to the hospital now."

"Was she breathing?"

"Yes, sorry. Yes, it's her leg, Y/N. It's not good. She's not doing good."

"Where'd they take her? I'm on my way." Mapi gave you all the information she had and hung up. Closing the door, you walked over to your manager to reschedule the meeting.

The hospital was 45 minutes away from where you were. And Alexia didn't even have her phone with her, so you couldn't call her. You worried about her the entire drive over. While Alexia was a very strong person, she'd never had any serious injuries in her career. It was one of her biggest fears.

The hospital wouldn't let you in, even though you fought with them and told them who you were. Calling Mapi again, you asked her who had gone with Alexia, so you could call that person. She said she'd take care of it. Within five minutes, the phone at the check in desk rang and they were letting you pass. You had to stop yourself from running up to her room.

There were three men standing outside her room when you got there. One told you that she wasn't letting anyone into the room.

"Let me at least try." They shrugged and stepped aside. Knocking softly, you opened the door slowly. You stepped into the room and shut the door again. Your heart nearly broke looking at her. You'd never seen her look so tiny before. She was curled on her side, facing away from the door, her hood pulled up, her arms crossed over her chest. Walking around the bed, you crouched next to the bed and put your hand over one of hers.

"Hi, baby," you said softly. You tried to peak under the hood to meet her eyes. Her hand turned over and gripped yours. "What do you need?" You lifted your other hand to move the hood back a little. Alexia had never looked at you so blankly before. You were slightly concerned that she was still in shock.

"If we talk, I'll break. And I don't want to break here."

Understanding perfectly, you stood. Using your foot, you pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat in it. You leaned forward towards the bed.

"Then we'll just sit and wait together." You kissed her cheek a few times before pulling her hood back into place. Her fingers tightened on yours. Sitting back in the chair, you sat in silence for a few minutes until she spoke again.

"What was it like? When you tore your ACL?"

You took a moment to find the right words. You wanted to be honest but not to scare her. "It was really difficult. It was painful. I worried about never making a full recovery. I worried about never playing football again. Being away from the pitch was really hard. But I had some amazing teammates to lean on. They really helped me through it. Our teammates will be there for you too, if that's what this is.

"And I'll be right there with you, too. You're never going to go through any of this alone."

Her other hand came out to touch you, anywhere she could reach. You leaned forward again, putting your head near her. "I love you," you said. "You're going to get through this," you whispered.

"Can you hold me please?" You could hear her words starting to break and knew this was the last thing she wanted.

Standing, you looked at the bed to see where you could wiggle in and decided facing her was the best. You kicked your shoes off and shoved them into the corner of the room. Laying next to her, you were careful to keep from hitting her legs with your own. You wrapped both arms around her as best you could in the position and held her to you. Her head found the space in your neck and she burrowed into it.

You knew these moments were the worst. She knew what was coming but she was just waiting for the doctor to confirm it. And there wasn't much you could do for her other than hold her through it.

Alexia had held you through some of your worst days. And you would hold her through hers. The coming days were going to be so painful for your love. But she was the strongest woman you knew. And she had the whole world behind her, ready to give her any support she needed.

By the time the doctor walked in, Alexia's eyes were completely dry again and she felt ready to listen to him talk next steps. You made sure to keep a tight hold on her through it, though, just in case she needed to crumble.

#alexia putellas x reader #woso imagine #ficlet #alexia putellas imagine #alexia putellas

[lizzie-gains]

I interrupt my regular programing to ask for some help for one of my closest friends. I've been helping her out when I can but I definitely can't afford to cover all her medical and living costs.

She has multiple things going on health wise, including:

Endometriosis that has spread unto bowels, kidney, liver, lungs

Chronic nerve degeneration and chronic pain

Ruptured ACL + damage to PCL and MCL

Brainstem cyst

Breast lump (soon to be surgically removed)

Plus chronic mental health concerns

She has high ongoing medical costs and due to her poor health as well as frequent hospital admissions she is unable to have regular income. It's also been surprisingly difficult to access disability payments. I worry so much about her, as this is taking such a constant toll on her due to stress, and being unable to afford basic needs such as food or medication.

Obviously, please don't give if you are unable to for your own finances, but if you are able to help out we would really appreciate it. Feel free to share this around also if you are able.

#donate #donation #charity #go fund me #gofundme #health #contribute #contribution #assistance #illness #hospital #hospital fees #medical costs #endometriosis #nerve degeneration #chronic pain #chronic illness

[sunsetkerr]

Hi there! I got a question:

I've seen a few things with the whole Sam situation and, honestly, I've got no idea what's happening. Would you mind explaining it, because I feel so stupid not knowing anything about what's happening💀

hi love! I am probably not the best person to explain this whole thing, but I will try to the best of my ability! I've broken this up into sections so my brain can compute it all lol.

this is a long post.. so strap in!

(I'm also going to reference this shit so people don't get upset with me)

The Incident / The Accusing / PC Lovell

So January 30th 2023, there is a dispute around a taxi-fare in Twickenham, South-West London. Sam was accused by the attending officer of "[using] insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to a Metropolitan Police officer who was responding to a complaint involving a taxi fare".

There is zero mention of the case until yesterday (5th of March, in Australia).

We are now aware that the attending officer who accused Sam has been identified in court as, PC Lovell.

(Now, @moonystoes posted a lot of information here, if you would like to read it- and that is where I am getting this next lot of information from.)

There is an officer named PC Lovell, who we will now refer to with the number 1 for clarity, that has been accused, and I believe convicted, of some horrid things in Avon and Somerset (2 hours and 33 minutes away from where the alleged incident occurred).

These incidents include, posting revenge p*rn of three different women, sending unsolicited nude photos to a number of his female colleagues and acted in a described 'predatory' manner towards a cadet who was a minor at the time. He has been given both verbal and written warnings in 2006 and 2016 for his actions.

However, an anonymous person came forwards and communicated with @moonystoes that there is a PC Lovell (2) that works in Surrey (20 minutes away from where the alleged incident occurred), and another PC Lovell (3) that lives in Reading (50 minutes away from where the alleged incident occurred).

!There is no knowledge on if these officers are the same person!

So please, do not jump to conclusions as people do not want to be dismissing the claims on an innocent man.

There is lots of speculation that if it is PC Lovell (1) from Avon & Somerset, that the claims and allegations against Sam could hold little validity, due to his past.

But please remember, we are not aware of the full story and these allegations against Sam are serious and not to be taken lightly. Racism is a serious issue and is not okay. Please take caution when approaching this issue and be kind.

The Case / The Law / Potential Imprisonment / Comments from Football Australia and her Coaches

Sam's teams original defence has been reported as this: "she didn’t intend to cause alarm, harassment or distress to the officer and that her behaviour did not amount to it and it was not racially aggravated".

If Sam is convicted, these are the laws that will be applied: "Under Section 4 or 4a of the Public Order Act 1986, under which she was charged, the racially or religiously aggravated version of an offence can attract a maximum penalty on summary conviction, which is six months imprisonment or an unlimited fine or both."

Football Australia and Matildas Coach, Tony Gustavsson have only just found out about the news at the same time that the public did. There has been talk about stripping Sam of her captaincy, but this has not come from Football Australia themselves, they have denied it.

Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, has communicated that he will not be asking Sam to stand down from her captaincy. This has been decided due to the fact that she (most likely) will not be playing for the remainder of the year as she recovers from her ACL injury.

Johnson also said this about Sam: "Sam has rights as an individual. She has pleaded not guilty. I think we need to remember that and we need to respect that.” // “I haven’t spoken to Sam other than a text message just to check in on her well being at the moment because she is an employee of ours and also a player.”

Tony Gustavsson had this to say: “I can’t comment on the offence because there’s a legal matter at this point. The only thing I can comment is my experience and interaction with Sam as a person and as a footballer, and I have only positive experience with that,”.

The Defence / Throwing the Case out

Moving onto the case itself, Sam's team is now fighting (as of the 6th of March, Australia) to get the case thrown out before it reaches the court date, which is February 3rd 2025.

On April 26th, Sam's defence team is going back into court and fighting to get the case thrown out after it took over 12 months to even lay the charge on Sam.

"Court documents released on Tuesday show their plan is to argue an abuse of process by Crown prosecutors after it took almost 12 months to lay the charge."

So until April, we most likely will not know anymore information. Again, please remain kind. These are not allegations to be taken lightly.

Hopefully this answered any questions that you had! The articles that I got this information from are linked below for your convenience.

Much love, celeste

Articles:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-06/sam-kerr-criminal-charge-no-comment-from-fa-chelsea/103550968

https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/kerr-s-legal-team-seeks-to-have-charge-dismissed-over-abuse-of-process-20240306-p5fa5b.html

https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/samantha-kerr-to-face-trial-in-england-accused-of-harassing-police-officer-report-20240305-p5f9up.html

https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/plan-to-turn-sam-kerrs-racism-saga-on-its-head-emerges/news-story/645078ee226373d13a19e84284d5958e

https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/matildas/sam-has-rights-football-aus-responds-as-matildas-coach-blindsided-by-kerr-allegation/news-story/6b1bc996c897856bb0ebd8e8f1f90038

https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/samantha-kerr-to-face-trial-in-england-accused-of-harassing-police-officer-report-20240305-p5f9up.html

#asks • . * . #sam kerr

[mingyus-blackcard]

ੈ✩‧₊ Google it ੈ✩‧₊

Pairing : Choi Seungcheol x Female reader 

Words : 0.9k

Genre : Fluff, Idol au, Hospital au

TW : Mentions of drunk car accident

Music: What is love by Twice

A/N : Got inspired by the latest controversy around Seungcheol’s military service. Let the poor guy live! He is trying his best to hide the pain from his fans! The least we can do is be understanding !

Y/N sighed, letting the nurse do her thing. It had become a routine for her over the last 3 weeks, she would come, initiate a little chat and then leave to attend to other patients. Getting into a car accident had not been in her bucket list, and on top getting rammed by a drunk driver on New Year's Eve. Somehow she only managed to came out with a broken femur and tibia, which technically means a whole broken left leg, which now led to her being on bed rest for the past 3 weeks. 

With the boredom being too much to handle, she was scrolling away time on Netflix, looking for a new series to watch when the doctor, Dr. Satur, entered probably for the daily questioning of does her leg hurt which undeniably did. 

"Hey Champ, no asking questions about your pain today."

She chuckled, "Don't tell me you are here to chit-chat with me then."

"Just here as a deliveryman. You will be starting physical rehabilitation from the evening. You need to put those legs in use."

"Sure doc, the right leg does feel left out, need to break it as well."

"Well, I don't know if I should be happy that I will be earning more or concerned that you are having such thoughts and need to be put with a psychiatrist ."

"The ethics is thrown away for the money Mr. Satur?"

The doctor just patted the quilt and walked out, knowing talking her would lead to him just digging his own grave. 

The past three weeks had been filled with misery ,yet the idea of leaving the confines of her room scared her in some way. She had  grown accustomed to speaking very little,  finding comfort in solitude.

When next morning she was wheelchaired to the rehabilitation room, she was excited and to much of her surprise, there were many securities. "Dr. Satur, am I that special that you had to bring so many bodyguards?"

The doctor gave a light chuckle and responded,"There is some celeb taking rehab for a knee injury."

Y/N jerked her head around to face the doctor and asked, "Please tell me it's Song Kang, my pookie bear, the husband of my kids ."

"Your pookie bear is not here, and why do you want him to get injured?"

"He is a demon, he will heal pretty soon." Y/N tried to reply while sounding serious but ultimately failed in doing so, making the doctor laugh along as well.

"We are here, please behave Y/N." The doctor said while handing over the wheelchair handles to the nurse.

"I always do." She replied while being rolled away to her rehab station. The nurse stopped at the waiting room and told Y/N that she would have to wait for sometime while she gets her plan sorted. 'Waiting should be my middle name by now.' She thought as the nurse went away to the administration room.

"First time?" Y/N turned around to see a guy sitting on the wheelchair, with his leg propped up. He had shaggy black hair in a mullet with doe like eyes which definitely made him attractive.

"Yeah, your too ?"

The guy shook his head, and simply put up 4 fingers. "Busted my ACL pretty good."

"Bike accident ?"

"No, well practising."

"Well I busted my leg too, car accident , typical drunk driver."

"I am sorry to hear that ."

"Don't be Mr.?"

"Seungcheol."

"Y/N".

"Seungcheol were you preparing for the civil war? Busting up your ACL while practising is new ."

"I could be an athlete, you know?"

Y/N pointed at his body, "By the looks of you, you don't have that athlete figure."

Seungcheol scoffed, "I am offended Miss Y/N."

"Truth hurts my dear friend ."

"We are friends now ?"

"Yes my dear Seugcheol, so now tell me the real reason, wait- DID YOU TEAR YOUR ACL TO ESCAPE MILIATRY !? OH MY GAWD" 

Seugcheol couldn't believe what the girl in front of him said and burst out laughing. "You really think I went to such extreme just to escape 18 months of training ?"

"Well duh."

He just smiled and replied," You are wrong my dear friend ."

"Are you some mafia boss? Got shot in the knee ?"

"You are one of those booktok girls?"

Y/N was genuinely shocked by a guy knowing what's booktok. 

"You know booktok?"

"My ex was obsessed with those smutty books, got her a book bouquet for her birthday, broke up with me the next day."

Seungcheol saw Y/N's curious eyes and before she decided to ask any further questions, 

"She cheated."

Y/N stared at the guy in front of her, jaw wide open, "ON YOU !? A GORGEOUS, HANDSOME, TALENTED GUY LIKE YOU !?"

"Thanks for the compliments but yes, she did."

"She was so dumb-"

Before she could complete her ongoing compliment shower, one of the bodyguards entered the room and presumably called the guy sitting next to her 

"Mr. Choi, the doctors are here."

He nodded and turned to the girl beside him,

"It was nice meeting you Y/N."

"Wait, are you some celeb or something?"

The guy just smirked and the bodyguard  proceeded to wheel him out. But before exiting the room, he replied,

"I don't know, Google it ."

Y/N was again left all alone, with one task in her mind,

‘Google the name Choi Seungcheol’

#seventeen x you #seventeen #seventeen imagines #seventeen reactions #seventeen x reader #seventeen fluff #seventeen carat #seventeen kpop #svt fluff #seventeen smut #svt smut #scoups #seventeen seungcheol #choi seungcheol #seungcheol x reader #seungcheol x you #seungcheol x y/n #seungcheol fluff #seungcheol fanfic #svt #cheol #seventeen scenarios #seventeen reaction #scoups fluff #scoups x you #scoups x reader #kpop #seventeen scoups

[renjunphile]

offside | lee donghyuck / haechan

⇢ word count: 16.5k ⇢ pairing: nct's lee donghyuck / haechan x female reader ⇢ tags: football!au, fluff, angst if you squint, summer romance!au ⇢ synopsis: lee donghyuck was one of south korea's brightest prospects coming into the 2018 world cup, up until a season-ending injury just days before their training camp wiped him out. you were a sports medicine and physiotherapy student excited for your summer with NCT FC, but what caught you off guard was being assigned to every step of lee donghyuck's journey to recovery.   ⇢ note: this fic is a long one that means a lot to me. before getting into kpop, i was a football fan and wrote many fics for footballers. i stopped watching and writing about football once i got into kpop, but i started this fic around 2019 and wrote maybe 5-6k before giving up and letting it sit there for 2 years. i picked it back up during the euros and i definitely did not expect for it to stretch this long. however, i lost my momentum around the end which is why there's a lot of time skips and jumps, but i really just wanted to wrap it up and give it an ending and send it out into the world. this is really more of a fic for myself, but if you would love to read it, then please go ahead and let me know your thoughts. there's also a lot of football-specific content, but i hope i explained some things. if you're confused about anything or have any feedback, please don't hesitate to message me!

INFORMATION THAT MAY BE USEFUL TO NON FOOTBALL FANS: - The World Cup happens every 4 years and in 2018, it was held in Russia - South Korea was in a group with Sweden, Mexico and Germany and pulled a shock victory over Germany, who were the winners of 2014's World Cup so, after the group stages of the tournament, Germany didn't even make it to knockouts. Neither did Korea but I mayyy change the results! - The World Cup itself lasts for about a month! But national teams train at training camps for weeks beforehand, often playing 'friendly' games with other teams (they're not friendly, they just don't count to anything) - It's quite unusual for young players to be part of the 11 that regularly plays in a team unless they're incredible - the seasoned veterans are left the task and the young players are just taken for 'experience'. Teams take 23 men to the World Cup but maybe 16 of them get regular playing time - An ACL tear is an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which affects the knee. It's one of the worst injuries a player can get and they may never truly return to the form they were in before the injury. Recovery is like 6 months or more. Typically, it takes about 1-2 years for full recovery, but football players typically take 7-12 months out ;-; Also, not all players need or choose to have surgery and they definitely do not have surgery as soon as the injury is sustained (at least a few days/weeks after to reduce swelling and can even be done after months) but for the sake of this, I chose not to follow that. - Also the Korean top division league season doesn't follow the typical European dates, but I wrote this story as if the K-league followed the usual August-May/June dates that gave the summer for the World Cup/tournaments/breaks/training

---------------------------

SET IN 2018, AGED 18

Donghyuck doesn't really remember too much from when it happened. He doesn't even really remember how it happened. One moment, he was juggling the world at his feet, eyes up, looking for his teammates, and the next? He was on the floor, able to recognise only 1 feeling: pain.

Later on, he'd be able to watch in full HD how a fight broke out immediately after, as his teammates tried to gang up on the opponent who caused him harm. He'd be able to watch as his best friend, Mark Lee, was given a red card for pushing and shoving the one who tackled Donghyuck far too violently, and he'd be able to watch how his team lost that game. It didn't matter; his team had already won the league. But the consequences of Donghyuck's injury went deeper than a lost game.

There are a few flashes he can remember- a few spots of light in the darkness that engulfed him. Donghyuck could remember how his captain, Yuta, migrated instantly to his side, leaving it to the vice-captain, and all-around giant, Johnny, to break up the fight that ensued.

He could remember how Yuta's usually hard game-day gaze melted in empathy as he examined Donghyuck's legs and met his eyes. Donghyuck could remember Yuta asking him what kind of injury it felt like, and when Donghyuck was too frozen to reply, Yuta sighed, patted his shin guard and beckoned for the paramedics to come faster.

He was stretchered out from the field alongside Mark hanging his head in shame for instigating the fight, but much later on, this picture on the TV would erupt a smile from Donghyuck and Mark alike.

It was an ACL tear. One of the worst injuries a football player could get.

Donghyuck vividly remembers this one moment as he was carted off in an ambulance to the nearest hospital. The game was still going, but Donghyuck was collapsed in the back of an ambulance, listening as the team's physiotherapist predicted the verdict.

"Don't be so down, Donghyuck. You won't miss much of next season since we just ended this season. You've got the whole summer to recover," Donhyuck noticed the way that his physiotherapist worded his phrases.

"A whole summer, in Korea, and not in Russia," the sound of his heart shattering pierced through the ambulance sirens.

"I'm really sorry, Hyuck," his physiotherapist squeezed his hand as more tears squeezed out of Donghyuck's eyes.

-

Mark Lee was the first to visit Donghyuck in the hospital when the team was given the green light to visit. The whole of NCT FC sat down at their training grounds that morning and devised a schedule for when everyone could visit Donghyuck so that he wasn't too overwhelmed with visitors. Of course, his best friend, Mark Lee, was at the top of the list.

"How're you doing, Hyuck?" Mark asked gently, placing the bouquet of sunflowers on a table near the window of the hospital suite. He also placed Donghyuck's favourite chocolate bar on the bedside table.

"Fine," Donghyuck murmured, "Shouldn't you be on a plane to Austria?

Mark gives him another smile, "Head Coach Shin gave us an extra 2 days to get there. He told me yesterday he'd call soon."

"He already has," Donghyuck states.

Mark bites his lip in contemplation as to whether he should even ask, "Oh yeah? What'd he say?"

"He says he feels sorry that I couldn't make it to the World Cup this summer and that he wishes I could have since he was excited to utilise me. He told me that next time-" Hyuck pauses as his words get clogged up in his throat, "Next time, I'll lead Korea into glory."

"And you will, Hyuck," Mark pats his leg, "I'm really sorry you can't make it there with us. I guess the world isn't ready for you yet. The European and South Americans can have their final chance to gain victory since next time, you'll win the tournament by yourself with your free kicks alone!"

"Mark, stop," Donghyuck's voice wavered, "I appreciate it, but God, Mark- it hurts. We're supposed to do this together. You and me. We joined the academy together, we broke into the professional team together, we broke into the first team together and we were meant to be going to Russia together. Coach said he wanted to use me for the team. That I was in his first 11 plans. Do you know how rare that is, Mark? For an 18-year-old to be playing regular minutes at the World Cup?"

"I know, Hyuck, I know Hyuck, and I'm sorry we can't go to Russia together," Mark decided to shorten his words, not wanting to upset the boy more and instead just be with him.

Donghyuck pressed his lips together and looked away from Mark, "Tell everyone to dedicate their goals to me, okay?"

A small grin had begun to grow upon Mark's face, who ruffled Donghyuck's head in affection, "And every tackle too."

"Every yellow and red card too," Mark beamed.

Donghyuck scoffed, folding his arms, "Maybe yellow but I'm not gonna be responsible for Doyoung's anger issues."

Kim Doyoung was one of the elder members of the team, one of a group who had practically raised Donghyuck, Mark and the rest of the younger players. Although Doyoung was incredibly sweet, mature and kind with a tendency to adopt the mother role in the squad, the minute an opposition did something wrong by him, he transformed into a completely different person as a means of defence.

Mark stayed for a few hours longer, not saying too much and definitely not talking about the impending World Cup. He left at night, citing that he had some important thing to do, but Hyuck knew he was just last-minute packing for Russia, unlike Hyuck who had packed for the World Cup weeks ago and yet would never use the suitcases in the corner of his bedroom.

The next day, his teammates that were on the South Korean National Team visited. All of them packed into a room and made Donghyuck feel a little bit lighter. They themselves didn't mention the World Cup once and instead chose to relive their worst injuries just to brighten Donghyuck's mindset, which was of one thinking his career was over. Johnny and Taeil had both suffered ACL tears too, and they were playing perfectly fine and Doyoung had had surgery before and he too was playing amazing. At some point, Taeyong and Jungwoo FaceTimed Hyuck from Jaehyun's phone in the room and Hyuck had to pretend to miss the Austrian mountains behind their faces from the training camp before Russia.

Taeyong and Jungwoo were ex-NCT FC players, who had ventured out of the continent to play for top-class teams. Taeyong was NCT FC's ex-captain who had just ended his first season abroad at Real Madrid in Spain and felt terrible about how the boy he had practically raised couldn't make it to Russia (there were a lot of tears for a few minutes) and Jungwoo was a good friend he made in the reserve team who was one of the star players for Chelsea, in England.

The day after that, his team captain Yuta visited with their Chinese teammates of Kun, Lucas, Ten and WinWin. Yuta wasn't due to Japan's training camp for another day, while the Chinese National Team didn't qualify for the World Cup. At least he wasn't going to be all alone in Seoul for the summer. They gave him a lot of motivational talks and made him promise not to give up on his World Cup dream.

Then, his other best friends visited. Chenle, Jisung and Jeno were all on the B-team for NCT FC, which was understandable since they were young with Jisung even only being 16. Jaemin and Renjun were ex-academy players for NCT FC and were scouted to play for Borussia Dortmund in Germany, where they were killing it and racking up minutes under their belts in a top league at such a young age. They had arrived in Seoul the day before and arrived to the hospital suite with a myriad of German and European snacks. All of them wept together by the end, squeezing each other tightly and promising they'd all be at the next World Cup together (they prayed for a miracle to happen to the Chinese National Team first for this to happen).

By the end of the visitations, Hyuck had been distracted from his injury a little, and it was only when his physiotherapist came in with an anticipating grin that the world came crashing around him and his lonely, vacant hospital room.

-

"Lee Donghyuck, huh?" you flip through his file, grimacing at the injury description in bold just above a list of all his achievements, "It's a shame."

"We were rooting for him. He's South Korea's most hopeful prodigy and we wanted to show off his skill on the world stage. There is no doubt that offers from the European powers would come in quickly after seeing how he plays. Barcelona offered £20 million for him two months ago, but if he had been in Russia? You could quadruple that price," the team's physiotherapist hummed as he pulled into the parking lot of the hospital.

"He's my little brother's idol," you chuckle, "Can you believe it? He's 18 and has fans. Is he that good?"

"One of the best young stars I've ever seen, to be honest," he replied, "We don't like to tell him as to not boost his ego. I'm really devastated for him."

"Oh well. South Korea has a tough group this year anyway," you shrugged, closing the file, "I can't imagine South Korea beating Germany."

"But Donghyuck is the player that can change the game in one second. I see a lot of Yuta and Taeyong in him. Last summer, the club had a pre-season friendly with Real Madrid. Yuta was on vacation and Taeyong was nursing an injury, but other than that, we had our full 11 and so did they. You know, Ramos and Kroos and everything.  Good players, right? Incredible. We were losing by 2 at halftime. Donghyuck was brought on at the 60th minute and scored 3 goals by himself in 30 minutes against some of the best defenders in the world," he recounted, "You never know how Russia could go if Donghyuck was there."

Your heart falls listening to the physiotherapist, Kim Junghwan, rave about the newest star of NCT FC and the future of South Korean football. You're not a football player nor a crazy ultra, but you were an avid watcher and you do know that the World Cup is one of the most, if not the most, important tournaments in the game. You'll never be forgotten if you make your mark at the World Cup.

"Hey, at least he has an Olympic gold medal," you had read that feat on his sheet, "Exempt from military service right?"

"Oh yeah, the Olympics 2 years ago," Junghwan recalls fondly, "Only under-21s could play in the Olympics and Donghyuck, Jeno, Mark and Jaemin killed it there. NCT FC is lucky to have them."

"Jaemin?"

"Yeah, he used to play for the B-team until a club in Germany, Borussia Dortmund, scouted him. If he didn't go, he'd definitely be the future of NCT FC, but he did tell me that he at least wants to retire here like Taeyong said he'll do too. I think he's just waiting for the older generation, like Yuta and Ten, to start slowing down or transfer because if he stayed, he wouldn't have gotten regular minutes."

"But playing in Europe is any footballer's dream right?" you frown.

"I guess, but NCT FC is a family. All our players now? We raised them up from the ground. All their hearts are in Seoul," Junghwan states proudly, "I just said Barcelona offered for Hyuck, right? The club almost went through with it, but Donghyuck refused it. He refused one of the best teams in the world because he wants to develop here. He's attached."

"Wow," you uttered, impressed at his commitment and growing sadder at his injury, "I can't wait to meet him."

"He's a nice boy."

-

Walking into his hospital room, you were nervous. Of course you were! You were about to meet one of Korea's top stars who was in a very vulnerable and sensitive place in his life, dealing with his first major injury. Sports stars suffered injuries all the time, but it was very rare for it to be as serious as it was, and it was very unlucky for Donghyuck to suffer such a grave injury so early to his career and right before one of the most important summers of his life.

"Hey Hyuck, are you ready to start rehabilitation today?" Junghwan chimed gleefully.

You shut the white door behind you and examined the surroundings. Donghyuck was watching on the portable TV, encased in white walls made brighter by the heaps of balloons, flowers and decorations people had brought him. He sure was popular.

Donghyuck was about to respond as cheerily as he could muster (which wasn't very) but he immediately noticed you behind his familiar physio. His eyes shifted between the two of you and his brows pulled towards his eyes in confusion.

"Oh, this is Y/N. She's just finished her first year of sports medicine at SNU with a focus on physical therapy and rehabilitation," Junghwan explained, "You know that we take in some college students every summer for placement and experience so Y/N will be assisting me all summer in helping you."

The face that Donghyuck had made was one you hadn't expected, "Seriously? Hyung-nim, my injury is so serious! I need to recover in 6 months for the Asian Cup at least if I can't make it to the Olympics. I can't have some first-year college student who doesn't even have a degree yet treat me like her doll to play with!"

"Yah! Lee Donghyuck!" Junghwan exclaimed in displease, "What is wrong with you? I've never seen you act like this! Apologise right now!"

"Why do I need to apologise?" he screeched back, "I'm protecting myself because my whole entire career is on the line!"

"It will be on the line when I tell the head coach you're acting like this and CEO Lee Sooman hears of the way you're acting to someone who wants to help you," Junghwan fought back, "Y/N is incredibly smart and incredibly capable. Hyuck, I care about you and I want you to recover as fast as well, so I would not bring Y/N with me if I didn't think she could help."

"Hyung," Donghyuck groaned out, "Hyung, I need to recover. I need to."

You were stood there in front of the door paralysed as you watched Donghyuck turn into a suddenly angry, arrogant football star into a vulnerable, shaking mess of a teenager. You read the room quickly, judging by the gifts piled up all around the room.

For the past few days that he'd been confined to the hospital room, he had been playing optimistic and happy with any teammate and friend that walked through the doors. He had been putting on shaky smiles to his teammates, assuring them that he would get over this blip in his career successfully when his mind was full of doubts and negative thoughts.

"You're Lee Donghyuck. Of course, you'll recover," Junghwan was brushing the hair that had flopped over Donghyuck's face away and the endearing site caused you to shake out of your frozen statute, "You're the boy who single-handedly defeated the best team in the world-"

"After NCT FC," Donghyuck sniffled.

"After NCT FC," Junghwan chuckled, "And you're Lee Donghyuck who scored the winning goal at 16 in the Olympic final against Neymar's Brazil. You're Lee Donghyuck who shocked the world by refusing Barcelona because you're wise and loyal. You're Lee Donghyuck who is Korea's present and future."

The boy seemed to calm down, but he still wasn't acknowledging you.

"So, Lee Donghyuck, I'm going to leave you here with Y/N and get some food from the cafeteria. You're going to apologise like the nice boy I know you are and we're going to get you started on your rehab," Junghwan broke out slowly, "Okay, Hyuck?"

Donghyuck's warm, teary eyes fluttered over to you before he reluctantly nodded, "Okay. Can you get me some chocolate milk please?"

You let a little sound reminiscent of a giggle through your lips, but Donghyuck hadn't noticed.

"Just this once," Junghwan teased, "Now, apologise."

He quickly left the room and you were left all alone with the boy that has kind-of slandered you just moments earlier.

Donghyuck was squinting at you, and you felt conscious, not knowing if his nice act was all that you thought- just an act. He tilted his head like a puppy, and you could admit that he was cute, "So, are you my noona?"

You grin, "You're not the only prodigy around here, Lee Donghyuck. I finished high school a year early so we're the same age."

He nodded slowly, "Impressive. I guess I'm sorry for the way I lashed out, then."

You took a seat at the chair beside his hospital bed (which was king-sized), "You don't have to be sorry. I understand. If I were in your position, I would be sceptical of me, but please learn to trust me. I know what I'm doing if I do say so myself."

"I'll warm up to you," he presses his lips together in a tight smile, "Hopefully."

"Hopefully."

-

Donghyuck's stay in the hospital after his knee surgery was only meant to be for a week, but considering he was now living alone since Mark had left to prepare for the tournament, no one could take care of him all the time and his family had lives too. That was why the hospital, the club and Donghyuck all agreed on Donghyuck staying for a little longer until he was off crutches and just in a brace, which could take maybe a month, and stronger.

To be fair, Donghyuck had everything in that hospital room. He had WiFi, he had a king-sized bed, he had 24-hour medical care at the press of a button and a 24-hour food supply, even if it was sub-par, bland hospital food. His hospital suite, funded by the club, was twice as big as his room in the apartment he shared with Mark, and it was a lot cleaner.

On the fourth day that you got to the hospital, Junghwan ran a little behind and asked you to walk with Hyuck for a little while around the hospital. However, when you arrived, you quickly picked up on the various voices emitting noise outside his door- he must have had guests.

Reluctantly, you rapped at the door and entered, seeing 3 people in the room.

"Oh, Y/N! I was just telling them about you," Donghyuck greeted you, gesturing to the 3 boys, "These are Jeno, Jaemin and Renjun."

"Hi, I'm Y/N," you smiled politely, "Donghyuck if you're busy I can come back later?"

"No, no. It's fine. Where's Junghwan-hyung?" Donghyuck asked.

"He's running a little late but he asked me to take you on a walk around the hospital or something."

The one you thought was Renjun giggled, "You're like a dog, Hyuck."

"Jaemin, get me my crutches. I'm going to beat Renjun up with them," Donghyuck deadpanned before turning to you, "Yeah, let's go. Let's all walk to the cafeteria; I'm starving."

Jaemin handed the crutches over to Donghyuck as Renjun recoiled away, in fear of just in case Donghyuck would actually hit him (he wouldn't put it past him). You turned to the unfamiliar boy beside you; you hadn't heard his name up to now. You hadn't met Na Jaemin before but Junghwan had noted before who he was.

"Are you a footballer too?" you smiled towards the boy.

"Yeah, I also used to play for NCT FC in the youth squads, but I'm over in Germany with Jaemin these days," Renjun said proudly, "I'm also Chinese, by the way, but I grew up here."

"Your Korean is amazing," you complimented as Donghyuck began hobbling out of the door, "Donghyuck stop putting so much pressure on your other leg. Your injured leg can still hold some of you and use the crutches properly please."

He turned back to you, squinted his eyes and stuck his tongue out at you before huffing and following your orders.

"Y/N, you must be so smart," Jaemin grinned at you, appearing on your other side while Jeno walked up ahead, "Finishing high school a year early and being at university already. We're all the same age here."

"You seem even smarter because Jaemin is failing all of his classes right now," Renjun snorted.

"Hey! It's really hard getting your high school diploma while playing for a huge team abroad and learning German too," Jaemin whined, "We can't all speak a billion languages! Hyuck dropped out of high school ages ago- at least I tried!"

"He did?" you murmured.

"It's not like he needs it," Renjun shrugged, "He'll get a trillion-dollar transfer offer soon, I think. What happens to us if we fail? I mean, I know me and Nana got scouted but there's always that possibility. With Hyuck, it was all or nothing and we couldn't talk him out of it."

"Is there anywhere he wants to go especially?" you asked, curious to know more about the boy you were gonna help treat for the next few months. Donghyuck seemed oblivious, having a loud, animated conversation with Jeno up ahead.

"If it was his choice, and the best choice for his career, he'd stay," Jaemin answered, "But Europe is where the money's at. Donghyuck doesn't even care about money, but people are willing to pay big money for him and eventually, the club will have to do it. The club's a business at the end of the day. I'd love to have him at Dortmund, but they don't do big money moves; they only ever receive the big money."

"I'd like to think he'll enjoy it in England," Renjun added, "Or Spain, actually. Maybe with Taeyong-hyung at Madrid."

"I don't think he'd ever leave Mark though. It's probably a clause in his contract that Mark has to come with him if any club wants him," Jaemin continued, "But Mark and Hyuck are electric together. Clubs probably would want them both."

"I haven't met Mark," you smiled fondly at how much Hyuck raved about his best friend, "But I feel like I have."

"Yah, you three are so slow," Donghyuck stopped and whined, "What are you even gossiping about?"

"You," Jaemin quipped, "I'm telling Y/N about that time when we went to Jeju and you-"

Donghyuck made the motion to swing snd throw his crutches and Jaemin yelled out and cowered away.

"Don't. You. Dare." Donghyuck threatened through gritted teeth, "Ya, Y/N come in the elevator with me. The rest of you- wait until it comes again or take the stairs."

The three boys groaned in protest and began talking at once, to which Donghyuck shushed them firmly before beckoning you into the open elevator and waiting for the lift to close.

You looked at him, puzzled, "We all could have fit."

"I know," he smirked, "Do you find either of them attractive? Nana and Renjun? They've taken a liking to you it seems."

Your face contorted into a mix between confusion and bewilderment, "We've had 1 conversation together!"

"Yeah but girls like Nana a lot," Donghyuck shrugged, "Nana's flirty and Renjun has some weird spell he casts over girls. But don't do it- they live so far and the time difference is hard to keep up with. We can barely hold proper conversations."

"I'm not about to date your teammates right now, Donghyuck," rolling your eyes in humour.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" he pressed.

"Well, no, but-"

"Then be careful. Na Jaemin is lethal," he snarled jokingly, "They might be around a lot this summer. Nana and Renjun and Jeno chose not to go anywhere this summer, even before I got injured. They might've gone over to Russia to catch a few games, but other than that, those losers wanted to come home and kick it back here in Seoul. Wouldn't put it past them to be kicking a ball about in a random park somewhere on sunny days. Anyway, do you know when hyung is gonna be here and what we're gonna do?"

"He said he was gonna run an hour late," you shrugged, "And I think just your basic stretches and practising walking like now to get your strength back up, which is the main thing."

He sighed as the elevator doors parted, "It's gonna be a long summer, Y/N-ah."

-

Donghyuck wasn't having one of his better days. Today, he was groaning and non-compliant and whiny. You guessed that it was because you were progressing into the next phase- walking without the support of crutches around 2 weeks after the surgery.

"It hurts," he hissed, throwing himself onto his bed, "I don't want to do this anymore."

Junghwan patted him on the back as he sat back up, "I know Hyuck, but we really need you off the crutches. I know you're strong enough too. Do you want to break up for lunch now?"

You glanced up to the clock that read about half-past 12. Usually, Donghyuck got hungry around 1, so it wasn't such a strange time. The footballer sighed and nodded, "Are we going out for lunch today again?"

Junghwan chuckled, "You're complaining about exercising and doing your stretches to get off your crutches yet you'd go out for lunch?"

"But food," Donghyuck humphed, "The temporary pain it'll bring me to walk to the car and to the restaurant will be alleviated by the food. But I guess you could go grab the lunch and we could eat here?"

"I'm not your personal assistant Donghyuck," Junghwan caught his glance to you, "And neither is Y/N. I'll go get lunch for us, but I'm picking. No fighting kids."

You bid a quick goodbye to Junghwan, offering him some money to which he refused and then you were suddenly left in a silent room with the boy.

"Did you watch the match against Sweden last night?" Donghyuck began, readjusting himself on his bed so that he was sat up with the top half of the bed supporting him.

"Yeah, it was a good game."

You still veered on the fence of cautious around Donghyuck about the World Cup, because you still hadn't fully gauged his feelings about not being there. It was obvious that he had been upset about it primarily, but you weren't sure if he had yet accepted it and taken it in his stride to get better and just focus on that while supporting them. He seemed in fine spirits anyway, other than the newfound stress that his knee was undergoing.

"Oh c'mon Y/N," he rolled his eyes playfully, "I know you like football. I heard from Junghwan that the physio students could choose which sport they wanted to intern with this summer."

You laughed, relaxing in your seat, "Taeyong did score a really good goal, I must admit."

"I bet we're going to beat Germany," he chided, "Imagine how amazing it would feel to beat the current World Cup winners. I FaceTimed Mark in the dressing room after the game and they're so pumped up! Coach is happy with the 2-0 win."

"Johnny made really good saves last night to keep that clean sheet," you nodded, recalling how the goalkeeper had saved a penalty that one of the centre-backs clumsily gave away.

"To think he almost played for America," Donghyuck chided as he crossed his arms, "He wouldn't have half the talent in the team with him. Anyway, did you see how angry Jaehyun-hyung got when Rowoon-hyung made that tackle against the other team?"

"It was kind of scary, but at least Johnny's a great keeper," you recalled, "Rowoon doesn't play for NCT FC right?"

"He plays for a different club in Spain. I can't remember which," he shrugged.

Over the past 2 weeks, Donghyuck had warmed up to you as he had hoped, and you found that there wasn't a single flash of that boy that had snapped when you first came into the room. He was truly incredibly sweet and cheeky and determined to get back to playing, most of the time. He was still an 18-year-old boy, so you gave him some passes on a few tantrums, given that he was injured. Other than that, he made great company on your breaks and made nice conversation. He always asked you questions as if he was genuinely interested in what you learn and what you want to do. To be fair, he had told you that he stopped receiving proper full-time education by the time he was 15 to focus fully on his career, so he lived the university and high school life vicariously through the stories you told. You found it endearing- how not self-absorbed you originally were scared he might be.

"Y/N. Y/N. Y/N-ahhhhh," he whined, recapturing your drifting attention.

"Oh, I zoned out."

"Duh," he joked, "What do you think my prognosis is looking like?"

You chose your words carefully, "Well, I'm not a doctor, but I've sat in some of the meetings with the club and hospital doctors and physios-"

"And I wasn't invited?" he shrieked.

You shot him a pointed look, "We're probably talking at least 6 months out. It's not the severest case NCT FC has seen, but severe enough to constitute a surgery. You'll hopefully be back after the winter break."

Donghyuck winced, thinking about the ACL tear that kept Taeil out of the squad for a whole season in the first season that Donghyuck played with the first team, "Why does it feel like there's a but?"

"But it all depends on how hard you work for it," you sighed, "And how your body responds. It's under a lot of stress with all of this. It's your first major injury."

"I'm determined," he huffed, "There's nothing else I want more in the world than to be back out there. Football's my first love. Fuck the World Cup, fuck the league. I just want to know that I'll still be able to play in any capacity."

"Don't be dramatic, Donghyuck," you laughed, patting the cast, "You'll be okay."

He looked up to you with his large, glittering eyes as you towered above him after getting up from your chair, "I trust you."

His words sat a little funny in your stomach, but you just gave him a tight smile and prayed for Junghwan to return a little quicker.

-

You rubbed your eyes as your other hand reached up to the door to knock, "Donghyuck, it's Y/N," you called softly as you then pushed open the door.

He was fully off crutches now, but still in the hospital room for at least a week longer to ensure he was settled with the new phase of physical therapy. You didn't see him every day, though he did take up a large majority of the time you spent at your placement with NCT FC, considering he had the most serious injury. Even still, your placement was with the club and not with Lee Donghyuck, so you spent around 1 or 2 days a week at the club with the other physiotherapists and players, and 3 days assisting Junghwan with Donghyuck. Even Junghwan didn't see Donghyuck every day and just trusted that he followed the recommended exercises and instructions for rehabilitation.

Today was one of the days that Junghwan was at the club with the other players, but he had asked you to be with Donghyuck today to just monitor him as he could not come in a couple of days before.

You were surprised to walk into a dim room, with blinds drawn and no noise other than the air conditioning whirring. You frowned as usually by 9 AM, Donghyuck was bright and cheery and it was already 10:30 AM.

Donghyuck's top half was curled and cuddling a pillow adorably, but his bottom half remained straight and still, restricted by the thick brace hugging his knee. The duvet was pulled up to just above his nose and you could hear his deep breaths as you approached.

He looked really peaceful- really calm; a stark contrast to his stitched eyebrows and frustrated expressions as you and Junghwan continued to push him harder as per his rehabilitation plan. You hated to wake him up, but you gently gripped his shoulders and lightly shook, "Donghyuck, wake up. It's Y/N."

You repeated this a couple more times until he drew in a sharp breath and stirred. Light sleepy groans came out of his mouth as the duvet slipped past his chin. He continued shuffling before his eyes fluttered open, "Y/N? What are you doing here? Isn't it yours and Junghwan's day at the club?"

"You just have me today. I didn't come in the other day remember? On my other day at the club? So he asked me to come in today here instead of at the facility," you explained slowly as you watched him wake to consciousness.

"Yay," he smiled, still sleepy. You thought his messy hair and tired eyes were adorable.

"Why are you still asleep? I'm not saying you can't but usually, you're up and ready to go by the time we get here in the morning," you queried.

"Up all night until 3 or 4," he clicked a button on his remote that caused the bed to move upwards so he could sit up, "Match was at midnight, then Taeyong-hyung called me and I talked with everyone for a bit."

"Oh my God, I completely forgot. I was too tired to stay up and watch and I forgot to check the score this morning," you gasped, "How did we do?"

"Childsplay," a grin took over his face, "3-0 to us courtesy of a Jaehyun-hyung header, a tap-in from Mark and then a screamer from Jungwoo. You have to watch the highlights, Y/N! In fact, I'll get it up for you while I go brush my teeth and change."

Before you could even protest, Donghyuck had pulled his laptop from the bedside table, opened it and loaded up the match highlights. He looked up at you with those big, puppy-like brown eyes that you had gotten used to over the past few weeks, "Sit," he commanded, patting his bed while he whipped off the duvet and wiggled to get out.

He saw your hesitation and narrowed his eyes at you, "Don't get shy now, Y/N-ah. You're just sitting on my bed."

You hid the warmth rising to your cheeks and obeyed, taking the laptop from his grip as he got up and placing it on the bed as he walked to the toilet. He was right- it seemed like a great game from South Korea as you expected. The highlights not only showed the goals (it was indeed a screamer from Jungwoo into the top left corner) but also Johnny's phenomenal saves.

By the end of the 7 minutes of highlights, Donghyuck was freshly changed (when did he take his clothes out of his wardrobe?), with brushed teeth, a washed face and combed hair. You liked the messy hair anyway.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"I think that Germany has it cut out for them for the match in 4 days," you nodded, proudly, "Considering they lost their opening game, I think that South Korea has a really good chance of topping the group."

Donghyuck's bright smile blinded you, "I'm so proud of them. I knew this was our summer."

You held your breath, waiting for even the slightest of inclinations that sadness was about to overcome him, but that moment never came. Donghyuck puffed up his chest and carried the pride of his nation as he folded his laptop away and looked at you expectantly, "Let's go get breakfast in the canteen? Have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet," you uttered, still anticipating his smile to even drop.

But instead, he grinned wider and hooked his arm around yours, "Then let's go down!"

Lee Donghyuck was constantly surprising you with his sunshine personality and positive outlook despite this whole situation being the worst thing that's ever happened to him. You kind of admired him a lot for it.

When you opened the door, you were met with surprise as a giant loomed over you, with a fist raised that was about to knock.

"Oh," he said, also surprised, "Who are you?"

"Yukhei!," Donghyuck exclaimed, "You didn't tell me you were coming! And this is Y/N, Junghwan's student this summer. Haven't you seen her around the club?"

"I've been on vacation," he explained, "It's nice to meet you Y/N! I'm Lucas or Yukhei- your choice."

You smiled back and replied the same, looking him up and down and noting his muscly arms and tanned skin that indicated a few weeks out sunbathing on yachts and white sand beaches.

"We were about to go down for breakfast. Did you wanna come?"

"Oh I'm starving!" he grinned, "Hyuck, are you okay walking? Do you have to hold on to Y/N still while walking? Where are your crutches?"

Donghyuck visibly recoiled, slipping his arm from yours and sighed, "No, I'm off crutches now. I was just dragging Y/N to the canteen. Where did you go on vacation?"

"I spent a week visiting my family in Hong Kong then like a week in the Maldives with a few friends," Lucas replied, "It was really nice and so hot."

"Looks like it! Your tan looks so nice and I literally look like a raw pastry," Hyuck whined, "I need to get out more."

"You're the one that doesn't wanna go on our walks outside and would rather do laps around the hospital corridors," you teased.

He sneered playfully, "But it's hot!"

"You're stupid," Lucas nudged him softly as you packed into the elevator.

Eventually, the three of you found yourselves in the familiar canteen, where Donghyuck sat himself down on an inconspicuous table neither in the middle nor too close to the door. You usually got the meals both for him and for you, just because Donghyuck found the queue clunky and awkward with his large cast and one time, a kid had quite literally crashed into Donghyuck excitedly and caused a crash that sent apples and bread flying everywhere.

"Do you get his breakfast for him?" Lucas asked you, "I'll get food with you."

You indicated to Donghyuck that you were going to get the food and he just made a noise of acknowledgement before dropping his head onto the table.

Lucas grabbed a tray and walked a half step behind, "Did Hyuck say you're working with Junghwan? So you're the resident physio student this year?"

"Yeah- I study sports medicine with a focus on rehabilitation and physical therapy. I was always gonna be at NCT FC this summer, but it just made the summer all the more interesting working with Junghwan on an ACL recovery case. Obviously, I'm not glad it happened to him," you nodded, grabbing items off the food shelves.

"No, I get you. That's pretty beneficial to you, but obviously not to Hyuck. Do you come by the club?" he was a pretty conversational guy, even when scanning the breakfast items with focus.

"Usually twice a week, so I'll see you there when you train?"

"Of course. You can come and get lunch with me at the club too; I'll treat you," he grinned, making your face heat up from his tone, "I'll never complain having lunch with a pretty and intelligent girl."

You were back by the table by the time he had finished his sentence. Donghyuck had found the strength in him to lift his face from the cream table and was now sitting with a scowl on his face.

"She's here with us to learn and gain experience this summer, Yukhei," Donghyuck stated. You couldn't place the tone of his voice- whether he was serious or not, "Not get a boyfriend."

"Hey," Lucas smirked, "There's no harm in making friends, Hyuck. You should try it sometime."

"I have plenty of friends," Donghyuck huffed, stabbing his spoon into the porridge you had bought him, "Thanks Y/N."

You didn't reply, dumbfounded by the slight tension in the air between the two.

Thankfully, it didn't carry on for much longer after you moved the conversation to the matches they had watched during the World Cup. The two were obviously in their comfort zone talking about football- so much so that any tension dissipated almost instantly once Lucas started talking about France and Croatia and Belgium looking strong.

Eventually, after the three of you returned to Donghyuck's suite, Lucas excused himself to head to training for the first time after his vacation. Donghyuck had pouted, wishing to be back at the training grounds, but you had reminded him that he was going to return to the training grounds the following day to start sport-focused rehabilitation.

"Do you like Lucas?" Donghyuck had asked you once the tall boy had left.

"Are you going to ask me if I'm going to fall in love with your friends every time I meet one of them?" you rebounded, "I just met the guy."

"Lucas' effect on girls is like Jaemin's but on crack," Donghyuck snorted, "Have you seen the guy?"

"Okay, so you date him then. So what if I get lunch with Lucas and get closer to him?"

"You can't date him," he huffed. Donghyuck pouted often; you were used to it by now.

"Why not?"

"So you want to?"

"I didn't say that. But why not? Or any of your teammates. I don't officially work for the club. I'm only here this summer."

"But you're mine," he whined.

Now that knocked the wind out of you. What did he just say? Your pupils were dilated and your cheeks pink as you took in what he said.

Donghyuck coughed, then scrambled to correct himself, "I mean, you're my physiotherapist. Well, you spend the most time with me and what if you fall in love with one of my friends and you won't care about me and you won't help me get better."

You interrupted your silence with a light chuckle, "My main focus this summer is helping Junghwan, so that includes helping you. And you know I'm not doing much for you like Junghwan and the doctors and other health professionals are. I'm just here to remind you to stretch and walk and force you to not give up."

He crossed his arms, "But without you, I wouldn't do those things."

You nudged him playfully, "You've got me all summer long, Hyuck."

-

You couldn't believe you were doing this. Not at all. Sure, no rules were broken by the simple act of you standing on the doormat outside of Donghyuck and Mark's apartment, but it still felt wrong.

"You're here!" Jaemin exclaimed loudly as the door swung open. He took the drinks from your hands and ushered you in.

Even from down the corridor when you exited the elevator you could hear the ruckus in the apartment. It wasn't a surprise that 6 boys packed together in a small apartment were noisy and excitable. After all, South Korea were playing the current World Cup champions.

"Y/N!" they all exclaimed in unison. You sat on the space Donghyuck had patted and motioned for you to sit in- right beside him.

"Oh, this is Chenle and Jisung. They're babies," Donghyuck pointed at the two younger boys that you hadn't met yet.

"I've met them at the club," you reminded him, saying hi to the boys, "What's with him?" you nodded over to Renjun who was pouting with his arms crossed, watching the pre-match commentary.

"He's still deciding who to support. He's not Korean and he doesn't play in Korea but he plays in Germany and he plays with a bunch of the German players, like Reus," Jeno explained from the other side of you.

"You're a traitor if you support Germany," Jisung jabbed playfully.

Renjun let out a long groan and threw a pillow at the pink-haired boy, "I just won't be on either team. If only China qualified."

"And who's fault is that?" Jaemin snorted.

"Hey, at least we actually play for the national team!" Chenle cried out, huffing and pouting like his countryman.

China didn't hadn't had the greatest reputation in terms of international football- at least not in the last few years. It was definitely still a lot more hopeful more recently, with a sudden sprout of young and talented players being cultivated abroad.

"Shut up! It's starting!" Hyuck yelled, silencing the room as you all watched the players walk out of the tunnel.

Donghyuck had invited you over to watch the match with him and his friends, though the invitation was encouraged by his friends who had taken a liking to you at the training grounds. You had almost declined, given that the match was at 11 PM and would go on late into the night, but you didn't have any other plans and were most likely going to watch alone, so you accepted and offered to buy drinks.

"Taeyong-hyung looks nervous," Jeno noted, examining the tight expression on the national team captain's sharp features.

"They're all nervous," Donghyuck added, "Germany got to the semi-finals at the Euros and they're still a strong team no matter what."

"So are we," Jaemin exhaled.

You could sense how the nervousness in the players' faces reflected onto the expressions of the boys in the room with you. How could it not? These people they were watching play were their best friends, colleagues, brothers, captains and teammates.

You weren't going to lie; your stomach was churning.

The whole match was tense, for you and the boys and the players on the field. It was surprising, though- Germany just couldn't get the ball in the back of the net. Header after header and volley after volley, the ball just wouldn't slip past Johnny Suh, who caught, punched and kicked every ball away. You could practically hear the whole nation crying out in relief every time he dived and slapped away the ball. Even though Germany were tall, they were no match for Johnny.

You knew the Korean team were great- you watched them so often, but you hadn't had the chance to see them in action against the big European sides before since they more often played their games with the AFC nations, so you weren't sure where to place them in world standings. Of course, you wanted them to win and of course, you wanted to feel the pride surging in you for a few games more, but you were nervous coming into the game.

"What happens if we lose?" Jeno had gulped in the 90th minute, seeing the heaps of extra time added on, "We still go through, right?"

"Yeah, but it's just that we have to play Brazil next since we'll go through as second place. It's ideal to win so we can play Switzerland instead in the round of 16," Jaemin explained, "I'm nervous."

"Quiet," Donghyuck's voice was commandeering as he watched Mark line up the ball at the corner flag and look up to scope his prospects.

You all watched eagerly. It was as if everyone sensed something was going to happen. That's what it felt like. It was the 92nd minute- 2 minutes into extra time, but you still felt like the game had a lot more to give. It wasn't going to end in a draw- you knew that much.

And in a flash of the sound of the ball being kicked and another thud of the ball hitting a skull, you blinked and opened your eyes to the ball in the back of the net and the 6 boys around you screaming and jumping. You were frozen to your seat as Donghyuck grabbed your arm and shook it- he couldn't quite jump with the boys with the restriction around his knee.

Jaehyun had started running, arms spread towards the Korean end of the stands, but he had been halted by a flag being raised and an uproar of boos by the Korean fans.

"What's happening? Jisung cried out desperately.

"The ref's motioning to check VAR," Renjun furrowed his eyebrows, "It might've been offside."

The boys started groaning, calling out profanities towards the situation as the incident of Jaehyun's flick from Mark's corner replayed with a focus on the ball's course to Jaehyun's feet at the far end of the post.

You all watched in anticipation as you watched the replay. It was as clear as day that the ball struck the floor and hit Niklas Süle's feet before it ended up miraculously at Jaehyun. All Jaehyun had to do was adjust and kick it past Manuel Neuer, who was too close to Jaehyun to adequately save it. The referee blew his whistle, indicating that he indeed was awarding the goal to South Korea, and the players all rushed onto the field, including all those on the bench. The 6 of you celebrated like Jaehyun had just scored again and the adrenaline was pumping through intensely.

"Oh my God, they're going through to the round of 16!" you exclaimed, "Oh my God!"

"They deserve this so much," Jeno smiled emotionally. Even Renjun seemed like his heart was gonna burst from pride, watching the boys who raised him celebrate like that.

But it wasn't over. Germany was desperate. They were bullying the South Korean's off the ball, and aggressively making half-hearted attempts at shooting, to no avail. They were never going to score that way- it was too angry the way they played.

By the 96th minute, just as the match was about to end, Manuel Neuer took his sweeper-keeper role to the extreme and dashed past the halfway line. He was playing as a midfielder- not even a defender! What was unfortunate for Germany was that Kim Doyoung caught wind of this and launched the ball at his feet all the way forwards to end up in front of Lee Taeyong. The defender guarding Taeyong cursed everyone and their families in his head as he knew that he could never match the speed of the blonde-haired boy. With a casual side knock, the ball hit the back of the net and the Korean players had collapsed onto the ground and were thanking the heavens. The referee eventually put Germany out of their misery and blew the whistle.

The 6 of you were celebrating as if South Korea had won the whole tournament, but this was enough. The non-European and non-Americas teams rarely made it out of the group stage, and South Korea hadn't been great since 3 tournaments ago when they placed 4th in 2002. Korea were the underdogs to the whole world after it was revealed they were in a group with Germany, but the team just proved the whole world wrong and made their entire country proud.

"I can't believe this," Donghyuck had said in awe beside you, "I'm so happy."

The camera panned to Mark sat cross-legged on the floor, looking up at the fans in the stadium. Johnny had approached, hugging the boy and chucking him a red jersey. Mark spread it and found the nearest camera and screamed, "Donghyuck, that was for you!" while holding up a jersey with Donghyuck's name and number.

And Donghyuck started bawling.

-

Jaemin eyed the door nervously and warily. He handed you the cup of warm hot chocolate and nudged you, "I think you should talk to him."

"Me? You're his best friend," you were confused why you were being sent out to talk to the inconsolable boy.

"We're all footballers, Y/N. I'd feel exactly how he'd feel if that were me. He needs an outsider perspective. And you're good with making him feel better," Jaemin sighed, "Please?"

You hesitated, staring down at the flurries of steam escaping the mug, "Okay."

It was around 1:30 AM, and after Mark's gesture, Donghyuck had excused himself to the balcony to continue crying. The 5 of you had sat dumbfounded and confused, not knowing how to interpret his reaction. Was he happy? Sad? Angry? The TV was left running with the post-match commentary as you all settled your emotions after the game. Jaemin had taken the initiative to make hot chocolates for everyone.

"Here," he handed you another mug, but for yourself this time.

The balcony door was slightly ajar, but far enough from the living room that Hyuck probably hadn't heard you speak.

"Hyuck? Can I join you?" you asked softly, leaning against the glass.

You heard strong sniffles and his sleeves rubbing at his eyes as he made a sound of acknowledgement that you took as permission. You nudged his arm with the hot chocolate and he took it without a sound, still not meeting your eyes. The streets of Seoul were lit up, and you could see far into the cityscape. This was unusual for 1:30 AM, but South Korea had just beaten Germany in the world cup a few time zones and a flight to Russia away.

"How are you feeling? What's on your mind?" you uttered cautiously, not wanting to upset the boy more.

"That I should be there with them," he stated, "God, it sounds so cocky but-"

"No, you deserved it, Hyuck," you cut in, "You deserved to be there. You deserve to be winning with them."

"I didn't ask Mark to do that, you know? I didn't even know they made World Cup team shirts for me. They're printed there, not before, so..."

"I wish you could've made it there, Hyuck. They do too," you sipped on your hot chocolate, "You're still young though. You have at least 2 or 3 more world cups in you."

"I know, I know," he sighed, "But after the season I just had? I wanted to keep that momentum going for the rest of my career, but this stupid goddamn injury just knocked me ten steps back from the 1 step I made forward."

You weren't sure what to say, but you just let out a sigh to match his, "I'm really sorry, Hyuck. But I just hope you know you have your friends inside there to support you. And me too."

He finally met your eyes and your heart melted at his glassy gaze, "Thank you for being there for me, Y/N. I know we've only known each other for a couple of weeks, but thank you."

"Friendships can be built in hours, Hyuck. A couple of weeks can be a lifetime," you chuckled, "But no worries. I'm here to take care of your health physically and mentally too."

"You smartie," he finally cracked a smile, before uttering a sentence that completely caught you offguard, "You're so pretty too, you know that right?"

Your eyes widened slightly as you stuttered to find the right words to say, "Hyuck!"

"I'm just being honest," he shrugged, "And honestly, i'm really glad you're here right now."

He was now staring straight into your eyes, gaze soft and all guards down. Your eyes flickered away from his, landing on his lips, and it seemed he had the same idea.

Donghyuck stepped closer, one feet and then two until he was stood right in front of you. He was in closer proximity than ever before and you could feel your heart beating intensely inside your chest.

"Donghyuck," you whispered, "What are you doing?"

His stare remained on your parted lips, "Will you let me, Y/N?"

"I don't know if you're in the right mind. I want you to be sure."

He exhaled, his breath fanning over your lips so that you could almost taste him, "For the first time this summer, my mind has never been as clear."

You gripped the mug between you tighter as your eyes fluttered closed and as Donghyuck pressed his lips to yours in front of the glittering Seoul landscape.

-

You hadn't seen Donghyuck in 2 days. As the Korea-Germany match ended late at night and Korea had won, the club gave everyone the day off, which you greatly appreciated with the headache that woke you up on Donghyuck's couch. After waking up that morning, you had dashed out to avoid any awkward conversations in case he woke up. Donghyuck and Jaemin and Chenle had slept cuddled up in his bed, while the other 3 crammed into Mark's room. They had a comfortable sofa bed, which they let you take by yourself.

But it was the day after and you knew that you were going to see him eventually. You were one of the first people that arrived to the training grounds bright and early, and met Junghwan in the rehabilitation room.

"Hi Y/N! Did you enjoy watching the match?" he smiled over at you. Junghwan had been a great mentor all summer.

"I did, thank you! That was a crazy game. Actually, Donghyuck and the boys invited me to watch the game with them so I went over and we watched together," you admitted shyly, "Is that okay?"

He laughed, "Y/N, you're only a student on placement here for the summer. You don't work for the club so date them all if you want. Even still, that's not forbidden so don't worry."

"That's not what I meant," you grumbled playfully, helping set up the room, "What's the plan for today?"

"We're going to hold a meeting with Hyuck today to review his rehabilitation plan as he finishes his 3rd week," he told you, "There shouldn't be any major changes to his plan currently, but we need to set out the future."

"Usually around 6 weeks that he has full range of movement right? And you can start doing drills again?"

"Good job for doing your research," he complimented, "Yeah, that's the plan. He's only here at the training ground because I know he misses the company of his teammates and there's a larger place to walk about."

"What time is he coming?" you were a bit nervous seeing him since you hadn't talked to him since he told you goodnight. You were too scared to text him and weren't even sure what you would have said.

Junghwan looked at his watch, "He's late, as usual. He's probably out in the changing rooms with the boys. Can you wanna go wait outside for them until they come out to start training and drag Hyuck by his collar? Shouldn't be too long."

You gulped, but nodded. You were determined Junghwan not find out anything that you and Hyuck had gotten up to, or will get up to, but you were doubtful anything more would happen. You were still unsure about the incident on the balcony. He wasn't drunk, but maybe his mind was cloudy and emotional after what Mark did. At the same time, he assured you his head was clear so did that mean that he really wanted to kiss you?

The NCT FC training grounds were as lavish as their stadium. State of the art, top facility with everything a player needed and wanted, down to a cinema room to watch football matches, but also films. You navigated to the communal area outside of the most commonly used changing room for the first team (there were multiple) and Junghwan's theory seemed to be correct judging from the noise coming from the other side of the door.

You waited patiently and nervously, not sure what you were going to say to Donghyuck, but choosing to stay professional on the training ground and talking about it some other time.

The boys eventually began filing out, and you found out from Kun that Donghyuck was indeed inside. The boys that came out all greeted you good morning as you became familiar with them over the time you spent at the grounds. Some of them even stopped to chat about the World Cup, but eventually, Donghyuck and the boys came out last.

"Y/N-ah, good morning! Why didn't you stay for breakfast?" Jeno pouted.

"I was called away by my family," you lied, "Sorry about that!"

"We should do it again," Renjun smiled.

Renjun and Jaemin were hanging around the NCT FC football grounds after being given permission by Borussia Dortmund. They were given the summer off until after the World Cup final, but the two still wanted to be around with their former teammates and friends. Somedays they participated (they weren't allowed in team tactical meetings though), and some days they remained at the edges, accompanying each other and waiting for the players' breaks.

Donghyuck lagged behind the group and smiled softly at you when you made eye contact. You were guessing that the boys didn't know what happened, or else they might've mentioned it or at least insinuated to the situation as a means of teasing by now.

"Hyuck, you're late for our meeting," you told him.

He rolled his eyes playfully, "Junghwan expected it. Plus, it's so early, but fine. Let's go. See you later."

He had said goodbye to the boys, who veered off into a different direction onto the pitch to start warming up, leaving you alone with Hyuck.

"How's your knee?" you asked cautiously.

"Fine, I just want the brace off," Hyuck answered, walking beside you to the room.

"Well, Junghwan suggests to only have it on for a few weeks longer, so it'll be soon," you shrugged, "And to be honest, studi-"

"Do you want to get lunch with me?" he interrupted, "Sorry for cutting in but I'm kind of going crazy, Y/N. We should talk."

You avoided his stare, "Yeah. Here or outside?"

"Let's get lunch out. Anywhere you want to take me," he commanded as you neared the door to the rehab room.

You nodded, a sudden wave of nervousness and butterflies overcoming you.

-

The drive to a nearby cafe and brunch spot was quiet but comfortable with Hyuck choosing to rest his head ok the window of the passenger seat while looking out. It was only a few minutes drive, but you didn't want to lose time walking over.

The two of you quickly found a corner table away from the busy centre of the café and ordered your food before sitting down.

"I meant it, you know? When I said my mind was clear as day?" Hyuck reassured you. It was strange- you hadn't seen him as serious like this, "And don't tell me you didn't like it- you kissed me back after."

You blushed at the memory. After Donghyuck planted his lips on yours, and you were initially too frozen to move in response, the boy had begun pulling away, but you captured his lips between yours before he could even part multiple inches away. The two of you kissed for what felt like an eternity on that balcony.

"I just want to make sure you were in the right headspace. I knew you were vulnerable."

"I wanted it to happen so badly, Y/N," he pressed on, "Don't worry."

"So what now? I mean, you're not obliged to anything. People kiss all the time in the heat of the situation-"

You were rambling and cut off by Hyuck's adorable giggles, "Y/N, it's okay. I like you. But we should do it all over again properly. Will you let me take you on a proper date? When this cast is off in a week's time?"

You looked down at the coffee in your hands. You cannot believe that Lee Donghyuck, Korea's superstar, was asking you on a date. But to you, right now, it just seemed as if Donghyuck was an ordinary guy with extraordinary talent.

"Of course, Hyuck."

He had smiled at you brightly- that famous smile that everyone in the nation adored. That famous smile he cracked every time he scored a goal, melting every household in the country. But he was smiling at you.

"Don't get shy around me, Y/N. I know you're not that shy," he giggled, "Did my luscious lips cast a spell on you or something?"

You rolled your eyes, cutting through the food in front of you, "Just eat, Hyuck."

"I like it when you call me Hyuck," he said nonchalantly, "You call me Donghyuck more often."

"I never know if I'm allowed to use it."

"It's just my nickname, Y/N. Everyone used it and you can too," he affirmed, "You think too much."

"And you're so impulsive," you jabbed.

"We balance each other out then," he winked.

The two of you ate your food in silence caused by your hunger and utter focus on the food in front of you, until you broke the silence.

"Do the boys know? About what happened?"

"No, I didn't want to tell them without your permission. And we can keep it between us for now if you like. Sneaking is fun!"

"Just for now," you nodded.

It wasn't that you didn't want the boys to know, but you just wanted to be more sure of the situation yourself first. Was it going anywhere? Would it work?

You gazed at the boy in front of you, happily eating his food. You enjoyed his company and you admired his strength and drive. He was funny and caring towards his friends, but was still in touch with his emotions to show weakness, which you considered an act of strength yourself. He was genuine on and off the pitch (from the replays of matches you had seen anyway) and Donghyuck seemed like a great guy. He had been confusing your feelings accidentally with his slightly flirtatious nature and these tiny incidents and phrases had you all the more falling for him. You asserted that if you didn't want to and didn't have a reason to kiss him on that balcony, you wouldn't have. But you did, and that said it all.

-

South Korea bowed out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals, beaten by a solid England side. They had made it past Switzerland easily in the round of 16, and gave the quarter-finals their best shot. This year, it wasn't meant to be. Still, they had gone further than anyone had anticipated and through this made their nation so, so proud. Upon arrival at Incheon, they were met with whoops and screams and just pure pride.

The training ground was waiting in anticipation for the team to arrive, with the outdoor area prepped with tables and tables of food and rewards. All of the players were coming straight to the training grounds from the airport to celebrate for lunch, even those that didn't play for NCT FC.

You had been invited, of course, since you had been spending the summer with the team and were a part of the club for the summer. Hyuck was beside you, with Renjun to the other side of you.

Donghyuck, who was cast free (and still date-less), was bouncing his leg up and down nervously. It was going to be hard to see the team, but he also missed them even if it was only a month or so. He had confided in you when Korea lost that this was the time he wished that he had been there. You never know what he could've done and it wasn't for certain he would have helped Korea through, but it was the fact that he couldn't do anything that pained him and made him feel helpless.

"Hyuck, are you okay?" you touched his arm in concern, which halted his bouncing legs.

He dropped his head onto your shoulder, "Mark texted me that they're pulling up. I'm scared to see them. I haven't seen Taeyong-hyung and Jungwoo-hyung and coach in so long either."

"It's okay, Hyuck. They're still the same people," you patted him.

You heard a sudden surge of noise and an increase in footsteps. Suddenly, everyone began cheering and clapping on their feet, prompting you and Hyuck to do the same. They didn't have a trophy in their hands, nor a medal around their necks, but it felt like they did in the way everyone was cheering. They had done something so memorable at the World Cup that was now ingrained in the memories of young and old Koreans alike.

Suddenly, you heard a yell rip through the cheering, "Donghyuck-ah!"

And came bounding towards you, was Mark Lee, who engulfed his best friend into the tightest, but still careful, hug.

"Aish, Mark, you act like we're lovers seeing each other after the war," Donghyuck grumbled, but it was blatantly obvious that he missed his best friend too.

"Shut up. Here, I brought this for you," Mark handed over a plastic bag. Donghyuck slipped out a stack of red jerseys- 5 of them in fact. Each one had his name on the back and the game and date for which the jerseys were made.

Donghyuck gawked, then closed his mouth before looking up at Mark, "Thank you. I appreciate it."

"You should talk to coach later. I think he wants to talk to you," Mark advised before noticing your presence and turning to you, "Hi! You're Y/N! It's so great to finally meet you."

Before you knew it, you were being engulfed by the midfielder into a hug. He seemed so friendly and the perfect complement to Donghyuck.

"And you as well. We haven't spoken but it feels like I already know you," you chuckled. Donghyuck liked to talk about his best friend and roommate a lot.

"Likewise, Y/N. Thanks for everything that you do for Hyuck. Hopefully he's back on the pitch soon," Mark smiled, taking a seat across Donghyuck after greeting the other boys at the table.

"Donghyuck-ie," the ice-blond boy you had seen tearing up the pitch on TV was now stood in front of you with a smile.

"Hyung," Donghyuck whimpered, tackling his former captain in a hug, "You did so well, hyung."

"Thank you, Hyuck. Next time, you'll be there with us," Taeyong squeezed him before letting go, "Yuta's not here yet, is he?"

"Still on vacation in Japan. When do you go back to Madrid? I think you'll be able to catch him," Hyuck replied.

"In a week, so I think so too."

Taeyong and Yuta were best friends- the first versions of Mark and Haechan. After being scouted, they trained together in the youth academy after Yuta moved from Japan and broke into the reserves and first team together. Taeyong and Yuta eventually became captain and vice-captain of NCT FC for a long period, until Taeyong was bought by Real Madrid the season prior.

"How's Madrid? You're doing so well. What's it like playing with Cristiano Ronaldo?" Renjun tugged at Taeyong's sleeve, also hugging him. Even though Renjun and Taeyong failed to play often together, Taeyong had adopted a mother-like role towards everyone in the club, including the B-team reserves.

"He's good- a real world-class player mentality. Don't tell anyone though, but he's leaving Madrid this summer and is going to sign a contract in a few days," Taeyong teased, "Don't tell anyone!"

The group of you laughed at his serious order and nodded. Taeyong was living the life in Madrid, but he admitted that he really missed everyone at the club and missed home a lot. It wasn't easy going home to Korea often since Madrid was so far.

Donghyuck introduced you to the rest of the team that you hadn't met yet, including Jungwoo who played abroad but also came from NCT FC. You met Johnny, and was in even more awe of how big of a presence he had since he was so tall. You had guessed anyway from the way he commandeered the goal and box. Jaehyun was as nice as you expected him to be- a real gentleman- and Doyoung had the same motherly vibe as Taeyong had. Taeil was one of the eldest, but was still so youthful at heart. You were glad to have met them, since they seemed like such incredible, humble players.

Eventually, you were led back to the original table so that you could eat and converse with Mark, who made himself comfortable catching up with Jaemin and Renjun especially.

"Aren't they nice? The hyungs?" Donghyuck smiled proudly to himself.

"I already knew how great this team was, but they just reinforced it. I can see why everyone wants to stay or come back or retire here," you said. This team really did seem like a family.

"I'm very proud of this team," Donghyuck stated, "Both NCT FC and the national team. It's okay, Y/N, I think I'm going to be able to move past all this."

You smiled gently, "I'm really happy for you."

-

"I can drive if you want," you offered for the 5th time as you approached his car.

"Y/N. I'm fine. I can drive. I don't have a knee brace anymore and I've driven a few times this week," he affirmed, getting into the driver's seat.

You slid into the passenger seat, crossing your arms after buckling the seatbelt, "You'll tell me if it's too much right? So we can swap?"

"You're too worried," he rolled his eyes jokingly, "For someone who's a physio student, you sure aren't up to date with what I can do at 6 weeks."

"It's not about timelines, it's about feelings," you grumbled as he set off.

"And i'm feeling okay," he grinned cheekily.

It was about 2 weeks after his cast was taken off, but this was the only date you were able to coordinate in your days off together. Hyuck had been pondering where to take you on your date for weeks, and he only just settled on an idea. The location wasn't even far, so you were worrying about nothing. He had been stressing what kind of vibe to go on- did you want to have an adventure, activity-filled date? Or a more laid-back chill one? Or somewhere in the middle?

The two of you continued in casual conversation on the drive there. You found out that he was from Jeju Island and was scouted at 11 to come and train at the NCT FC academy where he then lived since. His family remained in Jeju, so he considered those at the club his family in Seoul. He found out that you lived in England for a few years during your adolescence, but chose to come back to Seoul 4 years later to study at university. This then led to a laughing-fit inducing conversation that Hyuck tried to hold with you in just straight english. He wasn't bad, but he made everything he did humorous in order to brighten up the world.

Eventually, Donghyuck pulled up in the parking lot of a pretty, but relatively quiet park on the outskirts of the city. You both got out, and you lost sight of the footballer until you realised he had circled to the boot of the car and was now carrying a traditional woven picnic basket.

"We're having a picnic?" your heart melted; Donghyuck was so soft.

He grinned, "Yes, but not here. We have a little bit of walking to do."

Donghyuck then rested the basket on the crook of his arm and took your hand with the other. Every time he did this, it made you blush like crazy and you wondered if this boy would ever stop making you feel so flustered. Hyuck seemed to always just take your hand on instinct if he was taking you somewhere. It was like it was so natural to him, but it always made your head spin. Maybe you were whipped for him.

Donghyuck led you through the main park and then got to the edge where there was a large wall of bushes. He followed the bush to the corner edge, where there was a narrow break in the bush that was easy to miss if you weren't looking. On the other side was another large field that stretched on further than the pristine park, but this time, the field was a little overgrown and the best part- it was blooming with flowers.

"This is so pretty," you gasped, "How did you find this?"

"One time, me and the boys were kicking a football about in the main park and then Chenle accidentally kicked the ball into here. I come here for peace because it's so pretty. C'mon, there's a river over there."

The two of you continued further down to the right where the ground sloped down and you could see a pristine stream splashing against the rocks. The grass shortened down and the slope flattened out to a perfect place to have a picnic.

Hyuck fished a large blanket out of the basket and laid it down before taking off his shoes and inviting you to do the same.

He was now sat cross-legged in front of you, eyes wide and expectant, "Do you like it? Is this okay?"

You squeezed his hand, "More than okay, Hyuck."

The two of you hadn't been alone together outside of the facility other than when you got coffee together once after training and you drove him home. It was nice to be able to spend time with each other and really determine how you felt and where you wanted this to go. You knew how you felt, but you were still cautious to fall in case he didn't reciprocate. Why wouldn't he though? He kissed you first and he asked you on a date and he was the one that made all the moves.

Donghyuck began dishing out the food and drinks in the basket and you noticed how he brought some of the snacks you said were your favourite.

"Do you miss them already? Nana and Renjun?" you asked.

"Not enough to willingly admit," he squinted at you, "But I do only get to see them once a year in the summer- twice if we meet up for the winter holidays. It would be so much easier if they were just in the same league or country or continent, even. Instead, they're a 15-hour flight away. But their best chance for their career is Dortmund- Dortmund develop young players into superstars, and I know that's what they will be."

You sighed in agreement. Jaemin and Renjun had left a few days earlier to return to Germany and restart their training. It had been an emotional goodbye between the boys when Nana and Renjun dropped by the training grounds with their rolling suitcases and a sad smile.

"It's a testament to your bond and friendship how close you remain even from afar," you said, "Real brotherhood."

"That's what 7 years of trauma being told to kick a ball rain or shine does for you," he snorted, passing you a small brownie, "I'm kidding. I love my job."

"Everywhere I go, everyone talks about how great you are- how you're Korea's future. Doesn't that get hard?" you were wary asking, but you wanted to know.

He sighed and glanced down to his knee that was now free from a cast but still not to full strength like before, "I never thought it could be hard. Sure, I have game days that I don't play my best- everyone does. But I knew that was normal so I never beat myself up about it. I've only been starting for a season and a half, but something in me always steps up for my club and country when they need it. This though?" he jabbed at the knee, "This has been the hardest thing I've ever gone through in my life. Any severe injury like this will always be. I don't want to be kept out of the squad for 6, 7, 8 months. I don't want this so-called rest that everyone's telling me about. The hardest part about this is that I can't play."

You stared at him in awe. Maybe it was because he was only 18 that the fire in his eyes was still lit up. Maybe the multiple years of fouls and defeat and failures hadn't overcome him yet, but you loved the way he talked about football like it was his first love- because it was. You were yet to find anyone else in any other profession to love their job this much.

"Why are you staring at me?" he broke out into the familiar whiny Donghyuck tone.

You giggled and leaned in close but not close enough to touch him or even feel his breath on your face, "I think you're so adorable."

Donghyuck felt a strong surge of bravery as he closed the gap between your faces and pecked your lips swiftly, "And I think you're beautiful."

You pulled away in a little daze, cheeks painted red like they had been so often since you met the boy, "Hyuck!"

"Do you not like it?" he pouted, sipping his drink and sulking. He knew the answer, but he loved having his ego stroked.

"I hate you," you mumbled as you leaned over again and captured his lips.

This time, Hyuck tightly wrapped both muscular arms around your waist and hoisted you from your cross-legged position to fall on top of him. Donghyuck leant back so the two of you were lying down on top of the blanket, lips attached and moving freely together.

"I really like you, Y/N-ah," he mumbled against your lips as the two of you caught your breath. You hummed in acknowledgement, parting his lips with yours once more until he pulled away, frowning, "I want to hear you say it. You haven't."

You chuckled at the boy, "I like you too, Hyuck. You know I do."

"Yeah, I do," he smirked, pressing his lips to yours for what wouldn't be the last time that day.

-

What ensued after your date was some of the most fun you'd had in a long time. While your relationship wasn't forbidden by a long shot, the both of you thought it would be fun to sneak around and act like teenagers (which you both were) in high school sneaking around their friends. It was just for the experience, but it was exhilarating.

The butterflies in your stomach fluttered whenever you'd catch Hyuck's knowing and teasing gazes at the training ground and your heart sped up uncontrollably when he'd pull you into a dark corner away from cameras to give you a peck and let you go before you passed him and parted your separate ways. On the days that you were working with him and the physiotherapists, Donghyuck's touches would linger just a few seconds longer and he was much more comfortable towards you observably. Even the boys didn't know because Donghyuck wondered how long he could keep such a big thing from them. Mark was definitely suspicious- Donghyuck knew that much- but it was hard to keep a secret when Donghyuck had a loud laugh that would ring out through the walls every night when Donghyuck would call you and you'd fall asleep on the phone together.

The secret touches and quick kisses were enough for you to go crazy and spiral down the hole of falling for Lee Donghyuck. While he hadn't asked you to be his girlfriend, you felt like it and you were content with what you had.

Soon enough, August rolls around and Donghyuck's training began intensifying 2 months after his surgery. He was doing much better and was at the gym of the facility more often doing weight training and exercises to keep his fitness up. Soon enough, he had been doing light jogging on the treadmill unassisted by a brace. He knew that he had a long way to go- he wouldn't return before 6 months as to not risk his knee. He surely wouldn't be able to play a full 90 at least until the seasons change and the year comes to a close, but he was taking it one day at a time. That's not to say that it wasn't frustrating that he hadn't so much as kicked a football in two months because, by God, it was the most frustrating thing that had happened to him, but he couldn't reverse time and instead just had to accept and look forward to healing.

Today, you were given the morning off to return to the university campus for some paperwork to do in order to start your second year, but you came in after lunch bright-eyed with an iced coffee in hand. You quickly learned that Junghwan didn't like iced coffee all that much and was very particular in how he took his coffee, so you left the coffee making to him for himself, and Hyuck got too jittery before crashing if he had a lot of caffeine in the afternoon.

"Hi," you furrowed your eyebrows in confusion as you saw Junghwan stood outside the clinic that was on the way to the gym where you usually met up with him and whoever he was taking care of at that present moment, "Is anyone hurt?"

Junghwan sighed deeply and pressed his lips into a thin line, "Donghyuck took a knock on his other leg earlier. It's not severe- it'll only set him back a week at most, but I think he's in shock. He doesn't want to talk to me, that little brat, but maybe you can try."

A chuckle replaced the shocked and worried expression on your face, but inside, your stomach was churning in hurt for the boy, "I'll try my best and see what I can get out of him."

Junghwan stepped aside and let you knock. You heard a low grumble of "Hyung, I said leave me alone!"

You called out, "It's Y/N, Hyuck."

You might've imagined the faint "oh" that escaped his lips, but you took his pure silence as permission to come in. He could always tell you to leave anyway.

When you walked in, Hyuck was curled up on the clinic bed, with his eyes closed and his breaths deep.

"Hyuck?"

"I'm sleeping."

"No you're not."

"Yes I am," he curled up tighter and faced the wall.

You sat on the edge of the bed, "What happened Donghyuck?"

"I don't want to talk about it," he mumbled into the pillow he was hugging, "Can't I just have a day off and rest?"

"That's what you're doing anyway," you teased, "I'm also here to help with your rehab, Hyuck, so I'd really like it if you told me what happened and how you're feeling."

He sighed and moved the pillow away from his face so that he wasn't muffled, but he still neglected to face you, "I was jogging and my other leg gave out. It's just strained because I've been putting all the pressure on the other leg while trying to keep pressure off my injured knee."

"It's not serious, Hyuck," you reached up and stroked his hair, "Are you okay though Emotionally?"

"When I felt the pain surge through, I thought I re-injured my knee- that I pushed it too far. I'm scared shitless of re-injury because that's what keeps players out for years, if not ending their career. I'm just recovering from the shock."

"You're okay, you're okay," you cooed, running your hands through his hair comfortingly.

He pouted, "Can I have a kiss?"

You chuckled, remembering that there were no cameras in the clinic to protect patient confidentiality. You leaned down and met his pouting lips with yours.

"Hyuck, we heard what happened. Oh my God are you oka- OH MY GOD!" five boys burst into the room, and were quickly halted to a stop by what was in front of them.

So much for keeping the secret.

Yukhei folded his arms and laughed, "Is this why you were so protective and jealous at the hospital when I visited?"

Mark, Chenle, Jeno and Jisung gawked, mouths agape.

"I suspected you had a girlfriend, but Y/N?" Mark uttered.

You moved away from Hyuck, your face resembling a tomato with the red reaching the tips of your ears, "It's not what it looks like."

"Are you sure? Cause it sure looks like you're ready to devour Donghyuck. Your hands were in his hair!" Jeno accused.

"You guys are nasty," Chenle scrunched up his face, "At the training facility? Really? On the clinic bed?"

"We weren't doing anything like that," Donghyuck launched a pillow at the Chinese boy, "You're the nasty one."

Jisung closed the door behind him and you prayed Junghwan wasn't still hanging around. While he said you could date the team, you didn't want to create a different dynamic than the perfect one you had already set up with Junghwan and Donghyuck as a trio.

"How long has it been?" Yukhei pressed on, completely intrigued by the situation. Sure, he thought you were pretty, but he had no problems backing off if you were taken.

"We kissed at the apartment when Y/N came around for the game against Germany," Donghyuck reluctantly admitted. You were still quiet and still flushed.

"So what you're saying is you have us to thank for inviting Y/N since your coward ass didn't want to," Jeno placed his hands on his hips and smirked, "Is this even allowed?"

Mark punched his arm, "We're not idols; we don't have a dating ban. Plus, Y/N's only here for the summer right? The rest of the month?"

You nodded slowly, trying to take in how casually they took it.

"Then it's fine," Mark affirmed, "Have you told hyung?"

Donghyuck looked past Mark as if Junghwan was stood on the other side of the door, "No. We'd prefer if no one did either. We just want to stay lowkey to maintain the environment we have already."

The boys nodded slowly before Chenle came to a realisation, "Wait! We literally forgot why we came here. Hyuck what happened?"

Donghyuck started laughing at their forgetfulness, "I'm fine, guys."

Sensing their concern for their best friend, you took it as an opportunity to leave and give the boys their own time. Junghwan hadn't been standing outside the door when you exited, so you made your way to the gym to see if he was there or if there was anyone that you could help. To your luck, Junghwan was already working with Jaehyun and seemed as if he had been there a while.

"How's the little drama queen?"

"He's fine. He just got a bit scared like you said and the boys are there now so they're sure to cheer him up. What's the plan looking like, then?"

"Well, the season's coming into full force now and I keep reviewing his plan and trying to aim for mid-January at the earliest to get him to play on the pitch. I think we're looking good, fingers crossed. What's your take?"

You appreciated that Junghwan was a considerate mentor and even asked you of your opinion and views, "I think Donghyuck is really working hard to get back and I'm only here for another couple of weeks, but I keep telling him to make sure to not work himself too hard or else we'll keep getting incidents like today. Overall, I've never seen someone more determined to recover and I've only been shadowing injuries for a year," you explained your thought process carefully.

"I've been doing this for decades and even I agree with you," Junghwan nodded, "That Lee Donghyuck is a special boy."

-

Two weeks later, you were standing in the middle of the communal room with a box of chocolates, a bouquet of flowers and a folded up NCT FC T-shirt with your name on the back. It was your official last day at the club and it was fair to say that you were emotional. Although a lot of your time was spent with Donghyuck and his recovery, you had also spent time with everyone else at the club and formed amicable relations that you would never forget. Who could say that they formed bonds with some of the most famous football players in Korea over the course of one summer?

Your now boyfriend Donghyuck was holding a gift bag filled with other goodies and keepsakes to remind you of your time at the club, and NCT FC's coach had been telling you all through your farewell event how you should come and watch a match for free any time you wanted at the grounds. You were definitely going to take advantage of that.

Junghwan was also emotional to see you go, never having had a student so engaged in what they were doing. He was going to miss your help around the club and expertise at reigning in a moody or excitable Donghyuck. Speaking of- he had been jokingly disappointed when the two of you revealed your relationship to him, but he also noted that it was kind of obvious or inevitable.

"She'll be coming with me to all the matches I come and watch this season, won't you?" Donghyuck slung his arm around your shoulders, "And then she'll be there watching when I get back on the pitch."

You poked his cheek, "Of course. And I'm going to miss you all so much! I have to get back to lectures and deadlines and studying so this will definitely be the most fun I'll have all year."

You looked fondly at everyone around you, from the staff who welcomed you so warmly, to all the players who trusted you generously. It was the summer of a lifetime and you felt so blessed to come out of the experience with so many more friends, knowledge and life skills.

-

The ambience within the stadium grounds was nothing short of electric on a chilly clear night. The media had been building up to this night for weeks and weeks, and fans were decked out in their best NCT FC gear. The stadium was vibrating with loud cheers and chanting as the players emerged from the tunnel and lined up in the middle of the pitch. There was a sea of bright green wrapping around the stadium, only interrupted by the shirts and flags of the opposing team's fans. It was derby night; two rival teams were going head to head and it was always an exciting, coveted night.

Last out the tunnel, with his hairs standing up all over his body as he stepped out onto the pitch, was Lee Donghyuck. The glimmer had returned to his eyes and his heart was beating for the excitement he felt after months and months of longing for this moment. His best friend clapped him on the back once they finished lining up and a grin invaded his previously anxious face.

This was it, he thought looking around at the bright green shirts, flags, banners and painted faces- this was home.

Nothing felt better than slipping on his jersey with DONGHYUCK 10 on the back. Chills ran through his entire body when his face appeared on the broadcast screens and the entire stadium erupted in roars for how much they missed their club's generational talent.

Somewhere up in the boxes was you, holding your little brother's hand a little too tightly in anticipation of Donghyuck's first match and return to the pitch. It was unusual to not have Donghyuck beside you in the box. Instead, you were relying on your sharp vision and the screens to show you the boy who deserved this moment more than anything else. He had been talking about his return seriously for a couple of months, and this match felt like the one to return to as a full-circle moment, as this was the team they were playing when Donghyuck was injured at the end of the previous season. Thankfully, the player that had injured him was sent off on loan to a different tea, and Donghyuck wouldn't have to face that team until the end of the season.

Once Yuta and the other team's captain made all the decisions on which side to shoot and who was kicking off, Donghyuck made his way to his position, right at the centre and heading the team. With Ten on his right and Yuta on his left and Mark right behind him, Donghyuck felt safe and comfortable and all he really wanted was the ball at his feet under their loyal supporters' hopeful gazes.

In a split second, the whistle blew and as if his instincts had not diminished over the past 7 months, his body raged into game mode.

After the game, it felt as if Donghyuck was in shock. He was looking around aimlessly, trying to latch himself onto something concrete to settle his brain. Once changed, he exited the dressing room and found you waiting expectantly.

You crushed him in a hug, "I'm so proud of you."

The boy finally relaxed his tense muscles and wrapped his arms around your waist, "That was amazing. I'm so happy."

"How's your knee feeling, you superstar?" you teased, "You're a bit of a show-off aren't you?"

"My knee is achy but just the normal post-match kind of ache all over the body," and then he smirked, "I had to give them payback and show the fans what they've been missing all this season."

Lee Donghyuck, like the showoff he was, decided to net a hat-trick of 3 goals solely in the second half of the game. Maybe the defenders weren't prepared to work in the way Donghyuck made them work, especially after a long injury, but Donghyuck proved he was again incredibly fit and harboured the same talent even after 6 or 7 months.

"You are amazing," you scrunched your face at him and tightened your hug around him.

Lee Donghyuck exhaled in relief. If you had asked him 7 months ago on that night that he sustained his injury, he wouldn't have been able to imagine his life 7 months down the road. He wouldn't have said that he would have a girlfriend or even that he was happier than ever even after missing so much of the season. After tonight, he knew that speculations would go up and rumours would start and the price tag over his head would increase. He knew that people would already be looking forward to the next Asian Cup, and heck, even the next World Cup, but at this current moment of time, with your arms wrapped around him and your head nuzzled into his neck and breathing words of praise into his ears, he was content.

-------------------------------------------

author's note; if you read this to the end, i want to thank you so sincerely. this work is my baby and i feel so protective over it. as you might've been able to tell, it was a bit all over the place with its pacing and its characterization and the switching between donghyuck and y/n's pov was a bit frustrating for me. however, football is something that i love so much and i wrote books on wattpad with hundreds of thousands of reads that mean so much to me and gave me the foundation for all my writing on this blog. this fic was so hard to finish and i still had so many ideas (like, where was donghyuck going to end up at the end of the season? would he transfer? what would happen to their relationship?) and i wanted to explore more of y/n's character as i focused more on hyuck and y/n is a bit mary-sue-ish but as i said, i wanted nothing more than to be done with this story and get it out. if you have any thoughts, let me know and thank you for reading <3

#this was all over the place i'm sorry #but i had so much fun writing this #the title has no correlation to the story lol #haechan fluff #lee donghyuck #nct #nct fic recs #haechan #nct 127 #nct dream #nct fic #nct one shot #haechan imagine

[newtonsheffield]

Can we please see a future take of Kate and Anthony when Anthony decides to go for his knee replacement in Offside?? I know he does it for Edmund and Kate but I can just imagine how stressful it is for their little family 🥺

Okay, I've danced around this for a long time, lets do this, our boy's going under the knife.

He'd known it was coming since his seventh season in the league, which maybe should've been startling news to get as a 26 year old, but it really wasn't a revolutionary concept; footballer's with bad knees were practically routine, so he'd made his peace with it. Until he'd met Kate, until he'd fallen in love with her and he'd sent her sister a message when Kate had stormed from the room when he'd said what they'd both known was coming.

Hey, kind of an odd question but I just maybe made a flippant comment about need a knee replacement when I retire and she flipped out?

Like, we were- I don't know kind of vibing and I thought she was into it and then she told me to fuck off.

Edwina had been typing for a long time, Anthony staring dumbly down at the chat window and when he'd seen her response his heart had stopped.

Never fucking talk about that around Kate again.

And she hadn't responded after that.

It had been a few weeks, After the drama, after all of it, the tiny puppy sitting on her lap, surely the biggest swing of his entire life, and he couldn't help himself.

"Kate can I ask you something?"

She'd looked up from her puppy, Newton she'd called him with the biggest smile on her face, the same smile she had now, and he hated to ruin it, but it had been gnawing at him,

"Oh we're definitely fucking tonight, you don't have to ask for that."

Anthony had chuckled, kissing her cheek, "That's great to hear, but I had something else in mind."

She didn't say anything, just stared back at him, head tilted curiously,

"so a few months ago, I brought up a knee replacement in a totally dickish way, and you reacted a little...strongly I guess."

Her reaction was immediate. The colour drained from her face, her body leaning back from him, her eyes terrified, "You might- you might not need one."

Her voice was thunderstruck, terrified he realised. Anthony's hand shooting out to cover hers, squeezing tightly, "Babe, we both know that's not true, I just... I don't understand and when you're ready I want to talk about it."

Silence echoed through the room for a very long time her fingers intertwining with his, a shuddering breath, "That's how my Dad died, he had a knee replacement, and he just... he never woke up. It's really rare but it happens, things go wrong, and clots form and people die."

Tears were running down her cheeks, Anthony's own heart aching for her, for his stupidity, and all he could do was hold her.

He'd known this was coming. He'd known it was, it was the reason he'd retired, turned to coaching, to focus on Edmund and Kate and everything they wanted. He'd tried to put it off, hobbling around the room when Kate wasn't watching, Edmund in his arms, strapped to his chest while he coached, but he knew that she knew, knew it wasn't a coincidence when she tugged tugged on his arm, kissing his cheek.

"Let me take some scans of you on my fancy new machines."

And he saw her face when she look at the Xrays, at the ultrasounds. Devastated for just a moment before she turned back to him, her professional mask back in place.

"Cool. very crisp pictures."

"And those very crisp pictures say what?"

"That you have knees." She'd turned way again, staring down at the picture of them on her desk, on their wedding day, when she'd looked so beautiful in blue and gold silk, his name hidden in henna and he'd thought he'd never breathe normally again, the silk of his own clothes tight against his chest.

"Kate, we don't lie to one another."

Silence had echoed through the room for a very long moment, his chest aching.

"I don't- I'd need an MRI to confirm, but if you were anyone else I'd say you need a knee replacement and an ACL repair in the other."

He knew it was coming but it hurt. Not for him, but for her, for the panic he could see in her eyes that she was fighting against.

"Kate-"

"I'm fine." He knew she wasn't, knew this would never be fine until he was through this.

"Okay, but maybe you could hug me, because I'm not fine."

And when she barrelled into him seconds later they both knew it was for her.

Anthony had know that Kate was a veritable force to be reckoned with from the very second they met. But he'd never seen her like this, tutting and sighing as other doctors, the best in the city, gave their opinions, ignoring their frustrated groans when she asked to see their plans before standing abruptly.

"Thank you, we'll be in touch."

And they never were.

"You are not seeing that fucking quack!" Kate had sighed, tossing yet another business card away, sighing.

"Kate, all of these doctors are amazing, they come so highly recommended I just-"

"Please Anthony." She'd said, her eyes brimming with tears, their six month old son clutched in her arms, "Please will you just meet my friend from school, he works up in Scotland, but he's the only person I trust, and I know it's the middle of the season, but I don't care, I don't fucking care. Please just meet with Michael."

And had it really ever been a question of him not wanting to do anything for her.

Michael Stirling had been the very opposite, of who he'd expected. Some gawky guy with a pocket protector and a severe side part from the way Kate had described him, like a brother, so much so that Anthony had had to squint at his name badge to make sure the right man had just sauntered into the office and swept his wife and baby into a hug.

"Katie Kat!" He'd boomed in a scottish brogue, His handsome face smiling brightly "You are the very last person from university I thought would end up as a a footballer's wife. I always thought it would be-"

"Cressida Cowper." They hummed together.

"Mickey, this is my husband-"

"Anthony Bridgerton!" he shook Anthony's hand enthusiastically, "Mate! Fuck it's a bit of an honour actually, um- my cousin John's kid is a huge fan do you think you could-?"

Anthony had nodded, taking note of how Kate had relaxed immediately, She trusted him, he realised, and that was enough for him. "Mate if you fix these fucking knees so I can run around after my boy I'll sign whatever you fucking want."

But still, the day of the surgery, Kate was a wreck. Tears brimming in her eyes every time she looked at him. The way she'd clung to him last night as their hips ground together, foreheads against one another

I love you so much Kate, So fucking much.

He sat with Edmund perched on his lap in the corner, Kate nervously flitting around them, Edwina watching cautiously from the corner.

Anthony knew this wasn't the end, it couldn't be, he had so much more that he wanted, so much of his life left to live, it just... This wouldn't be the end.

"Katie," He said as they wheeled him down the hall, Edmund still gurgling happily on his lap. "There's no fucking Way you're getting rid of me this easily. I am going to be clinging to you like a Koala for the rest of your life babe."

"I know." She said, but her voice sounded hollow.

Anthony cupped her cheek, forcing her to look down into his eyes, to feel the weight of his words. "I love you so much and nothing is going to stop me, I'll fight St Peter if I have to."

Kate chuckled, finally, finally, just before their lips met in a searing kiss, "That's sweet baby, but you're not going to Heaven. For that car you had when me met alone you're in the fire."

"Daddy loves you, Neddy." He said gently, handing him back to kate with a kiss on the top of his head.

"Don't worry, Kat, I'll look after your sugar daddy!" Michael called, wheeling Anthony away,

And the last thing he thought of has his eyelids fluttered closed was Kate.

Of course, he might not have died, but there was an entirely different set of consequences to his surgery when a month later Kate swept into their bedroom, Anthony laying with nine month old Edmund on his stomach grinning happily at his son.

"There's Mummy, Neddy! Doesn't she look beautiful today!"

"Anthony, do you remember when you had your surgery, and you were looking at me with those big sad eyes? And I thought you'd die, and we had that really good, really emotional fuck?"

"Kate!" Anthony clapped his hands over Edmund's ears in surprise.

Kate rolled her eyes, "Babies can't remember anything from this time."

"Maybe normal babies, but our son his the most handsome, brilliant, talented boy in the whole world." Anthony said, sitting up with a grin, Edmund's tiny hand catching a fist full of his hair.

Kate was leaning against the doorframe, her eyebrow raised, armed crossed, "Well I'm glad you're so enamoured with him, because there'll be another one in about eight months."

this got so long

#offside au #kathony #anthony x kate #kate sharma #anthony bridgerton #kate sheffield #molly's asks and answers

[yellowkitkieran]

hi! can you please write something about comforting kieran when he’s injured? i was watching the game last night and it broke my heart seeing him like that, i just wanted to hug him! thank you in advance! have a great day/night <3

Pull Through

Masterlist

Word count: 2.3k

Hamstring.

You knew as soon as Kieran went down. There isn't a doubt in your mind that it was his hamstring, you've seen it too many times before with his teammates. Your greatest fear, aside from an ACL injury. An injury like that takes so long to heal. You don't want to imagine the mental and physical scars it will carve out in your boyfriend.

Kieran's cry of pain still echoes in your ears minutes later. The match must go on, and once the Scotsman is subbed off play quickly resumes. You find it hard to focus on the action, instead replaying that moment in your mind. Kieran went down almost directly in front of you. His shout was audible above the gasps of the crowd. You wish you hadn't insisted on sitting so close- the pain in his voice will haunt you for months.

You sit through the rest of the match, though you barely pay attention. Your phone is glued to your palm whilst you wait for any crumb of news, regardless of the source. No one says a peep- not many people care all that much about a loanee anyway. You stew in your seat, picturing all the ways this could go wrong for him.

Why does something like this always happen just as he's settling in? Kieran had just found his stride at Sociedad, finally clicking with the team and opening up chances during matches. Last week's assist is proof of the leaps and bounds he has made since his arrival- and now this. A year ending injury, one that will set him back months. Your heart yearns to see him, to comfort and fret over him. To tell him it will be alright as you run your fingers through his too-short hair, butchered by the first barber he'd tried in Spain. You want him to know you'd give your own hamstring if it meant he could play his next match.

Though having you hover over him isn't what Kieran needs right now. And even if it was, it would not matter. You're forced to wait until the match ends and the fans begin to filter out, stuck helplessly in your seat. Only then are you allowed to flash the pass hanging around your neck that allows you access to the tunnels. Even then you're escorted to the medical suite, not to be left unattended lest you spill some crucial secret about the team. Your heart skips as you blindly follow the fluorescent vest of the security staff.

"He's just up here," the slender, dark haired woman says in surprisingly smooth English. "I'm sure he'll be happy to see you." She smiles and gestures down the hall. Clinical, white hospital light seeps out from the gap between the door and jamb, spilling onto the polished concrete floor of the hall.

"...doesn't look good. The sort of pain you're still feeling usually means months, possibly surgery. We'll know more with a scan."

You hover outside the door you're left at, listening to the medical staff debrief Kieran. You hear a faint shuffling of paper, and a rough pat that sounds like whoever it is has tried consoling Kieran by clapping his shoulder. You know better than anyone that he doesn't need pity.

"Support will be critical during this time. Having someone nearby to help boost your morale will help the healing process."

"I have someone," Kieran murmurs. His complacency nearly breaks your heart. He knows as well as you how long the road recovery will be.

"Good, keep them as close as possible. You'll need to stay off your feet for at least a few days until we can fully evaluate your condition. I will see you Monday, yes?"

"Yes, Monday. I'll stay off of it until then… Gracias."

Knocking softly, you push gently on the swinging door. Kieran doesn't look up but the sole staff member does, offering a polite smile. "He will recover," the salt and pepper haired man says, his Spanish accent thick. "It will take time but he should be back."

"Thank you. Do you still need him, or can I sit with him?"

The man gestures to the seat he vacates before gathering his things and leaving the room. Kieran doesn't glance up, too busy staring at a speck on the wall opposite the padded physio table he's propped up on. His eyes are empty, devoid of the spark you seek. His kit shorts are hiked up to expose his injured leg, which sits propped on a firm pillow to prevent the swelling becoming unmanageable. Where his top has gone you don't know, but the sensors stuck to his chest indicate his heart is surprisingly steady despite the blow to his psyche.

"Hey, pretty boy."

Kieran doesn't look up. His fingers twitch so you know he's aware of your presence. For now, that is enough.

Words are meaningless at a time like this. Actions speak louder than any condolences you can offer your boyfriend. Empty promises mean nothing, nor do sweet, loving words. So you sit on the backless rolling stool and wheel around to his side, laying your head on his bare, still slightly sweat-sticky chest and listen to the thump of his heart.

A heavy sigh rattles through Kieran. It is rife with barely concealed emotion, a sob caught in his throat. You read him like a book because you've been down this road with him more than once. At Celtic you supported him when he broke his jaw, as you did at Arsenal with his shoulder, and as you will now at Real. You will not allow him to become trapped in his head; you will drag him out of the murky depths kicking and screaming if you have to. Because you know in a few months time, when he's back on his beloved pitch and has a ball at his feet, he'll thank you then, regardless of how strongly he resists along the way.

"What's the prognosis?" You murmur some time later. Facts only. No 'I'm sorry' or heartfelt 'you'll pull through' bullshit. Kieran needs objectivity. Having everything laid out for him helps him attack the problem head on.

"Need a scan to be sure, but probably surgery." Kieran's voice lacks any of its usual charm. It falls flat, the edges of his accent you love so much dulled by pain and disappointment. His words scratch at your eardrums, like they were flash-frozen in his throat. You trace swirls on his chest between the sensors. His skin is hot, a symptom of his heightened stress. You lay your hand flat, trying to level out his temperature.

"Well, nothing we haven't gotten through before. It might not be so bad. Normally they always exaggerate after the match, give you the cautious evaluation to be safe. You know how these things go."

"Yeah. I know."

"Whatever happens, I'm staying. You don't have to worry about that. Just put your energy into healing."

Kieran is quiet then. The clock on the wall ticks away the seconds. You realize somewhat belatedly that Kieran now stares at his offending leg. He's zeroed in on it, as if he can heal himself through willpower alone. It would be adorable… if it weren't depressing.

And that simply won't do. Kieran doesn't move or question you when you begin hunting for something to cover up his lower half. You check under the table, in each cabinet until eventually you stumble upon a clean white sheet wrapped in plastic. You throw away the wrapping, unfold it and lay it over him without a word before resuming your vigil at his side.

Once his concentration is broken, Kieran finally finds it in himself to look at you. His red rimmed eyes are puffy. His hair sticks up every which way from how he's been tugging on it. The folded over tape on his wrists sticks to your palm when you stop him as he reaches up to tug again.

"You'll be much less pretty if you're bald," you murmur, turning his hand over to kiss his fingertips. You then slide your hand into his, offering comfort and a silent reassurance to stand by his side through this roadblock. "I much prefer you with hair, even if it's too short for me to enjoy properly."

The huff of air that passes through his nose is close enough to a laugh that you chalk it up as a small win. You'll take what you can get today; you fear pushing too hard for normalcy will cause him to shut down and close you out.

Kieran doesn't speak. The quiet permeates your thoughts as your mind drifts over what appointments you'll need to shift around to be home with him more. You don't care what your job has to say about it; it isn't like you need it anyway. It's just something to fill the time when Kieran is away, and if he's home more you don't need it. If your employer isn't willing to be flexible, then neither are you. Kieran is a non negotiable in your life- he comes first. Always has and always will.

"I'll miss the international break. Won't be able to make that for sure." You hum, encouraging Kieran to continue rather than bottle up his thoughts. "We'll qualify for the Euros and I won't be there to celebrate. The lads will, too- with Robbo in charge there's no way we don't make it through."

You feel obligated to remind him of the facts, "You'll still be there though. Maybe not on the pitch but you can attend camp, even if you're sidelined. They've let you in the past, and as long as you follow the recovery plan Arsenal and Real set out for you, I don't see why either of them would have a problem with you going."

Kieran's arm settles around your shoulders. Another small step forward. He's accepting your help. Maybe without realizing it, but he's subconsciously admitting that he needs you.

"I don't want to miss out," Kieran admits a minute later. "Like I know I can't play, but… I don't want to miss out on the celebrations. I can still go out and get pished with the lads, I don't need to stay holed up in Spain on my own. I can still be there and support my team."

You know where this trauma stems from- last time something like this happened, Kieran was denied travel and wasn't able to support his national teammates in Scotland. It crushed him to watch from his sofa in London, even more so when they lost and he couldn't be there to comfort them. He called Robbo afterwards, but being a face on a screen doesn't have the same effect as a physical hug does when it comes to comforting a friend.

"You'll be there, Kieran. I know you'll focus on yourself for now. You have a few weeks to rest up and gain some fitness. If you do that, they'll clear you for travel and you can be there for your mates, yeah? You'll be the loudest one in the stands, making sure they can hear you. They'll pull through for you Key, they always do."

Finally, Kieran sighs. It doesn't seem like much, but his shoulders relax and touch the table. That alone is enough for you to know he's calmed down enough to allow reason to rule instead of blind panic. Tension no longer creases his brow. The knuckles of his free hand are no longer white. The thin, pressed line of his mouth finally settles into something neutral, something you recognize.

Your smile is soft and quick. You hide it before his eyes crack open, searching yours for the strength he needs. You open yourself up and gladly offer him what he seeks. A squeeze of his hand and a barely perceptible nod do the trick for now. He is a flower whose delicate petals have been crushed under careless feet. You are the sun, coaxing him to rise. To fight against the odds and pick himself up.

Weakness is crippling in football. In most cases, the media would pick a player apart for picking up injuries the way Kieran has, like they're collector items. They would drag them through the mud, leveling wild accusations about glass bones and paper muscles. Whining about overpaid bench warmers and unreliable performances. Asserting that their mentality was to blame- because who wouldn't mind getting injured when you're still guaranteed millions of pounds a week?

But not Kieran- because even now, with his mind no doubt foggy from pain killers and worried about the fate of Scotland, he proves his character is worth respecting.

Kieran asks for your phone and picks a photo from the team's private photography website. You watch over his shoulder while he deliberately scrolls past the ones of him with the ball and lands on one of him in obvious pain, clapping for the home fans as he is lifted off the pitch. Pride blisters in your chest as he types out his caption, 'Proud of the boys for pulling through and bringing home those three points we need. I'll be back soon, better than ever 💙🤍'

You kiss the top of Kieran's head, "that's the Kieran I know and love. You'll be back, no matter what it takes."

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