Work Text:
“What has happened to Fernando Alonso?”
Fernando clenched his jaw as he picked up the pace, running through the streets of New York like a man on a mission. He could feel the sweat running down his face, the ache on his legs as he pushed over the limit.
“We are six games into the season and he still hasn't scored a single point, he's on a fog, his passes aren't connecting, he's barely skating, I can't imagine he's amazing in the room right now”
Fernando stopped at that, taking off his headphones with more force than necessary, cursing under his breath as he leaned forward into his knees, the words from that stupid sports podcast repeating over and over in his head. He knew he hadn't started the season on the right foot, and he has been in the business long enough to know the media could be ruthless in situations like these, but it had never been this bad. The media was tearing him apart, the fans were starting to wonder if he should keep his captaincy, even his own teammates were starting to lose hope in him. He could see it in their faces after every defeat, no matter how hard Jenson tried to reassure Fernando that it wasn't like that.
Shaking his head, Fernando took a deep breath before straightening up. He couldn't go down that line of thinking again, he has beaten himself up enough already by reading every article and listening to every program talking about him he could find, he needed a distraction. Looking up, Fernando smiled to himself when he saw he had stopped in front of a smoothie shop. He could use one of those now.
The shop was empty when Fernando walked inside, something he appreciated. He approached the counter, a small smile forming on his lips as he saw the barista sitting behind it was sleeping, his neck resting in an awkward angle as his hands held a book about art. For a second he debated if he should wake him up to order or just turn around and leave, but now that he was there, Fernando really wanted a smoothie, so leaning forward into the counter, he cleared his throat just loud enough to make the barista wake up with a start.
The guy looked around for a moment, as if trying to remember where he was, before his eyes landed on Fernando and a sheepish smile formed on his face.
“I am so sorry about that,” The barista apologized, clearing his throat as he put the book away and got up to walk up to the counter, standing in front of Fernando.
“It’s okay,” Fernando said. “Sorry for waking you up,” He added, the amusement clear in his tone as he watched the guy’s ears starting to turn pink. Cute, Fernando thought before chastising himself in his mind.
“Oh, that? No, no, I wasn't- I was just resting my eyes for a second,” The guy, Mark according to his name tag, said before he cleared his throat again, not giving Fernando time to say anything before he was speaking again. “Can I help you with anything?”
Fernando hummed, just now remembering he was here for a smoothie and turning to look at their menu. The names in there made him frown before he turned back towards Mark. “Uh, what's the best smoothie you guys have?”
“Well,” Mark said, turning towards the menu himself for a moment before looking back at Fernando. “They're all pretty decent smoothies with silly names if I'm being honest,” He chuckled, making Fernando chuckle as well. “I would say the blueberry one is our best one though”
Fernando looked down at the small poster Mark was pointing at on the counter. “Blue Moon Over Brooklyn,” He read, biting the inside of his cheek to avoid laughing at the name before looking up at Mark. “I’ll have that one then”
Fernando watched Mark nod and start to turn around towards the blender before he hesitated, making Fernando frown. “If that's okay?” Fernando asked. “I can get something else”
“No, no,” Mark said, shaking his head. “Sorry, it's not that, you can get the Blue Moon Over Brooklyn, it's just that when I make it for myself in the morning I usually put some banana in there, that's all”
“Oh, so you're kind of wild,” Fernando said.
“I mean, it wouldn't be the first time somebody's told me that,” Mark chuckled.
“Well, uh, that sounds pretty good, yeah, blueberry with banana,” Fernando said with a smile. “I’d take that, if it's okay to order off menu, Mark”
“Well, it was kind of my idea so I guess we can get away with it this time,” Mark returned the smile and they looked at each in silence for a second until someone cleared their throat behind Mark and Fernando realized they weren't as alone as he thought they were.
Mark immediately turned around, sending a look to the girl with him behind the counter before getting started with the smoothie while Fernando just stood there, suddenly feeling very awkward as he tried to look anywhere but any of the baristas.
“There you go, Blue Moon Over Brooklyn with banana,” Mark said as he put the cup in front of Fernando on the counter.
“Thanks,” Fernando muttered before picking up the cup, taking a long sip of the drink with an appreciative hum. “Oh, you weren't kidding, this is really good”
“Yeah,” Mark said with a smile. “The banana makes a big difference, I think,” He added, before looking down with a shake of his head, muttering something under his breath that Fernando couldn't catch as he grabbed the POS machine and put it in front of him.
“I guess it must,” Fernando said, looking at Mark for a moment before focusing on paying for his smoothie, making sure to add a big tip. “Here”
“Thanks,” Mark grabbed the POS machine, a frown forming on his face as he saw the number on the screen. “Uh, that's too much,” He said, looking up at Fernando.
“It's for you,” Fernando shrugged, picking up his cup again to take another sip of his blueberry smoothie. “It's a great smoothie,” He added, raising his cup in Mark's direction before he started to walk backwards towards the door. “Thanks again, Mark”
With that, Fernando turned around, walking past a new customer as he walked out of the smoothie shop.
“Holy shit, is that-” The guy said as he turned to look at Fernando with a surprised face. “Was that Fernando Alonso?” He asked, making Mark look at him with a confused face.
“I'm sorry, who?” Mark asked.
“Fernando Alonso,” The guy repeated. “The hockey player”
After hearing those words Mark turned slowly towards Susie, his co-worker, with a surprised face, and neither of them could help but laugh.
-
“So this is what we watch now?” Sebastian asked as he looked at the hockey game on the screen like it has personally offended him.
“We barely get to see you because you're always working but at least when we do we get to watch, uh,” Nico turned from Mark to the TV and back. “Hockey?”
“Shut up, Britney,” Mark huffed, rolling his eyes.
“Oh, so I should turn it off then,” Sebastian said, grabbing the remote as he looked at Mark with a knowing smirk.
“No, no, no, please keep it on”
“Alright,” Sebastian rolled his eyes, putting the remote down before going to the other side of the counter to take care of a client.
“He said his name twice,” Susie said from next to Mark. “And he did it rolling the ‘r’ in a very sexy way on purpose”
“Oh my god, Susie, that's setting the bar so low,” Nico rolled his eyes.
“No but it sounded so hot when he said it like that,” Susie said.
“Okay, I'm listening”
“Fuck off both of you,” Mark huffed. “He didn't do anything on purpose, he's Spanish, that's just his accent”
“Oh so you've been looking him up on the internet?” Nico asked with a knowing smirk, raising his eyebrows a few times and laughing when Mark pushed him away.
“Fuck you,” Mark said.
“Another round?” Sebastian asked, appearing out of nowhere like he usually did to stop any kind of argument from escalating.
“Thank you, Sebastian,” Susie said, followed by another “Thank you, Sebastian,” from Nico.
When Mark didn't join the chorus of ‘Thank yous’ Sebastian rolled his eyes, looking at him as he watched the TV completely oblivious to what was going around him.
“What about you?” Sebastian asked, looking at Mark with a raised eyebrow.
Mark hummed, turning from the TV to Sebastian. “Oh, yeah, thank you, Sebastian,” He said before turning to look back at the TV just in time for Fernando’s team to get the puck. “Look, look, look, he's on the TV right now,” Mark pointed at the TV as he turned towards Nico, who wasn't paying attention. “Nico, look, right now”
“Okay, okay,” Nico rolled his eyes, before paying attention to the TV as if he had any idea how hockey worked.
“Button to Alonso. Alonso is in front of the net. And scores! A rare goal for Fernando Alonso”
“Oh wow,” Nico said when the camera zoomed in on Fernando's face, making Susie laugh as she nodded in agreement. “He knows your name?”
“Yeah,” Mark said with a small smile before shaking his head, clearing his throat slightly. “I mean, he's definitely not gay but-”
“Shut up, he literally blushed!” Susie said at the same time that Nico said. “Then make him gay, Jesus Christ!”
Mark ignored both of them, pushing Nico's hands away as he picked up his glass to drink whatever cocktail Sebastian had made for him this time, his eyes following Fernando as he skated on the TV.
-
Mark was sitting behind the counter of Straw+Berry, taking advantage of the slow day to read the newspaper. He usually didn't read sports papers, but he had seen Fernando on the cover and he hadn't been able to stop himself.
“He scored a hat trick last night,” Mark said out loud, lifting his head to look at Susie, who was sitting a few meters away from him, looking down at her phone.
“Are you asking me what that means?” Susie asked without looking up from the screen. “Or telling me something I already know?” She added as she looked up at Mark with a raised eyebrow, going back to her phone after Mark rolled his eyes at her.
“I just didn't realize-”
“We literally watched the game, Mark”
Mark rolled his eyes again, looking up from the paper to give Susie a fake smile and maybe say something sarcastic in return but before he could open his mouth he heard the noise of the door opening.
“Nice to see you again, Mark,” Fernando said as he walked into the establishment, approaching the counter with a smile.
Mark smiled in return, getting up to stand in front of Fernando. “Nice to see you again, uh- Fernando,” He said, raising the newspaper slightly for Fernando to see. “Because that's you, right? Fernando Alonso”
Fernando chuckled, leaning forward on the counter. “I am, yeah”
Mark ignored whatever Susie was saying behind him, trying really hard to keep his eyes on Fernando's face and not his arms.
“I mean, wow, you had a night last night”
“Oh, did you watch?” Fernando asked, looking at Mark with genuine surprise on his face.
“Yeah, I mean, I don't usually watch,” Mark shrugged, before he realized how that might have sounded and quickly tried to fix it. “Sorry, that sounded kind of mean,” He chuckled awkwardly.
“No, it's fine, I get it”
“I mean, I watched the playoffs last year with my dad,” Mark explained. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to explain himself to Fernando, but he wanted to. “It was amazing, he's a huge fan,” He smiled at Fernando, who smiled back at him. “And, uh, yeah, I watched last night, wow”
Mark cringed inside. He kind of wanted the ground to open up and swallow him for being so awkward in front of one of the hottest guys he has ever seen in his life.
“Yeah, well, you see,” Fernando said after a moment of silence where they had just looked at each other with smiles on their faces. “Usually when something goes right with my game I try to repeat it and then I try to perfect it,” Fernando explained, and Mark just nodded, the confusion in his eyes making Fernando laugh a little. “So, I would love another smoothie please”
Realization crept over Mark’s face as he nodded. “Of course, anything you would like different?” He asked before turning towards the blender.
“Nothing at all,” Fernando said, and Mark nodded again before he got started with the smoothie, making sure it was the same as last time.
“There you go,” Mark put the smoothie in front of Fernando before passing him the POS machine, rolling his eyes with a smile when he saw the insane amount of money Fernando was paying once again. “You really can't keep doing this”
“I really can,” Fernando said with an amused smile as he put his wallet back in his pocket before picking up his smoothie, taking a long sip. “See you next game day,” He lifted his cup before turning around. “I hope,” Fernando added at the last minute before he walked out of the shop.
“Girl,” Mark said, turning towards Susie, who was already looking at him.
“Girl”
“Was that-?”
“Yes, it fucking was”
Mark sighed, turning around to learn forward into the counter. It couldn't be true, there was no way that NHL star and New York’s captain Fernando Alonso was actually flirting with him. No fucking way.
-
After his shift, Mark headed to the Kingfisher where he was supposed to meet with Lee for dinner like they always did once a week. He waited for her in their usual booth, scrolling through his phone as he waited for Lee to arrive with their food.
“Sorry I'm late!” Lee said as he walked into the bar, going straight to where Mark was sitting.
“No outside food or drinks,” Sebastian said from behind the counter like he did every week.
“Fuck off, Sebastian,” Lee sat down in front of Mark, putting the bags of the Chinese food she had picked up on her way on the table.
“Thank you,” Mark smiled at her before he started to go through the bags, getting everything out so they could start eating while filling each other in the events of the past few days they haven't seen each other because of their jobs.
“And I know the whole smoothie thing is dumb or whatever, but he just keeps saying my name with that ridiculously hot accent and it's low key making me crazy,” Mark said before going back to his food.
“Wait, you're still going with me to that fundraiser, though, right? ‘Cause I am not looking for a date,” Lee said without looking up from her phone, making Mark roll his eyes.
“Yes, I told you I could come and it's in, like, two months,” Mark said while poking at his food before looking up at Lee again. “Could you please listen to me?”
Lee rolled her eyes, still not looking up from her phone. “Sebastian, remote!” She said, waiting for Sebastian to come bring her the TV remote so she could put on the game.
Mark turned towards the TV when he heard the commentators talk about New York, before he turned back to Lee with a deadpan expression when she said she was fully listening now.
“What are you doing?”
“Just putting the game on,” Lee shrugged, finally looking at Mark as she put a piece of chicken in her mouth.
“Lee”
“What?” Lee looked at Mark with a way too innocent smile. “It's a sports bar, let's watch sport,” She said as she turned towards the TV.
“Am I being crazy?” Mark asked.
“What does Susie say?” Lee asked as he turned to look at Mark.
“She says he's flirting with me too”
“Well, she's much smarter than you,” Lee said with a shrug. “And probably this idiot,” She added, turning to the TV again just in time for them to show Fernando and a graphic with his statistics tonight.
“He's not an idiot,” Mark protested, sounding way too defensive for someone he barely knew.
Lee rolled her eyes, looking at Mark with a serious expression. “When's his next home game?”
Mark shrugged, his body still turned towards the TV, his eyes following Fernando move around the ice. “I don't know”
“Come on,” Lee said, sounding a bit exasperated. “If you don't know when his next home game is, how are you going to plan your next shift?”
“I don't plan my shifts,” Mark rolled his eyes, turning back towards Lee. “I just take as many as I can,” He shrugged before going back to watching the game.
Lee huffed, muttering something under his breath that sounded a lot like ‘stupid men’ before she went back to looking down at her phone.
“Saturday,” Lee said after a moment of silence. “They play at home again on Saturday,” She looked up at Mark, who was already looking back at her. “Do you work on Saturday?”
Mark frowned, picking up his phone to look at his calendar, groaning when he saw he had Saturday free. “Fuck, no”
“Well, you still have time to fix that,” Lee said, going back to her phone and her food, which Mark knew meant the conversation was over.
With a sigh, Mark went back to his own food, thinking of a way to get Susie to swap shifts with him.
-
Mark was working alone on Saturday. The shop was empty for most of the day, nothing new, which meant he could just sit around and be on his phone while he waited for Fernando.
“Mark!” Fernando said when he walked into the shop, smiling at him as he approached the counter.
“Hi,” Mark straightened, putting his phone down as he smiled back at Fernando.
“I didn't know if you, uh-” Fernando stopped himself, clearing his throat as he leaned into the counter. “Blue Moon Over Brooklyn please,” He said. “Extra banana,” Fernando added, looking down at the counter as he shook his head, muttering something under his breath Mark didn't understand.
Mark made the smoothie the same as the other two times Fernando had been in the shop, but this time when he put it in front of the Spaniard at the counter he didn't offer him the POS to pay.
“This one is on the house,” Mark said, interrupting Fernando before he could protest. “I am being serious, management is on my back about your tips so just accept it”
Fernando laughed, putting his wallet back in his pocket before grabbing his smoothie. “Uh, may I drink this here?” He asked. “I have some emails I have to answer so I thought…”
“Yeah,” Mark nodded. “Of course, you totally may”
Fernando nodded before he turned around to walk to one of the tables by the window with the high chairs.
For the next half an hour they both stayed in silence. Fernando was doing something on his phone while Mark had got his computer out so he could go through his master's application again. He looked up at Fernando from time to time, their eyes meeting more than once, but neither dare say anything.
It wasn't until half an hour later that Mark finally decided to say something.
“So, you're not worried about breaking your routine?” Mark asked, turning around from cleaning the counter to look at Fernando.
“No, I am actually not that obsessive,”
Fernando laughed, putting his phone down as he turned to look at Mark. “Turns out I'm too lazy to be a serial killer,” He said. “I took a quiz, I don't even think I could be a spree killer”
Mark hummed, frowning as he tilted his head slightly to the side. “What's a spree killer?”
“Someone who kills multiple people at the same time,” Fernando explained like he was talking about the weather before picking up his almost finished smoothie to take a sip.
Mark’s frown deepened. “But isn't-”
“No,” Fernando interrupted him. “A serial killer is someone who kills multiple people, minimum three, but over a period of time, not all that once”
Mark hummed, nodding his head. “Uh, how do you know that?”
Fernando laughed, rubbing the back of his neck with an awkward smile. “I read a lot of murder books,” He said. “Serial killers make me feel not so obsessive, which, uh, which is a relief”
“Well,” Mark started, leaning back against the counter as he kept fidgeting with the rag he was using to clean it. “I've read some things about athletes”
“Ok, ok,” Fernando interrupted him again, raising a hand to stop Mark before he could continue. “Before you say anything else, yes, I agree, and yes, there's at least two guys on my team that possibly off the record, yes, maybe,” He said. “But no, not me”
Mark looked at Fernando with a raised eyebrow, trying hard not to laugh.
“No, I swear,” Fernando said, trying not to laugh as well. “Barely had two concussions,” He added, lifting three fingers just to make Mark laugh.
“Okay, so what?” Mark asked. “No left shock, right shock, stop shaving, no sex, all that stuff?”
“Oh, no, yeah, yeah, yeah, all of that,” Fernando’s face was serious now, and Mark had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing. “But that's not CTE stuff, that's just science,” Mark hummed. “And science only matters during the playoffs”
“Oh, ok, that's super comforting,” Mark said.
“Look, I know you're more of an art guy,” Fernando said, the amused smile back on his face. “So it's not like I expect you to get the ins and outs of science”
Mark rolled his eyes at that, a small smile on his face. “For the record, I am not complaining about the whole stop shaving thing,” Mark said. “You all look like hot lumberjacks by the end May”
Fernando’s eyes widened a little at that, his hand with the smoothie stopping midair before he put it back down, swallowing softly as if he was now just realizing what he was doing. He was flirting with Mark. And Mark was flirting back. He was flirting with a guy who knew who he was and he was doing it in a very public place. He had lost his mind.
He heard Mark sigh, the other man turning back around to pretend to clean the counter as Fernando grabbed his phone and got up.
“Uh,” Fernando frowned slightly. This was a bad idea. A very bad idea. And he should probably just walk out of this shop and never come back before he did something stupid that made him end up in the front cover of the wrong magazines for the wrong reasons, but he really enjoyed his talk with Mark, and the guy was hot. Maybe he could let himself have this one thing. “Do you want to come to my game tonight?” He asked before he could stop himself.
Mark turned back around, looking at Fernando with a surprised face.
“I have two seats and no one's taking them,” Fernando kept talking when Mark didn't say anything. “So, I mean, if- if you want”
“Yeah,” Mark said way too enthusiastically before he cleared his throat, straightening his back a bit. “I mean, yeah, I want,” He repeated. “Uh, fuck, man, that's crazy, thank you”
“Super happy to do it”
“You sure?”
Fernando swallowed, looking at Mark in silence for a moment before nodding. “I’m sure”
-
Mark took Lee to the game. She was the best option out of all his friends since she was the only one who actually cared about hockey and he refused to have to explain to his dad why the Fernando Alonso was giving him tickets to one of his games.
“These seats are nicer than my company ones,” Lee said before putting more popcorn into her mouth.
“I get it”
“These are really good seats”
“Yeah, well, maybe because they're his,” Mark whispered, not wanting to speak too loud just in case someone might hear him, something that made Lee roll her eyes.
“You know, weird first date but I think I am into this”
“What are you talking about?” Mark asked, turning to look at Lee with a confused face.
“Well, you're with a girl and he's at work-”
“Oh my God, shut up, Lee,” Mark huffed, rolling his eyes as he went back to looking at ice just in time for Fernando to skate by, nodding in his direction.
“Oh wow”
“That wasn't-” Mark looked at Lee with a shake of his head. “That wasn't to me- that was-” He said as he looked behind himself.
“He just nodded at you,” Lee said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. And maybe it was, but Mark refused to believe it.
“No,” Mark shook his head again. “No, there's no proof of that”
Lee turned to look at him, and Mark didn't need to look back to know she most likely had that face that meant he was being an idiot and she wanted to smack him on the head.
Fernando skated by again, this time raising his hand, and Mark could feel Lee nudging him with her elbow.
“Wave back, for fucks sake”
“Okay, okay,” Mark huffed, raising his hand to wave back at Fernando, who smiled at him before going back to his usual prematch warm ups.
The game ended with a win for the Admirals and a hat trick for Fernando.
-
Fernando wasn't lying when he told Mark he wasn't that obsessive. He had his superstitions like every other hockey player did. Jenson for example put his left skate on first always but tied the right one first, and Daniel always listened to the same song right before going into the ice. Fernando had his routine as well, but it was more his need for some order rather than any superstitions about his game. So yeah, Fernando wasn't that obsessive.
Maybe.
The season hadn't started well for him, but things had changed after his first visit to Straw+Berry and now every time they played at home Fernando was on fire. The problem was that they didn't always play at home.
The Admirals lost against Boston, and Fernando wouldn't have cared that much if it wasn't because he had to deal with fucking Verstappen chirping at him. And then they lost to Montreal and George Russell of all people came to him after the match for some banter, but Fernando had been too pissed off and he had said something he probably shouldn't have and before he knew it they were both in a fight.
So yeah, Fernando wouldn't say he's an obsessive guy, but he was starting to think the only way for him and the Admirals to win this season was if he had a blueberry smoothie with extra banana made by Mark a few hours before the game.
-
“Well, that's something you really don't expect to see”
“Especially after the final whistle and especially between Alonso and Russell”
Mark watched as the fight started on the ice, his eyes following Fernando's figure as some guys from his team pulled him away from the other guy.
His dad muted the TV as he got up, throwing the remote into his lap. “I am going to bed”
Mark just hummed, his eyes still on the TV as he unmuted it again.
Alan rolled his eyes, approaching Mark to ruffle his hair before pulling away. “Enjoy your day off”
“It's not a day off,” Mark said, but he still didn't take his eyes away from the TV where the commentators were speculating about what could have happened for Fernando and the guy from Montreal to start fighting after the game was over. “I'm doing that catering thing tomorrow”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Alan said. “I'm just saying that you get to sleep in for once which is nice”
Alan rolled his eyes again when Mark didn't say anything, his eyes still glued to the TV. “I am proud of your hustle, matey,” He said, pretending to punch Mark on the arm. “And you're going to get that scholarship”
“Please don't jinx me, dad,” Mark huffed, swatting his dad’s hand away.
“No way, no way! Good night,” Alan said, finally walking out the living room and towards his room, making Mark shake his head with a smile.
“Good night, dad! Love you!”
“Love you back!”
Mark’s smile widened at his dad's words before he went back to fully focusing on the TV. He was waiting for Fernando to speak to the press so he could get an explanation of what happened, but unfortunately Fernando wasn't going to be speaking out tonight, so Mark had stayed up late for nothing. With a sigh, he got up from the couch to go to his room, he needed the sleep and he couldn't afford sleeping in and being late to the catering gig.
-
Mark was going to be late to the catering gig.
“Motherfucker!” Mark groaned as he looked through his clothes, his suit nowhere to be seen.
He was going to be late and Nico was going to murder him and probably get away with it.
“What's happening to you?” Alan asked, walking into the living room with a cup of coffee and a frown. “What's your problem?”
Mark groaned again as he almost tripped while putting on a sock. “I can't find my black suit and I need to leave soon”
Alan rolled his eyes, pointing over his shoulder towards his room. “It's with the dry cleaning in my closet, so why are you freaking out?”
Mark let out a sigh of relief as he walked past his dad and into his bedroom. “Thank you,” He said, almost falling again.
“Hey, wow, hey, are you okay?”
“Yes,” Mark said as he finally found his black suit and started to put it on. “I just can't fuck up this job, I really need the money”
“Well, I understand and you're not going to fuck up because you're amazing and it's gonna be great,” Alan said, looking with an amused smile as Mark struggle with the buttons of his shirt. “Love you!”
“You too, dad!” Mark replied, running to his room to pick up his shoes and making a quick stop at the bathroom to fix his hair before he was walking out the door.
The walk to where the event was taking place wasn't too long, so Mark was able to only be ten minutes late, an apologetic smile forming on his face before he even walked into the kitchen.
“I am so sorry,” Mark apologized to Nico as he walked up to him while fixing his tie.
“Save it,” Nico said, shoving a tray into Mark’s hands before pushing him softly towards the door to the hall.
Mark smiled at him before he turned, taking a deep breath as he pushed the doors open with his shoulder and walked… straight into one of the guests.
“Fuck, I am sorry about that,” Mark groaned, shaking his head as he kneeled down to fix the mess. “I am really sorry”
“Oh, you're a mess,” A woman's voice Mark had never heard before said.
“It's okay, this isn't my only tux,” A voice Mark had heard before said and he looked up to be met with Fernando looking down at him. Great.
“You know, New York used to have professional waiters,” The woman said, and Mark shook his head, going back to cleaning the mess on the floor. “Now they're all models who can't carry a tray”
“It's, uh, it's really okay,” Fernando said, still looking down at Mark, who now refused to look up at him.
“I'm so sorry again,” Mark repeated as he picked up the tray and got up to go back into the kitchen. “Fucking fantastic,” He muttered under his breath once the door closed behind himself.
“Mark, I don't know what that was but-”
“I know, I am a complete fuck up and I am sorry,” Mark interrupted Nico, leaving the tray on a table before picking up a napkin so he could try to clean himself up a bit.
“You're not a complete fuck up,” Nico said, rolling his eyes at Mark's dramatics. “And this isn't rocket science or whatever it is you're into”
“Art,” Mark said. “Please don't fire me”
Nico rolled his eyes at Mark again before resting his hands on his shoulders and shaking him a little. “I am not going to fire you, you idiot,” He said. “Just calm down and get your shit together, yeah? I know you need the money”
“Yeah”
Nico hummed. “Now deep breaths,” He said. “Inhale and exhale”
Mark closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before opening then again.
“Good?” Nico asked and Mark nodded. “Great, you think you can handle quiche? They're dry”
Mark gave Nico a look as he grabbed the tray before he turned around and walked out of the kitchen. Luckily this time without crashing into any attractive hockey player.
-
Fernando spent the whole night trying to get Mark alone. The woman that had practically kidnapped since he set foot in the hall had been talking his ear off for the past few hours and Fernando was starting to feel like his head was going to explode.
“Sorry,” Fernando interrupted her, giving the woman his most polite smile. “I need to go to the bathroom”
He didn't wait for her to reply before he was walking away, sighing as soon as he was away from the crowd, his eyes scanning the place in search of Mark, a smile forming on his face when he saw the man was approaching him.
“Hey”
“Hey,” Mark said. “I am so sorry about earlier”
“Don't be,” Fernando shook his head. “That woman is horrible and I am the one who should be apologizing for standing next to the kitchen's door like an idiot”
“No, I am the idiot,” Mark said. “You're just a normal hungry person at a fundraiser and that woman did seem horrible”
Fernando laughed, nodding his head in agreement. “Yeah,” He said. “And full disclosure, I hate this food”
Mark laughed as well. “Full disclosure, I hate serving it,” He said with a smile. Both men stared at each in silence for a second before Mark cleared his throat. “Uh, sorry but I have to-”
“Do you like Mexican food?” Fernando interrupted Mark before he could finish that sentence and walk away.
“Yeah, of course, I am not a serial killer,” Mark smiled. “Or even a spree killer”
“You sure?”
“Yeah,” Mark shrugged. “Who has the time?”
“Well, do you have the time to grab a bite with me?” Fernando asked, trying to sound nonchalant even when his palms were sweating in the pockets of his pants. “When this whole thing is over obviously”
“Tonight?”
“Yeah”
“With you?”
“Well, yeah”
Mark looked at him with a surprised face, and for a moment Fernando thought about taking it back but then Mark smiled and Fernando felt himself relax.
“Yeah, of course”
“Great,” Fernando nodded. “Because there's this place just around the corner that's really good and it's open late”
“Okay,” Mark said. “You don't mind waiting until I am done?”
Fernando shook his head as he looked at Mark with a smile. “Not even a little”
-
Time passed slower than Fernando would have liked between having to make small talk and pretend to care about what people he didn't even remember the name of were saying, but it was all worth it if it meant he was going to be able to spend some alone time with Mark later.
He knew he was playing with fire. He didn't really know Mark and he didn't know if he could trust him to be discreet about whatever might happen between them, but he wanted to try. He wanted to let himself have something nice for once.
“Hi,” Mark’s voice brought Fernando back to the present, and he pushed himself off the wall to fall into step next to the other man, returning the ‘hi’ with a smile.
The walk to the restaurant was spent in silence as they stole a look or two at each other, laughing every time their eyes met.
“Oh! That's a long line,” Mark said as they came to a stop in front of the Mexican restaurant. “Is it worth it?” He asked as he turned to look at Fernando.
“Uhm,” Fernando swallowed, looking away from Mark and down at his feet with a small frown.
“Probably not, right?” Mark had a smile on his face, but Fernando could hear the resignation in his voice. “We also don't actually have to do this”
Fernando wanted to argue. He wanted to tell Mark that yeah, that it was worth it just to spend a few hours together, and that yeah, they had to do this because it just felt right, but instead he said.
“How do you feel about ordering in?”
Mark’s eyes widened at Fernando's question and he took longer than Fernando would have liked to answer, but when he did, he just nodded as he smiled down at him.
Fernando had called for a car after that and they had spent the whole ride in silence, and Fernando was starting to like it. He liked that being in silence with Mark didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable and that neither of them felt like they needed to talk.
“Holy shit,” Mark said as he walked into Fernando's apartment, looking around the living room.
Fernando hummed. He wasn't really listening to Mark, too busy taking out his tie and jacket before making quick work of his shirt.
“I mean, I figured you’d have a nice place, but this is insane” Mark kept talking when Fernando didn't say anything, starting to turn around towards him. His eyes widened slightly when he came face to face with a shirtless Fernando.
“Do you want the full tour now or-”
“Or,” Mark interrupted him with a nod. “I pick or”
Fernando smiled and before he knew it his feet were moving and suddenly his lips were on Mark's and hands were everywhere.
“Bed. Now,” Fernando said between kisses, grabbing at Mark's shirt to pull him towards his room as his lips found Mark's again.
Once in the bedroom, Fernando turned them around so the back of Mark's knees hit the edge of the bed, and he pushed him down. Their lips not separating even once.
Fernando made sure to take things slow. Not because he didn't want Mark because, fuck, he wanted him bad, but he was also not used to this. He was used to quick hook-ups with strangers that he was sure he was never going to see again, and every time he gave a fake name just to be safe. But this was different. Mark wasn't a complete stranger, and he knew his real name and who he was and Fernando wanted to enjoy that.
“Wow,” Fernando breathed as he took off Mark's shirt. “You're so beautiful,” He muttered before he started to kiss Mark’s neck slowly.
Mark chuckled, breathless already. “I can't believe you're even into me”
Now it was Fernando's turn to chuckle as he moved away from Mark’s neck to look down at him again. “Oh, I am into you,” He said with a smirk. “So into you, I can't stop thinking about you,” Fernando muttered against Mark's lips before kissing him again.
-
Fernando woke up to noises coming from his kitchen. He groaned softly as he rubbed one of his eyes with a fist, confused. But then he smiled when he remembered Mark and how last night, after he had tried to leave, Fernando had asked him to please stay and he had, so they had spent the whole night cuddling together.
With a sigh, he got up, no bothering to put anything more than a pair of black boxers before he padded into the kitchen, smiling as the mess his kitchen had become, and especially at a half naked Mark, who apparently was making him a freaking smoothie.
“Oh,” Mark said when he turned around and saw Fernando standing there. “Fuck, did I wake you?”
Fernando just shrugged, looking at Mark with a smile.
“Okay, I’m sorry,” Mark chuckled, shaking his head as he went back to tidy up the kitchen a bit. “I wanted to surprise you, I was going to go get the ingredients but you already had everything I needed in the fridge,” Mark ranted as he moved around the kitchen. “And I know I shouldn't be snooping around but I really didn't have to do that much snooping, you're very organized,” He kept talking as Fernando approached him. “And I am not working today but you still have a game so I thought you might want your- Whoa”
Mark laughed softly as Fernando picked him up, wrapping his arms and legs around him as he started to walk, their noses touching as their eyes locked.
“Can I fuck you?” Fernando asked, his voice still raspy from having just woken up, and if Mark wasn't hard already, he definitely was now.
“Absolutely”
-
They hadn't made it past the couch.
Once they were finished, and after they had caught their breaths again, they both got up to have those smoothies Mark had been making before Fernando had interrupted him.
“So,” Mark cleared his throat as he put his glass down. “I should probably go”
Fernando hummed, looking down at his smoothie and the counter. Anywhere but Mark. “What if you didn't?” He asked, looking up at Mark when he didn't get an answer.
“Go?”
“Yeah,” Fernando shrugged.
“Like, ever?”
Fernando just laughed, shrugging again.
“Fuck,” Mark groaned. “All that serial killer talk was you warning me, wasn't it?”
Fernando looked back down at his smoothie. He wasn't sure how to do this, how to tell Mark that he liked him for more than just a quick fuck, that this was all new to him but he wanted more.
“Uh,” Fernando took a deep breath, clearing his throat before he looked up at Mark again. “I'm gonna say a bunch of things, okay?” He asked. “And I know I am too intense, everyone tells me that, but I just- I can't help it,” Fernando chuckled softly. “Is that okay? Can I be too intense?”
Mark looked at him with a small frown, the confusion clear in his eyes, but he nodded. “Yeah, yeah, sure”
“Yeah, uh, I never do this,” Fernando started, taking a deep breath. “Never brought anyone back here, like, ever,” He said. “My life, uh, my life is complicated”
“Yeah, I- I get that,” Mark nodded.
Fernando nodded as well, looking at the counter as he tried to get his thoughts in order. “And I can't, uh- I can't come out, like, not- not right now”
He waited for Mark to say anything, but he didn't, he just nodded and Fernando sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“Too many people depend on me for too much,” Fernando said. “And it would just fuck everything up,” He sighed. “So yeah, I thought I would- I don't know, wait, I guess, until hockey was over and then maybe a few years, you know? Move back to Spain maybe, fade away a bit or-”
Fernando sighed, stopping himself for a moment. This was harder than he thought it would be. Taking a deep breath, he tried to keep talking.
“But I- You- It's just- Fuck,” Fernando chuckled softly, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his hair. “I want you so bad, so bad,” He said. “And I know you barely know me, so why would you even consider something this probably fucked up? Like, I know I'm fucked up, I get it, I'm not pretending I'm not, but I really, really like you, and I want you to stay, so I am asking for what I want,” Fernando stopped, looking up at Mark, making sure their eyes were connected before he kept talking. “I want you to be here when I get back from practice later, and I, uh, I want you to be here when I come home from my game tonight,” He swallowed, looking down again as he took a deep breath. “I want you more than I've wanted anything in a long time,” Fernando looked up at Mark again, trying to decipher what he was thinking just by the look on his face. “Is that too much?”
Mark didn't answer.
“It's okay if it is, you can say it,” Fernando said. “Do say something, though”
Mark sighed, and Fernando could see the gears turning in his head. He didn't say anything at first, walking around the kitchen island so he could sit on one of the stools next to Fernando.
“I think I’d love to be here when you get back,” Mark said with a smile, and Fernando let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. “And I don't think you're too lazy to be a serial killer”
Fernando laughed, turning his head to look at Mark with a smile. “Really?”
“Yeah, really,” Mark said with a matching smile. “You're definitely not lazy”
After that day, Fernando never came back home after practice or a game to an empty loft.
Mark moved into the loft. Kind of. And every time Fernando came back he was waiting for him on the couch reading one of his art books or just watching something on the TV and every single time Fernando jumped him like a starved man.
The first weeks were nice. This experience was new for both of them because although Mark had been out and proud for years, he had never really had a relationship that reached the moving in together phase, but he was loving every second of it so far.
Lying to his father about where he was staying was probably the hardest part for him. He knew his dad probably suspected he was lying to him, and Mark would love to just tell him the truth, but he wanted to respect Fernando's privacy, so every time his dad called he just kept telling him the same lie over and over.
Lying to his friends wasn't much better. They already knew about Fernando, and they have started to nag him about it every time they met once Nico was done being dramatic about not seeing him anymore. He was sure he wasn't fooling anyone, no matter how many times he repeated that Fernando was just a customer and not his boyfriend.
-
Mark was sitting on the couch looking through the page of an artist he loved when Fernando walked past him and straight to the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee.
“There's pasta salad in the fridge,” Mark said without looking up from his computer. “Chicken, no feta”
Fernando hummed, taking a sip of his coffee. “Yeah? From where?”
“From me, I made it,” Mark shrugged, leaning his head back so he could look at Fernando, giving him a smile.
Fernando returned the smile, putting his cup down before he walked around the kitchen island and towards the couch, leaning into the back of the couch next to where Mark was.
“You did?”
Make hummed, turning his head to look at Fernando with a smile, chuckling softly when Fernando kissed his cheek.
“I'm not just a pretty face”
“Oh, but you are a very pretty face,” Fernando smiled, leaning forward to kiss Mark before he turned to the computer. “What you looking at?”
“It's an artist I love,” Mark said, turning back to the computer as well. “He has a new show out”
“Cool,” Fernando hummed. “I should buy some art,” Mark laughed, making Fernando raise an eyebrow at him. “What? I'm not just a pretty face either”
“Oh no, you're also a very, very hot body”
Fernando smirked, closing the computer and getting it out of the way before he jumped over the back of the couch and into Mark's lap, pulling him in for a kiss by the front of his shirt.
“I was being serious about the art, though,” Fernando muttered against Mark's lips when they pulled away for air. “We can go now if you want, I have the rest of the day free”
Mark just smiled, leaning in for another kiss.
-
“What are you wearing?” Mark asked, trying not to laugh when Fernando walked out of the bedroom in a cap and sunglasses.
“What?” Fernando frowned. “People know my face! I am trying to not draw any attention to us”
Mark huffed with a roll of his eyes. He knew Fernando was a bit paranoid about people seeing them in public, and he really didn't mind, it's not like he wanted the attention either, but this was a bit ridiculous in Mark’s opinion. He didn't say anything though, Fernando agreeing to come to the show out with him was already a big step. Even if he was wearing a ridiculous disguise.
The walk to the show out wasn't long, but Mark could still see how Fernando got more and more anxious as they walked away from the loft. But he chose to not say anything, he really loved this artist and he has been dying to go to one of his show outs for months.
When they walked into the room, Fernando jumped at the sound of the door closing behind him, and Mark sighed, turning towards him with a smile.
“We don't have to do this”
Fernando laughed like Mark had said something crazy. “It's cool”
Mark suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, raising an eyebrow at Fernando who just nodded at him. “Okay,” He said before he turned to start looking around.
“This one is nice,” Mark said as they stopped in front of a painting. “It would look great in the living room, not on the fireplace wall but on the way to the bedroom, I think it would-”
Fernando shushed him as a couple of people walked past them before he sighed. “Sorry, sorry, I just-”
“It's okay,” Mark interrupted him, giving him a tight-lipped smile before turning back to the painting. “Maybe we should-”
“Amazing, isn't it?” A woman's voice interrupted Mark this time and he turned to see one of the people that worked at the show out smiling at them.
“Yeah, it's beautiful”
“So are you guys just browsing or shopping to buy?”
Mark turned to the painting again and then to Fernando, who was looking away, basically giving his back to Mark, and then back to the woman, giving her the same tight-lipped smile he had given Fernando just a few minutes ago. “I think we're just browsing at the moment, thank you, though”
“Excuse me,” Fernando said before he walked past Mark and out of the room.
“Sorry, he's just not feeling well,” Mark apologized, watching Fernando go before he sighed, excusing himself as well to go after him.
Mark didn't try to stop him, he just walked after him as they both made their way back to the loft.
Fernando took off his cap as soon as he walked into the loft, throwing it away as he ran a hand through his hair. “I, uh, I am really sorry,” He said as Mark walked after him, closing the door behind himself. “I thought I could do that, I really thought I could, I wanted to, I just-”
“Hey,” Mark said softly, grabbing Fernando's hands in his. “It's okay”
“No it's not,” Fernando protested. “I know it's not”
Mark sighed, letting go of Fernando's hands to pull him into a hug instead. “It's okay,” He whispered into Fernando's ear as he rubbed his back slowly, feeling the tension in his shoulder. He wished he could say something to make it better, something that made Fernando believe him when he said that it was okay, that he didn't mind, but Mark has never been good with words, so a hug would have to do for now.
-
“These road trips are just killing me,” Fernando said as he walked around his room, packing his things for the next few away games. “I mean, it's brutal, I think I'm cursed”
“Cursed?” Mark’s voice came from the living room and Fernando didn't need to see him to know Mark had an amused smile on his face right now. “Like, scary old lady cursed?”
“I know it's dumb,” Fernando huffed as he put a shirt he knew was Mark's inside of his bag. “But I'm not the only one who's superstitious, you know?” He said. “Would you be jealous if I got my smoothies from some other guy?”
“Maybe, probably”
“What if I filled you in all the juicy details?” Fernando asked. “Like, how he blended them? What if I was actually a scary old lady?”
“Or what if you always kind of had one with you?” Mark asked as he walked into the bedroom.
Fernando looked up from his bag with a frown. “What do you mean?” He asked, to which Mark replied by showing him a box. “Ah, I see”
“Here,” Mark walked further into the room, handing Fernando the box, waiting for him to open it. “I know it's dumb, but I saw them in a bodega this morning and it reminded me of your smoothie so I had to buy them for you, for good luck”
Fernando looked at the blue socks with little drawings of bananas in them with a smile before he looked up at Mark again, pulling him down by the back of the head for a kiss. “I love them,” He muttered against his lips.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Fernando said with a smile. “I love them so much,” He repeated before leaning in for a kiss again.
“Can I fuck you?” Mark whispered.
Fernando chuckled, throwing the socks over his shoulder. “Absolutely,” He said before pulling Mark into the bed with him.
-
“Fuck yes!” Mark shouted when Fernando scored.
“That's two tonight”
“Can we say it out loud? Is the curse broken?”
“Alonso hasn't scored twice in an away game since last season”
The TV turned off after that last sentence from one of the commentators, and Mark frowned, turning to look at Lee, who was looking at him with a serious face.
“What?”
“Say it out loud”
“Say what?” Mark asked, sighing when Lee just looked at him. “Okay, it's not-”
“It's what?” Lee interrupted him, and Mark huffed, looking down at the table with a small frown. “Okay, here's what I know”
“Lee”
“Shut up,” Lee said. “You're in love with him”
“I'm not in love with him”
“You are,” Lee’s voice wasn't as hard anymore, her face softer as well, and Mark sighed. “Have you at least told your dad?”
Mark didn't answer, looking away from Lee again, and she groaned.
“For how long?”
“A little over two months”
“Oh baby,” Lee sighed.
“Lee, hey, you can't tell,” Mark said, leaning forward into the table. “If anyone finds out that it-”
“That it's Fernando?” Lee interrupted him. “Obviously I'm not gonna tell anyone, but Mark-”
“He can't come out right now, okay?” Mark said. “He really wants to,” He added. “Look, it's amazing, he is amazing and I've never been happier, honestly,” Mark’s voice didn't sound convinced at all, not even to himself and he looked down at the table again instead of Lee.
“What'sthe plane, babe?” Lee asked.
“I don't know,” Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“What does your dad think?”
“I don't know,” Mark shrugged. “Probably that I’m fucking some married man”
“Kinda wish you were”
“Don't say that, come on,” Mark said. “Just be happy for me, please”
“I cannot wait to see you in a tux tomorrow morning,” Lee said instead, getting a small smile out of Mark.
“I’m gonna be super well behaved for you”
“I only care that you're handsome”
“You bitch”
They both chuckled before Mark cleared his throat. “Fernando is going to be there”
“Oh I know,” Lee said. “And he better be ready for me”
Mark shook his head with a smile. He knew Lee was being serious and that she was going to end up cornering Fernando at some point during the night, he just hoped Fernando was actually ready for her.
-
My good luck charm :)
Mark smiled down at his phone as he saw the message from Fernando accompanied by a picture of the banana socks he had bought for him.
Can't wait to see you tomorrow! There's a little surprise for you in my closet :)
Mark frowned a little at that, taking a deep breath before he put his phone back into his pocket and walked back to the loft.
He didn't dare look into the closet, choosing to pretend there wasn't anything waiting for him there as he made himself dinner and then sat down on the couch to watch something while he ate.
“Hey dad,” Mark answered the phone, muting the TV and putting his food aside so he could get up and pace the room.
“Oh my God! You're not dead!”
“No, I'm alive”
Alan laughed on the other side of the phone. “Well, that's a relief, I didn't want to have to call the morgue,” He said, making Mark laugh. “You know I miss you”
“I miss you too, dad”
“Alright,” Alan said. “Are you going to make an appearance here at some point near the future?”
“Yeah, I will,” Mark nodded even though his dad couldn't see him. “I'm gonna come for dinner this week, I promise”
“Perfect”
“How, uh, how's work?”
“Work's fine, you know, the usual,” Alan said. “Barry's being a pain in my ass”
“Barry's in asshole”
“No, he hurt his foot so at least he has an excuse this time”
Mark laughed as he walked up to the window, turning around to lean back against it. “Well, Barry has always been an asshole”
“Who taught you to talk like that?”
“You did, you taught me to talk like that,” Mark said, making Alan laugh on the other side of the phone
“That sounds about right”
“And, uh, nothing in the mail, right?” Mark asked the one question that kept nagging him at the back of his head.
“Mark, if there was something in the mail, I wouldn't have forgotten about it”
“I know, I know, I just had to ask”
“Okay, don't worry about that,” Alan said. “It's gonna come when it comes, yeah?” He added. “Look, it's late and I don't want to keep you, I love you”
“All right, you too, dad”
“You too what?”
Mark rolled his eyes, a smile forming on his face. “I love you too, dad, there I said it, happy?”
“Very,” Alan said. “Sorry it's such a struggle, bye!”
“Bye, bye!” Mark ended the call with a sigh, turning off his phone and putting it away.
He missed his dad, and he was tired of lying to him, he wished he could just tell him the truth. He knew he would be happy for him and that he would keep things quiet, but he wasn't sure if Fernando would be okay with that.
Speaking of Fernando…
Mark remembered his last message about a surprise, so pushing himself off the window, he walked towards the bedroom, going straight to the closet and opening it with a sigh.
Hanging there was a suit. A very expensive looking suit and a note that said:
For my man – F
-
“Stop it”
“Stop what?” Mark asked as he looked around the room, turning towards Lee when he finally saw Fernando. “He's here”
“You need to chill out,” Lee said, rolling her eyes when Mark just drank the last of his glass in one go. “My God”
“Can I have some yours?” Mark asked, and Lee sighed, pushing her glass towards him.
“Thank you”
On the other side of the room, Fernando was standing with Jenson and the owner of the Admirals.
“Well, I like our playoff chances this year,” Jenson said with a smile. “I think we might even get some home ice advantage”
“If this guy keeps playing the way he has been, maybe,” Ron, the owner of the team, said, pointing with glass towards Fernando. “What changed? Meet a nice girl or something?”
Fernando almost choked with the champagne at that and he thanked God for Jenson as his teammate answered for him.
“I think we just found out groove as a team”
“Uh, excuse me, gentlemen,” Fernando said. “I think I spotted an old friend”
“Look, I'm just ribbing you, Fernando,” Ron said. “You know your parents would be so proud of you, right? Especially your mom, she would have just been thrilled”
Fernando smiled, nodding his head. “Thanks, Ron, really,” He said. “Uh, excuse me,” He added before walking away from the pair.
Jenson looked at him go, excusing himself as well before walking after him. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah,” Fernando nodded. “I should be used to it,” He said with a smile, raising a hand to squeeze Jenson's shoulder before he walked away and towards the table where he had seen Mark last.
He took a deep breath before he approached Mark and whoever his friend was, putting on his best smile before he stopped in front of them.
“Mark, right?”
Mark didn't say anything, both men just looking at each in silence until Lee got tired of it and broke the silence herself.
“Hey, I'm Lee,” Lee introduced herself, offering his hand to Fernando.
“Nice to meet you, Lee,” Fernando said, accepting the handshake. “I am Fernando”
“Pleasure, Fernando”
“You look beautiful,” Fernando smiled at her before turning towards Mark. “You both do,” He added before clearing his throat. “Uh, sorry”
“Yeah, we both clean up pretty well,” Lee said, looking at Mark as if telling him to say something, rolling her eyes when she realized neither him nor Fernando were going to talk while she was there. “Okay, if I go get more drinks, do you promise to start talking, Mark?”
“Yes, of course”
“Great,” Lee smiled, turning towards Fernando. “Another beer, Fernando?”
“That’d be lovely, thank you”
Lee smiled, sending Mark one last look before she walked away, leaving them alone.
Once Lee was gone, Fernando moved to take her place, leaning on the table while Mark stood facing the other way.
“Are you enjoying the evening?” Fernando asked.
“I am, are you?”
“Looking forward to the after party, honestly,” Fernando shrugged with a smile, making Mark laugh softly. “Tux fits perfectly”
“Thanks,” Mark said. “And thanks, you didn't have to”
“I wanted to,” Fernando finally turned to look at Mark, looking away again when he saw Mark wasn't looking back at him. “You okay?”
Mark sighed. “Lee knows,” He said. “I'm sorry”
“Yeah,” Fernando huffed. “Kind of got that,” He said. “It's, uh- It's okay, she's discreet, right?”
“Yeah, totally,” Mark nodded. “I just- She kind of figured it out and I just needed to tell someone I guess”
“It's okay, really”
They fell into what probably was the first awkward silence between them. Fernando didn't know what to say and apparently neither did Mark.
“This is so weird”
Fernando laughed at that. “Yeah, we, uh, we should leave early, as soon as I do my speech”
“Uh, not before you dance with me,” Lee said as she came back to the table, putting the drinks down to look at Fernando with a smile.
“Pardon?”
“I wanna dance”
“Lee's a killer”
Fernando looked from Mark to Lee and then back, sighing at the look in Mark's eyes that was telling him there was no way out of this.
“How could I possibly say no?” Fernando turned to Lee, offering his hand and giving her an experimental twirl before pulling her into the dance floor.
At first they just danced, Lee laughing from time to time at Fernando's awkwardness before her expression turned serious and Fernando knew what was coming.
“So,” Lee said as Fernando pulled her close again after a dip. “What are your intentions with my Mark?” She asked, making Fernando scoff. “I am serious, he's crazy about you”
“I'm crazy about him too,” Fernando said with a smile. “I really am”
“He's also miserable,” Lee said, making Fernando frown a little as she pulled away before moving closer again, this time with her back to his chest. “Are you miserable too?”
“What? No,” Fernando said. “Wait, what do you mean?”
Lee sighed, pulling away again before moving closer again so they could keep dancing as normal. “Nobody wants to be kept a secret”
“He's not-”
“He is”
Fernando's frown deepened, and for a moment he turned his head to look at Mark, who was watching them from afar with a sad smile.
“Eyes on me, handsome”
Fernando turned back towards Lee. “I am doing my best,” He said. “I- I love him, I just can't do better right now, I'm being honest”
“I know,” Lee nodded, her eyes understanding as Fernando looked into them. “And he's so in love with you that he'll put up with it, but it's killing him,” She said. “I'm not saying any of this to be mean, I'm really not, and you seem great, but he's great too and he deserves the best, he deserves sunshine”
They stopped once the song was over. Fernando didn't know what to say. Lee was right. Mark deserved the best, he deserved to be with someone that wasn't afraid of being seen just talking with him, and Fernando wanted to be that person, he just couldn't, not right now.
Lee pretended to fix the jacket of his suit before she leaned forward so she could whisper something to him. “And so do you”
After that, she pulled away to go back to Mark, while Fernando was ushered into the stage for his speech. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. He had done this a ton of times already, but the nerves never went away. No matter how many times he talked about his parents, it seemed like he would never stop feeling like he was going to throw up.
“Thanks, thanks,” Fernando said as people clapped, waving his hand and giving the crowd a small smile before clearing his throat. He could do this. “Thank you for coming, for those who have attended before, feel free to ignore my sob story and go straight to the bar,” He waited for the laughter to finish before he kept talking. “But for those of you who don't know it, here's the short version”
Fernando swallowed, taking a second before he started with the same story he had told so many times before.
“My parents were both junior hockey coaches and they were hit by a drunk driver when I was twelve,” Fernando started. “Mercifully for them, they died instantly, mercifully for me, the St. Thomas scholarships existed,” He swallowed, taking a deep breath before continuing with his speech. “I didn't have anybody else to help me, I had a lot of memories, a love for hockey and a huge hole in my heart and St. Thomas filled it with hope, the hope of a new family. Things weren't always easy, you know, they never are for anybody, but in hockey, I found what I was missing, first at my high school, then later at college and now here with the Admirals, and I never looked back because I- I never had to,” Fernando’s eyes met Jenson's in the crowd and he smiled softly. “The family I craved, the family that I needed, that I still need today, hockey gave it to me and St. Thomas gave me hockey. So from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you all for being here tonight and for supporting this cause because it's not just a scholarship, it's everything that comes with it, it's a whole world, a whole life, it's… it's everything”
Fernando didn't wait for the applauses to die before he was already leaving the stage, walking straight into the bar for a beer. His eyes searched for Mark, who was already looking at him, and he nodded at him, hoping Mark understood his message.
He left the gala through the main door, smiling to the cameras as he pushed through the sea of people to get into the car, letting out a long breath as he leaned back against the seat before telling the driver to go to the alley where the backdoor was so they could pick up Mark before going back to the loft.
The drive was spent in silence. Fernando would say it was a tense kind of silence again just like it had been earlier at the gala, awkward as neither of them looked at the other, their hands on the middle seat next to each other but not touching.
“Want a drink?” Fernando asked as he walked into the loft, going straight to the kitchen to pour himself and Mark a glass of whiskey before the other man could answer.
Mark didn't say anything, sitting down in one of the stools in the kitchen and accepting the offered glass, but he didn't drink, he just looked down at it like the whiskey might have the answer to all his questions.
“It's my birthday on Saturday,” Mark said, breaking the silence.
“I know,” Fernando took a sip of his whiskey, leaning forward into the kitchen's island. “I've already got the caterer ready, surf and turf because we're not choosing”
Mark nodded, still not looking up from his glass. “You know the Kingfisher?” He asked, not waiting for Fernando to answer before he kept talking. “It's the bar I told you about where I watch all your games”
Fernando hummed.
“Some of my friends are throwing me a party, like, a small one, not actually a real party, it's just more like us hanging out I guess”
“Right”
“It's, uh, it's a gay bar,” Mark said, finally looking up at Fernando. “Not like a club, just a bar, it's honestly more like a hockey bar now thanks to me,” He chuckled softly.
“Mark”
“And I was thinking,” Mark continued, ignoring Fernando as he went back to looking down at his glass. “I was thinking that you could come, as my friend, as somebody who buys smoothies from me, I mean, Susie knows and my friend Nico does too,” He said. “That you buy smoothies from me,” Mark clarified.
Mark didn't say anything else after that, and Fernando didn't either, both men standing there in silence as they looked down at the whiskey in their glasses.
“I can't- I can't do that,” Fernando said, voice low and a small frown on his face. “I wish I could, I- I want to, I want to do this, I want to tell everyone, I want people to know that you're mine, that I love you”
Mark smiled at those words, but it was sad, the smile not reaching his eyes. “I love you too”
Fernando returned the smile. “Soon, maybe,” He said, swallowing. “In a few years”
Mark let out a soft breath before he pushed his glass away from him and towards Fernando, and Fernando swore he could feel something in his chest break.
“No, I know,” Fernando’s voice sounded almost desperate now. “I know how it sounds, but it'll go quickly, I promise and then we can be normal, like- like other people”
Mark shook his head, running a hand through his hair before he looked up at Fernando again. “I heard what you said in your speech tonight,” He said. “I know your team is your family and that you feel responsible for them, and I get that, Fernando, I really, really, get that, but I have a family too,” Mark sighed. “And I miss them, I miss my dad”
Fernando looked away at that, and Mark sighed softly, reaching forward with his hand but he pulled away at the last second.
“Sorry,” Mark muttered. “That's not what I meant”
“It’s okay, I know what you meant”
They stayed in silence after that again before Mark sighed, getting up from the stool. “I'm gonna go home tonight”
Fernando just nodded.
“I need to,” Mark added. A part of him wanted Fernando to stop him, to tell him to stay, but another part of him knew this was the best option right now, so before Fernando could say anything, Mark grabbed his jacket and phone and left.
His dad's house wasn't near by any means, but Mark wanted to walk, get his head straight before he had to see his dad
“Mark! Hey matey!” Alan said, walking into the hallway as Mark closed the door behind himself. “The prodigal son returned home!” He exclaimed, before turning to the table where he usually put the mail. “And look, I got some mail here and it's pretty heavy,” Alan turned towards Mark, frowning when he saw the look in his son’s eyes. “Hey,” He said softly, putting the envelope down before he approached Mark. “Hey, my boy, come here, what's up?” Alan wrapped his arms around Mark, pulling him in for a tight hug.
“I'm sorry,” Mark muttered, returning the hug, burying his face on his father's shoulder as he finally broke down and let the tears fall.
“Hey, no,” Alan rubbed Mark's back slowly. “You have nothing to apologize for, silly,” He said before leaving a kiss on Mark's head. He wanted to ask what was wrong. He had so many questions, but he knew Mark wouldn't tell him until he was ready, so Alan didn't say anything and just held his son for as long as he needed.
-
Fernando knew it was a bad idea, but he has always been kind of a masochist so he still went to the Kingfisher on Saturday night. He didn't walk in, he wasn't even sure if Mark would want him there anymore, so he just stood outside and watched through the window as Mark's friends hugged him and laughed, handing him a cake to blow out the candles.
With a sigh, Fernando turned around and walked away. It was late and he had to catch a flight with the team early tomorrow.
Fernando was once again in the same place he was at the beginning of the season. He just couldn't connect two passes in a row and scoring has once again become an impossible task for him. He was still wearing the socks Mark had given him in hopes they would bring him some good luck, hiding them under a pair of normal ones before every match so no one could see them. Unfortunately, the socks weren't working and Boston kicked them out of the playoffs and on top of that, Fernando had ended up the season with a broken nose after getting in a fight with a Boston player.
“You okay?” Jenson asked as he walked out of the bathroom of their shared hotel room, looking at Fernando laying on the bed with a worried expression, and Fernando knew he didn't just mean his nose.
“Yeah, never been better”
Jenson sighed, rolling his eyes as he went to sit down on his bed, leaning into his knees as he looked at Fernando.
“Talk to me,” Jenson said. “Whatever it's going on it's clearly bothering you, you're not one to get into physical fights and you've gotten into four this season and now you have a broken nose”
Fernando scoffed, looking away from Jenson. He knew he was right, Fernando usually didn't fight with his fists, he was more of a chirping kind of guy but since that night when Mark left, Fernando hadn't been able to get his head straight, in or out of the ice.
“Come on, Fer,” Jenson’s voice was softer now. “Talk to me, you know you can tell me anything”
That was another thing Jenson was right about. Fernando knew he could tell him anything, and he knew Jenson would support him no matter what. He took a deep breath, pulling the ice pack he had been holding against his nose down as he looked at his lap with a frown. He wanted- No, he needed to talk to someone about it.
“I'm gay,” Fernando muttered before he could talk himself out of it.
When Jenson didn't say anything, Fernando started to get anxious. What if he had been wrong? What if he had made a mistake telling Jenson? Fuck. He was fucked.
Swallowing hard, Fernando dared turn his head in Jenson's direction, his eyes meeting Jenson's. He didn't look disgusted, he just looked surprised, which made Fernando's shoulders relax just a tiny bit.
“Say something please”
“Fuck,” Jenson said, like Fernando's words had reminded him how to speak. “That's- wow, I wasn't expecting that, man, I should have guessed, there's no way a sexy guy like you has never had a girlfriend”
Fernando huffed, rolling his eyes before throwing one of his pillows at Jenson, laughing when he hit him in the face. “You're an asshole”
“Oi! I just called you sexy and this is what I get in return?” Jenson grabbed the pillow Fernando had thrown at him, putting it on his lap. They stayed in silence for a moment, and Fernando could see how Jenson was trying to find a way of saying whatever was going on through his head right now. “Thanks for telling me this,” He finally said, looking at Fernando with a small, real smile. “How long have you known?”
Fernando shrugged, fidgeting with the ice pack on his lap. “I don't know, I guess I've always known, I just didn't let myself think too much about it”
Jenson hummed with a nod. “So you have a boyfriend then?”
Fernando huffed. He should have known this question was going to be part of this conversation.
“No,” Fernando shook his head. “There, uh, there was someone but it's just- it didn't work out”
“Oh man, I'm sorry,” Jenson got up from his bed, to go sit next to Fernando. “Wanna talk about it?”
Fernando thought about that. He didn't really want to talk about what had happened with Mark, at least not right, so he just shook his head.
“I just- I am not ready to come out yet, you know? And he deserves better than to be kept a secret”
Jenson nodded, giving Fernando a smile before he moved closer to him on the bed to pull him into a hug. “Everything is going to be fine,” He muttered. “I'm proud of you, Fer”
Fernando let out a shaky breath as Jenson's arms wrapped around him, resting his cheek on his friend's shoulder as he returned the hug.
There was still a long way to go, and he was still scared about the future, but at least now he has someone who knew and someone he knew would always be there for him no matter what.
-
It had been a year since Mark had walked out of Fernando's loft and out of his life. He was now working at the Kingfisher, his job at Straw+Berry bringing him too many bittersweet memories, and now that he had been admitted into his masters and he was studying, the schedule at the bar worked better for him and it also made it easier to see his friends regularly.
Mark closed the door behind himself carefully. His dad usually stayed up waiting for him when he had a late shift, but tonight he had stayed at the Kingfisher for longer than usual, so he wasn't expecting him to still be up.
Walking into the house, Mark realized he might have been wrong thinking his dad was already in bed when he saw the light of the kitchen on.
“Dad, it's late, you didn't have to-” Mark stopped himself when he walked into an empty kitchen, a frown forming on his face when he noticed the envelope on the table, the familiar handwriting in which his name was written making his heart speed a little as he picked it up with shaking hands, opening it slowly.
Mark,
I know it's been a year since we last talked to each other and I don't even know if you've been following the season but the Admirals made it to the final of the playoffs and I would love to have you there for what might be the most important game of my career.
I will understand if you choose not to come and I promise I won't hold it against you, but I would like to talk to you after the game, no matter the results, so please think about it.
I miss you and I regret letting you go every day.
With love,
Fernando.
P.S. I got you three tickets so you can bring Lee and your dad if you want!
Mark cleared his throat once he finished reading the letter, putting it down before looking inside the envelope where the tickets were.
“He brought the letter himself,” A voice behind Mark said, making him jump as he turned around to look at Alan standing on the kitchen’s entrance.
“Fucking hell, dad,” Mark huffed. “Don't scare me like that”
Alan laughed, shaking his head as he walked into the kitchen, patting Mark's shoulder softly before sitting down, gesturing for Mark to join him.
Mark sighed, sitting down on the chair next to his dad. He knew where this was going, and he wasn't sure he wanted to talk about this with his dad right now, but he was also tired of lying to him and pretending everything was fine.
“So,” Alan started, looking as awkward as Mark felt. “Is, uh, is this the reason you suddenly developed an interest in hockey?”
Mark laughed softly, not daring to look up at his dad, his eyes fixed on his name on Fernando's handwriting on the envelope. “I guess you could say that, yeah”
“Jesus Christ, Mark,” Alan said, but he didn't sound mad at Mark for hiding or lying, he just sounded surprised. “When you wouldn't tell me who you were seeing I thought it was some married man or something, I wasn't expecting it to be the Fernando Alonso”
Mark laughed again, this time looking up at his dad. Alan was already looking at him, his smile softening when he saw the look on Mark's eyes.
“I wanted to tell you,” Mark said as he leaned forward to rest his head on his hands. “I hate lying to you, but I just- I couldn't, he wasn't- It was not just my secret to tell, you know?”
Alan nodded, moving his chair closer to Mark so he could rest his hand on the back of his neck and squeeze softly. “It's okay, Mark, I understand,” He said softly. “I was a bit upset you wouldn't tell me, but I can see why you didn't”
Mark let out a long breath, his shoulders relaxing as he leaned into his father's touch.
“Look at me, Mark,” Alan said when Mark stayed silent, waiting for his son to look up before he kept talking. “I don't know what happened between you two and I am sure you both have your reasons to walk away from each other, but I've seen how sad you look whenever I mention hockey and even the press caught in Fernando's bad mood at the end of last season, I have never seen him getting into so many fights,” Alan chuckled softly, and Mark couldn't help but crack a smile at that. “Anyway, what I want to say is that whatever happened between you two can be fixed, and I am sure that's what Fernando wants, otherwise I doubt he would have come all the way here to leave a handwritten letter for you”
Mark swallowed, turning back to the envelope in front of him. His dad was right about everything and that was the worst part because he wanted to fix things, he wanted Fernando back, and it was nice to think the Spaniard might feel the same, but Mark didn't want to go back to being a secret.
“I, uh-” Mark stopped himself, running a hand through his hair as he took a moment to get his thoughts in order. “I don't know if I can go back to that,” He said. “I mean, I want to go back to being with him, that felt good, it felt… right, you know?” Mark turned to Alan, who nodded at him. “But I don't want to go back to hiding and lying”
“I get it,” Alan said softly, and Mark could see the gears turning in his head. “No one likes hiding and lying, Mark, and I think I might have an idea why Fernando feels like he has to, but maybe he wants to change that, yeah? Why don't you give him a chance to talk to you, uh?”
Mark nodded. He wasn't sure Fernando had actually changed his mind about coming out, but maybe his dad was right, and it's not like Mark really needed a big announcement. He just wanted to be able to hang out with Fernando somewhere that wasn't the Spaniard’s loft or even hang out with his friends or his dad sometimes.
“And hey! These seats are nice and we could watch the Admirals win the Cup!” Alan said, the tickets Fernando had given Mark in his hands, and Mark couldn't help but roll his eyes.
“Oh, so this is it, this is why you want me to give him a chance, for the tickets”
“Come on, Mark,” Alan said, looking at Mark like his words had personally offended him. “You know my number one priority is that you're happy,” He said, his smile and eyes softening as he looked at Mark. “And if you being happy come with regular tickets for the Admirals then even better!”
Mark laughed, rolling his eyes again with a smile on his lips as he took the ticket from his dad and put them back into the envelope with the letter, looking at his name again with a small smile.
Alan smiled at Mark, getting up and kissing his head. “It's late, you should go to bed,” He said as he walked past him, turning around to look at Mark before leaving the kitchen. “Oh, and Mark?”
Mark hummed, looking up at his dad from the envelope.
“You deserve to be happy, yeah?” Alan said. “So let yourself be happy,” He added before walking out of the kitchen, leaving Mark behind alone with his thoughts.
Mark bit down on his lip as he looked at the envelope, his fingers tracing his name as his dad's words repeated over and over in his head. You deserve to be happy. Let yourself be happy.
With a sigh, Mark got up, taking the envelope with him. His dad was right, he deserved to be happy, and if in the way there he could watch the final game of the playoffs in such good seats, well, that was just a plus.
-
The moment the referees signaled for the end of the game, Fernando felt like he could cry, or scream or maybe both.
He dropped his stick just in time for Jenson to crash into him, followed by the rest of the team as they all celebrated. The game had been hard, the whole playoffs had been, but the Admirals had played their best hockey in years, and Fernando could finally say he was a Stanley Cup winner.
One by one, Fernando’s teammates started to pull away from the big team hug, each celebrating in their own way as they skated around the rink, helmets and gloves flying in the air as they did.
Fernando stayed behind, watching his team with a smile, Jenson’s arm wrapped around his shoulders as he pulled him into a side hug.
“You finally did it, cap,” Jenson said with his signature smirk, and Fernando rolled his eyes with a smile, pushing him away.
“We did it, Jense,” Fernando said as he started to take off his own helmet and gloves, throwing them in the air without a care in the world before running his hands through his hair. “I can't fucking believe it”
Jenson laughed next to him as he pushed him away jokingly. “Well, you better believe it, mate, we fucking won!”
Fernando laughed with Jenson as he pushed him back, both men laughing and playing before it was time for Fernando to go collect the trophy. His teammates pat him on the back as he skated past them, everyone cheering and clapping for him as Fernando stopped in the middle of the ice in front of the NHL Commissioner, waving at the fans before shaking his hand.
“Congratulations,” The commissioner said and Fernando nodded in reply with the biggest smile on his face.
Receiving the trophy was like a dream come true. Fernando lifted it up over his head to the cheers of fans and teammates, lowering it down to kiss it before he lifted it up again, starting to skate around the ice to show off the trophy to the fans before he came to a stop in front of Jenson, passing the trophy to him so he could celebrate as well.
Fernando watched as Jenson lifted the trophy in front of the fans, laughing as the Brit pretended to drop it before lifting it again. He turned towards the rest of the team, and his smile dropped a little, turning almost sad. They weren't alone on the ice anymore, their families now filling the rink as his teammates hugged and kissed their wives and girlfriends.
He looked away, turning his eyes to the ice when he saw Jenson picking up one of his kids before kissing his wife, the trophy momentarily forgotten in the presence of something much more important.
This was probably Fernando's least favorite part about winning. He has never had someone to celebrate his achievement with, not his parents, not a partner, no one, not until…
Taking a deep breath, Fernando finally dared to look towards the seats he had got for Mark. Since he had set foot in the ice, he had tried really hard to not look that way, scared that he would find empty seats instead of Mark but then he looked, and he saw Mark with Lee and his dad and Fernando let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding.
He looked back at his teammates with their families, looking at how they were all in their own personal bubbles, sharing what probably was the best day of their careers with their loved ones, and for a moment Fernando felt jealous. He wanted that. He wanted to be able to pull Mark into the ice and celebrate with him just like Jenson was doing with wife or Daniel with his girlfriend.
Turning back towards the stands, Fernando’s eyes landed on Mark and he felt the urge to kiss him. Swallowing hard, Fernando took a deep breath, skating away from his team and closer to the public, and before he could talk himself out of it, he was raising his hand, gesturing for Mark to come down.
Fernando watched as Mark’s eyes widened and he looked around as if Fernando would be calling for anyone else.
“Yes, you, come here,” Fernando said with a smile, gesturing again for Mark to come down, the smile on his lips widening when he saw Lee saying something to Mark before he started moving.
He skated closer to the boards, waiting for Mark to walk down the stairs so he could help him into the ice, grabbing his hand as soon as he had him in front of him.
“Fernando, you don't have to do this,” Mark said as he looked around the arena, his grip on Fernando's hand tightening as he tried to not fall on his ass in the ice and embarrass himself in front of so many people.
“I do,” Fernando said, squeezing Mark's hand back before he stopped turning to face him. With the skates on they could see eye to eye, and for a second Fernando thought this was a terrible idea. He hasn't seen Mark in a year, what if he was seeing someone else? Or what if he didn't want this anymore? But he was here, wasn't it? He was here, standing in front of him, looking at Fernando with those green eyes he had come to love and a small smile on his lips. “I really do,” Fernando muttered before cupping Mark's face with his hands and pulling him in for a kiss.
The moment his lips crashed into Mark’s everything around Fernando disappeared. He didn't hear the gasps of surprise coming from the fans or the cheers from his teammates started by Jenson. In that moment the world could be ending and Fernando wouldn't notice.
When they finally pulled away for some air, Fernando couldn't wipe the smile away from his face as he looked at Mark. “I love you so fucking much”
Mark laughed, a smile as big as Fernando's on his face as he pulled him in for another kiss.
That kiss was interrupted by Jenson, who crashed into Fernando's back with a laugh, making him pull away from Mark, and look at his teammate with a frown.
“Sorry to interrupt, captain,” Jenson said with a smile. “But in case you've forgotten, you just won the freaking Stanley Cup, you will have time to smooch your man later, the press is calling for you”
Fernando groaned, rolling his eyes as he let his head drop forward against Mark's shoulder.
“Stop being dramatic and go talk to them,” Jenson said, pulling Fernando away from Mark, who couldn't stop laughing at the scene in front of him. “I’ll take care of your man while you're away like the good alternate captain I am,” He added, pushing Fernando as he wrapped an arm around Mark's shoulders, starting to guide him towards where the other family members were.
Fernando watched Jenson take Mark away, shaking his head with a smile when he heard the Brit tell him that he's been dying to meet him since Fernando came out to him, something that made Mark turn to look at him over his shoulder with a surprised face, and Fernando just shrugged with a smile before he went to attend the press.
-
The celebrations went on till way past midnight.
Mark had left with Lee and his father, not without properly introducing Fernando to the man, who gave him such a tight hug Fernando seriously feared he might have cracked one of his ribs, arguing that he should properly celebrate with his teammates and that once he got tired of them, he could go to the Kingfisher where Mark would be waiting for him to continue the celebrations.
The idea of walking into a gay bar didn't fill Fernando with dread anymore. Pushing the door open, he walked into the bar with a few of his teammates in tow, the bar erupting into cheers at the sight of them, someone shouting something about a round of shots for everyone.
At some point during the night, Fernando had lost the guys from his team. He had seen Kimi, his goalie, talking to the guy behind the counter and he was sure Jenson and Daniel were somewhere dancing and doing shot after shot. He made a mental note to make sure to put them both in a cab to their homes soon.
“Hey,” Mark said softly as he walked behind Fernando, wrapping his arms around his waist as he rested his chin on his shoulder. “Tired?”
Fernando hummed, nodding slightly as he felt himself relax against Mark’s chest. Now that he mentioned it he was exhausted, between the game and the celebrations he felt like he could sleep for twenty four hours straight as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Mark chuckled, turning his head to kiss Fernando's cheek before burying his face on the crock of his neck with a sigh. “Is this how you thought it would be like when you won the cup?” He asked.
Fernando frowned for a moment, thinking about Mark’s question. He has dreamt about this moment since he was a little kid. In his dreams he won it a bit earlier in his career and he also won it more than once. Before his parents’ accident, he had always thought they would be there with him to celebrate, with his dad giving him a hug while telling him how proud he was of him while his mom cried and kissed his cheeks over and over again. After they died, he didn't really think about it that much anymore since he wouldn't have had anyone to share it with anyway, and after he had finally come to terms with his sexuality, the thought had been even less present in his head. He was sure that even if he won it, he wouldn't have been able to celebrate with the person he loved, so he didn't really care that much. What he hadn't thought about was that one day he was going to meet the man that finally gave him the courage he needed to be himself without fearing what people might think.
So yeah, maybe winning the cup and then kissing his boyfriend in front of the whole world to see and ending up celebrating in a gay bar wasn't how Fernando had thought winning the cup was going to be like, but if he was being honest with himself, he wouldn't change it for anything in the world.
Turning around in Mark's arms, he moved a hand to the back of his head, burying his fingers in his hair before pulling him down for a kiss, taking his time to savor every corner of Mark's mouth before he pulled away, resting his forehead against his.
“I would be lying if I said this is how I imagined it would go,” Fernando said.“But I think it's better than any scenario I've ever dreamed about”
Fernando smiled and Mark returned it before he leaned down to capture Fernando's lips with his again.
Yeah, Fernando thought as he slipped his tongue inside Mark's mouth to deepen the kiss. I wouldn't change this for anything in the world.