Chapter Text
Chongyun came to this year’s Winter Olympics with something to prove. When he was here four years ago, China’s hockey team did not even earn a medal. And while it was an honor just to be participating in the most watched event of the year, Chongyun was not use to losing. His team had taken the Chinese National Title four years in a row. And to lose on a global stage was disheartening to say the least. So this time, he is back with a vengeance.
His hockey team has been on a roll yet again and did not lose a single game during the prior season, making Chongyun a top pick to be drafted as a left wing into China's Olympic hockey team.
He glides across the ice, eyes holding a laser like focus on the puck at the other end of the rink. He maneuvers to skate next to it's holder, a large Canadian man with broad shoulders and intimidating arms. Chongyun is patient and waits for an opening to steal. Then he turns quickly and races back down to the opposing team's goal. With an echoing slap, the puck whooshes past the enemy goalie's knee, scoring the first point for China's team.
Chongyun slides onto his knee, raising a fist in celebration as the crowd goes wild. His center gives him a hard pat on the back and a word of praise. But there is still a long game ahead of them.
Twenty minutes in, and Chongyun receives a hard hip check at center ice. It sends him stumbling and his feet slide from under him as he loses control of the puck. He falls on his hands and knees, the puck nowhere in his line of sight.
"Yun! Get up! Brush it off! Keep moving!" Xingqiu's voice rings out through the crowd, shouting over the sounds of cheering fans and skates against the rink.
Chongyun cannot help but smile and he hurries to his feet. He remembers when the two started dating years ago, Xingqiu was always riddled with anxiety at every check. He would dote over his boyfriend at every bump and bruise he received. And a hard hit like that would have brought the ice dancer to tears. Now, Xingqiu is hardly phased by the rough treatment that his boyfriend receives on the ice and is usually the first to demand he 'get back out there.' Sometimes he is even more brutal than the Left Wing's coach.
Despite it all, it is a relief to hear Xingqiu at the sidelines. Given that the hockey finals and the free skate event were back to back this year, the figure skater was bound to be late to Chongyun's game. And Chongyun was unable to see the results of the free skate competition. As a result, he has no clue whether or not his lover won his first Olympic medal or not. But now is not the time to worry about his boyfriend's event. He knows that the figure skater had a very high chance of earning a medal. His team, however, is still fighting for the Gold.
Another slap shot scores the second point for China. The Canadian team puts up an intense fight though and the match is tied up for a majority of the game. Chongyun only sits out for a little over five minutes. He cannot see his boyfriend from the Team's box. The rest of the night he is skating back and forth across the ice, sweating profusely and working hard to make sure his team stays in the game.
Finally, after fifty nine minutes of game play, the score is 6-5, with China in the lead. The team stays strong though and keeps their intensity. They know that if Canada scores again and they are forced into overtime, the chances of them winning will become even slimmer. And so they push through their exhaustion, staying strong until finally, finally, the buzzer goes off to signal the end of the game.
The first feeling Chongyun processes is relief. They did it. They held their ground against the Canadian team and did not allow them to score at all during the last ten minutes.
Finally the gravity of the situation sinks in as he looks into the crowd, seeing red and gold flags waving frantically and energetic cheering.
They did it.
This is not just any game. This is the Olympic hockey finals. They won. They are gold medalists!
As the stadium is erupting with cheers, Chongyun finds himself squished between the rock solid bodies of his teammates as they pile up in a group hug. They are shouting and crying and celebrating. But as good as celebrating with his team is, there is still only one person the hockey player wants to share this moment with.
After a slew of congratulations, clapping, and hugs, he pulls himself from the crowd and heads toward the side of the rink. His eyes immediately find Xingqiu and lock on, grinning as the smaller man hops over the board and rushes toward him.
Chongyun throws his helmet to the ground and then wraps Xingqiu up in his arms, lifting him off of the ground and spinning around once. His lips land hard on Qiu's own and Chongyun is sure that they will likely bruise. When he pulls away, he finally notices a golden medal hanging from Xingqiu's neck.
"You did it!" He says proudly. He knows how hard it was on his lover to sit out of the Winter Olympics four years ago. But it all seems worth it now.
"
We
did it!" Xingqiu corrects him, pressing his lips to Yun's own once again, kissing him over and over between words. "You're going to have one to match!" He adds on with a giant grin. He cannot be bothered to care who sees. The public knew that they were dating years ago.
"Gold is your color," Chongyun tells his lover with a smile of his own. "It looks good on you."
With the brilliant smile on Xingqiu's face, Chongyun's heart flutters, proving once again just how in love the hockey player is.
He knows he's making the right decision.
"It's going to match perfect with your ring."
Xingqiu looks confused at those words. His eyes blow wide when Chongyun gets down on one knee. "I don't have the ring on me. It's- its in my bag but," he takes a steadying breath. "Xingqiu. I love you. You're the most amazing man I've ever met. I really want you to marry me."
Chongyun can hardly finish his sentence before his fiance is falling into his arms, kissing him between a slur of eager yeses.