Chapter Text
When they celebrated what they’ve decided was their first anniversary, after the awful race in Argentina, they made a deal: the first time they’d be on the podium together, they’d come out to the world as a couple.
At that time, it didn’t seem to be something going to happen any soon, Jorge was still struggling with his Ducati and Vale was doing his best with a bike that clearly wasn’t ready to make him win.
The only thing that was working for them was their relationship.
It started unexpectedly, a drunken fuck after the Gala in 2016. They hardly remember how and what happened but it was the start of something. They found themselves trying to find an excuse to spend time together in every possible moment during the tests and after the second race of 2017 season, in which Vale was second and Jorge didn’t finish, they had their ‘second first time’ together, without alcohol this time.
It was strange, they’ve spent years fighting , never trying to find a way to have a decent relationship as team-mates but things started to change in the second half of 2016 when Jorge announced he was joining Ducati the next year.
Not being team-mates and not having chances to win the championship made them realise that they could get along very well together, to their own surprise.
Who could have thought that something started by chance would turn into love and a stable relationship? In the troubled times they were facing with their bikes, they found comfort in each other, doing all the little things a couple do but it was always complicated when the race weekend came. When they were at the Ranch or in Lugano, they could be Vale and Jorge, but when they were on track, with all the eyes on them, they had to act like the two rivals they’ve always been.
It was starting to get hard to fake.
On Sunday morning at Mugello, when they woke up, they both had the feeling the day has come, that they could be on the podium together and finally be free to live their love openly. They didn’t say it to the other but it was clear they were on the same page.
During the last laps of the race, when there were no doubts on how it would end, Valentino was smiling in his helmet, thinking at a way to make this day absolutely unforgettable for his lover and he knew what he had to do…
When they reached Parc Fermé, he gave Jorge time to celebrate with his team, then their eyes met and a huge smile appeared on both their faces. Vale moved towards him with a wink, leaving Jorge unsure on what to do for a second until he felt his boyfriend lifting him up from the ground while his lips kissed him.
It took him a moment to realise what was happening. Valentino was kissing him in front of the world to celebrate his win! He put his arms around the older rider’s neck and deepened the kiss, even when Vale placed him down, they never broke the kiss.
After the first shocked ‘Ooohh’ of the crowd, people started to clap their hands, saying their names.
They broke the kiss, smiling.
“I’m so proud of you Jorge!”
“You did it… you actually kissed me here in front of everyone…”
“We had a deal and I’m a man of honour. I know you wouldn’t approve this so I took you by surprise.”
“Of course I approve it! Maybe it’s a bit too theatrical for my taste but today I don’t care. Everything is just too perfect to complain.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They kissed once again while the cameras where fixed on them, transmitting the image of the two former rivals kissing and their declaration of love all around the circuit and the world.
And probably they’ll have to face the reproach of their teams for keeping this secret, some disapproving looks, the hate of the homophobes that surely would appear between their fans, but right now, it doesn’t matter.
They made it, when it looked impossible. Jorge won, Vale was third, they were in love and the rest of the world would have to come to terms with this.