Work Text:
This was all a mistake.
All Oliver ever wanted to do was play quidditch. It was the one thing in his life that was stable, the one thing that never changed. And yet here it was, changing. He’d finally made it pro, as a reserve albeit, but it was pro nonetheless! Their keeper was set to miss the first few games of the league season due to paternity leave, so he was finally getting to see some field time. Except he felt like he was going to throw up as soon as he stepped foot on the pitch.
He was practically vibrating as they all mounted their brooms and took off to start warming up. He felt like his entire life was a lie. He was going to completely embarrass himself up here and then get laughed out of the league and never get work in this sport ever again.
Insecurity wasn't new to Oliver, it's never new to anyone who's ever been a teenager - But it was new in regards to quidditch. He always felt safest out here, he was untouchable on a broom. But young adulthood did something to your brain chemistry, he felt like a whole new person.
As Oliver finished his first lap, he rounded on the box that was reserved for family and friends of the players. Seeing his parents just made his stomach churn even more, but a familiar mop of ginger hair caught him off guard… In a good way?
Ron was so incredibly sure that he wouldn't be able to make the match. Auror training hours were notoriously horrendous, and he hadn't been able to find a way to squeeze out of them. He'd been incredibly apologetic for missing his first match, Oliver would even go as far as to say he was slightly overdramatic, but it was heartwarming to know he cared so much - Even if it hurt to know he wouldn't be there.
Oliver could see Ron’s red auror robes and work suitcase slung over the chair behind him. His older sister Amelia was painting some blue lines on the ginger’s face as he chatted up his parents. He must have sprinted out the door as soon as his shift was finished and barely had time to catch the last portkey here. He knew it was the last one too, they’d checked every time when they were still trying to see if he could make it.
Ron glanced up, and their eyes met. The ginger’s face split into a huge grin, which caused his cheeks to move and his sister’s paintbrush wobbled a bit as it finished its line. Amelia huffed, smacking him in the arm as he laughed it off. He lifted his arms to protect himself from the sisterly barrage of slaps, but he didn't break eye contact.
Oliver felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders as he pulled his broom away from the crowd and sailed back to meet his team. He could do this.