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The last beep rumbled, with the goal lightning up in bright red and the crowd getting wild, Kevin knew that the game had ended. In the last minute, with the point of victory that he made. His left hand held the heavy racquet. It was over.
All the foxes are running over the court, holding each other and screaming. Outside the plexiglass, Wymack and Abby are both holding open and happy smiles. Dan and Matt are hugging, kissing or something like that, while Alisson and Renee are sitting down on the floor, their expressions could be defined by a mix of pride, disbelief, but also, happiness.
Not even in his wildest dreams Kevin Day could believe in the madness that happened in front of his eyes in the past year. At this point, all of the suffering and pain he lived in the nest was nothing compared to everything he achieved until that day. Through the helmet, he saw Neil, fallen on the ground, with no strength to keep on his own feet. Proud was the right word to describe his feelings. Neil deserved that, it was a reminder of his courage and passion for that sport, and for the Foxes. They built that together, went through hard times and above all, they fought for that.
It was the feeling, the other Ravens in the court seemed mesmerized, it was the first time ever that Edgar Allan had lost something, they lost against Kevin and against the Foxes, sounded like a fever dream or their worst nightmare. From that moment, Kevin’s mind turned into a blur, they have won, but winning meant the ruin of the Ravens, the end of Riko and all the things he had done for all of those years, at the same time Kevin felt free, happy and fulfilled, he felt scared, for all the shitty stuff they could be subjected after that moment. Taking a king out of his throne should have a cost. Kevin tried to look after Riko’s eyes on the court, but he couldn't find it, once that some arms covered his body in a massive hug.
In a mix of hugs and yellings from all the foxes together, who have run away until reach him in the middle of the court. Jumping around him, Kevin could take his helmet off his head and see clearly all the mess around those orange uniforms. He could think about the headlines the press are gonna write about them, about their victory and the Ravens decline, about how the team who was at the bottom of the league have climbed until the top, about how the son of exy has done an amazing job. He even thinks about how his mother would be so proud of it.
Suddenly, Kevin starts to laugh, in the middle of the crazy joy. It was pure happiness, he could hide the fear of the future in some place of his mind for a while.
Especially when Aaron Minyard holds the brightest of the smiles on his face.
In a rare moment to see, Nicky and Aaron are smiling together, with Nicky’s arms around his cousin's shoulders in a light grip. Even though the backliners seemed exhausted after that match, with some bruises spread in their legs and arms, the insane dopamine dose working on their bodies still made everyone stay on their feet. Looking at Aaron, he could just think about how pretty he is.
And there's no effort to keep looking at him now, the sweat keeping his blonde hair stuck in the forehead, rose cheeks and lips after running for so long, his freckles popping even more now. Kevin started to notice how pretty these little details are just some months ago, when the video game night and the little talks about college classes and exy became something more intimal. The way they progressively turn into friends then into something more, between holding hands on the bus in the back ride and sharing goodnight kisses, some stronger feelings have grown.
Until that day, they were a non-official thing, and as far as they know, none of the foxes have noticed yet. Of course, everyone’s focus was in another place right now, in Neil’s and his protection, in all those horrible things that happened around them. Fair, at least Kevin and Aaron could still share looks and gentle touch of lips and hands in the dorms and the court, always off sight.
Those last days that preceded the last match against the ravens have been dark, in the most simple way to say it, Kevin’s anxiety and overwhelming courage leave Aaron worried, and all of that worry have been vanished away in the moment they see each other’s face, eyes telling i always knew that we could do it.
In a quick move, Aaron was standing in front of Kevin, he removed his gloves and threw them somewhere. Possibly, Kevin never saw Aaron with such an amazed expression in the court before, never, ever. Aaron grabs both Kevin's shoulders and shakes it.
“We won!” He laughed, but it got out like a cough, not even holding his own words. “Do you have any idea, Kevin? We fucking won!” He yells, punching Kevin’s biceps.
“Yeah, i know, we won” It came out like a whisper. Kevin doesn't know, but he probably blushed. Just to see Aaron’s excitement give him shivers. In all of them, Aaron has been the one who doesn't care too much about exy, but he always understands the meaning of that sport to Kevin. For a moment, Kevin could see that Aaron was not just happy for the team, he was happy for Kevin too. They talk about insecurities, Kevin tells him about how scared he felt in the foxes, the possibility to be nothing but perfect in the court was one of Kevin’s biggest fears, always the best one, no injuries or weakness. At least, not anymore.
Aaron knows that it's not just a game, not just a match for Kevin. For that reason, Kevin’s heart melted. In that world, who had been so cruel to him before, he found someone who could see through him. Someone who acts caring, loving and with an endless kindness.
“Kevin!” As fast as he runs in court earlier, Aaron’s hand’s grab Kevin's face tightly , forcing him to look directly at those hazel eyes, which are now sparkling, completely enchanted. “Kevin, you did this. Do you have some fucking idea? You, YOU got into that court, holding that dammit racquet with your left hand, and gave everyone a show of how amazingly talented you are. You eat them, can you notice that? Just prove to everyone how incredible you are. I am so proud of you……”
But Kevin did not listen anymore. Eyes full focused on Aaron's pretty face and bright eyes, saying words that mean the world for him at that moment. He notices that Aaron holds his face that way to have focus just on him, because he wants Kevin to know how he feels, to not let any doubts about how deep it's the feeling of wonder Aaron felt for him. In such a passionate way that can even be misunderstood as love.
Oh, Kevin is in love with Aaron. At that moment, more than ever before.
With his gloved hands, Kevin tangled his fingers around Aaron’s orange shirt, kinda aggressive, and pushed him closer, to finally connect their lips.
It tasted kinda salty, for the sweat running in their faces, but also sweet, because Kevin was waiting for that moment for so long. They didn't care for everyone around them, or what else could happen after that. The only thing they perceived was the euphoria around, in them, coming out more and more, exploding. The tight grip of Kevin in Aaron’s shirt turned into a soft touch, involving his upper body like a caress. Aaron tenses up his body, surprised, but Kevin can feel a smile growing on the blond’s mouth.
Once apart, Kevin and Aaron didn't even got enough time to stare at each others face, cause a big commotion have just started, Andrew has done something and - surprisingly, not directed that to Kevin - and yet to Riko, with a painful look in his face, close to Neil who is still seated on the ground. The rush of them kissing in the middle of the court disappeared when the Foxes noticed that Riko tried to hurt Neil, and Andrew stopped. Although, Riko’s pain did not become an important topic in anybody’s minds, who cares more about congratulating Neil for the amazing match, for the winning. Dan is jumping with Nicky now, Matt hugging Neil along with Allison and Andrew and Renee get closer, Aaron by Kevin’s side. Nothing in the world seemed to matter now, besides them.
The forgotten racquets in the ground is the last thing Kevin sees before getting removed from there, quickly. All of the Foxes are getting over the court together, while some people from Ravens staff run into. It’s a giant mess with all the cameras, the countless journalists who want to get an interview, the fans' screams coming from all parts of the huge stadium. Nothing of that matters at the moment, because Aaron is holding Kevin’s hand, close to him, in a sweet bond of fingers together.
“What is happening now?” Kevin asks Wymack when they get in the corridor between the tunnel and the locker room.
“Someone doesn't accept their loss, but it's okay” It’s Neil who answers, Andrew holding his back “Andrew solved it, anyway.” Neil smiles directly at Kevin, and they share a proud look, grateful for all the effort they have put in it before.
Wymack agrees, not saying anything more about that, but congratulating everyone for the win. Kevin notices some of them looking at the holding hands he got with Aaron, but no one says anything, it doesn't matter now.
“We’re champions, Kevin, all of us, did you know that?” Aaron says, with a funny tone in his voice, turning into Kevin and looking into the deep green eyes. It’s so powerful, the lightweight of Aaron’s joy now that Kevin can almost hold it in his hands. “A trophy and all shitty stuff like that”
“Yeah, all that stuff” Kevin got a smirk in his lips while leading their hands together in the way of his mouth. Kevin kisses Aaron’s knuckles softly, caring. “We won”
And they’re gonna spend hours into the night stuck in Evermore Castle, until their energy and joy are taken away leaving room for tiredness. They’re not gonna have their trophy now, and it’s not gonna be in a ceremony with the Ravens. But honestly? Kevin has already won way more things than a trophy.