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everyone in the league knows about kim minji. she has the makings of a great pitcher, except for the fact that her slider has a 75% chance of sliding too high and her fastballs mostly end up in the dirt. her technique is wild, flailing, and unrestrained. which is why minji is beside herself when she learns about the trade.
the owners think that kang haerin being the best catcher in the league means she can work with minji, settle her, make her a real prospect. haerin’s input isn't needed with the decision already made, but kim--with all her tattoos, piercings and leather--looks like she'd rather hock a loogie at haerin than take directions from her.
and haerin is the best in the league, the glue that keeps the team together. they're a well oiled machine, and minji is… well, minji is a squeaky wheel.
the two meet for the first time, briefly. haerin’s seen the girl before, of course; but now, like this, she can't help but be intrigued by minji’s tan skin, long hair, brown doe-eyes, and her lightly muscled frame.
they're in the locker room, minji with just a sports bra on and a towel around her waist, exposing her toned stomach and black swirl of her tattoos.
"kang haerin!" minji reaches out a hand. "great to meet you!"
"you too. excited to have you with us." the handshake is quick and firm.
haerin is trying not to be surprised about how excited and genuine the girl sounds, keep her mind away from thinking of how minji is naked aside from the bra and towel.
with only a few weeks until the start of the regular season, minji starts pitching to haerin. haerin so expects minji to fight and grumble and refuse, that her head sort of spins when, on the first day, minji claps her on the back with her glove, and says, "where do you want me, cap?" and that's that.
haerin wants to say that they dislike each other, that they're a bad fit, that minji is full of herself and refuses constructive criticism.
instead.
instead it's easy.
minji doesn't complain, doesn't argue, but just watches haerin. she learns from her, takes her advice and notes and implements them as much as she can.
-----
they like each other, have an easy rapport… and they get each other. haerin’s tight with all the pitchers, but minji is different. they settle each other.
they're best friends. they hangout constantly. and haerin doesn't have a crush; she doesn't. it would be unprofessional. they're best friends.
but sometimes , sometimes… haerin thinks she catches minji looking at her. it's impossible. of course it's impossible. and it doesn't matter one way or the other because haerin won't make a move. she wouldn’t jeopardize the team like that.
-----
they don't touch. haerin high fives and hugs everyone on the team, often, and minji is a particularly touchy person; but aside from that first handshake, haerin keeps her distance. she’s afraid. even though it's silly, haerin’s afraid, that once they start touching, she won't be able to stop. and she can't let that happen.
-----
the team is good, competing for first place in the National League. minji's success has made everyone else better.
it's late july, the team is first place in the league, and minji's pitching a perfect game. there's only been twenty-four perfect games thrown in the history of Major League Baseball, but it's the eighth inning and minji's doing it.
a pitch goes wild, veers high over the umpire's head. minji's shaken, haerin can tell with how her fist tightens compulsively around the ball. the next pitch swings wide, towards the batter's knees.
the count is at two balls, no strikes. haerin can see, even from behind home plate, that minji's losing it.
haerin heads for the mound. she refuses to let it end like this. she closes the distance between them and has a quick internal debate before she puts her hand on minji's lower back. they've never touched, this is it. warmth bleeds from minji's skin, through the fabric of her jersey, and goes straight to haerin's head.
minji frowns. "i don't think i-"
"you're going to do it, unnie. i know. i can feel it." haerin pats minji’s chest, over her heart. "it's gonna happen."
minji's breathing settles, and it's only then, that haerin realizes she's rubbing circles into minji's back with her thumb. she's not sure when she started, and doesn't want to stop.
"okay." minji says.
"okay."
haerin removes her hand and heads back to her spot, still tingling with the warmth of minji's body even as she crouches behind home plate.
minji closes out the inning with three definitive strike outs.
the crowd goes wild.
-----
the team takes the field for the top of the ninth, screaming , ready for this. the energy zipping through every player on the field. it goes by in a blur.
-----
bottom of the ninth. a 1-2-3 inning. nine pitches. minji's perfect game is wrapped up in nine phenomenal pitches.
as the ump calls the last out, there's a moment of complete and utter silence in the stadium. haerin's heart pounding in her ears, before pandemonium breaks loose. there's screaming, fireworks, crying-
but all haerin can see is minji. minji, who's thrown her glove into the dirt, barreling towards haerin with a triumphant smile bright on her face. haerin stands ands runs to close the distance. she sees the moment that minji decides to jump into her arms, catches her easily, and will always catch her. however, her legs are tired and the momentum gets her, the two of them tumbling back onto the grass.
they're both yelling, laughing, and smiling hard enough to hurt. minji's hair has fallen out of it’s tie, tumbling around her shoulders. haerin gazes at her. she can't help it.
in this moment, haerin can admit that she's so, so … astronomically in love.
it's only then that haerin realizes the laughter's stopped, that minji's gazing back at the fans. her brown eyes shining bright with happiness, cheeks flushed pink, lips parted. without thinking, haerin reaches up to caress minji's cheek.
the team barrels towards them, streaming around, yanking minji and haerin to their feet. the celebration stretches around them, the moment slipping away.
haerin wants to finish what she started, but there are interviews, champagne showers, and congratulations that keep the two apart. sometimes, from across the room, their eyes meet, and there's something new there, a spark that ignites low in haerin's gut.
-----
hours pass, and finally, haerin finds herself alone in the locker room. she's just pulled on a new t-shirt, when the door shuts behind her. she spins and finds minji. waiting, watching.
minji crosses the room without a word. she can’t help it, not now. not after everything. the two of them grapple for a second, the yearning so strong that it takes a second to settle, to find each other. they kiss hard. desperate, seething with desire.
haerin hopes it never ends, and it doesn't. just tapers into soft, gentle kisses. she can't bring herself to step away.
"is this for real?" minji whispers.
"i've been insane about you since the trade."
minji's smile is blinding.
"i used to have those pictures of you- the ones with the little red shorts?- in my locker in the minors. feels like i'm living in a dream right now." minji gushes.
it lights haerin up inside, knowing that minji wants her, has wanted her.
"let me take you home and show you just how real it is?"
minji snorts, but her dimples deepen, eyes shining. "what a line, kang."
"yeah well, the baseball field isn't the only place where i hit home runs."