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After another swordplay round, Vivian fell into the water, solidifying her defeat. Pierre from above looked down and frowned a bit. As the platform lowered, he approached a soaking Vivian who was wringing out the excess water from her black hair. She glanced at him and chuckled a bit, trying to ease the small tension between them.
“Got me good huh… I expected nothing less.”
“You’re too kind. You’ve improved a lot too.”
“You really think so?”
She looked up at him. Like Pierre, she was very hard on herself, critiquing every move and swing she made. Despite just becoming a pro at Swordplay recently, her heart solely belonged to Boxing. Although she was a top pro in Boxing, it was very difficult to make a name for yourself if you weren’t Matt. She had seen it with Elisa, being the second best in the sport but rarely got the recognition for it.
Pierre noticed Vivian’s zoning out and walked closer to her. The warmth of his palm on her cheek alerted her back and she glanced away, a bit upset. He placed his other palm on her next cheek and gently turned her head to face his.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself.” He reassured her.
“But it’s hard to do when I keep messing up Pierre…”
“I know the feeling… I know it very well… But please… Don’t beat yourself up for too long.. Okay?”
Pierre understood the feeling she had, that inner turmoil, despite trying your best and still falling short. That led him to become an overachiever, to be great at every sport he played, to push hundreds of times more than the average person solely to avoid humiliation. He experienced it himself when he faced Matt a couple of years ago in an attempt to win the boxing tournament.
He lost miserably that night. Once a potential dream of him becoming one of the youngest boxing champions shattered in the most embarrassing way. He was ridiculed, made fun of and taunted, by the same people who either looked up to him today and rolled their eyes at the idea of him being one of the best athletes in Wuhu currently. Unlike others who’d embrace the fame, he didn’t, not wanting to be reminded that the admiration he received was heavily conditional.
Vivian was different. She shared similar passions and dreams with him and the two of them shared a connection beyond physicality. She knew the pain he felt, and he understood the turmoil inside her head. Trying to tell her that she shouldn't be hard on herself only made him seem like a hypocrite but he couldn’t bear to see her like that. Not the woman he loved with all his heart.
He leaned his forehead onto hers, planting soft kisses on the tip of her nose. It threw her off guard for a bit but leaned in more, slowly starting to feel a little better. He could’ve felt the cold droplets on his skin as he kissed her more but he couldn’t care less about that.
“Pierre….”
Vivian wrapped her arms around him, pulling him for an embrace. She was shaking a bit from the cold and also from her fight to not cry. It was weird to her. She rarely cried during her losses despite the thoughts but with Pierre, it felt different. Murmurs from the stadium seating area began. Vivian looked up, her stoic expression surfacing again.
“The gossi-”
“I couldn’t care less about what they think… I’m only here for you my love.”
She nodded slightly. Pierre looked at her one more time,
“And I know you’re thinking about it. You haven’t disappointed me. I could never be disappointed in you... In fact..” he deepens his hug. “The fact that now we can both duel each other here, makes me so proud of you.. My Vivi..”
“God.. I’m relieved…” her voice was shaky, on the verge of crying.
Then spontaneously, she kisses his lips holding onto it for a few seconds before breaking it. Pierre chuckled, seeing she was feeling better.
“I guess I’ll take that as a sign you’re feeling better?”
“I suppose you can say that.” Vivian nods, chuckling a bit.
Pierre then returns the favour, kissing her again. He embraced the warm softness he felt on his lips, contrasting the coldness on the rest of Vivian's soaked body. Persons from the seating watched but in the moment they couldn't care less. Shortly afterwards, they parted the kiss, Pierre's eyes beaming with relief and joy.
“Then maybe we can celebrate that later. Do something nice, maybe kiss more, cuddle…. Or..” Pierre whispered something in her ear, making her blush intensely.
“P…Pierre! We’re in public!” Her face was more red. Pierre chuckled more then winked at her.
“That’ll be for you to decide. Whatever you want my love, I’ll be glad with the outcome.” He went by her side now and held her hand. “Now, let’s get you dry now, shall we?”
For a brief moment, she had almost forgotten she was drenched in water. She ends up sneezing.
“Shit… right.”
The two of them then walked out of the stadium, heading for their place back at the town.