Chapter Text
Natasha is more than used to the restlessness that comes with having to play anything less that a full 90 minutes. All that pent up energy allows her to bounce from teammates and rivals alike and talk to every single one of them. While the blank scoreboard is more than a little disappointing Tasha is just glad she got to play after weeks on the sidelines. This time around she's truly appreciating every single moment soccer is a part of her life.
She's just finished talking to Keelin and turns to look for Hope. She locates her at the same time Kelley approaches the goalkeeper so Natasha hangs back to watch as Hope and Kelley fuse in a hug. Watching them makes her feel like she's intruding in a private moment and yet she can't look away. It does make sense that after all the years playing together they're close but she didn't think they were this close. The hug seems to be going on for too long and Hope mush be thinking the same thing because she takes a step back. Kelley however takes a step forward to maintain their connection. It seems like she whispers something on Hope's ear before finally letting go. Natasha feels her eyebrows raise but she tries to not jump into conclusions. After all she has been accused of seeing things before, the sapphic sort, but that looked like the sort of embrace only lover share.
As Kelley makes her way to the stands for autographs and pictures with fans Natasha walks over to Hope.
"Too bad O'Hara was offside," she calls out teasingly.
"I know," Hope chuckles and shakes her head. Natasha tilts her head; the Hope she used to know was never this ok with being scored on, even if the goal was invalid.
"She's really good," Natasha points out in an effort to stay on the topic.
"She is, no matter what position she's asked to play at. That's why I like it better when she's on my team." One of Harvey's assistant comes to talk to Hope and Tasha gets them to take a picture of her and Hope. The interruption makes Natasha go interact with the fans and for a moment she forgets all about Hope and Kelley.
After fifteen minutes of taking selfies with fans Grubka tells her that a few of them are going to a bar to keep celebrating Pride Night and Natasha goes to tell Christie about her change of plans. Christie is waiting for her kids, who are still on the pitch talking and playing around with Hope. Natasha figures out there's no harm in asking a question or two.
"Yes, they've been close since London."
"But how close?" Natasha draws out.
"Pretty close I guess," Christie answers. Natasha wonders if she understood what she was really asking but Christie continues. "Hope really helped Kelley transition to a defender and they bonded through the Olympics."
A perfectly reasonable explanation for the touchiness, much to Natasha's dismay. Maybe she really wanted for something more to be going on.
"I guess they just seem so different," she wonders out loud.
"They're really not as different as people think,” Christie answers cryptically and she gives Natasha a hug. “I need to go get my girls if I ever want to leave. Have fun at the bar but don't forget about practice," Christie says pointedly and Natasha just grins sheepishly. That was just one time.
The Sky Blue crew gathers around to figure out how they’re getting to the bar when Natasha realizes they’re missing someone.
“Where’s KO?”
“She decided to skip out,” Rocky answers and she exchanges a look with Sam.
“There’s no way I’m coming home tonight,” the Aussie says with a smirk.
“Why?”
“Because Hope is here and I don’t want to hear the reunion?” Kerr looks at Natasha like what she’s saying is obvious.
Well damn, looks like this time she was right to jump to conclusions.
"Wait, why did no one told me this before?"
"We figured you knew," Rocky shrugs. Everyone walks over to the parking lot, leaving a dumbfounded Kai behind.
Apparently a lot of shit has gone down since 2008. But Natasha digs it.
* * * * * * * *
Kelley sighs happily and cuddles closer to Hope. She's very tired, both from the game and their reunion afterwards, but she doesn't want to go to sleep just yet. Every minute with her girlfriend is precious.
"I'm so glad Harvey is ok with you staying with me tonight."
Hope chuckles and distractedly runs the hand that's behind Kelley up and down her back.
"You want to thank Laura because you got laid? Shouldn't you be thanking me?"
"But I already did. Twice," Kelley boasts.
Hope chuckles again and Kelley smiles to herself.
"When do you think your roommates are coming home?"
Kelley shrugs disinterested. "I'm not sure but they know I wanted the house for myself at least for a little while."
Hope had been reluctant when she called last week and asked if Hope could spend the night after their game with her. Hope had argued that it could be awkward because of her roommates but Kelley was adamant. She wanted to at least once go to sleep in her own bed with her girlfriend.
"My frat daddies can be pretty discreet," Kelley adds, completely aware of Hope's distaste for that term.
"I refuse to call you that."
"That's because you're no fun."
Hope snorts. "That's not what you were saying before. Also I saw Finding Dory before you did," she teases Kelley who takes the opportunity for more banter.
Kelley sits up so that she can be face to face with Hope. "I'm glad you brought that up! I can't believe you went without me," she accuses teasingly. “I really wanted to go see that.”
"It was supposed to be a bonding activity, not that it worked."
Kelley knows that Hope was frustrated with the way the Reign was playing this season. And while she can relate to that she also knows Hope was putting all the blame on herself, no matter how often Kelley tells her that’s absurd.
"Come on, you know you guys had a good game. So did we, but sometimes it's just not meant to be. And there was nothing you could've done to block my shot. I'm just that good babe."
Hope can just shake her head in disbelief at Kelley’s ego but even with the dimmed lights Kelley knows she’s fighting a smile.
“And yet you’ve never been able so score on me. On the field,” Hope clarifies before Kelley can make a dirty joke.
Instead of answering Kelley shifts to straddle Hope. With a lapful of naked Kelley all thoughts of banter vanish from Hope's mind. Kissing every inch of skin she can reach from her neck down is her priority.
“You know...” Kelley mumbles against Hope’s lips.
Hope stops kissing Kelley to give her a look, trying to tell her that the time for talking is over. But Hope knows what Kelley is doing, teasing her and trying to get the last word in. Hope would mind it a lot more if she wasn't always so focused on getting back on track.
“…I wasn't offside.”
Hope just kisses her again and grabs Kelley's butt, trying to pull her even closer.
Yes, she was offside. But none of that matters right now. She has approximately ten more hours with Kelley and she’s planning on putting them to good use.