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Bronze may not be as beautiful as gold, but it’s still something pretty special.
Jude’s medal is still around his neck by the time he escapes the changing room and finds Erling, and he knows he shouldn’t care about this as much as he does, but he can’t help it.
He’d wanted gold like everybody else, of course he did; he’d wanted to make his country proud and to erase the sixty years of pain he was always reminded about. He knows most people won’t see the bronze as a victory, and to be honest he didn’t think he would either, and yet he can’t keep the smile from his face when he sees Erling in the family section of the stadium.
He knows his parents and his brother are here too, and from a glance he can see they’ve discreetly moved away to speak to Harry to give Jude a moment with his alpha.
Jude doesn’t care if there are cameras on them; he grins and sprints towards his boyfriend, throwing himself into the larger man’s arms and beaming when Erling lifts him by his thighs so he can wrap his legs around the alpha’s waist.
“Hi,” Jude grins, nuzzling Erling’s neck.
“Hello,” Erling chuckles, pressing their foreheads together before leaning in for a quick kiss.
“Were you watching?” Jude asks, as if he’s five years old and excitedly seeking the approval of his father at a Saturday youth club football game.
“Every moment.” Erling kisses him again. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.”
What a difference three days makes. On Wednesday Jude had wanted to disappear into the earth and wallow in his humiliation, convinced that he could never show his face on the footballing stage again, and that an unlikely third place win would be the worst consolation prize in the world.
But here he is, wearing his bronze medal with pride, and feeling invincible in the arms of the man he loves.
“It’s only third place,” Jude laughs shyly as he slides back down to the ground, keeping his arms wrapped around Erling’s neck. “But we needed this, you know? And it feels a lot better than I thought it would.”
“Third place is incredible,” Erling agrees. “You are incredible. Seven goals in this tournament. And the way you handed the ball over to Saka so that he could get his hat trick…God. It made me love you even more.”
Jude blushes. “He deserved it. Everyone deserved it. It was just…nice, y’know? We had fun with the pressure off.”
Erling smiles. “I’m glad. I didn’t want the semi final to tarnish your experience. You’ve been outstanding this whole tournament and I hope you feel proud of what you’ve accomplished. Know that you have a very proud alpha.”
Jude’s heart bubbles. Even after four years together, Erling’s praises make him feel like a teenager with a crush all over again.
There’s an electricity in the air as their eyes meet, their scents flaring a little with the emotion, but then something shifts.
Erling breaks their eye contact, almost nervously, glancing over at Jude’s family and then at the floor. It’s very rare to see Erling look so unsure of himself.
“I’m sorry,” Erling says, his voice a little shaky. “I can’t wait. I need to ask you something.”
For a moment, Jude panics. The illogical part of his brain tells him that something awful is about to happen, that maybe Erling is going to break up with him or give him some horrible news or ask him why he really cares so much about some stupid bronze medal -
But then Erling takes Jude’s hands in his own and sinks to one knee.
“I wasn’t going to do this here,” Erling blurts out, “so I didn’t even bring the ring.”
Jude blinks.
“I…” Erling glances round, seemingly conscious that people are starting to look at them now. “I was going to practice what I was going to say later - you know I’m no good with words - so this is going to be really clumsy -“
They’ve talked about it before. Marriage. They’ve talked about how they would focus on their careers first and then marry once they were at their peak. They’ve talked about how they would have a small ceremony - family only, with maybe some of the lads from Borussia Dortmund. They’ve talked about how many children they would have together. How they would retire when Jude falls pregnant. Where they would live as a family. The age they’d start teaching their children to play football. Whether they might one day have grandchildren -
“I’m sorry,” Erling stammers, his face flushing red. “I was going to do this properly. Privately. I…fuck. Wanted it to be special.”
He starts swearing in Norwegian and goes to stand up, his scent heavy with embarrassment and wounded pride, but Jude gently pushes him back down to his kneeling position.
“You giant oaf,” Jude teases affectionately, before leaning down to kiss the older man’s jaw and whisper in his ear. “Ask me.”
Erling freezes for a moment, and then he finally meets Jude’s eyes.
“Okay,” the alpha says softly, regaining a little of his confidence. “Uh. Jude. You are the best person I’ve ever met. If I was injured tomorrow and could never play football again, I wouldn’t care as long as I could be with you. You are my moon and stars. I love you. And I promise to spend the rest of my life protecting you and supporting you. So…that’s it. Will you marry me?”
The alpha looks vulnerable and anxious for a moment, as if he’s worried Jude might say no.
Jude smiles warmly at him. His mother had said something to him once which flashes into his mind now -
If you ever get married, then marry an alpha who makes you feel strong when you are weak.
He thinks of all the late night phone calls Erling has had with him after a bad match, or the reels of cute animals Erling has sent him when he’s been feeling down.
“And that was the clumsy version, yeah?” Jude grins.
Erling returns the smile. “Shut up.”
“Shut up?” Jude teases. “So you don’t want me to answer then?”
“Jude -“
“Yes.”
Erling pauses, taking a moment to process Jude’s response, as if he’s not quite sure it’s real. “Yes?”
Jude rolls his eyes fondly. “Yes. Now all the muscles in my body are aching so I’m not coming down there. Can you stand up please if you want a kiss?”
“Oh, I want,” Erling says eagerly, springing to his feet and wrapping Jude in a hug, pulling him close and pressing their lips together.
Jude is vaguely aware of some cheers around them and people taking pictures on their phones, but he doesn’t care.
“I do have a ring,” Erling murmurs when they part. “It’s back at the hotel. Jobe helped me pick it out in New York.”
“You can put it on me before you fuck me,” Jude whispers in Erling’s ear before pulling away with a grin. “Just gonna go and talk to my family, then we’ll get out of here?”
Erling nods, seemingly lost for words.
Jude just laughs as he gives his alpha another kiss.
He may have only won bronze in this tournament, but today he might as well be wearing a gold medal around his neck.
END