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"Can we just stop for a second?"
Martin rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a long, heavy sigh. The bright ring light in the media room was practically blinding him. He felt totally stiff, like a statue wearing an Arsenal kit.
"Sorry, mate, yeah. We can take a five-minute break," the cameraman said, lowering his lens. "Just try to look a bit more relaxed when we start again, yeah? Have fun with it."
Martin nodded politely, but his chest felt tight. He hated this part of the job. Playing football in front of sixty thousand people? Fine. No problem. Standing in an empty room trying to film a fifteen-second TikTok video where he had to rank different types of snacks without smiling awkwardly? Nightmare.
He slipped out of the media room and walked down the quiet hallway of the training ground, leaning his back against the cool wall. He pulled the collar of his jacket up a bit, just wanting to hide.
"Hiding from the media team again, skip?"
Martin jumped slightly and looked up. Declan was walking down the hall, grinning that massive, bright smile of his. He had a water bottle in one hand and his phone in the other, looking completely at ease. He always looked at ease.
"I am not hiding," Martin muttered, looking down at his boots. "I just needed air. It is too hot in there."
Declan chuckled, stepping closer. He stopped right in front of Martin, leaning his shoulder against the wall next to him.
"Right. Too hot. Got nothing to do with the fact that they're asking you to do those silly dances again, does it?"
"They are not dances," Martin corrected, his face feeling warm. "It is just... pointing at things on the screen. But I feel stupid. I don't know where to look. I don't know what to do with my hands."
"Your hands are fine, Martin," Declan laughed softly. He looked at Martin, and his teasing smile melted into something much softer. "You just overthink it. You get all up in your head."
"It is easy for you," Martin said, crossing his arms. "You like the cameras. You talk to everyone. You are... you."
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Declan nudged Martin's shoulder with his own.
"You are loud," Martin said, though there was a small smile playing on his lips now. "You have, what do they call it on the internet? The golden dog energy."
Declan burst out laughing, throwing his head back. The sound echoed down the quiet hallway, and Martin felt a familiar flutter in his stomach. He loved that laugh.
"Golden retriever, mate. Golden retriever energy," Declan corrected, wiping a fake tear from his eye. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"It is a compliment," Martin said quietly. He uncrossed his arms, suddenly feeling very hyper-aware of how close Declan was standing. "I just mean... I wish I could be relaxed like you. Whenever the red light goes on on the camera, I just freeze. I forget how to be a normal person."
Declan didn't laugh this time. He shifted his weight, turning his body so he was fully facing Martin. The hallway was empty, the rest of the lads either out on the pitch or in the canteen. It was just the two of them.
"I don't want you to be like me," Declan said, his voice dropping to a much quieter, more serious tone.
Martin blinked, looking up to meet Declan's eyes. "No?"
"No," Declan stepped a fraction closer. "You're perfect exactly how you are. You're quiet, yeah. A bit shy. But you lead by example. You don't need to shout to get people to listen to you. And honestly? I think it’s cute when you get all flustered."
Martin’s breath hitched. "You think I am cute?"
"Course I do," Declan said, without missing a beat. He reached out, his big hand gently brushing a stray piece of blonde hair off Martin’s forehead. His fingers lingered for a second against Martin's skin. "Everyone thinks you’re brilliant, Martin. But I get to see this side of you. The side that gets shy over a silly video. The side that needs to hide in the hallway."
Martin looked at Declan's hand, then back up to his warm brown eyes. His heart was beating so fast he was sure Declan could hear it.
"Declan..." Martin whispered.
"Yeah?"
"You are standing very close."
Declan smiled, a soft, fond thing. "Do you want me to move back?"
Martin swallowed hard. He was usually so careful, so guarded. But looking at Declan, feeling the warmth radiating from him, he didn't want to be careful right now.
"No," Martin said softly. "Don't move."
Declan’s eyes darkened just a little. He slowly reached out with both hands, gently holding Martin by the hips. Martin let out a small breath, his hands naturally coming up to rest on Declan's chest, right over the Arsenal badge on his training top.
"You sure?" Declan asked, his voice barely a whisper now. He was always checking, always making sure Martin was okay.
"I am sure," Martin answered.
Declan leaned in, and Martin closed his eyes.
The kiss was soft, and slow, and careful. Declan’s lips were warm, and he moved gently, giving Martin all the time in the world to pull away if he wanted to. But Martin didn't want to. He slid his hands up from Declan's chest to his shoulders, holding on tight. He kissed back, feeling a rush of heat travel all the way from his toes to the top of his head.
It was quiet in the hallway, the only sound the soft shuffle of their trainers against the floor as Declan stepped even closer, pressing Martin lightly against the wall. Martin let out a tiny, happy sigh against Declan's mouth.
When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathing a little heavy. Declan rested his forehead against Martin's, a massive, goofy grin spreading across his face.
"Wow," Declan whispered.
Martin felt his face turn entirely red. He quickly buried his face into Declan's neck, hiding.
Declan laughed, wrapping his arms fully around Martin in a tight hug. He rubbed Martin's back, pressing a kiss to the side of his head.
"Don't hide from me, you melt," Declan teased gently.
"Shut up," Martin mumbled against Declan's shoulder, though he was smiling so hard his cheeks hurt. "I am still shy."
"I know, I know," Declan said, rubbing his back. "It's alright. I've got you."
They stood there for another minute, just holding each other in the quiet hallway. Martin finally felt his heart rate start to slow down. He felt safe. Grounded.
"Right," Declan eventually said, pulling back just enough to look at Martin's face. "We should probably get back in there before the media team sends out a search party."
Martin groaned, letting his head drop back against the wall. "I can't go back in there. I still have to do the snack video."
"Tell you what," Declan said, grabbing Martin's hand and squeezing it. "I'll do it with you. We'll do it as a duo. I'll do all the talking and make all the jokes, and you just have to stand there and look pretty. Deal?"
Martin looked at their joined hands, then up at Declan's encouraging face. All the anxiety he had felt ten minutes ago was completely gone.
"Okay," Martin smiled softly. "Deal."
"Brilliant," Declan beamed. He leaned in and pressed one more quick, sweet kiss to Martin's lips. "Come on then, skip. Let's go be internet stars."
Martin laughed, letting Declan pull him down the hallway. For the first time all day, he didn't mind the thought of facing the cameras. Not as long as Declan was standing right next to him.