[fanfiction] usmnt rps
The U.S.'s roster for the Gold Cup has been announced and the good news (among other things) is that both of these boys are on it. The bad news is that both Chris Albright and Jimmy Conrad have hamstring injuries and cannot participate, with the former out all summer and the latter a possibility for Copa America. (Also on the injured list are Bobby Convey, Cory Gibbs and Steve Cherundolo.) Also, the USMNT has announced two matches on the 14th and 17th of October. My birthday is the 15th so I might actually be happy about turning 21.
Thou Shalt Not
Benny Feilhaber/Michael Bradley, Football/Soccer RPS, PG
530 words
Set after the USMNT's March 25 3-1 win over Ecuador. Thanks, as always, to Stef for editing help. (Because I haven't said that in a while.)
“I wonder how different it feels when the match actually means something.”
Michael shrugs. “I guess it hurts more to lose then.”
“But winning would mean so much more.”
“True.”
They’re sitting on Benny’s balcony after the sun has set, their backs pressed against the glass door and Michael’s head resting on Benny’s right shoulder. Heath is inside with his feet up, having had a pained look on his face when they’d walked through. Michael had wanted to ask about his injury but Benny had shaken his head and so nothing was said.
“We’ll find out for sure,” Michael declares.
Benny’s laugh is an uneasy one. “How are you always so confident about it?”
“How are you not?” Michael lifts his head and awkwardly reaches over to pull Benny’s left arm closer. His fingers skim gently under the lettering there. “You get through the adversity, remember?”
Benny’s right hand moves to mirror Michael’s actions by the tattoo. “That doesn’t mean it’s easy. If I could get through it all with no trouble I wouldn’t need the reminder.”
(Michael imagines the despair that one must feel to make branding such a message so necessary. It’s not that difficult.)
“We should go to bed soon. We’ve got to leave early tomorrow.”
Behind them the room’s light goes out, punctuating Benny’s words. But neither moves, remaining with their arms intertwined in Benny’s lap.
“Think I’ll get to play on Wednesday?” Benny asks in a dramatically woeful voice, earning him a light punch in the arm.
“You know,” Michael begins before pausing to yawn. “If you get too negative and pessimistic then I’m going to stop hanging out with you.”
“I guess we wouldn’t want that now would we?” Benny says with a grin. “I’ll try being happier.”
“We’re still just kids. We can get away with delusional optimism.”
“A-ha!” Benny exclaims with a mischievous grin. “So you admit that it’s delusional. You don’t really believe any of this.”
“Right,” Michael says, accompanied by eye rolling. “You caught me. I think you’re a sucky player, I’m a sucky player, and the U.S. men’s national team did not beat Ecuador 3-1 today.”
Laughter fills the air and a sleepy yet satisfied smile graces Michael’s face. “Fine. You win.”
Michael flashes his grin at Benny. “Thank you.” He slowly pulls himself to his feet. “Now I should go.”
Benny stands up and is quickly wrapped in Michael’s arms, much to his surprise. He can feel Michael’s mouth moving against his neck but the words are too muffled to understand. “What did you say?”
Michael pulls away and shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter.” He slides open the glass along its panel and crosses the room with Benny close behind him. As they open the door and light from the hallway spills on them Benny lets his hand brush through Michael’s hair. “Good night.”
Benny remains in the doorway, shaking his head with a grin on his face as he stares down the hall. There’s an exhausted bravado carrying Michael along, one that shouldn’t need to be defended. It isn’t until he is out of sight that Benny closes the door and gets ready for bed.
Thou Shalt Not
Benny Feilhaber/Michael Bradley, Football/Soccer RPS, PG
530 words
Set after the USMNT's March 25 3-1 win over Ecuador. Thanks, as always, to Stef for editing help. (Because I haven't said that in a while.)
“I wonder how different it feels when the match actually means something.”
Michael shrugs. “I guess it hurts more to lose then.”
“But winning would mean so much more.”
“True.”
They’re sitting on Benny’s balcony after the sun has set, their backs pressed against the glass door and Michael’s head resting on Benny’s right shoulder. Heath is inside with his feet up, having had a pained look on his face when they’d walked through. Michael had wanted to ask about his injury but Benny had shaken his head and so nothing was said.
“We’ll find out for sure,” Michael declares.
Benny’s laugh is an uneasy one. “How are you always so confident about it?”
“How are you not?” Michael lifts his head and awkwardly reaches over to pull Benny’s left arm closer. His fingers skim gently under the lettering there. “You get through the adversity, remember?”
Benny’s right hand moves to mirror Michael’s actions by the tattoo. “That doesn’t mean it’s easy. If I could get through it all with no trouble I wouldn’t need the reminder.”
(Michael imagines the despair that one must feel to make branding such a message so necessary. It’s not that difficult.)
“We should go to bed soon. We’ve got to leave early tomorrow.”
Behind them the room’s light goes out, punctuating Benny’s words. But neither moves, remaining with their arms intertwined in Benny’s lap.
“Think I’ll get to play on Wednesday?” Benny asks in a dramatically woeful voice, earning him a light punch in the arm.
“You know,” Michael begins before pausing to yawn. “If you get too negative and pessimistic then I’m going to stop hanging out with you.”
“I guess we wouldn’t want that now would we?” Benny says with a grin. “I’ll try being happier.”
“We’re still just kids. We can get away with delusional optimism.”
“A-ha!” Benny exclaims with a mischievous grin. “So you admit that it’s delusional. You don’t really believe any of this.”
“Right,” Michael says, accompanied by eye rolling. “You caught me. I think you’re a sucky player, I’m a sucky player, and the U.S. men’s national team did not beat Ecuador 3-1 today.”
Laughter fills the air and a sleepy yet satisfied smile graces Michael’s face. “Fine. You win.”
Michael flashes his grin at Benny. “Thank you.” He slowly pulls himself to his feet. “Now I should go.”
Benny stands up and is quickly wrapped in Michael’s arms, much to his surprise. He can feel Michael’s mouth moving against his neck but the words are too muffled to understand. “What did you say?”
Michael pulls away and shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter.” He slides open the glass along its panel and crosses the room with Benny close behind him. As they open the door and light from the hallway spills on them Benny lets his hand brush through Michael’s hair. “Good night.”
Benny remains in the doorway, shaking his head with a grin on his face as he stares down the hall. There’s an exhausted bravado carrying Michael along, one that shouldn’t need to be defended. It isn’t until he is out of sight that Benny closes the door and gets ready for bed.