From Start to Finish
Title: From Start to Finish
Genre: Romance/Fluff
Pairing(s): USUK
Word Count: 917
Rating/Warnings: PG
Summary: Done for the usxuk ' Summer Olympics'. Alfred gets his game, now Arthur gets his chance. Sequel to 'Batting For the Other Team'.
Arthur stared at his breakfast, unable to start eating since his stomach had obviously decided that now was the time to revolt. He needed his strength, it was a big deal this race today because it was on national level. He had never run in something that was such a big deal before and it was obviously showing by the fact that every time he looked at his breakfast, he felt like running to the bathroom to bring up nonexistent stomach contents.
"Arthur, you, like, need to eat. It's, like, so hard to run on an empty stomach." Feliks' voice was casual but it was obvious that he was worried by the way he was eyeing Arthur as if debating whether or not to take him to A&E.
"I know," Arthur replied but made no move to eat any of his toast. Toris looked up from the newspaper and looked
between his partner and Arthur.
"Eat at least one piece of toast and just keep snacking a lot," Toris recommended and Arthur nodded. It sounded like a good idea. All he needed to do now was to pick up the piece of toast and take a bit. That was all.
The ringing that came from his pocket put an end to those thoughts and Arthur excused himself before flipping it open as he left the room. He did not even need to look at the number to know who it was.
"Alfred," Arthur said as he climbed the stairs to his room. "I'm really nervous."
"Of course you are, it's a big deal. But you're one of the best, otherwise you wouldn't have made it this far, and you've trained your ass off for months for this opportunity. I don't think that people train this much for the Olympics! You're going to do great."
"I really wish that I felt as half as confident in myself as you do in me." Arthur made a face at the ceiling, knowing that Alfred would be able to hear the misery in his voice.
"Hey, hey, hey," Alfred said softly and Arthur curled on his side, feeling like he could almost curl up around Alfred. "The only way that you could disappoint anyone was if you did less than your best. But I know you won't settle for not doing your best, so no chance of disappointment!"
It was all so simple to Alfred. He might not be disappointed in Arthur but he would be disappointed for him and Arthur would be disappointed in himself which was almost worse. "But I'll be disappointed in myself, that's the problem."
"If you lose, you lose. Beating yourself after the race won't change that. It would just have to be more training and preparing for next time."
"It's not like you to be so realistic," Arthur said, feeling slightly amused now. Alfred would normally be optimistic to the point of stupid sometimes and would not even consider the possibility that Arthur might lose.
"Well, I know that you don't listen to my optimism when you're like this, so it's time to try realism." Alfred sounded just as amused and rather cheery. Arthur could feel it rubbing off on him and he found himself smiling at the ceiling.
"Hey, Alfred," Arthur said, smiling as he realised what Alfred was doing.
"Yeah, Arthur?"
"Be my good luck charm." The implications were not lost on Alfred and Arthur could picture him melting at the romantic notion and the giant grin he would be wearing.
"Of course, sweetheart. Always." Alfred was a closet romantic but Arthur had not realised quite how much he responded to romance until now. He immediately resolved to take him out for a nice, romantic dinner. Maybe on his birthday.
***
The atmosphere was loud, noisy and completely addicting. Arthur went around the field, mixing between nervous breakdown and wild happiness. There was nothing in between and it only got even worse when he was with Alfred. He was happy that Alfred was here but he was nervous because he wondered what Alfred will think of him running? Would he get bored halfway through and not see Arthur finish?
"Hey, you're going to do great," Alfred said, kissing Arthur on the nose. "I'm your good luck charm, remember?" Arthur nodded, feeling like if he opened his mouth to speak, he would vomit. This feeling only increased when they called for the competitors to line up. Arthur saw his foster parents and Alfred waving at him maniacally and he felt himself give a rigid sort of smile. It was time to start.
Afterwards, Arthur would not be able to recall the race in any sort of detail. He was good at marathons and pacing himself but at the end, trying to put on a burst of speed to get to the front was harder than he thought it would. It all blurred together but he remembered how determined he was to at least finish.
"Silver! You won silver!" Alfred yelled as soon as he got within two feet of Arthur, deafening everyone around him. He caught Arthur in a bone-breaking hug, something that Arthur happily returned. It felt like his legs were jelly as the relief hit him. He had run the race and come second place.
"Well done," Toris said as Feliks caught Arthur up in his own hug. "You ran really well." Arthur grinned and did not think he would be able to stop for the next few hours. This was brilliant.
Genre: Romance/Fluff
Pairing(s): USUK
Word Count: 917
Rating/Warnings: PG
Summary: Done for the usxuk ' Summer Olympics'. Alfred gets his game, now Arthur gets his chance. Sequel to 'Batting For the Other Team'.
Arthur stared at his breakfast, unable to start eating since his stomach had obviously decided that now was the time to revolt. He needed his strength, it was a big deal this race today because it was on national level. He had never run in something that was such a big deal before and it was obviously showing by the fact that every time he looked at his breakfast, he felt like running to the bathroom to bring up nonexistent stomach contents.
"Arthur, you, like, need to eat. It's, like, so hard to run on an empty stomach." Feliks' voice was casual but it was obvious that he was worried by the way he was eyeing Arthur as if debating whether or not to take him to A&E.
"I know," Arthur replied but made no move to eat any of his toast. Toris looked up from the newspaper and looked
between his partner and Arthur.
"Eat at least one piece of toast and just keep snacking a lot," Toris recommended and Arthur nodded. It sounded like a good idea. All he needed to do now was to pick up the piece of toast and take a bit. That was all.
The ringing that came from his pocket put an end to those thoughts and Arthur excused himself before flipping it open as he left the room. He did not even need to look at the number to know who it was.
"Alfred," Arthur said as he climbed the stairs to his room. "I'm really nervous."
"Of course you are, it's a big deal. But you're one of the best, otherwise you wouldn't have made it this far, and you've trained your ass off for months for this opportunity. I don't think that people train this much for the Olympics! You're going to do great."
"I really wish that I felt as half as confident in myself as you do in me." Arthur made a face at the ceiling, knowing that Alfred would be able to hear the misery in his voice.
"Hey, hey, hey," Alfred said softly and Arthur curled on his side, feeling like he could almost curl up around Alfred. "The only way that you could disappoint anyone was if you did less than your best. But I know you won't settle for not doing your best, so no chance of disappointment!"
It was all so simple to Alfred. He might not be disappointed in Arthur but he would be disappointed for him and Arthur would be disappointed in himself which was almost worse. "But I'll be disappointed in myself, that's the problem."
"If you lose, you lose. Beating yourself after the race won't change that. It would just have to be more training and preparing for next time."
"It's not like you to be so realistic," Arthur said, feeling slightly amused now. Alfred would normally be optimistic to the point of stupid sometimes and would not even consider the possibility that Arthur might lose.
"Well, I know that you don't listen to my optimism when you're like this, so it's time to try realism." Alfred sounded just as amused and rather cheery. Arthur could feel it rubbing off on him and he found himself smiling at the ceiling.
"Hey, Alfred," Arthur said, smiling as he realised what Alfred was doing.
"Yeah, Arthur?"
"Be my good luck charm." The implications were not lost on Alfred and Arthur could picture him melting at the romantic notion and the giant grin he would be wearing.
"Of course, sweetheart. Always." Alfred was a closet romantic but Arthur had not realised quite how much he responded to romance until now. He immediately resolved to take him out for a nice, romantic dinner. Maybe on his birthday.
***
The atmosphere was loud, noisy and completely addicting. Arthur went around the field, mixing between nervous breakdown and wild happiness. There was nothing in between and it only got even worse when he was with Alfred. He was happy that Alfred was here but he was nervous because he wondered what Alfred will think of him running? Would he get bored halfway through and not see Arthur finish?
"Hey, you're going to do great," Alfred said, kissing Arthur on the nose. "I'm your good luck charm, remember?" Arthur nodded, feeling like if he opened his mouth to speak, he would vomit. This feeling only increased when they called for the competitors to line up. Arthur saw his foster parents and Alfred waving at him maniacally and he felt himself give a rigid sort of smile. It was time to start.
Afterwards, Arthur would not be able to recall the race in any sort of detail. He was good at marathons and pacing himself but at the end, trying to put on a burst of speed to get to the front was harder than he thought it would. It all blurred together but he remembered how determined he was to at least finish.
"Silver! You won silver!" Alfred yelled as soon as he got within two feet of Arthur, deafening everyone around him. He caught Arthur in a bone-breaking hug, something that Arthur happily returned. It felt like his legs were jelly as the relief hit him. He had run the race and come second place.
"Well done," Toris said as Feliks caught Arthur up in his own hug. "You ran really well." Arthur grinned and did not think he would be able to stop for the next few hours. This was brilliant.