Work Text:
A split second before impact Jean realizes that it's Kevin colliding into him. He's been trained to be aware of Kevin's position on the court at any moment and while he shed most of the raven ingrained habits this isn't one he will ever let go of.
They're running for goal, up ahead Josten is carrying the ball in his racquet, he only has a step left when he twists to pass behind himself. He does his best and gets Kevin's general position right but it's off by a few feet. Jean moves automatically to interject the ball when he feels Kevin take the jump. Kevin must have miscalculated Jean's speed because he doesn't expect the body to be in the way. Airborne he has no possibility to slow, to correct the course, to avoid collision.
His legs hit Jean's shoulder before the only way is down down down.
The fear, the panic is immediate and Jean doesn't even hesitate before he lets go of his racquet to scramble and catch the man, to at least brace his fall. He's hurtling to the ground head first. Jean's fingers twist in Kevin's jersey the same time Kevin finally releases his own racquet to hold on to Jean in turn.
Jean manages to twist Kevin until he almost to his feet again but the momentum overbalances him and they take the last of the fall together. Jean blinks in surprise when he finds himself almost cradled in Kevin's arms. One behind Jean's shoulders, one on his neck.
Kevin stares at Jean wide eyed for a moment before his head dips to rest on Jean's chest. He's breathing heavily and Jean can't fault him, this could have ended badly. The referee blows his whistle but Jean's entire focus is on Kevin. He raises a shaking hand to lay against Kevin's neck just beneath where the helmet ends. "Don't do that ever again."
"Not planning on it," Kevin pants just moments before both a referee and Josten appear at their side. The man rakes his eyes all over Kevin before doing the same to Jean. "Alright?"
Kevin nods slowly as he untangles himself. Reluctantly Jean lets him go. He checks himself over quickly, flexing his fingers, rolling his neck but his focus remains on Kevin. It takes him just a moment to get to his feet and pick up his racquet. Jean follows, he takes his racquet when Kevin hands it to him and awards a nod to the referee, who after staring at both at them intently moves off the court again.
The game resumes, everyone gets back into position, play starts again, Jean's brain stays stuck. He doesn’t need to focus on the court to excel at the game. It's just ten more minutes before he gets subbed out - his last ten minutes as a Trojan. He knows that he feels a certain way about that but he pushes it down in favor of observing Kevin.
The foxes are a small team and so naturally the players get more court time. No one would ever think of denying Kevin to play his last fifteen minutes as a Fox - not when he fought that much for it, not when it's so important.
Jean tracks his every move and can't find a single crack in the mask. That - of course - doesn't mean that there aren't any. It doesn't mean that Kevin isn't hiding an injury, that he isn't hurt.
The game comes to an end 6 - 8 Trojans favor. Jean joins the rest of his team on the court when they open the doors to celebrate. In the crowd he easily spots Jeremy grinning back at him. He gets so swept up in the team's enthusiasm that he doesn't notice the foxes leaving. His head snaps around but he doesn't even catch a glance of Kevin.
It was always going to be bittersweet. One of them was always going to lose the last game of their college career. Jean isn't yet sure if he's okay with that burden falling to Kevin.
He gets distracted again when Jeremy weaves his way down from the stands to crush him into a hug. Jean gives into it earlier, letting the man ramble out his excitement and can't help but smile himself. It was a good game and they won. They're the national champions once more.
"You were amazing," Jeremy beams at him. "Awesome game and a deserved win.”
“It was great,” Jean allows, he had a lot of fun. He found that playing against Kevin is always like that.
He affords it to the two whole years as a trojan that he doesn’t even falter the slightest bit when Cat crashes into him without any warning. “We did it,” She yells excitedly as she squeezes him tightly. Jean can do nothing but return the enthusiasm. The Trojans sweep him up in their celebratory victory and for a while Jean forgets all about his worries.
***
Jean pushes open the locker room door without bothering to knock. Inside, as expected, is complete and utter chaos. The commotion only halfway stops at his entrance. Neil’s eyes snap to him immediately but he remains silent as he continues to pack his duffle. Minyard doesn’t have the same qualms. “Knock, knock, wrong door Valjean.” There is no inflection in his tone but Jean knows when he’s being mocked.
He ignores it, doesn’t deem the dig worthy of his attention and instead surveys the room. He frowns when he doesn’t find Kevin. “He’s in the shower,” Neil offers. Jean starts for the shower room but gets stopped almost immediately by Minyard stepping into his path. “No,” Is all the man says but it’s enough.
Jean accepts the refusion and leans against the wall instead to wait. Every minute Kevin spends out of his sight skyrockets his worry even more. Jean is certain it’s not healthy but he won’t concern himself with that right now.
It takes barely five minutes for Kevin to emerge but Jean hones in on it nonetheless. Kevin never takes long after game showers. He couldn’t at the nest and he hasn’t grown out of the habit. Jean knows that. He shouldn’t be this far behind his teammates in cleaning up.
Visibly there is no mark on his skin but he’s dressed already. Gray sweatpants and that orange eyesore of a sweater. He’s focused on drying his hair but as soon as he looks up his eyes find Jean. He looks confused but masks it quickly. Jean waits for him to approach.
“Jean,” Kevin says when he stops just inches from Jean. It’s too close for any casual encounter between two people. It’s too far for the two of them. Jean wants to reach out, wants to trail his fingers over every inch of Kevin, check for any marks or kinks or aches - he wants to take them all away.
Here in the locker room though - under the scrutiny of Kevin’s team even though they’re pretending not to look, not to listen - he doesn’t reach out at all. “Come back to my place,” He says instead in soft French. Kevin’s eyebrows furrow in a frown. “This was your last game,” He argues in the same language. “You should be celebrating.”
“We already planned the party for tomorrow. Unfortunately playing the foxes is a hardship.”
“Our flight leaves at eight,” Kevin mentions but Jean can see his resolve wavering. “I have to be at the airport before six.”
“I will drive you,” Jean offers immediately. “Let’s go.”
Kevin rings with himself for a full minute before finally he nods. “Let me just grab my things.” Jean nods, notices the looks Minyard is throwing at Kevin. “I’ll wait in the hall.” He decides and leaves Kevin to the scrutiny of his team.
He takes the time to text Jeremy and let him know that they will have an extra guest. Since he graduated last year, Jeremy has been staying at the house whenever he comes for visits but they got rid of the second bed and instead updated the couch to a more comfortable one. A big step in Jean’s recovery according to Betsy.
Jeremy sends back a simple thumbs up and tells Jean where he’s waiting.
Jean takes Kevin’s bag from him when he finally steps out of the locker room, he ignores Kevin’s protest and instead waits until Neil joins them. He hands the bag to the smaller man who regards it with a raised eyebrow. “Kevin doesn’t need it,” Is all Jean says before he turns and starts leading the way out of the stadium.
Kevin sputters but follows. “That was unnecessary.” Jean shrugs. “You’ll thank me tomorrow.”
They reach Jeremy before Kevin can argue again. Jean once again gets to witness him morph into a whole alternate version of himself when met with his hero. Kevin’s smile is tired but genuine. “Jeremy,” He greets happily.
“Kevin, my man,” Jeremy replies, not any less enthusiastic. “Great game, you really ended your college career with a bang.”
“With a loss,” Kevin says but Jeremy waves him off. “You made more than half the goals, your plays were pure beauty. That game will definitely be used for studying by more than two competing teams.”
Jean fondly watches a blush dust Kevin’s cheeks. It’s endearing. “Where are Cat and Laila?” He asks Jeremy who shrugs good naturedly. “I offered them a hotel room in exchange for their bed.”
Jean supposes he did them all a favor. Cat and Laila are loud and Kevin has an aversion to sleeping with headphones.
It’s a quick walk back to the house. Jean is grateful to have played his last game as a Trojan on home turf. He is grateful to be taking Kevin back to the house he shares with his friends instead of having to cram into a dorm room.
Jeremy leaves them in favor of a shower and bed as soon as they make it home. Jean leads Kevin to his room. He roots through his dresser, tosses a faded trojan shirt at Kevin and picks another well loved one for himself.
Kevin changes easy enough but afterwards he remains standing in the middle of the room looking lost. His eyes catch on Barkbark for a moment before he glances at Jean. “What am I doing here?” He asks eventually.
Jean swallows but with no teammates, no strangers, no onlookers around there is no use for walls anymore. He steps closer to Kevin, closer and closer and closer until they share the same space, until Kevin has to raise his head just a bit to look at Jean, until they’re almost touching.
“Are you hurt?” Jean asks plainly. “Not any more than usual,” Kevin retorts. At Jean’s look he amends, “Just sore. What about you?”
“No,” Jean says, swallows, shakes his head. “I’m not hurt.”
“Okay,” Kevin agrees softly. “I’m not hurt either.”
It’s a marvel. Once upon a time Jean couldn’t remember what it feels like to not be hurt. Now both him and Kevin are safe and protected. Now they don’t have to fear anymore.
Jean isn’t surprised when Kevin leans forward just the slightest bit to rest his head against Jean’s chest. Like a dam broken Jean’s arms encircle him immediately. Holding him closer, making sure he stays.
“Thank you for catching me,” Kevin murmurs into his chest. Jean hums. “I will always catch you.”
He will. Jean will always catch Kevin, sometimes he thinks he was made for it. “Thank you.” Kevin says again. His voice is laced with so much sincerity Jean has to swallow hard to keep in all the feeling threatening to spill out of him.
Kevin shifts just the slightest bit to tuck his face against Jean’s neck instead of his chest and sighs. “I miss you,” He admits so softly that for a moment Jean thinks he made it up. “I signed with the Warriors,” Is his unbidden reply.
“What?” Kevin tries to pull back but Jean holds him close, he relents immediately, folding back into Jean as if he’s meant to live between his arms.
The Warriors are located in New York, in fact their home court is only half a city away from the Knighthawks who managed to snatch up Kevin for the foreseeable future. Jean swallows, “I meant to tell you.” He did, he really did. He was ridiculously late for signing, not for a lack of offers. But as soon as he found out about Kevin’s decisions all the options that would place him states away were off the table.
“It was only finalized a few weeks ago,” After some vicious negotiations, he doesn’t say. Jeremy helped him, helped him to negotiate a passable raise in salary, one the Moriyama’s surely will be happy with. No more thousands of miles between them. No more time difference and observing from behind screens.
Jean already knows that being so close will be almost unbearable and yet it’s more than worth it. It’s worth it to keep Kevin within reach, to not fear that something will happen without him being able to get to Kevin in time. No more endless nights spent missing him.
“Jean,” Kevin says and unburies his face for the purpose of meeting Jean’s eyes. Jean isn’t sure what to make of his expression and for a few terrible moments he thinks that he made a mistake, that Kevin doesn’t want him to be in the same city, that he doesn’t want him to impose. But then Kevin reaches out, his scarred hand warms against Jean’s cheek as he pulls him down into a bruising kiss.
Jean follows the touch, takes everything Kevin gives, returns the kiss just as viciously. It’s like taking a full breath after years of drowning, it’s like coming home. Jean lets Kevin set the pace and gives himself over completely.
“Move in with me,” Kevin demands as soon as he pulls back for air, still close enough for his breath to fan over Jean’s lips. Jean nods immediately, mindlessly and moves back in for another kiss and another one and another one.
It’s Jean who eventually, although reluctantly, reminds Kevin of his early flight. He doesn’t want to let go of the other man and so he doesn’t. They brush their teeth side by side in the small bathroom before crawling into bed together.
Kevin only grumbles slightly when Jean rearranges them to his liking, already halfway asleep. His breath fans against Jean’s neck from where he lays on his shoulder. Jean intertwines their legs, weaves every part of himself through Kevin until they’re indistinguishable. Then he goes to sleep, his mind and soul at ease.
***
Getting up in the morning is hard. Jean wants to do nothing more than stay in bed with Kevin forever. Sleep warm skin and the gentleness of early morning but Kevin has a flight to catch and Jean has a win to celebrate and so he forces himself out of the warmth regardless.
Kevin is barely coherent as he gets dressed, pulls on Jean’s hoodie instead of his own without noticing or perhaps without caring and stumbles more than he walks into the kitchen for a quick cup of coffee.
Jean takes over when Kevin stands with a mug in one hand and a pack of coffee grounds for a full minute without moving. Kevin lets him without protest, leaning against the counter and watching Jean with heavy eyes.
He takes the mug when Jean hands it to him, inhaling deeply before he awkwardly - almost shyly - presses a kiss against Jean’s lips in a silent thank you. It’s almost discerning seeing Kevin be so sweet but Jean enjoys it. Enjoys the certainty that no one else has the privilege of seeing Kevin Day like this.
He stays close, unable to keep to himself his hand slips under the hem of Kevin’s stolen sweater to caress the skin of his waist. It’s so gentle, so peaceful - standing in the kitchen, sharing space in the too early morning - it almost hurts.
Kevin doesn’t want to leave. He doesn’t say it, would never dare utter the words but the way he leans against Jean’s chest as he sips his coffee, soaking up the closeness even as the clock ticks down is telling enough.
“I will call you tomorrow,” Jean says as he traces along the shell of Kevin’s ear. “We can look for a time to fly to New York, figure out where to live, meet the teams, see the courts.” Kevin hums, leaning more into Jean. “I’d like that.”
Jean presses a kiss to his temple. “Okay.”
It’s still dim when they finally make their way outside. Jean refuses to get a car and so he leads Kevin to the garage where his bike is parked. Black and sleek and well taken care of. She’s been his for a good six months now, he finally indulged after using Cat’s old bike for the longest time. His friends all pitched in to make it a combined birthday and christmas present, she’s Jean’s entire pride and joy.
“No,” Kevin says before Jean can hand him the helmet. He raises an eyebrow. “You want to walk?”
“I don’t want to die,” Kevin retorts, all of the sudden wide awake.
“Kevin,” Jean says. “I’m driving. I wouldn’t put you in danger.”
Kevin relents the point but doesn’t look happy about it. Jean pulls him into a quick kiss before gently pulling the helmet over Kevin’s head. His jacket is a little big on the other man but it’ll do for now.
“You will be safe,” He promises again before pulling on his own helmet. By now the tight feeling is familiar, enjoyable even. Distantly Jean knew from the first moment Cat took him on a drive that he wanted to have this for himself too. The freedom of being able to leave at any time, the solitude of the road and the bike.
Now he gets to share that with Kevin, gets to introduce him to what made Jean feel alive again. Jean expertly swings one leg over the seat to straddle the bike. Even though he hasn't had this one for too long it’s familiar, it’s comforting.
Jean waits for Kevin to get on behind him before he starts the engine. The bike comes to life underneath him in a vicious rumble. Kevin’s arms squeeze Jean’s waist tightly. Jean pets his arm in reassurance but gets his hand slapped away immediately. Kevin’s chest vibrates against Jean’s back when he speaks. “Don’t you dare do this one handed.”
“We’re not even moving yet,” Jean yells back to be heard but gets both hands back on the handles. He gives Kevin another moment to get settled before he gets them moving. Kevin’s hold tightens even more but he doesn’t yell for Jean to stop so he carefully starts picking up the speed. Nothing daring, nothing dangerous, nothing above the speed limit.
The wind whips past them, cold on Jean’s bare arms, in the distance the sun is starting to rise. Kevin doesn’t lighten his hold the slightest bit but ever so slowly Jean can feel him relax. His body heat seeps through the thin shirt Jean is wearing and right beneath his skin. He wishes the helmets wouldn’t be a necessity, wishes he could feel Kevin’s head resting against his shoulder, his face against Jean’s neck, breathing, living, alive so alive.
It hits him then that his time at USC is over, that after two years of adjusting to light and warmth and gentleness and being human, he will have to move on. It should be scary, it should be terrifying but with Kevin at his back and the open road ahead of them, Jean, for the first time, isn’t scared of what is coming next.