𝓲𝓽'𝓼 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 (mason mount x declan rice)

part 12 - it's always been you.

*England v USA matchday*
*in private chat*
6:22 a.m.
declan
We need to talk, Mason. After today's match, maybe?
mason <3
yeah, we do. Alright.

*in the gc*
harry kane
Matchday everyone. Let's kill it out there.
declan
I'll make u proud dad 😔👊🫶
mason <3
you heard the man.
reece
you got it captain.
jack
HELL YEAH
rashford
roger that
chilwell
We can do this.
jude
It's FOOTBALL, not SOCCER
harry kane
Hell fucking yes it is.
Let's make sure those Americans don't forget it.
declan
🙀🙀🙀
harry just said the fuck word
now we HAVE to win.
harry maguire
hi friends!! 💙🤍
we are going to win!

~~~

Declan couldn't shake off the conversation he had with Jude. As he got ready for the match, he felt more and more that he didn't think he could keep the confession till after the match. His mind was too...his heart was too...he was too confused. He couldn't play with his head like this. He headed to where Mason's locker was, but bumped into Mason on the way there.

"Declan!" Mason said. "There you are!"
"Mason, I can't...we need to talk-"
"Now." Mason completed. "Yes, I agree. We need to talk now, and I know somewhere quiet."
Mason took Declan's hand. The pair froze for a moment, as both of them realized the intimacy of the action. Mason moved first, and led Declan to a deserted part of the locker room. They sat down on opposite benches, so they faced each other.

They both sighed.

"Who should talk first?" Declan asked.
"You can go."
"Okay." Declan took in a deep breath, and continued. "Mason, I've been keeping something secret from you. I didn't realize it till this week, but I guess I've felt it all my life." Declan braced himself, bared his teeth, and said it. "Mason, I think I'm in love with you."

Boom. Fireworks, Declan thought. I've confessed. He already felt the weight leaving him, and he felt freer, but then anxiety set in.
"You may not like me back, you don't have to, I get it, I just really needed to-"
Declan was shushed by Mason's finger on his mouth.

"Declan Rice," Mason began. "You are the dumbest guy in the world."
Declan opened his mouth in protest.
"I'm not done." Mason said simply. "All this time, you've been worried I wouldn't like you, I wouldn't..." Mason waited, as if reconsidering all of this, then he continued, "I wouldn't be attracted to you, when all this time, I've been worrying the same thing about you."

Declan's mouth went slack.

"I knew when we were still teenagers. I knew I felt..differently about you. But I didn't...I didn't think it was right. Didn't think my feelings were supposed to happen. So, I went from girl to girl, trying to forget about you, and your stupid laugh, your stupid smile, everything. All those times you called me a player back then, I was just trying to forget you."

Declan stayed silent.

"But I couldn't. Couldn't, can't now. Unfortunately, you're very hard to forget. When we were both drunk, at that stupid party, and you said those things, I thought that was my chance. I thought it in my head, ah, I'll kiss him, then he realizes, and he confesses to me, and we'll be together, but then you didn't say anything and I got so scared. I thought I messed everything up, so I kept ignoring you. I hoped maybe this is what it would take to forget you."

"But it wasn't." Declan half-laughed, his face slick with tears.

"But it wasn't." Mason echoed, his own eyes watering too. "For some stupid reason, I was still hopelessly in love with you. Since the day I met you, till now, I've loved you. I didn't know the words to say it till now."

Mason, in pure desperation, clasped both of Declan's hands in his.

"Do you get it? All this time, all this while, I couldn't think of anyone else." Mason laughed and sobbed at the same time.

"Declan, it's always been you."

Mason looked into Declan's eyes. Declan looked into his. They didn't know who moved first. All they knew was that they were holding each other, their lips interlocked, and neither of them wanted to let go. In a burst of strength, Mason lifted Declan up, Declan putting his arms around Mason's front. The two stayed there, kissing each other, expelling all the love and frustration of the past few days into each other, not even remembering to come up for air. It was as if their heartbeats were in sync. Soulmates united, their happily ever after. They would've stayed there for hours.

If it wasn't for the whole team barging in.

"Well, we found them." Jack said pathetically.

Mason and Declan froze. In an instant their moment was shattered. In fear, Mason and Declan let go of each other in a rush, then stood side to side, looking down in shame.