𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄

   women's football was so different!  tom would watch as many games as he could,  and the amount of them with girlfriend's watching the game or showing their support made him weirdly teary-eyed sometimes.  he was glad it was different for them,  and he wouldn't wish his situation on any of them,  but he supposed these things just happened in different ways.  everything would change when people found out,  but tom still craved a bit of normalcy with his partner.  he still wanted to tell people someday,  so they could go out for dinner and have a normal partnership without people being shocked by it every time.  but it'd be fucking terrifying,  and it wouldn't be easy at all.  tom looked at some of his teammates sometimes and knew they'd probably turn against him someday,  but that didn't change the way he treated them.  he still wanted them to truly enjoy playing for these team,  whether he was afraid of their inevitable hatred or not.  
            "well,  i have loads of 'em."  he replied with confidence,  taking jon's glass and getting them both another wine as he gestured to the lights.  "gonna put the glasses over here.  where'd you want some'a the lights to go?  get your interior design hat on."  

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            He understood that... and knew exactly where he was coming from. He supposed no football club was, truly, accepting... except women's football! Felt like paradise on Earth, to be able to practice the sport you love --and love who you love! --without all men's toxicity around! The fans would hate them, the media would hate them, their teammates and beloved clubs would hate them... he knew that. The reason why he would always remind Tom it was his choice, after retirement, if he wanted or not to make this public... to make *them* public. All the things they accomplished for their clubs would suddenly no matter anymore, and all that would matter is the conspiracy theories. 'Did he miss this goal because he had to shoot a penalty against his boyfriend?' or 'Did he let this ball in, because it would favour his boyfriend's club?'
            Unfortunately... they would be never truly free. Except, perhaps, when they were very old and this was made public... perhaps society as a whole, hopefully, will be more accepting then! ...Good goddess. He didn't know if that sentence made him an optimist or pessimist...
            "Wonderful," he grinned, then got up after his partner. "That... sounds like a really good idea, too!" he admitted with a chuckle, totally down for another drink.

   tom knew he'd play for as long as he could,  and he'd know in the moment what point it would be for him to leave.  of course he wanted to spend forever with manchester united,  but he couldn't say what the future held.  maybe he'd go to a lower team to spend his last few years before retirement,  maybe he'd retire as soon as manchester united suggested they want him gone,  who knows!  he didn't know if he wanted to work behind the scenes at the club,  he wasn't sure if he wanted to do punditry or commentary,  but immediately after retirement he knew he just wanted to spend his time with his partner.  that was what he was looking forward to.  the club might not even invite him back when they find out about his,  uhhh,,  gayness.  they weren't overly accepting,  in all honesty,  and that fact hurt sometimes.  "uh-huh.  all for you,  love.  c'mon,  let's put some lights up now.  i can get us another drink while we're up?"  

@RED-EMPTION // I'm pretty sure I answered this rp yesterday, yet it seems Wattpad deleted the reply ?? I'm gonna redo it before going to work, hold on <33333

   "but i've always been stuck doing office work to cover for everyone else.  and,  look!  the first time i stand up for myself,  here you are!"  it was a prize worth fighting for,  thomas thought earnestly,  even if it was all bound to be a hell of a fight.  pun not intended.  he smiled,  resting his head back to look up at the sky as the sun started setting,  and it was only after a moment did he find the courage to look at jon for a second.  "it's beautiful,  isn't it?  better than i remember,  every time."  
            
              /   i just know jon and i would queen out in a bar on cocktails and that's the gay+lesbian connection 
            tom following that one family closely to the point where he knows a weird collection of things about humanity.  he'll put mentos in a bottle of coke as a prank and find it hilarious but wont know what any film Ever is. and jon just gets baffled by his selection of information bc it's part of his charm 

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            He looked at him in the most endearing of the ways, before moving their locked hands back up to press a kiss to his knuckles. "Don't feel embarrassed, love. I was human before, although it's been a few centuries... you weren't, you've always been a beautiful, fluffy angel," he grinned to him. "There's indeed a first time for everything, worry not... you're in good bad hands," he smirked mischievously once more, before his eyes softened up, making it clear how much he adored him and would, indeed, do everything in his power for this angel!
            
            
            // HAHHAAAH he would be a sweetheart to you <3333
            AND TOMMM, OMGGG. I LOVE HIM !!! xxxx Jon (and I !!!) would fall for all those over done pick up lines, bc he's so cute (': HAHHAAH

   "*me*?  bad influence?  you're crazy."  when they were in this state,  private and close together,  tom could honestly say that he just felt like a ball of pure joy and brightness.  he had a positivity that was rather unlike him,  a calmness and vulnerability.  it was all in their silly little smiles,  those  *kisses*  (  god,  he was in love!!  )  and it was worth it for the way jon looked at him.  "that's just how much i love you.  and whatever you're imagining,  it's like ten times more than that.  and then infinity more than  *that*."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "A bad influence recognizes another," he retorted playfully, biting his bottom lip. He pressed a few kisses on Tom's neck and cheek, then leaned back slightly to look at him. "You make me melt more than our ice cream..." he joked, brushing his fingers through his hair, gently.

   "*so*  hot."   he exaggerated to really reiterate what he'd originally said,  because jon should know that he found everything about him to be very attractive.  especially his sense of humour!  and,  as soon as he gave up on their little joke,  tom followed quickly,  and reciprocated that hug just as tightly.  "you're a bad influence."  

   "i certainly don't,"  he laughed at the idea,  cupping jon's face properly for the first time with a more gentle touch than the one that followed his suspicions earlier,  holding him for a few moments before leaning in to kiss his lips again.  a shorter kiss this time,  a lingering peck full of fond emotions that he was holding onto and the dam just wouldn't stop flooding.  "you just inspire this sort of talk out of me.  i've never talked like this a day in my life,  i swear!  it's  *your*  fault."  he teased him with bright eyes,  letting himself believe for a moment that they were in some harmless fairy tale.  like it was no big deal that they were hiding away,  their laughs echoing against the walls and feeling so much more louder just to their ears.  this could be a story like that,  it  *felt*  like that,  and thomas was sure to see a part of jon in every face he'd ever see again.  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "You have a talent for poetry, too, darling," he whispered to him, sending him a private, light-hearted and completely smitten, kind of smile. He thought there was no 'return' to the way they were before, because they had that kind of *impact* in each other's lives that did change them, forever. It was crazy to think that a person you've just met could have that kind of power, but it was undeniable fact that they had. He had never fallen instantly in love with someone before, either, and in other circumstances, he would never see the person again because his duty was to follow the Queen and warrant her safety... he had never met someone who had turned his world upside down with a mere look of their eyes, though, so for Tom... it was all worth it. Every sacrifice... if love wasn't good enough reason, well— then society was composed of a bunch of hypocritical people, for they kept saying love justified it all, and was the *only* reason why life was worth living!

   "i have no idea how i can convince myself to be the same person i was before i met you."  his eyes closed at the kiss to his forehead,  falling headfirst into every affectionate touch and letting himself be engulfed by it.  he was swimming in the warmth of a man he barely knew,  yet he felt so comforted by it—  he wanted to know everything about him,  and would ask for more details in their letters,  he imagined.  he'd never fallen so fast for someone before,  but perhaps the fact that their time was under constraints factored into how he was behaving.  in any other case,  he might play a little hard to get.  but this was forbidden,  he couldn't afford to pretend to push him away because this man may truly do just that.  for their own safety.  but thomas didn't want safety.  "i will.  i'll spend hours staring at the moon just to see your reflection amongst the stars."  

  tom didn't need jon to brush it off and be all humble about it,  because it was true whether he admitted it or not!  there was a reason he solidified his place in the number one spot at liverpool so quickly and got called up by england,  he was  incredible.  he knew when to take charge of his box,  he knew when to claim and when to head to his line.  and,  listen,  he was also the most attractive of the goalkeepers and that also worked in his favour.  "pfft.  whatever."  he couldn't help his little chuckle as he,  obviously,  would deny that claim too.  but he wasn't gonna go out on a limb and say he was a bad midfielder—  god,  he'd been  *there*.  he knew he'd improved,  but not that much!  "totally better when we win,  though.  not just the result itself,  but it means i get to pamper you a bit.  hense the wine."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "Please," he blushed. His boyfriend is too kind! He is far from even making it to the top 15 between the twenty first choice keepers, in his opinion... just definitely better than Everton's keeper (ha!) so position 19th was already good enough for him (the rivalry speaks loud here!)
            "It means a lot to me... coming from the best midfielder in the Premier League," he said, winking charmingly at his boyfriend— who was bound to, just like him, protest the compliment inwardly, he knew him all too well... he meant it, though! No one battled in the midfield the way Tom did, his little lion... he loves him, a lot. "I love you, too, darling," he voiced out his thoughts, pressing a kiss to his hand. "It's a pleasure playing against you, always, no matter the result."

  "that's cute.  i'm proud of you,  too.  no one else i'd rather go up against than the best goalkeeper in the premier league."  he said earnestly,  because it didn't take a genius to know that.  although,  tom would make a further argument and say he was the best in the  *world*.  that was also true!  "yeah.  i know it's worth it.  i love you.  and i love playing against you,  win or lose."  

   thomas didn't even need all the extra stuff,  he just needed the artist himself.  the art and all of that other romantic stuff was adorable,  it made the model emotional in a number of ways because jon's feelings were so clear to him,  but he just needed to be sat beside the artist for those emotions to be clear as day.  this is what real love felt like,  and as he shifted to sit back the way he had been for the photo,  he would concede the fact that he wouldn't be able to get rid of the look of adoration in his eyes.  that would have to stay.  "don't rush it,  though."  he warned lightheartedly,  knowing that the pace might speed up a bit but he didn't want to actually jeopardise the painting itself!  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            If he was 'awful', then so was Jon! He was crazy about every little detail about this man... everything about him inspired *art*: he had to photograph him, paint him, write poems for him... well, he hadn't reached the last bit yet, but merely due how difficult it was for him to write anything! It would sound like rhymes made by a thirteen years old who was just experiencing his first 'crush'. Only the poems, though, for the feelings were much more deeper than those defined as merely a 'crush'. "If you did that— I would probably even forget how to hold a brush for a moment," he chuckled, then nodded his head to him. "All— all right. I'm just gonna— I'm going back over... *there*." he stuttered. What an idiot!
            He didn't need the extra motivation to finish it quicker, but you bet he would, now!

   he watched the way jon fumbled with his words,  and it was so utterly endearing to the point where he just watched and admired the way the feelings washed over his artist.  his beautiful artist who had the prettiest voice—  with a million other details that made it difficult for thomas to think about anything else.  anything that wasn't his face,  his hair,  his eyes,  his hands   etc...  he was awful.  "it's not silly.  it's—  it's charming.  it makes me want to kiss you right now,  if only we wouldn't end up getting distracted from what we're supposed to be doing here.  so.  you wanna get back to it?"  

   "today we'll make history in baking a cake that stays very much in tact,  you can tell everyone about how good you are and pretend the last incident didn't happen.  i won't snitch."  he sent his partner a teasing look as if to mischievously admit that he might snitch to someone at some point,  but it was a silent gesture so jon could ignore that part!  he was trying to sound charming.  once jon put the baking paper in,  tom poured the mixture into the two round trays and gestured for the goalkeeper to put them into the oven as he put the bowl with the washing up.  "we can take a break until it's finished.  i reckon we should make the buttercream after it comes out so it has time to cool." 

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "You sure about that? Given my history?" he added in a joking tone, laughing at that. He appreciated the sweetness of his words, though, and kissed his temple in a way of saying 'thank you'. "Got it, babe," he nodded, doing as he was instructed to... ha! It turns out they're a great baking duo. Or better saying it, *a great duo*. Full stop. Everything they did together, they did well, for they helped each other in the process... learned from each other. Goodness, he loves him! ...Has he told him that already today? Thrice. But he was bound to say it again, at any point, it's inevitable!

   "and what a beautiful assistant i've scored myself here."  that smile!  it was his weakness,  truly,  to see that grin in absolutely any capacity.  even if it was during a liverpool game,  tom could pretend he'd take the shirt off and just look at the gorgeous smile on his perfect boyfriend's face.  "aw,  c'mon,  you won't do anything wrong.  we're having fun!  no big deal.  now,  i already measured out the baking paper so you just stick it into the trays and we'll sorta...  half and half the mixture.  yeah?"  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            Maybe, in another universe, they both liked living dangerously... who knows, maybe even going to amusement parks together, riding an actual roller coaster that seemed like a metaphor to their own lives, that individually went up and down, but when they were together... it was always up they went! In this universe, though, they aren't allowed to live dangerously... actually, right here, the risk was huge— it was too much at stake, and he could never risk what was the most precious to him: *them*. "Ha! You son of a..." he threw his hands up; at least for this round, he would concede without a witty comeback. What he really wanted to 'shut him up' with a passionate kiss, but you know...

   they were both too obvious if they'd just stand there talking and looking at each other—  his mum kept making fun of him for his whole expression changing if jon was texting him or,  simply,  he was just mentioning his partner in passing.  "you prick."  he laughed incredulously at that bantering,  because it was just so typical and they had to play up the rivalry thing a bit.  "i would say that your job is just standing around but,  with how dogshit your liverpool defenders are,  i reckon it's actually quite a difficult job."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            He grinned... and then looked away. Sadly, he had to. For Tom is right, even a smile could be dangerous, unfortunately! So, when he looked back at the love of his life, he forced himself to do so with a look of a 'rival' that had just been teased. Something that mixed amusement and pride, as if he were about to tease him in return... which he did, just for the sake of appearances. "Not just today, right? Your job is *always* easier than mine. Just a little bit, though," and when he smiled back to him, he hoped he knew he was just saying it because of their teammates around them, and definitely not something he meant. No position was 'easier' in football, all of them had its challenges and were all of *vital* importance. Midfielders literally made the game, without them, the ball would never get to the strikers... but also, without them, all the defending area was completely exposed. If anything, being a midfielder could be one of the most difficult positions!

  "yeah,  loads."  he said without giving any other details,  because obviously he had never seen a case like that before!  still,  though,  he enjoyed teasing his partner for that one singular incident.  "i do not,  you're full of it.  further proof of your biases,  babe,  you're crazy.  but i love you anyway."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "How could you possibly know that?! Have you seen self-imploding cakes before? Aside from my own, of course," he defended himself quickly, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "Pfff— my opinion might be biased, but not because you're wearing my clothes, darling. That's where you got it wrong— you wear them far better than me, though, just for the record!"

  "i saw the damage afterwards,  baby.  that was not the sight of a self-imploding cake."  the kiss to his knuckles made his heart skip a beat,  no matter how many times he received it!  even as he was trying to tease his partner for his cake nightmare,  his brain was entirely focused on his gorgeous partner.  "biased opinion.  i'm wearing  *your*  clothes."