Ah, the short-lived memories of the 'fans'! Of course, there are 'fans' and *fans*. Those who don't care about anything other than if a player plays or not good football, like Tom described so well, regardless of their state of mind or the things they might be going through. And there are the *fans*, that support the players and support the club, always, through the good and the bad— Jon could say he knew both. The latter, sing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and they mean it with all their heart. And the former, well... just because it sounds cool to do it. For it'll look nice on the telly. And stuff like that. It saddens him, too, that the media seemed to have that short-lived kind of memory, only. Because them, alongside the 'fans', are the ones to put all that pressure on their shoulders. Much more than any manager or the club's own expectations. If you're in a bad moment, it's all the media is gonna talk about— and not for once remind the 'fans' of the importance of that player, or all the good things he's already done for the club. Jon gets sick of it all, because saying how 'shitty' a player is (football is made of moments! Sometimes your team is fighting at the top to compete at the Champions, sometimes to escape relegation, or simply there's no emotion at all, sitting there, at the middle of the table) it won't help *anything*. In fact, the tendency, it's to only make it worse for that poor guy's state of mind. Because players *know* already when they aren't their best, and when they're committed to their clubs, out of love, like everybody knows it's Tom and Jon's case there, you bet they're already doing their best to change things around and improve. The non-constructive criticism *irks* the keeper, and he hates to hear any fellow player, regardless of the club they represent, going through that.
"A kiss, huh?" he grinned, leaning forward and cupping his cheek. "Lemme think about it—" and that's when he gently kissed him, before Tom could protest his tease.
