Work Text:
The summer when Kevin arrives in Palmetto:
Kevin wakes up on Wymack's couch with his hand aching and despair running through his body. His thoughts are miles away, out there inside the Nest and Riko is coming for him and Jean is hurt, beaten, bruised and left behind and everything is his fault. With his body covered in sweat, Kevin gets up to start the day without even three hours of sleep, so he can try fixing his hand and keep his search to find another striker for the Foxes.
During Kevin’s first year with the Foxes and before the championship final:
Kevin wakes up startled on the floor of the dorm, where Aaron is looking at him.
“How can you sleep like this? I’ve been shaking you for the past five minutes. Nicky made breakfast.”
What Kevin doesn’t say is that the only reason why he slept more than eight hours is because of the amount of alcohol he ingested last night. He shrugs and gets up off the floor to start the day and think about the strategy for the Foxes’ next game. And when he looks at the window and sees the gray sky, he thinks about Jean and prays for any divine force that is willing to listen to hear that his boy is at least a little bit okay.
The year after the Foxes’ victory:
Kevin wakes up with his phone ringing right in his ear and groans loudly. He opens his eyes and realizes that Andrew and Neil are already out of the room and takes a moment for himself to readjust to reality. He checks his phone and notes that tonight he was able to sleep for the whole night and without nightmares. After quitting drinking, it was hard being able to sleep, but with therapy and support from his family things were getting better.
As he checks the hour, he also puts his head in place and remembers why his phone was so close to his ear in the first place. Last night, he had called Jean and they spent hours on the phone, as it was becoming a routine. Sometimes talking, doing their respective homeworks or just listening to the other breathing, knowing they were still there. He must have fallen asleep during it. They were walking a difficult path, both of them having traumas and situations to figure out, but they were determined to do it together, respecting and supporting each other. So yes, even though their ghosts were still waiting to hunt them, they were fighting.
With this thought in mind, Kevin gets up to start the day already planning at what time he was going to call Jean today and invite him to spend the summer vacation with him.
Kevin’s first year going pro:
Kevin wakes up to the silence. He stretches and looks up to the ceiling. This is the first morning he is by himself in his new apartment, in his new town and in his new pro exy team. Andrew and Neil asked if he wanted them to stay for the weekend with him after they helped him move and organize some stuff, but he told his friends that it wasn't necessary, that he needed to adjust to living alone. Now, with all of the apartment space almost crushing him, he kinda regrets it.
Picking up his phone, he sees that he has several messages. From Wymack, saying he was proud of how far he was going and glad that now he has the chance to be his father. From Abby, remembering him to feed himself properly and not only drink protein shakes. From Matt, Dan, Renee and Aaron wishing him a happy moving and offering their help. From Allison, saying she would be visiting soon, since now they lived in the same state, so she could make sure his apartment wasn't only decorated with exy ornaments. From Nicky, saying how much he was going to miss Kevin's grumpy mood in the dorm’s morning. From Andrew and Neil, saying that, if he needed, they would be there in a heartbeat (you know how fast Andrew can drive).
And finally, from Jean, saying that he was so incredibly proud of Kevin. And that they finally would have a whole house to make out without thinking someone was going to walk on them like in PSU. Also, and this got Kevin's attention more than anything, warning he was visiting next weekend, since he was able to work a weekend off in his new pro team. After reading and answering all of it, Kevin realized that perhaps he was not as alone as he thought. With that in mind, he gets up to start the day, already counting the seconds for the weekend.
Kevin’s second year on pro:
Kevin wakes up to sounds in the kitchen. He smells coffee in the air, along with french toast. He hears the soft classical music Jean likes to listen to playing. He tangles himself to the sheets that still smells like his boyfriend and, for a moment, just closes his eyes and appreciates it. Appreciate that he got the time to visit Jean in his apartment, appreciate that their relationship was strong after all these years and that, at the end of this season, he would be finally trading teams to join Jean and he would finally wake up next to his french boy everyday. A voice snapes him out of his thoughts:
"Mon trésor, are you awake? I'm almost done with breakfast"
With a happy sigh, Kevin gets up to start the day and have breakfast with the love of his life.
Kevin and Jean’s first year playing on the same team again (right after Kev moved):
Kevin wakes up alone in bed. The moment he opens his eyes he is already annoyed because someone should be there with him, but instead, he hears the shower running and the music playing softly in the bathroom. While he looks to the partially open door, he also sees the yet closed boxes on the bedroom floor.
Matt, Dan and Allison had come the night before to help him move his stuff to Jean's apartment and they all ended up eating together and watching a movie. Well, less watching the movie and more the former Foxes telling embarrassing stories of Kevin to Jean, like the time Kevin got so light headed because of a soft message from Jean that he tripped all the last stairs of the Fox Tower. But even though he was pretending to be mad, it was very hard, since Jean was laughing quietly and so beautifully while holding a very flustered and sleepy Kevin in his arms.
So, when Jean enters the bedroom, still wet on some parts of his body, with a towel in his waist and wishes good morning with a soft smile, Kevin gets up to start the day by kissing his incredible boyfriend.
The day after their wedding:
Kevin wakes up by a rustling sound and breathing down his neck. He feels the arm around his waist trying to pull free and, still with his eyes closed, he grabs his husband's hand, clicking their rings together, and wraps around him again while groaning. Jean laughs briefly and says
"I'm just going to close the curtains, mon trésor. You sleep like a rock but the sun is getting in my eyes"
Kevin turns around to face him, and putting a hand on his gorgeous face, he replies "But you look so beautiful under the light"
Jean puts his own hand on top of Kevin's and, for a moment, they just look each other in the eye. Kevin stares at Jean's deep grey eyes and thinks about how far they have come.
The day before, they got married with all of their friends there. All of the foxes were present and they all teased Kevin endlessly about his poor planning and how the wedding had only happened because of Jean, since Kevin had a whole proposal ready but Jean had beaten him to it by preparing a dinner for the both of them and asking Kevin if he wanted to marry him. His father had told him how happy he was for him and how his mother would be too. And well, if he had tears in his eyes after the conversation, only Jean could tell.
To think they had managed to stay above water after everything that happened to them was amazing, but also realizing that they turned out to be happy after all was even more stunning. Jean was now more free and happy, still going to therapy and completely his own person.
And Kevin made progress too. Because well, now Kevin didn't wake up in fear or in pain. Now, he didn't need to drink himself to sleep. Now, he didn't feel alone all the time or was anyone's second. Now, he had a life of his own that he could never have imagined years ago. A happy life, full of love and family, with whole nights of sleeping. And the moments when he woke up - in the past being filled with regret and panic - now these moments were the best. Now, he woke up in a warm bed, in his house, with the love of his dreams beside him.
"Kev? Are you alright?"
Coming back to reality, he squeezes Jean's hand and replies "Couldn't be better". He snuggles himself closer to Jean and put his head on the other's neck and says "Stay in bed a little more." Apparently listening to Kevin, Jean only adjusts himself to hug Kevin's body properly and sighs softly, both of them under the sun.
Maybe today, the day could wait for a while for Kevin to get up and start it.
After all, they let the curtains open. It was only fair, since they both had spent way too much time in the dark. But not anymore. Now it was all about the light.