Snippet From An AU That Started On Discord That Is, Briefly, An AU Where Tango Is A Retired Footballer

snippet from an AU that started on discord that is, briefly, an AU where Tango is a retired footballer (soccer) turned sports commentator/interviewer and Jimmy is a popular footballer that's desperately trying to seem Smart and Impress Tango.

part 2 | part 3

"You know, I remember watching you play as a kid." Jimmy is smiling as he says this, a sort of sideways smirk. But even the (beautiful) playful look in his (beautiful) brown eyes cannot distract from the actual words being said.

"Oh?" Tango replies, managing not to sound like he was actively being stabbed—instead, only that he had recently been stabbed. Behind the camera, Tango's annoying coworkers cover their snickers. Jimmy nods, thankfully ignoring them.

"At the Olympics!" He says cheerfully. "I finally remembered—that's when I saw you the first time."

"At the Olympics," Tango repeats and closes his eyes for a moment. Sure, playing at the Olympics were definitely one of the highlights of his career, a great memory even though they didn't medal. The Olympics were also over 20 years ago.

Tango opens his eyes and tries to recover. He makes plenty of jokes about being old; he can roll with this. He laughs and says, "I'm not sure I even want to ask how old you were."

"Eight," Jimmy says easily—another horrible horrible blow. "I remember seeing your assist, in that first match?" He does a little kick with his left leg, a shockingly close recreation of the assist in question. Tango remembers that assist, can practically feel the ball against his cleat, hear the yells of his team as the ball hit the net.

"I can't believe you remember that!" Tango says with another self-deprecating laugh because, well, he can't. There's so many other moves Jimmy could remember, even just from those Olympics, from other more impressive players.

Jimmy just shakes his head, ruffling his (beautiful) hair. "It was really cool," he says with frank, almost painful honesty. "I think that was the first time I seriously thought about what someone other than a striker could do."

What can Tango even say to that? How can he possibly convey how amazingly old and horribly impressive that makes him feel? To have any sort of impact on Jimmy's career—but for it to have been when he was stupid and 22. He can't even begin to explain any of it—and he's certainly can't do it on air.

Instead he laughs again and says, "You still became a striker though!" and pretends he doesn't see the tiny way Jimmy's (beautiful) smile falters.