Youngjae was panting hard but he refused to stop running, knowing just how important this game was. There was so much at stake here and he couldn’t let his team down. They had been outside for over a half hour and the cold winter air was making it even harder for him to breathe, but he continued to push on. He saw an opening, a chance, his one shot to greatness. He put on an extra burst of speed to reach the ball that Jongup had kicked a little too hard. Youngjae skillfully redirected the ball and ran down the field and kicked the ball hoping, begging, for it to go in the small foldable goal the 6 of them brought with them everywhere. The ball zipped passed Yongguk and Daehyun to safely make it in the goal.

                Youngjae cheered and was tackled by Himchan who was also shouting. Zelo, less enthusiast, also joined his crazy Hyungs in their cheer.

                “Time out!” Daehyun shouted as he freed the soccer ball from the net.

                “What, need to make a new strategy?” Himchan taunted.

                Daehyun scowled. “We are still in the lead Hyung. Don’t think this little set back is going to change anything.”

                “Alright team, huddle up.” Himchan said as he put his arms around Zelo and Youngjae’s shoulders.

                “Okay, we are doing good so far.” Youngjae said in all seriousness. “We only need three more points to win. Is there anything you noticed about the other team? Weak points?”

                Himchan nodded. “Like I said before, Jongup tends to kick the ball too far ahead of him down the field, but Yongguk also seems to be winded.”

                “Yeah, we need to make him run more up and down the field. Himchan find a way to make Yongguk work harder. Zelo, we need you to crowd Jongup so that he feels pressured to get rid of the ball. Grab him if you need to.” Youngjae ordered.

                “Grabbing is against the rules.” Zelo sighed.

                “Yes but grab in a way that you won’t get caught. Or trip him. He might not realize it’s you if you trip him right.” Himchan instructed.

                “Hyung! Aren’t we getting too serious about this?” Zelo looked at the older two who were giving him dark looks.

                “We aren’t being serious enough. They are winning by one point.” Himchan said.

                “You do remember what happens if we lose, right Junhong?” Youngjae asked.

                Zelo sighed. “The loser has to treat the winners to meat at BBQ.”

                “Correct!” Himchan’s voice started to rise. “And the loser doesn’t get any! We have to put our all on the field in order to get that delicious meat. On the field today, we have no pride. Pride will not put meat in your stomach so instead we will fight! Fight and win!”

                Youngjae cheered as Zelo groaned. “I can’t believe fans only think Daehyun is obsessed with food. If only they could see this side of you.”

                “Ready?” Yongguk called out.

                “Born ready!” Himchan ran out onto the field with Zelo close behind him.

                Youngjae chuckled at his Hyung but got into position.

                “Battle of the eldest versus the youngest restart!” Jongup shouted.      

                Himchan crossed his arms and looked at Jongup. “Excuse you…”

                Jongup smiled. “I only meant the eldest out of the pairs… Yongguk-hyung is older than Himchan-Hyung, Daehyun-hyung is older than—“

                Youngjae waved him off and glared at Daehyun. “I think we get it now Jongup, stop trying to distract us. I see through your strategy.”

                Daehyun smiled and kicked the ball to Yongguk, starting the next round. It was fierce competition as neither team was willing to give up points easily. With fresh grilled meat on the line no one would accept defeat without a fight. Youngjae though had more at stake here. He had suggested a soccer game to the group because people said he looked cool while playing, and more than anything Youngjae wanted to impress Yongguk. Youngjae had been thinking back on the Idol Championship soccer game and couldn’t help but feel jealous that Yongguk had spent more time with the members of Beast, even hugging KiKwang at one point.

 This game was his way of making Yongguk look at him, even if only a second, because Youngjae knew this would be the best things could get. There was no way the elder could possibly like him. Somehow along the way of convincing everyone to play, the winning of meat had come up and things had progressed a little differently than Youngjae had planned, including Yongguk being on a different team than him.

‘I can still try.’ Youngjae tried to steal the ball from Jongup but Jongup passed it back to Daehyun who was in a prime spot to make a goal.

“For meat!” Daehyun gave a war cry and kicked the ball with all his strength.

Not expecting the ball to start flying in his direction, Youngjae looked towards the goal instead to see if anyone was there to block the shot, allowing himself to get hit with the ball going full speed at his head. Youngjae fell to the ground, holding his head in his hands.

“Youngjae!” Himchan shouted as everyone rushed over to him.

Daehyun was the first to arrive and fell to the ground immediately to look at his best friends head. “Jae, are you okay?”

Youngjae groaned. He was in pain and extreme embarrassment. “Yeah, I’ll be okay.”

“I call a penalty.” Himchan said to Yongguk.

Yongguk scoffed. “Penalty? He kicked a ball and it went the wrong direction. There is no penalty there.”

“Daehyun purposefully kicked the ball to hit our star player in the head to get him out of the game.” Himchan countered.

“I did not!” Daehyun argued.

Youngjae looked up to look at Yongguk wishing he would do something and saw him looking down at Youngjae conflicted. Youngjae looked back down and shook his head not paying attention to the arguing. ‘What do you want him to do? Kiss it and make it better? So much for wanting to impress him.’

Youngjae sighed and picked himself. Daehyun supported him, still worried, but Youngjae was able to shake him off. “Hyung, Yongguk-hyung is right, it isn’t a penalty. If I was watching the ball then I would have just used a different part of my head to redirect the ball.”

“Fine.” Himchan pouted, upset that he wasn’t able to get away with anything.

“We get to start with the ball since it bounced out of bounds because of Youngjae-hyung, right?” Jongup asked as he pushed the ball around with his foot.

“No. Because it was an injury, we are taking the ball.” Himchan stole the ball from the younger.

Jongup frowned in confusion. “That isn’t a real rule.”

“And this isn’t a professional game, so we change a few of the rules.” Youngjae supported Himchan.

Before the other team could argue again, Himchan threw the ball in towards Zelo. They continued to run around their small field, all of them exhausted. Youngjae was still feeling a little out of it from the hit earlier so he wasn’t a great help to Himchan and Zelo. Somehow they ended up tied with Yongguk’s team and both teams just needed one point to win glory, prestige, and sizzling meat.

Once again, Jongup had the ball and was making his way down the field. Youngjae was close but not enough to get the ball before the other reached their net.

“Jonguppie-hyung!” Zelo cutely shouted.

Jongup couldn’t help himself but look back at the maknae which slowed him down. Youngjae smirked and stole the ball as Jongup stared at the maknae who was attempting aegyo.

“That’s cheating!” Daehyun shouted.

“There is no way that is cheating!” Himchan said. “Zelo didn’t force him to look backwards.” Himchan hugged the younger before sprinting down the field trying to make sure Youngjae got to the net without problems.

Youngjae was closing in on the enemy net. Feeling proud of himself, he looked back to catch a look at Yongguk to make sure the leader was watching him. Youngjae smiled seeing Yongguk running after him, but unfortunately there is a reason why you should watch where you are running. One second Youngjae was running to victory, the next he was down with his face in the grass.

“Time!” Yongguk called out.

‘How did I trip over my own feet?’ Youngjae thought as he sat up groaning.

Daehyun started laughing and was doubled over. Youngjae scowled. ‘Best friend, my . Just wait until the next time you want me to buy you something you bastard.’

Yongguk was the first to reach Youngjae and kneeled beside him looking worried. “Are you okay?”

Youngjae sighed and started moving parts of his body slowly to make sure everything was fine. He hissed when he moved his left ankle. Yongguk frowned and grabbed Youngjae’s foot. He slowly moved Youngjae’s foot and Youngjae whimpered from pain.

“I think I just twisted it.” Youngjae said through the dull pain.

“You definitely can’t play anymore.” Yongguk said.

Youngjae reached up and grabbed Zelo’s arm to help stand up. “Yeah, everyone will have to play without me. Could someone help me get back to the dorm?”

“I got him.” Yongguk said, cutting Daehyun off. Before Youngjae had completely stood up, Yongguk was lifting him up bridal style and carrying him off to the dorm.

“Hyu—Hyung! I just needed someone to help me limp. I don’t need to be carried like this.” Youngjae protested once he found his voice again.

“I’d rather not risk it.” Yongguk said. “We have promotions coming up so the less time you spend on an injured foot the better.”

“Ah… right.” Youngjae started feeling guilty about getting injured, twice.

Yongguk sighed. “Why did you have to play so aggressively? Usually you play smarter than this.”

They reached the dorm and Youngjae opened the door for Yongguk who kept walking them towards the bathroom.

“Playing aggressive doesn’t mean I wasn’t playing smart.” Youngjae defended himself.

“No, but it puts you in more danger of getting hurt. I prefer when you play back more, allowing yourself to strike only when you know you can get the ball.” Youngjae set Youngjae down on the counter so he could look at the younger’s ankle.

“Are you trying to say that you think I’m too weak to keep up with Jongup, Daehyun, and you?” Youngjae asked feeling mad. “I might have gotten hurt but it was my own fault, not because I’m too weak to handle being rough with you all.”

“Wait, no that’s not what I meant.” Yongguk tried to backpedal. Yongguk grabbed the tape to wrap Youngjae’s ankle. “I don’t think you are weak.”

Youngjae felt hurt from what he thought was unfair criticism from Yongguk. “Really? Because that’s what it sounds like. What were you surprised when I was able to pull off all of our difficult choreography too?”

“Please stop and let me explain, I just don’t like seeing you get hurt.” Yongguk tried to fix things.

“Right, because weak Youngjae gets hurt all the time. You are such an .” Youngjae glared and reached out to take the medical tape from Yongguk. “Give me the damn tape so I can wrap my own foot.”

“Would you take a second and listen to me before you get mad at me? Why are you being so sensitive?” Yongguk was frustrated in not being able to get himself across correctly and didn’t allow himself time to think before responding anymore, wanting the younger to calm down.

“Sensitive?” Youngjae asked in disbelief. “My leader just told me he thinks I’m weak and sensitive, how am I not supposed to be mad at that!?”

“I don’t think you are weak and sensitive!”

“Then what were you trying to say Yongguk?!” Youngjae angrily asked.

“I just don’t like seeing the person I like get hurt!” Yongguk’s face immediately paled and he cursed realizing his mistake too late. “I didn’t mean to say that. ! I’m sorry. I was trying not to say anything so that things within the group wouldn’t get awkward. Damn it!” Yongguk put the bandages on the counter and opened the bathroom open to leave.

Youngjae was sitting there in shock still not believing the words he heard but Yongguk opening the door pulled him out and he grabbed Yongguk’s arm. “Wait!”

Yongguk didn’t turn around too embarrassed to look back. Youngjae eased his grip so he didn’t hurt Yongguk and hesitated about what to say. “Youngjae, you don’t need to say anything. Please just forget I said anything.” Yongguk tried to leave again.

“I like you too.” Youngjae said quickly.

Yongguk froze. “What?”

Youngjae groaned knowing he was about to make himself look like an idiot. “I only wanted to play today because I wanted you to pay attention to me. You showed so much more affection for the Beast members than for me at the Idol Olympics and I was really jealous. I know I’m good at soccer so I was hoping I could get some compliments today.”

Yongguk turned to look at Youngjae. “Really? You aren’t just saying this to make me feel better?”

Youngjae scoffed. “And make things more awkward between us later? No I’m not lying.”

Yongguk smiled. “Do you mean to tell me that the smartest members in our group didn’t realize they liked each other?”

Youngjae laughed. “I guess so.”

“So, does this mean we are dating now?” Yongguk moved closer and grabbed both of Youngjae’s hands.

Youngjae smiled. “Hyung, do you want to date me?”

Yongguk blushed and smiled his gummy smile while playing with Youngjae’s fingers nervously. “Well… yeah, I do.”

Youngjae laughed at how cute Yongguk looked.

“Yah! What are you making your Hyung say, you punk?” Yongguk said embarrassed.

“Don’t worry, Hyung.” Youngjae let go of Yongguk’s hands and moved them to his waist to pull him closer. “I want to date you to.”

Yongguk smirked and raised his hand to Youngjae’s chin, slowly bringing their faces closer. Youngjae’s eye fluttered closed as his stomach did flips still not believing he was going to kiss his leader and longtime crush. Youngjae was right not to believe it because right before their lips touched the dorm door slammed open and Yongguk jumped away from Youngjae.

“Youngjae! We won!” Himchan shouted running into the bathroom and wrapping the younger in a hug.

“Wh—what?” Youngjae said trying to remember what was going on. “Wait... you guys kept playing? How did you win?”

Yongguk pulled Himchan off Youngjae, which Himchan didn’t take any weird notice to. Himchan had started his long descriptive story of victory so Yongguk sighed and started to wrap Youngjae’s ankle.

Daehyun and the maknaes ran into the dorm next. “You cheated!” Daehyun screamed.

Himchan scoffed. “I did not.”

“You—you kissed me! That has to be against the rules!” Daehyun accused.

Himchan put his hand on his hip and stared the younger down. “Not against the rules and you were the one who got distracted by it. That isn’t my problem.”

Daehyun stood there opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water not sure how to respond as he was still in shock over the kiss from the groups visual.

Himchan smirked and started walking to his room. “I’m going to get changed. Everyone get ready so we can go soon.”

“You old ert!” Daehyun’s brain finally started working again.

The remaining four in the room couldn’t help but laugh at Daehyun. Daehyun walked away blushing ready to confront Himchan again.  Jongup and Zelo ran to their room to get changed, Jongup was still hoping that the older members would give in and give him meat too.

Yongguk helped Youngjae off the counter and they both smiled at each other. “You know,” Youngjae started to say. “If you help me get around the dorm and the restaurant, I might just give you a few pieces of meat.”

Yongguk smiled and picked Youngjae up again as he walked to the bedrooms. “You didn’t even need to bribe me.”

A/N: ended up much longer than I anticipated haha. Please let me know what you think ^.^