Title: And all this devotion was rushing over me
Fandom: Women's Soccer RPF
Pairings: Hope Solo/Kelley O'Hara
Characters: Kelley O'Hara, Hope Solo
Rating: G
Length: 200 words
Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 448: Influences at fan_flashworks. It also fills the "Attack/Defense" square of my 2023 Story Sparks + Drabble Fest Bingo Card. Also inspired by the Child card in the Lenormand card deck and femslashficlets's florence + the machine lyrics prompt table challenge: 7. And all this devotion was rushing over me.
Summary: Kelley struggles to learn defense and gets help from a veteran.


You never expected this: learn to play defense or don't play with the national team. It is hard. You were so comfortable on the front line scoring goals. But now, you're in the other position: stopping those same shots you used to take. Practice is frustrating because you aren't really getting it. The starting goalkeeper notices though, and takes you under her wing. Hope Solo is the leader of the backline, and she develops a special interest in you. She spends her free time helping you practice and teaching you strategy. By the time the London Olympics comes around, you earn your place on her backline.

In London, you and Hope are roommates, and you get even closer. She opens up to you in a way she never has before. Not to anyone, not even to Carli. You do the same in return. You've always admired her for the player she is, and now you also admire the person she is. You are so glad she's the one behind you; the two of you play together so well. She always has your back, on and off the field. The gold medal gleams around her neck; oh, you've got it bad.