stolen kisses while hiding away from a crowd . alex/gracie!!
they're no stranger to crowds — on quite the contrary, alex thrives on them. their stint in the premier league has only confirmed what they ( and their teammates. and their mother. and their therapist ) had already known: that it's in the harsh light of attention that they truly shine. it's the same reason much of their life is in full view of the public, from ads to instagram stories to tweets — their public persona is exactly that: on view for the world to see, and they don't ever seem to really mind.
for a long time, alex had thought they would end up with someone like them: publicized and media-hounded. their dating history had seemed to veer in that direction, too — models and actresses used to the limelight. gracie is different, in more ways than one, but what had been most prominent was the way she hadn't grown up with cameras following her every move. and for someone who needed the constant seeking out of attention, being with gracie had made alex realize that maybe they didn't always need the crowd's eyes on them, after all; they only needed hers.
it's for that same reason they're hiding out in the alley behind alex's favorite fish and chips shop, waiting for the sound of clicking cameras at the main entrance to subside, for the crowd to disperse before they can leave in peace. it's in that moment that alex studies her ( hazel hues that shine amber in the sunlight, the way her hair falls on the side of her face just so ) and beckons — "oi." — before an arms wraps around her waist, pulling her in for a kiss.
because sure, alex is used to the gazes and the stares. but with gracie around, they find she's all they ever want to see.