khamzat - after defeat (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)

The stadium noise still echoes in your head hours later. The shouts. The cameras. The online comments you don't even want to read anymore. And that awful feeling in your chest when you saw Khamzat freeze for a few seconds as the decision was announced. His undefeated record. Gone. You felt your heart break in that very instant. Not because he'd stopped being strong. Not because you'd stopped admiring him. But because you know that look. The one he gets when he's trying not to crumble in front of everyone. No one around him truly understands what this means to him. You do. So, as soon as you hear the hotel room door open, you're already on your feet. Poor thing... Khamzat walks in without saying much. His cap is down, he's wearing a dark hoodie, and his jaw is clenched. His entire team follows behind, talking in hushed tones, pretending everything is normal, but he doesn't look at any of them. Only at you. And the moment his eyes meet yours... something inside him cracks a little. You don't say "you fought well." You don't say "maybe next time. "You simply walk up to him and cup his face in your hands as the rest of the room falls into an awkward silence. "Come here..." you murmur. He exhales deeply and finally rests his forehead on your shoulder, burying his face there for a few seconds. Just enough. "I tried..." he says.