The Things we Carry - Part Three (Platonic Ona Batlle x Bronze Reader)
Alexia Putellas x Bronze Reader Lucy Bronze x Ona Batlle
Just an idea that came to my head. Set somewhere in the Something in the Air universe but you don't have to have read that. This will be a five part, each part focusing on an interaction between two of the characters.
mentions past relationships
Hurt/Comfort/Fluff
Before your move to Barcelona, you had been worried about how you would adapt. You were English though and through which meant you thrived in mild, wet and humid, vastly different to the Barcelona climate. Your worries turned out to be unfounded, the calm, relaxed culture of Catalonia had lulled you in and now you loved nothing more than a walk along the beach and a stop at a little bakery or coffee shop
The move to Barcelona had also given you a chance to spend more time with your sister’s girlfriend. You had met Ona many times before your move and you knew that she made your sister happy, you also knew that Alexia thought highly of her but living in the same city had given you a chance to get to know her as a person and she had quickly become one of your favourite people.
You had the day off but unfortunately Alexia didn’t. The team captain had been pulled into a morning full of meeting with men in suits so you found yourself with time on your hands. When Ona had suggested meeting for coffee and breakfast, you had instantly agreed.
The two of you found yourself sat outside a small Café, you had chosen one tucked away from the busier tourist locations of the city. The morning sun spilled lazily across the pavement while a gentle breeze carried the delicious smell of fresh break from the bakery next door, Around you, people sat enjoying the morning, their conversations drifting around you. There was an ease between you and Ona that didn’t require words.
You sat watching her as she stirred sugar into her coffee with far too much concentration and you could not help the sarcasm that bubbled up “You might want some Coffee with your sugar.” She looked up from her task and rolled her eyes at you
“Your coffee is practically milkshake; you have no room to make any sort of judgement.” She clapped back far too used to you by now.
“This is an elite Coffee.” You countered
“It is the drink of a child.” She countered and you couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up from your chest while Ona looked entirely too pleased with herself. You listened carefully to the everyday noise, the gentle conversations and linking of cups against saucers. You felt a sense of peace fill you. There was something to be said for hiding away from the constant noise that followed Barcelona players.
You caught Ona looking at you over the rim of her mug. The expression on her face immediately made you suspicious and you narrowed your eyes “Why are you looking at me like you are about to interrogate me?” You challenged
“You’re imagining things in your old age.” She shrugged
“Oh, you’re choosing lies?” you teased
“Okay.” She breathed dragging the word out “There is a question I wanted to ask you.”
“Soooo, your invite for Coffee was really you looking for a chance to ambush me?”
Ona pressed her hand dramatically to her chest, doing a terrible job of trying to hide her laughter “I would never ambush you.” You chose not to reply in words but your raised eyebrow and facial expression said more than words ever could. She laughed softly but there was something more thoughtful behind it now, something softer.
“I wanted to ask you about Keira,” she admitted eventually.
You paused absorbing her words before leaning back in your chair. “Did you and Alexia plan this?”
Ona frowned. “What?”
“You are both asking me the exact same questions,” You accused “You have to admit that is suspicious behaviour.”
A grin spread slowly across Ona’s face and you could see the devil in her eyes “We had a meeting, and there were diagrams.” She teased
“Of course Alexia made diagrams” You scoffed
“Well, you know how she likes a visual aid.” That one pulled a laugh from you because your girlfriend really did love a visual aid. The two of you shared a moment of laughter before the moment settled again. Ona watched you carefully, giving you room to think and the option to answer if you wanted. She would never force an answer
“Did you ask Lucy?”
“yes”
You sighed softly and shook your head “Then there is probably not much more I can tell you and I don’t really want to talk about Keira.”
Ona nodded immediately and that was it. No pressure, no probing and no guilt, just acceptance. You titled your head slightly and studied her for a second before a teasing smile spread across your face “I would much rather talk about how disgustingly happy my sister is these days.”
That caught the Spaniard off guard and for a moment, she looked like a deer in headlights before she laughed gently “Oh?”
“It is almost sickening how giddy she is.” You continued
“She was already happy.” Ona dismissed looking away
“Ona,” You placed your hand over hers that rested on the table, the change in your tone and the gentle touch brought her attention back “She wasn’t but she does a good job of pretending.”
You watched as the words settled in Ona’s mind and she played them over and Ona knew this was you answering her question without answering her question.
“She smiled before,” You continued quietly playing with the cup in front of you “but it wasn’t her proper smile, it was always polite and what she thought people wanted to see – like she thought being herself was too much.”
Ona didn’t reply, she stayed silent, listening carefully. Becoming friends with you, gave her new insights into the woman she loved. Answers to questions that she wouldn’t ask Lucy
“She hates conflict,” You sigh “She would do anything to resolve that, even if it wasn’t her fault. Then she would do anything to avoid it altogether, overthink every situation, every reaction, every emotion. She spent so much time trying to avoid conflict that she lost the Lucy I remember growing up.”
“Tell me about her,” Ona requested. “The Lucy you grew up with.”
“She is loud.” You said with a soft laugh “She’s chaotic and dramatic and emotional and she leaves every cupboard in the house open”
“Oh my god, I knew it was her.” Ona laughed loudly
“But she is also fiercely determined and loyal. She loves loudly and will do anything to make the person she loves happy – that is why she deserves a person who loves her just as loudly, not someone who want to hide it.”
Your words made Ona’s expression soften entirely and you felt something warm pulling at your chest. You had always been protective of your sister, even though you were younger. You decided to give Ona some clarity.
“I have spent so long watching her trying to make herself easier for someone to love.” You explained quietly. “I hated watching that happen because she didn’t even realise she was doing it.”
You studied the younger Spaniard in front of you as your words registered. You watched her fingers tighten around her mug, the only show of emotion she gave and you decided honesty was the way forward
“I was actually really cautious when she first told me about you.” You admitted and Ona’s eyes flew up from the coffee she had been studying “You are younger than her, another footballer and then you ended up on the same team. I worried it was going to be another instance where she had to pretend to be someone else.” Your eyes studied the woman in front of you as she studied you right back. She did not jump in to correct you or to defend herself or to argue, she remained quiet and waited for you to finish. “I have never been so happy to be wrong.” You smiled and instantly she returned that smile “You love her exactly as she is and with you, I see the Lucy that I grew up with. She has a voice again; one she is not afraid to put out there. I have seen her stand up for herself and the game she loves more in the last three years than I have for many years before that. That is because of how you love her.”
“She makes it very easy to love her” Ona admitted shyly looking away from your gaze and you decided that you had been emotional enough for one day.
“You cannot tell her what I said about her though.” You warn pointing a finger at the younger woman “Lucy Bronze’s ego is already catastrophic, she does not need anything feeding that more.”
Ona burst into laughter at your words, a full belly laugh that was enough to make several people glance over
“I don’t know why you’re laughing. It is your fault her ego is so big.” You scold
“How is it my fault?” Ona looked offended
“You encourage her.”
“I do not.”
“Ona, you look at her like she hung the moon simply for your enjoyment.”
Ona shrugged helplessly before responding “Not my fault, have you seen her?”
You made a gagging noise in your throat and imitated being sick which made the younger woman laugh
“You and Alexia are worse!” she insisted, there was no way she was going to take your mocking lying down. If you wanted to tease her, then she would do it right back.
“Not possible to be worse.” You deadpanned, shaking your head
“You look at Alexia like you’re writing poetry in your head.” She accused her voice getting slightly louder which made people look to see what was happening
“My dear Ona, I am dating a queen and they deserve poetry – You are dating a commoner from Berwick-upon- Tweed absolutely not the same thing.”
“You are also a commoner from Berwick-upon- Tweed.” Ona countered but you did not miss a beat
“Which is why Alexia gets the poetry.” You rolled your eyes as if it were the most obvious point.
The conversation drifted after that in the easy and familiar way it could between two people who genuinely cared about each other. You talked about football and travel. Ona complained about Lucy’s lack of time awareness and always being late. You spoke about Alexia and the pressure she felt being captain.
By the time the two of you left the café, the sun had started to dip lower in the sky. You walked side by side back to where the cars were parked, dodging people walking the other way.
“You were the person I was most afraid of when Lucy first introduced me to her family.” Ona admitted after a moment of silence.
You looked at her in horror “I am delightful.” You teased in a mock posh English accent
“You barely spoke to me and when you did, you looked at me like you were conducting a background check.” Ona corrected
“Does it make sense now?” You asked referring back to your conversation in the café.
“I understand now.” She agreed
As she climbed back into her car, Ona struggled to reconcile what she knew about Keira and Lucy with the Keira she had played with at Barca. Regardless, she was grateful it hadn’t worked for them because it meant she got to feel what it felt like to love Lucy and she would not be giving that up anytime soon.
The Things we Carry - Part Two (Lucy Bronze/Ona Batlle)
Alexia Putellas x Bronze Reader Lucy Bronze x Ona Batlle
Just an idea that came to my head. Set somewhere in the Something in the Air universe but you don't have to have read that. This will be a five part, each part focusing on an interaction between two of the characters.
mentions past relationships
Hurt/Comfort/Fluff
Sponsor events were always long and required too much small talk. By the time this event finally began winding down, Ona was exhausted. No physically but emotionally. Ona felt like she had spent hours wearing a mask, the public face that everyone expected her to be. She loved football, loved the people it had brought into her life but sometimes she missed the simplicity of life before a professional contract. She missed the kickabouts in the park and the games with friends on a weekend
Outside the wall of glass, London glowed beneath the darkness. The city lights reflected patterns across the large windows while around her staff were starting to clear away the mess that had been left behind.
Most of the guests had started filtering out about an hour ago but Lucy had been pulled into a conversation. You and Alexia had disappeared together almost half an hour ago and the thought made her smile. When the two of you were together it was like no one else existed and you only had eyes for each other.
Ona caught sight of Lucy across the room. She was leaning in and saying goodbye to one of her Chelsea teammates. Even from across the room, Ona could recognise the expression on her girlfriend’s face. The way she looked at people, open and warm. The way she drew them in effortlessly.
It had been almost four years and Ona was still amazed at the way Lucy could walk into a room full of people and make every single person feel important. Lucy always remembered the details: birthdays, family members, conversations from months ago. She drew people in and Ona herself had been helpless to resist.
Eventually, Lucy made her way back across the room, back to her girlfriend who looked stunning with the evening light glowing behind her. The second she reached her, Ona instinctively reached for her hand and Lucy smiled immediately. Ona recognised that smile, it was the tired smile that told Ona she’d had enough. She only showed it to people she trusted completely.
“You ready to go?” Ona asked softly rubbing her fingers across Lucy’s knuckles.
“Very,” Lucy laughed softly “I know you hate these things.”
“I tolerate them.” Ona corrected
“For me?” Lucy ducked her head almost shy
“For you.”
The smile that Lucy gave in return made every, boring moment feel worth it. Lucy tugged on Ona’s hand and lead her towards the exit. As soon as they stepped outside, the cool night air wrapped around them. London felt different at night, softer somehow, less demanding and for a while the two of them simply walked with no real direction in mind. While the streets were quiet, the city continued to move around them in a blur of headlights. The further they walked, the more Ona saw Lucy relax and she decided to ask a question that had been sitting on her chest for most of the evening.
“Can I ask you a question?” She gave Lucy’s hand a squeeze at the same time as asking the question. Ona’s demeanour piqued Lucy’s curiosity, her Catalan partner not usually one to ask
“You don’t usually ask if you can ask”
“I wanted to give you the opportunity to refuse.” Ona clarified and Lucy knew it was probably going to be a conversation with painful memories. Yet, despite that knowledge Lucy was curious so she nodded.
“Why doesn’t Y/N talk to Keira?” The question settled between them and immediately Lucy’s expression changed. It wasn’t the type of change that had Ona worried about Lucy’s ex but it was enough to let her know that there was definitely a story there.
Lucy didn’t rush into an explanation but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable, it was thoughtful and Ona allowed Lucy whatever time she needed.
“Why do you ask that?” Lucy’s question wasn’t defensive or upset, it was curious. The two of them had been together some time and this was the first time she had really asked anything about Keira.
“Just something I noticed tonight.” Ona explained “Y/N is chatty with everyone, even people she doesn’t know like the waiters and bar staff but not once did I see her talking to Keria.”
Again, Lucy fell silent debating how much to tell Ona. The Spanish defender gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, letting her know that it was completely up to her and after a long moment, Lucy finally spoke. “My sister has never really forgiven Keira.”
Ona looked at her confused “For the breakup?”
“For how she feels Keira treated me.” Lucy’s words startled Ona and she glanced sideways waiting for the English woman to continue. She had always believed that distance had just pulled them apart.
Lucy was aware of Ona’s eyes on her and let out a slow breath “I loved Keria.” The words landed softly and caused Ona no pain. She knew about Lucy’s past relationship, had always known about it but hearing Lucy say those words about someone else sounded more real than what she had imagined.
“I loved her for a long time, even before we were together and for a while, I thought that was enough.” Lucy stared ahead as she spoke and Ona remained silent. She instinctively knew that this was something Lucy hadn’t spoken about and if she was speaking about it now, then Ona would listen.
“Keira is not a bad person.” Lucy’s voice held an honesty that was hard to hear, heartbreak didn’t always have a bad guy. “We just weren’t good together.” Ona could tell that Lucy was carefully choosing her words, so she remained quiet and waited.
“Keira always seemed annoyed by me when we were in public, she felt I was too loud, too silly, too much and so as time went on I started to adjust myself.”
The words penetrated Ona’s thoughts and she stopped walking. The words hit her with surprising force
“What do you mean?” Ona’s words were gentle, not wanting to startle the English woman for fear that she would stop talking.
“I became smaller, I stopped taking up space.” The vulnerability in Lucy’s words nearly broke Ona’s heart. “I tried to be less eccentric and I apologised more.”
Ona swallowed hard. Ona could tell by the way Lucy spoke that this was a pain long since healed but for her, it was still hard to hear.
“I started second guessing myself.” A humourless laugh escaped Lucy’s lips “If we argued, I assumed it was my fault.” Lucy looked away, unable to meet Ona’s eyes and Ona felt something painful twist in her chest. She knew how strong Lucy was, how confident and stubborn so the idea that she had once doubted herself felt wrong.
“Luce…”
Lucy squeezed her hand, “I’m okay.” And Ona believed her so she waited for Lucy to continue.
“I never told Y/N much.” Lucy continued “But as it turns out, I didn’t need to because she noticed it anyway.” A small affectionate smile appeared on the older woman’s face and Ona smiled in understanding because she had seen it for herself, you often noticed things other people missed or that they tried to hide. That was what made you and Alexia so perfect together because Alexia would often try to hide.
“She was my best friend growing up.” Lucy’s words broke through Ona’s haze “With the exception of you, she still is my best friend.” Ona smiled affectionately at her partner before Lucy continued “She watched me become someone she didn’t recognise.” The silence that followed Lucy’s words felt enormous and Ona thought back to some of the conversations she’d had with Y/N and how happy she had been about their relationship.
“She doesn’t hate Keira” Lucy said suddenly breaking Ona from her thoughts and Lucy could see the confusion in her expression “hate is easy.” Lucy clarified, “This isn’t easy.”
Lucy’s words landed hard and made perfect sense, it was easy to hate someone but unpicking complex feelings took more time. There was a time that you and Keira had been great friends and it was evident, even from tonight, it was something the two of you missed
“I hope one day she can forgive her.” Lucy sighed before looking at Ona with absolute devotion. The look made Ona’s breath hitch “That had to end for me to find you and I am happy, truly happy.” Ona felt her throat tighten as Lucy took a step closer resting their foreheads together. It was a gesture so familiar and full of comfort it sent a familiar tingle down Ona’s spine
“If someone hurt my brother like that…” Ona’s words brought Lucy’s head up and the pair shared an understanding look “I don’t think I could forgive them.”
“If it were Y/N in my position – neither would I.” Lucy confirmed “That’s why I don’t interfere.”
Standing beneath the London night, wrapped in the warmth of the woman she loved, Ona understood.
Alexia Putellas x Bronze Reader Lucy Bronze x Ona Batlle
Just an idea that came to my head. Set somewhere in the Something in the Air universe but you don't have to have read that. This will be a five part, each part focusing on an interaction between two of the characters.
mentions past relationships
Hurt/Comfort/Fluff
A cold Saturday night in mid-November found you and Alexia at an event. It was exactly the sort of thing that looked glamorous in photographs but in reality, it wasn’t. It was the sort of event that forced different personalities into the same room and required them to make small talk and you knew that by the end of night you would be emotionally drained but you also knew that events like this were important for visibility and the growth of the women’s game so you did what you had to, put on some nice clothes and smiled at the right people.
As you stepped out of the car, you reached back and took Alexia’s hand, helping her out. The flash of cameras was immediate along with the shouting of the photographers trying to get you to look in their direction. You and Alexia had been together openly for a while but attending an event together still seemed to cause a stir. You walked along the carpet, stopping and smiling for photographs, making your way into the ballroom where the event would take place.
The room itself was beautiful. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the London skyline while warm golden light spilled from chandeliers overhead. Around the room clusters of players and staff stood together engaging in conversation while waiters moved quietly through the crowd carrying trays of drinks and nibbles.
Before you entered you took a deep steadying breath and felt Alexia squeeze your hand. She knew that you sometimes struggled with events like this and as soon as you stepped foot in those doors, your public persona would take over, she needed you to know that she was there for you. You glanced sideways taking her in while she glanced around the room. Dotted around were faces Alexia recognised immediately. Your England teammates that she had spent years competing against, players she had played alongside and shared trophies with and others that she only knew from the opposite side of the pitch
She glanced at you, amazed at how you seemed completely at ease, how you shifted into your public persona with very little effort.
She had always found it fascinating how a woman who could spend hours overthinking a text message and its content could somehow appear effortlessly confident when surrounded by teammates. Another glance in your direction made her realise this wasn’t an act this time, you were calm and settled – you belonged here.
So many of these people were your people, they were relationships built over more than a decade of playing together. Some of these relationships stretched back to childhood. You were midway through comparing a particular sponsor event to war torture when a voice broke through the crowd
“Finally, you made it here.” The dramatics in the voice did not go unnoticed and you threw your head back in a laugh before both of you turned. Lucy was weaving her way through the crowd, Ona’s hand held firmly in her own as they made their way towards you. The expression on Ona’s face immediately made Alexia suspicious, it was the one Ona wore when she was suffering through something she wanted to get away from.
“What have you done to my Onita.” Alexia immediately challenged the playful grin tugging at her lips softening the challenge.
“She just doesn’t appreciate my superior knowledge.” Lucy scoffed winking at her girlfriend
“I don’t even want to know how you have that knowledge.” Ona laughed “She has spent twenty minutes talking about the history of right backs.”
“As a right back, it is an important topic.” Lucy defended
Ona looked directly at Alexia, her eyes pleading for rescue “She has facts and stats and details that no one should know.”
A laugh bubbled up and escaped without your knowledge and it was a laugh that Alexia knew well. It was warm and unrestrained, the type of laugh that transformed your entire face and Alexia felt a warmth settle into her chest.
“Have you been doom scrolling?” You challenged
“I might have gone down a rabbit hole or two.” Lucy confessed. Alexia scrunched up her nose having never heard that term before and filed it away as something she would ask you later. It always confused her why the English has so many silly little sayings that meant something completely different to what they actually sounded like.
Ona pressed a finger to the bridge of her nose “I am dating a nerd.”
“Excuse me,” Lucy scoffed “You are dating the greatest right-back in football history.” She corrected.
“The current greatest right-back in football history.” Ona countered not missing a beat.
Lucy gasped.
You doubled over laughing.
Even Alexia couldn’t contain herself, there was just something about the interaction between the two that made her smile. Lucy looked towards you with betrayal in her eyes before pointing an accusatory finger in your direction
“You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“How can I be on your side when she is telling the truth.” You held your hands out in defence. For a brief moment the four of you stood together, laughter settling comfortably around you before you had to excuse yourself to go and mix with people. Alexia found herself watching. It was something she loved, people watching. She was never listening to the conversations themselves she was watching the way people interacted within them.
Lucy looked lighter than she had when Alexia had first met her years ago. At the time, she had assumed it was homesickness, football stress, life stress, any number of things but now she wasn’t so sure. Since meeting Ona, Lucy seemed brighter somehow. She laughed louder, she joked more, she allowed herself to be the butt of the jokes to take up space. The two women existed together effortlessly
Alexia glanced towards you and noticed that you were watching them too. There was an affectionate smile on your face along with something else – relief.
Alexia continued to watch you as you made your way around the room, never getting very far before someone grabbed you and pulled you into a conversation. At one point, Ella Toon practically launched herself at you from across the room while Alessia appeared moments later and stole your drink. Your interaction with them was familiar and comfortable. These were women you had known since you were a teenager, always in and around the international teams.
Alexia watched how easily you slipped back into the familiarity of these relationships. The effortless teasing and years of shared history.
After an hour of just watching you and endless amounts of teasing from Ona about obsessions, Alexia had noticed something. You had spoken to everyone in the room attached to the England team except for one.
Keira Walsh.
The midfielder had been in the vicinity of you all night but you had never been interacting with the same players at the same time. You were close enough that conversation would have been easy but you avoided it. You had been polite when your eyes met briefly and nodded in her direction.
As the nigh wore on, Alexia noticed it more and more. It wasn’t until you had retreated outside onto the patio that she asked you about it.
“Can I ask you something?”
You glanced sideways and caught the curious expression on her face, the fact that she had asked the question also had you suspicious.
“You don’t normally ask permission.” You noted and that was permission enough.
She took a sip from her drink before looking between Keira and you. You followed her gaze and your expression immediately shifted, understanding dawning in your eyes. Of course Alexia had noticed.
“Your friendly with everyone else except her.” Alexia noted. You didn’t reply immediately but that didn’t unnerve Alexia, she knew you well enough to know that you didn’t rush to fill silences. One of the things she loved most about you was the thought you gave before speaking. Your gaze stayed forward taking in the glow of the city lights before you slowly exhaled
“It’s complicated.” You finally replied and Alexia got the impression that this was something you hadn’t talked to anyone about.
“Is it because of Lucy?” she asked and you laughed. It was a humourless little sound that sounded foreign coming from your mouth. You looked back through the window and noticed that Lucy had found Ona again. They were talking animatedly while sharing food from a plate and looking at each other with complete adoration.
Alexia watched your expression soften before she spoke “Lucy forgave her.” She noted not in a challenging way, just an observation of the situation.
“Lucy forgives everyone.” Your answer came so quickly that Alexia almost laughed but instead she waited, knowing you needed time or organise your thoughts. Your eyes remained fixed on your sister “I know they’re friends now and if Lucy says she is happy then I believe her.” There was a pause
“But?” Alexia prompted
“Lucy is a better person than me” You sighed. Alexia turned so that she was fully facing you. You were still watching your sister “I watched my sister disappear.” Your words were quiet. They were not angry or bitter they were just honest.
Alexia felt her chest tighten. You found it difficult to talk about things that hurt you, especially when it came to your family
“When Lucy was with Keira, it felt like every disagreement somehow became Lucy’s fault.” Your brow furrowed slightly as the old memories surfaced “If Keira was unhappy, Lucy would adjust, if Keira was stressed, Lucy would adjust, if they argued, Lucy would apologise” Alexia noticed the tension around your jaw but remained silent, she wondered, again, if you had ever spoken about this. “Lucy was too loud, drew too much attention, always seemed to say the wrong thing in Keira’s eyes, so she kept making herself smaller.” The words were hard to speak but you pushed on “Every time I saw her, she seemed to take up less space than she had before.”
Inside the ballroom, Lucy threw her head back laughing at something Ona had said. The sound carried outside and your gaze softened immediately
“It is so incredibly hard to watch someone you love question who you they are” Your gaze flickered up to Alexia and she swallowed at the double meaning behind your words. She remembered the version of herself that you first met and the identity crisis she had faced but you loved her through it anyway.
“I hated watching her bend herself into something unnatural and the worst part was that she loved Keira so much she couldn’t even see she was doing it.”
Alexia reached for your hand, her fingers threading through yours and you squeezed them gently showing your gratitude for her presence.
“Was it deliberate?” Alexia asked
“I have asked myself that question so many times.” You shook your head, “I don’t think it was. I don’t think Keira is a bad person, I just think she didn’t know who she was and lacked confidence to be out about her love. I think Lucy loved Keira more than Keira loved Lucy and my sister deserved someone who loves as openly and proudly as she does.”
Alexia thought about the way you’d looked at Lucy all evening. Protective but also proud. You had spent years wanting happiness for Lucy and now that she had found it, you felt lighter and more at peace. Alexia watched your eyes track to Ona and the change in your expression was immediate, Warmth replaced old hurt.
“Then she met Ona.” You smiled “I was worried at first because Ona was younger than her. I always wondered if the age gap between Lucy and Keira had played a part and this was an even bigger age gap.”
“You changed your mind.” Alexia realises “You think highly of Ona.”
“She’s loud, she’s dramatic, she’s funny and most importantly she encourages Lucy to be herself. She loves Lucy for who she is.” You glanced through the glass again and watched the two of them pull silly faces at each other and a laugh bubbled up from deep within your chest
“She celebrates her and isn’t ashamed to be seen with her – god knows they have fed the internet with their Instagram dumps. Lucy is genuinely happy and for that I will always be grateful.”
Alexia moved forward into your space and your arms came up to wrap around her. She placed a gentle kiss against the side of your jaw and cuddled closer. She loved how fiercely you loved people and was forever thankful that she was one of those people.
An unexpected storm brings out a side of Alexia that you haven’t seen before
Fluff
The thunder woke you slowly, it slipped into your consciousness as part of a dream. A distant rumble that your sleeping mind struggled to place. Another crack penetrated further and for a moment you remained suspended between sleeping and waking. You were cocooned beneath the light blanket with a now familiar weight pressed in close to your side.
Another crack of thunder rolled across the city, screaming its outrage louder than before and this time your eyes opened. The bedroom was dark but the occasional flash of white illuminated it enough for you to see. A storm had settled over Barcelona, the kind of storm that transformed the city, the kind that made the sea restless and bent palm trees. It wasn’t often storms like this hit Barcelona and usually they would vanish as quickly as they arrived.
You lay still for a moment, listening to the rain thrash against the windows in relentless waves with the screech of thunder echoing outside. Besides you, Alexia shifted closer in her sleep. This was a new habit she had developed. Despite the warmth of the room, she sought you out. Her arm, that was thrown across your waist, tightened as she pulled herself closer and buried her face more firmly against your shoulder.
You glanced down at the wild mess of brown hair and couldn’t help but smile. For a person who had spent most of their adult like projecting confidence and certainty, Alexia was always affectionate when she slept; she couldn’t find peace if she wasn’t touching you. Her breathing remained slow and even, completely unbothered by the storm outside.
Another flash of light illuminated the room for half a second and this time, Alexia stirred. You felt her blink awake against your shoulder, quickly followed by a groan of protest. She attempted to burrow further beneath the blanket and you couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped
“Morning.” There was a teasing to your tone that earned you an unamused glare from the beautiful Spaniard at your side.
“It is not morning,” she huffed. You absolutely adored her sleepy voice, her accent heavier than usual. A glance towards the beside clock told you she was right. The bright lights glared back at you.
03:27
“I suppose that’s a fair point,” You agreed
Alexia made a noise that sounded suspiciously like victory before settling again. The peace lasted a few moments before another crack of lightening lit up the room. You felt the tremor that went through the body besides you and glanced down as a flash of fear swept across her face
“You don’t like storms?” You ask. You expect her to put on her captain’s face and deny your words but she doesn’t. She nuzzles closer to you and shakes her head. Years together and there were still new things to learn, the type of thing you discovered by being in the same place for long enough. This was that new thing for today, Alexia Putellas was scared of storms.
“What are you thinking about?” Her sleepy voice broke through your thoughts and you smiled
“I thought you were sleeping?”
“I am.” She replied
“You sound asleep.” You agreed placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head. One hazel eye opened glaring
“I am capable of doing two things at the same time because I am a woman of many talents.” The teasing smile that shifted the corners of her mouth made your heart thud inside your chest. You hoped that you would always have that reaction, that she would always make your heart stutter.
Another flash of lightening illuminated the room, casting the room in a halo of white for the briefest second before darkness reclaimed it. Besides you, you felt Alexia tense. It wasn’t a dramatic movement and something most people would miss. A slight tightening of her shoulders while her fingers curled more tightly on your top. It was something easily missed, except when you were so attuned to a person, when you had spent hours memorising every detail. To you, her reaction was obvious.
“You really are afraid of storms?” You asked gently the teasing from earlier disappearing
Alexia didn’t answer immediately and the silence told you that she was deciding if she was going to tell you at all. Outside, the thunder continued to roll across the city with a low, angry rumble
“There was a storm like this when I was little” Alexia began and you glanced down. She wasn’t looking at you; her attention focused on the fabric she was worrying between her fingers. Alexia didn’t often share stories about herself so you waited and listened
“I was eight years old and it was the first storm that I was fully aware of” she continued “I woke up and the whole world seemed to have lost it’s light” she explained “When the next wave of thunder hit, I thought the building was going to fall down.”
“What happened?” Your hand traced gentle patterns on her back. An offer of comfort and an encouragement to continue.
“The power went out.” She giggled as though adult Alexia found her younger fear ridiculous. “It was just so loud and I couldn’t find my Mama, I checked every room.”
The thunder outside seemed quieter now in comparison to the memory she was sharing.
“She had gone downstairs to help a neighbour. She was only gone for a few minutes but it felt like hours.”
“For children, minutes can seem like hours.” You whispered placing a gentle kiss against her forehead. While you had no doubt you would feel this tomorrow, these moments together, cocooned in your bed while you shared stories was something precious.
“When she came back, I was sitting in the hallway crying.” A small embarrassed smile appeared on her face “I was convinced the building was about to collapse; then I cried because I had left Alba inside and she would have been crushed by the building.”
“That all sounds perfectly reasonable to me” You shrugged kissing her again
The storm continued to rage beyond the apartment walls. Rain battered the windows relentlessly while the wind howled through the gaps. The two of you stayed close, neither feeling the need to fill the silence, content to just exist together. Your fingers trailed through her hair, untangling the sleep-matted strands. Every now and again, you would let your fingers scratch against her scalp. Alexia melted beneath the attention, allowing herself to absorb the comfort.
Another roll of thunder rolled across the sky and her gaze immediately flickered towards the window. The reaction lasted less than a second but you caught it and Alexia noticed you catching it.
“Don’t.” she whispered. “Don’t look at me like that, like I am something fragile”
“Baby” You nudged her, forcing her to look at you “I would never see you as fragile
You took a moment to look at her, the fierce leader, the determined captain, the person who always had it together and always had the answers. What so many people didn’t realise about Alexia, she hated the spotlight, the interviews, the media but she knew it was part of the job. Alexia was the biggest introvert that loved nothing more than being at home with the people she loved.
“Alexia, you are the bravest person I know.” You insisted “But bravery doesn’t mean that you never feel fear.” She looked at you, curious as to where you were going with this “It means you do it anyway despite the fear.
“Why do you always know what to say?” she asked pushing herself up slightly so that she could look at you properly
“Because I am a woman of many talents.” You smiled and echoed her words back to her
Alexia stared at you for several seconds before shaking her head. She leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss beneath your jaw.
“The way you can see through me makes me nervous sometimes” She admitted “It makes me want to retreat behind my walls, until I realise that having someone who knows me so well because they take the time to pay attention – It’s kind of nice”
“Kind of nice?” You gasped mock offended before your fingers found her ribs and you began to tickle. She shrieked loudly and tried to squirm away from you but you pulled her back in, her hands landing against your chest to steady herself
“Really nice” she corrected herself.
Alexia’s eyes were heavy with sleep and you guided her back to where she had been sleeping. There, beneath the gentle touch of your fingers, Alexia’s breathing evened out once more. The storm still raged beyond the apartment walls but this time, she didn’t flinch when the thunder rolled.
An on pitch accident develops into something more between two people who are little more than strangers
Alexia Putellas x Bronze Reader
Fluff
Y/N leaves London behind and arrives in Barcelona
A/N - This is the final chapter of this story. Thank you so much to everyone who has followed. I definitely did not plan on it being this long. I am considering writing a follow up about their time together at Barcelona, would love to know if that is something people would be interested in.
As always, I am awful at proof reading so please ignore any mistakes
The morning of the move arrived without fanfare. Outside, London was draped in golden sunlight a stark contrast to the grey veil that had covered the city for weeks. It was almost like it had decided to remind you what you were leaving behind.
You glanced around your empty flat, every noise louder as it echoed off the walls, and felt a tightness in your chest. You were someone who thrived on familiarity, routine and structure so change had always been something you found difficult. This was the biggest change of your life.
Alexia, who had been in London for your final match, had flown back to Barcelona a few days ago. She had wanted to get everything ready for you. She had also said that she wanted to be the first thing you saw when you arrived in Barcelona, a reminder of your reason. You had sent boxes over three weeks ago and the rest of your furniture was in storage while you decided what to do with it.
A sharp knock at the door pulled you from your musings. You shouted to whoever was on the other side to come in. You were not surprised to see the faces of your sister and Leah step inside. Leah was carrying two takeaway cups while Lucy was carrying a bag of what you assumed was food. The two of them stopped taking in the empty flat and you could see the emotions that the two of them were trying to contain. At some point, you had all lived here and it held memories for all of you.
“You ready for this?” Lucy’s words broke through your thoughts as her arm circled your shoulders. Lucy was an adventurer never staying anywhere longer than the contract she had so she had moved to may cities and many countries during her career.
“I was fine until today,” You laughed wiping away a tear that fell without your consent. Leah handed you the coffee cup and you took it eagerly, grateful to have something to do with your hands
“The difference is it’s real now.” Lucy answered, her usual teasing suspiciously absent
“There’s still time to change your mind.” Leah teased but she knew there wasn’t she knew that even with this emotional wobble, you had made your mind up. The two of you shared a knowing smile
“I need to be where she is Lee.” You whispered and Leah nodded in understanding. You took a moment to take in the flat on last time before the three of you headed out to the airport. You had said your goodbyes to the team a few days ago, not wanting a big fuss made today but had agreed that Lucy and Leah could drive you to the airport.
The drive to Heathrow was surprisingly subdued, Leah and Lucy, who both excelled with dry, British, sarcastic humour remaining quiet and alert to your mood. Your eyes followed each golden thread of sun as it landed on every landmark. More than once, you had to remind yourself that Alexia was more important than your fear of change.
You wouldn’t let the two of them come inside the airport with you, you had never been one for overly emotional scenes. Leah pulled into the drop off zone, the three of you climbing out of the car. You hugged them both and told them you would see them at the next England camp before grabbing your bag and heading inside. You keep your eyes focused on where you were going, avoiding the emotional goodbyes that were happening around you. You checked your bag, found your gate and went straight there to wait for boarding. You text Alexia to let her know what time your flight would land but you knew that she already knew. She was probably tracking it.
The flight itself was surreal and you won’t remember much about it when asked in the future. People assume that you remember every detail of big life moments but the reality of it is far lass cinematic. You remember watching out of the window as London disappeared beneath the wheels of the plane but then everything blurred together. You spent most of the flight flicking through photos. Selfies that you and Alexia had taken in the stolen moments between flights in the few hours you would have together. Your eyes would zoom in on her eyes and her smile and wonder if you will every get bored of them.
When the captain announced the descent into Barcelona, your stomach immediately tightened. Your eyes were glued to the window and you watched the familiar coastline appear first. Bright blue water stretched out beneath the afternoon sun. This city had become so familiar to you over the last few years but this time you were not visiting, there was no return flight and there was no clock ticking down. This was it, the start of your forever with the woman you loved.
Once inside the terminal you switched your phone from flight mode not surprised to see no message from Alexia. She had probably watched your flight descend into Barcelona from her flight tracker. She would know exactly where you were.
You moved to baggage claim and grabbed your bag before moving towards the doors. As they slid open, the first thing that hit you was the warmth. All round you, people went about their day-to-day lives, waiting for relatives, saying goodbye, rushing to catch another flight.
Then you saw her and everything around you disappeared
Alexia wasn’t stood at the barrier, she was stood a little further back. Her hands were tucked into the pockets of her hoodie, which you quickly recognised as yours and the thought that he had taken it without you knowing made you smile. Her sunglasses rested on top of her head and despite the crow she seemed completely still.
She was just waiting
For you.
For three years, every moment you spent together had a countdown, a fast approaching goodbye before you had even said hello but not this one.
Alexia spotted you almost immediately and her expression changed. Her face softened into a familiar smile, a smile she used only for you, filled with warmth and belonging. For a second, neither of you moved. You simply stood with your eyes locked together allowing this reality to settle between you. Alexia had not allowed herself to fully acknowledge that this day would come, part of her believing that you would change your mind. But you were here and it was real.
Alexia was the first to start moving and you dropped the handle of your bag without even realising. The next thing you knew, her arms were around you and the impact nearly knocked the breath from your lungs. You felt the telltale sting in your eyes and buried your face against her shoulder. Alexia tightened her hold, one hand sliding into your hair while the other pulled you closer.
No words passed between you because words felt inadequate against the emotions surging in both of you. You felt her exhale against your neck before registering a wetness on your skin. You pulled back slightly and noticed the silent tears that were making tracks down her face.
“Why are you crying?” You asked softly while moving your hand to swipe at the tears
“You’re actually here.” She replied, her voice barely above a whisper. For the first time since making this decision you felt at peace. Not because it was no longer a big change but because you had Alexia in your arms
You had spent moths trying to justify your decision, explain to people why you needed to do it, convince people that it wasn’t about money and now with her standing before you, the explanation was simple.
Barcelona is where Alexia is and you love her.
Alexia let her hand slide down your arm, until her fingers entwined with yours. She grabbed the handle of your suitcase and tugged on your hand
A fic based on this request for a story inspired by the images from the Champion's League Final.
Ona POV
When the final whistle of an important match blows, the stadium always sounds different. That is something I have noticed a lot since returning to Barcelona. The initial moments are a blur of movement and emotion, players jumping on each other, screaming, crying. Losing to Arsenal last year had been devastating but this year we came back and we proved them wrong. At he start of this season, so many people wrote us off, so many people said that Barcelona was experiencing their downfall. What those people didn’t realise is their words made us even more determined.
Once the trophy lift was over and I could feel the weight of the medal heavy against my chest, I allowed my eyes to scan the stands where I knew Barcelona family and friends had been seated. It didn’t take me long to find the one person I wanted to see more than anything. She has the biggest smile on her face and I feel a heat creep up my cheeks. I can see the pride in her face and knowing that is for me makes me feel about ten feet tall. I motion to the area just below where some of the Barcelona family are waiting to be allowed on the pitch and I see the confusion in her eyes. While we have never confirmed our relationship, we have also never denied it and her coming down onto the pitch would be a pretty big confirmation but I don’t care, I need to feel her arms around me. While people don’t know it yet, this is one of my last matches in a Barcelona shirt and Lucy is the one person who always knows how to ground me.
I watched as Lucy began to make her way down but deciding it was taking too long, I made my way to her.
Lucy POV
The pride filling my chest at this very moment is enough to make me feel like my heart is about to crack open. I never imagined I could feel this level of happy for someone else winning a trophy but Ona has completely changed the person I used to be and nothing makes me happier than seeing her happy.
I don’t take my eyes off her from the moment the final whistle blows to the end of the trophy presentation. The joy radiating from her is infectious. I am so happy that she get to leave this club a champion and with the respect she deserves. I see her eyes scanning the stands and as soon as she looks at me, I can’t help but grin like an idiot. I see her motion to the line of family and friends waiting to be allowed onto the pitch, I can see her Mum, Dad and brother down there but I hesitate, we have never done this before. She motions again and I find myself flashing back to our conversation last night. Ona had told me she is tried of having to second guess everything around our relationship that she hasn’t seen me in weeks and just wants to be able to throw her arms around me. I want nothing more than to feel her muscular frame pressed against mine in an embrace. Before I can even think too much about it, my legs are moving and I make my way towards the line.
Ona must be feeling impatient because before I even reach the line she is moving towards me. When I reach the barrier just in front of the pitch, she is already there. I don’t even care that there is a metal barrier between us, I reach over and wrap my arms around her squeezing her tightly
“Felicidades mi campeona” I whisper in her ear and before my brain can catch up, I kiss her on each cheek. I am aware of the gasps around us and the phones that are pointing at us but she is more important than all of that. She pulls back, giving me that shy smile that always makes my heart race before throwing her arms around me again. I can feel the emotion vibrating through her body and I know that this is a bittersweet day for her and whatever she needs I will do.
Ona POV
The second that Lucy steps onto the pitch I want to reach for her hand and intertwine our fingers in that way that has become so natural over the last four years but I am aware of the eyes watching us and the cameras trained on us so I don’t but I make sure I am walking as close to her as I can. She is here, supporting me and that is all that matters
When we walk, I feel her arms brushing against mine and realise she needs the reassurance just as much as I do. I glance at her and we share a knowing smile, The stadium is loud around us with music blasting from speakers. Claret and blue confetti lays scattered across the grass and sticks to my boots as I walk through it. The noise is imposing but somehow Lucy makes everything quieter
“You did it baby” she says again, bumping into me with her arm in that affectionate way she always does
“I don’t know that I would have gotten here without you” the words come out before I can stop them but I don’t take them back. Her support this season, even from across an ocean has been everything that has kept me together. I feel her arm come around my shoulder and I lay my head into the crook of her neck. I feel her lips press a gentle kiss against my head and warmth bubbles inside me. In her arms is always the safest place in the world. Since the news broke of a possible move back to England, she has had a lot of hate directed towards her. Many people have questioned my decision and my loyalty to my childhood club but being away from her is starting to physically hurt. Yes, she has been a big factor in my decision to move clubs but she is not the only reason. The English league is more competitive and I feel like I can showcase who I am better.
“Ay guapa you made it” Patri appears out of nowhere and throws her arms around Lucy forcing me to pull away. “Are we not hiding from cameras today?” she questions and the two of us just shrug. More players and staff come over to say hello to Lucy, she was an important part of this team and they hold a lot of respect for her. I stay close not wanting to be too far away from her.
In my distraction, I don’t notice Aitana approaching. She hugs Lucy before turning to me “This is the ending you deserve” she whispers into my ear and I feel tears sting the back of my eyes. We have played together since we were children and I had hoped that once I returned to Barcelona that would be it but you can’t predict the future
“Not the end,” I shake my head my voice scratchy from the tears that keep threatening to fall and she gives me a sad smile
“The end of this chapter”
Lucy stays close to me, her hand rubbing my back, my arm and around my waist. This time, just her presence is holding me together.
Lucy POV
I don’t think Ona even realises how tactile she is being. Every few seconds her body shifts closer. Some part of her seems to be always in contact with me. I know Ona and I know she is trying to keep her tears at bay. She is looking for somewhere safe to place all the emotions she has been carrying around for weeks. Deciding to try and pull her attention away I take her face in my hands. She looks at me confused until I start playfully rubbing her ears.
“What are you doing?” she laughs but doesn’t push me away
“I am stimulating your Vagus Nerve” I smile “Think it’s supposed to relieve stress.” I know I am doing it wrong but she doesn’t stop me. She gives me that gentle smile she always does when I am being an idiot before throwing her head into my shoulder. I feel her take a deep breath and again I bring my arms around her.
Ona is a Champions League winner and she deserves all the attention and love that comes her way but I also know her well enough to see the sadness that she is trying to conceal. This club is a part of her. Like so many of them, she grew up with Barcelona football club being a way of life and she is once again leaving that behind. Even when she is smiling and posing with her medal or the trophy, there is a grief sitting quietly behind her eyes.
Over and over again, I am stopped by people who pull me into hugs or want to talk to me. People I used to share a dressing room with or argue tactics with. The younger girls greet me like I am still part of this. Being here with them feels strangely familiar.
No matter what is happening, my attention always drifts back to Ona and the way she keep searching for me in every crowd. When we reach her parents, her Dad jokes that she cries more when she wins than she does when she loses and Ona just rolls her eyes at him while protesting that she’s not crying and I cant help but reach out and wipe the tear from under her eye. She looks at me with the same soft expression she always gets when she forgets that other people exist and it makes my chest ache.
Her mum claps her hands, breaking the moment to announce “Phots, photos”
Ona POV
The next ten minutes are chaos. I am pulled into picture after picture with different people and different teammates. People try to get Lucy into the picture but she politely declines and takes a step back. I definitely notice that even in these moments, she never goes far. Every time I look at her, her eyes are filled with pride, pride for me and my throat feels tight
“Victory looks good on you campeona” she says softly
The celebrations continue around us but right now, it feels like we are the only two people on this pitch. Then she leans forward and presses a kiss against my temple
“Whatever happens the next few days, you’ve got it,” she pauses for a second before continuing, “And I’ve got you.”
I close my eyes briefly, leaning into her without hesitation. For the first time in months, I finally let myself breathe.
People may or may not be ready for fics like this yet but it came to my head so I wrote it. One shot set somewhere in the Something in the Air universe.
Only a short one but I hope you like it.
The bright morning sun shone lazily over Camp Nou. Camp Nou under the morning sun felt less like a stadium and more like a living entity slowly waking up. Golden light crept steadily across the stands, warming concrete and steel that had witnessed decades of triumph, heartbreak and devotion. Just a few short weeks ago, it had played host to Alexia’s 500th match, a perfect moment in their shared history.
Camp Nou lived deeply within Alexia. It was not simply a venue where she played football, it was deeper than that. It was entwined with so many significant moments in her life. It was where she had grown up, where she had grieved and lost and where she had rebuilt herself to become the incredible woman standing before you today. You still remember the first time you watched her play here and the first time you heard them chant her name. 60,000 voices combining in a wave of sound so powerful and profound it brough tears to your eyes. It echoed from every stand in a show of devotion you had never witnessed before. You remember looking at Alexia in that moment stood beneath the spotlights while all those people sang her name. It was the first time you had experienced the love this city had for her and the first time you truly understood that Alexia was not simply part of Barcelona; she was woven into the very soul of it.
You also remember the first time Alexia had spoken of the toll Barcelona was taking. You remember the first time she struggled to get up for training, the physical weight she seemed to be carrying in every cell of her body. Alexia thrived on routine and usually she was up before her alarm. You had been up for a while and when you had heard the alarm you had waited for the familiar sounds of her moving to the bathroom and beginning her day but they didn’t come. You had moved quietly to the open doorway and watched as she stared up at the ceiling, exhaustion etched so deeply on her face. You took note of the dark circles beneath her eyes and the heaviness of her breathing and knew that something was very wrong.
You stayed, a silent observer cursing yourself for not noticing any of this sooner. When Alexia did push herself up, it looked difficult, like simply carrying her own body was taking more effort than she had remaining. You tried very hard to separate your life at home and you football life. At home Alexia loved coffee and watching trashy reality TV that she would never admit to, she loved cooking while dancing badly around the kitchen and this was why you had missed the signs. Right now, you were witnessing the weight that Alexia carried every second of every day. The weight of being ‘La Reina’ and what those few words truly meant. The expectations for her to be the perfect leader, the perfect player, the perfect role model. It was the first time you realised that the demand she put on herself to be perfect for Barcelona was consuming her piece by piece but she gave them willingly because she loved her club in a way that was hard to put into words.
As that particular memory fades, your eyes are drawn back to the woman who stands before you and you again take a moment to observe her. Outside, the club and the people closest to her wait to say goodbye. A fitting tribute has been planned for their captain who had given everything to this club. You felt something in your chest tighten as you took her in. Over the last few months, Alexia had experienced just about every emotion imaginable and carried with her a heaviness that settled deeply within her soul. She had questioned her decision countless times, wondering if she was making a mistake but tonight that was missing. Today, she looked calm and when you saw her smile, it looked genuine. She no longer carried the unbearable tension that had become a constant companion. There was a softness to her expression a peace that you don’t think you have ever witnessed before.
When Alexia’s eyes met yours, she reached out intertwining your fingers in a way that had become second nature and your chest filled with the most immense pride
“You have no idea now proud I am of you,” you whispered softly and watched a soft blush make its way across her cheek and her eyes immediately softened. “The way you have carried the pressure for so long, the dedication you have shown and the way you have loved this club and the fans, you deserve to feel this moment and to feel their love returned.”
For a moment she just looked at you, her face open and unguarded allowing the emotion she felt to flicker freely in her eyes. This was Alexia unguarded, the person she only allowed herself to be with people she trusted the most. She leaned forwards until her forehead was pressed against yours
“Why are you trying to make me cry before this has even started?” she teased and you smiled softly before replying
“Because you pretend to be tougher than you are”
You knew that while Alexia was ultimately at peace with her decision, the next few days were going to be rollercoaster of ups and downs. Alexia had given almost half her life to this club but she had also helped redefine what this club meant, she had been instrumental in their success both on and off the pitch and now she deserved to discover who she could be on her own terms.
An on pitch accident develops into something more between two people who are little more than strangers
Alexia Putellas x Bronze Reader
Fluff
Not mine - ours: the practicalities of living in the same city become more real
The next morning arrived with a deep-seated exhaustion that caught you off guard. Yesterday had been more emotional than you had anticipated and Alexia’s presence in the stands had amplified everything you had felt. The morning air was still in a way that always follows something emotionally catastrophic. It wasn’t silence because London was never silent but slower and softer somehow. For the first time in months, it felt like the world was allowing you to catch your breath and no longer making demands of you.
You took a moment to assess yourself. Your body ached from the match yesterday and your eyes still burned from the tears you shed. Inside this room and the rest of the apartment reminded you that your life was changing. No matter where you looked, half-filled boxes littered what seemed like every surface. Clothes had been stacked in messy piles and bags had been abandoned near doors and in corners. Leaving was no longer just a conversation; it was a reality.
Besides you, Alexia slept soundly. Hear head rested gently against your shoulder while her arm was draped loosely across your waist. The gentle rise and fall of her chest and the flutter of eyelashes against your skin grounded you. Change did not come easy for you, you were a creature of habit but her presence reminded you of everything you were gaining from making this move.
Very gently you shifted from under her, careful not to wake her from sleep. She was completely worn out by travel and her own emotions from yesterday and you wanted her to rest. Once you had freed yourself from her hold, she pulled your pillow closer and buried her face in the soft fabric. You took a moment to just look at her and, not for the first time, wondered how the woman who you first spoke to when she was recovering from swallowing her own tongue in a hospital room had become everything.
You wondered into the kitchen and found one of the few mugs that hadn’t been packed away yet. Coffee was definitely needed today. Once you had made it, you settled on the couch with your laptop balanced on your knee. There was still so much to do before you officially moved, you figured you would get some stuff one while you waited for Alexia to wake up.
You were so wrapped up in what you were doing that you did not hear the bedroom door open, nor did you hear the soft footsteps that padded towards you across the cold, wooden floor
“What is this?” her accent was always heavier when she had just woken up and it startled you from your task. You looked up instantly to find her standing there, hair still messy from sleep and a hurt look starting to settle on her face. You glanced back at the page and realised she had seen the apartment listings you had been browsing
“Lex…,” you began but did not get a chance to finish
“You are looking at apartments in Barcelona?” There was no hostility in her voice just surprise and across her face her expression showed hurt
“Well,” you began slowly, “I need a place to live,” you shrugged as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. You were aware that you had not spoken much about the practicalities of your move which included living arrangements. You had not spoken to Alexia when you had first been thinking of the move and sometimes, you felt like you were forcing yourself into her life so you had not made any assumptions about where you would live.
The silence that followed your words seemed to stretch between you but Alexia never looked away.
“You need a place to live,” she repeated slowly and you nodded before her words again broke the silence, “You don’t want us to live together?”
Her question caught you off guard. To Alexia this seemed to be obvious but to you, you didn’t want to impose on her life. Your chest tightened immediately
“We’ve never talked about it,” you said gently patting the couch besides you. She moved around and slid into the seat you had motioned to, “we’ve never discussed the practicalities of this move”
“I didn’t realise we needed to,” she sighed gently “I think I assumed that having you in my city meant having you in my home.” There was a pause that seemed to stretch between you and you could see the thoughts that raced their way through her mind before she spoke again, “Do you want your own place?”
You stood and moved to the kitchen to make Alexia a coffee. You needed something to do while you processed this conversation and the implications that came with it. She stood and walked over so that she was facing you
“I just want to get this right,” You sighed gliding your hands through your hair “I’ve never done this before so I don’t know how it works"
Alexia remained where she was and watched you carefully before she replied, “What does that mean?”
You laughed quietly, although there was very little humour in it “It means I have never moved countries before.” You glanced up at her briefly, “I’ve never moved clubs before either. Everything is changing all at once and I know I am going to find that difficult and I don’t want to make that your problem.” You explained with a heavy sigh “You had no say in my choice to move and I am trying to do the right thing”
“By not giving me a choice again?” she challenged and that made you look up “You are making a decision without talking to me again,” she gestured wildly showing her frustration
“I have not made a decision,” you corrected “Yes I have looked at a few houses but no decision has been made so lets talk about it”
“Help me understand,” she pleaded and you nodded
“Baby, you already have your life there.” The words seemed to come more easily now that you had started “You are particular about your routines, about your space and about your home. You have lived alone for years. I didn’t want to just arrive on your door and force you to adapt – I didn’t want to be too much,” You clarified
Alexia stared at you in complete disbelief before she spoke, “Too much?” The silence stretched on between you and you wondered how you had messed this up again. She moved around the counter that had separated you and forced you to step back. Once she was stood in front of you, she took both of your hands in hers.
“Cariño,” she said softly, “when exactly did you decide all of this by yourself?”
You swallowed hard and shrugged your shoulders. You could feel shame burning its way up your face. Alexia still looked hurt and that unsettled you more than if she had simply gotten angry
“You said you wanted to build a life with me,” she reminded and you nodded nothing was more true than that “We build a life by being together, not you living nearby or visiting me a couple of nights a week. We have done the visiting for years”
Your chest tightened, “I know.”
“No,” she corrected, “I do not think you do.” Her gaze held yours steady and unwavering before she continued. “When I imagine this move, I imagine waking up besides you every morning. I imagine coming home after training with you. I imagine making dinner with you and seeing you sing and dance around the kitchen. I imagine my apartment becoming our home,” her voice softened as she looked at your joined hands “Not a place separate from you but somewhere that becomes ours.”
The raw honesty in her voice made it difficult to breathe properly “I know change scares you,” she teased and you couldn’t help but laugh at that
“Is it that obvious?”
“I just know you,” she shrugged “This is going to be new to both of us and we can learn together. You are moving your whole life for me, the least I can do is give you a home”
“Okay,” you nodded “Just remember this moment when I start to annoy you,” you joked
“What with, your terrible singing?” she shot back not missing a beat
You threw your hands over your heart and scoffed “You wound me again,” You teased “I don’t know why you have such issue with my singing.”
Her reply was a simple, perfectly manicured, raised eyebrow and you burst into laughter. The tension that had filled the space between you was long gone and in its place, excitement for your shared future.
An on pitch accident develops into something more between two people who are little more than strangers
Alexia Putellas x Bronze Reader
Fluff
Saying goodbye is never easy
I am really bad at proofreading so please ignore any mistakes
Your inner turmoil didn’t fade just because you had made a decision, instead it changed. Your back and forth over the decision morphed into guilt. Guilt for your teammates that you would be leaving behind. Guilt over Leah, the person you had played with since you were a child but you knew that you had to take the next steps in your life and she knew it as well.
You had imagined your last game in Arsenal red hundreds of times over the last few weeks, imagined how you would feel arriving for your last game, imagined getting ready with the girls for the last time and imagined how the fans would react but nothing you had imagined came close to the reality.
Your alarm went off at the normal time and you gathered your things from around your apartment. You had already begun to pack your life into boxes which lay scattered throughout your apartment. You didn’t both with coffee, your stomach was too tight to handle anything more than water. Outside, London was exactly as it always was in spring, the grey skies bringing a comforting sense of familiarity. The entire city went about its day, completely oblivious that your whole life was quietly shifting beneath you.
You had thought that you would wake up and feel different. You had thought that the racing thoughts that had plagued you for weeks would finally fall silent but that did not happen.
The drive to the Emirates was muscle memory at this point, so deeply embedded into you that you barely registered the drive, your eyes skimming over the familiar buildings and signs without taking in any of the detail. Every turn was familiar; every traffic light had seen part of your life. Every road that had been taken after victories and losses, after exhausting training days that left a deep ache in your body
This city had seen every version of you from the ambitious kid who believed football was everything and that nothing else would ever complete, to the grown woman who had fallen in love when she least expected it. Falling in love had taken you by surprise and for the first time you realised that there were things in life that were more important than football.
If someone had told the younger you that one day you would willingly leave Arsenal, the club you believed you would spend your whole career at to build a future with the woman you had fallen deeply in love with and who loved you just as deeply in return, you would have called them insane.
Once you arrived at the stadium, it took you a moment to leave the car. Your hands rested motionless on the steering wheel as players and staff filtered past your window. You watched them absently, players you saw day in and day out, staff who had become like family and it hit you hard – this was the last time you would arrive at this stadium as an Arsenal player.
The chill of the morning air when you finally stepped out of the car cleared your head. A quiet determination settled inside you; if this was going to be your last game for Arsenal, you would make it memorable. Grabbing your bag from the backseat, you headed inside. On your walk to the changing room, you too in every detail, committing it to memory.
The changing room was quiet when you stepped inside, conversations softening as the girls waited to gage your mood. All of them understanding the significance of this day. Never one to stay quiet, Katie was the first to break the silence
“If you cry before kick-off, I am posting it on TikTok” she announced loudly from across the room. While you couldn’t help but roll your eyes, her comment had a desired effect and a ripple of laughter rolled through the room
“The world already knows you are obsessed with me McCabe, all you’d be doing is confirming it,” You retorted dropping down on the bench to get yourself ready letting another round of laughter wash over you. Katie smiled and you knew you would have to thank her later because now, everything felt normal
The atmosphere in the room was positive, teammates passed by with smiles, small touches and quiet words that made their way into your heart. You knew you would play them over later once the dust had settled.
Leah sat besides you lacing her boots, the same as she had for the last ten years. Neither of you spoke, you didn’t need to. The silence was filled by your shared history and so you simply absorbed each other’s presence.
Eventually she leaned back against the bench and let out a heavy exhale
“Your ready?”
Your fingers paused in your task to fasten your own laces and played over the question. For the first time you thought about it
“No,” you answered honestly and saw the smile that spread across her face
“Yeh, that’s what I thought,” she replied quietly an unspoken understanding passing between you. You glanced at her and took a moment to really take her in and suddenly felt overwhelmed all over again. Leah had been there for everything and was pretty much part of your daily life – not just football life. You had laughed, cried and celebrated together and more recently, you had watched each other fall in love. It was this last one that had started to take you in different directions, Leah’s own relationship meaning she had been spending more time in America. However, it was you who was making the separation permanent
“I’m sorry,” you found yourself saying, your words leaving your mouth before you had properly thought about them
Leah frowned. “For what?”
“For changing things; we were going to retire here”
Her expression softened immediately “I think we were always kidding ourselves,” she gave a soft laugh “the dreams of kids but we’re not kids anymore, things have to change for us to move forward.”
Leah had said it perfectly, there was no need to add anything more so you both let it sit between you. You had given everything to everyone else and for the first time you were choosing yourself in a way you had never allowed before. More than that, you were realising that you were allowed to choose yourself, that you didn’t owe anything to anyone.
By the time you walked out onto the pitch, the stadium was already alive with a perceptible energy. Not simply noise but almost a collective pulse of a crowd who knew they were about to witness something special. You had played here so many times that the atmosphere usually enveloped you like something familiar, it would fade into the background. Today, every sound felt sharper and every chant louder or maybe, everything just felt more personal.
You took a moment to glance around the stadium and felt your breath leave your body. In various stands around the stadium, fans held signs
“Thank you Y/N – Once a Gooner, always a Gooner”
“Y/N, always one of our own”
“We love you Y/N – you will be missed”
That nearly broke you before kick-off. You had expected some level of hostility, fans never liked seeing their players leave for a rival, but the support and gratitude was overwhelming
The match itself became a reprieve from the emotion bubbling inside you. Football had always been your safe place, somewhere you could disappear and hide from the chaos of life. Once you were stood on a pitch and the whistle blew your body knew what to do.
For ninety minutes you allowed yourself to disappear into instinct, into movement and a familiar rhythm. The only thing that mattered was the next touch, the next pass or the next run. That is why you didn’t notice her straight away.
There was a pause in play midway through the first half while VAR checked a challenge. Your eyes drifted to the stands out of habit. At first, you didn’t fully process what you were seeing
A familiar flash of brunette and dark sunglasses pushed into her hair. A posture so unmistakably composed that your brain recognised her before logic could catch up and you froze
Alexia!
Alexia was here, sat in the stands. Not hidden by hats or other clothing but open and willing to be seen. She came to watch your last game. You heard a growing ripple of noise around the stands and realised that people were starting to register her presence too.
Heads turning, double takes and whispered confirmations that passed through the crowd like wildfire. In that moment, the camera usually focused on the game, panned to her.
Alexia was not someone who could blend in, not within the footballing world. You could see the gentle amusement cross her face when she realised she had been noticed and then as if sensing your gaze, her head lifted and her eyes met yours
She smiled gently, a soft private smile entirely for you. Your chest tightened so sharply that it was almost painful.
Alexia had come to London, not for publicity, not for spectacle but for you because she knew that you would need her, even without you asking. Next to her, Lucy was looking insufferably pleased with herself
The whistle snapped you back to the present and the game continued but everything felt different, somehow lighter. She was showing up for you and you no longer felt alone in the enormity of the situation.
In the 88th minute, the board went up and you knew it was going to be your number. Renne had told you that she would be doing it so that you had a chance to be clapped off. As you saw your number tears filled your eyes and you didn’t try to hide them. A ripple of applause and cheers filled the stadium and you raised your arms clapping the fans. Your way of saying thank you, of showing appreciation for the support they had always given. Your teammates patted you on the back and you walked past and made your way to the bench. Leah who had been subbed off earlier in the game, immediately pulled you into a bone crushing hug and you lost it. The emotions you had been fighting since first opening your eyes flooded out.
By the time the final whistle blew, you were emotionally exhausted. It was nice to end your time with a win but it honestly felt secondary to everything else pressing in around you. The girls crowded around you pulling you into hugs, ruffling your hair and teasing the show of emotion that was a rare occurrence with you.
By the time the lap of appreciation began you were a mess, not a chance of any elegant tears. Red eyes, wet face and absolutely zero dignity. When you reached the family section you eyes searched until you found them; Lucy, your mum and dad, your brother and Alexia! You broke into a gentle run towards the barrier and climbed over making your way through the seats.
Alexia opened her arms before you even reached her and you stepped into them without a second thought. You buried your face into the crook of her neck and her arms closed around you, creating a shield between you and everything else. Her hand slid into your hair while the other hand rubbed up and down your back in a comforting gesture
“Look at you, my emotional girl,” she teased while pulling you in tighter
“You’re not allowed to make fun of me right now,” You warned and she smiled at you with that softness that made your chest ache. As you stood looking at her, you allowed yourself to fully feel every emotion that she brought out in you as a reminder of why you had made this decision.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” you said sounding slightly disbelieving and Alexia reached up, brushing her thumb beneath your eye to wipe away some of the tears
“Did you really think I would let you do this day without me?” she asked with such reverence that your throat tightened all over again. This time, it was Lucy who broke the moment
“She begged me for logistical help,” Lucy stated
Alexia gave her a look that could make any other defender cower, “I did not beg”
“She begged,” Lucy scoffed
There was something so normal and familiar about the banter between your sister and your girlfriend, an exasperated warmth that made you laugh through your tears (you were genuinely starting to wonder if you would bring on dehydration with the amount you were crying)
“I wanted to be here,” she said, quieter now, her words spoken only for you “Not just for what comes next but for this too”
It wasn’t just about the future and your move to Barcelona, it was about the goodbyes that she wanted to be present for, to hold you through your grief and help you understand that you grief and excitement could exist together
You leaned forward until your forehead was touching hers “This is really happening,” you whispered.
Her hands settled on either side of your face, grounding you in the moment “yes,” she replied, her voice steady “and when you are ready, we start the next part together.”
While one chapter of your life was ending, the best was about to begin!
An on pitch accident develops into something more between two people who are little more than strangers
Alexia Putellas x Bronze Reader
Have you made a decision?
Your decision is made long before you actually say the words out loud. It was made before you sat in front of Laporta, before Alexia found out and before your conversation with Leah. Your decision was made when you realised you wanted to build a whole life with Alexia.
It didn’t arrive with clarity, with some epiphany in the way that people imagine life altering decisions are made. It built quietly, threading through your soul until it became impossible to separate from anything else.
Your conversation with Leah plays over in your head as you make the drive home from training. Her telling you not to drift and to own it. By the time you made it home that evening you realised you were not weighing options; you were coming to terms with something you already knew.
The silence in your apartment felt heavy and you find yourself pacing restlessly through the house, pausing to look out of windows before moving away. Your mind wouldn’t allow you to settle. Your bag and boots remained abandoned in the hallway, further evidence of your emotional state. You had been circling this decision for weeks. Waiting for the perfect time, saying you needed more information, trying to make it easier to digest but it hadn’t become easier or simpler, it had grown. The longer you took to think about it the clearer it became. This was never about football and that had been a hard realisation. Since you were a toddler, you had been obsessed with football. As a child, it had consumed your every thought. You had been determined and driven to pursue it at any cost. Relationships had fizzled because of your obsession; women you were dating finding it difficult to compete with football and now you would give it up if that was what you had to do
Your mind drifts back to Barcelona, like it often did these days. Not to the football club, or the players or the noise around Alexia but to the quiet moments in between. To the early mornings when you would feel her snuggle closer trying to ward off the chill, to the slow evenings where you would walk through the city hand in hand while Alexia pointed out all of her favourite places, to the sanctuary behind closed doors where the public facade could drop and you could laugh, dance, sing and be generally silly together. Everything felt more real when it was just the two of you without an audience
You can still picture clearly the two of you standing together looking out over the water, her hand finding yours like it was the most natural thing in the world. The ease of it and how sure you felt when you held her. The way she had looked at you and promised to support you no matter what decision you made
You exhale slowly, dragging a hand over your face before letting it fall. You found change hard; it was a running joke amongst your team. You wouldn’t even get new boots until the ones you had were practically falling apart. You wonder, not for the first time, if your loyalty to Arsenal for all of these years had simply been a fear of change, of the unknown. What you realise is that the need you have had to protect what is familiar, is slowly losing its grip.
You stop pacing, your body going still in the middle of the room as the weight of everything settles fully. You realise with startling clarity that there is not version of this where you don’t lose something. What you are beginning to understand is one loss you can live with, the other you can’t
Your draw in a steady breath and lift your gaze so you can see your reflection in the mirror across the hallway. You study your reflection for a moment and marvel at the person you have become, a person willing to put their own peace and happiness first
“I’m going”
Saying the words out loud for the first time, even if it is in your empty apartment, brings a sense of peace. The tension that had gripped your chest for weeks easing and being replaced with a sense of calm.
“I’m going to Barcelona”
The next morning, Cobham training facility greeted you like it always did with routine, structure and a sense of belonging that ran deep below the surface. You arrive early, before anyone else, needing the quiet time before everything begins. You knew today would be the day you told everyone but for now you allow yourself to exist in this space that has shaped so much of your life.
“You’re here early” Leah’s voice echoes through the silence. You glance up to see her leaning against the wall a few feet away. Her arms are folded and her expression is carefully neutral, but you know that she can see through you.
“I couldn’t sleep” You admit, not even trying to hide it because after all these years, you couldn’t pretend with her. She stays quiet but continues to watch you before pushing herself off the wall and stepping closer. She moves to sit down beside you; she always finds difficult conversations easier when she isn’t looking at you.
“You’ve made a decision” it isn’t a question, it’s an observation, a statement of fact and you nod. There’s a brief pause as she looks at you. Your eyes communicating more than words ever could and then she exhales slowly brushing her hands along her trousers
“Then you need to tell them”
You swallow hard and your gaze flickers to the dressing room. You know you can’t put this off and you know there is no easy way to do this. You nod once and stand
“Okay”
Leah calls a meeting and once that happens, everyone fills in quickly. The usual pre-training energy has been replaced by something subdued. They all realise that something big is about to happen and something is about to change. As vice-captain, you have stood in front of these women many times before big games or after heavy losses but at this moment, the weight of their attention feels entirely different.
“I’ve made a decision about next season – about my contract” you announce
The room stills almost immediately and the atmosphere is palpable. It feels like every player inside the dressing room shifts forward, straining to hear your words. You take a deep steadying breath before continuing
“I’ve decided not to renew my contract; I will be leaving Arsenal at the end of the season”
There’s no immediate outburst but a sombre quiet settles over the room as your gathered team processes what you have just said but none of them quite ready to respond
“I’ve told Renee and the board so it is time to let you know”
It is Katie who breaks the silence first
“Where?”
“Barcelona”
That gets a reaction. A ripple of surprise that moves through the room in whispers and questions. You let it pass and keep your gaze focused on the faces in front of you.
“This clubs means everything to me” Your voice is quieter now “that doesn’t change just because I am leaving. What we have built here, that will always be a part of me”
The silence in the room lingers and you have to resist the urge to fill it with more words. You don’t mention Alexia, don’t explain the deeper considerations which led to this. You don’t need to
Leah steps forward then, her presence enough to indicate that it was time to move on from this moment
“Alright” she says, her tone clear and calm “Training in ten” Leah is not trying to be dismissive, she is trying to give everyone space without letting it become something more. Gradually the room beings to empty, whispered conversations in quiet tones beginning between your shocked teammates. You remain where you are, the weight of it settling fully now that you had spoken it out loud.
Leah lingers in the room, waiting for the rest of the girls to make their way out. Once they have left, she stepped closer “So” she sighs “That’s it” she studies you closely as if looking for any signs of hesitation or uncertainty but she finds none “You’re really doing this”
“I’m really doing this” You nod
“I don’t like it” she admits but there is no edge to her voice just honesty “But I understand and I support you” her words mean more to you than she possibly realises
“Only one person left to tell” Leah smiles and it is a genuine smile
“I suppose I probably should before I turn up on her doorstep” you laugh, standing and walking with Leah out onto the field.
Later, back in your apartment, once the noise of the day has faded and your mind has settled you find yourself reaching for your phone. You press a few buttons and her name stares back at you from the screen. When you press the call button there is no hesitation. It rings twice before she answers
“Hola bebe” she answers her soft Spanish accent settling warmly in your chest, so familiar it settles something deep inside
“Hola Lex” You reply, your own voice softer than you intended but the weight in your words are impossible to hide.
“You sound different” she notes and you find yourself smiling faintly even though she can’t see it
“I’ve made a decision” You announce and a silence follows, filled with anticipation as though she is holding her breath “I’m coming to Barcelona – I’m going to accept their offer”
There’s a sharp inhale on the other end and then a pause that stretches long enough to make your chest tighten and you wonder if she is unhappy with your decision
“Lex,” you prompt, softer now as you wait for her response.
“I’m still here” she says quickly but her voice has changed, softened by something deeper and almost vulnerable
“You’re serious?” she asks like she is finding it hard to believe you would make this choice
“I have never been more serious about anything” you reassure and that is followed by another pause, this one longer. You can hear the cogs turning as she processes this information. You hear her exhale on the end of the line, uneven and shaky
“You’re really coming here” she says and it is not a question, more an acknowledgement of the shift in her reality.
“Yes” the word lands gently between you. There is another pause, this one longer but you don’t push. You have been wrestling with this decision for some time. She gets all the time she needs to process your words
“When did you decide?” she asks and you shift your posture, leaning back against the wall with a soft exhale.
“Not today” you admit “Not even recently if I am honest.”
You hear an intake of breath across the line as the truth settles between you
“Recently, out time together hasn’t felt like enough. I’ve felt like I am constantly being split in two. The stolen moments between matches or a quick day between training. I want a life with you Alexia, not just the time we can fit around everything else – I want to make you a priority not an option so I’ve known for a while what my decision would be”
There is a small sound on the end of the line that makes it seem like she has shifted, like she needed to steady herself against something”
“You never said anything” the words are soft, no accusing just a statement
“No” You admit quietly “I didn’t”
“Do you remember” she begins her voice low and controlled “how things fell apart the first time”
Your chest tightens immediately, of course you remember but you are not sure why she is bringing this up now but she continues before you can say anything
“I wasn’t brave enough” the words land heavier than you expect “I thought I was protecting us, protecting you, protecting my image………really I was protecting myself”
You don’t interrupt but your mind is racing with possibilities of what might come next
“I saw those videos, those comments. I saw what people were saying about you. I told myself that if I didn’t acknowledge it, then it would go away. I told myself if I didn’t fan the flames they would die out”
Her voice falters, just slightly. You can hear the tremble in her usually controlled voice
“But it didn’t work that way and I let you carry that alone……… I thought I was being careful but really, I was just absent”
Alexia isn’t making excuses; she is speaking the truth as she sees it. Her words land deep because the two of you know that it wasn’t the footballing schedule or the time away that broke you, it was Alexia’s lack of action.
“When we agreed to try again, I told myself that I would never allow that to happen again, that if I couldn’t do it properly, I wouldn’t do it at all”
You feel your chest tighten as your brain registers her words
“Now, you’re telling me that you’re coming here” her voice shifts again, revealing a vulnerability that she does not show often “That you’re changing your whole life to come here”
“Not changing” you correct “I am choosing something different” you state gently
“For me?” she asks. A simple question that does not have a simple answer. Of course, for her but also for many other reasons
You shake your head, even though she can’t see it.
“I’m choosing us” You say clearly, your voice calm and steady “Not this version where we are constantly chasing the clock but a real version that can’t be questioned and can build a future together”
Alexia is quiet on the end of the line but you hear the way her breathing changes, the way it settles and steadies
“I’ve always accepted that being together meant that we never got all of each other” she says quietly “That we would always have to put football first and our relationship just had to fit around it”
The honestly in her voice takes your breath away
“We’re not doing that anymore” this time her voice is calm, steady, that of a leader and a captain who is sure in their convictions “When you get here, we don’t hide it, we don’t minimise it and we don’t let anyone question or define it for us”
“Alexia..” You begin but she cuts you off
“No, you need to hear this and I should have said it a long time ago” she insists “I will never make you feel like an option again; you will always be the person I choose”
There is no hesitation in her tone, just a strong resolve and the silence that follows feels different.
“I know the changes you have made Lex” You say quietly “Now it’s my turn to do the work and to make the changes that makes our future real”
A breath passes between you, followed by another. You can hear her soft breaths on the end of the line but give her all the time she needs
“I love you” she says and those three words carry more than just promises
“I love you too – since day one”
For the first time in three years, you don’t feel like you are being split in two. You know leaving Arsenal is going to be hard but you have no doubts and know that you a choosing a more complete future not just a footballing one.
An on pitch accident develops into something more between two people who are little more than strangers
Y/N is back in London and Leah want to know if the rumours are true
Whenever you returned from Barcelona, you were always greeted with grey. You wondered if it was a reflection of your mood, leaving Alexia was always something that dampened your spirits or if it was just a sticking point of London. Regardless, it was comforting in its familiarity. London was sharper and more contained than Barcelona
As you drove through the familiar streets of your hometown towards the training ground, something heavy sat in your chest. You knew a decision was fast approaching and it was getting harder to brush it aside.
The grass on the training pitch was damp under your boots. The early morning drizzle leaving a thin sheen across the surface. The session had already started by the time you stepped out, the familiar rhythm of drills and shouted instructions filling the air.
You had hoped that the familiarity of this place would ground you; would make it easier to breath. This was your club since childhood; this was where you found comfort but today that didn’t happen.
“It’s about time you showed up” a voice called sharp but familiar. You glance up to see Katie McCabe jogging past you. She shot you a look that you couldn’t quite read.
“Flight was delayed” you muttered
“Delayed by a flight or delayed by a Spanish queen” she teased. You had no words for her so you responded with a middle finger. You could feel the eyes of your teammates on you and knew you would not escape this session unscathed.
Your body knew what it had to do. Warm-up, passing drills, mini games it moved on instinct after years of training like this but your head was somewhere else and it was obvious
“Focus on where you are” Leah hissed behind you her tone sharper than you were used to. You turned to look at her. Your captain and your best friend and someone who knew you far too well
“I am focused” You snapped
She lifted her eyebrow in challenge “are you?”
You held her gaze for a second longer than necessary before looking away, resetting your stance and starting again but you could feel her eye following you for the rest of the session. By the time things were wrapping up you were starting to feel frustrated at being under her constant gaze. You barely had time to grab your water bottle before she was at your side
“Walk with me” it wasn’t a suggestion and the command got under your skin. You pulled you arm away from her
“Training is over Captain” You replied “You can talk to me tomorrow”
“I’m not asking as your captain, I’m asking as your friend” she replied trying to control her tone
“You’re not asking at all” You hissed “You are commanding. My captain commands, my friend asks” You reminded
“Can we talk?” she softened realising how her words had come across “will you walk with me?”
You exhaled slowly before following. You knew you needed to regulate yourself because the last thing you wanted was an argument with your friend. The two of you moved away from the rest of the team, towards the far edge of the pitch where it was quieter, the sounds of laughter and chatter fading behind you.
The silence between you dragged, neither of you rushing to fill it
“What’s going on Y/N” she asked coming to a stop and turning to face you.
“Nothing’s going on” it was instinct a default that felt easier than sharing what was going on inside your head.
“Don’t” one word in a tone that you didn’t hear often and it landed heavier than a thousand words “Don’t do that, not you. I know there is something eating at you and you are keeping it to yourself”
The silence lingered as you moved through possible answers
“We’ve heard the rumours” she continued “agents are talking, I’m surprised it’s not being reported yet”
The rumours, you hated the gossip. You felt your jaw tighten “Leah….”
“Are you thinking about leaving?” she asked and the question hung between you heavy and unavoidable and when you didn’t answer and didn’t meet her gaze that was all the answer she needed “There’s my answer then”
“It’s not that simple” you said quickly
“So, make it simple,” she shot back “Talk to me”
Her jaw clenched tightly and the tension between you grew tighter. You could feel it building, demanding to be let out. Leah was your best friend, you had come through the ranks together and you didn’t know how to disappoint her.
“I’ve not made a decision yet” your voice was firmer now
“but there is a decision to make” she pushed and you nodded
Leah took a step back, like the words physically hurt her and she needed space to process what she was hearing “Barcelona?” she asked and all you could do was nod in confirmation. She let out a disbelieving laugh and turned away for a second running a frustrated hand through her hair
“of course it is” she muttered and you felt something defensive rise in your chest
“What is that supposed to mean?” you demanded
“I knew from the second you and Alexia agreed to try again that this would be the outcome” she hissed “I just hopped you were stronger than that”
“Stronger” Your heart was racing now and you hoped that you misunderstood what she had just said
“Stronger than let a woman dictate your career” Leah replied calm and steady. You hadn’t misunderstood. Leah believed that Alexia had convinced you to move
“She had no fucking idea until she saw me in Laporta’s office two days ago” you hissed “She knew nothing about it and you know what, she was pissed when she saw me” you laugh but there is no humour in it “No matter what I do, someone is mad at me – you can all just fuck off!”
You turned ready to walk away but Leah’s hand closed around your writs
“I’m sorry” there was sincerity to her voice that made you pause “Help me understand because you are such an integral part of this, you have helped build this and you deserve to enjoy the rewards of your hard work” she explained gesturing to the club around her
“Leah” you moved your hands to your eyes trying to fight the tears “Alexia is not just some girl, some woman and right now I feel like I am being split in two. I am trying to figure out my life and I am trying to do it in a way that doesn’t destroy me mentally”
“Tell me” Leah was gentle now, she could see how difficult this was for you
“Leah, I love this club. I have grown up with this club. I never imagined a point that I would ever leave this club. It has given me everything and then three years ago, it gave me her” You pause and take a breath “I never imagined that a little flirtation would turn into this would bring me to the point where I want to be with her more than I want to play football” you saw your words hit in the way that Leah’s eyes widened “when I imagine my future there is not a single scenario where she is not there. I see a blond little girl with her face. She makes me want things that I have never wanted before”
“Shit mate” Leah sighs. She has never heard you talk like this and any anger she had about you possibly leaving quickly drains from her
“I need more than stolen moments, more than a few hours between matches. I don’t want her to be something that I just fit in anymore”
“This is more than football, way more than football” Leah realises
“Even if Braca hadn’t offered me a contract, I would be considering this move” You explained
“You would give up football” Leah didn’t realise that you could shock her further
“I would give up football” You nodded “but Barca have offered a contract so I don’t have to”
“You should have told me” Leah whispered stepping forward and pulling you into a hug “I’m always your friend before your captain – you don’t get to shut me out of things like this”
You didn’t argue or object because you didn’t have it in you. Everyone seems to have the opinion that you should have talked more but it’s difficult to talk when you don’t have the words.
“You’ve got a decision to make” she said her expression much calmer now “and whatever you choose, it’s going to be a big change”
“I know”
“Then stop drifting through it waiting for the decision to make itself” she insisted firmly. You opened your mouth to protest but it died on your tongue “Don’t half commit. If you stay -stay. If you go – own it.”
Realising that you couldn’t take much more, she turned and started back towards the rest of the team. She paused briefly
“For what it’s worth” she hadn’t turned around but her voice carried “If she’s worth all this, she better be bloody special”
You smiled faintly to yourself
“She is”
Leah shook her head and walked away. You could hear her muttering something to herself but you knew, whatever decision you made. You would have her support. For the first time since the idea of Barcelona first came up, you felt a little bit clearer.
Thank you to everyone who is following this story. If you enjoyed what you've read please like or re-blog.
An on pitch accident develops into something more between two people who are little more than strangers
Can we pause this for now and just have this night together? Y/N wants to spend some time with Alexia before she has to go back to London
There was something special about Barcelona in the evening. It carried with it a magic that wove its way into your soul and made you feel alive. The streets seemed to hum with life but tonight it felt quieter, softer, almost like it was holding its breath while you tried to figure everything out.
You had not seen Alexia today, had not spoken to her and that had been hard. You had wanted to give her space to feel and no push her to be okay. You had spent the day trying to distract yourself but now a restlessness was creeping in. You flew back to London tomorrow and you didn’t want to leave without seeing Alexia first.
Grabbing your jacket from the bed, you headed out into the bustle of the Barcelona streets. You walked along streets you had explored dozens of times before; Alexia’s arm hooked into yours while she explained each piece of her city in excited, broken English. You past cafés and coffee shops where you had sat for hours getting to know each other. Where you had laughed and argued about food, music and football. Your favourite memories of Alexia were woven into every strand of this city and that is why you knew the person who had to move was you.
You had meant every word you said in the hotel room. You knew you had handled this wrong and you knew that you had not treated her like a partner but like something fragile that needed protecting. You knew you would do whatever it took to prove to her that you saw her as an equal; as someone to build a life with.
As the sun began to dip below the skyline, you found yourself standing outside the Barcelona training facility. While you had not planned to walk here, you were always inexplicably drawn to Alexia. The place was quiet with much of the team having left long ago. You could see Alexia still on the pitch a ball resting at her feet as she dribbled slowly. It lacked the sharp intensity of a full team training session, instead it was softer and more instinctive, like she was reminding herself of something.
You stayed at the edge watching, trying to control the frown that wanted to take over your features. You knew how intense Alexia could be about her training, particularly when she was feeling conflicted; she would revert behind something safe and familiar. However, that meant she didn’t always take care of herself and pushed herself beyond her limits. You had to resist the urge to scold reminding yourself that you did not get to dictate how she handled her feelings over this.
You continued to watch silently from the far side and for a moment she didn’t realise but as if she could sense someone watching her, she stopped, the ball laying at her feet, and looked up. For a second she didn’t move and you wondered if you’d made a mistake but then she was jogging towards you and you could see the smile on her face.
Your heartbeat picked up with every step she took and by the time she reached you, you had already rehearsed the start of this conversation a thousand times. None of that mattered and what came out was a simple
“Hola bebe” you watched as Alexia’s eyes closed briefly the way they always did when you used Spanish terms of endearment with her.
“Hi” she returns your smile “This is a surprise”
“I didn’t want to leave with this tension between us” You explained. Her eyes search your face and you can see there are so many things she wants to say but she stays quiet “I know there is work, I know things are not resolved but the thought of leaving Barcelona without having spent any real time with you, it doesn’t sit right with me”
Alexia inhales slowly, her gaze dropping for a moment before lifting her eyes back to yours “What are you suggesting?”
“I was hoping that tonight we could put all of this aside and just be together. I just want to be in your presence” you admit shyly and you watch her carefully gauging her reaction. There was a flicker of surprise in her eyes before she responded
“You want to take me on a date?” she clarified, the word sounding unfamiliar on her tongue in this context
You have a small, nervous laugh “Yeah, a date”
“Okay” she agreed. One simple word but it gave you more hope than the hundreds of words you exchanged in the hotel yesterday.
You waited outside the training facility while Alexia changed and when she came through the door, your breath caught for a moment. Alexia wasn’t dressed extravagantly; just a simple outfit that suited her in that effortless way all her clothing did.
Her hair was down, slightly damp from the shower and framing her face in soft waves. She was stunning and for a moment, you lost the ability to speak
A blush spread its way up her neck and across her cheeks “You’re staring” she whispered
“You’re beautiful” you countered without missing a beat “and I am allowed to stare”
That earned you a small, amused giggle as the two of you began walking. She did not ask you where you were going and you did not tell her. She trusted you enough to let you lead and that trust meant everything to you.
The restaurant you had chosen was tucked away from the busier streets. It was small and intimate. The sort of place that you’d miss if you didn’t know it was there. Ther sort of place that allowed you and Alexia to disappear away from knowing eyes.
Alexia paused outside, looking at the front of the restaurant before glancing back at you “You planned this” she realised and your response was a smile because you couldn’t deny that you had.
Inside, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Low lights and soft music filled the air. It was the kind of place that demanded a slow pace; somewhere that insisted you linger and absorb every inch of what it had to offer. You talked about everything and nothing all at once. Training sessions, teammates, moments from daily life. You talked about everything except the big decisions that continued to loom over you.
At one point Alexia laughed – a real laugh that bubbled up from the belly. It was the most incredible sound you had every heard and it settled something deep in your chest. You had missed her, you had missed this.
I think I had forgotten what this feels like” she admitted after a while, her finger tracing absent patterns along the edge of her glass.
“What?” you asked
“This” she gestured between you “just existing with you, with your charm and your humour and your terrible sarcasm” she rolled her eyes at the last one and it was your turn to laugh. The conversation drifted, weaving through shared memories and new stories until the tension that had existed felt like a distant echo rather than something urgent and immediate.
When the dinner ended, neither of you were ready to say goodnight, so you didn’t, you walked instead.
The city was quitter now, the infectious energy from earlier softening into something more intimate. The air had cooled and it carried the feint scent of the waves as you made your way towards the waterfront.
You reached out for Alexia’s hand and she didn’t pull away allowing her fingers to intertwine with yours. It was natural, something you had done hundreds of times before. You walked side by side and hand in hand in a comfortable silence that demanded no words.
When you reached the beach, you slipped off your shoes and felt the cool sand beneath your feet as you walked closer to the water. The horizon stretched out before you, reflecting the glow of the city lights on its surface.
You stopped walking and turned to face Alexia. When you reached for her she didn’t pull away. Stepping closer and allowing herself to be drawn into the warmth of your arms.
“No matter what decision I make” You began “It doesn’t change how I feel about you or that I see my future with you – even if I can’t commit to this now, one day I will come here” it is a promise more sincere than any she has heard before and while she would never pressure you, part of her hopes that it is sooner rather than later. What she settles for is a soft
“I know. No matter what, I support you and I believe in you”
What happens next is instinctive. Alexia closes the space between you. Her hands threading their way to the back of your jacket while yours settle on her waist. The kiss is soft, unhurried and full of unspoken promises. There was no uncertainty, just the surety of two people who knew their future was intertwined just not knowing when that would happen.
When you pulled back, her forehead rested against yours, both of you breathing a little heavier but smiling softly.
This night did not change the fact that the decision still loomed over the two of you. It did not take away the mistakes but it reinforced a promise that you were in this together.
An on pitch accident develops into something more between two people who are little more than strangers
Alexia explains her frustrations to Ona, who understands more than Alexia realises
The Barcelona locker room is quieter than usual. After an intense morning session, most of the team had already filtered out. Some to report for media duties, some to recovery and some simply trying to have some sort of existence outside of football and make the most of whatever sun they had left. The only sounds were the dull hum of distant voices and the occasional clatter from somewhere down the corridor.
Alexia hadn’t left. She was sat on the bench in front of her locker, elbows resting on her knees and hands loosely clasped. She hadn’t moved in a while and if she were being honest, she hadn’t registered the rest of the team leaving
She is half changed (she has managed to change her training top for a hoodie) but her boosts are still on. It is like she had started the familiar routine and then just stopped. Her mind would not let her rest. It was still back in the hotel room. Still playing over the conversation between the two of you. Every word, every pause and every look on your face.
Alexia is so lost in her thoughts she doesn’t hear the door which creaks open behind her, doesn’t register that she is no longer alone until Ona drops down besides her. The younger Spaniard stays quiet at first, allowing the silence to stretch out. It is Alexia who breaks the silence first
“I saw her before she saw me” Alexia says and Ona doesn’t need to ask her what she is talking about or who ‘she’ is. “She was laughing with her agent like everything was simple, like it was just another negotiation”
There is something fragile in Alexia’s voice and Ona exhales slowly, knowing she has to handle this with care.
“Sometimes that is the hardest part, the part that stings the most” Ona agrees. Alexia looks at her, eyebrow raised in question so Ona clarifies “when everything looks easy on their side – like you are the only one struggling or feeling the ache”
Alexia studies her properly now. The two of you had only been doing a long-distance relationship for a few months. The majority of Ona’s relationship with your sister had been long distance.
“You and Lucy okay?” she asks, the question coming out more instinctively than she expects. Ona smiles softly and lets out a breath that almost turns into a laugh
“we’re good” she says and then pauses “But it’s not easy and we have had more than our share of misunderstandings. When you are not seeing the person every day, everything feels more intense, every action examined more”
Alexia nods, it definitely is not easy. Different countries, different leagues, different lives running parallel but never quite coming together not matter how much you both want it.
“Do you ever feel like you are living two versions of your life – two versions of yourself” Ona asks suddenly glancing sideways at her captain
Alexia frowns as she processes the words “What do you mean?”
Ona leans back, staring up at the ceiling “One here” she gestures vaguely to the space around them “training, matches, recovery, everything we’ve built and then one there, with her”
Alexia’s expression softens “Si” she says quietly “all the time. It feels like the two versions are battling and I am not sure which one is going to win”
Alexia shifts so that she is leaning back against the locker besides Ona. “I didn’t even know she was here,” she says after a moment “I thought she was in London. Then there she is, sitting in a meeting with my club” she shakes her head “Like I am not even deserving of being part of the conversation”
“You know that’s not okay Ale” she says quietly without hesitation. You might be her girlfriend’s sister but as she told you after your talk. She is on Alexia’s side in this.
“She says she was trying to protect me” Alexia continues, frustration at the situation creeping in again “that she wanted to have all the information and answers before she came to me”
Ona lets out a small knowing breath before speaking “Lucy does that sometimes” she admits “Not the same situation but similar idea. She thinks if she handles it alone first, it’ll be easier on me”
Alexia glances at her “and is it?”
“Not even a little bit” Ona snorts “It’s worse because I feel like I wasn’t trusted to handle it in the first place, or that she doesn’t value my input, my opinion”
Alexia’s lips press together “I don’t need protecting” she says again firmly and Ona just nods. The silence settles between them again but it’s heavier now – a shared understanding.
After a moment, Alexia breaks the silence again “I told her I’m not doing this halfway”
Again, Ona nods knowing that Alexia doesn’t need any words right now, she just needs someone to listen, someone who understands why she is feeling so upset by what has happened.
Alexia exhales, dragging a hand through her hair “ she hasn’t decided yet” she adds “about Arsenal, about coming here; she doesn’t know”
Ona goes still for a second and that draw’s Alexia’s attention. She reminds herself that Ona was in this same position just a couple of months ago “The worst part is, no matter what chose is made, you lose something and your life changes”
The honesty hangs between them and Ona knows that Alexia is not done but she doesn’t rush her
“If she stays with Arsenal, stays in England then we keep doing this” she says slowly “the distance, the endless flights, the constantly missing each other”
“And if she comes here to Barca?” Ona prompts gently
Alexia hesitates for a moment “Everything changes” she admits. There would be no hiding place. The pressure, the expectations, the media intrusion and something much deeper because Alexia isn’t sure what will happen when your two worlds finally collide
“Alexia” Ona says gently “I am not telling you what you should feel but I have done both. I have had Lucy here playing together and we have done the distance and I would give almost anything to have her back here with me – or for me to be there with her”
Alexia looks at Ona, really looks at her and realises that she has been so caught up in everything going on between the two of you that she hadn’t properly checked on her friend in a while
“I’m sorry Ona”
“Don’t be” the younger woman shakes her head and gives a sad smile “with love like this you don’t get easy….you get worth it”
“After I left here the other day I realised that I am in deep. I love her too much to ever walk away” Alexia admits
The certainty in Alexia’s voice brings a smile to Ona’s face. She studies her captain for a moment before replying
“Just don’t punish her for being scared” Ona warns before standing. She places a gentle kiss against Alexia’s temple, a sing of affection and care before once again leaving Alexia alone with her thoughts.
Alexia doesn’t move, replaying Ona’s words as she thinks about what has happened in the last two days. She knows that she doesn’t want to lose you again but she is still hurt and she knows that it will take time for that to pass. She has to see you doing what you promised and letting her in.
For the first time, Alexia allows herself to think about what could be if you do come and she can’t control the smile that crosses her face. She knows, without a doubt, that she is ready for your paths to come together but she also knows this is something she will keep to herself. This decision has to be yours but she knows what she is hoping for.
An on pitch accident develops into something more between two people who are little more than strangers
Alexia explains her frustrations to Ona, who understands more than Alexia realises
The Barcelona locker room is quieter than usual. After an intense morning session, most of the team had already filtered out. Some to report for media duties, some to recovery and some simply trying to have some sort of existence outside of football and make the most of whatever sun they had left. The only sounds were the dull hum of distant voices and the occasional clatter from somewhere down the corridor.
Alexia hadn’t left. She was sat on the bench in front of her locker, elbows resting on her knees and hands loosely clasped. She hadn’t moved in a while and if she were being honest, she hadn’t registered the rest of the team leaving
She is half changed (she has managed to change her training top for a hoodie) but her boosts are still on. It is like she had started the familiar routine and then just stopped. Her mind would not let her rest. It was still back in the hotel room. Still playing over the conversation between the two of you. Every word, every pause and every look on your face.
Alexia is so lost in her thoughts she doesn’t hear the door which creaks open behind her, doesn’t register that she is no longer alone until Ona drops down besides her. The younger Spaniard stays quiet at first, allowing the silence to stretch out. It is Alexia who breaks the silence first
“I saw her before she saw me” Alexia says and Ona doesn’t need to ask her what she is talking about or who ‘she’ is. “She was laughing with her agent like everything was simple, like it was just another negotiation”
There is something fragile in Alexia’s voice and Ona exhales slowly, knowing she has to handle this with care.
“Sometimes that is the hardest part, the part that stings the most” Ona agrees. Alexia looks at her, eyebrow raised in question so Ona clarifies “when everything looks easy on their side – like you are the only one struggling or feeling the ache”
Alexia studies her properly now. The two of you had only been doing a long-distance relationship for a few months. The majority of Ona’s relationship with your sister had been long distance.
“You and Lucy okay?” she asks, the question coming out more instinctively than she expects. Ona smiles softly and lets out a breath that almost turns into a laugh
“we’re good” she says and then pauses “But it’s not easy and we have had more than our share of misunderstandings. When you are not seeing the person every day, everything feels more intense, every action examined more”
Alexia nods, it definitely is not easy. Different countries, different leagues, different lives running parallel but never quite coming together not matter how much you both want it.
“Do you ever feel like you are living two versions of your life – two versions of yourself” Ona asks suddenly glancing sideways at her captain
Alexia frowns as she processes the words “What do you mean?”
Ona leans back, staring up at the ceiling “One here” she gestures vaguely to the space around them “training, matches, recovery, everything we’ve built and then one there, with her”
Alexia’s expression softens “Si” she says quietly “all the time. It feels like the two versions are battling and I am not sure which one is going to win”
Alexia shifts so that she is leaning back against the locker besides Ona. “I didn’t even know she was here,” she says after a moment “I thought she was in London. Then there she is, sitting in a meeting with my club” she shakes her head “Like I am not even deserving of being part of the conversation”
“You know that’s not okay Ale” she says quietly without hesitation. You might be her girlfriend’s sister but as she told you after your talk. She is on Alexia’s side in this.
“She says she was trying to protect me” Alexia continues, frustration at the situation creeping in again “that she wanted to have all the information and answers before she came to me”
Ona lets out a small knowing breath before speaking “Lucy does that sometimes” she admits “Not the same situation but similar idea. She thinks if she handles it alone first, it’ll be easier on me”
Alexia glances at her “and is it?”
“Not even a little bit” Ona snorts “It’s worse because I feel like I wasn’t trusted to handle it in the first place, or that she doesn’t value my input, my opinion”
Alexia’s lips press together “I don’t need protecting” she says again firmly and Ona just nods. The silence settles between them again but it’s heavier now – a shared understanding.
After a moment, Alexia breaks the silence again “I told her I’m not doing this halfway”
Again, Ona nods knowing that Alexia doesn’t need any words right now, she just needs someone to listen, someone who understands why she is feeling so upset by what has happened.
Alexia exhales, dragging a hand through her hair “ she hasn’t decided yet” she adds “about Arsenal, about coming here; she doesn’t know”
Ona goes still for a second and that draw’s Alexia’s attention. She reminds herself that Ona was in this same position just a couple of months ago “The worst part is, no matter what chose is made, you lose something and your life changes”
The honesty hangs between them and Ona knows that Alexia is not done but she doesn’t rush her
“If she stays with Arsenal, stays in England then we keep doing this” she says slowly “the distance, the endless flights, the constantly missing each other”
“And if she comes here to Barca?” Ona prompts gently
Alexia hesitates for a moment “Everything changes” she admits. There would be no hiding place. The pressure, the expectations, the media intrusion and something much deeper because Alexia isn’t sure what will happen when your two worlds finally collide
“Alexia” Ona says gently “I am not telling you what you should feel but I have done both. I have had Lucy here playing together and we have done the distance and I would give almost anything to have her back here with me – or for me to be there with her”
Alexia looks at Ona, really looks at her and realises that she has been so caught up in everything going on between the two of you that she hadn’t properly checked on her friend in a while
“I’m sorry Ona”
“Don’t be” the younger woman shakes her head and gives a sad smile “with love like this you don’t get easy….you get worth it”
“After I left here the other day I realised that I am in deep. I love her too much to ever walk away” Alexia admits
The certainty in Alexia’s voice brings a smile to Ona’s face. She studies her captain for a moment before replying
“Just don’t punish her for being scared” Ona warns before standing. She places a gentle kiss against Alexia’s temple, a sing of affection and care before once again leaving Alexia alone with her thoughts.
Alexia doesn’t move, replaying Ona’s words as she thinks about what has happened in the last two days. She knows that she doesn’t want to lose you again but she is still hurt and she knows that it will take time for that to pass. She has to see you doing what you promised and letting her in.
For the first time, Alexia allows herself to think about what could be if you do come and she can’t control the smile that crosses her face. She knows, without a doubt, that she is ready for your paths to come together but she also knows this is something she will keep to herself. This decision has to be yours but she knows what she is hoping for.
