131 w/ Aitana, please.
“I’ll spend a thousand lifetimes coming back to you” // Aitana Bonmati (870 words)
The trade hadn’t been easy on anyone.
But without a doubt, Aitana had taken it the hardest.
Ever since Barcelona had announced that you’d be returning to the States, practices felt longer, her legs felt heavier. Football felt less fun.
They all knew it was what had to be done for your career. Now that you were a regular with the USWNT, it would’ve been impractical for you to stay overseas.
But knowing it was necessary didn’t make things any easier.
8 months. It had been almost 8 months since you’d gone back to Washington D.C. It had all been hard, but with the season having just started back up, your absence had grown harder to ignore.
At least when she was on international duty, she had been able to pretend everything was normal. You weren’t ever with her there anyways! And back in the one bedroom apartment in Barcelona, she could pretend that your side of the bed was only empty because you were away following your dreams with your national team too. You’d be back. You always came back.
“You with us, chica?” It was Alexia who asked, looking at the younger midfielder sympathetically from her spot leaned against the wall.
Aitana hadn’t even realized she’d been staring at the empty locker that should’ve been yours until the voice of her injured captain snapped her back to reality.
“Sí.” Aitana responded as she shook her head, attempting to find some clarity.
—
“Could you stop shakin!” Erin laughed, swatting playfully as your leg bounced restlessly.
Playing at Cruyff was one thing, but sitting in the stands was a whole different experience.
“Leave her be, she’s nervous!” Ellie sniped at the Scott who wore a smug smile on your face.
“Nervous to see your girl?” She teased, searching for a rise out of you but only earning an eye roll and your middle finger.
Of course you were nervous. After a tough end to your season with the Spirits, you were terrified to come home to watch Barcelona play. You’d been working so hard to get back here, done everything in your power and then some.
Luckily, your anxious thoughts were interrupted by the starting whistle.
As always, it was a tense game against Madrid and you were secretly glad Aitana was benched.
And then Mariona decided she wanted to show off.
And everything was normal again.
7-0. The entire stadium was celebrating, and you gladly would’ve let yourself get swept up into it if security hadn’t shown up to grab you.
“No fair!” Erin whined as you shot her a wink, utilizing your player privilege to be escorted down to the locker room instead of having to bend over the barrier to greet your girlfriend who still somehow had no idea you were there.
When you reached the familiar room, your heart was back in your throat. You didn't know what to say.
Until,
“Y/N, it’s nice to have you home.” It was Giráldez who had spotted you in the hallway, the new coach holding out a hand in greeting.
“It’s nice to be home, sir.” You answered, shaking his hand and bowing your head in greeting.
“I trust you’ve worked everything out?” He asked, a smile on your face as his hand clasped your shoulder. Meanwhile, your eyes were wide in shock.
Ever since you'd left, you'd been working on coming back. It wasn't a secret, and the Spirits had done everything they could to support you. At least, your teammates had. You were almost certain those girls would move heaven and earth to see you happy.
“You mean you all still…” You couldn’t finish the thought before your manager nodded to silence your doubts.
“We’d be stupid not to. Now, go tell those girls. They’ve missed you.” With a final gentle squeeze he let you go, laughing as you were practically bouncing with excitement.
Without any further thought on the matter, you threw the locker room doors open. Apparently it was the right move to make because you couldn’t even get a greeting out of your mouth before your teammates descended on you.
“Y/N!” Mapi screamed, the defender being the first to see you. Closely following her were Patri and Mario, the trio fighting to get to you first.
“Cálmate cálmate!” You laughed, shaking your friends off so you could hug them one by one.
“Y/NN?” Suddenly everyone parted, the girls who had been hanging off of you understanding immediately what was most important in this moment.
“Tana!” The grin that took over your face was as blinding as the light that shone through Aitana’s eyes as the smaller girl launched herself onto you.
It was with ease that you scooped your girlfriend into your arms, her legs wrapping around your waist as your arms supported her. She placed a kiss to your lips immediately, earning a round of cheers from the rest of the girls.
“What are you doing here?” Aitana asked, leaning back so her hands cupped your cheeks and your foreheads rested together.
“I’m coming home, Tana.” You answered honestly, soaking in the gasps of shock from everyone in the room.
“Home? You’re coming home? As in here? You’re… you’re coming back to me?” Aitana could barely believe it, her eyes somehow even wider than they had been when you’d walked in.
“I’ll spend a thousand lifetimes coming back to you, mi alma.”
And with that the locker room exploded into another round of cheers as Aitana kissed you once again.
Home. You were coming home.