Kyra sat on the bench beside Alessia in the Old Trafford locker room, her knee gently brushing against Alessia's, sensing the tension running through her fiancée's body. The hum of pre-match preparations buzzed around them—boots scuffing on the concrete floor, teammates murmuring final words of encouragement—but for Kyra, her focus was solely on Alessia. She could feel Alessia's nerves, her silence louder than any of the conversations swirling around them.
"Less," Kyra whispered, nudging her gently, "you good?"
Alessia blinked, turning to face her, eyes full of a thousand thoughts. "Yeah, I'm good. Just... you know, it's United."
Kyra knew how much this game meant. Alessia had grown up at Manchester United, and now, playing for Arsenal, facing her old club came with a heavy weight. The boos, the pressure, the memories—it all piled up.
Kyra placed her hand on Alessia's, squeezing gently. "You'll show them why you're the best. They can boo all they want, but they know they lost someone they can never replace."
Alessia managed a small smile, leaning into Kyra's touch. "Thanks, Ky."
Kyra wanted to do more, say more, but they were running out of time. The match would start soon, and she needed to stay focused as well, but in that moment, she promised herself that tonight she wouldn't leave Alessia alone. No matter what.
___
Later that night, back at the team hotel, Kyra sat cross-legged on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Laia, her roommate, was sitting across from her, scrolling on her phone. The two had gotten comfortable with each other over the season, but tonight, Kyra's mind was elsewhere.
"Laia," Kyra began, her voice breaking the silence in their room, "who's Less rooming with tonight?"
Laia glanced up, thinking for a second. "I think she's with Vic."
Kyra smiling and couldn't help but bite her lip, a teasing grin forming. "Of course, Pelova... never misses a chance to be alone with my fiancée."
Laia burst out laughing, shaking her head. "You and your 'jealousy' of Vic. It's incomparable, Ky."
Kyra snorted, shooting Laia a mock glare. She stayed quiet for a minute, her mind working, then looked back at Laia, eyes serious. "What?"
Kyra hesitated, then leaned forward. "I need you to help me get into Alessia's room."
Laia raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a grin. "You're serious?"
Kyra nodded, her grin matching Laia's now. "Dead serious."
___
A few minutes later, Kyra and Laia found themselves sneaking down the corridor on the second floor of the hotel. They had to be stealthy; couples weren't allowed to share rooms, and everyone accepted this rule—everyone except Kyra. But tonight, rules be damned. Alessia needed her, and she wasn't going to let anything get in the way.
As they approached the staircase that would take them to the third floor, they heard a door creak open. Both froze, Kyra's heart leaping into her throat. From around the corner came their captain, Kim, strolling down the corridor, completely unaware of the chaos Kyra and Laia were about to cause.
Without thinking, Laia grabbed Kyra's hand and yanked her around the corner. They bolted down the hallway, their footsteps barely making a sound. They ducked behind a wall, breath held, as Kim continued walking, her back turned to them.
Kyra peeked out from behind the wall, then sighed in relief. "How the hell didn't she see us?"
Laia shrugged, grinning. "We're just that good."
