Arsenal Womens OneShots

Playing With Fire-Katie McCabe×Ruesha Littlejohn

The tension had been brewing long before the match began. Arsenal's clash with the London City Lionesses wasn't just another game in the season—it was personal. For Katie McCabe, Arsenal's fiery and fearless left-back, and Ruesha Littlejohn, her long-time partner and a tenacious midfielder for the Lionesses, the stakes were higher than anyone else on the pitch could understand.Their relationship had always thrived on the intensity of their personalities. Off the field, they were inseparable, the kind of couple whose banter and competitive nature kept their love exciting. But on the pitch, especially in a match like today's, their dynamic was combustible. Katie's commitment to Arsenal was unquestionable, and so was Ruesha's loyalty to her own club. For 90 minutes, love was put aside for the crest on their shirts.The whistle blew, and from the start, the game was heated. Both teams were playing with relentless energy, but it was Katie and Ruesha who seemed to be caught in their own personal duel. Every time they came face-to-face on the pitch, the air crackled with unresolved tension. The tackles became sharper, the stares harder. The first real moment of friction came in the 25th minute. Ruesha, always gritty and unafraid to put her body on the line, came in with a hard challenge on Katie. She slid in cleanly, but the impact was fierce, sending Katie tumbling to the ground. The whistle didn't blow—play on—but the message was clear. Katie leapt to her feet, glaring at Ruesha, who shot back a smirk that could have lit the whole stadium on fire. "That all you got?" Ruesha teased, her Irish accent laced with challenge.Katie didn't respond with words, just a hard stare as she jogged back into position. The fire in her eyes was unmistakable. For the rest of the first half, they clashed repeatedly, each challenge more intense than the last. It was no longer just a game—it was a battle of wills, and neither was backing down.As the halftime whistle blew, tensions between the two teams were already sky-high, but the real explosion was waiting in the tunnel.As the players headed toward the dressing rooms, Katie and Ruesha found themselves walking side by side. The adrenaline from the first half hadn't worn off, and neither of them was in the mood to back down."You playin' dirty now?" Katie muttered under her breath, her voice low but dripping with accusation.Ruesha scoffed, not even looking at her. "That's rich, coming from you. It's football, Katie. What, you expect me to go easy on you just 'cause we share a house?"Katie's hands balled into fists at her sides, her temper rising. "I don't care who you're playing for. That was reckless.""You've never complained about me being reckless before," Ruesha shot back, her voice growing louder.The other players were starting to take notice, and Caitlin Foord, who had been walking just behind Katie, stepped in, sensing things were about to escalate."Alright, that's enough," Caitlin said, moving between them. "Take it easy, both of you. We've still got another half to play."But Katie wasn't calming down. "Stay out of this, Caitlin," she snapped, her eyes still locked on Ruesha. "This is between me and her."Ruesha, never one to shy away from a confrontation, stepped forward, her face inches from Katie's. "You can dish it out on the pitch, but you can't take it? Grow up, Katie."The words hit like a slap, and Katie's restraint finally broke. She lunged forward, shoving Ruesha hard in the chest. The tunnel, already tense, erupted into chaos. Players from both teams rushed to separate them, while Caitlin, caught in the middle, tried to pull Katie back."Katie! Enough!" Caitlin yelled, wrapping an arm around her teammate's shoulders and physically dragging her away from Ruesha, who was being held back by her own teammates, shouting across the distance between them. "You want to fight me? Let's go, then! Don't hide behind your little teammate!"Katie struggled against Caitlin's grip, her voice filled with anger. "She's got no respect!"Caitlin tightened her hold on Katie, pulling her further down the tunnel and out of earshot of the others. "You're not doing this here," she hissed, her voice firm but calm. "Think about what you're doing. This isn't worth it."Katie stopped struggling, but her body was still tense, her breathing ragged as she tried to calm herself down. Caitlin turned her to face her, her voice softer now. "Look, I get it. It's personal. But you need to let it go, alright? We've got a game to win. Don't let this ruin everything."Katie's jaw clenched, her eyes still burning with frustration, but she nodded, albeit reluctantly. "She just... she knows how to get under my skin.""I know," Caitlin said with a small smile, her tone lightening. "But you're tougher than this. Don't let her win like this. Save it for the pitch."The second half was even more intense than the first. Every time Katie and Ruesha crossed paths, the tension was palpable. But this time, Katie kept her cool, using the anger to fuel her performance rather than letting it control her. She was sharp, focused, and relentless. Arsenal pushed forward, and in the 70th minute, Katie delivered a perfect cross that led to the winning goal.The final whistle blew, and Arsenal had taken the win. The team celebrated, but the air between Katie and Ruesha was still thick with unresolved tension. As the players shook hands, Katie found herself standing in front of Ruesha.For a moment, neither of them spoke. The crowd roared around them, but they stood still, locked in a silent standoff. Finally, Ruesha broke the silence, her voice low and serious. "You played well."Katie nodded, her own voice tight. "So did you."It wasn't an apology, but it was enough. They both knew that the fight wasn't really about the game. It was about the deeper complexities of their relationship, the struggles of balancing love and competition. But for now, that conversation could wait.As they walked off the pitch, Caitlin jogged up beside Katie, throwing an arm around her shoulder. "See? You didn't need to throw any punches to win."Katie smirked, glancing over at Ruesha, who was talking to her teammates. "Yeah, well... next time, maybe."Caitlin laughed. "You two are a nightmare."Katie shrugged, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Maybe. But she's my nightmare."