Football One Shots

~Neymessi~

TW: brief mention of suicide
I was sitting in the locker room with the team after our game against Córdoba.
I was upset with Leo and the team, but mostly with myself. I couldn't stop thinking about how much of a disappointment I looked like to my team, coach, fans, and family. I had multiple opportunities to score a goal, but I just couldn't find the back of the net. The only time I did was during a penalty!
My first good chance, which looked promising, was swept right out from under me by my own teammate, Leo...
He rushed passed me and tapped the ball in before I had the chance. I knew he was just doing his job, but I couldn't help being upset. I didn't show my frustration; I sucked it up and smiled.
"I'm sorry..." That's what Leo whispered in my ear as we hugged inside the goal.
I finished off the game with a, pretty much given, goal and I was disappointed in myself.
"Are you alright Neymar?" I looked up to find Gerard in my face.
"Huh, oh yeah! Just, um, tired..." I looked down at my hands as I twiddled my thumbs.
"Are you sure Neymar? Cause you don't look ok. Is it about Leo ta-" I cut him off quickly.
"I have to go." I stood up and ran out of the, now quiet, locker room.
When I got home, I threw myself on my queen sized bed and buried my body under the dark blue covers. That's when I let the tears fall from my dull eyes.
Around midnight is when the sobbing came and my screams rang through the empty house. I was surprised that the neighbors didn't come and tell me to shut up.
I stayed in bed and cried like this for almost three more days. I only drank the water I had on my night stand when my mouth was too dry to open.
On the third night, while I was sobbing, I heard pounding on my front door.
Someone finally realized I've been missing...
I thought to myself as I refused to get out of bed. I cried even harder as I thought about how long it took for someone to notice I wasn't there.
"No one would miss me if I killed myself..." I whispered.
I cried even more than before as I heard footsteps rushing towards my room. My door banged against the wall as it was thrown open.
"Ney, what's wrong!?" I immediately recognized the voice as Leo's and buried myself deeper into my bed to muffle my cries.
The covers were peeled back slowly as the cold air nipped my hot skin. I shivered slightly from the sudden change in temperature.
"Oh my, Ney, what happened to you!? You look so, fragile and ill." He brought his hand up to my forehead and held it there for a few moments.
"Oh, you're burning up Ney! We need to cool you down!" I had just then realized that I was drenched in sweat and I was breathing hard.
Leo quickly removed all the covers from my body and stripped me of my clothes, leaving me in my boxers.
He then picked me up like a bride and carried me to the bathroom. He turned on the cold tap and filled the bathtub before setting me inside gently.
I groaned in pain as the cold water clashed with the heat of my skin. Leo brushed my wet hair back from my forehead and continued to gently rub my head.
"Why did you do this Ney?" He asked gently.
"Cause, I'm useless. The team doesn't need me, no one does. I couldn't score an actual goal against Cordoba. That was an easy game, and yet I couldn't find the back of the net unless the ball was set in front of the goal for a penalty!" The room became still and silent tears streamed down my face.
"You're so wrong... The team needs you so much. But even more, I need you. That was one game Ney, you mightn't've scored the first goal according to the officials, but you assisted and created opportunities. In my eyes, we scored that goal together, and you were the most important player on the field that game." The tears came in larger quantities as I looked up to find Leo with a serious look on his face.
"Ok Leo." I closed my eyes as I yawned, wiping the tears away.
"You're pretty cooled. I'm gonna take you out and then dress you and make you something to eat." I nodded slightly as Leo's arms wrapped around my thinning figure.
He laid me on my bed and shuffled around the room, collecting clothes. He then stripped me of my boxers, which I would've been freaking out about if I weren't exhausted, and replaced them with a fresh, dry pair. Then, he slipped one of my t-shirts and a pair of shorts onto me.
"I'm gonna go make you a sandwich and get you some water." He spoke into my ear before placing a small kiss on the corner of my mouth.
I closed my eyes when he walked away. I was exhausted from the constant crying I'd been doing the past three days. I yawned loudly and rolled onto my side, putting my back to the door.
I must've fallen asleep because I jolted up after hearing a noise from next to me.
"Ney, you need to eat." In front of my face was a turkey sandwich with crackers next to it and a bottle of water.
"Thank you Leo." I looked into his eyes before quickly averting my gaze back to the food.
I could feel Leo's eyes on me the whole time I ate my food. I finished most of my sandwich, a few of my crackers, and all of my water.
Leo took my plate and placed it on the bedside table.
"Now you need to sleep Junior." I chuckled slightly at this name, which my Dad often calls me.
"Ok Leo." He smiled at me.
I laid back down onto my bed and pulled the blankets up from under me. After settling into the bed, I turned onto my side and looked at Leo.
"I'm gonna sleep here, ok?" I nodded and made room for Leo to lay next to me.
He situated himself under the covers, discarding his shorts and socks. He then turned to me and placed a hand on my cheek. We were nose to nose as my eyes began to get heavy and close slightly.
"Goodnight Neymar." Leo whispered and placed a small kiss on the side of my mouth.
----
I woke up feeling slightly better than I did the past few days. I nuzzled my self further into Leo's neck as his arms tightened slightly around me.
"Ney, I'm gonna get you some food and water." Leo called as he began to move out of his spot.
"You don't have to take care of me Leo." I whispered to him.
"Well somebody has to." With that he walked out of my room, only returning when he had my food.
I sat up in bed and took the plate from Leo's hands.
"Here's some toast with butter and a small fruit salad. Try and eat it all please. You need your strength back, as well as the weight you lost from not eating for three days." He pulled me up from my seated position and placed me on his lap.
He picked up a slice of toast and began to feed me. I ate slowly, only taking small bites from my toast. I finished both the toast and fruit salad.
When I was done, I rested the back of my head on Leo's chest and closed my eyes. His arms wrapped around my chest and held me tightly. He placed a kiss on top of head, then my cheek, and lastly, my neck.
"Thank you Leo... I don't know where I'd be without you." I stared off into space as I spoke.
"And I don't know where I'd be without you Ney."
"Better off then you are now. That's for sure." I whispered the last part.
"Why do you think so low of yourself Neymar? You are one of the best things that has ever come into my life. You make me a better person on and off The Pitch. Since you've come along, I've had someone to tell most of my secrets to and create a bunch of memories with. I couldn't ask for a better friend Ney." I turned and looked at him skeptically.
"Most secrets? What are you hiding from me Leo?" I asked in a teasing tone.
"I was really hoping you wouldn't catch that..." He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment.
"There are two things I've been keeping from you. One, I've been secretly feeding Poker behind your back and that's why he's overweight. Although, now that you shipped him off with Davi to his Mom's, he may have shed a few pounds. Two, I like you Neymar. And I don't mean as just friends." He stared into my eyes cautiously.
"YOU WERE FEEDING POKER BEHIND MY BACK!? I TOOK HIM TO THE FREAKING VET BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS A TUMOR! NOT HAD A TUMOR, NO NO NO, WAS A TUMOR!" Leo chuckled silently as I ranted on and on about Poker being a tumor.
"Will you just shut up and kiss me?" Leo asked.
I froze mid-sentence and stared at him with wide eyes.
"I'm sorry Leo, but I don't swing that way bro." Leo's smirk dropped off his face almost instantly as it was replaced with a look of sadness and fear.
"Kidding!" I grabbed the back of his head and pulled his lips to mine.
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I have A LOT of Neymessi in my notes. Sorry, not sorry.