Football One Shots

~Neymessi~

This is not a part three, but a different story.
"You broke him! How could you do that to your own friend!?" I shoved Claudio against the locker and yelled at him.
I couldn't really blame Claudio... He was doing his job. I just needed someone to blame for Leo's downfall. Ever since he came back from America, he hasn't been the same. He's sad and he feels low. He hasn't talked to me, only Luis. That's what confused me most, he ran to Luis for comfort and reassurance, yet I'm the one who's been through the same struggle. Does he not remember what happened to me during the World Cup? After that, I was upset and felt like a disappointment. Leo comforted me, but he won't allow me to return the favor.
I was pulled off of Claudio by Dani and held back as I tried to break free from Dani's hold.
"What the hell are you doing Neymar!?" Luis's voice rang from behind me.
Now, the mistake I made here was not thinking about who else might be in the room with Luis.
"He took My Leo from me! He took him and crushed him! And now, Leo's not the same!" A tear escaped my eye as I fell limp in Dani's arms.
A sob wracked through me and echoed in the locker room. Dani pulled me tight to his chest as I fell apart.
Claudio took a step forward and placed his hand on my head, he whispered something to Dani before leaving. Just before he stepped out, he spoke.
"I'm sorry Leo." My eyes grew wide as my face stayed in Dani's chest.
"It's not you fault Claudio. It's alright." Leo's voice was strong, but I knew how he felt, anything but.
An uncomfortable silence filled the locker room and the only thing heard was my periodic sobs. Dani began to pull away from me, but I clung to him like he was my lifeline.
"Ney, I think you and Leo need to have a chat." I swallowed down my tears and stared into Dani's eyes.
"Ok." Dani and Luis quickly left the room.
Leo stood before me, looking into my wet eyes, but not saying anything. I saw worry flash through his eyes as he took a step forward.
"Leo..." I cried out and opened my arms.
He quickly closed the distance between us and embraced me in a tight hug. I sobbed into his warm neck and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Ney, I'm ok. I'm right here." I shook my head.
"You're not the same Leo. I understand you feel like a disappointment, but why won't you talk to me? You talk to Luis, but I'm the one who knows what you're feeling. Remember the World Cup? You think that was easy for me? You need to know that I'm here." A tear landed on my neck and I knew Leo was crying.
"I know Ney. Of course I know. God, I was the one comforting you! I want to talk to you about it, but I don't want my problems to get in the way of us. Luis is helping me cope well enough. Please, just try and understand I need time. The old me will be back before you know it." Leo backed away from me and gave a small smile.
"I have to sort this out for myself." He turned and walked towards the door.
"Don't leave me Leo." I whispered as my voice cracked.
Leo's stride halted for a second, but he didn't turn to face me. He carried on until he reached the door. His hand grasped the handle and he pulled.
"No! Don't leave me Leo!" I screamed and began to cry some more.
"I have to." That was the only thing he whispered before he walked out.
I sank to my knees and buried my face in my hands. I sobbed for what felt like forever. I didn't notice that I had laid down and almost fallen asleep, until I was lifted from the ground and carried.
My eyes were heavy but they cracked open enough to to show the small Argentine carrying me. I felt this nagging feeling in my chest that told me I wouldn't be feeling this close proximity for a while after tonight.
"Why Leo?" I croaked as my eyes closed again.
"Go to sleep Ney."
----
Months have passed and the old Leo still isn't back. He lied to me. The old Leo was never coming back. The trident has fallen apart, now it's just Leo and Luis, football's greatest duo yet. What happened to Leo and I being the greatest? Now I'm just there to make them look good.
Many thoughts have swarmed my mind recently, and I've struggled to sort them. I couldn't figure out what to do about Leo. How to get my spot in the trident back. How to rebuild my friendship with Leo. How to bring the Old Leo back.

He isn't coming back...

My subconscious spoke to me and I sighed in sadness. I tried to stay hopeful these past few months, but as the days go by, my hope becomes less and less. Soon enough, it'll be whittled down to nothing.
"I know..." I whispered to myself as I headed inside, towards the locker room.
I finished practice a bit before the rest of the group due to the fact that they're playing a game and I'm not feeling it.
"I want you in my life... Your arms are my castle, your heart is my sky. They wipe away tears that I cry. Oh the good and the bad times, we've been through them all. You make me rise when I fall..." My soft singing quieted when I heard footsteps exit the shower room.
"Neymar? Is that you singing?" Leo.
"Shit," I whispered under my breath, "Hey Lionel, I didn't know you were in here. Sorry." Leo visibly clenched his teeth in anger when I called him Lionel.
He had told me when I first arrived here, that only his acquaintances and complete strangers called him by his first name.
"Why did you call me that?" I swallowed and looked down.
"It's your name, is it not?" A loud bang caused me to jump.
Leo smashed a dent into one of the large lockers that held extra socks and such.
"Don't get smart with me Ney. It won't end well for you." I rolled my eyes and looked at him.
"Shut up Leo!" His eyes grew wide in surprise as I lashed out.
"Wha-" I cut him off.
"I'm sick of this! I'm tired of waiting! You need to come back to me, and soon, or I won't be here when you finally do. I've been patient, but that's run out, now I'm pissed and annoyed. I want the old you to come back! I don't like this new, crabby, selfish, ignorant, Leo. I want the helpful, smart, surprising, honest, caring, Leo that I fell in love with. So, either you need to change, at least try, or I'm done." My fists were clenched to my side.
I had only then realized how close to Leo I was. He was pressed against the wall and I was in his face. I had to try my hardest to hold myself back from wrapping him in a desperate hug. Leo's hand found its way to my cheek and his thumb wiped away the moisture.
"Don't cry Ney..."
"Well what else am I supposed to do?" I croaked.
"Move on..." He whispered.
The room went silent as I stared at him in shock. I stilled my shakey lips before whispering back.
"Is that what you really want?"
"It's what's best."
"But is it what you want?" I pleaded for the truth.
Leo swallowed hard and dropped his gaze to the floor.
"Y-yes." I bit my bottom lip as I fought to hold in the tears.
"Ok. I'll leave you be." I stepped back and took one more look over Leo before exiting the room.
My feet drug across the floor as I stared straight ahead. My face was flat and the only sign of emotion was a single tear resting on my cheek. My chest ached as I replayed Leo's words in my head. He really didn't want me I guess. The old Leo was dead. Now, this man we called Leo, was someone I didn't know at all.
"Hey Neymar! Where you going bud?" Dani's voice filled my ears.
The throbbing in my head grew worse as I thought of my reply. I tried to get at least a word out of my mouth, but I couldn't. I was on the verge of sobbing, and talking would push me over the edge. So, I simply looked back at him and shook my head.
"Ney? What's wrong?" I didn't turn around again, but instead, continued walking until I reached the parking lot.
As soon as the door to the building shut, I let everything go. I fell to pieces on the pavement as my heart shattered. Realization came across me in a quick wave and broke me even more. I thought Leo was broken, but now, it's me.
Dani's strong arms found my mid-section and lifted me off the ground. I didn't bother putting up a fight, as if I could, all my strength and energy was drained from my body the moment I walked out of those doors.
I began to hyperventilate and shake in Dani's grip as he carried me to his car. He laid me in the back seat and quickly hopped in the front. I could feel his eyes constantly falling on me through the mirror as he drove. Soon enough, I fell into a deep sleep filled with darkness and silence.
---
"He's been in that bed for the past four days and I don't see him getting up anytime soon. It's almost as if he's disabled. I have to feed and bathe him and he doesn't speak or express any emotion on his face." Dani was off to the side, talking to Lord-knows-who on the phone.
"I tried to get him to talk! He just stares off into space." Dani sighed and mumbled a bit.
"Ok. I'll try, but after this, if he doesn't change, you're coming over here and fixing him." Dani bit before hanging up the phone.
He stalked into the room with a determined look on his face.
"Get up Neymar. This is ridiculous. You're not a child, so stop acting like one. Handle your problems like a real man would."
"Oh yeah? And how do 'real men' handle their problems? Last time I checked, Leo was a 'real man', yet he handles his problems by ignoring them... Exactly what I'm doing." I muttered.
Dani stood silent for a few moments before sighing.
"Fine. Then how about I call him over here for you two to solve whatever this shit is. We have an important week coming up and you have yet to leave your bed. Enrique isn't gonna buy the 'flu' much longer." He didn't leave room for argument as he slammed the bedroom door shut.
I groaned and sat up from my position on the bed. I ran a rough hand through my hair a few times before waddling off to the bathroom.
I quickly freshened up before changing into a pair of sweatpants and a Barca T-shirt.
I starred at myself in the mirror and frowned as I studied the man in front of me. He was practically unrecognizable with the bags under his eyes and the bloodshot eyes. The first word that came to my mind was 'hideous' but I quickly shooed it away when a knock rang at the door.
I didn't reply or move to get the door, I instead crawled back into bed and buried myself under the covers. The room was close to pitch black when I switched off the lamp. The creaking of the door hinge told me someone was entering the room.
"Neymar." Leo said my name with such concern, it almost brought me to tears.
"Ney please talk to me." He pleaded me, but I denied his request.
The covers were pulled down and I was soon met with the cool air of the room.
Leo's face was barely visible, but I could make out enough to know that he was sad.
"What do you want Lionel?" I groaned.
Leo went silent for a moment before pulling back the rest my covers and getting in my face.
"What did I tell you about calling me Lionel? You're not my acquaintance and you're not a stranger! Call me Leo! Please!" He sounded as if he was begging.
I looked up at him in shock as I saw tears threatening to fall from his eyes.
"L-Leo? Why are you acting like this? You're the one who wanted me to leave, move on, forget the old Leo. What's changed in the past few days!?"
"You. You're not the same anymore. Not having you around me these past four days has driven me up a wall. I didn't realize how much I wanted to see you everyday. I don't want to disappoint you Ney. I want you to love me, but I don't want to be a disappointment. Though, it looks as if I already am... I'm sorry..." A tear escaped his eye, but I quickly collected it on my thumb.
"No, I'm sorry. I know you're struggling, yet I seem to make this about me. I should be supporting and helping you through this struggle, not making it worse. Tell me what you need Leo, and I'll do it." Leo and I stared at each other for a moment in silence.
He leaned forward and captured my chapped lips in a soft kiss. It didn't last long, but it was enough for me to know what he needed.
"I'll be here, loving you until you're better." I smiled and pulled him onto the bed.
Leo chuckled softly before wrapping around me in a hug.
"That sounds perfect." And I couldn't've agreed more.