#chapter 7 vs chapter 13 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

bruhnze · 1 month ago

Text

PLAYING FOR KEEPS

CHAPTER 7 - Celebrations

Summary: Ona Batlle has had a crush on Lucy Bronze for a little while now… how will it go when she joins Barça? A 10 chapter series.

Warnings: Slow burn, angst, fluff, smut. All the things, but I give this as a complete warning for the whole series. Not every chapter involves all the warnings :).

masterlist

November 26, 2023: vs. Athletic Bilbao (4-0, away) December 9, 2023: vs. SD Eibar (5-0, home) December 13, 2023: vs. FC Rosengård (6-0, away) December 17, 2023: vs. UDG Tenerife Sur (2-0, away) December 21, 2023: vs. FC Rosengård (7-0, home)

22 December 2023 – Spain

The last few weeks had been nothing short of bliss.

Since the team trip to Germany, Ona and Lucy hadn't spent another night apart. It felt almost surreal how they’d slipped into this unspoken routine of staying over at each other's places.

Whether it was Ona with her little dog Coco at Lucy’s apartment, or Lucy crashing at Ona’s with Narla, they always found an excuse to be together.

There were no labels, no discussions. Just being. It felt natural, like the most normal thing in the world.

But it felt also like something heavy and unspoken hanging in the air.

Like on this chilly December morning, they had woken up at Lucy's place. Ona cherished mornings like these, the quiet moments, waking up wrapped in Lucy's arms.

The days she loved most were the ones when they didn’t have to rush off early. On those mornings, the dogs would join them in bed as one of them made breakfast. It felt like a slice of heaven, a perfect world of just the two of them, their dogs, and the cozy quiet of the apartment.

This morning, though, they did have to wake up on time. After waking up and some brief cuddles, they had walked the dogs before heading to the club for breakfast, followed by some light recovery training after their game against FC Rosengård the day before.

By early afternoon, they were done, so everyone of the team could get ready for the special night ahead. In the car back, Ona had insisted on an afternoon to herself. She wanted to get dressed on her own as she had no idea yet what she would be wearing tonight.

Now, standing in front of her mirror, fixing her hair, Ona’s thoughts where occupied with the plans for the evening.

Tonight was going to be an early Christmas dinner with the team, Barça staff and everyone’s partners, followed by a night out with just the girls of the team and their partners, without the Barça-B players or staff members.

The club they were heading to later didn’t allow phones, offering a sense of privacy they rarely had. But despite the freedom, tension knotted in Ona’s stomach. She could be close to Lucy tonight, but not in a way she, or maybe they both, wanted. As much as she longed to let go, to dance with Lucy in the way her heart ached to, she couldn’t. Not in front of everyone.

The thought frustrated her more than she wanted to admit. Her and Lucy weren’t in a relationship, even though it felt like it with their routines, they were secret. They just had an arrangement.

With a sigh, Ona turned her attention back to the scattered clothes across her bed. It was a chaotic mess of indecision.

Dresses, trousers, jackets… none of it felt right. She wanted to feel confident, yet safe. The sleek black dress she’d initially picked felt wrong. It didn’t quite had the vibe she was going for. She didn’t feel like something low cut or something that sat nice around her figure. No, she didn’t want to be perceived. Well, she wanted Lucy to, but it felt wrong. Tossing it aside, she settled on something else. A suit. It was sharp, it was elegant and it most of all it looked nice on her.

She slipped on the fitted black suit, smoothing out the jacket. A small smile tugged at her lips. This was the best it was going to get. The crisp white blouse underneath completed the look, giving her the confidence she needed to face the night. It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t daring, but it was good for now.

With one last glance in the mirror, Ona chuckled softly to herself. She didn’t really feel ready to "attack the night" at all. But there was one thing she was looking forward to, and that was cuddling up with Lucy at the end of it. And maybe something more. They’d see how tired they were after the night played out.

…

In the dimly lit car garage, the soft click of Ona’s slightly heeled shoes echoed against the concrete as she made her way to her car. She had offered to drive tonight, opting not to drink, and reassuring Lucy earlier that it was completely fine if she wanted to have a drink or two. Ona had no intention of drinking anyway.

When she arrived, Lucy was already leaning against the car, looking effortlessly stunning in a tailored black suit. Unlike Ona’s outfit, Lucy had paired hers with a sleek black vest instead of a white blouse. The sight of her took Ona’s breath away for a second, her heart skipping a beat at how natural Lucy made looking this good seem.

“You ready?” Lucy asked, her voice soft, a smile playing on her lips as the dim garage lights caught a glint in her eyes.

Ona nodded, fumbling for a second as she clicked the car open. “Yeah, let’s go.”

As they settled into the car, a silence fell over them. Ona’s hands gripped the steering wheel, occasionally glancing at Lucy from the corner of her eye. The tension was palpable but not uncomfortable, just unspoken, like there was something hanging between them that neither wanted to address first.

After a few minutes of quiet, Lucy broke the silence, her voice hesitant. “Did you, uh… did you have a good afternoon?”

Ona glanced at her, slightly surprised by the question. “Yeah… why?”

Lucy shifted awkwardly, shaking her head. “Oh, nothing, I-I’m just… it’s stupid.” She waved it off.

The silence that followed felt heavier now. Ona wanted to ask more, but the uncertainty in Lucy’s voice held her back. She reached out instead, placing her hand gently on Lucy’s knee. “You look really good tonight, by the way” she said softly, hoping to ease whatever tension Lucy was feeling.

The warmth of Lucy’s leg beneath her palm was brief. Ona immediately pulled her hand back as she felt Lucy tense slightly at her touch, worried she had overstepped. “Sorry-”

Lucy quickly caught her hand and placed it back on her knee. “No, no. It’s fine,” she murmured, her tone softer this time. “It’s nothing.”

Ona frowned, glancing over at Lucy as the car sped down the empty streets. “Is it because I said I wanted the afternoon alone?” she asked cautiously.

Lucy didn’t respond immediately, her gaze fixed out the window. They were getting close to the restaurant now, the dim lights of the street casting soft shadows across Lucy’s face.

“Is it?” Ona asked again, more confused. “I just wanted to dress up and do my hair by myself... that’s all.”

Still no response. The silence stretched out for what felt like minutes until Ona added quietly, almost shyly, “I missed you.”

Lucy’s head snapped toward her, eyes wide with surprise. “You… missed me?”

Ona’s face flushed with embarrassment. They had been spending so much time together, it felt safe to admit something like that now. She hesitated but nodded. “Yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

Lucy’s expression softened, but her voice dropped to a murmur. “I thought you finally realized you wanted your own space again.”

Ona didn’t catch the full sentence, too focused on parking the car in front of the restaurant. Her gears where still grinding about Lucy’s confused expression a few seconds ago.

As she finished reversing into the spot, she realized what she had forgotten to do. A kiss. She hadn’t kissed Lucy when they met at the car, too distracted by how incredible she looked.

“I forgot something,” Ona whispered, leaning closer to Lucy until their foreheads touched. Her voice dropped to a playful whisper. “Can I kiss you?”

Lucy chuckled softly, her breath warm against Ona’s lips. “Of course, if you want to.”

Ona frowned playfully, leaning back just a bit. “Want to? Of course, I want to.”

But Lucy’s gaze shifted slightly, something uncertain in her eyes. “I just thought… maybe you wanted things to be more casual again.”

Ona’s heart thudded in her chest. “More casual? Do you want that?”

Lucy hesitated, her words stumbling out. “I mean, we’ve gotten pretty close… and I get it if you want things to be simpler again.” Her voice was quiet, uncertain, as though she was trying to feel out how Ona truly felt.

Ona’s thoughts raced. Maybe Lucy was feeling unsure about this all. “I mean… I could do casual,” she said cautiously. “But, you know… for me, the sleeping over, the kissing… it’s nice.”

She cringed inwardly at how clumsy her words sounded. Nice? It was much more than that. She was trying to find the right balance between what she felt and what she thought Lucy might want.

Lucy smiled softly, her tension easing just a little. “Yeah. It is nice.” Then her eyes swept over Ona, and she blushed slightly. “By the way, you look perfect tonight too. I wanted to tell you earlier, but… I was a bit in my head.”

Ona smiled, her heart swelling at the compliment. “Thank you.”

There was a beat of silence before Ona leaned in again, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Well… what do you say to a kiss before we go inside and have to spend the whole night without?”

Lucy nodded, her eyes soft and warm as she leaned in closer. “Yeah.”

Their lips met in a brief but hurried kiss, not their best, but enough to send a small thrill through Ona’s body. She pulled back with a smile, leaning in to kiss Lucy’s jaw, lingering there for a moment before murmuring, “Maybe more later tonight?”

Lucy tensed beneath her touch again, and for a moment, Ona thought she’d pushed too far. But before she could say anything, Lucy’s lips crashed against hers, more insistent this time, a teasing kiss that held the promise of more to come. It sent a shiver down Ona’s spine, leaving her breathless by the time they pulled away.

“Okay,” Ona whispered, her heart racing, “let’s go before I forget why we’re here.”

The restaurant was bathed in a soft, golden light, casting a warm and intimate glow over everything. In the corner stood a towering Christmas tree, its decorations shimmering under the gentle twinkle of lights, adding to the festive atmosphere. The mouth-watering smell of roasted meat, rich spices, and freshly baked bread filled the air, mingling with the sound of laughter and conversation from diners already seated.

As they stepped into the wardrobe, Lucy and Ona were greeted by Paños and her girlfriend. Hugs were exchanged, but Ona couldn’t help but notice a slight strangeness in the way Sandra looked at them. It was subtle, just a flicker of something that made Ona feel a little uneasy, but she shook it off.

The four of them arrived together at the tables, greeted by the cheerful voices of their teammates, who were already scattered around the room.

“Look who finally decided to show up!” Mapi called out with a playful grin, her eyes twinkling as she saw them approach. “We thought you guys were skipping out on us!”

Ona winced inwardly. They were late, and it was probably her fault. She hadn’t even checked the time earlier, lost in the moment, but when she’d walked to the car, Lucy had already been waiting. And during the drive, well, neither of them had exactly rushed.

“We’re not that late,” Ona shot back..

Lucy chuckled, clearly unfazed. “Just fashionably late,” she said with a chuckle, sliding into the empty seat beside Mariona.

Ona found her spot next to Aitana, directly across from Lucy. Their eyes met briefly across the table, a spark of something unspoken passing between them before Ona quickly looked away, focusing on the name card standing neatly on the plate in front of her. There was something charged in the air between them, a pull that only she and Lucy felt. Or was it just her? Ona didn’t know anymore. Lucy had been acting strange, distant, like she didn’t want to be as close anymore. It was confusing. Hadn't Lucy seemed into it just as much as she was? Ona's mind swirled with doubt.

The team, however, was in high spirits. The successful season so far had put everyone in a celebratory mood, and the promise of more than a week of vacation ahead added to the excitement. Laughter and conversation filled the room, and Ona tried her best to focus on Aitana’s enthusiastic chatter, but her mind kept drifting.

After the appetizers were served, Patri stood up, glass in hand, clearly having drawn the shortest straw and the one who had to give the toast. She rolled her eyes playfully before launching into a short but nice speech about family, health, and success.

“To a great rest of the season,” Patri said ending her toast, raising her glass high. “and happy holidays.”

The team cheered, clinking glasses as Patri finished her speech. Ona clinked her glass against Aitana’s.

Throughout the dinner, the conversations flowed effortlessly. Stories from training, memorable moments from matches, and inside jokes bounced from one end of the table to the other. Ona laughed with her teammates, but her gaze kept drifting, inevitably, back to Lucy. She couldn’t help it. Lucy had a presence that was hard to ignore, even in a room full of people.

Every time Ona tried to focus on the conversations, she found herself sneaking glances across the table. Lucy’s easy laughter, the way she threw her head back at someone’s joke, or how her face lit up when she made a joke of her own. Ona’s heart ached with an unspoken longing she was desperately trying to hide.

And then there were the moments when their gazes would meet. They were fleeting but intense. Lucy’s lips would curl into a small smile, subtle yet powerful, and it sent a rush of warmth through Ona’s chest. She tried to smile back, but each time she did, she felt her pulse quicken and her cheeks heath up.

No matter how hard she tried to shake it off, there was no escaping the pull. Lucy had a way of drawing her in, effortlessly charming everyone around her, while Ona sat across the table, feeling both lucky to be there and yet, on the verge of something breaking inside her.

Because as much as she longed to cross the invisible line between them, she knew she couldn’t. Not now. Maybe not ever. It wasn’t possible to tell her how she felt, Lucy would think she was dumb.

A couple of hours had passed.

The club was only a short walk from the restaurant, so the group had decided to walk over together. Now, Ona clung to her little circle of friends, hoping that keeping busy would distract her from the one person she couldn’t stop thinking about.

The club was loud and vibrant, pulsing with energy. The bass of the music thumped in Ona's chest as she and the team stepped into the dimly lit space. Neon lights flickered across the room, casting vivid colors over the dance floor, where bodies swayed, already lost to the beat. The no-phone policy added an air of intimacy, as if the world outside had disappeared, leaving just them in this chaotic, throbbing bubble.

At the bar, Ona ordered a soda, she sipped it absentmindedly. Across the room, Lucy stood, dancing with a few teammates. But it wasn’t just them. A couple of unknown girls hovered close, laughing, leaning in to talk to Lucy. Ona’s gaze lingered longer than it should have, her heart tightening at the sight of Lucy; so relaxed, swaying effortlessly to the rhythm of the music, her laugh ringing out above the noise. Or maybe Ona could just hear her laugh in her thoughts.

She’d seen Lucy dance before - after victories, celebrations in the locker room - but this was different. Lucy moved with a kind of ease and charm that made Ona’s breath catch. The jacket Lucy had been wearing was discarded somewhere, and now, in the dim lighting, the curve of her biceps gleamed under flashes of purple and blue neon.

Get it together. Ona forced herself to turn away, focusing on Salma, who was animatedly telling a story about a something something Vicky. She nodded, tried to laugh at the right moments, but her attention kept slipping back to Lucy. Every time Lucy laughed, it was like a magnet, drawing her eyes back across the room.

And then she saw it.

A girl Ona didn’t recognize danced her way toward Lucy, smiling as she touched her arm and leaned in to say something, her lips close to Lucy’s ear. Lucy’s laugh in response was casual, unbothered, but the sight of it made Ona’s stomach twist painfully. Then another girl joined, moving closer, her body swaying in sync with Lucy’s.

Ona’s heart raced, the sharp sting of jealousy overwhelming her. The girl was dancing against Lucy with her behind. She could barely focus on Salma’s words, every glance toward Lucy driving the knife deeper. Lucy wasn’t pushing them away, wasn’t stopping them. And why would she? Lucy was free to do what she wants, Ona thought bitterly, but the logic didn’t make it any easier. The ache in her chest grew unbearable as one of the girls danced right in front of Lucy. It seemed like she was enjoying the attention, Ona grumbled, Lucy didn’t even budge.

That was it.

“I’ll be back,” Ona muttered to Salma, barely looking at her as she hurried away. Salma’s concerned eyes followed her, but Ona didn’t stop to explain. She needed to get out of there, to breathe, to escape the crushing weight of her own emotions.

She shoved her way through the crowd, her pulse quickening as the noise of the club pressed in on her. Finally, she reached the bathroom, the door closing behind her with a muted thud, shutting out the chaos. Ona leaned over the sink, gripping its edge tightly as she stared at her reflection. Her breath came in sharp, uneven bursts, her vision blurring with unshed tears.

She was just a fling. Just a stupid shag buddy, the words looped in her mind, twisting the knife further. Lucy’s casual comment from earlier echoed painfully; ‘if you want things to be simpler again.’ Was this what simpler meant? Staying distant, pretending the emotions that churned inside her didn’t exist?

She squeezed her eyes shut, biting her lip hard to keep the tears at bay. But it was no use. The frustration, the jealousy, the hurt. It all spilled over. A tear rolled down her cheek, and before she knew it, she was sobbing quietly into her hands, her heart breaking in the small, dark bathroom.

A creak of the door behind her made Ona freeze. Quickly, she wiped at her face, trying to compose herself, but when she glanced in the mirror, she saw Alexia stepping out of one of the stalls. Her brows furrowed in concern as she took in the sight of Ona’s tear-streaked face.

“Ona?” Alexia’s voice was soft but laced with worry. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

Ona shook her head, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine. Just tired,” she said, her voice tight.

Alexia wasn’t convinced. She stepped closer, her gaze searching Ona’s face for the truth. “Tired?” she asked gently, crossing her arms. “You don’t look just tired.”

Swallowing hard, Ona turned away from the mirror, avoiding Alexia’s piercing stare. “I think I’m going to head home. I just… I need some air.”

Alexia studied her for a moment longer, her concern deepening, but finally, she nodded. “If you need to leave, go ahead. But if something’s bothering you… you can talk to me, you know?”

Ona gave a weak smile, her chest tight with the effort of holding everything in. “I know. Thanks, Alexia. I’ll see you later.”

Without waiting for a response, Ona slipped past her and out of the bathroom. She wove her way through the crowded club, brushing off questions from her teammates about where she was going. “Just tired,” she repeated to Patri, Pina, and the others, giving a strained smile. “I’m heading home.”

They let her go without pressing further, and soon, Ona found herself outside, the cool night air hitting her skin like a slap. Her breath came in shaky bursts as she hurried down the street, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill over again.

Fuck.

She was supposed to drive Lucy home.

Fuck it, Lucy could ask those whores for a ride.

At that thought her tears started flowing again.

.. from this point on: Lucy’s pov..

The team was inside the club for a while now but Lucy was beginning to feel uncomfortable. At first, dancing with Mariona and the other girls had been fun, but the attention she was getting from the random girls who had drifted over to flirt was starting to grate on her.

She tried to brush it off, to enjoy the night with her team, but the way the girls lingered, pressing closer, was making her feel trapped.

Her mind was elsewhere. It was on Ona. Ona, Ona, Ona.

She had been thinking about Ona the whole night. Her feelings for the beautiful Spaniard had deepened in ways she hadn’t expected, but she needed to be discreet about it, for Ona’s sake.

As she glanced around the club, she realized she hadn’t seen Ona for a while. Where was she?

Lucy finally excused herself from the pushy girls, slipping past them with a polite smile, but inside she felt unsettled. She made her way to the bar, ordering a Coke. She’d had a couple of glasses of wine earlier at dinner, but now the idea of drinking anything stronger made her uneasy.

Especially with those girls hanging around like vultures. The thought made her feel gross, like she was prey being circled. They were way too clingy for her liking.

“Hey, have you seen Ona?” Lucy asked Mariona, who had followed her to the bar. Her voice was louder now, trying to cut through the music.

Mariona shook her head, then turned to Pina, standing a step away. “Have you seen Ona?”

Pina nodded, sipping her drink. “Yeah, she left a while ago. Said she was tired.”

“Tired?” Lucy’s frown deepened, a creeping worry settling in her chest. “How long ago?”

“Like 10 minutes ago,” Pina said, “she didn’t look good. Her eyes where red, but she said she was just tired.”

Lucy’s stomach twisted with worry. Red eyes? Could it be from crying? She debated whether she should text or call, but if Ona had left because she was tired, the last thing she wanted to do was wake her. She didn’t want to overstep, but the nagging feeling in her chest wouldn’t let go.

“Yeah, she looked a bit sad,” Paños said sharply, her eyes locking onto Lucy with an intensity that made Lucy’s nerves spike. She moved closer, her gaze hard and unrelenting. After turning briefly to her girlfriend, whispering something, “A beer for me, please. I’ll be back in a bit. You wait here, babe, inside.” She walked closer to Lucy.

Lucy barely had time to process what was happening before Paños turned her attention fully to her, voice quiet but cold and commanding. “You, outside. Now.” She said in her ear.

Lucy’s frown deepened as confusion swirled. Had she done something wrong? She grabbed her jacket and followed Paños out into the cold December air, the chill biting at her skin. It was late, probably past midnight, but the icy breeze was nothing compared to the tension building in her chest.

Lucy turned around as soon as they were outside, her breath visible in the cold air. “So, wha—”

She didn’t get to finish. A hard shove sent her stumbling backward, catching her completely off guard. She searched for balance, her body crashing into a streetlamp, the cold iron digging into her back. She winced, gasping as the impact knocked the breath out of her.

“What the fuck, Sa—”

The sharp sting of a slap cut her off mid-sentence, her head snapping to the side. Pain radiated across her cheek, her hand instinctively flying up to touch the burning skin. “Ouch! What—”

“Lucía!” Paños growled, gripping Lucy’s chin with rough hands, forcing her to meet her gaze.

Lucy blinked, stunned. What the hell was happening? Did Paños have too much to drink? Why was she doing this?

“I don’t think you’re in any position to act so innocent,” Paños hissed through gritted teeth, her voice dripping with… she didn’t know, was it disgust? “I know everything, and I don’t understand what Ona even sees in you. Or saw.” She spat on the ground, her disgust palpable. “The way you treat her - it’s fucking disgusting. To think I called you a friend? I despise you.”

Lucy felt her knees weaken, the weight of Sandra’s words sinking in like stones. Tears welled in her eyes, her throat tightening. Had Ona told Sandra? Did everyone now know? Did they all think she was pathetic? Her mind spun wildly, shame and fear mixing into a sickening knot in her stomach. She knew Ona was out of her league, that this arrangement between them was something she was lucky to have. But now… did Ona hate her so much that she sent Sandra to do this? Was she really that revolting to everyone?

“Why are you crying?” Sandra scoffed, her voice mocking. “Don’t act like a little bitch now. Big guy in there, but a coward here, huh?” She shoved Lucy again, this time harder, luckily she didn’t fall as she still had the pole in her back. “I saw you two, you know. Outside the restaurant, you were kissing with Ona in the car.”

Lucy’s jaw dropped, her brows knitting together in confusion. What was this even about? This had to be the most baffling, brutal scolding she’d ever experienced.

“I observed you two,” Sandra continued, her grip tightening painfully around Lucy’s chin, making sure she had her full attention. Lucy’s heart pounded in her chest as she hung on every word, her mind racing to make sense of it all. “At the wardrobe, before dinner, you were sweet—helping her with her jacket and purse. I thought, ‘Okay, they’re finally going to tell us.’ But during dinner, what did I see? Ona looking at you the entire night, and you ignoring her. Not once did you acknowledge her. Not once.” Sandra’s voice cracked slightly, her whisper laced with a raw kind of fury. “Who ignores their girlfriend?”

“I—” Lucy tried to speak, her voice shaky, but Sandra’s sharp glare silenced her.

“Shut the fuck up,” Sandra snapped, her voice darker, more dangerous now. “I haven’t even told you the worst part yet. After you ignored her all night, Ona was at the bar, talking with some of the girls. Guess who she was looking for? Guess what she saw?” Sandra’s finger jabbed into Lucy’s chest with each accusation, making her wince. “She saw her secret girlfriend dancing with a couple of pathetic, easy girls who throw themselves at any footballer they can get their hands on.”

Lucy’s tears spilled over.

Sandra scoffed, shaking her head in disgust. “You’re even worse than I thought.” She spat on the ground again, her expression cold and unforgiving. “You’re cheaper than a 76-year-old whore.”

Sandra turned to leave, but Lucy, barely holding herself together, grabbed her jacket, desperate to say something to explain. “W-wait, I-”

A couple of hours had passed since that painful encounter. After Sandra had let go of her anger and frustration, Lucy had managed to explain herself, though the words had come out shaky and uncertain. She told Sandra everything. She had told about her feelings for Ona, how confused she was, how she hadn’t known what to do or say. It had all come spilling out, the words, her thoughts, her insecurities leaving her mouth until there was nothing left to hide.

Sandra had listened, the intensity in her eyes softening slightly. Then, much to Lucy’s surprise, she apologized. It wasn’t a warm apology, but there was something genuine in it. She hadn’t known the whole story. She hadn’t realized how deeply Lucy cared. Her girlfriend had come outside eventually, seemingly thinking it taken way too long. But the third person with them had been nice, offering a bit of calm next to the lingering tension. In the end, the two of them had brought Lucy home, making sure she was okay before leaving her infront of her building.

Now, Lucy laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, the events of the night spinning in her head. She felt exhausted but couldn’t sleep, her thoughts were too loud, her emotions felt too raw. Sandra’s words echoed in her mind. Was Ona really looking at her in love? What did that even mean? It couldn’t be mutual right, how could Ona want to be her girlfriend too. She had just wanted something casual.

Lucy turned over in bed, pulling the blanket tighter around herself, but it didn’t help. She couldn’t stop thinking about it. About how Ona had looked at her during dinner, the subtle glances across the table, the way their eyes had met for just a second before Ona had looked away. She hadn’t imagined that, no, she had seen it with her own two eyes. She did her best to respect their secrecy, but every time she did bend and glanced over, Ona was looking at her too.

But was she looking at her with heart-eyes? Lucy’s mind raced. Had it been there all along, right in front of her, and she’d just been too blind to see it? Too scared to acknowledge it?

Her chest tightened at the thought. She wanted to believe that Ona felt the same way, that the connection between them was mutual, but doubt still gnawed at her.

What if Sandra was wrong? What if Ona doesn’t feel the same?

But then, her mind drifted back to the moments that had made her fall for Ona in the first place. She closed her eyes, memories flooding her senses like a tide she couldn’t stop.

The late-night drives after games, when the world seemed quieter, and it was just the two of them talking about everything and nothing. The recent mornings when she’d wake up with the sleepy Spaniard in her arms, their dogs jumping on the bed, when she would make breakfast to give Ona a few moments more too sleep and the perfect smile that greeted her when she woke her with some soft kisses.

And then there were the times on the pitch, the way Ona would flash her that grin as she was better at something. The way her eyes would light up when they won a match together, whether it was during training or a real one. Those moments when Lucy had felt something shift inside her, something deep and undeniable.

She was in love with Ona.

She loved the way Ona’s mind worked. And the way how even her flaws where perfect, flaws that were only cute on this girl. This girl. Ona. Ona Batlle Pascal, the girl that had been slowly taking over her mind. Ever since that moment she had seen her on Staniforth’s wedding.

She had had the best night ever that day. She had wanted to reach out to the girl, but it felt wrong to hit someone up who was 8 years younger then she was. She wanted to keep thing at Ona, let her make a move if she was in to it too.

Then the thing at the hotel had happened. She had felt bad about it, because she was the one initiating the cuddles every time, but the thing that had happened had been all Ona. After that they had agreed on friends with benefits. It had been what Ona wanted right? Lucy tried hard to remember how exactly things had gone. Had she filled things in for Ona? Afraid of what Ona really thought? Keeping in charge so she wouldn’t be hurt?

Lucy’s eyes snapped open, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t keep doing this, she thought, her mind racing. She couldn’t keep pretending that this was just casual, that she didn’t care as much as she did. The ache in her chest had become too much to bear.

She had to tell her.

The thought hit her with such clarity that it made her breath catch. She couldn’t go on like this—hiding her feelings, pretending everything was fine when it wasn’t. She needed Ona. Needed her in ways she hadn’t fully realized until tonight. Especially after this night, God, Ona must feel horrible. She felt dirty, being seen by Ona like that. She hadn’t thought about it like that. Ugh, she was such a dumb bitch sometimes, she hadn’t even registered the girls until they where already dancing too close to her, invading her personal space.

She closed her eyes again. Trying to push the thoughts away, maybe even trying to fall asleep.

The truth was, she couldn’t sleep without Ona. Not anymore. The night spent apart felt empty, cold. Every night she wasn’t wrapped in Ona’s arms, she felt like she was missing something vital.

She had to tell her. The words repeated in her head like a mantra. She had to make up for the bad impression she had made. She needed to tell Ona, even it meant losing their arrangement.

Lucy tossed and turned.

Eventually as the alarm clock said 05:38, she decided on an ice bath.

Then she would at least be awake when facing Ona.

And that was if Ona wanted to face her.

#lucy bronze smut #woso smut #woso fanfics #lucy bronze x ona batlle #lucy bronze #woso imagine #lucy bronze x reader #ona batlle smut #woso #ona batlle

129 notes · View notes