#to tell anyone but sarina what she was doing

[lucawrites11]

any evie and keira birthday headcannons from yesterday?

keira got the best birthday present early - filing the adoption and change of name papers for evie just before the wembley match but evie didn't know she and lucy did that

on her actual birthday, it's tradition to have pancakes. evie is friends with everyone, including the chefs so she persuaded them to let her cook pancakes for the whole team for breakfast on keira's birthday. obviously, she didn't make all the pancakes herself just she made a lot of them. they also needed a cake and the chefs helped her make that again while everyone else was in training that morning

she wakes keira up after letting her have a line in with a cup of tea that she made her (in a flask because the chefs didn't trust her not to spill it) and gave her the homemade card that she'd had lotte's help making

her present was a new photo frame that she decorated to replace the one she made years ago that said Kei on it instead of Mama. she only brought one to camp but she also has four others decorated in different ways at home. the one she brought to camp has her favourite photo of the two of them in and she even wrapped it herself. then there was obviously birthday cuddles before evie got too impatient and dragged her mama downstairs so she could make her and everyone else pancakes

[futfemfantasies]

Her name // Alessia Russo ~ Lionesses!reader

Italics = flashbacks

TW: spain not winning the wc, disgusting pregnancy cravings, pure Lessi girl fluff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“But baby can’t you just tell me what it starts with?” Alessia whined as she laid her head in your lap, kissing your heavily pregnant bump in the process. 

“You said it was my choice since you got the last name. You’ll know in three weeks. Now, your daughter wants a pickle and peanut butter sandwich. Can you make her one?”

“You and your weird cravings mia ragazza (my girl)” She mumbles into your bump before getting up, kissing you on the way out. While Alessia makes your daughter her weird sandwich, your mind drifts off to how you got to this position. 

You transferred from Barcelona at 25, wanting to have a little bit more of a challenge in your league career. Alessia joined two years prior to your arrival and was smitten from the moment she met you. Kyra, Lotte and Emily gave her so much shit for not acting on her feelings. It wasn’t until an impressive half a season that you went to your second Lionesses camp, which is surprisingly the World Cup. 

Sitting alone on a little secluded beach next to the hotel got you thinking about many things. A few of your teammates were playing beach football and you watched, even though they attempted many times to play. You snuggle into your hoodie more as the sun sets and cold temperature appears for the night. A crunch of a branch makes you turn to see the blue eyed, blonde haired beauty you’ve grown to love. Alessia sits next to you in the little cave and drapes the blanket over the both of you, making her close to you. 

“I saw you out here in just your hoodie and shorts so I thought you could use this”

“That’s so thoughtful, thank you Lessi”

You two talk for hours and hours, you missed the texts and calls from your teammates. It wasn’t until you see flashlights that you know it’s late. You both get up and walk with Rachel and Millie back to the hotel. 

A few weeks later is the final of the world cup and you and Alessia are starting up front. The Spanish are putting up a good fight after scoring in the 29th minute, courtesy of Olga. Hemp scores early in the second half, levelling the score. England have a corner in what could be the last play of the game and you and Alessia are standing next to each other.

“You have this, go for it”

The hand is raised. Focus is on the ball. You can see it’s headed straight for you so you time your jump perfectly and head the ball towards the goal. You couldn’t believe it. You might have won the world cup for your country. The familiar swoosh of the net was heard and you ran to the corner post doing a salsa dance celebration before the team dogpile you. The ref blows her whistle to restart and tears are forming in your eyes as you look at the screen that shows 95:00. There was only six minutes of added time. England hold off the Spanish for another minute and then the final whistle is blown.

You are a world champion.

You won it for your country. 

Falling to the ground, you start crying until you feel arms around your shoulders.

“You’ve done well Y/N. Go celebrate with your friends” Sarina pulls you up and into a hug before you run off to the one person you want to celebrate with. 

You see Alessia in the distance hugging it out with Ella and on your way over, you are stopped by multiple Barcelona and English players congratulating you. Alessia catches your eye and runs over to you, hugging you tightly. 

“We did it!” You say with all the adrenaline running through your veins. 

“I could kiss you right now”

“I dare you”

Alessia smashes her lips on yours and you don’t regret it one bit. 

“Best day ever”

“Baby, princess, anyone home?” Alessia asks as she taps your temple gently with her pointer finger.

“Sorry, thanks my love” You give her a soft kiss as she sits next to you and pulls you in between her legs. 

“What were you thinking about?”

“The world cup final” Alessia smiles at that memory, one of her favourites.

Three and a half weeks later at 2:30 in the morning, you went into labour. You immediately started to freak out but Alessia calmed you down with some breathing exercises and words of encouragement. A short 14 hours later, your baby girl came out screaming her little lungs away. Alessia cuts the cord and the nurses asks her if she wants to hold her. Alessia whispers that she wants you to hold her first. The nurse takes her over to you and you move the gown for skin to skin contact. 

You hold your little girl and you fall in love immediately. Alessia falls in love with you all over again and shares that love to your little girl you are yet to name. You move over and gesture Alessia to sit next to you. She puts her arm behind you and runs her finger ever so gently down your princess’ small cheek.

“Hi my little Aria. I love you so much and so does your Mama. You have so many aunties that love you and two crazy but sweet uncles that can’t wait to play with you” You look at Alessia and she’s crying at the sound of her name.   

“Aria Mia Russo, meet your mama” 

You place Aria in Alessia’s arms and you lean on her upper arm. For what feels like hours, you are just staring at your bundle of joy. You give Aria a quick feed before Alessia puts her in the cot and cuddles up to you. 

“What do you think of her name?” You say tiredly.

“I think it’s beautiful, just like her mummy”

You give Alessia a kiss before the both of you get a quick nap in before the family comes to visit Aria.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

liked by alessia, ellatoone, leahwilliamson, stephcatley and 56,396 others...

ynyln: Aria Mia Russo you are our whole world 🥺❤️

view all 10,430 comments:

alessia: i love you both so much ❤️ ynyln: we love you too!

ellatoone: no way my best friends are mums 😭 alessia: you've literally know about this for 9 and a half months ...

alexiaputellas: La tía Ale necesita venir a visitarnos pronto. (Aunt Ale needs to come visit soon) ynyln: si, Aria necesita conocer a su tía española favorita 😉 (yes, Aria needs to meet her favourite Spanish aunt) albapts: hey!! 🥺😕🥲

[mapileonxputellas]

Beckham II: 3 Nerves

The third part is finally here! I hope you enjoy.

Masterlist can be found here.

9th February 2023

“Breaking news this lunch time, Sarina Weigman had named her squad for the Arnold Clark cup and included in the squad for the first time in nearly 4 years is Y/N Beckham.” England squads weren’t typically breaking news on the main news channels but this was no ordinary squad announcement. “Widely considered as one of the best players on the planet, Beckham has not been including in an England squad since the 2019 World Cup and her return dominated the press conference.”

Squad announcement press conferences are usually comminated by a few stories, the surprise inclusions, the ones who don’t quite make the cut. However when the list was read out it was immediately clear what all the questions would be about today as the eyes of world football turned to Sarina.

“Sarina can you tell us more about Beckham’s inclusion? Why has this decision been taken now after 4 years?”

“I know you’re all probably very interested in that so I’ll try and answer all of your questions. This hasn’t been a simple process for either party, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been watching her since I became England manager but it’s not that simple and we had to respect the fact that Y/N did not want to be called up. Over the past few weeks I’ve been working closer with her and we’ve agreed that now is the right time to see if we can make progress.”

“The squad has changed a lot since then but there are still players who would were in the squad in 2019, have you spoken to them about this?”

“I have not, I’d like to think that all players support each other and I know my players well enough to know that they will do all they can to make Y/N feel welcome in this environment both on and off the pitch.”

“Do you have any concerns around her desire to play for England and play for the badge. Will she have lost that fight in the past four years?”

“I can not prove that to you and I guess none of us will know the answer until she plays for England again but I would not pick any player I had those concerns about. I’ve watcher her play a lot for Barcelona and over this past year especially I’ve seen a freedom to her play. I just hope that we can all see that side of her in an England shirt.”

“David, were you shocked when the announcement was made?”

“I mean obviously we spoke about prior to the announcement but when she told me I wasn’t exactly shocked. It just annoyed me that people questioned her mentally because she is so strong now.”

…..

Everyone could tell you were anxious. Since the announcement on Thursday you’d been quieter than usual in training, your usual sweet laughter which your teammates loved had been replaced by a strained giggle and they could see you’d been putting pressure on yourself in every department.

Everything had to be perfect.

In the four days since your decision had been made public you’d received support from all your teammates but you could see they were also worried. Many of them had been here when you joined, they’d seen the aftermath and many of them had been your shoulder to lean on for months after.

Many of them watched on now as you retreated into your room, barely giving a second glance to the games currently taking place in the dining room, a tradition you were a usual member of the night before an away game.

Alexia and Mapi had noticed the changes just like everyone else, the three of you had a strong connection both on and off the pitch. Alexia had become an older sister figure to you and Mapi was your platonic soul mate. They knew your habits unlike anyone else and when the notebook you used for anxious tattoo scribblings had been out the entire journey to Mallorca it was clear your mind was elsewhere.

“You grab the pillows.”

“I’ll grab the blankets.”

The two of them scurried off to their own rooms, finding their entrusted items before meeting back at the door which they knew you would be behind. You wouldn’t have gone outside, your shy nature meant you struggled to have confidence in new cities, preferring to explore with others rather than alone as the sun went down.

Alexia knocked on the door, a moment of panic striking as they thought you weren’t going to answer before the door creaked open. Your wide-eyed figure stood in the crack, still in the tracksuit you’d travelled in rather than pyjamas.

“What’s going on?” The tree of you quite often spent the nights in each other’s hotel rooms, though those meetings were usually pre-planned.

Only you knew from the worried expressions on their faces this wasn’t a call to watch the latest film that had been released. “We’re worried about you.”

“I’m fine.”

You should have known that answer was never going to satisfy them. “Please can we come in.”

It wasn’t even worth trying to persuade them, not really. “Sure.” They couldn’t miss the sigh you let out as the door swung open. “Make yourself comfy.”

In the matter of minutes you’d gone from sprawling over the double bed alone to shuffling between the two players, being welcomed into the arms of Alexia as the three of you shuffled under the duvet.

“We’re worried about you.” MarÍa admitted, smoothing down the hair draped around your face. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you sure because I bet if we looked in that notepad we’d find more anxious doodles than before. You’ve barely spoken two words to anyone since the news broke out.”

“I read an article-“

“Didn’t I tell you to stop that.” Alexia scolded you. “Those journalists don’t know anything about you.”

“But they don’t know that.” You argued back. “They’ll be reading about how ‘cocky’ I am on and off the pitch, how I flaunt my money, how I think I ‘own the team’.”

“If they believe that then they really have no eyes. Then they’ll see how you’re one of the shiest players on the team, they’ll learn how you could live in mansion but donate so much money to charity, they’ll see how much you work on the team as a whole. You do everything for football and they need to see that.”

“If they don’t love the person they’ll come to know then that’s on them.” Alexia agreed with her.

“Are you sure this isn’t about a certain blonde centre back?” MarÍa teasingly questioned you. “Maybe this isn’t about you being nervous about the articles and more about going into gay panic around Miss Williamson.”

“I told you that in confidence that you’d never bring it up again.” It was true, a few years ago you had confided in the two of them that you used to have a small (very large) crush on Leah at the time.

“And I’m tired of you being the third wheel in our flat, you’ve rejected every opportunity for me to set you up with one of my friends so now I have to think that it’s because you’re still pining for the girl.”

“I’m not pining for anyone, it was a stupid crush which has gone in the four years that I haven’t spoken to the girl.”

“Would you like to speak to her again?” Alexia asked.

“I mean obviously I’m going to have to, she’s the captain of the team.”

“Message her now.”

“No.”

“Why not?” I could only think of a million reasons why I wasn’t about to do that.

“Because like I said, I haven’t spoken to her in nearly four years and it would be weird for me to just message her the night before we see each other again.”

“So lets role play it then, you walk into the hotel tomorrow and she’s there, what are you going to say?” Alexia asked the question you’ve been asking yourself all week.

“Hi.”

Both of them looked like they wanted to tear out both their own and your hair. “Ok you can’t just say that.”

“What else do you want me to say?”

“How are you? Ask her about her life?”

“You want me to speak to the girl for the first time in years and ask her basically how she’s been since we went from speaking every day to unfollowing each other on social media and avoiding any chance of meeting since then.” You needed better friends in situations like this. “I’m not going heavy on our first conversation.”

“You will need to talk about.”

“I know but it’s not just her I need to have that conversation with, I was close with a lot of them and now I’m not. They should be just as involved in that conversation as Leah is.”

“Maybe you could design her a little tattoo, something like ‘I love Y/N’ on her forehead.” MarÍa teased you. “Matches your ‘I love Leah’ on your chest.”

“Shut up, just so you know I’ll never stop cockblocking you and Ingrid, I’ll be round for tea when I get back.”

“Bonnie told me she wants to live with me all the time by the way, said something about her mum abandoning her.”

“Fuck off MarÍa.”

….

The first person to reach out to you wasn’t exactly someone you expected. Mary Earps wasn’t exactly in your friendship group back in 2019, though because she was a part of that squad she was one of the players who you unfollowed in the following unfortunate events. You definitely therefore were not expecting to see her name pop up as you made your way through the airport, heading out to the car which would take you back to your parents’ house before you headed to the team hotel later on in the evening.

@1maryearps: See you later mate, we can’t wait to have you back x

Your emotions were so all over the place that maybe you should have expected this simple message to bring tears to your eyes. Maybe that meant you’d have at least one person on your side tonight.

You spent most of the meal with parents and siblings trying to do anything to avoid the thoughts about what was happening tonight coming back. You spoke to Harper about her homework, Cruze about his latest holiday and Romeo about his girlfriend. Brooklyn could almost sense your nervousness and kept up the conversation, which was all fine until you had to leave.

They knew how big this moment was and each gave you an individual goodbye before you got back into the car. As much as you would have liked to have taken your dad’s offer to drive you, this was all about being normal and being drove by David Beckham didn’t really give off that vibe.

You’d made this drive a million times before, only this time it seemed to take half the time and before you knew it the doors to St George’s Park were in view.

The only person in view was a single man holding a video camera, obviously preparing for the players’ arrivals This was hard and yet you knew this was probably the easiest step, he didn’t know you. You got out from the car, flashing a small smile to the camera as it trained on your every move, making sure to say a thank you to the driver, you turned to head inside.

“How are you feeling Y/N?” The camera man asked.

“Excited.” You couldn’t exactly tell him you were shaking inside. “I can’t wait to be back with this amazing team.”

“Two goals from you today….”

“All thanks to my teammates.” It was only the truth, you were basically set up for both goals by Aitana, you couldn’t do anything but put them in the back of the net.

“Good luck.”

“Thank you very much.”

If you were known for one thing it would be your punctuality, in fact you almost had a fear of being late. Maybe you’d done it on purpose this time to avoid greeting teammates in front of the camera but you were the first here judging by the table in the reception area being full of keys.

“Y/N it’s good to finally meet you in person.” Anja, one of the members of the England management team greeted you. “I hope you’re feeling well.”

“I’m glad to be here,” You settled for that. “I can’t wait to get back on that pitch now.”

“Well we’re glad to have you here. Here’s your key, we’ll meet in the dining area for a quick debrief at 8 and then you’ll have the night to yourself. Training schedules for the week are in your key pack.”

“Thank you.”

This place hadn’t changed one bit, from the entrance all the way up to your rooms you could trace the steps without even looking. You could hear noise out in the corridor but you stayed put, waiting for the clock to tick to 7:50 before making your way downstairs. With it being ten minutes early no one was there but Sarina and the coaching staff. Could this technically count as your first impression to them?

Their eyes trained on you as you entered the room. “Hey, thank you once again.”

“Stop saying thank you, this is all on you.” Sarina instructed, giving you a firm yet welcoming hug, an action which was repeated by the others. “Go and take a seat.”

“Thank-“ Maybe not. “Ok Sarina.”

You didn’t really know what to expect from the others, the squad was definitely a mixture of youth and experience. However even some of the more established players like Alessia and Ella were unknown to you on a personal level.

Thankfully maybe the first ones in were some of the younger players, Jess Park and Ebony Salmon were both the epitome of excitement as they entered the room saying a quick hello to the staff before slightly pausing when they found me sat on the first row.

“Hi.” You knew it was on you to make the effort. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

“Nice to meet you too.” Jess said taking the seat next to me. “You’re killing it at Barcelona.”

“Thank you, I’ve enjoyed watching you play this season. You’ll be an asset at city when you return.” You loved studying young players and watching their development. Jess was no difference in that, plus it helped to build up that connection on the team.

The volume in the room increased as more players entered. Some like Laura Coombs and Katie Zelem gave you a quick smile before taking their seats, other youngsters gave you a quick welcome.

The first real re-introduction you had was when Millie and Rachel entered, your eyes instantly connecting and it was Rachel who led the two of them over. You had always loved the two of them and almost let out a sigh of relief when they both greeted you with hugs, repeating how glad they were to see you. Lucy and Jordan followed suit, the two of them messing about and pulling you into a tight hug before taking their seats.

It was however the final people to enter the room that you were the most nervous about. Maybe you should have been thankful that when Keira, Georgia and Leah entered the room the meeting was about to start and all you could do was send a glancing look their way before Sarina had eyes on her.

She went through the logistics, just like happens every time before she got into the depths of the squad. “It would seem like this is the squad for reintroducing yourself. Laura hasn’t been with us since 2020 and Y/N in 2019. We just want everyone to remember that they’re here for a reason and we all play for England, we’re all a team.”

You blocked everything else out, vaguely scribbling down on your phone some notes about the timings and rooms you were needed in but it was all a bit of a blur. You took your time at the end speaking to some of the other girls, no-one seemed to be making a huge fuss about the situation but the trio had disappeared again and you knew you had to speak to them tonight before this started to interfere with the rest of the camp.

Thankfully you managed to find them, the three of them tucked away in the corner of the dining room, huddled around a laptop playing something in German.

“Hey.” Your voice almost cracked as you broke through the silence. “It’s good to see you all.”

You should have predicted really that Keira and Georgia would be your road in, though the two of them were fierce on the pitch they really were softies off it and you were almost knocked off your feet when they bounded up to you, both their arms wrapping around you in a hug.

“We can’t believe you’re actually here.” Georgia said. “This is just crazy.”

“It’s definitely different.” Leah finally joined in and that was the moment you knew even as she joined in the hug, she was the one who would be the toughest to crack. She wasn’t going to let you in just as easy but the captain part of her probably forced her to not let it show around others. “Glad to have you back on the team.”

“Thank you.”

“Take a seat.” Keira glanced to the free chair next to Leah. “We were just watching Georgia make a fool of herself, want to join?”

“Yeah I’d like that, I’d like that a lot.”

[pitchsidestories]

New Romantics II Grace Clinton x Bronze!Reader

part 2 I masterlist I word count: 2534

a/n: hi, this is inspired by the cute request here. Anyone interested in a part 2 ?

You stood at the window of your London flat, taking in the view over the city. It was a surprisingly nice day but the restless feeling in your chest kept you from enjoying it. Your girlfriend watched you from the sofa on the other side of the room.

Unsurprisingly, as she had been called up for Englands Senior squad before. Something you have also wanted for a long time. And you were hoping that today would be the day your wish would come true.

A sudden buzzing sound jolted you from your thoughts.

It took you a moment to realize what was happening. You met Grace's eyes as you looked at your phone on the coffee table. It was still buzzing, the screen lit up with an unknown number.

“That’s her number, babe. Go and take the call!“, Grace exclaimed, bouncing on the cushions of the sofa.

“Okay, okay, calm down. You’re even more nervous than me.“, you joked before taking the call. “Hello?“

“Hello, y/n. It’s Sarina. I’m just calling to inform you that you made the team and we can’t wait to meet you.“, the national team coach immediately got to the point.

You could not stop yourself from beaming: “Thank you, Sarina. This call-up means a lot to me.“

With her typical dutch accent, she replied: “You really deserve it. I hope to see you soon.“

“I can’t wait.“

Your cheeks already started to hurt from smiling as you ended the call.

Grace walked over to you and wrapped her arms around you: “I can see from the look on your face that you got the call-up. Congrats.“

„Thanks.“ You shook your head in disbelief: “We’ll be going to the England Senior National team together. I’m so excited!“

You quickly pulled away from your girlfriend's embrace and turned on some music. You took Graces hands in yours and started moving the rhythm.

The midfielder laughed, trying to follow your movements. You had to admit that even though celebrating your call-up to the national team with a dance party was something you usually did when you played for youth teams, it never lost its fun.

However, one sudden realization made you pause after two songs.

“I guess I should tell my sister the big news…“, you said suddenly.

Grace turned off the music and gave you an amused look: “I wouldn’t be surprised if she already knew.“

“You’re probably right. Lucy loves to chat with Sarina about womens football, maybe she gave her a hint during one of their conversations.“, you laughed, thinking back about the time your sister had told you about her discussions with her coach.

“Probably.“, your girlfriend agreed.

With a look on your phone, you had to correct yourself: “In fact, Lucy is already calling.“

Eagerly you answered your phone: “Hi, Luce. Sarina called me up for the lionesses!“

“I know! About time that you finally join the grown-ups.”, your big sister responded in a jokingly tone.

Amused you shook your head: “About time? Lucy, do I have to remind you that you were 22 when you joined the senior England team and that I just turned 21 in February?”

“Excuse me? Do you know who I had to compete with? Alex fucking Scott.”, she huffed.

“Yeah, yeah you had no chance before that I know the story, you told it many times.”, you teased her while the Barcelona defender could hear Grace laugh in the background.

Because you two were on a video call you were able to see Lucy lifting an eyebrow in this exact moment unlike her eyes her ears were hearing everything:” Who is with you? Is that Grace?”

“Yes, that’s Grace, we celebrated our call ups together before you called and interrupted us.”, you explained smirking.

She rolled her eyes at you:” Sorry, that I wanted to congratulate my sister.”

“No, it’s cute.”, Grace interjected.

You both wrinkled your nose, pretended to be disgusted by her comment, while the defender was the first to speak again:” Ew, don’t call this cute.”

“Yeah, we’re not cute we’re cool sisters.”, you added.

“I’m going to hang up now. I’ll see you in camp.”, Lucy declared. You both didn’t need to say anything more because you two knew that the other was excited and happy to meet her sister again.

“Goodbye, Lucy.”, you waved at her before ending the video call.

Still smiling you turned around to face your girlfriend:” Where were we before she came between us?”

 “We danced but don’t worry I ordered our favourite dinner to celebrate this special day right.”, she winked at you.

Beaming you placed a kiss to her flushed cheek:” You’re the best.”

“If I was a Bronze, I would just say I know but I’m not so you’re welcome.”, Grace said, even a bit redder than before.

“No, I prefer you as a Clinton.”, you told her.

“Thanks.”

As the doorbell rang, she clapped her hands, looking thrilled:” Oh, that’s the delivery service!”

The days went by quickly, in just a blink of an eye Grace and you were arriving at St. George’s Park together. Your girlfriend didn’t even look like a boyfriend with her brown hoodie and cap on, she even had the attitude of one as the forward was attempting to carry both of your suitcases.

“Babe, I can take my suitcase perfectly by myself.”, you pouted at her, being a Bronze made you very independent although you secretly loved when Grace did something like this.

“No.”, she decidedly waved you off.

You both turned your heads to a cheerful scream coming from no other than Ella:”  My favourite young lovebirds have arrived!”

Next to the Manchester United player your big sister showed up grinning, warning your girlfriend:” Clinton! Let her carry her suitcase herself, she’s getting spoiled!”

“You don’t get to have a say in how I treat my princess, Bronze. Especially not when I saw pictures of Ona carrying your things.“, Grace retorted unimpressed and continued to carry your suitcase towards your room.

There was an audible gasp from the older players.

Lucy pretended to gag: “Princess?“

“Don’t you dare say anything more!“, you warned and followed your girlfriend to your room.

You stayed in these rooms before with the youth teams but this time, things felt different, more serious. You took your time to take in the room before you started unpacking.

You were in the middle of putting away your warm-up shirts, when there was a knock on the door.

“Come on in.“, you said, expecting Grace to stand in the door way.

To your surprise, it was your sister that opened the door and let her gaze wander across the chaos you had created while unpacking: “Of course it’s chaotic in here already.“

“Rude!“, you said and threw a shirt in her general direction.

Lucy casually caught it mid-air and shook her head: “Typical.“

You crossed your arms in front of your chest, looking at your sister: “So, what do you want?“

“Checking in on you.“, she shrugged casually.

“Aw, that’s sweet of you.“, you teased her.

Lucy raised an eyebrow: “Sweet? Sarina made me do it.“

“She did?!“, you laughed, knowing full well that your sister was just pretending to be too cool to care about you.

“Yeah, she’s such a mum.“, Lucy rolled her eyes.

“But we’re adults here, I don’t need a babysitter.“, you protested.

“The youngsters always get babysitters.“

“Oh wow. Any advice for camp life, Lucy?“, you asked.

You older sister lifted a warning finger: “Yeah, be good or you’ll get in trouble with your sister.“

Before you could reply that Lucy was horribly annoying with her overprotectiveness, Grace appeared behind your sister with an innocent smile: “Sorry to interrupt you two but it’s dinner time.“

“Let’s go. We can’t miss that. The food here is great.“, Lucy said, nodding in the direction of the floor.

“Coming.“ You took Graces hand in yours as you followed your sister to the dining room.

“Look at this cute couple!“, Beth yelled when you entered the room.

Alessia who sat next to her Arsenal team mate agreed: “They’re so adorable.“

You could feel your cheeks heat as you sat down at their table.

Lucy grimaced in disgust: “Stop it, one of them is my little baby sister you’re gushing about.“

Lauren James who sat down next to Lucy with a full plate gave her a smirk: “Looks like she got all the good genes, Bronzy.“

“LJ, what do you mean by that?! Don’t worry, I’ll beat you on the training pitch.“, Lucy threatened her with a grin.

“You can try, grandma.“, the youngster laughed.

“Don’t you worry.“

You were glad that their playful bickering was entertaining the table now.

Gently, you squeezed Graces hand under the table: “Let’s ignore them for now and grab some food, love.“

“It’s kind of funny though.“, Grace grinned and got up from her seat, pulling you with her.

“Yes, it is.“, you admitted as you walked over to the buffet together.

As the blonde was putting some salad onto her plate, she hummed:” I love this team.”

“Me too.”, you nodded.

After taking a bite from the pasta dish your girlfriend continued raving:”And the food is delicious.”

“Oh yes, you weren’t promising too much.”

You two were back at your table and you really enjoyed the food the cooks made for the team.

“Right?”, Grace beamed at you.

“Yes.”

“But wait until training starts tomorrow.”, the Tottenham player reminded you why you were here in the first place.

“I’m ready for it.”, you truthfully replied, you simply couldn’t wait to prove everyone that you had a right to be here and not because you and your sister shared the same surname.

Delighted Grace announced:” It’s going to be fun.”

The training over the next days was tough and light-hearted at the same time because the atmosphere between the girls was great even though you were all competing for the starting eleven or to be substituted.

You couldn’t believe your luck when Sarina told you during the match against Sweden to warm up.

“Nervous, little Bronzey.”, Khiara asked you amused.

“A bit.”, you mumbled.

“You can do it.”, Esme whispered into your ear before hugging you shortly.  

Making your way from the bench to the pitch Sarina patted encouragingly your shoulder: “She’s right, enjoy it, y/n.”

“Thank you, I won’t let you down.”, you promised the England coach before you stepped onto the grass. For a moment you felt overwhelmed by the noise and the crowd which showed up at Wembley remembering when you attended the first games of your big sister where only a few people came to watch it.

Naturally you looked for Lucy and for a second you exchanged a meaningful glance. Her green eyes which were the exact same shade as yours seemed to say Show them what you can do. You’re a Bronze. Now you were ready to play football.  

In the end you didn’t disappoint Sarina who believed in you enough to give you a chance tonight, you assisted Grace and scored a goal yourself in the last minute of the game. The stadium was buzzing with excitement and so were you: “We won, Grace!”

“What a game you had!”, she shouted back giddily before kissing your cheek.

Equally thrilled you remarked:” You were amazing too.” Wearing a bright grin on your lips you turned around to face your sister:” What do you think, Luce? Was it good enough?”

You could tell that your sister forced her face to remain blank as she shrugged: “You were okay. The kiss wasn’t necessary though.“

“Yes, it was!“, Grace protested by your side, her hands wrapped around your waist in a side hug.

“Absolutely not.“, Lucy said and rolled her eyes before walking past you into the dressing room.

Grace and you shared an exhilarated grin and followed suit. As soon as the door of the dressing room closed behind you, you turned to your girlfriend and kissed her quickly and passionately. As soon as two of you broke apart again, you found your sister demonstratively looking into the opposite direction. You smirked.

Keira elbowed Lucy with a thrilled expression on her face: “Your little sister feels untouchable tonight. Those two are lucky that they are cute.“

“They’re not even that cute.“, the defender replied unimpressed.

Leah sang along to the song playing in the dressing room while pointing to you and Grace: “Baby, we’re the new romantics. The best people in life are free.“

Keira shrugged with a laugh: “Leah’s singing is even worse compared to them.“

Finally, the corners of Lucys mouth quirked upwards.

It was already late when you arrived back at the hotel. You had enjoyed celebrating your debut with the rest of the team but when you reached your hotel room, you were exhausted and ready to go to bed. You had just changed into your pyjamas when there was knock on your door. Yawning, you opened it and found yourself face to face with your older sister.

“Hi, what’s wrong. It’s late.“

Lucy stood there and considered you for a moment: “I’m proud of you, kid. You played great tonight.“

“I thought I was only okay.“, you smirked.

“Shut up and come here.“, she just said and pulled you into a tight hug. Her hugs might have been rare, but they always carried a lot of love. It felt comforting, almost like being home for Christmas and you suddenly realized how much you have missed playing with her again.

With your head was still buried on her shoulder, you whispered: “To be fair, I was a bit nervous… You made our family name so big in womens football and I didn’t want to let you or our team down.“

Lucy released you from the hug but kept her hands on your upper arms: “You couldn’t have let anyone down. You’re not me and people know that. One day, you might even be better than me.“

You gave her a weak smile: “Who knows, right?“

“Who knows.“

“But it felt great to play together.”, you admitted.

“We’ll have a few more games together, trust me. You’ll be called up again.”, Lucy replied seriously.

You felt your grin grew deeper: ”I’d love to play with you as long as possible.”

“You’ll.”, she promised solemnly while padding your back one last time before telling you good night and leaving the room.

“Finally, I thought she’ll never leave!”, Grace sighed relieved, the blonde had been hiding underneath the blankets during your whole chat with your sister.

“Grace!”, you exclaimed laughing.

“What? I could barely breathe under this.”, the Tottenham player said as she pointed accusingly to the bedding.

“Sorry, love.”, you apologized.

Her gaze at you turned soft:”Come here now.”

You quickly followed her wish and joined her in your hotel bed. Happily, Grace wrapped your arms around you. Feeling her warmth around you, you were starting to get sleepy:” That was a great game tonight, wasn’t it?”

“The best so far.”, your girlfriend responded, before she kissed the top of your head and turning the lights off. Today was certainly a day you both would remember and cherish forever.

[adascore]

Captain Obvious

pairings: lionesses x lioness!reader

warnings: sarina scaring the hell out of us. fluff.

author’s note: I know this isn’t how captaincy is announced, but all of this is fictional anyway so it doesn’t even matter :)

masterlist

•••••

''Is everyone in?'' Sarina asked, scanning the room to ensure the complete attendance of the squad and necessary staff.

A few heads nodded at the manager. ''Good.'' The Dutchwoman concluded.

''Before we talk about the upcoming game against North Macedonia, I would like to say something else.'' Sarina began the team meeting, her gaze lingering on Y/N.

The player curiously turned her head to Mary, who was sitting next to her. The goalkeeper merely shrugged in response.

''I didn't want to do it like this, but I think this is the only way to get my message across… Y/N, can you please come stand next to me?'' Sarina's invitation sounded more like a demand, leaving the striker slightly confused at the stern tone.

Y/N hesitated for a moment but stood up, making her way to the front of the room as requested by Sarina.

Glancing at her teammates, she found it challenging to read their expressions. Some were nervously biting their nails, while others were avoiding eye contact altogether.

Strange, the striker thought.

Sarina maintained her serious tone, making Y/N's heart race with anticipation. ''We have noticed some issues lately…'' The room fell silent, everyone's eyes fixed on the player, who was growing more bewildered and scared by the second. She tried to recall any recent incidents that might have triggered this discussion.

''The communication on the pitch, the communication off the pitch, the passes, the attacks… it is all anyone has been talking about on this team.'' The coach's vague explanation was making her worried, because it implied people had been speaking about her to Sarina.

''It forced us to reassess your position in this team.'' The Dutchwoman continued, maintaining her stoic stone.

It was a difficult task to make the Lyon captain nervous, but Sarina was doing an amazing job so far. ''My… position… on the team?'' Y/N spoke slowly, not quite knowing what to make of all of this.

''Yes, we're sorry to tell you this,'' she turned towards Arjan, their assistant coach, who handed her something the player wasn't able to see, ''but you are our new, official captain.'' Sarina's expression did a complete 180, a big grin on her face.

The room erupted into cheers, her teammates bursting out laughing at the player staring at their coach in stunned disbelief.

''Wait, what?'' Y/N mumbled as Sarina handed her the captain's band.

''Did you really think I was going to kick you off the team?'' The older woman exclaimed, surprised her player actually fell for it.

Y/N awkwardly chuckled. ''I mean- you sounded super serious! You should become an actress or something.''

''Congratulations, captain!'' Her team engulfed her in a group hug, feeling pats all over her head.

''I was wondering why none of you were looking at me.'' The newly appointed captain said, everything making sense now.

''I was having such a hard time,'' Ella sighed, before glancing over at Mary, ''you were awful!''

''What? Tooney!'' The goalkeeper exclaimed, clearly offended.

Alessia chimed in. ''You kept hiding your face cause you couldn't contain your smile.''

''I'm just happy for my friend!'' Mary defended herself, trapping Y/N in her arms.

Some of the girls made ‘Awh'-noises, dramatically swooning over the striker-goalkeeper duo.

''Took you long enough to figure it out.'' Mary teased, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.

Y/N scoffed, slightly offended. ''How was I supposed to know?''

''I'm roomies with the captain.'' Alex proudly stated, her eyes sparkled with pride as she side hugged her roommate.

''That's not fair! Alex already has an advantage over everyone!'' Georgia interjected, loudly.

Y/N frowned. ''I've been captain for like 2 seconds, what are you talking about, G?'' She chuckled, befuddled by everyone's enthusiasm.

''You'll understand what I mean when she's suddenly being a lot nicer to you.'' Georgia explained, making wary eyes at the blond defender.

Lucy approached her and grabbed the captain's band from her hand. ''Come on, put it on.'' She held it open for her so Y/N could easily slide her arm through.

As soon as it was tightly attached to her arm, the entire room broke into cheers again.

''You wear it well, Skipper.'' Lucy teased with a playful grin.

She felt someone hugging her from behind. ''Congratulations, darling.''

''Thanks, Jill.'' The new captain smiled, glad her older teammate was happy for her.

Girls like Jill, Ellen, Alex, Lucy and Jordan had been there since she first joined the England team- it was a special moment for them as well to see their younger teammate take over the reins of the team.

''Congrats, sweetheart. You deserve this so much.'' Ellen embraced her, her fellow striker grinning from ear to ear.

''Thanks, El.''

''Speech! Speech! Speech!'' A couple of the girls (Ella, Georgia, Keira and Leah, to be specific) started chanting.

Y/N chuckled at the impromptu request for a speech, feeling the weight of the moment. She raised her hands, signaling for a moment of quiet amidst the cheers.

''Okay, okay!'' She began, a genuine smile on her lips. ''First of all, I want to thank Sarina, and whoever decided this, for giving me this huge honour, and for trusting me to lead this incredible team. I know to some people it's just a band, but I do feel a responsibility to lead by example and for me this means so much more.''

She paused, letting her words sink in. ''I joined this team when I was 18 years-old, and I've experienced so much already. I just want to thank all of you, and also the teammates that aren't here today, for making this such a beautiful group of people and for making this genuinely fun to do. I'm lucky to have you guys as my teammates.''

Her gaze swept across the faces of her teammates, feeling herself getting emotional. ''I will continue to do my best. This isn't just about me, it's about all of us. We're here to support one another and to enjoy all of this together.''

''I'm looking forward to the rest of the year, and it might be to early to say this, but fuck it,'' she chuckled, resulting in laughter from the entire room, ''this summer is ours!''

The meeting room echoed with applause, and somehow she ended up in the middle of a group hug.

Sarina and Arjan watched on as their team celebrated together, content smiled on their faces.

''This is the team.'' He told his boss, a confident tone.

The Dutchwoman nodded. ''This is the team.''

[muffinpink02]

Bronze Is Better Than Gold Part 6

Ignore the Pictures I'll edit later

Warnings - gun violence, death, scenes of sexual assault, smut 18

“No fucking answer.” Slims grumbled as he turned off Ona’s phone.

The brunette watched with her one good eye as the man paced the room.

“Why did no one answer? I thought you said this was the number to call for your boss.”

“It is. I told you it's too early. No one would be there now.” Ona mumbled.

Slims stalked towards Ona as if he was going to hit her. Her body instinctively stiffened, ready for the impact, but instead he slapped the desk next to her head, making her flinch.

The man got his own phone out, searching for something.

“How much are you going to ask for, Slims?” One of his workers asked.

Slims kept his eyes on his phone, not bothering to look up. “How much what?”

The two men looked at each other slightly confused.

“Money. How much money are you asking for? For the girl?”

“I’m not asking for money, I’m asking for my brother to be released.” 

Ona could tell from the confusion on their faces that they clearly hadn't been involved with this plan. 

“Are you joking? They won't let him out, he's in prison, Slims. He was sentenced… what a over a month ago? They aren't just going to let him out. I thought we were asking for money! Do you know how long we could go to prison? We might as well kill her and go.”

Before Ona could blink, Slims had a hold of his friend's throat, thrusting him against the wall.

“You pussying out now? You fucking scared?” 

“N-Na, Slims. I just don’t want to get caught.” 

Ona watched as Slims eyed the man, he looked ready to kill him. Ona was convinced he would. 

He let go of the man's throat after he started to turn a dark shade of blue. “We wont get fucking caught. They release him and we go. It's easy.” 

“And what about her? She's seen our faces.” The other goon nodded towards Ona.

Slims turned his attention away from the man who was now holding his red throat, to Ona. 

“We kill her.” He shrugged. 

“But what about your brother?”

“I've got guys that will wait for him. They won't be far from the prison. Once they let him go and he's with my men, she dies.”

Even though the men looked like they did not share a single brain cell between them, even they could tell that this plan wasn't going to work.

Ona felt her chest tighten, how was this happening? She wondered if her team had any idea where she was, if they had a plan, or if she was going to be killed in this abandoned warehouse. 

The blue lights flashed on top of Lucy's undercover car as she left the last London road, making her way into the green countryside. She followed the map on her phone, she wasn't far now, another 15 minutes and she would be there. As she got closer she turned the blue lights off, not wanting to draw any attention to herself. 

Her eyes glanced over to her phone sitting on the passenger seat, she could see Sarinas name lighting up the screen, she ignored it and pushed her foot on the accelerator. 

“Sorry, boss.”

Lucy knew if she came out of this alive, Sarina would probably kill her.

After what felt like hours, Lucy finally arrived at the destination. She parked her car down the woody lane, not wanting it to be spotted. She could feel her heart in her chest, she had no clue what she was going into, but she didn't care, all she knew was that she was going to get Ona out. 

Instead of the main road the brunette creeped through the shielded forest, the smell of the rain and wet mud flooded her senses. It was oddly peaceful, considering the business of her being there. She followed her phone, making sure she was going in the right direction. A couple minutes later she spotted the abandoned warehouse through the overgrown bushes. She got as close as she could without being spotted. 

She looked around the building but couldn't see anyone, but she did spot a black van, the one LJ must have spotted on the cameras.

Lucy assessed the building, her eyes scanned for anyway in without being caught. She saw a few doors and windows but she needed to make sure she wasn't caught. She instinctively ducked when she heard a heavy door being pushed open. She watched as two men left the building, both pulling a cigarette out and lighting up the white stick.

“I can’t believe we’ve been pulled into this shit. I thought we were getting money for taking her, not his fucking brother!”

Lucy was close enough to make out what they were saying.

The second man shook his head. “I know. I know. That's the reason why only we showed up, no one clearly wanted to be involved in this shit. He probably doesn't even have men who would wait for his brother.”

Bingo. That was one thing Lucy at least now knew. There wasn't a warehouse full of men with guns.

“If we get caught, we’re fucked you know that? Will be straight in prison along side his fucking brother.” The man scoffed angrily, letting out a puff of smoke. 

“I’m pissed that he didnt let us fuck her.”

Lucy’s stomach dropped, her teeth instantly grinding against each other in anger. The rage that crept up her body was almost scary even for herself, she hadn't realised her hand had already gripped her gun, wanting to put a bullet through the man's neck.

“I know. Her face is fucked though, don’t even know if I could get hard.” The man laughed.

That's when Lucy gripped her gun, but she knew better than to use it.

The other man laughed. “Na, it doesn't faze me. Even if she’s black and blue, I don’t mind.” He cackled loudly at his own joke, before spitting a mouthful of phlegm on the floor.

The other man shook his head. “You’re a wronging.” He chuckled as he flicked his finished cigarette.

“Don’t fucking lie, you would. I’m going to do it before he realises the plans stupid and kills the bitch.”

“I think he's gone mad.” The man turned to go back into the building. “You coming?”

“I need to piss.” 

The younger guy nodded and made his way inside, leaving the pig looking man alone. The man that Lucy now wanted to skin alive. 

He walked closer to the bushes, just a couple of metres from the brunette, she spotted the man's gun on his hip. She sized up the pig eyed prick, she knew she could take him on, but she needed to make the first move. 

She watched as he carelessly urinated into the bush, whistling to himself, his back to her. This was her chance. She ever so slowly creeped out of the dense forest. It was almost like watching a nature documentary, like a lioness stalking its unexpected prey. Ready to kill.

Click

Lucy pressed the barrel of her gun to the back of the man’s head. 

“If you even utter a word without my say so or try to move an inch, the last thing you'll ever see is your tiny ugly prick.”

He didn't move.

“Nod slowly if you understand.” 

He barely moved his head. Lucy wasn't sure if it was out of fear or anger, so she pressed her gun harder. 

“How many people are in there?”

“J-Just 3.”

“Including the girl?” 

“4.” He corrected himself.

“Guns?”

He nodded. 

“Is there a way I can get in?”

“There's a back door. It's to the left of the building.”

Lucy laughed internally at how easy he was giving over the information, she hoped he would be known to others as a snitch once he gets put in prison.

“I-I didn't do nothing, I told Slims to give the girl back. I swear.” 

Lucy had to stop herself from killing this slime of a man. She wanted so badly to pull her trigger, but she also didn’t want such an easy way out for him.

With a flash she hit the man hard on the back of the head. Knocking him straight out. She knew where and how hard to hit him without killing him. She quickly dragged his body into the forest and cuffed him by his wrist to a tree.

The brunette made her way around the back of the building, she spotted the door that the pig face mentioned. She turned the knob slowly, it was unlocked. She gently pushed the door open, revealing a storage room. it was dark and hard to see, only small bits of light came through the blacked out painted windows. She crept inside, closing the door behind her. 

She slinked down the dark corridor, her gun in hand. Her heart in her mouth.

She came to another closed door, she stopped to listen for any noise, but heard nothing. She looked through the keyhole, it was another hallway that was even darker then this one. Again, she slowly turned the handle, as she pushed the metal door. 

‘Ehhhhh’

She flinched from the jarring creak the hinges let out. She froze in her tracks, holding her breath. She waited a few heartbeats before she squeezed through the rest of the door, not opening it fully. 

She was plunged into darkness, she found her torch and gave herself a slither of light as she moved further inside. 

Before she moved any further she heard a scratching noise. She tried to look around for the cause but couldn't find anything. 

“Fuck!”

She jumped as a flurry of feathers squawked in her face. 

Lucy had been one of the best in her training. When herself and Sophie joined the police force they would always try to outdo each other, if one was faster, the other was stronger. If one had better aim with a gun the other was more skilled at fighting. They constantly pushed each other and it made them a fierce team. Even to this day Lucy was one of the most skilled agents on the team. She could even give Jill and run for her money in a firing range. 

But she had never jumped so high in the air from a pigeon before. She watched as the stupid bird flew out of a broken window. Her heart was thumping. She breathed in a few deep breaths, trying to get her nerves to calm down. She closed her eyes and pictured Ona’s face. She moved on.

The brunette came to a door at the end of the hallway, once again she tried to listen for any signs of noise but she couldn't hear anything. Ever so slowly she opened the door, light cracked through the slit, she had her gun ready in her hands. She held her breath as she opened it further. She was now in the storage room, there were tall shelving units with cardboard boxes littering each side of the room.

She made a quick dash to duck behind the shelves. She took a glance around, she saw some stairs leading up to a second floor. She had a feeling Ona was somewhere up there. She crawled behind the cardboard box jungle. She got closer to the metal stairs, she was ready to make her way up when a door swung open. She quickly ducked, hiding behind the dusty boxers. 

“Where the fuck is he?” 

Lucy recognised the now familiar voice.

“I don’t know. We were smoking, then he said he was going to take a piss and I went inside.”

The metal stairs began to rattle as the men walked above her.

“Go look for him. I swear if he's run off I'm going to kill him.”

“Okay.” 

Lucy hid further as the stairs shook violently. She watched as the man walked towards the front door, looking for his associate. 

“Fucking useless, fucks!” Slims gripped the metal railing before going back into a room. 

Lucy knew she needed to be quick, if Slims' henchmen came back she'd be outnumbered. She started to make her way up the stairs, making sure her steps were quick and delicate. She made it to the top of the railing, there was a row of doors to the right, but she didn't see what one he entered.

She carefully walked, she had her gun ready, her finger was kissing the trigger. She reached the first door, it was open, but empty. She walked further on, her steps slow, her body was vibrating with adrenaline. 

“Yeah, that's right, if he’s not freed then she dies.” Slim's voice boomed out from the third door. Lucy got closer, she paused when she heard Sarinas voice on speaker from a phone.

“We can’t do that. We can offer you money. We don’t want to see anyone hurt, Frank. If you release her, we can figure this out. Can we at least hear from Ona? We need to know she's okay.” Sarina spoke over the speaker.

Lucy was now standing outside the door to the left.

“Speak.” Slims grunted.

“Sarina?”

Lucy nearly broke down when she heard Ona’s voice. But it hardly sounded like her, she sounded broken, she sounded so small.

“Ona, are you hurt?”

There was a pause.

“Ona?” Sarina called out, Lucy could hear the worry in her voice.

“She's fine!” Slims barked.

Lucy heard the man pacing about the room.

“Are you going to let my brother out? Yes or No?”

“Frank, we can’t-” 

The line was cut. 

Slims turnt to Ona. “Thanks to your boss you're going to be killed.”

“Please, killing me won't get him back. Please, just let me go.”

Just as Lucy was about to rush in she heard the steps of Slims henchman approaching, she ducked into the first empty room. The metal stairs rattled as he climbed the stairs and entered the room.

“No sign of him. Maybe he did run off.”

“Fucking coward. Fuck him. We got to go, burn this place down.”

“Why?”

“They won't release him. I wouldn't be surprised if he fucking snitched about where we are. There's barrells down stairs, pour it everywhere. We light it up and we go.”

“What about her?” The man motioned towards Ona.

“She can burn with it.”

Ona eyes widened. “No, please. Please.” Her voice broke as she begged.

Both men ignored her.

“Can I at least have fun with her first?”

“Do what you want, just be quick. Once you're done, help me with the petrol.”

Ona’s brain started to fog, her brain and body was screaming to shut down.

“I will.” The man promised.

Slims left the room. Lucy had heard everything. She watched as Slims made his way down the stairs and towards the front door. 

She left the room, she heard Ona start to scream. Her blood ran cold as she heard her cry. She stood at the entrance of the door. Ona’s small body was being pushed to a desk by a man 3 times her size. 

“Come on, baby. Don’t make it difficult. It will be over quickly.” The man laughed.

“Move the fuck away from her.”

Ona’s eyes opened as she heard Lucy's voice. It couldn't be? Her brain must have been playing tricks on her. She didn't know whether to scream or cry. She never thought she’d live to hear that voice again. 

The man turned around confused. As soon as he spotted Lucy and her gun he put his hands up in surrender, moving away from Ona.

“Get on the fucking floor, hands behind your back.”

The man did what she said and laid on the ground. Lucy kept her gun on him as she stepped closer to Ona. 

“Ona? Hey, it's me.”

The shorter brunette flinched as she felt Lucy's hand touch her back.

“Hey, don't be scared. It’s me. It’s Lucy.”

Ona slowly got up, her arms were dead from being tied up for so long. She used all the strength she could to turn. She nearly lost all balance when she saw Lucy. And she did fall as she moved, but Lucy was quick to catch her. 

“L-Lucy!” 

When Lucy saw Ona’s face her stomach dropped. Her left eye was swollen shut, her whole socket was black, the little bit of eye she did see was covered with blood. Her face was scattered with bruises and cuts, her chin was raw with old blood, she could hardly look at her without wanting to kill.

Ona’s body shook in her arms, she buried her face into her chest, Lucy wanted to scoop her up and tell her it was all going to be okay. But they had to get out first.

“L-Lucy.” Ona choked out.

“Shh it's okay, Ona. You’re okay.”

Lucy felt a piece of her break, seeing Ona like this was tearing her apart, but she had to keep her head straight. She gently grabbed Ona by the arms, she scanned her weak body for any obvious damage.

“I’m going to handcuff him okay.” She lowered her face to the younger brunette.

She nodded.

Lucy dropped her knee hard into the man's back, making him cry out. She didn't care if she would have broken a bone, causing him to never walk again, he was lucky her gun hadn't put bullets in the back of his throat.

“Stand up.”

Lucy yanked the back of the man's shirt. He clumsily stood, the older brunette kept her distance from him. Her gun pointed straight at his head. 

“Move.” She pushed the man forward.

She turned to face Ona. She pulled out another gun from her side.

“He’s still out there. Use it if you need to. Stay behind me, okay.”

Ona nodded, but she was clearly scared.

‘’Hey, you can do this.” Lucy gently stroked her cheek, mindful of the bruises. 

“Move.” Lucy pushed the man forward. 

“Okay, come, let's go.” She smiled softly at the girl, reaching her free hand out for her to take.

Her small hand weakly took Lucys, they gave each other a smile that would stay in their heads forever. 

They walked down the metal steps, with the man in front of them. Lucy had her gun pointing at him. 

The room stunk of petrol. Slims had clearly already done the inside of the building. 

Ona had never been more scared and more relieved as she watched the brunette in front of her. Lucy had saved her. Lucy had single handedly saved her. She saved her from being killed. 

They were half way from the door when it opened. 

A gun went off. 

Lucy and Ona flinched. The sound of the gun firing ricocheted through the hollow building. Neither girl was sure if it was one bullet or more. The man in front came to a halt. Then to his knees. 

That's when Lucy saw Slims running from the door and disappearing into the tall jungle of units. Reloading his gun. 

“Move!” Lucy grabbed Ona by the hand, mirrorwing Slims, hiding behind the tall metal beams and crates. Ona looked at the man laying on the floor, his blood turning his clothes black. 

“Is anyone with you? Do we have backup?” Ona whispered.

Lucy could have laughed, this is clearly what Sarina was talking about. She was too much of a hot head, and now here she was, saving the love of her life from a crazy wannabe drug lord in the middle of nowhere and had no backup. 

“No. No backup.” 

Ona rolled her one good eye.

“Are you really giving me attitude right now?” Lucy couldn't help but smirk. Even if there was a killer on the loose.

“I mean, I would have thought you'd bring back up.” Ona examined the surroundings. 

It was Lucy's time to roll her eyes. “No, sorry. I didn't really have the time.”

“Fire.”

“I mean yeah. I probably will get fired, but I don’t care.”

“No, Lucy. Fire!” The younger brunette pointed over to a line of fire, running itself to a shit load of petrol barrels.

‘Wshhhhhhhh!’

Both girls ducked as the barrel exploded with a huge wave of fire engulfing the roof.

“Fuck!” Lucy automatically pulled Ona closer to her. 

“We have to leave, this place is going to come down.”

Ona nodded. “The door.” 

Lucy eyed the door, but Slims was still hiding somewhere. 

“You ready?” 

“Wait.”

Ona grabbed Lucy by the collar, she brought their mouths together, gently kissing her lips. It felt like everything went silent for just a second. It was a gentle kiss, but it was pure love between the two. This could be the last time she’d be able to ever kiss the girl, and she didn't want to take her chances. Lucy understood that.

Her green eyes scanned the bruised face in front of her. 

“Ready?” 

“Si.” 

The girls made their move, crouching as they creeped behind the tall units. The fire above them began to spread quickly, swallowing the roof in its path. 

“Keep your eyes peeled. He’s behind one of those beams.” 

Ona nodded, her gun was in her hand aiming, though her vision was blurry.

“We run, but don't go straight, zig zag. Don’t let him follow you.” The shorter brunette ordered.

“Yeah, okay. I’ve got your back.”

“I’ve got yours.”

The girls moved from the cover off the units, out into the open. The room was heating up, the fire above growing by the second. The thick smoke started to creep down, making it harder to see and breathe. 

“It’s clear. Run!” 

The girls ran, zig zagging like Ona said to do, but the bullets still came firing at them. 

“Keep going, Ona!”

Ona winced as she ran, her body was weak, but the fire in her belly made her push forward. Having Lucy be her side made her push even more. 

Lucy spotted Slims, she fired her own bullets his way, missing in her quick pace. They were nearly at the exit, Ona was slow but she kept going. Lucy watched as Slims ducked behind the units as she fired, she walked closer towards him, she wanted to kill him.

“Come on, Lucy!” 

The door was open, Ona could see the sky. 

‘Whhhhhssshhhh’

Ona dropped back, hitting her head as part of the ceiling came crashing down, blocking the door. Her gun fell from her hands, skidding across the floor, the room quickly began to thicken with black smoke, it almost became impossible to see. 

She groaned as her head started to thump with a viscous pain, her vision slowly becoming blurry. The deep cut in the back of her head reopened from the fall. She weakly flinched at the sound of a gunshot, then another. Then a scream.

Lucy dropped to the floor as the bullet buried itself into her thigh. It felt like a hot poker had dug itself into her flesh.The pain felt like nothing she had ever felt before. It rattled through her body, the warm dark liquid quickly pumping out.

Lucy lost sight of Slims, and her gun. The smoke had become thicker, it made it impossible to see further than her arms. She looked around for Ona, but she couldn't see her, she couldn't hear her. She had no clue where she was. 

“Ona?” She shouted. “Ona? Can you hear me?” 

Silence.

“Where are you?.” She coughed. Her eyes began to water from the smoke.

She tried to get up, grunting in pain as her flesh screamed at her not to move. But she gritted her teeth as she stood to her feet. The room was suffocating, it felt like she was in an oven, sweat dripped from her head. 

“Ona? Where are you? Ona? Please, Ona!”

She heard a weak cough to her right, she could see what looked like a small body on the floor, but before she could move she was being thrown on her back. 

“Fuck!”

A hard object came down hard on her chest, forcing the air out of her lungs. Her leg was throbbing as it continued to bleed out. 

“Ahhhh!”

Slim stood over Lucy, his whole weight pushing on her chest by his boot.

“Stupid, bitches. Did you really think you could get away?” 

The building was collapsing around them, the metal roof screeched as it started to plummet to the floor, the orange flames burning and melting everything it touched.

Slims cocked his gun, aiming it at Lucy's face. She closed her eyes as she felt the burning pain from the black smoke seeping into her lungs. She couldn't believe this was happening.

“Slims, don't do this. Please. You don't have to kill me. Just let us go. I can say you got away. Please.” Lucy pleaded.

A malicious smile creeped on the man's face, pressing his weight down harder, on the verge of cracking her ribs. She gasped from the unbearable pain, trying to move away from the pressure of her chest, but he was too heavy 

“Shut up!”

“Do you think I’d trust a cunt like you? You’re just another useless pig-”

Lucy gasped as the heavy feeling on her chest was gone. She looked up to see Ona standing protectively over her, her fist connecting to Slims face. 

“Fuck!” 

He dropped his gun as his nose was cracked, again.

Ona had felt like she was drifting into a deep warm slumber, it was almost peaceful as the world went quiet around her. 

She saw the sky as it opened up above her, small bits of flames dropped around her, it looked beautiful, magical even, like bright stars drifting from the galaxy above. She was ready to sleep, ready to let the pain in her head become a thing of the past, until she heard a voice. 

She knew that voice, she loved that voice. She heard it again, it was calling her name. She could hear the pain, the desperate cries that called out to her. She wanted to sleep, but the voice was too familiar. 

She gasped as her body jolted, the flames above were burning bright as her mind and body told her to get up and fight. 

“Ona!” 

Ona felt an earthquake of strength seep through her body, she winced as she pushed herself up. She looked around at the chaos unfolding, the place was ablaze. She turned as she heard a voice, it wasn’t the voice from before, this one was pure evil. 

She saw his shadow in the smoke, she could just about make out what was happening. She heard Lucy struggle for air, the woman she loved being hurt by a monster. 

The Spaniard was overcome with venom as she picked herself up. The flight or fight in her came with an almost animatic urge to fight, no, kill. She bunched her first and bolted so hard she nearly flew off her feet. She couldn’t see his face but somehow she knew exactly where to hit.

She felt his bone crunch under her fist, it made her own fist bleed but she couldn't feel the pain, not with the anger that took over her petite body. She landed another punch and another, until he was on his back, and she was on top of him, her first coming down hard on his face. She didn’t know whose blood was whose as she kept landing punch after punch. 

All her anger, all her fear from the past 24 hours was running through her. She screamed as she let it all out. 

“Ona!” 

Ona flinched as she felt hands on her back. 

“It’s me, baby. Listen to my voice, it’s Lucy. We have to go!” 

Ona looked down at the man below. He was just about breathing. Her first was dripping with blood, his face was painted red.

She felt Lucy pull her up. Tuning her to face her.

“Ona, look at me. It’s okay, you’re okay. Follow me.” 

Ona squeezed her eyes shut. Listening to Lucy’s voice. She nodded as she took her hand. 

They began to move, but Ona stopped when she heard the man behind her cough. She pulled Lucy back.

“We can’t leave him, Lucy.”

“We can! We will die Ona, this place is going down!” 

But the older brunette could see the conflict in Ona’s eyes. It wasn’t in either girl to leave someone to die, even if he was an awful human. 

Lucy nodded. “Help me carry him.” 

The girls turned back to help the bleeding man, but just as they turned to save him a shot was fired. And then another.

Ona flinched. 

Lucy flinched. 

Ona looked to see a gun in Slim's hands. He was still trying to shoot as his barrel finished. His bloody and bruised face broke into an evil laugh that rang in Ona’s ears. 

But as soon as he started he was silenced. The sound of a deep bellowing screech roared above his head, as one of the units came tumbling down on his chest, slowly suffocating him. 

“Let's go!” Ona grabbed Lucy's hand, but she didn't move.

Lucy gasped as she fell to her knees. The two bullets had struck her, one in her chest, one in her stomach. 

“Ona.” She whispered before completely falling to the ground. 

“Lucy! No, no! Lucy!” 

Ona put her hand on Lucy’s stomach, her palm becoming covered in another person's blood. 

“No, no, no, no, nooo. Lucy, get up. Please. Come on, we’re so close.” 

“I-I can’t move.” Lucy groaned in pain. 

Ona watched as blood pumped out of Lucy's chest, she was losing so much of it. She tried to stop it, pushing her hand on her chest, but her stomach still bled out. Ona looked at the burning building around her, her mind became a haze, the smoke engulfing her lungs as she panicked in complete fear. She looked back over at Slims, she could see he was slowly dying. 

“Lucy!” The girl cried out, her heart was frantic, she had lost all thoughts as she watched the girl she loved slowly bleed out.

“Go, Ona.” 

What? No, how could she even say that.

“No!”

“Ona, go! Leave!” The girl coughed.

“No, Lucy! I’m not leaving you!”

The building was collapsing, everything was on fire, the heat was searing. Ona felt the fire burning her as it snaked closer. She looked frantically around the room for any kind of exit. She spotted a small opening that the building had made from the wreckage. 

“I’m sorry Lucy. This is going to hurt.”

Ona lifted Lucy from under her arms. The older brunette screamed in agony as her body pulsated in pain.

“I’m sorry.” Ona whispered.

She dragged Lucy, but her heart sank as she saw the blood that was trailing behind them.

“Stay with me Lucy, we’re nearly there.” 

She gently dropped Lucy to the floor, she tried to move the wreckage with all the strength she had left. She managed to shift it a bit but it wasn't enough. 

“Come on, come on!” 

She gritted her teeth as she pushed but it was no hope. It was too heavy to do it alone. She looked over at Lucy, she felt hopeless but she knew she couldn't give up. She tried again and again and again, her sweaty hands started to make it harder to push. She took a step back as she ran at the pieces of ruble. 

“Fuck!” She slipped, catching her hand on the broken wreckage, cutting her palm open. She flinched back as her hand twitched in pain.

She dropped to her knees, coughing as the smoke crept into her lungs. She wasn't sure if it was tears or sweat that covered her face, maybe it was both. 

She had nothing left in her, her mind was a frazzle, her body was weak, everything hurt.

She crawled over to Lucy, she gently cradled her head in her lap. She looked so peaceful, it reminded her of the first morning she shared with Lucy in her flat. She kissed her forehead but couldn't ignore the blood that soaked through the girl's clothes.

“I’m so sorry, Lucy. I’m so sorry. I can't get us out.” She whispered her tears soaking her her cheeks.

Lucy opened her eyes. She smiled slightly at Ona. 

“Can I tell you a secret?”

“Of course.” Ona whispered as she stroked Lucy’s cheeks.

“I love you. I have for so long.”

“I love you too.” Ona sobbed. 

“I think I loved you the moment I saw you.” Lucy closed her eyes.

“Yeah?” Ona smiled through her tears.

“Yeah. Your freckles, I love your freckles.” Lucy coughed. 

“It was the same for me. Your eyes made my heart flutter. I love them so much, Lucy. I love you so much.” Ona’s tears dropped over Lucy's cheeks. 

“I’m sorry I couldn't get you out, Ona. I tried to-”

“Hey, shhh. Don't say that.” Ona stroked Lucy's hair.

“You came for me. You’re here with me now.” 

Lucy closed her eyes again, her breathing becoming shallow.

Ona looked around the smokey room once more, trying to find any kind of exit, but she couldn't see anything.

“Hey, Ona. Sing with me. Islands in the stream, that is what we are.” 

Ona gave Lucy a watery smile.

“N-No one in between. How can we be wrong?” Ona sniffled.

“Sail away with me. To another world.”

“And we rely on each other, ah ha.”

The girls sang the last line together.

“From one lover to another, ah ha.” 

Ona let out a small choke, her tears were nearly blinding. 

“Ona, I’m so cold.” Lucy whispered.

The brunette's life flashed before her eyes. She saw glimpses of her childhood, her memories with Sophie. She saw her siblings and parents, she saw flickers of her life, but the last face, the clearest face, was Ona’s.

“I know. I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry Lucy.” She gently stroked Lucy's cheeks, her heart aching as she watched Lucy's face drain of colour.

“We can get the car there.” Lucy mumbled.

Ona scrunched her eyebrows in confusion, Lucy was slipping away. She moved to lay her head on her chest, her chest was hardly moving. She sobbed as she laid down next to the girl, with the love of her life. Even if it was only for a short time, it was the happiest she'd ever been.

She only got a glimpse of what it could be like, to be part of Lucy's life. To have someone she truly loved, someone who looked at her like she was the only person in the room, someone who gave her butterflies every time she smiled at her. Someone who made her laugh until her stomach hurt, someone who made her whole.

She got a taste of love, and she would cherish that until her last breath.

This was it. This was her ending. 

She felt like she had let herself down, her colleagues down, her parents down, her friends down, but most of all she felt like she had let Lucy down. One felt sleepy again, her body screamed for sleep. For rest. She coughed hard as the building burnt away.

She saw the same bright light from earlier. The one that made her feel like she was about to float away and sleep, a peaceful sleep. It became brighter and brighter until she was nearly blinded. 

“They're here! Hurry up!” 

Jordan pushed some of the wreckage, easier than Ona could.

Suddenly a firefighter was grabbing Ona. Lifting her like a baby. 

“Lucy?!” She weakly tried to fight out of the grip the firefighter had on her. She turned to see Lucy’s lifeless looking body being lifted, her face was a scary shade of white. 

Ona felt the cold air hit her sweaty body, it was almost painful. She gasped as the even colder air hit her lungs, that was agonsing. 

There were police cars, ambulances and fire trucks all scattered around. The first face she recognised was Demi's, then Jordan. Then Sarina’s

The firefighter gently laid her next to the ambulance.

“Is there anyone else in there?”

Ona shook her head. “They're dead.”

They nodded and brought a mask to Ona’s face to help her breath.

“Breath deep and slowly for me.”

She allowed them to put the mask on her face, but her eyes looked for Lucy.

“W-Where's Lucy?”

“Ona!” Sarina was crouching next to the Spaniard. “Ona, are you okay?” She touched Ona like a mum would, just like the way Lucy's mum did.

She nodded. “Where's Lucy?”

“They are looking over her now. She's going to the hospital.” Sarina put her hand on the back of Ona’s head, she pulled back when she felt the sticky substance.

“Christ, Ona! Your head!” 

Ona ignored her, she moved the mask away from her face and weakly ran to the ambulance.

Lucy was on the ambulance stretcher. Her clothes had been cut open as the paramedics tried to stop the bleeding. Seeing Lucy's body covered in her blood was something that Ona would never be able to unsee. 

“Hi Lucy, I’m Alessia. I’m a paramedic, we're here to help okay?”

Lucy slowly nodded, Ona was shocked to see she was awake.

“Good, let's put this mask on you, it's gas and air for the pain.”

“Hi Lucy, I’m Ella. Ready, Less?”

The blonde nodded.

“Okay, Lucy this may hurt. Keep breathing that gas and air for me.”

Ona watched as the younger brunette stuck a thick cotton pad on Lucy's stomach. Then wrapped it quickly with bandages. Lucy weakly groaned out in pain. Ella repeated the same method with the other two holes that leaked with blood.

“Okay lets get her in. She needs to be seen urgently.”

Ona watched on with wide eyes. She followed the girls as they rushed to the ambulance, not wanting to leave Lucy's side. They moved the older brunette into the vehicle and slotted her into the free space.

“She’s going with her. Her head is also bleeding.” The Dutch woman instructed as she came up behind Ona.

The blonde paramedic watched Ona’s worried face and nodded.

“Take a seat just up here. Strap yourself in.” 

Ona quickly climbed into the vehicle, her eyes were glued to Lucy as she passed her.

Alessia started to hook the older brunette onto monitors and drips. Ona watched as the white cotton pad had already started to bleed through to the bandages. 

“What’s your name?” The blonde smiled at Ona as she took notes down.

“Ona.” She returned a weak smile back, “Is she going to be okay?”

Ella closed the back of the ambulance's doors and made her way to the front. The ambulance sirens were turned on immediately.

Alessia bit her lip as she fiddled with Lucy's bandages. “She's stable, but she's lost a lot of blood. I think she’s got a lot of trauma to her stomach.”

Ona stared at Lucy, her face was ashy with smoke, her normally neat hair was falling out of its bun. She wanted to hold her. Lay in her strong arms, tell her how much she loved her, again and again.

“She’s a bit out of it, I've given her a stronger drug for the pain.” 

Ona nodded as she reached over and stroked her cheek, her own hand still bleeding.

“Oh Ona, that looks painful, let me take a look at that.” Alessia said, as she gently took Ona’s bleeding hand. “It's deep but it shouldn't affect any nerves. I’ll quickly clean it and wrap it up. Then I want to look at your head.”

Alessia fiddled with some draws, grabbing the bits she needed. 

“This is going to sting.” 

Ona nodded. She felt the alcohol wash over her hand but she couldn't feel the sting, she just stared at Lucy as her chest barely moved. 

Alessia took a look at Ona’s head, she cleaned that cut but was a lot more concerned with it then her hand.

“You need to be treated as soon as we get there. I don’t like the look of this cut. You must be in so much pain.” Alessia frowned at the thought as she dabbed the blood away.

Ona heard her but she wasn’t really listening, she felt a numb ache rise over her body, as she watched the love of her life fight for her life. 

“What was this all about? What happened?” Alessia asked as she took more notes.

Ona took a deep breath as she explained the situation to Alessia.

“Oh, Ona. I’m so sorry.” She reached over and took Ona’s bandaged hand in hers. Her big blue eyes were glassy. 

“And she's your partner?”  

Ona shook her head. “No, I mean. One day maybe but-”

Alessia smiled as the realisation washed over Ona’s face. 

“Oh, you mean… Yeah. She's my work partner.” Ona let out a shy chuckle.

“I think you make a cute couple.” Alessia winked.

The Spaniard couldn't help but look at her feet, smiling at the blonde's words. 

They finally arrived at the hospital. Ella and Alessia wheeled Lucy to the emergency department as Ona followed behind. She didn't notice the other hospital goers gasping and staring at her face, her attention was solely on the brunette. Ella had already called in and explained Lucy’s condition and injuries to the doctors, passing her over to the care of the hospital straight away.

The nurses began to quickly rush Lucy to the ward, Ona tried to follow her but was stopped by Alessia.

“You need to be checked, Ona. I know you want to be with her and I swear you can see her once you’ve been looked at. I promise.” She smiled warmly at the Spaniard. 

The blonde turned to the nurse waiting. “This is Ona, she needs to be seen straight away. She has a deep cut in the back of her head. I’m worried she might have a fracture to the skull. She’ll need x-rays and some looking over her face and lungs.”

Ella gave Ona a gentle squeeze on her shoulder, smiling reassuringly at her.

“Okay, thanks guys. Please follow me, Ona. I’ll get you checked into x-rays and we can take it from there.” The nurse smiled. 

“Good luck, Ona.” Alessia stroked the petite girl's arm. 

It was truly overwhelming having been inches from dying to having someone who showed you genuine kindness all in the space of 20 minutes, she almost didn't want to leave Alessia’s side.

“Thank you. Thank you for helping.” 

She was ushered away as Ella and Alessia made their way out of the hospital and on the way to their next patients. 

Ona had her x-rays done. It turned out Alessia’s hunches were correct. Ona had a fracture to her head and needed to stay at the hospital for extra treatment. And throughout it all, all she could do was think about Lucy. She had constantly asked if she could see her, but every nurse or doctor had repeated the same thing: ‘I'll check that for you.’ After an hour of nurses and doctors fussing over her she was finally put on her ward, and her bed for the next couple of days.

“Hello, Ona.” A tall brunette popped her head around the curtain, smiling at the girl.

“Hello.” The Spanaird sighed as she gave a tired smile.

“I’m Ingrid. I’m going to be looking after you. I’ve been told by the police and your constable about what's happened.”

Ona nodded, her eyes wandered to the window. 

“I thought you might want to go see Lucy?”

Ona jumped up so quickly she winced from the ache in her body.

“I can see her?”

Ingrid smiled. “Yes, she's just come out of the theatre.” 

Ona climbed out of the bed, her feet slightly wobbly.

“Ona, before we go you need to know she's in a critical condition.” 

The raven haired girl's bright smile dimmed. “She’s been put into an induced coma. She’s had to undergo an intense surgery. The bullets were successfully removed but have caused a sufficient amount of damage to her insides. The surgeons have done all that they can for now, but at this moment in time it's a waiting game.”

Ona felt her stomach lurch, she understood what Ingrid meant, it made her instantly nervous to see Lucy. She nodded and let Ingrid lead the way.

She walked down the corridor with Ingrid, the smell of hospital took over her senses. She noticed nurses and doctors eyed her curiously as they walked. 

“You’re a bit famous. The news of you and Lucy is all over the TV.” Ingrid cringed. 

“Really?” 

“Yeah, we have security all over the place. Many news reporters are outside.”

Ona squinted at the fluorescent lights above her head. She wondered if her parents knew what had happened.

“Oh that reminds me. Your constable wanted to see you, but I figured you would maybe want to see Lucy first. I know she's your partner.”

“Oh, we’re not partners yet. I mean maybe-”

“Is she not your partner on the force?” Ingrid looked confused.

“Ohh. Sorry. Yeah. Erm, yeah, she is my work partner.” Ona flushed.

Ingrid nodded and smiled as she picked up on the awkward smile from Ona.

“No worries. I understand.” She placed her hand on Ona’s shoulder.

They stopped outside a room, not too far from Ona’s.

“Okay this is her. I work on this ward, so I’ll be right out here if you need me. But take all the time you need.”

“Thank you very much.” Ona hesitated at the door.

“Take your time. It can be very overwhelming to see a loved one like this.” Ingrid smiled as she rubbed Ona’a shoulder, her kindness reminded her of Alessia.

“Y-Yeah, thank you.”

Ona took a deep breath as she pushed the heavy door open. The room was full of machines beeping and monitors moving. She just about saw Lucy amongst it all. She slowly walked a little further inside, she felt scared to get too close, worried she might somehow turn off a machine. 

Even though Ingrid warned her of the state Lucy was in, it still took her breath away. 

She pursed her lips as her gaze fell on Lucy’s face. Her face had been cleaned, her dark hair was neatly brushed and tucked behind her ear. She looked so peaceful. If it wasn't for the machine breathing for her, you would hardly know she had 3 bullets put in her body. 

Ona sat in the chair next to the bed. She watched as Lucy's chest slowly rose up and down in time with the machine that helped her breath. She ever so gently stroked Lucy's hand, her skin was so soft, so delicate. Despite the small cuts.

“Hola, Lucy.” She whispered as tears sprung to her eyes.

She looked down at her feet as she took in a shuddering breath.

“I don’t know if you can hear me. I’ve heard sometimes people can hear when they are in comas.” 

She leaned closer to the bed, her eyes roamed Lucy's face as if she was waiting for a response.

“Well, I hope you can hear me. I-I just want to thank you. You saved my life, in more ways than one.” Her tears began to roll down her cheeks.

“I know you would probably roll your eyes at me right now and say something like “Yeah, yeah. It's just what I do.”  but you don’t know how thankful I am for you. You are so special to me. I can’t lose you. Please, please pull through this. I promise to tell you how much I love you everyday, every hour. No, every 10 minutes.” Ona smiled between her tears. 

“Besides, you still have tickets to “The Big London Bake.” I know you’re excited for that. I want to see you in an apron, making cakes that are probably better than the teachers. As we know you are the best at everything.” Ona began to smile until her lip quivered, she felt her throat begin to close up. The hold she had was beginning to break. 

“Please, Lucy. I love you so much. You are such a special person. I can't lose you. Please.” She brought Lucy's hand up to her lips, kissing her skin as her salty tears seeped into her lips.

She stayed like that for another half an hour, staring at the girl on the bed. She watched on as the heart monitor counted her heart beats. She listened to the sounds of the beeping machines. It almost started to sound like a relaxing song, a lullaby even. That's when her wet eyes began to droop heavily as her aching body allowed sleep to take over.

She was woken up by a hand gently shaking her.

“Ona, darling. Ona.” 

Ona slowly opened her eyes, a throbbing in her head made her wince. 

“Oh, I'm so sorry, Ona. I didn't mean to hurt you.” 

Ona finally opened her eyes to be met with green eyes, but they weren't Lucys, they Lucy's mums. 

“Carol? Carol! Ona jumped up, and was engulfed in a rib breaking hug. She winced again.

“Ow, sorry, sorry.” She let go of Lucy's mum even though she really didn't want to.

“Oh Ona, your face.” Carol gently cupped Ona’s face as she examined her like the doctors did. “How are you? Sorry, that's a stupid question, we saw it on the news. I don’t even know what to say, you must have gone through so much.” Carol's eyes began to tear up, though it looked like she had already been crying.

“Lucy saved me.” Ona let her tears roll down her face as her voice cracked.

Carol broke out into a soft smile, stroking Ona’s face, her own tears rolling.

But the feeling of guilt engulfed Ona, seeing Lucy's mum in front of her made it even more real.

“I’m so sorry, Carol.” Ona sniffled as her head dropped in shame. “It's my fault.” 

“Woah, hey! No, it's not Ona. Its no ones fault but that awful fucking man. Lucy did what she was meant to do. I don't want to hear you say that again, okay? Come here.” 

Carol hugged Ona again, but more gently this time. The Spanird nuzzled her face into her neck, sobbing as she did. The older woman rubbed her back just like Lucy did the day she cried in the pub toilets with her. It only made her sob more.

“Oh honey, it's okay. You’re okay.” 

She allowed herself to be held for just a while longer. 

“I’m sorry, I’ll let you have some time with Lucy.” She sniffed as she pulled back.

“Oh darling, we've been in here for about 40 minutes. John’s outside getting some air. I didn't want to wake you, it's only because the nurse told me you have visitors.” Carol smiled, wiping the tears off of Ona’s rosy cheeks. “Anyways, you’re family, I would never kick you out of this room. You know you mean the world to Lucy? And us.”

Ona felt her heart flutter, but it pained her, if only she could hear Lucy say those words.

“Thank you, Carol.” She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath in. “I have visitors?”

“Yeah, I think they’re in your room. Also the nurse told me you're due for some medicine, so make sure you get that. Don't miss that, Ona.” She said with a firm tone.

The short brunette nodded but hesitated as she looked over at Lucy.

Lucy’s mum saw the hesitation on Ona’s face, clearly not wanting to leave Lucy. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep a watch on her. You go. I'll be right here when you get back.”

“Okay.” Ona sighed. 

“Get that medicine, darling.” Carol reminded her as she began to walk out. Ona smiled at her motherly instincts, even if she wasn’t her actual daughter. 

“I will.”

Ona made the short trip to her room. She wondered who her visitors could be, she imagined it was maybe Sarina or one of the girls from work. What if it was her parents?  She opened the door to see none other than her two best friends.

“Ona!” Mapi spotted Ona first as she bolted to the smaller girl. 

“Mapi?” She was engulfed into another hug that made her wince again.

“Be careful!” Ona heard Alexia's voice approaching as she told off their clumsy and excited friend.

“I’m sorry, Ona.” Mapi’s wet eyes were full of remorse.

“It's okay. I can’t believe you guys are here!” The girl felt her heart burst.

Alexia opened her arms as she gently embraced Ona in a hug.

“Do you think we would be anywhere else?” The blonde’s normally strong voice cracked as she spoke. 

Ona felt her eyes brimming with tears once more. She loved her best friends. They were her rock, her family. Having them here was almost too much. She had thought about them so much when she was alone in that damp office room. She never thought she'd see them again, and now here they were.

“Thank you. I love you both so much.”

Mapi squeezed herself into Alexia's embrace, who still hadn’t let go of Ona.

“We love you, Ona. We’re so glad you're okay.”

The three held each other until they were interrupted as Ingrid entered the room.

“Oh, sorry. I just need to give Ona some pain relief.” She wrinkled her nose.

Ona pulled out of the embrace. “That's okay, Ingrid. I actually really need it.” Ona chuckled as her best friends let her go.

Ona sat on the bed as Ingrid pushed the trolley of medicine in.

“Hello, Ona’s friends.” 

“Hello.”

“Hola, guapa.”

Alexia shot her friend a look, rolling her eyes at the girl.

Ona couldn't help but smile as even in a hospital Mapi would still try to shoot her shot.

Ingrid’s cheeks slightly blushed as she caught Mapi’s eyes on her.

“How’s your head?”

“I've-” Mapi was about to be massively inappropriate, but was stopped as Alexia kicked her ankle to shut her up, giving her a very serious death stare.

“I do have a headache. It hurts a lot.” Ona confessed. 

“Okay, let me know if it gets worse or if you feel sick at all. I also want to check your head and hand.” She said kindly. 

“I will. Thank you, Ingrid.”

Ingrid gave Ona her pain relief and checked her over. Not ever faltering with all the questions Mapi shot at her, as she suddenly became interested in everything hospital related. 

The 2 best friends stayed for another hour until Sarina came to check in on Ona, shortly followed by Demi and Jordan and Jill. But as soon as she could she rejoined Lucy's parents and brother in her room. Visiting hours had come to an end, Carol ensured Ona she would be back again tomorrow and Ona already missed her. She hugged them all goodbye. She was able to stay with Lucy for another hour until she was told she had to return to her own room. 

The Spaniard watched some tv before she felt herself drifting off to sleep. Her slumber was peaceful at first.

Slipping quickly into a dream.

She was walking down her street outside her house. She saw Lucy smiling, but she didn’t speak. The dream suddenly felt off. Like she was being watched. Suddenly she was in her own flat. Slims was in front of her, but his face was monstrous, it was swollen and bloody. He was gasping for air while he was laughing. He tried to grab her. She then felt a pain in her head. She tried to run from him, but she couldn't move, she couldn't even scream, it felt like she was in quicksand. Slowly being pulled deeper and deeper.

Ona jumped up in her bed. Gasping as her heart raced, panic setting in of the unfamiliar room. She was wet with sweat, she pulled the wet hospital gown of her skin, hoping to get some air. She winced as her head throbbed, she was due for some more pain relief. She was about to press the button for the nurse when she heard a rush off feet outside her room. She looked at the small glass and saw a few heads running by. 

She jumped out of bed and stuck her head out the door to see what the commotion was about. She watched as the doctors and a few nurses rushed to a room down the corridor. 

Ona’s heart stopped beating as she realised the room they were rushing into.

“No.” She started to jog down the hall way, ignoring the way her head screamed at her with each step.

She was outside Lucy's room, she tried to tiptoe through the window but she was too short. She slowly opened the door to see a room full of people, rushing around Lucy. 

The machines that had once beeped in a rhythm were now flat lining. The one constant beeping tone was almost deafening. 

“I’m losing her, give me a shot.” The head doctor demanded. 

“Clear.” A nurse rubbed the defibrillators together before she pressed them onto Lucy's chest. Ona felt herself flinch as she watched the electric jolt Lucy’s body, it was the first time Lucy had ever looked frail. 

“I think we may have blood on the lungs!” 

“She'll drown. We need to operate.”

“Her body is going into shock!”

“We're losing her. Heart rate has dropped. We’re close to having no pulse.”

Ona stood frozen in fear as she watched Lucy's body fight for its life. 

“Ona?” 

Ingrid appeared behind Ona, but the girl didn't look at her. The Norwegian nurse looked through the glass to see the commotion that was unfolding. 

“Ona. you can't see this. Come.”

The taller girl pulled a crying Ona away.

“No, no. Ingrid! Please! Lucy!” 

Ingrid was stronger than Ona would have thought, easily moving her away from the door. 

But before the door shut she heard those 3 crippling words.

“We’ve lost her.” 

—-----------------

Everything had changed. 

Ona had been discharged from the hospital after a week of treatment. Her head was healing nicely, though she still had pain every once in a while. 

The first night out of hospital Mapi and Alexia had taken Ona home, ordering her favourite take away and watching a feel good film. Ona was entirely grateful for her friends, she needed them now more then ever and they hadn’t left her side since the day they first saw her in that hospital room. 

But when the night was over and the girls left to return to their own homes, Ona felt weird. She felt off, nothing seemed right. It felt like she was being watched, like something was lurking in her home. Noises that normally wouldn’t notice made her nervous. Every little creak, every little bump, she felt her heart race quicker. 

She was scared. 

The sound of a car door closing made her flinch. She closed her eyes as she tried to block it out, block out the noise of that evil laugh that now consumed her mind. 

She couldn’t sleep that night, she tried but she only ended up waking in a puddle of sweat from her nightmares. Her mind had taken her back to that day, back to the pain. She no longer felt safe in her own home. 

The next day she packed a bag and stayed in Alexia’s spare room. 

Sarina had insisted that she needed to take some time off, and she did, but after the fourth day the girl was going mad alone in Alexia's flat. She needed to distract herself and work was the easiest thing to do. 

But, it had been difficult returning to the office without Lucy.

Ona stared out of the office window, the sun was shining considerably bright for the January weather. She found herself staring a lot lately, dissociating with the life around her. 

“Hey Ona, I sent over the reports you asked for, have you signed them off?” Jordan put her head over the computer top like she always did.

Ona looked up at her blonde friend.

“No? The ones I asked for on John Burns? You haven't sent it.” Ona opened her emails to make sure. 

Jordan looked confused, until realisation hit her.

“I must have sent them to Lucy's email, again.”

Ona felt her chest tighten.

“It's okay.” She tried to put on a smile for her friend.

“It's not. Shit, I’m sorry, Ona. It's not the first time. I just automatically searched her email.”

Demi then appeared next to Jordan. 

“I’ve definitely written Lucy's name in a few emails to you, Ona. I’m sorry.” 

Both girls looked genuinely distraught, the Spainard could see it on their faces.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry. Seriously.”

A silence fell over the three girls, Demi and Jordan clearly feeling bad. 

Ona glanced over at the messy, her eyes lingering over a picture of Lucy and her niece. 

“I miss her.” Jordans eyes looked slightly glassy. 

“So do I.” Demi looked over to the empty seat that was once filled, it looked like it pained her to do it.

“I made 4 tea’s the other day, one was for Lucy.” She chuckled sadly. 

“I do that.” Jordan confessed, as she bit her lip in thought.

Ona felt her heart sink, she let out a sigh as she thought about the brunette. 

“I’m going to go for lunch.” Ona started to gather her bits.

“Do you want company?” Jordan asked.

“No, it's okay. Thank you.” Ona smiled at her friends. She wasn't upset with them but she just needed a little time on her own.

Ona made her way to the destination in mind.

—---

“Gravy or curry, darling?”

“Curry, please.”

“Good choice, enjoy sweetheart.” 

“Thank you.” Ona smiled at the kind grey haired woman. 

She walked to the spot she had been thinking about a lot lately. She faintly smiled as she remembered the night Lucy brought her here. She sat on the bench facing the city. She sat alone in the cold, eating her curry and chips.

—--------

3 months later.

Ona walked into the graveyard, her red umbrella stood over her head as the rain came down around her. She felt weird, she never liked graveyards. Not since she was a kid and attended her abuelas funeral. She spotted an older woman laying flowers on a grave, she wondered if it was a partner that she was visiting. 

She walked on, making her way to the spot. Finally, she came face to face to the grave, she looked over the earth that was still risen. Her stomach dipped as she looked at the name. A cold shiver ran up her spine as the memories of that day came back to her.

She looked down at her feet, not knowing what to do. Should she say something? A prayer? She didn't believe in god or any religion, so she wouldn't even know what to say. She felt a wave of emotions hit her, pain, anger, sadness, guilt. Guilt was the main feeling, the one that laid heavy on her chest.

She looked around the peaceful grounds, then back at the tomb stone. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she exhaled. Her mind wondered what life would be like if things were different that day. She wondered what would have happened if Lucy hadn't found her, if she had been aware of her surroundings. That familiar pain in the back of her head creeped at the skin where her scar lived. 

Her eyes started to blur with tears. Her scarred hand flexed awkwardly around the umbrella handle as the first tear rolled down her left cheek. Then another, and another, she couldn't stop once she started. The floodgates had opened up. The pain, the anger, the guilt coming up in sobs. She closed her eyes once again, trying to breath through the thoughts swirling in her head.  

She took in a deep breath as she finally started to calm down. 

Large beams of sun peeked through the clouds, and the rain slowly stopped. Ona still got confused with the British weather. She watched as a double rainbow started to form a mile or so away,it brought a small smile to her wet cheeks. But before she could think about it too much her phone started to ring.

She looked at the screen and answered.

“Hey.”

“Hi, how is it?”

“Fine.” Her voice wobbled a little.

“Just fine?” 

“I cried. I feel stupid.” Ona sniffled. 

“No! Don’t feel stupid! The therapist said that could happen, didn't she?”

Ona nodded. “Yeah. I’m glad I did it.”

“Good. I’m glad you did too.”

“Sí. I’m heading to you now.”

“Okay, take all the time you need. I’m in no rush.”

Ona laughed through wet eyes. “That's a lie! You’ve been in that hospital bed for 3 months, even the nurses say you're driving them to the wall.”

“It's ‘up the wall.’ And I'll have you know that nurse Mary loves me.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Ona rolled her eyes. “I'll see you soon.” 

“Okay. See you in a bit.” 

Ona took one last look at the grave.

‘Here lies Frank Smith. May god rest his soul’

She walked away. Her smile grew as the sun opened up the clouds further. She suddenly felt lighter as she left the place of rest.

—---------------

“Okay, that's everything.” Ona looked over at her empty suitcase as she hung the last bit of clothing up in the now packed wardrobe. 

“Yeah?”

Ona shivered as a familiar voice purred into her ear. 

“You should be resting.” The Spaniard turned around, a concerned look on her face.

“What's the point of resting if I dont have my sexy girlfriend nurse at my beck and call?” 

Ona snorted with laughter. “Are you serious? Gosh you're so needy, Luce.” 

She cupped Lucy's face, bringing their lips together, smiling at the needy woman.

Though It had been a difficult 3 months.

Ona had nearly lost Lucy in the hospital that night, and even weeks after. Her body had gone into a cardiac arrest, her heart had actually stopped beating for a whole minute. But the girl didn't have the name ‘Tough’ for no reason. It was a miracle really, the doctors and nurses brought her back from death's doors. It was a rocky road from then on. She had been in a coma for 3 weeks, her body had worked overtime to keep her alive. She had specialists watching over her constantly, day and night, worried she could slip at any point.

But after 3 long weeks Lucy woke up. 

When she finally awakened from her long sleep, she was met with those beautiful brown eyes that she fell in love with. Staring down at her. 

“Bon dia.” Ona whispered.

The older brunette stayed in the hospital for 3 long months. She recovered quickly, though the doctors had to keep constantly reminding her to take it easy. Ona visited her everyday, she even introduced Alexia and Mapi to Lucy. Giving Mapi even more reason to see a certain nurse. 

Lucy needed a lot of care, her body was getting better but she was on crutches, she needed help to wash, cook and clean and Ona was the first person to volunteer. So, it was decided that Ona would move in with Lucy. 

The Spaniard hadn’t slept in her own flat since the night she stayed with Alexia. The blonde was sad to see her go, but she also couldn't deny how happy and excited her younger friend was.

The younger brunette smiled as she leaned into her lover.

“I love the taste of your lips.” Lucy purred into Ona’s mouth.

Ona whimpered, already feeling a jolt of heat travelling South. To say she was desperate was an understatement. It has been over 3 months since she and Lucy had sex but she wasn't about to jump on Lucy while her body was still healing. 

“Lucy. You know we can’t. Your stitches-”

“Are fine. I promise. I’ll stop if it's too much.”

She kissed the petite girl softly.  

Ona bit her cheek in worry, but god she wanted Lucy so badly. 

Lucy saw the pensive look on her face, she understood the stress and anxiety that Ona had been through since that day. Her cuts and bruises may have healed but her mental state hadn't and Lucy was never going to make her feel like she had to do anything.

Lucy gently cupped Ona’s chin, her green eyes scanning her face. She lovingly stroked her thumb on the girl's left cheek.

“We don’t have to do anything, you know? I’ll wait for you. Whenever you feel ready.” 

Ona melted into the older brunette's soft touch, her reassuring voice made her heart melt. She felt so safe with Lucy. She knew the girl would never push her, she knew she would understand if she wasn’t ready. She had been scared for this moment, but that feeling of being scared didn’t come up, Lucy was enough to make her feel safe.

“Thank you, Luce. I’m good. I just, I’m a little embarrassed.” 

“What? Why?” The brunette looked genuinely confused.

“I’m of wet already.” Ona bit her lip, her brown doe eyes looking innocently up at Lucy. 

Lucy's mouth gaped open. The Spaniard watched as her pupils grew with pure want.

Ona flirtatiously pushed her chin closed, smiling playfully as she walked backwards, taking Lucys free hand that wasn't holding a crutch. She guided them towards the bed. Lucy hobbled with her good leg, Ona couldn't help but think she even made that look sexy.

“Come lay down.” Ona whispered as she patted the middle of the bed.

Lucy lent her crutch on the wall as she slowly took a seat on the edge of the bed. Trying her best not to wince, but Ona didn't miss a thing.

“You sure you’re okay, Luce?”

This time it was the younger brunette to stroke Lucy's cheek. 

“Yeah. I think I might just have to be on my back. My thighs a bit sore. Sorry, really great sex talk.” She rolled her eyes in slight frustration. 

“Hey, that's okay. You know I like to be on top.” Ona purred as she brought her lips to Lucy's ear, nibbling on the sensitive skin. 

Lucy's jaw clenched as she felt her body needing the girl in front of her. She pulled Ona closer to her, capturing their lips together. The kiss was slow and gentle, nobody pushed for dominance. Both girls just wanted to familiarise themselves with each other. Of course they had sneaked a few kisses here and there in the hospital but they had been interrupted nearly every time. Ingrid had even started covering her eyes before she entered. 

The kiss slowly deepened. It was Lucy who first asked for entry, humming when Ona easily gave it to her. Her tongue stroked Ona’s lips, making the girl whimper. Lucy felt her clit throb hearing those beautiful noises she pulled from the girl.

The kiss became more intense, but it wasn't messy, it was still slow, but the emotional force became more apparent, the girls hummed and groaned as they pushed everything they were feeling for eachother in their kiss. Lucy felt Ona’s fingers at the bottom of her shirt, waning the clothing gone. 

“Can I?” She mumbled against her lips.

“Y-Yeah.” Lucy nodded.

Ona unbuttoned the shirt without breaking the kiss, exposing Lucy's firm stomach. 

And her scars. 

The Spaianrd stroked her hands over Lucy's chest, smiling into the kiss as she felt no signs of a bra. Her fingertips came into contact with the small lump on Lucy's chest. She broke the kiss as she leaned back, she eyed the red mark and brought her lips to Lucy's chest gently kissing the scar that was still healing. 

“I love you.” She gently pressed her lips back on Lucys.

The older brunette smiled. “I love you too.”

Lucy removed Ona’s t-shirt, her eyes took in the beautiful girl in front of her. She felt a rush of love take over her as she began to kiss the younger girl's neck with the most gentle of touches.

Everything was slow, every touch, every kiss, every move. Neither girl wanted to miss a thing, each little gasp and little whimper heightened the rush between them. Ona broke the kisses, she stood up as she unbuttoned her trousers, but it was Lucy who removed her little black thongs. 

She kissed Ona’s stomach, relishing in the tiny gasps that fell from the Spanianrds mouth. She left a small trail of kisses along her abs, flicking her tongue along her milky skin. Ona could feel herself becoming wetter from each kiss. She was sure she could have come from Lucy’s tongue on her skin alone.

“Come.” 

“I’m going to if you keep doing that.”

Lucy laughed. “No, I mean come.” 

Lucy dragged herself to the headboard. Her back was now leaning against it. Ona shuffled on her knees towards the older brunette. 

“Come sit.” Lucy tapped her good thigh, a lustful smile plastered her face.

The Spaniard bit her lip as she gently straddled her good thigh. 

“Fuck!” She hissed as her wet pussy came into contact with something other than her own fingers. 

Lucy's hands instantly gripped her hips, gently making the girl rock on to her thigh. Ona understood the gesture and began to move her hips, sliding her wet sex along Lucy's skin. 

“You look so good, Ona.” Lucy sighed in pleasure as she watched her girlfriend use her thigh to work herself up. 

Ona’s head dropped back, feeling her orgasm already building up, but she didn't want to come like this. She stopped her movements.

“I want you, Lucy. Please.” She took Lucy's hand from her hip, placing it between her legs. “Inside.” She whispered breathlessly.

“Anything you want.” Lucy husked as she brought her fingers to her core, coating her digits with Ona’s essence. 

She circled her clit, her own arousal growing as she watched the girl whine above her. Her eyes took in Ona’s naked form in front of her. Her heart swelled knowing she was all hers.

“Ona, baby. How are you so-”

She pushed her fingers inside, smiling as Ona gasped.

“Perfect.” 

“Dios, fuck!” The younger girl whimpered as she took Lucy in.

Lucy was gentle, she slowly stroked her fingers in and out of Ona’s tight walls. The younger brunette rolled her hips at a slow pace, her core fluttered as she remembered what it was like to have Lucy again.

“You feel so good.” She closed her eyes as she allowed herself to get lost in Lucy's touch. 

Lucy was in heaven as she watched the petite girl's jaw slacken. Her neck tilted back as she fluttered around Lucy's fingers. 

She moved her hand from Ona’s hip to her long caramel hair, gently entangling her fingers. Ona’s eyes opened as she felt Lucys touch. She leaned closer to Lucy, her heart fluttering at the smile Lucy gave her.

“I love you, Ona.”

Lucy pressed her forehead to her lover. Their lips inches apart.

“I love you-u.” 

Lucy's fingers started to pick up pace, bringing the girl closer to her peak.

“I’ll always protect you.” Lucy whispered, her voice trembled as she let her emotions get to her.

Ona heard her tone, she felt her own eyes water at the words, she knew Lucy was trying to get her emotions across.

Ona connected their lips once more, gasping into Lucy's mouth as she felt her cunt flutter around her fingers. The older brunette circled her thumb around Ona’s very wet clit, she smiled into the kiss as the Spaniard let out a desperate cry. 

“Lucy! D-Don’t stop. Please!” She trembled above.

Lucy shook her head. “Never. I’ve got you, I've got you, baby.”

Ona bit her lip, her thighs began to shake as that warm familiar feeling drifted up her body. Their heated mouths came together as Ona rocked harder on Lucy's fingers.

The pure love the girls had for each other was radiating intensely between them, it was like a pull of inner thoughts, both yearning for the other flowing, pouring between them as one person. This was more than sex, they were making love. 

“Fuck. I’m coming.” 

“Come for me baby, you can do it.” Lucy whispered against her lover's lips, adoring the way Ona’s breath hitched.

Ona let out a whimpering moan as her body spasmed against Lucy’s. The older brunette watched in wonder as she felt the soft muscles twitch around her fingers. She smiled proudly as she kissed Ona’s chest, tasting the sweat on her skin, 

“Lucy. Fuck.” The Spaniard breathlessly giggled as she felt her body shaking. 

Lucy stared at the drop dead gorgeous girl in front of her, she bit her lip as she eyed the dark freckles that she loved so much, the brown specks standing out against her flushed face. 

She slowly removed her fingers, but didn’t dare waste the taste of her girl. She sucked off any remaining juices as Ona watched her with wide eyes. She yelped in shock as Ona smashed her lips against her own, her tongue begging to taste herself on Lucy.

“I want you.” Ona mumbled against Lucy's lips.

“Yeah?” Lucy smirked as she felt Ona tug at her jogger bottoms.

“So badly.” Ona began to kiss down Lucy’s body, giving her abs extra attention. She eyed the second scar, making sure to give the mark a lingering kiss. 

“How did I get so lucky?” Lucy stroked Ona’s hair behind her ear.

The younger girl moved lower sucking on Lucy's tight skin. She easily slipped the joggers and Lucy's boxers off, revealing just how wet Lucy was for her.

“Oh? Someones a little excited.” Ona smirked as she lowered herself back down between Lucy's thighs, gently biting the sensitive flesh. 

“Hmm, fuck. Ona.” The brunette closed her eyes as she let out a desperate sigh. “Please, ba- shit!”

Ona eagerly stroked her tongue through the girl's wet lips, humming as she was finally able to taste Lucy again.

“Ona, your mouth is so fucking perfect.”

Ona buried her face further, dipping her tongue into Lucy's tight walls. The older brunette lovingly stroked Ona’s hair back, watching the girl as she fucked her with her tongue. A groan rumbled from her throat as the girl between her legs pleasured her like it was her job. Her wetness was constantly coating the girl's tongue, as her pussy spasmed with heat.  

Ona would stay there all day if she could, her eyes closed in pleasure, swallowing Lucy's essence, feeling Lucy on her tongue. She smiled as she felt Lucy's fingers stroke her face. She looked up at the girl on her back, she shot a wink as she saw Lucy watching her. Her beautiful green hooded eyes struggled to stay focused.  

“You’re so amazing, Ona.” Lucy sighed as she stroked Ona’s hair once more. 

Ona kept their eyes fixed as she gilded her tongue through Lucy's velvety folds, wrapping her lips around her erect clit. Lucy broke the gaze as her head was thrown back on the pillow, her clit finally in Ona’s warm mouth.

“Yes, just like that, Ona.”

Lucy delicately entangled her fingers through the caramel locks, she had a secret obsession with Ona’s hair, she loved the feeling of her soft tresses in between her fingers. She tried to keep her eyes on the girl as she bobbed her head up and down as she sucked and licked her bundle of nerves. But when Ona began to kiss her clit she lost it. 

She felt her thighs shaking, the warm feeling in her thighs and stomach began to rise.

Her hand pushed Onas head slightly further between her legs.

“That's it. Just like that. I love you so fucking much. You’re so fucking perfect.”

Lucy groaned as her hips grinded up into Ona’s mouth, her swollen lips kept her swollen clit captured, swirling her tongue around the pink head. She watched as the beautiful girl above her jolted and moaned, her abs flexing with each thrust. She watched proudly as she crumbled above her.

Lucy hit her climax, the heavy feeling washed over her body as she came loudly in her girlfriend's mouth. 

She shakily breathed out shorts gasps, her chest rising and falling hard. Ona was almost scared she might have pushed her body a little too hard. 

“You okay there?” Ona kissed her thigh.

“Okay isn't even close to the word that I’m feeling.” Lucy chuckled breathlessly. 

Ona laid her head against Lucy's good thigh, she was absolutely in love with her view. This gorgeous goddess of a woman was still stroking her hair as she calmed her heart rate down. The older brunette caught her eyes on the Spaniard.

“You’re so beautiful, Lucy,” 

Lucy's cheeks blushed harder than before.

“Thank you, but you can’t see the view that I have right now.” 

Ona’s brown eyes twinked as she smiled up at her lover. She kissed Lucy's thighs as she made her way up, she came in contact with the third scar on Lucy's body. She gently kissed the red mark on her thigh, kissing her way right up into Lucy's mouth.

Everything had changed, but their love had only grown.

—---------

1 year later.

“Come on, Lucy. We're going to be late.” Ona shouted from their bedroom as she fixed her earrings in. 

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Lucy pulled her suit jacket on as she looked at herself in the bathroom mirror.

Her head snapped up as she heard a wolf whistle from the door, smiling as Ona greedily took in her outfit.

“Maybe we can be a little late.” Ona giggled as she walked over capturing Lucy's lips. 

“Yes! We definitely can!” Lucy picked the shorter girl up with ease, smirking when she heard the surprised squeak from her girl. She placed her on the bathroom side, slotting herself between Ona’s legs, her strong hands pushed the black flowy dress up. Smiling to herself as she exposed the Spaniards thighs.

Her mouth eagerly captured Ona’s, the younger brunette moaned into the heated kiss. But she pulled herself away before she could get too into it.

“No, I was joking, we have to go! This day is for you.” Ona reminded her. 

Lucy sighed as she looked away, Ona frowned as she instantly saw the worry on her girlfriend's face. 

“Hey, what's wrong? Are you not happy for today?”

Lucy anxiously rubbed her thumbs on the younger girl's exposed thighs, not meeting Ona’s eyes.

“Luce? What's wrong? Talk to me.” Ona lifted Lucy's chin, forcing the girl to look at her.

“I….I just worry that I don't actually deserve this.” She sighed heavily, 

“Oh, my baby. Of course you do, Luce. There isn't anyone out there that's more deserving than you. That's why she's picked you.”

Lucy's thumbs continued their movements on the girl's skin.

“Lucy? Come on. The whole team also think it, you know that right? They adore you and you put in 110 percent everyday.” 

Lucy smiled into Ona’s hand. Her words perking her up slightly.

“You sure?” The girl's tone was full of doubt.

It was weird for Ona to see Lucy so unsure of herself. The girl was a beacon of self confidence. 

“I’m a thousand percent sure. You’re the back bone to that place. And besides you literally saved my life.” Ona gently kissed Lucy’s lips, happy to feel her girlfriend melt into the kiss. 

“Hmm, I did, didn’t I?”

Lucy’s thumbs snaked up Ona’s thighs as the kiss became a little more heated. The shorter girl’s breath hitched when she felt Lucy’s fingers stroke over her lace underwear. 

“You sure we don’t have time?” 

Ona groaned as she reluctantly pulled away. “I’m sure, let’s go.”

Lucy pouted but the shorter girl only ignored her, giving her a quick peck on her lips instead. Lucy helped her back down, smacking her arse as they left the bathroom. 

—————

“Thank you everyone for coming today. It’s a real honour to have been promoted to Chief Constable. I will do my best to feel some big shoes. But I actually want to thank the team. If it wasn’t for them myself and Ona wouldn’t be standing here with you today. I want to also thank Sarina for not firing me.” 

The room of guests laughed as Lucy winked at Sarina.

“You have taught me so much over the years, and I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to also learn and grow into the role. Thank you for also allowing me to work things on my own.” 

The room clapped and cheered. 

“Ona. Thank you for being the rock that I needed after everything that happened. You were my sun when things got dark. You stuck by me through my good and bad days, and trust me there were many bad days. But you never gave up on me. I hope I was your rock during this journey, and I hope to be your rock forever.” 

Ona nodded her head, watching only Lucy. Her eyes watered with tears as she proudly looked at her girlfriend. She looked up at Jill when she felt her hand on her shoulder. 

“Anyways. That’s enough from me. I think it’s time for some shots!” 

The group broke out into laughs and cheers. 

Lucy headed straight to Ona who had the biggest smile on her face, she looked so utterly proud of Lucy.

—----------

2 and half years later. 

“Ready Bronze?”

 “So ready.” Lucy chuckled as she looked in the mirror.  

“What are you talking about? She's been ready since the day Ona walked into that office.” Demi rolled her eyes, laughing at the question.

“That's true, she was a goner the moment she looked into those big brown eyes.” Jill chuckled as she pushed Lucy out the way to look at her own reflection. 

“I won’t even argue, you're all right.” Lucy smirked as she fixed her tie.

“Come on then! Let's go get you down the aisle. Your soon to be wife is probably getting impatient.”

Alexia walked into Ona’s room, smiling at her best friend. 

“You look beautiful, Ona.” 

“Thank you, Ale.” The petite girl opened her arms for best friend.

“I look good too? No?” Mapi strolled over, joining the hug.

Alexia rolled her eyes, but her smirk was anything but annoyed. “Si, Mapi, you look beautiful too.” Alexia squeezed her friend's cheek.

“Aye! Watch my make up!” Mapi whacked Alexia’s hand away.

“Si, sorry! I wouldn't want you to look bad for your sexy nurse girlfriend!” Alexia chuckled, as she made sure Ona’s hair was in place. “You ready, Ona?” The blonde girl eyed Ona in the mirror as she held her shoulders. 

“So ready.” She smiled brightly at her bridesmaids.

The day was perfect, the weather was perfect, the food was perfect, the music was perfect, the atmosphere was perfect. It was everything they dreamed of and more. 

The newly wedded couple danced in the middle of the room as everyone around them watched and smiled. They swayed to the song that now meant more to them than anyone would ever understand. 

Ona tucked her head underneath Lucy's chin, she inhaled the familiar perfume that brought her so much comfort. Lucy kissed the top of her wife's head, smiling into her soft hair. 

🎵You do something to me that I can't explain. Hold me closer and I feel no pain. Every beat of my heart. We got something going on. 🎵

—------

“Don’t drop me!” Ona squealed as Lucy carried her through the hotel room. Again.

It was the third day into their honeymoon but she insisted that she needed to be carried every time.

“When have I ever dropped you?”

“That one time when-”

The girl was cut off when Lucy purposefully kissed her. Clearly not wanting to be reminded of that one time she dropped the Spaniard. But, Ona was more than happy to let it go when Lucy kissed her like that.

The taller brunette laid her newly wedded wife on the large double bed, she continued to kiss the girl below her, smiling as shs felt Ona’s hips grinding up into her.

“You already desperate, baby?”

Ona nodded with her teeth between her lips, her caramel hair laid out on the white sheets. Her hooded brown eyes were desperate for Lucy.

Lucy bit her lip as she looked at the girl below her, she'd never get bored of this sight. 

“What does my wife want?” She kissed Ona’s neck, sucking hard on her skin. Ona’s hands gripped on Lucy's waist as she felt the impeccable love bite being made on her skin. 

“Fuck me, ruin me.” Ona gasped as Lucy attached her mouth to the girl's easily accessed nipple, it made Lucy wonder if she wore this dress for this only purpose.

Lucy trailed wet sloppy kisses all over Ona’s chest, smirking as her wife’s whimpers became louder. She sucked and licked the sensitive flesh, opening the buttons that travelled down the easily accessed garment. She pulled the smaller girl to the edge of the bed, lowering herself to her knees. 

Her mouth gaped open as she was greeted with Ona’s already wet and exposed lips.

“No underwear?” Lucy smirked.

“No.” Ona husked, hearing the sultry and shocked hint in Lucy's voice. 

Lucy looked up to the skies as if she was thanking the gods for sending her this perfect girl.

She leaned in closer, her mouth watered at the beautiful site in front of her. A dripping and messy Ona was her favourite kind of Ona. One long broad stroke had the Spainards eyes rolling in the back of her head. 

“Lucccyy.”

The older brunette lapped noisily at Onas entrance, smiling into Ona’s cunt when she began to lift her hips up, needing more friction. 

“You taste even better as my wife.” Lucy groaned as she licked her lips.

Ona loved being spoken to during sex, it would always make her wet, but being called Lucy's wife nearly broke the fucking dam.

“Say it again.” Ona breathed out.

“My wife?” Lucy wrapped her mouth around Ona’s clit.

“Fuck! Again.”

“My wife, Mrs Ona Bronze.” She chuckled as she softly licked through Onas sensitive flesh.

The Spanairds legs started to shake, her hand entangled in Lucy's dark locks, gripping tightly as her hips grinded into Lucy’s talented mouth. She could feel every inch of the girl's tongue, gently caressing her heat.

“I’m your wife, Lucy. I belong to you. No one else. I’m only yours.” Ona gasped as her body started to feel her orgasm climbing.

The older brunette groaned into Ona’s core, she felt herself becoming almost dizzy at Ona’s words. She pulled Ona’s strong legs further apart as she ate her girl out like her life depended on it. The young brunette’s hips started to frash, as she pushed Lucy further into her core, her jaw clenching as her orgasm was about to crash over her. 

Lucy replaced her tongue with her thumb, watching the girl losing all control over her body. 

“Is my wife going to come for me? My good obedient wife?”

“Yes. Yes!”

“You’re so pretty for me, Ona. So wet and pretty. My pretty life wife.” Lucy brought her mouth back to Onas' pussy as she easily slipped two fingers inside her wife.

The dam broke. 

Ona’s cunt clenched around Lucy's fingers as her orgasm erupted through her sweaty body. Her fingers pulled on Lucy's hair as she moaned out in pleasure, fucking her wifes face. Her chest rose and fell as she tried to recover, but Lucy’s tongue was still caressing her folds. 

Her strong thighs tried to close around Lucy's head as her wife continued to suckle her clit between her lips, but Lucy's strong arms kept her open as the girl tried to squirm away. She whimpered loudly as Lucy's mouth never let up, drinking her down, swallowing every drop. 

“Lucy!” Ona begged. 

Lucy didn't listen, she was too engrossed in the taste of Ona, too distracted at the way her thighs trembled around hands. She eyed the petite girl above her, she had already won the fight when Ona began to moan again. 

She stayed between the girl's legs until she gave her another orgasm. Her face and sheets were covered in Ona’s juices. 

“Such a good wife.” Ona chuckled as she watched the girl quiver on the bed.

She walked over to the suitcase, pulling out the strap she loved. She stripped her clothes, pulling her harness over her legs.

Ona was already desperate for her again. She didn't need to be told what position to get into, she turned around spreading her knees as she put herself in Lucy's favourite position. 

Lucy smiled as she watched the shorter brunette. 

“You really are obedient, aren't you?” She slapped the girl's arse cheek, leaving a bright red mark.

“Yes.” Ona nodded her face pressed against the sheets.

The taller brunette stood behind the girl, exposing her dripping sex. She grabbed the strap in her hand, and gently rubbed it through Ona’s puffy wet lips.

“Luce, please.” Ona whispered.

“Don’t worry baby. I’m right here.” Lucy stroked the girl's cheeks as she slowly pushed herself into her wife, loving the way Ona gasped as she entered her.

This view of Ona was maybe Lucy's favourite view. Having the girl bent over, dripping wet, giving herself so easily over to Lucy sent an animalistic urge through her. She rocked her hips at a steady pace, pulling the thick strap all the way out, leaving the head inside Ona’s walls as she easily slid back.

It was a gentle motion but it didn't stop Ona from gasping for air, she could feel every inch of Lucy inside her. The way she stroked along her tight walls, her cunt clenching along the plastic made her brows twitch.

“Look at my good little bride. Taking me, pleasing me just like you should.” Lucy started to rock her hips faster, rougher.

“Y-Yes. I want to please you, L-Lucyyy.” She started to grip the sheets below her as Lucy began to fuck the ait out of her.

“You always please me Ona. Fuck.” Her head rolled back in pleasure as the base of the strap rubbed perfectly at her clit. “If it's not your perfect mouth pleasing me, it's your perfect tight pussy.” 

Ona got louder as the trust got deeper, the rooms next door would definitely know Lucys name by the end of today, but Lucy didnt care about the neighbours right now, she just wanted to fuck her wife. 

“Fuck, just like that Ona, you take it so goos, baby.” 

She gripped on to Ona’s arms, pulling them behind her back. She smirked wickedly the moment she heard the tell tell signs of her wifes next orgasm approaching. 

“No, no. Not yet. Don’t you dare come, Ona.”

Ona let out a high pitched whine, she was already close, her over stimulated body was almost giving up. 

Lucy held her wrist behind her back with her one large hand as she grabbed Ona’s caramel hair in her other hand. She tugged at the long tresses, making Ona’s noises even louder as her head was forced to move.

Lucy felt her back start to sweat. She was working the girl hard, her body was gleaming with her own sweat, her muscles flexed as she stroked in and out of the girl's tired body. She was fucking the girl like she was trying to put a baby inside her. The sounds of wet skin bounded across the room, along with loud pleasured moans.

“Is Ona Bronze going to come for me? Come all over my strap?” 

Lucy groaned at her own words, her orgasm was just on the horizon.

“Yes. YES! Please.”

“Louder.”

“YES!” 

“Always ready to please and obey. Aren't you, Ona? Such a good fucking wife.”

Ona’s cheeks blushed, Lucy’s words were throwing her mind into a haze.

Lucy felt her orgasm washing over her body. She gripped harder on Ona, fucking the girl hard into the bed below 

“Come with me, baby!”

Both girls let out a mess of moans. Lucy’s body shook behind Ona as she came with a loud groan, yanking the girl's hair back as she did. 

She could feel Ona’s walls sucking her strap in deeper, watching the plastic sinking into her walls. 

“So good. So good! My good little wife.”

Ona lost all ability to hold herself up. She allowed Lucy to pull her up against her chest, her eyes fluttered shut feeling Lucy’s lips against her neck. 

“I love you.” Lucy nuzzled Ona’s sweaty neck.

“I love you too.” The shorter girl smiled lazily. 

Lucy pulled out of Ona gently, discarding the strap.

“Shall we actually go to the beach now?” Lucy chuckled. 

Ona laughed out loud, her caramel hair swaying down her back. Lucy noticed the Mexican sun had already made her freckles darker. 

“Yeah, let’s go.” The younger brunette agreed. “Shall we go to the nudist beach?” Ona suggested with a cheeky smile. 

Lucy nearly broke her neck as she snapped her head up. “No! Nobody gets to see my wife naked. Only me.” Lucy pouted. 

Ona crawled to the end of the bed, kissing Lucy’s chest with her doe brown eyes looking up innocently.

“Hmm, remind me again.” Ona mumbled against Lucy's skin.

“My wife.” Lucy whispered.

The petite brunette could smell the wetness between Lucy's legs. It made her mouth water. She slowly started to kiss down her skin until her lips wrapped around Lucy's already swollen clit. 

“Fuck! My perfect wife.” Lucy groaned, her mouth opening in pleasure.

She entangled her fingers between Ona’s hair, face fucking hair newly wedded wife.

The beach could wait.

—---------

4 years later.

Lucy heard a knock on the door.

“That must be them.” She smiled at her wife.

She made her way to the front door, smiling as she could hear Alexia and Mapi bickering. 

“Merry Christmas!” Mapi shouted as she barged through the front door, her hands full of presents. 

“Merry Christmas, Mapi. You good?” Lucy chuckled as she watched the tattooed girl struggle to walk past her.

“Yeah, I’m good. Where’s my baby?”

Ingrid kissed Lucy on the cheek as she followed her fiance inside. “Merry Christmas, Lucy.”

“Merry Christmas, Ingrid. She's in the front room with Ona.” The brunette smiled.

Alexia hugged Lucy at the door as she rolled her eyes.

“She’s hyper already.” Alexia mumbled.

“It's christmas, you know what she's like.” Lucy chuckled.

Alexia sighed, nodding her head. “Yeah, a child.” 

Ona stood up to greet Mapi but the girl pushed past her, ignoring her friend completely and aiming for the 6 month old baby girl.

Ingrid shook her head as she hugged Ona, Alexia came straight after.

“Drinks?” Lucy asked as she opened the fridge.

“Si, Lucy. Mapi you can't hog her the whole day. You had her all day last week. You always do it!” Alexia groaned as she tried to take the chubby baby from Mapis arms. 

Ingrid watched as Mapi ran from her blonde friend. The bumberling baby laughed as she was jostled about. 

“I know that look.” Ona poked the raven haired girl. 

Ingrid's cheeks blushed pink.

“One day. But she's my baby for now.” Ingrid chuckled.

Alexia finally got hold of the curly headed baby, smiling as she cuddled her, but as soon as she held her she started to cry.

“No! See Mapi! This is what you do!” Alexia tried to bounce the baby to calm her down.

Lucy came next to Ona hugging her tightly. She chuckled at the sight before her.

“I love you, Ona.”

“I love you. Lucy.”

[samkerrworshipper]

pain, sweet, pain | leah williamson x arsenal team

leah’s return from her acl injury is nothing like what she wanted nor expected, but her team are there to help her up when she’s down.

content: hurt/comfort, angst, sadness, pain.

Leah’s never been a good loser.

Whether it was U8s playing with the boys, or playing for Arsenal, or playing for England.

She knows this, it’s both her biggest strength and weakness. She likes to think that it makes her a better player and person, because she experiences the highs and lows like nobody else, but realistically she knows that's just the part of her that hates that she feels so inherently deeply worthless when she team loses and it feels she's somewhat at fault.

Captain Leah would never in her wildest dreams blame a loss on anyone, because she plays an eleven person game, a team game, one person cannot take the sole blame for a whole 90 minutes plus stoppage time.

Leah, 26 year old Leah, who's just coming back from an ACL injury and feels like her world is ending, can’t do anything but blame herself.

Never in her life has Leah felt so worthless, so scared for the future.

She’s worked so hard, worked every single day of recovery, for her knee and for her mind.

She’d thought she was ready, and physically she is, but mentally absolutely nothing prepares you for the moment when you step back on the field for your first game as a starter and you play like absolute shite.

Leah’s worked for over a year, tirelessly, to get to this point, she’d dreamt about it her whole recovery, dreaming of a pinnacle, a perfect moment at the end of the treacherous path, it had seemed perfect.

Realistically, Leah knows that it was never going to look exactly like that, but she’d hoped for something more, happiness, joy, a good game, fulfilment above all else.

Yet, she’s left feeling the complete opposite.

Leah didn’t wait around on the pitch, she was inconsolable, and she knew it, she didn’t need fans seeing her vulnerable, she didn’t need Sarina who had travelled all this way to see Leah play look at Leah with that look of disappointment that you could always catch in the corner of her eye. Leah just couldn’t do it, she couldn’t ever bear to look at Kim, her captain who cared so deeply at her, she couldn’t face that, couldn’t face a woman who was the person who was supposed to keep her accountable but also pick her up when she’s down.

So Leah slips away, slips into the tunnel before she gets stuck in some stupid surface conversation with Alex or Jill, even though she’s desperate to catch up with them, she just can’t do it right now. Drawing with Man City feels like a loss, Arsenal are second on the ladder, the only team they should be drawing or losing to is Chelsea, or at least that’s what Leah’s brain is telling her.

She slips into the bathroom, going unnoticed by anybody in the tunnel and keeping her eyes on her cleats as she makes her way into the away team lockers.

Leah doesn’t sit down, she moves straight to the bathroom, stepping into the first stall and locking the door behind her before she slides down onto the floor, bringing her knees to her chest and her head down onto her kneecaps.

Leah can’t breathe, Leah can’t think, all Leah can do is sit on the floor, contemplating whether it was all really worth it, whether the fucking months of blood, sweat and tears amounted to this. She doesn’t think so, Leah’s telling herself that all of that time, all the wishful thinking, all of the bullshit that she put up with is pointless.

She is Leah Williamson, England Captain, European champion.

Yet she had never felt more like an imposter in her own body.

Alex and Beth had told her about how playing her first full game would be the best moment of her life, especially after sitting out for a whole year.

It was a big step, sure, she’d been getting on the pitch, but being on for ten minutes of stoppage time hardly counted as playing, when Jonas had told her that he planned to have her start the Man City match Leah was excited, ecstatic even, in hindsight it was false confidence.

“Le, honey, are you in there?”

Leah realises that there are tears rolling down her cheeks, subconscious tears of anguish that she hurries to swipe away with the hem of her jersey.

Leah tries to silence herself, for long enough that Lia will leave her be, but she inevitably knows that even though Lia phrased it as a question, she knows Leah is hiding in the stall.

Leah and Lia are…. confusing.

Especially for Leah.

It’s this weird friends with benefits arrangement that somehow started after Caitlin and Lia broke up, it wasn’t very long after Leah and Jordan had broken up and one drunken celebratory night they fell into eachothers bedsheets.

It was blurred lines, sex and emotions that neither of them were ready to face.

Leah loved Lia, in so many ways, but she couldn’t do this, she couldn’t be vulnerable in front of a person that she had frequent casual sex with.

The sex was a confidence booster, for both of them, it made them both feel better, stronger, and Leah was fairly certain that Lia seeing her like this would wreck that.

“Le, baby, open up for me?”

Leah knows that she’s shaking, it’s the middle of fucking winter in London and she’s sitting in a tiled, cold bathroom in nothing more than her uniform. She doesn’t care though, she doesn’t care about anything, the only thing she is thinking about is how the fuck she is going to return to the locker rooms without looking like a complete fucking wreck.

“Leave me alone Lia, I’m fine.”

It’s a blatant lie, both women know it. The breakage and croakiness in Leah’s voice is enough of a sign.

“Don’t be like this Le, whatevers up, we can sort it out together, just open up the door.”

Leah can feel the sickness rising up in her throat, can feel the pain and anxiety coursing through her bloodstream.

“Lia I told you to fuck off, get the fuck out, I’m fine.”

Leah only just manages to get the expletives out before reaching for the bowl of the toilet, the sound of gagging filling the silent bathroom.

Leah hates the acidic flavour that rises up from her throat and directly out of her mouth into the bowl, the clear white being tarnished with the slightly orange tinged bile, Leah supposed it was probably from the gatorade that had been handed out at half time.

“Le, honey, you can open the door for me, I won’t judge you.”

Leah knows that Lia is just trying to be nice, that the Swiss woman really does have a heart of gold and would never judge Leah, not even at her darkest moment. But her mind is betraying her, everything she believes in seems false.

“Lia get the fuck out.”

It’s almost a scream, definitely a yell.

The overwhelming silence that comes after it is deafening.

Then Leah’s ears are blessed with the sound of cleats slowly trailing away from her, it’s the first time since the whistle blew at the start of the game that she feels just a smidge of peace.

Leah tries to pick herself up from the floor, at least the toilet bowl, but it’s a losing battle, the uneasiness in her stomach suddenly forcing more bile up her throat.

Leah hadn’t eaten this morning, so most of it was just bile and liquids that she’d had before the game and at halftime, it burned her throat, making the already abundant ache so much more prominent.

It’s just as Leah is finally pulling her head out, swiping her long blonde ponytail out of the way that she hears the sound of a loud and deft knock against the stall door.

“Leah Williamson, open up, right now.”

Leah’s body shivers more than it was before, whatever gods are up there, she just prays that Kim didn’t hear her vomiting, or crying, or anything.

“I’m fine Kim, leave me alone.”

Leah sounds even more of a mess than she did a few minutes ago when she was trying to convince Lia of the same thing.

“I didn’t ask if you were fine, I told you to open the door.”

Kim’s Scottish accent is so deep, so enunciated in the way it always seems to be when she’s using her stern captain's voice.

“Kim, please just leave.”

Leah is pleading, something that she hates to do, but if Kim asks her once more with that voice she knows she’s not going to resist. So she’s not necessarily pleading to be left alone, but she is pleading for Kim to not push, to not force her to do something she doesn’t want to.

“Leah Cathrine, open the door now, if I have to ask again I will exercise other options to get to you.”

Leah hates how responsive she is to Kim’s voice, she doesn’t manage to get herself up from the bowl, but she does manage to reach one of her long and gangly arms up to the lock and flip it to the side, leaving the door unlocked.

It takes Kim a total of a second to fling the door open.

She doesn’t waste time in the doorframe looking Leah up and down, she steps into the stall, locking the door behind her immediately and sitting down against the door, where Leah had previously been sat.

Kim doesn’t say anything, pretends that she doesn’t notice the tear tracks and snot all over Leah’s face. Instead she extends a windbreaker out towards Leah. Leah shakes her head and Kim just shakes her head, still holding her arm out.

“Leah take the fucking jacket, I won’t be the one to tell your mother that you got hypothermia because you refused to put a jacket on after a game.”

Then it hits Leah, there are people here, at the game, for her.

Her mother, grandmother, father, brother.

Keira even managed to make the trip down just for this game, and yet Leah is crumpled over in a loo, having a fucking breakdown.

Kim shoves the jacket at Leah, and Leah just gives in, pulling it around her shoulders but leaving her arms out so she doesn’t have to remove them from the toilet seat, out of fear that whatever is left contained in her stomach will arise.

Leah and Kim stay that way for a while, Kim just sitting and watching Leah carefully, whilst Leah clutches onto the toilet seat.

She vomits once again, but this time it’s just stomach acid, it burns but it makes her stomach rest a little bit easier, easy enough for Leah to push herself up from the toilet bowl and rest against the wall beside her, so she’s diagonal from Kim.

“Don’t you have teammates to pep up?”

Kim just furrowed her eyebrows at Leah.

“Yes, you.”

Leah grimaces at that answer, she isn’t normally the consoled, normally the consoler, taking up the same job that Kim is right now.

“There are people who have bigger problems right now than I do.”

Kim nods, which throws Leah off a little bit.

“Yes, there are, but I think you’ve been needing this a lot longer than you’d care to admit.”

Leah can’t look at Kim’s eyes, can’t bear the amount of concern that is being directed at her, so she keeps her eyes on her cleats.

They’re muddy, and sopping wet, and Leah’s feet are shivering like crazy, her toes numb from the cold.

“Needing what?”

The question hangs in the air, empty but yet also so full with wonder.

“Needing attention, comfort, vulnerability, needing to not be the invincible Leah Williamson for a minute.”

Leah can’t disagree with Kim, even if she wanted to, it’s just a lie that Kim would catch her out on, and she’s dealt with enough disappointment today.

“I should be happy, on cloud nine, it’s my first game back.”

Leah’s voice betrays her, betrays every single thing that she’s wishing she was feeling.

“There isn’t anything you should be, there are things you can want to feel, but there’s no exact way that you should be feeling right now. Remember Viv’s comeback? Recovery isn’t linear Leah, you know that.”

Kim’s scolding her a little bit, she knows how to get through to Leah, she needs tough love, none of the soft pity bullshit.

“I played like shit, you should be yelling at me not sitting on the bathroom floor with me looking at me like I’m a kicked puppy.”

Kim cocks her head, this is how she works her way in, she doesn’t even have to ask the questions, she just slowly works the answers out, she can play the long game.

“You missed a few passes and intercepts, it's not the end of the world, so did everyone. Do you think I should be yelling at them? We had a bad game Leah, it happens.”

Kim’s words are strong, passionate, but Leah knows there is a lingering question hanging beneath them.

“Leah, how are you doing?”

It’s such a bleak question, so simple but yet so impossible to answer.

“I’m fine, I’m good, I’m back on the pitch, I’m happy.”

It’s all lies, Leah is fairly certain that she hasn’t felt fine or good in a few weeks now, and definitely not happy. She doesn’t think she deserves to feel happy, especially not when she’s been playing how she has.

“You know that you don’t have to sugar coat things with me, you don’t need to lie to me for the sake of trying to get me to leave you alone, it won’t work.”

Kim is probably the most stubborn and selfless person Leah knows, it’s normally the thing she admires most about the Scot, but right now she couldn’t detest it more.

“Leah, you do know it’s okay to be upset, or annoyed, you're coming back from a major injury, I’d be concerned if you weren’t feeling some of those things.”

Kim’s words are reassurances, she’s trying to send Leah into a false sense of comfort, enough comfort that she’ll start to open up to Kim, that she’ll finally let all of her walls and mental barricades down.

“Kim, seriously, I’m fine.”

Kim exhales, deeply, she’s letting go of her lenient side, breathing it out and expelling the soft part of her that was dancing circles around Leah’s mental state, hoping that she’d open up on her own, but it was crystal clear that was Leah was not going to be volunteering that information.

“Leah, have you been struggling?”

It’s a blunt question, and as Leah looks up at Kim with complete shock and fear on her face she can’t find anything besides concern and questioning in her eyes.

“What does that matter?”

It’s a deflection, a weak one, an attempt at trying to pivot Kim, Leah knows subconsciously though that it’s not going to work, Kim sees through it.

“I’m worried about you, I know a lot of the team is. I know you’re struggling Leah, whether you want to admit it or not.”

Leah forces herself to take a deep breath, the unwavering depth in her Captain’s eyes is unmissable, tormenting her from a metre away.

“Leah for the last month you’ve looked like you’re on the cusp of a nervous breakdown, and that’s okay, there is nothing wrong with that. But feeling that way for a whole month isn’t normal.”

Leah knows Kim is right, the older Scot is hardly ever wrong, she’s only seven years older than Leah, but sometimes Kim seems wiser than her mother, sometimes she treats Leah like her daughter, this moment is one of those moments.

“Kim, please just leave me alone.”

Leah is pleading, begging, praying that Kim will just leave her be, stop trying to make her feel things that she doesn’t want to.

“I’ll shut up but I’m not leaving you alone, not when you feel like this.”

Leah feels like Kim knows what she’s feeling better than Leah does, and that’s a weird feeling, knowing that Kim knows exactly what swirly weird thoughts are happening in Leah’s confusing brain.

“Leah, you’re obviously not doing very well.”

Leah cuts Kim off before she can say much more, because she’s honestly sick of hearing Kim’s half lecturing half concerned voice in her ear.

“Thanks for stating the obvious Kim, no, I’m not doing fucking well, I’m pretty sure a blind man could figure it out, so please, for gods sakes, leave me the fuck alone.”

In some strange way, it’s like music to Kim’s ear, hearing Leah openly admit her problems, because it means that Kim is slowly easing her up, slowly getting her to hone in on her emotions.

“Leah, talk to me, what’s up?”

All of a sudden Leah’s face contorts into one of genuine pain, and Kim feels her gut drop for a second.

“Kim I need you to just leave me the fuck alone like I’ve already fucking asked you too.”

Kim likes to think that she’s fairly lenient, she knows how much her girls, her teammates, can take. She knows how to handle most situations, and to an outsider, in this situation they’d probably say that Kim should leave Leah alone.

Kim knows Leah, just like she knows everybody else on the team. She knows that Leah, in all of her stubbornness and masking, often needs someone there for her, although she’d never admit it.

“Leah Cathrine, you can be as angry as you’d like, but you won’t talk to me or anybody like that, especially someone who is just trying to look out for you. Now, I’ll ask you once again, and give you the opportunity to answer me honestly before I haul your ass out of here and onto the bus. Leah, you know that I would never judge you, nobody on this team will ever judge you, and if they do they’ll have me to deal with. We all love you so much, you’re our Leah, our baby girl, and we all just want the best for you.”

Leah forces herself to take a breath, she feels more tears falling down her face as Kim’s words truly start to impact her.

“Sarina’s here, and I played like shit. My knee fucking kills, the olympics are in two months and I’m playing like shit. I’ve never had anxiety, never had a panic attack besides the euro finals, and all of a sudden, I’m a emotional fucking wreck and can’t get my shit together, I need to be better.”

Kim takes a good look at Leah’s franticness, it’s so unlike her, but also not unexpected.

“Leah, take some deep breaths for me honey, use your diaphragm.”

Kim’s voice has dropped a few octaves, and it’s lost all of the tension that was previously in it.

“Everyone on the team thinks I’m weak, stupid and weak, fucking useless.”

Kim stops Leah’s ramble before she takes it too far.

“Leah, listen to me. You are not weak, or stupid, or useless, or anything that your brain is telling you. You are recovering from a devastating injury. You are not perfect. You are doing your best.”

Leah looks up at Kim, with big doe eyes full of tears, she looks so helpless, like a young child.

“You are Sarina’s captain Leah, she’s going to pick you for the olympics. She’d be crazy not too, and if she doesn’t, which isn’t going to happen but with the off chance, then we can go watch them, or we can stay in London and work on your recovery. There will be people around, friends, family. You will not be alone.”

Leah doubts Kim, even though her captain sounds so sure she can’t help but feel a little bit insecure. Millie’s been doing her job for almost a year now, and she’s been doing a bloody good job of it, it makes Leah wonder if Sarina is even going to want her back, especially when her and Millie play the same position on the pitch.

“Leah, honey, I say this as someone who loves you and cares about you more than you’ll ever know. If your knee is hurting, then you should be telling the trainers, and not pushing it. You know your body, and if it’s hurting you need to rest. I know that you want to be playing, and you're finally allowed to so it’s this big deal, but you need to listen to your body and not hurt yourself further. I don’t want to have to tell Jonas and the trainers that you are playing through pain, so I need you to do it, before I bench you for endangering yourself.”

Kim hates how broken Leah looks, and if she could she’d pick Leah up and give her a big hug and say sorry for everything that she’s going through, and she’ll get to that, but right now, Leah is the most impressionable, and this is Kim’s chance to get through to her.

“Leah, every single person on this team loves you, no matter what. This team, this family, all of the love is completely unconditional, you don’t have to put on a brave face for them, I can guarantee you that if we walked into that locker room right now all they would want to do is make sure that you are okay. Nobody is here to condemn you, or make you feel like shit. We all care about you Leah, we’re all worried about you, not mad or angry.”

Leah looks up at Kim, her wobbling bottom lip between her teeth and tears, she looks so gutted, so much smaller than she really is.

“I failed them.”

It’s the first words that have left Leah’s mouth in a while, and it sends a sob barrelling directly from her lips.

This sob, this breakage, this sign of outward weakness speaks volumes to Kim, and it has her scooching over so she’s sitting beside Leah, their shoulders brushing up against each other. When Leah leans into the contact Kim raises one of her arms, putting it across the back of Leah’s shoulder blades and bringing the younger defender into her body.

Kim leans down, pressing her lips to Leah’s forehead, letting them linger for a little bit.

“Leah, honey, no matter what, you could never fail any of us, even if you had ten own goals in a final, none of us could care less, your our Le, our super star. You could never fail us.”

Leah forces herself to take a deep breath, to compose herself, Leah Williamson does not cry.

Except today, today she does, for so many different reasons, and yet absolutely no reason.

“I just don’t want to disappoint anybody, everyone needs me to be good, everyone expects me to be good.”

It’s like a mantra to Leah, a reminder, it’s her bible.

Leah Williamson does not lose, Leah Williamson does not disappoint, Leah Williamson cannot be a failure.

Yet today, it feels like she’s done all of those things, and it’s too much for her, too much for her heart to handle.

“Leah, I’m not wanting to rush you, we can sit here for as long as we have to for you to feel better, but the bus is waiting for us, and I know the girls really want to see you. Plus, my old lady knees are starting to cramp up in here.”

It’s lighthearted, but Leah feels the pressure fall down on her chest like a stack of heavy bricks.

Kim sees the change, and she does exactly what Leah needs, she brings her into her lap for a bone breaking hug.

“They’re going to be mad.”

Leah’s voice is a murmur, low and so quiet that Kim almost misses it.

“Leah I can promise you nobody in that room is going to be mad at you, proud, happy, overjoyed, yes. But one hundred percent not mad. We’ll go out there, get you changed out of these freezing clothes, you can talk to whoever you’d like to. We’ll leave the changerooms, there will probably be people there to talk to you, maybe Sarina, maybe so people from the press, probably your mum. Talk to whoever you want to, then we’ll hop on the bus and get back to the hotel. Okay? I just need you to be brave for me and do it, because I know you can, all of us girls know you can, okay?”

It takes Leah a little bit to nod in agreement with Kim, but eventually she does, her head lifting from its spot buried in Kim’s windbreaker.

“C’mon then, let’s get you up.”

Kim uses all of her strength to lift herself up off the floor, the pre match soreness has settled into her bones and muscles and she makes an internal joke about the old age really starting to get to her.

Once she’s stood up properly she reaches to pull Leah up, even if her back is aching and her knees are sore.

Leah’s unsteady on her legs, like a baby with sealegs, or a newborn baby horse. Kim has to quite literally manhandle Leah into leaning onto her, her arms wrapped around Kim’s much smaller form.

It’s uncomfortable, but Kim makes do, unlocking the stall and dragging Leah over to the sink.

“Wash your face off honey.”

Leah takes one look at herself in the mirror and is instantly shocked, her eyes are thoroughly red rimmed, puffy and altogether Leah just looks like a complete mess.

She leans down to the sink, turning the faucet and washing some of the ice cold water over her face. It doesn’t do much, it doesn’t really do anything besides wipe the tear stains from her face and make a little bit of the redness subside. Not enough to make it look like she hasn’t been crying herself sick, and definitely not enough to make it look like she has her shit together.

She wants to tell Kim to go ahead without her, but one look at the Scottish captain through the mirror tells Leah that anything she says is going to be useless.

So she swallows and spits a little bit of water to clean the acid taste from her mouth and then she stands herself up, righting her uniform and leaning herself back onto Kim, her legs and stomach feeling as uneasy as her current metal state.

When Kim makes it to the door of the bathroom, Leah feels her stomach drop, plummeting to her feet. Kim doesn’t hesitate, even with Leah draping her studs down against the concrete.

Leah keeps her head down, completely ashamed and unable to look at the faces of any of her teammates.

Kim leads her over to her cubby, sitting her down on the seat gently before sitting herself down in front of Leah, pulling off her soaked cleats and leaving them on the floor for later.

“Leah, honey, look at me please.”

Leah struggles to take her eyes from her lap, where her hands are sitting, fiddling aimlessly with the skin around her nail beds.

She eventually does though, keeping her eyes solely focused on Kim’s face, not letting her eyes travel to any of her teammates.

“You need to get changed, but my knees are really sore so I don’t think I can hold you up by myself, I need to go see one of the trainers. Who would you like to help you?”

No one.

That’s the answer that bounces around Leah’s head.

“I can do it myself.”

Leah’s words come from a stubborn mindset, the mindset that is making her feel even sicker for being so openly vulnerable.

“How about Viv and Beth, or Katie, or Jen?”

Leah hates all of the options, because they all include her having to be vulnerable with more people.

“I can do it myself.”

Kim rolls her eyes, her face still as stern and set as ever.

“It’s not up for argument Leah, I’m going to go get Viv, okay?”

If Leah had to make a choice, it would have been either Beth or Viv, because both of them have been through what she has, but Viv is the better option, because she won’t try and make jokes with Leah.

So Leah allows Kim to get up from the floor in front of her, and wander off to wherever she has too, to find Viv.

It’s about thirty seconds later that a pair of white nike shoes show up beside Leah’s sock covered feet.

“Leah, liefje, kom voor mij op?” Leah, love, stand up for me?

Leah’s not fluent in Dutch, she can’t speak a word of the language besides some simple conversation and basic terms of endearment, but for whatever reason she understands Viv perfectly.

Using the wall of her cubby as a crutch, she stands herself up, looking at Viv with a lot of questioning in her eyes.

Viv doesn’t wait for permission, she just reaches for the bottom of Leah’s jersey, lifting it up until Leah’s forced to put her arms up so Viv can pull it over her head.

Before leah’s left shivering, Viv’s helping her pull a long sleeve top and hoodie over her body, making her once freezing body a little bit warmer.

Once Viv has the hoodie pulled around Leah tightly she moves to her shorts, once again not waiting for permissions and tugging them as well as her compression shorts down.

Before she tugs the sweatpants on though, she secures a knee brace and ice pack to Leah’s knee.

Leah’s almost embarrassed about the fact that she nearly moans when the ice makes contact with her knee, the cold contrast feeling so incredible on her inflamed and sore skin.

Viv then moves onto the sweatpants, pulling Leah’s feet through the bottoms of them and then pulling them up and over her knees gently before securing the pants loosely around Leah’s hips.

Once her clothes are on, and Leah is feeling a little bit happier and spacey from the welcome warmth, Viv sits her back down on the bench.

She pulls Leah’s socks off, dutch simplicity leaving her lips as she gently applies, newer and softer socks to Leah’s feet, Viv’s warm hands gently rubbing over Leah’s feet as she pulls the socks over her toes and ankle, before pulling out a pair of ugg boots that Leah has never seen before and tugging them onto her feet.

Normally, Leah would revolt against the break of uniform, but she’s too tired, too vulnerable, too broken to care.

Viv can apparently tell, because in a few seconds time there is a group of girls flanking her, all with the same soft, calm expressions on their faces.

Katie, Beth, Viv, Jen and Lia.

“Hey baby girl, time to get you to the bus hey?”

It’s Beth’s gentle voice, quiet and soft.

“M’ sorry.”

It’s the only thing going through Leah’s brain, endlessly repeating like a record that keeps replaying.

“Hey, you’ve got nothing to be sorry for and we’ll talk about it on the bus, but we just need to get you there, okay? So Viv and Jen are going to help you, Katie will grab your things and I’ll make sure that any press stragglers stay away, okay?”

Leah feels defeated, and broken, but she nods anyway.

Jen and Viv reach down to pull her up, Beth leading the way out of the change rooms and back into the tunnel. Luckily, there are no stragglers, and the trip is fairly easy, Kim joining the group somewhere along the way with ice packs secured to both of her knees but she looks as if she's in good enough spirits.

They manage to manhandle Leah onto the bus and into a seat, cocooned between Kim and a window.

Kim whispers sweet nothings in her ear the whole ride home, reassurances that Leah doesn’t really hear with her ringing ears.

It’s actually Viv who brings Leah out of her trance, pulling Kim out of her seat beside her so Viv can sit down.

Leah, liefde, listen to me for a second please.”

Leah takes a deep breath.

“You did everything you could have, we all did everything we could have, this is not your fault nor your burden to take. None of us will accept you taking the burden for this. You can’t allow yourself to, because this,” Viv’s hand falls on Leah’s puffed up knee, covered with an ice pack, butLeah understands what she means.

“Is not going to get better if you don’t allow yourself to heal mentally. We’re all here for you, we’re all going to carry you when you are down, please Leah, for me, for your mum, for anybody, just let yourself rest. We’ll review, and as a team we will get better, but we need you beside us getting better as well, we need you out here leading the team, like we all know you can. Take a night, reflect and then come back tomorrow with the mindset that you have something to prove, to us, to Jonas, to Sarina, yes?”

Leah looks at Viv, looks at how genuine she is, how she definitely knows exactly what Leah is feeling.

The words linger for a few seconds, before a mass of Arsenal hoodies are piling on top of Leah and Viv, a struggle of arms and hands securing themselves around Leah.

It’s warm, happy and loving.

It’s everything that Leah has been working to create in this environment for years, not for herself, for everyone around her. But having it come back to her, it hits her like a freight train, and suddenly, or not so suddenly, Leah realises that she’s not doing everything by herself, she doesn’t have to when this is her team.

[honeys-hotties]

Spilling the Tea

Mapi Leon x fem!Reader

Here it is!!! My first fic in a million years (it def feels like it)! All of the love in the world to all of you reading, I hope you enjoy!

Word Count: 3.7k

My knee bounces up and down uncontrollably as I sit smushed against the window of the bus. I can’t help it. The pre-match nerves always seem to get the better of me, and today is obviously no exception. Today, however, they are much more justified. Today is the Euro quarter-final. Spain vs England. Two superpowers of football going head to head. And I can’t seem to calm myself down.

Lucy reaches over from her spot next to me, and places her large hand on my knee, effectively stopping the bouncing.

“Hey,” she says, looking at me. “I know you’re nervous. We’re all nervous. But all we can do is go onto that pitch today and bring everything we have. You always do that, so you have nothing to worry about.”

I reach down to grasp her hand in mine, overcome by a rush of love for the older woman sitting next to me. Lucy has been my best friend on the England squad (even over my sister Leah, though I would never tell her that), and I genuinely don’t know what I would do without her. Playing for the Chicago Red Stars these past few years have been tough, mainly because I’ve been away from my family and friends for so long. But Lucy always made an effort to call me as often as she could from Barcelona, checking in on me and just being the best friend anyone could ask for.  

“Thanks, Luce.” I say, giving her hand a squeeze.

“Anything for you, Williamson #2” she responds. I yank my hand away from her as she starts laughing. “Awwww, don’t be like that,” she pouts, slinging her arm around my shoulders. “Play nice, or I won’t introduce you to any of my Barca teammates.”

“I’ll take my chances.” I say, jokingly pushing her away. She grips me tighter, and pulls me into her side, laughing.

“Oh, please!” she says. “You’re too in love with half of them to risk an introduction by yours truly!”

My face turns bright red, and I start sputtering, trying to come up with an excuse. Before I can, Ella pipes up from the seat in front of us, turning her entire body around to look at me, with my tomato face and messy hair from Lucy’s wild arms, and Lucy herself who is smirking like the cat who caught the canary.

“I agree with Y/N on this one, some of those Spanish players are FIT” she yells, causing pretty much everyone else to turn and look at us.

“My baby sister thinks who’s fit?” Leah asks from somewhere in front of us. Before I have a chance to try to calm the storm, Ella pipes up again:

“Your “baby sister” is in love with half of Lucy’s Spanish teammates, that’s who. Although, in all honesty, I really can’t blame her. I mean, have you SEEN Alexia? The things I’d let her do… OUCH” Ella trails off, although an elbow courtesy of Alessia, her seatmate, has her breaking out of her daydream. The rest of the bus explodes in laughter, and I bury my face in Lucy’s shoulder.

“What’d you have to go and do that for, Luce?” I whine. She chuckles and pets my hair contentedly. “I mean, was I wrong babes?” she asks. “The number of times you’ve asked me about Mapi alone definitely served as a heads up.” Before I can say anything else, the bus pulls to a stop, and everyone stands up, ready to head off. 

The next few hours pass in a blur of warming up, running drills and strategies, and trying to get everyone into a good mood pre-match. I’m playing DJ, and have my phone hooked up to the locker room speakers while the rest of the girls mess around, waiting for Sarina to tell us what to do. I make my way over to Lucy who is sitting in her cubby with her phone out, furiously typing away. Right as I make my way in front of her, she stands up, grabs my hand, and pulls me out of the locker room and down the hall. 

“What are you doing, Bronze?” I ask her as she takes a couple of turns and speeds up through the hallway.

“Helping you meet your future wife, Williamson” she responds. “I was texting Patri, FYI. Her and a couple of my other teammates wanted to see me before we all end up in the tunnel. Plus, they want to meet this famous bestfriend that I always talk about.”

“I-what? We’re seeing them right now?”

“Yup!” she exclaims, slowing down in front of a door that’s propped slightly open. “Right now. So I suggest you pull yourself together. Keep a clear head before the match and all that. Here,” she hands me the travel mug that had been in her other hand. “Hold this while I call Patri.”

She presses a couple of buttons while I take a sip from her mug. “This is really good, Luce.” I tell her as she puts the phone on speaker, the ringing echoing down the hallway. “I might need you to make me a cuppa when we get back, this is a hundred times better than the hotel drinks.”

Just before the line rings out, the door in front of us opens all the way, and there, right in front of us, stands Patri Guijarro, Claudia Pina, Jenni Hermoso. Ona Batlle, and Mapi Leon. Lucy pockets her phone in favor of greeting her teammates, who rush towards her and form a huge group hug, chattering over each other as Lucy laughs in the middle. They break apart, and Lucy grabs me, pulling me forward towards them. 

“Allow me to introduce my very best friend ever, the one and only Y/N Williamson” she says proudly, pushing me towards them.

“It is nice to finally meet you,” Jenni says, stepping forward to give me a hug. “Lucy talks so much about you we feel as though we already know you!”

Claudia, Patri, and Ona all give me hugs as well, before Mapi pulls me into one of her own. As soon as she wraps her (Insanely strong) arms around me, I feel my face starting to heat up again. I’ve always had a slight crush on Mapi, Lucy definitely got that right, but right now, being held by the taller Spanish woman, I have to keep from pinching myself to make sure this is really happening. Mapi finally lets go (although I wish she wouldn’t), but brings her hands to my waist, looking directly into my eyes. “I’ve been wanting to meet you for a while now,” she tells me. “I am so glad that it finally happened.”

“I-I am too,” I say, cursing myself when I stutter slightly. “I only wish it was under better circumstances. Mapi lets her hands trail away from me, staring at me quizzically. 

“These are not good circumstances?” she asks. Oh, God, her accent. Just kill me now, please and thank you.

“Well, yeah,” I smirk. “I just hope things don’t get awkward when we beat you!”

Mapi scoffs. “We’ll see, princesa.”

The Spanish girls laugh, and start talking over each other all at once, before Lucy cuts them off: “Yeah, alright, talk smack after you give me my tea back, Williamson.”

“No, I don’t think I will,” I retort, taking another sip of the mug that has been clutched in my hand. “You’ve already had so much already, Luce!”

“Yeah, ‘cause it’s mine,” she bites back, making grabby hands for the mug. “I’ll make you tea later, but you have to let me finish this now.”

I relent, handing her the mug and turning back to Mapi who has an insanely attractive smirk on her face. “You are not really arguing over a cup of tea, are you?”

I nod, and her smile widens incredulously. “Tea is disgusting!” she exclaims, throwing her arms in the air. “I do not understand you Brits. It is like you have tea running through your veins at this point! When will you realize coffee is infinitely better”

“Hey!” I respond, frowning playfully. “Tea is a million times better than coffee! You can’t even compare them. Besides-” but my rant is cut off by Lucy’s phone ringing loudly through the hallway. I turn to look at her, she looks up with a look of pure pure horror on her face. Wordlessly, she shows me the phone screen, where I see an incoming call from “Captain Lee-Lee” displayed across the screen. Leah must be furious with us for running away, and we both know we’re about to suffer the consequences. Lucy grabs my hand, and we bid the Spanish girls good luck before sprinting back towards our locker room, too fast to see the look filled with longing Mapi sends my way. 

We arrive at the door out of breath and stressed out beyond belief, to find Leah waiting outside, eerily calm. She is dressed in her kit, captain’s armband secured tightly around her bicep. Lucy opens her mouth to explain, but Leah cuts her off. “Go. Now.” she says firmly, pointing towards the locker rooms. I pull Lucy with me into the changing room, passing the rest of the team as we do so. I rush to my cubby, changing out of my warmup gear and into my match kit. I’m pulling my hair up into a ponytail when Tooney sits down in the cubby next to mine. “So…” she starts, wiggling her eyebrows. “Wanna tell me where you and Lucy ran off to?”

“We hooked up with three of the Spanish players” I tell her seriously, and her jaw drops for a second before she swats my arm. 

“You fucking wish, Williamson!” she says, and I roll my eyes. Is she wrong? No. Do I want her to say it? Absolutely not. “We were just saying hi to some of Lucy’s friends, and we lost track of time” I say, pulling the strands of my ponytail into a braid. “That’s all.”

Ella stands up and links her arm through mine as we make our way towards the tunnel, falling into line behind Alessia and Mary. Ella smirks, but knows better than to say anything. This close to the match, all of my energy must be focused on what I can do to play the best. We get to the tunnel, and I take my place behind Lucy. I zone out for a moment, thinking about the plays we had run earlier, but am brought back to reality by a hand on my waist, spinning me to the side. There stands Mapi, a smirk prominent on her face.

“Good luck out there, princesa” she tells me, reaching up to tuck a flyaway behind my ear. 

“You too, tea hater” I tell her. She snorts, and heads back to her team where I see Patri nudge her and start whispering rapidly. Lucy, who had turned around and watched the entire interaction gives me a knowing look before turning back around. 

The first 45 minutes pass in a blur, with both teams scoring. Alessia with a stunning shot, courtesy of an assist from me, and Jenni for the Spanish team with a flawless goal right before the halftime whistle blew. Heading back onto the pitch for the second half, everyone is much more serious. We all know what is at stake, and neither team is willing to go down without a fight. As I bend down to adjust my shin pads right before walking onto the pitch, I feel a large hand on my lower back. I straighten and turn to see Mapi with a smirk on her face. Her hand glides from my back to my waist where she gives me a little squeeze. I feel my face heating up, but fortunately Lucy’s shout distracts me. 

“Let’s go, lovergirl! Flirt on your own time” she yells, coming up behind me and giving me a little push towards the center of the pitch. I swat her shoulder before jogging away from Mapi. Lucy stands in front of the Spanish girl, a smirk on her face. “You like her, don’t you?” Lucy asks the blonde. Mapi nods sheepishly, her cocky attitude gone. “Promise me something,” Lucy says, staring at the Spanish woman. “Don’t hurt her. Don’t treat her like one of your hookups, Mapi. Please. She deserves better than that.” Mapi nods, and the two head to their opposite sides of the pitch. The words echo around Mapi’s head as she takes her place, but the whistle breaks her out of them. Now is not the time, she scolds herself internally, turning her full focus to the match ahead. 

The second half is rough. Both teams know what is on the line, and neither is willing to go down without a fight. Spain makes what looks like a promising run towards our goal in the 80th minute, but Esther loses possession due to a perfectly timed tackle from Leah, who boots the ball down the pitch to Keira. Kei takes her time, containing the ball while I sprint to the goal. I turn and shout her name, and with a swift pass from Keira the ball is at my feet. I whip around, and line up for the perfect shot. Just as I bring my leg to the ball, I see a flash of red. Out of nowhere, Mapi slams into me, her studs catching me just above the knees. My body goes flying, and it’s like time slows. I hear the screams of the crowd. The lights of the stadium are blinding as I fly through the air. Then, all of a sudden, my body hits the ground so hard I feel the impact in my bones. The air is knocked from my lungs, and it’s all I can do to try and breathe steadily. The whistle pierces the air as Lucy runs up to me, alongside Leah. My sister drops to her knees, tears in her eyes. Wordlessly, I nod at her, and she reaches down to grab my hand. 

“I’m alright Lee, I promise,” I tell her, the air returning to my lungs. “Just a little beat up. Help me to my feet?”

She nods wordlessly, and in her silence I can hear Ella and Beth yelling at who I assume is Mapi, but can’t see from my position on the floor.

Lucy grabs my other hand, and as I’m pulled to my feet I see Mapi, who looks absolutely distraught, walking off the pitch, a red card held in her direction by the ref. The medical team arrives, and, after bandaging my leg where the gashes from Mapi’s boots had begun to leave, they head off of the pitch. 

“I want to stay on.” I tell Leah. “She barely nicked me, I’m good to keep playing, I promise.”

Leah looks at me unsurely, but can never resist the puppy-dog eyes, and eventually she sighs in resignation. “Be careful, munchkin.” she tells me, kissing me on the forehead before lining back up. The ball is put back in play, but with Spain playing with one less defender, it isn’t long before another goal finds the back of the net, this time rocketed in by Chloe. Two minutes later, the final whistle blows, and I collapse to my knees. We’d done it. We were advancing in the Euros. Lucy shouts, running up to me, picking me up, and throwing me over her shoulder. I laugh as she does a victory lap, running past all of our teammates who were in various stages of celebrating the win. As we pass Leah, I nudge Lucy to put me down, and when she does, I make my way over to my sister, who hugs me tightly, lifting me slightly off of the ground. 

“We did it!” she shouts over the noise. “Finals, here we come!” I hug her even tighter, and find a few of my other teammates before my exhaustion starts to get the better of me. I find Lucy, who insists on giving me a piggyback ride to the changing rooms, where I strip off my sweaty kit and hop in the shower. I hear the rest of my team entering the changing rooms, and someone connects their speaker, blasting music as we celebrate another win. More of the girls join me in the shower room, and just as I am drying off, I hear the main room grow quieter. All of a sudden, Lucy bounces into the shower room, a smirk prominent on her face. 

“Oi, little Williamson! You’ve got a visitor” she sings, grabbing my arm and dragging me out. I pull the towel tighter around myself, and turn to face her, abruptly stopping her from taking me any further. “What are you on about, Luce?” I ask her. “What visitor?”

I hear a throat clear, and I turn to see Mapi, still dressed in her kit, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room. Leah is sitting at her cubby, glaring silently at the Spanish woman, and her distrust seems to be echoed by some of my other teammates, who are less than pleased to see the woman who had injured me standing two feet away. 

“I, um, can we talk? Outside?” she asks me, and only now do I notice that her eyes are red rimmed and slightly puffy. 

“Yeah, sure” I reply uncertainly, following her as she turns and walks out of the changing room. I close the door behind me, and turn to face the taller woman, who looks absolutely heartbroken. I tentatively open my arms to her, but am filled with a rush of affection for the Spanish woman as she takes me into her arms, holding me like she thought I was going to break at any moment. She lifts me off of the ground and wraps her arms around my waist, and I feel her begin to cry into my shoulder. I hug her back even tighter, and after a moment, she sets me back onto the ground, wiping her eyes. 

“It’s okay,” I tell her. “You played wonderfully, you always play wonderfully. There will be other games, I promise. This loss will only make you come back stronger, babes. You’re one of the best defenders I’ve ever played against.”

She looks at me, surprised. “You think I am sad because we did not win?” she asks. I look at her confused. “Are you not?” I ask, looking at her. She mutters something under her breath in Spanish, running one of her tattooed hands through her hair. “Of course I am, but I am more upset that I hurt you! Here you were, this perfect, beautiful, funny girl, and what did I do? I hurt you. I was not careful, and I could have easily ended your season. And now your team hates me and you probably hate me, and I always ruin things and I did not want to ruin you.” 

More tears fall from her eyes, and she looks down at her shoes. Gently, I place my hand on her arm, waiting for her to look at me. When she finally does, I smile. 

“You think I’m pretty?” I ask teasingly, smiling even more when I gain a watery chuckle from her. “I promise, you didn’t ruin anything. It was a mistake, but it could have been so much worse. And I’m tough, okay? It takes more than a bad tackle to take me out.” She nods, before pointing at the bandage on my leg wordlessly. I nod, and she kneels down in front of me, placing her hand on my leg and peeling the bandage back slightly to peek at my leg. I am suddenly self conscious of the fact that I’m standing in front of her in nothing but a towel, but these fears are put out of my mind instantly when she presses a gentle kiss on top of the bandage. Carefully, I pull her up to her feet, where she looks directly into my eyes. At this very moment, I feel like I am exactly where I need to be. I have always struggled with feeling left out, out of place. Growing up, I spent all of my time with my sister because I never found true friends that accepted me for me. When I went to Chicago I found my real friends, but it took me a long time, and I felt alone in a new country for so long. Even with my Lioness teammates, it took me some time to open up to them, to be comfortable being myself around them no matter what. But now, with Mapi, I feel like she sees right through me. Like she sees everything about me, and she accepts me for it. Without thinking, I press my lips to hers. Almost immediately I panic, thinking I misread the signals, but as I begin to pull away, she pulls me back in. 

Kissing Mapi is perfect. It is everything a kiss should be and more, and when I finally pull away, and she places her forehead against mine, I feel so overwhelmed with joy and affection I think I might burst. She brushes a strand of damp hair behind my ear, and just as she leans in, the door to the locker room opens. We spring apart as Lucy stands there, a proud look on her face. “Looks like you two are getting on pretty well” she smirks. “Now, I hate to break up the party, but we’re planning to go out for drinks. You’re welcome to join us, Maps, but Leah’s insisting we leave soon.” I nod in response to Mapi’s questioning look, and find myself barely holding back a smile when her face breaks into a blinding grin. 

“I would love to join you for a drink” she says, “as long as it is not tea.”

I let out an offended yelp, to which she snickers, dodging the swat I send her way. 

“Perfect!” Lucy shouts. “I’ll text you the address!” Mapi smiles as Lucy heads into the changing room sending me an exaggerated wink before jogging back down the hall.

“See you soon, princesa!” she shouts, and I can’t stop the smile from breaking across my face as I head back into the room. My joy is short lived, however;

“OI LEAH, YOUR BABY SIS IS SNOGGING MAPI LEON”

“ELLA, IF YOU DON’T SHUT YOUR MOUTH i WILL SHOVE MY BOOT SO FAR-”

[alessioa]

Kiera Walsh x Lucy Bronze x Leah Williamson x Reader (Platonic)

Sickly

In which the reader gets sick but doesn't tell anyone, when Kiera, Leah and Lucy finds out they help them.

Warnings: Sickness

Words: 750+

You hated being sick, especially when you were about to play your debut for England in a few days. You knew that you probably wouldn’t be able to do so because it felt as if you were on fire and what little you ate for breakfast was on its way up again. It was not a pleasant feeling. 

You had thought that your teammates hadn't noticed anything, but that was far from the truth. From the few days they had talked to you before you became sick you had been pretty outwards, with lots of energy and thrived in feeling seen and talking to your new teammates. But now you were nowhere to be seen, they had seen you at training but as soon as it was over you were quick to leave and you showered in your room instead of in the changing rooms. 

This worried Lucy and Kiera, your teammates as Barca, they knew you as the person to never miss teambonding activities. Such as the one they were on now, without you it felt wrong. Quiet even. 

So with a bit of convincing they had managed to get the key to your room from Leah, she had been assigned copies of all the keys if something were to happen someone had a spare key to their room. (Pretend she’s not injured)

Lucy knocked on the door to your room. “Hey Y/n, it’s me Lucy, Kiera and Leah are also here. We wanted to check in on you kid” you heard her voice through the door but decided to stay quiet because you knew that your voice was not  as it normally was, your voice was quite hoarse after coughing alot. 

The knocking came again, this time a bit harsher. You couldn’t stop the gran that left your lips as the pounding in your head got worse with each of the knocks. The loud sound seemingly didn’t agree with your head. 

At that the three girls outside your door looked at each other, worried that something was wrong with you. As you were quite young the three had taken you under their wing both at Barcelona and in the lionesses squad. Lucy and Kiera had known you  for quite a while as you were signed for Barcelona at the same time as them, Leah because she often took care of new and younger girls in the team. 

“Y/n please open the door, or we will” this time it was Leah that spoke, even though you didn’t want them to come in you didn’t have the energy to get out of bed or even speak. Leah waited and listened to hear if you moved in your room. When she didn’t hear anything she took it as a sign to open the door. 

In the room they found you lying curled up in bed, with both the covers and a blanket covering you. It was clear that you were still freezing. Your back was turned to them and you didn’t react when they entered, so Lucy walked towards you. When you felt the bed dip beside you - you slowly turned towards her. 

The sight that greeted Lucy hurt her, you looked so miserable, your eyes drooped as if you had a hard time keeping them open, your cheeks were a deep and sickly red. Lucy laid down next to you, and opened her arms as an invitation for you to come closer to her. So you did, slowly you shuffled closer to the older woman, letting her wrap her arms around you.

While this was happening Leah had filled a bath, if you felt like you had the energy to take one and Kiera had rushed out of the room to inform Sarina that you weren’t feeling too well and that you would rest, and also get some light food so that you could get some energy. 

Lucy laid there next to you, she  was having a little hard time doing so as you had forced her under the covers so that  you could use her body heat too, your skin was burning. It  was something that concerned Lucy. So when Kiera came back with the tray of food she sent her to get a thermometer. 

–

Soon you were put in a slightly warm bath, not too hot, to try and get your body temperature down as you had quite a high fever. 

After the bath you cuddled up with Leah, Kiera and Lucy, you were fast asleep and the older women made sure that you were well taken care of.

[wosowrites]

Cool Heart, Hot Headed(Lionesses x Reader)

warnings: ⚠️blood, trash talking⚠️

a/n: also, writing this as chelsea are in the FA cup final… LETS FUCKING GO!!! BLUES UNITE. based off this request here (this seriously flopped)

prompt: during the euros, the swedes are playing incredibly dirty and as the reader tries to brush it off, her teammates are very angry and protective of her

Patience. It was definitely your best quality. Yes, you felt anger and disappointment, as well as rage and pain. But you were always patient.

It did come to a shock to your english teammates when Sweden suddenly had it out for you. But it didn’t surprise them that you were as calm as ever.

The Euros semi final had everyone on edge. This was the moment. This was the chance to bring it home. The lionesses needed this. They needed a major trophy for England. The men sure as well weren’t bringing it anywhere near the airport, let alone home.

So it was your chance to make your country, your people proud.

You walked onto that field behind Mary and Leah, sang your national anthem loudly and proudly.

"You look pale," Leah whispered in your ear. "All good cap. Just kinda scared of Björn. She’s giving me looks that make it seem like she wants to kill me," you said, locking eyes with the Swede, smiling lightly and receiving a scowl in return. "Don’t worry about them. They’re all look no game. Don’t tell Magda I said that," Millie said, having overheard.

You nodded and then took the team picture. The girls huddled up, did a cheer and then you took your position as the CAM.

Right off the bat, the game was nail biting. Any english fans watching at home, or in the stadium, surely felt as though something was going to happen. The swedes were coming in strong. But they weren’t attacking anyone as violently, as hard, and with as much resilience and they did to you.

The first hit you took was in the eighth minute. Fridolina Rolfö came out of nowhere. You were scanning your options from the midfield, no one around you. You were taking small touches to move forward, and then out of nowhere you heard "Man on!" and then felt a strong force hit you from behind. You went flying forwards, falling oto the floor with a loud thump. You groaned loudly, rolling onto your back as you heard the referee blow her whistle.

In your mind, that was a yellow, but Rolfö got let off with a warning. Lucy helped you up, brushing grass off your back as you tried to get dirt of your white kit.

Only two minutes later, you were the victim of another attack. This time by Jakobsson. As you turned with the ball and carried it down the middle, you felt your jersey getting tugged from behind, you tried to keep running but the pull made you stumble and fall awkwardly on your shoulder. Sofias momentum was still going, and she tripped over you, leaving a deep clear mark on your thigh.

You could hear scrambled voices of your teammates yelling at the referee who somehow decided the ball was to be given to Sweden. Fran helped you up gently, and you could see Millie trying to calm down Sarina as she was all worked up.

"What did you do to them? they’re going at you hard!" Fran joked. "I don’t know. But it’s okay. It’s fine," you answered calmly, walking towards Elle and Leah who were having a pretty angry talk with the ref.

"Girls! It’s okay. It’s fine. Let’s keep going," you said.

Swedens free kick resulted in nothing, and then you kept moving.

In the thirtieth minute, you were awarded a corner. You took your spot in the box, at the back post, and prepared yourself. The second the ball came in, you tried to jump up, but you felt a hand pushing you. Quicker than you knew it, you had fallen into the net pretty aggressively, your body crashing against the netting.

Zecira Musovic had caught the ball, and looked at you strangely as you struggled to get your cleats undone from the net. "She fucking pushed her! Yes you fucking did. Yes you did," Keira yelled, addressing the ref and then Hannah Glas.

"Keira!" you whispered harshly in her ear, making her turn to look at you and put her arms on your forearms. Most of your team was surrounding you now. "I am okay. Can we play this game please. Let’s go girls," you said sternly. "Y/n… this is getting unsafe," Leah said, concern in her voice. "I don’t care."

For once, you got away with the last word, walking off from the girls as they shared looks of worry.

At the end of the first half, your kit was a mess. There were more brown and green patches than white ones. Your face was dirty and your England kit was absolutely grimey. As you lifted the corner of your shirt, one of the only clean parts, to wipe off dirt from your cheek, you realized how scratched and bruise your stomach was.

You were quick to drop your shirt, hoping no teammates or cameras had picked up on your state.

The second you exited the pitch, Sarina had her arm around you. "You’re a fighter. You know that? I don’t know how you’re not loosing your shit out there," your coach said to you, squeezing your shoulder. "Loosing my shit won’t help anyone. It won’t help us win," you said simply. "That mentality, that’s gonna get us that cup. You hear me?" She said, keeping a hold of you as you both walked into the changing room. The second you walked in, the girls were all talking over each other with worry.

"I’ll kill them!"

"Are you okay?"

"How are you not screaming right now?"

"I don’t know how you’re so patient."

"Are you bruised? Cut? Bloody?"

"I am fine! But I won’t be fine if we don’t win this. So let’s win it," you said, sitting down next to Mary who gave you a quick kiss on the forehead.

Sarina went over what we were doing well, and what we weren’t, as you changed your kit into a clean one. You threw the dirty one away and then put your cleats back on as you had chosen to change socks too.

The girls and Sarina left the changing room, leaving you and Leah behind. She had given you a look that said "stay back."

"Listen to me, y/n/n. If you feel unsafe on that field for a second. You tell me, and Sarina will sub you off. Your safety is more important than a trophy. And this team is full of brilliant players, you’re irreplaceable… but what i’m saying is your spot can be… filled in if needed," your captain said. "Leah… we both know how bad you want that trophy," you said to her as you walked out of the room. "Yeah. I do. But I don’t want it enough to sacrifice you for it," Leah said.

"I won’t die, Lee. Let’s play," you said.

You jogged onto the field with her, the stadium erupting at the sight of their skipper and co-skipper.

Sweden seemed to have slowed down a little, on their attack on you, that is. The game was still very much packed with action. They left you along for a solid 30 minutes, which you were immensely grateful for.

But with the 75 minute, came what felt like the 75th foul on you.

Everyone lost their shit.

All, but you.

Everything about Asllani’s tackle was dirty. They way she didn’t even touch the ball. The way foot was way off the ground and her studs were pointed upwards. The way that went she connected with you, and you fell sideways with a scream, she made no attempt to stop her slide, choosing instead to let her studs graze all the way up the side of your leg.

Magda Ericsson had been the only sane Swede on the pitch, rushing toward her midfielder and grabbing her under the arms to pull her off you. She told her off in swedish before trying to check on you. But your team was having nothing of it. Millie gently told the swedish captain, and her club teammate, to back off so she didn’t get yelled at by the lionesses

Your eyes were teary due to the pain of it all. Your leg lay bloody on the turf, the crimson mess of it all starting to trickle down the sides of your thighs. You couldn’t really register the whole thing, but you could see the referee pointing at Asllani and giving her a yellow. But you also saw Leah get one, and Lucy, and then Keira. What were they saying to get them into that mess? "Tell them to stop before we have to play with a man down," you let out to Georgia who was kneeling beside you.

The medics were quick to soak up the blood, revealing a series of cuts made by the studs, but nothing too too serious. "I can keep playing, right?" you asked the medics. "No!" Leah said at the same time as all the other girls let out scattered cries of "no way" and "nuh uh".

"Guys. It’s a cut. It’s fine. I’m sure it was an acc-" you started saying. "No! No it was not an accident. You are too patient at this point, y/n. You need to protect yourself. But if you won’t, I will. You’re going off," Leah said with a sternness you hadn’t seen before.

You held eye contact with her for a while, the air tense. "No. Thirty pounds. Thirty pounds says i’ll score. Don’t take me off, don’t let Sarina sit me on the bench when I can make a difference for this team," you said, standing up, so determined to prove you could stay on the acknowledge the pain you should have been in.

"Fine. Thirty pounds," Leah said.

And then you were playing again, your leg bandaged up, your body in pain, and your mind set. You were everywhere on the pitch. Defending, attacking, demanding a goal. Everyone was shocked, shocked to see you so agressive after being pushed around so much. It just went to show that all your pain and annoyance was fueled into football.

Twenty minutes later, in 90+5, Leah because thirty pounds poorer.

A corner taken by Leah had gotten cleared away by a header, and came straight to you in your position from the outside of the box.

You didn’t think twice. You waited till the ball was perfectly low, and then hit it on the volley. The power on the shot made the ball spin, and it went straight into the goal, hitting the roof of the net.

You screamed loudly, running towards the corner flag, your team chasing after you, and jumping into Ellen’s arms. "LETS FUCKING GO. LETS FUCKING GO!" you screamed at full force.

Ellen let you down and your teammates took turn grabbing your face and kissing your forehead in excitement. The subs were all celebrating around you, and as you ran back to your position, you pumped your first in the air, making the fans screams double somehow.

When the final whistle blew, you cried. Partly of joy, but mostly of pure agony.

Your teammates helped you off the floor, basically carrying you around the field in their arms, making you laugh. But the second you were inside, you let out a shaky cry. Of relief, yes, but of pain. "It’ll be okay. You were amazing, and you’ll be all fixed for Wembley," Leah said, handing you thirty pounds and winking.

[brighter-by-the-daly]

Rachel Daly x Reader

Part Eight - Fantasies 🔞

Posted: 19/03/23 Edited: 10/08/23

Rachel had told you where the family stand was, that it’s a private entrance and to come early as family were allowed in an hour in before the general public. You, your friends and your family made your way up the steps to the stadium, found the entrance Rachel was talking about and handed over your tickets for inspection. Adjusting your shirt as they waved you inside and handed you vip lanyards you made your way through the corridor. Turning a corner you spotted Rachel was leaning up against the wall, her face lit up when she noticed you and leant in for a hug placing a kiss on your cheek. “I thought you’d be talking tactics by now, what ya doing?” you asked, surprised to see her. “I’ve come to show you to your seats!” Rachel said to everyone, taking your hand and leading you out through the tunnel, you got butterflies knowing this is where it all started, last time you were here you were flirting and now she’s actually your girlfriend! Who would have thought! She walked you out onto the pitch with your family where Millie and Rachel’s families were too, “I thought you’d like some photos in the empty stadium?” she asked. Posing while Rachel snapped away on the camera, you introduced everyone to both families and Millie’s said they’d heard a lot about you the took the piss out of your shirt “someone requested it specially” you quipped giving Rach the eyes which made her look away embarrassed. They all went to take their seats while Millie took some photos of you and Rachel who had specific poses in mind. “Y/N!” you heard someone shout your name, startled at the noise echoing through the tunnel but you couldn’t tell who it was coming from until Mary and Beth appeared. “Why didn’t anyone tell me you were coming?! I need to make another tiktok with you, the last one got soooo many views!!” she exclaimed. “Hey, you’re just using my girlfriend for clout!” Rach shouted, pushing her friend jokingly. “That’s only because they were trying to figure out who I was, they’ve worked it out now!” you laughed. You didn’t mind, you liked feeling like part of the team. The five of you made a few dance videos together and then Mary directed one of just you and Rach for the gram. As the rest of the team started heading out on to the pitch, they all waved and high 5d you as you ran towards your seat which was front row and with everyone else’s family. You were so excited for this game, you flicked through Insta stories and realised Rachel’s brother had posted a video of you all on the pitch with the caption “love seeing my sister so happy”, you looked at him behind you and pulled a cute teary face like the emoji 🥹then chatted amongst yourselves while the girls warmed up until it was time for kick off. Your besties posted so many photos bragging that they were front row at Wembley which you thought was funny. There was an incredible light show and fireworks which got you all geared up and dancing before the girls walked out on the pitch to face Brazil. It was a tense first half which finished 0-0 so it was all to play for in the second. Rachel was playing where Sarina liked to keep her - as defender. All the girls were in top form, they had to be, they all wanted to be seen as a threat in the World Cup. Half time came and went but when the girls came back you noticed Rachel had moved up front, you felt in your bones that this is her moment, she’s going to score in this position and Brazil didn’t know what was about to hit them.

Sure enough, ten minutes into the second half Millie shot Rachel a beautiful long ball which she headed straight into the back of the net. The crowd went absolutely wild, it was electric, you were all screaming and hopping around! Rachel jumped into Millie’s arms as they raised their hands to the sky for her dad. You actually started crying you were so happy but you knew there was still at least half hour to go.

Brazil had a good few chances but nothing ever succeeded until suddenly catastrophe struck, a tackle gone wrong awarded Brazil a penalty and the atmosphere changed dramatically. They were huddled talking tactics while our girls were gearing Mary up, Brazil struck the ball which felt like it took forever to land safely into Mary’s gloves. You heard 90,000 people breath a sigh of relief as the ball was played back down our end of the field where we gained a corner. Sweetly taken by Russo where Millie was patiently waiting at the back post and used her signature header to plant it nicely in the back of the net. You screamed so loud you thought you were going to lose your voice! Surely it’s all over for Brazil now! Sure enough they couldn’t claw it back and England were announced the winners! The crowd sang out a very loud rendition of ‘Sweet Caroline’ as the players celebrated with each other and when ‘Freed by Desire’ started playing the whole crowd was dancing as they took their lap of honour. The girls came dancing over to the family stand as they jumped in front of you singing with the crowd. Rachel leant over the barrier with a pouty face, looking at her questioning whether she actually wanted you to kiss her in front of everyone, as soon as she nodded you rushed over and grabbed her cheeks to kiss her. “I’m so proud of you!!” shouting in her face “and you!!” grabbing and shaking Millie’s shoulders, all of you with the biggest smiles ever. They danced off with their friends and you realised the cameras caught everything, including Katie’s who was live on Insta.

The girls stayed behind to sign autographs while everyone trickled out of the stadium but you hung around until your girl came and got you to go back to the dressing room. Hand in hand walking back down the tunnel, you kissed at the entrance. “Can you believe this was less than a fortnight ago?” you said as you both turned around to look at the empty stadium again. “Becoming a bit of a tradition isn’t it” she smiled as she wrapped her arm around your shoulders. “Except.. later I’ll be taking this off not telling you to put it on” she laughed as she tugged at your shirt. “Wear your kit home please” you begged “but I’m so dirty (y/n/n)” she whined in response. “Riiight, there’s no point showering when you’re just gonna get all hot and bothered again is there” nudging her slightly. “You’re not wrong” she admitted, “I’ll bring my spare kit home, deal?” holding out her hand for you to shake. She pulled you in with her arm around you and walked you into the dressing room. Everyone was dancing and drinking, Mary was filming everything as usual, even Sarina was having a boogie! Everyone cheered as you both walked in, except Leah but you didn’t care, they weren’t cheering for you anyway! You sat down on the bench watching the girls have the best time of their lives celebrating getting one more step closer to being the best in the world. When Rag Doll came on everyone pushed Rach on top of the water cooler to sing it - a tradition born in the Euros - you had to record this, seeing her so happy made you happy. Everyone else was singing too but Rach was the star of the show. When the chorus came she jumped off the cooler and held her hand out for you to take “do I love ya my oh myyyyy, river deep mountain high” she sang towards you. “Yeah yeah yeah!” everyone sang back at her, “if I lost ya would I cryyyy, oh how I love ya baby” “baby baby baby!”. You wondered if she was just really getting into the song or if she purposely sang those words to you but kept recording regardless, trying not to overthink and just enjoy the moment of everyone being so happy. You noticed Leah left the room when she was singing to you but you didn’t let it dampen your spirits! In the end, Sarina sent everyone home for a well earned rest.

As always, Rachel opened the car door for you to climb in, before driving away you made out a little and your hand slipped into her shorts before she pushed you away laughing. “Not here! Anyone could see us!” her voice had turned high pitch. “Well hurry up and get home then, you’re hard to resist looking like that!” As you both pulled your seatbelts on, she put her foot down to get you home. Fast.

Once on the driveway, Rachel was quick to open the car door for you and without letting her move another step, you pulled her head towards yours unable to resist her any longer. Picking you up and wrapping your legs around her, still kissing as she carried you up the garden path. She struggled to unlock the door so put you down but the minute you were inside you pushed her back against the door, slamming it shut and shoving your hand back where it belongs - between her legs. It was messy but passionate as she picked you up and carried you up to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, you straddled over her lap while her hands were fumbling your body. You pulled her scrunchie out to wrap her hair around your fist and she did the same pulling slightly. She turned to chuck you off her and onto the bed so she was on top, sliding down your body to take your shorts off, as you went to take your top off she grabbed your wrists and shook her head smirking at you then suddenly flipped you over to eat you out. Slowly pushing your butt plug in she slipped the strap on over her shorts and plunged it between your legs making you scream with pleasure. She slapped your ass then grabbed the bottom of your shirt and wrapped it round her fist, the other hand doing the same to your hair as she rode you from behind. You were so turned on by her taking control and doing what she wanted. Rachel was so turned on fucking you from behind with you in her shirt. She pulled out then slapped and bit your arse so hard you screamed in pain, but a good type of pain, sexy pain. She turned you over so she could look at your face then shoved her hand over your mouth as she sneered “shut the fuck up” in your face. You have never been more turned on. As she started thrusting harder, your legs became weak and your eyes rolled back into your head. Rachel was loving the power, she held your wrists tightly to the mattress and as she came closer you tried to kiss her “don’t you dare fucking cum yet” she muttered into your mouth not letting you kiss her “I’m not done with you”. “I haven’t even started with you!” you said filthily as you mustered up all of your energy to push her off you so you could climb on top of her and clutch her throat with your hand “you don’t get to treat me like all of the others” you said through gritted teeth as you rubbed her pussy under her shorts. Feeling how wet and turned on she was from having her way with you, you pulled out and made her suck her own juices off of your fingers, biting your lip loving the sight. You pulled her shorts and strap on off and plunged your face between her legs messily eating her out. Her hands were pulling at your hair so hard you thought she was going to rip it out, you shoved three fingers inside her and watched her eyes roll back into her head and felt her cum dripping down your fingers. You pulled them out and made her watch you suck them before using them to play with yourself. “Got your breath back yet bitch?” when she nodded weakly you planted yourself on her face. Facing downwards so she could stare up at your bejewelled arse and her name on your back. Her cold hands rose up your shirt, undone your bra then fondled your tits, pulling hard on your nipples. You reached down to play with her sensitive clit while riding her face. She wrapped her arms around your waist to pull you deeper into her mouth until you came onto her tongue making sure she came for a second time as well before rolling off of her. Your heads the opposite ends of the bed stroking each other’s legs making you both quiver absorbing what just happened.

“Come here sexy” Rachel muttered with a happy undertone. You crawled up and laid next to her, staring into each other’s eyes and stroking each other’s naked bodies. “That was amazing” you whispered as you kissed her softly. “You liked it?” she asked shyly. “Couldn’t you tell?!” you asked shocked, “I was just testing the boundaries” she smiled. “There are no boundaries with you baby” reaching up to kiss her soft lips. “Tell me your fantasy (y/n/n)” she asked quietly “which one?” You chuckled with a smile, leaning your head on the palm of your hand. “All of them” Rach encouraged as she stroked your hair. “Well…” sitting up cross legged “the first is being in a tight little skirt with suspenders, cuffed” you rambled on with every detail like you’d been waiting for someone to ask you that question forever. Studying her facial expression displaying a raised eyebrow and a one sided smirk, clearly enjoying what you were describing. “The other is a Lioness picking me out from a crowd, fucking me senseless.. and falling in love with me” you paused before saying the last part looking up at her shyly while stroking hair out of her face to see her reaction. “I can certainly make the first one come true, that sounds.. hot!” she smiled thinking about it. “As for the second…” she paused, waiting for her reply your heart felt like it had stopped. “That’s already in progress” you let out a sigh of relief as she cupped your cheek with her hand to pull you in for a kiss. The biggest smile spread across your face, unable to control your happiness as you kissed her back. “I was so worried for your reaction then!” you breathed heavily. “Why? It should be obvious how much I like you” moving her other hand to squish your face. “It is, but yknow “love” is a big word” you shrugged suddenly bashful, “so is besotted but that didn’t stop you from using it three hours after we met” she laughed prodding your ribs. “In fact, I’d say besotted is bigger than love” she continued to tease you, rolling your eyes as you went to slide away but she grabbed your waist and pulled you back into her. Holding your face again to make sure you were looking at her before saying “I don’t date people for fun (y/n/n), I date for the end game”. Your stomach flipped over at her admission which made you uncontrollably grin. “What’s your fantasies then?” you asked laying your head on her arm that was around you. “Apart from finding the perfect woman to spend the rest of my life with?” she said with unwavering eye contact making you melt, “I’d love a threesome” she chuckled “with two women or..?” you enquired. “Two women babe, I’m fully gay not like you” she nudged teasingly. “Hey! I don’t want a naked man near me ever again!” pushing her back. “I’d quite like a threesome too yknow, have you had one before?” “No that’s why it’s a fantasy silly! Have you?” “No, I was offered one once though - wish I took the chance now!” you giggled. “Oh my god, who with?!” her voice high pitched as she asked. “You won’t believe this… my ex girlfriend’s brother and my school best friend’s sister who I had such a huge crush on growing up!” laughing at the words coming out of your own mouth. “Your ex’s brother?!” she was astonished which made you laugh. “We’re still friends!”you exclaimed “the brother, not the ex she’s a dick” “ex’s usually are!” she sounded. “Hopefully no more exes for us aih” climbing on top of her and pinning her to the mattress. Rachel winked at you, “I don’t plan on it baby.”

Part Nine - Brighter Days

[futfemfantasies]

One Less Lonely Girl \\ lucy bronze x williamson!reader

Prompt: 21. Reader singing One Less Lonely Girl to _________ on the bus on a long trip from a game to announce their relationship.

Short but sweet one :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You ready mi amor?"

Turning your head, Lucy leans against the doorframe, muscles on full display in the sleeveless England training top.

"Just finished, let's go before we're late"

Zipping up your England suitcase, Lucy offers to take it to the care while you get your backpack. A kiss on the cheek as a thank you and you quickly get your bag. Lucy jogs inside as you settle in your seat for the nearly 2 hour journey to St Georges Park. Jumping out ouf your thoughts, Lucy opens her door and waves around your white and green predators.

"You're a lifesaver, thanks baby"

This time, a peck on Lucy's lips as a thank you before she starts the car. Lucy's left hand never leaving your thigh tells you something's wrong. You look over at your girlfriend of just over a year until she realises you're staring.

"Something's going on in that gorgeous head of yours baby. What's going on?"

Now it was your turn to put a hand on her thigh. The car slows down to stop at the red light and Lucy looks at you with a hint of worry in her eyes.

"I think we should tell the girls. They're starting to catch on"

Lucy looks back to the road and you stay quiet. Lucy keeps looking over at you every few seconds, worried she said something that upset you. You reassure Lucy that it would be good as you wouldn't have to sneak around at camps anymore and your younger sister Leah is going to burst at any second with the year long secret. As you and Lucy talk about both of your upcoming move to Barcelona, you plan a way to tell the girls and fans.

Lucy pulls up to the familiar training centre and there's a few girls waiting out the front, including your sister. Without saying a word, Leah runs over to you and nearly knocks you over with her power. Not seeing each other for a while makes you miss your best friend, even if you are 7 years older.

After reuniting with your sister, you and Lucy greet your close friends as more start to arrive. When everyone arrives, Sarina calls everyone over to the bus and you get in first securing the table at the back. With Lucy behind you, she slips in next to you, holding your hand under the table. You both are joined by Keira, Leah, Millie, Ella, Alessia and Rachel. After many rounds of cards against humanity and Monopoly deal, you all decide to watch a movie. Ella turns on the tv and it was set to a karaoke mode.

"Karaoke anyone?"

Millie questions and the group quickly agree.

You find the mic so ultimately, you go first. You whisper to Millie the song choice and everyone groans at the familiar 2009 hit.

"...if you let me inside your world, there's gonna be one less lonely girl!"

You look at Lucy like she's the love of your life and no one missed it.

Keira looked at Leah. Millie at Rachel. Ella at Alessia.

No one could believe it. The two most private people on the team are dating.

"Well that's one way to announce it"

Rachel comments as she turns the next song off. The mic goes back to it's original position and you cuddle up to Lucy as the questions stand rolling in.

The bus pulls up to the hotel and Sarina tells everyone their roommates and thankfully, you and Lucy get paired together. You and Lucy high five while your wall neighbours, Ella and Alessia groan.

"We're all happy for you two but no funny business, I mean it"

Sarina warns you two and you both are confused on how she knows but agree anyway. Lucy gets the keys and you both make your way to the room. You flop on the bed and groan about how comfy it is. You feel Lucy fall next to you and you immediately cuddle up to her.

"How about we break the internet and hard launch?"

Lucy suggests, making you sit up quickly.

"Let's do it"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

liked by leahwilliamson, alexscott, lucybronze, milliebright and 27,841 others

y/n_williamson: my yellow person 💛

view all 9,475 comments...

lucybronze: 🥺😘💛

y/n_williamson: mine 💘

leahwilliamson: i love seeing you happy 😊❤️

y/n_williamson: love you lil sis 🥰

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

liked by y/n_williamson, jorgebronze, leahwilliamson, keirawalsh and 38,487 others

lucybronze: soft launch who?

view all 10,645 comments…

y/n_williamson: i love you so much angel 💛

lucybronze: my best girl 💛

keirawalsh: you two make me sick, but I’m glad you’re both happy 🫶

lucybronze: was gonna say…

[mapileonxputellas]

Beckham II: 1 New Beginning

Please find instagram aesthetic here.

Post here explains how I've wrote it, I think it's quite simple.

This is the first part of my new series and I hope you enjoy xx (3k words)

“Do you ever think about how crazy it is that you’re an icon in Barcelona and yet your dad played for Real Madrid?”

“I try not to think about that. I think that bothers him more than me.”

“Does he have any Barcelona shirts?”

“Of course he does.”

…..

“David, how does it feel watching your daughter play for Barcelona?”

“It’s the best feeling in the world. I’m guessing you were expecting some kind of rivalry but I’ll always support my daughter.”

…..

Barcelona, February 2023.

One down, nine to go.

It was like clockwork in your brain. Training would finish, everyone else would rush to get back into the training room and get back to their everyday life. Yet here you were, on your own, just how you like it. You and the ball. Free kick after free kick after free kick. Ten in total, all from different areas, all with different aims but each one just as equally important in your brain.

Barcelona was a dream. You were here with the best players in the world but you hated letting anyone down. Every little mistake was over-analysed, picked at all because of who you were. At the weekend it was a wonder save which stopped one nestling in the top corner but that didn’t matter. It hadn’t gone in and therefore didn’t meet your expectations.

The expectations you put on yourself, multiplied by that moment four years ago.

You loved your father but many people probably didn’t understand that there wasn’t a gene for taking good free kicks.

Unbeknownst to you, all of this was about to change. “You’ve got a visitor.”

“If it’s another journalist, tell them I’m not interested.”

You couldn’t be bothered with whatever reply the press officer would tell you. It was the same every day. Someone wanted to speak to you, you said no. They came back the next day.

You’d think they’d get bored after four years of consistent turn aways but that was never the case. You did the press conferences, the interviews after games but a sit-down full-length interview was not something you felt like you could ever handle.

So you carried on, resetting the ball in the correct spot. Back to just you and the ball.

For February it was a sunny afternoon in Barcelona, the sun was still shining for the mid-afternoon with minimal wind. Perfect conditions to practice and as your teammates had pointed out you hadn’t needed any more persuasion to get that training vest on, your tattoos on full show. Along with football they were your biggest passion, your phone was full of tattoo inspiration and little doodles you did when you were bored, they were a big part of you and maybe the image you wanted to create for yourself.

You took inspiration from everything, football, the environment, your father. Growing up many would say you were already a carbon copy of him but the tattoos were the icing on the cake. Your mother may not have been as happy about them but they promised to accept all your passions and that included turning up every few months with a new collection of tattoos to show off.

…..

“Maria, is she copying you?”

“You’ll have to ask her. No of course not, I would say we take great inspiration from each other. We’ve got a few matching ones, I’ve done a few on her and she’s done the same to me. That’s kind of what started our friendship.”

“You both have ‘looks can be deceiving’ on your necks, is that true for her?”

“Depends on what you think of her. Maybe some find her scary but you have to find out if that’s true yourself.”

…..

You could hear someone approaching you, watching as you took the next kick nestling it into the bottom corner underneath the imaginary wall.

“Y/N, have you got five minutes?” The unmistakable voice of Sarina. Many people would love Serena Weigman to turn up at their training session, not you. Not now.

Shit. You almost didn’t want to turn around. Maybe if you stayed facing the other way she would leave. Leave you be in the bubble you’d created for yourself, nothing good could come out of this conversation.

But of course the Dutch woman wasn’t going to leave that easily, edging closer to you. “I only want to talk.”

“I gave you my answer a year ago.”

“Lots can change in a year. Five minutes. If you still want me to leave after, I’ll leave.”

Maybe it was worth hearing what she had to say. Nothing could change your mind anyway, you’d hear whatever she had to say and then she could leave.

You knew what she was here for and it didn’t surprise you what came out of her mouth next. “I want you back, I name my squad next week and I want you ready to play for us at the World Cup.”

“And I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“The fans are not that accepting, the players don’t deserve to be drawn into that drama because of me.”

“There’s always drama in football.” Maybe she had a point but off the back of the Euro’s success the lionesses have had nothing but positivity from the media and public. “We’ve lost Beth, we’ve lost Fran and I think the players would welcome your experience in that position. It’s your decision but I know deep down you want to prove people wrong and I want to give you that opportunity.”

“Some would say I don’t deserve that.”

“It will be different this time.”

“How?”

“It’s been four years, everything’s changed. We protect you guys, you have support systems in place, we have support systems. It’s not individuals anymore, it’s a team.”

“I made that decision to protect myself.” Almost four years ago you’d sent that letter, asking not to be selected for international duty again. They had no choice but to accept it and when Serena came into the role she approached you but you told her a tournament on home soil was not something you could mentally cope with. Not yet. “Why would now be different?”

“I’ve watched every game you’ve played in the last 18 months. I know you may not see a difference in yourself but I do, the interview after you lost to Lyon showed your spirit, your drive. I need players like you, it won’t be easy but I don’t want something that happened four years ago to stop you showing the world how talented you are.”

You were conflicted. Of course you’d love nothing more than to prove all those who bashed you before wrong, to make a difference on the world stage after winning every trophy you could with Barcelona. On the other hand it was just opening a can of worms you’d hidden all those years ago. Although you were only in Spain it felt like a different world, you turned your comments off on social media and they never came back on. Interviews were a no-go and your former friends were now distant acquaintances.

“Can I think about?”

“Of course you can. Like I said, the squad goes out on Tuesday so I need an answer by Monday. Any questions, I’m coming to the match on Sunday, maybe I can speak to you after?”

“Thank you.” With a soft squeeze to your shoulder she was off, except now you couldn’t focus knowing you were about to make a decision which would change everything.

…..

“You seem distracted.”

In hindsight it probably wasn’t the best idea to accept the dinner invite from Maria and Ingrid but you knew your best friends wouldn’t take no for an answer. The three of you along with Frido were sat at their dinner table, tucking into the tapas you’d ordered from your favourite restaurant and it wasn’t lost on any of them how your mind was elsewhere. Casually picking through your food was a total opposite to the way you usually devoured this.

“Y/N?”

You’d been debating on the way whether to speak to someone about it.

Maybe your dad? He’d gone through something similar but he was in Miami and would only just be getting up.

Your mum? She was the most rational option but she would never understand that pride of pulling on your national shirt.

Your therapist seemed the best option but the earliest session she had for non-emergencies was tomorrow.

“Y/N!” In your own little world you’d even forgot to answer their questions. “Are you alright?”

It could help speaking to them, couldn’t it? “I had a visitor after training. Sarina Weigman.”

“Shit man, I thought you said no.” Maria Leon was your best friend from the moment you stepped foot in that training room, you bonded over everything from tattoos to food. You’d been her wingman in getting with Ingrid and had a mutual understanding of each other’s situations with your respective national teams even if the circumstances were very different.

“She wants me back but I don’t know, this feels different from last year.” If Bonnie, your 5-year-old beagle, adopted 3 years ago to signify a new chapter in your life, wasn’t by your feet they would definitely be anxiously tapping the floor right now.

“They probably feel your absence more because they’ve lost other players.” Frido added some context. “Not that you wouldn’t have always walked into that team but now you definitely would. You’d be their main player.”

“I can see you’re considering it.” Ingrid pointed out. “When she came last year I could see you were like, definitely no, now you haven’t turned it down immediately.”

“There’s no right or way wrong to feel,” Maria tried to comfort me. “Only you can decide if you want to go back there.”

“I miss it.”

“Of course you do.” Ingrid agreed. “You wouldn’t watch all their games if you didn’t.”

“It’s just the fact that I’m comfortable here, I have been for so long and now I’m going to throw myself back into four years ago.” Four years ago when you’d been forced to move away from your club at the time in Chelsea and accept the fact that one mistake had changed everything. “Plus the media attention, no-one wants that in the lead up to the world cup.”

“They were your friends, I’m sure they’d understand.” Frido tried to make you see that side of things. “Shit happens in football but what happened to you when completely over the top of that.”

“I isolated them.” Of course you had friends in the squad at the time, in fact best friends. But as soon as you made the move to America you slowly distanced yourself from them as they did to you. You hated letting them down and completely understood that being associated to you meant unnecessary exposure where perhaps they would not want it.

“So you’ll make friends again.”

You’d changed as well, grown into a completely different person in that time. Your appearance and attitude on the pitch were a distinct opposite to the crippling shyness you had yet to shake off. “Maybe.”

“You will,” Maria assured you. “Plus I think Bonnie told me she wanted a sleepover with me.”

“Oh did she?”

“I’m not swaying you either way but if that’s what you want, I’ll support you all the way.”

“We all will.” Frido added wrapping her arms around you to bring you into her side. “We love you.”

“Thank you, I love you all too.”

“Speak to your dad, maybe even your mum. I’m sure they’d want to help.”

One of the funniest moments in your life had to be watching your teammates introduce themselves to your parents when they came out to watch your first match in the Blaugrana. Watching their nerves dissipate when they realised how down to earth, especially your mother was, when it came to their children. Of course their name brought so much extra attention to you but you couldn’t have asked for a better upbringing.

Maybe it was their words that made you do it but subconsciously you knew the best thing to do was to ring them. So as you got into bed that night, once you got back, Bonnie at your feet watching, you rang the number you’d had memorised for years.

“Hi baby.” His voice almost brought tears to your eyes. Although you tried to be as independent as possible, wanting to be your own person, you sometimes wished you could just go back to spending every night in his arms.

“Hi dad.”

“What’s wrong?” You hated how easily he could read you, how those two words were enough for him to know something was wrong.

“It’s nothing.”

“You know you can tell me anything.”

“I know dad.” Out with it. “Sarina Weigman came to visit me today, she wants me to go and join them in the next international break.”

“And what do you want?”

“I think I want to.”

“You think?”

“I just know that if I do I’m just going to be brought back to that moment.”

“Then you’ll go back to a moment where the referees made a terrible decision. Football fans are fickle you know that as much as I do but you’ve watched it back enough to know that nine times out of ten nothing happens. The commentator did you no favours, Phil didn’t stand by you as he should have and the media hung you out to dry.”

“I know.”

“But as awful as it was it made you the person you are today and your stronger now then you’ve ever been before. If you want to go back then you’ll make it work. I know you will.”

“Thanks dad, now how is…”

,,,,,

“How many times have you watched that tackle back?”

“Over a thousand times.”

“Do you think you should have been sent off?”

“Of course not.”

……

You loved Barcelona, from the moment you stepped through those doors 3 years ago you’d been welcomed in and never looked back. In 2019 you moved to America but your year out there was plagued with depression and homesickness resulting in a lack of game time, when Barcelona came calling it was a difficult decision with your family ties but they had a project, they had a good set up and you knew the onus wouldn’t just be on you. The first six months were still tough, working out Spanish football to both play with your teammates and counter the opposition but by the end of the season you felt at home for the first time in 2 years.

Your role this year had been heightened by the loss of one of your midfield partners in Alexia, but you were adaptable and that’s probably how you found yourself 4-0 up, having just scored a second goal in the second half.

“It’s almost like you’re trying to impress someone.” Mapi whispered giving you a half hug as you walked back into your own half.

“Shut up.”

“I bet she’s panicking that you might turn it down now.”

“She’s got other players Maria.”

“But none of them are you.”

The match stayed at 4-0, some of the youngsters coming on to see the game out.

You’d never been in a team like this, of course you had little arguments and there were small groups within the team, but everyone worked so hard for each other. And with that came the protectiveness, when you joined you were only 21, now 24 and the older ones took you under their wings. You’d been daunted a lot at the fact of playing fellow English players in the Champions League but they’d been your shield for those moments.

It blew your mind when the younger age groups joined you and they speak about that moment. Most of them staying up late to watch it making you feel old. But that meant they came to you for advice a lot of the time. Maybe this time though it was time to get advice from them.

“Hey little one.” Maria Perez was the first one you spotted in the changing room. “You played really well today.”

“Thank you.”

“How are you feeling about being called up?” It was only yesterday that the Spanish squad had been leaked and she was once again in it.

“Excited, another opportunity to prove myself.”

“I like that you see it that way.”

“Everyone should, it’s no different to playing here, as long as you be yourself you can never be disappointed.”

…….

@jillsmithjournalist: Serena Weigman is present at the Barcelona match. No current England players are playing however star player Y/N Beckham scored twice. Beckham has not played for England since she withdrew from selection in August 2019 amid public backlash and a rumoured feud with England manager Phil Neville. Could a return be on the cards?

@newlionesses_x: Surely she can’t just pick and choose when to come back.

@wslfan: Fine without her last year

@england123: Liability for England

@barcelonafan: All you hating on Beckham are crazy, one of the best players in the world and you don’t want her back because of something that happened 4 years ago, grow up. Could tell she struggled when she joined us but this past year she’s been exceptional, people change, mistakes happen (even though she should never have been sent off in the first place)

…..

You’ve known your decision for a long time but you still delayed giving it as long as possible before you could wait no longer. You could see she was the only one left in the hospitality area as you entered, the table she had chose overlooking the pitch you’d just performed on.

This was what you wanted and now it felt only right to give yourself that opportunity again.

“I’ll do it.”

[bonnixd]

Bullying

Wednesday x reader

Warnings: violence, insult, bad english

"Leave me alone!" you scream with tears in your eyes. "Hahahaha, no never. This is too much fun for that.” Says Sarina. You lie on the floor crying. "Come on, get up you maggot!" Ai yells, kicking you hard in the stomach. "Ugh, that's no fun." "Hmmm, I have an idea." Says Sarina and gets up. 3 minutes later she is back with a full bucket of water. She puts the bucket of water next to you. "What's the matter, you're measuring birth?" She grabs your hair and pushes your face into the water. The other 2 laugh out loud. She dips your face in the water every minute and gives you 5 seconds rest. The end of the break can also be heard. "See you then, look forward to seeing us." When they're gone, you slowly sit up and crouch down. You cry loudly until your eyes are red. You slowly get up and look in the mirror, you smile and wipe the tears from your face.

"Where have you been?" the teacher asks you. "I..." you were about to reply. "Never mind, just sit down." He says without letting you speak. You sit down next to your Girlfriend Wednesday. "Where have you been?" she asks you coldly. "I was still in my dorm..." you say slowly. "We only had a 20 minute break," she replies. "Yes...I know that's why I came so late, I forgot something." You're trying to lie. "Aha" she just replies.

The hour goes by quickly. You go to your locker and when you open it, garbage comes towards you. Next to you you hear Sarina and AI laughing loudly and picking you up. "Hahahaha that suits you" says Ai loudly. You look down and see tears forming in your eyes. When suddenly the laughter stops. You slowly look at them and see that they are afraid and look past you. You turn right and see Wednesday. The bullying group runs away quickly and you stop dead in your tracks. she goes to you "Since when do they bully you?" she asks you with a serious look. "They don't..." you say quietly. "Don't lie to me." She continues coldly. You quickly close the locker and quickly walk past her. "I don't," you say in a hurry.

School is over and you want to go to your dorm quickly. Wednesday left earlier because she still had something to do. "HEY Y/N" someone yells behind you. It was Sarina. She goes to you and hits you in the stomach so hard that you go to your knees. "You're so discusting." She kicks your face and you fall to the ground. She keeps kicking you. You try not to cry out loud so you don't give yourself a bigger target. "Leave Y/N alone!" you hear a familiar voice call out. However, you don't dare to open your eyes. When you hear Sarina crying, you slowly open your eyes. You see Wednesday holding a knife to her throat and Ai standing further away in shock. "If you touch Y/N again, I'll slit your throat and put you in front of your parents' door." Sarina only nods slightly. Wednesday lets go of her and you see her quickly run away with Ai. Wednesday puts the knife away and walks over to you. "Are you okay?" You stand up slowly and when you see her clearly in front of you, you immediately hug her and bury your face in her neck. She puts her hands protectively on the back of your head and on your back. "It's all right, I'll protect you from everyone." "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I was just ashamed and didn't want anyone to know." You say through sobs. "Shhhh. All right, I will protect you. And you don't have to be ashamed.” She gently strokes the back of your head. "I love you cupid." She says softly. "I love you too." You mumble into her neck, sobbing.

I'm bad at writing stories but I hope you like it anyway. I wish you a nice day :D

[skania]

Replies to OnK Asks #2

I have enough for another round of replies, so let's go!

If you sent me an anon message these past two days, the answer should be below the cut! If it isn't then I either missed it or Tumblr ate your message, please don't hesitate to message me again if that's the case

Just in case, there are spoilers for Chapter 123 below the cut!

Hang in there anon! Even if Ruby has grown, Sarina's love for Goro is basically frozen in time. I'm sure that if Sarina had had the chance to grow older, her love for Goro would've naturally transitioned into something more age appropriate. As it is though, it was born within the bubble of her hospital room where Goro was one of the only two good things she had in her life, and then Ruby continued to nurture it through the years by desperately hoping she may come across him again.

For years, Goro has been her romanticized, idealized, impossible first love. So when she finds out that Aqua is Goro, she isn't thinking This is inappropriate, he is my brother! She is instinctively reacting the same way Sarina would've reacted to reuniting with Goro. Ruby needs time to process her feelings.

I also think that Sarina's feelings for Goro were the innocent kind of love where a child is like: This person makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside! I want to be with them forever! We should get married!

So eventually, I'm sure Ruby will realize that being Aqua's sister is perfect, because this way they already are forever bonded to each other.

People are saying that? They're really trying to find every possible reason under the sun to hate on her 😂 I think one valid critique would be to say that Akane made that offer while not being sure of her own feelings/thinking Aqua had no feelings for her, but... how is that worth hating her? If I didn't love Akane, I'd have just felt sad for her—hating her would've never crossed my mind lol

I mean, I'm not sure we can generalize. But from what I've seen, people ship just as hard there as we do over here, it's just that they're better at separating fandom from canon. If the ship they like doesn't happen, they usually won't go on a public tirade against the work—they may criticize it a bit in their own corner, but usually they just continue shipping their thing in peace.

All in all though, Aka doesn't seem like the type to do what people want him to do. I believe he will do whatever he feels works best for the story he wants to tell lol

Ohhh that's interesting! In the few months that Ruby spent on Revenge Mode, she did show more ruthlessness than Aqua would be capable of, so maybe you're right and Crow Girl would've ideally wanted Ruby to be the one carrying it out.

Crow Girl is 100% right though, Aqua just isn't cut for revenge. He is too soft-hearted, too kind. He may be fine with everyone hating him, but he won't be fine with anyone but him suffering, so he is doomed to fail lol

Thank you anon!! You have a good day, too!

Manga Plus!

Off the top of my head: flustered Aqua, whenever he makes Akane pout, Akane trying to feed him, Aqua getting caught-off-guard when Akane can tell he wants to talk about breaking up, the whole do-you-have-that-kind-of-feelings-for-me? talk and Akane teasing him when he comes to pick her up with the umbrella are some of their funniest moments for me 😂

Yes!! You have a very good point anon, Aqua's and Akane's reconciliation is being saved for later. It's just like the next Akane volume cover, the fact that we haven't gotten one yet shows that we will be getting some nice Akane chapters in the future.

Thanks anon, I'm glad you see it too! Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but in all honesty after Chapter 123 I now have a hard time picturing Aqua's feelings for Kana as romantic. Kana's are the wild card, since hers have always been portrayed as romantic. We'll have to wait and see but so far, she seems to be following in Maki's (Kaguya-Sama) steps lol

I'm glad that Akane Kurokawa is Akane Kurokawa. She is one and only.

Well said anon, me too!!

I think the difference is that Kana's "radiance" comes from her genuine feelings. When she feels down, she can't shine. When she is happy, she shines brightly like the sun.

That's indeed the reason why she was only able to shine as an idol while Aqua was there. He was the reason she became an idol in the first place, and he's also the one she performed for; the one she wanted looking at her.

So while Ai (mostly) shone through the character she carefully constructed for herself, Kana shines due to her true feelings.

I do think that some readers aren't particularly interested in understanding him. At the same time, I get it because not everyone is reading OnK with the desire to analyse it. Some people just read it/watch it for fun and without paying much attention, which is perfectly fine although perhaps not exactly the best approach to Aka's writing lol

It's fine though, the person Aqua is will be pretty obvious by the end of the manga, so anyone who has missed it so far will surely get it by then!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, anon! I agree with a lot of what you're saying, and to answer your question:

do you really think Goro like Sarina in a romantic ways?

No, I don't! There's no chance of Goro liking Sarina romantically, he saw her like an innocent child and treated her as such. There's no ambiguity there at all, his "I'll think about it when you're 16" was just a round-about way of turning her down while gently reminding her of their age-gap. They both knew that Sarina likely wouldn't make it to 16, so I believe it was also Goro's way of trying to make both, himself and Sarina, imagine a future where Sarina was still alive. It's so sad 😭

And yes, the fact that Akane is so different is a great thing! She's also the only one that doesn't seem to have family issues, so there's even less for Aqua to project onto her. The obvious exception being when Akane temporarily lost the will to live, since Aqua likely could empathize 😭

You're absolutely right anon! For some people, it's like the Aqua/Akane relationship jumped from Chapter 30 to Chapter 98 with absolutely nothing in between—except for Chapter 81 and 87, but even then, only two panels count. The rest doesn't matter 😂

And it's not like there aren't alternative ways to interpret their relationship without ignoring everything that's happened between them and all their development. Hell, they could even say: yeah Akane almost got him, but failing to understand that Aqua just needed her by her side cemented her loss. She lost her chance—or something, and it would be a perfectly valid take! But some people just can't acknowledge that Aqua and Akane have a genuine, meaningful bond because they either a) want Aqua to be an edgelord b) want Aqua to only have eyes for their girl of choice.

Luckily, this willful denial of Aqua and Akane's bond can't change what's written in the manga lol

[astrxthesiai]

Botanical HC meme - Obligatory Basil, Bluebell, and Daisy

Botanical Headcanons [Word Prompts] -- Accepting

Basil: does your muse have a love–hate relationship with anyone or anything?

Chrome

It becomes Mukuro in the middle of the story for me.  We do not know how Chrome actually feels, it is only in handfuls.  She has become a minor character at this point since Mukuro has been freed.

She is tired of depending on him.  Tired of her disability because it limits her potential as an illusionist.  However, she desperately wants to be seen as someone outside of Mukuro’s shadow.  However, to do that she has to accept she might always be in Mukuro’s shadow to another person.  He is more experienced in fighting and in handling himself than she is.

It stems from her insecurities as a fighter and a strong illusionist in her own right.  She never outwardly blames Mukuro for this.  Instead, she tells him she wants to be stronger and to someday stand beside him as an equal.

Sarina

She hates her father, but her love-hate relationship would have to be Xanxus and her fellow Varia officers.

She has to make up for Ottavio’s betrayal.  Ottavio was originally the former vice-captain of the Varia.  He wished to overthrow Xanxus.  He revealed Xanxus’ coup to the Ninth beforehand.  She has to work her ass off to be trustworthy in the eyes of the other officers.  And she has to be better than the Gola Musca, their mechanical Cloud officer.

And she has to make sure the Ninth (Nono) knows he can trust Xanxus.  Sarina ran to the Nono before she ran to the Varia from her family, the Guerrieri.  She was tasked with keeping an eye on Xanxus.  This is a dangerous task, because she knows about Ottavio’s fate, and knows if she missteps she will end up like him.  Dead.

She will eventually have to choose between the Ninth and Xanxus, and despite her love-hate for Xanxus, she will choose him.  However, she does not mindlessly follow Xanxus.  She will speak up when she disagrees with something.  Is that what you would do for someone you respect despite loving and hating them?

Bluebell: Does your muse learn from their past, or are they prone to repeating the same mistakes?

Sarina

Sarina is a mixture of both, but she has greatly matured over the years.  While she also failed her own coup d'etat against her biological father, she will not fail after taking on missions and serving under Xanxus.  She will learn from her past, and do her hardest to take out her father before he makes plans against the Vongola and the criminal underworld.

She knows in doing what she will do, she risks getting arrested by the Vindice or executed.  She does not want help.  She wants to get back at her father on her own terms.  She will and she has to.  The means will be brutal, but she does not care.

Chrome

I think Chrome will learn from the past.  She is not prone to repeating her mistakes.  She cannot make the same mistakes again as she will probably die from them.  She takes notes both mentally and physically when it comes to being a part of the Vongola and one half of the Mist Guardians.  She cannot let herself or Mukuro down.

Daisy: Did your muse ever feel as though their innocence had been lost?  What moment in their life could be described as the end of their innocence?

Sarina

The moment her mother was killed by her father, Alesso.  She has seen it happen with her own eyes.  The heartbreak on her mother’s face when she knew she would never see Sarina grow up.  The heartbreak when she knew Alesso would never take her daughter or his wife seriously.  The heartbreak when she knew she had only been a womb for the Guerrieri boss, nothing more.  The heartbreak that came when she knew Sarina would be used the same way.

Sarina will never be the same.  She will never love her father.  She will never love her famiglia.  She will always resent it.  In those moments she saw weakness, but later she saw her mother’s strength when she accepted her fate.  Her mother had been the only person who was genuine to her before she met Michaela and the other girls that would become her guardians.

Chrome

The moment she saved the cat and would be run over instead by the vehicle.  She knew her life would never be the same again.  She knew she might not even have a life coming out of this.  She had a feeling her mother would say no to donating organs to her.

And she was not the same again.  She was saved by Mukuro.  Her mother refused to donate her organs to her child.  The Vongola stepped in.