2.
Title: baby, we're invincible
Rating: PG
Pairing: Cesc Fàbregas/Robin van Persie
Disclaimer: Complete fiction
Cesc has become a lot more calmer now, Robin thinks. It’s something, he believes, comes with age.
When you’re young, you’re quick to give in to your impulses, quick to react to that surge of anger that arises in you when you feel you’ve been dealt an injustice. As you get older, you don’t give in as much. You learn how to pick your battles⎯ you learn when to fight and when to back down. It’s something that Cesc has learned and it’s probably why he’s held in even higher esteem to the Arsenal faithful.
He makes a good captain. Robin thinks that maybe if most players got the armband at Cesc’s age, they would let it go to their heads. But Cesc has a strong head on his shoulders and he handles it well. He takes the time to listen to them and he’s quick to assure them after a loss. He’s composed on the pitch as well, always placating the players before things got out of hand. There was a hand on the shoulder or quiet words⎯ and it always worked.
So when Cesc started to look unhappy and much more serious than he usually was, Robin began to worry.
“What?”
Robin blinks and looks up at Cesc giving him a strange look. “What?”
“Your left eyebrow is crinkled,” Cesc says, pressing his thumb across it, trying to smooth the crinkle out. “That usually means something is bothering you.”
Robin inches closer to him, their arms brushing. “Are you happy here?”
Cesc glances around at his apartment. “Yeah, it’s alright,” he says, sounding defensive. “It’s not as big as your place but⎯”
“No.” Robin shakes his head. “Not here. Here at Arsenal.”
Cesc stares at him. “Are you serious?” he asks, incredulously. “Robin, I can’t believe you’re asking me that.”
Robin gives a small shrug. “You don’t seem all that happy anymore, Cesc. You just look unhappy and unsatisfied. The fans are worried.”
There’s a brief silence. “The fans are worried?” he says, in a small voice.
Robin is tempted to backtrack just to make the sad look on Cesc’s face go away, but he continues. “Well, what are they supposed to think when their captain doesn’t seem pleased to score a goal for his team? You just seem sad, Cesc.”
Cesc rubs his face and sighs. “Of course I’m happy here,” he says. “This is my club, this is my team. I’m just stressed and…” He pauses. “I didn’t think it showed.”
Robin gives him a small smile. “You do have a lot to be stressed about,” he agrees.
“I didn’t want to worry the fans though.”
Robin feels guilty now. Like he had just sprung this conversation on Cesc without really thinking it through, without considering why Cesc seemed restless. “I’m sorry,” he says, squeezing Cesc’s hand. “Don’t worry about the fans. Just keep playing the way you do. They’ll see they have nothing to worry about.”
Cesc rests his head against Robin’s shoulder and says nothing. Robin thinks he really should have just kept his morbid thoughts to himself.
---
It happens during the game against Blackburn. Robin’s adrenaline is already running high and Cesc is tirelessly working at giving the game his all. Robin sees it in his face and he hopes the fans can see it.
Not that it matters in the 57th minute, when Cesc finally gets his goal. Then his lips are pressed against that crest and he runs to the fans, pointing to them and then to the badge. Robin grins at the huge roar this gets from the fans and he wonders what they will remember more⎯ the goal or the image of their captain (re)pledging his loyalty.
Rating: PG
Pairing: Cesc Fàbregas/Robin van Persie
Disclaimer: Complete fiction
Cesc has become a lot more calmer now, Robin thinks. It’s something, he believes, comes with age.
When you’re young, you’re quick to give in to your impulses, quick to react to that surge of anger that arises in you when you feel you’ve been dealt an injustice. As you get older, you don’t give in as much. You learn how to pick your battles⎯ you learn when to fight and when to back down. It’s something that Cesc has learned and it’s probably why he’s held in even higher esteem to the Arsenal faithful.
He makes a good captain. Robin thinks that maybe if most players got the armband at Cesc’s age, they would let it go to their heads. But Cesc has a strong head on his shoulders and he handles it well. He takes the time to listen to them and he’s quick to assure them after a loss. He’s composed on the pitch as well, always placating the players before things got out of hand. There was a hand on the shoulder or quiet words⎯ and it always worked.
So when Cesc started to look unhappy and much more serious than he usually was, Robin began to worry.
“What?”
Robin blinks and looks up at Cesc giving him a strange look. “What?”
“Your left eyebrow is crinkled,” Cesc says, pressing his thumb across it, trying to smooth the crinkle out. “That usually means something is bothering you.”
Robin inches closer to him, their arms brushing. “Are you happy here?”
Cesc glances around at his apartment. “Yeah, it’s alright,” he says, sounding defensive. “It’s not as big as your place but⎯”
“No.” Robin shakes his head. “Not here. Here at Arsenal.”
Cesc stares at him. “Are you serious?” he asks, incredulously. “Robin, I can’t believe you’re asking me that.”
Robin gives a small shrug. “You don’t seem all that happy anymore, Cesc. You just look unhappy and unsatisfied. The fans are worried.”
There’s a brief silence. “The fans are worried?” he says, in a small voice.
Robin is tempted to backtrack just to make the sad look on Cesc’s face go away, but he continues. “Well, what are they supposed to think when their captain doesn’t seem pleased to score a goal for his team? You just seem sad, Cesc.”
Cesc rubs his face and sighs. “Of course I’m happy here,” he says. “This is my club, this is my team. I’m just stressed and…” He pauses. “I didn’t think it showed.”
Robin gives him a small smile. “You do have a lot to be stressed about,” he agrees.
“I didn’t want to worry the fans though.”
Robin feels guilty now. Like he had just sprung this conversation on Cesc without really thinking it through, without considering why Cesc seemed restless. “I’m sorry,” he says, squeezing Cesc’s hand. “Don’t worry about the fans. Just keep playing the way you do. They’ll see they have nothing to worry about.”
Cesc rests his head against Robin’s shoulder and says nothing. Robin thinks he really should have just kept his morbid thoughts to himself.
---
It happens during the game against Blackburn. Robin’s adrenaline is already running high and Cesc is tirelessly working at giving the game his all. Robin sees it in his face and he hopes the fans can see it.
Not that it matters in the 57th minute, when Cesc finally gets his goal. Then his lips are pressed against that crest and he runs to the fans, pointing to them and then to the badge. Robin grins at the huge roar this gets from the fans and he wonders what they will remember more⎯ the goal or the image of their captain (re)pledging his loyalty.