'Spring' (Bullard/Scharner)
Featuring the strangely fascinating pairing of Jimmy Bullard and Paul Scharner.
062. Spring
Notes: of_doom convinced me that Jimmy/Paul actually works. Her way more brilliant work is here; this is sort of a sequel to that.
With the way Paul throws himself around on the pitch, Jimmy isn't surprised when Paul ends up in the physio's care sooner rather than later. A fairly minor hamstring injury, the physio says, but it'll take a week before he can train again.
Paul still comes to training, standing in the cold days of early spring, even though no one lets him anywhere near the grass. Jimmy doesn't know if it's blind hope or sheer pigheadedness, but as much as it cheers him to still see Paul, he watches those stormy eyes grow darker with each passing day. Enforced rest can have odd effects on certain people, and with Paul, it's as if he's a racehorse straining at the gate. Every drill, every five-a-side, Jimmy will look over and see Paul staring at them intensely, almost trembling from want. Jimmy knows what it's like; he gets that way, too.
Paul joins them in the dressing room after training, and only there can he relax. The lads still tease him about his clothes, his latest acquisition being an enormous dark blue scarf. It's not so cold in England, the natives say, but Paul just smiles.
A week later, Paul returns to training, much to the relief of everyone who had been intimidated by his hawk-like staring from afar. Around this time, the temperature drops dramatically: dry, freezing cold days where every inhalation feels like an invitation to frostbitten lungs. Even Johansson breaks down and starts wearing gloves, much to Chimbonda's amusement. Jimmy layers on all the warmest clothes he can find, but the wind cuts through all his defences.
Just when he thinks he can't take it anymore, Jimmy gets to the training grounds and finds a package in front of his locker. He opens it, and it's Paul's scarf, with a note saying, 'It's not so cold in England. I like it, but you need it.'
The next day, the lads are too shocked to say anything when Jimmy walks in wearing the enormous scarf. Jimmy looks at Paul and Paul smiles back, and that's all that matters.
062. Spring
Notes: of_doom convinced me that Jimmy/Paul actually works. Her way more brilliant work is here; this is sort of a sequel to that.
With the way Paul throws himself around on the pitch, Jimmy isn't surprised when Paul ends up in the physio's care sooner rather than later. A fairly minor hamstring injury, the physio says, but it'll take a week before he can train again.
Paul still comes to training, standing in the cold days of early spring, even though no one lets him anywhere near the grass. Jimmy doesn't know if it's blind hope or sheer pigheadedness, but as much as it cheers him to still see Paul, he watches those stormy eyes grow darker with each passing day. Enforced rest can have odd effects on certain people, and with Paul, it's as if he's a racehorse straining at the gate. Every drill, every five-a-side, Jimmy will look over and see Paul staring at them intensely, almost trembling from want. Jimmy knows what it's like; he gets that way, too.
Paul joins them in the dressing room after training, and only there can he relax. The lads still tease him about his clothes, his latest acquisition being an enormous dark blue scarf. It's not so cold in England, the natives say, but Paul just smiles.
A week later, Paul returns to training, much to the relief of everyone who had been intimidated by his hawk-like staring from afar. Around this time, the temperature drops dramatically: dry, freezing cold days where every inhalation feels like an invitation to frostbitten lungs. Even Johansson breaks down and starts wearing gloves, much to Chimbonda's amusement. Jimmy layers on all the warmest clothes he can find, but the wind cuts through all his defences.
Just when he thinks he can't take it anymore, Jimmy gets to the training grounds and finds a package in front of his locker. He opens it, and it's Paul's scarf, with a note saying, 'It's not so cold in England. I like it, but you need it.'
The next day, the lads are too shocked to say anything when Jimmy walks in wearing the enormous scarf. Jimmy looks at Paul and Paul smiles back, and that's all that matters.