Ficlet: Esteban Granero/Guti, implied Raúl/Guti, Esteban Granero/Raúl/Guti, PG-13
Title: The Art of Sharing
Pairing: Esteban Granero/Guti, implied Raúl/Guti, Esteban Granero/Raúl/Guti
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: no
Word Count: 500
Disclaimer: Not true. Not a word of truth here. I made it all up, and if you think otherwise...you’re wrong.
Summary: Esteban understands certain things about Guti that Raúl doesn’t.
He’s not sure why he waits. He can just drive off now, leave the stadium, go home.
But he doesn’t. Instead, he leans against his car, enjoys the warm sensation of sun on his face and smiles at the sun.
And waits.
It doesn’t take long. It doesn’t take more than a few minutes.
He doesn’t bother opening his eyes. He knows who it is.
“He’s just going to use you, you know,” the man says, almost casually.
Esteban knows it’s anything but. He’s probably been thinking about the right thing to say for a while.
So he doesn’t bother replying.
“He will, you know,” the man next to him shifts, grows impatient.
Esteban smiles. He should probably say something.
“It’s ok,” he says, his eyes still closed.
“How can it be ok?” the man next to him is clearly rattled. It wasn’t the response he expected.
“He’s worth it,” Esteban shrugs and finally opens his eyes. Raúl looks just like he expected him to. A little shocked and visibly angry.
“That’s what I thought.”
“You thought he’d change,” Esteban smiles again. It took him so long. He doesn’t mind sharing his insight, “I don’t.”
“He’s just using you,” Raúl says again, shaking his head. Clearly, Esteban doesn’t understand. Not really.
“I know.”
“And you just… don’t mind?”
“I use him too, I guess,” Esteban shrugs, turns and opens his car. Time to go. Raúl wouldn’t have been here unless Guti was nearby.
“You’re wrong,” Raúl says again, grabs Esteban’s wrist, tries to stop him, “soon enough, you’ll care. Soon enough, it won’t be enough. Soon, you’ll want him all to yourself, and it’ll never…”
“It’ll never happen. I know. There will always be others. And of course, there will always be you.”
Raúl shakes his head.
“There will always be you,” Esteban says again.
Raúl doesn’t respond.
“You’d really rather not to have him at all?” Esteban’s really surprised now.
“Not like this.”
Esteban shrugs.
It’s time to go. Somewhere in this city, Guti is waiting for him. Maybe not for him, but he’ll have him. For now.
It’s more than enough. Esteban feels a little sad that Raúl doesn’t get it.
But right now, he’s in his way, and he has to go. Guti’s waiting.
“You’ll regret it,” Raúl whispers just as Esteban closes the door.
He can see Esteban shrugs and smiles before he drives off.
For a second, Raúl thinks he’s wrong, and Esteban’s the one who’s got it right. Maybe…
Maybe.
Esteban pulls into the familiar driveway, not too surprised to find the gate open. Of course it’s open. Guti is always waiting for someone.
He’s pleasantly surprised to find Raúl’s car already there.
Esteban smiles, stops for a second and looks at the sun.
So Raúl finally gets it.
He shudders, takes a deep breath and walks into the house without knocking. Somewhere, Raúl must already have gotten his hands on Guti. They may or may not be waiting for him.
He’s coming anyway.