nine more drabbles for footie_100...
Recent prompts at footie_100 were Loss and Pain and I wrote two drabbles for the former and seven for the latter. Comments are love, as always. :)
Disclaimer: I'm a lying bastard and made this all up. I don't claim to know any of the players I write about, they're most definitely not mine, and this very probably didn't happen. No payment involved, no offence intended. This is for my own entertainment.
Title: On the Matter of Clothes and Rivalries
Pairing: Martín Demichelis/Fernando Gago (Oh, I've secretly longed for this. Apologies for making it so pointless, but there's only so much you can fit into 100 words.)
Rating: PG-13 for implications
Note: Set directly after Argentina's friendly against Australia.
Martín felt bouncy as he stepped out of the shower and tossed his towel onto the empty bench... One moment. Empty?
"Where are my clothes?" he asked his wardrobe.
Someone cleared his throat behind him. "Uhm, they sort of got lost."
"Got lost?"
"Mhm." The defender's frown was met by an innocent look.
Martín scrutinized his opposite from head to toe. "Boca, right?"
"Real Madrid." Fernando winked. "And... Bayern Munich?"
Martín grinned. Clever boy. "Now, about my clothes..."
Fernando grabbed his hand and pulled him back to the now deserted showers. "Allow me to demonstrate how completely overrated they are..."
***
Title: Frustration
Pairing: Martín Demichelis/Daniel van Buyten
Rating: PG-13 for meaningful suggestions
"I don't believe this!" Growling, Martín tossed the dice onto the game board.
Daniel did his best to suppress a smile. He knew that Micho hated losing, knew that the moment he'd start teasing him, the board and all the colourful figures would land on the floor. He didn't want that.
"We should play a different game."
Martín didn't look too enthusiastic. "So? Which one?"
"You know," Daniel said meaningfully. "That one."
"And why should I want to play that with you right now?"
"Because you always win it."
As Martín's face lit up, Daniel finally allowed himself to grin.
***
Title: Flu
Pairing: Daniel van Buyten/Martín Demichelis
Rating: PG
Note: Around the UEFA Cup group stage match against Red Star Belgrade, both Martín Demichelis and Luca Toni came down with the flu.
Daniel knows that people don't choose to get ill. You can't say you'd like your flu to arrive on Monday at 10 am sharp, just like you can't say that whereas the flu is nice and all, you'd prefer a sore lung because you want a true challenge. (Well, you can say it, but you shouldn't expect it to happen.)
And yet, Daniel can't help thinking that they did it on purpose, to demonstrate him how well they're getting along. It's ridiculous and unreasonable, but so is jealousy, feasting its way directly to where it hurts the most; insatiable, unstoppable.
***
Title: Pain and Glory
Character: Lukas Podolski
Rating: G
Note: Set after Bayern's UEFA Cup match against Bolton Wanderers.
Sitting in the lockers and eating that quick dinner they served us there, I can hardly move anymore, let alone breathe properly. My legs are heavy, my feet are sore, and every damn bone in my body hurts like hell.
"You're not running enough, Poldi," they used to say. "You're not doing enough for the team." I showed them tonight; I ran like an idiot, put a lot of effort into challenges, stood exactly where I was needed, and hit the back of the net again - not once, but twice.
They'll have nothing to reproach me for this time.
***
Title: Undeserved
Characters: Fernando Meira, Matthieu Delpierre
Rating: G
Note: sweetestremedy wanted me to write Meira/Delpierre. This is totally not what she requested, but the muses insisted I write this. *sigh* Why does this have to be such an angsty pairing at the moment?
They'd been praised into the sky during and after the successful post-World Cup season that had crowned Stuttgart German champion: the two solid rocks in the defense that had secured the team's victory. With no little pride, Fernando had liked to say that they depended on each other, caught each other's fall and shared the glory.
Now that Matthieu was injured, Fernando saw things in a brand new light, realised just how important the Frenchman had been. He'd made the Portuguese captain a better man just by being there.
The realisation shamed the self-conscious player and hurt the proud man.
***
Title: Pregnant
Characters: Fernando Gago, Miguel Torres, Sergio Ramos
Rating: PG
Note: For lhuneldaiel. ♥
"God, I feel so horrible! I must be pregnant!"
It had been difficult enough to get Fernando into the car, but it was even more difficult to carry him up the stairs in his state.
"You can't be pregnant, Fer," Miguel sighed.
Gago ignored him. "I'm getting fat!" He sobbed. "And you don't like me anymore! Oh, my stomaaaach!"
"I think you're just getting your period," Miguel muttered, trying to keep his balance as Sergio almost dropped the Argentine on him because he was laughing so hard.
Fernando looked almost hopeful. "Really?"
Miguel groaned. Being the designated driver sucked sometimes.
***
Title: Wayward Son
Character: Martín Demichelis
Rating: G
When I was fifteen, I dropped out of school and went to Buenos Aires to play football. My father didn't approve of my decision. You're nothing when you've learned nothing. My parents had always wanted me to be something; respectable, reasonable.
"You're giving your mother pain," my father used to chide me, looking up into the sky. "She's crying up there."
Looking back, I'm sorry for causing my mother in Heaven sadness, but I'm not sorry for leaving. If she could see me now, she'd be looking down on me with a smile on her face, I'm sure of it.
***
Title: Turning Point
Character: Luca Toni
Rating: G
Florence, 1997.
Once again, Luca hits the clubs with his friends, something that's become a habit because he doesn't feel inspired for football anymore. He thinks about quitting. He needs to do something with his life.
A couple of hours later, a girl slams a wardrobe door into his face. Luca doesn't accept an apology unless she has a drink with him. He falls in love with her, but he also rediscovers his second love, as if the pain threw a switch somewhere inside him.
He moves to Lodigiani, finally believes in himself.
It's all the way up from there.
***
Title: Change
Character: Oliver Kahn
Rating: G
Everyone expects him to kick bottles and yell into microphones after the game. Three to one against the heretofore rapidly fading German champion. Three punches into the proud keeper's face. At least three good reasons for a temper tantrum.
Yet, Oliver looks unusually calm and composed after the game. He contemplates his words for the interview carefully, utters them with a steady voice, even adds a lighthearted joke at the end.
Of course it hurts, of course every inch of him feels humiliated, but yelling doesn't make it better.
It's fascinating how playing his last season can change a man.
Disclaimer: I'm a lying bastard and made this all up. I don't claim to know any of the players I write about, they're most definitely not mine, and this very probably didn't happen. No payment involved, no offence intended. This is for my own entertainment.
Title: On the Matter of Clothes and Rivalries
Pairing: Martín Demichelis/Fernando Gago (Oh, I've secretly longed for this. Apologies for making it so pointless, but there's only so much you can fit into 100 words.)
Rating: PG-13 for implications
Note: Set directly after Argentina's friendly against Australia.
Martín felt bouncy as he stepped out of the shower and tossed his towel onto the empty bench... One moment. Empty?
"Where are my clothes?" he asked his wardrobe.
Someone cleared his throat behind him. "Uhm, they sort of got lost."
"Got lost?"
"Mhm." The defender's frown was met by an innocent look.
Martín scrutinized his opposite from head to toe. "Boca, right?"
"Real Madrid." Fernando winked. "And... Bayern Munich?"
Martín grinned. Clever boy. "Now, about my clothes..."
Fernando grabbed his hand and pulled him back to the now deserted showers. "Allow me to demonstrate how completely overrated they are..."
***
Title: Frustration
Pairing: Martín Demichelis/Daniel van Buyten
Rating: PG-13 for meaningful suggestions
"I don't believe this!" Growling, Martín tossed the dice onto the game board.
Daniel did his best to suppress a smile. He knew that Micho hated losing, knew that the moment he'd start teasing him, the board and all the colourful figures would land on the floor. He didn't want that.
"We should play a different game."
Martín didn't look too enthusiastic. "So? Which one?"
"You know," Daniel said meaningfully. "That one."
"And why should I want to play that with you right now?"
"Because you always win it."
As Martín's face lit up, Daniel finally allowed himself to grin.
***
Title: Flu
Pairing: Daniel van Buyten/Martín Demichelis
Rating: PG
Note: Around the UEFA Cup group stage match against Red Star Belgrade, both Martín Demichelis and Luca Toni came down with the flu.
Daniel knows that people don't choose to get ill. You can't say you'd like your flu to arrive on Monday at 10 am sharp, just like you can't say that whereas the flu is nice and all, you'd prefer a sore lung because you want a true challenge. (Well, you can say it, but you shouldn't expect it to happen.)
And yet, Daniel can't help thinking that they did it on purpose, to demonstrate him how well they're getting along. It's ridiculous and unreasonable, but so is jealousy, feasting its way directly to where it hurts the most; insatiable, unstoppable.
***
Title: Pain and Glory
Character: Lukas Podolski
Rating: G
Note: Set after Bayern's UEFA Cup match against Bolton Wanderers.
Sitting in the lockers and eating that quick dinner they served us there, I can hardly move anymore, let alone breathe properly. My legs are heavy, my feet are sore, and every damn bone in my body hurts like hell.
"You're not running enough, Poldi," they used to say. "You're not doing enough for the team." I showed them tonight; I ran like an idiot, put a lot of effort into challenges, stood exactly where I was needed, and hit the back of the net again - not once, but twice.
They'll have nothing to reproach me for this time.
***
Title: Undeserved
Characters: Fernando Meira, Matthieu Delpierre
Rating: G
Note: sweetestremedy wanted me to write Meira/Delpierre. This is totally not what she requested, but the muses insisted I write this. *sigh* Why does this have to be such an angsty pairing at the moment?
They'd been praised into the sky during and after the successful post-World Cup season that had crowned Stuttgart German champion: the two solid rocks in the defense that had secured the team's victory. With no little pride, Fernando had liked to say that they depended on each other, caught each other's fall and shared the glory.
Now that Matthieu was injured, Fernando saw things in a brand new light, realised just how important the Frenchman had been. He'd made the Portuguese captain a better man just by being there.
The realisation shamed the self-conscious player and hurt the proud man.
***
Title: Pregnant
Characters: Fernando Gago, Miguel Torres, Sergio Ramos
Rating: PG
Note: For lhuneldaiel. ♥
"God, I feel so horrible! I must be pregnant!"
It had been difficult enough to get Fernando into the car, but it was even more difficult to carry him up the stairs in his state.
"You can't be pregnant, Fer," Miguel sighed.
Gago ignored him. "I'm getting fat!" He sobbed. "And you don't like me anymore! Oh, my stomaaaach!"
"I think you're just getting your period," Miguel muttered, trying to keep his balance as Sergio almost dropped the Argentine on him because he was laughing so hard.
Fernando looked almost hopeful. "Really?"
Miguel groaned. Being the designated driver sucked sometimes.
***
Title: Wayward Son
Character: Martín Demichelis
Rating: G
When I was fifteen, I dropped out of school and went to Buenos Aires to play football. My father didn't approve of my decision. You're nothing when you've learned nothing. My parents had always wanted me to be something; respectable, reasonable.
"You're giving your mother pain," my father used to chide me, looking up into the sky. "She's crying up there."
Looking back, I'm sorry for causing my mother in Heaven sadness, but I'm not sorry for leaving. If she could see me now, she'd be looking down on me with a smile on her face, I'm sure of it.
***
Title: Turning Point
Character: Luca Toni
Rating: G
Florence, 1997.
Once again, Luca hits the clubs with his friends, something that's become a habit because he doesn't feel inspired for football anymore. He thinks about quitting. He needs to do something with his life.
A couple of hours later, a girl slams a wardrobe door into his face. Luca doesn't accept an apology unless she has a drink with him. He falls in love with her, but he also rediscovers his second love, as if the pain threw a switch somewhere inside him.
He moves to Lodigiani, finally believes in himself.
It's all the way up from there.
***
Title: Change
Character: Oliver Kahn
Rating: G
Everyone expects him to kick bottles and yell into microphones after the game. Three to one against the heretofore rapidly fading German champion. Three punches into the proud keeper's face. At least three good reasons for a temper tantrum.
Yet, Oliver looks unusually calm and composed after the game. He contemplates his words for the interview carefully, utters them with a steady voice, even adds a lighthearted joke at the end.
Of course it hurts, of course every inch of him feels humiliated, but yelling doesn't make it better.
It's fascinating how playing his last season can change a man.