Fic: Clean break (Steven Gerrard/Xabi Alonso)

[dfotw]

Title: Clean break

Rating: PG-13 for a bit of swearing and adult concepts.

Disclaimer: if this had really happened, and I knew about it, I wouldn’t be posting it in LJ. In other words, this is not true.

Wordcount: 2986

Summary: Xabi is hoping for a clean break, Steven is not ready to give up.

A/N: I wanted to get this off my chest, because

Comments

[nevermind68]

it was really heartbreaking to read. I almost cry. You described this very good. I almost felt what Xabi feel...

[dfotw]

Thank you! I didn't mean to make you cry, but sometimes things don't end up the way we want them to...

[sophiamoon]

Interesting.

Ah well, in the end it comes down to whether they like each other enough to continue or not.

[dfotw]

Thank you (I think... "interesting" sounds kind of ominous, doesn't it? :P).

Yes, I suppose that in the end, it comes down to whether they're willing to compromise and make an effort... I haven't made up my mind about a possible sequel, so we'll see!

[sophiamoon]

I guess the whole concept of cheating on partner is simply too foreign for me. Not a moral thing, just something I've never had to deal with, except making sure when other mrs. moon and I started dating half a lifetime ago we were both of the sexually exclusive kind. ;-)

(and I'm a "keep the wags out of my slash" kind of writer/reader, but that's personal)

The story is a good one. Well written. You should have absolutely no worries about that.

[dfotw]

Thank you...

I understand why the story doesn't really resonate personally for you (all the better for you, I think!), but I'm glad you liked the way it was written.

(and, since I was borrowing from reality so heavily, I felt I couldn't do without Alex and Nagore... not my favourite angle about this slash pairings, but sometimes, a necessary one!)

[dfotw]

Yes, I know that the Gernando is not really a threat to us SeX shippers... but it does get our hackles raised, doesn't it?

I'm glad you liked the fic, though... it's really flattering to get a thumbs-up on the characterizations, so thanks for that!

I'll try for the sequel... I do want to see them make up, but I'm having trouble getting the Xabi in my mind to agree!

Thanks for the comment!

[acrayonsmile]

I agree. I don't see them as a threat so much as they just bother me because not only does Gerrnando ruin the happy Liverpool canon of Stevie/Xabi, but also my personal favorite pairing of Danny/Nando. I mean, I know they've, in comparison to Stevie/Nando at least, rarely been on the pitch together but still, I like Fernando with Dan better. Wow. I'm sorry I ranted.

Anyway, thank you for writing this because this was brilliant. I love the lj-cut line, I thought it was touching. I hope there will be a sequel.

[dfotw]

I don't see them as a threat so much as they just bother me. - yes, that's exactly it (and if you ship Daniel/Nando, doubly so!).

Thanks for commenting (and I'm glad you liked that line, and the rest of the fic!). I'm also hoping there'll be a sequel, but we'll see!

[orientalquaint]

For a start, this is brilliant. I don't know why, but from the very beginning my eyes kept getting more and more sore like it's threatening to shed tears. And I almost did when I read the words 'The End'.

I do agree with the comments above me, when I see Stevie and Nando celebrate, I can't erase the feeling that they look like a loving dad and a kid(which of course I secretly think that the other dad is Xabi;P).
But I can totally understand and symphathize with the mood of your fic. Though I feel so heartbroken for Xabi, I can't stop feeling sorry for Stevie too. The situation and sentiment of the two is all too plausible and understandable...Am I strange?

I really hope you would carry on to write a sequel. Though I'd love a happy ending, I really want to know how you would paint the future for the two in your mind. It was a great read, thank you.

[dfotw]

Wow. Thank you. Really.

(articulate, comprehensive feedback blows my mind)

So... yes, the Gernando is not *that* much of a threat... but sometimes, specially when Xabi is out for a match or two, the press coverage those two get is enough to make the loyal SeX wonder where their OTP is heading...

But I'd been wanting to write a fic in this sort of mood for a while, and Nando's enthusiastic appreciation of Stevie gave me the perfect excuse... I wanted to show how, even in the most simple of situations, there's two sides to every discussion, and guilt for both parties... and heartbreak for everyone!

(and no, you're not strange. at least not that I can see!) ;-)

I will try for the sequel, I think. There's lots of things I want to try (and I just didn't want this to be any longer... it puts a lot of readers off!). Not sure of whether it'll be a happy ending, but it will be closure of some kind.

Thank you for the feedback!