Chapter Text
5.
The fifth time it happened everyone knew about the relationship between the two. Everyone except the two that had the relationship. And Pep
Pep told them to not look into it, its their own thing. And he also didn't believe it and just thought that Kevin was doing his vice captain duties.
And pointing out that the actual captain of the team didn't do half the stuff Kevin did for Erling didn't really matter because Pep still didn't believe them.
So, what else to do other than prove it to their coach and manager using live proof.
And live proof they were going to get, by making a plan they were going to use to show Pep that what those two have is a link that only a father and son could have.
… The only issue is figuring the plan out
-
[Plan] group chat
10:35 am
Man city players day off
Jack, Foden, Mahrez and a few others are online
–
Mahrez: Okay
Mahrez: So
Mahrez: Plans, come on people
Alvarez: Can I just ask why this is important?
Mahrez: Because.
Mahrez: We can't let Pep doubt us, he must never doubt in his own team
Foden: He's got a point
Jack: Yeah, Pep has to have trust in us and how can he do that if he's doubting us
Alvarez: Alright, that's fair
Alvarez: I think
Ake: So what are we going to do? I have no ideas
Walker: me neither
Walker: It's not exactly one of those things you can force out
Mahrez: With the right plan yes you can
Mahrez: Come on, guys, we're smart! We can think of something!
Foden: He thinks we're smart that's so sweet
Ake: We're kinda clever at best
Jack: Yup
Walker: Leave me out of that
Alvarez: Didn't you try to convince me that the ocean is a soup?
Walker: cause it IS
Foden: Wait what?
Mahrez: guys FOCUS.
Jack: Alright alright
Jack: How about something during training?
Mahrez: Mmmm I doubt that'll work
Mahrez: He isn't really with us that much and when he is he's mostly focused on tactics and shit
Jack: fair yeah
Foden: So something out of training?
Alvarez: How will that work though? He isn't exactly.. around us
Mahrez: Hm..
Foden: If only there was just some way to bring all of us together..
Jack: If only..
Mahrez: Isn't there a way though?
Walker: What do you mean?
Mahrez: We could say we're recording a video for the man city channel
Mahrez: Say we need him for a team q and a
Mahrez: That way he'd definitely show up, he likes doing those little videos
Alvarez: But even if that does work what guarantee is there that Kevin and Haaland will decide to be father and son at that time
Jack: You can leave that to me
Walker: You sure?
Jack: Well I convinced everyone else
Jack: Can't stop now
Mahrez: touché
Foden: All right
Foden: Who'll get Pep, Haaland and Kevin? And tell the studio we want to record?
Walker: I'll call them
Ake: I can talk to the studio, I'm pretty close to our ground
Mahrez: Okay good
Mahrez: good luck, gentlemen, let it finally begin
-
9:55 am, the Man City training ground
"So you all want me to sit here?" Their coach asked, sitting down on the chair across from a few other chairs that the 'Interviewees' were going to sit on. The studio people were getting cameras ready for them as they spoke.
They thought of a game, in which Pep was the one that asked them true or false questions. It could be about one of the teammates or about him as a coach. The person who answers the most questions correctly wins, while the loser, the one with the least correct answers, gives the winner their phone and lets them post something. Whether it be on Instagram, tiktok etc it didn't matter.
Of course, this WAS going to happen but this was mostly about the plan they had. Currently Mahrez, Foden, Alvarez and a few others were waiting for Jack to come with Haaland and Kevin, who agreed immediately when asked if they wanted to join.
(Well Haaland agreed, Kevin is definitely here to monitor the young player and not to really play. Kevin didn't exactly.. like being in videos? Not that he hated them, after all he's been on man city's youtube for years now. But sometimes he just doesn't feel like it.)
"Yes. Did you write down questions?" Mahrez wondered, to which Pep nodded, giving a small smile to his players "I tried my best. Made them difficult."
Foden laughed "Good, this'll be fun"
Suddenly Jack was running iver "Hey Pep, hey lads!" He was panting but had a smile on his face, which must be good right?
"Morning Jack" Pep nodded his head, "How are you?"
"Great! Can I borrow Mahrez and Rodrigo for a minute?"
Mahrez raised an eyebrow "What, why?"
"I have to tell you to something"
… Ight
Mahrez turned to the small group of teammates close by and called over the Spaniard to follow them. Rodrigo seemed confused but as soon as the two started moving he followed right after them without question.
"Okay, so, Kevin and Haaland will get here soon" Jack spoke, as soon as the three were out of earshot. They were far enough so their team, Pep and the crew couldn't hear them.
Mahrez nodded "Okay and? Isn't that a good thing?"
Jack blinked "I mean.. yes. Obviously. But I wanted to tell you that I thought of a plan to make Kevin go all 'papa mode'"
Mahrez nodded his head "Ooh.. okay, tell us"
"What does that have to do with me though?" Rodri asked the Englishman and Jack was quick to respond "You're the idea!.. well part of it"
The two blinked at their friend, not getting it just yet. So Jack continued on.
"I thought that, since Kevin only shows off his dad mode is when Erling is like.. upset or hurt, we have to poke fun at him a bit"
Mahrez nodded yet again "Uh huh okay.. listen, Jack, none of us want to die-"
"Yeah! I know! That's why it's just a LITTLE poke. Enough to get Erling annoyed!"
Mahrez hummed.. "Okay but how does Rodri fit in this?"
Jack smiled "He's the closest to Erling's height so I thought it could be him that does it!"
…
Rodri blinked "Sure" he shrugged, "What should I say?"
Well that was easy-
Mahrez hummed in thought, thinking to himself before a lightbulb shined bright in his head.
"Oh! You could make fun of the way he talks" the man suggested. Jack nodded his head "Make fun of his accent, the way he talks.. if that's not enough you can poke fun of his awkwardness during interviews" He added as well..
“I don’t think that’ll affect him too much though?” Rodri told them but the two shook their heads, disagreeing with the man. “You’re not meant to ACTUALLY hurt him just get under his skin a bit” Mahrez responded with ease “Enough for Kevin to have a dad reaction:”
Rodri shrugged his shoulder, “Alright” And nodded along.
“Here they come” Jack spoke up, looking towards the entryway. The two followed his gaze and weren’t surprised to see Kevin and Haaland walking together towards the crew and their teammates. The two were quietly mumbling to each other, stuck in a quiet conversation and smiling.
GOD it hurt to actually do this
… Not lmao
Mahrez patted the tall man, Rodri, on the back “Go get ‘im” and gave him a slight push forward. He got a glare in response but didn’t focus on it and instead shooed the man away. The two watched as Rodri walked away before they nodded to each other, smiling, as if they just made the most amazing plan in the world come true, before making their way back as well.
Kevin and Haaland were already there, talking a bit with Pep and the rest of the squad as they sat down at the chairs. Foden and Alvarez made eye contact with Jack, who sent a wink back to let them know everything was going as planned.
That’s when Rodri sat next to Haaland, on the right of him, since the left chair was already taken by Kevin.
Let the chaos begin
“Hey Erling” Rodri smiled at the Norwegian who smiled back immediately
“Hello” he answered, “How are you?”
“I’m very good, you?”
Rodri decided to start out small “Sorry, could you repeat that?” Maybe a bit early but it didn’t matter.
Erling blinked but didn’t think much of it before repeating himself “How are you?”
“Oh right, sorry” Rodri chuckled, “Sometimes your accent throws me off. I’m good, thanks.”
Erling's smile fell for a second but returned quickly “That’s okay. Happens.”
Rodri nodded his head.
He might have to try a bit harder
“You excited for the game?”
Erling was quick to respond, “Yes. It looks fun. I’d like to play it.”
“Yeah” Rodri smiled.
He decided to go for it.
“Just, y’know..”
Erling blinked “What?”
“Try to talk normally”
….
Erling tilted his head, furrowing his brows “Normal?”
“Yeah” Rodri responded shrugging, “No offense, but you.. talk weird”
“...oh”
“Yeah, like.. very weird. And it’s not just the accent, you talk weird in general. During interviews too- You should really work on that.”
Kevin was giving him the side eye, listening in on the conversation topic.
Rodri continued though, ignoring that “So just a word of advice; Try to talk normally during this.”
Haaland got a bit quiet, just staring at him and blinking. Kevin seemed to get a bit agitated, looking towards the Norwegian with a softer gaze before sending a glare to Rodri. And it was BAD. That glare felt like a thousand suns were trying to burn him alive. Like the whole world was watching him and laughing right in his face.
And just as Kevin opened his mouth to speak, Haaland cut him off with something.. unexpected. Though it IS Haaland so.. it IS expected?
“Okay” Haaland nodded before giving a tiny smile “Thank you, Rodrigo”
… Oh
“Yeah no worries, mate” Rodri smiled.
Why didn’t that work?! Haaland literally just took it as a helpful tip! Nothing more! A glance at Kevin and the other man was yet again calm, noticing that nothing was off now.
Fucking.. What now?
Does he have to go further? If so, HOW?!
Rodri looked at Jack who was standing next to Pep and Mahrez. He gave him a look to which Jack simply responded with a shrug and mouthed ‘Do anything’.
Anything huh? Rodri started to think about all those Norwegian phrases he looked into after Haaland refused to talk to them in any other language other than his own and they had to figure out what he was saying using google translate. And he accidentally found some swear words in Norwegian, which he learned for the sake of funny.
“Erling?”
Haaland turned to him yet again, humming “Yes?”
Here goes nothing
“Faen av"
…
Haaland stared at the man with wide eyes..
“Rodrigo, do.. you know what that means?” the man wondered to which Rodri blinked, confused “...no- I mean yes. Definitely.” He quickly mixed up himself, choosing to look smug,
“... I don't think you do” “I do. Faen va, Haaland. Just faen va”
Another look at Kevin and the man was glaring yet again “Watch it, Rodrigo.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s just disrespectful” Kevin explained, tone filled with venom, “You had no reason to say that. Erling didn’t do anything to you.”
“Well with that accent he might as well have”
Kevin kept glaring..
“Haaland, switch seats with me, now.”
Haaland was quick to do so, standing up and swapping seats with the Belgium man, who kept his eyes fixed on Rodri. He was very clearly not impressed.
“Back off, Rodrigo. I mean it.” Kevin told him before choosing to focus on something else.
Long story short Pep saw the whole thing.
And Rodri was also forced to apologize to Haaland. He wanted to do that anyway though so he wasn’t exactly forced now. Haaland accepted the apology quickly, which Kevin didn’t exactly agree on, but once Rodri told him he was actually kidding and had no idea what he said in Norwegian Kevin broke and accepted it as well.
After all, besides the fear you felt by his anger aimed at you, Kevin is a good person.
Just don't insult his son.
—
1+
[ManCity] group chat
11 pm
Man city after training and going to dinner together
Jack, Foden, Mahrez, KDB and a few others are online
—
Mahrez: how did you forget your jacket Foden you idiot
Foden: well SORRY
Mahrez: Your mom ain't picking it up for you go get it
Foden: I am!
Alvarez: Foden, just be careful, it's pretty late
Jack: Yeah, especially around those parts
Foden: I'll be fine, I'm going with Haaaland anyways
Jack: Oh then yeah you're fine
Ake: It's kind of funny that we all agree Erling is completely capable of beating anyone up
Alvarez: He wouldn't though, despite the fact he'd probably win
Ake: I didn't say he would, just pointing it out
Akanji: Also let's not forget that Mahrez almost forgot his wallet so don't talk to Foden like that
Mahrez: But I didn't that's the difference
Gundogan: Let's all calm down, not blame anyone
Foden: We got it!
Mahrez: Is the person Haaaland beat up okay?
Gundogan: You know well he wouldn't
Gundogan: …. I think
KDB: He wouldn't. He has no reason to.
Gundogan: Exactly guys
Mahrez: Fine fair enough
Mahrez: Listen to Erling's dad i guess
KDB: What does Erling's dad have to do with this?
Mahrez: ...
Ake: …
Akanji: …
Alvarez: ….
Foden: …
KDB: What?
Mahrez: You're kidding right?
KDB: no, what does he have to do with this?
Jack: We're not talking about Alfie, mate. We're talking about you
KDB: What about me?
Mahrez: Mate
Foden: You are LITERALLY his dad
KDB: What??? No I'm not
Foden: Bruh
Foden: You do everything for him- You basically THREATENED another footballer because of him
KDB: That's because it was extremely wrong and he did it for no other reason other than hurting Erling
Mahrez: Yes but don't you think there was y'know a better way?
Mahrez: Like NOT threatening him?
KDB: He had to get it though his head
Jack: What about when Erling was sick and you took care of him?
KDB: He couldn't have done it himself, you saw how he was
Alvarez: What about when we saw you guarding Erling while he slept?
Alvarez: Might I add he was sleeping because you saw he was tired and thought he should nap
KDB: Because he SHOULD, he needs energy to work
Foden: What about buying him ice cream because you thought you hurt him?
KDB: He likes ice cream
Foden: He does not
KDB: He does, I bought him a Solero
Foden: Solero?
KDB: Peach
Jack: Peach???
Jack: K, the only fruit Erling doesn't LIKE is peach
KDB: That's not true
KDB: He ate the whole thing
Foden: I can't literally ask him
KDB: Fine go ahead
Jack: I'm telling you, mate, he doesn't like peach
KDB: Then why would he eat it?
Jack: Erling is your KID. You promise a kid ice cream after getting hit like that they'll eat any flavor
Foden sent a voice message
Play
There's footsteps heard through it, the two are walking back from the restaurant in which Foden left his jacket in.
"Erling?" "Yes?" "Do you wanna get ice cream?" "Um.. it's a bit late for that. And cold."
Polite way of saying 'No' cause he's Norwegian and if there's one thing about them it's that they struggle to say no
"Yeah fine.. speaking of ice cream though- What do you like?" "Uh.. I don't know. All are fine."
KDB: See???
Foden: Keep listening
"What about Solero though? You said that's like.. your least favorite" "Well not exactly. I just don't like one flavor of it, the rest is fine." "Which one?"
"Peach"
Voice message ended
KDB: oh
Foden: There you go
KDB: But why would he not tell me?
Mahrez: Well for one he's Erling, he's about as polite as they come
Jack: And two
Jack: He's your kid and will just accept ice cream after that
KDB: hm..
Foden: You okay?
KDB: Might as well live up to it
Foden: What?
Jack: What do you mean?
KDB has changed his name to Football Dad