Chapter Text
They played their friendly match against Vissel Kobe and won 3-1, which gave them a nice boost. After that it was time to fly to Korea. Same routine all over again until they finally got to their hotel rooms, then came the match day.
Pedri played in the first half and Ferran in the second. In the 74th minute, Ferran scored a stunning goal, then again in the 88th he scored another. Pedri couldn’t even describe how proud he was, not just because Ferran scored, but because he proved himself, proved it to everyone who doubted him.
But there was something else that happened and Pedri really tried not to think about it but he failed miserably, epic fail.
It was the way Ferran looked with the captain’s armband.
The moment Gavi handed it over, something inside Pedri fluttered, actual butterflies. What the hell? Is that like, a new kink or something?
The match ended 7-3. Later that night, they were both lying on their beds in silence, until Ferran suddenly broke it “That girl group ITZY, they’re really cute.” Pedri raised an eyebrow “What do you mean by cute?” Ferran shrugged “Just cute, I think they’re really pretty and cool.”
Pedri felt something tighten in his chest, what the hell was that feeling? Why did it bother him so much? Why did he suddenly feel like he needed to prove something to Ferran, that he was the one Ferran should be talking about like that? It was insane.
It probably wasn’t even real, Ferran probably didn’t see him that way, he was just a friend. And of course, Ferran would prefer gorgeous women like that over him. That thought made Pedri feel even worse, his heart started racing and he could feel himself sweating.
His silence didn’t go unnoticed. Ferran looked over at him and unfortunately, he noticed. “Pedri?”
Pedri didn’t look at him, so he continued “Pedri, what happened? Are you okay?”
Finally Pedri managed to open his mouth “I’m fine, nothing’s wrong.”
Ferran frowned, got up and sat down next to him “Pedri, I know you. And you know I won’t let it go, what happened?” Pedri exhaled, clearly frustrated “Ferran, I said I’m fine.”
Ferran stayed quiet, waiting. Letting Pedri speak on his own time. Pedri groaned “Ferran, please—”
Ferran kept looking at him so he had to say something “I—”
He couldn’t talk, couldn’t finish the sentence.
Was he jealous? Deep down he knew the answer to that. Yes, he was. Even if it doesn’t make any sense, Ferran wasn’t suddenly going to get with a k-pop idol, but he just couldn’t help himself, could he?
All at once, too much. Now he was about to freak out..
“Ferran, please just leave me alone, I can’t talk right now.”
Ferran just nodded, got up, took his phone, said “Text me if you need anything.” and simply left the room.
Pedri breathed loudly, like he’d been holding it for a while.
His brother’s words didn’t trigger him now, if anything, it was quite the opposite. The only thing that was triggering was the probability of Ferran feeling nothing towards him. Because now he was desperate for Ferran’s attention, and no, not in a friendly way. He wanted his full attention, in everything.
He wanted him to like him, to always be there for him, to fancy him.. only him.
He wanted him to be in love with him, which was so frightening because he might just be a close friend to him at the end.
And the worst thing? He couldn’t take it anymore. Surely, he wasn’t going to expose his feelings towards him, he just wanted to know if it was all a delusion so he could move on and stop torturing himself with the possibility of it being real.
So he made his decision, he was going to ask him. Once and for all.
He texted him that he needed to talk, and Ferran replied with a thumbs up emoji.
He was already regretting it, but he had to do it.
Ferran’s voice entering the room cut through the mess in his head.
“Hey,” he said, sitting across from him on his bed. “So, what is it?”
Pedri spoke without thinking.
“Am I more than just a friend to you?”
Ferran smiled “Are you seriously that clueless, Pedri?”
Pedri swallowed hard.
Ferran continued, “Of course you are. You’re just the most important person in my life.”
Pedri shyly smiled, but that wasn’t the answer he’d asked for. So he had to change the question.
He swallowed hard, preparing himself for the next question. “Does people thinking we’re together bother you?”
Ferran stared at him for a while “No.”
Pedri started to get more nervous, but he kept going “Why?”
Ferran looked away and started playing with his ring “Because it’s not a big deal.”
That answer didn’t satisfy Pedri at all, so he had to add “Just that?”
Ferran didn’t look him in the eye “What else could it be?”
Pedri had to gather all the courage in the world to ask the next question. And well, he did. “That you might wish it was real.”
He couldn’t believe he’d just said that.
But unfortunately, he did. And he couldn’t hide. He had to look Ferran dead in the eye to see his reaction, which was satisfying, because Ferran didn’t deny it, didn’t laugh and most importantly, didn’t look at him like he was insane. And that was enough.
He looked at Ferran, and Ferran wasn’t looking at him, he was staring at his hands, trying to distract himself from Pedri’s gaze, until he suddenly looked at him and spoke..
“Yes, Pedri. I wish it was real.”
And now it was Pedri’s turn to avoid Ferran’s gaze, because his heart was about to explode.
Was he dreaming? Was Ferran joking? Making fun of him? Did he just admit it that easily?
“See? That’s why I never said anything. I knew our friendship would get ruined. I’m sorry, Pedri. I don’t know how that happened, I didn’t—”
“Ferran,” Pedri suddenly said, but Ferran just kept going.
“Ferri, listen to me.” And finally, he did.
“Why are you assuming things?” He sighed and spoke again “Come here.” He patted the bed next to him, Ferran slowly got up and sat beside him.
“Would it feel better if I told you.. me too?”
Ferran’s eyes lit up “What do you mean?”
Pedri blushed “I— I also wish it was real”
He kept looking at the floor.
“Pedri..”
He couldn’t look at him. His face had nearly turned into a tomato, so he had to cover it with his hands, embarrassed.
Ferran gently reached out and moved his hand away.
“Hey..” came Ferran’s soft voice. It gave him butterflies.
Pedri kept staring down, cheeks still red.
Ferran tilted his chin up gently so he had to meet his eyes.
And when Pedri looked into Ferran’s eyes, he was lost.
How could he have ever convinced himself that he didn’t feel something? That he didn’t feel everything?
“Can I kiss you?”
Pedri almost had a heart attack when Ferran said that.
His face definitely turned into a tomato now. He couldn’t even speak, he just nodded.
Ferran cupped his cheek and slowly leaned in until their lips met. Softly, gently. It felt so right, so good, like putting the last piece of a puzzle into place.
They slowly pulled apart, trying to catch their breath. Their foreheads rested against each other.
Ferran slowly tilted his head back and spoke again “What was bothering you earlier?”
Pedri suddenly remembered and felt so embarrassed. He tried to brush it off and act nonchalant “Oh, nothing. I was just tired.”
Ferran lifted his eyebrows and gave him a suspicious look “Let’s get back to it. I was talking about how I found ITZY cute, and then—”
Ferran suddenly stopped to think, his eyes widened at the realization, then looked at Pedri with a smirk.
Pedri was fucked.
Pedri started looking around the room with that knowing look, the one he always does in interviews when he’s being suspicious or when he’s losing a game.
“Oh my God.”
Okay, so now Ferran definitely clocked it.
Pedri’s face flushed bright red, that was enough of an answer for Ferran.
“Pedri, were you seriously jealous?”
Pedri didn’t respond.
“Oh my God.” Ferran said again.
Pedri answered weakly “Shut up. No, I was not.”
Ferran chuckled, and Pedri had to smile and cuss
“You’re unbelievable.”
Pedri shoved his arm, but he was too weak to move him.
“Come here,” Ferran said, and kissed him again. Pedri nearly moaned into the kiss, but he thankfully held it in at the last second. He couldn’t afford Ferran teasing him all night.
“Pedri,” Ferran whispered.
“Hmm?”
“You’re the most beautiful person in the world.”
Pedri blushed harder and smiled “All yours.”
And then they hugged. A tight, warm and long hug. A real hug. One that said everything they didn’t need to say out loud.
The next day, Pedri called his brother.
“You know, sometimes I hate to admit it, but you were right.”
Fer didn’t even wait “Oh my God, did you guys do it?”
Pedri nearly dropped his phone “What the actual fuck, Fer? First of all, how did you even know what I was talking about before I finished the sentence? And second, what the hell are you saying? We were just talking about whether Ferran saw me that way, not if I saw him that way too!!”
Fer chuckled “You two are literally sharing a hotel room, of course I knew. And second of all, I know you Pedri, you’re my brother. You’re not exactly subtle, but I didn’t say anything because I knew you’d freak out and deny everything. So I let you figure it out yourself. Now spill what happened with details.”
Pedri’s eyes widened, was he that obvious all along?
He ended up telling Fer the whole story.
“Damn, I’m really happy for you two. I’ve been watching this hopeless romantic mess since the beginning, I definitely needed a happy ending to heal from all that slowburn. But you forgot to tell me something.”
“What is it?”
“How many times did you guys do it last night?”
Pedri cursed him out while Fer just laughed, the call ended with Pedri grinning so hard that his face hurt. He was happy, really, truly happy.
And just like he’d wished for so long, it was real. Him and Ferran, finally real. Almost as if Ferran could hear him smiling, the door opened.
Ferran walked in and immediately threw himself on top of Pedri “I missed you.”
Pedri laughed “Oh come on, getting all romantic and clingy already?”
Ferran pouted “Is that a bad thing?”
Pedri couldn’t resist, he cupped Ferran’s face and kissed him.
“I’m just kidding, I love it, I love everything about you.”
Ferran held his hand and gave it a gentle kiss “And I love you.”
Pedri had heard those words from Ferran before, but always in a platonic way. This time was different. And it was probably the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard.
“I love you too.”
And they stayed like that, holding each other. No more hiding, just them.