Chapter Text
It was a manager’s idea: it was not possible to have professors with the kids the whole time on a trip, but they knew how a savage a bunch of fourteen years old could be when left alone at night in a foreign place.
So, they sent a senior student to stay in their room with them, and they chose wise, calm Iniesta. What they didn't realise was that class of 1987 was too savage. Or maybe that Iniesta was too quiet. In any case, the point was that there was a bunch of over-excited teenagers that had just won a match, and had all the intentions of celebrating it properly. Alcohol was involved. Stupid games like truth or dare were involved. The combination of the two results in Leo dancing half-naked on a tea table, cheered on by half of the team. Cesc has been locked outside on the balcony, for half an hour now. And Andrés stands there, with the face of a man who is dealing with a very, very bad headache.
Geri felt almost pity for him. Almost. Well, at least he managed to involve him in the game, and it wasn't his fault if he wasn't having the best of time with that. Anyway, it ended up that as part of the game, Andrés was asked to say how he would define Geri.
Geri had hoped for something like "funny" or "natural leader".
He was expecting something on the line of "annoying" or "natural disaster".
Maybe "tall".
Andrés surprised him entirely when he looked at him intensely, his lips curved in an indulgent smile. The kind of smile of the old, wise martial art teachers in films.
"Truthful. Loyal." That was what he said. Geri felt like he had been just assigned his quest in life.
Loyalty to Barcelona FC. Loyalty to Catalonia. Loyalty to his friends. Geri has never let these linchpins of his life down.
But his principles are strained when Lionel Messi tells him about Cristiano.
Ok, let's start from the beginning. Leo's relationship with relationships is complicated. Leo's beyond shy. In normal conditions, the poor guy is acting like even saying a single word is causing him physical pain. If there’s somebody he’s vaguely attracted to in the room, he stays attached to a wall, illuminating the entire room with the brightness of the red on his face. And it's really better if he doesn't speak, because if he tries he can only emit a sort of whining that increases in tone to a sort of high-piercing meowing.
In reality, there is a way: drinking. Drinking so much to that he’s actually stoned. A drunk Leo is actually very funny to see. He is a happy drunk: the one who sings, and dances, and endlessly talks. Geri has never seen him fighting or vomiting in public. This Leo Geri likes.
But.
A drunk Leo -without too much turnover and without any intention of being offensive- is, basically, a slut. He would rub against his current love interest without shame, blinking his best puppy eyes, and letting things happen. If he is refused, basically he would accept any advances of another random boy.
Geri has always been worried about his behaviour. He has never liked it a bit. He really feels that people are taking advantage of Leo, but Leo has always assured him that he was fine, that it was what exactly what he wanted.
Except, it wasn't true. Geri knows it too well, Leo is someone that grows fond of people, who likes to trust and be trusted. Someone that likes deep bonds, and lives for confidences murmured in the darkness of the night. Geri has always suspected that what Leo is settling with what he can gets, which is at least having some physical pleasure because he can’t get what he really wanted. Especially as he couldn't even have a proper conversation with someone that he likes.
So, that brings them to Cristiano.
Geri shouldn’t really be angry if Leo is telling him that he actually managed to build up an attempt of having a proper relationship. He would jump and scream with joy in any other circumstances. If only he weren't dating Cristiano.