Chapter Text
Leo broke up with his boyfriend the same day he had met Neymar.
He got home after their date (?) and broke up with his shitty ass boyfriend through text. Then he had blocked him everywhere. For good measure. Leo knew that it was a dick move, but Miguel standing him up on Valentine’s Day was a bigger dick move, so Leo didn’t feel all that bad about it.
He had spent the next day nervously pacing in his apartment and staring at his phone with Neymar’s number in it. He had heard somewhere that you should wait three days before texting. Was that actually a rule? Could he text after a day? Would it seem weird that he had broken up with his long term boyfriend so easily and quickly after meeting another man?
Well, the another man had treated Leo better in the few hours they had spent in the restaurant together than Miguel had in their whole relationship. And Leo thinks the break up was a long time coming thing. Their relationship wasn’t the best out there and they sometimes went days without talking to each other. Leo doesn’t think that’s what relationships were supposed to look like.
So sue him for wanting to be with somebody who had seemed interested in Leo as a person and actually wanted to spend time with him.
Leo decides that the three-day-before-you-text rule is stupid as fuck. He reaches for his phone and opens a new conversation with Neymar.
Hi. He texts. Then he adds. It’s Leo. From the restaurant.
The front door opens suddenly and so forcefully it actually hits the wall and Leo tosses his phone away in surprise. It hits the couch and bounces to the floor. Leo hopes it didn’t break. He looks up to see who had just barged into his apartment uninvited.
“Leo! What were you doing, man? Looking at porn?” Sergio Ramos calls out as he closes the door. There’s a doorknob dent in the wall. Leo glares at the other man.
“It wasn’t porn.”
“Oh, yeah? It got you real nervous once I came in. Some naughty messages to your boyfriend?” Sergio plops down at the couch ad grins at Leo’s frown.
“I was surprised because I didn't expect your arrival. I don't remember inviting you.” Leo picks up his phone and notes that there’s a new crack in the phone’s screen. Thank you, Sergio. “And I no longer have a boyfriend.”
“Oh, Leo, you break my heart with this cold shoulder! I’m your friend, I can visit you whenever I want to. It’s not like you ever come to my place.” Sergio fakes hurt and places his hand over his heart.
“There’s a reason for that.” Leo shoots back and rolls his eyes at his friend's antics. Sergio’s apartment always looks like a bomb had gone off there and Leo appreciates some order in his life. Plus it stinks in there. Leo thinks something died in there and it wasn’t just Sergio’s dignity.
He looks if Neymar had written anything back, but there are no new notifications. He sighs.
“Wait, you don't have a boyfriend anymore? What do you mean?” Sergio looks at him with wide eyes. Looks like he finally processed that piece of information.
“I broke up with Miguel.”
“When?”
“Yesterday night.”
They stare at each other for a second, but then a giant smile appears on Sergio’s face.
“Man, I’m so happy for you!” He shouts and claps Leo’s shoulder. Leo looks at him, puzzled. Sergio was the one that had introduced him to Miguel, so Leo thought Sergio would be rather upset about this revelation. “Don’t get me wrong, Miguel is a good buddy to drink a beer with, but he wasn’t good for you.” Sergio says seeing Leo’s expression.
“Oh.”
“So, what happened? Why did you break up with him?” Sergio asks, leaning forward and hungry for details.
Leo opens his mouth to answer, but the sound of a new notification sounds in the room and he scrambles to find his phone. He opens it and sees a new message from Neymar.
hey!
i’m glad you texted!
you work fast man ;)
Leo blinks when he sees the messages. He works fast? Is Neymar talking about his break up with Miguel? Should he have waited to do it, too? Leo didn’t really think about breaking up with Miguel until yesterday, but once Neymar had brought the idea up, it seemed like the reasonable thing to do. There was no point in waiting any longer if Leo was sure of his decision.
I just wanted to get it over with
He texts back.
i get it dw
when are u free????
for our date ;)
Leo stares at his phone. Neymar gets it? Was he also in a relationship with an asshole? Leo hopes not. Neymar is too nice to go through shit like that. Also. The date. He hadn’t forgotten about it, of course not. He just, never really thought about it for longer than ten seconds. About what it means.
If Neymar is bringing it up, then it means he wants to get to know Leo better, right? Or is he only doing it because he feels bad for Leo? Leo shakes his head. No, Neymar wouldn’t do something like that. He’s too genuine for that.
So, Neymar wants to know Leo better. It’s not a big deal. But, what if Neymar doesn’t like what he sees? What if he gets to know Leo and he’s disappointed? Miguel had said many times that Leo is boring, only liking football and not many other things. Sure, he had said it in a nicer way, but that was what he meant. What if Neymar thinks the same? What if he takes a look into Leo’s heart and soul and doesn’t find anything worth staying for? What if he sees what kind of person Leo is and he walks away?
He wants to date Neymar, he does. But dating is hard and dates are complicated. You have to think about something the other person would enjoy, then you have to worry about whether they are enjoying it. Miguel never enjoyed their dates. Those planned by Leo, at least. When Miguel planned dates, they did whatever the other man wanted, which was hardly ever something Leo enjoyed.
What would Neymar want to do for their date? The restaurant was nice, maybe they should go eat something again? What does Neymar even like? He doesn’t like olives, that much Leo knows, but it doesn’t help much.
“Who’s that?” Sergio asks and Leo jumps. He had completely forgotten about Sergio in the midst of worrying about Neymar and dating and shit.
“Nobody.”
“Mhm. That’s why you frowning at your phone like it had personally offended you?”
Leo looks at his friend. Sergio has his eyebrows raised in a silent question. Leo narrows his eyes, wondering if he should tell the man about Neymar. Maybe he would be able to help.
“It’s Neymar. I met him yesterday. He sat down at my table when I was waiting for Miguel, who never turned up. We talked and now, we are going on a date.”
“That’s awesome! What’s the problem?” Sergio tilts his head in confusion.
“I don't know where to take him. I had suggested the date, so I should organize it. But I don’t know what he would enjoy.”
“Just ask him where he would like to go. What he would like to do. You can both give ideas and choose the one that suits you both.” Sergio shrugs. “You worry too much, man.”
Leo ignores the last comment. He worries just the right amount. Somebody has to. God forbid Sergio from ever worrying about anything.
He looks back at his phone and sees another messages from Neymar.
u there???
is this too soon?
I know break ups can be tough
we can wait with our date, dw
unless u dont want to go on one anymore
which is completely fine ofc!!!!
No! I want to go on a date with you.
Leo quickly sends back. He curses at himself for taking so long to answer.
I don’t know where to take you. For our date.
you had me worried there for a minute!
Sorry.
dw about it
as for where leave it to me ;) i know just the place
Well that’s ominous. Leo shrugs. That’s one problem off his back. 99 others are there to stay.
They quickly settle down on a date and Leo finds himself buzzing with nervous energy. He doesn’t remember the last time he was on a date (not counting the Valentine’s date. Leo doesn’t even know if it was actually a date) and he doesn’t think he was ever on a date he had enjoyed. At least he doesn’t have to worry about the place.
Sergio must see how tense Leo had gotten because he claps Leo’s back and nods towards the door. He was actually quiet for once in his life, leaving Leo to his text messages. He still grinned like if he had won the lottery and it was pissing Leo off.
“Let’s go play. I can tell you need to blow off some steam.”
Leo gets up from the couch. Football has always calmed him down. Maybe he should kick a ball at Sergio. Get that stupid grin off his stupid face. That would calm him as well.