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Leo knew the moment his feet left the ground, lifted by Sergio’s arms around his waist, that Kun’s group chat would go absolutely crazy later. The whole concept that all of his teammates – both from Barça, Argentina and now PSG as well – got put in a group chat together, just because they lifted him up during one of their games, still made him scratch his head in confusion. But as long as he got his hugs, he’d never complain. If he was honest, he enjoyed reading their little discussions about what was the best way to pick him up. (Maybe he had steered the conversation on his own preferred options and hugs more than one time as well...)
But now as he was wrapped into Sergio’s strong arms, his feet dangling ten centimetres off the ground as he didn’t quite dare to wrap his legs around Sergio’s waist yet.
Sure the times when they were basically enemies on the pitch were over – in fact Leo would call them good friends now – but this was the first time Sergio had picked him up like that after a goal.
He must have heard of the group chat, if the smirk, Leo felt against his neck was anything to go by. Neymar must have said something… or maybe it was Kylian, who was the newest addition to the chat and had promptly tried to leave it again He must have reckoned without Kun, because “Once you’re in the inner circle, you’re there for life” (Kun’s words not Leo’s) and Kylian got re-added quickly.
Leo must have gone completely limp because as Sergio set him back on the ground, his eyes shone with the silent questions of “You good? Was this okay?”, so Leo nodded quickly, before going back into position as the game continued.
The game ended in a satisfying win, so all of the Parisiennes clap and chatter excitedly as they celebrate their win at home. Out of the corner of his eye, Leo spots Sergio who is whispering something into Neymar’s ear – probably a reminder to tell Kun to add him to the chat.
And really as they got back to the locker room and he checked his phone after his shower there was a message from Neymar in the GC:
Neyy: So I don’t know if you saw, and I certainly never thought I would ever write this… But can you add Sergio Ramos to the chat, @El Kun ?
El Bodyguard (R. de Paul): WHAT?!
Luis : As if… He'd never...
Neyy: Uhhh yeah, Leo got lifted up by Ramos today…
Dibu (E. Martinez) : We’re gonna need picture proof of that…
Neyy: You think I would lie about something like this? Rude.
El Escolta 2 (L. Paredes): It is true….
Neyy: But here: [picture of Sergio lifting up Leo]
El Kun: Dios Mio, Leo you really collect them like Pokemon…
Leo chuckled at that, even if he had no idea what a Pokemon could be. It wasn’t his fault, that everyone seemed to go out of their way to lift him up. He was just doing his job (and if more goals meant more hugs, then who was he to complain about that. All of his teammates were great huggers). Checking if anyone paid attention to him, he quickly send an emoji to the chat grinning down at his phone. Yes, this was going to be hilarious.
⚽️💦 (Leo Messi): 😇
El Kun added ‘Sergio Ramos’ to “So… You tried to lift Leo & succeeded!”
Sergio Ramos: So this is the famous group chat Neymar keeps talking about.😏😏😏
Fideo (A. di Maria): You may be here now, but you’ll never even get remotely close to our scores…
Sergio Ramos: We’ll see about that.
Jordi Alba: Really? Him? Ugh, he’s never gonna shut up about this. 🙄🙄
Sergio Ramos: Love you too, Jordi. You’re going to have to deal with it.
Leo locked his phone and put on his jacket, ready to leave and get home. The adrenalin from the game slowly drying out and he knew that he would become incredibly tired in about 30 minutes and he really hope to make it home onto his couch before that.
Just as he got a hand on the door handle, a strong, tattooed arm wrapped around his shoulders. When he turned around, he almost crashed into the equally tattooed – and still bare chest – of said defender.
Sergio laughed quietly, as he pulled Leo closer into a hug, before pulling away slightly to say:
“If I had known, how nice it was to sweep you off your feet I’d have done it sooner.”
He laughed like he just made the funniest joke in existence. Even Leo had to chuckle.
“You did your fair share of sweeping me off my feet I believe. I even have some scars to prove it.”
“You’re right, but now that I’ve found a safer and even better method, it is even better. But seriously you just make it so easy to just -” Sergio tightened his arm around Leo’s waist and once again lifted him off the ground a few centimetres, setting him down just as quickly. “It’s like you were made for being cuddled.”
Leo, as if proving Sergio’s point, lets himself be manhandled, while his mind still baffled over the fact how this man, who got like a million red cards, for tackling Leo in particular, who basically tried to murder him on the pitch on more than one occasion, could now be this sweet with him. Had anyone told him, just a year ago, that Sergio Ramos would become another person on the list of people who “are helplessly in love with you, Leo” (once again Kun’s words) he would have insisted that they had to get their head checked out. But now… Now he had to admit, that Sergio had even made it onto Leo’s list of favourites.
A loud “HÉY! Vous bloquez la sortie, bougez-vous, connards!” [ Hey! You’re blocking the exit, get a move on, assholes! ] from behind them brought them both out of their own little world.
Oh right, he was still standing with his back almost pressed to the closed locker room door, while most of his team was waiting to go home as well. Sergio grumbled something back to Kylian, who was the one who had yelled at them, but Leo’s French skills weren’t that good yet, to understand what he said (and how unfair was it, that Sergio seemed to be so much better at this excuse of a language, when they arrived in Paris at roughly the same time).
It must have been some sort of curse word though, because Sergio added a raised middle finger, before pulling Leo against his chest again, whispering in his ear: “Wait outside for me?”
He nodded, hoping his face didn’t turn into an embarrassing shade of red, while it was smushed against Sergio’s bare chest. He wiggled out of Sergio’s grasp and didn’t look back as he finally opened the door, escaping from all the stares that followed him (accompanied by a fair share of giggles and hooting). Sergio returned to his locker to finally put on his hoodie and grab his bag, unbothered by the wolf whistle coming from one of the French players.
Leo leaned against his car, once again opening the group chat.
Busi (S. Busquets): Petition to subtract one point per red card that Ramos ever got against Leo…
Sergio Ramos: 😘
Xavi: Now that might be a bit harsh, Busi…
--- --- --- ---
Neyy: Unbelievable, he was picked up by Ramos ONE time and now he’s already replaced us. Kun, Rodri look, how he's cheating on all of us in front of everyone.
[Picture of the scene in the locker room door, Leo’s face barely visible where it is tucked in Sergio’s chest]
El Kun : *gasp* My poor heart! How can you do this to us, Leo?! 😰
El Bodyguard: the audacity...
Cuti (C. Romero ) : the next international break can’t come soon enough...
Dibu: We’ll have to remind him where he really belongs to.
Giraffe (G. Piqué): Barcelona?
El Escolta 2: Shut your mouth, boludo.
La Joya (P. Dybala): Let me remind you, that you threw him out at Barcelona. So you can’t use this excuse anymore. He’s ours. Forever and always. And when we get him to lift that World Cup trophy this December, everyone will know that! 🇦🇷
El Bodyguard: hear, hear!
Araña (J. Alvarez): Is it just me or is their height difference kind of cute…
El Kun: Don’t make us un-adopt you, Juli…
Araña: Just saying.. 🤷🏼♂
Also I’m telling Leo, you said that the next time I see him.
El Kun: And what makes you so sure he’ll side with you, kid? And not me, who might as well be his husband? 💅🏼
Araña: …
Leo was vaguely aware that he must look like a school girl with a crush while he smiled down at his phone, but all of his teammates being so passionate about him made his heart swell. He couldn’t wait for the international break either, because the upcoming Finalissima was another chance to win a second title in eleven months.
“Ah, there you are. Who are you texting? Your crush?”
“No one.” He quickly put his phone away.
Sergio makes a face like he didn’t believe that for a second, but Leo was more distracted by ho close Sergio had gotten once again. He had noticed over the years, that this was usually the occasion. Once someone picked him up enough to gain a spot in the group chat, they always seemed to seek him out and stay closer to him, trying to get more hugs and attention.
He hadn’t expected Sergio to do the same, but he was not about to complain about another pair of strong arms to jump into after another successful run towards the goal. The fact that these arms in particular belonged to he same man, who made his life every El Clasico, just that bit harder, made him all tingly inside. The thought of not being at the receiving end of those vicious tackles anymore, but rather the beneficiary of them, made him feel glad to have ended up on the same team as Sergio.
“You really live inside your head, do you?”, Sergio’s voice brought Leo back to the real world. Leo was sure his face was turning red once again.
“Mhh? ‘m just tired… I always crash after games like this.” As if on command he had to yawn widely.
“You want me to drive you home? We can’t let our star player get into an accident, because he fell asleep behind the wheel. I’m sure de Paul and Neymar and the rest of Argentina and Barcelona would have my head if I let you drive in this state.”
Leo rolled his eyes, but knew Sergio was right. He was in no shape to drive right now, so he just tossed the car keys to him and climbed onto the passenger seat, leaning his head against the seatbelt and closing his eyes.
---
Sergio got into the car as well, smiling softly at the little Argentine who seemed to have already fallen asleep. Quickly he pulled out his phone and took a quick picture of Leo to sent it into the group chat, already enjoying it existence imensely.
Sergio Ramos: Don’t worry, I’m going to make sure “your” Leo will make it home safely.
[picture of Leo asleep in the car, head tilted towards the window, mouth slightly open, the rest of the body cuddled into a large hoodie]
El Bodyguard: You know what, maybe you’re not that bad…
Look at him. 💕
Sergio Ramos: I’ll make sure to send you lots of updates.
And I will be on my best bodyguard duty, as you are – you know – not here.
El Bodyguard: I changed my mind, you’re evil.
Sergio Ramos: 😂😂😂
Having his mission accomplished, Sergio started the car, thankful for the navigation having Leo’s home address already typed in. He quickly, but carefully started to drive them through the Parisian traffic.
Yes, finally being in this group chat was going to be so much fun.