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"I'm going to fucking lose it"
Mateo said, glaring at the ref from afar. Kyle looked at him, eyebrow raised.. There was a slight pause of the game, while VAR was being checked, so Mateo and him were just standing next to each other for the time being.
He hasn't known Mateo too long. He came to the City recently, only a few months ago, and he will admit that he hadn't spoken too much to the man. However he could already recognize some of his characteristics and ways. For example, he knew while Mateo was a very serious man and took his work well.. seriously, he was also very calm and composed. He didn't get angry over stuff he didn't deem upsetting enough. Kyle also knew he didn't let the seriousness get to him, despite the fact his resting face seemed almost scary and at first angry to anyone who sees it. He knew to crack a joke, he messed around with other players. He carried a smile on his face whenever he spoke to the new signing, Joško Gvardiol, especially when they were talking one on one and in their own language. Kyle could tell Mateo was very fond of the kid. Which is fair, he himself thought that Joško was a very sweet kid.
Kyle also knew Mateo was a nice person. Again, he hadn't spoken to him much, sadly, but he could recognize when someone was a nice and a pretty good person. At least he likes to think so.
And Mateo was genuinely just the nicest dude. At the top of his head he couldn't give examples. At least not the ones that wouldn't make someone think 'Oh but everyone does that!'. Because yes, a lot of people do that. But there's just this difference.
Some people do something for their own personal gain. Mateo did them because he was just like that.
So, when Kyle heard what Mateo said, he was taken off guard. This wasn't some dumb 'I shouldn't get that red card, I didn't do anything wrong' situation but something else..
"I doubt they'll give you a red, it wasn't on purpose " Kyle said, "Be more careful, you can't let that happen again."
Mateo huffed and didn't look at Kyle. He simply focused on the ref who was still listening intently to his headpiece.
"I'm serious, Mateo. What you did was uncalled for. I know you had no malicious intent, I mean look at the footage, but-"
Mateo's face hardened and his glare seemed to deepen. Kyle forced himself to walk in front of Mateo, so he could cover his face and hide him away from the cameras. Or at least try to do so. "What's up with you?" Kyle couldn't help but ask. Something just didn't sit right.
"Nothing"
"It's clearly not nothing"
"I'm serious."
"Well look Mateo if your intention was to hurt him without a reason then-"
Mateo sighed. He hung his head and closed his eyes. For a split second Kyle saw complete exhaustion on the other's face. Like something had happened way too many times to even count and he just couldn't deal with it anymore. Like he's been through so much but had to keep up the facade of someone who could handle anything lashed out at him.
Worry broke its way to the surface and Kyle suddenly really wanted to know what was bothering the Croat. It couldn't be just nothing. Nothing happened without some sort of reason. There just had to be it. Kyle just had to find out what it was.
Screw the fact he barely knew the man, this was his teammate and he clearly needed some help.
"Mateo"
The man opened his eyes, the hint of exhaustion gone before he could even blink.
"What's going on?"
Mateo looked at him. But just as he was about to open his mouth the ref spoke, deciding that it isn't a red. And before Kyle could turn back to Mateo the midfielder was running off to his position to continue to play.
Kyle wasn't giving up though.
—
Halftime hit. It was 0-0 and everyone was making their way into the stadium. For the halftime speech, water, to relax, whatever the player or coach wanted. But all Kyle could think about was finding the midfielder that had been clouding his mind ever since the VAR check. The whole time he couldn't get a word in with Mateo and it frustrated him.
Wasn't all his fault, there was a game going on and it was clear Arsenal was giving it their all but there were moments in which Kyle could very much tell Mateo was avoiding him.
As he looked around the pile of people, trying to find the Croat he was looking for, he spotted him somewhere at the front with the other City Croat. Joško.
Mateo and Joško were vastly different people. Really.
Mateo was chill while Joško screamed energy. Mateo kept up his resting 'bitch face' while Joško preferred to smile or at least look like a lost puppy. Mateo kept his emotions well hidden till it was too much to handle.
Joško was an open book.
And the second he saw those two together, quietly mumbling to each other in what he assumed was their language, he could see the sad look on Joško's face. He could see how dejected and unhappy he looked. Like all cheer he felt was drained from him in a single instant.
That kind of look really didn't belong on the kid's face, if Kyle was being honest. Not when he greeted everyone every morning with a huge grin on his lips, just so happy to be where he was. Not when he tried his best at training and laughed at his mistakes.
Not when he was too kind and sweet for this world.
He reminded Kyle of Alvarez. Except Joško was more open to talking, more open to being social, despite the fact he very much was shy. It was obvious so.
But that only made Kyle more desperate. It made him more keen on finding out what was going on with, not just Mateo now, but both the Croats. And it didn't seem like he was the only one. When Kyle looked a bit away from the two he could spot Ederson close by to him, looking at the Croats with a look in his eyes that he couldn't quite put a word on. But he knew it very well.
That was the same look he got whenever he saw one of his teammates in danger or hurt by someone.
Ederson was feeling protective.
But why? What happened?
Kyle blinked..
Is it possible Ederson knew?
They entered the dressing room and made their way to their spaces before sitting down. Some drank water, some mumbled to each other. They all waited for Pep to show up.
While they waited Kyle looked around the room, spotting Joško and Mateo yet again, who were sitting a bit away from others, again, talking to each other. Though now Mateo seemed more irritable and like he was getting into the conversation. Like he was explaining something to Joško so he didn't feel sad. Joško looked slightly less upset than before, showcasing that it was probably working. Though not much.
Kyle then looked away from them, searching the dressing room again till his eyes caught sight of Ederson. The man was also staring at the two but also at the bottle in his head, deep in thought.
It was insane. Kyle never really saw Ederson unsure, on pitch and off. But now something seemed to bother him a lot.
And he couldn't help but think it had to do something with this.
Kyle stood up and walked over to Ederson, others not paying him any mind as he did so. He sat down next to the goalie, who didn't seem caught off guard by the fact, suggesting he maybe knew why Kyle sat down next to him despite the fact he and Ederson weren't really the closest.
He was proven correct when before he could ask Ederson simply said "I didn't see what happened to Mateo. And I didn't hear what happened with Joško. But I saw something."
Kyle looked at him.. He ended his head before looking away, staring down at the ground. He urged the other to continue.
Ederson went on just as urged "They're new, both of them. I want to act like I do when everyone else is hurt or attacked or.. something like that. But they're a bit different."
Kyle listened..
"When Arsenal got the first corner, you know, and they all got together, I could see for a moment Jorginho glaring at Joško."
Huh? Kyle looked up, finally looking at Ederson yet again. But the goalie was simply focused on the bottle in his palms.
"I don't know why. But after the ball was hit away he said something to him and pushed him away. Like.. pushed, hard. I saw it and was going to react but I saw this.." Ederson frowned, furrowing his brows, "Look on Joško's face. The same one he had a bit ago just more.. hurt. And he looked at me and shook his head before he ran off. I did not know what to do. He did not want my help and I did not know what my reaction should be."
Because they're so new. He didn't know what they were okay with. Others, Ederson protected without a second thought but he's known them for a while now and he knows what they are okay with.
The two Croats.. not as much.
Kyle nodded his head.. So the player was the issue. But what about Mateo? Did something like that happen to him as well? Or did Joško tell him, resulting in the sour mood the man was showing right now?
"Mateo told me he was going to lose it when they were thinking of showing him a red. I asked him what was wrong but he didn't get to tell me and he's been avoiding me since." Kyle told the goalie, "but I could see he's bothered. He's not just angry."
He seemed tired.
Ederson nodded his head.. "Does look like it."
Kyle hummed, "D'you think they said something to them?"
Ederson didn't respond but Kyle could see that the man agreed with him. He stared at the duo and Kyle didn't think twice before looking towards them as well..
Mateo had seemed to calm down now, at least somewhat. His back was against the wall as was the back of his head. He had his eyes closed but his head was pointed upwards into the ceiling. His brows were still furrowed, proving that he was still upset.
And Joško..
"What happened, kid?" Ederson was first to ask, before Kyle could even open his mouth. Because said kid was still worried, still sad, still unlike him. But now he was looking at Ederson and Kyle, which he wasn't doing before. He probably felt eyes on him and couldn't help but react.
Though as he spoke Kyle could see Mateo perk up. He was listening in. Almost like some sort of dad.
"Uh.." Joško quietly said. He seemed uncomfortable, looking anywhere now but the two across from him and Mateo. He was rubbing his wrist nervously, palm wrapped around it and gently rubbing against the skin. He was tense and he looked unsure, hesitant.
"I saw he pushed you," Ederson added, "But he told you something as well. What did he tell you? You looked hurt". The Brazilian was slowly but surely getting the same fired look in his gaze. He was remembering what had happened and Kyle could tell it caused rage to build up in him.
Joško bit his bottom lip, staring down at the ground.. Before he could reply though, Mateo made his voice known. And his voice was filled with defensiveness. It sounded unlike Mateo.
What was going on with those two?
"Why?" Mateo glared at Ederson, "So you can laugh at us? Repeat what they said? Huh?"
Kyle's eyes widened for a moment, from the looks of it so did Ederson's. But both relaxed.
Mateo wasn't saying this for no reason. It wasn't that he didn't trust Ederson and Kyle, it wasn't that he believed wholeheartedly that they were bad guys.
Mateo was being protective. Defensive. He was trying to prevent something from happening again. Something.. some words?
"I would never" Ederson said, "I will never repeat what they said" despite the fact he and Kyle had no clue what Mateo was talking about. But he assured Mateo because he knew that's what the other needed.. "But tell m e what he did. What they did. I just want to know." He clenched his fists. Ederson was getting angry. Luckily not at Mateo.
Mateo sneered. He turned to look at Joško then, eyes softening when he saw the younger man staring down at the ground, still upset. He laid a hand on Joško's back, rubbing warm circles into it.
He turned to Ederson and Kyle yet again, sighing. He seemed a bit hesitant as well but not like Joško was. He was actually considering talking while Joško was dead set on not saying anything. Even though he wanted to, probably.
"... Jorginho called Joško Croatian garbage"
Kyle's eyes widened "... what?" He didn't spare a glance at Ederson. He definitely knew the expression he carried so it was useless to look.
Mateo continued on, choosing to now look at Joško again as he drew circles continuously into his back. He comforted the younger player..
"Some other players spoke mean words at him. They weren't nice. But Joško didn't tell me till we got off the pitch." So Mateo only found out when halftime hit..
But that made no sense. Why was Mateo upset then? What made him so angry and so hesitant to tell Kyle?
… unless
"When I got the yellow for tackling Odegaard it really was an accident. I didn't mean to do what I did. But right after I did I tried to help him up, I wanted to make sure I didn't hurt him. But a player, I can't remember his name, came up to me and pushed me away from Odegaard. And I understood, at first, I did something I wasn't meant to. But then he got up in my face and said 'All you Croatians are the same, violent and with no regard for others'. I got angry. Even though I've heard this stuff before it never sits right with me."
What the fuck..?
Kyle shook his head "I'm sorry, WHAT?"
His little raise of voice made the team pause and turn to the scene going on. They spotted the four men. A duo comforting each other and a duo who was getting more heated the minute.
Kyle was pissed. So was Ederson and he didn't doubt it.
"Why didn't you tell us that, we would've taken care of it!" Kyle asked the other, nothing but pure rage and confusion evident in his voice, "We could've-"
"Done what?" Mateo looked at him, brows furrowed. It made Kyle pause, he was caught off guard by the defeated look the other carried. "It doesn't matter." Mateo went on, "I've been hearing this shit for years. Nothing ever changes."
The room was quiet as Mateo took a second. Not a single sound was heard. You could probably hear a pin drop if you dropped it right now.
"It's not that everyone says it, it's rare, but it happens. And when it does NOTHING STOPS IT. Me, my people, are nothing but wild animals in the eyes of those kinds of people and no one cares because it's 'not a big deal'. So why bother?" Mateo sighed. He looked at Joško, who kept his head down as well, face hidden away from everyone. No one could tell what he was thinking or feeling. "I'm just upset that Joško had to go through this."
…
"But I guess every Croat has to go through it at least once. That's how it works in this world."
…
No. No- Kyle couldn't accept that.
Kyle suddenly stood up "Mateo, Joško."
Mateo turned to him but Joško kept his head bowed. He was listening though, he perked up at the mention of his own name.
"I may not have known about this till now. I may not know you two well. But I know one thing for certain." Kyle clenched his fists and glared, a fire burning deep within his chest and ready to be unleashed. Ready to burn, "You're our teammates, you're our friends. And I'll be damned if I'll let you two be treated the way you have been treated."
Mateo sighed, "I told you, there's no point. No one-"
"I care." Kyle said, "WE care. This club cares. PEP cares."
Mateo bit his lip as he looked up at Kyle. Even Joško slowly raised his head up, focusing on the older man. It made his blood boil when he saw the glossy eyes gaze at him.
"He's right" the four turned, noticing that the man that spoke was none other than Jack himself. He was standing up, just like Kyle, and he walked over till he was closer to them. "No one should ever be treated like you two were treated. And if you just let it go it will never stop. You may think you can handle it but that's so much more difficult than you think." Jack added, "You have to keep trying. And try and try and try and someone will hear you."
"That hasn't happened before" Mateo sadly replied.
"Well it has now." Ederson spoke, eyes hard and dead set. Just like when he was on the goal and ready for anything thrown his way. "We heard you. We will make sure it's stopped, here and in other places when we get to them. If we get to them." Just like Mateo said, those instances weren't often but they weren't exactly rare.
Mateo sighed, clearly still not believing anything they said..
But then Joško spoke, "How will you do that?" His voice was small. It was illegal to hear the sunshine kid so sad. "Mateo said no one cares.."
"Then we make them care," Ederson replied. "We'll make them see. We'll force their eyes open and scream at them till they understand that everyone is equal. No matter WHAT."
"But what if they don't listen" Joško wondered..
"Oh they will" Haaland said.
Joško looked at him. Kyle turned to the Norwegian as well.
There it was. Rage.
When Kyle looked around the room he spotted the same thing.
Rage.
They were angry. Rightfully so. So was Kyle.
They weren't going to let this slide. Ever. Again.
And that's when Pep walked in. It's time for the second half to begin.