Chapter Text
The players run onto the pitch. A foreign turf that some were familiar with, and some less. The Madrigal echoed voices cheering for the home team, Villarreal, and the smaller away section of Culers as well.
Pau ran to his place, looking over at Jules and ensuring everyone was in their spots. Farther across the pitch, the sight of Lamine warming up one last time enamoured his eyes, making him smile subconsciously. He liked how even though Lamine started every game, his innocent pre-match nervousness never went away.
Lamine was anxiously chewing on his lip, eyebrows furrowed as he scanned the pitch. His eyes landed on Pau, linking their eye contact. Pau smiled and gave a thumbs-up: a simple act of concern, almost like a “You good?”; and at that, Lamine’s canine tooth released his bottom lip and he smiled back, nodding compliantly.
The referee blew the whistle and the game kicked off. Barcelona were having a relatively good game, 3 - 0 on the board with a brace from Robert. Pau was defending well too, under the amiable chant of “Cu-Cu-Cubarsí!” ringing through the stadium by the rather disconnected away section above the North stand.
But after the cross made by Lamine which led to the completion of Raphinha’s brace, the Villarreal players became fed up.
Pau watched the ball as Lamine expertly dribbled the ball between his feet, the yellow shirt of Cardona — number 23 left-back — flashing by him. Suddenly, overcome with frustration, the player focused on Lamine instead of the ball, landing a heavy stomp on his foot and leaving Lamine on the grass, crying out.
Pau sprinted across the pitch, dodging the other players as he rushed to where Lamine was. He reached him, kneeling on the moist grass beneath them as he worriedly held an arm behind Lamine’s back, keeping him from toppling over as he laid him on the turf.
Pau doubled over him, the tips of his boots digging into the soil as he crossed an arm over the other’s torso, creating an arch above the writhing Lamine below him.
“Are you okay?!” Pau asked with concern, repeating it to the boy painfully holding his leg with a grimace. Lamine didn’t speak, only looking at Pau with an aching look in his eyes. He looked pitiful, panting for breath as he gritted his teeth through the pain.
Pau understood, calling over for medics as he got up. He looked over at his teammates crowding with the opposers, especially Raphinha negotiating with the referee, and strode to Cardona in fury.
Approaching him, he saw that the other was making over-the-top hand gestures, shamelessly defending himself, when Pau stuck out a shoulder and shoved him. The man turned his head aggressively at the contact, looking at Pau with an expression of disdain.
“What the fuck were you doing?!” Pau shouted as Cardona pushed, muttering profanities. He too pushed back, advancing towards the man as Pedri rushed to break them up. Pau continued arguing, defending Lamine from the other’s malicious remarks as he stared him down with intimidation.
Iñigo was holding him back now, urging Pau to stop as he pulled him away from the opponent. Pau, however, looked back and continued yelling at him as the referee came by and shot up two yellows for Pau and Cardona.
Pau scoffed, smiling incredulously watching the screen of the stadium replaying his altercation and chuckling at the same punishment awarded for himself and the perpetrator, but felt content as he felt he did what was deserved.
As the game went on, Pau couldn’t help but to continuously look back over at Barcelona’s bench, taking a glimpse at Lamine whilst marking his opponent to check on his well being. Lamine noticed this, smiling faintly and sending him a thumbs-up, then grumbling light-heartedly to Héctor about Pau not focusing on the game.
Time ran on, and the final whistle was blown, signifying the end of the match, and the players crowded, grinning as they celebrated their victory together. Pau made sure to congratulate all his playing teammates, patting each on the head, and finally made his way back through the tunnel.
Lamine stood on the side, smirking as he held a hand out for him. Pau beamed, taking it and embracing him warmly. He bounced with excitement, inviting Lamine to do the same as they hugged, repeating the Barça chant just like they would after a win in La Masia.
As Lamine rested his chin on Pau’s shoulder, he murmured with a smile in the midst of the other’s excitement,
“Well done, starboy. ”