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On Tuesday night, Barcelona was painted red. Not pomegranate or cherry red as it usually was, but Liverpool red.
Van Dijk released his damp hair from its bun and looked across the room. Everybody else was already in the showers except for a specific goalkeeper, untying his shoelaces three lockers away. It had been far too long since he'd seen him grass-and-mud-stained after a match instead of limping into the locker room to celebrate with the others. Not like Alisson was any less supportive either way, but it was still a joy to see him again.
"I missed you," Van Dijk blurted before the part of his mind devoted to remaining outwardly phlegmatic.
Alisson turned towards Van Dijk and smirked, although his eyes shimmered softly in the otherwise harsh light. "We live together. You see me almost every day."
"Not during away games. I have the right to miss you then, don't I?"
"We talk on the phone."
"Still, we're glad you're back."
"You are?"
"Don't 'you are' me, of course we are! You played stupendously today, mijn jade."
"Virg, Kweev's played just as well for two months!"
But Kweev's not you, Van Dijk thought to himself. Where Kelleher was calm yet cheeky--a young Irish prince--Alisson was a teddy bear, a sweet soul who'd hug a bunny point five seconds after it hopped into the room. He was sunshine, but not the fiery noon sunshine like Robertson or cheery afternoon daylight like Chiesa. No-- his Alisson was the early morning sun, one that rose pink and peach over the horizon, warming sleepy flowers and stroking birds' wings as they made their morning rounds. He tried to help everybody, even when he didn't have to, and he extended his sweetness like a tree extended its branches to shade and support those around it.
Van Dijk moved closer to Alisson and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, leaning their heads against each other. "True, but you're mijn jade . You're kind, helpful, and loving, and sweet and friendly--"
Alisson's cheeks reddened to a freckled cerise colour. " Virgil !"
"Humble, understanding..." Van Dijk trailed off, cupping Alisson's face with his hand. "Not to mention handsome, to boot."
"You're too sweet, caramelinho." The keeper's gaze shyly travelled to the floor. "I'm not all that."
Van Dijk shook his head in dismay. He was all too used to Alisson downplaying his own merits, even when they were obvious.
"Y'know what, enough doubting yourself." Van Dijk took out his phone and pressed play, tapping his foot in rhythm to the music.
Alisson raised an eyebrow. "What's this?"
"Oh, just a little something so you can finally get how valued you are into your head." And Van Dijk began to sing.
Oh, his eyes, his eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining
His hair, his hair, falls perfectly without him trying
He's so beautiful, and I tell him every day
"You're too sweet, Virgil."
"Telling the truth isn't sweet. It's just a fact."
Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment him, he won't believe me
And it's so, it's so sad to think that he don't see what I see
But every time he asks me, "Do I look okay?"
I say
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause, boy, you're amazing
Just the way you are
"The world does not stop and stare."
"It's a metaphor, schatje. I t means that you shine like a star."
"For the twelfth time, Virgil, I don't shine--"
"Nonsense, you shine like Slot’s head."
Oh, you know, you know, you know I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for, then just stay the same
So don't even bother askin' if you look okay
You know I'll say
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause, boy, you're amazing
Just the way you are
"So." Van Dijk clasped their hands and raised Alisson's chin so their gazes met. "Do you finally believe me when I say I have the sweetest, loveliest boyfriend in the universe?"
Alisson blushed. "Well...not really."
"Oh, come on." Van Dijk batted his eyelashes, prompting him to laugh. "Please?"
"Tell me one reason why."
"Because..." The Dutchman trailed off, trying to find the one reason out of a thousand that would convince Alisson to believe him. Finally, he found it. "It would make me so happy to know you also believe in the truth."
Finally, Alisson smiled. It wasn't the smile of somebody entirely convinced, but it radiated with love. "Alright. I'll try for you, caramelinho."
He still doesn't entirely believe it, even though he's a perfect cinnamon roll. But for the time being, Van Dijk would take that. Right now, he had other plans.
"Come on, Ali. We're going to dinner together, just the two of us."