Chapter Text
Pedri and Ferran had been close friends for three years now. They got even closer over the last year to the point where they’re always together, training together, going out together and sleeping over at each other’s places.
If someone had told them five years ago that they’d be this close they wouldn’t have believed it. But they grew fond of each other over time and discovered how much they had in common. And even though their personalities are very different, they fit in perfectly together.
When Ferran had his appendicitis surgery and missed the parade and all the title celebrations, Pedri felt an emptiness he couldn’t explain. He was also heartbroken that Ferran had to stay alone in the hospital, unable to be part of the moments he had helped earn through his efforts that season. But Pedri visited him often,
Video-called him and tried to make up for his absence, both for himself and for Ferran.
Pedri thought about how it felt at the last parade with Ferran being there beside him, how happy he was and how complete everything felt. And now, even after all their success, something important was missing. And it made everything feel incomplete.
Not only that, after the season and the celebrations ended and they took a break, each of them went separate ways and traveled to different places, and that made Pedri miss Ferran even more. He missed the way Ferran made life more fun, easy and complete. He was his best friend after all.
That’s why when the pre-season training started, Pedri decided they’d go together every day with his car and come back together. It became a routine. He didn’t even need to text Ferran to tell him get ready, he’d already be ready. Some nights when it got too late, Ferran would sleep over at Pedri’s place. They’d wake up, get dressed together and head to training in their training kit instead of changing there. That had been Pedri’s idea.
Gavi started to notice they were arriving together every single day. So he teased Pedri
“What is this? Did you guys get married or something?”
Pedri rolled his eyes “We live next to each other now. It’s just easier to ride together.”
Gavi raised an eyebrow “Easier how? You both have cars, you could just drive yourselves.”
Pedri felt trapped. Gavi kind of had a point, living nearby didn’t really mean they had to ride together every single day. So he came up with the dumbest and the most unconvincing excuse ever “We’re saving gas, for the environment.”
Gavi smirked “Yeah, whatever makes you sleep at night mate.”
Pedri didn’t really get it
Why did Gavi smirk like that?
Why did he say it like that?
Sure, the excuse sounded dumb. But what was he supposed to say? That he missed Ferran? That he wanted to spend more time with him? That would sound weird, even though it wasn’t weird. They were just close friends.
But still, Gavi would use any excuse to tease him with nonsense like always. And God help him if Lamine ever found out, he’d never hear the end of it.
As if he heard his thoughts, Lamine appeared out of nowhere “What’s going on Pedri? Can’t stay away from your boyfriend even for the car ride? Are we seriously going to see your pictures arriving and leaving together every single day now?”
Pedri groaned “So now it’s you and Gavi ganging up on me? What’s wrong with everyone today?”
Lamine laughed “Nothing, just don’t forget to make Ferran wear protection.”
He didn’t even get to finish the sentence before Pedri was already chasing him and throwing a shoe in his direction. And just to complete the perfect morning, while Pedri was running, he accidentally crashed straight into Ferran.
Lamine had already gotten away and stopped to catch his breath, panting from laughter. Ferran raised an eyebrow “Do I even want to know what that was about?”
Pedri flustered and out of breath muttered “It’s better if you don’t.” Ferran nodded, a small smirk tugging at his lips “Shall we go?” Pedri let out a long sigh “Yeah let’s go”. And they went to take their positions on the field and started training.
Pedri finished training and rode home with Ferran like they did every day. Since they had gone together from home that morning, they went back together too, they had lunch and then Pedri laid down on the couch with full stomach.
Ferran’s voice broke the silence “Why were you chasing Lamine today?”
Pedri sighed “Nothing, just something stupid.”
Ferran looked at him and raised an eyebrow. He could always tell when Pedri was trying to lie, his face gave him away, so obvious and so funny.
Pedri finally spoke “He and Gavi kept teasing me and making fun of us always going to training together.”
Ferran laughed like he already knew. Pedri looked at him, confused.
“They already did the same thing to me but I didn’t give them a reaction. The more you react like that, the more they’ll push, you’re so easy to tease.“
Pedri got annoyed and threw the pillow that was on his lap at Ferran. Ferran laughed harder which made Pedri more annoyed.
“See? That’s what I’m talking about. It’s so fun to tease you, Pedri.” Pedri went silent and didn’t respond. Ferran kept laughing.
“Okay, serious now. If what they’re saying is bothering you, I can take my car tomorrow.”
Pedri replied quickly “No, it’s fine. I know they’re just joking.”
Ferran smiled “Aww, so you really can’t stay away from me huh?” Before Ferran could finish his sentence, Pedri threw the pillow at him.
A little while later, they were both on their phones. Suddenly Ferran got up, sat next to Pedri and showed him his screen. Pedri looked and saw a tweet about how they showed up to training together every day, and how suspicious it seemed and on and on.
Pedri usually didn’t check Twitter, but he had seen similar things before and ignored them. This time though, the tweets were over the top and had thousands of reactions.
Ferran was laughing while showing him, but Pedri started to wonder if this could actually affect them.. would people start believing it?
Ferran noticed that Pedri was zoning out so he locked his phone and looked at him “Pedri?”
Pedri looked up at him “If this is making you uncomfortable we really don’t have to go together anymore. Let’s go separately tomorrow to cool things down and then see what we can do next, yeah?”
Pedri just nodded.