Chapter Text
The sun wasn’t just hot, it was a personal insult, and Neymar was convinced it had it out for him. It was the only logical explanation for why, an hour into his personal training, his kick sent the overused football into another backyard. If it weren’t for the light blocking his eyes, or the warmth melting his brain, this wouldn’t have happened.
“Ah, fuckk,” he groaned, tugging at the collar of his turquoise tee as he headed back inside, then slipping out through the front door and onto the streets.
The Brazilian summer heat hit him all over again as he jogged down the porch steps and pushed open the gate, already feeling the sweat gather at the back of his neck. He crossed over to the neighbor’s house, stopping just outside to quickly readjust himself.
The house was painted a soft butter-yellow, its windows framed by dark brown shutters. The black gate stood wide open, so he slipped through and walked up to the front door. He knocked loudly, then waited, shifting his weight in the sweltering afternoon warmth.
A moment later, a voice called from somewhere inside, “Leo, could you get the door, please?!”
Seconds passed before the door swung open and he was met with a shorter boy, brown hair falling into his eyes as he tapped away at a Nintendo Switch, barely acknowledging him. Neymar dipped his head, trying to catch the boy’s attention. When that failed, he cleared his throat.
Finally, the boy looked up, and Neymar’s breath caught.
His long brunette hair fell around his face, softening his features, while dark brown eyes met Neymar’s, quietly waiting for an explanation. The Brazilian’s gaze flickered over him, taking in the loose jeans and oversized Adidas shirt. His skin was noticeably pale, almost untouched by the summer sun.
“My…” Neymar paused, searching for the words and trying to pull himself together. “My ball went into your yard. Can I come in and get it? Please?”
The boy said nothing, only giving a small, almost imperceptible nod before stepping aside. His eyes traveled over Neymar, from his backwards cap down to his sneakers, lingering just long enough to make Neymar wonder if he was being judged or studied.
Upon stepping inside, he was immediately grateful for the blast of air conditioning against his sun-warmed skin. The cool air raised goosebumps along his arms as the scent of garlic and some sort of stew drifted through the house, mixed with something fresh and clean, like laundry straight from the line.
Upstairs, a young girl’s voice rang out, followed by the laughter of two older boys. Neymar barely paid attention, chalking it up to ordinary sibling chaos, and followed the Nintendo addict through the back door and into the yard.
Neymar quickly scooped the football off the grass, tucked it beneath his arm, and headed back inside. He was almost at the front door when something caught his eye…a shelf lined with trophies.
“Woah,” he murmured, eyes widening. He turned rapidly toward the shorter boy. “Dude, are these all yours?”
The boy glanced up from his switch. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he nodded.
Neymar’s excitement only grew when he realized they were all football trophies. “You play?! How come I’ve never seen you before?”
The boy rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking a little shy. After a moment, he answered, “Yes. I’m from Argentina. I just moved here and missed tryouts. My name is Leo.”
“Argentina? Sick! You know, I’ve never been there, but-” He was cut off by a woman’s voice from behind them.
“Leo, could you please get everyone for dinner?” She stepped into the room, her eyes immediately landing on Neymar. Her expression brightened with a curious smile. “Oh, who’s this?”
“Neymar,” he said, flashing her his most charming smile. “My ball went over into your yard, so your son let me in.” He gave Leo a quick wink. “Sorry to bother you.”
“Oh!” She wiped her hands on her apron. “Never a bother! Leo could use some friends anyway.”
Neymar grinned at Leo, who immediately tensed at the comment.
“Would you like to stay for dinner?”
“Can I?!”
“Of course! Come on.” She gestured for him to follow as she led the way toward the dining room. “Leo, go get your siblings, please.”
The dining table was covered with a faded checkered tablecloth, crowded with bowls of rich black bean stew, fluffy rice, farofa, and bright orange slices. The windows were thrown open to let the warm evening air drift through the room, carrying in the distant sounds of the neighborhood.
By the time Leo returned with his siblings, Neymar was already deep in conversation with the kids’ parents, chatting about football, school, and the best places to eat around town.
“Finally found yourself a boyfriend?!” the eldest brother laughed, slapping Leo on the back before pulling out a chair.
“What?!” his little sister shrieked, no older than eleven. She immediately turned to her mother. “Why didn’t I get to know about this?!”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Leo corrected calmly. “We just met.”
“Not yet, at least.” Neymar winked, leaning back in his chair.
“Why’s he eating dinner with us, then?” the second brother pushed.
“His ball flew into our yard.”
“Do you play too?” Someone asked, which was all it took for Neymar to launch into his entire football history.
Dinner quickly dissolved into a loud, easy chaos. Laughter bounced around the table as Leo’s brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, bombarded Neymar with questions about girls at school, parties, and clubbing. Their mother kept passing dishes around while the warm evening breeze stirred the curtains behind her.
Maria, Leo’s youngest sibling, mostly stayed quiet, watching Neymar from across the table with wide, curious eyes. Outside, the last traces of sunlight lingered over the rooftops, turning the windows gold as the family talked over one another.
After dinner, Leo’s parents cleared the table and suggested they head outside for a game.
“Let’s go,” Matias declared, grabbing Neymar’s soccer ball from where it had been leaning against the wall. “Show us what you’ve got.”
Rodrigo and Maria followed them out, all three of Leo’s siblings settling onto the porch steps to watch and heckle.
They played beneath the harsh white glow of the floodlights, their shadows stretching across the grass. Neymar was all flair, every movement exaggerated and playful, his laughter carrying across the yard as he showed off trick after trick.
Leo was his complete opposite. Quiet and controlled, he wasted no movement, his feet barely making a sound against the grass. Twice, he slipped past Neymar with moves so simple they were almost unfair, leaving him stumbling after him.
Eventually, both were breathless and soaked in sweat. They collapsed onto the cool, damp grass, chests rising and falling as the warm night air washed over them. Above, the last traces of twilight faded into a dark blue sky, the first stars beginning to peek through.
When Neymar glanced toward the porch, he noticed Leo’s siblings had already disappeared inside.
“You’re really good,” he said, turning his head toward Leo. The floodlights cast a soft glow across his face. “Like, ridiculously good. You could become famous.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t talk much, do you?”
Leo stayed quiet for a moment, simply breathing in the stillness of the night. Then, a small smile appeared. “You’re fun to watch,” he said simply. “You play with joy.”
For a second, Neymar’s mind went completely blank. Before he could come up with a response, his phone buzzed in the pocket of his shorts. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. His dad was asking where he was.
Neymar sighed and stood up, brushing bits of grass from his knees. “Hey, I gotta go.”
“Okay.” Leo nodded. “I have to play Animal Crossing now anyway.”
“Right on, then.” Neymar blinked, still a little thrown off. “I’ll… see you, yeah?”
Leo tucked a strand of brown hair behind his ear and looked up at him from the grass. “Maybe.”
Neymar felt his face heat up and quickly looked away. He grabbed his ball, waved goodbye, and headed back inside. After thanking Leo’s family for dinner, he finally stepped out into the warm night and made his way home.
That night, with the summer air drifting through his open window, Neymar fell asleep with the image of a certain shy footballer stuck in his head.