dreamofthem: The art of being boyfriends
Author: elizaberglund
Recipient: dreamofthem
Title: The art of being boyfriends
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2159
Pairings/Character(s): Xavi/David Villa, cameos from various teammates,
Summary: Xavi and David, pre-Christmas madness, David wanting to do something boyfriendy, Xavi hearing stuff he shouldn't, confusion and a bit of crack,
Beta'ed by: Laura
It was a warm and sunny day in Terrassa, one of those people usually crave in the gloomy and cold winter. The wind was not blowing much. It was the middle of the December, still a few days to buy the last presents. It was a time of the typical pre-Christmas madness that everyone hated and the shop owners thrived on. People were running from little shops to a book stores, from a fancy boutiques to a big malls trying to find something. Hoping to find the last gifts for the most problematic family members and friends. Few were loudly cursing themselves for not doing it earlier. Others were complaining about how the assortment in the shops in the suburbs was always poorer and how a trip to Barcelona was due. Xavi, as always was not having that problem. He was an organized person and he did not like to leave things for the last moment. He started buying his gifts in the end of summer and by the time the other started even thinking about it, he was already set. He was shaking his head at his brothers and friends who were running like headless chickens desperately trying to find something nice for their wives. He had to smile when he remembered the discussion in the locker room after last training session.
"It is easier for you guys." complained Gerard. "You can just go to the jewelry shop and buy a necklace. What do you buy for a pop-star who has five times more money than you and can buy herself anything? Hell, she is a co-owner of an island!"
"Go for something symbolic than." advised Dani. "A bottle of the wine you drunk on your first date? Try romantic."
"She is pregnant." pointed out Gerard.
"Than peanuts." offered Carles. Everyone looked at him like he had two head.
"Peanuts in honey or something like that. There is this little Turkish confectionery on La Rambla that sells a great variety of them. Every time my female cousins were pregnant they always thrived those and pestered me to bring some for them."
The silence in the room was meaningful.
"You ... you would actually buy a woman peanuts for Christmas?" asked Leo incredulously. Carles simply shrugged.
Victor stood up from his seat and went behind the defender. He put his hands on the older man’s shoulders.
"And then you guys wonder why our capita dearest is still single."
The rest of the boys started talking one threw another, cheering and laughing.
"No." said Gerard who evidently considered his defensive partners idea. He shook his head. "It wouldn't do. She would say that I am making her fat. I only once said that her "one pack" was big and I had to sleep on the coach."
"Oh ... pregnancy hormones." said Pinto to which several of their teammates nodded sympathetically.
Yes, pregnancy hormones, this one thing escaped Xavi. He knew from his early teens that he would not be dealing with those. When all his friends were discussing boobs and telling outrageous stories about their supposed conquests, he was always the silent one. "He is just too focused on football" said his teachers. "Maybe it is better this way? At least we don't have to worry he will get in trouble." concluded his mother "He will grow up to this one day too." offered his aunts. He didn't. Instead he found out that the appeal of football did not lie only in the game itself. Surrounded by young athletic men all day he soon discovered the beauty of male flesh. First by eyes only, then also by hands and lips and he was hooked. He knew by than that his friends tales of sexual escapades were a lie. It did not happen like that. It was forbidden. Hidden. Rushed and full of panic and desire. Exciting and dangerous and addictive and mind blowing. Behind the closed door, in dark rooms , on the beach in the wild. In ones bedroom when the parents were away. Than ... in one’s own bedroom in one’s own flat. Not forbidden, nor rushed anymore. Still hidden due to nature of one’s occupation but still just as exciting and addictive and mind blowing. Men were amazing. Xavi often watched the relationships of his friends with women and he decided that with men it was somehow different … maybe easier? Not always but somehow he thought that some things were more clear from the start. Less explaining, less differences … if you are both men than it should be easier to figure things out. Yet … just like his friends heterosexual relationships sometimes went through troubles and ended, so did his. And in the end it did not matter if your partner was a man or a woman. Breaking up was never easy. Being dumped was never easy. But having to wait to get dumped was simply a torture. Unfortunately it was the torture he was going through right now. That’s why he was walking around the town centre trying to maybe find something else … some perfect little gift that would make everything better, that would somehow save the situation … And here was where dating men had disadvantage. You couldn’t just go to the nearest jewelry shop and buy a beautiful necklace.
Xavi felt the phone in his pocket vibrate. He took it out and read the message.
“Where are you?”
“In Terrassa. he replied.
“When will you be back?”
“Don’t know. I’m doing the shopping.
“Ok … well, hurry up than. I miss you.
Yeah, right! He misses Xavi! Then why does he plan to leave him before Christmas if he loves him so much that he misses him if they don’t see each other two days? Xavi was not sure what went wrong. What has he done? Why did David plan to break up with him? Why didn’t he say anything before? What exactly happened? That Xavi did not know. All he knew was that this was a torture. He couldn’t believe his ears when he heard David the other day. The younger man hid in the kitchen and spoke in lowered voice to someone through his mobile phone. But Xavi clearly heard him.
“It has to be during the day … better during the Saturday before Christmas. He will visit his parents in Terrassa. It will give us few hours … No, like I told you, there is not much … just some clothes and books. We’ll be done in no time … Yes, ok. See you! Having said that David switched of his phone and came back to the living room. He was talking with their friends like nothing happened. Like he did not just make appointment with someone to move out from Xavi’s place on Saturday before Christmas! Just like that! Without a word! When the man himself will be dinning with his family! What did go that wrong that the striker did not even want to tell him what bothered him? Why did he want to do it this way?
Xavi was crazy with worry and sadness. He loved David. He did not want them to be over! He had to find a way to make him stay. The Catalan looked around the shop windows around him and sighed helplessly. This was not working. He won’t find anything. He would have to come back the other day. Maybe he will have more luck than.
He checked his phone and found another message from David. “I love you. :-*” Why was he doing this? Couldn’t he just finish it up with Xavi face to face? Did he have to keep him unaware like that only to find out later how wrong he was? … Xavi sighed and looked around the crowd again and gave up. He put the phone in his pocket and went to his car.
The drive to Barcelona was uneventful and short. Funny how he always cursed the traffic on the way to and from the Catalan capital city. Today he would give a lot for a dely. He was driving home like he was going to his own funeral.
Xavi took a deep breath when he stopped the car at his own driveway. He had to calm down and not let David see anything until he figures out what to do to make it right again. He closed the car and went inside. He heard radio coming from the kitchen and smelled something delicious. Xavi saw David moving around the spacious kitchen in his boxers and t-shirt. He was humming the melody from the radio and dancing a little while preparing food. Xavi peered into the big pan on the cooker. Paella Valenciana, one of the best things that was ever invented in Spain and David’s signature dish. The Catalan looked at the little shrimp in the pan and then at the smiley face of his boyfriend and something broke in him. He felt tears coming to his eyes. Screw keeping calm! Screw figuring out what to do! He couldn’t take it anymore. He simply started crying. David looked at him shocked and immediately came to him and wrapped him in his arms.
“Baby? What happened? Why are you crying?” he asked soothingly as he stroked the older man’s back. Xavi was clinging to him crying at his shoulder.
“Babe?” asked David as he lessen the hold he had on his lover and took his chin in his hand to make him look at him.
“What is it Xavi? What’s wrong honey? What happened?”
Xavi looked him in the eyes and felt a new wave of tears coming into his own. Words just spilled out from his mouth.
“Don’t leave me! … I don’t know what I did but please don’t leave me!”
“WHAT?” David looked shell shocked.
“I know I can be difficult at times but I love you and I can change … whatever I did I can be better! I swear!” pleaded the older man still crying. David felt he was missing something.
“What on Earth are you talking about? I’m not leaving you.” Said the striker. The shorter man looked at him alert.
“You are not?” he asked to make sure.
“No, what gave you such idea? Why would I leave you?”
Xavi was eyeing him now suspiciously.
“Then why did you make an appointment with someone to help you move out while I’m in Terrassa?” asked the midfielder.
“WHAT? I never did such a thing!” David’s eyes grew so huge that they could easily jump out of his face.
“I’ve heard you. You told someone to come and help you collect your clothes and books while I’m out at family dinner. You told them that it wouldn’t take long.”
The Asturian man was starring at his boyfriend for a moment disbelieving.
“Curtains.” He said as he looked into the shorter man’s eyes. “Putting on curtains in your bedroom wouldn’t take long, Xavi.”
“What?” it was the Catalan’s time to look surprised.
“I called my friend and asked him for help with putting the curtains in your bedroom window. It is normal and nice and boyfriendy thing I wanted to do for you. It was supposed to be a surprise and I needed you out for it. “
They were standing in front of each other just starring at one another.
“Curtains?” asked the midfielder.
“Yes.”
“You are not leaving me before Christmas without saying a word? You just wanted to put some curtains in my bedroom?” asked Xavi just to be sure. David looked at him. It sounded so absurd that he hardly believed he was hearing this but … it was Xavi after all.
“Yes.”
The older man looked at him for a last time before sinking in his arms letting himself be soothed. David stroked his back and kissed his cheek to calm him down.
“I love you and I am not leaving you. And if I ever do, I wouldn’t do it this way. “ said the taller player. Xavi cuddled even closer to him.
“David?”
“Yes?”
Xavi moved away from him.
“Why do I need curtains in my bedroom?”
David looked at him disbelievingly again.
“Xav, babe. I know that you are born and bred cule … but even you have to realize that the broken blinds with Barca crest on them are not really suitable for a thirty year old man.”
The Catalan looked at him and nodded before hugging him again.
“I just wanted to do a nice, boyfriendy thing for you. That’s all.”
“David?”
“Yes?”
“Can those curtains have Barca crest on them?” asked the midfielder against his shoulder.
“No, but one will be scarlet and another dark blue. I am taking baby step in turning you into a normal adult.” Said David as he kissed his forehead.
Recipient: dreamofthem
Title: The art of being boyfriends
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2159
Pairings/Character(s): Xavi/David Villa, cameos from various teammates,
Summary: Xavi and David, pre-Christmas madness, David wanting to do something boyfriendy, Xavi hearing stuff he shouldn't, confusion and a bit of crack,
Beta'ed by: Laura
It was a warm and sunny day in Terrassa, one of those people usually crave in the gloomy and cold winter. The wind was not blowing much. It was the middle of the December, still a few days to buy the last presents. It was a time of the typical pre-Christmas madness that everyone hated and the shop owners thrived on. People were running from little shops to a book stores, from a fancy boutiques to a big malls trying to find something. Hoping to find the last gifts for the most problematic family members and friends. Few were loudly cursing themselves for not doing it earlier. Others were complaining about how the assortment in the shops in the suburbs was always poorer and how a trip to Barcelona was due. Xavi, as always was not having that problem. He was an organized person and he did not like to leave things for the last moment. He started buying his gifts in the end of summer and by the time the other started even thinking about it, he was already set. He was shaking his head at his brothers and friends who were running like headless chickens desperately trying to find something nice for their wives. He had to smile when he remembered the discussion in the locker room after last training session.
"It is easier for you guys." complained Gerard. "You can just go to the jewelry shop and buy a necklace. What do you buy for a pop-star who has five times more money than you and can buy herself anything? Hell, she is a co-owner of an island!"
"Go for something symbolic than." advised Dani. "A bottle of the wine you drunk on your first date? Try romantic."
"She is pregnant." pointed out Gerard.
"Than peanuts." offered Carles. Everyone looked at him like he had two head.
"Peanuts in honey or something like that. There is this little Turkish confectionery on La Rambla that sells a great variety of them. Every time my female cousins were pregnant they always thrived those and pestered me to bring some for them."
The silence in the room was meaningful.
"You ... you would actually buy a woman peanuts for Christmas?" asked Leo incredulously. Carles simply shrugged.
Victor stood up from his seat and went behind the defender. He put his hands on the older man’s shoulders.
"And then you guys wonder why our capita dearest is still single."
The rest of the boys started talking one threw another, cheering and laughing.
"No." said Gerard who evidently considered his defensive partners idea. He shook his head. "It wouldn't do. She would say that I am making her fat. I only once said that her "one pack" was big and I had to sleep on the coach."
"Oh ... pregnancy hormones." said Pinto to which several of their teammates nodded sympathetically.
Yes, pregnancy hormones, this one thing escaped Xavi. He knew from his early teens that he would not be dealing with those. When all his friends were discussing boobs and telling outrageous stories about their supposed conquests, he was always the silent one. "He is just too focused on football" said his teachers. "Maybe it is better this way? At least we don't have to worry he will get in trouble." concluded his mother "He will grow up to this one day too." offered his aunts. He didn't. Instead he found out that the appeal of football did not lie only in the game itself. Surrounded by young athletic men all day he soon discovered the beauty of male flesh. First by eyes only, then also by hands and lips and he was hooked. He knew by than that his friends tales of sexual escapades were a lie. It did not happen like that. It was forbidden. Hidden. Rushed and full of panic and desire. Exciting and dangerous and addictive and mind blowing. Behind the closed door, in dark rooms , on the beach in the wild. In ones bedroom when the parents were away. Than ... in one’s own bedroom in one’s own flat. Not forbidden, nor rushed anymore. Still hidden due to nature of one’s occupation but still just as exciting and addictive and mind blowing. Men were amazing. Xavi often watched the relationships of his friends with women and he decided that with men it was somehow different … maybe easier? Not always but somehow he thought that some things were more clear from the start. Less explaining, less differences … if you are both men than it should be easier to figure things out. Yet … just like his friends heterosexual relationships sometimes went through troubles and ended, so did his. And in the end it did not matter if your partner was a man or a woman. Breaking up was never easy. Being dumped was never easy. But having to wait to get dumped was simply a torture. Unfortunately it was the torture he was going through right now. That’s why he was walking around the town centre trying to maybe find something else … some perfect little gift that would make everything better, that would somehow save the situation … And here was where dating men had disadvantage. You couldn’t just go to the nearest jewelry shop and buy a beautiful necklace.
Xavi felt the phone in his pocket vibrate. He took it out and read the message.
“Where are you?”
“In Terrassa. he replied.
“When will you be back?”
“Don’t know. I’m doing the shopping.
“Ok … well, hurry up than. I miss you.
Yeah, right! He misses Xavi! Then why does he plan to leave him before Christmas if he loves him so much that he misses him if they don’t see each other two days? Xavi was not sure what went wrong. What has he done? Why did David plan to break up with him? Why didn’t he say anything before? What exactly happened? That Xavi did not know. All he knew was that this was a torture. He couldn’t believe his ears when he heard David the other day. The younger man hid in the kitchen and spoke in lowered voice to someone through his mobile phone. But Xavi clearly heard him.
“It has to be during the day … better during the Saturday before Christmas. He will visit his parents in Terrassa. It will give us few hours … No, like I told you, there is not much … just some clothes and books. We’ll be done in no time … Yes, ok. See you! Having said that David switched of his phone and came back to the living room. He was talking with their friends like nothing happened. Like he did not just make appointment with someone to move out from Xavi’s place on Saturday before Christmas! Just like that! Without a word! When the man himself will be dinning with his family! What did go that wrong that the striker did not even want to tell him what bothered him? Why did he want to do it this way?
Xavi was crazy with worry and sadness. He loved David. He did not want them to be over! He had to find a way to make him stay. The Catalan looked around the shop windows around him and sighed helplessly. This was not working. He won’t find anything. He would have to come back the other day. Maybe he will have more luck than.
He checked his phone and found another message from David. “I love you. :-*” Why was he doing this? Couldn’t he just finish it up with Xavi face to face? Did he have to keep him unaware like that only to find out later how wrong he was? … Xavi sighed and looked around the crowd again and gave up. He put the phone in his pocket and went to his car.
The drive to Barcelona was uneventful and short. Funny how he always cursed the traffic on the way to and from the Catalan capital city. Today he would give a lot for a dely. He was driving home like he was going to his own funeral.
Xavi took a deep breath when he stopped the car at his own driveway. He had to calm down and not let David see anything until he figures out what to do to make it right again. He closed the car and went inside. He heard radio coming from the kitchen and smelled something delicious. Xavi saw David moving around the spacious kitchen in his boxers and t-shirt. He was humming the melody from the radio and dancing a little while preparing food. Xavi peered into the big pan on the cooker. Paella Valenciana, one of the best things that was ever invented in Spain and David’s signature dish. The Catalan looked at the little shrimp in the pan and then at the smiley face of his boyfriend and something broke in him. He felt tears coming to his eyes. Screw keeping calm! Screw figuring out what to do! He couldn’t take it anymore. He simply started crying. David looked at him shocked and immediately came to him and wrapped him in his arms.
“Baby? What happened? Why are you crying?” he asked soothingly as he stroked the older man’s back. Xavi was clinging to him crying at his shoulder.
“Babe?” asked David as he lessen the hold he had on his lover and took his chin in his hand to make him look at him.
“What is it Xavi? What’s wrong honey? What happened?”
Xavi looked him in the eyes and felt a new wave of tears coming into his own. Words just spilled out from his mouth.
“Don’t leave me! … I don’t know what I did but please don’t leave me!”
“WHAT?” David looked shell shocked.
“I know I can be difficult at times but I love you and I can change … whatever I did I can be better! I swear!” pleaded the older man still crying. David felt he was missing something.
“What on Earth are you talking about? I’m not leaving you.” Said the striker. The shorter man looked at him alert.
“You are not?” he asked to make sure.
“No, what gave you such idea? Why would I leave you?”
Xavi was eyeing him now suspiciously.
“Then why did you make an appointment with someone to help you move out while I’m in Terrassa?” asked the midfielder.
“WHAT? I never did such a thing!” David’s eyes grew so huge that they could easily jump out of his face.
“I’ve heard you. You told someone to come and help you collect your clothes and books while I’m out at family dinner. You told them that it wouldn’t take long.”
The Asturian man was starring at his boyfriend for a moment disbelieving.
“Curtains.” He said as he looked into the shorter man’s eyes. “Putting on curtains in your bedroom wouldn’t take long, Xavi.”
“What?” it was the Catalan’s time to look surprised.
“I called my friend and asked him for help with putting the curtains in your bedroom window. It is normal and nice and boyfriendy thing I wanted to do for you. It was supposed to be a surprise and I needed you out for it. “
They were standing in front of each other just starring at one another.
“Curtains?” asked the midfielder.
“Yes.”
“You are not leaving me before Christmas without saying a word? You just wanted to put some curtains in my bedroom?” asked Xavi just to be sure. David looked at him. It sounded so absurd that he hardly believed he was hearing this but … it was Xavi after all.
“Yes.”
The older man looked at him for a last time before sinking in his arms letting himself be soothed. David stroked his back and kissed his cheek to calm him down.
“I love you and I am not leaving you. And if I ever do, I wouldn’t do it this way. “ said the taller player. Xavi cuddled even closer to him.
“David?”
“Yes?”
Xavi moved away from him.
“Why do I need curtains in my bedroom?”
David looked at him disbelievingly again.
“Xav, babe. I know that you are born and bred cule … but even you have to realize that the broken blinds with Barca crest on them are not really suitable for a thirty year old man.”
The Catalan looked at him and nodded before hugging him again.
“I just wanted to do a nice, boyfriendy thing for you. That’s all.”
“David?”
“Yes?”
“Can those curtains have Barca crest on them?” asked the midfielder against his shoulder.
“No, but one will be scarlet and another dark blue. I am taking baby step in turning you into a normal adult.” Said David as he kissed his forehead.