blah blah feelings blah

[meretricula]

I was going to make this long rambling post about empathy and music (separate issues) and then I realized nobody would want to read that, so. behold! a tiny tiny snippet from the soulbonding universe, set during the 2009 Confederations Cup. (for the sake of reference, Andres was injured that summer and had to miss out on the tournament. Spain lost to the US in the semifinals and I've seen some journos and bloggers blame that loss on the fact that Xavi+Iniesta weren't doing their usual midfield psychic twins act. also, David Villa was in the middle of a will-he-won't-he move from Valencia to Real Madrid that was apparently such a sucky experience that he insisted on having his transfer to Barcelona the following year wrapped up well before the World Cup.)


the distance from here to where you'd be

Xavi was already on the phone in the hotel lobby when David stumbled downstairs for breakfast, despite the disgustingly early hour. Usually David would have gone over to say hello and good morning and how did you sleep, because he had manners no matter what Patricia and his sister said, but Xavi had been about as approachable as a bear with a tooth infection since they'd gotten on the plane for South Africa. Even now, when he was talking to someone he presumably liked if he'd gotten out of bed this early to talk to them, he looked like he was about to set something on fire.

"No, I'm fine," Xavi was saying as David drifted into earshot. David almost gave himself away by snorting at that particularly blatant lie. "Stop fussing. You just do what the physios say, all right? I know Emili's taking good care of you."

That was one mystery solved: if he was talking about physios, it was probably Andres on the phone. David really wished he hadn't gotten himself injured and had to stay home for the Confederations Cup. Aside from the fact that they could have used him on the pitch, he had a weird gift for being so nice to people that they felt too guilty to be assholes around him, and it wasn't like anything else was having an effect on whatever the hell Xavi's problem was. None of them really wanted to be there, but he didn't have to be such a dick about it. You'd think after winning the Champions League he'd be in a better mood. It wasn't like he was the one who was trying to figure out if he was moving to Madrid while he was in another country.

"Okay. Okay. I know. No, you--what are you even doing up, then? Go back to bed. You can call again tonight, okay? Okay. I love you too. Okay, sleep well." Xavi snapped his phone shut and wandered off in the direction of the dining room, apparently without ever noticing that David had been standing behind him. David didn't try to call after him. I love you? To Andres?

"If you say one word, Villa," someone said into his ear, so close that David could feel his breath on his neck. He jumped and nearly tripped over one of the ugly, uncomfortable chairs that were presumably meant to keep people from lingering in the lobby.

"Son of a bitch, Iker," he yelped. "Warn a person before you start breathing in their ear!"

"I mean it," Iker continued, ignoring his reaction. His eyes were shining crazily, and David tried to edge away a little. Goalies were always strange, and they could crack at any time. "One fucking word about Xavi, and I'll--"

"Jesus Christ," David said, disgusted. "I'm not going to--he's my friend too."

"Yeah?" Iker peered at him suspiciously for a long moment. David stared back, irritation overcoming his surprise. He wasn't some fucking bigot, whatever Iker apparently thought, and he didn't give a shit what Xavi did in bed or who he did it with. If anything, it was a relief to know there was an actual reason for the way he'd been going around snapping people's heads off all tournament. David would get pissy being away from Patricia and the girls this long, too. "Well--good. I'm glad we had this talk."

David watched him stalk off, not even in the same direction Xavi had gone. Goalkeepers. They were all fucking insane.


I offered to write a bit of the soulbonding universe for angualupin yea these many moons ago, since I couldn't really find that much Xavi/Andres to rec for her. so, uh. it took me a while, but I got it done eventually? hope you enjoy it, anyway!

Comments

[the-beanster.livejournal.com]

So, I was going to go to sleep and then I refreshed LJ and this came up and, obviously, sleep had to wait a bit.

Omg. This? Is perfect.

he had a weird gift for being so nice to people that they felt too guilty to be assholes around him,
Perfect description and I really, truly believe he's like that lol.

I adore an outsider's perspective in fics bc I think we get to see stuff in a different light and this is perfect. David doesn't know enough to truly understand, but what we do get to see is enough to show why Xavi and Andres are important to each other.

And Iker! Omg, he was kinda perfective in this crazy, over-protective way (love the parallels between him and Victor bc I think it's so spot on) and of course David's voice is hilarious!

[justkisa.livejournal.com]

mostly my feelings about this are a) it's awesome and b) iker is especially awesome with his lurking and his threats and he sort of makes me go, awwww, how sweet, though I'm not quite sure that's the correct or sane reaction....

Goalkeepers. They were all fucking insane.

also this inspired much giggling, because really, they are? aren't they?

[dreamofthem.livejournal.com]

No more mooooorrreee *grabby hands*

I agree with the person above, outsider's perspectives are really nice, and especially here where you've given us loads of insight already into how both xavi and iniesta feel. Plus I pretty much live off any villa/xavi interaction I can get my grubby hands on.

[alexandara7.livejournal.com]

When I thought nothing could make me smile today, I read this and could not stop chuckling.

Xavi and Andres are always my favorites. Poor Xavi, I can see him missing Andres and being all grumpy because there is no one to cheer him up and no one who understands him.

And David, is just the best.I loved, well, everything about him here. (God, I miss him so much, please come back)

Iker made me really laugh, great to see him defend Xavi like that, even if it is little bit too frantic about it. And yes, goalkeeper are little bit maniac. :)

"Goalies were always strange, and they could crack at any time"

But thank you for this, it really made me feel better.

[tinymich.livejournal.com]

This made me chortle. I love David's POV! Keep writing this 'verse forevarrrrrr plsssssss

[angualupin.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you for this. It is, as all your stories are, wonderful. *squishes the adorable soul-bonded psychic midfielders* Villa and Iker are absolutely spot on, too -- and Villa is right, goalkeepers are all fucking insane.

Also, I had a dream a couple nights ago where I was trapped in an elevator with Villa and he spent the entire time bitching. The ENTIRE TIME. I think I read too much fanfic.