Request: 5 Things About Steven and Xabi That Pepe Reina Saw During His Time at Liverpool

[tempered-rose.livejournal.com]

Title: Five Things About Steven and Xabi That Pepe Reina Saw During His Time at Liverpool
Characters: Steven Gerrard/Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina; Jamie Carragher, Steven/Fernando Torres implied
Rating: PG-13
Words: 756
A/N: Request finally completed for jacknjones4eva who wanted fluffy, angst, and more fluff. I’m so sorry it took so long but I hope you like it <3



One.

When Pepe first arrived at Liverpool, he still didn’t trust his English skills with a full conversation. Fortunately for him, he had a friend and fellow Spaniard to help him. Xabi was still learning English too, but for the most part had it fairly well in hand. At least from what he saw, Xabi could converse pretty fluently with their captain.

One night the team had gathered at Xabi’s for a post-match party. The boys were high on victory and even Pepe’s natural sense of humor was making an appearance. He was talking to Jamie when he noticed that both of their beers had run out. Putting a hand on Jamie’s arm, Pepe volunteered to go refresh them in broken English.

He started for Xabi’s kitchen, smiling at his teammates that congratulated him for his keeping abilities earlier. Pepe moved in towards the kitchen when he heard two voices, one definitely Xabi’s, speaking softly. He frowned and was about to ask what was going on when he stopped long enough to see Steven give Xabi a small kiss.

Pepe backed up wide-eyed and returned to the party without even thinking about beer.


Two.

Xabi had to explain to Pepe that he and Steven were a ‘thing’ and that what he saw he couldn’t tell anyone. Pepe assured him that he wouldn’t say anything and he told him the truth. What Xabi did was up to Xabi, he had no right to judge.

So when he saw Steven hugging Xabi close after a loss in the locker room, he looked the other way and started talking to Jamie. Oddly enough, he wasn’t sickened by their embrace. He felt a warm feeling, the kind of feeling he had when something felt right.


Three.

Pepe cringed inwardly when he heard Xabi shout at Steven. His English had been mastered by now so he could hear every foul word and every accusation. Xabi accused Steven of doing more than flirting with Fernando. He told Steven that he wasn’t stupid, that he could see there was more in the touches that Steven gave their new prized striker. Steven yelled back his defense of Xabi seeing things in meaningless gestures and that he was a fool for even thinking of them.

Xabi turned away in disgust and Pepe wondered how something so wonderful and how lovingly sweet could have turned into something so ugly.


Four.

Pepe couldn’t believe the papers when it was confirmed that Xabi Alonso was transferring to Real Madrid. He didn’t believe it, though in his gut he knew that something just wasn’t right, and he wouldn’t believe it until Xabi told him himself.

In the locker room, Pepe did not have to ask if it was true or not. The look on the man’s face was enough to confirm the speculations.

The second glance Pepe took was at Stevie. The Scouser walked around stiff-shouldered and with a dark brooding look on his face. The fact that he refused to even look at Xabi was enough for Pepe to know that things were probably over for the two of them.

He was saddened and heartbroken for his friends to see that the once-beautiful love they had shared was no more than broken glass on the floor.


Five.

When the lads came to tell Xabi goodbye for the last time, Pepe went too. He would miss his friend, who else would he watch La Liga with now?

He hugged his Madrid-bound friend close and patted his back. He knew that Xabi was upset about the Steven thing, he had been since the whole mess had started the year before.

It was a huge shock for almost everyone when Steven arrived with a bottle of Spanish wine, a parting gift he said. Xabi took the bottle limply and Steven put his hands in his pockets. Pepe ushered the others into the other room so that the two lovers could have their moment.

As much as he wanted to give them privacy, he couldn’t help but lean on the wall out of sight and listen. He told himself that if a fight started, he would be the one to break it up.

He heard Steven stutter through small talk before he was suddenly silenced. Wondering if Xabi had knocked him over the head with the bottle of wine, Pepe looked into the next room and saw Xabi holding Steven close. He was kissing him lightly on the lips and Pepe looked away.

Perhaps even broken things could be put back together.