Diez [Lionel Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo FanFic]

Chapter 17

After spending two weeks in Argentina with Leo's family, to avoid the press mostly, I returned to Barcelona, where I would help the club prepare for the preseason. Leo stayed back for a few more weeks, along with Thiago. Most of the players back either didn't go to the World Cup, went out in an early stage, or are injured.

Currently, I'm assisting, mostly with translating, with determining where Neymar is with his recovery. Ramon was in charge of the recovery. It was a serious fracture to his vertebrae, but there wasn't a surgery that could help progress it, so he just needed to remain immobile until it's healed.

"Não se preocupe," I tell him with a soft smile, "It will heal quickly. You might not play the preseason, but you'll definitely be ready for the season."

He chuckles, "Those are the first comforting words a doctor has told me since becoming injured."

"Médicos são idiotas," I whisper to him in Portuguese so Ramon wouldn't understand. Neymar bursts out laughing, before Ramon shouts, "Cálmese!" at him.

After a few moments of silence, while Ramon goes over the Brazilian's charts, the doctor starts to explain how Neymar should just continue doing what he's doing and that he should be back next week to see how it's going, where he could possibly start to walk again.

Neymar raises his eyebrows towards me, "Qual?" I laugh lightly at his expression before translating. Ramon goes back to his office as I help Neymar off the physio bed and into his wheelchair.

"How's Leo doing?" He asks as we start to leave.

"Better, I think. I don't know he doesn't really talk about it. It'll probably flair up when he comes back to here since he can't avoid the press here," I sigh at the end.

"Lucky him," Neymar grumbles as the paparazzi are outside the complex. His car comes to pick him up as I help him inside.

"Next Thursday," I remind him.

"Eu estarei aqui," he says closing the door.

"Mari, is Leo back in Barcelona?"

"Is it true Leo's considering leaving to River Plate?"

"Are you cheating on Messi with Neymar?"

"Are you and Lionel engaged?"

"Does Leo plan on not playing for the national team anymore?"

I rush back into the training center, but still not quick enough to avoid the paparazzi. Alfonso, the receptionist at the front desk, smiles at me before answering the phone. I continue my walk to the empty physio room so I can go over some more folders in silence.

"Hola," I hear Juan say as he comes into the empty room.

I eye him warily before returning to my paperwork on the new transfer, Luis Suarez. Since Leo hadn't been here, Juan has been a little too touchy for me. He'd hold my shoulder, or touch the small of my back, or just linger around a little too long.

"Mari, come on don't be like that," he says getting closer. I give him a warning look before closing my file and moving to leave.

"Desculpe, I need to get back to my office," I excuse myself, trying to get away from being alone with Juan. He moves in front of me to block my path, "No need to leave so soon, amor," he says smiling.

"Uhm, I'm not your amor, Juan. Now, let me through."

"And if I don't?" He says moving closer as I back up, before finally hitting a wall and being trapped by him.