Chapter Text
“Nice to meet you, man.”
Gavi nodded politely as the fifth person that approached him that day extended their hand and pulled him into their chest to thump him on his back, a large hand clasped around his shoulders. He was being shoved into everyone that came his way, a delighted Ansu dragging him around the gym to introduce him to his new teammates. It would be much less awkward if Gavi was a little better at maintaining conversation, but everyone here was tall and older and better in every way he could imagine so Gavi stumbled on his words as he spoke, his feet shifting sheepishly against the carpet. But he forced himself through it, forced himself to to take part in awkward introductions and reluctant submissions of power to people he barely knew, his eyes turned downward as his instincts bubble up irritably in his chest at the necessity for him to bare his neck to every older alpha that approached him.
“And this is Sergio, team captain and head alpha.”
Gavi blinked out of his thoughts and looked up to see the figure of Sergio Busquets towering over him, an agreeable smile on his face. Gavi straightened and bared his neck for the older alpha, his cheeks heating just barely, some irrational part of his brain a little afraid that Sergio had been able to hear his previous thoughts. His chest tightened as his scent gland was exposed to the unfamiliar alpha but he restrained himself and watched as Sergio huffed a breath of laughter. He clasped Gavi’s shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze before saying, “welcome to the team.”
Gavi spared a smile up at him and patted his shoulder, surprised at the head alpha’s quick acceptance, a gesture of trust that made the younger’s chest glow with warmth.
“Gavi - come on - we don’t have all day,” Ansu buzzed and Gavi held a hand up to Sergio in farewell as he was once again dragged to the other end of the gym with Ansu’s forceful hand gripping tightly onto his elbow.
“I knew he was tall, but damn,” Gavi breathed, a whir of exhilaration humming through him suddenly. He had seen Sergio many times as a child, though admittedly, he had been a lot smaller in his old 50-inch TV screen. “How long has he been the head alpha?”
Ansu snorted. “Why? You want to challenge him?”
“Hell no, I was just asking.”
“Dunno,” Ansu shrugged. “A while. He’s nice though, everyone likes him - oh. C’mere. Gavi, that’s Pedri.”
Gavi was knocked suddenly over toward one of the treadmills, where a lean brunette boy about the same height as him was walking calmly over the machine, headphones in his ears and head lowered as he scrolled absent-mindedly on his phone. He jumped and looked up with wide, startled eyes as Ansu pushed Gavi forward, but softened immediately when he saw who it was.
“Shit, that scared me,” he muttered, stopping the treadmill before pulling one of his headphones out of his ear.
“Sorry,” Gavi mumbled, shooting an annoyed look at Ansu. “I’m Gavi. I’m new.”
Pedri also shot Ansu a glance before smiling and pulling Gavi into a half-hug. Gavi turned his head sideways to avoid burying his face in the other man’s chest, a sheepish breath escaping at this awkward height difference. Peculiarly, he doesn’t sense a scent. “I’ve heard a lot about you,” the man muttered, and Gavi was snapped out of his somewhat intrusive thoughts. He leaned back and looked back up at Pedri, his lips pulled into a tight smile. Though he was the same height as Gavi, his features were softer, his build a little leaner. Even by the way he stood, it didn’t look to Gavi as though he was trying to assert his dominance as the others had when they had greeted Gavi, he merely pulled his lips into a tight line that somewhat resembled a smile and nodded. Gavi sniffed cautiously even though he knew blockers were a required accessory anywhere in the building, but only caught a hint of the scent Ansu had left behind when he had barreled into him with a welcoming hug, his blockers absent as Gavi was smothered into his chest. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Thanks,” Gavi blinked a little slowly. “It’s - yeah, it’s nice to meet you too. I’ll - uh - I’ll see you around?”
Pedri ducked his head again before replacing the headphone and restarting the machine beneath him, falling into a steady jog as he whispered whatever song was playing in his ears to himself.
Gavi turned back to Ansu with a furrow between his brows. The elder tucked an arm around Gavi’s shoulder, shouting out a goodbye to Pedri as they exited the room. Gavi waited until he was certain they were out of earshot and asked, “is he - is he an omega?”
“Yeah,” Ansu shrugged. “You didn’t know?”
“No? I thought he was a beta.”
“He told the team and the management a few months ago,” Ansu replied nonchalantly. “It’s why they made scent blockers compulsory in the changerooms and everything. The public doesn’t know yet, I think.”
Gavi nodded, eyebrows raised. “How many omegas are there in the team?”
“Well Pedri is the only one we know about but there’s probably more. It’s just easier for them to hide it, you know?”
“Not really. People aren’t all ballistic about omegas in sport anymore.”
“That doesn’t mean it won’t make a fuss and cause people to see them differently,” Ansu muttered, shooting a glance over his shoulder. “Pedri said he never had a problem telling us, but he knew the management and the staff and the physios would go insane. So he didn’t let everyone know until he had already proved himself to be able to play.”
Gavi frowned, eyes cast down to his feet. “Fair enough, I guess.”
“Yeah, it sucks but that’s just the way it is. Oh!” Ansu cried suddenly, startling Gavi. “There’s Jordi, you’re gonna love him I swear -”
***
“Hey, do you remember Mateo? That kid that headbutted you that one time during training?”
Gavi snorted, screwing the cap back on his water bottle and throwing it to the ground haphazardly beside him. “Yeah, I remember. He gave me a nosebleed.” The sun was beating down on them relentlessly as they kicked a ball between them, the shouts and laughter of the rest of their team distant in the background. “What about him?” He asked before kicking the ball with as much force as he could muster, watching as it flew across the pitch and landed by the benches where Xavi and the rest of his staff were scrutinising them bemusedly.
“He’s throwing a party. Tonight. For his birthday. I don’t want to go alone so -”
“No,” Gavi answered firmly before he could finish, already turning around and walking away so Ansu would understand the true gravity of his refusal.
“Aw, come on,” Ansu complained, following after Gavi with a teasing smile pulling at his lips. His arm found it’s way to its usual spot around Gavi’s neck, entrapping the younger against him. “We have to celebrate your promotion to the first team anyway, and -”
“No.”
“It’ll be fun -”
“No.”
“You only have to stay for -”
“No.”
“I heard Sofia will be there.”
Gavi paused. He and Sofia had met through a few mutual friends. Gavi wouldn’t really know what to call it, his friends had said they were talking. Talking suited Gavi just fine, even though there was a quiet burn in his chest that wants to meet her in person, wants to see for himself if she’s really just as distracting in reality, if her laugh really is as pretty as it sounds through the phone, if her smile truly does outshine the glow of her long blonde hair. She knew just when to laugh at Gavi’s awkward attempts at flirting without it being mocking, knew just when to step away and let Gavi take a breath. Maybe Gavi is a little stupid for being so suddenly tempted, but he’s even more stupid for showing it so clearly on his face.
Ansu was watching him with a hopeful smile etched across his lips, his eyebrows raised expectantly.
Gavi returned his smile, leaned closer, and replied, “no.”
Ansu’s smile fell with comical speed, a crestfallen look on his face as he watched Gavi march resolutely away.
***
Of course Gavi had ended up going. But it wasn’t Ansu’s insistent begging that had finally moved him, it was Sofia. She had heard through the grapevine that Gavi had been invited and was considering going. Gavi had no idea where she had gotten that last impression from but couldn’t find it in himself to tell her that he was skipping out on their chance to finally meet in person.
I can’t wait to see you, she had typed, with a little winky face at the end of the text that had Gavi sighing as he realised that, yeah, he was going to have to go to this stupid party. Ansu was unreasonably happy when he picked Gavi up from his driveway, a snide little smirk on his face and an amused lilt in the way he spoke.
“So you’re making a move on Sofia, huh?” He asked when it seemed that he could keep his mouth shut no longer. Gavi rolled his eyes and turned towards the window, pulling at his seatbelt uncomfortably.
“I never said that.”
Ansu had scoffed out a laugh. “You never say anything.”
Gavi sighed with a shrug, fiddling with his phone. “Don’t have anything to say.”
When they arrived, all five of Gavi’s senses were immediately assaulted. Music was blaring so loudly that it felt as though he could feel his brain rattling about in his head, the pungent smell of various scents mingling about the house overwhelmed his nose until it left a bitter taste at the back of his mouth. He had to squint against the bright lights that flashed about the living room as they entered, and he kept as close to Ansu as possible as they waded through the thick crowd of people to say hello to their host. Ansu and Mateo conversed while Gavi floated somewhat awkwardly off to the side, eyes darting around the crowd of people in an attempt to catch sight of a flash of familiar glowing blond hair.
“You looking for someone?” Mateo asked once he had spotted Gavi standing on his tiptoes to look over the heads of a group of particularly tall boys, their shirts reeking with alpha scents that made Gavi’s nose wrinkle.
“Oh - no, I -”
“Yes, he is, actually. Have you seen Sofia Perez anywhere around here?” Ansu cut him off before he could finish his sentence, and Gavi resisted the urge to smack him across the back of the head right then and there.
“Oh yeah, I have. She was outside the last time I saw her.”
“Great!” Ansu chirped as Gavi continued to scowl. “Off you go, Gavi.”
“Are you seriously making me go alone?” Gavi murmured in distress, tightening his jacket around himself defensively.
“Well I can’t be there when you talk to Sofia, that’d just be awkward. Don’t worry, I’ll be right here if you need me, okay?” Gavi continued to look unsure, a new, somewhat anxious expression falling over his features and he looked around the rowdy crowd of people surrounding them. “Okay?” Ansu prodded again, squeezing at Gavi’s shoulder reassuringly.
“Okay. Yeah, fine. You better not leave this spot -”
“I promise,” Ansu grinned. “They grow up so fast,” he teased, pinching at Gavi’s cheek until the younger was forced to swat his hand away, a resolutely grumpy expression set over his features.
“I’ll be right back,” he murmured, nodding at Mateo before turning and pushing past the massive hoards of people to reach the door that led out to the backyard. The last shreds of sunlight was bathing the small garden in a golden glow as people lazed about on the grass in all corners within eyesight. Gavi could breathe a little easier out here, could catch his bearings a little better. He cast his eyes toward the various little groups huddled around each other in an attempt to spot Sofia, careful not to stare too long and risk being a creep. He did a lap of the garden, feeling utterly stupid as he was met with no one that even resembled who he was looking for. He sighed and stuffed his fists into his pocket, turning back toward the door to go find Ansu. When he shuffled back into position beside Ansu, the elder was looking at him with an uncharacteristically worried expression set upon his face.
“Couldn’t find her,” Gavi shrugged, taking a sniff at the contents of Ansu’s cup before leaning back against the wall behind him.
“Yeah,” Ansu murmured, voice strangely gruff. “That’s ‘cause she’s in here.” Gavi turned his furrowed brows in the direction Ansu was gesturing, a dreadful sinking feeling sweeping over his stomach when he finally set his eyes upon what he was pointing towards.
Sofia was leant against the wall on the opposite side of the room, face flushed and a pretty smile dancing over her lips. She was speaking to someone, Gavi couldn’t quite see who, but could tell it was a man from the way they were standing, her hand on his chest and his arm around her shoulder. As he watched, she breathed out a fluttery laugh, and smacked him suggestively across his chest. Gavi’s eyes shifted over to the guy beside her, the faint burn of anger sizzling beneath his heart. He lifted to his toes, trying to catch the guy’s face, only to fall rapidly back down to his feet, mouth agape with shock.
“Is that -?”
“Yeah, I didn’t even know Pedri was coming.”
As if in a scene out of a movie, the crowd parted just enough for him to finally see the pair together, huddled in a secluded corner of the room where the light didn’t hit them. They were submerged in darkness, but Gavi could see better than he ever had in his entire life. He could see Sofia’s fingers weaving expertly into Pedri’s, could see Pedri leaning down to whisper in her ear, his lips brushing over her skin. He saw her giggle giddily and nod as he pulled away, and then they were moving, hands interlocked as they swerved through the crowd of people toward the door, finally disappearing from view.
“That’s like some shit out of a movie, Gavito,” Ansu sighed, patting Gavi lightly on the shoulder sympathetically. “Pedri usually doesn’t even come to parties like this.”
“Yeah, well, just my luck isn’t it?” Gavi glowered, crossing his arms over his chest and attempting to swallow the horrible feeling of embarrassment that was beginning to consume him.
Ansu sighed and set his cup down on the table beside him. “You want me to take you home?”
“Please?”
Ansu nodded with a tight-lipped smile and they headed towards the door.
***
The next time Gavi saw Pedri, his neck was covered in poorly hidden hickeys that made him the subject to plenty of teasing around the locker rooms during training that day. Gavi felt no sympathy at all as the others prodded at Pedri’s chest, pulling at his collar to poke at the marks littering over his neck. Pedri was swatting at the teasing hands, embarrassed laughter falling from his lips. Ansu kept shooting anxious glances at Gavi, but the younger kept his eyes turned firmly on his phone, refusing to acknowledge the hollow feeling the anger of the previous night had left in his chest.
He knew Pedri was nowhere near at fault. He knew if anyone was to blame it was Sofia, who had completely forgotten of his existence the second another guy had approached her, but some part of himself couldn’t help but wish for Pedri to fall into a hole and never come back out. Some hidden beast in his chest wanted to rip the bruises off Pedri’s skin, to shove him to the side and wash whatever was left of Sofia’s scent from his skin.
When he walked out onto the field, Pedri was standing beside the benches, pulling gloves over his fingers. Gavi, completely unable to restrain himself, barged a shoulder into Pedri’s as he walked past. The elder jolted forwards, a surprised gasp escaping his lips. He looked up, eyebrows furrowed in annoyance, but Gavi kept walking forward.
“Hey, do you mind?” Pedri called, the irritation evident in his voice.
“Nah, I don’t mind,” Gavi replied nonchalantly, refusing to turn and look Pedri in the face.
“Dude, no need to be fucking rude,” Pedri muttered as he walked passed, his shoulder brushing against Gavi’s as he broke out into a run. Gavi glared, watching the elder run over to join Ferran and Eric at the other end of the pitch, jumping onto Eric’s back as soon as he was close enough.
Pedri looked far too happy for someone that just stole a man’s prospective girlfriend. Gavi was consumed with the sudden desire to go smack the smug grin off his face.
“Stop glaring,” Ansu whispered, nudging him softly as he fell into step beside the younger.
“I’m not glaring,” Gavi murmured. He was, in fact, glaring.
“Listen, it’s not his fault -”
“I’m fine,” Gavi muttered, breaking out into a run to get as far from Pedri’s infuriating smile as possible.