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Pedri wasn’t usually a jealous person.
He had long understood and appreciated that what he had was enough. But seeing Gavi throw himself to Lewa had triggered something in him he had tried to hard to forget. It wasn’t just that his teammates weren’t celebrating with him, it was the sight of Gavi and Lewa had brought forth old memories, of when he and Leo has their many celebrations on the pitch together.
Leo had been one of Pedri’s biggest supporters since his first day, and as Pedri grew more and more homesick away from the Canary Islands, away from his parents, Leo gave him guidance and almost became a father figure for him. During Barca’s dark period Leo helped Pedri recover from the hard trading session, all the losses, and he and Antonella welcomed him into their home multiple times after the few precious wins they had. Pedri and Leo had an amazing on and off the pitch relationship, as Leo took Pedri under his wing and shielded him from the harsh world of football.
Pedri understood why he left, he understood he never truly wanted to leave, but his exit still left a whole in Pedri’s being. His mentor, who helped and grounded him when he first arrived, had so abruptly left.
Enough time had passed since that summer, and Pedri had grown even more comfortable in Barca, his closest friends soon joining him, Eric, Balde, Ferran, Ansu, and especially Gavi. Pedri had always wished Gavi had met Leo, who could’ve taught him the importance of staying calm, but Pedri took that as his role now. Pedri’s on pitch with Leo was soon fulfilled once again with Gavi.
They understood each other so well, knowing what passes and moves the other would make. Even off the pitch they were as close as could be, the others often teasing them that they would never get a girlfriend if they only spent tine with each other. Seeing Gavi and Lewa celebrating made Pedri happy, happy that Gavi was getting a mentor as Pedri had, but left a bittersweet taste on his tongue as his eyes followed them.
The following week at training, Pedri watched out the corner of his eye as Gavi and Lewa ran their passing exercise with each other. Ferran, noticing his distractedness kicked the ball to Pedris arm, shaking him out of his daze.
“Earth to Pedri?” Ferran teased Pedri. “I know you love watching Gavi and miss him, but I think you guys can go one training session without each other.”
“What?” Pedri said as his mouth quirked in confusion, “Oh no. It’s not that, and anyways what do you mean me and Gavi do just fine without each other.”
“Sure, whatever you say,” Ferran said with a knowing look that Pedri never understood, he always seemed to have it whenever he would glance over at Pedri and Gavi. “You can tell me anything you know?” Pedri nodded appreciatedly before kicking the ball back to Ferran.
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The following evening Ferran, Pedri, and Gavi sat in Pedri’s flat playing their usual rounds of Fifa.
“Noooooo,” Gavi yelled out as he tossed his controller down the couch when he once again lost to Ferran.
Pedri only chucked as Gavi fell back onto him, the back of Gavi’s head colliding with his chest.
“How does this happen every time,” Gavi said as he gazed up at Pedri.
“You just suck that’s how” Ferran teased as sat further back on the adjacent couch.
“That’s it, I’m going to sleep,” Gavi said as he got up and went to one of Pedri’s extra rooms in his flat, which had basically become Gavi’s room as the drawers were half-filled with his clothes and the cupboards in the kitchen filled with his favorite snacks.
Ferran waved him goodnight as he moved over next to Pedri who’s usually dark underlies, had grown a shade darker. “What’s on your mind,” he asked, taking a sip of the beer he had been cradling all night.
“Nothing,” Pedri said as he wrung his hands.
Ferran shook his head as he handed Pedri his beer, “You know what Xavi said about keeping it in, just let it out.” Pedri took a long swig before throwing his head back, him and Ferran had many long late night conversation, and often confided in each other, Pedro about his homesickness and Ferran about his insecurity in the team and Sira.
“It’s just that seeing Lewa and Gavi made me remember, you know, Leo. I get that he’s gone, and it’s been a while, it just stings a little to see them and know that I can’t have that anymore.” Pedri admitted as he felt the familiar sting in his eyes.
Ferran let out a sigh of understanding as he continued, “I’m happy that Gavi has someone like Lewa to tell him not to drink fizzy drinks, he never listens to me but he will to Lewa, but it’s just salt in the wound sometimes.”
“Have you thought of reaching out to him?” Ferran asked, “To Leo.”
Pedri’s brows fell in confusion, “I mean I heard he’s coming to Barca for a week during his break. I’m sure he wouldn’t be against going out to lunch for an hour or two.”
Pedri nodded his head slowly as he slumped further into the couch, soaking in the silence, listening to the dull noise of the fan running from Gavi’s room.
Eventually Ferran left for his own flat and Pedri went to his own room, and just as he slid into bed he reached for his phone, hastily opening his last text to Leo. He couldn’t think twice before he hit send and felt anxious as he saw the bubble’s immediately floating.
That sounds great Pedro, would love to catch up
He felt the grin grow on his face as he quickly arranged plans and had once he shut his phone off he felt much lighter than he did only an hour earlier.
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2 weeks later
“How have you been Pedro?” Leo asked as he gave him a firm hug.
Pedri smiled as they sat down at the small cafe in the Catalonian city, feeling the ache in his heart disappearing as he knew everything would be fine.