Chapter Text
July 2023
“Jordan...” The quiet plea, so much more than a name, goes unanswered and Trent falls into silence as he watches the back of a man who has just broken his heart retreat from a room he thought they’d be sharing. Should be sharing. Had been sharing. Can’t make sense of anything he’s been told, so he doesn’t try. Simply sits on the edge of the bed and stares at the spot where his now former captain had been standing. The tears come hard and fast once he’s alone, but they don’t last long. Trent won’t allow himself that. Too much work to be done, only two days into camp and already so many changes. He takes a breath, glances at his phone on the nearby nightstand, then at the door, and then back to his phone. Wipes his face, picks the device up, and sends off a quick message to someone he knows will understand.
Come to yours, la? Need a chat.
It’s less than ten seconds before he gets a simple reply from Kostas. Yes, bro. Is good.
Mind still swirling, heart still thudding in his chest, Trent stands and exits his room. And immediately walks directly into something solid. Something solid that gives a soft “oof” and then a “fuck, sorry” in a European accent he’s not gotten used to yet. Dominik Szoboszlai, a teammate for less than two weeks, someone he doesn’t know well, but understands is a welcome addition to their struggling midfield. Has seen as much in the handful of training sessions they’ve taken part in together. And when he looks up at what could only be described as a concerned face and intense eyes, he’s eternally grateful he stopped crying before entering the hallway. “You are okay, bro?”
The question doesn’t register initially, Trent’s brain foggy with too many emotions, but when it does, he pulls a bewildered grimace. “Wha? Yes, la, m’fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” The Scouser isn’t ready for the answer he receives.
“This was Hendo leaving just now.” Dom replies, eyes never straying from the man in front of him even as he gestures down the hall in the direction the captain had gone. “He did not look happy. I am coming to check on you and now here you are, also not happy.”
“Coming to check on me?” Trent raises a skeptical eyebrow and takes a step away, in the direction of the room he knows Kostas is sharing with Darwin. But only one step. Doesn’t move any further, crosses his arms over his chest and wonders if he looks as amused as he feels. A strange juxtaposition to minutes earlier. “What for?”
“Is what teammates do, no?” the Hungarian says with a chuckle and a nonchalant shrug. “Your face says the rumours are true. He is leaving then?”
“Yeah.” His mouth is dry and his throat tight as he swallows and gives a brief nod. “Yeah. He’s leaving.”
*
Dom doesn’t check the time difference, not even seven hours away from the teammates he left behind. Still sharing the same country and time zone, the only real difference being the shirts they wear. All getting ready for another preseason he’s sad about no longer being a part of, missing friends and yearly traditions that will carry on without him. Isn’t worried about waking anyone, is aware of what happens in those early days of training camp, wonders what round of drinks his call will interrupt but doesn’t really care.
“Szobo! It’s been twelve hours, brother. I cannot keep doing this.” Benny’s smile is big despite his words, reaches eyes that can’t stay still. Never had been a good liar, betrayed by bright white teeth and creases of skin. “They don’t drink as long there?”
“We are not drinking at all tonight.” Dom says, wishes they had more than sparkling water to ease the boredom of a night with nowhere to go. Not what he’s used to but knows there will be time for alcohol and everything else that follows soon.
“Is it too late to leave?” The German rolls his eyes, fakes a yawn and laughs at something behind his screen. Dom hears voices he recognises before Benny’s attention is back on him.
Gets comfortable on a bed he doesn’t plan on leaving again tonight. Not for anything less than the promise of alcohol and whatever else it is he knows Curtis can get even in a country that’s not his own. “There will be time to party, Benny.”
“They will never know what hit them. What is new, then?”
“Well… I think I just saw 66 get dumped.” Refers to all his new teammates as numbers, easier for Benny to keep track of, will have plenty of his own additions to learn over the summer. Including Fabio, someone Dom’s heard plenty about even in his absence. 18 as he’s known between the two of them, short conversations about what Benny sees and what Dom knows, a mess he thinks he’d rather not come back to at all.
“You still ain’t getting him, Kutya.”
“Got you, no?”
“Bro.” His laugh loud even through the speaker he thinks might be pressed to the palm of a drunken hand. Muffled slightly as he moves, walks away from what Dom assumes is a booth at the bar of their hotel. Too quiet to be anything too extreme, enough to appease the need for spirits and the itch that comes with the warmth of summer. “I am not him.”
“I could have him, y’know.”
“I think maybe you have been drinking.” Dom realises where he’s being taken to then, sees the blur of the sign for the bathroom and hears jeans being unzipped.
The unpleasant echo that follows somehow adding to the ache of everything he’s missing, takes a moment to remind himself of why he moved. Manages a smile before he says, “I will put money on it.”
“I have money, Szobo. I’ll take that.” Motions to the necklace around Dom’s neck, a skull made of silver and diamonds on a chain that’s almost just as heavy. Worn by Benny in moments they’ve shared over the years, taken everywhere with him since then. Tucked under t-shirts or hidden in his baggage.
“And when I win? What then?”
“You could name anything and not get it. So, I’ll let you choose.” Cocky and full of himself and a reminder of all the ways they’re too similar, he waits as Dom thinks.
“Fine then. Your Rolex, bro.” Knows that Benny’s probably wearing it now, even if he can’t see it. Gold with a white face, every hour a piece of diamond. Notices the slight change in the defender’s expression, the slight tug at the corners of his mouth and the lines of worry slightly deeper than the ones that come with “Not so sure now?”
“You may as well send the necklace to me in the morning. It’s been a while since I wore it, no?”
Doesn’t give in to the teasing that’s usually reserved for nights where they have no one else, laughs and shakes his head. “For good reason. I am afraid you will have to wait longer.”
“We’ll see.”
Tired suddenly, he hums in agreement, has no time to get into an argument or a conversation he knows could go on much longer. Will no doubt have a team meeting in the morning, an announcement he can’t quite believe will need sharing. Needs all the sleep he can get before a day he wasn’t quite expecting. “Wash your hands and go to bed, Benny.”