#classicmatch

Hi guys! I’m a big soccer fan, and since the world cup is still on, I decided to write something about this beautiful sport. I hope you like it guys.

I want to thank my beta reader FlightlessLeaf, who helped me a lot with this one, by correcting all my grammar mistakes. Thanks a lot!!

Enjoy!

  The barracks were quieter than usual today. We were in the middle of a four-day weekend and many soldiers were on vacation or visiting their families. Others lived elsewhere, but some like my squad and I lived in the military enclosure. It was actually rather convenient since we didn’t have to pay rent or a mortgage.

That weekend had been most expected for our team. A couple months before, a big event had been announced; a classic soccer match would be played. I’ve always been a big fan of soccer. When I was a child I used to see the games with my father and now that I was in the army, and pretty much surrounded by men, I became even fonder of it.

This weekend, two of the most traditional rival teams would play: Barcelona vs Real Madrid, and besides that being the main excitement, there was something else that was making me look forward to it and no, it wasn’t the snacks or the beers that we were allowed to have solely for the event. But, where should I begin?

Some months before that weekend we were assigned to a new squad. Commander Erwin had authorized Captain Levi to create a special operations squad, for which I was fortunately chosen to be part of, along with three other men. Erd, Gunther and Oluo. Yes, I was the only female in the squad, thank you very much. We all came from different parts of the country and I was surprised because that meant the Captain’s decision was made based on our personal files and abilities on the battlefield. Nowadays I got along just well with the guys. We were a close team, but regarding soccer, rivalries arose. Especially in matches like this weekend’s.

To the delight of the guys, and to be honest, me as well, the Commander allowed us to get some beers and use the multipurpose room in the barracks to watch the game. But aside from that, my team invited him, along with Hanji Zoe (leader of the scientific research squad) and our Captain to be with us. And that made me felt uneasy.

I was ashamed to admit that I had a crush on Captain Levi. And it looked like it was a big problem for a soldier like me… or like him. That was why I didn’t do anything about it and I just hope I wasn’t too obvious with my feelings towards him. We spend lots of time together as a team; being part of the squad required it. Nevertheless, for some time now that is not only limited for group activities. I helped him with his paperwork for the Commander and I’ve even met him in the mornings, when I go for run or go to the library to read for a while, and all that had made a special bond between us. Or at least that’s what I like to think.

That aside, this weekend he would be watching the game with us, and I was so excited about it but at the same time I was buzzing with nerves. I wondered what the odds were for something happening between us. What if he noticed my feelings or my blush when I see him? Or worse! What if he liked my rival soccer team?! Well, that last one would be found out that afternoon.

  Since the early morning Oluo and Gunther brought a big sofa and some chairs to the multipurpose room. They also brought some tables, a led screen TV, installed the HD cable and most importantly, they cleaned the whole place. It was just unthinkable for the Captain to be in a dirty space. I guess the months we’ve spent with him have taught us a lot about his cleaning habits.

As for me, I was in charge of buying the supplies with Erd.

“Petra, I really hope you already know what to do for snacks. My cooking isn’t the best and I can’t think of anything besides French fries. Besides, I don’t want to poison the whole squad.”

“Don’t worry, I gave it a thought last week. We need bread, sausages, some chips, some sauces…”

“What a relief… hey by the way, I know you’re a big fan of soccer, but you’ve never told us your favorite team or at least which of today’s teams you support.”

“Let’s say that I would like to keep it a secret until the game. But I can tell you that my favorite team is playing today!”

“Really? It’s going to be hard to guess then.  Of course, I know you’re a smart girl who knows what’s good, so I’m sure you are a Real Madrid fan, just like me,” he winked.

“You’ll see…”

  After finishing with the shopping we went back to the barracks. It was still early but the sooner we ended up with the preparations, the better. Of course Erd made sure to bring a really big endowment of beer, as well as flirt with the girls promoting them. So typical of him.

When everything was ready, we had a couple of free hours before the game and I took the opportunity to take a bath and most importantly, put on my favorite team’s shirt. After that I went to the kitchen to start taking the food to the multipurpose room. On the way I met Gunther, who stared at me with a joyful face.

“That’s great Petra! You are a Barça fan! That’s it… you’re an awesome woman! But why hadn’t you told us before?

“Let’s say, I like to keep some mystery for myself,” I started to laugh.

“Let me help you with the food,” he smiled and took some of the trays with him.

  Not long after that, Erd and Oluo appeared. I knew how big of fans of Real Madrid they were, so I was always very careful not to antagonize with them or say which my favorite team is, and that’s exactly why their expressions were priceless.

“Oh, really? Petra, you’ve got to be kidding me! Barcelona… you’ve disappointed me.”

“I highly doubt you could be my wife if you like that team…” Oluo proudly fixed his Real Madrid shirt. That guy could be so pedantic when he wants.

“Oh jeez… now I won’t be able to sleep at night Oluo!” I replied sarcastically.

“Well, at least now is all balanced. We are two who support Barcelona and two for Real Madrid. Anyone knows which team Captain Levi likes?”

The truth was that no one had any idea.  In fact, we didn’t even know if he liked soccer at all, but we still argued about it, without reaching a conclusion at all so we turned the TV on and set it to see the previews of the match.

Some minutes later Commander Erwin arrived wearing a pair of blue jeans, a white casual shirt and a black jacket with white stripes and the Real Madrid logo.

“Commander, you surely know about soccer,” commented Erd smiling at him.

“Hala Madrid!” the Commander said and we all laughed.

Not much later Hanji arrived too and with her usual eccentricity, she wore an AC Milan shirt. To be honest, I didn’t see that one coming but I found it quite funny.

Some minutes before the game started we opened the beer bottles as everyone talked, but as time passed my nerves grew.

I hadn’t seen much of Captain Levi outside work and I was looking forward to see him wearing casual clothes, just like that day when I met him at a coffee shop near the military compound. I had always thought he was attractive, and he looked even more handsome in uniform, but seeing him as a civilian was priceless. I began to daydream again but Erd took me out of my trance when he yelled at Gunther.

“Hey Gunther! You own me $40!”

“Wait! The bet was about him wearing a soccer shirt, so it’s cancelled.”

Immediately I looked up to see Captain Levi, who had just entered the room, wearing a pair of black jeans, a dark blue long sleeve shirt and on top of it a white t-shirt. Nothing extraordinary; very casual, but he looked very good.

“Tsch… you idiots thought I would bring a soccer shirt?” his voice tone was just like always and he looked at us wearing our favorite team’s shirts.     

“I don’t think this little one likes any particular team…in fact, I don’t even think he likes soccer at all,” Hanji took a sip of her beer and smiled.

“What about you, shitty glasses? You’re not even wearing a t-shirt from any of the teams playing today.”

“I know, but I didn’t want to look odd, and since this is the only soccer shirt I have….” She winked and ate a sandwich from the small table in front of the sofa.

“Would you like a beer, Captain?” I stood up and took a beer from the cooler where the bottles were.

“Thanks Petra,” he said as I handed him the beer and our fingers barely touched.

The game was about to begin and we were all very excited, even the Captain looked more relaxed than usual. He was conveniently sitting next to me and if I wasn’t really into the game, I would have been so distracted with the warmth coming from his body and our legs touching from time to time.

Every time there was a good pass someone yelled or complained, there were even some claims for the judge or some players. “Hey, what the hell? That was a foul! He kicked him!”, “Don’t be an asshole, the shithead threw himself to the grass! Shitty glasses should give you her glasses you morron!”, “that was a penalty kick!”, “Idiot, pass the freaking ball!”, “don’t be such a pussy man, he didn’t even touch you” were the things we all yelled the whole game.

As soon as a goal was scored by one of the Barcelona players I jumped from my seat, along with Gunther, both of us very hyper and he almost broke the plate of chips that was on the table on front of him.

Throughout the whole game I had the slight feeling that Captain Levi was watching me, and even a couple times when I turned to see him or comment something about the game I caught him staring. His expression didn’t change much the entire time, but I’ve spent enough time with him to know he enjoyed the game, which by the way, was so interesting!

In the end, it was a tie. But perhaps it was for the best and no one got angry. After the game we spent the afternoon talking, eating snacks, drinking beer and everyone was telling funny stories about their life as soldiers. When the night came, we were all under the effects of alcohol, on different levels of course, and we decided to get over with the reunion.

“Erd, Gunther, Oluo, I want you guys to clean this place and leave it without any trace of dirt,” Captain Levi said with authority, serious as always.

“Yes sir!”

“Petra, we’re going to clean the kitchen.”

  There weren’t many dirty dishes because Erd and I cleaned everything after cooking the snacks before the game, so we didn’t have much work to do. I washed the dishes while the Captain dried them and put them back in their place. It was very enjoyable as we talked about many things. After all, we were somehow used to it after our casual meetings around the military compound or the library, and I couldn’t help but feeling that after every talk we got closer and he was somehow more interested in me. Perhaps I was just making fake illusions in my mind, and those beers I drank weren’t helping at all.

I was about to put the onion dip inside the fridge, didn’t noticing him standing behind me and I got his shirt dirty… idiot me!

“Captain! I’m so sorry it wasn’t my intention…” I felt like everything I had achieved until that moment fell apart, broke into a million pieces. He was very picky with the cleaning and getting his shirt all stained and smelling like onion probably wasn’t the best thing in the world.

“Don’t worry.” Quickly, he took off his shirt while I looked for some detergent to clean it.

“I’m honestly sorry Captain… I didn’t see you there.”

“Don’t be so worried, it was an accident. Besides, I was right behind you, if anything it was my fault,” he said as he rinsed his shirt, without a trace of anger or tension in his voice.

“…Okay…” then I tried to change the subject and avoid an awkward silence. “It’s been a good day, I wish we could do this again… but maybe with a different activity, since you don’t seem like much of a soccer fan.”

“Yes and those snacks were really good. I’m sure your boyfriend is a lucky man,” he said coldly.

“Well, I really wouldn’t know. I don’t have one so…”

“Are you serious? Well, their loss I guess,” there was a silence and I blushed a little, but he didn’t noticed. “Anyways… do you really think I don’t like soccer?” I heard his voice having a little change, as though there was a small sparkle of gentleness and amusement. I’ve never heard him talk like that. I think his voice is always kind of sexy but in that moment I felt even more attracted to him. “Do you think if I didn’t like soccer I would have been there with you guys?” he looked at me for a second.

“Now that you mention it, I guess not. But I didn’t think the game as important for you as it was for us.”

“Well, you never asked me which was my favorite team, did you?” and then he turned to face me, with a peculiar look in his eyes, one that I had never seen until that moment and I couldn’t help it but blush when our eyes met, so I looked down and finally saw his long sleeved shirt, the one that had been practically covered with the white one. The shirt had a red Barcelona team logo on the left side. It was one of those shirts they sold in the official store; the casual clothing brand.

I looked at him in the eyes again, undoubtedly finding a small and hussy smile on his lips. Then I laughed a little.

“To be honest with you… I’m so relieved I that you’re not a Real Madrid fan… those guys are…”

“They are something else, right?” there was a pause. “I think everything’s done here, so we can go to sleep. Let me escort you to your room, Petra”.

“Tha… thank you.” I was happy that the place was rather dark because I blushed so hard. When we arrived to my dorm room I looked at him shyly, but smiling.

“Thank you for today. I had fun with you guys… and I was happy to see you so excited watching the game and that we like the same team.”

“No, thanks to you.”

“Hey listen, it’s a long weekend so… I don’t know… perhaps you’d like to have a coffee or something,” he looked down at the floor and his voice tone went down a little “… maybe we could keep talking about soccer,” and then I saw a beautiful and soft glance looking at me.

“Sure, I’d like that. How about tomorrow at midday?”

“Sounds good to me,” he was calm, and then he did something that left me cold as ice. Slowly he leaned in and kissed my cheek. I felt his warmth and smelt his aromas like never before. I was speechless. “Good night Petra.”