#zaniero

The days after May 5, 2002 were impossible for Javier, it was as if his life had been destroyed... he was the captain, he took on everything that came to him, it was his duty... but he too had a limit and in fact after accusations and mockings he built a wall: he locked himself in his house.

He didn't let anyone in, he didn't answer messages or calls, actually it was as if his brain had just stopped working: 4-2... those two damn goals, and the tears that came out of his eyes between the covers of the sofa were many more than two, those walls became his defenses from a cruel world.  And in those desperate moments he became a child again, reminding himself with a sad smile of when he was a child and, after a bad fall while playing his friends, full of dreams like him, he'd went to his mother, bleeding, and asking for a hug, a bit of affection and comfort.  She kissed him on the forehead and washed and bandaged his wounds, carrying him to bed with a smile. And at that memory the Argentinian smiled, but his mother had remained in his brithplace (how much he missed it) and he was now alone.

But hadn't he chosen it?

"If anyone cared they would come to visit you..." and for the millionth time in a few days he ignored the constant devil on his shoulder, chasing it away....

But, in the midst of his mourning, someone knocked.

"No... impossible..." what if he dreamt it? He wanted someone to come so much that his already experienced senses had played such a trick on him?

 Intrigued, however, the Inter player opened the door....he wishes he hadn't done so.  "Nono, are you kiddin'... are you kidding me?!"  and Javier, in his denial, shook his head and tried to push the guest with his bare hands, but the other did not move.

Javier, his anger increasing, hissed: "What do you want... Del Piero?", well... yes, Alex Del Piero was at his door.

 It wasn't the first time he'd come to his house, but it was the first time he wasn't welcome.  But Zanetti's threats (so similar to pleas) were of no use, the Captain of the Bianconeri remained there, motionless, with sad eyes and a fragile smile of pity.  Javier didn't want pity, they had lost, and it was his fault, no amount of pity could save him from what he earned.  It was too late for pity now.

 "Javier-" "Oh, now we do use first names, Alessandro?"  "I thought that after everything we've been through we could talk civilly..." "I thought that after everything we've been through YOU WOULDN'T COME HERE JUST TO REMBER ME HOW YOU WON THE SCUDETTO!" and Zanetti was shouting, in front of everyone, so much so that some people walking near the house turned to look at him, on the doorframe.  Alex pinched his nose and when he spoke he seemed much more serious and... tired: "Javi... I didn't come for this and you know it, you're delusional, it's not you anymore. But you have to recognize it, you lost. I won't let you stay locked up here to destroy you though."

 And with that small, tiny sentence, reality collapsed on Javier Zanetti like a house of cards, but he was part of another deck, the discarded one, he broke, burst into desperate tears and clung to Alex, as steadfast as a rock in the open sea, the Juventus captain gave him a hug and took him into the house, he knew it well by now, they sat down on the sofa.

 "I'm the captain... it's my fault if we lost...", Alex frowned at the words "It's not true and you know it too, everyone of you lost exactly because you're captain your team needs you now.".

 "Yes, but it's easy for you to talk... you won the Scudetto in the end... you are the Italian Champions, the fantastic Juventus... and us? We only lost against Lazio and lost the Scudetto the last day...".

 Alessandro didn't want to hear another word, he caressed his shoulder, Javier shivered at the touch, how much he missed him... he missed Alex but he didn't want to look for him after the match, he was angry with the world, with him above all.

 "Thank you... for coming, and sorry for earlier, I didn't know what to think, I was sure that you too would come and tell me that I wasn't up to your standards, I wasn't a good captain... I didn't deserve you..." "Javier Adelmar Zanetti... don't say something like that again. I love you, and you are much more important than a Scudetto won or lost, you are my greatest trophy and I can only thank football for having known you."  and Alex kissed him, slowly and passionately, it was sweet as honey but filled with desire, and Javier as much as he loved him, kissed him back and who knows how much they were like that, enjoying their love with these sweet gestures.

Then Alessandro shook his hands and looked at him in those chocolate brown eyes that shone with untold emotions (and tears) and said to him: "Now go and show all of Italy who Javier Zanetti, captain of Inter, is and why they chose him!"  and his boyfriend hugged him again, and Alex smiled when he saw the determination return in his gaze, because Javier was a warrior, he always has been, and after a lost battle you have to move forward, whatever it takes.

 Zanetti stood up, their noses were touching and god, how grateful he was for Alessandro, "I love you, only you could have cheered me up... will you be by my side in this revenge match?"

 The greatest love was the one the world will never know, two Captains who were not bitter rivals, but the tenderest of lovers.

 "Always. I am your most trusted companion, my love."

 And they kissed again...

 ...you are the best prize that life has given me...