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pitchsidestories · 8 months

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If I was a man II Mapi León/Alexia Putellas x Readers

warnings: talk about the Rubiales case and it's a longer oneshot than usual

a/n: based off this request

barcelona women masterlist

OCs are sisters, face claims are the women in the picture underneath: Luisa Ruiz Moreno is a journalist and is dating Mapi Leon, Elena Ruiz Moreno is a football player for Barcelona and Spain, she's in a long-term relationship with Alexia Putellas

Her heart was beating fast against her chest while Luisa Ruiz Moreno tried to videocall her girlfriend Mapi León before the final game of the World Cup 2023 in Australia.

The journalist could not help but smile as Claudia Pina spotted her with a wide grin on her face from the small phone screen of the defender: “Lu!” “Move over, Claudia. I want to talk to my girlfriend in peace.”, Mapi asked her to but even she was smiling because the positive energy of the younger player was infectious.

Watching this all too familiar scene play out, Elena could not help but long to be reunited with them again, but choose to greet the footballers for now: “Hi love, Hi girls.” “Shut up, we want to talk to her too, Claudia rolled her eyes, before she excitedly waved into the direction the phone was standing, Hello Lu!”

“How are you all doing?”, Elena asked in a curious tone, trying to braid her dark hair at the same time.

Truthfully Patri answered the question smirking: “We could be doing good if there wasn’t this final coming up.” “Will you watch it later though?”, the Journalist wanted to know from them.

With a tortured smile her girlfriend replied: “We’re planning on watching it together. Claudia already organized the snacks.” “And Sandra got the alcohol, it might be needed.”, Patri added with a mischievously grin. “However, it ends, it will be needed.”, Claudia clarified.

Slowly Mapi nodded: “Exactly, so..” “So, what?”, Elena interrupted her softly. Slightly annoyed Patri looked at her: “Mapi, hurry up. We don’t have all day.” “I need to talk to her under four eyes for a second.”, the defender decided quickly and went into a room without any persons in it.

Amused Elena teased her: “So what do you want to ask without your girls in the background?” “Can I not just talk to my girlfriend?”, Mapi asked back, adding a playful frustrated groan for the dramatic effect. More seriously, the brunette continued: “Of course you can. I miss you; it’s been a month apart from you now.”

To be fair Elena felt extremely grateful for the opportunity to write about the sport she loved the most on the biggest stage that existed for it, and what an unforgettable tournament it has been so far, but equally could not wait to see and hold her girlfriend again.

“I know, I miss you too.“, Mapi replied into the front camera of her phone. “But you know, I have to look after my sister now too.“, Luisa stopped her girlfriend, laughing.

Mapi had to stop herself from rolling her eyes, “Your sister is an adult.“ With a shrug, Luisa answered, “Yes, I know but…“ A small smile tugged on Mapis lips as she finally gave in, “Go and take care of your sister.“ Luisa suddenly turned serious, “You don’t think it’s silly, right?“ „No. I think it’s good that you’re close by and can have an eye on her. I don’t trust this.“

Luisa nodded slowly, taking her girlfriends hint immediately, “You don’t trust him.“ “No, I don’t.“ Everything in Mapi refused to believe that things have changed since the players protested in September of last year. And her former teammates gave her more than enough evidence that they still weren’t happy with the leadership of their head coach. And apparently, her girlfriend must have seen the same because she agreed, “I don’t either.“

“You will tell us if you find out that something weird is going on, right?“, Mapi asked now. “Of course.“ “Good.“ Mapi watched her girlfriends gaze shifted towards the time on her screen before she smiled, “I’ll call you after the game, okay?“ “Okay, enjoy the final.“

Mapi ended the call with a smile and a feeling of uneasiness at the same time but there was no time to think about it because Patri was yelling from her living room, “Hurry up, León, or you won’t get any snacks!“ “You can’t eat all the snacks before the game even started!“, Mapi protested while hopping over the backrest of her sofa and landing right between Claudia and Patri. Claudia was now holding an empty bowl in her hands by, “Oops.“

"Claudia!", Mapi shot a playful accusing look to the younger player. With a red face Claudia tried to cheer her teammate up:" There's still a little bit left for you." "Thanks, appreciate it.", Mapi smiled at her. Softly Claudia answered: "You're welcome."

"Can you guys shut up now.", Patri begged them, because the final just started. With big eyes the younger midfielder decided to apologize: "Sorry." "There's a game going on.", she stated, gesturing her hands into the direction of the TV screen.

A few minutes later Mapi mumbled under her breath: "Shit, Olga scored." With a curious look Claudia turned her head to the defender:" I thought we were neutral?" "Yeah one of your best friends and your girlfriend's sister is in the final.", Patri reminded her.

Not even that reminder from her friend could stop Mapi from swearing:"I still don't want this disgusting asshole to win anything." "Trust me no one does her.", Sandra tried to reassure her. The latter one let out a loud sigh:"I know. Or else you would be on the pitch right now."

Hesitantly Claudia proposed a question to all of them:"True.. do you guys feel like you're missing out?" "No.", was the defenders quick answer. Comforted by it the younger midfielder added:" Me neither, I'm in good company." "Pina, you're adorable.", Patri commented touched by the statement of her teammate. "I know." "But I'd like to watch the remaining part of the game in peace now.", the woman who was born on the Island of Callorca finished her sentence by staring at the two of them.

Laughing Mapi asked:"Why you're looking at us like that?" "Because you two are distracting from the action.", Patri groaned. Swiftly Claudia got to her feet:"I'll get more snacks!"

"It's not our fault you've the attention of a goldfish, Patri.", the defender mocked her friend. "Rude"

In a serious tone Mapi turned to her other teammate:" Claudia, come back. You don't have to get more snacks. It's over."

"Get the alcohol instead!", Sandra requested.

Claudia stopped in the door frame of Mapis living room. With a frown on her face, she turned back towards the TV where the final whistle was just blown. The Spanish player were hugging each other tightly and Claudia understood immediately. “Alright.“, she mumbled before disappearing into the kitchen.

She came back with a bottle of tequila and four shot glasses that she quickly filled up with the alcohol. Mapi took the first one and lifted it towards the screen, “Cheers.“ Patri was following suit immediately, rolling her eyes, “To the World Cup.“ With a hard swallow and glassy eyes, Claudia joined them, “To our friends. Here and there.“ “And definitely not to this clown.“, Mapi added as their head coach was shown. “Honestly.“, agreed Patri. The four women tipped their heads back to take their tequila shots and then continued to watch the celebrations in silence. They all were following the live pictures with mixed emotions.

Until the Spanish players were awarded their medals. In stunned silence, they watched the president of the football federation grab and then kiss Jenni Hermoso on the lips. Patri was the first to find her voice, so she yelled out, “He did not just do that!“ Claudia was shaking her head over the few seconds that the cameras captured this moment, “Please tell me this only looked weird…“ “I will ask Lu about it later.“, stated Mapi, knowing that if her girlfriend had seen this, she would be just as disgusted as they were. Patri nodded, “Please.“

Mapi was still looking at the screen in disbelief, “This man!“ Sandra, in the mean time, filled their shot glasses again, “Way to ruin a perfect night for the girls.“ “They deserve so much better than this.“, agreed Mapi, taking the offered tequila. “Fit rights into their shitty behaviour!“, Patri spat, her shock now turning into anger. Mapi watched with a set jaw as the president lifted another player, touching her bare leg, “But now everyone can see their real face and why we striked.“

Hopeful Patri turned to her:"Not when people ignore it. Do you think Lu could do something?" "I'm sure she can.", the defender answered, knowing her girlfriend and her skills in writing about the ills in society and her calls for change with the use of powerful words. "That would be perfect.", Patri mumbled. Still Mapi did not want to get her hopes too high, knowing the spanish federation all too well, so she said:"We'll see."

"Lu just texted and told me that she's too tired to call but she said the kiss will blow up in the news tomorrow. During a locker room interview Jenni stated that she did not like the kiss.", the defender informed her teammates. Excitedly Claudia stood up:" Yeah, I just saw it on instagram live!" "Guess now they will believe us.", Patri concluded with a bitter undertone.

Truthfully Mapi confessed:"I don't believe it's going to be that easy." "Probably not.. because when was this ever.", the older midfielder sighed. Slowly Sandra nodded:" You've got a point there." "But we keep on fighting.", Claudia tried to stay combatitive. A weak smile showed up on the defenders face:"Of course we do, we did not miss out on the World Cup for nothing." "Exactly.", Patri agreed. That's when Mapi felt the calm before the storm which one could already see up on the horizon:"We'll wait and do whatever the other girls need us to do."

A few hours before the conversation of their teammates in Barcelona, Alexia Putellas hugged her girlfriend from behind with a joyful smile on her face while they were lining up in the players tunnel, anticipating the start of the final:"Ready to write some history, El?" "History, huh?", Elena smirked at her. In a solemn tone the famous midfielder replied:"That's what this is. Spains first World Cup final." "Right.", the brunette woman whispered in awe. That final was full of firsts and they could not wait to make it into the history books as the champions of tonight and the world.

“Let’s go. It’s showtime, lovebirds!“, Jenni called them. Elena furrowed her brow, “Lovebirds?! We were just talking about making history, Jenni.“ “Sure, you two. Stop staring at each other and let’s kick some ass.“, the striker rolled her eyes. Alexia did the same, defending herself, “We were about to.“ “I bet so.“, Jenni answered laughing. Elena smiled at her two teammates, “Can’t wait.“ “We only got a few more minutes, so go.“, Jenni replied, pushing the two of them into the tunnel where they waited for the game to start.

While they waited, Alexia casually slipped her hand into Elenas and hooking their pinkies into each other. Irene, who was standing behind them, leaned forward to call over the row of players, “Jenni, they do the hand thing again!“ “The hand thing?“, Jenni repeated as she turned around. “Yes, look!“ The corner of her mouth quirked upwards while she turned her eyes upwards in feigned disgust, “Annoying.“ “We heard that!“, Alexia yelled out, offended. “Good. I hope you did!“, Jenni laughed as they finally walked out onto the pitch.

For ninety minutes they put everything they had into the game. England fought hard but they fought harder. And when the final whistle blew, one goal was enough to secure them World Cup title. Irene was the first one to speak after the game, still breathing hard and with tears in her eyes, “Girls, we won…“ Elena stood close to her, hugging her from the side, “Yes, we did.“ Her voice was a whisper. She still hadn’t realized what had just happened. Jennis beaming face appeared in front of the two, “I’m so proud of you all!“ “We’re proud of you too.“, Elena smiled back at her. But then her sister caught her eye. She was standing outside of the pitch with the other journalists, her face blank. “If you excuse me, my sister is over there.“, Elena added, turning away from her team mates and making her way over to her sister.

Proudly Luisa smiled at her:"El, hi." "Hi.", the older of the sister greeted back. Nervously the journalist pulled a loose hair behind her ear:"I don't know how to feel, but how are you?" "I'm happy that we pulled that off, Lu.", Elena confessed.

Cautiously Luisa asked her:"Even after all the things that happened? What about the girls at home?" "Lu, we just won the World Cup.", the football player gave the younger sister a grave look. Guiltily Luisa bit her lip:"Sorry, you're right, enjoy your celebrations and lifting the trophy you girls deserve it." "Lu.."

Apologizing she gave her a rushed hug:"El, I'm really proud of you, see you later in the changing room." "Alright.", Elena nodded slowly.

With a smile, Alexia joined them, clearing her throat to get their attention:" Come on, time to get the medal love." "Coming... Lu wasn't happy with us winning.", her girlfriend sighed.

Empathetically the midfielder strode her shoulder:" Don't think about it right now. This is a moment to enjoy." "You're right." A big grin showed on Alexia's face as she catched the sight of Irene's son:" Look at Mateo." "A cutie.", Elena whispered. The mother of the child came up and beamed:"Right?" "Definetly.", the sister of the journalist agreed, knowing that she would want something like that with her girlfriend at some point in the future too. "He's not even tired yet.", Irene giggled.

Softly Alexia called her girlfriend:"El?" "Yes?" "You can be happy now. No matter what Lu says.", the midfielder reminded her. Unhappy Elena looked at her:"It's hard when your little sister is clearly disappointed in you." "She isn't disappointed in you.", Alexia disagreed.

After the ceremenonial part of the evening was over,Jenni excitedly shouted:"Time to party, girls.""We're coming.", Alexia answered with a huge grin on her face.

Immediately Elena started dancing and singing with her teammates. Enchanted by that view her girlfriend was shouting to be heard over the loud music:"El! Smile for the camera." "Where did you get the Polaroid camera?", the blonde football player asked curiously. Casually Alexia shrugged:"Some of the girls."

"Come on you need to be in the picture too.", Elena requested, the highly decorated midfielder followed her demand swiftly as she placed a kiss on her cheek while the couple was taking the photo. "And ? is it a good one?", Alexia wanted to know.

"Yes, I'll put it in my journal." "I want one for me too.", the woman with the pink hair smiled sheepishly. The blonde nodded and took another picture for her, the girlfriend thanking her with a sofr kiss. "Here you go." Alexia was admiring the photo in her hand:"Beautiful, I'll keep it with my medal." "You're welcome."

Like her sister Luisa was in the changing room and approached one of the players in her journalistic manner: "Jenni, can I ask you something?" "Sure", the striker nodded. Before proposing her next question, the journalist cleared her throat:"The kiss from rubiales, was it consensual?"

"It was..I mean..I did not enjoy if that's what you mean?", Jenni answered hesitantly.

The journalist blushed, aware how terrible it was to ask her something like that during the glorioust moment in her career:"Sorry, if you don't want to talk about it, I absolutely understand that."

"I should go and celebrate with the other girls."

"Yes, you should. Thanks for your time, I appreciate your honesty.", Luisa thanked her.

The striker sighed: "Lu?" "Yes?" Jenni took a deep breath before she said: "He grabbed me and kissed me. That's the truth." "And you did not like it?" "No.", the striker answered without a doubt in her voice.

She could see the younger woman opposite of her swallowing hard:"You know this will be a big story by tomorrow, right?"

"Does it have to be?", Jenni asked, clearly uncomfortable about those news. In an honest voice Luisa replied calm:"It depends on his reaction."