Harbinger Of Glory

By the time Leo reached his apartment, the rain had followed him all the way home.

He stood outside the door for a moment, balancing his matchday bag against his shoulder while he searched for his keys.

His ankle had stiffened during the journey, and every few steps had become more uncomfortable than the last.

Eventually, he found the right key and pushed the door open.

The view he saw was a dark apartment, which was unusual considering Vittoria never liked the dark.

Only the faint light from the city outside came through the windows, leaving most of the living room in shadow.

Leo stepped inside and closed the door behind him, listening for any movement, but he didn’t hear any.

”Vittoria?”

He spoke, but nothing came back.

He frowned slightly as he had expected her to be awake, even though it was just a few minutes past half ten.

Before he could call again, a figure appeared in the doorway leading from the bedroom, right as Leo turned on the light, and it was Vittoria who looked like she had just been woken up from her sleep.

Her hair was untidy, her eyes heavy, and she seemed to be standing more out of instinct than because she had properly woken up.

”I thought you were never coming back,” she muttered while seemingly rubbing the sleep away and to that, Leo smiled slightly but genuinely.

”Sorry,” he said and chuckled slightly.

He let his bag slip from his shoulder and placed it beside the door before turning towards her.

”I had to get my leg checked.”

That seemed to wake her up a little.

”Yeah, I remember seeing you go down,” Vittoria said, uninterested, like she had only watched bits of the game, but it was far from the truth.

She walked towards him slowly, her eyes dropping towards his legs before going on.

”I thought it was just a knock.”

Leo gave a short snort and then nodded.

”It wasn’t that far from it.”

He paused, then added, ”Just a bit more serious.”

”What happened?”

”My ankle started swelling after the tackle.”

Vittoria’s expression changed immediately.

”So I had to stay a bit longer than the others so I could get the swelling drained before I could leave.”

She stopped in front of him and then looked up at Leo, wondering if that was also a thing.

Leo, on the other hand, just patted her head like she was the one that needed comforting.

”It’s nothing dramatic. They just wanted to get the swelling down quicker and also eliminate the risk of infection or something.”

While he said that, he looked towards the couch with an almost tired expression, one that Vittoria noticed.

”And apparently, I’m not playing against Man City.”

Vittoria stared at him for a second as he said that, and then she looked down at his leg again before looking back up with a stern look.

”Were you looking to hop around in that game if they let you play?” she asked, causing Leo to back off a bit.

”Now sit,” she continued as Leo nodded keenly.

”Yes, ma’am,” he muttered as a tired smile appeared on Vittoria’s face.

Leo grabbed his matchday bag, not wanting Vittoria to carry it, but as Leo grabbed it, she took it anyway.

By the time she had placed it beside the couch, Leo had lowered himself onto the cushions and stretched his injured leg out carefully.

He looked up at the ceiling, leaning back slightly and then sighed.

”I really wanted to play City,” he said, but the words came out quietly.

There was no anger behind them, just what seemed to be a pang of disappointment.

”I’ve been looking forward to that game for weeks,” he added as Vittoria moved closer.

”I know that.”

While she said that, she reached for his arms, gently pushing them aside before settling against his chest.

”It’ll be okay,” she said before leaning further into him, with her head resting just beneath his chin.

”You should be thankful it isn’t something longer.”

Leo’s hand moved slowly across her face, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her cheek before his fingers hovered around her cheek, and then her eyes.

Then his expression changed.

”Did you cry?”

The moment he said that, Vittoria froze.

It lasted barely a second, but Leo noticed.

”You did.”

”I didn’t.”

”You don’t get to lie,” Leo said as he tried to spin Vittoria to face him, but she just wouldn’t let him.

”It was just a little,” she finally muttered before looking away once more.

”Thank you for crying for me,” he muttered with a little chuckle in his voice, one that Vittoria elbowed out of him.

He then leaned forward until his face rested against her hair and kissed the top of her head.

”I’m going to be okay.”

Vittoria remained quiet as Leo held her a little tighter.

”Just because of you.”

Her shoulders gradually relaxed against him, and neither of them said anything after that.

They simply stayed there, tangled together on the couch while the rain continued against the windows.

It was not long before Leo felt her breathing change.

Vittoria had fallen asleep.

He looked down at her and sighed.

”Come on.”

His ankle protested the moment he stood, but he ignored it.

He carefully lifted her into his arms and carried her towards the bedroom, moving slowly enough not to wake her.

Once there, he lowered her onto the mattress and pulled the covers over her, and through it all, she barely stirred.

Leo stood beside the bed for a moment before making his way around to the other side.

He eased himself down beside her, found a position that did not put too much pressure on his ankle, and pulled the blanket over himself.

He sat there, still thinking, but about nothing really and soon, he found himself succumbing to the coffers of slumber.

The next morning, the Wigan Athletic Football club made it clear that they were not prepared to let the events at the Emirates disappear with the final whistle.

The club formally submitted a complaint to the Football Association regarding the officiating during the match, asking for the decisions surrounding the disallowed goal, Arsenal’s second goal and the late penalty incident to be reviewed.

They knew it would not change the result, and they knew it would not give them the two points they felt had slipped away.

But they wanted the matter on record.

They wanted an answer.

And, perhaps more importantly, they wanted some peace of mind.