Harbinger Of Glory

Back at the DW, Dawson had just finished his media duties.

He walked through the tunnel carrying the Man of the Match trophy, which had been handed to him by one of the staff.

”Why didn’t he pick it up?” he muttered to himself as the locker room came up, and then, a second later, he stepped into the still-busy room.

”Where’s Leo?”

Nobody answered causing Dawson to look around himself.

”Leo?”

At that, Carlo glanced over.

”He just left.”

Dawson raised an eyebrow and then asked.

”Left where?”

Carlo shrugged.

”Didn’t say.”

Dawson stared at him for a second and then nodded.

”Okay.”

He turned after that, but before he could take another step, Jake appeared beside him and placed a hand on Dawson’s shoulder.

”So, coach...”

Dawson looked at him while Jake smiled.

”If Leo isn’t here, why don’t you give that to me, eh?”

Dawson stared at him while Jake widened his eyes innocently.

”I played well, and I think I also deserve this. Plus Leo has a lot of them from the games this season!”

”You did.”

”So...”

Dawson lifted the trophy, and instantly, Jake’s smile disappeared.

The trophy lightly tapped the side of his head as Dawson scoffed.

”Ow!”

A few players burst out laughing, and the manager took Jake’s hand from his shoulder.

”I would’ve given it to Ben Amos instead if that was the case.”

Jake rubbed his head.

”That’s harsh.”

”Harsh but true,” Ben Amos replied as Dawson shook his head and walked away.

...

Leo stood inside Manchester Airport with a small bag beside him, and his passport was in his hand.

He looked down at it.

”Thank God for that Italian passport.”

Noah stood beside him after deciding to come along to see him off.

”Come back straight after,” he said, and to that, Leo nodded.

”I will.”

”And call me when you land.”

”Yeah.”

Noah sighed and shook his head before looking at Leo.

”You know you’re raising the bar too early, right?” he muttered, referring to what Leo had told him on the way to the airport.

Leo, on the other hand, just smiled wryly.

”Apparently.”

An announcement came over the speakers, and Leo looked toward the departure screens.

His flight was boarding.

”That’s me,” he said, and at that, Noah gave him a small nod.

”Go.”

Leo adjusted the strap of his bag before nodding towards Noah.

”Thanks again,” and with that, he turned and walked toward the gate.

Noah watched him disappear into the stream of passengers, then turned away and walked off.

A few minutes later, Leo settled into his business-class seat he’d gotten on short notice.

He placed his bag beside him and leaned back, and only then did he breathe properly.

He closed his eyes, but just then his phone in his hand began ringing.

Leo frowned and thought, ”Noah?”

But when he checked the screen, it was Dawson instead.

”Hello?” Leo answered.

”Leo, where the hell...”

Dawson had only begun to speak but then stopped.

A strange whirring sound came through the phone, and his tone shifted to shock.

”Wait.”

”What?” Leo said while biting his lip.

”Are you on a plane?”

As he said that, Leo looked toward the aisle where a flight attendant was making her final checks.

”Yeah.”

There was silence as Dawson sighed.

A second later, the engines grew louder around Leo as the flight attendant passed his row.

”Sir, we’ll be taking off shortly.”

Leo nodded at her, then thanked her.

Dawson heard the whole interaction, and another sigh came through the phone.

”We’ll talk about this when you get back.”

Leo smiled and then nodded.

”Yeah.”

Leo placed the phone on the armrest after the call ended, looked out the window, and then at Manchester, which was already falling away beneath him.

....

[Milan.....]

By the time Leo stepped out of Milan Malpensa, the afternoon had already begun to fade into evening.

He adjusted the strap of the small bag hanging from his shoulder and looked around the arrivals area, searching through the people waiting near the exit.

He didn’t have to look for long.

A short, slightly stubby woman in a dark coat spotted him first and immediately raised one hand.

”Leo?”

He turned towards her.

”Yeah?”

She hurried over, looked him up and down for a moment, then gave a small nod.

”Good. You are Leo. I was sent to pick you up.” She gestured towards the doors.

”Your friend Noah called me and told me I had to come immediately.”

Leo smiled apologetically.

”Grazie per essere venuta.”

(Thank you for coming.)

The woman waved a hand as if it were nothing.

Leo followed her outside, then glanced at her as they reached the car.

”I’m glad you could come on such short notice.”

That earned a smile.

”Anything for our national team boy.”

Leo gave a small, embarrassed smile.

”Right.”

She laughed as she opened the passenger door for him.

”Come on. We don’t have much time.”

Leo climbed in, placing his bag at his feet before she walked around to the driver’s side.

A few moments later, the car pulled away from the airport and joined the evening traffic heading into Milan.

For the first few minutes, neither of them said much.

Then, as they approached the city, the woman suddenly shook her head.

”I still cannot believe him.”

Leo glanced over.

”Who?”

”Noah.”

There was enough irritation in her voice to make Leo smile.

”He calls me after weeks of nothing, tells me you are coming to Milan in the middle of the afternoon, and then says, ’Can you help him get ready?’”

She switched into Italian almost immediately.

”Ma questo uomo pensa che io non abbia altro da fare?”

(Does this Man think I have nothing else to do?)

Leo chuckled as she continued, barely giving him time to respond.

”Every time. Sempre così.”

(Always like this.)

She shook her head while keeping her eyes on the road.

”Then he disappears again. No message, no call, niente. And now suddenly, ’Oh, can you help Leo tonight?’”

Leo leaned back into the seat, trying not to laugh.

”I should tell him no next time. Basta. Enough.”

She sighed dramatically.

”Maybe he thinks he can stop using me whenever he wishes. Come gli pare.”

(As he pleases.)

Leo smiled.

”You probably wouldn’t say no.”

The woman looked at him for a moment, then turned back to the road.

”No.”

Leo laughed quietly as the rest of the drive passed with her continuing to complain about Noah, though the annoyance had clearly softened into the kind of irritation reserved for someone she had known for a long time.

Eventually, the car turned onto a quieter street and stopped outside a discreet building tucked between several other fashion and design businesses.

Leo stepped out and followed her inside, and the moment the door opened, he was greeted by racks.

Suits.

Jackets.

Shirts.

Trousers.

He also saw a section of ladies’ apparel that clearly wasn’t meant for him.

Shoes lined neatly beneath shelves, while several finished outfits hung beneath warm lights around the room.

Everything had been arranged with enough precision that Leo immediately knew this wasn’t going to be a quick change of clothes.

He looked around, and then the woman noticed his expression.

Then she turned towards him with a determined smile.

”Bene,” she said, clapping her hands once. ”Adesso dobbiamo farti diventare favoloso.”

(Good. Now we have to make you look fabulous.)

Leo’s smile widened because he already knew this would take a while.

A while that he probably couldn’t afford.