Reader plays for the Man City girls academy. She struggles a bit but gets Ruben to mentor her. The the two don't hit off despite having many things in common. It all gets worse when Reader eventually catches feelings for Ruben.

 Enjoy!

It was cold. Like every other morning in Manchester. You were well aware of the winter in England, but not enough to prepare for it. You played without gloves and nothing to cover your head, rattling your teeth by the end of every training session.

"Have you ever been there?"

"Where?"

You and Ester were walking side by side, passing the main building of the Ethiad campus.

"In there." You pointed.

"Sure."

"You have? When?"

The main building was strictly off limits, except for coaches and anyone on the Men or Women's first team.

"Well, everyone gets a tour when you first join the academy." She said. "Didn't you get shown around campus when you first arrived here from Brazil?"

"Around campus, yes. Not the main building."

"It's nice. Especially the cafeteria. The food is so much better."

"I wanna see."

"Um, I don't think we're...."

You were crossing the lawn before Ester could stop you. Besides, you were freezing, in need of a place to warm up.

"Y/N, you're gonna get us in trouble."

Fancy. The main building had rotatinal doors like the once in a shopping mall. You squeezed through with Ester slotting in behind you. The main building was clean, a big receptionen in the front. It was unattended for now, making it easier for you and Ester continue down the main hall.

"Where are all the players?" You turned your head in frustration. You were hoping to meet a few from the first team, the very best in the game. Your dad had taught you the importance of training with the best. It's the only way you can become like them.

"It's still early." Ester said. "Maybe they haven't arrived yet?"

It was true. The worst playtime was given to the academy. You hated early morning sessions. By the time you finished training is when you'd see players from the first team arrive. They'd arrive in their luxurious sport cars and designer outfits. You promised yourself that once you were payed like the professionals you'd spend it all helping your family in Brazil. You didn't come from money so it was important for you to spend it wisely.

"Look! It's the cafeteria." Ester exclaimed, she seemed more relaxed now that you were past the receptionen. All her attention was darted towards the cafeteria, her mouth watering. "Do you think they'll let us grab some eggs on toast?"

"I dunno, let's have a look."

You were hungry too. Morning session's did that to a player and going home to Esters cooking would not mend the pain. The two of you were headed down the hall, but just as you reached the cafeteria you spotted coach, rising from the table where he and the assistants were finishing up their breakfast.

"Come on, in here."

Ester pushed you towards another corridor. This one with more doors on the walls, walls with giant murals of the club logo.

"In here!" She said, the two of you slipping into what appeared to be a gym. It was dark and empty. Perhaps to early for anyone to...

"Get down!"

You fell to your knees, cursing at Ester. With a finger to her lips she urged for you to keep quiet. "I think someone's in here." She whispered.

"Where?"

"Over there."

She pointed somewhere above your heads, to the left. You perked up to see for yourself and indeed someone was running on the dreadmills.

"Who is it?" Ester asked.

"Um..."

It was Ruben. The man coach had introduced you to. The man with the braud shoulders and deep frown on his face. He was running on the dreadmill, shirtless, dripping in sweat. He had something attched to his torso, somthing measuring his heart rate. Coach had the girls in the academy wear them during preseason. It was torture having to run around the football field as many times as you did during that time of the year. Luckily you were used to the summer heat, more than some of the other girls. The perks of being brazilian.

"Who is it, what's he doing?" Ester head popped up beside yours, the two of you hiding behind a shelf stacked with dumbells.

"He's running." You said, your voice not really sounding like your own. It was deep, horase even. Watching Ruben run, he was...he was.

"Omg it's Ruben Dias. He's so hot."

What she said.

"You know him?"

"Not personally." She chuckled.

"But you know of him?"

"Of course I do." Ester frowned. "It's Ruben Dias."

You had never heard of him, then again you had never watched a Premiere League game until you arrived in England. Back home you only watched Brasileirão or whichever league Neymar was playing in.

"You know, he's like one of the best defenders in the world, right?" Ester said.

"The best?"

You watched him run. Somthing about the movment of his back muscles made you feel siligtly lightheaded.

"At least that's what his coach says."

"Pep Guardiola?"

"It must mean somthing coming from him, no?"

"Maybe?"

You were lost in a trance. Your gaze fixiated on the drips of sweat running down the lenght of Ruben's back. His long back, and tanned skin.

"Y/N, we should probably...."

Ester was tugging your arm, but you were fighting her, wanting to stay.

"Y/N, coach is probably...."

Just then the lights turned on above your heads, causing you and Ester to duck down in a flash.

"Who's there?" A voice cried out.

You looked to Ester, like you there was panic in her eyes.

"I know you're in here, I heard you." The voice said, a man's voice. Ruben's voice.

"Just keep quiet. He won't know that we're here" Ester nodded.

"Like I said, I can hear you."

"Shit."

"And I can see you hiding behind the dumbells."

The two of you sighed in defeat. But as Ester tried to get up you pushed her back down.

"Ouch."

"You?" Ruben said, seeing you pop up from behind the dumbells. He stood with his hands on his hips, his naked torso rising up and down with his heavy breathing. "What are you doing in here. This gym is for the men's team only." His voice was laced with fatigue, his face still flushed from his run.

"I...I..." You stuttered, panicking about the fact that Ester might pop up beside you at any moment. You'd both be in trouble for somthing that was your idea.

"Well?" Ruben said, expectantly.

She was beginning to rise, you could see the movment from the corner of your eye. You moved to the side, stepping on her hand. Ester groaned. "Sheisse!" (Shit)

"I was looking for you." You said, scrapping up your best english.

Ruben raised a brow, not really believing a word that was coming out of your mouth.

"I was looking for you. Just like coach told me to do if I....needed help." You mumbled the last part.

Ruben cooked his head curiously, his expression shifting from angry to slightly amused. "You need my help?"

"Yes." You said, a bit too eagerly.

"With what?"

"Huh?"

"You need my help with what exactly?"

He got you there.

"Football." You said, the last of your good english slipping away from you.

"Yeah, I got that. But what specific aspect about the way you play football needs to improve?"

"My dribbling?"

"You're asking me?" His eyes widened in slight suprise. The conversation spiraling in general.

You sighed. "I want to be able to dribble like Neymar, okay."

Ruben snorted.

"I know it's silly, I know. But coach keeps telling me not to try dribbling past the defenders, which doesn't makes sense to me because I've seen Neymar do it a thousand times."

"And you're asking me for help because....?"

"You're a defender aren't you? Teach me how to get past you."

Ruben's expression faltered, his eyes searching your face as if he was unsure of your intentions.

"I'm a quick learner, I swear."

Somthing seemed to crack, a smile. Yes. Ruben smiled at you. It faded just as quickly. He turned around, grabbing his shirt that hung off the treadmill. He put it on. You groaned internally.

"I'm busy during the day." He said, turning back to you with a less intimidating expression. "Then there's game nights and away games."

"I get it, you're too busy."

You moved to leave, alomst stumbling over Esters legs, forgetting that she was there to begin with. She looked want to curse at you in german.

"...I might have some time in the evening." You looked up, suprised to see Ruben looking so sincere. "That is, if it's not after an away game."

You were lost for words, looking for the right once in english. "Obrigado." You said. (Thank you.)

"What was that about?"

Ruben left the gym, agreeing to mentor you once a week, prefrebly Friday nights when he was free. Ester had so many questions as the two of you were leaving the main building, mainly about how you knew Ruben.

"Coach told me Ruben could help me if I needed it."

"Yeah, but why Ruben Dias? The two of you don't even play the same position?"

"I don't know? Maybe he thought....."

"Ladies."

You were passing the reception, the rotatinal doors just ahead of you. However, Ester and you were met by your coach and three not so happy looking assistants.

"What compelled you to exploit the main building despite it being strictly forbidden for players in the academy?"

You were escorted out of campus, with coach threatening to bench the two of you in the next three games.

"But coach." You protested. "You told me I could go there last week."

"Yes you, Y/N. Not Ester. I did not give you the liberty to bring friends. This is not a playground, you're here to play football."

And with that you were shown the door. At least for the rest of the day, since you had training in the morning. Coach spared you the match ban with the exception that you and Ester help collect and clean the balls after every training session, starting tomorrow until Christmas Day. However it didn't matter, none of it mattered. To Ester it might matter, but to you it didn't. You were going to learn how to dribble like Neymar.