Harbinger Of Glory

Vittoria hadn’t looked like waking up, but the sounds beside her did anyway.

For a few seconds, she kept her eyes closed, trying to ignore it, but it wasn’t easy to do.

Leo was trying to move quietly, but he was not particularly good at it.

Eventually, she opened an eye, right as Leo spun and caught her gaze.

"I was trying not to wake you up," he said wryly as a smile appeared on his face before he moved forward, leaned down and kissed her cheek, then her lips.

"Morning."

Vittoria looked at him through half-closed eyes before stretching slightly.

"You smell like apples."

Leo paused, a weird look forming on his face as he looked at his girlfriend.

"Should I get you one?"

"No," she said, catching the front of his shirt and pulling him back down.

Leo laughed softly, bracing himself with one hand before rolling onto his back so his weight settled into the mattress, and in that process Vittoria ended up above him, her hair falling around them as Leo held onto her shoulders!

She looked down at him before planting a kiss on his mouth each time she spoke!

"You are...."

Mwahh

"Going to...."

Mwahh

"....be late..."

Mwahh

"I’ve got one more minute in me if you’d want," Leo replied between kisses, causing her to stop and stare at him.

"One minute?"

"Maybe two."

After realising what he was suggesting, she hit him lightly on the chest.

"Get up."

He laughed, and for another few seconds neither of them moved.

Eventually, Vittoria pushed herself upright and reached for the jacket she’d left over the chair.

"I’ll take you to Coverciano."

Leo chuckled, shaking his head as he straightened his collar and then fixed it well.

"You’re not serious," he said while glancing at Vittoria, but it was hard for him to tell if she was joking or not.

"You are serious," he muttered as Vittoria kept putting layers of clothes on a chair.

"I am."

"It’s two hours by a high-speed train."

"I know."

"And then two hours back."

"I know that too."

Leo watched her put the jacket on and then shook his head.

"That won’t be good. And it’s kind of unnecessary!"

She shrugged, still finding what she wanted to wear when Leo got up and walked over, gently taking the jacket from her before she could put her arms through it.

"Let’s not be hasty, okay."

Vittoria looked at him as she put her hands on her waist.

"We have a lot of time to do whatever we want."

"We’ll plan it properly as we’ve always done, whether that is me coming to Italy to see you or you coming to England!"

He let go of her, grabbed the jacket and placed it back on the chair.

She folded her arms while looking at Leo.

"And if I still want to take you?"

"Then I’ll appreciate the thought while telling you no," Leo replied with a wry smile while caressing her cheeks.

She gave him an unimpressed look.

"You’re shoooo annoying," she slurred after Leo squeezed her cheeks.

"I know," he replied as she pushed his shoulder.

"Don’t ruin it."

He smiled and let go as Vittoria finally relented.

They eventually made their way into the living room, where the remains of the previous night were still scattered around.

Leo picked up his phone from the table and checked the time.

"Now I’m actually late."

"Whose fault is that?"

He looked at her.

"Yours."

"Mine?"

"You distracted me."

Vittoria laughed before pointing jokingly towards the door.

"Get out."

He pulled on his shoes and picked up a small watch before walking toward the door, and Vittoria followed him.

At the doorway, Leo turned back toward her before leaning over the door frame.

"I’ll call you when I get there."

"Okay."

"And don’t spend the whole day missing me."

"I won’t," Vittoria denied as he smiled and leaned in.

The kiss lasted slightly shorter this time.

When they separated, Vittoria kept one hand against his chest.

"See you soon."

"See you soon."

With that, Leo stepped into the hallway, then turned back and gave her a small wave.

She watched until he disappeared around the corner, and only then did she close the door.

Away in Manchester, Mia had already been complaining for nearly an hour.

"He’s been gone two weeks," she said as she rolled around on the couch.

Sofia didn’t look up from the kitchen.

"That’s how long the international break usually is."

"When did you start being so knowledgeable about football?" Mia retorted, earning just a shrug from her aunty.

Sofia finally appeared in the doorway, leaning against the door frame.

"You could always go to Italy."

Mia considered that, seriously, too, suggested by her hand on her chin.

"Maybe."

Sofia raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"No. Leo has to see my GCSE results first."

She paused.

"And I need the gifts that come with it!"

Sofia stared at her before shaking her head.

"So that’s what this is about."

"Obviously."

"You’ve been pretending to miss your brother."

"I do miss him."

"But you’re also expecting presents."

"I can do both."

Sofia shook her head and disappeared back into the kitchen as Mia smiled to herself.

Almost half a day later, Carlo’s Aston Martin Vantage pulled up outside Leo’s apartment building.

The flight back from Italy had been shorter than usual, maybe because of them getting used to it or because the two had fallen asleep the whole duration.

Leo got out, opened the rear door and started pulling his bags onto the pavement.

He looked through the open passenger window.

"You’re not helping?"

Carlo stared at him before shaking his head.

"I’m in a hurry to see my girlfriend too, so wrap it up!"

Leo laughed and reached for the last one as Carlo started the engine.

"You’re that down bad, huh," Leo said, earning a glare from Carlo.

Carlo pointed at him through the window.

"Don’t ever say that again. And you can’t ever when you got to see your girlfriend and even have dinner with your in-laws."

Leo laughed as Carlo shifted into gear.

"Now that’s a stretch!"

"I’ll see you at training, Leo," Carlo said before pulling away, not waiting for a response, leaving Leo standing beside his bags.

He watched the car disappear around the corner and picked up his handles before turning towards the apartment block!