Chapter Text
Leo took his phone out of his pocket to double-check the last message: 'Room 402' followed by the address of the fancy-sounding London hotel he was currently inside. His eyes scanned each of the large oak doors as he made his way down the hallway, growing all the more impatient as he searched for the matching number. When he rounded the corner, he noticed a well-dressed young couple about to pass by up ahead, prompting him to quickly pull his cap down over his face to avoid being seen. Despite the fancy location, he felt almost sleezy in his full black, baggy tracksuit that clearly screams 'I'm not supposed to be seen here'.
When he found the right room, he knocked on the door in his usual signature way despite feeling irritated by the unnecessarily clandestine nature of whatever the hell this whole thing was. He was ready to unleash a myriad of questions and demand answers as the door opened, but he was stunned by what he saw on the other side.
"What-" Leo started in his scolding tone, before his brain registered what was before him, his frustration snapping into pure confusion. "W-why are you wearing a suit?"
Richy just laughed, as always, and took a step back, either to allow Leo to enter the room or to give him a better look at his fully tailored ensemble. It wasn't just a suit, it was a three-piece suit of solid black with a pristine white shirt underneath a black waistcoat and tie.
"Richy, the fuck is going on?" Leo felt extremely out of place as he walked into the suite, taking off his cap and smoothing his fingers over his hair.
The place was impressive. To his left was a large granite island kitchen, complete with a fully stocked bar and stools, and to his right was a spacious living area with several leather sofas.
Leo stretched out his arms, "Well?!" the frustration clear in his voice. Everyone on the team knows that he dislikes surprises and hates to be the butt of the joke. He thought Richy would have known him better to do something like this. He motioned to his own outfit with a look that demanded an explanation.
"You look good," Richy smiled after he looked the smaller man up and down. In Richy's defence, he couldn't help himself. He found Leo extra cute when he was all riled up and frustrated; it's so easy to do and always brings him such joy.
"Riccardo." Leo's voice was stern as he pulled at the collar of his hoodie, feeling the heat of his anger rising.
Richy just reached out his hand and tenderly grabbed hold of Leo's arm, "Come on, I'll show you."
Richy's voice was calm, but it did little to settle Leo's nerves. He followed him down the hallway like a petulant child, half-dragging his body in resistance. "Richy... please, just tell me what's going on!" Leo cringed at how whiny he sounded.
"Take a look for yourself," Richy smiled as he stepped into the bedroom, motioning towards the king-size bed where a black garment cover lay on top.
"What's this? A suit?" Leo looked to him despairingly. "Richy, you know I have suits at home. You should have said, and I could have come wearing one!" he laughed in an effort to hide his annoyance.
Richy just nodded towards it in response. "Open it."
Leo hesitated, trying to gauge the meaning behind the vaguely amused look on Richy's face, but he complied and began to unzip the cover. He expected to see the black, blue, or maybe even grey fabric of a suit jacket underneath, but he saw... pink? He ran his hand across the fabric. It was silky with frilly lace and straps. It took him a moment to realise what was actually holding. Lingerie. Women's lingerie. An unpadded pink bra with flowerly detailing on the cups and a sheer, silky fabric draping down the front in two pieces that tie at the back with a matching lace ribbon.
Slowly, with his fingers lingering on the new material, he looked towards Richy, who was leaning casually against the door frame, hands in his pockets, as if he had just stepped off the cover of GQ magazine. Leo blushed as he caught sight of Richy's bulge and felt his own cock stir. "You... want me to wear this?" Leo's voice was soft, completely void of the prior bite.
"No - I mean yes, of course I want to see you in that," Richy laughed, his Italian accent tripping over his words, "but the request didn't come from me."
"Not from you?" Leo paused. "Then from who..?" He delicately removed the lingerie with care, placing it on the bed, admiring the gift. He checked the bag, but there was no note or any indication of who it was from. He looked back at Richy, who was being uncharacteristically quiet, and the strange, mysterious energy around him made Leo feel unsettled.
"You'll see," Richy's earlier grin still hadn't left his face. He looked down at his watch with a glint in his eye, "he should be here soon." He couldn't help but laugh at the adorable, panicked expression on Leo's face. "C'mere," he breached the distance between them to run a reassuring hand up Leo's arm and pull him into a hug, but Leo wouldn't still.
"Who's coming?" Leo's anxious eyes searched Richy's, desperate for answers as his mind began to race. "Richy, please, who is it?"
Richy didn't answer the question. He cupped Leo's cheeks in his hands and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "Do you trust me?" Richy stared deeply into Leo's eyes, searching for any doubt. For the first time today, he looked serious.
Leo nodded. Despite the anxiety building in his stomach, he knew Richy would never do anything he didn't want. The two had shared enough secrets for so long that he trusted him more than anyone. Richy had the power to ruin his family, his marriage, his credibility as a man and as a footballer, and yet he didn't, not even during their turbulent moments. That thought alone was a comfort. He believed him.
"Good," Richy smiled and pulled Leo closer, who finally allowed himself to be fully embraced. He stroked the hair on the back of Leo's neck, knowing how this always helps calm him down before a match. He felt Leo relax into him, all tension melting from him with a deep, shaking breath as he held Leo's head against his steady heart.
"The captain's asked a favour of us," Richy spoke into his hair. "He needs us to take care of something while he's recovering, to help one of the team." Richy paused. "Do you understand?"
Leo nodded despite his mind beginning to race, but no longer out of fear; it was a teammate. Now his mind was riddled with the anticipation of who it would be. He thought of all his teammates, considering them one by one in his mind as his hand gravitated back to the sheer, pink fabric. "They're... into this?"
"Seems so," Richy laughed. "Martin just gave it to me and said for you to wear it. Told me to wear a black 3-piece suit and to be in this room at this time."
"Wait, so you don't know who it is, either?" Leo let out his first genuine laugh, although it was partially out of disbelief.
"No. But I have my suspicions," he grinned. "And, no. I won't say who I think it could be. You'll have to be patient."
Leo took a step back from Richy, picking up the pink set, running his fingers over the delicate lace detail on the cups. "Hmm..." he turned it over in his hand, playing with the lace as it wrapped around his fingers. "Actually...I'm not so sure about this." He held it up to his chest, still covered by his black hoodie. "Is pink my colour?" He pretend-pouted as he turned to Richy, unable to keep a straight face for more than 2 seconds.
But Richy's eyes had a predatory look to them as he stepped closer. "It's taking everything I have to not take you for myself right now," he warned, his voice low. He grabbed Leo's wrist, taking his attention away from his pretty new gifts. "He'll be here soon, so get changed. I'll be outside waiting to greet him. When I open the door, I want you to be on the bed, facing away. Don't turn around until I say you can. Do you understand?"
Leo blinked as he took in the instructions, like he was being told the tactics of a game before being subbed on.
Before Richy had a chance to walk away, Leo grabbed his arm. "Will.. will you stay with me? You know, during?" Leo asked as he bit down on his bottom lip nervously.
Richy felt his heart melt a little. So much for trying to set the tone of what was to come. "Of course, baby," he smiled. "You're still mine." He used his thumb to release Leo's lip from his teeth. "I'm only sharing you for two reasons: our captain needs a favour from us and... I know how much you're going to love this, believe me. It's going to be perfect," Richy stroked his thumb against Leo's cheek, watching as the blush spread as his tongue appeared to wet his lips.
"Okay," Leo responded, smiling with a rarely seen shyness.
Richy nodded towards the bathroom, and with no further words, the two went into different rooms to begin preparing for their mystery guest.