Chapter 11

The soccer field was packed for the game. Javier found a spot in the bleachers, running a bit late cause a client's appointment ran over. His phone buzzed with a text from Dom - they'd exchanged numbers after that first tattoo appointment when Dom came through, ended up talking about music while Javier was working on Messiah.

"Yo you made it?"

"Yeah just got here. Where you at?"

"Other side. Told you my boy was nice with it"

The teams was warming up, running drills and stretching. Javier spotted Messiah right away - he moved different from everybody else, all focused energy and natural skill.

Messiah was doing some stretches when he glanced up at the bleachers. Javier caught his eye and nodded. For a second Messiah just looked at him, then nodded back before turning to his teammate who was talking to him.

The game started and even though Javier ain't know much about soccer, he could tell Messiah was different level. The way he moved with the ball, how he seemed to know where everybody was gonna be before they got there.

By halftime State was up 2-0, both goals from Messiah. While the teams was getting water, Javier's phone buzzed again.

"He showing off cause you here," Dom texted.

"Shut up"

"Nah fr he usually good but he going crazy today. Never seen him play like this"

Javier looked up to see Messiah drinking water on the sideline, talking to his coach. Like he felt eyes on him, Messiah glanced over. This time when their eyes met, Messiah actually gave him a small smile before jogging back onto the field.

The second half was even better. Messiah scored again in the last ten minutes, securing the win. The crowd was going crazy but he just dapped up his teammates and headed for the locker room, that same focused energy even after winning.

Javier posted up near the locker room entrance, scrolling through his phone while he waited. He and Messiah ain't even really talked about him staying after, but somehow they both knew he would.

Messiah came out a little while later, hair slightly damp from the shower, wearing sweats and a black tee. He looked surprised to still see Javier there.

"You actually stayed."

"Said I was gonna give you a ride didn't I?" Javier fell into step beside him. "Plus that was actually hard. You nice with it for real."

"It was ight." But Messiah seemed less guarded than usual, probably still riding that game high.

They reached Javier's car and got in. The drive was quiet but comfortable, just the radio playing low. At a red light, Javier glanced over to see Messiah with his eyes closed, head tipped back against the seat.

"You good chiquito?"

"Yeah just tired." Messiah didn't even react to the nickname this time. "Games take a lot out of me."

"You want food? I know this spot-"

"Nah just take me home." But it wasn't as harsh as his usual shutdowns.

When they pulled up to Messiah's place, he sat there for a second before getting out.

"Good looking out," he said quietly. "For coming to the game and the ride."

"Anytime." Javier watched him walk to his door, noticing how even tired he still moved with that natural grace.

Later that night, Javier was at his apartment working on a new design when Dom texted again:

"Aye good looking out for coming through. Never seen him let nobody watch him play before"

"Wym?"

"He usually tell everybody not to come. Even tried to tell me not to come to games at first. But he ain't even argue when you said you was showing up"

Javier stared at the text for a minute, thinking about that little smile Messiah gave him during the game. Walls was coming down slow but steady. He just had to be patient.