Harbinger Of Glory

The Exeter players still never faltered, playing with their heads up high until the end of the game.

"Another professional night’s work from Wigan Athletic," the commentator said as the final whistle sounded.

"They continue to look like a side operating well above the level their resources suggest."

Back in his apartment, Leo switched the television off and glanced across the sofa.

Vittoria had lasted until around the sixty-fifth minute before sleep had quietly claimed her.

Now she was completely gone, curled against one end of the couch with one hand tucked beneath her cheek.

He smiled to himself before getting to his feet.

Crossing the room, he slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back before lifting her carefully.

She stirred almost instantly, but it wasn’t enough to wake her.

Her arms found their way around his neck on instinct, which made Leo laugh softly.

"Convenient," he said as he began moving forward.

By the time they reached the bedroom, he tried lowering her onto the mattress, but she only tightened her grip.

"Vittoria..." he muttered, but the former almost went limp, except for her hands that were tightly on his neck.

He waited another second, hoping she would let go, but it seemed she had no intention of doing so.

"Faker," he muttered and could almost feel her heart skip a beat as it was close to his.

Shaking his head, he carried her back out into the living room, standing there with absolutely no idea how he was supposed to solve this particular problem.

Before he could think further, his phone began vibrating on the sofa.

Reaching it one-handed required considerably more coordination than he’d expected, but he managed it.

"Noah," he called the moment he answered the phone.

"They are flying you into London the day before the Everton match," Noah said without bothering with introductions.

"EA want you there for the promotional shoot, then we’ll either get you across to Merseyside afterwards or straight back to Wigan if that’s easier."

"That works," Leo said, straining a bit as a brief silence followed.

"You alright?" Noah asked.

"You caught me carrying someone."

Noah paused.

"...Right," he said slowly and wisely decided not to ask.

"I’ll send you the itinerary tomorrow," he continued.

"Perfect."

"Have a good night, Leo."

"No, not like..." but the agent ended the call before Leo could get his words together.

Leo tossed the phone back onto the sofa and looked down at the problem on his chest that hadn’t moved an inch.

"You’re definitely awake, but I have to give you props for how strong your core is."

Silence still prevailed, though he wasn’t convinced.

The way she was holding onto him was just a little too deliberate.

He smiled to himself as she simply buried her face a little deeper into his shoulder.

Afterwards, he shook his head, gave up trying to expose her, and carried her back towards the bedroom anyway.

...

EA’s Guildford Studios looked nothing like Leo had expected.

He stood just outside the entrance for a moment, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, taking in the rows of production trailers, camera trucks and temporary lighting rigs scattered across the lot.

"This really isn’t just people playing football," he muttered.

Beside him, Noah followed his gaze before smiling.2

"No," he said. "It never is."

Leo let out a quiet laugh as from the outside it could almost have passed for a film set.

People were carrying lighting stands hurriedly between buildings.

Production assistants with headsets clipped to their ears crossed the pathways holding tablets and clipboards, and vans rolled in and out through service gates while signs directed visitors toward different sound stages.

It was far removed from anything he was used to.

"Come on," Noah said. "Let’s not keep them waiting."

They crossed the courtyard and stepped through the main entrance, and once they did, the difference was immediate.

The inside was bright, spacious and constantly moving.

Crew members wheeled camera equipment across polished concrete floors while makeup artists hurried past carrying cases almost as large as suitcases.

Leo found himself looking around more than walking.

He’d seen expensive photography studios before through Vittoria’s work, but this felt... bigger.

Everything had been scaled up.

Every room they passed looked like it had been built to become something else.

One stage even resembled a modern apartment.

Another had been transformed into what looked like a sports tunnel, but it looked like nothing stayed the same for long.

Several members of staff smiled or nodded as they walked past.

Leo returned every greeting with one of his own until a woman wearing an EA SPORTS lanyard stepped in front of them.

"You must be Leo."

"I am."

She offered her hand.

"Kali, and welcome to one of the places where magic happens," she said and then turned towards Noah as well.

"Good to see you on the field again."

"You too," Noah replied as Kali smiled once more towards him before she looked back at Leo with an easy smile.

"We’re really excited to have you here."

"You’ve become one of the best stories in the Premier League this season."

Leo rubbed the back of his neck.

"I’m just trying to do my job."

At that, she laughed.

"Modesty, I like it. But... your version of ’doing your job’ has made quite a few Premier League teams look like they couldn’t do theirs."

Leo laughed at that, and he couldn’t resist it with how charming the lady was, but that smile vanished when Vittoria’s chilly smile invaded his thoughts.

"This way," Kali said and led them through another corridor before pushing open a pair of double doors.

The room beyond opened up into what looked less like a studio and more like an indoor training pitch.

Artificial turf stretched across most of the floor beneath an intricate web of lighting suspended from the ceiling.

Camera cranes stood parked around the edges while several challenge stations had already been set up across the grass.

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