Harbinger Of Glory

Vittoria’s mother sighed once more, though one could tell she wasn’t really in tune with her daughter’s answer!

"Just be safe," she said, pausing slightly.

"And say hello to Leo," she finished a second later

"I will, Mamma. I promise," Vittoria said as she slowed.

The call ended just as she reached the gate.

She tucked the phone into her hoodie pocket and pulled the hood more tightly over her face and found her seat on the plane, settling in and then resting her head against the window as the cabin finished boarding around her.

The engines started their low build, and soon enough, the plane took off!

.....

[Back In Manchester!]

By the time Leo decided to leave, the evening had already stretched far beyond what he had intended.

Dinner had taken most of the night.

What had started as a quick meal had turned into hours of conversation, jokes and arguments that had kept pulling him back into his seat whenever he thought about leaving.

He finally stood and looked for his jacket right as Sofia looked up from the table.

"You’re leaving?"

"Yeah," he said and then began searching around for the jacket before seeing it at the top of the rack near the door!

"Why don’t you stay? It’s late!" she said as Leo slipped one arm into his jacket.

"I’ve got a game tomorrow."

At that, Sofia stared at him!

"The game is in the evening."

"I know."

"So you can do without going home!"

"I need to get ready."

"For what? You’re not playing until the night."

Leo looked at her, with Sofia looking like she’d still push for him to stay!

"I drove here, so I’ll get home soon," he said and that finally made her pause.

"Right."

She waved a hand after that and then nodded!

"Fine. Go, but be careful on the road!"

Leo smiled and bent down to slip on his shoes.

He had just finished tying one when Mia emerged from her room.

She stopped when she saw him.

"You’re leaving?"

Leo nodded.

"Yeah," he replied as Mia folded her arms.

She stared at him for a few seconds, then turned away.

"Have a good game tomorrow."

She finished saying that and then turned towards her room, where the door slammed shut behind her after she entered!

Leo stared at it and then a snort escaped him.

"We might need to get Mia checked out," he said while pointing a finger to the side of his head!

Seeing this, Sofia immediately grabbed the nearest rag and threw it at him.

"Don’t say that," she added as Leo ducked.

"Hey!"

"Get out."

"I’m just saying. Goodnight, Aunt!"

"Goodnight," Sofia replied but then looked up at the clock above the doorway.

"It’s even good morning."

Leo followed her gaze and found the clock, which read 1:56 a.m.

"Oh," he muttered as Sofia moved towards the door where he stood!

"Just go," she said as Leo laughed under his breath, picked up his jacket and stepped outside.

The door clicked shut behind him as he stood in the corridor for a second.

Then he sighed.

"Shit."

After saying this, he hurried down the stairs without wasting a second!

By the time he reached the car, he was already checking the time again.

He got inside, started the engine and pulled away from the building.

The route home would have taken him one way, but instead, he turned toward the airport.

Vittoria had been waiting for nearly 45 minutes!

She stood near the arrivals area with her hands tucked into the pockets of her coat, occasionally checking her phone before looking back toward the road.

Her flight had arrived earlier than usual, "but still," she muttered as she glanced at the few passing cars!

She looked down, and then when she looked up again, a black car turned into the pickup area and slowed beside the curb.

Vittoria’s expression changed immediately as she recognised that car, and she couldn’t help but smile slightly!

She stepped toward it right as the car stopped, and for a moment, nothing happened!

The engine died a second later, before the driver’s door opened and Leo stepped out.

He looked around once, making sure nobody was paying too much attention before his eyes found her.

He walked straight over, and Vittoria barely had time to smile before he wrapped his arms around her.

She laughed into his shoulder, her arms going around his neck!

"You’re crushing me."

"I missed you," Leo replied as Vittoria chuckled!

"I missed you too."

She patted his back while he held her for another second before finally letting go.

Leo looked toward the entrance.

"I’m sorry for being late, but we should get out of here before someone recognises us."

"My thoughts exactly," she replied as he reached for her suitcase.

"Give me that."

"I can carry it."

He took it anyway and reached for the trunk!

"Get in the car," he said, but he found that she was already settled in the car!

"That...," he tried saying and chuckled before slipping into the driver’s seat!

They reached Leo’s apartment almost half an hour later, and by that time, the city outside had gone quiet.

Leo unlocked the door and stepped inside first, holding it open while Vittoria brought in the last of her things.

He took off his jacket and carried the luggage toward his bedroom.

"I swear, I’m going straight to bed after this," he muttered, and Vittoria said nothing.

Leo placed the suitcase beside the bed, but as he turned, he found Vittoria already there.

"Vittoria..." he said curiously, but she threw her arms around him, causing him to stumble backwards.

"Wait," Leo protested as they landed on the bed together, with Vittoria laughing as Leo tried to catch his balance.

"I have a game tomorrow."

"It’s in the evening."

"I know, but..."

She kissed him before he could finish.

Leo pulled back just enough to speak.

"I still need to sleep."

"You’ll sleep."

She kissed him again!

"I mean it."

"You’ll be fine."

He tried to say something again, but she kissed him again and whatever argument Leo had been preparing disappeared before he could finish it.

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