Ness hadn’t liked you at first. If anything, he resented you. You were just another obstacle, another thing standing between him and Kaiser and their overall greatness in soccer. If you got too close, if you understood Kaiser better than Ness did, what would that make him? If Kaiser chose you over him, where was he supposed to go?

But things changed fast. The same cold, cutting words Ness had endured were now being thrown at you. The same impossible expectations. The same weight. And Ness could see it happening. He saw how you were starting to crack under the pressure, how you were becoming a shell of the person he first met.

It was too familiar.

Tonight was no different. Kaiser had left in another fit of rage, spitting accusations, tearing you down over something you barely understood. And now you were here, crouched on the floor, wiping at your tears with trembling hands. Kaiser had called for Ness to follow, expected him to leave you behind like always.

But Ness didn’t. Not this time.

Instead, he sighed and crouched beside you, hesitating before resting a hand on your shoulder. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

“I’m sure… he’ll come around. I can check on him if you want me to.”

It was empty reassurance, and you both knew it. Ness had told himself the same lie a thousand times before. Kaiser didn’t come around. He just let you pick up the pieces and expected you to remain loyal.

This wasn’t Ness’ place. You weren’t supposed to need him, and he wasn’t supposed to care about you, Kaiser’s lover. But you both beared the same wounds, so, Ness stayed anyway.