Silver and Bronze (FA Women's Cup Final 2022)
"Welcome to being a captain." Sam Kerr's words rang in Alex Greenwood's ears, as the Manchester City captain leaned back against the wall.
The silver medal under her jersey seemed to burn with the heat of her body, mocking her. It was a damn good thing she'd let Kennedy go with Kerr, she thought. The thought of having to deal with Lucy Bronze after this shattering loss was...intimidating.
Exhaling, she stepped back into the locker room, scanning it and doing a mental headcount. She frowned when she came up two short. Kennedy, of course, had gone over to Chelsea's side, but...
Glancing from one teammate to the next, she swiftly drew the correct conclusion. "Hey, where's Bronze at? Didn't she come down the tunnel with us? I didn't see her take off."
Demi Stokes glanced Alex's way. The older defender gave Alex a shrug. "Guess she hasn't come off the pitch yet, Cap."
"What do you mean, 'hasn't come off the pitch'?" Alex tried not to panic.
Ellie Roebuck, who'd been in goal for the match, spoke up. "She went and sat in the goal as we were heading off."
"And you didn't stop her?" Alex demanded, then sighed. "Of course not, no one stops Luce doing something once she's decided to do it."
"No, that's your job, isn't it, Alex?" Demi snarked.
"Shut up." Keira Walsh stepped up to the older woman, glaring. The blonde midfielder radiated with authority, though Keira was only twenty-five - younger than not only Demi and Lucy, but Alex too. Of course, she was England Captain Leah Williamson's best mate, and Leah wore that same authority like a cloak of protection. Keira must have had it rub off on her.
Fuck. If only Leah was here. She would know what to do.
"All of you shut the fuck up," Keira continued heatedly. "Luce is out there, she ought to be in here, and she's got to pay for effing up just like any of us who get carded would. It's not Alex's fault she's nervous about handling Luce. Wouldn't any of you be?"
"I could take her," Demi smirked.
"Well, you're not Captain are you? As you just pointed out," Keira said bluntly. "But if you want to go stop her from having a sulk out there on her own, and bring her back to face the music, I'm sure our Captain would thank you for it."
"I'll go with you," Vicky Losada, Keira's fellow midfielder, said. Vicky was one of the few on the team old enough to match Lucy - older than Lucy - and the Spaniard joined Demi, the two women heading back down the tunnel to retrieve their errant teammate.
Alex sat down on the bench, face in her hands. "Why does Luce have to be so damn difficult?" she asked rhetorically.
Keira shook her head sympathetically. "Her name's literally Lucy Roberta Tough Bronze," she pointed out.
Alex snorted. "Might not be middle named Trouble, but damn close."
Out on the pitch, Vicky strode up to the sulking defender.
"Lucia Roberta!" she snapped, and Lucy scrambled to her feet, taking a step back. Her back was to the goalpost as Vicky bore down on her, and though Lucy was taller than Vicky by two inches, Vicky somehow loomed larger.
"Lucia Roberta Bronze, right now," Vicky growled, pointing to the spot in front of her. Demi had been prepared to haul Lucy out, but as Vicky was doing a fine job of things by herself, she stepped back to watch the show.
"Why should I have to listen to you?" Lucy demanded, trying to hide the tremor in her voice. "You're not Captain."
"Were you going to listen to Alex?" Vicky asked rhetorically. "Going to go to her and take your smacks like the good little girl you ought to?"
Lucy's face burned. "It's rubbish, we lost."
"Come here right now," Vicky ordered, ignoring the whining tone. "You know your contract with City's up and you're heading to Barca. If you pull this at Barca you won't last long. Trust me, I know."
The reminder that soon she'd be leaving England to play for Barcelona got Lucy moving. Vicky was right, she did know how things worked at Barca, having played for them before, and if Vicky was telling the truth...
"Pull what?"
"Backchat," Vicky said. "When the captain says jump?"
"How high, right?" Lucy ground out resentfully.
Vicky nodded. "And she says get moving?"
"I move," Lucy sighed.
"So you do this for Alex one last time. Call it practice, yeah?"
"But Vicky, it's humiliat--"
"Lucia."
"Yeah," Lucy grumbled, "all right."
Groaning, Lucy followed Vicky back into the tunnel, Demi trailing behind. Demi ensured Lucy went straight to Alex, who was waiting for them in the middle of the room.
"All right, Luce," Alex said firmly, trying her best to emulate Leah and Keira. "Drop them and over." She braced her leg on the bench, and Lucy grimaced, but reluctantly got into position as ordered. Bare over Alex's thigh, the age disparity mattered less, and she felt the younger Captain's arm wrap around her, securing her in place.
Then Alex landed the first of several brisk swats, and Lucy was grateful for Alex's hold; she might be younger than Lucy, but damn if she didn't have a hard hand.
"I hope this is the last time I ever have to smack you, Luce," Alex said firmly, without breaking rhythm. "You're leaving us for Barca and I'm going to miss you, we all are, but you're not going to keep up this attitude whilst you're there, got me? Barca may not be England, but you'll still behave like a Lioness ought to."
Lucy felt tears starting under the onslaught, as much from Alex's scolding as the smacking. "Fuck, Greenwood, have you been taking lessons from Houghton or something?"
"I'll take that as a compliment, Luce," Alex replied, focusing on warming Lucy's bum thoroughly so she'd remember the lesson. She didn't go quite to a proper England red, but when she was satisfied Lucy was contrite, she stopped, shaking out her stinging hand.
Lucy stood the moment Alex allowed it, hastily re-dressing. She didn't argue it when Alex pulled her into a hug, embracing her Captain tightly.
"I'm sorry I effed up, Alex," Lucy said quietly. "This wasn't the send-off I wanted us to have."
"I know," Alex said, hugging Lucy tightly. "You're forgiven. I'm going to miss you, but at least we'll still play for England together, right?"
"Right," Lucy agreed. "Don't worry, I'll remember. Best behaviour at Barca."
"Or you know what you'll get," Vicky put in. Reluctantly, Lucy nodded.
"Yeah. I know."