Leo arrived at the doorstep of their apartment building just as the evening sun stretched long golden streaks across the pavement.
The familiar buzz of conversation drifted faintly from inside — he could hear Mia's excited voice battling against Sofía's more measured tone, both slipping through the poorly insulated walls.
A small smile crept onto his face.
It was the kind of noise he didn't realize he missed until he heard it again.
Shifting the small duffel bag on his shoulder, he reached out and knocked firmly on the door.
There was a beat of silence. Then a sudden shuffling of feet — quick, light — rushed toward him.
The door swung open so fast it nearly hit the wall behind it, and standing there was Mia, his little sister, wide-eyed.
For a split second, she froze, staring at him like her brain couldn't quite believe it.
And then—
"LEO!!!" she shrieked, her voice echoing through the corridor.
Before he could react, she launched herself at him like a cannonball.
Leo staggered back from the impact, laughing as he caught her in his arms.
"Woah, easy, Mia! You'll knock me out before I even step inside," he said, spinning her around once before setting her down.
But Mia wasn't letting go, arms wrapped stubbornly around his waist like a koala.
Her face was buried against him, and he could feel the slight tremble of excitement in her tiny frame.
From inside, another set of footsteps pounded toward the door — heavier, more determined.
Leo barely had time to turn before Sofía appeared, wielding a wooden spatula like it was a sword, her face twisted in pure defense mode.
"¡¿Quién está ahí?! ¡Te juro que [Who's there?! I swear]—!" she began furiously, but then her words caught in her throat.
She blinked. Stared. Took in the scene: Mia wrapped tightly around Leo, her nephew standing there half-laughing, half-startled.
Sofía's arm dropped, the spatula clattering harmlessly against her thigh.
"Leo..." she said, voice softening immediately, the edges of worry still clinging to her words.
"Why didn't you call first? I almost knocked you out with this thing."
Leo grinned, ruffling Mia's hair.
"Figured I'd survive a battle or two. Missed you guys too much," he said, his voice warm.
Mia finally looked up at him, pouting dramatically.
"You're mean! You didn't even tell me you were coming home!" she accused, smacking his chest lightly with her tiny fist.
Leo laughed. "Had to surprise my favorite little sister somehow."
"I'm your only little sister!" Mia huffed, crossing her arms — but there was no real anger in her tone, just pure happiness.
Sofía shook her head with a sigh, stepping aside and ushering him in with a wave of her spatula.
"Come inside before the neighbors call security," she muttered.
Leo stepped in, inhaling the familiar smell of home — garlic, something frying in the kitchen, the faint scent of laundry detergent.
His heart ached in a way he hadn't expected.
Mia tugged on his sleeve immediately.
"Did you bring me anything from the academy? Or a football? Or stickers?!" she asked, her words tumbling over each other.
Leo laughed again, reaching down to pinch her cheek.
"You'll see after dinner. First, let me breathe, yeah?"
Sofía crossed her arms, studying him as he dropped his duffel bag by the couch.
Her sharp brown eyes softened as she took in his changed appearance — he was taller, leaner but more solid, the hard work etched into the new strength of his frame.
"You look good, Leo," she said quietly. "You've been working hard, haven't you?"
Leo nodded, offering a small smile.
"Trying my best."
Sofía's lips twitched into a rare, proud smile.
"Well... it shows."
Mia, of course, had other priorities.
She grabbed Leo's hand and pulled him toward the kitchen.
"Come on, you have to tell us everything!" she demanded.
"Did you make friends? Are you famous yet? Did you score ten goals?!"
Leo threw a helpless look over his shoulder at Sofía, who merely chuckled and went back to stirring a pot on the stove.
As he let Mia drag him away, Leo couldn't help but feel a deep, glowing sense of belonging settle in his chest.
No matter how far he went or how much he changed, this would always be home.
..........
Dinner was a lively, messy affair. Sofía had thrown together a simple meal — pasta with garlic bread — but to Leo, it tasted like a feast.
Maybe it was the food, maybe it was the company, maybe it was just being home again.
Mia wouldn't stop chattering the entire time, firing off questions between mouthfuls of pasta, while Sofía kept trying — and failing — to maintain some order at the table.
"So, you have to tell us," Mia said, pointing her fork at Leo.
"What's the big news? You didn't just come back, did you?"
Leo wiped his mouth with a napkin and leaned back, laughing.
"Patience, pequeña. Let me finish eating first. Can't fight on an empty stomach."
Mia pouted but let it go for now, swirling her pasta dramatically as if punishing it.
After dinner, with plates stacked and Sofía rinsing them quickly at the sink, Leo finally stood, pulling out the envelope Dawson had given him from his bag.
"Hey, tía," he said, holding it up slightly.
"Got something important to show you. It's... about my future."
Sofía turned off the tap and glanced over her shoulder.
Her expression was soft, but also weary — the kind of look that made Leo hesitate for a second.
"I've got some deadlines to finish tonight, Leo," she said, wiping her hands on a towel.
"We'll go through it properly tomorrow morning, I promise. You deserve my full attention for that."
Leo nodded, understanding immediately.
"No problem. Tomorrow's fine," he said easily. "I want you to actually see it, not rush it."
Sofía gave him a grateful smile before disappearing into her small office, the make-shift coffee table with a pillow seat, already talking into her headset as work swallowed her back up.
Left in the quiet, Leo felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Okay, now you have to tell me," Mia said, grinning mischievously.
"No escaping!"
Leo laughed, giving in without a fight this time.
"Alright, alright. Come on."
He scooped her up with ease, making her squeal, before carrying her into the living room where they collapsed onto the couch.
Mia leaned close, her green eyes wide — so similar to his, even though she'd never admit it — practically vibrating with curiosity.
"So?" she urged. "What's the big secret?"
Leo leaned closer, lowering his voice like they were about to pull off a heist.
"You know how I've been at Wigan, right? Training and all?"
Mia nodded eagerly.
"Well," Leo continued, a slow smile pulling at his lips, "today they—"