Chapter 99 – New Colors, Same Fire
The morning air in Dortmund was thick with the damp chill of early winter, the kind that seeped into your bones no matter how many layers you wore. Thiago shifted from foot to foot outside the training facility, his breath forming little white clouds in front of his face. The straps of his duffel bag dug into his shoulder, heavier than usual—not because he’d packed more gear, but because of what this trip represented.
Around him, the senior squad players chatted in low voices, their relaxed postures showing how routine this was for them. Marco Reus laughed at something Mats Hummels said, his gloved hands gesturing wildly. The younger squad members hovered near the edges, eyes darting between the veterans and coaching staff, looking both excited and nervous. Thiago knew exactly how they felt.
Preseason wasn’t just about training. It was his first real test wearing Dortmund’s famous black and yellow, his first chance to prove he belonged at this level. His fingers tightened around the strap of his bag.
Marina appeared at his elbow, her sharp heels clicking against the pavement as she juggled a steaming thermos and a bulging folder threatening to spill papers everywhere. "Passport?" she asked without looking up, already scrolling through something on her phone.
Thiago patted his jacket pocket, feeling the stiff little booklet through the fabric. "Got it."
"Good." She finally glanced at him, her dark eyes assessing. "Try not to lose it like you did your boarding pass last month. I’m not explaining to Klopp why we need to delay a flight because you can’t keep track of your things."
"I was jetlagged," he muttered, adjusting the strap digging into his shoulder.
"And now you’re a professional." She snapped the folder shut with finality. "Start acting like one."
The team bus idled nearby, its black and yellow livery gleaming under the harsh parking lot lights. Thiago climbed aboard and claimed a window seat near the back, pressing his forehead against the cool glass as the engine rumbled to life. Through the fogged pane, he watched the Borussia Dortmund crest on the training center shrink into the distance, the towering letters becoming indistinct as the bus turned onto the main road.
His stomach did a funny little flip.
He was really doing this.