Chapter 33 : Hades

The next morning, after going through his usual routine, Nico was just finishing breakfast when his phone buzzed. It was Jorge.

"Morning, champ," Jorge's voice came through. "Just a quick update—the YSL shoot is the day after tomorrow. Good news is, the crew is flying to Spain, so you don't have to worry about traveling."

Nico leaned back in his chair, nodding to himself. "Alright, that's good. Where's the shoot happening?"

"In Barcelona. They'll send the exact location later, but everything's sorted. Just focus on recovering from the match," Jorge assured him.

"Got it," Nico replied. "Anything else?"

Jorge chuckled. "Nah, just don't show up with bruises on your face—YSL won't be happy if their ambassador looks like he just fought a war."

Nico laughed. "Can't promise that, but I'll try."

They ended the call, and Nico exhaled. Two days from now, he'd be stepping into the world of high fashion again.

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The day after tomorrow, Nico woke up early, stretched out his sore muscles, and went through his usual morning routine. After washing up, he made his way to the dining room, where his grandparents were already seated.

Danny placed a plate in front of him with a warm smile. "Eat well, my boy. Big day today."

Johan, sipping his coffee, glanced at Nico. "You nervous?"

Nico shook his head as he took a bite. "Not really. It's just a shoot."

Danny chuckled. "Not just any shoot—a YSL shoot. My grandson, a fashion icon at 14. Who would've thought?"

Nico smirked. "Maybe I should start a modeling career."

Johan raised an eyebrow. "You focus on football first. Then we'll see."

As they continued eating, Nico's phone buzzed with a message from Jorge, confirming the shoot's location and time. Everything was set.

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After finishing breakfast, Nico got ready and stepped outside, where a sleek black car arranged by YSL was waiting for him. The driver greeted him with a nod before opening the door.

As he settled into the luxurious leather seat, Nico glanced out the window, watching the streets of Barcelona pass by. He was used to the attention, but the idea of stepping into the fashion world still felt slightly surreal.

Soon, the car arrived at the studio. The moment he stepped out, a team was already waiting to greet him. One of the coordinators, a stylish woman in a tailored suit, smiled.

"Welcome, Nico! We're so excited to have you here. Let's get started."

Nico nodded, stepping inside, ready for the shoot.

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As Nico sat in the stylist's chair, they meticulously worked on his already flawless hair, enhancing its natural silky texture. Each strand was perfectly set, framing his porcelain-white skin in a way that only added to his ethereal presence. 

Once his hair was done, the staff brought out the first set of clothes—a perfectly tailor-made black suit, crafted to fit him like a second skin. The fabric hugged his athletic frame effortlessly, accentuating his broad shoulders and lean physique. He slipped into it, adjusting the collar slightly before stepping out. 

The moment he walked into the studio, a wave of murmurs spread across the staff. Every pair of eyes locked onto him, mesmerized. His presence was almost surreal—like a figure sculpted by the gods themselves. His emerald-green eyes gleamed under the soft glow of the studio lights, sharp and intense. His chiseled jawline, high cheekbones, and flawless porcelain skin made him look otherworldly. His silky black hair, styled to perfection, added a layer of effortless elegance to his already divine aura. 

He wasn't just handsome. He was breathtaking.

____________

The photographer for the shoot was none other than Mario Testino, a legend in the fashion world. The moment he laid eyes on Nico, he let out an impressed chuckle, adjusting his camera. 

"Dios mío... they told me you were stunning, but this? This is ridiculous," Testino muttered, shaking his head with a grin. 

He guided Nico through a series of poses—some regal, some effortlessly casual. In one shot, Nico stood tall with his hands in his pockets, exuding an air of dominance. In another, he leaned slightly forward, his emerald-green eyes piercing through the lens. Testino had him sit on a luxurious leather chair, draping one arm over the backrest, legs crossed, looking like a young king. 

After the first round of shots, the stylists brought out the next set of outfits. 

A sleek black turtleneck with a fitted trench coat, a look that made him appear like a mysterious, modern aristocrat.

A classic white dress shirt, unbuttoned at the collar, paired with a tailored charcoal grey suit, giving him the appearance of a suave gentleman straight out of a high-fashion editorial.

An all-black leather ensemble—jacket, pants, boots, exuding rebellious elegance, like a rockstar who walked straight out of a dream.

A deep navy velvet blazer over a black silk shirt, luxurious and refined, emphasizing his striking features.

A simple, crisp white t-shirt tucked into designer trousers, paired with a statement watch, effortlessly chic yet casual, making even simplicity look high fashion. 

Testino watched him with admiration, snapping photo after photo. "You were born for this, kid," he finally said, lowering his camera. "Football may be your first love, but fashion? Fashion is waiting for you with open arms."

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Mario Testino grinned as he turned the camera around, showing Nico one of the shots.

In the picture, Nico was seated on a black throne, dressed in the perfectly tailored black suit. The background was entirely black, blending seamlessly with his attire, creating an aura of pure dominance. The way he sat—one leg crossed over the other, an arm lazily draped over the armrest, his emerald-green eyes piercing through the darkness—made him look like Hades himself, the ruler of the underworld reborn. The lighting was dramatic, casting subtle shadows that accentuated his godly features.

Testino let out a breath, shaking his head in disbelief. "This," he said, tapping the screen, "this is the best photo I have ever taken."

He looked up at Nico, eyes still full of amazement. "I've shot royalty, Hollywood legends, and the biggest names in fashion, but this? This is different. You don't just wear the suit—you own it. You don't just sit on the throne—you command it. This is power. This is presence."

Nico stared at the image, his expression unreadable. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "It's a good picture," he said casually.

Testino scoffed, shaking his head with a laugh. "A good picture? Kid, if the Greek gods were real, they'd be looking down jealous right now."

Mario Testino handed the camera to a nearby staff member before turning back to Nico. "Listen, kid," he said, still marveling at the shot. "This is the one. The world needs to see this."

Nico arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Testino smirked. "You're officially the ambassador of YSL, right? You need to announce it. This—" he gestured toward the image of Nico on the throne, looking like a king in the shadows— "is the picture you should post."

Nico glanced at the image again. It was powerful. It was imposing. It was… him.

 He nodded and pulled out his phone. He uploaded the picture, the one where he sat on the black throne, exuding power and elegance. Below it, he typed the caption:

"Glad to be YSL's ambassador. @ysl"

With a final glance at the image, he hit post.

Testino smirked. "Now sit back and watch the internet explode."

___________

Nico thanked Mario Testino and the entire staff before stepping out of the studio. He got into the car arranged by YSL, leaning back as the city passed by through the tinted windows. 

On the way home, he pulled out his phone and called Jorge. 

"The shoot was excellent," Nico said, his tone satisfied. "Everything was top-class, from the styling to the photography." 

Jorge chuckled on the other end. "I saw the picture you posted. You do realize you've just broken the internet, right?" 

Nico smirked. "It's just a photo." 

"Just a photo?" Jorge scoffed. "You look like Hades himself sitting on that throne. The comments are insane—people are calling you the 'God of Football' and 'the embodiment of luxury.' YSL executives are already thrilled." 

Nico shook his head with a small smile, watching the city blur past. "Good to know the campaign's off to a strong start."

____________

As the car smoothly cruised through the streets, Jorge's voice came through the phone.

"By the way, L'Équipe reached out," he said. "They want to do an exclusive interview with you. Don't worry about scheduling issues—they've given us complete freedom to pick a date."

Nico exhaled, looking out the window. "When do they want it?"

"They're good for tomorrow if you are," Jorge replied.

Nico shook his head. "Let's keep it a month later. There's too much attention on me right now. I'd rather let things settle a bit before doing something big like that."

Jorge chuckled. "Smart decision, kid. I'll let them know."

____________

As soon as he cut the call with Jorge, his phone buzzed again. Seeing Aitana's name on the screen, a small smile tugged at his lips. He answered.

"Hola," he said, leaning back in the seat.

"Hola," Aitana's voice came through, light and curious. "I just saw your post. Hades reincarnate, huh?"

Nico chuckled. "Testino's words, not mine."

"I believe it," she teased. "You looked… unreal."

"You like it that much?" he smirked.

"Shut up," she laughed. "Anyway, how was the shoot?"

"It was incredible," Nico admitted. "Everything was perfect—the suits, the setup, the photos. Testino was hyped. He even said that shot was the best one he's ever taken."

"That's huge!" Aitana said, impressed. "So, what now? Back home?"

"Yeah, on my way," he said. "You?"

"Just finished training," she replied. "Wanted to hear about your day."

Nico smiled. "Then stay on the line."

_______________

He spoke with Aitana for a while, enjoying their easy conversation before finally saying goodbye. As soon as the call ended, he instinctively opened Instagram.

His eyes widened. The post was already at 7 million likes—in just a few hours. His notifications were going crazy.

The comment section was unreal.

Celebrities, famous photographers, models, and footballers had all left their reactions.

Messi: "Prince of La Masia, King of Style. 👑🔥*"

Cristiano Ronaldo: "Class. 🔥"

Hailey Bieber: "This is next level. 🔥"

Gigi Hadid: "YSL couldn't have chosen better. 👏"

Zendaya: "Effortless. Elite. Iconic."Bella Hadid: "Fashion's newest obsession. 🔥"

Mario Testino: "My greatest shot yet. 🎭"

Victoria Beckham: "Style and talent. A rare combination. 🔥"

David Beckham: "YSL ambassador at 14? Crazy. 👏"

Timothée Chalamet: "A prince indeed. 🔥*"

Virgil Abloh (RIP): "A vision. An aesthetic. A movement."

Luka Modrić: "This kid does everything. 😂🔥*"

Robert Pattinson: "Hades reincarnated? The aura is insane. ⚫🔥*"

Rosalía: "Dark, regal, untouchable. Hades vibes. 👑*"

Angelina Jolie: "Commanding. Powerful. As if he owns the underworld. ⚫🔥*"

Alessandro Michele (Gucci's ex-creative director): "This isn't just a photo. It's mythology reborn."

He kept scrolling, seeing endless fire emojis, crown emojis, and words like "unstoppable," "unreal," and "Hades himself" flooding the comments.

Nico leaned back, exhaling with a small smirk.

This was just the beginning.

_____________

Two weeks went by in a blur of intense training and matches. Nico barely had time to breathe between Espanyol's relentless fixtures, La Masia's watchful eyes, and his ever-growing reputation.

Each game, he was either scoring, assisting, or leaving defenders in pure humiliation. His name echoed in stadiums, headlines, and football debates across Europe.

But amidst it all, he stayed focused—his mind locked on his next challenge.

____________

March 22 – Espanyol vs. Villarreal (La Liga, RCDE Stadium)

Espanyol secured a 2-1 victory over Villarreal in a tightly contested match at the RCDE Stadium. Nico Cruyff once again proved to be the difference-maker, registering a goal and an assist. His perfectly timed through ball set up the opening goal for Espanyol before he sealed the win with a clinical finish of his own. The 14-year-old continues to deliver in crucial moments, helping Espanyol push forward in the league standings.

___________

April 5 – Deportivo La Coruña vs. Espanyol (La Liga, Riazor Stadium)

Espanyol traveled to Riazor to face Deportivo La Coruña and came away with a commanding 3-1 victory. Nico was in sensational form, contributing one goal and two assists in a dominant performance. His quick feet and vision were on full display as he set up two brilliant goals before adding one of his own with a composed finish inside the box. His influence on the pitch continues to grow as he cements his status as Espanyol's main attacking force.

___________

April 12 – Espanyol vs. Athletic Club (La Liga, RCDE Stadium)

A tough night for Espanyol as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Athletic Club at home. Despite the loss, Nico Cruyff once again found himself on the scoresheet, scoring Espanyol's only goal of the game. His relentless drive and creativity gave Espanyol moments of hope, but Athletic Club's experience and efficiency proved too much in the end.

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Author's note : Vote if you like what you're reading , Do comment about things you dont like , so i can fix it in the upcoming chapters