Chapter Text
"I'm really happy you're here, by the way. You know, last time, when you left early... I mean, I wasn't mad or anything, I'm just saying, I'm happy you're here."
"I'm happy I'm here too."
"You could come over more often. If you wanted to. Just spend a few days over... Tell chat you went, like, scuba-diving or something. Jumped out of another plane. Whatever."
A chuckle.
A sigh.
"I'm sorry. I get it. Do you want breakfast?"
Ludwig's back looks out of place in his kitchen. Ludwig's kitchen is white and clean and it has marble countertops that look like they would be cold to the touch. That's a Ludwig kitchen. A Jerma kitchen doesn't really fit him. A cozy at best kitchen. Fancy turtlenecks and brown cupboards don't really go together. The kind of brown that's leaning more towards a dirty orange. Bronze? Maybe. Ludwig would know the right word.
As it is, Ludwig is currently hunched over his stove, the sound of frying oil sizzling in Jerma's ears. He doesn't even know what he's making. Ludwig just left the bedroom and helped himself to his kitchen. Somehow, in the time Jerma spent getting up from the bed and dressing up, Ludwig set the table, made coffee and started cooking. Sometimes Jerma can't get out of bed before noon. He takes a sip from his mug and thinks about how out of place he looks.
Ludwig's flight leaves at 9. Neither of them love to talk in the morning. Still, he doesn't like the silence. He never has. He yawns and Ludwig looks at him over his shoulder for a second, before turning off the gas and walking towards the table, pan in hand.
"I made eggs," he slides one over in each of their plates and sets the pan on the table, "I figured, since you only had three left, we could finish them together."
"Thanks," he smiles and then rolls his eyes, fishing for a laugh, "Now I have to buy new eggs, though."
Ludwig doesn't laugh, but he does smile and Jerma thinks that's fine too.
"I'll buy some for you," he mumbles around a mouthful of egg.
"Will you actually?"
"Yeah, as soon as I get home," he swallows, "I'll buy some and then mail them to you."
Jerma clasps his hands together. "My hero."
Ludwig chuckles. He sips on his coffee. Jerma lowers his eyes and takes a bite of his egg. It's really good. Ludwig reaches over to the pan and gives him a look. You want this? Jerma shakes his head but Ludwig is already cutting it in half. The yolk dribbles all over the pan. Jerma is gonna have to scrub that out once it dries. He's gonna have to clean up their plates and their mugs. He's gonna have to wash his sheets and remake the bed and spray down the bathroom in an attempt to make Ludwig's smell go away.
He guesses it's good Holly's coming back in two hours so he can just rip the bandaid clean off.
"You got everything? You're sure?"
"Yeah, yeah. Nothing left."
"You're sure? Did you check the bathroom? Please, the- your hair gel. Please, for the love of god, tell me you remembered your hair gel."
"I did, I did, it's here."
"Okay. Good. Sorry, it's just- You know."
"I still think you should've just told her it was yours."
"She's not stupid, Ludwig."
"Weeeell..."
"That's mean."
"You know that's true. Why else would we be here?"
He doesn't know either.
"Hehe. Gotcha."
Ludwig lets him go only after getting Jerma to swear he'll be in his next event. Jerma doesn't think he knows he didn't need to beg. Still, he likes playing hard to catch. He's pretty sure he would go if Ludwig invited him to skydive.
They can't go inside the airport together. Jerma won't let them ever. So they sit in the car and Ludwig holds his arm from across the console.
"Next month, okay? I'll tell you when soon, just, next month." Jerma nods at him.
He doesn't know why he feels so distant. Floating. Is this a dream? Ludwig kisses him hard and holds his face with one hand. He pulls back and whispers something Jerma can't quite make out. His hand on the steering wheel feels like it's stuck there with glue. Ludwig pursues his lips and then looks down and takes his phone out of his pocket. Hurriedly kisses Jerma one last time and then he's out of the car.
Jerma watches him go and turn back one more time to wave at him. He waves back. The whole car smells like him.
He's getting too old for this.