Chapter Text
1.
Erling quietly groaned before laying his chin on his hands, which were crossed and laid on the table in front of him. He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath and trying to focus on keeping still. His effort to hold still proved needless because it didn't seem to help his raging headache.
He had woken up around 4 am that morning, feeling like actual garbage. His stomach had churned and hurt and he had no clue as to why. He thought maybe standing up would help, to get a glass of water and an effervescent tablet to calm his stomach, but as soon as he got up onto his feet he was hit with an overwhelming urge to throw up. He ran to the bathroom attached to his room and sat on the floor next to the toilet, barfing out the dinner he had the night before. He stayed like that for what felt like forever, just taking everything out of his still pain filled body.
He was thankful for whatever God that made him tie up his hair before he went to bed.
Right after that he stayed next to the toilet, just sitting there and taking in gentle breaths of fresh air. He kept his eyes closed, trying to take in everything that just happened and coming up with reasons as to why he feels so shitty..
But then his head started throbbing like crazy. And though it sucked it kept his mind off of his stomach pain which had slowly lessened anyways as time passed.
And by 7 he thought he would be fine, that his stomach and head would stop hurting and that his need to barf would go away. He thought he'd be able to go to training and finish it just as easily, a piece of cake.
Unfortunately the world isn't so kind to him.
"Erling, you alright, mate?" He was asked. He didn't have the energy to open his dry eyes and just tried to find out who it was based on the voice alone.
The accent, english, very english. It wasn't the deepest voice but not the highest either- Goddamn it, it hurt to think..
But he figured it out.
"I'm okay, Jack" Erling spoke, voice hoarse and quiet. It definitely didn't assure his teammate and friend. "You sure? You look pale" Grealish wondered, looking him over with worried eyes. "Very" Erling was quick to reply, even though his body begged him to just shut up, "Everything good.."
"Alright.." Jack didn't sound like he believed him even for a second but he let it go relatively easily.
Erling tried to zone out, just keep his body still and lessen any sort of pain that hit him all of sudden and then let go for a bit. He was almost asleep before another voice made itself known in the cafeteria he and Jack were in.
"Morning" the voice spoke, Erling not having the energy to decipher that one too. "Morning Kevin" but it seems he didn't have to. It's like his friend knew he wasn't going to try.
Thank you Jack
"Is everything okay?" Kevin asked, walking over to the pair. He didn't sit down, instead he stayed close to Erling, looking down at him with that stoic expression he wore constantly.
"Erling's acting a bit weird but he insists he's fine"
Thanks again, Jack, you tattletail.
He could HEAR Kevin thinking and it wasn't exactly fun for Erling because the man was unreadable. No matter what you could never tell what's going on through his head.
"Erling?" Kevin asked, "What's wrong?"
Erling pried his eyes open, looking up at Kevin. He had an immediate reaction, his head feeling like it was under an earthquake, but he knew that's ridiculous with no one reacting with fear or shock and that it was just his nausea.
It didn't help keep the bile down or stop the throbbing in his head..
"I'm okay.."
… Kevin blinked, "Right" he nodded his head, "Okay" but of course he didn't believe the younger man and took matters into his own hands. The first thing he did was lay his hand on Erling's forehead. And usually he'd react, swat the hand away, talk, but all of that needed power, which he didn't have.
He watched Kevin sigh and shake his head a bit, before the man bent down and pressed his lips to Erling's forehead, testing the temperature yet again.
Erling didn't react, he just closed his eyes as Kevin checked.
Soon enough the man pulled away, "You have a fever, you need to go home"
Damn it no wonder he also felt colder,
"I'm o-" "You're not. Jack tell Pep me and Erling aren't training today."
Sorry WHAT-
But Jack agreed right away.
Kevin didn't let him train and Erling, despite his best efforts, didn't even oppose for too long and let the other take him back home.
Long story short he found out he had food poisoning. And Kevin took the whole day off work to take care of him and help him feel much better.
—
2.
The next time Kevin acted like a father to the blonde Norwegian was during training a few days later.
But a bit more.. interesting one.
Pep decided to go with something different that day. He thought that everyone should know how every position is. How hard it is, how difficult it gets and how difficult it was to make split second decisions in such positions. So split them into teams of two so they could play against each other and ALSO switched around who they were.
Somehow, Erling had ended up at the goal and Kevin had ended up as a striker. It was new and fascinating to test themselves out using the method though so no one really complained. On the contrary, some were a bit worried that they were going to make their team lose. Because of that the game went a bit slower than any other.
Erling had definitely found out how hard it actually was being a goalkeeper. Everything is at first peaceful and calm, you're not doing anything, then all of a sudden all attention is on you and you're expected to protect the goal and keep the ball out of the net that's behind you.
Difficult job. Erling won't lie he knew that already but experiencing it first hand was absolutely dreadful.
But that wasn't the only thing that was hard to do.
There were many things the goalkeeper had to know and accelerate at, including hitting the ball away with their hands, pushing it away when it was shot, kicking it away, catching the ball... Kicking it away before it crossed the line proved to be the easier of the four, since the shots weren't that hard when it was just gently rolling on the ground towards him.
However one of the more difficult things Erling had faced was catching the ball.
Now, it sounds easy, to catch it with your two hands all you need to do is follow the ball and do it, extend your hands and watch it as closely as possible.
But when it's flying at you and the speed of light and you're not exactly paying attention..
Yeah. Not fun.
Erling had been so focused on watching the defenders, watching the game with fascination, that he genuinely forgot where he was at that moment. Only when Kevin, on the opposing team, seemed to get past the new defenders did Erling's brain start to register that he's on the goal.
Fortunately, Erling was able to defend the goal and keep the other team from scoring.
Unfortunately though he realized a bit too late that the ball was flying at him.
And he ended up with a ball straight to his face. Pain ran through him like lightning, going from where he was hit and downwards.
He could hear the team groan, he can also assume what expression Pep had on. But he couldn't focus from the blood rushing onto his hands once his hands had covered it.
He fell to his knees, groaning in pain.
No one moved to come to him, all in too much shock to even process what had happened.
Only when the fresh red blood started trickling between his hands did their coach and vice captain run towards him..
"Haaland!" Pep yelled, "Oh sh- are you okay?- no why am I asking-"
Kevin knelt down in front of him, "I'm so sorry Erling.." he quickly apologized and laid his palms on his shoulders, "Okay.. Pep do you-"
A packet of papers was in front of him in seconds. And no he won't question it, Pep is just like that. Haven't you heard Erling before? 'He's a bit crazy'
Kevin was quick to take a pretty big amount out get closer to Erling.. "Move your hands, come on" he told the Norwegian, who looked at him in response, and luckily for him, listened pretty quick. No wonder, considering the blood was even dripping onto the grass below them now.
As soon as his hands moved Kevin didn't even THINK about checking how much blood there is, or if it's still bleeding, he pressed the tissues to Erling's face, quick but gentle. "Does it hurt?" He asked. Erling nodded his head, but also added "A bit" which gave Kevin the good news that it probably wasn't broken.
But still..
"Hold this, okay?" Kevin asked the Norwegian. Erling blinked at him but, yet again, listened pretty quick and held it up to his nose instead of Kevin..
"No not like that" Kevin held Erling's hand, fixing the way he was holding a bit, "You do it like that and it's going to slide down your face more"
"Mhm.."
The man sighed but then decided on checking the nose a bit, pressing onto its sides and front. And Erling did flinch a bit, because as he said before it still hurt, but no big reaction was created and he didn't feel that anything is broken.
"I think you're fine, you'll still get it checked though, okay?"
Erling nodded his head at the vice captain, "Come on, let's get up" the two stood up, Kevin patting the other on the shoulder,
Then something unexpected happened.
As other players started coming over, relief evident on their faces since Erling wasn't seriously injured, Kevin genuinely couldn't help himself. It's like his brain had decided that Erling is just a child and he deserves something for being brave. Despite the other being taller than him, with that look on his face and the way he genuinely didn't seem to know what to do Kevin's brain had a glitch.
"I'll get you ice cream, you're doing great"
…. Huh?
The players froze, some staring in shock while others stared at Kevin with confusion.
But Kevin, at that moment, didn't realize what he had said and meant it.
Erling blinked at him, staring down at his vice captain.
Everyone thought he'd refuse, turn away, laugh about it, Erling style but none of that came. Instead the Norwegian's eyes almost sparkled and he nodded his head, like that was a fantastic idea..
"First we're gonna check all of that out though" Erling once again nodded..
Well okay then-
Long story short Erling did get an ice cream after and he was happy with himself. Kevin apologized a lot to the Norwegian.
—
3.
The third time it happened the team started noticing the two's unique relationship. Jack was the one who pointed it out, giving them proof by telling them why the two weren't at training a few days ago given he was the only one who saw it. He told them that Kevin had decided to stay with Erling and take care of him till he felt better and that Kevin was the one who told him to go home, after checking his temperature. Which is also why the two came to training together two days later.
No one really believed it at first though some teammates like Foden and Mahrez were slightly on board. They just needed a push in the right direction, as did the rest.
It was like a boat came to save people from a flood but no one believed it was happening. That is, till they see the water rising up. That's when the people start to trust it and get in the boat without much question.
That's what they needed, a flood. (Not literally of course)
And they did get one. About a week later.
Mahrez, Foden and Jack were making their way to the hangout area, where the team usually hung around before and/or after training. It wasn't much, just an area that had couches and a tv perched on the wall. It was simple but the teammates appreciated it because it was in reality all they needed before training, when they're still a bit sleepy, and after training, when they were full of adrenaline but still pretty tired.
The three were making their way down a hall to get to the room, talking amongst each other not so quietly despite it being 7:15 in the morning. They weren't exactly thinking that anyone got there before them, given the fact they didn't hear any noise as they got close.
But as soon as Jack let out a pretty loud yelp when Phil hit him they got a scare of their lives as Kevin just EMERGED from the door, glaring at them.
" … Hi Kev-" Mahrez was about to say but Kevin shushed him, pressing a finger to his lips in the 'stay quiet' gesture.
"... Everything okay?" Mahrez tried again, this time voice barely above a whisper, which seemed to please Kevin and he lessened his dark stare.
Kevin nodded his head, "But be quiet" he whispered back, "Erling is sleeping on the couch. I told him to take a nap, he looked tired." And he went back in, too quick to witness the smirk Jack sent Phil and Mahrez, who looked bewildered with what the Belgium man just said.
"See? Told you" Jack chuckled and went in first. As soon as he was out of sight the two others looked at each other, blinked, before they went in together.
Jack was already sitting down, a little smile on his lips at the scene before him, while Mahrez and Phil genuinely couldn't believe their eyes.
As Kevin had said, there was Haaland. He was laying on the couch, taking up the entire thing with his body. He was laid on his side, knees slightly curled so he could fit better on the couch too small for him, as his arms held one of the couch pillows close, with his head laid on top of it.
He looked peaceful and honestly happy to be getting a nap.
What surprised the two people wasn't the fact that the Norwegian was asleep. But rather Kevin.
The man could be sitting on one of the two other couches, one across from Haaland that Jack was on, or the other one on the left.
But Kevin decided to sit on the floor, back pressed against the couch Haaland was snoozing on. His legs were straight, one leg over the other as if he was actually comfortable on the hardwood floor. His phone was in his hand and he didn't look too bothered by the circumstance.
But when DID he have an expression on that's other than stoic- (besides the fact he just glared at them a minute ago)
Kevin looked like a guard, making sure no one woke up the person behind him. And in all honesty, Mahrez and Phil had a feeling they did NOT want to wake up the Norwegian.
Papa De Bruyne is one scary mf when angry.
Long story short, most players saw the same sight and decided to never question Jack ever again-
—
4.
The fourth time it happened, it happened on the pitch during a match against the Wolves. It was a premier league match and of course the team was fired up and ready to go.
A few people were on the bench, including Gundogan and Alvarez, who were probably the only ones on the team that still didn't believe the relationship between Kevin and Erling. They pointed out that what they saw that day in the room was simply a vice captain making sure his teammate was ready and okay, then Gundogan pointed out he would've done the same.
And though they couldn't exactly argue with that logic, the people on the bench were sometimes focusing on the game and other times trying to make the two players believe them. They used everything that came to mind.
And soon, they would have live proof.
The wolves were already down 3-1, with Erling scoring a hattrick, one goal in the first half, two in the second. And it seemed like he would be getting a fourth one, with Kevin yet again assisting the younger man.
But that thought was left abandoned, because as soon as the ball was hit by Kevin and sent towards a ready Erling, something unexpected happened.
In football, a defender is an outfield position whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring. That meant that defenders tried their best, most of the time anyways, to not allow the ball to meet the net. Which is why some defenders go as far as hurting the player, striker or otherwise, to stop them.
And most of the time, these instances weren't that bad. The player could get in a few seconds with no trouble and the worst the defender could get is a yellow card for that.
However, it seemed that the defender, Kilman, had really decided to live up to his club's name and attacked way more viciously than needed.
As soon as it seemed, listen closely, SEEMED that the ball would come to Haaland the man acted quickly and very angrily, full of adrenaline and rage from losing. Kilman settled his eyes on Haaland and decided to do the worst he could.
It all seemed to happen in slow motion, because all of a sudden all eyes were on the pitch, faces full of shock and mouths agape, and the stadium fell silent. The cheers, whistles, faces filled with joy, suddenly silenced in a single moment.
Haaland was down, on the floor, chest to the grass beneath him. And Kilman was on top of him, glaring down at the Norwegian with pure hate in his eyes. He held the other down, one hand holding him by the back of the neck so Erling's head stayed down, while Kilman's other arm held one of Erling's own against his back. He made sure the Norwegian wasn't able to move.
The worst part though, was probably Kilman's expression. While his eyes were fixed into a death glare, his eyes showing nothing but pure rage, his mouth was fixed into a smile. A sick, sadistic and, most of all, evil grin, showing off his teeth.
He didn't look guilty. Not one bit, not.
This was what he wanted to do.
Once the ball, that rolled away, came to a halt, not guilty not liable, did the referee finally whistle, raising up a red card high into the air.
But Kilman didn't move, not even when Erling started to squirm beneath him and trying to get free. Other teammates ran over, even the Wolves' goalkeeper was trying to get the man off.
But in the moment of a split second, you could've blinked and missed it, Kilman was thrown off of Erling and left to roll away. The man was so shocked he didn't even register what had happened.
But it didn't take a genius to figure out Kevin de Bruyne himself had run over and with full force, pushed him off of Erling.
Kilman smirked from the ground, "What? Little man city-"
He didn't get to finish.
Because Kevin didn't let him.
He himself was on top of Kilman right away, pushing the man down with as much force as he could muster.. "Listen here, motherfucker."
Eveything- everyone- was so quiet the mic easily picked up Kevin's voice..
"If I don't see you apologize to Erling right now I'll make sure you waste the season by breaking your arm"
…
Kilman glared, "You wouldn't-"
"Oh but I would."
….
Kevin slowly pulled back, once the whistle was yet again heard and another red card was raised, this time for Kevin. Which his teammates obviously didn't agree with and tried to argue. After all, the Belgium man was just making sure his teammate was freed.
But Kevin didn't react. He walked over to Erling, who was getting the help to get up by one of the Wolves and Jack.
They moved away once Kevin got close then he extended his hand and held Erling's chin to cheek for bruises, turning his head from one side to the other. Erling didn't say a thing, he allowed the other to look over till he was satisfied with nothing being there.
"Does it hurt?"
Erling shook his head, no.
Kevin hummed "Score" he told him
"I plan to" Erling was quick to respond, giving a tiny smile..
"Make sure Kilman regrets laying a hand on you, Erling."
"I will" the Norwegian nodded
Alvarez and Gundogan were suddenly firm believers in the father son duo.
And Wolves lost 7-1 by the 90th minute and Pep and their fans were extremely satisfied with the outcome.
Not only did Erling score one more goal, but a pissed off Jack and Mahrez decided to avenge their friend and listen to Kevin's order as well. So they scored two more after Erling did so.