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Jamal’s phone vibrates in his pocket. He was sat on the player-bus. Joshua Kimmich next to him. Jamal pressed himself against the window. He appreciates his company but he’s too close. He only wants to be close to a certain blond right now.
Jamal pulled out his phone. It was Florian. The match against PSG had just ended. His eyes hurt. Tears had been pouring since the whistle. He hates the away game rule. Jamal felt so robbed of a chance. He sighs clicking on the message. He can’t wait to get to the airport. They were nice enough to get them flight home to same day. Well Berlin. But it was in Germany. Where he lived. Not France.
📳 Starboy ( Florian )
When are you arriving? I’m in the car already.
Florian recently got an apartment in a city over. So he could get to Berlin in approximately three hours. Jamal said it was fine and he’ll just call his mother or something to pick him up, not sure how’d that work she lives 5 hours away from Berlin. He wasn’t expecting to go home this early. He was sure that was going to be playing in the finale. It was eleven at night. They will arrive at the airport at possibly eleven-thirty. The plane leaves at around twelve. So he’ll be there at around two.
He texted him back quickly. With an earlier time, Flo had a habit of being late.
📳 Bambi ( You )
1:45. drive safe. I need you to be whole.
Florian only had his drivers license for about 2 months. He could also drive pretty recklessly. Jamal wasn’t a huge fan of that.
He threw his head back. Looking at the city lights outside. “Wirtz picking you up?” Joshua spoke calmly. That calm he tried hard to remain after match to no avail.
”Yeah, why?” Jamal his voice was tiny and raspy. It was the first time he talked in hours. “Just want you to be home safe” He sighed, “Don’t worry” Jamal traces the stitching of his pants. “I won’t then” he shrugs. Jamal grabs his airpods. He decided listen to Little lion man, a song he likes and kind of fits to the situation he was in.
The plane flight to Berlin was silent. But some found to power to talk again. Slowly recovering from the loss. Jamal knows he won’t recover for probably a week. He doesn’t have anything to look forward to at home now. Euro’s seemed too far away.
Some of his teammates tried to go to sleep, he couldn’t. His eyes were wide open. No distraction helped. He decided to just look out the window the whole 2 hours. To just think. He needed Flo to be able to sleep.
With only 15 minutes of his flight left. Jamal took a break from looking at the sky outside and unlocked his phone.
📳 Starboy ( Florian )
Im parked, what gate are you arriving at?
📳 Bambi ( you )
4U. 10 minutes.
He shut his phone off again. He kept getting other messages. Telling him how good they played and that it was unfair or whatever. It’s not like he could’ve done more. He was subbed in the last 15 minutes. He tried. But couldn’t.
“Jam” Alphonso tapped him. “You gonna be alright?” He asks. “Hm, Maybe. I’ll probably cry my eyes out as soon as I see Flo” He huffed. Alphonso had a dry laugh. “I can picture that”
The plane started landing. The wheels hit the round, they ran on the runway till they came to a full stop. Jamal stood up and got his suitcase.
Cold air hit him. The city of Berlin welcomed him. He walked to the gate entrance. Seeing Florian sitting on one of the chairs at the gate. Doors swung open for him. The inside of the airport was warm and oddly quiet.
”Bambi” Florian stood up. Pulling the boy into a hug, a tight one. Jamal couldn’t react. He also wasn’t lying about bursting into tears because he did. “baby” Florian muttered. Rubbing his boyfriends back. Jamal finally put his arms around Flo too. Pushing his head in the crook of his neck, making his turtleneck wet from his constant sobbing. He cupped Jamals face. “Shhh, im here”
They finally pulled apart. “Let’s go to mine okay, wanna say goodbye first?” Jamal nodded. He said bye to his teammates hugging some of them. He hugged Joshua tight. He knew that he was going to have it hard.
Florian had his suitcase in his hand. Holding out his free one for Jamal to take. That made a part of his heart melt. They didn’t show affection in public all that much. So this act was extra sweet. Jamal took his hand. Intertwining their fingers together. Flo rubbing his thumb.
The black car was almost unnoticeable because of how dark it was. Florian put his suitcase in the trunk. He looked at him. “What?” Flo laughed. “I love you” Jamal said still silently sniffing. “Because I put your suitcase in the trunk?” Florian tried to be humorous. Jamal actually laughed, for the first time that day. Florian leaned in and gave him a peck. Let’s go home.
Jamal fell asleep as soon as they got on the highway. Florian kept an hand on his thigh. As a reminder that he was there. So he could sleep peacefully.
30 minutes before they made it to Florians place he woke up. Still tired. The sun was threatening to peak. As it was almost 5. In an hour it was already morning.
“Did you sleep well?” Florian was running on energy drinks. Almost being up for 24 hours. “Mhm” he hummed. Looking out of the window, again. “Should I drive?” Jamal offered. “No, we’re almost there. You need rest, Schatz”
The building in which he lived got visable. He had a penthouse, pretty big one too. He loved living there. He dreamt of leaving there with Jamal at some point. He drove into the garage. Glad to be off the road before it got busy with all the people going to work.
He felt how tired he was as soon as he was in the elevator. It hit him like a brick. But this isn’t about him. He has to care of his boyfriend.
”Want to eat something baby?” Florian took his shoes off. “Sleep” he said immediately making his way to the bedroom. “Did you eat something on the plane?” He yells out. “Yes” Jamal lied. He was too tired to be hungry. He took off his clothes and got in the double bed.
“I’m sorry that it went the way it went” Florian closed the door behind him. “Why are you sorry? It’s not your fault” Jamal turned to him. “I dunno, Maybe I should have come support you” Florian climes in next to him. “Covid babe” He sighs. “I know, but maybe I could’ve snuck in and beat PSG till they bled” Florian joked. “I messed up on the field didn’t I?” Jamal got teary eyed again. “What no?” Florian kissed his forehead. Jamal started crying again.
He felt like such a kid. Well he was practically still a teenager. But. He shouldn’t act like this. “Don’t cry, you were just nervous, you played good, don’t put yourself down” Florian hushed him. Jamal couldn’t talk. He felt like a knot was in his throat.
“Next time, you’ll beat them“ He forced Jamal to look at him. “You hear me” Florian asked. Jamal nodded. Clinging to Flo. Legs wrapped in each other. “Next time I’ll beat them” Jamal wiped his tears. “That’s right” He replied.
“We should probably go sleep baby” Florian kissed him, “I Love you” Jamal whispered. “More” Florian says.
The next morning or afternoon, Florian woke up first. It was 2 P.M. He pried himself off Jamal and took a well-deserved, hot shower. Because he was the best boyfriend ever, he decided to make brunch. It was confusing waking up at this time, as he usually had a strict routine, but he was willing to bend it for Jamal. He was going to make pancakes with strawberries.
Florian isn’t a master cook at all. He can't actually cook for anything. But, he thought making pancakes wouldn't be too hard, right? Wrong. He cracked the egg shell and the shell got in the yolk. Ew. He burned the first pancake like crazy, and it smelled awful. He even accidentally burned himself. “Ah! Asshole,” he muttered as he put his finger under water.
Jamal probably woke up from all the noise and stepped into the kitchen wearing Flo’s Leverkusen training shirt. “What are you trying to make?” Jamal wrapped his arms around Florian's waist. “Our breakfast, but I burned it,” Florian replied sadly.
Jamal kissed his cheek and suggested, “Should we just order something? I'll clean up.” “Maybe,” Florian said, defeated. “Next time, ask me to cook,” Jamal said. “And burn our house down?” Florian joked.
“Our? We live together now?” Jamal nudged him playfully. “Yes, we’re married and have 100 dogs and cats,” Florian teased.
“Bet.”