Chapter Text
To be completely honest, both Jamal and Florian were tired of waiting.
They'd been dating for almost a year now. All of Jamal's fears of losing his friendship with Florian by confessing his feelings had been totally squashed. Now, Florian was his friend and his boyfriend.
They'd been dating for almost a year now. Jamal had never felt better before. Being with Florian made him feel happy and secure. Things were going so well, he could barely believe he'd gotten this lucky.
They'd been dating for almost a year now.
And yet...
... barely anyone knew about it.
Only their families, a few teammates and some higher-ups at their teams were in on the secret. Just them.
Jamal wanted nothing more than go running in the middle of the street and scream I'm dating Florian! until his voice was hoarse. But no. They had to wait.
A couple of months ago, when they revealed their relationship to the people at Bayern, Leverkusen and the DFB, they were heavily advised to keep it a secret. That'd been a huge blow, seeing as they wanted to go public with it right away.
The saddest thing was, Jamal understood their reasoning.
Public relationships between male footballers are still extremely rare. We don't really have a parameter as to how the public will react. There may be backlash. It's best if you two keep it secret for now.
Jamal understood it. He wished he could say he didn't, but he could not deny it. It was sad and unfair, so fucking unfair. But he understood it.
☆☆☆
They were out of options for a while, until Florian had the best fucking idea. Instead of revealing their relationship all at once, abruptly, they'd go little by little, dropping hints.
It'd taken a bit of convincing, but eventually they were allowed to do it.
Little by little, dropping hints.
☆☆☆
Their first idea had been quite modest.
Florian had just done a fantastic performance for Leverkusen, and he'd posted about it on Instagram.
And Jamal had left a comment that was a bit - how could he put it? - more intense than the ones other players had.
Instead of a great performance, bravo, let's go, congrats, or something of the sort, Jamal had commented an emoji.
❤️
Just that. Just that and nothing else. No words that could soften his message, nothing.
A mere seconds later, Florian had liked the comment.
It truly wasn't much, if you actually thought about it. But, afterall, it was best to start slow.
Little by little, dropping hints.
☆☆☆
Jamal breathed in and out deeply. It was time.
He and Florian were sprawled out in the latter's bed, their attention entirely on Jamal's phone. Their next idea also involved Instagram. This time, though, their focus was on the stories.
Jamal was going to post a picture there, and then quickly delete it; like it'd been an accident.
For this to get people truly gossiping, they'd need to choose a picture that was a bit risqué. It'd taken them a while to decide what picture to post, but they had eventually reached a consensus.
They chose a photo Jamal had taken a few weeks ago. It showed Florian asleep on a beanbag, head lolled to the side. He might be using a Bayern scarf as a makeshift blanket, but he was still clearly shirtless.
Jamal thought he looked so handsome, all calm and relaxed. It was one of his favourite pictures he'd ever taken of his boyfriend.
Looking up from his phone, Jamal's eyes met Florian's, and the other man nodded.
Little by little, dropping hints, Jamal thought as he pressed Send.
They waited with baited breath for about a minute, and then Jamal deleted the picture. He was sure that dozens of people had saved it by now.
Jamal locked his phone, and turned to kiss his boyfriend.
☆☆☆
As it turned out, they didn't even need to go much out of their way in order to get people talking.
It was international break, and so they got to spend more time with each other, both in front and behind the cameras. They hadn't really planned any sort of hint, as busy as they were with the game preparations.
However, all eyes were on them, regardless of what they did. So, they chose to use this to their advantage.
They just held back less than what they did in previous international breaks, and that seemed to be enough.
Jamal stood closer to Florian than usual; not too much, but close enough to leave a few people wondering. And Florian touched him more, grabbing his arm to get his attention or holding his hand whenever he had a semblance of an excuse.
Little by little, dropping hints.
As much as he tried always keeping this maxim in his head, Jamal almost pushed it aside on one occasion.
He'd just scored a goal, with Florian's assist. It was more than natural that they'd celebrate it together.
But when Florian grabbed his face and looked deep into his eyes, Jamal forgot for a moment that they were still on the pitch, where everyone could see them.
For that terrifying second, Jamal practically pulled Florian in for a kiss. He realised what he was about to do just in time, and thankfully managed to turn the movement into a hug.
As he felt more teammates join the hug, Jamal pressed Florian's shoulders as a way to apologise. He could not believe how he had very nearly fucked everything up.
Little by little, little by little, he repeated in his head until they broke the hug.
☆☆☆
Right before the end of the international break, Jamal had an idea.
Okay, maybe he was stealing credit. Florian had been the one to bring it up, afterall.
"Jamu, you're gonna end up giving me a hickey." Florian had commented almost nonchalantly, his throat vibrating as he spoke.
Jamal stopped kissing Florian's neck, and thought about it.
After a beat, he continued with what he was doing. Florian laughed, his whole body shaking underneath Jamal.
"We have a game tomorrow." Florian said.
"I know." Jamal answered. He kissed the same spot on his boyfriend's neck a few times, before he started sucking on the area.
"You want to give me a hickey." Florian realised then, the shock in his voice mixing with excitement.
Jamal nodded, but pulled away as Florian sat up a bit.
"Okay?" Jamal asked.
"Okay." Florian answered. He was flustered, a strong red on his cheeks and an embarrassed smile on his lips. Cute. "Go on, then." He said, laying back down on the bed.
After some time, Jamal was satisfied with the hickey. It wasn't big, but it was definitely noticeable.
Little by little, dropping hints.
The idea of people seeing Florian's hickey and speculating that he had been the cause of it made Jamal's head feel light.
He enjoyed the feeling for a second, before he busied himself giving Florian hickeys in places where no one would be able to see. No one other than the two of them.
☆☆☆
"Jam- Jamal, I- I- I got a- oh my god, stop kiss- kissing me and let me talk!" Florian laughed as he lightly pushed Jamal back on the couch by the shoulders.
Jamal managed to get one more kiss, before Florian covered his mouth with one of his hands.
"I got an interview tomorrow." Florian said.
After saying these words, he uncovered Jamal's mouth. Rookie mistake.
Jamal swiftly cupped the sides of Florian's face, and pulled him in again. He soon felt his boyfriend smile into the kisses.
"I'm happy for you, baby." Jamal said a while later. By now, Florian was looking blissfully smitten, and it took him a second to come back to reality.
"Huh? Oh, thanks." Florian answered. He shook his head. "Uh, I actually wanted to ask you something."
Jamal hummed a question.
"Can I wear your jacket for the interview?" Florian asked. "The red and gold one?"
Florian played dirty to try to convince him, peppering kisses on Jamal's jawline and then down his neck. As if Jamal already wasn't going to say yes.
He tried to open his mouth to speak, but Florian didn't let him, kissing him repeatedly. Not the worst revenge to fall victim to.
It was only then that Jamal actually thought about what Florian had asked. He wanted to wear his jacket for the interview? What for? Florian had plenty of jackets already.
Probably noticing the confusion on Jamal's face, his boyfriend started explaining.
"You wear that jacket a lot." Florian said, running one of his hands down Jamal's chest. "People are going to notice I'm wearing your clothes." He added in a lower voice, not so subtly slipping the hand under Jamal's shirt.
Jamal felt his face blush; a combination of Florian's suggestion and the fact that the idiot was touching him right now.
Little by little, dropping hints, he thought as he wrapped his arms around Florian's shoulders and slid a hand down his back. That jacket was going to look so good on him.
☆☆☆
"You're joking." Jamal said, staring wide-eyed at the tickets Florian had just given him.
"Nope." Florian answered, and Jamal swore he could hear the smile in his voice.
Looking up at Florian, Jamal realised he wasn't joking. He really had just given him VIP tickets to Kendrick Lamar's show in Berlin.
Unsure of how else he could answer, Jamal then pulled Florian into a tight hug.
"Thank you, Flo." Jamal said.
"No problem, Jamu." Florian whispered against his neck. "And..."
"And?" Jamal asked, pulling away from the hug to stare at his boyfriend's excited face.
"Well," Florian began, looking around the room conspiratorially, "it's an opportunity for us to be seen in public. Together."
They shared a knowing smile.
Little by little, dropping hints.
A few weeks later, and Jamal felt so energetic he thought he might actually explode or something. Holy shit, the show was incredible. And enjoying it with his boyfriend - not that anyone there knew (for sure) that Florian was his boyfriend - only made things better.
Speaking of Florian, Jamal had just sat down next to him, when the beat of the next song began playing. And oh-
Jamal would recognise Not Like Us anywhere.
He immediately stood up.
Ignoring Florian's laugh, he began singing along passionately. For more than half the song, Jamal did not turn around to look at him again.
When he did, though, he saw the way Florian was looking at him, and that made him stop everything he was doing.
Because Florian had his focus entirely on him; like there was no show, no music, no crowd. Like only the two of them existed, and nothing and no one else.
This look, this pure expression of admiration and love, was so genuine, that Jamal felt himself instantly blush.
It was clear to Jamal that Florian had not planned this at all. They were in public, and quite a lot of people could see the way he was staring at Jamal. But he just didn't care if they noticed.
Before Jamal could figure out how in the world he was going to refrain himself from kissing Florian right now, the sound of fireworks exploding broke both of them from this trance.
Florian blinked, and seemed almost surprised to realise that the show was still going on. Jamal couldn't help but laugh at his dumb (handsome) shocked face.
However, at this moment Jamal felt a pang of sadness hit him. He wanted to kiss Florian. He was so tired of hiding.
He tried to console himself. He'd get to kiss Florian in a little while. And soon - when? - they wouldn't have to hide anymore.
Little by little, dropping hints.
Jamal was getting a bit tired of repeating these words to himself. But before he could worry any further, the next song began playing.
Florian excitedly grabbed Jamal's arm, and for a while their problems completely disappeared.
☆☆☆
Some months after Florian modelled Jamal's jackets around Leverkusen, it was Jamal's turn to drop a hint during an interview of his own.
He was in the Allianz Arena, giving a pitch side interview. Bayern had just won against Mainz. It was a simple victory, 1x0 (his goal).
The interviewer asked him maybe two questions about the match, before he shifted his attention.
"Forgive me for being so direct, Jamal, but a lot of people are curious about your relationships outside of the pitch. Do you think you can comment on that?"
Jamal thought it was funny - not to say ridiculous - how these reporters and journalists always beat around the bush. He kind of wished they'd be brave enough to say what they actually wanted to say.
Everyone thinks you and Florian are fucking. Care to elaborate?
Despite this, he was still glad for the question. He and Flo had thought out an answer for it a long time ago, but neither had been able to use it yet.
"Well," Jamal began, a nervous laugh escaping him despite his best efforts.
Now or never.
Little by little, dropping hints.
"I don't really talk much about my personal life", he said, almost smiling at the way the man's face fell, "but I am currently with someone."
He said those last words so quickly, it took the interviewer a second to register them. When he processed them, though, he practically screamed out loud.
"Really!?" The man exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement and hunger. "Tell us more, please!"
"I don't want to give details yet." Jamal answered, giving the slightest emphasis to the word yet. "But I am very happy with..." Him. This word almost left his lips, but he quickly recovered. "With this person."
Before the interviewer could speak another word, Jamal said his goodbyes and left.
A few minutes later, he grabbed his phone, and saw that he had two messages from Florian. The first was the link to the interview on tiktok, and the second was Florian's view on the situation.
Flo
I thought u were single?
Jamu
Nope
I'm dating a leverkusen player
Sorry
:/
Flo
Leverkusen?
These guys suck
Jamu
Yeah they do alright ;)
Flo
JAMSL
He really wished he could have seen Florian's reaction in person, but alas.
As he went back home, Jamal felt hopeful. He'd just taken one of the biggest steps when it came to revealing his and Florian's relationship. By now, with all they'd done, it was practically impossible for people not to assume they were dating.
Right?