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He was all smiles during the training sessions. Which was nothing new really. He was usually all smiles. But it felt different now. It was different now. Micheal knew the reason why, not that it was a secret, he was pretty much telling it everyone that was listening. Which often was, in all honestly the French boy. He was never a man of many words, nor many smiles, which is why it was surprising to see him get along with someone that probably was his polar opposite. Not just get along either. There was more, there was always more, always something special. They never specified what exactly it was, there wasn’t a need to.
But as Jamal was approaching his return to football, healthy again and injury free, he was getting more and more excited, and it was evident. He loved playing, loved being out on the pitch and Micheal knew that he always did, always saw. So, he was listening to all the rants the other provided, whether it was about his comeback or anything else. He liked his ramblings, and he liked that the younger never seemed to want any words in return, while also knowing when to let him speak. It was comforting to have someone understand you by your side, someone that you feel comfortable with, someone that you don’t have to pretend with.
And on top of that, he was truly sugar, sweets and everything nice. When he was going around like a little Wirbelwind and had this big smile on his face, you couldn’t help but return some of his energy. So, who could really blame Micheal to want to be around him like all of the time. Jamal made him smile, while he kept him grounded. Being physically close was just a natural progression in their relationship. Little touches and celebratory hugs turned into intimate cuddles and sweet kisses. Jamal didn’t even mind that he was the one that mostly initiated everything, he was patient with the other, as he always was.
And when it was matchday the younger was whirling around the hotel, or rather Micheal’s hotel room, talking non-stop about whatever it was that came to his mind. He himself was lying on his bed with, lazily scrolling through Instagram as he was listening to his teammate talking about the weather in Cincinnati. It was endearing in a way, and there was a small smile tugging at his lips. “It’s the humidity that does it for me.”, he rambled, flopping down onto the bed beside the other. Micheal gave him a look, eyes meeting for a few moments, before the younger wiggles closer.
He puts his phone down. In all honestly, he never knew what to expect of the other, he was truly unpredictable in a way that should be jarring, but it wasn’t. It was, like everything about him endearing. Like those eyes, his lashes should truly be criminal for how fucking pretty they were and how they framed his face and eyes so perfectly it was impossible not the drawn into them. So innocent looking, but there was always that spark of mischief that came through, flickering across his brown deer eyes. Another reason to never stop calling him by his adorned nickname.
The younger smiles, turning his body, so he was facing him. It was quiet for a few moments, till there was a small smile forming on his lips. “We’ll have to go in with a bang today, or else we’ll get torn apart online.” “Are you nervous?”, the older asks, his eyes scanning Jamal all over. Sometimes it was hard to tell what he felt, for totally opposite reasons there were for himself, but it connected them in a way. “Mostly excited. It’s a very easy game to come back to, or it should be. I feel ready for sure.”, he starts his rant again. “That’s good.”, he hums in response.
Jamal smiles widely at his teammate. There were a few more moments of silence, before he came even closer. Leaning over him, their chests touching. Propping up his hands left and right beside his head. “Will you score a goal for me before I go on?”, he questions, teasing him a little as he usually does. “For you?” When the younger shifted even closer, Micheal’s hand naturally came up to lay against the small of his back. “Yeah, for me.”, he confirms, voice a little cocky but still mostly joking. “Sure.”, the French boy confirms. Shouldn’t be too difficult. “Looking forward to it.” And with that, he lowers himself to press their lips against each other’s.
The older hums into the kiss. Kissing Jamal felt good, always did. There was something about him that just made it irresistible. Even if he wouldn’t want to, he couldn’t help but crave it, not like he would ever say that, but the other knows, always did. Everything felt just so easy when he was around, so uncomplicated, even if he knows it isn’t. His lips were soft, kissing him with intent. Heavy but so wonderful. It felt different than anyone else he’s ever kissed, better, settling the chaos storming inside of him. Like he could shut up the voices in his head just with the press of his lips.
He felt fingers trailing up the side of his face and into his dreads. Pressing his body closer to him. He was kissing like he was playing. Passionate and like he was trying to prove something, like he was trying to win. It was intoxicating like nothing else. Jamal was leading, deciding on what to do and when, the other was merely following, responding as best as he could. Caressing his back with his thumb subconsciously. The touch was gentle, but it was enough reassurance, enough for the other. He took it as encouragement to deepen the kiss further. His tongue is licking into his mouth; fingers were tugging at his hair. He was allowing him in easily.
The way the younger boy was intertwining their tongues and tasting him felt just right. Like he brought peace just by the way he was pressing up to him. When he pulled back, he was smiling from ear to ear, that smile that made the world light up, the sun shine and the birds chirp. “That’s the longest you’ve been quiet.”, Micheal mutters, when the other didn’t speak up. Said one rolled his eyes, playfully shoving his shoulder into the mattress, before pulling back. “You twat.”, he comments, flopping onto his back beside him once more. It felt kind of empty without having him crowd into his personal space, the older has to admit. It was warm outside, it was warm inside this room despite the AC, but he found himself missing the warmth coming from his teammate. A sigh involuntarily comes over his lips.
Jamal apparently had gotten telepathic powers, when he reached blindly for his hand to intertwine their fingers. Such a simple gesture, but it made him feel tingly all over. He doesn’t say anything, just bathes in the feeling of their hands touching, and their bodies lying this close. It was all so easy with the younger. The transition to a new club, the first season with said club, living in another country and the unknown feelings that bubbled up.
He asked him to score a goal for him, but in all honesty, all goals he scores are dedicated to him. Jamal was the first person he looked for, if that was on the pitch or the bench, or worse when he wasn’t even there. His eyes always scanned the crowd to look for him. It was all worth it, just for the way he looked at him, proud and so truly happy. That sparkle in his eyes when their eyes met. It was real and it was the first thing he was looking for every time. “Will you score a goal for me too?”, he asks, voice just above a whisper, coming off a little unsure. He felt his hand being squeezed. “Of course. I’ll score two just to be sure.”, he says with so much conviction, Micheal didn’t even dare to question it.
As always, his eyes search for Jamal on the bench when he scores the tap-in inside the box. There was a shy smile on his lips when their eyes met. The sparkle in his eyes warmed his heart almost instantly, the little thumbs up made him want to laugh, he doesn’t really show it, but he knows the younger sees it regardless. He curls another into the net in extra time of the first half, Jamal points at himself, claiming his second goal too. “Might as well have to score three then.”, he grins when he came off the pitch for halftime. Bumping their shoulders together. “You wish.”, the older teases, as they walk off into the tunnel.
He was one big smile when he got substituted on, even more so when he almost scored his first goal with his first touch. It was endearing how much he enjoyed being back, being able to just play. Because that’s always what he cared about most. In the end his first goal wasn’t that much later. Their eyes find each other again, this time the other way around. He nods slightly over to him, officially declaring this goal for him. The fluttering feeling in his stomach doesn’t settle, and he nods back to him, acknowledging what he knows the younger wanted to say. He laughed internally when he saw Jamal claiming the penalty he got from a foul. He would never try to take a penalty. Cheeky fucker.
When he scored, he shot him another knowing look, lifting a finger with a wink. He was shaking his head on the bench, but Jamal’s grin didn’t waver. And when he scored the third goal for his hattrick, their eyes found each other again, as he nodded towards him, mouthing ‘for you’. His heart was fluttering; he was glad one couldn’t see his cheeks burn up. He scored three goals, just for him. Just because he asked. “I wanted to make super sure.”, the younger whispers into his ear when the game ended and he came off to hug him for a moment. He always managed to make him feel this special. Like he wasn’t just enough for him, like he was everything and more.
He found the combination to the lock on his heart and opened it with ease. Making space for himself like he belonged there. And he did. The place in his heart was filled with the sweetness that was so willingly given by the younger. He was the person to not only be with him but see him too. To understand him without many words. He never tried to change him, never tried to make him be someone he’s not.
Micheal saw that, when he accompanied him to an interview he really didn’t want to do, and answered for him, when he felt like he couldn’t speak. He saw that, when he never expected him to answer all the times he was talking without stopping. He saw that, when despite it all the other boy knew when to keep quiet and listen to him. He saw that, when Jamal silently took his place beside him in training, smiling effortlessly. He saw that, when he understood him wordlessly, when he intertwined their fingers without him having to ask for it. And he saw it now. Because the first person he thought of when he scored a hattrick was him.
Before they could enter the locker room, the younger pulled him into an empty hallway, double checking for people, before wrapping his arms around his neck to pull him closer. Micheal had no choice than to put his hands on his waist, not like he was complaining. “Risky.”, he commented about the situation the other created, but made no moves to back off. Jamal grinned from ear to ear. “Couldn’t wait.”, he simply stated, like it was the most natural thing in the world. And before more words could leave other of their mouths, the German boy was already leaning close to connect their lips.
It was sweet but heavy, filled with everything they couldn’t say, only show and feel. It was sparked with emotions of the game, the euphoria that washed over them after winning their first game in this tournament. Even if he himself found it to be unnecessary, he knew it would bring money, and he would never willingly say no to playing football. The younger boy’s lips were a little rough from the heat and the lack of chapstick-usage, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable. It just reminded him of who he was kissing, and how much he liked kissing him.
It wasn’t complicated, or at least they pretend it isn’t. It was just them.
So, they stood there, in the hallways of a stadium in the middle of fuck nowhere in the US, just kissing and celebrating their win. Jamal was quickly back playing with his dreads, something the older found to be something both of them enjoyed for different reasons. He never commented on it though, just let the other be with his sweet antics and gestures. Just like he knew what it meant when he tilted his head slightly to the side.
And as always, he felt his tongue press against his lips only a few heartbeats later. He opened his mouth for him, like he always does. There was no way in heaven or hell where he could say no to Jamal, to be fair, he supposes he wasn’t the only one incapable of rejecting him, everyone else seemingly shared this sentiment too. His tongue was licking into his mouth. Not with much heat, but with intent. He could taste the sweet drink they had for electrolytes earlier, and something he recognized as just Jamal. It was as intoxicating as it always was.
So much so that he quickly forgot about where they were, about who they were and what this would mean if anyone found out. He let himself go, knowing the younger would be there to catch him, he always does. Providing everything he needed, wanted and more. The Frenchman’s arms tighten around his lover, holding him close, signalizing him how much he craved this too. A gesture that was quickly understood.
Kissing each other, only parting occasionally for air. Time flies by, truly, both of them forgot how long they were there for. Too long, probably. But they didn’t care. Everything felt just right. Like they were meant to be just like that, just right there. It was all sweet but with so much more behind it, something Micheal was sure, no one would ever understand. Something no one could ever compare to.
When they eventually do break the contact of their lips, the younger was smiling like someone painted it on his face and his eyes were shining like he just experienced the best thing that could’ve ever happened to him. He bumps their noses together and giggles, the Frenchman squeezes his side in the same sentiment. “Will you score a goal for me next match?”, Jamal asked, his voice quiet, but still somehow the loudest thing he could hear, drowning out everything else around them.
“I’ll always score a goal for you.”