Work Text:
It all started with an interview a month ago.
Carlos watched the whole thing at least a dozen times to make sure he heard right what Jannik said. Even though English wasn't always his friend, he understood what the redhead said when they asked him about what would be the ultimate love gesture that would sweep him off his feet.
'As sappy as it sounds, I would like to get a love letter. I get many letters from fans, and I really appreciate them, and I know it's usually girls who receive letters, but hey, it's 2025. I like old-fashioned things like flowers, date night, and you know, all these things. So yeah, a love letter would be nice.'
Jannik's nervous laugh was the cutest thing Carlos heard in a long time, the way he could see the little blush that creeped on his face as he talked, like he knew that people would talk about it. Carlos was surprised to hear it, because there's no way that someone as amazing as Jannik would be treated as anything but the prince he is. He had a crush on the other player for too long, but he had never acted on it. It would be too risky, too complicated. Jannik was something that money couldn't buy for him, and the only goal that training wouldn't make him reach. Even though he knew the risks, he couldn't forget him. They became pretty good friends over the years, and Jannik was always so nice to him in private. It was impossible to not like him, so he decided that if he wants a love letter, then he will get one.
However, it wasn't as easy as Carlos thought.
First thing first, he had to decide which language he should write in. Italian and Spanish are very similar, but he didn't want to write a letter full of grammar errors, and if he would write in Spanish it would be too obvious. He didn't know German, so English was the best option. When be sat down in his room to write it, he realised he didn't know what to say.
'My love' - too much, too fast
'Jannik' - too plain
'Dear Jannik' - it would do it. Not too much, but still warm and friendly.
Carlos rolled the pen in his fingers, the other hand fidgeted nervously. It shouldn't be that hard. It wasn't like his life, or that their possible future depended on it.
Or maybe it did.
Carlos cursed under his breath. Why couldn't Jannik want a box of chocolate, or something. Why would he have to be unique, and surprising, and lovely as always?
'Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. You make my days brighter, and my life better just because you're in it. You're a true inspiration to do better, to play better, and to be a better person. Maybe one day I'll be worthy enough to be with you brave enough to tell you in person how I feel for you. Never change. You're as beautiful as the sunrise. Your eyes shine brighter than a diamond, and your hair is as pretty as the orange-red sunset in the sky. I love watching you play, because that's when you're the realest, rawest version of yourself. Your passion is something that I admire in you next to so much more. I wish I could love you like you deserve to be loved.''
He dropped the pen on the desk and sighed. It was good enough for a draft, he would write a presentable version the next day. He was too tired to concentrate, so he left everything where it was, and after a quick shower he went to bed. His last thought before he fell asleep was if he should sign the letter or not. If he would then it would be clear as the fresh snow who wrote it. If Jannik doesn't feel the same then their friendship would be ruined, and if it somehow would get out then he would find himself in the middle of a big scandal. Carlos nodded to himself as decided to not sign the letter. It was for the better. He wanted to make Jannik feel loved, even if it meant that he had to keep his secret forever.
The next morning started with some good training. He didn't have time to finish the letter, and he still had to find a way to deliver it. He couldn't just give it to him. He walked back to the locker room, when a familiar face met him.
"Hey." Jannik smiled at him "Good game, eh?"
Carlos felt his heartbeat jump up. He was sure he was smiling like an idiot.
"Yeah, good game." he nodded "You? You don't look like you're here to train."
"No, actually I finished an hour ago." he followed Carlos further into the room "I was bored. I got a new game, and I was looking for someone I could try it with. It's tennis, of course." he let out a nervous laugh, the foiled box in hand.
"I will play with you." Carlos didn't know what possessed him, because his mind didn't even make up the words yet when his mouth already said them. Playing with Jannik sounded like a dream. If he could, he would play with him every single day, in every aspect…
"Really? Cool." the Italian smiled "I'll wait for you."
"No, we can go. I'll have a shower in my room." Carlos wanted this, he couldn't take the risk that Jannik changed his mind, or something came in their way.
It wasn't long before they were in his room, which was a little messy, but Jannik didn't seem to mind it. Carlos offered him a glass of water, which he took, and he left Jannik to set up the game on the big TV, while he went to the bathroom.
As the water ran down his body, all he could think about was the man in the other room. It was just a stupid video game they were about to play, but it felt like the biggest opportunity to spend time together. Being with Jannik always felt like a privilege he didn't know how he earned. It was the closest to a date Carlos could get, and he took it. He finished quickly, dried himself, and dressed in some comfortable clothes. He took a good look at himself before he left the room.
"Sorry for making you wait." he said as he jumped on the couch in the middle of the room.
"It's okay." Jannik sat next to him, his body language closed, and his eyes avoiding Carlos's.
"You didn't set up the game yet?" he looked at the turned off TV surprised. Jannik was so excited to play, like a little puppy, and it definitely did not make Carlos melt.
Jannik didn't answer, he just fidgeted with his fingers in his lap.
"Jannik?"
"You're the nicest man I've ever met, Carlitos." finally he looked up, his face a bit red, and Carlos could swear that he saw tears in his eyes.
"Thank you, but what's wrong? You were so happy not so long ago." Carlos got a little worried. Jannik usually hides his feelings pretty well, but now he looked so vulnerable that Carlos wanted to hug him tight, and hide him from the cruel world.
Jannik didn't say anything, just pulled out a folded sheet of paper.
Carlos felt his heart drop to his stomach, and he was sure that the ground would swallow him whole.
"Jannik…"
"I didn't mean to go through your things, really, I was just looking for scissors to open the package when my eyes fell on the paper, and I noticed my name on it. I'm sorry." Jannik opened the paper with shaking hands.
"Jannik, I'm sorry that you found it like this." Carlos wanted to say, but nothing came out of his mouth. He tried to slow down his heart by taking deep breaths in his nose, but he was sure that this would be the end of their friendship. Jannik will tell him that he doesn't feel the same, and ask him to leave him alone.
But it didn't come.
"You saw that interview, didn't you?" he asked as his eyes went over the lines.
"I did. You sounded so happy." Carlos still wasn't sure how this conversation would end, but he wanted to save as much from their friendship -and his pride- as he could.
"You didn't have to, Carlos. It was just a stupid comment from me. Was I really that pathetic?" Jannik tried to ease his nerves with a little laugh, but his face was red, and his lips dry.
"What do you mean?" Carlos looked at the Italian with a confused look on his face.
Jannik sighed and put down the letter.
"I’ve always known that you have a good heart, but writing me a fake love letter to make me happy is definitely something that not many people would do. You put the energy into it, only to make my single heart happy. Nobody ever did something like that for me." Jannik smiled at him, and that smile was worth the whole world to Carlos.
"Fake love letter?"
"Well, obviously." Jannik looked down for a moment before he ran a hand through his hair. "It's not like you would actually think all these beautiful things about me."
"What if I do?" Carlos said before he could think about it more. He knew that he would just stop himself, and he didn't know when he would have another chance like this. Jannik's eyes went wide, and his mouth gasped a bit. It was a now or never moment.
He will either laugh at him, or leave him.
Jannik was speechless, his eyes ran over the letter again, then he looked at Carlos. The Spanish felt like he would pass out any moment, he waited for a reaction, but he didn't get one, so spoke again.
"I couldn't finish it. I wanted to re-write it, make it more put together, and I wanted to give it to you without a sign." he said.
"No, no, it's perfect like this. It's so original and honest, like you wrote down everything that came to your mind. I love it." he hugged the letter to his chest "But why didn't you want to sign it. You didn't want me to know it's from you?" Jannik's voice was low and a bit sad. Carlos wanted to kiss him, and hold him close to make him happy again.
"I was scared. I didn't want to ruin our friendship."
"You wouldn't." Jannik shook his head "Do you really mean the things you wrote?"
"Every word." Carlos nodded.
"Then kiss me."
Carlos's eyes snapped open, for a moment he thought he was dreaming, but Jannik was really there, and he really asked him to kiss him. This man, the man of his dreams, his greatest rival, his biggest inspiration asked him to kiss him.
He moved closer, and gently grabbed the back of Jannik's head to pull him closer. The kiss was exactly as he expected, sweet, a bit shy, but amazing, just as the man he was kissing. He ran his fingers into the red hair at the back of his head, and it was just as soft as he imagined so many times. Jannik's lips were a bit dry, but soon neither of them felt it. Their tongues moved together in a perfect harmony, and their arms held the other. When they parted, they looked deep into each other's eyes.
"I want to do this again." Jannik smiled.
"We will, as much as you want."