Work Text:
Ness ring the bell, slowly taps on the floor with his foot, waiting for the door to open.
A few seconds passes without any noise and no sign of any human existence from the other side, so he pressed the bell again to find the same result as first.
He huffed out a breath, honestly he was actually saw that outcome is happening. So it’s not surprising.
This is Kaiser’s apartment , he bought it when he just 18. This apartment is impossibly big to afford at the age of 18, but Kaiser can. He can with how much money the club offers him.
And Ness thinks that it suit him— this luxury. Kaiser was born to achieve big things in life. Bigger than the world.
And when Ness came here today, he already knew that Kaiser is probably not going to response, so he came prepared, he bring his hand into his pocket to pull out the spare keys.
Yeah, he has the spare keys of Kaiser apartment. Nothing special he just has it for an emergency purpose.
The lock softly click open and he push the door to enter inside. He turned his eyes around.
There is not a single presence of human in the living room.
“ Kaiser..” he call out from the entrance, but again no response only silence was companion, so he walked fully inside and close the door behind.
It is not the first time he is here , but there is something new about today.
This is the first time he is here after the Japan, the Blue Lock.
And it’s been five days since then . Five days since they returned back to Germany. And in those days not a single time Ness reach out to Kaiser.
Yes, He remember what he told Kaiser at the blue lock after the last match. About him not going to leave Kaiser’s side.
Then why did Ness did the extract opposite just when they came back?—Actually there’s a reason for it.
In this five days, Kaiser also has not walked out from this apartment— not a single time.
He didn’t reach to Kaiser yet how does he sure about that? — The answer is simple.
Even before — before the Blue Lock, Japan and all of this, when they didn’t have any problems, it was always him who is pulling the blond to go out.
Kaiser is a kind of person who rarely leaves for anything, if it’s not about soccer or some absolute necessity then he is not going out.
Also, the dust on the floor is clear evidence that Kaiser didn’t even walked out in his living room.
He slowly walked towards the main room, where is the bedroom, and he know for sure that Kaiser is there.
He knocked on the door, one time “Kaiser..”
he called again to meet with the same silence.
And if Kaiser thinking that staying silent will make the illusion that he is not here more prominent and Ness will believe it and leave him then he is wrong.
This time, he knocks on the door one more time not to ask, but to announce “ I’m coming inside.”
He waited a single bit , and then he twisted the door knob, open it to meet with a dark room with smell like not a single drop of air has passed through this room for few days.
It take a few seconds for him to adjust in the darkness to see, then he finds a person covered in a blanket bundle up, sitting against the headboard with a laptop on his lap.
The laptop is the only source of light in this room, which is also probably at the lowest brightness.
Kaiser’s eyes still attached to the screen , as if Ness just did not came inside.
But the midfielder didn’t mind that, he sighs, “ I’m turning on the lights.”
Again, he just announced, not questioned , and his finger are already up to the switchboard to turn it on.
As the light brighten the room, Ness see how Kaiser flinches like a vampire on the sunlight.
And finally , he turned his face to Ness, acknowledge his existence for the first time.
There is visible scowl on his face, but Ness was not scared of it, it was predictable. He slowly walked closer.
“ Kaiser..”
Kaiser stop him before he even starts,“what the hell are you doing?” His voice sounds hoarse, prove of how long he hasn’t spoken.
Ness does not acknowledge his harsh words, “When was the last time you are out of this room?” he question back like Kaiser has not said a single thing.
Both of them ignoring the other’s question like it’s a competition.
And it is going to be difficult for Ness. No, not because he doesn’t know how to ignore but because who is he ignoring.
Kaiser is a special person to him and always will be. Ness never thinks this days will be come when he’ll be doing this.
But it is necessary.
Kaiser grinds his teeth in annoyance at the ignorance, “none of your business.”
As if the conversation is over, he again pulled his face down to the screen of the laptop .
But this time Ness is not having it . He was not going to stay on the side line, standing, and let Kaiser do whatever he want.
That was in the past , both of them has changed, but mostly Ness, he has changed too much.
He walks more closer only to find out what he was watching .
And when he finally saw what Kaiser was watching, it felt like cold water splash over his head .
Although he should not be surprised, he was already had a guess that Kaiser was still watching the match from blue lock.
Watching Yoichi. The only person who has beaten him. The only person who ever will to get Kaiser’s all attention to the point that it even break them apart.
Ness scowled internally, they are not that much of together either. But at least their dynamic was so much easy. So much comfortable, not like how they had became on that last match.
Ness does not waste his time standing there and mourning over it, he quickly walked around the bed to the other side where the window is close so he draws the curtain open.
If he hear a wincing sound from behind, he does not care about it , or try to not care about it.
“ I am making something for you to eat. You should freshen up.” as he said that he turned around to the kitchen.
He try to forget the surprise face of Kaiser give him as Ness just told him that and not try to convince him.
He knows standing there and convincing Kaiser to come out, or to freshen up or eat takes more time, so at that time he should clean the kitchen and started cooking because it will take more time.
And just as he thought, the kitchen is also covered in thick dust, so the first thing he started doing to wipe it with the little skill he has.
He was not used to doing it , but he can do just some basic, so he does what he can do the most, and after that, he started with cooking.
When he came he brought some stuff knowing here he will find an empty fridge, to make chicken stew.
It did not take much time for him to cut the vegetables and all to prepare, When he hears little foot step entering the kitchen from behind.
He is completely aware of Kaiser, but he still did not give his attention. Only when the preparation is done. He turned around slowly to find Kaiser staring at him with his gaze sharp.
Still his hair messy, eyes look tired— there’s a hint of dark circles like he hasn’t slept for long. He looks like a wreak.
Ness put a smile on his face , “You should take a shower, I’ll be done by then.”
He said simply like everything is normal, but Kaiser does not move a single step just looking at him like he can’t figure out why Ness is here and what he is doing.
Again Ness dismisses him, walk to the cabinet to pull out the spices, as he was going to close the cabinet door when he felt Kaiser come closer, but this time he did not stand as he pulled him by his elbow.
Ness swear it happened so fast, he almost dropped jars of spices.
And when he turned around, he does not have anywhere else to see because Kaiser is taking every space of his vision as he is so so close right now .
Kaiser nudged him by his elbow, “ what the fuck do you think you are doing right now?”
His voice drops down so much that Ness almost feels a chill run down through his spine, but he collected himself fast, and tried not to show his real emotion visible on his face, “ I’m just cooking?“ he tilt his head slightly and put his signature smile.
As if that bother Kaiser even much more , and like it burn him that he take a step back from him, “ I told you to get out. I don’t need you. Did you forget what I told you? Find another king! I no longer need you.” With each sentence his voice gets louder and sharper.
And.. Ouch…
It hurt him to hear that. It hurts Ness every time.
Every time he hear that Kaiser does not need him, or he remember, it hurt him every time just as much as it did on the first time.
This is the second time Kaiser has said it, but inside his mind, it was repeatedly going on like a broken broadcast . No matter how hard he try, he could not stop it.
and he tried to stop that voice with many attempt like constantly listening music with loud volume on his headphone, but that does not work. Nothing work, it’s like someone implanted a chip in his brain.
And every time it felt like he was falling from the cliff , again and again, and there’s no end to it.
There is an empty, feeling on his belly that he will never get used to it, and it scared the shit out of him. He felt it for the first time when he was at the field and when Kaiser first said that.
His eyes dropped on the ground remembering that, and he feared his face also showing his emotion, like a sad kicked puppy. But again, he pulled himself from that gutter of thoughts like he has been doing last week.
“ I heard you loud and clear, Kaiser.” This time, he did not smile., his face is straight—filled with seriousness, “but I think you are the one who did not hear me, I am not leaving you. And I won’t follow your command anymore. I know you are not my king, so you don’t get to tell me what I should do or not.”
And with like a speed of light Ness find himself pressed against the counter, but this time Kaiser‘s hand choked around his neck.
But Ness did not avert his eyes , he stare back at those angry, furious blue eyes. He looks closely. He’s not scared of this.
He is not scared of Kaiser. He will never be. Kaiser never scared him, but him leaving Ness— yes, that does.
That scared the shit out of him .
“Shut the hell up. Did you forget the every insult I throw at you? Or how i treated you?” Kaiser talked with gritted teeth, the veins on his side is bulging up in anger, “Why are you so stubborn? It doesn’t suit you. I am no longer the person you idolised so much, so it’s better you leave me.”
And all of this sudden, it hit Ness. It hit him that Kaiser was not struggling because he is here and invading his space, that’s just an excuse, but because he can’t understand why Ness is still here after all that thing that he had did to him.
And the fact that he is aware of how he had treated Ness and bringing it up in this situation, it’s somehow telling him that it was intentional.
Kaiser look confused more than angry, his eyes are searching Ness’s face, like he’s trying so hard to find something which the midfielder is not aware of.
And for first time he doesn’t look like the emperor he portrays everyday. Doesn’t look like his arrogant, selfish self, who is filled with full of pride. He doesn’t have his signature smirk on his lips. All of those mask has fallen off.
He looks like a confuse child, who just left alone on a big fair. He looks like a little child who is lost at school on his first day, don’t know what to do. He looks like he’s all left alone in this world to deal with so many problems suddenly.
He looks… he looks… lonely , confused, wounded…
Ness never thought there will be a day that this feeling for Kaiser would arise in him, that feeling is nothing but pity.
He know Kaiser does not need his pity, but he cannot stop, but think that how much Kaiser is struggling that he can’t take that one person is staying by him and not running away after he has put that harsh behaviour of his.
Oh Kaiser…If only you can see yourself from my eyes..
If only he can hug him right now, if only he has the permission to hug Kaiser closely. Because he really wants him to feel the feeling of being wanted without any other reason.
Ness knows what he said about no longer will wait for his permission and all, but hugging is a big thing for Kaiser that’s for sure. He wonder if Kaiser even has ever received an hug before or not! And he doesn’t want to overwhelm Kaiser from the start.
A little step at a time. Because they have all the time, no need to rush.
“ I’m not leaving your side. Not today, not ever.” He spoke those words so urgently like he needed to reassure the blond.
Kaiser flinch away from him, like he got a whiplash. His lips opens and close, but not a single sound came out.
They both stare at each other, magenta holding the cerulean.
Where magenta eyes are gentle with determination in them and the cerulean are confused and fury— that is loosing its heat.
At last Kaiser grind his teeth, his jaw flexes, only to muttered, “whatever..”
Then he turned to walked out from there . To where Ness assumed to the bathroom.
He stayed at that place, pressed against where Kaiser had left him , to him few seconds to move again.
Ness takes long breath , doesn’t realised he was holding.
He knew the moment he decided to come, it was not going to be easy. But thinking and doing is a lot different things.
Straight up talking back, ignoring Kaiser’s commands, Ahh… he feels like he is doing so wrong.
But no, he needs to get himself together. Because he already knows when Kaiser returns from his showers there will be round two of this.
And today he can’t let Kaiser win, after all he is here for a reason— to take Kaiser back where he belongs, in the soccer field.
Surprisingly Kaiser doesn’t say no to the food, as he only glares at it for few minutes but then sits down to dine in. Maybe he was hungry after all.
Ness sits on the next seat, not eating. He had lunch before coming here. Empty stomach makes people stop thinking, and he knows he has to deal with Kaiser with clear mind.
And if Kaiser gives him a side eye when he saw only one bowl on the table he doesn’t say anything, but the blond sure does look like there’s something unsettling in this, but choose to stay quiet.
“When was the last time you had eaten a proper meal?” Ness put his elbow on the table.
Kaiser stopped a second to spare a glance but not an answer. And like it not worth answering he continued with his eating.
A tough nut to crack.
But Ness still doesn’t mind it. He put his face on his palm, “Noah asked me about you yesterday. About when are you going to come for practice again.”
This time Kaiser froze more dramatically, putting the spoon down completely but not leaving his hand from it, as he turns to him, eyes sharp , “So this is about it, you are here because Noah asked you to.”
It’s looks like round two of this has arrived. He has guessed absolutely right about it earlier on the kitchen—Kaiser is not going to back down, yet.
“You are wrong. If I’m here because Noah asked me to then I would have come yesterday right away.”
Kaiser scoffs, as he stirs the stew to cool down, “ you are delusional to think that you can make your own decision. You did not realise it, but now you are taking commands from Noah.”
He simply hitting Ness with his words and then turning back to his food as he now breaking a bread that Ness has toasted earlier, to eat.
Ness does not know if Kaiser is doing it purposefully to make him angry and get under his skin, but he knows Kaiser long enough to not take it offensively.
This is not going to work with him, he is not going to blast out of here.
He understands what Kaiser is doing, he is provoking him intentionally so Ness can scream out at him and tell him that he is done with him.
So he did the opposite— he stayed calm, “Again, you are wrong.”
His eyes do not miss the way Kaiser’s eyes, sharpened over him. Clearly not expecting this calmness but more than that him telling Kaiser ‘wrong’ part.
Ness shrugged off casually continues, “ I was about to come to you anyway. But I think you needed the space. And you have enough of that, and now it’s time for you to come back again to prepare for the next match.”
The midfielder then pulled out his mobile phone, normally checking on the schedule for the practice match about when it is going to begin and all. Like everything between him and Kaiser is normal like he is not having a cold argument here.
He is so nonchalant that it bother Kaiser so much. Like what in the world had happens that Ness is behaving like this?
It’s making him feel like he does not even know this person..
“You should let it rest, this saviour complex—this doesn’t suit you.” Kaiser doesn’t even looking at him when he says that.
“I’m not…” Ness opens his mouth only to cut in mid-sentence.
Kaiser turns to him, “Then just stop, I’m not someone for yours to save.” His voice is raw like his expression.
The midfielder kind of understands what or where this is going, or what Kaiser is trying to do. But he is not going to let it happen.
“If you’re doing all of this so I leave you then give it a rest, you’re not going to succeed.” Ness stated.
Kaiser’s brow frowned, he does not understand why Ness is so consistent with him, it really bothering him too much that how can be anyone right in their head still want to be by his side.
“And what if I drown you more in my mess…” and now Kaiser even confused with himself.
Why Kaiser is even asking something like that?
Because to his own ear it sounds like he wants to hear a promise from the other person. But honestly, he was not ready to hear the answer, but it just gets out of his mouth before he can even think properly.
And it’s everything is Ness’s fault. Why can’t to leave him like everyone? Why does he have to be so stubborn? What does Ness even see in him?
Kaiser wants to scream this question, but of course he doesn’t. But one thing for sure this man is driving him crazy! He is messing with his head so much. Like who give this puppy the right to enter his mind this much!
So much that he still couldn’t forget what Ness says at that day on that hallway. So much that it was on his mind when he was on flight coming back, when he reached his apparent, when he is going to sleep or wake up, or doing anything basically!
How could he say something so big, how could he say it so simply?! Kaiser just can’t forget his face when he said that. And… and… there’s this feeling.. that something is bothering him too much.. too… too much.
Ness pulled his phone down, “You think so little of me Kaiser, I’m not with you because You are a screaming glory. If you drown me I’ll be fine, I know how to swim to the shore.”
He answer so simply like it was so obvious from the start. He make it sound like Kaiser Is the idiot one to not understand this easy equation.
But no, he does not sound like he is Looking down at him or something, Because how in the world everything he is saying, making Kaiser feel an unknown relief that he wanted to feel but was not even aware of!
“I’m not leaving, it’s my final word. Now it’s your time to get used to it. Put it in your head Michael, even if you decide to walk to hell , when you turn your head you’ll see me.”
And as if it was not enough that he make Kaiser go speechless, so he adds even more.
Ness move a little closer, his voice almost like a whisper, but clear, “I’ll be there but this time not behind but beside you. With you, for you.”
Kaiser pulls his face down, his face doesn’t show much but Ness can read him still. He is thinking hard.
So when Kaiser again pulled his head up to look at him Ness knows Kaiser is going to be brutal for one last time. Because the crack just Ness had made on the mask that has fallen off — has to have some consequence, no?
“You’re starting to get under my skin Ness. You are not even useful for me , you are not innovative enough to use, your ego is not strong enough for what to come next. You’ll be stumbling on the field like a baby deer so now tell me what purpose are you be serving to me?” Kaiser doesn’t give him time to say anything, ”…nothing. So go away, like I told you.”
A heavy silence followed with only the low hum of ac on the back.
Ness expected nothing less. Kaiser was always cruel never softened for anything. But like Ness said, he is prepared, last few days was enough for him think clearly what he exactly wants or not. And he wants Kaiser. He wants to play with him , help him to become the number one striker.
And he will not be stopped by some words.
“That’s where you are wrong. I have been bending my play so you could flourish. I still have enough on my plate to serve. I think it’s You, who should be worried to keep up with me.” His voice sounds nothing less than a challenge.
Kaiser’s eyes glint , the flashback from the last match comes to his mind. The last moment where he was the one who couldn’t reach to the ball.
His thoughts are clear on his face. And Ness can see that. Honestly he was never intended to be harsh but Kaiser can be a handful sometimes. So it was needed.
All of Kaiser’s jabs , all of this today’s attempts of throwing him away and telling him constantly to go away feel like a test.
If Kaiser thought Ness will be by his side only because Kaiser was top of the throne, then he needs to know how wrong he is.
Ness doesn’t fall for him when he was above, he fall for him when Kaiser open up for him, and that day Ness saw him as an ordinary person, not some emperor.
He is a human. And if Kaiser forgot about that fact then he’ll be there to remind him, again and again.
“Was the whole week you have been learning, how to manipulate me to trust your word?” Kaiser snaps but the heat from before has gone from his tone. It’s much more subtle now.
Ahh.. seems like he has passed the test..
Ness chuckled —a real one, not pretending, “ was it working?”
The soft chuckle stop but it’s after effect remained in the room, and Kaiser’s brows drawn together forming a frown like he doesn’t understand why Ness reacted that way.
“You will regret it Ness.” Kaiser glanced his way for a second to turn away, “very soon.”
And Ness smiles back, “Then, I can’t wait to prove you wrong.”