Work Text:
2024
It all starts at the first team get-together of the season. As the new team captain, Rasmus has invited all the players to his house for a barbecue. So far, it’s going really well. Jack is having a blast, chit-chatting and laughing with his colleagues (both old and new) and the food is amazing.
Somehow, Jack doesn’t believe it can get better. It inevitably does, though. Because JJ sinks onto the couch next to him, leaning in close, and Jack immediately feels lighter, more relaxed than he already was in the first place, as he soaks in his friend’s warmth.
“Hi,” JJ murmurs, his low voice making Jack’s heart skip in the best way possible. He turns to look at the younger man, smiling brightly as he replies: “Hi.” It hasn’t been long since they saw each other (maybe ten minutes or something), but Jack finds he missed JJ anyways. And that’s not weird at all, because they are friends, they click.
“Have you had a dessert yet?” The German asks, excitedly. “Rasmus brought candy from Sweden, it’s amazing.” JJ’s eyes light up as he talks about the sweets and Jack can’t help but think about how cute his enthusiasm is. He shakes his head.
“I haven’t had a dessert,” he says, which makes JJ light up even more, as he drags Jack out of his seat and into the kitchen, where a collection of different foreign looking chocolates, gummy bears and other candy is laid out on the table.
JJ goes straight for one of the bars of chocolate, rips open the golden wrapping and breaks of a piece. He goes on to snap that piece in half once more, popping one half in his mouth and handing Jack the other one.
Jack watches him close his eyes and hum contently while he chews. “God, I’m in heaven,” JJ groans happily. “Finally, some good chocolate. Not the trashy American one. I don’t know why they are even allowed to call that chocolate.”
Jack raises his eyebrow, chuckling at the candy in his hand which is starting to melt in his fingers. “Okay, well now my expectations are beyond high.” JJ just grins. “Prepare to be knocked off your feet.” It makes Jack roll his eyes (because it’s chocolate, how crazy can it possibly be?), but he puts the piece of chocolate in his mouth anyway and – okay, wow. It’s amazing.
When he tells JJ that, the German smirks proudly. “I told you. European chocolate is just so much better.” JJ breaks off another piece, which vanishes between his lips immediately. “And it’s probably healthier, too.”
Jack wants to snort at that, because he doesn’t think any chocolate can be especially healthy, but he doesn’t because the chocolate makes JJ happy and it is really good. So, he copies JJ and takes another piece of the mind-blowingly delicious European chocolate.
***
As the season starts, Jack finds himself at JJs apartment more often than his own. It’s just convenient, since JJ lives closer to the rink and he has a spacious guestroom, so why should Jack have to drive home in the middle of the night (after kicking JJ’s ass in Mario Kart) if he can just crash there?
If their teammates notice them ride sharing to practice, they don’t mention it. Okay, maybe there are some weird looks thrown around after Jack steps out of JJ’s car in the parking lot for the fifth day in a row, but other than that there are no comments.
“Do you think it’s weird I spend more time here than at my apartment?” Jack can’t help but ask eventually. They are once again on JJ’s couch, the German currently scrolling through Netflix trying to find a movie for them to watch.
My apartment, he thinks. Not home. Because lately it hasn’t felt like that. Not that he’s been there much (just to pick up some stuff or maybe throw on the washing machine because he doesn’t want to bother JJ with his dirty laundry).
JJ doesn’t seem to notice Jack’s lack of emotion towards his own apartment or he doesn’t care. He only shakes his head. “No,” he replies with a small smile, “We’re friends.” As if being friends naturally includes basically being roommates. But since JJ doesn’t seem too bothered about Jack practically living with him, Jack decides it’s okay. He sure as hell won’t complain.
“Okay,” he says, smiling as well because JJ’s grin is infectious, always has been to him. They finally decide on a movie they haven’t seen yet, but as they lean back to watch, Jack can’t help but wonder what all of this means.
Sure, JJ said they are friends and they are. But Jack has other friends and none of them make him feel the way the German next to him does. Jack can’t really describe it but JJ makes him feel…comfortable and safe and cherished and…loved. Holy shit. Is he in love with JJ?
But before Jack can think about this realization any more and freak out about it, he is ripped back into reality by JJ’s loud laugh and then there is something cold seeping through his shirt and onto his skin. “Oh fuck. Shit. I’m so sorry.” JJ sets his glass down onto the table in front of them and then turns to Jack, examining the damage the spilled liquid did to his shirt.
Jack sighs. “It’s fine.” And it is, even though his now wet shirt clamps onto his skin uncomfortably. Furthermore, there is a disgustingly sweet smell rising in his nose, telling him that whatever JJ was drinking, it wasn’t water.
“Take it off.” Jack’s head snaps up to face JJ. “What?” “Take it off,” JJ repeats. “The shirt, I mean. I’ll throw it into the wash and get you a dry one.” He is already on his way to standing up. Jack pulls the shirt over his head hurriedly and hands it to him. JJ takes it and vanishes through the door of the living room. He returns a minute later, throwing a fresh shirt at Jack’s head.
“Thanks.” The Canadian quickly puts it on, suddenly feeling self-conscious about sitting on JJ’s couch half naked. It’s stupid, considering JJ has seen him fully naked before, but he is relieved when he is fully dressed again.
JJ sits back down. “I turned the washing machine on. Your shirt should be clean and dry by tomorrow.” “You didn’t have to-,“ Jack starts but JJ interrupts him. “I know, but it was me who spilt the drink on you and I had a huge pile of dirty laundry waiting anyway.”
He says it as if it’s not a big deal at all, like he always does whenever Jack asks something from him (which honestly isn’t often, most of the time JJ just does things for him without being prompted, like now).
“Okay,” Jack mumbles, “Thanks.” He watches as JJ reaches for the remote to continue playing the movie that Jack hadn’t even realised hat been paused.
By the time the movie is over the washing machine is beeping, indicating that the clean but wet clothes are ready to retrieve. JJ won’t let Jack help but he still follows him and observes as the German pulls the pile of clothes out of the drum and into the laundry basket. After heaving the basket on top of the closed toilet seat, JJ turns to pull out a – wait.
“What is that?” Jack asks confoundedly. JJ laughs quietly. “It’s a laundry racket,” he explains, fondly shaking his head at Jack’s cluelessness. “Is your dryer broken?” It’s the only reason Jack can come up with for people still using a fucking laundry racket to dry their clothes.
“No,” JJ chuckles, “I don’t have a dryer. In Germany it’s really common to air dry your clothes and it’s environmentally friendly. Saves power, you know?” He takes a shirt from the laundry basket, shakes it a few times and then hangs it over one of the wires.
Jack watches him, trying to wrap his head around what he just learned. In Germany people don’t use dryers. It’s such a random fact and it makes Jack wonder what else they do differently over there. He could ask JJ about it right now, but he’s tired and he doesn’t think his brain can handle more cultural shocks tonight.
So, he settles on murmuring “Crazy” under his breath, followed by a yawn. “Go to bed,” JJ says, smiling at him softly. “I’ll just finish hanging the laundry and then I’ll head to bed, too.” “Okay,” Jack whispers, too tired to argue. “Good night.”
***
“Is this a real word?” Jack shoves his phone into JJ’s face, where some guy on TikTok is talking about a thing Germans apparently call Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher. JJ inspects the video, startling a laugh before nodding. “It’s real.”
Jack’s jaw drops. “What the fuck? Why are German words so obnoxiously long? What does it even mean?” JJ is still laughing as he answers: “It’s because we can just put words together to create new ones. It’s called composition.” He explains, gazing at Jack’s display. “This word literally means: egg shell breaking point causer.”
Jack huffs. “That’s madness. How can you even read that word?” JJ giggles. “It can be challenging sometimes to draw the lines in the correct places but most of the time only one option makes sense.” He reaches for his own phone, which is laying on the living room table before them.
“There is one German word which is even longer and it was officially part of the law for some time. I think they changed it now, though.” JJ taps on the screen of his phone, googling something. “Ah, yes. It’s Rindfleischettiketierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz.” He turns his phone, so Jack can read the word, which…what the fuck.
“I don’t know if that makes me want to learn German more or less.” He groans, earning himself a surprised look from JJ. “You want to learn German?” Jack shrugs. “Why?” JJ inquires, seemingly truly interested. Jack shrugs again.
He doesn’t tell JJ that the has done a Duolingo lesson everyday for almost a month, so he can feel closer to him. So he can maybe understand some of the conversations JJ has with his family and friends on the phone. Or so that maybe one day he can tell JJ how he feels about him in his native language.
***
Okay, so, Jack’s TikTok algorithm is fucked. Why are there so many Americans out there, sharing their abroad experiences in Europe (90 % of the videos only mention the continent and not the specific country)?
Well, at least between all the bitching about how weird everything is and how American groceries are so much better (which, what the fuck?), Jack has actually learned some things about the culture in different European countries (mostly Germany).
For example, that in Germany there is that system called “Pfand” where you return your empty glass and plastic bottles and get a bit of money back for them. Or that in Germany all of the stores are closed on Sundays.
But of course, knowing TikTok, Jack doesn’t just blindly believe everything he sees. Most of the time, he either googles to confirm or he asks JJ (because why waste your energy on typing when you have your European crush right there?).
Oh, yes, Jack has come to the conclusion that he has a crush on JJ. He hasn’t talked about it to anyone, though. After all, they are both pro hockey players in the NHL (H is for homophobic in this case). And furthermore, JJ is probably not even into him. So, Jack has decided, the friendship they have will have to suffice.
Right now, they are sitting on different ends of JJ’s couch, feet tangled together in the middle, and Jack has just stumbled across yet another interesting fact about JJ’s home country. “Do German windows actually work like that?” he asks, showing JJ the TikTok where a guy just opened a window so it’s off its hinges everywhere but at the bottom.
The German squints, then nods. “Yep, that’s German engineering right there. It’s called Kippfenster.” “Kip-fans-ter.” Jack repeats back slowly, trying to pronounce every syllable the way JJ just did. He thinks he did okay. JJ does to, apparently, because he smiles and says: “Your pronunciation is getting really good.”
Jack can’t hide the light blush that creeps up his face at the compliment. “Thanks,” he mumbles, silently thanking Duo for tormenting him into a 60-day streak. “I’ve been practicing.” JJ puts his phone down. “Have you?” he grins, eyebrows raised.
“For me?” He asks, making Jack roll his eyes at him, because duh. “No, I’ve been learning German for the other German guy I’ve spent all my time with lately.” JJ exaggerates a gasp. “You’re cheating on me?” he exclaims, clutching his hand over his heart like he’s hurt.
Jack snorts, biting back a laugh. “Bro, I can’t cheat on you. We’re not dating.” JJ just smirks at him. “Well, maybe I want to date you.” Jack freezes. It’s like someone paused everything around them.
“What?” He isn’t sure if he heard that correctly. Maybe the language barrier – no okay, that bullshit. Because while Jack’s German definitely needs practice, JJ’s English is impeccable. Like everything about him.
“Maybe I want to date you.” JJ repeats, a little more insecure this time. He’s looking at Jack with so much softness in his eyes, Jack shivers. He feels like he has been here before, in a dream, maybe. But this time it’s real.
“Maybe?” he asks then. JJ shakes his head. “Definitely,” the German corrects himself, “I definitely want to date you. If you want…?” He trails off, glancing at Jack uncertainly.
And Jack…he can’t bring himself to say anything. So, he decides to let his actions speak for him as he crawls from his side of the sofa all the way over to where JJ is sitting, practically throwing himself at the younger man. And then, they are kissing.
“Definitely.” Jack pants, when they break apart again. “I definitely want that too.” He kisses JJ again.