Chapter Text
Jude had been awake for exactly forty-three seconds.
And Erling was already being annoying.
"...Tiny."
A pillow flew across the room.
It hit Erling square in the face.
He laughed.
"I'll take that as a good morning."
Jude groaned into the hotel mattress.
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."
"I might."
"You definitely don't."
The room was quiet again.
For approximately three seconds.
"...Tiny."
"What?"
"You stole my blanket."
Jude didn't even open his eyes.
"No, I didn't."
"You absolutely did."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Erling looked down at the blanket currently wrapped around Jude like a burrito.
"...You're literally wearing it."
"I'm cold."
"So am I."
"Skill issue."
Erling stared at him.
Then reached over...
And tugged the blanket.
Jude immediately grabbed it tighter.
"No."
"Give me half."
"No."
"You're annoying."
"I'm comfortable."
Erling sighed dramatically before giving up.
"...You're lucky I love you."
A sleepy smile tugged at Jude's lips.
"I know."
Twenty minutes later...
The two of them finally wandered into the hotel dining room.
Still half asleep.
Still arguing.
"You absolutely cheated."
"I did not."
"You hid the blanket."
"It was tactical."
Marco looked up from his coffee.
"Oh, brilliant."
Thomas looked over.
"They've started already."
"They've been awake for five minutes."
Marco sighed.
"And somehow we're already listening to a married couple."
"We're not married."
Jude replied.
"But we could be..." erling said jokingly
Jude felt his face get hot
"Your fucking unbelievable"
Erling laughed
"Didnt say no though?"
"Could've fooled me."
Marco muttered.
Erling slid into the seat beside Jude instead of taking one of the dozens of empty chairs around the table
Nobody even questioned it anymore.
He always sat beside Jude.
Always.
Breakfast arrived.
Jude reached for a piece of toast.
At the exact same moment...
Erling stole it.
"...Seriously?"
"You hesitated."
"I blinked."
"You hesitated."
Jude rolled his eyes before stealing a strawberry from Erling's plate.
"...Thief."
"Deserved."
Across the table...
Thomas quietly leaned toward Marco.
"How long until one of them says 'sorry'?"
Marco looked up from his coffee.
"They've been arguing for eight minutes."
He paused.
"...Thirty seconds."
Right on cue...
Jude nudged Erling's shoulder.
"...Sorry."
Erling smiled.
"It's okay, tiny."
Marco buried his face in his hands.
"I hate being right."
The table burst into laughter.
Training that afternoon was no different.
"Erling!"
The coach shouted.
"Focus!"
"I am focused."
"No, you're staring at Jude."
"I was making sure he wasn't cheating."
"I'm tying my boot."
"Exactly."
Jude laughed so hard he nearly fell over.
The session finally ended.
Everyone slowly headed back toward the changing rooms.
Without thinking...
Jude reached for Erling's hand.
Their fingers intertwined naturally.
It wasn't a secret.
It wasn't hidden.
It was simply... them.
"You two know you don't have to hold hands everywhere."
Marco called from behind them.
"We don't."
Jude replied.
Erling looked down.
They were, in fact, holding hands.
"...Oh."
He smiled.
"I guess we forgot."
"You forgot?"
Thomas laughed.
"You've been holding hands for half the walk back."
Neither of them let go.
Later that evening...
The hotel rooftop was almost empty.
Only the distant city lights and the sound of traffic below kept them company.
Jude leaned against the railing.
Erling stood beside him.
Neither spoke.
They didn't need to.
"You know..."
Jude said quietly.
"I think this is my favourite part."
"What is?"
"This."
He gestured toward the skyline.
"No football."
"No interviews."
"No cameras."
"Just us."
Erling smiled.
"I like this part too."
Jude turned toward him.
"You ever think about how weird this is?"
"What?"
"If you'd told sixteen-year-old me that I'd end up dating the most annoying striker in the world..."
"You would've said yes immediately."
Jude laughed.
"I would've said absolutely not."
"Liar."
"Maybe."
The wind gently tousled Erling's hair.
He reached over and brushed a loose strand away from Jude's forehead.
A small habit he'd picked up without even realizing it.
"You look tired."
Erling said softly.
"I am."
"You've got recovery tomorrow."
"I know."
"You should sleep."
"In a minute."
Jude rested his head against Erling's shoulder.
The same place it always seemed to end up.
Like it belonged there.
Neither of them noticed someone quietly stepping onto the rooftop behind them.
Marco stopped.
Looked at the pair.
Shook his head.
"...Seriously?"
Jude looked over.
"What?"
"You know every hotel has more than one room, right?"
Erling grinned.
"We're aware."
"So why are you always in the same one?"
Silence.
Jude looked at Erling.
Erling looked at Jude.
Then both shrugged.
"It's easier."
They answered at exactly the same time.
Marco sighed so dramatically it echoed across the rooftop.
"I've officially given up on you two."
He walked away, muttering to himself.
"...Disgustingly in love."
Jude laughed until he had to wipe tears from his eyes.
Erling joined in a moment later.
Their laughter drifted out across the city.
Warm.
Easy.
Completely effortless.
Neither of them knew...
That in just a few days...
Everything they had built together would be tested.
For "now", though...
They were exactly where they wanted to be.
Together.