Chapter Text
Erling Haaland was pleased with himself. He'd completed a new routine at the gym, ran one lap more than planned, and his Dortmund nutritionist had given him some more tips to try and improve his diet even more. This July day, by his current standards, was another success. It was also a bit repetitive, but it was the summer of 2020, unprecedented times, as the news kept insisting, and Erling counted his blessings. He could have taken a proper summer break but he had nowhere to go this summer. He saw it as endurance training for his mind. Not something he wanted to experience for much longer but also something he could put up with
As he was about to walk to his car, which was parked near the Dortmund gym at the training grounds, his phone started vibrating. When he saw the contact, Erling was taken aback but as he was positive, he was not in trouble, he answered immediately.
"Coach?"
"Hi, Haaland. Sorry to call you out if the blue, but I have a request."
"Yes?"
"You know, we have Jude Bellingham joining us this week from Birmingham. He was supposed to come over with his mother but she had to cancel, something about her sister. And the assistant who was supposed to pick him up from Düsseldorf tomorrow can't make it because her child has appendicitis. So I was wondering, would you mind picking up Bellingham? He gets in some time tomorrow afternoon"
"That's fine," Haaland reassured his coach. "I have nothing on tomorrow, and I'm here anyway."
"Well, thank you, that saves us a lot of hassle. I'll text you the flight details and the hotel Bellingham stays at in Dortmund. That's another thing, his apartment isn't ready for another few days, hence the special treatment."
"Would he be by himself at the hotel all the time? He could stay with me, would that be OK?"
"I can't see why not. I just want to run this by his mother. I'll give her your number and she should call you back."
Not even 15 minutes later, Haaland had another call, this time from England. The caller introduced herself as Denise Bellingham and thanked him for offering to host Jude. She assured Erling that her son would contact him as well before arriving but was currently busy with last-minute packing and goodbyes. Erling insisted, Jude should focus on that and reassured her, she could contact him any time as well.
As almost every evening in recent weeks, Erling later facetimed his sister. They cooked together, swapped recipes and seasoning tips and talked about everything and nothing, commenting each other's cooking skills and the results on the plates. As their call was winding down, he announced he'd have a visitor the next couple of days and he wouldn't be able to call as regularly. He had his sister's attention and she had to laugh when he told her how he had invited the new player to stay with him. "The new arrival, on your sofa before he's even at the training facility. You move fast, dear brother!"
Erling snorted "I'm just being a good teammate. Having no one waiting for you in a new place isn't so good. I've been there," he said.
"I'm just teasing you. I think it's really good of you and it's not bad for you either to have a bit of company. And no, your nutritionist doesn't count."
They ended the call with Erling promising to keep her updated via texts.
As Erling was about to go to bed, he received a text from an unknown English number:
Hi, sorry for the late-ish message. It's Jude Bellingham. My mum told me you want to let me stay with you. Thanks so much, but I feel a bit bad. Wouldn't want to impose"
Erling Haaland: It's not imposing if I'm offering it. But if you rather relax at the hotel, I'm not holding it against you.
Jude Bellingham: No, I'm being English. We can't just accept an invitation like that. But I'd love to not be by myself.
Erling Haaland: Yeah, I know what it's like to be the new guy. I'll also pick you up from the airport. I have your flight details & will keep an eye on the arrivals, but text me if something major changes.
Jude Bellingham: Will do. How do I find you?
Erling Haaland: I'm 1,95, I'm hard to miss. Blonde hair, blue face mask.
Jude Bellingham: Should have read up on your stats :) See you tomorrow.
Erling Haaland: See you then!
---
The next day, Erling couldn't focus on his gym training and he gave up running after two laps. He wanted it to be 2:30 pm already, a reasonable time to head to Düsseldorf airport. He sat at the cafeteria, eating a salad and drinking two coffees that definitely didn't make him more jittery. At 2:15, he grabbed two bottles of water, a sports drink and two packets of trail mix from the cafeteria just in case Jude needed a drink or a snack and went to his car.
As predicted, finding each other at arrivals was easy. Despite the face masks, they immediately recognised each other. Erling took Jude's massive suitcase and Jude handled his backpack and sports bag, both filled to the brim. "Welcome to Germany!" Erling boomed, his joy evident, even if the face mask covered much of his face. "Thank you," Jude replied "and thank you for being my welcome committee." Erling handed him the drinks and the trail mix and Jude noticed how attentive Erling was. He probably would have been too shy to ask they stop for water.
They arrived at Erling's apartment fairly quickly, no traffic jam slowing them down. Erling gave him a quick tour - bathroom to the left, kitchen to the right, living room straight ahead, guest toilet and Erling's bedroom round the corner.
"Please go and take a shower, if you want to. You can use all my products, and grab as many towels as you need from the shelf. You might also want to call your parents. Take your time, I'll start dinner," Erling offered.
"I'm not much of a cook, but are you sure you don't want any help?"
"I'm sure. Guests don't need to help on their first day. Norwegian tradition," Erling deadpanned. "But seriously. You just got in. Tomorrow we can cook together, if you like. Today your task is to relax. Is there anything you don't eat, by the way? Should have asked you that yesterday actually."
"I can't think of anything really. I don't suppose you'll cook escargot or liquorice, and that would be the only deal breakers actually. I hope I'm allowed to say that in your house, about the liquorice"
"You wound my Norwegian pride. None of my famous liquorice stew for you," Erling said in mock outrage. "You're right though, it's an acquired taste. Probably like Marmite. Let me see what I can do without escargot and liquorice."
Erling went to work in the kitchen and Jude, as directed, showered and talked to his parents. As he went into the kitchen, Erling had already set the table and was almost done preparing the meal.
"We have fried salmon, pasta with fried tomatoes and scallion, and a side salad. The pasta should be ok with the tomatoes, but if it's too dry, you can add pesto, sadly store bought. I like it as it is, but you'll see what suits you."
"I think it's great as it is," Jude reassured him. "You really prepared a feast for me. Thank you"
Jude chewed his first bites almost in awe. Not only had his future teammate ensured he'd be well-fed on his first day in Dortmund, but it was a truly great meal and he could tell it had been prepared with dedication. Jude had always been more interested in eating than in cooking, but he wanted to learn how to cook to be able to return the favour.
Their conversation, naturally, remained fairly superficial that evening. What it was like learning to play football in Norway, what Jude's training in Birmingham was like. How Erling was born in England and how he had grown up with certain English foods. He was very familiar with Marmite, by the way. That they had siblings they missed.
Eventually, Erling loaded the dishwasher, cleaned the pan, and asked Jude if he had been asked to come to the training grounds the next day already. It was technically not his official first day yet but since he was in Dortmund... Jude triumphantly informed him he had a folder with all the information he had been given about that and all the documents he might need. Erling laughed "You are out-Germaning them. Clever. Do you have the folder ready?"
It said he was to present himself at the medical centre at the training grounds, not having eaten anything, so the doctors could fully assess him and clear him for training. The physios wanted to see him at around 1. Okay. So no cooked breakfast Erling could show off with the next day. The cafeteria there would have to do.
"It says you have to be there at 9. With covid testing and all, we should leave here by 8:20. I can't give you breakfast, per doctors' orders but you can text me when you are done and we can go to the cafeteria. I need to show you anyway where the best coffee of Borussia lives"
Erling made Jude's bed on the sofa, not without asking if he wanted a firmer or a softer pillow while he let Jude get ready for bed and then turned in for the night himself.