Chapter Text
“You’re being weird about it.” Milos’ voice filled the space, as Dominik was driving home from training, his friend on the phone.
“I’m not being weird about it, he’s being weird about it!” Dominik whined.
“No he’s not, bro. You need to chill.”
That’s almost offensive. Dominik was always chill. He thought of himself as the most chill person ever. And for the most part that was true.
But for the most part, he didn’t have to deal with someone like Florian Wirtz.
“He hates me, man.” Dom declared with a pout.
“You’re stupid.” Milos laughed, making Dominik feel even more embarrassed. “He just doesn’t talk much.”
Which is fine. But not a good enough excuse.
The club signing Flo filled Dominik with lots of different emotions that were clashing with each other. Fear. Wouldn’t admit it, but it was there. The guy was phenomenal, and most likely up for his spot. But this led to him also feeling determined, and so so ambitious, more so than ever before. Absolutely ready for the fight, to impress the fans again, to show everyone he was a player who deserved to be there just as much as the rest.
Also, he felt quite a lot of excitement for what it meant for the future. He was never the selfish player type, he knew how much a talent like this would help the team raise to glory. So no, he didn’t feel resentment, or envy towards the guy. Was maybe just a little intimidated.
So once Flo showed up in training, his main initiative was to become friends with him. It would’ve been the plan either way, it was important to him ever since the beginning of his career to be good mates with his entire team. He also just loved making friends, and having a lot of them. He was very sociable, very inviting and open, touchy and caring. And he was lucky to have been blessed with enough charm to always make friends easily with everybody. So yeah, buddying up with Flo was on his list either way, but making this friendship work was even more important. It meant establishing a relationship that would help them through the constant competition they were going to be in.
But then came a Florian-sized wrench in his plans.
The guy simply didn’t give him anything.
“But you see it too, bro. Even today, I walked up to him! I did that! Me!” He reiterated a million times like Milos didn’t get it the first time. “He was there, sitting next to Ryan and Jeremie, sorta-kinda talking to them, and I thought, you know… I’ll join the convo and maybe get a word out of him. But then he just kept smiling and nodding at me, barely even saying a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.”
“Don’t know dude, you mostly just talked to the other two when I glanced over there.” Milos responded.
“Not true!” Dominik huffed, baffled by this accusation. “I just kept getting stared down by him when I directed a question at him and… I can’t hold eye contact like that!” Milos laughed at the other end of the line. “Not fucking funny!”
“Kind of is.”
“Is not!”
“Never seen you crash out over something like this. What’s wrong, Domi, scared you’re losing your touch?” Milos kept laughing at his expense.
“Fuck you, no I’m not! I’m just annoyed.”
“Well I think he’s cool. And he doesn’t hate you. Try to understand him a bit, or I don’t know. And stop being weird! Even if it’s funny as fuck…”
“I hate you.” Dom groaned.
Try to understand him, huh…
…
So the advice from his dumbass friend stuck with him all day, actually. And for the lack of a better idea, he started watching interviews of Flo.
Cool. Calm. Collected.
Always speaks like he thinks three steps ahead, just like on the pitch. Careful with his wording, the words roll off his tongue with ease, maybe even a little spunk. Short-spoken, just like Dom thought. Gets to the point and doesn’t yap for a second longer than needed.
You’d think he’s shy. He isn’t, though. Despite the lack of words spoken, this doesn’t seem to be caused by a fear of speaking up. He speaks with strength, the little that he does. His expression is rock solid, determination in his eyes, giving off a fearless, but also just an absolutely cool vibe. Each interview, he’s comfortably laid back in a chair, or a couch, or whatever, with his legs spread wide to the world, his arms resting here or there, raised from time to time for expressing himself. A couple of egotistical remarks escape his lips and register as sexy self-assurance when he laughs it off or just gives a smirk after saying it so plainly like it’s a fact. Well, maybe because he mostly just speaks facts.
This isn’t an inherently shy person, not the average type. Just so damn far from the kind of guy Dom was. How will he ever know if the man likes him or not?
And the more time he spends watching him, inspecting him, the more Dom wishes he would. As soon as possible. He wanted to know this guy liked him. This silent force of a man.
And then came an idea.
…
“Was geht, Bruder?” Dominik bumped into Florian after jogging close to him, with a light ‘what’s up’ in german. All that time spent in Germany (and Austria) taught him real well, and he actually missed talking in german more frequently.
Golden opportunity, he thought. And maybe speaking in german would give Flo more comfort, which would then make him open up to him more. A win on all fronts, in theory.
Dominik felt like a genius for clocking this german connection between them. Well, he felt like one right until he actually set the plan in motion.
“Ähm… nichts?” Flo raised a curious eyebrow. Or maybe he was annoyed. Or maybe this just became awkward. Actually, that’s not even a maybe.
Wasn’t the kind of reaction Dom was anticipating, and he was still not giving him anything. They just kept walking slowly next to each other, aiming for the training ground, in deafening silence and tension that can be cut through with a knife.
Atleast that’s what Dom was feeling, but Flo just seemed unbothered for the most part.
Big ‘uhh’ escaped the hungarian’s lips, once again having the german’s attention on him.
“We can talk in german if you ever… feel like it…” Dominik tried not to sound desperate but he knew he was starting to look absolutely ridiculous. “I know it sucks when you can’t speak your language with anyone around you.”
“Danke.” Flo nodded, the ghost of a smile appearing on his face for a second.
Dominik was once again frustrated by the utter lack of energy, but the little smile gave him a tad more confidence than he’s ever had in past ‘conversations’ with the man. He straightened himself and threw an arm around Flo. Time to try that good old pretty boy charm again, he thought as he leaned a little closer, still walking side by side.
“We’re going bowling with Milos tonight, wanna come? We’ll ask Jeremie too.” Dom offered. Milos knew nothing of this plan, but the boy would definitely play along.
Flo didn’t look at him this time, his eyes were glued to the space in front of him.
“Yeah, we can go.” He said quietly, carefully grabbing onto Dominik’s shoulder as well, as they kept on strutting forward.
A small victory. Dom was ready for more.
…
“I’m comin’, I’m comin’!” Jeremie shouted as he was fast approaching their table with their drinks, balancing the four glasses in his small hands.
“Don’t drop them!” Dom snorted.
“I’m not dropping shit, my G, look at me! Look at this balance! Look at it!”
Dominik glanced over at the man sitting in front of him as he laughed, happy to see Flo smiling and even showing a little bit of teeth to make the scenery all the more memorable. Was really eager to make him laugh atleast once tonight, but Flo didn’t really look at him since their arrival.
“Ice tea for me ‘cause I take my diet plans seriously, you know ...” Jeremie said as he sat his glass down in front of himself, giving the others a very dramatically judging look.
“Oh, wow!” Milos sat back with a scoff, Dom and Flo laughing at suddenly catching a stray like this.
“Excuse my friend, he doesn’t know he should be the last one to get his drink.” Flo shook his head as he explained to Dom and Milos. Then made clicking sounds with his tongue as he looked at Jeremie. “No class.”
“Shut up, bro.” The little dutchman spoke back quickly, making the table ring with laughter once again.
And Dom was more than happy to have had this idea, this was probably amongst the longest sentences he’s ever heard Florian say in real life. He laughed to himself at the sheer craziness of the thought, maybe he was a bit obsessed after all.
His voice was quite soothing, he wished he could hear it more.
“Blueberry lemonade for mr. Dom, really nice, really nice.” Jeremie continued to set the drinks down. “Ginger beer for you, my G. Absolutely disgusting, by the way.” He said as he gave Milos his glass.
“Fuck off.”
“And the usual for my brother.”
Flo’s eyes widened as he looked at his glass and realized what his friend had brought him. A jägerbomb. And, you know, one glass of anything won’t make you tipsy or something, it’s not even that. It’s just that no one else was drinking, because the others were driving. His friend drove him, explicitly stating he should let him drive him tonight. So this felt like a con on behalf of Jeremie. Which it was. Him and Milos concocted a masterful plan to get Dom and Flo to talk to each other one way or another by the end of the night.
But Dom and Flo didn’t know anything about that. And the night is still too young for the fun to be spoiled.
He gave Jeremie’s forearm an instinctual slap.
“Ay!” The dutchman played hurt, but was unable to hide his smirk.
“Told you not to bring me this if no one else is drinking.” Flo said in an accusatory tone.
“You need it, though. I know you like the back of my hand, y’know.”
Dominik and Milos chuckled at the little exchange between the two besties. Dom wasn’t sure what was going on, but seeing the man made of stone a little frustrated was… quite adorable.
“Don’t worry, bro. I’ll take you home if you can’t walk anymore.” Dom quipped, almost missing the look that Milos and Jeremie shared.
Flo sighed. “It’s one drink! And worry about taking yourself home after I beat all of you.” He took a sip from his drink, reverting back to his usual calm and composure.
Milos whistled at that.
“Oh, you think you’re beating me?” Dom raised a brow and grinned.
“Ganz einfach.” Flo relaxed into his seat with his hands behind his head, his confidence clearly through the roof as he stared into Dom’s soul. And the hungarian was never more eager. Maybe not just for victory.
He stood up, the alley as his target, because he was first up. He stopped next to Flo’s seat, raised his chin lightly with a finger, and in a condescending fashion to rile him up a bit.
“Watch this, kid.”
He was expecting a little scoff from the german. Or an absolute stone cold reaction, which would be very in character for him. Instead as he raised his chin, Flo flashed his eyes up at him, lips slightly parted.
Dom retrieved his hand quickly and went for the alley. He could feel his cheeks were ablaze, so he was quite pleased with having to show his back to the others as he was looking for the right sized ball to roll.
His fingers didn’t fit the small ones, so he went for a size 13, which was the biggest one at this alley. Gotta show these boys who’s the real man here, anyway.
Though his fingers had enough space in this one, it was still not a perfect fit, as it was stretching his hand a little too wide. His bowling technique didn’t let him down, however, even if the ball wasn’t the best. He always took a small step and a big leap, folding his left leg as he bent the right one, slightly twisting his body to keep his balance as he rolled his ball in a straight line. Two pins were still standing, which he got on the second throw, earning a spare on his first try.
Flo’s eyes were piercing through him as soon as he turned back to the table. He didn’t even care about the shittalking the other two were doing at that point, he just looked into the man’s eyes, not giving up on the stare-off anymore. Want eye-contact, then I’ll give it to you, Dom thought.
Didn’t hurt that his eyes were quite gorgeous.
Dominik winked like the asshole he was to see if it would earn a reaction, and to his surprise, it did. Flo looked away with a little smirk.
Dom was starting to feel like the ice was finally breaking. He also started to feel like he wanted to jump into the cold water under that ice right now.
Milos and Jeremie’s techniques were quite similar. Aggressive and powerful, with an aim issue. They either hit the jackpot with a massive strike, or completely flopped. It sounded like a terrible way to play, but they actually were doing quite good.
Before Flo’s first throw, he took an ungodly amount of time checking out the balls to find the perfect one for himself. They realized there was only one size 11 ball at their alley, a hot pink one, which Flo has made his own for the rest of the night.
“There he goes again, with his lucky charm.” Jeremie said at one point.
And it really seemed to be his lucky charm. Never had a bad throw, even though he lacked in strikes. He banked on his technicality and getting a lot of spares, just like Dominik. His own technique came as absolutely no surprise to the hungarian. From a standing position he lifted his left leg and leaned back, his arm with the ball stretched out behind him, then as he leaned forward he swung his arm, while moving his lifted leg backwords, always keeping himself balanced superbly. The shots werent super powerful, but always precise. Keeping his stance made the veins pop on his arms, muscles almost bulging from the pressure.
He looked damn good.
Dominik started thinking about whether his posture’s as sexy as the german’s. His own rolling stance was more so showing off his curves, or you know, his ass, but Dom still wanted to look good despite the fact. He lifted his shirt to wipe the drops of sweat off his face as he turned back to the table after a strike. As he let the hem go, he saw Flo’s eyes not staring back at him this time, but lower, where his abs were just fully visible for a split second. And god, he looked like he was biting his bottom lip, before quickly grabbing his drink and sipping from it.
The game went on like this for a while. When they reached the last round, unbelievably, it was Jeremie who was leading the scoreboard, despite the crazy technique. Then it was Dom and Flo, head to head, needing a strike to pass Jeremie and hopefully keep their placement, banking on an unfortunate throw from the dutchman. Milos was only a couple points behind them, also able to take the crown with a strike if everyone else completely bombed the final round.
It was a competitive game. But Dom just wanted to beat Flo, that’s all.
Once again, as always, he was the first bowler of the round. His hand was feeling the stretch of the big balls really badly at this point.
He was confused to see Flo get up from his spot and approach the alley before he could even throw.
“Put that down.” He said simply, taking the size 13 out of Dom’s hands. He searched for his hot pink size 11 and gave it to him. “This will fit better.”
Dom’s hands brushed against Flo’s as he took his lucky ball from him. The way Flo was looking up at him, the man almost towering above him, was starting to drive him nuts.
If he wasn’t so painfully sober, he would’ve definitely let something slip in the lines of ‘I see something that will fit me even better.’
The ball hugged his fingers a little, but just well enough for it to slide off in a spectacular fashion and get an insane strike. And with that, Dom won the game.
“That’s cheating, bro! Cheating!” Jeremie whined.
“Why’d you let him win, dude, I’ll have to listen to him gloat for the next month.” Milos joined in on the whining, directed at Flo.
But the german was just laughing.
The night was nearing its end when he was once again staring into Dom’s soul with that intense gaze of his.
“Still want to drive me home?” He asked, just so out of the blue, so blatant. This man was crazy, Dom thought.
He looked at Jeremie, since he was the one who drove him here in the first place, but the man just nodded. Maybe too eagerly.
So the answer was obviously yes.
And he didn’t miss the pat on the back from Milos either, after their handshake and goodbyes.
The ride was silent, for the most part. Dom’s eyes were on the road, apart from a couple glances at the man on the passenger seat. Flo was scrolling on his phone, unbothered as ever. Dom wondered if he knew how much he was twisting his mind right now.
“So why’d you let me win, really?” He broke the silence.
“I didn’t.”
“Come on.”
Flo smiled to himself. Dom found it endearing. He cherished every sign of emotion the man gave for him.
“My hand was too tired. I knew I wouldn’t get a good roll in the last round. Wanted to see someone beat Jeremie, that’s all.”
“How’d you know the balls I used were too big, then?”
“Because I did the same thing.” Flo chuckled. “I like the ones that are too big for me.”
Honest to god, Dom almost drove themselves off the road as those words left Flo’s mouth. He tried to shake off the feeling it gave him. But it was too late, it went right to his pants. Thank goodness he was in loose enough clothing for it to not show.
He stopped the car at the end of the driveway to Flo’s brand new house. They sat together in the dark for a little while.
“Want me to walk you to the-?”
“Yes, please.” Flo cut him off, saying it plainly.
Dom fought the urge to put his hand on the small of Flo’s back as they walked to his front door. The walk was too short, they were at their destination way too fast for Dominik’s liking. He felt like there were so many things left unsaid.
Flo turned towards him, stepped just a little closer, looking up at him once again with that unreadable look on his face. Except now there was a softness behind his expression.
“Thanks.” He said quietly.
“No worries.”
“I had fun.”
“I’m glad. Me too.”
They stood there, looking at each other in the porch light, almost too close to each other. It wasn’t even awkward anymore, the silence. It felt so different now.
But Dominik didn’t want to impose any longer. He put his body in motion to leave.
“Well, goodnight br-“
His words were cut off, and his movements put to a halt as Flo’s body fell into his, the german putting his lips on Dom’s, giving him a gentle peck, then drawing back instantly, rushing to get his hands behind his back, like it was difficult to keep them off Dom.
He tasted too good. It wasn’t just the bittersweet essence of liquor, it was the way he brushed against him so softly, and yet so bravely, like a man who knew what he wanted. This split second kiss wasn’t nearly enough.
Flo was ready to apologize, or ask for permission, or whatever, it didn’t matter. Dom’s hands were on his waist and drew Flo against himself hard, the clash of chests sending shockwaves through the hungarian’s brain. It would need rewiring after this experience. He held Flo tightly, as he went back in for more, taking the shorter man’s lips, tasting perfection again. Flo eased into the rhythm quickly enough, throwing an arm around Dom’s neck, running his fingers through the gorgeous head of hair with the other, before pulling on it to tilt his head and deepen the kiss, both of them moaning into each other’s mouth.
Dominik licked into Flo’s mouth, it was both a want and a need. He couldn’t get enough of the taste and the feeling it gave him to know he was kissing the boots off Florian, making his breath heavy.
They didn’t let go of each other when their lips finally parted, panting against each other.
“I thought you hated me.” Dom whispered onto Flo’s lips, breathless.
“I thought YOU hated ME.” Flo responded just as out of breath, giggling at the stupidity of them both.
“Why would you think that?”
“You kept talking to everyone, but me.”
Dominik leaned back just so Florian could see the immense disbelief on his face, but never letting go of him for a second.
“‘Cause you wouldn’t say more than two words to me when I tried talking to you!”
“Fair.” Flo said after thinking about it for a second. “That’s just how much I talk sometimes. Especially when I want someone to like me.”
Dom’s breath hitched.
“Don’t act so shocked, I know you saw me staring sometimes.” Flo smirked.
“I didn’t know it was because-“
“Come inside.” Flo ordered, pulling on Dom to go inside the house.
The hungarian was absolutely flabbergasted. Is Florian Wirtz really implying he wants to get fucked by him right now? What on Earth is happening.
“Are you sure?” Dom asked, reluctantly, as he felt the need to just jump Flo’s bones and strip him naked right this second, and take him like no one’s ever taken him before.
“Don’t be so shy.” Flo grinned. Literally laughed into his face. Calling HIM shy.
Fucking menace.
Dom held him tight as he threw themselves against the door, pushing Flo against him as he sucked on his lips once more, the german clumsily searching for the doorhandle that he couldn’t see as Dom was taking up all the space around him, engulfing him, eating him alive.
Once the door was open, Dom picked Flo up, went to town on his neck, and carried him into the house.
Then the door closed behind them and the history they were about to make together.