Chapter Text
“Isn’t this nice?” Jonas asks, as soon as he steps inside and Marco walks behind him. He watches as the blond leaves his suitcase in the corner before taking in the surrounding.
“Very nice,” Marco says, averting his eyes at Jonas, a smile crosses his lips.
The lovely ski chalet is near Salzburg, where they will spend two days together before they have to go home for Christmas. Marco was in Vienna with his friends, and Jonas was already here with his family and some friends for his brother’s bachelor party in a hotel not so far from the chalet. Jonas picked Marco up in the local airport this morning, which is about an hour’s drive away.
“They have a central heating, but there is a fireplace, too,” Jonas explains as he reaches for Marco’s hand, taking him across the living room. Their boots make some squeaking noise on the wooden floor. Jonas stops near the window, where they can see the snowy mountain and the valleys. “It must be beautiful in the summer, too.”
Then they move towards the kitchen, Jonas still has Marco’s hand in his. “This place is perfect. The bus stop to the ski slope is only five minutes away by foot, and it stops near the resort. The bus comes every fifteen minutes. It’s easier than driving there, because the car park is further away.” Then he notices that Marco is watching him with a smile on his face. “What?”
Marco lets out a chuckle. “You sound like you want to sell this chalet to me.”
Jonas laughs, too. “So, would you buy it?”
“Of course,” Marco says softly, his eyes never leave Jonas’s face. “How could I not?”
Marco’s words still make his heart beat faster, even after all this time. Jonas quickly puts up a smile and continues to walk. “The bathroom is here and the bedroom is right next to it,” he says, opening the bedroom door, where a huge double bed with white bed linen and a brown duvet lies in the middle of the room.
“Really nice,” Marco says, stepping towards the bed, but Jonas holds his hand.
“No, Marco, you’re not lying down. We have to catch the bus soon before midday.”
Marco looks amused. “Not even for ten minutes?” When Jonas shakes his head, he says again, teasingly “Five? Oh come on. You won’t even give me time to catch my breath?” He sits down on the bed and pulls Jonas close.
Taking a deep breath, Jonas finally relents. “Okay, but we’re leaving in ten minutes.” He’s about to walk away but Marco is still holding him, and before he can do anything Marco tugs his hand, taking Jonas by surprise. He lets out a gasp as he falls down on the bed. Marco leans over him, with a smile on his lips. “Is this what you mean by catching your breath?” Jonas asks jokingly, despite his racing heartbeat.
“Maybe,” Marco says in a murmur. His face is getting closer and closer, and Jonas closes his eyes as soon as Marco’s lips touch his.
“Marco… we need to leave,” Jonas protests weakly between kisses. Marco mumbles a ‘yeah’ but he doesn’t stop, until Jonas gently pushes him away. “We only have two days,” he says, putting his hand on Marco’s face.
Marco looks at him and sighs. “Okay, let’s go. Out in the cold again.” He shifts and rises from the bed, before helping Jonas to get to his feet. Jonas watches as Marco opens his suitcase and takes out a winter hat. He doesn’t want to think about how fast time passes when he is with Marco.
About how many hours they have left.
~*~
They just have to wait for a few minutes for the bus, much to Jonas’s relief. And then after having lunch in the resort, they take one of the chairlifts and get ready to ski. They start at the lower part of the hill, where not many people are around. After doing a few rounds, Jonas teases Marco that he is not good at skiing, which Marco doesn’t directly deny.
“I haven’t skied recently,” Marco says, as he catches up with Jonas at the bottom of the hill. “I normally go to warmer places, too. Like to Miami last year, and Dubai the year before.”
“Yeah, I figured you don’t like the cold so much.” Adjusting his goggles, Jonas says, “Come on, let’s go higher.” He bursts out laughing when he sees the horror on Marco’s face. “You should look at your face.”
“Going higher is a bad idea.” Marco lets out a nervous laugh.
Jonas sighs dramatically. “Fine. Then let’s do something else.”
“Like?”
“Like this.” Before Marco can react, Jonas drops his poles and scoops a handful of snow, taking Marco’s hat off and aiming his hair. Marco tries to dodge, but it’s way too late.
Soon, Marco drops his poles as well and chases Jonas who runs, their laughter being swallowed by the wind. Marco manages to grabs Jonas’s jacket and the brunet shrieks as the cold snow hits his cheek. “At least I didn’t go for your hair,” Marco says after he stops laughing, and then he laughs again when Jonas playfully pushes him.
“You really don’t want to go higher?” Jonas asks when they have thrown more snowballs at each other. Marco’s hair is white with snow. Jonas watches in amusement when he tries to shake the snow off his hair. “It won’t be long before it gets dark.”
“Positive,” Marco replies, putting his hat back on. “Anything but going higher.”
Jonas arches his eyebrows. “Anything?” His face breaks into a grin.
Marco looks at him rather warily. “What do you have in mind?” he asks with a sigh.
“There’s an ice rink on the other side of the hill. Ice skating sounds fun and harmless, right?” Jonas says. “Let’s go.” He tugs at Marco’s hand. Sighing once more, Marco picks up his poles and follows him.
~*~
They store their ski equipment—the goggles, poles, boards, and everything else—in the locker room and rent two pairs of skates. There are only a handful of people around, and even if there were more, nobody would recognise them here. Where everyone is wrapped up in their thick winter clothes. After they skate for a few minutes, it’s clear that Marco is pretty bad at ice skating as well. He is quite stiff on the ice, and he doesn’t look comfortable. Jonas is not a great skater himself, but he still can skate a lot faster than Marco.
“Not your thing either?” Jonas asks teasingly, slowing his pace down and taking Marco’s hand.
“Well, yeah,” Marco says with a shrug. “I don’t even remember the last time I did this.”
They slide slowly around the rink. Jonas glances at Marco who looks like he’s trying keep his balance. “But you’re still doing it,” he says.
Still looking straight ahead, Marco replies matter-of-factly, “Because you wanted it.”
Jonas turns to him, feeling some warmth in his chest because of what Marco said. And then Marco turns his head and their eyes meet for some long seconds, before someone suddenly crosses in front of them, cutting their way. Marco loses his balance and stumbles, dragging Jonas down with him.
“Ice skating is harmless, yeah,” Marco jokes, making Jonas chuckle.
“Harmless for most people, I guess,” Jonas says after they stop laughing. He’s still on top of Marco, and just as he’s about to get to his feet, Marco pulls his head down and kisses him.
It’s a quick kiss, that ends before Jonas even realises what happens. When Marco pulls away, Jonas blinks, looking at him. Marco says softly, “Come on, it’s getting cold.”
No. It means the day will soon be over. “Just a bit longer,” he says, forcing a smile. “Please.”
Marco watches him for a second before nodding. “Okay.”
And they continue to skate, slowly, Jonas never lets go of Marco’s hand. Until the sun is setting, and people leave the rink one by one. Jonas stops when he sees that Marco is shivering a little, adjusting his scarf.
“Let’s go back to the resort and find something to eat,” Jonas tells him. Marco agrees, and by the time they arrive at the restaurant, it’s already ten minutes past five.
Time is cruel, isn’t it? The more he wants it to slow down, the more it will speed up.
No matter how much he holds onto it.
~*~
The moment they’re back in the chalet, Jonas says that he’s going to start the fire. It’s gonna make himself busy for a bit, and he likes the sight of it. As he is kneeling in front of the fireplace, he can hear the rustling sound of Marco taking his jacket off. The room is already warm enough from the central heating, and it’s only going to be warmer once the fire is lit.
After the fire is burning, Jonas stands up and turns around, his eyes immediately meet Marco’s. “It looks great, doesn’t it?” Jonas says, with a smile, averting his gaze down as he unzips his jacket. Marco doesn’t reply. When Jonas looks back up, Marco is still watching him. His gaze is deep and intense, and it makes Jonas feel somehow warmer. Although it can be the fire, too.
“What’s wrong?” Jonas asks, tilting his head.
Marco steps closer. When he speaks, his voice is low and slightly raspy. “The things the fire does to your eyes.” He reaches out and touches Jonas’s face with his fingertips, before moving down to the side of his neck. “So fucking beautiful.”
And then Marco presses their lips together, his hands wander down, shrugging Jonas’s jacket off his shoulders. Jonas lets out a gasp as he feels Marco’s tongue touch his own, setting him on fire. His hand slides under Marco’s shirt, feeling his skin.
They continue to kiss on the way to the bedroom, only breaking the kiss once for air. And Marco pushes Jonas up against the wall, next to the bedroom door, his lips finding their way to Jonas’s jawline. Jonas’s head bumps against the wooden wall, but he doesn’t feel any pain.
“Marco…” Jonas breathes as Marco gently nibbles his ear.
Marco’s lips are soon back on his again. “Perfect,” he whispers against Jonas’s lips. “You’re perfect.”
Jonas replies by kissing him, deeper, more frantic. He buries his fingers in Marco’s hair, feeling that time finally stands still.
~*~
“Good morning,” Marco says softly when Jonas slowly opens his eyes.
Jonas blinks a few times, and then replies in a sleepy voice, “Good morning. How long have you been awake?”
“A while.”
He woke up quite some time ago, and has been watching Jonas sleep, from time to time touching Jonas’s hair that looks so dark on the white pillow.
Jonas shifts closer, putting his hand on Marco’s arm. “What time is it?”
Covering Jonas’s hand with his, Marco says, “A bit over nine.” Jonas closes his eyes again, making Marco smile. “What do you want to do today?”
“Just being here like this,” Jonas murmurs. “With you.”
“Sounds great,” Marco replies, his eyes remain fixed on Jonas. A moment later Jonas opens his eyes; the exquisite blue eyes that never fail to take Marco’s breath away. “So, it will be Gladbach?” Marco asks, breaking the silence.
Jonas slowly nods.
Marco says again, “Gladbach is a great club, I’m sure you’ll fit well.”
“I hope so,” Jonas says.
“And it’s not far from Dortmund. We’ll be fine.”
Jonas doesn’t reply right away. “We won’t be able to see each other every day,” he finally says, with a melancholy in his voice.
“It doesn’t matter,” Marco says quickly. “We’ll make it work.”
Jonas looks at him for a long time and then says, “I love you, Marco,” barely above a whisper.
Marco lets out a shaky breath before leaning forward to claim Jonas’s mouth, kissing him senselessly, pressing their bodies together until they both gasp for air. “I love you,” Marco breathes. “So much...”
Maybe too much. Marco never felt like this about anyone before. Not this much.
But he doesn’t care.
“We don’t have much time left,” Jonas murmurs, caressing Marco’s cheek with his fingers.
Marco looks down at him, smiling as Jonas’s thumb touches his lips. “Then let’s make the most of it.” A faint smile crosses Jonas’s lips, and Marco can’t look away.
So fucking beautiful.