Chapter Text
Today is one of those days that are supposed to be good, supposed to be fun. But it isn’t. Jonas can’t feel more detached from his surroundings than he does. The visit to the children’s hospital is great, of course. Looking at the faces of the children when they see the players brings a smile to Jonas’s face. The pure joy, and it’s touching how they seem to forget their pain for a moment.
But then it’s quickly over and they’re off to the autograph signing in the Christmas party. Even as he’s sitting between Gonzalo and Nuri, signing every single thing being handed to him, Jonas can’t shake off the uneasy feeling in his chest. From where he sits, he can’t see Marco at all. He wishes he could. Although he’s not sure if it will make him feel better, seeing how Marco has been with Pierre all day, looking utterly—happy.
It can’t be jealousy that he is feeling, can it? Jonas knows that Pierre is Marco’s best friend in the team, and that’s it. But he can’t help noticing how carefree and radiant Marco is when he is with Pierre. Unlike when he is with… him.
Jonas is startled as Nuri gently nudges his side. Smiling apologetically, he pulls the shirt Nuri has signed towards himself and signs it. He shouldn’t feel like this. Marco is only doing what Jonas wants, as in not letting their teammates know about their relationship yet. Jonas thinks he isn’t ready for that; for all the curious questions he’ll need to answer, all the scrutinising glances he’ll get. Marco is being incredibly patient with him.
But Jonas can’t help wondering for how long.
~*~
When the autograph session is done, they are serving beers to the fan club members. Jonas is helping Gonzalo and Mats with the glass, trying his best not to look too glum. He should let the Christmas spirit rub on him. Like his teammates who enjoy their tasks.
He glances at Marco who is taping some beer not so far from him. The blond is so absorbed in what he is doing, doesn’t notice that Jonas is watching him. Yeah, you kind of asked for it. If they didn’t need to hide their relationship from the world he could come to Marco and smile at him. And Marco would smile back, probably would try to find excuses to brush his arm against Jonas’s. It would be nice.
“Are there more glasses?” Mats asks, craning his head to look at Jonas.
“I’ll get some more,” Jonas replies and goes to the storeroom at the back where the glasses are stored. As he is figuring out how many glass he can take outside, he hears footsteps. As he turns around, his eyes meet Marco’s.
Marco is grinning at him. “I’m running out of glass, too.”
“Really?”
“Nah,” Marco replies, with a chuckle, making Jonas softly laugh. “I saw you, and it occurs to me that we haven’t talked at all today. Did you have a good time?”
Jonas could have told him he did, that today was fun. But as he looks into Marco’s hazel eyes, he can’t. “A bit. The hospital visit was great. But I—“ he pauses unsurely, averting his gaze to the floor before looking up at Marco again. “I’d rather be near you,” he says under his breath.
Marco looks at him for some long seconds before reaching out and caresses Jonas’s cheek with his thumb. “I was watching you when I could. I noticed how you stood near Mats in the entrance earlier, looking a bit downcast. I was thinking of coming to you, but I might give us away so I didn’t,” he says softly. “I should.”
Shaking his head, Jonas says, “No, it’s okay. All this Christmas vibe makes me feel a bit melancholic, I guess. I just… never mind.”
“What is it, Jonas? Tell me.”
After a second of hesitation Jonas says, “Pierre can always make you laugh, can’t he? When you’re with him you seem, I don’t know, cheery… crazier. So, I understand why you enjoy spending time with him.”
Marco lets out a soft sigh. “Pierre is fun, yes. Very much. But he doesn’t make me feel this weird sensation in my stomach like you do.”
His words make Jonas’s heart skip a beat, or two. But then something crosses his mind. “And I was wondering when you’d have enough of us seeing each other without anyone knowing.”
Marco still sounds patient when he says, “I said you can have all the time you need, didn’t I? I still mean it." And then he adds jokingly, "There’s no expiration date."
Jonas’s face breaks into a smile as he feels Marco’s thumb on his bottom lip. “It’s not a good idea to kiss you here, is it?” Marco asks, his gaze is fixed on Jonas’s lips, before darting up at his eyes.
“I guess.”
Marco pulls his hand back. “Later then.”
They walk back to the room, and Jonas places the glass he is carrying on the table. As he feels a hand gently brush against his back, a smile crosses his face. He can only see Marco’s retreating back as the blond walks to his place. But Jonas doesn’t need to see to know that there’s a smile on Marco’s face, too.