#four left!

It’s a lavish spring morning and the sky is tinted in beautiful pastel hues outside of their Hamburg hotel, but Matze and Julian are paying hardly any attention to it.

They’ve left the curtains open and the window is ajar too – just enough so that the song of the birds in the trees is just barely audible, and that the air in the room smells fragrant and fresh. 

It’s seven in the morning, and this is one of the few times the two lovers have the privilege of waking up together. Sometimes, Matze is envious of those who can do this often; but then again, he knows that he just has to treasure the little time with Julian that he gets. And usually, that means International Break and maybe a few additional weekends over the course of the year.

As of now, Julian is sound asleep on his chest, his breath hitting Matze’s skin in soft little gusts, their heartbeats pressed tightly against each other, beating in the same rhythm.

Matze has his hand on Julian’s back, gently brushing his fingers over it in circular motions. He doesn’t as often feel as calm and grounded as when he’s with Julian, he thinks. Moments like these might be rare, but they’ve become one of the things Matze is always looking forward the most … he’s yearning, almost, for his lover to be back in his arms whenever he goes for too long without it. Without him.

He shakes his head to himself. A few years ago, he would never have been able to imagine this – and now, despite his life without Julian being almost perfect, too, he doesn’t even wanna think about having to miss it.

He tightens his arms a little bit more.

It takes a few minutes longer until Julian finally stirs underneath his touch. He squints up at Matze with one eye open, lips already twisting into a mischievous grin. His hair is always the softest, fluffiest when he wakes up in the mornings – perfect chocolate brown ringlets in the shape of an artfully tousled bird’s nest perched on top of his head, perfect for Matze to run his fingers through. Before he can, though, Julian groans a little, hauling himself up until his face is right in front of Matze’s, his grin even wider than before.

“Morning,” he mumbles, and he doesn’t even give Matze a chance to reply. Instead, he pushes against his lips, uniting them in a kiss that feels like completion, and Matze doesn’t hesitate to return it with an urgency that’s surprising even to himself.

Julian chuckles. “Really good morning then. Hi, baby.” He’s grinning, and his hand, cheeky as it is, has already found its way underneath the sheets, finding Matze’s chest, stroking it lightly.

Matze bites down on his bottom lip before the whine can slip through his lips. It’s almost a bit embarrassing, how Julian has the ability to get him worked up so quickly, but yet, he would never complain about it. He pants when his lover starts placing his lips all over his torso, wandering down, licking, sucking, letting his hands roam and his eyes wander.

Yes, there truly is nothing better than this.

They’re not always the type for long, drawn-out foreplay, not when they often don’t have enough time before they’re rushed away to a training session, a team meeting, a meal or a game. Unlike some of their (former) teammates, they – especially Matze – aren’t fond of doing it in spaces that aren’t the safety of their hotel room, so the time is even more limited.

But it’s early, and thus, he doesn’t worry when Julian, gently but insistently nudges his arm, making him turn until he’s laying on the side, trembling with restrained lust as Julian scoots closer, his naked body warm and familiar. His awakened interest pressing against Matze’s ass.

Oh, yes.

Julian kisses his shoulder, then his neck, then his jaw, urging Matze to turn his head just so that they can smash their mouths together, every trace of gentle sleepiness out of the window now, making out as the first sunlight illuminates their union.

Matze gasps quietly when Julian wraps his hand around his manhood as he pushes in, eyes fluttering shut.

Truly, there is nothing better than this.

During their lovemaking, the silence feels different, as if it’s vibrating, pooling in every corner, every crook that there is in the room, filling every crevice. Matze has come to love it this way, how intimate it is when they’re just quietly enjoying each other, coming together, becoming one–

They both freeze at the same time.

There was a creak outside, loud and obvious, as if someone was leaning against their door. 

Matze can feel his eyes widen, his ass clenching around Julian’s dick.

“What was that noise?” he whisper-shouts, a bout of panic washing over him, that’s soothed just barely by Julian gently rubbing his shoulder as he turns around, their lovemaking suddenly forgotten but yet so prominent on their minds. Julian’s eyes are alert, his eyebrows drawn tightly together.

They’re both fearing the same thing.

These hotel’s doors don’t lock on their own, and it’s not that uncommon for players to just burst into their teammate’s rooms. A room that Julian shouldn’t even be laying in, nevermind sharing Matze’s bed, holding him in his arms.

You’d think they’d gotten more careful after that debacle with Manuel.

But also, it’s not even seven in the morning, and neither of them had thought that this could ever happen.

It can’t happen.

The door creaks again. Matze’s breath gets caught in his throat. Nothing happens. Then, footsteps outside quietly move away. He can feel Julian’s sigh of relief against his back, and when he shuffles around until they’re face to face, he can feel his hands tremble.

Slowly, very slowly, a grin creeps onto Julian’s thin lips. His smiles have always been radiant, what made him the most beautiful; and even when Matze thought he can’t love him any more, he does.

“Oh my god,” Julian wheezes, giggling, his shoulders shaking, transferring the tremours to Matze’s skin, “that was a close one.”

He’s right, Matze knows, and he knows that at the beginning of their relationship, a close call like this would have spooked him to the bone. Not anymore. Not when things are alright, and he’s got a smiling Julian Draxler in his arms.

They go down to breakfast together, and things are just how they’re supposed to be – now they only need to go ahead and win the game that evening, too.

emotional prompts – closed!