#lahmsteiger

56. “How did you talk me into this?” + Lahmsteiger

Philipp frowns when Bastian closes the door behind himself.

“You really shouldn’t do this,” he says, closing his newspaper with a sigh.

Bastian only grins. “What, interrupting your reading?”

“Coming to see me at this time. Someone could have seen you. You know that,” Philip remarks drily. Bastian rolls his eyes before joining him on the bed.

“As if we’re the only ones doing this. Scoot over.”

His grin is spread so wide that it might as well fall off his face. It annoys Philipp to no end that he seems to know exactly that he isn’t actually bothered by his late visit; even if one day, he’s probably actually going to blow their cover, as careless as the blond sometimes is.Philipp huffs, laying the newspaper to the side. Part of him is itching to finish the article, but most of him (unfortunately) cares more about Basti.

“That some couples,” he deliberately doesn’t name names, “are so obvious that everyone who has spent more than fifteen minutes in their company can figure out they’re together, doesn’t make it acceptable.”

“In all honesty, captain, I couldn’t give two fucks about what people think about me. And if they do they are probably convinced that I’m fucking Poldi,” Bastian says, taking Philipp’s hand in his, pressing a kiss on the back of his hand.

“Must you be so crude?” A smile tugs at Philipp’s lips.

Bastian lifts an eyebrow. “Crude? I’m cute,” he says, putting on his best pout while cuddling up to him.

Philipp chuckles. “Sure you are.” Contradicting his own words, he leans forward to swiftly peck him on the lips. He grins when Bastian groans quietly when he pulls away immediately afterwards.

He softly shakes his head. “Not today. We need to be up early tomorrow.”

“Really?” Basti looks scandalized.

“Yes, really.”

Philipp expected him to mope, then complain and then give in after a while, so he’s surprised when instead, Bastian gets up, tugging off the bed.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re a way too stuck up when it comes to rules. Fact,” he states before Philipp has the chance to interrupt him, never letting go of his hand “so we’re breaking some. Come on!”

It’s warm outside, the air still loaded with the day’s heat even if the sun went down a few hours ago. The pool area is officially closed at this time of the night, but with the lights out and most people already asleep, there’s no one there to check. Apart from a few security guys at the gates, the hotel staff usually leave them alone at night. Above them, the stars twinkle like a billion lights.

Bastian smiles at him. “Isn’t it beautiful? We never see that many stars back at home.”

Philipp hums in agreement, staring up at the sky. He almost forgets that they’re here for – well, something – until Bastian gently shoves him in the direction of the pool.

He doesn’t even have to wonder about what exactly the idiot is planning when he’s already falling into the dark water. In all his clothes, of course.

The water is warm, engulfing him, and for a second he forgets about his immediate exasperation. But then he comes up again, spluttering, and hears Bastian laugh so hard that he’s almost doubling over.

“Didn’t expect that, did you?” he manages between hiccups.

Philipp rolls his eyes, swimming up to the edge. He doesn’t give him the satisfaction of answering that question. He holds out his hand, expecting for Bastian to pull him out. Instead, the blond pulls off his shirt and slips out of the flip-flops he’s been wearing.

With a jubilant cheer, he cannonballs into the water. It’s a miracle that no one has woken up yet, Philipp thinks, quickly checking if all the windows are still dark as the younger one starts swimming a lap around the pool.

It’s a struggle to get out of his t-shirt, the fabric soaked and heavy, sticking to his body but in the end, he manages to get it off. He grins a bit when he deliberately drops it on Basti’s so far still dry one.

Bastian smiles when he swims up to him again, coming up to hug him immediately. Philipp grins back, is unable not to, even if the responsible part of him still screams that this is not something any of them should be doing, especially not him, the one the younger players looked up to as a leader and a role model.

He softly shakes his head. “How did you talk me into this?”

Bastian smirks. “I didn’t have to, that’s the whole point.” And then he joins their lips in a soft kiss.

And even if it somewhat still irks him, Philipp knows that he’s right. He would follow Basti anywhere, do anything with him, no matter how stupid or reckless it might be.

(When Mats loudly complains about someone keeping him awake last night the next morning – “and isn’t it forbidden to use the pool after 11 pm anyway?!” – he only exchanges a grin with Bastian, keeping his lips sealed.)

It doesn’t mean that when the same thing happens again the following night, he doesn’t go straight to Jogi.

The pout on the dark-haired defender’s face is positively hilarious, whereas Benedikt has a hard time concealing his bubbling laughter.)