Under One Roof
Pairing: Rasmus HĂžjlund x Reader
Word Count:3435
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Rasmus HĂžjlund Playlist
The rain had been doing that soft, stubborn Milan thing all afternoon,misty enough to blur the streetlights, steady enough to make the world feel smaller.
Your apartment felt even smaller with Rasmus in it.
Not in a bad way. In a warm way. Like the air had changed shape around him,bigger shoulders, longer legs, that quiet presence that made your little living room feel like a secret.
You were curled into the corner of the couch, fuzzy socks on, hair damp from a rushed shower, bowl of popcorn balanced on your knees. The TV glowed with some ridiculous action movie youâd sworn you didnât care about, except youâd been the one to choose it.
Rasmus sat beside you, one arm slung along the backrest, the other hand sneaking pieces of popcorn like he wasnât trying to look innocent.
âYouâre stealing,â you accused, batting his fingers away.
He lifted his eyebrows with mock offense. âI am sharing.â
âThatâs not sharing. Thatâs robbery.â
He leaned in, conspiratorial. âThen arrest me.â
You snorted, and he smiled,soft, real, the kind that always made you feel like youâd just won something.
âStop looking at me like that,â you muttered.
âLike what?â
âLike Iâm⊠like Iâm a dessert.â
He tilted his head. âBut you are.â
You huffed, turning your eyes back to the screen before your face could betray you. âYouâre impossible, amore.â (my love)
He answered without missing a beat, voice lower. âAnd youâre my elskede.â (my beloved)
Your heart did that annoying thing where it forgot how to be normal.
On-screen, a car exploded in a way that made no sense physically. You both watched for exactly three seconds before you looked at each other and burst out laughing.
âThis movie is absurd,â you said.
âItâs beautiful,â he replied seriously.
âYouâre lying.â
âI like when you laugh,â he admitted, and it was so honest you almost forgot to breathe.
You nudged his shoulder. âFlirt.â
He nudged you back. âIs it working?â
âUnfortunately,â you sighed, then stole popcorn from his hand like it was payback.
Rasmus watched you chew and then murmured, âYou have popcorn on your lip.â
âI do not.â
âYou do.â
âYouâre trying to trick me so you can,â
He leaned in and kissed the corner of your mouth anyway, quick and gentle, then sat back like nothing happened.
You stared at him, scandalized.
He looked pleased with himself. âFixed.â
âYouâre a menace.â
He shrugged. âI try.â
You shifted closer, letting your shoulder rest into his chest. His arm automatically tightened around you, like his body had been waiting for the permission.
For a minute, you let yourself pretend you were just a normal couple. Just you and your boyfriend on a rainy afternoon, watching a dumb movie, eating popcorn.
Not you and Rasmus HĂžjlund, famous enough to make strangers stare, and you,Y/N Locatelli, famous enough in a different way because your brother was Manuel Locatelli, and he had Opinions.
Very loud opinions.
Very protective opinions.
Opinions that currently had no idea you were tucked into your couch with Rasmusâs chin resting lightly on your head.
You felt Rasmusâs fingers trace lazy circles on your sleeve. âAre you thinking again?â
You made a sound of denial that fooled no one.
He kissed your temple. âTell me.â
You sighed. âIf Manuel finds out,â
âHe will,â Rasmus said calmly.
You pulled back to look at him. âThatâs not comforting.â
âI didnât say it to comfort you,â he said. âI said it because we canât hide forever.â
You stared. âYou say that like itâs easy.â
âItâs not,â he admitted. âBut I donât like you being scared.â
âIâm not scared,â you lied.
He tilted his head, eyes steady. âYouâre brave. But youâre also⊠careful.â
âBecause my brother is terrifying.â
Rasmusâs mouth twitched. âYour brother is intense.â
âThatâs a polite way of saying terrifying.â
He laughed quietly. âHe loves you.â
âI know,â you said, softer. âThatâs why itâs hard.â
Rasmusâs thumb brushed your wrist. âWe can go at your pace.â
Your throat tightened. âYou always say the right thing.â
âI donât,â he said. âI just⊠mean it.â
The movie kept going,more explosions, more dramatic music,but your attention had shifted to the quiet between you.
Rasmus leaned in again, his voice warm. âSkat.â (sweetheart)
You blinked. âDonât.â
âDonât what?â
âSay that in Danish like that.â
He smiled slowly. âWhy?â
âBecause it makes me melt.â
He looked extremely satisfied with that information. âGood.â
You rolled your eyes, but your hand found his, fingers weaving together. âYouâre so smug.â
âIâm happy,â he corrected.
The rain tapped at the windows. The movieâs soundtrack swelled. Your apartment smelled like popcorn and his cologne,clean and faintly citrus, like heâd stepped out of a world bigger than yours and decided he preferred your couch anyway.
You yawned, surprisingly deep.
Rasmus noticed immediately. âTired?â
âA little.â
âCome here,â he said, gentle command.
You settled into him again, and he adjusted a throw blanket over your legs with the tenderness of someone whoâd done it a hundred times. You watched him do it and felt your chest pinch.
âYouâre sweet,â you murmured. âLike⊠annoyingly sweet.â
He kissed your cheek. âThatâs your fault.â
âHow is that my fault?â
âI didnât plan to be like this,â he said. âThen you looked at me.â
You scoffed. âI looked at you?â
âYes.â
âAnd thatâs it? I just,looked at you and now youâre like⊠this?â
He nodded solemnly. âIt ruined me.â
You burst out laughing again, head tipping back. âYouâre dramatic, scemo.â (idiot)
He grinned. âOnly for you.â
Your laugh faded into another yawn. The couch suddenly seemed softer, the room warmer, the rain louder. You felt your eyelids grow heavy and your body sink.
Rasmusâs hand smoothed your hair back from your face. âNap?â
âMaybe,â you mumbled.
He pressed a kiss to your forehead. âJust a little.â
You shifted, adjusting your head on his chest. âWeâll only close our eyes for a second.â
âThatâs what everyone says before disaster,â he murmured.
You huffed sleepily. âYouâre overthinking.â
âNo,â he said. âIâm remembering your brother has a spare key.â
You froze mid-breath.
Your eyes snapped open. âHe,he wouldnât just,â
Rasmusâs gaze flicked to the front door like it might suddenly become a problem. âDoes he ever text before coming?â
You hesitated.
âThatâs not a yes,â he said softly.
You sat up a fraction, the blanket sliding. âOkay, but itâs raining. Heâs probably home. He wouldnât,â
A soft click sounded from the lock.
You and Rasmus both went still.
The door opened quietly, like whoever was entering didnât want to announce themselves.
You stared at the doorway as if your willpower could shove it shut.
Manuel Locatelli stepped in.
He had a hood pulled up, hair damp, a grocery bag in one hand and his keys in the other. He looked tired in that older-brother way,like he carried the weight of responsibility even when nobody asked him to. His eyes flicked up automatically toward the couch.
And landed on you.
Then on Rasmus.
Then back on you.
For a heartbeat, nobody moved. Nobody breathed. The action movie kept playing, oblivious, filling the silence with gunfire.
Manuelâs expression didnât explode. It didnât even change much.
It just⊠settled.
Like a door closing.
He quietly slid his keys into his pocket, stepped fully inside, and closed the door behind him without a sound.
Rasmus sat perfectly still, one arm still around you, like moving would make this worse. His jaw tightened, but he didnât look away.
You swallowed. âManuelâ
Manuel lifted one finger.
Not âwait.â Not âdonât.â Just⊠one finger. A pause.
Then he angled his head toward the kitchen.
And walked there like he hadnât just stumbled into the most obvious secret of your life.
You heard the grocery bag rustle. A cupboard open. The soft clink of a pan.
You stared after him, stunned.
Rasmus whispered, barely audible, âIs he⊠cooking?â
You whispered back, horrified, âI think heâs,heâs cooking.â
Rasmusâs eyes widened a fraction. âThatâs⊠worse.â
âItâs not worse,â you hissed. âItâs weirder.â
The kitchen light turned on. Water ran. A knife tapped against a cutting board.
You looked at Rasmus, panic and affection tangling in your chest. âOkay. We can explain.â
Rasmus nodded, but his voice came out very calm. âYes.â
You knew him well enough by now to catch the edge underneath that calm. The way he got when he wanted to be respectful, but also refused to be spoken down to.
Your brother was about to meet the part of Rasmus that the cameras didnât see.
Manuel called without looking back, voice even: âTurn the movie down.â
You scrambled for the remote like it was a bomb and lowered the volume.
Then, silence,except for the rain and Manuelâs quiet, deliberate cooking.
Minutes passed. Each one felt like a year.
Finally, Manuel appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. He looked at both of you again.
This time, his eyes stayed on Rasmus.
âStand up,â Manuel said.
You shot up first, as if obedience could save you. âManu,â
Rasmus rose too, tall enough that your brother had to tip his chin slightly upward to maintain eye contact. Still, Manuel didnât flinch. Protective big-brother energy had nothing to do with height.
Manuelâs voice remained calm, which was somehow more terrifying. âYou.â
Rasmus replied, equally steady. âMe.â
You made a strangled sound. âPlease donât do that. Donât⊠do the man thing.â
Manuelâs eyes flicked to you. âThe man thing?â
âYes,â you said quickly. âThe staring. The⊠testosterone.â
Rasmusâs mouth twitched as if he wanted to laugh and was afraid to.
Manuel exhaled through his nose,almost a sigh, almost a laugh. He pointed toward the kitchen. âSit. Both of you.â
You and Rasmus sat. The couch felt suddenly like a court bench.
Manuel returned to the kitchen without another word.
Rasmus leaned slightly toward you, whispering, âShould we run?â
You whispered back, âHe would catch us.â
Rasmusâs eyes flicked to the door. âHeâs fast?â
âHeâs a professional athlete,â you reminded him.
âSo am I,â he whispered.
âYes, but he has rage,â you whispered back.
Rasmus nodded like that was reasonable.
The smell of food began to drift into the living room,garlic, olive oil, something simmering with tomatoes. It was⊠good. Comforting. Completely inappropriate for the emotional disaster happening.
Manuel reappeared carrying two plates, set them on the coffee table, and went back for a third.
When he returned, he placed the third plate down and sat in the armchair across from you, posture straight, hands clasped.
Like an interrogation.
Except heâd fed you first.
You stared at the plates. âIs this⊠dinner?â
Manuelâs eyes stayed on you. âEat.â
Your stomach, traitor that it was, growled softly.
Rasmus glanced at you as if asking permission. You gave him a tiny nod.
You both picked up forks with the carefulness of people disarming bombs.
Manuel watched.
You swallowed a bite. It was amazing. Of course it was. Your brother cooked like he needed to prove he could keep you alive without anyone else.
Rasmus took a bite too, then paused. âThis is very good.â
Manuelâs gaze flicked to him. âI know.â
You winced. âManuâŠâ
Manuel finally leaned back slightly. âHow long?â
You swallowed another bite because you needed courage. âA few months.â
Manuel blinked slowly. âA few.â
Rasmus cleared his throat. âWe wanted to tell you.â
Manuelâs eyes sharpened. âWhen?â
âWhen we were sure,â you said quickly. âWhen it was,when it was real.â
Manuel looked at you like youâd just said the exact wrong thing. âYou think I donât notice youâre happy?â
Your throat tightened. âYou⊠noticed?â
Manuelâs expression softened,barely. âIâm your brother. I notice everything.â
You stared down at your plate, guilt creeping in. âWe didnât want to make it a big deal.â
Manuel let out a quiet sound. âDating a famous striker in secret isnât a big deal?â
Rasmus didnât bristle. He just said, âIt wasnât about fame.â
Manuelâs gaze snapped to him. âThen what was it about?â
Rasmus hesitated. You could see him choosing words carefully, like he respected your brother enough not to bullshit him.
âIt was about⊠her,â he said. âHer comfort. Her safety.â
Manuelâs eyes narrowed. âSafety from me?â
You rushed in. âNot from you. Just⊠from the chaos. From the media. From people. You know how it is.â
Manuelâs jaw worked once. âI do.â
You lifted your chin. âManu, Iâm not a child.â
His eyes softened again, but his voice stayed firm. âYouâll always be my little sister.â
You gave a small, stubborn smile. âAnd youâll always act like my father.â
Manuelâs lips twitched. âBetter than a stranger acting like it.â
Rasmusâs fork paused midair. âIâm not a stranger.â
Manuel looked at him. âNot anymore.â
The silence stretched. The rain filled the gaps.
You forced yourself to speak. âAre you angry?â
Manuel exhaled, slow. âIâm⊠surprised.â
âThatâs not an answer.â
Manuel looked at you like you were the only person on earth who could talk to him like that. âIâm protective.â
âI know.â
âAnd you,â Manuel said, eyes cutting to Rasmus, âare very big.â
Rasmus blinked. âYes.â
Manuel nodded once, like that confirmed something. âAnd very public.â
Rasmus nodded too. âYes.â
Manuel tapped his fingers on the armrest. âSo explain to me how you plan to keep her life from becoming a circus.â
Rasmus took a breath, shoulders squaring. âBy being careful. By listening to her. By not pushing her into anything she doesnât want.â
Manuelâs gaze didnât move. âAnd if she wants you to leave?â
Your stomach dropped.
Rasmus answered without hesitation. âI will.â
The air changed. Manuelâs eyes flicked to you, searching your face.
You felt your chest swell with something dangerously tender.
âDonât say that like itâs easy,â you muttered at Rasmus, then,because you couldnât help it,added, âTesoro.â (treasure)
Rasmusâs voice softened. âLille stjerne.â (little star)
Manuel made a pained sound, like heâd stepped on a Lego. âOkay. Enough. I donât need⊠whatever that is.â
You glared. âItâs called love. Try it.â
Manuel stared. âI have love.â
âYou have control issues.â
He pointed at you. âI have experience.â
You pointed back. âYou have anxiety.â
Rasmus coughed once, clearly fighting a smile.
Manuel noticed. His eyes narrowed. âDonât laugh.â
Rasmus tried to look innocent and failed. âIâm not laughing.â
âYouâre smiling.â
âIâm⊠enjoying dinner.â
Manuel leaned forward slightly. âListen to me. Both of you.â
You sat up straighter despite yourself.
Manuelâs voice was quiet now. Serious in a way that made your chest hurt. âI donât care about headlines. I care about you.â
âI know,â you whispered.
âAnd I care about who you choose,â Manuel continued. âNot because I get to choose for you. But because I know what people can take from you when youâre not looking.â
Rasmusâs smile faded. âI understand.â
Manuelâs gaze flicked to him again. âDo you?â
Rasmus nodded once. âYes.â
Manuel studied him, then asked, âWhy her?â
The question startled you,because it wasnât an accusation. It sounded like⊠a test.
Rasmus looked at you before he answered, like you were a compass.
âBecause she makes me feel⊠calm,â he said. âLike Iâm not always running.â
You blinked hard.
Rasmus continued, voice steady. âShe doesnât want something from me. She doesnât treat me like⊠a thing. She argues with me. She laughs at me. She tells me when Iâm wrong.â
Manuelâs mouth twitched. âShe does like arguing.â
You muttered, âIâm right most of the time.â
Rasmus smiled softly at you. âSee?â
Manuel watched the way Rasmus looked at you,openly, warmly, without calculation. Something in Manuelâs posture loosened, just a fraction.
Then he said, âAre you good to her?â
Rasmus didnât flinch. âYes.â
Manuelâs eyes narrowed. âThatâs a yes you can say. I want the yes she can feel.â
Rasmusâs jaw tightened,not angry, but determined. âThen watch.â
You inhaled sharply. âManu,â
Manuel lifted a hand, cutting you off gently this time. âIâm not asking him to perform. Iâm asking him to be consistent.â
Rasmus nodded. âI can do that.â
Manuelâs gaze stayed on him. âIf she cries because of you, I will find you.â
Rasmusâs voice didnât waver. âIf she cries because of me, I will deserve you finding me.â
You stared at Rasmus, stunned by the simple honesty of it.
Manuel held eye contact a moment longer, then,unexpectedly,looked down and rubbed his face with one hand, like he was exhausted.
âMadonna,â he muttered. (Holy Mother)
You frowned. âAre you⊠okay?â
Manuel dropped his hand, expression softer now. âIâm fine. Iâm justâŠâ
He glanced at you. âYouâre grown.â
Your throat tightened. âYeah.â
âAnd I missed it,â he admitted, quiet.
Something inside you cracked open.
You stood up, moved across the small space, and sat on the arm of his chair like you used to when you were little. You bumped your shoulder gently into his.
âYou didnât miss it,â you said. âYouâve been here. Youâve always been here.â
Manuelâs eyes softened fully now, and for a second he looked less like a football star and more like the boy who used to walk you to school and glare at anyone who stared too long.
He sighed. âI hate secrets.â
âI know,â you whispered.
Rasmus spoke softly from the couch. âIâm sorry we kept it from you.â
Manuel looked at him. âYou should be.â
Rasmus nodded. âI am.â
Manuel stared a beat longer, then,finally,he stood up and walked to the kitchen.
You watched, confused.
He came back holding a small paper bag and set it on the coffee table.
âWhatâs that?â you asked.
Manuelâs tone went gruff, like he didnât want to admit anything sentimental. âA surprise.â
You peeked inside. Your breath caught.
Inside were two small keychains: one shaped like a tiny football boot, the other a little star charm. And beneath them, a folded piece of paper.
You opened the paper.
It was a printed reservation,your favorite tiny trattoria, the one that always gave you extra bread because the owner adored you. A table for three. Tomorrow night.
Your eyes stung. âManuâŠâ
Manuel shrugged like it was nothing. âIf youâre going to do this, youâre going to do it like adults. No hiding in apartments like teenagers.â
Rasmus blinked. âA dinner⊠with you?â
Manuel gave him a pointed look. âYes.â
Rasmusâs mouth opened, then closed, then he nodded once. âOkay.â
You laughed, watery and relieved. âYouâre insane.â
Manuel scoffed. âIâm responsible.â
You held up the star keychain. âThis is for,â
âFor you,â Manuel said, then jerked his chin toward the boot. âThat oneâs for him. So he remembers what he is.â
Rasmus picked it up carefully. âA footballer?â
Manuelâs eyes narrowed. âA guy dating my sister.â
Rasmus nodded solemnly. âUnderstood.â
You wiped at your eyes, smiling despite yourself. âYouâre really doing this.â
Manuelâs gaze flicked to you, gentler now. âIâm not giving permission. Iâm giving a chance.â
You nodded, heart pounding. âThatâs⊠fair.â
Manuel pointed at the couch. âAlso.â
You followed his gesture. He was looking at the blanket, the dimmed movie, the way you and Rasmus were still tangled like you belonged there.
Manuelâs voice softened. âIf youâre going to nap, at least go to bed like normal people. My sister gets neck pain.â
You blinked. âYou came in, found us, cooked dinner, interrogated my boyfriend, gave us gifts, and now youâre worried about my neck?â
Manuel said flatly, âYes.â
Rasmus let out a small laugh,couldnât help it this time.
Manuel shot him a look. âDonât push it.â
Rasmus nodded, still smiling. âSorry.â
You stood, still clutching the reservation. You leaned down and kissed Manuelâs cheek.
He stiffened like he always did when you got affectionate, then pretended he didnât like it.
âThank you,â you whispered.
Manuelâs voice was quiet. âBe careful.â
âI will,â you promised.
You turned back to Rasmus. He was watching Manuel with a new kind of respect,like heâd just discovered the shape of the battlefield and decided it was worth fighting on.
You reached for Rasmusâs hand. âCome on.â
Rasmus stood, then looked at Manuel. âGood night.â
Manuel nodded once. âGood night.â
Rasmus hesitated, then added, âAnd⊠thank you for dinner. It was very good.â
Manuelâs mouth twitched. âI know.â
You tugged Rasmus toward your bedroom, and he followed, but not before murmuring close to your ear, âYour brother is terrifying.â
You whispered back, smiling, âTold you.â
Rasmus squeezed your hand. âBut he loves you.â
You nodded, throat tight. âYeah.â
As you closed the bedroom door, you heard Manuel call after you, voice louder now,back to big-brother mode.
âAnd no more secrets!â
You rolled your eyes, then answered anyway. âWeâll see!â
Rasmusâs quiet laugh warmed the space between you.
And for the first time in months, the secret didnât feel like a weight.
It felt like a beginning.










