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Jesper thinks about going out that evening. They have a break during their training camp and Martin has asked him if he’d like to come. At first, he has the thought that he could enjoy some time alone in his room.
But then Martin taunts him that he never goes outside and has fun anymore since what happened last time. He rolls his eyes when he hears that. Cut to the quick, he grabs the best clothes he has and they leave the accommodation.
He can say he did miss that. He enjoys himself, dancing among the crowd and emptying his head. Martin dragged him to a gay club. Well, at least the instructions are pretty clear. No one expects to see them there so they’re never recognized.
Martin and him have opposite kinds of personalities, Martin isn’t bad to be around but he can be slightly too quiet for him. They do share a passion in common, fishing. And they both like cocks, even if that’s not something they can say out loud.
Somehow, Martin has taken a liking in him, considering him as a good friend he can talk about his relationship struggles with him. Well, first it has been a surprise to learn Martin wasn’t actually dating Hanna, but that she was more of his best friend if anything.
Past the surprise, they talk an awful lot about everything and nothing, the fact they are both closeted as a way to feel close. They also start to go to gay clubs, to have some fun and spice, like Martin says.
It hides a lot more than that, but they’d rather forget about it. Martin considers he’s past the point of no return anyway.
Jesper stops dancing, or whatever he has been doing, because he’s not sure that he’s even decent at it, and goes to grab a drink at the bar. He has to move through the crowd to actually reach it and he grimaces at how exhausting that slight effort can be.
He settles for a beer that he nurses for a bit as he watches Martin having fun from afar. He feels slightly out of it in that moment, where he’s no longer part of the scene but simply an observer.
As he looks at his surroundings, he falls on a familiar face. At first, he thinks that he imagined it, but the more he details him, the more he realizes it’s not a mistake. Fuck. Why now?
The reason Jesper has been less willing to go outside is because of what happened last time they did. He drank too much and ended up being wasted. When he got to his room, he tried to kiss Peppe, which made their whole relationship awkward starting from there.
Seeing him in that gay club makes everything even more embarrassing. He honestly hopes that Peppe won’t see him, but he starts to make his way toward him. He groans, pondering if he still has time to run away or if it’s too late.
“Hey.”
“What are you doing here?”
He’s nervous, drumming his fingers against his glass to focus on something else. He really would’ve preferred living without this coincidence.
“I followed Sebbe. He said that Ponsi and you would be here.”
Jesper blinks. It’s weird that they would have even thought of coming here. He’s pretty sure Martin didn’t mention it to the guys, maybe he did post something in his story though. From the corner of his eyes he can see the way Sebastian has reached Martin.
“It doesn’t answer the question of why you came.”
“I mean, if you guys are having fun, so can I, no?”
“But this is … a gay club.”
“Obviously.”
He stares at the other man, a little dumbfounded. Why does it not bother him? He thought that was the main reason for his rejection last time. Peppe chuckles, his curls falling slightly over his eyes, and then squeezes right next to him to order at the bar.
Jesper watches him, the way he appears so comfortable in here. He dressed casually, with some jeans and a t-shirt, yet it suits him well and follows nicely the curve of his body.
He tries to look away, aware of behaving strangely. It’s not the first time he has a realization about how much he likes his teammate, but he also knows better than to try and pursue a relationship that is not possible.
“So do you come here often?”
The attempt at small talk makes him slightly uneasy. They haven’t had a proper conversation in days, and the context really turns it into a peculiar atmosphere.
“Yeah. I mean, Martin wanted to have some fun and I didn’t mind following along.”
“Even with the fact there’d be no women here?”
“That’d make it even more appropriate.”
A bit of a blush appears on his cheeks at the confession. Embarrassment. He doesn’t owe anything to Peppe but he doesn’t feel like lying to him either. He’s free to connect the dots or not.
“Whatever, I’m going to dance.”
He makes his way through the crowd as best as he can to join its center. He can’t see Martin anymore so it will be just him and some strangers. At least that’s what he thinks, until he’s aware of the fact Peppe still hasn’t left his side and has followed him.
Now it’s weird. He frowns even if he tries to pretend he doesn’t pay attention to his teammate. He can feel his eyes on him however.
It somehow seems that Peppe didn’t only follow Sebastian, but had more defined reasons to come. Reasons that appear to be concerning him.
Jesper decides to play along, pulling Peppe toward him and letting them dance close to each other. He’s wondering if he’s going to do anything. He’s wondering if he’s making a bigger deal out of this than it actually is.
Then he ponders if he really wants to attempt it again. Last time his heart got broken, even if he tried not to be too sad about it. In the first place he hadn’t carried high hopes about it.
“What are you thinking about?” Peppe shouts in his ear, so he can hear him despite the music.
“You.”
Peppe’s eyes slightly widen and his cheeks color a little. That’s new. Jesper doesn’t regret being so brutally honest. The moment carries such a raw intimacy despite them being surrounded by people.
“I thought you were just drunk.”
“I’m usually not a drunk kisser. Except if it’s someone I have strong feelings for and that alcohol burns my inhibitions.”
“Oh. Alright.”
For a moment, he thinks he may have said the wrong thing, but then Peppe leans forward and crushes his lips on his. Jesper groans into the kiss, wrapping his arms around the other man, as best as he can.
“Can we bring that back to the room?”
“Of course. Yeah. Let’s go.”
Peppe is the one to drag him out. It’s funny. Jesper feels dizzy from that kiss only and the anchor in this whole situation is the warm palm of his partner against his. The outside is colder but way nicer to be, less suffocating. Starting from there, they walk side by side.
“Have you seen where Martin went?”
“Sebbe grabbed him soon after he arrived. Don’t worry, he’s in good hands. I think.”
He’s not sure Martin will fully enjoy ending up alone with Sebastian, given what he told him about, but he honestly doesn’t find the strength to care about it right away.
The room isn’t big and they are mostly packed on a bed, discovering each other with hungry touches and bites. Jesper enjoys whatever Peppe is up to and he’s definitely happy when his hand lands on his cock.
It’s a bit messy and they end up sweaty and exhausted. Jesper is satisfied but he’s also not because he wants to touch Peppe even more.
Peppe chuckles at the way he’s looking at him and sheds all of his clothes to invite him in the shower. It’s not another round, they just stand together, under the warm spray, chatting, and kissing, soft and tender.
Then they’re back in bed, cuddling. Jesper is playing with Peppe’s curls, who has the face buried in his chest.
“I really thought you weren’t interested. That you weren’t into men.”
“Well… I was interested. I just thought you were drunk so there was no way you really wanted this.”
“You didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t either.”
“Technically I tried something first. It was your turn to act.”
Peppe laughs and it somehow vibrates against his chest. It makes him feel all sorts of things. It’s hard to describe but it’s really peaceful.
“Okay, my bad. But if I hadn’t come to the club, we wouldn’t have ended that way.”
“You just fixed your wrongs. It was your turn to act.”
“So does that mean it’s up to you next to set our first date?”
The sentence makes him blink. He didn’t even consider the next part of their story. But now that they made out, they’re past the friendship side. They may reach the relationship he so hoped for.
“I guess so. Even if we already burned a few steps.”
“I’m just showing you the merchandise beforehand, so you’ll be sure to buy.” Peppe answers, teasing.
Jesper smiles and kisses the top of his head, on his blonde locks.
“I would have bought anything you’re willing to sell me.”