[this was requested by @landonenorris, @thefutureduchessmarie and @temsah]
NEULLER – BLISS 5: “Move out of my way before I make you.”
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Look, it has been a shit game. They know that. Thomas knows it more than most of them, what with all his attempts on target either being unsuccessful, or, infuriatingly, hitting the crossbar. But in the end, the meager one goal they managed to scratch together was still nothing compared to the four they had managed to concede. Four.
Unsurprisingly, Manu is pissed. His eyes are cold, ablaze with a dangerous blue fire, teeth clenched, with rage surely bubbling in his stomach only waiting to burst out.
He’s a volcano ready to erupt, and, Thomas thinks, their defence is doing good by avoiding him for as long as they can. After showering, they’ve scrambled to the far corner of the dressing room, huddling together, talking quietly among themselves. They look a crushed, and Thomas can only relate to the feeling.
Just as he wants to walk over to them and give them a few encouraging words as Nikki’s eyes grow wide as their captain walks – no, stomps – through the door, looking ready to kill. Lucas and David seem almost equally apprehensive and only Jo has raised his chin defiantly, that crazy little bastard.
Thomas sighs.
It’s well known amongst the team that he is the only one who dares to approach Manu when he’s in a mood like this, and certainly the only one with the ability to calm him down. Getting up, he rubs his hands against his sweatpants and takes a few steps towards his husband.
He puts a hand on Manu’s shoulder before the older one has a chance to plant himself in front of the defenders, flinching a little bit when Manu whips his head around to now glare at him, instead. Thomas gently kneads Manu’s shoulder, looming dread pooling in his stomach when it doesn’t make their captain look any more placid at all.
At first, he wants to talk to him in a quiet voice, to offer a distraction, but Manu is still glaring at him, eyebrows drawn tightly together, mouth tense.
“Manu?” Thomas asks, realizing that this time, calming down the storm brewing might not be as easy as usual, “is everything alright?”
His suspicion is confirmed only seconds later, when Manu basically growls at him.
“Thommy, I swear to god. Move out of my way before I make you.”
And okay, that’s – that’s different.
Thomas would be lying if he claimed the coarseness of Manus’ tone, his assertiveness didn’t send a shiver down his spine, but as it is, he just so manages to keep his composure, offering his goalkeeper a tight nod, letting his hand slip away. Letting him go.
It’s not pretty.
Thomas is convinced that all the defenders feel at least one foot shorter once Manu’s is finished tirade, more or less shouting at them for the better part of ten minutes, with everyone else scrambling out of the room as fast as they can.
Thomas himself observes it all from his own locker with bemusement, respect and something awfully close to appreciative desire.
At some point, Lisa texts him some new information on a pregnant mare of theirs, so he gets distracted to the point where he doesn’t even realize when Manu’s torrent of words stops, startling only when his husband drops down next to him on the bench with a grunt.
His expression has eased, at last, and now, he simply looks exhausted, slightly grumpy, and a little more defeated than generally Thomas likes him to.
Pocketing his phone, Thomas feels a grin tug at the corner of his mouth. “Did that help?”
Manu groans, running his hand over his face, tousling his hair until it sticks out at odd angles. He shrugs quitely, then and unpromptedly drops his head on Thomas shoulder. He hums when Thomas lifts a hand to scratch his scalp, and while Thomas massages the worries away as well as he can, they just sit there quietly.
In leaving, Nikki cast the two of them another look. He’s gnawing on his bottom lip, and his cheeks are still reddened with what’s probably embarrassment, easing up a bit only when Thomas nods at him, managing a small smile before rushing after the others.
Then, they’re alone.
“You scared the kids quite a bit there, babe.”
Manu huffs. “They’ll be fine. I just, um – had to let that out.” He shrugs again, a small motion against Thomas side when his shoulder rises and falls.
Thomas grins. “Don’t worry about it. Besides, it was kinda hot.”
When Manu blinks up at him with wide eyes, he only winks.
“Hmm.” Manu fiddles with the hem of his t-shirt. “Well, don’t get used to it,” he grumbles as he gets up with a groan, reaching for his gym bag. “You coming?”
And when Thomas gets up, grabbing his own bag and then taking the hand Manu has extended, waiting for him, he knows that things will be just fine.
There will always be games that they lose.
But for Thomas, there’s always a Manu waiting for him. And honestly, most days, that’s all he needs. (But even he can’t deny that wins usually leave a better taste in his mouth.)
emotional prompts – closed!
