Just Go With It - Part 2

Fic Title: Just Go With It (2/?)Chapter Title: Sun Through The CurtainsRating: Probably PG13Pairing: Xabi Alonso/Steven GerrardDisclaimer: Except for the fact that Liverpool does have training grounds at Melwood, this story is one big, fat lie.Summary: Breakfast at Xabi's, Steven really thinks this was all a very bad idea. Again, Xabi will have none of that.Feedback: is love!Author's note: Thanks so much for the incredibly nice comments to the first chapter! They inspired me to write this much quicker than I intended to (infact, I intended for this to be a One-Shot. So much for planning anything). And also a big thanks to my beta and fellow shipper c0v89. You rock./Oscar speechThis is my first RPS and my first X/S fic, so feedback would be very much apreciated!Warnings: Eh.. Pretty much none, except that this is slash. Don't like, don't read.Previous chapter can be found hereXabi awakes the next morning, sunlight bright in his eyes. For a second, he is unsure of where he is before it dawns on him; he is on the black couch in his own sitting room and the waist he is holding tightly, the neck he is breathing against, the person he has been treating like a giant teddy bear all night, is Stevie. He closes his eyes again, drawing his breath slowly as he replays the previous evening in his mind, from the heated kissing and touching to snuggling up close and falling asleep. A stupid grin gradually spreads on his face, and only threatens to falter when he realizes that this will either change everything or nothing. And knowing Steven, he decides on the former.He gently crawls out from behind him, not wanting to wake him up. Yawning as he enters the brightly lit kitchen, he notices that it is only 7.45 and he wonders why the hell he woke up this early when he was so knackered after the match. Probably because there is a bit too many things swirling around in his mind right now. And everything revolves around that one person who is currently occupying his couch. He is not quite sure what he will say to him whenever he shows up in the kitchen, so he decides that a coffee and breakfast is in order first. Steven stirs on the couch a while later. The smell of something strongly reminiscent of coffee is pulling him awake, but he doesn't want to, not yet, because he was dreaming this really strange but nice dream. He was in Xabi's house, they were having a nice time, drinking beer, talking - he opens his eyes instantly and stares into the sitting room he had just been dreaming about. Then everything comes back to him in a rush; the match, coming here, talking, and then moving on a little beyond that... And, oh God, what is going on? He sits up, trying to force his eyes used to the light streaming in through the curtains. What on earth is he going to say? What does he want to say? How could he let this happen? His thoughts are a complete mess and in a way, he hopes that Xabi has the answer to everything as usual. On the other hand, he is not sure he wants to discuss this at all.Becoming aware of the sound of someone walking around the kitchen, he decides that it is better to face the evil sooner rather than later. Or, at least it doesn't help waiting. He finds Xabi sitting by the dark wooden table, his clothes the same as yesterday (just as himself, obviously), coffee in his hand, newspaper in front of him, reading glasses on his nose. He stops for a second, thinking about those glasses. He has always liked it when he is wearing them. They make him look smarter and more grown up than he already is. He jumps as Xabi looks up at him, a small smile on his face. "Hey," he says softly and Steven relaxes visibly. At least he is not angry with him. Then again, why would he be?"Hey," Steven mutters back as Xabi gets up and pours him a cup of coffee. He sits down on the opposite side of Xabi's. Looking down at the newspaper, he can see Frank and JT peering up at him, up side down. "What does it say?" he asks as Xabi sits back down. He just shakes his head."Nothing to cheer for. Here, read it." He hands it over and proceeds to seem very interested in the vase of flowers on the side of the table. Steven notices that they're actually alive and not half dead like Xabi's plants usually are. Or would be, if he didn't have a housekeeper once a week. Anyway."New, are they?" he nods towards the flowers. "Hmm? Oh, yeah. My mother thought I needed some more colour in here when she was over last time and I promised her to buy some to make it look nicer." Xabi looks away and shrugs, the atmosphere tensing a bit again as he does. Steven unfolds the newspaper, scanning the article about yesterday's match, his frown increasing as he reads."Not a sunshine story indeed," he mutters as he folds the paper back together. Xabi shakes his head. "They're right though, aren't they?" he asks, looking down as Xabi's eyes snaps up."Will you stop that? I thought I told you already, you are a good captain. Don't believe whatever crap they write."Steven doesn't look at him, so Xabi continues. "Look, they wrote about me as well. About the long-range I tried and failed at. Again as they so nicely point out. It's not like I'll stop trying to nail those shots just because some people imply that it's impossible. On the contrary, it makes me want to show them that they have no idea what they're talking about." He empties his coffee and looks at Steven. "You'll want to finish that before it gets cold." He gets up and pours himself another half a cup. As Xabi is standing by the counter, back to him, Steven feels like he can't put things on hold any longer. He just has to get it off his mind. "Xabi?""Steven?" Steven snorts and looks up at his friend who has turned around and seems like he is having a hard time keeping a smile off his face."Look, about yesterday..." his voice trails off."What part of yesterday?" Xabi asks as he sits down, taking a long sip of his coffee."Xabi -""I'm joking." He looks up at Steven for a brief moment, then back down into the cup he's holding with both hands and Steven can see his shoulders tensing. "I'm joking because I'm not sure what else to say." Steven remains motionless, slightly surprised at Xabi's definite lack of 'cool and composed'."How about why?" Steven asks after a few moments of silence. Xabi gets up from his chair again and after setting the now empty cup in the dishwasher, he turns to look at him."I..." His voice trails off and he leans back towards the counter, raking a hand through his dark hair. He is definitely not as confident now as he was when he woke up. "I guess I did it because I wanted to and because I knew that you wouldn't really mind," he finishes. Steven raises his eyebrows. What did he just imply?"So a spur of the moment thing, then? Because you figured I wouldn't mind?" Steven's voice is slightly testy. Xabi locks eyes with him, seeing the hurt in his friend's eyes. "That's not at all why. Firstly, do you really think I'd do that to you just for fun? And second, do you think I'd be that bold if I didn't have the slightest idea about what's been going on in your mind lately? I'm not blind, Stevie." Steven freezes at the last words and right there he hates, now more than ever, how Xabi knows exactly how he is feeling all the damn time! He gets up and paces the kitchen, stops to look out the window, paces some more, before finally stopping. He leans heavily towards the counter, a good six feet from where Xabi is standing. He is not ready to be honest quite yet. "And what is it that you've discovered?" he asks, voice a bit shaky, not noticing that Xabi takes a step closer."Well, you haven't been the same after that evening in Istanbul. You've been different around me. Not bad different, just different. You've had a short fuse lately and pretty much everyone except I have been on the recieving end of one of your blows, and before you ask, yes, I know that, because what I haven't seen myself, I've been told." He draws his breath before continuing. "But I don't mind all this, Stevie. I really don't mind getting my suspicions confirmed and you may have noticed why last night."Steven doesn't answer, he simply stares into space. That really wasn't what he had expected to hear. The next thing he knows, Xabi has closed the distance and turned him around, his hands on Steven's shoulders and is looking straight into his eyes, into the chaos in his mind. "Why can't you be honest with me, Stevie? Now that I've been as honest with you as I could ever be," he says with a low voice, never breaking eye contact. Steven draws his breath and then exhales slowly, covering his face with his hands. Why is Xabi always so damn direct and frank? Why can't he also be a stuttering mess sometimes? As stuttering as he is feeling right now. It is not fair. But he is right. He is always damn right. He places his hands back down on the counter, and against what he thinks is better judgement, he figures he might as well just tell him his worries."Because being honest would mean that I admit to having lived a joke for the past six months. And as you might guess, that's a good bit depressing and scary to think about. I have two kids and a girlfriend, Xabi. I can't just...let go of all that." Xabi closes his eyes and pulls him closer, their foreheads touching gently."I know, Stevie. God, I know. But can you honestly tell me that you'll manage to walk away from here and pretend nothing happened? Pretend that you don't know what I told you? Pretend that you never admitted what you just did?" "Stop, Xabi, I -" Steven tries to pull away, but he is held in place; his back pressed against the counter. Xabi really is stronger than he seems."No. Tell me that you can pretend all of this, Stevie. Tell me, and I'll never mention this again."Steven looks at him, trying to read his expression. He figures that this must be what they are calling to see someone's naked soul in their eyes. At that moment, he realizes that he can never be dishonest with this man and that he has been a fool for trying to hide the truth from him. He should've known better. He should have known that Xabi would find out eventually. Like he always does."No, I can't pretend, because again -" he sighs, "- you're right. I don't think I can ever forget any of this." He leans forward, foreheads touching again. They remain silent for a few moments before Steven hums silently; "Unless some sick yoke whacks me in the head with a brick so I loose my memory." Xabi snorts despite himself and smacks Steven on the shoulder. "Whenever did you start pulling jokes when we were being all serious?!" he asks but Steven is simply smiling now and Xabi clears his throat. "Did you have a point?""Uhm.. That if I lose my memory; you'll be free to take advantage of me?" Steven doesn't know what has hit him, but right now it is so much easier to joke than to be serious. It is good to feel the tension lifting from both of them."Aha, so what you're saying is that I should smack you upside the head with a heavy object. Sounds intriguing. Let me see what I can find." He leaves Steven standing by the counter."Xabi? What the hell are you doing?""Finding a blunt object. It'll sort all our problems.""I'll never come to you with my problems ever again!" Steven exclaims as he tries not to laugh. Just then, Xabi's phone rings from the top of the fridge and he answers. Steven can vaguely hear Spanish from the other end and Xabi answers likewise, so he gives up trying to understand the conversation. Instead, he sighs and stares out the window. Whatever the hell is he getting himself into?A couple of minutes later, Xabi hangs up and Steven turns around."Who was it?" he asks."Luis. He wondered if I'd left home yet, because he'd forgotten his keys to his locker and he wanted to ask if I could bring the spare copy I keep for him," Xabi says indifferently, but Steven looks at him in wonder."You keep a copy of his locker-key?"Xabi chuckles as he tidies the table, putting the kettle back on the counter. "I do. Because he knows he'll lose that too if he keeps both." Steven laughs at this. "He'll never hear the end of that, I'll make sure! Why does he want it now anyway? We're not training today." he says as he walks into the hallway and holds out Xabi's jacket to him, then finds his own. "No idea."They get dressed in silence and Steven feels the air tensing around them again. They still haven't, what should he call it, agreed on anything yet. Or have they?As Xabi reaches for the door, Steven grabs his arm to stop him and turns him around. "Whatever are we getting ourselves into here?" he asks softly. Xabi thinks for a moment before answering."In all honesty, I don't know." He looks down. "But promise me one thing, Stevie." "What?" he asks silently and manages a small smile. He will do pretty much anything for this man."That whatever happens, just go with it. You know it's the only thing that works. You can't fight your own life." Xabi looks at him intently. As Steven nods, he leans forward and brushes his lips softly against Steven's and nothing matters any more. Not really. As Steven parts his lips under Xabi's, a barely audible moan leaves his throat. He backs him up against the door and deepens the kiss as he feels a hand moving up his spine, causing all kinds of delicious shivers to run through him. As he pulls back slightly, Xabi quickly attacks his neck, kissing his way from the collar of Steven's shirt and up to his ear, sucking at the soft point beneath it. Steven's breath hitches and he feels himself getting terribly hot and rather short of breath. "We really should leave, you know. Or we'll be late," he breaths hotly into Xabi's ear, trying to stop his hands from roaming unchecked up the insides of the other man's open jacket.Xabi simply mutters something unintelligible before capturing Steven's lips again, sucking on the bottom one before biting down gently, making Steven exhale sharply. Xabi lets go and leans against the door. His face is slightly flushed and his breathing uneven as he looks at him with what Steven defines as the most captivating glare. He is seriously on the verge of giving in when Xabi straightens up and turns around."You're right, we must go." He opens the door. "Tease." Steven mutters."I didn't hear that. Oh, by the way," he turns back, smiling, "you've got a mark here." He touches Steven below his ear, making him shiver, but then he realizes what Xabi just said."Xabi! If you've left a hickey on my neck, I'll have you killed!" Xabi chuckles as he turns the alarm on, slams the door shut and locks it. When he turns around, Steven is already hurrying down the path towards the car. "Touchy much, Gerrard?" he says after him. He stops to look at him as he unlocks the car. "It's not that visible. Besides, it's not a hickey. It's a love-bite. Or is that not what you Brits call them?" Steven grimaces."We don't have time to get your car now, I'm afraid. We'll go get it later." He starts the engine."As if, I can't go home with this on my neck, if that's what you're thinking. You're stuck with me for the rest of the week now." He rubs his neck absentmindedly as he takes place in the passenger seat. Xabi snorts as he backs out of the driveway."That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard from you for wanting to stay at my place. You said yourself that Alex is gone for the rest of the week." Xabi looks at him and grins, making him turn a violent shade of red. "I'm not making it up, the cleaning lady is still there now and then, and I'm telling you, she's nosier than you are." Xabi snorts. "Oh, that's low. But it's okay, you can hog the couch any time you want." He turns on the radio."I bet I can..." Steven mutters, but has to smile despite himself. He's not sure all of this is wise, but God knows he's enjoying himself right now."What else did Luis say by the way?" He says after a few minutes of listening to whatever crap radio channel Xabi has found."He asked if I knew where you were and if you were okay." Xabi stops the car at a red light and puts on his shades. "Apparently, he went back to Anfield yesterday to look for the key to his locker and he saw your car in the parking lot.""And what did you tell him?" Xabi flashes him his trademark smirk. "That you were at my place and that I had given our Capitán some special treatment yesterday." He watches as Steven rolls his eyes at him."Honestly! You've got a cheeky mouth, you know that?" Steven says and crosses his arms in front of his chest, feigning offended."You didn't seem to mind my cheeky mouth last night. Hey! No need to get violent," he exclaims as Steven pokes him. "I'm driving here. I'm going to run us of the road if you can't control your emotions.""That's Spanish humour, is it?" Steven asks mock seriously."At its very best. Enjoying it?" Xabi speeds up as they get onto the main road towards Melwood."Terribly so." Steven smiles and leans back against the headrest.