#rakitic x modric

[slashandsports]

Barcelona (part 33/?)

lmao we’re alive

Link to AO3

[lovrenpool]

When Luka says Vanja is the love of his life but you know Rakidrić is real

[croatian-magician]

Who you gonna call?

Pairings: Rakidric, hints of Sejan

Summary: When Ivan bought a new house, he didn’t expect it to be haunted, just like he didn’t expect the ghost living in it to be so kind and sweet…

Word count: 3822

Notes: Or another AU nobody asked for. Also, I’m done looking for serious titles.

When he bought the house, Ivan didn’t think much of it. He needed a place to stay close to his new club and this one was the cheapest of the area. Being a young, promising footballer, he knew he wouldn’t stay there his whole life, or at least he hoped so. Hence why he chose this place without caring much.

He should have known something was weird when the previous owner looked way too happy to sell it to him and didn’t ask him to provide too much paperwork. The weird glances the neighbors shot at the house when passing nearby should have made him ticked, too. But Ivan wasn’t attentive enough, too excited to start the season at his new club soon.

At first, he didn’t notice anything strange. The house was a little big and silent for him alone, sure, but he had enough place for friends and family when they came to visit him. His training also left him too tired to care about how one of his chairs seemed to have moved one centimeter to the right while he was gone.

It soon changed, though. It was only little things, at first. Ivan thought he lost his phone and he found it on his bedside table, even though he had already checked there before. The same went with his keys. When he entered the living room once he came home in winter, the heating was already on and he didn’t have to freeze to death. All these things, he could blame his exhausted state for.

However, when he found a warm coffee ready for him on the table every morning, or the TV already on with his favorite series, he knew something weird was happening. He didn’t know how to react, though. It was weird, yes, but not unpleasant either. At first, he believed it was some weird jokes coming from an obsessed fan. He decided to put discreet cameras in his living room to discover who it was.

The recordings didn’t show anything abnormal, but warm coffee was still waiting for him every morning.

Then the notes began to appear, right next to the cup of coffee. They were always kind, caring words. ‘Good morning.’ ‘I hope you have a good day.’ ‘Don’t strain yourself too much, you looked exhausted yesterday.’ ‘I know it’s been hard for you lately, but I’m sure things will get better.’

They always fitted Ivan’s current mood, and more than once, he felt like crying, because those were exactly the words he needed to hear at the moment. No matter who his stalker was, he was slowly getting attached to them. Still, he knew this couldn’t keep going on, not when he sometimes felt like a stranger in his own house. So one night, he decided to hide behind the sofa and wait for his mysterious nocturnal visitor.

Too bad he fell asleep in the middle of the night. He woke up the next morning with a blanket draped over his shoulder and another small note on the table.

“Please don’t be scared, I just didn’t want you to catch a cold.”

Ivan certainly should have freaked out, but instead, he found the gesture adorably cute. It only encouraged him further in his quest to discover who his guardian angel was, though. So the next night, he hid in a different spot, though this time he made sure to have enough rest before and to be more discreet.

Nothing happened before 5 AM, and Ivan was starting to question his own sanity when someone suddenly appeared in the middle of his living room. Ivan rubbed his eyes five times to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. The being in front of him looked like a small man with long hair, except for the green halo floating around him and his translucent skin. Ivan could literally see right through him and that’s when he realized the truth. The person who watched over him, made him coffee and left kind notes was a ghost. His house was haunted. That explained the low price he had paid it.

But instead of doing ghost things, like making weird, frightening sounds, the stranger switched on the coffee machine, all while whistling. He reached for the usual mug in the cupboard, a happy smile on his face. Ivan couldn’t get a grip on what he was seeing. This was all so… domestic.

He could have spent hours there hiding, just watching the cute ghost tidying the house. No wonder Ivan never had to put too much effort onto it.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep himself from sneezing and the sound startled the ghost. Before he could run away, Ivan stormed out of his hide-out so he could reach him. Without thinking much, he grabbed his wrist so he wouldn’t flee.

“Wait, don’t leave! I just want to talk to you.”

Bewilderment replaced the fear on the ghost’s face, and he stared at Ivan with awe.

“You… You can touch me?”

“Yeah, it seems. But I can let you go, if you promise not to run away. I’m not mad at you, I promise.”

Ivan was about to remove his hand, but the ghost kept it in place. Suddenly, he looked desperate and his pleading eyes broke Ivan’s heart.

“No please, don’t let go. No one has been able to touch me for decades. You’re the first since… Since I died… I almost forgot how it felt…”

Now there were tears in his eyes, and Ivan just couldn’t take it. So he pulled the small ghost close before kissing his hair tenderly. He gripped at his shirt, hiding his face against Ivan’s chest as the taller man rubbed his back in a caring gesture.

“It’s okay, I won’t let go, I promise. You won’t be alone anymore. The name’s Ivan, by the way. What’s yours?”

“Luka. I… I’m Luka.”

He repeated his name as though he had a hard time trusting his own voice. Ivan took a step away so he could look straight at him, although he didn’t break contact between them, his arms still wrapped around Luka’s waist.

“It’s nice to meet you after all this time, Luka. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me so far, it was really kind of you.”

His heart missed a beat when Luka’s face lighted up at his words. Maybe he was a ghost, but there was something angelic about him when he looked happy and Ivan immediately knew he would get addicted to the sight.

“Oh, so you liked it? Most people can’t see me, so that’s all I can do. That scared the people who lived here before you, though. That’s why I tried to take it step by step, this time. I’m glad it worked. I mean, you don’t mind me being here? Because I’m afraid I can’t leave. I’ve tried before, and it never worked.”

“Of course I don’t mind, Luka. You’ve only been nice to me so far, why would I want you gone?”

It was completely crazy. He was talking with a ghost, he should be frightened, but all he could think about was how he wanted to protect Luka from being hurt again.

“Thank you so much, Ivan, you have no idea how much it means… Oh, your coffee is ready! Let me fetch it for you, I wouldn’t want you to be late for training because of me!”

Ivan chuckled as he watched the ghost hurry to bring him the drink. This was completely crazy, but he felt like the luckiest man in the world.

Falling into a comfortable routine while having a ghost at home was surprisingly easy. With Luka around, Ivan never had to fear loneliness. On the other hand, the ghost knew when to disappear when he needed some space. He was still welcomed by a warm coffee every morning, but now he could also enjoy Luka’s cheerful conversation.

The ghost was curious of everything. Despite dying a few decades ago, he tried to keep up with technology, and if that wasn’t cute as hell, Ivan didn’t know what was. When Ivan read a magazine, Luka was often leaning over his shoulder, eyebrows frowned in concentration.

The subject of his death only came up once, when Luka didn’t bring Ivan his coffee in the morning like he was used to. Ivan looked for him in the whole house, afraid something happened to him. He found him hiding under the stairs, his spectral body shaking.

“What’s wrong, Luka? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, it’s nothing, I’m used to it. It’s just… It’s the anniversary of my death, today. This… It happens to me every year. Nothing to worry about.”

“Do you want to talk to me about it? Your death, I mean.”

Luka smiled bitterly, just as Ivan put a comforting hand over his knee.

“There’s not much to tell, really. There was a war and I didn’t make it, obviously. It’s as easy as that.”

Ivan bit his lip, wishing he’d been more thoughtful before asking that question. He should have known Luka didn’t die of old age, surrounded by family and friends. In all ghost stories, the ghost always suffered a violent death, after all. He wished it was just all old clichés though. He hated the idea of Luka going through any kind of pain.

“I… I had a wife and children, back then. I tried to win time so they could escape. Even today, I don’t know if they made it out alive. Not that it matters. It’s been such a long time, they must be all dead by now.”

Ivan was at a loss for words. What could he say? ‘Sorry for you loss’? The formula sounded so empty compared to the pain of his friend. So he stayed silent and wrapped Luka in his arms, holding him tight. They stayed like that for hours, until the ghost was done shaking and crying his heart out.

The next day, Ivan just couldn’t focus during training. His mind was set on one goal only, finding a way to cheer Luka up. So when he came back home the next day, he held a ball under his arm. Luka sent him a curious look when he entered the house.

“You need to train some more at home? I thought you were already going through enough efforts at your club.”

“That’s true, but I didn’t bring this here for training. In fact, I was thinking we could play football together. I could teach you some moves, if you want.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea! I played a bit too, back when I was young and, well, still alive. My reflexes might be a little rusty, though, so don’t be too hard on me.”

“Don’t worry about that. Let’s go to the garden, then.”

Luka nodded, biting his lower lip in concentration. Once more, Ivan couldn’t help but stare at how beautiful he was. Was it wrong, to fall for a ghost? Because it was definitely happening to him.

He had planned to explain only the basis of football to Luka, but his friend once more outpassed his expectations. He was good at this, so good Ivan feared he would get beaten if he didn’t give it his all. Their game ended with him sweating and breathing harshly, while Luka looked like he could play for several more hours.

“Oh sorry, you must be exhausted! I’ve been a ghost for too long, I tend to forget living people don’t have unlimited stamina.”

Ivan wished his mind didn’t go down the gutter at that comment. It did anyway, leaving him red faced.

“Ah, it’s alright. Playing with you was fun so I lost track of time.”

“I’m glad then. I like you too. Uh, I mean, playing with you.”

Luka put his hand over his mouth, embarrassed by his slip of the tongue. Ivan could have let it at that. He could have pretended nothing was out of place. Instead, he gently lowered Luka’s arm so he could give him a passionate kiss.

Luka didn’t resist. On the contrary, he parted his lips to welcome Ivan, letting out a tear of joy as the sun set behind them.

They talked a lot, so the whole dating-a-ghost thing wouldn’t be too awkward. Ivan had to assure Luka a thousand times that no, their love wasn’t impossible, and that no, he didn’t want anyone but him. Of course, it wasn’t a common situation. Of course, Ivan couldn’t call his parents so they would meet his boyfriend. Of course, Luka would never be able to come to a game to cheer for him. But that didn’t mean their relationships only had downsides. Luka was sweet and kind and a great training partner and Ivan loved him more and more everyday.

Also, Ivan discovered that he was right and that Luka indeed had endless stamina in bed.

Luka was busy playing video games when Ivan came home from training. His boyfriend had taught him how to use it and it made his days trapped in the house less boring. He put his game on hold and went to the front door so he could welcome Ivan with a kiss. He leaned his forehead against his lover’s for a few minutes, just enjoying the feeling of being reunited again. Then he noticed the file in Ivan’s hand.

“What’s this?”

“I’m going to tell you. But first, maybe it would be good for you to sit down.”

“What is it? Are you going to transfer to another club? I mean, I knew it could happen, I won’t get mad at you.  You’ll just have to keep this house and we’ll keep seeing each other, just not as often. I mean, if you want this thing we have to last, that is, and…”

“Luka, calm down. I’m not changing club and I’m not leaving you. Just trust me and sit down, okay.”

Luka nodded and laid back in the sofa, but he was still fidgety. Ivan sat next to him and took his hand in his in an attempt to calm him down.

“I’ve made some researches, about you and your family. It’s all in those files. Luka, your wife and your children… They survived the war. Your children even had children of their own. You didn’t sacrifice yourself in vain.”

“Are… Are you sure?”

“Yes, they all died of old age, thanks to you. You’re a real hero, Luka.”

Ivan gave him the precious documents and Luka opened it with shaky hands. He stared at the photos stacked in it with blurry eyes. His lover didn’t say a word, simply rubbing his back so he would feel better.

“They… They really made it? They were safe and happy?”

“Yes, but you can see it for yourself.”

They sat in silence for the next hour as Luka went through the papers, sometimes stopping because he couldn’t control his sobs anymore. Once he was done, he carefully put all the pictures back in the file before leaning into Ivan. His boyfriend gladly opened his arms for him so Luka could cuddle against him.

“Thank you for everything, Ivan. Nothing forced you to do this, and yet…”

“And yet I wanted to do it. For you, Luka.”

“It’s weird, you know. All these years, I thought that once I learned the truth about what happened to my family, I would leave this earth once and for all, see the light or something like that. But I’m still here.”

“It’s probably selfish, but I’m glad you didn’t go away.” Ivan whispered back.

“Yeah, me too. I would miss you too much.” Luka answered before kissing him.

Still, one thought lingered in his mind. Maybe he hadn’t been wrong all these years. Maybe Ivan was his light.

Ivan was getting impatient. He didn’t like to waste too much time in the locker room after training, mainly because he always felt the urge to come back home, to come back to Luka. But today, he needed to talk with one of his team mates. Of course, it would be easier if said team mate wasn’t busy making love eyes at another member of their team.

“Oh wait, Dejan, there’s also this other video I wanted to show you, and…”

Alright, now it was getting on Ivan’s nerves. If he waited politely, he would still be here tomorrow morning. So he grabbed Šime by his arm, dragging him away even when his friend shouted in protest.

“Sorry Dejan, I’m borrowing him for a while.”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Ivan? Can’t you see I was busy here?” Šime pouted once he let go of him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll let you go back to playing lovesick teenagers with Dejan in just a minute. But first, I need you to tell me how to contact that friend of yours you told me about the other day.”

“Hey, we’re not acting like lovesick teenagers.” Šime replied.

Ivan raised an unconvinced eyebrow and Šime sighed.

“Yeah, okay, maybe you’re right. Just promise you won’t tell him about my feelings before I do, okay? I want it to be special.”

Šime suddenly looked flustered and distressed and Ivan laughed while patting his back.

“Don’t fret too much other this, Dejan’s got it bad for you too, I assure you. Now, about that friend of yours?”

“Oh, yes, right, just let me grab a piece of paper so I can write his number on it…”

In the end, everything turned alright. Ivan got the information he was looking for, and the next day, Šime and Dejan arrived at training with huge smiles on their faces and hickeys down Šime’s neck.

Luka frowned when he saw Ivan coming home, but not alone. He quickly made sure that only his boyfriend would be able to see him. Most people couldn’t see ghosts anyway, Ivan being the exception to the rule, but he didn’t want to take any risks. Usually, he would warn Luka before bringing someone else home.

What’s more, the man accompanying him looked kinda strange, with his long blond hair, his fancy black clothes and his even fancier hat. Luka quickly understood what was wrong and he ran to Ivan, his lower lip quivering and his face red with anger.

“You brought an exorcist here!”

“Don’t worry” Ivan mouthed back at him, but it wasn’t enough to calm Luka.

“So that’s the place?” The blond man asked, to Luka’s disarray.

“Yes, it is.” Ivan replied calmly.

“Don’t you want me anymore? Did I do something wrong? Please, Ivan, talked to me! If I made a mistake, I can fix it, but don’t force me to go away.”

“Alright, I’ll just go and do my thing, then. It won’t take long.”

Once the exorcist was out of sight, Ivan grabbed Luka’s wrist, keeping the distressed ghost from hitting him. He then planted a long, loving kiss on his lips so his boyfriend would listen to him.

“Don’t be stupid, Luka. I would never do anything to hurt you. You know I love you.”

“Then why did you call an exorcist here? I don’t understand what’s happening! And… And that man looks weird, too.”

“Don’t be rude, Domo is a nice guy, and he knows a lot about supernatural forces, from what I understood.”

“He’s pouring beer on the threshold!” Luka shouted back.

“That’s an unconventional method, I’ll admit, but I promise you, Luka, nothing bad will happen to you today. You have my word.”

Before he could replied, Luka suddenly froze and stared with horror at Ivan.

“Wait, he’s doing something weird to your energy lines! I can’t let that happening!”

As Luka got angrier, the leaves of the trees around him started falling, just as the wind blew colder. So his boyfriend could act as a dangerous poltergeist if he wanted, it seemed. But before Luka could cause any damage, Ivan pushed him against the wall of the house.

“Stop it! I asked Domo to do this, to link my spirit to this house, so that when I die, I’ll come back to this place as a ghost.”

“Wait, you mean you’re doing this to stay with me?”

“Exactly.”

“No, you can’t do that! You’re crazy! Maybe there’s a better afterlife waiting for you, you just can’t give this up for me, and…”

Once more, Ivan shut him up with a gentle press of his lips.

“And that is the reason why I didn’t talk of this with you beforehand. I knew you’d want to sacrifice yourself for my sake. But as sappy as it can sound, I want an eternity with you, and I’m not wasting my chance. Now just wait for me until this is all settled, okay?”

Luka nodded weakly, watching speechlessly as Ivan thanked Domo for his help. The exorcist soon left and Luka immediately proceeded to wash all the puddles of beer spread around the house.

“You don’t have to do this alone. I’ll help you.” Ivan offered. Then he added shyly: “Are you mad at me?”

“I… No, of course, I’m not mad at you. It’s just… Did you realize what you just did for me?”

“Actually, I do. I’ve been thinking about this for months and I have no doubts I want to stay with you. I would have already gotten down on one knee to ask your hand if you weren’t well, you know, a ghost.”

“That’s the lamest proposal I’ve ever heard, you know.”

“Would it be better if I kissed you for good measure?”

Luka chuckled, but he still melted in Ivan’s embrace.

Years went by. At some point, Ivan had to move to another club, just as Luka feared. But he never sold his old house, nor did he stop going there to see Luka. Once he retired, he came back to him. The ghost was always happy to play football with him, to make him coffee in the morning or to have long discussions with him and he never grew tired of him, not even when Ivan’s hair started to turn grey while Luka stayed the same day after day.

Then, one morning, Luka immediately sensed something was wrong. He wandered the house aimlessly, as Ivan’s cup of coffee grew cold on the table. A deep panic settled in his mind and the furniture began to shake around him as he lost control over himself.

A hand on his shoulder helped him to ground himself, though. He turned around to face Ivan, the Ivan of his memories, the Ivan who still looked like he was in his twenties. Except this time, his skin was translucent and a green light radiated from him.

“I told you Domo knew what he was doing” He grinned, one second before Luka crashed into his arms.

Now, nothing would ever bring them apart. All was well.

Tag list: @slashandsports @arduango @pachua @mamaopal @man-dzukic @zadarskabagudina @tinymodric @domo-no-domo-yes @mrsmodric @flemishyugotalian

[slashandsports]

Fics list

Rakidrić (I. Rakitić/L. Modrić)

One-shots (1-2 chapters)

A year (angsty fluff)

Coffee & TV (fluff, sickfic)

(Consign me not) To darkness (angst, emotional hurt/comfort)

De las glorias deportivas (cheeky fluff, almost-smut)

El Clásico (fluff)

Everything is alright (fluff)

Go and get ‘em, tiger (fluff)

Grabbed my hand and made it very clear (There’s absolutely nothing for us here) (smut)

His (emotional non-explicit smut)

I just sort of always feel sick without you, baby (fluff and smut)

Jealousy is a hell of a drug (fluff)

Madness (mixture, non-explicit)

Maybe I just wanna be yours (Christmas fluff)

Més que un jersey (smut, phone-sex)

Mr. Rakitić (smut, roleplaying)

Only ones who know (smut)

See you in my (fever) dreams (hurt/comfort, sickfic)

There’s a boy across the river (but alas I cannot swim) (angst, non-explicit, one-sided attraction)

Third time’s the charm (fluff)

Will you let me? (non-explicit, WARNING: watersports/omorashi)

Chapters (3+ chapters)

Barcelona (It was the first time that we met) (M-rated, AU, students in Barcelona, anxious Luka, best friend Danijel, popular-guy Ivan)

Never knew anyone in love the way that you were (very explicit smut)

Uprising (multiple relationships, AU, angst, WARNING: characters’ deaths)

Dybaldo (P. Dybala/C. Ronaldo)

An exceptionally handsome man walked in (with a confident yet courteous air) (multi-chaptered, Dybala/Messi, Dybala/Ronaldo, a parallel to ‘Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812′)

Crazy in love (smut)

Darling, I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream (toxic relationship, non-explicit smut)

He hit me (And it felt like a kiss) (angst, WARNING: physical/psychological abuse)

Italian cuisine (smut)

New Rules (angst, implied physical/psychological abuse)

Say a little prayer for me (’cos I don’t think I’m going to Heaven) (angst, AU - priest Cristiano, implied underage/non-con?)

Sunshine (fluff)

The Bench (smut)

You don’t own me (I’m not one of your many toys) (smut, dom!Paulo)

Pochkanegate (M. Pochettino/H. Kane/G. Southgate)

Their Little Lion series (smut, eventual threesome)

Grizicest (A. Griezmann/T. Griezmann)

I get round to loving you (Is that such a crime?) series (WARNING: brother/brother incest, dubious consent, non-con, psychological abuse, borderline personality disorder, alcoholism, self-destructive behavior, blackmail, breakdowns)

Kloppinho (J. Klopp/P. Coutinho)

I haven’t stopped loving you once (angsty fluff with a hint of smut)

I love the sound of you walking away (angst)

With or without you (smut)

Others

Mesut Özil/Marco Reus

(Quite alright) Hiding tonight (angst, pre-slash)

Frenkie de Jong/Matthijs de Ligt

Bless you (fluff)

Ik ga naar de top (Maar niet met jou) (angst, mixture, non-explicit)

Zlatko Dalić/Luka Modrić

A night to remember (smut)

The fallen are the virtuous among us (smut, WARNING: priest kink, blasphemy, angsty feelings about the war)

Gary Neville/Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

You make me happy when skies are grey (hurt/comfort, fluff)

Mario Mandžukić/Domagoj Vida

We met with a goodbye kiss (angst)

Scott McTominay/Daniel James

Ain’t no sunshine (fluff)

[croatian-magician]

Morning routine

Pairing: Luka Modrić/Ivan Rakitić

Summary: Ivan enjoys taking care of Luka’s hair. Also, making fun of his height is always a bad idea.

Word count: 979

Notes: Just a small, self-indulgent story. I hope you’ll enjoy it ^^

When Ivan woke up, the first thing he noticed was Luka sleeping peacefully beside him. His captain looked too cute for his own good and Ivan barely resisted the urge to kiss him. However, he decided against it at the last moment. Today was a big training day with their national team and Luka gave already so much for them, he deserved to get some extra sleep.

So Ivan left without a sound and headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower. On his way, he stopped to look at himself in the mirror and groaned when he saw the few hickeys Luka had left on his chest the previous night. He would have to hide them if he didn’t want to endure endless teasing from his team mates.

He didn’t take too long to wash and dress himself. When he came back to the bedroom, Luka was already awake, though he still looked a little drowsy, his hair disheveled. Ivan took some pride in knowing he looked like this because of their nightly activities, because of him.

“Good morning, corazón. Did you sleep well?”

“Always, when I’m with you.” Luka grinned back before pulling him in for a kiss.

They stayed in each other’s arms for a few minutes, just smiling happily at each other. Ivan liked how easy their relationship was. Most of the time, they didn’t even have to talk get what the other wanted, may it be on the pitch on in everyday life.

“As much as I’d like to continue this, I need to get ready for training, amor.” Luka let out and Ivan reluctantly let him go so he could shower too.

While he was gone, Ivan tried to make sure that the marks on his skin couldn’t be seen under his shirt. He didn’t hear the water stopping in the next room and so he was still doing it when Luka came back, fully dressed but his hair still in disarray, a hairbrush in his hand.

“Sorry about that. Guess I was a little too enthusiastic last night.”

Luka’s shy, apologetic smile did indescribable things to his heart. Ivan let go of the hem of his shirt, a laugh on his lips.

“Nothing I can’t handle, don’t worry. I have an idea of how you can make it up to me, though.”

Before Luka could ask what he was talking about, Ivan stole the brush in his hand, before patting a spot on the bed.

“Come sit here. I’m taking care of brushing your hair today.”

“Really? That’s my punishment? ‘Cause I feel like I’m the one being spoiled here.”

“What can I say? Your hair is so soft, it feels like a reward to take care of it. Now don’t play hard to get and come here.”

At that, Luka let out a huff of laughter, but he still obeyed Ivan’s order. His lover sat down next to him and Ivan started running the brush through his hair, gently untangling the knots formed during the night. He made sure to be cautious so he wouldn’t hurt Luka by pulling too hard on it, sometimes straying from his task to leave kisses on his cheek.

“Hmm, I don’t think my hair takes that long to brush.” Luka teased him after a while.

“Shut up and let me take care of you, dragi.”

Ivan winked at him and Luka rolled his eyes in response, but he didn’t move. Once he was done with taming his hair, Ivan started to massage his scalp with kind touches. He ran his fingers through golden locks while whispering sweet nothings against Luka’s ear. His lover quickly relaxed into the touch, letting his head rest against Ivan’s shoulder.

“I’m going to fall asleep again if you keep doing this.” He mumbled.

“Well, I didn’t know I was that good with my fingers.” Ivan sneered.

“Stop being so smug. We have to get to training on time and I’d rather not miss breakfast just because you wanted to play with my hair.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop, although I still believe there must be something magical for you hair to feel so damn good. You must be a modern Rapunzel of something.”

Luka chuckled and he shifted so he could stare at Ivan directly.

“What does that make you? The knight in shining armor who killed the evil witch and got me out of my tower?”

“Are you kidding me? I’m pretty sure you escaped that tower all by yourself so you could play football. That’s just how strong you are. I was simply lucky enough to meet you on your way.”

“Now you’re being cheesy!” Luka replied, straddling him until he laid on the bed underneath him.

“Maybe, but it looks like it’s the right way to seduce you.”

Ivan dragged him into a passionate kiss, letting his hands run down the small of Luka’s back. The smaller man moaned against his lips, but before Ivan could try to sneak his hands under his clothes, Luka rolled over the bed then stood up. Ivan blinked, surprised, as Luka stretched up his hand to him so he would get out of the bed too, a serious look on his face.

“We’re still not missing breakfast.”

This time, Ivan burst out laughing, finding his lover’s reaction just so damn endearing. Then he pulled Luka into his arms when he started getting a stern look from him.

God, he loved his man.

“Okay, we’re getting breakfast. I mean, you do need energy to fuel that tiny body of yours. With some luck, maybe you’ll even gain a centimeter or two.”

He yelped when Luka stepped on his toe without a glimpse of mercy as revenge.

[croatian-magician]

Two sides of the same coin (Part 2)

Pairings: Luka Modrić/Ivan Rakitić, hints of Dejan Lovren/Šime Vrsaljko

Summary: For Luka, losing the world cup is bad, but waking up in a world where nothing is as he remembers is worse. He has no memory of those goals his friends told him he scored, just like he doesn’t understand why he’s suddenly holding the world cup trophy in his hand or why Ivan is acting so distant.

Or Luka accidentally ends up in an alternate universe where Croatia won the world cup, but where he also may have lost what matters the most to him.

Part 1: https://footballcursed.tumblr.com/post/176413647933/two-sides-of-the-same-coin-part-1

When Luka regained consciousness, he wasn’t outside anymore, but in his hotel room. His real hotel room. The one he shared with Ivan.

And Ivan was here too, sitting on their bed, holding a smaller man in his arms. For a second, anger filled Luka’s mind. What was it, now? An alternate reality were he was forced to see Ivan loving someone else?

He was ready to storm out of the room when he got a glimpse of the stranger face, only to realize he was no stranger at all.

It was like looking straight into a mirror. The man looked like Luka’s perfect twin, no matter how unbelievable this all was. However, before Luka could freak out, Ivan noticed him and immediately let go of his alter ego. A huge smile appeared on his lover’s face and he rushed to hug him.

“Luka, you’re back! I was so, so scared!”

Luka had a thousand questions on his lips, but they all disappeared when Ivan kissed them with passion. He let himself sink into the familiar feeling, his hands gripping at the back of his boyfriend’s shirt. When they parted, Ivan gave him his most gentle smile before ruffling his hair with tenderness.

“You must be so confused, dragi. Don’t worry, you’re alright now. Also, I know what happened to you.”

“You do?” Luka stammered, puzzled.

“Yeah. From what Luka number two here told me, you must have exchanged place with him in his reality. I know, it sounds crazy, but it’s the only explanation I have.”

“Wait, Luka number t…”

He suddenly fell silence as realization dawned on him. Then he stared at his double. The other Luka looked shy and too scared to approach them. With a shaking voice, Luka asked him:

“Wait… Are you the one who scored two goals against France?”

The other nodded, and Luka sighed with relief. So he wasn’t losing his mind, this was real. Crazy, but real.

“Yes. I was celebrating with the team and one second later I was here, with everyone mourning our loss. Then I bumped into Ivan and he helped me figure this all out.” He hesitated for a second, then he let out: “Do you even realize how lucky you are?”

For a second, Luka almost replied that he he wasn’t the one who had won the world cup, but he understood quickly enough that he wasn’t talking about that, from the way he was staring at him and Ivan, a glimpse of envy in his eyes.

“I do. I’ve met your Ivan. It wasn’t very pleasant. Why does he…”

“What? Doesn’t want me? I don’t know, I guess I’m just not good enough for him. He always said he wanted us to say apart because of our professional careers, that there was too much at stake… But now that I’ve seen you two together… There must be something else than that. Maybe I did something wrong…”

It was weird, looking at himself being so insecure. Ivan wrapped an arm around Luka’s waist, before whispering in his hear:

“It’s been harsh for him, learning that we are dating. From what I understood, he’s been pining for that other me for years.”

Luka shared a silent look with Ivan and they sat down on the bed, on each side of Luka’s alter ego. Ivan put a reassuring arm around his shoulders while Luka took his hand in his.

“Don’t say that. You’re great, you did what I couldn’t by offering our country its first wold cup victory. You shouldn’t think so low of yourself.”

“Luka’s right. I don’t know what my other self is thinking, but he truly is a fool for not wanting you. You deserve all the love in the world, I’m sure.”

Ivan leaned down and gently kissed his forehead. Someone else than Luka might have been jealous, but he knew there was no reason to be. To him, this just proved that Ivan was ready to love every version of himself.

“Do you really think so?”

“Of course, dragi. You should be proud of yourself.” Luka replied.

They were ready to shower him in compliments all night long if needed, but before they could do so, the other Luka let out a cry of pain and his hold on Luka’s hand grew tighter.

“Are you alright?” Ivan almost shouted, worry in his eyes.

“It happened to me, too. I think he is going back to his own world, if that makes any sense.” Luka intervened.

“Oh, I see.”

Ivan still looked concerned, but he quickly reached for a piece of paper laying on the bedside table. He put it in the hands of Luka number two, before staring straight at him, a serious expression on his face.

“Here listen to me. Take this with you, but don’t open it and don’t read it. Just leave it somewhere your Ivan will find it, but don’t get caught doing it. I hope this will make things better for you.”

“But, how…?”

“Just trust me, okay?”

Before he could answer, a blinding light surrounded Luka’s alter ego. He disappeared in a flash under Luka and Ivan’s eyes, leaving the two lovers alone. They stayed silent for a while, still not really believing what they just went through. Then Ivan broke the ice.

“Do you think he’ll do it?”

Luka let out a quiet laugh as he moved closer so his head would rest against Ivan’s shoulder. It was good to be home.

“Of course he will. I can’t refuse you anything when you’re looking at me like that, and I’m sure he’ll be no different.”

“I hope you’re right. He looked so sad… The me from that other reality must be such an idiot!”

“Or maybe he’s just afraid.” Luka pondered, remembering his quick stay there. “His words were harsh, yes, but he still seemed to care. He made sure I got to the hotel safely. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised to discover he’s only fighting against his feelings. It’s not easy, admitting you’re in love with your team mate and captain.”

“I guess we’ll never know. I have no idea how this whole mess happened, but I never want to be separated from you like that ever again. You have no idea how scared I was. I feared you’d never be able to come back to me…”

“It’s okay, Ivan, I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.” Luka replied, nuzzling against his neck as Ivan wrapped strong arms around him.

The pain of losing against France wasn’t gone, of course, but after his crazy adventure, he realized how lucky he was to have Ivan at his side to support him no matter what. This strange had really taken its toll on him, and he let out a huge yawn, exhausted.

“Looks like someone’s tired. You deserve some well deserved rest after everything you went through, Lukita. How about we get into bed and just, you know, cuddle and eat domaćica until you fall asleep?”

Luka smiled brightly and left a kiss on Ivan’s jaw.

“That sounds like a great idea.”

When the dizziness left Luka’s mind, he didn’t expect to find himself alone, in the middle of the night. He quickly shoved the paper Ivan gave him into his pocket while trying to stay calm. At least, he was back to a world he knew, where he won the world cup and his team mates didn’t look disappointed. Of course, he had missed the first celebrations, but it could still be fixed.

Oh, who was he kidding? Despite his victory, he couldn’t help but feel jealous of the other Luka, of the Luka who was loved by Ivan. But now was not the time for sadness. He needed to go back to the hotel, and act as if everything was alright.

“Luka!”

He turned around quickly, only to be faced with Ivan. Not the Ivan who reassured him a few minutes ago, but the Ivan from his world, the Ivan Rakitić who didn’t love Luka Modrić.

“Suba told me you were acting weird and ran outside. Are you alright? Everyone’s worried about you.”

“Yes, everything’s fine, don’t worry.” Luka replied, although he couldn’t ignore the ache in his chest.

“You sure?”

“We just won the world cup. What could possibly be wrong?” Luka replied.

He just hoped Ivan wouldn’t notice the bitterness in his voice.

After those strange events, everything went back to normal. Luka almost convinced himself it was nothing but a dream or some kind of hallucination provoked by how tired he was after winning the final.

Except the letter he was supposed to give to Ivan said otherwise.

He quietly slipped it under the door of his friend’s hotel room, all the while afraid someone would see him. He had no idea if this was the right thing to do or not, but he trusted Ivan, had always trusted him, not matter the reality he came from.

Once it was done, he tried to forget all about it. He still had to gather his stuff for the trip back to Croatia. At least it would make a good distraction.

When he woke up, Ivan didn’t notice the letter at first. He was still drowsy and high on the feel of victory, so he almost stepped on the single piece of paper, stopping himself at the very last moment. It was folded in two, and Ivan didn’t think much of it until he read the four words written on it.

“For the other Ivan.”

His fingers shook as he stared at the letter, not because of what was written on it, but because of the handwriting. Ivan could recognize it anywhere, because it was his own. Also, it was too perfect to be fake. Every curve, every letter looked similar to how he would shape them.

Did he write this to himself last night while he was drunk? No, he remembered everything about the last day, from the game against France to the moment he had lead Luka back to his room. There had to be some other explanation… Maybe the key to the mystery was hidden in the letter itself, so he opened it hastily and started reading.

“Where do I begin? Ah, yes. First of all, you’re an idiot.

Now that this has been said, you must wonder who I am. Well, I’m you. Sort of. From another universe, it seems. Yes, I know, none of this makes any sense, but that’s how it is.

Also, you must have noticed something was wrong about Luka right after the game against France. If you didn’t, then there’s no hope for you and this letter is certainly useless. But since we’re supposed to be the same person, I’ll just assume that you realized that something was very, very off with your Luka, simply because he switched places with mine. (again, complicated alternate universe story, don’t ask.)

So your Luka ended up with me, and my Luka with you. So let me put this simply: what the hell have you been doing pushing Luka away? I mean, if you’re really me, then I can’t imagine any fucking scenario in which you wouldn’t be madly in love with him.

He told me how you’re frightened about the impact a relationship with him could have on your careers. Just like I was at the beginning, to be honest. But let me tell you one thing: being with Luka is worth all the risks you could take. I’ve been dating him for several years now, and I’ve never regretted my choice, not even once.

So if I’m right, if you want him, then stop being a complete moron and go tell him before he stops waiting for you. I don’t even know how you can live with yourself while knowing you’re making him sad. I know it would kill me. Now, you’d better hurry and act on your feelings to fix that mistake.

Ivan Rakitić (in case it wasn’t obvious)”

The letter fell from Ivan’s shaking hand. This looked like one big joke, and yet… And yet he couldn’t deny there was some truth in those words. He closed his eyes, trying to regain his composure and to decide what he was going to do with this.

Luka stared at the mirror, hoping to find in here the confidence of his other self, but all he saw were the bags under his eyes. A long plane trip awaited him and the rest of the team today, then the celebration in Zagreb would follow. If only the joy in his heart wasn’t tainted by his desperate wish to feel Ivan’s arms around him once more…

His hair was still messy from the night, and he was trying to tame it when a knock on the door made him jump out in surprise. He quickly went to open the door and his heart missed a beat when he was faced with Ivan. His friend was out of breath, as if he had run through another extra time.

“Good morning, Ivan. What do you w…?”

“Is this real? Did you really disappear in a parallel universe after the final? Or am I just going crazy?”

He waved the letter in front of Ivan and his team mate’s eyes grew wide. So he knew. Denying it all would have been easier, but Luka had always been too honest for his own good.

“Yes, it’s real. I have no idea what’s written on this, though, the… The other you just asked me to give it to you, one way or another. I hope you’re not mad.”

Luka expected Ivan to ask for further explanations. Instead, his friend cupped his face in his hand and kissed him right on the mouth, not hesitating a single second. It didn’t take long for Luka to melt against him as their tongue met in a gentle dance. He buried his fingers in Ivan’s hair, not wanting to let him go. He only broke the kiss reluctantly once he was gasping for air.

“I could have lost you…” Ivan murmured “You could have disappeared before I confessed my feelings for you, just because I’m a coward. Sorry for being such an idiot all this time. Forget everything I said before, I’m sure we can make this work with our career. I need this, Luka. I need you. So if you would still have me…”

Luka’s honey eyes lightened up as he got close enough for Ivan and him to touch foreheads.

“Of course, I’ll still have you. I’ve wanted this since forever. I can’t believe this is happening…”

Luka couldn’t help it, he let his tears fall free and Ivan gently kissed them away.

“This is real too, Luka, I promise. I’ve stopped being a fool. I’ll be here for you, no matter what. I love you. I love you so much.”

After hearing those three simple, beautiful words, Luka started peppering Ivan’s mouth with little kisses. His new boyfriend embraced him back, the letter in his hand almost forgotten.

Still, he had one last thought for his and Luka’s other selves. Ivan silently thanked them and wished them the best, before redirecting all his attention to the task of pleasing his Luka.

[croatian-magician]

Two sides of the same coin (Part 1)

Pairings: Luka Modrić/Ivan Rakitić, hints of Dejan Lovren/Šime Vrsaljko

Summary: For Luka, losing the world cup is bad, but waking up in a world where nothing is as he remembers is worse. He has no memory of those goals his friends told him he scored, just like he doesn’t understand why he’s suddenly holding the world cup trophy in his hand or why Ivan is acting so distant.

Or Luka accidentally ends up in an alternate universe where Croatia won the world cup, but where he also may have lost what matters the most to him.

Notes: This fic got out of hand, so I’m cutting it in two parts. I hope you’ll like it. (also, thanks to parallel universes, there’s not one but two Luka Modrić in this)

Part 2: https://footballcursed.tumblr.com/post/176413819228/two-sides-of-the-same-coin-part-2

The weight of defeat felt heavy on Luka’s shoulders. He sat on a bench in the locker room, holding his face in his hands, his eyes watery. With his team, he got so close to victory, so close to their dream, only to stumble and fall down at the very last step.

They didn’t win the world cup. How was he supposed to cope with that? Him, the captain of the national team, the man who was supposed to lead his team mates to victory? He wished he could at least comfort them, but he had no idea how to do it, not when he felt so empty inside.

Now he was alone, his friends already gone to shower and try to wash the bitterness away. Luka had seen the worry in their eyes when he’d told them to go ahead and not wait for him. Ivan had almost insisted to stay with him, but one look had been enough to make him understand that he needed this, needed a moment alone to tame the roaring pain gnawing at his heart.

Luka took a deep breath then exhaled through his mouth, trying to calm down. After a defeat, the train of his thoughts always threatened to go down a dark path. What if he had played better? What if he had been a better captain? What if he had managed to make his country proud? What if…

But before he could start to blame himself, his mind went blank as a terrible headache took over him. He let out a weak cry of pain just as his vision turned to black. The whole room seemed to be spinning around him, and clenching his hand on the bench in a desperate attempt to ground himself did nothing to help.

Maybe this was the price to pay for exhausting himself past his limits, for digging his way through too many extra times. But this felt worse than everything he had endured before, and he suddenly got scared. He tried to call for help, but his voice was too weak and his friends, too far away. However, just as he began to panic, everything went back to normal.

Luka blinked a few times, not expecting the light of the locker room to reappear so suddenly. Also, he wasn’t alone anymore. All his teamates surrounded him and Danijel was kneeling next to him, a worried look on his face.

“Luka? Are you alright?”

He moved his hand in front of Luka’s eyes, trying to get a reaction out of him.

“Yes, I just… dozed off for a minute. Don’t know what happened to me. It must be the aftermath of the game, that’s all.”

He brushed the sweat of his brow while trying to regain his composure. There was no need to worry his friends, he felt better now. He didn’t want to add to the general distress of the team. Still, Suba looked skeptical, but he didn’t push the matter any further.

“Alright. Just tell if you’re feeling weird again, okay?”

Luka nodded, thankful for his support. He was slowly coming back to his senses when Dejan and Sime entered the locker room arm in arm while singing loudly. Luka didn’t need to smell the stench of alcohol to know they were drunk beyond measure. Still, the happiness on their face felt off compared to his sorrow. They didn’t look like they just lost the world cup a couple hours ago.

As they spotted him, they grinned and walked toward him, although Šime almost lose his balance, barely saved from falling by Dejan holding him.

“Hey Suba, Lukita, that’s unfair! Come on, let us share the glory, too!”

Luka followed the direction of their stare, just as he realized that he was holding something quite heavy in his left hand. It didn’t feel right. A minute before, his hand was empty, and now…

His breath got caught in his throat. It wasn’t possible. There was no way this could be real. He remembered everything, the game against France, their loss, the disappointment on his team mates’ faces…

And yet, here in his palm, rested the wold cup trophy.

The score was still 4-2. Luka learned it soon after he handed the trophy to Šime so him and Dejan could pose with it and take pictures for their instagrams. Except now, it was 4-2 for Croatia. Somehow, France lost. Somehow, Luka was a world champion.

It didn’t make any sense.

He was trying not to freak out while all of his friends were busy partying around him. Putting a forced smile on his face was a difficult task, but it was the only way not to feel to out of place.

At first, he feared it was some cruel joke. He knew his friends were kind men and would never do anything to hurt him on purpose, but it was the only logical reasoning he could come up with. But his theory crumbled apart when Vida showed him the goals on his phone.

Luka’s goals.

He had no memory of scoring these goals- the two winning goals, for god’s sake- but here they were, replaying again and again on the screen. Luka recognized his own way of playing, he could picture himself striking the ball in this exact way, but he knew this never happened. Not that he dared say that aloud, too afraid to sound crazy to his friends.

Instead, he tried to share their joy. His jaw dropped when he took a glimpse of Dejan and Sime making out heavily against the wall, but it was soon replaced by a knowing smile.

“So those two finally got together? It took them long enough!” He grinned.

At that, Domo sent him an incredulous look.

“Wait, you didn’t know?”

“Didn’t know what?”

“They’ve been together for years, now. It’s not really a secret to anyone.”

Once more, Luka felt out of place, because he clearly remembered a pining Šime coming to him for love advice a few days ago, and he definitely wasn’t dating Dejan yet. This whole nonsense was really beginning to frighten him and so he quickly got up, cold sweat running down his neck.

In the euphoria of the victory, no one noticed him leaving towards the showers. There, he splashed water onto his face before leaning onto the sink, wondering if this was all a dream. He was so busy questioning his sanity that he didn’t hear someone getting out of a nearby stall.

He didn’t miss the ruffle of a towel, however, and he quickly turned around, hoping his team mates wouldn’t have noticed his weird behavior. However, his worries soon disappeared and a sense of relief took their place once he saw Ivan, his Ivan, standing a few feet away from him, wearing only a boxer, busy drying his hair.

Luka immediately rushed to him. He needed the reassurance of his arms, needed to talk about all this madness with someone who would listen without jumping to wrong conclusions. He couldn’t keep it all in, it would drive him mad. So he jumped to his boyfriend’s arms, planting a desperate kiss on his lips. He expected Ivan to detect his distress and to slowly stroke his back before asking him what was wrong, as he always did.

Ivan’s lips slowly parted against his, and his hand went to rest on the small of his back. This, Luka was used to. He was about to close his eyes, waiting for his boyfriend to take the lead of the kiss like he so often did.

Instead, Ivan suddenly froze against him and pushed him away. He was not violent or brutal about it, only firm, but it still broke Luka’s heart. Especially when Ivan looked down on him with an angry look on his face, leaving the smaller man all lost and confused.

“No, Luka, we’re not gonna do this, winners of the world cup or not. I thought I was clear enough last time we talked about it. There can never be anything between us. It would jeopardize our careers and you know it. Now go back to celebrate with the others. It’s for the better.”

“But…”

“No buts. I won’t be mad a you, because I know you surely drunk too much and are out of your mind right now, but we already had this conversation a thousand times. We can’t do this.”

Now, Luka couldn’t lie to himself anymore and pretend everything was alright. This wasn’t his life. He never won the world cup, just like Ivan never rejected him. Those were facts, engraved in his memory.

“That’s not possible! You love me, you told me so!”

This times, Ivan’s eyes were full of pity. He put a hand on Luka’s shoulder, but it wasn’t the reassuring touch the smaller man was used to.

“That’s it, you definitely had too much drinks. I never said such things, except maybe in your dreams. You should really stop hurting yourself like this, Luka. Just wait for me here, I’ll get dressed and then I’ll help you get to the bus, okay?”

Luka couldn’t find the strength in him to answer, not when his throat felt painfully dry. Ivan was wrong, he had never been more sober in his life. The rejection hurt like a knife in his chest, making him even more aware of his surroundings. As he waited alone, he realized two things:

This man was not his Ivan, and he was a stranger here.

He pinched his arm as hard as he could, hoping this would prove to be just a dream, or rather, a nightmare. Luka was a rational man, but he could feel something unnatural was happening to him, and now he just had to find a way to go back to his real life.

Unfortunately, all his efforts proved useless, and he was quickly overwhelmed with the urge to sob.

Somehow, Luka managed not to shed any tears. He didn’t really remember how he got into the bus and from there, to his hotel room. In his head, it was all a blur. He remembered his team mates sending him worried looks, though, when they weren’t too busy celebrating their victory, the victory Luka didn’t remember.

During all the world cup tournament, he had shared his room with Ivan, or at least, that was what his memory told him. Not in this reality, though. Here, Ivan seemed intent on keeping his distance, so Luka soon discovered that he was in fact rooming with Suba.

It could have been worse, of course. He didn’t mind spending time with his long time friend, but he still felt out of place weeping when everyone around him was busy celebrating. Of course, when the goalkeeper offered him to go downstairs to party some more with the rest of the team, Luka refused stubbornly.

Danijel frowned, definitely concerned about his well being.

“Luka, what’s wrong? We just won the world cup, so why are you so sad?”

Luka bit his lip, almost hard enough to draw blood. What could he say? That he had no memory of scoring the two winning goals? That they lost the world cup? That this team was different from the team he remembered? He would sound crazy, and his friend would certainly blame it on the alcohol, just like Ivan. So he just let out the first thing that went through his mind and that was safe enough to say.

“I kissed Ivan, and…”

His voice broke and he looked down at the ground to hide the tears growing in his eyes.

“Oh, Luka, again?”

Suba’s voice was full of concern and he pulled Luka into a tight hug. The smaller man closed his eyes, happy to finally find some comfort here. It was good to know that no matter how crazy things could get, Danijel would always stay his best friend.

“I know it’s not that easy, but maybe you should just give up on Ivan. I hate seeing you like this every time he rejects you. Maybe you two are just not meant to be…”

Suba always wanted to help him, Luka knew that, but he shook his head and took a step back, as if he had been burnt. What happened to the Luka who won the world cup didn’t matter. What mattered was the nights he remembered spending in Ivan’s arms, the sweet nothings he whispered into his ear, Ivan telling the team they had to win the game against Denmark for him…

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to upset you, Luka.”

Luka suddenly came back to reality and he stared at Danijel like a deer caught in the headlights as he started panicking.

“It’s nothing, I just… I need to get out… To get some fresh air…”

Before his friend could react, Luka sprinted out of the room. He almost knocked over a member of the hotel staff on his way and mumbled a quick “sorry” before running towards the entryway. Once he got outside, he took a second to take his breath. He had no idea what to do now. It was dark and cold outside, but he couldn’t see himself going back to his room. Maybe a walk would do him some good.

He could barely take a step before everything started spinning around him once more and he felt like falling. A painful headache forced him to close his eyes as the scenery around him started to disappear. Once more, he felt as is he was falling into oblivion.

[croatian-magician]

Duality

Pairing: Luka Modrić/Ivan Rakitić

Summary: Luka and Ivan should stay apart from each other. They knew it from the start. A being of light isn’t meant to love one of darkness. Yet, despite all the difficulties, they chose to be together. Somehow, they make it work.

Or the Angel/Demon AU nobody asked for.

Word Count: 2084

Notes: Basically, I only wrote this because Luka Modrić deserves to be an angel and you can’t convince me otherwise.

Ivan ran a hand through Luka’s soft, white feathers. The angel stirred in his sleep before slowly opening his eyes. He blinked and yawned a few times as Ivan kept grooming his wings with tenderness. Aside from their breathing, the hotel room was quiet. The perfect place to shelter their love for each other, far from the eyes of the world.

“Good morning, beautiful.”

His lover welcomed him with a kiss on his forehead and Luka shuddered with happiness, snuggling a bit closer to him. Still, he sent Ivan an amused look.

“I thought I already told you flattery doesn’t work with me, but nice try.”

Ivan rose up a little in their shared bed, his scaly wings standing proudly behind his back. He chuckled at Luka’s provocation. His fingers found a new target as they began to play with soft locks  of golden hair. The angel didn’t protest, resting his head on Ivan’s chest instead.

“It’s not flattery if I’m telling the truth. And I can assure you no one in the underworld can compare to your beauty.”

“If you’re trying to make me commit a sin of pride, you’re not being very subtle about it.” Luka teased him.

They both liked this game they played, with Ivan acting as if he was still trying to corrupt Luka’s pure soul while the angel pretended he was still trying to resist him, when really, he had succumbed to Ivan’s charm eons ago.

“Says the man who spent his night with a demon.” Ivan retorted.

He leaned towards his lover, lowering the distance between them. This time, his lips found Luka’s and they closed their eyes as the angel wrapped his wings around Ivan’s shoulders to keep him close. For a second, they forgot all about their opposite natures, drowning into each other.

However, it stopped way too soon. When Ivan opened his eyes again, he was forced to shut them down almost immediately, blinded by the light produced by Luka’s halo. He hissed like a cat before burying himself under the covers as a mean of protection.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… You caught me off guard…”

The angel’s cheeks shone a bright red as guilt gripped at his heart. Just like any supernatural being, he knew that holy light was harmful to demons such as Ivan. Most of the time, he managed to control his own instincts so he wouldn’t hurt his lover. But sometimes… Sometimes, accidents like this one happened and he could only blame himself for it.

He forced his halo to disappear and Ivan slowly emerged from under the blanket, although he was still being cautious. Luka noticed a faint burn on his right cheek, which only made him feel even worse.

“Maybe we should stop doing this. Seeing each other, I mean. It’s getting too dangerous, for both of us. Something bad could happen...”

“You don’t mean that.”

Even though Ivan tried to sound confident, Luka could hear fear and insecurity slipping through his voice. His eyes begged him to change his mind while his injury was already beginning to heal thanks to his powers. And so the angel shook his head, smiling at Ivan reassuringly.

“Of course, I don’t. Sorry, I just panicked. I hate seeing you hurt, that’s all.”

“Don’t worry, dragi. I know you care an awful lot. Wouldn’t expect any less of a sweet angel like you.”

Despite his cocky smile, Luka could see how the demon was suddenly filled with relief. A weird feeling blossomed in his chest, knowing his lover was so afraid to lose him. He didn’t wait a minute to press a kiss on Ivan’s cheek as a way to apologize.

“Sometimes I wish it wasn’t that complicated for us to be together, that it wouldn’t be so dangerous for you to stay near me.” He sighed with regret. His eyes wandered for a few seconds, then he stared at the ground, hesitant. “Maybe… Maybe it would be easier if I stopped being an angel. Falling from grace isn’t that difficult, after all. Then I would be a demon, like you, and you wouldn’t have to fear anything from me and my powers.”

This time, Ivan wrapped his arms around him to reassure the restless angel. The demon dragged Luka into a passionate kiss, determined to make him see just how good they already were together. When they parted, he could feel his lover shaking in his arms. Gently, he put a hand under Luka’s chin so he would look at him.

“Don’t say stupid things. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself for me, not now, not ever. I like what we have, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Besides, I’m not the only one who risked a lot for our relationship to work, remember?”

Once more, Ivan slipped his fingers through Luka’s feathers and the angel shivered. He gave a little nod, knowing exactly what his lover meant. Among his kind, it wasn’t uncommon to lure innocent angels into trusting them just so they could sever their wings and deprive their victims of their powers.

But Luka was an experimented angel, and certainly not a fool. He was well aware those things happened. He knew demons were treacherous beings. And yet, he had decided to believe Ivan’s words of love when he declared to him, no matter how dangerous it could be. Since then, Ivan had done everything in his power to prove worthy of his trust.

“Also, if I wanted you to become a fallen angel, you’d already be one.” Ivan added with a teasing smirk.

As he expected, this was enough to distract Luka from his worries. He frowned, not really convinced.

“Don’t be so sure of yourself. I know how to resist temptation, you wouldn’t trick me so easily!”

Ivan laughed and caressed his hair as Luka pouted in the cutest way possible. He moved until his lips were close to the angel’s ear.

“Overconfidence is a dangerous thing, even for a wise angel like you. How do you think the archangels would react if they were to discover how many times you shared a bed with a demon like me? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure they would accuse you of succumbing to lust.”

To prove his point, the demon proceeded to leave a hickey on Luka’s pale neck. His breath hitched, but he managed to keep enough composure to gently push Ivan away so he could argue about it.

“That’s not fair! There’s nothing sinful about loving you, not when we already exchanged our vows, and…”

“I’m not sure it would matter much to the higher-ups in heaven. Not when we couldn’t find a priest who’d accept to marry an angel to a demon.”

Luka opened his mouth to protest, but didn’t find anything to say. He bit his lip, trying to think of a reply, but Ivan intervened first.

“No need to get all distressed over this. I would never do anything against you. My point is that I don’t want you to give up on the important things in your life for me. You’re so gentle, so kind, so pure, I couldn’t picture you being anything but an angel. Also, I know you would be unhappy working for the underworld. You are meant to help people, not to damn their souls. It doesn’t matter if I get small burns from holy light now and then. That’s a small price to pay to stay with you.”

Again, his words left Luka voiceless, but for different reasons this time. A light blush appeared on his face as he hugged Ivan with all his strength. He didn’t have to say a word for his lover to understand just how much he loved him. They kissed again, the sheets slowly falling from their naked shoulders. They made out lazily, pretending they had all the time in the world, although both of them knew they would have to part soon enough to prevent any suspicion.

“Aren’t demons supposed to be selfish? ‘Cause you’re not really good at it.” Luka chuckled against Ivan’s lips.

“What can I say? I was, until an annoyingly perfect angel made its way into my heart. His good side must have rubbed off on me.”

They shared a smile, but the moment was broken when a phone alarm suddenly rang. Ivan groaned and turned around to reach the device and shut it off. They both acknowledged the sun shining bright through the hotel window, the sign that it was time for them to go back to their respective work.

Next to him, Luka grabbed his white clothes and started to get dressed. The demon averted his eyes, despite his desire to gaze at his body. Now was not the time for dirty thoughts, not when they wouldn’t be able to act upon it.

Instead, he put on his own dark garments before taking a look at the watch he left on the bedside table.

“Damn, I need to leave quickly. If I’m late, Šime and Domagoj will never let me live it down. Not to mention they will harass me to know where I was.”

“Same here. I mean, Suba isn’t as intrusive as your demon friends, but I don’t want to make him wait for too long before we leave on our mission.”

“Someone’s eager to save humans’ souls, I see. It could hurt my feelings, you know, to see you so impatient to leave.”

Luka rolled his eyes, although Ivan’s possessiveness amused him. He finished putting his shoes on then walked to the other side of the bed so he could face his lover. The demon opened his arms to him and they shared one last kiss. Ivan smiled, always thrilled to see his small angel tiptoeing and wrapping his arms around his neck to reach his lips.

“No need to complain, I’ll come back to you soon enough. With some luck, maybe we’ll even meet each other on our mission, who knows.” The angel whispered.

“If that happens, don’t expect me to go soft on you. Don’t forget : Out there, we’re rivals.”

Luka stared back at him, defiance in his eyes, and Ivan’s heart skipped a beat. This sent him back years ago, to the very moment he fell in love with the fierce angel that was now his. It reminded him that behind his frail appearance, his Lukita was a relentless fighter, never one to give up.

He adored him for that.

“Who do you take me for? I’ll give it my all, like I always do! If you end up fighting against me, get prepared to bite the dust!” Luka replied, confidence shining in his eyes.

“Damn, I love you.” Ivan blurt out.

Luka raised an eyebrow, confused.

“What? I mean, I love you too, of course, and I don’t want to be rude, but that’s a strange reaction to what I just…”

Luka lost his voice when black wings brushed against his. Again, Ivan’s hands wandered in his hair as the demon smiled brightly.

“That’s because you can’t see how handsome you are right now, dragi. There’s that spark in your eyes when you get all combative…”

Luka muttered a few unintelligible words, shyness taking over him just like every time he received a compliment. Right now, all Ivan wanted to do was to wrap his arms around him and to never let him go. Still, he forced himself to be responsible. The angel would get mad at him later if he ended up being late for his mission.

“It’s time for us to go, isn’t it?” He sighed, smiling sadly.

“Yes. You get out of the hotel first, so no one will suspect a thing. I’ll stay here a bit longer.”

“No need for that. I’ll just leave through the window, so you won’t have to wait.”

“You always have to make things over-dramatic, don’t you?”

Ivan shrugged.

“Well, I’m a demon, I can’t really help it. See you soon, Lukita.”

And with a butterfly kiss to his lips, Ivan was gone, leaving Luka with a warm feeling inside his chest. He shook his head, knowing it was time to go back to business. There were thousand of souls left to be saved from the bad influence of the underworld, he couldn’t slack off.

His wings still tingled with the memory of Ivan’s touch, though, and he couldn’t wait until the next time he would see his favorite demon again.