Haphazardly | leon goretzka

Epilogue: "I Know We Said We'd Take Things Slow, But-"

One year later

"Baby, hurry up or we're going to be late! Coach Kovač wants me to work on my penalty kicks before the match today," Leon practically dragged his girlfriend out of the hotel room.

The couple was currently in St. Paul, Minnesota―Emilia's home state. Bayern Munich was also in Minnesota because they were playing at Allianz Field for the International Champions Cup.

She was so happy to be back on familiar ground. It wasn't that she didn't love Munich―she did, otherwise she wouldn't have moved in with Leon two months ago when her teaching contract was up, but Germany was just different than her previous home.

After a short car ride to the arena, Leon and Emilia showed their passes to the security guards, giving them access to the pitch right away. Much to Emi's dismay however, as soon as her boyfriend set his duffel bag on the ground, he began digging around before handing her a pair of goalkeeper gloves.

"No, no, no," She backed away from him, but he immediately chased after her, a pleading look in his eyes.

"C'mon, Em. I really need to practice my pens, and Manuel isn't here yet. I promise I won't kick it too hard, alright?" The footballer cupped her cheek, his lips brushing her ear. "Plus you trust me right? You know that I'd never hurt you," He handed her the gloves which she took reluctantly.

It was then that she felt the smack on her backside. Emilia spun around on her heels, glaring at her boyfriend. He didn't have an ounce of remorse on his face however. Leon had that boyish grin spread across his face, hands on his hips as to say 'what?'

"Sorry," He bit his lip to hold back a smile. "Couldn't help myself."

Emilia ran back to him, pushing his shoulders. "Behave," She scolded him before settling in-between the net.

Honestly, she had no idea what she was doing. Emi was absolute trash when it came to playing soccer, but she loved the game. She clapped her hands together, admiring Leon sizing up the goal, trying to decide where he wanted to kick the ball.

He turned the ball around a bit before asking her, "Do you remember the last time we did this? The last time I took a penalty and you were the goalkeeper?"

"Yeah. It was when you asked me to be your girlfriend, correct?"

"Correct," He smiled at her. "You were quite a shit goalie, but I love you regardless. We can't all be stars, I guess," Leon shrugged nonchalantly, taking a few steps behind the ball.

"Thanks, babe. Glad to know that my lack of soccer skills isn't too much of a turn-off."

"Oh―" His hands were on his hips, flirting with her mercilessly. "It is, but you make up for it in other departments."

Leon shot her a wink, as she rolled her eyes. "Just take your shot, Goretzka. It shouldn't take all damn day."

"Fine, fine," The German international held up his hands.

With one more glance, Leon had run up to the ball, kicking it without hesitation. As both of them suspected, it zoomed past Emilia and into the back of the net.

Leon sprinted around the pitch, Emi glued to the same spot watching him celebrate.  Eventually he made his way back to her, peering down at her.

"Can you check the ball for me? It curved more than usual when I kicked it, so I think it might have a hole or something," The redhead nodded, bending down to pick up the ball.

Emilia twisted it around in her hands, gasping when she saw Leon's messy penmanship scrawled across the ball. There, near the center of the soccer ball, was the question, "Marry me, Emi?"