NUR DIE SGE

I was waiting for you (Niko/Klopp)

I was waiting for you

Niko wakes up one night in sweat. It's not normal at all, he's already had nightmares, he knows his body pretty well over time, so the pain that runs through his left arm is definitely not normal... Niko folds down the cover to better see what it's happening with his body, Robert is sleeping next to him and he doesn't want to wake him up, so he does his best to see through the rays of the moon which pass through the curtains of his room. He feels an intense burn on his wrist, he has never had such pain in his life, Niko is also afraid when he sees the letters that will line his anatomy engraved one by one until his death. His heart drums in his chest. He feels like nothing can save him, that he's lost, alone in a boiling hell. His parents can help him, he knows, but Niko is unsure when he sees the name on his skin: Would they understand? He could talk about it with Robert, but he knows that his little brother would worry about him and warn their parents. Niko is definitely alone in his own future. He is eighteen years old and Berlin has seen his nighttime anxiety about his soulmate.

_______________

Niko is twenty-six when he follows the world cup in France on television, Robert is always by his side, watching from time to time his injury. He could have been there, but fate had decided otherwise. Davor told them to enjoy the show and that later it will be up to them to continue on the same path. Niko doesn't think he has a way yet. He has lived in fear for eight years of having to face his soul mate. He knows who to look for and where to find him. But he neither wants nor needs it. He can live alone all his life, he loves the Bundesliga and Croatia, he wants nothing more than to be useful to the clubs that make his heart beat. Robert suddenly lowered the sound of the TV before sitting between his legs, spending his day in bed had good sides as an injured person. Niko looks at him strangely, before sighing and burying his head in a pillow. Robert lies down next to him, taking him in his arms. The match is no longer important to them, Croatia leads the match against Germany. Niko smiles softly as Robert runs his hand over his arm. They both know where to look, but they don't want to, or rather Niko doesn't want and Robert prefers to wait until he feels ready.

"You dream of him, don't you?" Robert asks him, his fingers following the outline of the night ink, Niko masks the slight burning sensation that attacked his skin

"Often." He doesn't have to say more, Robert knows him and he's going to analyze his words, they're going through the same experiences and know a lot about each other

"Why don't you try to meet him?" You deserve all his love Niko."

"Robby... you're the only one I want to love, because you're the cutest of the little brothers, and, you really think you can ask me that question?" Niko pinched his cheek laughing, he was doing his best not to think too much about his dreams

"I'm not ready to meet him..." Robert blushed while pouting, Niko smiled and closed his eyes, they would surely never be ready...

_______________

Niko is 36 years old and he cries without restraint. All hope has disappeared from his body, nothing can console him, losing in this way has finished his desire to remain captain of Croatia, he just wants to leave now, return to Salzburg and play his last games to finally settle down with remorse and regret. He is the last in the locker room in Austria, his body numb and almost paralyzed by despair. His eyes riveted on the tiles are filled with tears that threaten to flow at any time. His hair falls on his forehead and he knows he could fix it by putting his hair band back on, but he no longer has the guts to move a finger to retrieve it when it's right next to him. He doesn't know if he wants to leave or stay in these stupid locker rooms. Nothing makes sense now. He finally looks away after wiping his eyes, the marks on his skin are surprising comfort. For the first time in his life, Niko wants to meet his soul mate.

__________________

Niko is forty-six when he won the Pokal with Frankfurt against Bayern. Soon he will have left Eintracht to wear the colors of Munich, but for the moment he is enjoying Robert's arms, his little brother finding his soulmate after a few months without being able to meet. Now Hasan and Robert will have no problem to see each other. Niko frees himself to go and clap Jan and Lukas' hands, he only learned recently that the keepers are soulmates but looking back it made a lot of sense, they almost never separate. Niko ends up in the arms of Luka and Mijat, it's a good feeling. He feels loved. Ante throws himself in his arms (after climbing on him and having made him fall, Niko would laugh in a while), Niko catches him and his heart does not rest, he beats at full speed in his chest, the young man is not his soulmate, but Niko knows that he wants to spend his life with someone like him.

_________________

Munich. It is not like it used to be. There's the Allianz now. No more Bastian or Philipp. Niko doesn't feel like he's wanted, but he swallows his anxiety to focus on Bayern, no one would take away from his mind that he had to bring to the team what Jupp had achieved a few years earlier. But Robert... Robert is Robert. His little brother is not fooled and knows very well what is marked on his wrist for thirty years, he also knows very well that fate would unite them without their consent. As he had already linked them three decades earlier. Niko is 46 years old and he is the Bayern coach. He became more or less publicized after spending his life in the shadows according to his will. He never wanted to be noticed by his soulmate, living alone was a ridiculous utopia that he had tried to maintain over time.

_________________

Niko is forty-seven and finds himself against Jürgen Klopp's chest. He has lost. His eyes are again filled with tears of shame, as in Austria. His wrist burns as Klopp does everything he can to calm his own arm. Unfortunately, they are gathered this Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Niko just wants to go home and cry alone, call Ante, sleep, but Jürgen has brought him to an isolated place where no one can save him from his destiny. Almost thirty years later, anxiety takes over his life and squeezes his throat between its vicious fingers, Niko can't breathe and nothing can save him from the discomfort that prevails as Jürgen still holds him against him. His eyes close and spill two heavy drops. He no longer sees anything and feels himself falling into an abyss of anxiety.

_____________

He wakes up suddenly in a white bed, an IV on his arm and his folded clothes next to him. Robert is not with him. No... Niko looks at his arm: his mark sare red. He remembers everything and puts his hand on his forehead praying that it was only be a nightmare. Jürgen and him, no, he refuses to be reunited after everything. Niko withdraws the IV, he is not sick and the only ill that overwhelms him is fate. He is a prisoner of fate, misfortune as the only friend. He is dressing as quickly as possible, he must flee this hospital as soon as possible, nausea was rising in his throat. Everyone knew for his condition in the club, he can not let Jürgen land like that after these two games, Niko runs from lane to lane trying to escape his destiny. It's inevitable and he knows it.

_________________

Niko is 47 and Jürgen Klopp is waiting for him at his home, determined not to let him run away from his responsibilities again. Niko sits heavily watching everywhere he was sure not to meet the eyes of his soulmate. He is not surprised when Jürgen takes his chin between his fingers to force his gaze, Niko would almost fight him if he was not so much shot down by fatality hanging on his neck. Klopp tries to make him understand that he should not be afraid of this bond, Niko just wants to flee from it. He's still scared and his mark keeps burning his skin. He wants to take refuge in Robert's arms to find comfort in his pain... Jürgen squeezes him again against him by gently placing his lips on his, Niko closes his eyes by lying to himself, he can not appreciate this time, he must live alone so as not to get hurt... His mark calms down.

"You're stupid Niko Kovac, but you're also the one I have to watch over, so stop running away from me and I'll teach you how to calm your pain." Jürgen whispers in his ear, angrily, Niko can understand it without problem, he's angry against himself too

"Don't leave me..." Niko clung to his shoulders as he swallowed his anguish to focus on Klopp's breathing

"Out of the question, I've been waiting for you for twenty-nine years..."

The End