Most of the players stripped off, dropping their uniforms around the room, and went to continue their conversation in the showers. Oliver, preferring to wait and shower alone, untied his boots.
"Good game," said a voice behind him. "That last save was a cracker." Oliver didn't need to turn around to know who was speaking. Seamus Finnegan, lately of Hogwarts school and the new reserve chaser.
"Thanks," replied Oliver, pulling off his boots and straightening them under the bench. He tried not to look at Seamus if he could avoid it. Seamus wasn't thirteen any more and Oliver no longer thought he was just a late bloomer. Oliver carefully removed and folded his uniform, piece by piece until he had to wrap a towel around his middle to preserve his modesty. His team mates were emerging now, towelling their hair and laughing with each other.
"See you," said Seamus as Oliver made his exit. Oliver chose not to say anything as he made his way into the newly vacated showers. He counted slowly in his head, waiting until he was in the shower with water pouring down his back until he stopped. Oliver was good at controlling his emotions but trying not to think about Seamus was one of the hardest things he'd ever needed to do. Oliver aimed to keep his mind on the team, on their strategies and their next game as he made the water hotter. If he and Seamus weren't on the same team... Oliver only let himself think such things rarely.
Seamus was as close to perfect as Oliver was likely to encounter. He was handsome and sexy without being sleazy. He was fun and funny. He was a good friend and they had things in common. He was openly gay but they were on the same Quidditch team. Puddlemere were doing really well this year, advancing up the league table and ready to tackle the top teams. Oliver lived for his team and he wouldn't compromise that, not for anything. Not even for the lilting accent, the hard muscles and the soft lips of Seamus bloody Finnegan.
Oliver stood in the shower telling himself this until his skin was red as the Gryffindor scarf. By the time he was finished reigning in his emotions the rest of the team had left for their pub, The Moody Thestral, to celebrate. Oliver carefully got dressed and apparatchik himself to the bathrooms of the pub. It was easy to find the team by following the noise. The only seat available was next to Seamus, and the booth was already crowded. Oliver's lips disappeared but he sat down anyway. They had already ordered him a beer.
Oliver ignored the feel of Seamus's leg against his, pretended he didn't see Seamus's lips on the glass. He also ignored the guy in the corner checking Seamus out and pretended not to notice Seamus staring back. He laughed and smiled and talked into the early hours of the morning, glad they didn't have a practice the next day. Eventually people started to leave but Seamus was still so close, practically leaning into Oliver. Oliver, Seamus and Fields were the last to leave, staggering out together. Seamus had his arm round Oliver's neck because Oliver was the only really stable one. Oliver took Fileds home first, using the Floo. When he stepped into the fire he felt Seamus's arm tighten around him. Fields had fallen asleep on the couch before Oliver had made it back to the fire. They stepped into the fire and emerged in Seamus's bedroom. Oliver tried not to look at the bed, tried to push Seamus towards it blind.
"Oliver..." Oliver turned back and disappeared into the fire as quickly as he could, leaving Seamus to find his own place to fall asleep. In his own room, Oliver counted as he removed his clothing and placed it in his washing basket. He kept loosing count and sleep did not come easily.