Colin's pulse still hadn't slowed since the training session ended, his muscles aching from the workout, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The team was on a high, prepping for tonight's match, and despite everything, Colin felt… normal. No more secrets, no more hiding. He'd come out, and the world hadn't crumbled around him. Isaac had taken the longest to come around, but when he did, it had been worth it—like something snapped back into place between them.
He glanced over at Isaac, who was lacing up his cleats across the field. There was still an edge to their interactions, a subtle shift that Colin couldn't quite shake. It wasn't bad—just... different. Even when things were good between them, there was an energy he couldn't explain, something that buzzed in the air between them whenever they were in close proximity. It hadn't been there before—not like this.
Isaac stood up, stretching his arms, his massive frame casting a shadow over the rest of the pitch. He caught Colin's eye, nodding in acknowledgment. Colin raised a hand in return, feeling a heat spread through him, uncomfortable in its familiarity. That was the thing about Isaac—he was always there. Colin couldn't stop noticing him, couldn't stop being aware of him, in a way that left him feeling raw and exposed. Even now, weeks after making up, it was something he couldn't let go of.
A sharp whistle cut through the air, pulling Colin out of his thoughts. "Oi! Hughes! McAdoo! Keep your heads in the game," the assistant coach barked.
Colin jogged over to where Isaac was already lining up for drills, the tension in his muscles shifting to match the competitive edge that always lit up between them during training. It was the way things were supposed to be—simple, intense, focused. But that wasn't how it felt anymore. Colin's head buzzed with thoughts he shouldn't be thinking, his eyes lingering on Isaac's movements longer than they should have.
"Ready?" Isaac asked, his voice gruff as ever, but there was an undertone, something teasing in the way he smirked when Colin didn't respond immediately.
Colin blinked, forcing a laugh. "You wish."
Isaac chuckled, but there was something sharper in his gaze, something that made Colin's chest tighten. They broke into the drill, bodies moving in sync, pushing harder with each pass. Isaac's presence was like a magnet—Colin couldn't help but be drawn to him, couldn't stop noticing the way his muscles shifted, the way his laugh seemed to echo through the field like it was meant just for Colin.
They collided during a play, Isaac's hand reaching out to steady Colin before he fell. It was a small thing, a casual touch, but Colin's skin burned under the contact. He tried to shake it off, focusing on the ball, but it didn't leave his mind—how Isaac's hand lingered just a second too long, how Colin didn't want it to end.
"Careful there, princess," Isaac joked, pulling away with a grin.
Colin scowled, his heart racing for reasons that had nothing to do with the game. "Keep your head in the game, McAdoo, or I'll show you how it's done."
Isaac raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "I'd like to see you try."
The next drill was even more intense, a blur of rapid-fire passes and footwork that left Colin breathless. But even as they played, even as the adrenaline took over, Colin couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than just friendly competition. Isaac's eyes were on him, always watching, and Colin could feel it—could feel every glance, every subtle movement that brought them closer together, even when they were supposed to be pulling apart.
They finished the drill, both panting, standing just a little too close to each other. Colin could smell the sweat on Isaac's skin, the heat radiating from him like a furnace. He turned away, trying to catch his breath, but Isaac didn't move. He stayed there, standing just behind Colin, the air between them thick and charged.
"Good hustle today," Isaac said, his voice low.
Colin nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah. You too."
There was a pause, a beat where neither of them said anything, but the tension between them crackled like a live wire. Isaac's hand brushed against Colin's arm as he turned to grab his water bottle, the brief contact sending a jolt through Colin that he couldn't explain.
He cursed under his breath, taking a long swig from his own bottle, trying to ignore the way his pulse spiked every time Isaac was near. This was ridiculous. They were teammates. They were friends. That's all it was.
But the way Isaac looked at him sometimes—like right now, his eyes lingering just a little too long, his smirk a little too knowing—made Colin question everything. Maybe it wasn't just in his head. Maybe Isaac felt it too.
Colin wiped the sweat from his brow, tossing the bottle aside. "You heading home after this?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Isaac shrugged, but his eyes never left Colin's. "Maybe. You?"
"Dunno. Might stick around for a bit."
Isaac raised an eyebrow, that familiar smirk playing on his lips again. "Stick around for what?"
Colin's heart skipped a beat, his mind racing for a response that didn't sound completely idiotic. "Just... thinking I could use some extra practice."
Isaac's smirk widened, and for a second, Colin swore there was something more behind it. "You always do."
Colin rolled his eyes, shoving Isaac's shoulder lightly. "Piss off."
But the laugh that followed felt different—like there was something between them that hadn't been there before. Something that had been building for weeks, months even. Colin could feel it every time they were close, every time they collided on the field or exchanged some stupid joke. It was in the way Isaac looked at him, the way his touch lingered just a little longer than necessary, the way Colin's pulse quickened in response.
And it wasn't just about the game anymore.
They finished the session, and Colin watched as Isaac jogged off toward the locker room, his broad shoulders disappearing into the distance. The air felt colder without him there, and Colin's chest ached with something he didn't fully understand.
He sat down on the bench, staring at the empty field, his mind racing. It wasn't just Isaac. It was everything. The way the team had rallied around him after he came out, the way things had changed since then. He was still the same Colin Hughes, but it was like the world had shifted just enough to make everything feel... different.
But Isaac... Isaac was the biggest shift of all. The way he looked at Colin now, the way he touched him—it wasn't the same as before. And Colin wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. All he knew was that it was getting harder and harder to pretend like things hadn't changed between them.
Colin wiped the sweat from his face, standing up and heading toward the locker room. He needed to clear his head. He needed to focus. But as he walked, his thoughts kept drifting back to Isaac, to the way his heart raced every time they were close, to the way their connection felt more intense with each passing day.
He pushed open the door to the locker room, the smell of sweat and grass hitting him as he stepped inside. The room was quiet, most of the team already gone, but Isaac was still there, sitting on the bench, his back to the door. Colin hesitated for a moment, watching him, feeling that same pull in his chest that he'd been trying to ignore for weeks.
And then Isaac turned, meeting Colin's gaze with a look that made his breath catch in his throat.
"Colin," Isaac said, his voice low, almost inaudible.
Colin stood frozen, the weight of Isaac's gaze pinning him in place. His heart hammered in his chest, louder than it should've been, as if his body had long ago decided it was no longer interested in keeping their friendship simple. He swallowed hard, trying to keep his expression neutral, even as the heat of Isaac's stare seemed to burn through the fabric of his jersey.
"Colin," Isaac said again, his voice lower this time, carrying something heavier than usual.
Colin could barely move, his feet glued to the floor as his mind raced. What was it about this? They'd been teammates for years, brothers on the field, and yet... this felt different. Dangerous, even. And Colin didn't know what to do with it.
Isaac stood up, his broad frame towering over Colin as he crossed the room. The air between them felt thick, too charged, like a thunderstorm waiting to break. Colin took a breath, willing himself to stay grounded, but every step Isaac took toward him made that harder.
"What's going on with you?" Isaac asked, his voice soft but direct, a mix of concern and something else Colin couldn't quite place. "You've been off all day."
Colin forced a laugh, hoping it didn't sound as strained as he felt. "Off? I'm fine, mate."
Isaac's eyes narrowed, the humor fading from his expression. "You're not fine, Colin. Not today. Not yesterday either."
Colin opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. How was he supposed to explain this? The way every touch, every shared glance between them felt like it carried a hidden meaning he couldn't decipher. The way his heart twisted every time Isaac brushed too close, and how that same heart begged for more.
"I... I don't know what you mean," Colin said finally, but even he could hear how unconvincing it sounded.
Isaac sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, frustration evident in his body language. "You're not telling me something. You always do that. You keep things to yourself and expect us to just... figure it out."
Colin winced. He hated that Isaac was right, hated that the truth of it cut deeper than he expected. It wasn't just about coming out anymore. It was about this. Whatever this was between them.
Isaac took a step closer, closing the distance until Colin could feel the heat radiating from his body, the closeness making it impossible to breathe. "Look, if something's going on—"
Colin couldn't stand it anymore. He turned abruptly, walking past Isaac and toward his locker, needing space, needing something to break the tension that had been brewing between them since... well, since Colin couldn't remember. "I'm fine. Just... drop it, alright?"
The room felt suffocating, the air too heavy with things unsaid. Colin grabbed his towel, wiping the sweat from his face as he stared at the inside of his locker. His hands shook, betraying the calm facade he was trying so desperately to maintain.
But Isaac wasn't one to just let things go.
"You don't get to shut me out like this, Colin," Isaac said, his voice firm, the edge back in his tone.
Colin's chest tightened. He slammed his locker shut and turned around, meeting Isaac's intense gaze head-on. "And what do you want me to say, Isaac? That I'm off because of you? That I can't focus because I don't know what the fuck is happening between us?"
Isaac blinked, his eyes widening for a split second before his expression hardened. Colin's heart raced, pounding against his ribs like it was trying to break free. He hadn't meant to say all of that out loud, but it was too late now. The words were hanging in the air between them, waiting for a reaction.
For a moment, Isaac just stood there, his jaw clenched, his fists balled at his sides like he was holding back from saying something. Colin felt the weight of his own words press down on him, regret creeping up his spine as the silence stretched on.
But then Isaac took a step forward. And another.
Colin's breath hitched as Isaac closed the distance between them again, but this time, there was no playfulness in his eyes, no teasing smirk on his lips. This time, it was just intensity, raw and unfiltered.
"You think you're the only one who's been feeling this?" Isaac asked, his voice low and rough, like the words were being dragged out of him.
Colin's eyes widened, his pulse skyrocketing. He opened his mouth to respond, but Isaac was already moving again, his hand reaching up to grab Colin's shoulder, pulling him closer until their faces were just inches apart.
"I've been trying to figure it out, too," Isaac continued, his grip tightening just enough to send a shiver down Colin's spine. "But I wasn't gonna say anything until you did."
Colin's breath came in shallow bursts, his mind reeling from Isaac's confession. He hadn't expected this. He hadn't expected any of this.
"I..." Colin tried to speak, but the words died in his throat. His body felt like it was on fire, every nerve ending alive with the proximity of Isaac's body, the weight of his hand on Colin's skin.
Isaac's gaze softened, just a little, but the intensity didn't leave. "You're not alone in this, Colin."
The words hung in the air, heavy and loaded with meaning. Colin felt his heart skip a beat, his chest tightening in response to Isaac's admission. He wanted to say something, wanted to break the silence that had suddenly become too loud, but his voice refused to cooperate.
Isaac's hand slid from Colin's shoulder to the back of his neck, his fingers brushing against the damp skin there, and Colin's entire body tensed, a sharp gasp escaping his lips before he could stop it. The touch was electric, sending sparks of heat down Colin's spine, and suddenly, it was impossible to pretend that this was just friendship anymore.
Colin's heart raced as Isaac leaned in, his breath ghosting over Colin's cheek, and for a brief, dizzying moment, Colin thought he might lose control entirely. The air between them was thick with anticipation, with everything they hadn't said, with everything they wanted to do but hadn't yet.
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"You need to talk, Hughes," Isaac muttered, his voice low, rough. "This isn't you."
Colin's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing just slightly as he stared at the floor. "I'm fine."
"Bullshit," Isaac snapped, his frustration flaring up. "You've been off all day. You're running like you're trying to outrun something."
Colin's hands flexed in his lap, his knuckles white. Isaac could see the conflict in his eyes, could see the way Colin was holding back. And Isaac hated it—hated the way his chest tightened every time Colin refused to let him in.
"I don't know what you want me to say, Isaac," Colin said finally, his voice quiet but strained.
"I want you to be honest with me," Isaac shot back, his voice sharper than he intended. "Because whatever this is between us... it's messing with you."
Colin's head snapped up at that, his eyes locking onto Isaac's, wide and unguarded for the first time all day. "What do you mean 'between us'?"